Scientists closer to disease treatments

SAN BRUNO, Calif., Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Recent findings of embryonic-like stem cells in umbilical cord blood may improve treatments for such conditions as diabetes, CBR Systems Inc. said Monday.

A team of British and American researchers says a number of stem cells in umbilical cord blood have characteristics similar to embryonic stem cells, CBR reported.

In laboratory experiments, the team successfully turned the "embryonic-like" cord blood stem cells into liver cells, reported Stephen Grant, senior vice president of CBR, which calls itself the world's largest cord blood registry bank.

"The discovery provides added value to the investment made by the estimated 300,000 families that have opted to cryogenically preserve their newborns' cord blood for current and emerging uses," Grant said.

The study concerning cord blood-derived embryonic-like stem cells appears in the August issue of Cell Proliferation.