Stem Cell research working?

[Charlie P]

Just saw this on Drudge found it interesting.

A South Korean woman paralyzed for 20 years is walking again after scientists say they repaired her damaged spine using stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood.

Hwang Mi-Soon, 37, had been bedridden since damaging her back in an accident two decades ago.

Last week her eyes glistened with tears as she walked again with the help of a walking frame at a press conference where South Korea researchers went public for the first time with the results of their stem-cell therapy.

They said it was the world's first published case in which a patient with spinal cord injuries had been successfully treated with stem cells from umbilical cord blood.

Though they cautioned that more research was needed and verification from international experts was required, the South Korean researchers said Hwang's case could signal a leap forward in the treatment of spinal cord injuries.

The use of stem cells from cord blood could also point to a way to side-step the ethical dispute over the controversial use of embryos in embryonic stem-cell research.

"We have glimpsed at a silver lining over the horizon," said Song Chang-Hoon, a member of the research team and a professor at Chosun University's medical school in the southwestern city of Kwangju.

"We were all surprised at the fast improvements in the patient."

Under TV lights and flashing cameras, Hwang stood up from her wheelchair and shuffled forward and back a few paces with the help of the frame at the press conference here on Thursday.

"This is already a miracle for me," she said. "I never dreamed of getting to my feet again."

Medical research has shown stem cells can develop into replacement cells for damaged organs or body parts. Unlocking that potential could see cures for diseases that are at present incurable, or even see the body generate new organs to replace damaged or failing ones.

So-called "multipotent" stem cells -- those found in cord blood -- are capable of forming a limited number of specialised cell types, unlike the more versatile "undifferentiated" cells that are derived from embroyos.

However, these stem cells isolated from umbilical cord blood have emerged as an ethical and safe alternative to embryonic stem cells.

Clinical trials with embryonic stem cells are believed to be years away because of the risks and ethical problems involved in the production of embryos -- regarded as living humans by some people -- for scientific use.

In contrast, there is no ethical dimension when stem cells from umbilical cord blood are obtained, according to researchers.

Additionally, umbilical cord blood stem cells trigger little immune response in the recipient as embryonic stem cells have a tendency to form tumors when injected into animals or human beings.

For the therapy, multipotent stem cells were isolated from umbilical cord blood, which had been frozen immediately after the birth of a baby and cultured for a period of time.

Then these cells were directly injected to the damaged part of the spinal cord.

"Technical difficulties exist in isolating stem cells from frozen umbilical cord blood, finding cells with genes matching those of the recipient and selecting the right place of the body to deliver the cells," said Han Hoon, president of Histostem, a government-backed umbilical cord blood bank in Seoul.

Han teamed up with Song and other experts for the experiment.

They say that more experiments are required to verify the outcome of the landmark therapy.

"It is just one case and we need more experiments, more data," said Oh Il-Hoon, another researcher.

"I believe experts in other countries have been conducting similar experiments and accumulating data before making the results public

[Tazman]

Man Charlie that is fantastic news, especially when they are using the umbilical cords of which there is no real shortage and no ethical issues to be dealt with.

[kevin1]

If only Chris Reeve had lived a little longer ,
he would have loved this .

I don't have an ethical dilema with stem cell research as long as it isn't used for reproductive cloning . Clone all the spinal cords and organs you want , but not whole people .

[AlaskaMagnum]

As a microbiologist, who spent a few years in a research lab I humbly ask, what the hell are you taking about? Stem cells for reproductive CLONING? That statement makes no sense. Embryonic stem cells are harvested from fertility clinics. They are left over from in-vitro fertilization processes where many eggs may be fertilized. Only a few eggs are ever implanted in the uterus. The rest are surplus zygotes. As a surplus item with no chance of every being implanted into a uterus, and thus developing in a human capable of sustain life on their own volition, they are either sent for stem cell research or thrown in the biohazard trash can. To date no HUMAN has been cloned. There are some reports from some crackpot religious/scientific cults that claim to have done it, but it is doubtful. Please, I have no problem with people disliking stem cell research for bonafide reasons, but spewing forth misinformation such as the "reproductive cloning" statement simply prevents others from making an informed decision based upon facts.

[kevin1]

OK AM ,
since I'm not a microegghead then answer a question . Can stem cells be used for cloning ? Yes or no .

If they can your reply is out of order and you can bite me , if not I apologize for being misinformed but you can still bite me . Not everybody has a degree in geek , something you apparently didn't learn in school , along with manners . [:@]

[AlaskaMagnum]

Kevin,

No, stem cells research is NOT geared towards "cloning". The beauty of stem cells is that they have not "differentiated", i.e. they can still develop into anything that makes them of such great value. Stem cells potential are in bodies that are already grown, bones that have ossified, nervous systems that have developed. Nothing to date has ever tapped such potential. Cloning does not require stem cells, it requires a fertilized egg and an egg with it's DNA removed. Cloning and stem cell research are NOT the same thing. They are distinct disciplines and distinctly different.

Sorry you got your feathers ruffled, but people are dying that could potentially be CURED by stem cells. Meanwhile, misinformed people continue to spread falsehoods because they do not understand the science. I acutually thought I was pretty polite. I even said please.

[kevin1]

Fair enough AM ,
and thanks for the answer . I'll try to be better informed next time .

As a microbiologist, who spent a few years in a research lab I humbly ask, what the hell are you taking about?

Confrontational replies like that tend to light most folks fuses , I'm no different there . Y'all Alaskans seem to have a slightly different take on being polite ...

[AlaskaMagnum]

Oh I agree, but stem cells are a very confrontational issue, and one which I feel very strongly about. I cannot argue about destroying a human life, because it most certianly is destroying life; however, the alternative is throwing the zygotes in the trash can. THAT is what I cannot get over. These cells are a by-product of fertility clinics (which will NEVER) go away, so in my mathematical type head, the logical choice is to use them for some good end rather than throw them away. I disagree with people who say NO at all costs, while I like and respect their idealism, I shun their pragmaticism. Cutting off your nose to spite your face may seem honorable to some, to me, it just strikes me as self-mutilation.

[Charlie P]

Confrontational replies like that tend to light most folks fuses , I'm no different there . Y'all Alaskans seem to have a slightly different take on being polite ...

Come on Kev I've read a few replies of yours that were kinda confrotatinal.

[kevin1]

Yeah Charlie ,
I remembered that too , which was why I softened my stance a bit .

AM ,
I too think throwing away a possible source of cures is not the best idea , but those who oppose abortion will never see it that way . If they only realized how many innocent sperm lose their "lives" trying to fertilize that single egg ...