Recently, the results of a landmark study by the scientists at StanfordUniversity School of Medicine have shown that the damage in the brain relatedto stroke could be repaired by the neural cells resulting from embryonic stemcells of humans which help improve physical abilities.  It is the first time that thescientists have generated these neural cells from embryonic stem cells in thelaboratory and when these were transplanted into rats, they not only showed animprovement in the bodily abilities but also didn’t suffer from tumors.

A clinical trial for severe coronary artery disease is being carried outin Alabama at the Princeton Baptist Hospital. The treatment administeredinvolves the injection of a subject’s stem cells into the patient’s heart,which would stimulate the development of new blood vessels. This wouldeventually restore adequate blood supply into the subject’s heart and wouldhelp it to resume normal pumping. 

The latest laws regarding embryo research under planning by the British Governmentcould make the use of stem-cell therapy illegitimate. The bills regarding Human Fertilisation and Embryology which are currentlybeing discussed in Parliament may stop patients fromhaving access to potential treatments originating from embryonic stem cells asthe officials will not grant permit for their use therapeutically.

Renowned cosmetologists in the Philippines recently made the headlinesas they introduced a sheep placenta-derived product called ActiStem Dermal, awonder liquid that is said to cause stimulation of the inactive stem cells of thebody, thereby regenerating the skin.

Recently the discovery by Mark Sussman, Professor of Biology, and his teamat San Diego State University made a statement that “the heart, broken by anysort of trauma, doesn’t heal itself” is a myth!

At SDSU's annual A.W. Johnson Lecture, Sussman described the role ofstem cells in repairing the heart after shock, which is experienced after heartattack. He said that stem cells are youthful, vulnerable and cooperative.