johac uncoiled the following on Wednesday :

In article <mn.31ea7d762bb0d05f.73271@att.net>,
Pangur Ban <Whistleblower@att.net> wrote:

johac responded :

This is another good reason to remove restrictions on US stem cell
researchers.

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Scientists plan stem cell cure for blindness
By Ben HirschlerTue Jun 5, 4:07 PM ET
British scientists plan to use stem cells to cure a common form of
blindness, with the first patients receiving test treatment in five
years.

The pioneering project, launched on Tuesday, aims to repair damaged
retinas with cells derived from human embryonic stem cells. Its backers
say it involves simple surgery that could one day become as routine as
cataract operations.

They believe the technique is capable of restoring vision in the vast
majority of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a
leading cause of blindness among the elderly that afflicts around 14
million people in Europe.

Oh, how marvelous!

We are making progress in spite of the Luddites.

Some drugs, like Genentech Inc.'s Lucentis, can help the one in 10
patients with so-called "wet" AMD and U.S. biotech firm Advanced Cell
Technology is looking at stem cells in other eye conditions. But there
is no treatment for the 90 percent with "dry" AMD.
AMD is caused by faulty retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, which
form a supporting carpet under the light-sensitive rods and cones in the
retina.

The new procedure will generate replacement RPE cells from stem cells in
the lab, with surgeons then injecting a small patch of new cells,
measuring 4 by 6 millimeters, back into the eye.
U.S. DONOR

The London Project to Cure AMD brings together scientists from
University College London (UCL), Moorfields Eye Hospital in London and
the University of Sheffield.

It has been made possible by a 4 million pounds ($8 million) donation
from an anonymous U.S. donor, who the project's leaders said had become
frustrated by U.S. curbs on stem cell work.

All of those who curb, slow, or block stem cell research should not
have its future benefits applied to them! Let them enjoy god in their
blindness!

Really. Let them pray for a 'miracle'.

Although, if I were a doctor, I would treat them anyway. the only
'miracles' are those we make for ourselves.

Well, I am glad I am not a doctor and don't have to deal with those
ethics. Agreement about self-made miracles!

Embryonic stem cells are the ultimate master cells of the body, giving
rise to all of the tissues and organs. Their use is controversial
because many people oppose embryo destruction, although Britain has
encouraged such research.

Surgeons at Moorfields have already restored the vision of a few
patients using cells harvested from their own eyes, which were moved to
a new site. But this process is complicated and only a small number of
cells can be moved, limiting its use.
By injecting RPE cells derived from stem cells instead, Dr Lyndon Da
Cruz of Moorfields hopes the operation can be reduced to a simple
45-minute procedure under local anesthetic.
"If it hasn't become routine in about 10 years it would mean we haven't
succeeded," he told reporters. "It has to be something that's available
to large numbers of people."

Similar tests on rats have already proved highly effective.
Pete Coffey of UCL, the director of the project, said he was confident
the procedure would work in humans but the team needed to ensure the
safety and quality of batches of cells, which would take time.
"The goal is within five years to have a cohort of 10 or 12 patients to
put the cells into," he said.

The project, which is non-commercial, was welcomed by patient support
groups. Alistair Fielder of the eye research charity Fight for Sight
said it represented a real chance to tackle a hitherto untreatable
condition.
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http://tinyurl.com/3c6njj

Thank you for posting this!

Your welcome! :-)

Pang