Derrick Rossi on the Time’s 2010 List of People Who Mattered
Dr. Derrick Rossi who is an Assistant Professor of Pathology at the Harvard Medical School is one of the three scientists who were included on the Time’s 2010 list of People Who Mattered for his discovery on the field of stem cell technology. Dr. Rossi has developed a procedure that allows the manipulation of skin cells into the so-called iPS cells (pluripotent stem cells). In addition, Dr. Rossi’s procedure has shown not to pose a risk of cancer like other procedures used for creation of iPS cells. Other two scientists that were named on the list of People Who Mattered by the Times are J. Craig Venter, PhD, and Margaret Hamburg, MD.
After being named on the Time’s List of People Who Mattered, Dr. Rossi was also named one of six New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSTF) Investigators and received $1.5 million for his research over the next five years to accelerate the potentials of stem cell technology which in turn would accelerate the use of stem cell technology for medicinal purposes including curing diseases. The CEO of NYSF Susan L. Solomon has stated that Dr. Rossi’s achievements have shown the potentials of the future use of stem cells for treatment of a large number of health problems including diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and diabetes.
Dr. Derrick Rossi has started his career at the Mount Sinai Research Institute at the University of Toronto. He holds Bachelors of Science and Masters of Science degrees from University of Toronto and PhD. from University of Helsinki. Currently, Dr. Rossi runs a laboratory at the Immune Disease Institute at Harvard Medical School and works with his team on factors that are crucial for regulation of self-renewal and pluripotency. Dr. Rossi also investigates the manipulation of stem cell into cells that could be used in medicine.
Subscribe to the comments for this postWhat is blood agglutination
The literal meaning of the term agglutination is “to glue to” and it originated from the Latin word “agglutino”. In the presence of antibodies called hemagglutinins, red blood cells come together to form a cluster, which is also joined by the antibody along with a host of other particles within the body to form an intricate compound. This whole process is known as blood agglutination or hemagglutination. If however, white blood cells clump together in the presence of an antigen instead of the red blood cells, it is called leukoagglutination. When antibodies are found in close proximity to the cells of a particular area of the body, allergic reactions are triggered off as the cells in the area come close together to prevent the antibody from gaining entry inside them. Therefore an allergic reaction is also a type of agglutination within the body.
Before transferring blood from a donor to someone who needs it, medical authorities check by cross-matching to find out whether the blood of the donor is compatible with the blood of the patient. In this process of cross-matching, the plasma from the patient and RBCs from the donor are incubated together to see whether the RBCs are showing signs of agglutination or not. If the result is positive then the donor blood is discarded as being unfit to be given to the particular patient.
Certain bacteria also react to certain antigens in the same way that the red blood cells react and clump together. Although this is not blood agglutination, it is also another form of agglutination that occurs and is similar in nature to hemagglutination. This process is used as a diagnostic tool to identify both the type of the bacteria and its antigen today, but it was first put to use by Fernand Widal by developing a test for typhoid, based on the principles of bacterial agglutination.
Stem Cell Therapy – A Cure for Baldness?
Scientists at the Berlin University have made a major breakthrough in finding a cure for male pattern baldness which could replace the existing baldness treatment that lasts up to 10 hours and requires repeated sessions. The team of researchers led by Dr. Roland Lauster has managed to grow hair follicles from animal cells. They believe that they will be able to grow human hair follicles and skin within a year.
Stem cells are the master cells which can be turned to any cells and even tissue and organs by laboratory manipulation. They are widely considered as the future of medicine but the progress is slow and currently, only few stem cell treatments are available. However, the scientists at the Berlin University think they are very close of development of stem cell therapy that will replace the existing baldness treatment that involves implantation of hair follicles from the back and side to the scalp. This procedure lasts from 5 to 10 hours and needs to be repeated in order to maintain the natural appearance.
Dr. Lauster and his team have grown hair follicles from animal cells which were slightly thinner that natural human hair. The scientists believe that they will be able to grow human hair in about a year. Even more, Dr. Lauster has stated that they have already started to prepare for clinical trials.
In addition to providing a cure for male pattern baldness, Dr. Lauster believes that their procedure will also end the need for animal testing in order to determine safety and efficiency of cosmetic products for humans. Dr. Lauster has said that the hair follicles grown in laboratory could be used for testing new cosmetics and even drugs. He also hopes to grow a kidney, liver and bone marrow jointly with the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology.
Effects of Stem Cell Therapy in Leukemia Patients
A study conducted by a team of German scientists has compared the effects of bone marrow transplantation and stem cell therapy in leukemia patients. The researchers at the Charite Medicine University in Berlin have discovered that the average survival rate in leukemia patients who underwent stem cell therapy is virtually the same than in those who have received transplantation of bone marrow. However, the German scientists also discovered that the conventional leukemia treatment may be a better treatment option for patients suffering from some types of blood cancer.
