P
PLAL
Guest
prolifeaction.org/hotline/current.php
Monday 8 August - Tuesday 9 August
by Joe Scheidler
It appears Sen. Bill Frist (R, TN) “took the soup” just a tad too soon. Just after he went against his better judgment and decided to sell out on his opposition to embryonic stem cell experimentation, an announcement is made that University of Pittsburg researchers have discovered that one type of cell in the human placenta has characteristics strikingly similar to embryonic stem cells in their ability to regenerate various tissue.
Placenta Cells Yield Cures
These amniotic epithelial cells can be used to produce new liver cells to treat liver failure, new pancreatic islet cells to cure diabetes, and new neurons to treat Parkinson’s disease. Unlike embryonic stem cells obtained only by destroying human embryos, these cells can be extracted from placentas that are routinely discarded. Also, the use of amniotic epithelial cells is non-controversial.
Stephen Strom, professor of pathology at the Pittsburgh medical school says these are easier to obtain and easier to transfer, and are healthier than embryonic stem cells, not generating tumors as embryonic stem cells do. They can be transferred directly to a patient, rather than having to go through a process of growing specialized cells in the lab, as is the case when using embryonic stem cells.
Strom’s discovery along with Dr. Yoshio Miki had to be delayed while the university got patent protection. A local biotechnology company, Stemnion Inc., has licensed patent rights from Pitt and will begin using these cells to treat cirrhosis and diabetes and also for spur wound healing.
Useful stem cells are also derived from amniotic fluid, bone marrow and mucous membranes without the danger of generating tumors. If poor old senator Bill Frist had only waited a couple of weeks, he could still call himself “pro-life.” You’d think a doctor would have seen this coming down the pike.
Monday 8 August - Tuesday 9 August
by Joe Scheidler
It appears Sen. Bill Frist (R, TN) “took the soup” just a tad too soon. Just after he went against his better judgment and decided to sell out on his opposition to embryonic stem cell experimentation, an announcement is made that University of Pittsburg researchers have discovered that one type of cell in the human placenta has characteristics strikingly similar to embryonic stem cells in their ability to regenerate various tissue.
Placenta Cells Yield Cures
These amniotic epithelial cells can be used to produce new liver cells to treat liver failure, new pancreatic islet cells to cure diabetes, and new neurons to treat Parkinson’s disease. Unlike embryonic stem cells obtained only by destroying human embryos, these cells can be extracted from placentas that are routinely discarded. Also, the use of amniotic epithelial cells is non-controversial.
Stephen Strom, professor of pathology at the Pittsburgh medical school says these are easier to obtain and easier to transfer, and are healthier than embryonic stem cells, not generating tumors as embryonic stem cells do. They can be transferred directly to a patient, rather than having to go through a process of growing specialized cells in the lab, as is the case when using embryonic stem cells.
Strom’s discovery along with Dr. Yoshio Miki had to be delayed while the university got patent protection. A local biotechnology company, Stemnion Inc., has licensed patent rights from Pitt and will begin using these cells to treat cirrhosis and diabetes and also for spur wound healing.
Useful stem cells are also derived from amniotic fluid, bone marrow and mucous membranes without the danger of generating tumors. If poor old senator Bill Frist had only waited a couple of weeks, he could still call himself “pro-life.” You’d think a doctor would have seen this coming down the pike.