The Truth About Vaccines and Modern Medicine
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Stem Cell Research


Embryonic Stem Cells

The public consensus at times that is claimed to, is that in the research circles out there, the claim is made that there been no proven benefit to embryonic stem cells; also that such as the tumor creating possibilities of embryonic stem cells, is just to great to produce any benefit. They then make claims that the main research scientists have stated that the issue is not worth pursuing further. They further state that adult stem cells are the best and proven way to go forward with this research. It is clear and fact that adult stem cells have shown great strides in real life clinical human research applications, and as well in other countries. However, we can not take off the table, the issue of further embryonic stem cell research; where the possiblity exists for better benefits, such as in spinal in jury; where adult cells may not be able do accomplish the needed outcome. If we can use embryos that would have been dis-guarded anyway, and obviously endless many exist at fertility clinics; and that of course with consent of the parents. If we can also as has been found, take cells from an embryo without harm. Then this research in my opinion needs to continue, and has been long over-due.  

California Institute of Regenerative Medicine
http://www.cirm.ca.gov/
http://www.cirm.ca.gov/for-the-public

Common Questions On Stem Cell Research. CIRM California Institute of Regenerative Medicine.

Excerpts.

I've heard that adult stem cells are as good or better than embryonic stem cells

Adult stem cells are extremely valuable and have great potential for future therapies. However, these cells are very restricted in what they can do. Blood forming stem cells can treat some blood diseases, and brain stem cells may be able to treat some neural diseases, but those cells can’t turn into other tissues types. What’s more, adult stem cells don’t grow indefinitely in the lab, unlike embryonic stem cells, and they aren’t as flexible in the types of diseases they can treat.
It's true that the news is full of stories about people who had great results from adult stem cell therapies. Few of these therapies are part of big trials that can test to be sure that a potential therapy is safe and effective. Until some of these large trials take place with both adult and embyonic stem cells we won't know which cells are the most effective for different diseases. In fact, even researchers who study adult stem cells advocate working with embryonic cells as well.
You can likely find the name of any adult stem cell researcher you read about in the news on this list of scientists who have signed an international statement advocating for embryonic stem cell research as the gold standard.

Read the statement advocating embryonic stem cell research.  http://www.isscr.org/ScienceStatementEndorsers.cfm

CIRM encourages work with adult stem cells and is excited about their potential for treating some diseases. However, the goal of CIRM is to accelerate new treatments for incurable diseases and at this time the most effective way of doing that is by exploring all types of stem cells: adult, embryonic, and iPS.

http://www.cirm.ca.gov/StemCellBasics_Questions#5

As to dis-spelling the misinformation out there on the claim that embryonic stem cells having no benefit, and the focus placed on only adult stem cells; here is some interesting information right here, and from the NIH site.

Stem Cells and Diseases. National Insitutes of Health.
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/health.asp

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Geron. Uncommon Medicine / Unlimited Potential.

http://www.geron.com/

News Release

Geron Receives FDA Clearance to Begin World's First Human Clinical Trial of Embryonic Stem Cell-Based Therapy.

Excerpts.

Geron to Study GRNOPC1 in Patients with Acute Spinal Cord Injury.

MENLO PARK, Calif., January 23, 2009 - Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted clearance of the company's Investigational New Drug (IND) application for the clinical trial of GRNOPC1 in patients with acute spinal cord injury.

GRNOPC1, Geron's lead hESC-based therapeutic candidate, contains hESC-derived oligodendrocyteprogenitor cells that have demonstrated remyelinating and nerve growth stimulating properties leading to restoration of function in animal models of acute spinal cord injury (Journal of Neuroscience, Vol. 25, 2005).

"The neurosurgical community is very excited by this new approach to treating devastating spinal cord injury," said Richard Fessler, M.D., Ph.D., professor of neurological surgery at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. "Demyelination is central to the pathology of the injury, and its reversal by means of injecting oligodendrocyte progenitor cells would be revolutionary for the field.

