Stem cells/growing a new kidney

[KT0930]

Angela, while I see your point, I'm more willing to accept it on an "over many generations" level than when it's talking about me as an individual. Personally, when I hear they're able to grow a kidney out of my own cells (or whatever cells they have), I'll be the first in line! A transplant without the immunosuppressants and no chance of rejection, woo-hoo! Count me in!!

[paris]

KTO930---I am right behind you in that line!   

[LightLizard]

recent research in the states and japan have revealed a new method of obtaining stem cells that does not endanger a living fetus, but is derived and developed from human skin.
this frees up the funding for further research in the countries that previously resisted the forward movement of stem cell research due to the moral issues that embyonic stem cell research has been burdened with.

more cause for hope.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/11/20/stem.cells.skin/index.html

love

~LL~

[Zach]

recent research in the states and japan have revealed a new method of obtaining stem cells that does not endanger a living fetus, but is derived and developed from human skin.

I always knew those pimples were good for something!
 

[Chris]

Wonder if that is what I got a glimpse of on the news last night before getting interrupted.

[okarol]

See story here http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=5926.0

[stauffenberg]

Most estimates I have seen about when stem cell therapy will become an everyday clinical reality in the treatment of disease say we will have to wait another 50 years or so.  Keep in mind that medicine advances at such a glacially slow pace, that even once a new therapy has become obvious and easy in the view of anyone with ordinary common sense, it will take medical science at least 20 years to develop it to the final standard of 'safety and effectiveness' for the FDA to approve its use in patients.

Take the example of benfotiamine, a harmless pill derived from thiamine, which is so safe that it does not even require a prescription.  It has been available over-the-counter in Japan and Europe since 1959, and was discovered in 2003 to prevent the development of diabetic complications, which are among the most devastating causes of morbidity and mortality in the developed world today.  Well, here we are, five years later, and the drug is still not available for treating diabetics in the US, and most diabetologists and endocrinologists in the US have never even heard of it!

As for the use of human embryonic stem cells being immoral, I think that rests on a mistake about how our culture values potential human life.  Millions of fertilized ova and primordia are lost every year in the US from the spontaneous detachment of cells from the lining of the uterus, and yet this is not regarded as the major cause of death in America, as it would be if we really thought of those things as living people.  We don't hold funerals for those detached ova, we don't go into mourning as they pour down the toilet, drowning horribly, and not a penny of medical research funds is devoted to reducing the problem.  In short, we simply do not consider acorns to be oak trees.

[angela515]

As for the use of human embryonic stem cells being immoral, I think that rests on a mistake about how our culture values potential human life.  Millions of fertilized ova and primordia are lost every year in the US from the spontaneous detachment of cells from the lining of the uterus, and yet this is not regarded as the major cause of death in America, as it would be if we really thought of those things as living people.  We don't hold funerals for those detached ova, we don't go into mourning as they pour down the toilet, drowning horribly, and not a penny of medical research funds is devoted to reducing the problem.  In short, we simply do not consider acorns to be oak trees.

Exactly.

[BigSky]

As for the use of human embryonic stem cells being immoral, I think that rests on a mistake about how our culture values potential human life.  Millions of fertilized ova and primordia are lost every year in the US from the spontaneous detachment of cells from the lining of the uterus, and yet this is not regarded as the major cause of death in America, as it would be if we really thought of those things as living people.  We don't hold funerals for those detached ova, we don't go into mourning as they pour down the toilet, drowning horribly, and not a penny of medical research funds is devoted to reducing the problem.  In short, we simply do not consider acorns to be oak trees.

Yet in over 20 years of them trying to use embryonic stem cells they have failed to show they cure anything.  Cures and treatments to date from stem cells have come from adult stem cells.  It may seem taht embryonic cells are not all they are claimed to be.

[Phillip_20]

Hmmm... this is QUITE interesting. However, I have questions that I'm not sure can be answered lol

[Neo]

Being on dialysis, as most of you are. I pray for the day they discover a way to give us a kidney without having to take rejection medication. I hope they explore all the option embryonic and adult stem cells hopefully will be available for scientists with the adequate funding so that they have just as much resources as Scientists in other countries.

[Wallyz]

In the meantime, I hope you all will support Transplant Candidates Against Mandatory Motorcycle Helmet Laws in an effort to increase the donor population.

