Source: Associated Press
Posted: December 12, 2007 1:45 PM CST
Summary:
The Associated Press reports on a new study in which modfied adult stem cells taken from muscular dystrophy patients reduced symptoms of the diseases when they were transplanted in to mice with the disease:
"Modified stem cells from muscular dystrophy patients eased symptoms of the disease in mice, says a small study that raises hopes for treating patients with tissue from their own bodies. The mice showed stronger muscles and ran longer on a treadmill than diseased mice that weren't treated.
Results of the study demonstrated the adult stem cells increased muscle strength in the mice, but not to levels of mice that did not have muscular dystrophy:
"Lab tests showed that leg muscles removed from the treated mice were stronger than those from untreated mice, although they remained weaker than normal. A treadmill study of four mice found that the treatment prolonged running time before exhaustion, but again not to the level of healthy mice."
