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Stem-Cell Repair Kit for Stroke

Continued from page 1

By Michael Day

Monday, March 09, 2009
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Brain repair: These three images show the new tissue, in black, growing to fill the stroke-induced cavity in the brain (left to right) a) before the introduction of the particles containing stem cells, b) one day after their introduction, and c) seven days after.
Credit: Bible E et al., The support of neural stem cells transplanted into stroke-induced brain cavities by PGLA particles, Biomaterials (2009), doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2009.02.012.

"This project is an excellent example where, by understanding the importance of biomaterial scaffolds, the cells are better able to populate the void left by the injury," says Jonathan Cooper, a bioengineer at the University of Glasgow. "Not only does the biomaterial act as a support for the cells when they are seeded into the void, but as the scaffold is degraded, it provides the physical space for new blood vessels to form."

The key to the advance was the ability of the new polymer to encourage the growth and differentiation of the neural stem cells at three different scales, says Modo's colleague Kevin Shakesheff, a tissue engineer at Nottingham University. "At the large scale, it enables the void formed by the injury to get new blood vessels very quickly, which is vital if the new tissue is to survive. At the cellular level, the scaffold surface allows stem-cell receptors to attach to it. And at the molecular level, it will allow cells to mix with the right growth factors."

Shakesheff says that extensive testing is needed before human trials of the matrix can begin. He hopes, however, that the PLGA polymer will be marketed within 12 months for use in bone surgery.

Tags

brain damage scaffolds stem cell science stem cells stroke

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Comments
  • Maybe new to US
    But in Germany they've been treating human victims of Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis and other neural/brain issues with Stem Cell treatments for awhile now. Someone I know flew over for treatment a year ago.
    Rate this comment: 12345

    bj
    03/09/2009
    Posts:38
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    3/5
    • Re: Maybe new to US
      Ah, but realize they used a human embryonic stem cell line, and that kind of work was not allowed over here in the States until last week.
      Rate this comment: 12345

      Pjazzz
      03/09/2009
      Posts:14
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      3/5
      • Re: Maybe new to US
        Unfortunately, as of now, most stem cell treatments show no effect or negligible improovements.

        Hope that will change one day. But for sure, injecting stem cells into living organism on their own make absolutely nothing good. Tested in thousands experiments.
        Rate this comment: 12345

        TestPilot
        03/11/2009
        Posts:11
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        3/5
    • Re: Maybe new to US
      Do you mean that clinic, Xcell in Berlin? There's no way to know if they actually work from patient testimony alone -- they have to go through the process of science.

      If you don't mean that particular clinic then please do tell. I would think that it would be big news to everyone, not just europeans.
      Rate this comment: 12345

      bugme
      03/13/2009
      Posts:29
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    • Re: Maybe new to US
      Is there a specific benefit to using fetal/embryonic stem cells over adult stem cells?  All I've ever heard from proponents of embryonic stem cells is that "they're better."

      OK...How?  Why? 

      Are the differences significant enough to justify harvesting them from an ethically questionable source?  Is ethics a consideration in this debate?

      And, given the early stages of development that this field is in, can anyone truly answer these questions to any degree of certainty? 

      In all sincerity, can any argument, scientific, ethical or otherwise be made that could rationally support using embryos and aborted babies as stem cell sources when other good, viable and equally abundant sources are readily available?
      Rate this comment: 12345

      Dinsdale1
      03/15/2009
      Posts:5
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      3/5
      • Re: Maybe new to US
        Firstly, get the facts straight!It's not an aborted baby! The embryo is created in a petri dish from sperm that usually goes down the drain since men use only about only ten (max) of the billion that they produce. The eggs that are harvested would usually go down the drain as well as menstral blood. The process is the same as when skin grafts are taken from a burn victim and grown in a lab: a biological process!
        when an egg is fertilized,the cells first split into two,then four, then eight and so forth.
        Stem cell form the base or beginning of all cells. they are harboured before any identifiable cells are formed. this is the only time that they are useful.
        A child is not formed and the egg is NEVER inseminated: thus NOT an abortion!
        Science always faces protaginists in the form of the religous. these are the same scientist that were against artificial insemination. the same process applies: EGGS are fertilized in a dish an then inseminated into the womb, not all fertilized eggs will become a child , so more than one is inserted.
        its now become common place for women to be artificially inseminated and the religous zealot are quiet.
        I support stem cell research and all that it promises.
        get the facts straigh before you start critizising the supporters!
        Rate this comment: 12345

        bungee.jump
        03/15/2009
        Posts:2
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        • Re: Maybe new to US
          Maybe you need to get your facts straight.  From Wikipedia:

          "The development of the embryo is called embryogenesis. In organisms that reproduce sexually, once a sperm fertilizes an egg cell, the result is a cell called the zygote that has half of the DNA of each of two parents. The resulting embryo derives 50 percent of its genetic makeup from each parent. In plants, animals, and some protists, the zygote will begin to divide by mitosis to produce a multicellular organism. The result of this process is an embryo."

