Source: The Times
Posted: November 9, 2006
Summary:
British scientists have enabledmake blind mice see by transplanting retinal cells into mice that were blind as a result of a genetic defect, the effects of which are very similar to the human disease retinitis pigmentosa. The breakthrough that could open the way to treating millions of people who lose their sight.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Cell Transplants Restore Sight in Blind Mice
Source: Washington Post
Posted: November 9, 2006
Summary:
Scientists reported that blind mice regained some ability to see after getting transplants of cells taken from the eyes of other mice, strengthening the prospect that it may someday be possible to restore vision in some people who have lost most or all of their eyesight. They said the new study showed for the first time that light-detecting retina cells -- which in this case were taken from other animals but which scientists have begun to grow from human embryonic stem cells -- can orient themselves properly after being injected into a blind eye, connect to other nerve cells and communicate appropriately with visual centers in the brain.
Commentary: if further studies in animals are successful and the results can be safely and successfully replicated in humans, this discovery might eventually lead to treatments for eye diseases and disorders.
Posted: November 9, 2006
Summary:
Scientists reported that blind mice regained some ability to see after getting transplants of cells taken from the eyes of other mice, strengthening the prospect that it may someday be possible to restore vision in some people who have lost most or all of their eyesight. They said the new study showed for the first time that light-detecting retina cells -- which in this case were taken from other animals but which scientists have begun to grow from human embryonic stem cells -- can orient themselves properly after being injected into a blind eye, connect to other nerve cells and communicate appropriately with visual centers in the brain.
Commentary: if further studies in animals are successful and the results can be safely and successfully replicated in humans, this discovery might eventually lead to treatments for eye diseases and disorders.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Cells implanted in mice light path for restoring vision
Source: New York Times News Service
Posted: November 8, 2006 11:14 PM CST
Summary:
British researchers announced that they have restored vision in mice by implanting light-sensing cells that provide night vision, known as "rods," from a healthy mouse into blind ones. The procedure is a groundbreaking experiment that might eventually be able to restore sight to people with visual impairments. The researchers also believe a similar method could also be used to replace the cells that provide daytime color vision.
Posted: November 8, 2006 11:14 PM CST
Summary:
British researchers announced that they have restored vision in mice by implanting light-sensing cells that provide night vision, known as "rods," from a healthy mouse into blind ones. The procedure is a groundbreaking experiment that might eventually be able to restore sight to people with visual impairments. The researchers also believe a similar method could also be used to replace the cells that provide daytime color vision.
Treating Heart Attack Patients With Their Own Stem Cells
Source: Medical News Today
Posted: 08 Nov 2006 - 10:00am (PST)
Summary:
British scientists are conducting a trial to determine whether a heart attack patient's own bone marrow stem cells can be injected back into him/her to repair the damaged heart muscle. The stem cells would be injected into the patient within five hours of the heart attack. Researchers believe the experiment will avoid ethical controversy commonly associated with embryonic stem cell research and the chances of immune rejection will be minimized since the patient's own cells will be used in the trial.
Commentary: Successful results from this trial could lead to further human trials of this procedure and possibly an eventual stem cell treatment for heart attack.
Posted: 08 Nov 2006 - 10:00am (PST)
Summary:
British scientists are conducting a trial to determine whether a heart attack patient's own bone marrow stem cells can be injected back into him/her to repair the damaged heart muscle. The stem cells would be injected into the patient within five hours of the heart attack. Researchers believe the experiment will avoid ethical controversy commonly associated with embryonic stem cell research and the chances of immune rejection will be minimized since the patient's own cells will be used in the trial.
Commentary: Successful results from this trial could lead to further human trials of this procedure and possibly an eventual stem cell treatment for heart attack.
'Stunning' breakthrough in search for blindness cure
Source: Manchester Evening News - Manchester, UK
Posted: November 8, 2006
Summary:
British researchers restored sight to blind mice by implanting immature "precursor" cells into their eyes. The cells then developed into fully functioning, cells specialized to sense or receive light called photoreceptors. The researchers are calling the study a "stunning" breakthrough that could lead to the same result in humans.