Stem cell therapy that involves transplantation of stem cells from peripheral blood is less invasive than transplantation of bone marrow that requires surgery and general anesthesia. In addition, stem cell therapy helps prevent numerous complications that can occur during collection of a bone marrow. For that reason the German researchers were very excited about the results of their study that have shown that leukemia patients who have received a stem cell therapy can expect similar effects than those who have received transplantation of bone marrow. The 10 year survival rate in leukemia patients receiving transplantation of bone marrow is about 56% and approximately 49% in patients who have received stem cell therapy.
The study that included nearly 330 leukemia patients in over 40 centers for transplantation in Europe, Australia and Israel has also shown that the conventional leukemia treatment involving transplantation of bone marrow is probably a better treatment option for patients with some types of acute blood cancer. The results of the study have shown that the 10 year survival rate in patients with acute leukemia who have received transplantation of bone marrow is about 15% higher than in patients receiving stem cell therapy. On the base of the results of the study, the German scientists have concluded that transplantation of bone marrow remains a better treatment options for acute leukemia.
Scientists Found a Way to Create Embryo-Like Stem Cells from Other Sources
Stem cells that have the ability to cure many disorders and diseases are widely considered as the future of medicine. Until recently, only embryonic stem cells have shown such potentials. Since production of embryonic stem cells requires destruction of the embryo, the technique has been criticized by many people despite the fact that the embryonic stem cells derived from embryos that would be destroyed anyway. For that reason the medical world was very excited after the scientists announced that they have found a way to produce embryo-like stem cells from other sources.
The CEO and President of the Coriell Institute, Dr. Mike Christman has stated that he is thrilled about the revolutionary discovery which enables creation of stem cells with potentials of embryonic stem cells from other sources such as the skin. The scientists have developed a procedure that allows them to turn skin cells into embryo-like stem cells. Dr. Christman has explained that this is achieved by reprogramming skin cell into embryo-like stem cells which are then added certain chemicals that turn them into virtually any cells including heart cells, pancreas cells and liver cells.
Scientists believe that this will allow the doctors to treat a large number of diseases including heart disease, diabetes and degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease with patients’ own cells. For example, patients with type 1 diabetes whose pancreas cells are unable to produce adequate amounts of insulin could be cured from the disease completely if receiving pancreas cells. Another advantage of embryo-like stem cells produced from the patient’s own cells is the fact that there is no risk of body to reject newly implanted cells.
In addition to their potentials in treatment of a large number of health problems, the embryo-like stem cells will also allow the scientist to test the safety and efficacy of new drugs.
Cerebral Palsy Treated with Stem Cells Derived from Umbilical Cord Blood
Cryo-Save Group N.V., the leading stem cell bank in Europe has announced a release of another sample of umbilical cord blood on December 15, 2010. A boy with cerebral palsy from Portugal, aged 6, has traveled to the Duke University in the United States to take part in a clinical trial for cerebral palsy treatment which has been approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Cerebral palsy is a serious disease characterized by brain injury that causes permanent physical disability which cannot be cured. On the other hand, many parents with children suffering from this disease report that they have noticed improvement after their children received a stem cell therapy involving the use of the patients’ own stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood. Clinical trial that will take place at the Duke University and many other research centers worldwide hope to discover enough data to prove that stem cell therapy can help people suffering from cerebral palsy.
The FDA approved clinical trial at the Duke University can be participated only by people who have their umbilical cord blood stored at a bank such as Cryo-Save since birth. In this clinical trial, participants will went through a simple and safe treatment. They will receive a transfusion of their own stem cells from their umbilical cord blood. Then, the researchers will monitor the response of participants to the treatment and hopefully, get enough evidence to support benefits of stem cell therapy for cerebral palsy.
The CEO at Cryo-Save, Arnoud van Tulder has said that the stem cell bank is pleased for being able to support clinical trials like the one at the Duke University by saving and releasing the highest quality samples of umbilical cord blood. He also noted that the number of requests for release of samples they store has been increasing.
A 4 Year Old Girl that was Blind Can See after Receiving Stem Cell Therapy
Izabelle Evans, a 4 year old girl from UK suffering from a rare condition that causes blindness can see after receiving stem cell therapy performed in China. Her parents, James Evans and Hollie McHugh, have said that the moment when she could finally look into their eyes saying mummy and daddy is indescribable.
Izabelle suffers from septo-optic dysplasia, also known as de Morsier syndrome since birth. It is a very rare condition affecting five in one million newborns. Before receiving stem cell therapy, Izabelle was blind, and had hormone deficiency and mobility problems. Her parents were raising 31,000 pounds needed for the stem cell therapy for one year. Much of the needed funds were raised through concerts organized by their friends and private donations.
Due to the fact that the stem cell therapy is not available in the UK, the family travelled to Qingdao, China, at the end of October. Izabelle’s therapy started on November 1 and lasted until November 24. The treatment involved transplantation of stem cells derived from umbilical cords from healthy babies into Izabelle’s spinal canal in order to create new optic nerves. Before the treatment, Izabelle had only few hundred optic nerves instead of millions that are needed for sight. On the day of Izabelle’s birthday, December 3, the family returned to the UK.
