RJA #10c: Ideas for the Application project

1. Journal Entry. I would write a journal entry to my cousin lived most of his life in a wheel chair because of a spinal cord injury that he experienced at age 18. I would tell him all that I have learned about the progress that has been made in the field of stem cell therapy, and how close scientists are to having therapy available for people with spinal cord injuries. I would tell him how the research is being conducted, where it is being conducted, and about the trials and tests that are being done. I would share with him the hope that because of stem cell research and developed applications, those who are paralyzed from spinal cord injuries might someday walk again. My cousin did not live to see this day, he died in 1988, due to complications created from his spinal cord injury, he was 44.

2. Short Story. This would be a story of how stem cell therapy has been able to help someone with cerebral palsy. This disorder has shown marked success in the field of stem cell therapy and I would like to share a story using dialogue between patient and doctor about how successful it has been and how it has changed individual lives.

3. News Article. In this article I would relate how stem cell research and therapeutic application have been used around the world to help individuals suffering from debilitating illnesses and injuries. I would report on current therapies that are being performed, and where they are being done. I would address the controversies still plaguing stem cell research and development and what lies ahead for this type of therapy.

4. Editorial. In my editorial I would give my views on how important stem cell therapy is in the world of medicine. I would like to voice my opinion of why the United States lags behind the world in this therapy and the frustrations felt by many because of this issue. I would like to talk about the ethics involved and how they apply or don’t apply to stem cell therapy.

RJA #10b: Progress Report for Argumentative Paper

What I have accomplished on my argumentative paper:

So far I have gathered most of the resources, books, articles, videos, and forum websites that will be using for my research and bookmarked them. Using my outline as a guide, I have begun to put down on paper some of my thoughts and have organized the resources I have compiled so far. I have also started on my presentation ideas.

What I still have to do:

Even though I have put down thoughts I need to begin to write my paper. I also need to finish one interview, which I plan to do this week. I plan to begin my rough draft this week as well. I also need to spend more time organizing to make sure that I have all the resources that I want to use for my paper, as well as for the application project and bookmark them.

RJA #10a: Annotated Bibliography, Part 1

Ostnor, Lars, et al. “The Moral Status of Human Embryos with Special Regard to Stem cell Research and Therapy.” Stem Cells, Human Embryos and Ethics. 4-18. Springer 2008. Print

This is a multidisciplinary study from many different professionals investigating the field of embryonic stem cells. This chapter is comprised of studies done by the Norwegian project group and deals with embryo and fetal cell development and their potential use in the field of stem cell therapy. The group examines the advantages of using embryonic stem cells in the field of medicine as well as stem cell alternatives. They look at adult stem cells and the importance they can play in research and therapy as an viable and more ethical alternative to using embryonic stem cells. Their differing views are represented continually and the authors remain divided as they represent both sides of this endless debate. The first position emphasizing the use of embryonic stem cells especially for the treatment of currently untreatable serious disease and injuries. The second position being the continuation of research on all human stem cells excepting those that come from human embryos.

Chu, Jennifer. “Testing Drugs with Stem Cells.” Technology Review 13 December 2007. Web. http://www.technologyreview.com/Biotech/19893/?a=f

This article is focused on the studies of Gabriela Cezar, assistant professor of animal science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and her novel way of testing for drug toxicity using embryonic stem cells . By monitoring the results of these tests Cezar and her colleagues feel that they should be able to have a far more accurate prediction of a drug’s potential toxicity than they get with conventional animal testing. Cezar’s group tested the drug valproate, an anti-epileptic drug that has been linked to cases of autism and spina bifida in the offspring of mothers treated with the drug. Cezar was able to see in these tests that the ES cell samples tested with valproate exhibited significant changes in what would represent early brain development. Steven Tannenbaum, professor of chemistry and toxicology at MIT does not agree with Cezar and her findings. He points out that drugs taken into the body are processed first in the liver, not the brain, and that drug metabolism in the body is a very complex process. Recognizing the abilites to have embryonic stem cells develop into liver cells, Cezar feels that the research she is doing is capable of bringing safer and more effective drugs to the consumer.

Schwartz, Philip H., and Peter J. Bryant. “Therapeutic Uses of Stem Cells.” Fundamentals of the Stem Cell Debate, The Scientific, Religious, Ethical, and Political Issues. Ed. Kristen Renwick Monroe, et al. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 2008. 38-49. Print.

