MOFFITT CANCER CENTER
President Obama, one day, in fact hours, after taking office as President of the United States government signed into law funding for stem cell research. The restrictions on Federal participation were imposed by former President Bush, a noted intellectual when compared to the Troglodytes who surround him.
He was aided by his political Evangelical cronies, those ideological morons whose answer to all questions starts with Jesus said; and who don’t quite understand the Separation Of Church and State. His eight years of denial of that funding and showing no compassion for those people who were dying from a multitude of illnesses is part of his real legacy.
George W. Bush Denies Stem Cell Research Funding
Aug. 20, 2012129 Comments
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In 2001, President George W. Bush restricted federal funding for research on stem cells obtained from human embryos because the technology required the destruction of human life. “At its core, this issue forces us to confront fundamental questions about the beginnings of life and the ends of science,” Bush said.
“My position on these issues is shaped by deeply held beliefs,” he said. “I also believe human life is a sacred gift from our creator.”
Your beliefs are not the beliefs of others. One day the toll will be taken of those who have lost their lives under your beliefs, and the 7000 young brave American and Allied troops killed under your watch in the middle east. A war based on information of WMD's that was unverified inaccurate, made up and supported by most of your administration (Cronies Extensivus - Idiotus Rove and Maximus Cheney) and the turmoil you instigated thinking you were good enough to change the way others also believe.
Bush’s ban limited government funding for research on embryonic stem cells — which have the potential of curing diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and Parkinson’s — to already existing stem cell lines. Federal dollars could not be used to start any new cell lines or to conduct research on any newly derived cell lines.
Cutting government funding and, his main religious reason for imposing the government ban on parts of stem cell research forced the science to basically go overseas where they do not have the facilities like Sloan -Kettering and Moffitt Cancer Research facilities.
PRESIDENT OBAMA put it back in the hands of the doctors and researchers. Without that this would not be taking place. If it had not been stopped by the Bush Administration perhaps my wife would be alive today. In more ways then one his beliefs and his inner circle of cohorts cost many lives in war and peace. Bone marrow transplants have come a long way in those five years since the door opened.
New techniques being used like stem fell transplantation today on my friend and 2000 others show promise. Whether Georges decision like the other bad calls he made was a personal choice involving his beliefs over the beliefs of science and humanity was an affront to all. Maybe eight years of his reign interrupting the science could of saved my beloved wife's life….
NOW BREAKING NEWS - 07/07/2013
STEM CELLS WITH HIV
- After undergoing stem cell transplants as treatment for cancer, two patients with HIV now have no trace of the virus in their systems and haven’t required their HIV medication for several weeks, doctors reported today.
However, doctors cautioned that it's still too soon to say that the patients have been definitively cured, as they have only been off their treatments for 15 weeks and seven weeks, respectively.
The research, led by Dr. Timothy Henrich of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, reported the findings today at the International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention.
STEM CELLS WITH HUMAN LIVER TISSUE
– Scientists in Japan said Wednesday they had grown human liver tissue from stem cells in a world first that holds promise for alleviating the critical shortage of donor organs.
Creating lab-grown tissue to replenish organs damaged by accident or disease is a holy grail for the pioneering field of research into the premature cells known as stem cells.
But Takanori Takebe of Yokohama City University’s graduate school of medicine and a team reported in the journal Nature that they grew tissue “resembling the (human) adult liver” in a lab mouse. They first created induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells that they mixed with other cell types and coaxed them into “liver buds” — the precursor clusters that develop into a liver.
The buds, each measuring about 5 mm, were then transplanted onto a mouse brain, where they were observed transforming into a “functional human liver” complete with blood vessels, the scientists wrote.
“To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating the generation of a functional human organ from pluripotent stem cells,” said the report, adding the technique has yet to be tested on humans, but serves as an important proof of concept.
A noted scientist, humanitarian and BMT doctor explained to me the uniqueness of this experiment is that (for simplicity) the cells made to work as stem cells were common cells with their DNA removed which basically made them neutral and then converted to liver tissue. This is out of the box thinking and may be the key to the future.
WHAT ARE STEM CELLS
Stem cells are biological cells found in all multicellular organisms, that can divide (through mitosis) and differentiate into diverse specialized cell types and can self-renew to produce more stem cells.
