English 1020 Research Journal

Saturday, March 13, 2010

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.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

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

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

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.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Zakta Research Guide

http://zakta.com/zakta/view_1_1063_2958_Stem_Cell_Therapy_2

Thursday, February 25, 2010

RJA #6c Field Research Options

Interviews

For my primary research in stem cell therapy, I think interviewing will be my main focus. I plan to interview Dr. Stephen Grover, head of the OBGYN Center at Sky Ridge Medical Center. He is an expert in cord blood stem cell storage and cord blood replacement therapy. I also plan to interview a potential recipient of stem cell therapy, Drew Covington, who is 10, and suffers from Cerebral Palsy. Drew is under going tests for stem cell therapy procedure that will be done in Germany. His tests are being done at Children’s Hospital here in Denver. I would also like to interview his doctor at Children’s, if possible, to get his imput on this procedure.

Forum Discussions

There are several good forum discussions that I have found on TEDMED I would like to become more acquainted with concerning the study of stem cell therapy. These discussions can be found at the following link:

http://www.ted.com/search?q=stem+cell+research&x=0&y=0.

There are also other forum discussions that are listed on the Geron site, these forums are dealing specifically with spinal cord injury and stem cell replacement therapy. There are two that I am most interested in, they are CareCure Community at http://sci.rutgers.edu/ and National Spinal Cord Injury Association at http://www.spinalcord.org/.

Observations

As much as I would love to be an observer at any stem cell therapy clinic and or hospital, I don’t think that would be possible at this time. One thing I would like to check up on is perhaps a clinic doing physical therapy on stem cell patients. That type of observation may be available in Denver and if so would be very interesting to me.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010