Human stem cells stimulate insulin in diabetic mice

[deadparrot]

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Transplantation of human stromal cells into diabetic mice stimulated native mouse beta cells to produce insulin, researchers report in the latest issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The researchers say it is possible that multipotent stromal cell infusions may correct the metabolic disorders and heal some of the damage caused by diabetes in diabetic patients in the future.

Dr. Darwin J. Prockop and colleagues at Tulane University in New Orleans, extracted multipotent stromal cells from human bone marrow and transplanted them into diabetic mice.

Before transplantation, the mice had severe hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and a loss of function in B and T cells. Lower blood glucose levels were seen in treated mice by day 32 but not in untreated control mice.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061109/hl_nm/diabetic_mice_dc

[aquart]

1. HOW SOON?

And how much time did Bush waste?

[Gato Moteado]

2. he wasted 5 years so far

republicans are human garbage

[aquart]

3. Five years out of my sister's life.

Five years with diabetes doing its damage and shortening her life. She's younger. I should be completely sure that I'll go first. And every day I'm scared I'll lose her.

[Igel]

5. In this case, no time.

There's funding earmarked for research using stem cells that are derived either from specific cell lines or from non-embryonic sources, with additional money that stem-cell research competes for against other kinds of medical research. Embryonic stem-cell research isn't illegal, it simply has restricted funding.

These weren't embryonic stem cells. This research most likely was federally (NIH) funded.

[Gato Moteado]

7. aside from not being funded.....

embryonic research has been limited to a small number of embryo lines that were already in existence. the repukes think it's better for fertility clinics to throw away old embryos rather than allow them to be used in research.

bush posed with a bunch of babies to rationalize this bizarre thinking.

[Riddler]

8. My Type 1 son has had it for over 20 years, diagnosed at 14 months old.

Five years of these bush-bastards screwing with people's lives to satisfy a handfull of so-called Christians makes me so goddamned mad I can't see straight. I hope they all succumb to some debilitating disease that their own refusal to act on could have saved their own miserable, piece-of-shit, useless lives. Am I bitter? Damn straight!

[flaminbats]

10. we can cure diabetes, but why bother?

Bush is one of these creeps who blames diabetes on overeating or "them bad genes!"

these slimes have had luxury after luxury just handed to them by rich parents. But they don't know what it's like to pay hundreds every month for the insulin needed just to stay alive! Republicans don't care if a diabetic has take shots every day just to eat a meal. They only call diabetics "immoral whiners" for wishing to be cured..to avoid the torments of kidney dialysis that come with this disease.

I believe the technology will exist in two years to cure juvenile diabetes, but how long will these neocon creeps stand in the way of saving millions of lives!

[Riddler]

11. Just makes me wonder how really sick these so-called "Christians" are

who place more importance on saving the "life" of an unborn embryo than on saving the life of a suffering, sick human being who's only "crime" was contracting an incurable deadly disease. And then fat bastards like pig-boy Limbaugh ridicule them. These people don't deserve to live in a society with normal people.

[mom cat]

12. Very, very sick.

[Igel]

24. Yes. "Derived from specific cell lines." n/t

My point, however, is that this research involved neither those embryonic cell lines nor any other embryonic cell line, and therefore this research was not covered by the limitation.

However this research could have received funds specifically dedicated to stem cell research, and would have qualified to compete with non-restricted NIH and other federal funds.

How having this research qualify for funding is holding it down is, of course, a mystery.

An example of ill-formed discourse:
NIH: "We want to give you money!"
Researcher: "You fascist oppressors! You're trying to shut me down! How dare you offer to fund me, pigs!"
NIH: ":crazy:" (walks away confused)

[customerserviceguy]

16. Read the article

These cells are from bone marrow, not from embryos. Chimpy has done a lot of lousy things, but this is not something he would have opposed in any way, shape, or form.

[CPschem]

4. type 1 diabetic here

looking forward to these breakthroughs. hopefully the new congress can get some bills passed.

[crossroads]

6. What Wonderful News... nt

[truthisfreedom]

9. good news for diabetic mice!

or not...

[doodadem]

13. Bittersweet

Both of my sisters were Type 1 from an early age. We lost one of them 5 years ago to the disease, blind and with total organ failure. Now, the second one has been in and out of ICU for the past two months, and it's not looking good. She has already lost both legs in the past several years.

This is a horrible, horrible disease. Anyone that stands in the way of a cure should have those closest to them sticken with it.

[Eurobabe]

14. Oh my, so sorry for you, my best friend's daughter has JD

since age 6. She is now 16 and on a pump, but oh this poor girl has had so many incidents with KA and comas already it is frightening. I hear you for her...

[kineneb]

18. I understand

Hubby was diagnosed with Type 2 in the early 1990s, after he developed retinopathy (I won't go into why he wouldn't see a doc before that).

Now... after treatment for retinopathy, cataract surgeries, switching to insulin after the pills stopped working, he is on a dialysis machine three times a week, has a weak heart and just had a stent implanted in an artery. His doc says baring any new medical developments, he probably has about five years left to live before his organs just give up. He is 59. I am 48 and his almost full-time caregiver. It is not fun watching someone slowly die this way.