The therapeutic uses of stem cells are of course, the main reason for stem cell research. In this chapter the authors recognize that the current therapeutic applications of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) such as in bone marrow transplantation have been successfully treating patients with Leukemia and Lymphoma for many years. Umbilical cord stem cells have also been used to treat blood disorders and are especially preferred in pediatric patients. The experimental therapeutic applications noted by the authors include testing with patients who have multilple sclerosis. Neural stem cells (NSC) and embryonic stem cells (ESC) have both shown signs of effectiveness against this disease. Potential therapeutic applications for use in Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, retinal degeneration, Diabetes, and cardiovascular disease are being researched and tested using HSC, NSC and ESC. Testing with different types of stem cells is important to the research. It enables the scientists to learn which therapy might cause potential problems with immune rejection for the patient. Autologous transplantation has been found to eliminate the problems of rejection for the patient since those stem cells come from the patient who is being treated. Research continues to show improvements in the current therapeutic applications as well as in the experimental and potential phases of stem cell therapy.

RJA #9c: Presentation Plan

According to many in the medical field, stem cells are set to revolutionized medicine in the 21^st century.

Stem cells do not have a specialized function; they are an immature kind of cell that still has the potential to develop into many different kinds of cells.

Scientists distinguish between several types of stem cells, some of those being tested and used in stem cell therapy are, embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, umbilical cord stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells and iPS cells.

The benefit of stem cell research lies in the creation of cell-based therapies for genetic diseases, as well as other human injuries and illnesses.

Diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, stroke, spinal cord injury, cancer, heart disease, cerebral palsy, and even autism are being viewed today as good candidates for stem cell treatments. The results heard from those who have been treated with stem cell therapy in clinics around the world has been very positive. Many recipients have reported good success following their treatments, they have talked about miracles large and small occurring.

Stem cells may also provide a new way of testing drugs for effectiveness and for dangerous side effects, without using animals or humans.

There has been and still continues to be much debate over the ethical use of stem cells, especially with regards to embryonic stem cells, and cloning. Scientists are also aware that these treatments are not risk free and urge patients to use caution especially with regards to the regulation of stem cell therapies.

The benefits of stem cell research and therapy applications are not only important to the field of medicine, but also to mankind. While there are concerns to be regulated and discussed, the potential outcome for improving quality of life is overwhelming and needs to be utilized.

RJA #9b: Argument

Research Question: How has stem cell research impacted the treatment of serious disease and injury in the field of medicine?

Answer/thesis/claim: Stem cell research and its applications are important for many areas in the field of medicine, including treatments for serious illnesses and injuries, prevention of some genetic disorders, and development of more efficient drugs.

Reason 1: There is pressing need for treatments of neurodegenerative diseases.

Warrant: Stem cells have been found to be particularly effective in regenerating nerve cells of the brain.

Evidence 1: Stem cell replacement therapy has shown symptomatic improvement by regenerating dopamine-producing nerve cells in patients with Parkinson’s.

Warrant: cell replacement therapy replaces the loss in electrical signaling cause by neural degeneration.

Evidence 2: Stem cells seem to be able to restore the white matter of the brain, which is destroyed in such diseases as multiple sclerosis.

Warrant: Stem cells show success in human trials with virtually no side effects.

Evidence 3: Alzheimer’s is characterized the destruction of neuronal circuitry from a build up of plaques and tangles that form.

Warrant: Stem cell therapy offers the possibility of reversing such plaques and tangles and regeneration neuronal connections.

Reason 2: Research is important to determine which stem cells are best suited for which treatment.

Evidence 4: Umbilical cord blood stem cells have been effective in the treatment of certain cancers, such as Leukemia and Aplastic Anemia.

Warrant: New research is finding that cord stem cells do not need to be as perfectly matched to the patient.

Evidence 5: Transplantation using human embryonic stem cells now offers new and promising treatments for spinal cord injury.

Warrant: These stem cell treatments have the potential to improve injuries previously considered irreversible.

Evidence 6: Adult stem cells administered by way of intravenous infusions are being tested on their ability to restore damaged heart tissue in patients after a heart attack.

Warrant: This therapy is a formulation of adult stem cells derived from the bone marrow of healthy adult donors.

Reason 3: Stem cells could provide a new way of testing drugs for positive results and for dangerous side effects.

Evidence 7: Stem cell testing has the potential of decreasing the time it takes to get new and safer drugs to market.

Warrant: Testing stem cells could decrease cost.

Evidence 8: Testing the safety of drugs in lab animals is notoriously unreliable.

