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Menstrual blood yields stem cells
Australian Broadcasting Corporation ^ | 03.14.06 | Martha Kerr

Posted on 03/13/2006 6:30:48 PM PST by Coleus

Japanese researchers have harvested stem cells from human menstrual blood, a medical conference has heard. The researchers say these stem cells could be coaxed into forming specialised heart cells, which might one-day be used to treat failing or damaged hearts.

At the meeting of the American College of Cardiology, Dr Shunichiro Miyoshi reported that he and his colleagues at Keio University in Tokyo collected menstrual blood from six women and harvested stem cells that originated in the lining of the uterus.

They were able to obtain about 30 times more stem cells from menstrual blood than from bone marrow, Miyoshi says. The stem cells were then cultured in a way to induce them to become heart cells. After five days about half of the cells contracted "spontaneously, rhythmical and synchronously, suggesting the presence of electrical communication" between the cells, Miyoshi says.

That is to say, they behaved like heart cells.

The researcher explains that already stem cells derived from bone marrow have been improved heart function, mainly by producing new blood vessels rather than new heart-muscle tissue. He emphasises that it is important that these cells be obtained from younger patients, because they would have a longer lifespan than cells harvested from older donors.


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Science
KEYWORDS: adultstemcells; heart; heartcells; menstrualblood; menstruation; stemcells
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- A Wichita doctor has found that adult stem cells can be harvested from a woman’s menstrual fluid and developed into nine different types of human tissue.

Dr. Meng of the Center for the Improvement of Human Functioning International made the discovery. His findings show the adult stem cells harvested from the fluid can be developed into tissues such as heart, lung, liver, bone, and others. The discovery is dramatic because it involves adult stem cells — not embryonic stem cells, which have been the source of recent controversy.

Researchers hope these harvested cells will one day work to repair dead and dying tissues in our bodies.

“If there is a part of the heart that is damaged, that is dead, you can inject some of the stem cell, which will repair the damaged part,” Dr. Xialong Meng, researcher, said. “Then you have whole new heart again.”

There are several years of research still ahead in the stem cell arena, but researchers believe this latest discovery is very promising.


41 posted on 11/26/2007 9:47:22 PM PST by Coleus (Pro Deo et Patria)
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To: Daffynition; pissant; martin_fierro

This is important, and many thanks to Coleus, but c’mon...


42 posted on 11/27/2007 8:38:59 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Profile updated Tuesday, November 27, 2007___________________https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: Coleus

Actually, all deep thinking and middle school jokes aside, this is an incredible line of research and yields high promise. Adult stem cells from a easily obtainable, renewable source.


43 posted on 11/27/2007 8:45:33 AM PST by PennsylvaniaMom (I do not want people to be agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them. Jane Austen.)
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To: SunkenCiv
Yikes! And just while I was fixing a cup a red zinger tea! 8(
44 posted on 11/27/2007 8:47:24 AM PST by Daffynition (The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear.)
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To: wizardoz

Filet, medium rare? Heck yeah!


45 posted on 11/27/2007 9:08:55 AM PST by Sue Perkick (And I hope that what I’ve done here today doesn’t force you to have a negative opinion of me….)
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To: Daffynition

Well, you’ve been around for, what, almost nine months now? ;’) ;’) :’D


46 posted on 11/27/2007 9:35:36 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Profile updated Tuesday, November 27, 2007___________________https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv

Let’s not give anyone any ideas, K? :-D


47 posted on 11/27/2007 9:51:55 AM PST by Daffynition (The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear.)
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To: Sarastro

Me neither. Blood is a remarkable tissue no matter what its source. And to quiet the pansys on this thread they are taking the specimen from inside the uterus not off some pad or tampon.


48 posted on 11/27/2007 10:02:38 AM PST by linn37 (phlebotomist on duty,its just a little pinch)
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To: Daffynition

Star Trek Inspirational Posters

49 posted on 11/27/2007 11:08:43 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Profile updated Tuesday, November 27, 2007___________________https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv
Let's not ...


50 posted on 11/27/2007 11:51:58 AM PST by Daffynition (The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear.)
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To: Daffynition

You’re messing up the thread. [rimshot!]


51 posted on 11/27/2007 12:00:54 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Profile updated Tuesday, November 27, 2007___________________https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv

Just dam! ;-D


52 posted on 11/27/2007 12:14:08 PM PST by Daffynition (The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear.)
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To: Coleus

Where do I donate? I’ve been waiting for someone to come up with a good use for this stuff.


53 posted on 11/27/2007 8:45:44 PM PST by toothfairy86
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