Posted: November 8, 2006
Summary:
British researchers restored sight to blind mice by implanting immature "precursor" cells into their eyes. The cells then developed into fully functioning, cells specialized to sense or receive light called photoreceptors. The researchers are calling the study a "stunning" breakthrough that could lead to the same result in humans.
Blind mice could help humans regain sight
Source: The Times
Posted: November 08, 2006
Summary:
British scientists have enabled blind mice to see, successfully transplanted retinal cells into mice that were blind as a result of a genetic defect, the effects of which are very similar to the human disease retinitis pigmentosa. The treated mice regained some vision, and scientists showed that the transplanted cells integrated into the retina and formed new photoreceptors, the cells that are sensitive to light. The finding could lead to treatments for millions of people who lose their sight.
Posted: November 08, 2006
Summary:
British scientists have enabled blind mice to see, successfully transplanted retinal cells into mice that were blind as a result of a genetic defect, the effects of which are very similar to the human disease retinitis pigmentosa. The treated mice regained some vision, and scientists showed that the transplanted cells integrated into the retina and formed new photoreceptors, the cells that are sensitive to light. The finding could lead to treatments for millions of people who lose their sight.
Transplanted photoreceptor precursor cells restore visual function in mice with retinal degeneration: U-M & London team says technique has implication
Source: University of Michigan Health System
Date: November 8, 2006
Summary:
Scientists have successfully transplanted light-sensing cells called photoreceptors directly into the eyes of mice and restored their visual function. The achievement is based on a new technology in which the cells are introduced at a particular stage in their development. The team of scientists found that transplanted photoreceptor precursor cells survived and became integrated into the mouse retina--and that the technique succeeded because the cells were isolated when they had reached a certain level of maturity. The technology represents a breakthrough in transplantation-based therapies for neuro-degenerative diseases. It suggests that scientists may need to introduce changes in stem cells in order for them to become highly specialized neurons.
Commentary: Maybe this finding will provide scientists with a basis to eventually develop specialize neurons to treat eye diseases and disorders as well as other neurological disorders and conditions.
Date: November 8, 2006
Summary:
Scientists have successfully transplanted light-sensing cells called photoreceptors directly into the eyes of mice and restored their visual function. The achievement is based on a new technology in which the cells are introduced at a particular stage in their development. The team of scientists found that transplanted photoreceptor precursor cells survived and became integrated into the mouse retina--and that the technique succeeded because the cells were isolated when they had reached a certain level of maturity. The technology represents a breakthrough in transplantation-based therapies for neuro-degenerative diseases. It suggests that scientists may need to introduce changes in stem cells in order for them to become highly specialized neurons.
Commentary: Maybe this finding will provide scientists with a basis to eventually develop specialize neurons to treat eye diseases and disorders as well as other neurological disorders and conditions.
Retinal Transplant Restores Vision in Mice: Transplanting stem cells into retinas replaces light-sensitive photoreceptors that have been lost to eye d
Source: MIT Technology Review
Posted: November 08, 2006
Summary:
British scientists have successfully transplanted the first retinal cells into the eyes of mice, marking the first time that vision has been restored by transplanting light-sensitive photoreceptor cells. Previous efforts to do this have failed. According to the experiment's lead scientist, using stem cells that had stopped dividing and were beginning to actually turn into photoreceptors just before transplanting them into the host enabled the transplant to succeed. Other scientists are heralding the the experiment a signifcant advance toward eventually treating humans with visual diseases and impairments. However, some scientists caution that photoreceptor cells must be replaced in order to potentially treat people with these conditions.
Commentary: This advance could enable to further experiments transplanting light-sensitive photoreceptor cells in larger animals, which could eventually lead to experiments in humans.
Posted: November 08, 2006
Summary:
British scientists have successfully transplanted the first retinal cells into the eyes of mice, marking the first time that vision has been restored by transplanting light-sensitive photoreceptor cells. Previous efforts to do this have failed. According to the experiment's lead scientist, using stem cells that had stopped dividing and were beginning to actually turn into photoreceptors just before transplanting them into the host enabled the transplant to succeed. Other scientists are heralding the the experiment a signifcant advance toward eventually treating humans with visual diseases and impairments. However, some scientists caution that photoreceptor cells must be replaced in order to potentially treat people with these conditions.