In mammals, there are two broad types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells, which are isolated from the inner cell mass of blastocysts, and adult stem cells, which are found in various tissues. In adult organisms, stem cells and progenitor cells act as a repair system for the body, replenishing adult tissues.
In a developing embryo, stem cells can differentiate into all the specialized cells[ectoderm,endoderm and mesoderm-see induced pluripotent stem cells] (these are called pluripotent cells), but also maintain the normal turnover of regenerative organs, such as blood, skin, or intestinal tissues.
There are three accessible sources of autologous adult stem cells in humans:
1. Bone marrow, which requires extraction by harvesting, that is, drilling into bone (typically the femur or iliac crest),
2. Adipose tissue (lipid cells), which requires extraction by liposuction.
3. Blood, which requires extraction through pheresis, wherein blood is drawn from the donor (similar to a blood donation), passed through a machine that extracts the stem cells and returns other portions of the blood to the donor.
Stem cells can also be taken from umbilical cord blood just after birth. Of all stem cell types, autologous harvesting involves the least risk. By definition, autologous cells are obtained from one's own body, just as one may bank his or her own blood for elective surgical procedures.
Highly plastic adult stem cells are routinely used in medical therapies, for example in bone marrow transplantation. Stem cells can now be artificially grown and transformed (differentiated) into specialized cell types with characteristics consistent with cells of various tissues such as muscles or nerves through cell culture.
Embryonic cell lines and autologous embryonic stem cells generated through therapeutic cloning have also been proposed as promising candidates for future therapies. Research into stem cells grew out of findings by Ernest A. McCulloch and James E. Till at the University of Toronto in the 1960s.
THE STEM CELL JOURNEY
It's a long process, constantly monitored, subject to changes, sort of like going off the path with your Garmin GPS and the girl says "recalculating". The blood and other testing tells the doctors where they are at. The first stage Hospital isolation is for two weeks after the stem cells are withdrawn or harvested through several filtration stages similar to dialysis. But you have to get to that stage first. A three port is inserted in the chest awaiting removal of blood contained those stem cells to be after filtration and treatment.
We need to achieve close to four million plus stem cells. The first two pulls consisted almost sixteen hours of a dialysis type procedure produced 1,800,000 cells, less than half. Again, not enough, thats about half. A ten day rest is ordered, certain accelerators are given and then another pull was done.
Miracle of miracles, the one pull after the rest yielded four million plus cells with a total of six million for infusion. They get processed, filtered and made ready for infusion when the time comes. Part one is successful.
The next step is the N-factor, killing the Multiple Myeloma cells which are aggressive. Basically you take down the immune system and those bad boys with it. Being extremely benevolent, this is a near death experience and the patient has to prepare for this. Nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, canker type sores, esophageal irritation, and so forth are common to this stage of the process where the immune system is taken down and then the stems cells transplanted back in rebuild it with new vigor. Remember the same drugs that kill the myeloma and the immune system also kill some of the good bacteria that our body hosts.
LOTS OF TRAVEL
It is about an eighty-five mile round trip through the most congested areas of Tampa which are under construction. Stem cell replacement is a long process. The travel time is the time killer, some days almost two hours to go forty something miles, and it’s the rainy pre hurricane season. Tornadoes in June, but of course our former leader President Bush told us, “There was no such thing as global warming”.
And keeping my phone lines clear is imperative, so for once my conversations will be cordial but brief.
I don’t twit and I don’t Facebook. This world would be a better place if all that bull compost would be directed into time spent to make us a better world.
The following weeks, if the doctors allow, will be a little different, its based on blood analysis as the continued care for an additional two weeks or more at home is required 24/7, this is so the immune system can continue to rebuild. I volunteered for the night 10:00 pm to 8:00 am shift starting in two weeks. Others will carry the day. No pets, no visitors, masks and lots of hand washing and nitrile gloves.
Hopefully by doing the night shift, and I can sleep, it will not interfere with my services to you, but be understanding that:
• Time is critical and if you just follow the instructions for what you need done there should be no interruption.
• Send concise emails with what you need, and be sure to include the information requested on my forms. If you forget to include phone numbers or updated addresses, you bad!
• I will get back with you as soon as possible. I have tablets and portable means as long as it’s not interfering in the hospital.
NOTE: In isolation, less visits are better as you never know who or what gets dragged in. The hospital is under constant respiratory watch as the incident of respiratory contamination is high. A few prayers and well wishes would be appreciated.
Thank You.