Warrant: Animal drug testing would be eliminated.

Evidence 9: Stem cell drug testing amounts to human drug trials conducted in a dish.

Warrant: Stem cells that are sick can be tested with new drug therapies.

Reason 4: Stem cell research is important for understanding genetic disease processes and development of better therapies.

Evidence 10: Cerebral palsy patients show mild to large significant improvement after being treated with umbilical cord stem cells.

Warrant: Stem Cell treatment can aid in correcting genetic disorders.

Evidence11: Cord meseschymal stem cells can be beneficial in regenerating the pancreas and restoring normal insulin release in diabetes patients.

Warrant: Stem cells travel to parts of the body that are damaged

Evidence 12: Cord stem cells could be used to rebuild the lungs of those who suffer with cystic fibrosis.

Warrant: A potential role for stem cell therapy and lung repair

Objection 1: With regards to stem cell research, arguments often arise that researchers and doctors should not play God, and should not mess with human life.

Refutation 1: Stem cell research can potentially help treat a range of medical problems. It could lead humanity closer to better treatments and possibly cure a number of diseases.

Objection 2: Ethical issues of scientific work on aborted fetuses did not justify the possible benefits.

Refutation 2: Since 2007, scientists have moved on to use more ethical methods for stem cell research. The use and development of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) has eliminated research being done using aborted fetuses and have lead to new solutions making those on both sides of the debate happier.

Objection 3: The side effects of embryonic stem cell therapy are quite severe: it tends to produce tumors and malignant carcinomas, cause transplant rejection, and form the wrong kinds of cells.

Refutation 3: Adult stem cells, which are more widely used in stem cell treatments, and which are transplanted immediately after their removal and concentration for therapeutic purposes, do not increase the risk of tumors unless the patient already has cancer.

Objection 4: Performing research on embryonic stem cells is effectively destroying life, and it should therefore be avoided.

Refutation 4: Using frozen human embryos that would otherwise be discarded is ethically acceptable given the potential that stem cells hold.

Objection 5: Many argue that stem cell research in the future will inevitably lead scientists to the knowledge and practice of cloning human beings.

Refutation 5: Therapeutic cloning is the procedure that scientists are most interested in as they can manipulate the chemical environment of cells that are taken directly from the patient and then used to grow tissues that are a perfect genetic match for the patient.

Qualifiers: Stem cell research and the proper application of the stem cells available to study is important in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, genetic disorders, and in the testing of improved pharmaceutical treatments in most cases.

RJA #9a: Thesis Statement

Research Question

How has stem cell research impacted the treatment of serious disease and injury in field of medicine?

Precise Claim

There are many areas in the field of medicine where stem cell research could have a significant impact.

Reasons/blueprint

Stem cells can be used in research and in clinical studies to offer the possibility of a renewable source of replacement cells and tissues.

Stem cells can be used to treat many serious conditions such as diabetes, stroke, Alzheimers, heart disease, spinal cord injury, burns, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, MS, and arthritis.

Stem cells could also be used to gain a better understanding of how genetics work and can help scientists understand why some cells develop abnormally.

Stem cells may be useful in the testing and development of drugs.

Complete Thesis Statement

Stem cell research and application is important for many areas in the field of medicine, including treatments for serious illness and injuries, treatment and possible prevention of some genetic disorders, and the development of more efficient drugs.

RJA #8b: Evaluation Check

http://playersyrita.blogspot.com/2010/03/rja-7a-evaluation-of-sources.html#comments-form

http://jaronhuff.blogspot.com/2010/03/rja-7a-evaluation-of-sources.html#comment-form

RJA #8a: Quotation, Paraphrase, and Summary

Stem cells are distinguished from other cell types by two important characteristics. First, they are unspecialized cells capable of renewing themselves through cell division, sometimes after long periods of inactivity. Second, under certain physiologic or experimental conditions, they can be induced to become tissue- or organ-specific cells with special functions. In some organs, such as the gut and bone marrow, stem cells regularly divide to repair and replace worn out or damaged tissues. In other organs, however, such as the pancreas and the heart, stem cells only divide under special conditions.

http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/basics1.asp

In Stem Cell Information from the National Institutes of Health (2009), two important characteristics are given that distinguish stem cells from other types of cells. The first characteristic of stem cells was that they are, “unspecialized cells capable of renewing themselves through cell division, . . . [and] second, under [particular] conditions, they can be induced to become tissue- or organ- specific cells with special functions.” When tissue becomes worn out or damaged, especially in the human gut or in the bone marrow, stem cells, if administered for repair of these problems, regularly divide. However, they only divide under special conditions, if used for the repair of the pancreas or the heart.

