“Latest Stem Cells News”

International Stem Cell Corporation, announced today its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lifeline Cell Technology (Lifeline), has signed a distribution agreement with Tokyo-based Veritas Corporation to distribute its human cell culture products throughout Japan.

Lifeline, located in Maryland and California, specializes in the development, manufacture, and distribution of products to culture human cells for the study of human disease, including products to culture primary human cells and human stem cells. These products are being requested by customers overseas, including customers in Japan, Korea and India and this agreement is the first step in Lifeline’s plan to meet these requests.

All over the world there are desperate patients looking for institutions that promise to heal them with stem cells. But the treatments that are promised must be controlled and regulated, said two scholars in Science magazine. Today, recognized treatments with stem cells involve blood diseases or immune system defects, wrote the Thai researcher Sorapop Kiatpongsan and his Japanese colleague Douglas Sipp. In reality, many other treatments have been offered without proof of their effectiveness.

For example, treatments are being offered to cure heart disease, autism, Down’s syndrome, and epilepsy. These treatments are ineffective and are mainly offered in countries with low scientific standards. However, at times they are also offered in countries with higher standards like Japan, the USA, and Germany. Proponents of the treatments normally use testimonies from patients on their Internet sites, blogs, or conferences to market the treatments. Since it would be difficult to institute a global ban against all unauthorized treatments, the two scholars have asked single governments to be particularly vigilant with regards to scientific research and results.

An efficient way to prevent scams could be strict regulations to establish both the quality of the drugs and their correct publication. There are already regulations of this type in the USA and Europe, and Thailand has also introduced more strict regulations on stem cells therapy. The media could also give a sound contribution to unmasking ineffective treatments, underlined Kiatpongsan (University of Bangkok) and Sipp (University of Kyoto). Finally, organizations like the “International society for stem cell research” and global health organizations should publish guidelines and information for patients in various languages.

breastcancer.org

Stem Cell Research Provides Help for Breast Reconstruction

Irene MacKenzie had a lumpectomy for her early stage breast cancer leaving her with a hollow in her breast. The lumpectomy took care of the cancer, but what about her breast? Well, Irene was the first person in Britain to reap the benefits of Stem Cell research using Adult Stem Cells for breast reconstruction.

Feeling Self-Conscious After the Lumpectomy

After the lumpectomy, Irene didn’t feel good about the way her breast looked. She looked for options. A friend referred her to Eva Weiler-Mithoff who is a consultant plastic surgeon at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Dr. Weiler-Mithoff who had been approached with a new Adult Stem Cell process asked if Irene would be interested in becoming the first woman in Britain to receive this new stem cell treatment for breasts. Irene didn’t hesitate and said “YES!”