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For the first time ever, stem cells from umbilical cords have been converted into other types of cells, which may eventually lead to new treatment options for spinal cord injuries and multiple sclerosis, among other nervous system diseases.  “This is the first time this has been done with non-embryonic stem cells,” says James Hickman, a University of Central Florida bioengineer and leader of the research group, whose accomplishment is described in the Jan. 18 issue of the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience.“We’re very excited about where this could lead because it overcomes many of the obstacles present with embryonic stem cells.” ...

American scientists have developed 'artificial' blood that could soon be used to treat wounded soldiers in battle.The genetically-engineered blood is created by  taking cells from umbilical cords and using a machine to mimic the way bone marrow works to produce mass quantities of usable units of red blood cells.Known as 'blood pharming' the programme was launched in 2008 by the Pentagon's experimental arm, Darpa, to create blood to treat soldiers in far-flung battlefields. The firm Arteriocyte, which received $1.95 million for the project, has now sent off its first shipment of O-negative blood to the food and drugs watchdog in...

After birth, the umbilical cord and placenta are usually discarded as waste. But, the umbilical cord holds something extremely precious—stem cells. These stem cells have become standard therapy for serious diseases such as leukemia, multiple myeloma, and other immune system diseases (1). These stem cells are valuable because of their ability to develop into almost any type of cell in the body. Parents have two cord blood banking options. The first option is preserving your child’s stem cells in a private bank so the cells are available for the family’s personal use. The initial fees range between $1000-$3000. There are...

MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. — When 9-year-old Kacie Sallee saw her father's face more clearly for the first time in her life, she had a question. "She said, 'Is that what he looks like?'" said her mother, Marinda Sallee. Kacie, who is blind, returned last week from China, where she received umbilical-cord stem cell treatment in hopes of improving her eyesight. The nearly four-week trip and medical treatment was paid through $60,000 in local donations. Kacie was born with septo-optic dysplasia, an underdevelopment of the optic nerve and pituitary gland. She could see bright colors out of her right eye but...

(BEIJING) — They're paralyzed from diving accidents and car crashes, disabled by Parkinson's, or blind. With few options available at home in America, they search the Internet for experimental treatments — and often land on Web sites promoting stem cell treatments in China. They mortgage their houses and their hometowns hold fundraisers as they scrape together the tens of thousands of dollars needed for travel and the hope for a miracle cure. A number of these medical tourists claim some success when they return home: Jim Savage, a Houston man with paralysis from a spinal cord injury, says he can...

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Scientists are preparing for a large clinical trial in 2008 which aims to use stem cells to help 400 patients with spinal cord injuries in Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan grow new cells and nerve fibers. Stem cells from umbilical cord blood will be injected into the spinal cords of the participants, who will also be given lithium to help stimulate cell regeneration, said Wise Young, a leading neuroscientist and spinal cord injury researcher. "What we'd like to do is study a broad range of patients, not just (those with) complete (spinal cord injuries)," said...

A major breakthrough in cancer research may save a Fort Campbell soldier's life.  An anonymous person had donated stem cells from umbilical cord blood. That donation led to only the second adult stem cell transplant in the state. For Army Cpl. Charles Dougherty, however, it was a chance to reclaim the life he lost due to leukemia. “I'm a combat engineer for the U.S. Army. We do demolitions and mine clearance,” Dougherty said.  Dougherty had to leave the job he loves. “For him not to be able to do his job. I know it's hard on him,” his wife, Crystal...

Shenzhen Beike Biotechnology Co., Ltd. announced the successful treatment of two similar spinal cord injury patients using two different procedures that involved umbilical cord stem cells. One method involved surgical transplantation of stem cells directly into the spinal cord, while the other patient received the stem cells without surgery. The announcement was made following a two month rehabilitation and evaluation period by physicians in the patients' native countries of the U.S.A. and Romania. Details can be found on the news website, http://www.stemcellschina.com. Treatments with umbilical cord blood stem cells have been performed for years for patients with leukemia and other...

Stem cells have gone mainstream. Companies are marketing their stem cell storage facilities as a prudent private investment.   A local tooth stem cell bank is open for business, offering to extract and store stem cells from children's lost baby teeth. Umbilical cord banking is also marketed directly to consumers. Cord blood is a rich source of stem cells, possibly rivaling that found in bone marrow. Expectant parents can arrange to store the blood from their newborn's umbilical cord in case the child ever requires stem cell treatment.   In contrast to private banks, parents can donate cord blood to public banks...

In health, a growing number of families are investing in a potential lifeline that comes with a new born baby and Medical Reporter Stephanie Stahl has the details. When a baby is born, families can save blood from the umbilical cord that can be a treatment for a variety of diseases and it's been a life saver for some.  Twelve-year-old Brandyn Orr is healthy today, but as a toddler he had leukemia.  "He fought tooth and nail in the beginning," said Brandyn's mother, Susan Jarvis-Orr.  Years of chemotherapy led to remission but, "Brandyn relapsed," said Susan. He needed a stem...

