| If, a few years ago, you had mentioned adult stem | | | | to the leg and the bones stay intact. The surgeons |
| cells to the man on the street he would have had no | | | | have been quoted as saying that the technique |
| idea what you were talking about. He might have | | | | amazed even them. These medical experts feel that |
| thought you were referring to the controversial | | | | the man will be able to climb again. Reports from |
| stem-cell research that occupied the political scene. | | | | other cases using the same technique show a |
| But adult stem cells and their amazing uses bear no | | | | success rate of 80 percent or better. |
| relation to the embryonic-stem-cell controversy. | | | | One of the most important facts about adult stem |
| Much of the information on this important topic now | | | | cells is that they are capable of "differentiating" so |
| urges us to look at adult stem cells as a possible | | | | widely. This means that s/cells taken from one area |
| "cure" for prevention, rejuvenation and repair of the | | | | of the body can form cells of other types, including |
| body and provides much hope for some serious | | | | blood and nerve cells. Research now shows that |
| medical conditions and injuries we endure. One story | | | | stem cells taken from the body are now repairing |
| that has captured the attention of medical personnel | | | | and forming into other healthy tissue once they are |
| and layman alike is the story of the rock climber who | | | | directed. |
| broke his leg so severely that he was told he might | | | | One of the key benefits of using a patient's own |
| have to agree to amputation. | | | | adult s/cells is that there is no rejection of tissue. |
| But British doctors chose to try using stem cells from | | | | This was of major importance when cells from a |
| his body to heal the shattered bones. Three separate | | | | man's own bone marrow were injected into his heart |
| surgical procedures failed to hold the major leg bones | | | | muscle because of infarction (the tissue had died |
| together. Not only did the surgery not bring him back | | | | because blood flow was interrupted). The outcome |
| to health but the overall injuries were so serious that | | | | was very successful. Similar treatment has been used |
| infection threatened to take his leg altogether. | | | | for those with Crohn's disease and skin diseases. |
| Orthopaedic surgeons used stem cells from the | | | | In experiments with mice, s/cells from healthy mice |
| climber's own bone marrow, taking them from the hip | | | | have helped regenerate tissue that was damaged by |
| area. According to the media reports on this | | | | radiation. Even more remarkable, scientists report |
| procedure, the adult s/cells were combined with a | | | | that the new cells formed into tissue of several |
| collagen gel that was applied liberally on the fractured | | | | different types. |
| bones. (Collagen is the "main protein of connective | | | | Incredible stories are emerging every day in regards |
| tissue in animals," according to encyclopedia | | | | to the latest procedures and benefits of our own |
| information.) The procedure included holding the | | | | adult stem cells. With so much more investigation, |
| bones and applying slight pressure with a specially | | | | funding and technology going into studying adult stem |
| constructed frame that was left on for six months. | | | | cells its looking extremely encouraging and promising. |
| The climber now states that he can apply his weight | | | | |