Stem cell generation from ordinary cells now safe

Oct. 10, 2008

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Japanese researchers who invented a way to make powerful stem cells out of ordinary cells say they have now found a safer way to do it.

Airline nearly foils stem cell operation

BRISTOL, England, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- A British surgeon said a first of its kind operation in Spain was nearly foiled when an airline refused to allow him to take stem cells on a plane.

Exercise may help keep brain young

TAINAN CITY, Taiwan, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- In a study in mice, exercise was found to reverse the age-related decline in the production of neural stem cells in the brain, scientists in Taiwan said.

Stem cells used in trachea transplant

BARCELONA, Spain, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- The first successful human windpipe transplant using the patient's stem cells was completed in Spain, physicians at four European universities announced.

Stem cells to be used in heart trial

SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say they are seeking people for a trial to test the safety of using patients' own stem cells to repair their damaged hearts.

Scientists ID stem cell compounds

LA JOLLA, Calif., Nov. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they have identified compounds for stem cell production from adult cells, moving medicine closer to the reprogramming of general cells.

10th anniversary of stem cell era

MADISON, Wis., Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Stem cell researchers say immense progress has been made in the decade since human cells were first isolated and grown by U.S. scientists.

Stem cell use studied for Parkinson's

EDINBURGH, Scotland, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Researchers at Edinburgh University in Scotland are working on ways to use embryonic stem cells in treatments for Parkinson's Disease.

Michigan voters mull stem cell research

LANSING, Mich., Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Michigan voters will decide Tuesday whether to overturn a 30-year-old ban on destroying human embryos for medical research.

New process increases stem cell potential

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Stem cells greatly improve their therapeutic effectiveness in replacing damaged tissue when a molecule is added to their surface, U.S. researchers said Friday.

Fat cells might aid heart attack therapy

HAIFA, Texas, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- U.S. medical scientists say they see promise in using adipose-derived stromal cells as agents to help repair heart muscles damaged by a heart attack.

'Sonic Hedgehog' protein feeds tumors

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers said brain tumors appear to be more aggressive when they feed off cancer stem cells that use Sonic Hedgehog protein signaling mechanisms.

New ALS research findings are reported

BALTIMORE, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've found transplanting a new line of stem cell-like cells in rat models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis can help sustain breathing.

Salk Institute reports stem cell advance

LA JOLLA, Calif., Oct. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they significantly increased the efficiency involved in reprogramming adult human cells back into so-called induced pluripotent stem cells.

Link between mitochondria and tumors found

BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they have discovered a link between stem cell potency and the metabolic rate of their mitochondria.

Stem cell research breakthrough reported

GAINESVILLE, Fla., Oct. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists said they have discovered that as embryonic stem cells turn into various cell types, DNA replication and organizational changes also occur.