Senators Hear Alternatives to Embryonic Stem Cells: Adult Stem Cells, Umbilical Cord Blood

kaisernetwork.org ^ | 6/13/2003 | Editors

[unspun]

Daily Reproductive Health Report

National Politics & Policy | Senators Hear 'Alternatives' to Embryonic Stem Cell Research; Adult Stem Cells, Umbilical Cord Blood Touted

[Jun 13, 2003]

      The Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Science, Technology and Space yesterday heard "alternatives" to research using embryonic stem cells, including research using adult stem cells and umbilical cord blood, which some say could be as effective as embryonic stem cells in treating degenerative diseases, the AP/Yahoo! News reports (Abrams, AP/Yahoo! News, 6/12).
       Dr. Jean Peduzzi-Nelson of the University of Alabama-Birmingham testified that there is "abundant evidence" that adult stem cells can already be used to treat patients, adding, "The conclusion from the pre-clinical studies is that adult stem cells work just as well if not better than embryonic stem cells and are probably safer."
       Dr. David Hess, head of the neurology department at the Medical College of Georgia, said that adult stem cells extracted from a patient's bone marrow are easily isolated, are unlikely to be rejected by the patient's body, and "avoid the moral issues" involving treatments developed with embryonic stem cells, according to the AP/Times. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), who called the hearing and opposes embryonic stem cell research because embryos are destroyed after stem cell extraction, praised the use of stem cells from umbilical cord blood for treating diseases such as sickle-cell anemia and said that he would push for federal funding for a national cord blood bank system.
       Dr. Pablo Rubenstein, director of the National Cord Blood Program at the New York Blood Center, said that cord blood banks have provided stem cells for more than 3,500 transplants worldwide. He added that stem cells extracted from blood left in the umbilical cord and placenta after birth have resulted in "less immune reaction, greater availability in less time, and less risk of viral infection," according to the AP/Times. Supporters of embryonic stem cell research said that such cells have greater treatment potential because it is easier to coax them to develop into any type of cell that is needed, according to the AP/Times.
       Dr. John McDonald of the Washington University School of Medicine's neurology department said that no area of research, including embryonic stem cells, should be limited, adding, "It's entirely too early to rule out any one of these areas of research in favor of any other" (AP/Washington Times, 6/13).

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[unspun]

This news was forwarded to me tonight, along with the admonition, "Spread the word on this pro-life break through.  The media won't cover it." 

You may wisn to note this Web site, its daily reports, and its email alerts:  http://www.kaisernetwork.org
...from The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation:  http://www.kff.org

Goodness & wellness

[HiTech RedNeck]

For that matter might it be possible to get a stem cell from a live fetus without damaging it? Don't some of them come loose and float in the amniotic fluid? All that would be needed is one.

[unspun]

something to note and to ping...

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

"The conclusion from the pre-clinical studies is that adult stem cells work just as well if not better than embryonic stem cells and are probably safer."

Do abortionists have stem cells?

[unspun]

Sounds like another point that doesn't pass the abortion mill press....

[unspun]

Meant to ping you too, RMom.

[Wonder Warthog]

"...yesterday heard "alternatives" to research using embryonic stem cells, including research using adult stem cells and umbilical cord blood, which some say could be as effective as embryonic stem cells in treating degenerative diseases..."

Once again, the negative opinion/prejudice of the writer of the article is apparent. WHY is the word alternative enclosed in parentheses (in both the article title AND text, no less)? The leftists even push their propaganda position by the way the punctuate sentences!!

[RJCogburn]

which some say could be as effective as embryonic stem cells

Could be. We will not know until the research is done, including research on embryonic cells.

[MHGinTN]

RJ, why is the research not being conducted on other higher mammaloan models using their embryonic stem cells first?... The goal is to discover how to bring about targeted differentiation, so why not discover how it occurs using the embryos of other higher mammals, then use the techniques to selectively differentiate either the cord blood stem cells or stem cells from the patient? Why kill the mebryos for their stem cells? The organ from which cord blood is harvested was built by the newly conceived embryo, so the stem cells there are from the embryo without having to kill the individual human being.

Newly posted on my profile page is an essay addressing a reason for not euthanizing human embryos, for anyone interested in that line of argument. Some of the discussion lines are found in two essays now available in the right hand margin of the browse page, but the essay posted on my profile page is more precise and goes much further in the debate.

[MHGinTN]

Pinging my list, for what it's worth

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[cgk]

Thank you for the ping, unspun ;)... pinging the "list."

(apologies for any dupe pings...)

[cgk]

I'm reminded of giving birth to my 9 month old. When she was born and they cut the cord (dad had shaky hands) ;)... they filled a vial with cord blood. I asked the doctor what they were doing, and she said "testing"... They then handed me the baby and I admit I let it slip away because I finally got to hold her.
I've wondered about it since, and asked the doctors later at check-ups; they said they save the cord blood to test for any genetic "anomalies" (sp?) that may only show in cord blood.

[cherry_bomb88]

Thanks for the ping, cgk...I think unspun forgot me!!! :^P

This is great news...well, we already knew it, but it's great that people are making themselves be heard about it!

[AdmSmith]

Dr. John McDonald of the Washington University School of Medicine's neurology department said that no area of research, including embryonic stem cells, should be limited, adding, "It's entirely too early to rule out any one of these areas of research in favor of any other"

He is correct.

[MHGinTN]

The July, 2003 edition of Discover Magazine has interesting information on the range of testing you refer to. The cover leads with "Now the Genetic Testing Really Begins ... It Starts With a Single Drop of Blood Taken From Each Newborn". Harvesting the cord blood may well be for 'lab testing' but not necessarily for your baby.

[cgk]

:( See that's why I still remember THAT from giving birth. Because I was nervous about them taking blood from her for THEIR use and not hers, or mine. That whole cannibal thing on a side level. I wish belatedly I had just asked for it. Though I'm sure they would have pointed me to some paper I signed for hospital admissions (UCLA no less), where I granted permission for them to take it.

Before I even gave birth I was reading ads on the baby pages about Saving Your Baby's Cord Blood: Banks and such. I looked into one, but it was beyond our financial situation.

[MHGinTN]

Your baby made that cord blood in her own 'self-constructed' placenta. During the course of her life in your womb, she made lots of blood, both for inside her developing survial mechanism (for when she would be exiting your womb) and for her own survival while in your womb, to receive nourishment and exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide through your life giving body. That her cord blood may help others born and unborn is a good thing.

I'm trying to find out if there is extensive research using the discarded placentas! Think of what an amazing trick your baby accomplished to protect herself from tissue rejection by your body when she was but an early embryonic functioning integrated whole human being!

[cgk]

That her cord blood may help others born and unborn is a good thing.

Thank you. I feel better just reading that. I hope and pray that is what it can and will be used for.

[MHGinTN]

With UCLA's medical school, never doubt it!