In vitro studies have shown that GRNOPC1 is minimally recognized by the human immune system. GRNOPC1 is not recognized in vitro by allogeneic sera, NK cells or T cells (Journal of Neuroimmunology, Vol. 192, 2007). These immune-privileged characteristics of the hESC-derived cells allow a clinical trial design that incorporates a limited course of low-dose immunosuppression and provide the rationale for an off-the-shelf, allogeneic cell therapy.

Production and Qualification of GRNOPC1

Excerpts.

GRNOPC1 is produced using current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) in Geron's manufacturing facilities. Geron's GRNOPC1 production process and clean-room suites have been inspected and licensed by the state of California. The cells are derived from the H1 human embryonic stem cell line, which was created before August 9, 2001. Studies using this line qualify for U.S. federal research funding, although no federal funding was received for the development of the product or to support the clinical trial.

GRNOPC1 product that has passed all such specifications and has been released is available for the approved clinical trial. The current production scale can supply product needs through pivotal clinical trials. The existing master cell bank could potentially supply sufficient starting material for GRNOPC1 to commercially supply the U.S. acute spinal cord injury market for more than 20 years.

My note: (Read that? 20 years!)


Preclinical Evidence of Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy.

Excerpts.

Geron submitted evidence of the safety, tolerability and efficacy of GRNOPC1 to the FDA in a 21,000-page IND application that described 24 separate animal studies requiring the production of more than five billion GRNOPC1 cells. Included in the safety package were studies that showed no evidence of teratoma formation 12 months after injection of clinical grade GRNOPC1 into the injured spinal cord of rats and mice. Other studies documented the absence of significant migration of the injected cells outside the spinal cord, allodynia induction (increased neuropathic pain due to the injected cells), systemic toxicity or increased mortality in animals receiving GRNOPC1.

Also included in the IND application were published studies supporting the utility of GRNOPC1 for the treatment of spinal cord injury. Those studies showed that administration of GRNOPC1 significantly improved locomotor activity and kinematic scores of animals with spinal cord injuries when injected seven days after the injury (Journal of Neuroscience, Vol. 25, 2005). Histological examination of the injuredspinal cords treated with GRNOPC1 showed improved axon survival and extensive remyelination surrounding the rat axons. These effects of GRNOPC1 were present nine months after a single injection of cells. In these nine-month studies, the cells were shown to migrate and fill the lesion cavity, with bundles of myelinated axons crossing the injury site.

The cells are derived from the H1 human embryonic stem cell line, which was created before August 9, 2001. Studies using this line qualify for U.S. federal research funding, although no federal funding was received for the development of the product or to support the clinical trial.

Read full article here.
http://www.geron.com/media/pressview.aspx?id=1148


Geron News Releases.
http://www.geron.com/media/releases.aspx


News Release. Geron Comments on FDA Hold on Spinal Cord Injury Trial.

Geron Comments on FDA Hold on Spinal Cord Injury Trial.

MENLO PARK, Calif., August 27, 2009 - Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN) today provided additional comments on the recent clinical hold on its Spinal Cord Injury IND.

A just completed animal study showed a higher frequency of cysts, although their characteristics were similar to the cysts seen in previous studies: non-proliferative, confined to the injury site, smaller than the injury cavity and not associated with adverse clinical outcomes.

As part of our ongoing product improvement efforts, new candidate markers and assays for product release have been identified that are linked with cyst formation across all animal studies in which cysts were found. Importantly, a manufactured lot of GRNOPC1 that was assessed using these markers and assays showed no cysts in another recently concluded animal study in spinal cord injured rats.

We have submitted these data to the FDA and are in discussions with the agency to answer its questions and proceed with the clinical trial. We are committed to the optimization of all our hESC-based products as we improve the manufacturing process and identify improved product release criteria.

http://www.geron.com/media/pressview.aspx?id=1188


News Release

Geron and FDA Reach Agreement on Clinical Hold.

MENLO PARK, Calif., October 30, 2009 - Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN) today announced the company's plan to advance clinical development of its human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-based product, GRNOPC1, for the treatment of spinal cord injury.