There are two major differences which set stem cells apart from other types of cells. First of all they are able to reconstruct themselves by going through a process of mitosis, and secondly they are, under particular conditions, able to reconstruct themselves to replace specific tissue and organs in the body. In some areas of the body the stem cells can repair and replace old or injured organs such as in the bone marrow or the human gut. Whereas, in other organs of the body, such as the heart or the pancreas, they can multiply only under specific circumstances.

Two main differences that set stem cells apart from other cells are first, being able to restore themselves through cell division and secondly, under particular conditions they are able to become organ specific cells that can perform organ specific functions. For example, cells transplanted for use in the human gut or bone marrow can help rebuild worn out or injured tissue. When used for the heart or pancreas, they are capable of dividing only under particular circumstances.

RJA #7b: Field Research Suggestions

http://melindaatmetro.blogspot.com/2010/02/rja-6c-field-research-options.html#comment-form

http://csando1020.blogspot.com/2010/03/rj6c-field-research-options.html#comments

RJA #7a: Evaluation of Sources

Periodical

Nature Reviews Neuroscience

Neural Stem Cell Therapy for Neurological Disease: Dreams and Reality

Ferdinando Rossi & Elena Cattaneo

Volume 3

Pages 401-401

May 2002

http://0-www.nature.com.skyline.cudenver.edu/nrn/journal/v3/n5/fig_tab/nrn809_F1.html

This article is a well-written review about how difficult stem cell replacement therapy is, especially when dealing with neural transplantation. It examines just what is required from stem cells to be able to produce beneficial effects when treating diseases such as Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease. Much of the information focuses on the fact that what may divide in a laboratory may not, once transplanted, actually be incorporated into the recipient tissue. This article goes into detail with images and explanations regarding just how the cells need to be able to cope with specific pathological conditions that are presented by different neurodegenerative diseases. This article gives the reader a good scientific understanding of stem cell application and why it is such a important issue for medical research today.

Website

Stem Cell Therapies

http://www.stemcelltherapies.org/index.htm

This website is a very good source for information concerning stem cell research and therapy. The website is a part of the Steenblock Research Institute. The founder of the Institute, Dr. David Steenblock, is a pioneer in safe, natural and effective treatments, including the use of stem cells from a person’s own bone marrow as well as from umbilical cord blood. It reviews areas concerning what stem cells are, stem cell safety, therapy benefits, treatable conditions, and stem cell research. Links are offered for more detailed information on each of these topics, as well as good basic information and images.

Book

Stem Cell and Gene-Based Therapy, Frontiers in Regenerative Medicine

Alexander Battler, MD, FACC, FESC and Jonathan Leor, MD, FACC, FESC

Springer Books, 2006

http://0-www.springerlink.com.skyline.cudenver.edu/content/u18625/

I am really excited to use this book as part of my research on stem cell therapy. In it a variety of researchers discuss the aspects of cell- and gene-based therapy. There are four major topics covered in this book. The first is, new types of cell therapies and stem cell based therapy for angiogenesis, and cardiac repair. The second is the cell-therapy approaches in neurological areas such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and stroke. The third area that is explored involves research done on the development of cell-based systems for cartilage and bone repair, bladder repair, and kidney regeneration. The fourth area involves important work in the eye, specifically, optic nerve regeneration, retinal repair, and ocular surface regeneration. There is additional research examined dealing with cord blood transplantation for various blood disorders and also important areas of research involving skin regeneration and wound healing.

Reference Article

Digital Universe, Stem Cell Overview

Bernard Haisch, August 2008

http://www.digitaluniverse.net/stemcell/articles/view/132838/

The Digital Universe reference article of Bernard Haisch is a good basic overview of stem cells. It begins with a description of what stem cells are, the different types of stem cells and how they can work as a repair system for the body by replenishing specialized cells with characteristics consistent with cells of various tissues. The article contents deal with the different types of stem cells being tested today, mainly, embryonic and adult stem cells. It also addresses the belief that stem cell therapy has the potential to dramatically change the treatment of human disease. It also touches on the controversy surrounding embryonic stem cell research. This reference guide has several links and additional information that will aid me in my research and it is a good basic beginning to answering my research questions.

Zakta Research Guide

http://zakta.com/zakta/view_1_1063_2958_Stem_Cell_Therapy_2