5 replies to this topic

[StemCells&AtomBombs]

I hope that you enjoy reading my blog at www.StemCellsandAtomBombs.blogspot.com.
I also hope that you sign up to follow the blog.

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There's too much information about stem cells. There is so much information that it's like having no information at all. Then throw in Google ads that let companies sell stem cell therapies, that scientists scream are fake, to us and what you have is utter confusion.

Things are so confusing that the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) had to publish a pamphlet basically warning stem cell treatment tourists about what they already know, be careful of fake or dangerous stem cell therapies. I'm sorry to say but the International Society for Stem Cell Research has missed the point completely. People who are desperate for treatments for chronic illnesses have no where to turn to for information. How does anyone know if the ISSCR is itself legitimate? I'm not saying that they aren't as they look like a good group of scientists trying hard to keep people informed, but who has ever heard of them? And this is the problem with every stem cell group out there; no one knows how correct their information is.

But I'll tell you who people do know, the group that should really be informing people about stem cells, and that's the government.

continue reading...at StemCells&AtomBombs

[sam4012]

StemCells&AtomBombs, on 31 August 2010 - 02:32 PM, said:

I hope that you enjoy reading my blog at www.StemCellsandAtomBombs.blogspot.com.
I also hope that you sign up to follow the blog.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////

There's too much information about stem cells. There is so much information that it's like having no information at all. Then throw in Google ads that let companies sell stem cell therapies, that scientists scream are fake, to us and what you have is utter confusion.

Things are so confusing that the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) had to publish a pamphlet basically warning stem cell treatment tourists about what they already know, be careful of fake or dangerous stem cell therapies. I'm sorry to say but the International Society for Stem Cell Research has missed the point completely. People who are desperate for treatments for chronic illnesses have no where to turn to for information. How does anyone know if the ISSCR is itself legitimate? I'm not saying that they aren't as they look like a good group of scientists trying hard to keep people informed, but who has ever heard of them? And this is the problem with every stem cell group out there; no one knows how correct their information is.

But I'll tell you who people do know, the group that should really be informing people about stem cells, and that's the government.

continue reading...at StemCells&AtomBombs

There was a 1 hr. show 8/31/2010 on our Texas local radio station NPR 90.1 FM dial. The most important question that was brought to light was the fact the embryonic vs. adult stem cells. In some cases when adult stem cells are used these cells will only work for certain types of things, ie. diabetes, eye disease etc. In the case of embryos being used the radio talk person can't think of her name but she's an extremely elderly person said, "Why can't these embryos be used when the person(s) have given permission to be used in clinical trial and not only that she said, "These are embryos that will be thrown away and she made it very clear to our Texas locals what difference does it make, if these throw away embryos are going to be thrown away and why can't they be used for a better use such as helping the people out there that have a spinal cord injury and other diseases. I'm glad one person got to submit their question to the station and his family member is a spinal cord injury person (grandson?) level the same as Christopher Reeve's and he said his family member had received some type of treatment with adult stem cell overseas and he now has the useage of his hands. My daughter (c5 c6, incomplete 3/2007)would be so happy to be able to use her hands again to be able to draw and play her guitar. She told me one time that would be the most important thing to get back to doing again with her hands.

[chrisarnold6]

StemCells&AtomBombs, on 31 August 2010 - 02:32 PM, said:

I hope that you enjoy reading my blog at www.StemCellsandAtomBombs.blogspot.com.
I also hope that you sign up to follow the blog.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////

There's too much information about stem cells. There is so much information that it's like having no information at all. Then throw in Google ads that let companies sell stem cell therapies, that scientists scream are fake, to us and what you have is utter confusion.

Things are so confusing that the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) had to publish a pamphlet basically warning stem cell treatment tourists about what they already know, be careful of fake or dangerous stem cell therapies. I'm sorry to say but the International Society for Stem Cell Research has missed the point completely. People who are desperate for treatments for chronic illnesses have no where to turn to for information. How does anyone know if the ISSCR is itself legitimate? I'm not saying that they aren't as they look like a good group of scientists trying hard to keep people informed, but who has ever heard of them? And this is the problem with every stem cell group out there; no one knows how correct their information is.

But I'll tell you who people do know, the group that should really be informing people about stem cells, and that's the government.

continue reading...at StemCells&AtomBombs

I can relate to "too much information". This is the blessing (curse?) of modern technology. I recently saw a program that deals with the manipulation of matter at an atomic level. Sadly weapons did feature in this. Nanotechnology may be able to repair tissue damage at the cellular level. Considering that the question of self replication was discussed, a very scary scenario can be envisaged.

Yes, there are numerous places that either research into stem cells, or actually a partial cure for SCI, it is easy to get confused. Terms like scientific approach or "proof" are bandied about, yet in most medical senses, strict proof is not always possible, and statistical significance is applied. Conclusions from which, "appear to indicate", or "lean towards" this or that are provided. A case in point is that smoking causes cancer. In fact, the truth is that it is able to do this, but not inevitably. In the past 20 years, the number of small mammals that have been sacrificed in the name of often duplicated research beggars belief.

The most amazing thing to me is the insular attitude (apparently) of Institutes involving scientific research. This does not compare well with the 17th to 18th centuries, where all scholars spoke Latin, and communicated freely, across Europe. Now we have a sort of zealous institutional proprietary jealously that forbids company A talking to company B. On the one hand one site never mentions another, (e.g. Xcell in Germany does not mention Geeta Stroff) and on the other we read of medical researchers who pour cold water over these claims, anyway. A possible consequence of that is that any treatments undertaken are funded entirely from the individual.

Although there is a strong commitment (quite rightly) for research into Parkinson's and MS, it is possible to note a certain lack of the same commitment to "normally" paralised subjects, as the condition is usually not progressive and/or terminal. What never gets mentioned is that, apart from a SCI patient's real desire to become self-reliant again, the continuing care costs for wheel chairs, home modifications, non-residential nursing care and non-recyclable appliances like catheters, inco sheets etc, is a multi-billion pound business. I am not trying to be cynical, but it cannot be denied that there appear to be large vested interests in NOT finding a cure for SCI.

The way forward is to make the sharing of interfaculty experience compulsory by legislation, and the same impetus as given to the Manhatton Project may be evident in medical research.

[Tetracyclone]

I notice that big Pharmaceutical companies have made a commitment to sharing their research data on
Alzheimer's disease. This is a big step back toward essential sharing of scientific information but as long as research is privately funded these poor buggers needs some way to get back their money. Governments do not support science nor medicine properly.

[StemCells&AtomBombs]

Tetracyclone, on 01 September 2010 - 12:37 PM, said:

I notice that big Pharmaceutical companies have made a commitment to sharing their research data on
Alzheimer's disease. This is a big step back toward essential sharing of scientific information but as long as research is privately funded these poor buggers needs some way to get back their money. Governments do not support science nor medicine properly.

Please see http://stemcellsanda.../07/wasted.html for information about the big drug companies and Alzheimer's disease.

[chrisarnold6]

Thanks tetracyclone and stemcellsand atom bombs. Glad to hear that big companies are getting more sharing, but saddened that government agencies are so talented at spoiling the ship for a penny worth of tar.