Diabetes sucks.

[KansDem]

15. A big thanks from those of us in the Lantus/Novolog/Humalog crowd.

And a big FU to the GOP who fought against scientific research like this: "KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF MY CURE!!!"

[Lurking Dem]

20. KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF MY CURE

I really, REALLY like that.

Next week is my dx anniversary. 30 years with type 1. Also have systemic lupus and Sjogren's.

[KansDem]

31. Sounds like you're keeping it in check!

Keep up the good work!

I was diagnosed 3 years ago while I was being taken to the hospital in an ambulance during a heart attack. Talk about instant lifestyle changes!

The doctors figured I had had diabetes for some time and it led to the conditions that prompted the attack. I urge everyone to check their blood sugar periodically as this can sneak up on you.

I am doing better now (I actually felt better when I got out of the hospital after having angioplasty and stents than I had for quite some time prior). But the medications and the regular trips to the doctors and the tests sure take a toll on the family budget...

I really don't think a cure will be found in my lifetime (now that we've wasted 5 years with the GOP :mad:) but I do have two kids and there is a history of diabetes in my family, so I want them to reap the benefits, and the cure, from this research.

Good luck! :hi:

[Lurking Dem]

32. Thank you!

To be quite frank I am not in the greatest of shape but it could be worse. 30 years of disease takes its toll.

I have background retinopathy (not bad for 30 years!) and diabetic cataracts. Gastroparesis leaves me unable to eat solid food sometimes for weeks at a time. Neuropathy in all 4 limbs has caused chronic pain for 16+ years now. I had 6 miscarriages. And that's just the diabetes. I won't even start on the lupus/Sjogren's. I'm 44 years old.

I have been on an insulin pump for 18 years. It is AWESOME! But the aforementioned goes to show INSULIN IS NOT A CURE!

And I firmly believe the American people spoke - especially in Missouri - and stem cell research will finally get adequate funding.

[Javaman]

17. Some how I see this getting funding...

considering that diabetes is now running rampant through our society.

[DrBKB911]

19. stromal cells from human bone marrow=ADULT Stem cells!

Not sure if you all know that or not. The funding is already there for ADULT stem cells (thanks to someone you all hate). If you are looking for an article or finding to support your embryonic stem cell argument, this is not it.

http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/basics4.asp

[Javaman]

26. That's because there is only a limited amount of embryonic stem cells

available to do research on you dumb repuke lurking bastard.

the embryonic stems cells made avaible for research are unfit for this type of study for one reason or another and thats why that colossal fucking moron* failure approved them.

The researchers only have adult stem cells availer because of this. Because of your mouth breathing support and others like you, we are now 5 fucking years behind in research and are trailing the rest of the world.

Go peddle you colossal bullshit else were.

I hope you enjoyed your stay you disposable water carrying loser tool.

Oh and one more thing bush is and always will be a tool for the Noe-con fundies. Get over it.

[Bridget Burke]

27. I'm aware that these are not embryonic stem cells.

But I won't thank Bush for the funding. I'm sure some of his saner advisers put it into the budget. He lacks the intellectual capacity. And the compassion for suffering.

The Bush years have not been wonderful for scientific endeavors. Nor for delivering medical advances to the people.

[Javaman]

28. it was a freep lerker. it's profile has been scrubbed. such tools.

Peace.

[Bridget Burke]

29. Good. I figured that out--the search function is our friend.

Certainly, more research should be done on embryonic stem cells. But valuable work is also being done with adult stem cells. Even if the latter is less controversial, it's still underfunded.

And--no matter what science can do--will all Americans be able to afford promising new treatments?

[Javaman]

30. That is indeed the question, will it be available for the rest of us or only the rich?

Hopefully universal health care will solve this...if that ever happens.

[Lurking Dem]

21. This is actually the very first

time they have gotten adult stem cells to produce insulin. It is very, very good news!

[bamacrat]

22. Even more reason to push for this technology

[williesgirl]

23. Fucking repukes don't care about human suffering, only their "ideals" - recommended

[phusion]

25. My dad has Type I

He has had it almost thirty years now, since about 2 years before I was born. He has managed it extremely well and is probably one of the healthiest 50 year olds that I know. It sure has been a lifesaver that the VA considers his Type I "Service-Related" so all medical expenses are paid. He is even on an insulin pump.

But, that's not to say that we haven't had our share of frightening insulin shock episodes (one time he woke up in the VA alone because it happened at a gas station). He also tends to be very combative during insulin shock. It's not easy.

Needless to say breakthroughs like this are extremely exciting for everyone effected by diabetes.

Thanks for the update!

[IDemo]

33. Type 1 for 44 years

It's always exciting to hear news like this, but after decades of hearing stories with the words "in the future" appended, I don't get my hopes up too much to experience a cure. Hopefully, though, the young and newly diagnosed will see a genuine breakthrough within their lifetimes.