Commentary: This advance could enable to further experiments transplanting light-sensitive photoreceptor cells in larger animals, which could eventually lead to experiments in humans.
Blindness cure breakthrough
Source: Press Association
Posted: November 8, 2006
Summary:
Scientists are contemplating the real possibility of curing blindness after demonstrating that destroyed retinas can be rebuilt. In a breakthrough described by one expert as "stunning", British researchers restored sight to blind mice. Although much more work needs to be done, they believe the same goal could one day be achieved in human patients.
Commentary: It will be important for these results to be safely and effectively replicated and in a large and diverse patient population monitored over a long period of time.
Posted: November 8, 2006
Summary:
Scientists are contemplating the real possibility of curing blindness after demonstrating that destroyed retinas can be rebuilt. In a breakthrough described by one expert as "stunning", British researchers restored sight to blind mice. Although much more work needs to be done, they believe the same goal could one day be achieved in human patients.
Commentary: It will be important for these results to be safely and effectively replicated and in a large and diverse patient population monitored over a long period of time.
Blind mice see again after cell transplants: Research could lead to new treatments of human eye diseases
Source: Reuters
Posted: 6:51 a.m. AKT Nov 8, 2006
Summary:
British and American scientists have restored vision in blind mice by transplanting light-sensitive cells into their eyes in a breakthrough that could lead to new treatments of human eye diseases. But instead of using stem cells, which could form into any cell type, the scientists transplanted cells that had reached a later stage of development towards becoming photoreceptor cells.
Posted: 6:51 a.m. AKT Nov 8, 2006
Summary:
British and American scientists have restored vision in blind mice by transplanting light-sensitive cells into their eyes in a breakthrough that could lead to new treatments of human eye diseases. But instead of using stem cells, which could form into any cell type, the scientists transplanted cells that had reached a later stage of development towards becoming photoreceptor cells.
Retinal transplants may help restore sight
Source: United Press International
Date: November 8, 2006
Summary:
British scientists have discovered non-dividing retinal cells implanted into adult mouse retina can generate new photoreceptors. The results, say the researchers, suggest precursor cells grown from human adult or embryonic stem cells might also serve to restore sight, and challenge the assumption that stem cells offer the best prospect for tissue repair.
Commentary: Maybe this finding will eventually lead to stem cell treatments for eye diseases and disorders in humans that avoid the ethical controversy that has been associated with embryonic stem cells.
Date: November 8, 2006
Summary:
British scientists have discovered non-dividing retinal cells implanted into adult mouse retina can generate new photoreceptors. The results, say the researchers, suggest precursor cells grown from human adult or embryonic stem cells might also serve to restore sight, and challenge the assumption that stem cells offer the best prospect for tissue repair.
Commentary: Maybe this finding will eventually lead to stem cell treatments for eye diseases and disorders in humans that avoid the ethical controversy that has been associated with embryonic stem cells.
Insulin Stem Cells Hold Hope for Diabetes Treatment: In study with mice, they also repaired damage to kidneys
Source: HealthDay News
Date: November 7, 2006
Summary:
Stem cells might one day pack a one-two punch when it comes to treating people with diabetes. In a new study conducted with diabetic mice, human stem cells not only repaired insulin-producing cells in the rodents, they also fixed cells in damaged kidneys.
Date: November 7, 2006
Summary:
Stem cells might one day pack a one-two punch when it comes to treating people with diabetes. In a new study conducted with diabetic mice, human stem cells not only repaired insulin-producing cells in the rodents, they also fixed cells in damaged kidneys.
Stem cells help mice make insulin
Source: Bloomberg News
Posted: November 7, 2006
Summary:
Stem cells from adult human bone helped mice with diabetes make insulin, suggesting new treatments for the disease.
Commentary: It will be important to make sure these results can be successfully replicated in humans with diabetes and that the patients be monitored over a prolonged period of time in order to ensure that any treatments are both safe and effective.
