Failing Hearts Healed With Stem Cells (A Dose Of Hope, For Once...)

[HuckleB]

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/heart-failure/news/20110317/failing-hearts-healed-with-stem-cells

"Decade-old heart attack scars healed after being injected with stem cells from a patients' own bone marrow.

So far, eight patients have received the experimental treatment in an ongoing clinical trial. All eight had suffered heart attacks an average of 5 1/2 years prior; one of the patients had his heart attack 11 years earlier.

"These are chronic heart failure patients ... with really bad and big scars," study leader Joshua Hare, MD, tells WebMD. "We wanted to see if the cells would heal the scarred area and allow it to start working again."

They do, at least according to early results from a study under way at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

..."

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A positive move forward...

:hi:

[bigmonkey]

1. Cheney.

I think of Cheney. Oh well, maybe he will live long enough now to face justice.

[Joe the Revelator]

3. Not everything has to be poltical. Cheney should not be the first person you think of.....you should

think of the other hundreds of millions of people effected by heart disesase when you hear something so wonderful

[HuckleB]

5. +1

[bigmonkey]

16. It was partially rhetorical.

I did think of the benefits to people suffering from various conditions first. It's a good thing. But then Cheney crowded in, and spoiled the thought. Many will benefit from the technique, and that's not affected by Cheney at all.

[HuckleB]

4. +1

[Joe the Revelator]

2. k/r

[DCKit]

6. I saw a story on this from Portugal or Spain about three years ago.

It's a real shame it took UoM that long to begin their own, but it's good that they have.

[HuckleB]

7. It would be interesting to know if the Bush restrictions on stem cell research caused the delay.

[Zoeisright]

8. Of course it did.

[DCKit]

10. I doubt it.

In this (and the original story), the stem cells were extracted from the person's own bone marrow.

In fact, in the original, they didn't bother to extract stem-cells, they simply injected the bone marrow directly into the damaged areas of the heart.

From what I remember of the original study, they had an 80% success rate - improvement in heart function (some quite dramatic) for people who had only months to live.

[toddwv]

11. It definitely did.

The ban on federal funds for embryonic stem cell research had a chilling effect on ALL stem cell research. Many researchers left for other countries that were fully funding research. In addition, programs that were engaged in stem cell research curtailed all stem cell research in fear of losing federal funds for allowed research because facilities and equipment are often shared.

[DCKit]

13. Hadn't thought of that, but you're very likely 100% correct.

Any mention of stem cell research from 2001-2011 probably would have resulted in a negative reaction - either pulling funds, blackballing the researchers, or having them fired from their jobs. Much like the current situation with Planned Parenthood being all about abortion, when abortion is a tiny fraction of the services they preform.

[toddwv]

15. I read a very interesting book on the matter.

"Cell of Cells" by Cynthia Fox. ;)

[Le Taz Hot]

9. Now, if only we could actually afford to be treated . . . n/t

[Desertrose]

14. Bingo! nt

[xchrom]

12. recommend

[HuckleB]

18. thanks

[Maru Kitteh]

17. THANKS! Great story! n/t

[HuckleB]

19. You're welcome. -eom-

[Maru Kitteh]

20. I have to kick this again.

[HuckleB]

21. Good idea!

:hi: