Category Archives: Stem Cell Transplant

Researchers say technique could first be used as a way to treat diabetes Used cloning technique to make insulin-producing cells with the DNA of a diabetic woman Second cloning experiment to make stem cells in a month By Mark Prigg Published: 16:00 EST, 28 April 2014 | Updated: 22:12 EST, 28 April 2014 227 shares 15 View comments Scientists have moved a step closer to the goal of creating stem cells perfectly matched to a patient's DNA in order to treat diseases. New York researchers used a cloning technique to make insulin-producing cells with the DNA of a diabetic woman. They used used skin cells from the 32-year-old woman with Type 1 diabetes to generate stem cells matched to her. Researchers used used skin cells from the 32-year-old woman with Type 1 diabetes to generate this colony of an embryonic stem cell line. Visit link: Cloning used to make stem cells from adult humans in diabetes breakthrough … Continue reading →

April 29, 2014, 8:21 a.m. For the first time scientists have used cells from a woman with type 1 diabetes to create cloned human embryos from which they extracted embryonic stem cells. For the first time scientists have used cells from a woman with type 1 diabetes to create cloned human embryos from which they extracted embryonic stem cells. The American-Israeli team also coaxed the stem cells into insulin-producing beta cells, the kind lost in patients with type 1 diabetes. "These stem cells could therefore be used to generate cells for therapeutic cell replacement," research leader Dieter Egli, from the New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute, said. Embryonic stem cells are capable of transforming into any tissue in the body, not just insulin-producing cells. Therein lies their medical potential to regenerate tissue or organs for transplant. The benefit of stem cells obtained from cloned human embryos is they are genetically matched to the person who donated the adult cell, meaning they could be used to personalise therapies for a range of crippling diseases, not just diabetes. But somatic cell nuclear transfer the technique used to create Dolly the sheep is ethically controversial in humans because it involves the creation … Continue reading →

Scientists have taken skin cells from a woman suffering from type 1 diabetes, reprogrammed them into embryonic stem cells, and then converted those cells into insulin-producing cells in mice, according to a new study. The announcement, which comes soon after another stem cell success involving therapeutic cloning, was published Monday in the journal Nature. "This advance brings us a significant step closer to the development of cell replacement therapies," said senior study author Dieter Egli, a researcher at the New York Stem Cell Foundation. Embryonic stem cells, or pluripotent cells, are cells that can reproduce endlessly and transform themselves into any type of human tissue. Researchers hope that the cells will one day be used to create transplant tissues that will not be rejected by the patient's body, because they carry their own DNA. Egli and his colleagues used a cloning technique known as somatic cell nuclear transfer, or SCNT -- a process similar to the one used to clone "Dolly" the sheep in 1996. The process involves removing the nucleus from a human egg cell, replacing it with the nucleus from a foreign "donor" cell, and then allowing the egg to divide and develop for a period of days. … Continue reading →

NEW YORK (AP) - In a potential step toward new diabetes treatments, scientists used a cloning technique to make insulin-producing cells with the DNA of a diabetic woman. The approach could someday aid treatment of the Type 1 form of the illness, which is usually diagnosed in childhood and accounts for about 5 percent of diabetes cases in the U.S. The disease kills insulin-making cells in the pancreas. People with Type 1 diabetes use shots or a small pump to supply the hormone, which is needed to control blood sugar. The new work is a step toward providing genetically matched replacement cells for transplant, said Dieter Egli of the New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute in New York. He led the research, which was reported online Monday in the journal Nature. Doug Melton of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, who was not involved with the work, called the paper an impressive technical achievement. But he said he believed the cells would be useful as a research tool rather than a source of transplants. They could help scientists uncover what triggers Type 1 diabetes, he said, which could in turn lead to better therapies. Scientists had previously made insulin cells … Continue reading →

Blackburn boy saved by marrow transplant after illness left him fighting for his life 3:46pm Monday 28th April 2014 in News By Sophia Rahman, Reporter A BLACKBURN business boss whose six-year-old has a rare genetic disease is urging people to sign up to a stem cell register after a donor saved his sons life. Sam Fletcher, director of marketing agency Twentyone, based in Eanam Wharf, went through the most traumatic period of his life when his son, Charlie, fell ill with Fanconi Anemia. The disorder, which affects one in 350,000 people, meant Charlie was unable to produce blood cells, leaving him fighting for his life last year. Charlie then spent 12 months in and out of Manchester Childrens Hospital, going through radiotherapy, chemotherapy and one unsuccessful bone marrow transplant. Eventually, only-child Charlie received a successful transplant of stem cells from a donor umbilical cord, and was able to return to school in February. Mr Fletcher, 32, of King Street, Whalley, said: It was the most traumatic year of my life. The chemotherapy and radiotherapy changed him beyond all recognition, making him swollen and his hair fall out. It was just terrible.But he never moaned about being stuck in bed for … Continue reading →