Posted: November 7, 2006
Summary:
Stem cells from adult human bone helped mice with diabetes make insulin, suggesting new treatments for the disease.
Commentary: It will be important to make sure these results can be successfully replicated in humans with diabetes and that the patients be monitored over a prolonged period of time in order to ensure that any treatments are both safe and effective.
Adult Stem Cells May Treat Diabetes: In Lab Tests, Human Adult Stem Cells Increased Insulin in Mice With High Blood Sugar
Source: WebMD Medical News
Posted: November 8, 2006
Summary;
Studies on diabetic mice revealed that adult stem cells from human bone marrow may help treat type 2 diabetes. The researchers studied male mice with high blood sugar like that in type 2 diabetes. Half the mice received two injections of adult stem cells taken from human bone marrow. With their defective immune systems, the mice didn't reject the human cells.
For comparison, the other mice didn't get any injections. Over the next month or so, mice treated with stem cells made more insulin, a hormone that controls blood sugar. Stem cells turned up in the mice's pancreas, which makes insulin. The stem-cell treated mice also had less kidney damage than mice in the comparison group, the study shows. Diabetes can also cause kidney damage. Stem cells showed up in the mice's kidneys as well; the injected cells may have helped repair damage, the researchers say. From these results, researchers believe that stem cells could increase insulin production and repair or regenerate damaged or destroyed tissue in people with diabetes.
Commentary: If this fiding can be successfully replicated in a large and heterogenous patient population, it could lead to an effective treatment for adult-onset-or type 2-diabetes.
Posted: November 8, 2006
Summary;
Studies on diabetic mice revealed that adult stem cells from human bone marrow may help treat type 2 diabetes. The researchers studied male mice with high blood sugar like that in type 2 diabetes. Half the mice received two injections of adult stem cells taken from human bone marrow. With their defective immune systems, the mice didn't reject the human cells.
For comparison, the other mice didn't get any injections. Over the next month or so, mice treated with stem cells made more insulin, a hormone that controls blood sugar. Stem cells turned up in the mice's pancreas, which makes insulin. The stem-cell treated mice also had less kidney damage than mice in the comparison group, the study shows. Diabetes can also cause kidney damage. Stem cells showed up in the mice's kidneys as well; the injected cells may have helped repair damage, the researchers say. From these results, researchers believe that stem cells could increase insulin production and repair or regenerate damaged or destroyed tissue in people with diabetes.
Commentary: If this fiding can be successfully replicated in a large and heterogenous patient population, it could lead to an effective treatment for adult-onset-or type 2-diabetes.
Blind Mice See Again After Retinal Stem Cell Transplant
Source: Medical News Today
Posted: November 8, 2006 - 11:00am (PST)
Summary:
British scientists reported that blind mice regained their vision by observing that their pupils contracted when exposed to light after undergoing retinal stem cell transplants. The researchers believe this study could eventually lead to sight restoration for humans blinded by diabetes or age-related macular degeneration.
Posted: November 8, 2006 - 11:00am (PST)
Summary:
British scientists reported that blind mice regained their vision by observing that their pupils contracted when exposed to light after undergoing retinal stem cell transplants. The researchers believe this study could eventually lead to sight restoration for humans blinded by diabetes or age-related macular degeneration.
Researchers Map Protein Network that Regulates "Stemness"
Source: Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Date: November 8, 2006
Summary:
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) researchers have developed a map that charts the largely unexplored proteins that regulate a stem cell's ability to differentiate into multiple types of mature cells. Researchers believe that Understanding this protein network in greater detail could help stem cell biologists to coax mature cells to revert to an embryonic state. Reprogramming adult cells in this way could provide an alternative source of stem cells to use in regenerating tissues damaged by disease or trauma, instead of using embryonic cells.
Date: November 8, 2006
Summary:
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) researchers have developed a map that charts the largely unexplored proteins that regulate a stem cell's ability to differentiate into multiple types of mature cells. Researchers believe that Understanding this protein network in greater detail could help stem cell biologists to coax mature cells to revert to an embryonic state. Reprogramming adult cells in this way could provide an alternative source of stem cells to use in regenerating tissues damaged by disease or trauma, instead of using embryonic cells.
