June 13, 2007
Scientists should try putting human nuclei into animal eggs. These part-animal cells could produce some of the most powerful tools yet for unravelling human disease. Even if this procedure doesn’t lead to embryonic stem cells, the attempt has something to … Read More
June 13, 2007
An “inspection blitz” prompted by two high-profile body parts scandals have turned up no serious problems at most firms that deal with human tissue, the Food and Drug Administration said on Tuesday. (Scientific American)
June 13, 2007
At the turn of the 20th century, having a baby was dangerous, but not all that expensive: Women simply hired a midwife for a couple of dollars and prayed they wouldn’t die on the kitchen table. (Mercury News)
June 13, 2007
Stem cells from human embryos are seen as the future of medicine, but a major ethical question surrounds the research: Should federally funded scientists be allowed to extract the cells from embryos, a process which destroys them? Current U.S. laws … Read More
June 13, 2007
Researchers are trying to find out how the general public feel about the ethical issues surrounding controversial stem cell research which could transform medicine in the future. (The Herald)
June 13, 2007
Blacks were far less likely than whites to get specialized procedures after a heart attack and were more likely to die within a year, according to a study showing persistent racial disparities in U.S. medical care. (CNN)
June 12, 2007
Well, lo and behold: Just as a study was released showing that neural stem cells may be efficacious in treating Parkinson’s, another report shows that a drug used for high blood pressure may also provide relief. From the Scientific American … Read More
June 12, 2007
I hope this is as big a deal as it seems. Adult neural stem cells taken from cadaver fetuses–remember adult stem cells is a popular term–have dramatically reduced the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, according to a report in the Proceedings … Read More
June 12, 2007
I grow weary: Science journalists should report science matters accurately, without spin and the usual hype seen in the ESCR/human cloning debates. Alas, we don’t see much of that in this report, byline Dave Mosher of LiveScience. The story is … Read More
June 12, 2007
Dr. Ramesh Kumar Sharma, a British Columbian physician, pled guilty to attempting to assisted the suicide of a 92-year-old nursing home resident. The woman survived. Although he was not jailed, has been stripped of his license to practice medicine and … Read More
June 12, 2007
Freezing umbilical cord cells could one day save the life of your children but the the process is far from cheap. Mother-to-be Kate Hilpern faces a modern dilemma… (Independent)
June 12, 2007
Safety and speed are the yin and yang of drug regulation. Patients want immediate access to breakthrough medicines but also want to believe the drugs are safe. (New York Times)
June 12, 2007
An experimental spinal cord injury treatment may eliminate the need for drugs that suppress the immune system, Geron Corp., which is developing stem cell-based therapies, said on Monday. (Reuters)
June 12, 2007
In recent years, laboratory and animal studies have suggested that curcumin–the pigment that gives the Indian curry spice turmeric its bright-yellow hue–may have some power to kill tumors and clear the brain plaques that characterize Alzheimer’s disease. (Technology Review)
June 12, 2007
British couples are flying to Spain to take advantage of Spanish fertility laws by receiving anonymously donated eggs for their in vitro-fertilisation (IVF) treatment. (BBC)
June 12, 2007
A team of Japanese researchers has developed a type of rice that can carry a vaccine for cholera, a step that could one day ease delivery of vaccines in developing countries. (AP)
June 12, 2007
Dr. Richard Ashcroft, who teaches biomedical ethics at the University of London, is afraid of discrimination against certain patients because of their genetic makeup. According to the Daily Mail, he said that insurance companies may have a faulty understanding of … Read More
June 12, 2007
IT’S a seemingly simple solution to a nationwide problem: if people do not have health insurance, just require that they buy it. The idea of making coverage compulsory to help reduce the number of uninsured Americans — currently 45 million … Read More
June 12, 2007
US researchers have for the first time injected human stem cells into monkeys with Parkinson’s symptoms, seen as a key step in the fight to find a cure. (BBC)
June 12, 2007
In the philosophy of those who retain a moral objection to scientific research in the area of human cloning, the crux of the matter is simple; killing a human being cannot be sanctioned in any civilized society for any purpose … Read More
June 12, 2007
The stem-cell debate can be painful. It deals with life-and-death issues, often involving suffering people desperate for anything that might help; and it tends to be dominated by one-sided, disingenuous propaganda. But the tide may be turning. (Jewish World Review)
June 12, 2007
The UK Draft Human Tissue and Embryos Bill, published recently, explicitly covers a number of uses of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). In this commentary I concentrate on just one – PGD to avoid diseases or disorders with a genetic component. … Read More
June 11, 2007
With potential implications that could dwarf those of every other technology, the slow courtship of brain and machine continues . . . . Here is the latest: scientists in Israel have used live neurons to store information. According to the … Read More
June 11, 2007
According to this report, scientists have stored data in living neurons for the first time, opening the potentiality for “cyborg computer chips.” From the story: Many believe that complex patterns of neuronal firing are templates for memory, which the brain … Read More
June 11, 2007
This is an interesting radio interview (NPR: Diane Rehm) about the current stem cell controversies. It is worth a listen. The guests are Rick Weiss, science reporter for “The Washington Post” Dr. John Gearhart, professor of medicine and director of … Read More
