Saturdays News - Stem Cell

Stem Cell

Stem Cell from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Stem cells are biological cells found in all multicellular organisms, that can divide (through mitosis) and differentiate into diverse specialized cell types and can self-renew to produce more stem cells. In mammals, there are two broad types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells, which are isolated from the inner cell mass of blastocysts, and adult stem cells, which are found in various tissues. In adult organisms, stem cells and progenitor cells act as a repair system for the body, replenishing adult tissues. In a developing embryo, stem cells can differentiate into all the specialized cells (these are called pluripotent cells), but also maintain the normal turnover of regenerative organs, such as blood, skin, or intestinal tissues.

There are three sources of autologous adult stem cells: 1) Bone marrow, which requires extraction by harvesting, that is, drilling into bone (typically the femur or iliac crest), 2) Adipose tissue (lipid cells), which requires extraction by liposuction, and 3) Blood, which requires extraction through pheresis, wherein blood is drawn from the donor (similar to a blood donation), passed through a machine that extracts the stem cells and returns other portions of the blood to the donor. Stem cells can also be taken from umbilical cord blood. Of all stem cell types, autologous harvesting involves the least risk. By definition, autologous cells are obtained from one's own body, just as one may bank his or her own blood for elective surgical procedures.

Highly plastic adult stem cells are routinely used in medical therapies, for example bone marrow transplantation. Stem cells can now be artificially grown and transformed (differentiated) into specialized cell types with characteristics consistent with cells of various tissues such as muscles or nerves through cell culture. Embryonic cell lines and autologous embryonic stem cells generated through therapeutic cloning have also been proposed as promising candidates for future therapies. Research into stem cells grew out of findings by Ernest A. McCulloch and James E. Till at the University of Toronto in the 1960s. .... 

--->> See the full article Stem Cell from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.



Stroke: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research 

Stem Cell Therapy for Stroke - Gary Steinberg, Stanford University

Gary Steinberg, M.D., Ph.D., spoke at the "Spotlight on Disease Team Awards: Sub-Cortical Stroke," an educational event presented at the CIRM Governing Board meeting on August 19, 2010. Steinberg is the principle investigator for the CIRM Stroke Disease Team. He is also the director of the Stanford Institute for Neuro-Innovation & Translational Neurosciences and is the chair of Department of Neurosurgery at Stanford University's School of Medicine.

The CIRM-hosted event was presented in Palo Alto, California at Stanford University.

Stem Cell Therapy for Stroke

Millions of stem cells derived from the bone marrow of healthy adult donors have been implanted in the brains of two stroke survivors at UPMC, as part of a two-site trial to determine whether bone marrow stem cells injected into the brain have therapeutic value in the healing of stroke lesions.

The researchers are seeking participants between the ages of 18 and 75 who have had an ischemic stroke between six months and three years before study entry.

Stem Cells Hold Hope For Stroke Cure

Adelaide University is using the courage of a stroke victim in its bid to find a cure.

All You Need To Know About Stem Cells

See also http://www.stemcellsblood.com.

Stem cells are cells found inside the body which may develop into one or more kinds of cells. Stem cells have been given special attention and importance by medical experts and researchers since these show great potency in treating or curing a variety of conditions and diseases such as Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, stroke, arthritis, burns, spinal cord injury and birth defects.  Stem cells can then self-replicate or develop into more differentiated cell types....

Stem Cell Research: Ethical or Immoral?

My research video argument for my writing class.

Just a minor FYI: This was for a class. I did not ever intend for this video to reach more than a couple of views by my teacher and maybe a few classmates. Now that it is at 7k+ views I feel as though I should state that this video was meant to be informative, not rage inducing. I created this video in early 2010, therefore this video (I forget what all is in it, I haven't viewed it in a while) maybe be quite outdated. Thank you for viewing my project.

Only on YouTube, click below: