London woman off insulin for Type 1 diabetes after a single dose of experimental manufactured stem cells

[Allan]

This looks promising. Of 12 US and Canadian patients given a stem cell injection 10 had improved pancreatic function to the point that the need for insulin was eliminated.

In a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers report that of the 12 patients who received a single dose of the stem cells, it eliminated the need for insulin in 10 for at least a year and stopped episodes of low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, which can lead to dangerous complications, even death.

Vertex, a Boston-based biotech company that sponsored the study, derived the cells from embryonic tissue and then found a way to grow stem cells in large quantities.

Researchers, working at centers in the U.S. and at least three transplant hospitals in Canada, infused them into the patient’s liver. Over the next four to six months, Reichman said they transformed into the array of hormone-producing cells found in a normal pancreas, and they were monitoring the patients’ blood sugar levels in real time.

London woman off insulin for Type 1 diabetes after a single dose of experimental manufactured stem cells

Amanda Smith celebrates the day, August 1, nearly two years ago, when she stopped taking insulin to manage her type one diabetes, just a few months after getting a dose of experimental stem cells as part of a study.

www.ctvnews.ca

 

[Hari Seldon]

This looks promising. Of 12 US and Canadian patients given a stem cell injection 10 had improved pancreatic function to the point that the need for insulin was eliminated.

London woman off insulin for Type 1 diabetes after a single dose of experimental manufactured stem cells

Amanda Smith celebrates the day, August 1, nearly two years ago, when she stopped taking insulin to manage her type one diabetes, just a few months after getting a dose of experimental stem cells as part of a study.

www.ctvnews.ca

Embryonic tissue used. The pro fetus crowd won't be liking that. Better to have diabetes.

 

[dseag2]

Great news!

 

[Old 'N Chill]

Embryonic tissue used. The pro fetus crowd won't be liking that. Better to have diabetes.

If they don't deny use by others, that's fine, their choice. We're going backwards in time here, when it comes to medical advances.

 

[Gordy327]

Embryonic tissue used. The pro fetus crowd won't be liking that. Better to have diabetes.

If it wasn't for restrictions placed on stem cell research by the anti-science crowd, we'd probably be further along in stem cell therapies. At least this is promising.

 

[Allan]

Embryonic tissue used. The pro fetus crowd won't be liking that. Better to have diabetes.

My understanding is that yes initially embryonic cells are taken but then the additional cells needed for the doses are manufactured (reproduced) in the lab.

Still controversial, but mostly in the US.

 

[Hari Seldon]

My understanding is that yes initially embryonic cells are taken but then the additional cells needed for the doses are manufactured (reproduced) in the lab.

Still controversial, but mostly in the US.

Not controversial to me. To the religiously challenged probably.

 

[Fearandloathing]

This looks promising. Of 12 US and Canadian patients given a stem cell injection 10 had improved pancreatic function to the point that the need for insulin was eliminated.

London woman off insulin for Type 1 diabetes after a single dose of experimental manufactured stem cells

Amanda Smith celebrates the day, August 1, nearly two years ago, when she stopped taking insulin to manage her type one diabetes, just a few months after getting a dose of experimental stem cells as part of a study.

www.ctvnews.ca

I am pre diabetic. Diagnosed 15 years ago and still control it with exercise & diet.

There will be a day when insulin or a substitute will come into play. From what I am told by people smarter than me, is that it's best to avoid or delay that date as no matter what drug is used, there will be tissue damage and erosion.

It sucks and to me proves there is no god. At least not an intelligent one as the body is designed to last 125 years on average. However the gland that controls sugar levels, the pancreas, is only designed to last 70 years and often fails at birth (type one).

Not an 'intelligent design" at all.

 

[Gordy327]

Still controversial, but mostly in the US.

Because of anti abortionists, some theists, and anti science types. Its a sad commentary on current society.

 

[Napoleon]

It would be prudent to wait for more thorough science. This isn’t the first time embryonic stem cells have been hyped as a cure all. And usually the side effects are…special.

 

[Allan]

It would be prudent to wait for more thorough science

They're not sticking it on CVS shelves tomorrow.

 

[Napoleon]

They're not sticking it on CVS shelves tomorrow.

Or probably ever for that matter.

 

[Allan]

Or probably ever for that matter.

Why not?

 

[Napoleon]

Why not?

Because one of the known problems with using embryonic stem cells is that they cause uncontrollable teratomas which can lead to permanent disability or death. To say nothing of the horror show of being covered in tumors with their own teeth.

 

[Slartibartfast]

They're not sticking it on CVS shelves tomorrow.

He is likely to go route that mirrors the antivax people and play up the side effects to horror movie levels for ideological reasons.

 

[PeacefulWarrior]

Because one of the known problems with using embryonic stem cells is that they cause uncontrollable teratomas which can lead to permanent disability or death. To say nothing of the horror show of being covered in tumors with their own teeth.

But vaccines cause death too though right? And many people are still using those?

 

[Napoleon]

But vaccines cause death too though right? And many people are still using those?

Yes, but that risk is small and predictable. That isn’t the case for embryonic stem cells. The teratomas by themselves are bad enough. Even worse is that they can be malignant. I don’t think exchanging diabetes for cancer is a good trade. Do you?

 

[Allan]

Because one of the known problems with using embryonic stem cells is that they cause uncontrollable teratomas which can lead to permanent disability or death. To say nothing of the horror show of being covered in tumors with their own teeth.

And what is the occurrence rate for these side effects?

 

[Napoleon]

And what is the occurrence rate for these side effects?

Teratomas are guaranteed. Malignancy is somewhere in the range of 4-10%.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187350610900018X

The good thing about embryonic stem cells is that they can form any tissue. The bad thing is that they can form any tissue and it’s uncontrollable. There’s a reason embryos stop producing them after 7 days. Tumors and cancer are what you get when you think you know better than Mother Nature.

 

[bongsaway]

Embryonic tissue used. The pro fetus crowd won't be liking that. Better to have diabetes.

Who can forget the uproar made about stem cell research when W was president? Nothing changes, they were stupid for believing the GOP bullshit and they are still stupid for believing their leadership's lies. I wonder what RFK is going to say about this possible spectacular step forward? I wonder how their god feels about it? I'm pretty sure someone on the right will tell us what god thinks.

 

[medi]

Is this procedure illegal in the UK? I tried to find anything in that article that would explain the locale identification as "London" and either I missed it, or it isn't explained.

 

[Allan]

Is this procedure illegal in the UK? I tried to find anything in that article that would explain the locale identification as "London" and either I missed it, or it isn't explained.

London, Ontario.

 

[medi]

London, Ontario.

Uh oh, I think my age just flew a giant flag. Thank you, but I should have remembered that.

 

[Allan]

Teratomas are guaranteed. Malignancy is somewhere in the range of 4-10%.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187350610900018X

The good thing about embryonic stem cells is that they can form any tissue. The bad thing is that they can form any tissue and it’s uncontrollable. There’s a reason embryos stop producing them after 7 days. Tumors and cancer are what you get when you think you know better than Mother Nature.

So this study intentionally used immunocomprimised mice to enable tumor growth. The tumors were an easy measure of efficacy.

In other articles I've read this morning purity of the injected stems cells mitigates unwanted side effects.

So as these studies advance controls will have to be rigorous and potential side effects well understood.

Even with some potential side effects it may be that this is a solution that is preferable to the risks of T1D, a disease that can result in sudden death and a greatly shortened lifespan.

 

[Napoleon]

So this study intentionally used immunocomprimised mice to enable tumor growth. The tumors were an easy measure of efficacy.

In other articles I've read this morning purity of the injected stems cells mitigates unwanted side effects.

So as these studies advance controls will have to be rigorous and potential side effects well understood.

Even with some potential side effects it may be that this is a solution that is preferable to the risks of T1D, a disease that can result in sudden death and a greatly shortened lifespan.

Teratomas are really the attempt of embryonic stem cells to make a person. Sometimes they even make brain tissue in there. These things are like a horror version of Mister Potato Head. There will never come a time when I will understand why anyone would prefer that over diet and exercise.

You may not remember this but, around 20 years ago, embryonic stem cells were heralded as a universal cure-all and the great elusive cure for cancer. Then they killed a highly publicized patient with this and went mum like they hadn’t spent years promoting it to anyone who would listen.

The only way embryonic stem cells will ever be safe is if we find a way to program them to do one thing and one thing only and then self destruct. And that’s science fiction.