I just ran across this article from National Geographic News. The University of Minnesota conducted a research study on the effects of Umbilical Cord Stem Cells on rats who had suffered strokes. They found that these cells largely reversed the effect caused by a stroke. The rats were almost fully healed within 48 hrs. This study is disproving the theory that umbilical cord stem cells can only turn into blood cells. The stem cells were able to turn into brain cells and virtually cure the rats. The treatment did need to happen within a few hours after the stroke but was none the less effective. A benefit of cord blood stem cells is that unlike organ transplants where there has to be an exact match, stem cells just have to be “similar”. They are more forgiving for compatibility.
Dr. Low is an advacate of public banking. Minnesota’s Low says he would prefer parents donate cord blood to a central reserve that’s available to everyone, strengthening existing public banks. “To me, that makes more sense,” he said. “You make sort of a national cord-blood bank that everyone can deposit into and everyone can draw from.”
news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/04/0406_060406_cord_blood_2.html
No comments:
Post a Comment