Adult Stem Cell Success - CIDP: Bryan Hinkle Just over a year ago, Bryan Hinkle had all but given up. C.I.D.P. had beaten him down and he was literally waiting for the end. But an adult stem cell transplant gave him new life and a new... By: StemCellFactsNow … Continue reading →

By Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, Sept. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A cancer drug that targets the immune system may help improve the outlook for older adults with multiple myeloma, though a stem cell transplant remains the standard of care for relatively younger patients. Those are some of the findings from two studies in the Sept. 4 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Multiple myeloma is a cancer that begins in certain white blood cells. In the United States, it accounts for about 1 percent of cancers, and for those who develop it, it's often deadly. About 45 percent of Americans with the disease are still alive five years after diagnosis, according to the U.S. National Cancer Institute. For years, the standard treatment -- at least for patients younger than 65 -- has involved removing blood-forming stem cells from the patient's bone marrow or bloodstream, then using high-dose chemo to kill off the myeloma cells. Afterward, the stored stem cells are infused back into the patient, where they aid in recovery. That extends people's cancer remission, but it's not a cure, said Dr. David Avigan, who treats myeloma patients at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. … Continue reading →

Scientists at NUI Galway may be able to reduce the rejection rate of corneal transplant operations, meaning the number of people rendered blind from corneal eye disease may decrease. The research, which uses stem cells, could lead to more patients holding onto their sight, if the technique can be replicated in humans. Corneal eye disease is the fourth most common cause of blindness, affecting 10 million people worldwide. Corneal transplants are the most common form of treatment for the condition, and involve the replacement of the damaged cornea with healthy tissue from an organ donor. Although 100,000 people undergo corneal transplants each year, the procedure suffers from a high rejection rate of 30%. However, researchers at the REMEDI regenerative medicine institute at NUI Galway have developed a new system which could reduce rejection rates to as low as 10%. The lab based study, details of which are published in the American Journal of Transplantation, involves the use of a type of stem cell grown from the bone marrow of adult donors, which when administered adjusts the immune system's balance, reducing rejection. A follow up 6m EU funded study is now underway to examine the issue more closely, and will involve … Continue reading →