Stem Cells May Offer Promise for Damaged Hearts

The article talks about stem cells and how they can be used to help ‘regenerate’ the heart and other body parts. Basically, stem cells, obtained from the patient himself, are used to help rebuild certain problems with the heart, promoting growth and preventing scar tissue formation. The issue with embryonic stem cells can be avoided completely in this case since the stem cells being used are from the adult patients themselves. Though the embryonic stem cells can prove more advantageous in ways, including being pluripotent, the adult stem cells are safer due to possible rejection problems. The stem cells can even be “programmed,” so to say, to go to certain areas of the body from veins in the arm. This use of stem cells can very soon become a means for immunity from diseases for so many patients. Imagine a world where an organ or even a limb can be completely regenerated.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/07/14/heart.stem.cells/index.html

Ryan Rihani

VTPP 434 507