As a stem cell transplant patient, you have new opportunities for a healthy and full life. Stem cell transplants [PDF - 3 pages] have many benefits, but they also have risks. Because stem cell transplants destroy and rebuild your immune system, they increase your risk for fungal infections. There are two main types of stem cell transplants: There are different reasons for receiving either type of transplant. You and your healthcare provider will discuss your options and choose the treatment thats best for you. A transplant using stem cells from a donor increases your risk for fungal infection more than a transplant that uses stem cells from your own body. If your stem cells come from another person, you will need to take anti-rejection medication. This medication weakens your immune system.1 Chemotherapy and radiation lower your white blood cell count. As you recover from your transplant, your white blood cell count can become very low, also known as neutropenia [PDF - 4 pages]. During this time, your body will have trouble fighting infections, including fungal infections.2 Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). If you receive stem cells from a donor, the transplanted stem cells may attack your body. This is known as graft-versus-host … Continue reading →

by JIM BERGAMO / KVUE News and editor Rob Diaz kvue.com Posted on April 22, 2014 at 5:14 PM Updated Tuesday, Apr 22 at 7:00 PM AUSTIN -- Doctors at St. Davids South AustinMedical Center recently performed the first adult hematopoieticstem cell transplant, which is a type of blood and marrowtransplant. Prior to the new comprehensive blood cancer center,patients had to leave Austin to get the treatment they needed. Earlier this year, Nancy Guerra enjoyed some down time at her Northwest Austin home, putting together an electronic puzzle. But her own health became far more puzzling than anything she could piece together on her I-Pad. She suffered from multiple myeloma and had intense chemotherapy treatments in preparation for a more important procedure. Doing the chemotherapy is really good, said Guerra. It puts me in remission, but Im not going to stay in remission anywhere near as long as I will when I have a bone marrow transplant. But like other patients with bone cancer disorders where to go to get that blood marrow is the key question. Austin is reaching a critical mass size, said David Huffstutler, President and Chief Executive Officer, St. Davids HealthCare. While we already have a … Continue reading →

Ask the Expert: Stem Cell Transplant, New Drugs and High-Risk Disease How does the continued emergence of new drugs impact the use of stem cell transplant for myeloma patients? Dr. Gareth Morgan, a leading researcher at The Roy... By: Patient Power … Continue reading →

Home > News > health-news Bangalore, April 23 : A leading specialty hospital has demonstrated that bone marrow stem cells can cure blood disorders like leukemia, thalassemia and aplastic anemia, a bone marrow failure. "Bone marrow transplant has emerged as an effective cure for cancerous and genetic blood diseases through transfusion of its stem cells from a healthy donor to an affected patient," Narayana Health City consultant hematologist Sharat Damodar told reporters here Tuesday. The corporate hospital in the city's southern suburb claims to have performed about 300 bone marrow transplants with over 80 percent success rate. Bone marrow can be collected from a related donor (siblings), matched unrelated donor (non-family members) and haploidentical donor (father or mother). "As it is a challenge to find donors in India, there is need for greater awareness to donate bone marrow to needy patients," said Damodar. A person suffers from leukemia when the bone marrow starts producing abnormal white blood cells. "Though leukemia can be treated with radiation and chemotherapy, in case of relapse, the option is a bone marrow transplant," he added. In case of thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder which makes less hemoglobin, the treatment option is regular blood transfusion or … Continue reading →

Thirty years ago, Dale von Bieker was diagnosed with Lou Gehrigs disease. He was given two and a half years to live. But everybodys body is different and a lot of people when theyre diagnosed with Lou Gerrings disease or any terminal disease, they do give up as well. He says that he hasnt taken any medication for his disease, but instead decided to go the natural route. Some things that I think has helped me over the thirty years is having faith in God, positive thinking and having my exercise equipment. Furthermore, he says, he went to see a naturopath, taking his advice, and he says he eats a well-balanced diet. Although people do ask him for advice on their conditions, he is quick to emphasize that Im not a doctor. Im really not that well educated but over the past 30 years, Ive studied natural medicine, health, Ive worked with a lot of people. They ask me questions about, say, Crohns Disease or Shingles or all kinds of things and Ive advised them and they got better. But, Im really not legal, but if they ask me what am I supposed to say? A little bit ago, he … Continue reading →