Geron has been performing a series of preclinical studies to expand the clinical program for spinal cord injury beyond patients with complete thoracic injuries. The company's goal is to test the safety and utility of GRNOPC1 in patients with complete and incomplete (less severe) injuries in both thoracic and cervical regions.
As announced previously, in one preclinical study, a higher frequency of animals developed cysts in the injury site than had been seen in numerous foregoing preclinical studies with clinical grade GRNOPC1. These cysts are non-proliferative, confined to the injury site, smaller than the injury cavity, and were not associated with adverse effects on the animals. As part of ongoing work to optimize GRNOPC1 manufacturing and product release, the company developed new candidate markers and assays. Data from studies using the new markers, were submitted to the FDA. The IND for spinal cord injury was placed on clinical hold pending FDA review of the data.
Geron will complete a confirmatory preclinical study using GRNOPC1 that has been characterized by the new markers and assays, as agreed upon in discussions with the FDA. As part of the ongoing plan to advance clinical development to cervical patients, Geron had already initiated this preclinical study in an animal model of cervical injury.
In discussions with the company, the FDA has advised that it concurs with Geron that positive data from this study can be used to support both release of the clinical hold and expansion to cervical patients. Geron expects the data from this study to enable re-initiation of the clinical trial in the third quarter of 2010.
The company is initially developing GRNOPC1 for spinal cord injury, but is also exploring application for other neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis, stroke and Alzheimer disease.

Read full article here.
http://www.geron.com/media/pressview.aspx?id=1195
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Endorse the Open Letter. Support all Forms of Stem Cell Research.

Excerpts.

Stem cell critics are now using the recent advances in adult stem cell research to forward a political agenda. As scientists, we are concerned that efforts to favor one arm of stem cell research at the expense of another are based on unsound interpretations of scientific discoveries.

Therefore, the ISSCR joined with other leading scientists to issue an open letter to reiterate the urgent need for support for all types of stem cell research, asking members to endorse this open letter.

Sign the petition here.

http://www.isscr.org/ScienceStatementEndorsers.cfm

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Heres what they had to say (encouragement), at the said Christopher Reeves Foundation, concerning and about the Geron FDA approval for the said clinical trials.
http://www.christopherreeve.org/site/c.ddJFKRNoFiG/b.4919755/k.FC82/First_Embryonic_Stem_Cell_Trial_Gets_FDA_Approval.htm
 
Geron articles search list, off their website.
http://communities.kintera.org/REEVE/search/SearchResults.aspx?q=geron
 
 
 
Stem Cell Information Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/faqs.asp

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Therapeutic Uses Of Stem Cells For Spinal Cord Injuries: A New Hope.

Excerpts.

Grill and colleagues induced lesions in the dorsal hemisection of adult rat’s spinal cord, resulting in severely limited motor ability. Next grafts of syngenic fibroblasts, genetically altered to produce NT-3, were transplanted into the lesion cavity of the experimental group. 

Triggering neurotrophic factors in hopes of inducing progenitors to proliferate is one of two major areas of study in spinal cord regeneration. Scientists also can derive undifferentiated embryonic stem cells (ES cells) from fetal spinal cord tissue and then mature them into cells that are suitable to implant into the damaged spinal cord.

Full article here.
Are induced pluripotent stem cells the future of cell-based regenerative therapies for spinal cord injury?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20020443?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=4

Progress toward the clinical application of patient-specific pluripotent stem cells.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20051636?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=1

Highlights of some studies done.
http://stemcells.nih.gov/research/scilit/highlights/

Resourses.
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/resources.asp

CHAPTER THREE Embryonic Stem Cells.
http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10195&page=31

Stem CELLS and the FUTURE OF REGENERATIVE MEDICINE.
http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309076307

Stem Cells List Of Clinical Trials.
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=embryonic+stem+cells

Obama to Lift Restrictions on Embryonic Stem Cell Research.
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090307/obama-to-lift-restrictions-on-embryonic-stem-cell-research/index.html

In other words it needs to be highly regulated to only that research approved by the FDA, and that has shown true proven potential benefit. No whole-scale research, that is just possibly corrupt or biased, etc., and nor by just any facility that can  claim to be doing the research. More than one research facility doing the studies is not the problem; but regulating it - may be. (Not that we could ever trust the FDA, but they did appear to do a good job evaluating the Geron research situation).

