Scientists in Spain said on Wednesday they had made mature cells in living mice revert to their youthful, versatile state, in a step toward the goal of tissue regeneration by stem cells. Right now, the technique is at its earliest stage and is hedged with safety questions, which makes it impossible to envisage in humans. But, said the researchers, it opens up a new strategy leading to a beguiling end: that one day damaged tissue will be healed by simply reprogramming nearby adult cells into replacements for the lost or diseased area. A transplant would not be needed. Stem cells have excited huge interest in medical research. They are immature cells that differentiate into the specialized cells that comprise and maintain the human body. In 2006, a team led by Shinya Yamanaka in Japan announced a breakthrough. A clutch of four genes introduced into adult cells in a lab dish rewound these cells back to their baby state. These so-called induced pluripotent stem cells -- known by their acronym of iPS -- have since become the most closely-followed innovation in the field. Despite many hurdles, they are seen by some as being even more promising than embryonic stem cells, the … Continue reading →

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Sep. 11, 2013 Michael Clarke and his colleagues were the first to discover that Down syndrome may be linked to faulty stem cell regulation. The learning and physical disabilities that affect people with Down syndrome may be due at least in part to defective stem cell regulation throughout the body, according to researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. The defects in stem cell growth and self-renewal observed by the researchers can be alleviated by reducing the expression of just one gene on chromosome 21, they found. The finding marks the first time Down syndrome has been linked to stem cells, and addresses some long-standing mysteries about the disorder. Although the gene, called Usp16, is unlikely to be the only contributor to the disease, the finding raises the possibility of an eventual therapy based on reducing its expression. "There appear to be defects in the stem cells in all the tissues that we tested, including the brain," said Michael Clarke, MD, Stanford's Karel H. and Avice N. Beekhuis Professor in Cancer Biology. The researchers conducted their studies in both mouse and human cells. "We believe Usp16 overexpression is a major contributor to the neurological deficits seen in Down syndrome." … Continue reading →

Stem cell therapies have proven to be extremely valuable options for medical treatment, with the potential to treat everything from cancer and diabetes to Parkinsons disease and cardiac illness. But now, scammers are capitalizing on these scientific discoveries by offering phoney stem cell treatments to patients, claiming they can provide miracle cures for untreatable conditions, the Irish Times reported. Many vulnerable people with incurable degenerative diseases are paying upwards of $150,000 for treatments that use what are known as mesenchymal stem cells. While researchers have been experimenting with these types of stem cells to potentially treat conditions such as osteoarthritis and other bone diseases, they have yet to be proven effective. Additionally, the use of mesenchymal stem cells to treat disease is currently against the law, and clinics that offer these treatments operate under the radar or by word of mouth. Not only are these therapies illegal, but they are potentially dangerous as well. While mesenchymal stem cells have shown promise in regards to bone and tissue health, they havent been successful when it comes to nerve and brain tissues yet some scammers are using them to treat neurological conditions such as Parkinsons and dementia, according to the Irish Times. … Continue reading →

Seven months after undergoing a stem cell transplant, Cat Davis sports a short new haircut and a biggrin. The hairstyle was necessary when all her hair fell out during chemotherapy, but the brilliant smile is her trademark. However, in recent years, she hasnt had much to smileabout. Four years ago, the 2006 Northwest Christian School graduate was diagnosed with CREST syndrome, a combination of five diseases. The symptoms of CREST are associated with a generalized form of scleroderma, which literally means hard skin. The disease causes the immune system to attack and destroy healthytissue. Her doctor You have viewed 20 free articles or blogs allowed within a 30-day period. FREE registration is now required for uninterrupted access. S-R Media, The Spokesman-Review and Spokesman.com are happy to assist you. Contact Customer Service by email or call 800-338-8801 Cat Davis photo Cat Davis is shown in March after the stem celltransplant. (Full-size photo)(All photos) Seven months after undergoing a stem cell transplant, Cat Davis sports a short new haircut and a biggrin. The hairstyle was necessary when all her hair fell out during chemotherapy, but the brilliant smile is her trademark. However, in recent years, she hasnt had much to smileabout. Continue … Continue reading →

GLENDALE, N.Y. (PRWEB) September 11, 2013 Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD), Inc., in partnership with Christ Tabernacle, will host a conference, Parents of Children with Special Needs, on Saturday, September 28, 2013, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at 64-34 Myrtle Avenue in Glendale. The free conference will offer seminars ranging from managing challenging behavior to accessing insurance coverage for autism treatment. Attendees must reserve seating no later than September 26th by contacting d.plump(at)centerforautism(dot)com. We hope parents across New York attend this one-of-a-kind conference, says Angelina Acevedo, CARD operations manager. Its a unique opportunity for parents of special needs children to gather in a relaxed environment and get answers to some of their most pressing questions about treatment, insurance, legal affairs, and even about their own journey as they face personal challenges. Presentations include Understanding NY Autism Insurance Reform by CARD director of contracts Bryce Miler; Understanding Your Rights as a Parent of a Child with Autism by Christina Thivierge of the law firm, Thivierge & Rothberg; and Functional Communication Training and Behavior Management by CARD senior behavior therapist Nicole Valore, MS Ed, and CARD clinical lead manager Deidra King MA, MS, BCBA. The conference will also include … Continue reading →

About 1 in 88 children in the United States has autism, and the prevalence of the condition has risen nearly 80 percent over the past decade, federal health officials reported Thursday. The new survey, sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is the latest evidence of a steady upward trend of a disorder whose cause remains unknown despite much research in recent years. The rising rate of autism could be the result of finding children missed in previous surveys or an actual increase in the condition, or a combination of the two. The trend has been observed in Canada and Western Europe as well as the United States. Children with the most extreme form of autism are socially withdrawn, speak little, dislike affection and eye contact, and engage in repetitive actions. Once thought to be very rare, milder forms are now recognized. One of them, Asperger syndrome, describes behavior that in the past might have been seen as peculiar and abnormal but not evidence of illness. The CDC study surveyed 14 states for the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders among 8-year-olds in 2008. The prevalence that year of 11.3 cases per 1,000 children was 23 percent higher than … Continue reading →

CENTENNIAL, Colo., Sept. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- September is National Atrial Fibrillation (Afib) Awareness Month. Afib is a type of irregular heartbeat that affects more than 2 million people. National Stroke Association has developed a Faces of Stroke(SM) public awareness campaign to educate Americans about the connection between Afib and stroke. A campaign ambassador is being highlighted throughout September to shed light on caring for a loved one who has Afib. Karen Ballou's late husband Harold lived with Afib for several years before having a stroke. View the public service announcement. There is a need for more awareness about Afib and its connection to stroke. Often, Afib has no obvious symptoms, but some patients describe fluttering, racing or pounding sensations in their chests. "While watching TV one night, Harold told me that he was not feeling well," Ballou said, "He said that his chest felt strange, and to me his heartbeat seemed off." Although it can occur at any age, it is most common in older adults, especially those with high blood pressure, heart disease or lung disease. As one of the major risk factors for stroke, it is important to encourage people to talk with a doctor to determine … Continue reading →