Retina Stem Cells May Restore Sight: Stem Cells Harvested in Later Stage of Development Restored Vision in Mice
Source: WebMD
Posted: November 8, 2006
Summary:
In a new study, retina stem cells harvested at a particular stage of development successfully restored visual function in mice affected by a common cause of blindness also found in humans, known as photoreceptor loss.
Posted: November 8, 2006
Summary:
In a new study, retina stem cells harvested at a particular stage of development successfully restored visual function in mice affected by a common cause of blindness also found in humans, known as photoreceptor loss.
Cell transplant may restore lost sight
Source: NewScientist.com news service
Posted: 08 November 2006
Summary:
British researchers have restored sight in blind mice by transplanting precursor retinal cells into their damaged eyes. When transplanted into the eyes of blind mice, the retinal precursor cells differentiated into rod cells and grew to make the short neural connections required to restore sight. The new procedure could eventually lead to a cure for age-related macular degeneration or blindness due to diabetes.
Commentary: Hopefully this research will be successfully replicated in humans and eventually lead to effective treatment for blindness and eye diseases.
Posted: 08 November 2006
Summary:
British researchers have restored sight in blind mice by transplanting precursor retinal cells into their damaged eyes. When transplanted into the eyes of blind mice, the retinal precursor cells differentiated into rod cells and grew to make the short neural connections required to restore sight. The new procedure could eventually lead to a cure for age-related macular degeneration or blindness due to diabetes.
Commentary: Hopefully this research will be successfully replicated in humans and eventually lead to effective treatment for blindness and eye diseases.
Vaccination with embryonic stem cells prevents lung cancer in mice
Source: European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer
Date: November 8, 2006
Summary:
Researchers have discovered that vaccinating mice with embryonic stem cells prevented lung cancer in those animals that had had cancer cells transplanted into them after the vaccination or that had been exposed to cancer-causing chemicals. The findings suggest that it could be possible to develop embryonic stem cell vaccines that prevent cancers in humans, such as hereditary breast and colon cancer and lung cancer caused by smoking or other environmental factors.
Commentary: Maybe further studies in larger animals will enable human studies using embryonic stem cells. However, it will be important for any results in humans to be replicated in a large and heterogenous patient population to ensure that treatments are both safe and effective.
Date: November 8, 2006
Summary:
Researchers have discovered that vaccinating mice with embryonic stem cells prevented lung cancer in those animals that had had cancer cells transplanted into them after the vaccination or that had been exposed to cancer-causing chemicals. The findings suggest that it could be possible to develop embryonic stem cell vaccines that prevent cancers in humans, such as hereditary breast and colon cancer and lung cancer caused by smoking or other environmental factors.
Commentary: Maybe further studies in larger animals will enable human studies using embryonic stem cells. However, it will be important for any results in humans to be replicated in a large and heterogenous patient population to ensure that treatments are both safe and effective.
New stem cell trial for heart attack patients
Source: Reuters
Posted: November 8, 2006 10:50 AM GMT
Summary:
British doctors announced plans to inject stem cells into heart attack patients in an experimental treatment aimed at preventing heart failure and deaths. The study will combine the normal treatment for a heart attack, along with the stem cell therapy. The scientists believe that if the therapy is delivered hours after an attack it can stop the damage to the heart. The doctors will monitor the patients to see if patients for six months after the procedure to see if they have an improved quality of life.
Commentary: If these trials are successful, the results could be a significant advance toward the development of an effective and widely used stem cell treatment for heart disease and heart attack patients.
Posted: November 8, 2006 10:50 AM GMT
Summary:
British doctors announced plans to inject stem cells into heart attack patients in an experimental treatment aimed at preventing heart failure and deaths. The study will combine the normal treatment for a heart attack, along with the stem cell therapy. The scientists believe that if the therapy is delivered hours after an attack it can stop the damage to the heart. The doctors will monitor the patients to see if patients for six months after the procedure to see if they have an improved quality of life.
Commentary: If these trials are successful, the results could be a significant advance toward the development of an effective and widely used stem cell treatment for heart disease and heart attack patients.
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