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Now let look at a bit of information on how many embryos exist, and are either non viable, and/or dis-guarded at fertility clinics, right now.


Human embryos and fertility clinics, Are pro-life leaders ignoring the real problems? [And I am, (this author), pro-life, by the way].

Excerpt.

On the order of 9,000 of the 400,000 embryos preserved in cryogenic freezers in American fertility clinics are available for use by other couples; and many will not survive nor ever ever be implanted; it doesn't say exactly how many they have disposed of; but obviously it is many, and many more will be. They can take that up with the fertility clinics??? Not with the embryonic research that benefited from a small portion of those total number of embryo's that were ever out there.



Now lets go here?

Human Embryos Routinely Discarded at U.S. Fertility Clinics

Excerpts:

Philadelphia, PA (LifeNews.com) -- Human embryos are routinely discarded at fertility clinics in the U.S., raising new concerns about the ethics of the in vitro fertilization industry.

A new study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and Rutgers University indicates that 84 percent of clinics throw out "extra" embryos created during in IVF procedures.

As many as 400,000 other embryos are in a kind of icy limbo -- frozen in storage facilities -- likely to die before being implanted in a woman's uterus.

In IVF, multiple embryos are often created to increase the chances that a pregnancy will be carried to term. Sometimes, couples opt to use excess embryos for future pregnancies, or to donate them to other couples wishing to adopt children.

The study showed that 76 percent of clinics offered the adoption option; 60 percent, disposal of the embryos before freezing; 54 percent, disposal after freezing; 60 percent, donation for scientific experimentation; and 19 percent, donation for training doctors.

Clinics that disposed of embryos treated the days-old unborn children like medical waste and often discarded them by means of incineration.

If you can donate life-saving stem cells from a days-old fetus, that is a far greater goal to society than throwing it away in the trash," Fiona Hutton, a Proposition 71 spokeswoman, told the San Jose Mercury News.

"Getting parental consent is not adequate," Jan Carroll of the California Pro-Life Council told the newspaper. "This is not valid consent. Embryos should have their own rights to give consent, and they don't."

Some doctors involved in IVF say they have a moral obligation to produce fewer excess embryos during their procedures.

"Every embryo should be viewed as something more than just a piece of tissue," Dr. Carl Herbert of Pacific Fertility Center in San Francisco told the Mercury News. "Even if couples decide to discard it, it should be considered that it was special."

An estimated 50,000 American women each year turn to IVF in the hopes of achieving pregnancy.

Read the full article here. http://www.lifenews.com/bio449.html


So, does anyone here yet see any sense in this? Lets forsake healing people in wheel chairs, and quadriplegics, so we can
have proper respect for the embryo's that are a living life? While we can clearly see that many of them are not viable; nor   will not ever see a birthed form of human life. We can see the proof here that these embryos, many will not and have not survived no matter what is done later. If we allow organ donation; then why not this; and for the much better good. If some good can come from death, let it be life? Giving a better life to a person with paralysis; or some other disorder we have not found a cure for in years; and with nothing yet even on the horizon for drugs, nor therapies, etc.

Where are any of the cures they have spent billions on? The pharma cures? Is it NOT time to act, on something? Look at what is on this site for cures and better ways to reverse health problems? Refusal to provide true health care on all levels. Drag their feet and spread more misinformation, or give no information on what they continue to ignore.

There is so much misleading misinformation out there! The false polarization of our people, and nothing good is gained because they remain so mislead. This is again, why I do what I do. The devil said he would go out and mislead all nations, and to the four corners of the earth. Or however many you want to count. (He did a good job)!


You can understand that, or not.

This page nor site does not currently address the research on adult stem cells; however there is allot of it out there, with good results. Most seems to be however unknown and unavailable to the general public, unless you research it, and go to where it is. In the U.S. and elsewhere, it is now there. As said, there clearly may be good applications for both types. One may not be able to do what the other can.

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So, if you still not sure what went on here, lets briefly review some of what we just went through, and the highlights again.   