[LightLizard]

stem cell research took another step forward yesterday when a hospital in Toronto announced that researchers have found a way to deliver stem cells without using a virus, as was done previously. lookin good. hang in there, gang!
 

[RightSide]

In the meantime, I hope you all will support Transplant Candidates Against Mandatory Motorcycle Helmet Laws in an effort to increase the donor population.

Another way to increase the donor population is to ask all your neighbors and co-workers to buy those Smart Fortwo minicars.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety did some test crashes of the Smart Fortwo against a regular-sized sedan, and found that the crash sent the Smart Fortwo "airborne."

The Smart Fortwo:  The ideal car for kidney donors.

[LightLizard]

http://singularityhub.com/2009/06/08/growing-organs-in-the-lab/

 

[Des]

off topic........ (sorry)

I don't feel comfortable in supporting something to make people die in a way that their brains are damaged.

I don't want to promote killing machines..... just too weird. 

[LightLizard]

off topic........ (sorry)

I don't feel comfortable in supporting something to make people die in a way that their brains are damaged.

I don't want to promote killing machines..... just too weird.

?? are you actually talking about something? pretty random statement.
cars are killing machines, you know.

[Hanify]

I think Rightside was being sarcastic...

[Chris]

Hanify I think it was Des' statement.
As far as I have read about stem cells, there are many different methods to get stem cells. Some use embryonic stem cells from old donor eggs, stem cells from the umbilical cord, and adult stem cells. What's got people up in arms is the embryonic stem cells. There was two different ways of getting those, but now days the most common I am reading about is the ones used from donor eggs from fertility clinic that would basically be thrown out due  to either age, person no longer wants them saved, or a malfunction in the cooling system, but still can be used for other medical purposes. The argument there is that people consider that they are still killing an unborn child and thus the argument begins.

[Des]

In the meantime, I hope you all will support Transplant Candidates Against Mandatory Motorcycle Helmet Laws in an effort to increase the donor population.

Another way to increase the donor population is to ask all your neighbors and co-workers to buy those Smart Fortwo minicars.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety did some test crashes of the Smart Fortwo against a regular-sized sedan, and found that the crash sent the Smart Fortwo "airborne."

The Smart Fortwo:  The ideal car for kidney donors.

?? are you actually talking about something? pretty random statement.
cars are killing machines, you know.

Yes I was talking about the "something"  rightside posted see above quote.
Not so randum as I think as I was replying to a post? I know cars are killing machines but supporting one specific model because it guaranteed no protection when you have an accident so that somebody can get a kidney .....?

[Des]

I think Rightside was being sarcastic...

Hanify.... I thought so too... but the thought of it was just weird.

[sico]

I hope this becomes reality in my lifetime. When i was going to hospital for HD 3x4hrs a week, a dear old lady in there told me i should seriously think about staying on dialysis until this happens. She said 'you're young and dialysis ain't that bad'.

[Nobbzee]

Being on dialysis, as most of you are. I pray for the day they discover a way to give us a kidney without having to take rejection medication. I hope they explore all the option embryonic and adult stem cells hopefully will be available for scientists with the adequate funding so that they have just as much resources as Scientists in other countries.

You know, I was just reading that Stanford and one other clinic have had trials where they not only get a kidney from the donor but also stem cells from the donor's bone marrow (no worries about embryonic stem cells here). Before the transplant, the donor's stems cells are injected into the recipient. The gist of it is that the recipieint's immune system is transformed so that it will not see the new organ as a hostile body. By the way, this stem cell treatment isn't just being done for kidneys but for other organ transplants as well.

After six months, doctors were able to entirely ween the patient off all immunosuppressive drugs.
I hope this becomes done more and more.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080123125623.htm

[Hanify]

This is the kind of medical breakthrough I'm looking towards!  I would have a much better chance of being allowed a transplant if there aren't immunosuppressants involved.  Imagine that!  These people who give their lives to this research are amazing.  As well as the people that let them try things on them!

[Nobbzee]

This is the link to the Stanford study where the donor doesn't even have to be a relative and the recipient can be taken off immunosuppressant drugs after receiving stem cell treatment.

http://news.stanford.edu/news/2002/april24/kidney-424.html

Stanford is recruiting candidates for a clinical trial too.

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00319657