          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embryo

          Now, if you are done with the name calling, can we get back to the valid question at hand, is there an appreciable difference between the use of embryonic stem cells as opposed to adult stem cells?
          Rate this comment: 12345

          Dinsdale1
          03/16/2009
          Posts:5
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          • Re: Maybe new to US
            Hi sweetheart, first of all: your reply told me nothing I didn't already know, and second I probably posted that page you read on Wiki.

            You already know the difference: One's supported by religious zealots and the other isn't!
            The intricate details don't really matter.
            If read had read a reliable source wouldn't need to ask the difference.
            Now go and do some research before you reply!
            Rate this comment: 12345

            bungee.jump
            03/16/2009
            Posts:2
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            • Re: Maybe new to US
              Reliable sources, huh?  OK.  You're the one who writes for Wikipedia, you tell me.  I mean, someone who writes articles for Wikipedia about such subjects surely is a reliable source.  Hence, it would logically follow that such a person could answer this simple question reliably and accurately so, inform me.  Educate me.  I would like to know.

              Is there a scientific/medical reason embryonic stem cells must be used as opposed to stem cells obtained from other sources such as adult stem cells?
              Rate this comment: 12345

              Dinsdale1
              03/18/2009
              Posts:5
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            • Re: Maybe new to US
              How about this information:

              "In 2006, Shinya Yamanaka and his colleagues at Kyoto University, in Japan, reported that they could reprogram mouse skin cells to an embryonic-like state by adding four genes, since dubbed the Yamanaka factors. These cells, called induced pluripotent cells, can be transformed into different types of cells and tissues, and hold promise for studying disease and developing cell replacement therapies. However, scientists inserted the genes using viruses, making the cells unsuitable for human use. Now, for the first time, British and Canadian scientists have developed a way to reprogram stem cells without viruses."

              or

              "The artificial ribosome also has much broader applications. It is a major step on the way to creating artificial life--a cell that can self-assemble and reproduce. Scientists want to create an organism from scratch both to better understand the inner workings of biology and to create new, highly engineerable life forms that can be employed to make new fuels, clean up toxins, or perform other useful functions."

              Both articles are from THIS website.  Reliable or no?

              Quote 1

              http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/editors/23044/

              Quote 2

              http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/22273/page2/
              Rate this comment: 12345

              Dinsdale1
              03/19/2009
              Posts:5
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              3/5
            • Re: Maybe new to US
              Now comes the news that President Obama not only rescinded the restrictions on the use of Embryonic Stem Cells but has also de-funded research on alternative sources of stem cells.  So, apparently Embryonic Stem Cells are so promising (despite the occurrences of cancer in patients that have received ESC treatments) that funding for Adult Stem Cell research, which has more than 70 proven, viable cures (with no cancer) to it's name, can be eliminated entirely in favor of a source that has yet to produce any cures at all. 

              Again, a scientific explanation for this would be appreciated.
              Rate this comment: 12345

              Dinsdale1
              03/19/2009
              Posts:5
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  • Hope for Degenerative Disc Disease?
    I wonder if stem cell technology will help back pain/injury sufferers by regenerating the damaged disc cartilage. People with degenerative disc disease, herniations and sciatica. Back injuries and back pain is more common than any other condition/ disease/ailment (cancer, aids, alzheimers, autism etc) yet there is very little research being done (comparatively) in helping people with these incredibly painful debilitating conditions. Back pain is the leading reason for disability and missed work. All of us will have some degree of degeneration in our spine as we get older and most of us will experience pain from it. Stem cells may be the hope that chronic pain sufferers have been waiting for! Praise this stem cell research for helping people with the condition listed in this article. Hopefully it can be carried further and help other ailments and diseases like disc herniatioins and disc degeneration. The potential of stem cells seems very promising and encouraging for me. We need more funding in this very promising area. We the people need more hope!
    Rate this comment: 12345

    charger1981
    08/14/2009
    Posts:4
    Avg Rating:
    5/5
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