Stem Cell Information Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/faqs.asp 

 
The fact is that the Geron research has shown very good outcomes in animal models; and where else are you going to get research to go to the FDA with; as they do not allow such approved trials on humans, without it.
 
Scientists See Progress In FDA (ESC) Stem Cell Trial Approval.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090126160206.htm
 
Ok, next lets go here below and look at some of the progress in ASC research, and in regard to spinal cord injuries and stem cells.
 
Adult Human Neural Stem Cell Therapy Successful In Treating Spinal Cord Injury. ScienceDaily (Sep. 20, 2005) — Irvine, Calif. -- Researchers at the UC Irvine Reeve-Irvine Research Center have used adult human neural stem cells to successfully regenerate damaged spinal cord tissue and improve mobility in mice.
 
So, where is their FDA approved clinical trial? Has any even been applied for? As of this date, I do not find any. Get the picture?

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Here is as well, some brief information on the olfactory sinus area stem cells, you may have heard of being transplanted, and now showing as well some interesting results in regard spinal cord injury. If this is being done in the US, I didn't yet run onto any information as to that it is. It is being done in Portugal. 
 
Testimony at Senate Committee on Science, Technology, and Space Hearing: Adult Stem Cell Research, Wednesday, July 14 2004 by Laura Dominguez
Excerpts.
 
My name is Laura Dominguez. I am 19 years old and live in San Antonio, TX. Three years ago, while on the way home from summer school, my brother and I were involved in a car accident that left me paralyzed from the neck down. The accident was caused by an oil spill on the highway. An oil spill that we had nothing to do with, but by chance was on the roadway in our lane. I suffered a C6 vertebrae burst fracture and my spinal cord was severely damaged. At that time doctors gave me absolutely no chance of ever walking again. I refused to accept their prognosis and began searching for other options.
 
After being hospitalized (in several hospitals) for almost a year, my mother and I relocated to San Diego, CA so that I could undergo extensive physical therapy. While in California, we met a family whose daughter was suffering from a similar spinal cord injury. They were also looking for other alternatives to deal with spinal cord injuries. After extensive research and consultations with medical experts in the field of spinal cord injuries, we decided the best procedure, that exists today, was being performed in Portugal. We teamed up with the Nader family, a group of Doctors from the Detroit Medical Center, and flew to Portugal to undergo this new surgical procedure.
 
The surgery involved the removal of tissue from my olfactory sinus area and transplanting it into my spinal cord at the injury site. Both procedures, the harvesting of the tissue and the transplant were done at the same time. I was the tenth person in the world and the second American to have this procedure done.
 
After the surgery, I returned to California to continue physical therapy. I stayed there until July of 2003 and then returned back to San Antonio, TX. At that time an MRI was taken and it revealed my spinal cord had begun to heal. Approximately 70% of the lesion now looked like normal spinal cord tissue.
 
I was also starting to regain feeling in my upper body and within six months I had regained feeling down to my abdomen. Improvements in my sensory feelings have continued until the present time. I can now feel down to my hip level and have started to regain feeling and some movement down to my legs. My upper body has gained more strength and balance. Another one of the most evident improvements has been my ability to stand and remain standing, using a walker, and with minimal assistance. When I stand I can contract my quadriceps and hamstring muscles. I can also stand on my toes when I am on my feet. And more importantly, while lying down in a prone position, I am able to move my feet.
 
My training has continued to this day and I am able to better use the muscles in my hip area. I am able, with assistance and the use of braces, to walk a distance of over 1400 feet. It takes approximately thirty minutes to walk this distance and it is extremely tiring, but it can be done. I will continue to challenge myself until I can fully walk again with little or no assistance from braces or the help of a therapist. I hope…no, I know…this will be possible by my 21st birthday
 
Read the full article here.
 
This study and research as said done in Portugal. So now you can ask, as well; when is the next FDA approved clinical trial going to be getting done on and with that procedure, and here in the US?  Do you think there is anything wrong with the priorities in healing, withinin our U.S. medical fields. Is the real desire to heal; or is the desire to just make money and have security, for far to many? To tow the politcally correct party line. Noone is helped by that.