TORONTO, February 9, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Umbilical cords continue to surprise researchers as an abundant source of stem cells. Today’s Toronto Star reports that a group of scientists at the University of Toronto have discovered what they are calling the ‘jack-pot’ of stem cells in a mass of jelly found inside the umbilical cord. "We're very excited by this, that's for sure," said J.E. Davies, of the UofT's Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering. The source, known as Wharton's Jelly, surrounds the three umbilical cord blood vessels connecting the fetus and mother. The Toronto researchers used umbilical cords donated from...

Adult stem cells multiply reliably, Children's study finds Hospital's research indicates post-natal cells may work as well as embryonic Thursday, June 23, 2005 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Scientists at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh announced today that they have discovered that adult, or post-natal, stem cells have the same ability as embryonic stem cells to multiply. Calling it a previously unknown characteristic, they said it indicates that post-natal stem cells may play an important therapeutic role. In a news release, the hospital said "adult and post-natal stem cells are often overlooked in favor of embryonic stem cells in the national debate over the...

Paraplegic breakthrough using adult stem cells Apparent major breakthrough with patient paralyzed 19 years Posted: September 28, 2005 1:00 a.m. Eastern © 2005 WorldNetDaily.com In an apparent major breakthrough, scientists in Korea report using umbilical cord blood stem cells to restore feeling and mobility to a spinal-cord injury patient. The research, published in the peer-reviewed journal Cythotherapy, centered on a woman who had been a paraplegic 19 years due to an accident. After an infusion of umbilical cord blood stem cells, stunning results were recorded: "The patient could move her hips and feel her hip skin on day 15 after...

Family pins hopes for son on stem-cell shotsTIJUANA, Mexico — Slowly, patiently, Dr. Fernando Ramirez del Rio slides on a pair of latex gloves.A nurse tips a 1-inch long vial out of a Ziploc bag and into his palm. It's frozen and white. Ramirez says it contains about 1.8 million stem cells. He says it will take about 10 minutes to thaw the tube using the warmth of his hands. He then has 20 minutes to use the cells before they spoil.He passes the vial to Judy Susser, who looks nervous. She takes it, rolls it between her hands. Then...

INVERNESS, Scotland, November 18, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A British teen who has multiple sclerosis now claims she is walking after umbilical cord stem cell therapy she traveled abroad to receive. Wheelchair-bound since 2003, 19 year-old Amanda Bryson told The Herald that she has been walking daily since immediately after her treatment from a private clinic in the Netherlands Friday. Believed to be the only British beneficiary of the umbilical cord stem cell therapy, Bryson said this week, "It sounds shocking, but I could feel the difference after just five minutes. Since the treatment I have been transformed. I am doing...

Adult stem-cell research may lead one day to cures for terminal and debilitating diseases "I hope we will always be guided by both intellect and heart, by both our capabilities and our conscience." -President George W. Bush1 Few areas of scientific study hold as much potential as adult stem-cell research. This research is already generating medical breakthroughs and treatments for debilitating diseases and disabilities, such as spinal cord injuries, sickle cell anemia and Parkinson's. Indeed, scientists laud stem-cell treatments as the "miracle cure" of the 21st century. Unlike so many areas of biotechnology, adult stem cells do not spark a...

SHENZHEN, China, March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Shenzhen Beike Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has announced the successful treatment with umbilical cord stem cells of the youngest stroke patient ever to undergo such a procedure. The announcement was made following a two-month evaluation period by physicians in her native country, Hungary, to verify the positive results. Starting from October 28th, Beike provided umbilical cord stem cells to the Nanshan People's Hospital for the treatment of a four-month-old Hungarian baby girl named Timea Gresco, who had suffered a stroke when she was delivered three months prematurely. Umbilical cord stem cells were delivered intravenously over...

Legislators who view embryonic stem cell research as human cloning won first-round approval Thursday in the House for a proposal to encourage alternatives in finding cures for diseases. The measure would set up new state funds to finance research with adult stem cells or blood from newborns' umbilical cords, then grant a tax break to Kansans who contribute to either fund. Backers couldn't say how much the tax breaks would cost but hope to attract millions of dollars in contributions. The House voted 71-46 to add the proposal to an unrelated bill. Another voice vote advanced the amended legislation to...

A couple of weeks ago Wake Forest University physicians described the first human recipients of a laboratory-grown organ. In the prestigious medical journal "The Lancet," Dr. Anthony Atala, director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine, detailed a series of patients (children and teenagers) who received urinary bladders grown from their own cells. WHAAAAT? Did somebody say "laboratory organs?!" Yes. Perhaps like you, the first reaction of some who heard the news was, “why would anyone need a new bladder?” Well, many infants are born with congenital birth defects a very serous one is spina bifida (incomplete closure of the spine)....

A Ho-Ho-Kus boy's stem cells could help scientists find a better treatment for juvenile diabetes.  Doctors have been injecting Liam Tencza with stem cells taken from the umbilical cord blood his parents saved when he was born seven years ago. The hope is that the stem cells can slow – or even stop -- the progress of his diabetes.  Seven other diabetic children are receiving similar transplants of stem cells from their own umbilical cords in a national pilot study at the University of Florida.  There is no cure for juvenile, or type 1, diabetes, which afflicts more than 1.5...