Today, Izabelle can see three feet in front thanks to the stem cell therapy. Her parents said that she is doing very well. They also said that they have noticed improvement in speech. Izabelle will be monitored over the following six months and the family will then decide whether they will return to China to receive another stem cell therapy. If they do, they will need to raise more money. But at the moment the family enjoys Izabelle’s ability to see.
Scientists Discovered a Type of Stem Cells that Protect Bacteria causing Tuberculosis
Scientists at the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biology in New Delhi, India, have discovered that the human body produces a type of stem cells that prevent the immune system from destroying the bacteria causing tuberculosis. The study that was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on December 14, 1010, explains how the tuberculosis bacteria can survive in the human body for years.
After the infection with tuberculosis bacteria, the human body starts to produce T-cells that kill the bacteria. However, the scientists in New Delhi have discovered that the body also starts producing a type of stem cells that actually protect the tuberculosis bacteria from being destroyed by the T-cells. The research led by Gobardhan Das that was conducted on mice infected with tuberculosis has shown presence of these stem cells in areas where they discovered presence of the tuberculosis bacteria. Presence of stem cells that prevent the T-cells from fighting the tuberculosis bacteria was also found in infected human patients.
These stem cells trigger the release of nitric oxide but in insufficient amounts to kill the tuberculosis bacteria. But what is even more important is the fact that nitric oxide blocks the T-cells resulting in establishment of a balance between the tuberculosis bacteria and cells that destroy them. The scientist from New Delhi believe that the mentioned stem cells explain why tuberculosis incubation period lasts so long and why some people who are infected with the tuberculosis bacteria never get ill. Only about 10 percent of infected people develops illness at a certain point of their lives, most often when having a weakened immune system.
Tuberculosis remains one of the leading causes of death, especially in developing countries killing about 1,8 million people in 2009 alone. The scientists from New Delhi believe that suppression of the release of stem cells that enable the tuberculosis bacteria to survive could be the key to treatment of the infection.
Research on Embryonic Stem Cells in US mostly Funded by States
A study that was conducted by Aaron Levine who is an assistant professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology reveals that the research on embryonic stem cells in US is primarily funded by the states rather than the federal government. The result of the study which includes an online database of research on stem cells in six states – New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Connecticut, Maryland and California also reveals that the level of financial support of research on embryonic stem cells varies from one state to another. In addition, the author of the study concludes that most of these researches probably could be funded by the federal government according to its guidelines from 2001.
Levine’s study that was issued in the journal Nature Biotechnology on December 7, 2010, has shown that the above mentioned six states have funded a larger number of research on embryonic stem cells than the federal government although contribution of the federal government to research on stem cells is overall larger. The main reason for relatively small support of federal government to research on embryonic stem cells probably lays in the fact that it requires destruction of human embryos which remains a controversial topic although the research is conducted on embryos which are destroyed anyway. The author of the study also noted that he believes that there is only a small percentage of researches funded by the states which are not eligible for federal government funding.
The funding of research on embryonic stem cells also varies from one state to another. For example, Connecticut funded 97% of studies between December 2005 and December 2009, while New York financially supported only 21% researches. The author of the study has said that is probably due to the fact that some states including New York are more focused on the so-called iPS cells that are derived from adult tissue.
Biopharmaceutical Company from South Korea Not Guilty for Deaths after Stem Cell Treatment
The International Cellular Medicine Society stated that RNL Bio, a biopharmaceutical company from South Korea is not guilty for death of two patients after receiving stem cell treatment. Last month, the media in South Korea reported about two people dying – one in Japan and one in China after receiving stem cell treatment and implied that the company is encouraging patients to travel overseas to avoid the country’s laws that ban the use of stem cells for therapeutic purposes.
A group consisting from international physicians that studies the use of stem cells and keeps track on patients who receive stem cell treatment worldwide has concluded that there is no evidence that stem cells were cause of death of the two patients reported last month. The first patient, a 61 years old man who received stem cell treatment for diabetes and some other health problems in China died two months after treatment. The cause of death remains unknown but the International Cellular Medicine Society has concluded that the stem cells provided by biopharmaceutical company from South Korea were most likely not the cause of death. The second patient, a 73 years old man who traveled to Japan died from a blood clot that caused pulmonary embolism within 24 hours. However, the patient already have had blood clot upon receiving stem cell treatment and the treatment might stimulated the detachment of the blood clot. The International Cellular Medicine Society concluded that blood clot formation by the stem cells is less probable.
The International Cellular Medicine Society that investigated the reported deaths after receiving stem cell treatment has also emphasized that the risk of cancer due to stem cells treatment as often reported by the media is not related to treatments involving the use of stem cells derived from adult tissue that were received by both deceased patients.