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Stem Cells For Kidney Failure from AlloCure

Repairing kidneys with stem cellsUtah researchers are testing whether they can safely inject adult stem cells into patients to prevent and treat acute kidney failure.

Intermountain Medical Center and AlloCure, a Utah-based biotech company, have teamed up to test AlloCure's patented cells in patients who have had open-heart surgery. That kind of major operation can lead to acute kidney injury, which can be deadly. "These cells enable an organ to defend itself against injury," said Christof Westenfelder, AlloCure's chief medical officer.

The researchers are recruiting 15 patients in what they say is the first use of adult stem cells for such kidney problems. The cells are obtained from healthy adult donors' bone marrow. AlloCure grows and processes them in a lab, making them essentially invisible to the patient's immune system so that the patient and donor don't have to match blood or tissue types.

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Drugs that Reverse Liver Cirrhosis

drugsScientists in Japan have designed artificial molecules which, when used in rats, successfully reversed liver cirrhosis.

Cirrhosis is the hardening or scarring of the liver, and is caused by factors such as heavy drinking and Hepatitis B and C. The disease is especially serious in parts of Asia, including China.

Cirrhosis occurs when a class of liver cells starts producing collagen, a fibrous material that toughens skin and tendons. Such damage cannot be reversed although steps can be taken to prevent further damage. In advanced cases, transplants are the only way out.

Read more: Drugs that Reverse Liver Cirrhosis


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Transplanting Animal Hearts

heart

Xenotransplantation, the process of transplanting organs from one species into another, could soon be reality, easing the current shortage of organs for transplantation.

In 2005 Dr. Warrens, from Imperial College London and Hammersmith Hospital, says: "Although the idea of xenotransplantation is far from new, it is only in recent years that many of the potential immunological problems, such as transplant rejection, have been solved, meaning the process of transplanting organs from one species into another, could soon be a reality."

With the increasing shortage of donors for organ transplants, the use of animal organs may be the only hope for many suffering from problems such as heart failure.

Despite the progress made in this field there are still a number of problems associated with transplanting animal organs into humans. The dangers of animal viruses crossing over and infecting humans are still a cause for concern, as researchers have been unable to create an animal model to test the likelihood and extent of any cross over.

In addition, unknown animal pathogens could prove a potential problem. While scientists can create treatment and transplant rejection prevention strategies for known human pathogens, they are unable to do so for animal pathogens, whose effects on humans may not be fully known.

Dr Warrens adds: "Despite the risks, xenotransplantation may be the best hope we have for dealing with the current transplant shortage.

Source: Imperial College London


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Growing New Gums With Stem Cells

regenerating gums

Scientists had predicted since the 1970s that gum tissue could contain its own specific stem cells, but until recently, limited technology had failed to show such cells.

In July 2007 US scientists at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), isolated human postnatal stem cells directly from the periodontal ligament, the fibrous, net-like tendon that holds our teeth in their sockets. These stem cells turned out to actually form periodontal ligament and cementum when transplanted into mice. The cells even produced fibrous structures similar to the so called Sharpey's fibers, which insert into both cementum and bone to hold teeth in place.

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Liver Stem Cell Treatments

There are still several issues when it comes to implanting stem cells in human livers, and scientists say that current problems have been related to immunological reactions against the cells as well as difficulty with how to introduce the stem cells into the liver. However now a novel protein marker has been found that identifies rare adult liver stem cells, whose ability to regenerate injured liver tissue has the potential for cell-replacement therapy.

In the United States, Dr. Fausto and his team of research scientists are trying to identify stem cells in human livers that could be used to help people with liver failure. They are hoping to find a cell that is a stem cell for the liver, and to inject those cells and repopulate livers that have been injured. "The idea is if you could have cells that could be introduced into the patient, it could either be a permanent solution to help the liver regenerate itself or at least serve as a bridge until transplantation can be done" says Dr. Fausto.

Read more: Liver Stem Cell Treatments


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