Re: Alternative Source for Stem Cells

[Guest guest]

Bernice,

You must be careful in speaking about stem cell research when you mean fetal

tissue research. The only human tests were done about 4-7 years ago with fetal

tissue transplant. They were disappointing because they did not last. In

addition 2 of 80 patients developed more dyskinesia, but most got some

improvement from rigidity. The effects only lasted about two years. That was

brain cells taken from aborted fetuses (actually they attempted to use only

embryo tissue (less than four weeks old and not yet a fetus). The tissue was

gathered from cases that met the guidelines such as the mother dying in an

accident before the 6 th week of pregnancy and the heirs had to agree to the

tissue being used for this research.

Stem cell research does not use fetus (or even embryo in the true sense of the

word) tissue. The blastocyst has never been inside a womb and would never grow

into a human without a womb. Since the woman who donated the egg and the man

who donated the sperm would both have to agree that they did not want to use the

blastocyst AND that they agreed with it being used for research, these

blastocysts are usually destroyed. In the research they want the pluripotent

cells to live in other people and help cure the people.

Currently, stem cell research in brain disorders has only worked in mice and

monkeys. They now feel they are ready for human trials. This is the research

that Bush is still considering banning at NIH. It is amazing to me that some

groups are condemning this research as destrying human life when the cells would

continue to live and hopefully cure a person with PD or someday even MSA. They

scream that we are cloning humans, yet they say adult stem cells can be used

morally. I have news, the adult stem cells are also cloned to get enough to

use. If they do not grow and multiply, they are no good like the fetal tissue

experiments.

The BIG difference is that fetal tissue transplant used aborted fetuses and stem

cell research does not use aborted tissue. The 100,000 in vitro blastocysts we

already have and due to be destroyed, can give us all the stem cells we will

ever need. They are already growing them in private companies. The ban would

mean that all these human cells would be destroyed.

Take care, Bill and Charlotte

Bernice Bowers wrote:

> In addition to what Bill said about stem cells, I wanted to add. I attended

> a PSP support group meeting in Cleveland Sunday, and Dr. Riley from

> Movement Disorders Clinic at Case Western Reserve spoke. He said so far

> they have had a very disappointing outcome using these with Parkinson's, as

> they don't know how many to use. If given too many they have caused many

> irreversible side effects, and not enough, they do no good. Of course no

> one has given up on that line, but he stated he thought it would not be in

> the near future that we would be seeing positive effects from that.

> Bernice/Ken dec. 06/23/00

>

>

[Guest guest]

Yes thanks Bill, I understand. I believe I already corrected myself. I

read a lot about both on the Dana Brain site.

Bernice

[Guest guest]

Bernice,

Sorry, I did not read ahead, yes you did correct it before I sent the message.

Take care, Bill and Charlotte

============================

Bernice Bowers wrote:

> Yes thanks Bill, I understand. I believe I already corrected myself. I

> read a lot about both on the Dana Brain site.

> Bernice

>

>