Extraordinary Breakthroughs in Stem Cell Research

I've been writing about stem cell research for some time now. It is the area of medicine that holds the greatest promise of a cure for a vast number of diseases from back injuries to Alzheimer's and diabetes. It has also been the focus of a lot of controversy. Because when the research first began, the only lines of stem cells that we had were fetal stem cells from aborted babies.

But there have been recent discoveries of using adult stem cells for the same purposes. Some researchers are even looking into pig stem cells and adult sperm cells to make insulin. So I see a day in the near future where everybody can get behind the life-saving stem cell research, no matter what their religious beliefs are.

Here's the latest news on the stem cell research front according to Medical News today:

"An explosion of stem cell breakthroughs, including a possible cure for AIDS, is reshaping the possibilities for curing deadly and debilitating diseases around the globe, says Emerging Healthcare Solutions President and CEO Cindy Morrissey. Recently, a stunning report emerged in the journal Blood detailing an AIDS patient who underwent a stem cell transplant and has apparently been cured of the disease."

There was also an unexpected result for this patient, the stem cells also cured his leukemia as well. These types of breakthroughs in previously incurable disease are becoming almost routine around the world.

It makes you wonder what disease will have the next breakthrough. But in all of these cases, further research is needed before they are approved. Such complex and rewarding research always carries with it the possibility of unexpected side effects and other disease, such as cancer from runaway cells.

One thing is certain, if any of these stem cell treatments get FDA approval, then there will be a tremendous demand for companies that produce the stem cells. The fear here is that we will not be able to produce enough stem cell lines to satisfy all of the demand in the future.

But stem cell treatments haven't been the only breakthroughs in the medical field. There is something called the Rutherford Procedure that uses proton beams to destroy scar cells in the liver without harming the nearby healthy tissue. It is far more effective than using radiation, which destroys a lot more healthy tissue.

As the damaged cells in the liver are destroyed, the patient's own stem cells will be put into the liver through a catheter. As more and more old cells are replaced by the stem cells, the patient may end up with a new, healthy liver. Similar procedures like this may eventually replace the need for transplanted organs.

Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/211945.php