Stem cells to repair damaged cells

[Dotanne]

I have just read in the newspaper about Britons halting the aging process by being injected with stem cells!!! Also available in Ecuador, Russia and Ukraine. Converts claim wrinkles can be ironed out and youth restored!!! One 57 year old says she feels 10 years younger!! Bit expensive though (15,000 pounds).
Maybe there is some hope for us with chopped nerves in our eyes!! Is there any research being done in this field for us dry eyed souls? They are doing research in NZ with stem cells to help paraplegics etc. Sounds great so I hope they get some limbs moving again.
Dot
PS Thanks Homes for the laugh!! I read the uncensored version. Made my day!! Love the pic. :)

[jcorbett]

Now, if they came out with something to make me look and feel ten years younger.....15,000 would be a bargain!!!
Now if it were only true....and 100% safe.......so skeptical......

[dianat]

I've been wondering about stem cell advances also. I'm pregnant and have considered freezing the cord blood from this pregnancy. I believe there are stem cells present in abundance in cord blood. Anybody ever heard of that before? I honestly think I might do it. It's quite expensive, and a bundle to spend on "junk science" which I fear could be the case. I also fear that it is not, and should I pass up the opportunity for my own use or my family's use...geez, I just don't know what to do. I'm willing to spend the $$ if I can convince myself it's for real.

I have six weeks (or less :rolleyes: ) to make up my mind...

[halfmoonbaygal]

Wow--6 weeks to go! My husband and I paid to have our grandchild's cord blood collected. It was our birth gift to India (now 8 months old). I've read a lot of research and some say it's a waste of time, while others say it saved their child's life. The potential of cord blood is unknown right now. Science may actually be able to develop some wonderful therapies--who knows what the future of this could hold? Also, it depends on what the disease is--if it's something genetic that the child is born with that expresses itself later, like sickle cell anemia for example, the cord blood won't be helpful because the disease is in the stem cells.

I finally decided that it's kinda like that extended warranty you get on computers and washing machines: if you don't buy it, you will need it. If you do buy it, you won't need it. Yes, it's expensive plus you have to pay $100 or so per year, but hey--think about all of the crap we spend money on! Also, if you use Cryocell, they send you a free stroller (well, not free exactly since we paid a good bit for the service).

Another thing (oh dear--maybe I should have sent a personal message?), make sure someone is responsible for that kit in the delivery room. That was my job and good thing, too. In the rush and excitement, the nurses forgot to collect it and I had to remind them--it was almost too late but it all worked out, fortunately.

So, happy gestating and that's my .02 cents,

Happy grandma in Half Moon Bay

[dianat]

HMBG,

You are correct in describing this cord blood thing like an extended warranty. That's exactly it. And it's not an easy decision to make. I am sensitive to things sounding better than what they really are. If I were a little less skeptical, I'd just do it. I have pamphlets from two companies to consider - one WAY more expensive than the other. I'm opting for the cheaper one if I opt at all.

Regarding the stroller...heck I could use one actually since I got rid of the one I have that survived my first two kids. It was recalled (and was dirty and disgusting, quite frankly). Still, I'd rather have the $100 discount on the stem cell enrollment and borrow the stroller from a friend.

See, I'm too darned practical. I guess I'll just sit here, gestate and hope the answer to this just comes to me.

Diana

[neil0502]

For what it's worth ....

My primary care ophthalmologist seems to (finally) recognize that my case revolves primarily around BAK-induced damage, likely explaining why I don't seem to show any improvement from any of the "conventional" therapies I've tried.

On Monday, he suggested that I begin to do some research into "penetrating keratoplasty" and "keratolimbal allograft"

This would BE a corneal transplant and a limbal stem-cell transplant. Here's a good basic primer on the subject:

http://www.isscr.org/public/eye.htm

Success rate looks ALL BUT promising.

A few more cites:

http://www.ijo.in/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=2005;volume=53;issue=1;spage=31;epage=35 ;aulast=Sangwan

http://www.sciencecases.org/cornea/cornea3.asp

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12093650&dopt=Abstract

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&db=PubMed&list_uids=12511357

http://www.crstoday.com/PDF%20Articles/0105/F2_Holland.html

In case anybody was wondering, I'm not exactly jumping at the chance....

[Lucy]

I wouldn't be jumping either, Neil. Not a good choice.