MRL's parade float had many member's come out to walk and pass out candy and pro-life wristbands and bookmarks.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Embryonic stem cell research cases yield no success
Embryonic stem cell research cases yield no success
By Hannah Flanders
This letter is written in response to the June 28 letter to the editor claiming that embryonic stem cell research holds great promise.First of all, there are no signs of embryonic stem cell research yielding any success cases. Stuart Newman, professor of cell biology and anatomy, New York Medical College, said, “Embryo stem cells entered the world in 1981 ... [with] cells isolated from early mouse embryos .. Even in the mouse system itself, where both authentic ES cells and virtually unlimited genetically compatible subjects had been available since 1981, there had been essentially no progress in curing or even palliating disabling conditions for which mouse ‘models’ existed, such as diabetes, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s and so forth.” (“Averting the Clone Age: Prospects and Perils of Human Developmental Manipulation”- Contemporary Health Law and Policy, Vol. 19:2003, pp. 446-447).
Scientists in favor of embryonic stem cell research are promoting the potential of embryonic stem cells because there is a lot of money involved with the embryonic stem cell movement. They do not favor adult stem cell research because when a patient uses their own adult stem cells for treatments science labs cannot patent them. However, they would be able to do so with embryonic stem cells and these have the potential of becoming VERY expensive, therefore ESCR scientists will make a lot of money for the embryonic stem cell research industries — which are not even working!
Adult stem cell research on the other hand has treated 73 medical cases which have generated success. Coincidently, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injuries, and stroke damages as well as type J juvenile diabetes are listed among these successful treatments.It is true that embryonic stem cells are more flexible than adult stem cells; however because of this flexibility, there also comes a consequence; since the embryonic stem cells are so flexible they are prone to grow cancerous tumors because of the instability caused from the flexibility of the embryonic stem cells.I applaud President Bush for vetoing the bill which would allow federal funding for a system of embryonic stem cell research.Embryonic stem cell research is not only unethical, but also ineffective. By all means, the U.S. is not falling behind in the stem cell research movement, despite America’s so-called “restrictive” policies; it still remains the world’s leader in the field of stem cell research.The Scientist recently reported: that the U.S. is by far the world’s leader in the total number of stem cell articles published, alone accounting for 42% of all stem cell articles published world wide between 2000 and 2004 — even with its supposedly restrictive approach to stem cell research.That is four times the articles published by the second leading nation, Germany, which accounted for 10.2 percent of all stem cell articles published worldwide.Germany, by the way, has the most restrictive policies governing hESCR [human Embryonic Stem Cell Research] in all Europe, and led other European nations in the number of articles published.I would not be so passionate about this particular research if it were not for the fact that human lives are at stake for the sake of embryonic stem cell research. An embryo is a human being in his or her most innocent and vulnerable form of life.Why should society promote an ineffective research that requires destroying these human beings when there are already better alternatives that are actually working?
By Hannah Flanders
This letter is written in response to the June 28 letter to the editor claiming that embryonic stem cell research holds great promise.First of all, there are no signs of embryonic stem cell research yielding any success cases. Stuart Newman, professor of cell biology and anatomy, New York Medical College, said, “Embryo stem cells entered the world in 1981 ... [with] cells isolated from early mouse embryos .. Even in the mouse system itself, where both authentic ES cells and virtually unlimited genetically compatible subjects had been available since 1981, there had been essentially no progress in curing or even palliating disabling conditions for which mouse ‘models’ existed, such as diabetes, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s and so forth.” (“Averting the Clone Age: Prospects and Perils of Human Developmental Manipulation”- Contemporary Health Law and Policy, Vol. 19:2003, pp. 446-447).
Scientists in favor of embryonic stem cell research are promoting the potential of embryonic stem cells because there is a lot of money involved with the embryonic stem cell movement. They do not favor adult stem cell research because when a patient uses their own adult stem cells for treatments science labs cannot patent them. However, they would be able to do so with embryonic stem cells and these have the potential of becoming VERY expensive, therefore ESCR scientists will make a lot of money for the embryonic stem cell research industries — which are not even working!
Adult stem cell research on the other hand has treated 73 medical cases which have generated success. Coincidently, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injuries, and stroke damages as well as type J juvenile diabetes are listed among these successful treatments.It is true that embryonic stem cells are more flexible than adult stem cells; however because of this flexibility, there also comes a consequence; since the embryonic stem cells are so flexible they are prone to grow cancerous tumors because of the instability caused from the flexibility of the embryonic stem cells.I applaud President Bush for vetoing the bill which would allow federal funding for a system of embryonic stem cell research.Embryonic stem cell research is not only unethical, but also ineffective. By all means, the U.S. is not falling behind in the stem cell research movement, despite America’s so-called “restrictive” policies; it still remains the world’s leader in the field of stem cell research.The Scientist recently reported: that the U.S. is by far the world’s leader in the total number of stem cell articles published, alone accounting for 42% of all stem cell articles published world wide between 2000 and 2004 — even with its supposedly restrictive approach to stem cell research.That is four times the articles published by the second leading nation, Germany, which accounted for 10.2 percent of all stem cell articles published worldwide.Germany, by the way, has the most restrictive policies governing hESCR [human Embryonic Stem Cell Research] in all Europe, and led other European nations in the number of articles published.I would not be so passionate about this particular research if it were not for the fact that human lives are at stake for the sake of embryonic stem cell research. An embryo is a human being in his or her most innocent and vulnerable form of life.Why should society promote an ineffective research that requires destroying these human beings when there are already better alternatives that are actually working?
Embryonic stem cell research should not be funded with tax dollars
Embryonic stem-cell research should not be funded with tax dollars
By Andrew Rauenbuehler, Muscatine Right to Life
Embryonic Stem-Cell Research should not be funded with tax dollarsThis letter is in response to a letter published on June 28 by Alan T. Light of Iowa City. He states that embryonic stem cells are the key to cure many diseases. Once again he is overlooking the research of adult stem cells which are donated and have already cured many diseases, many by helping parts of the immune system.Last week on EWTN many patients that were cured with adult stem-cells called into a show to share their story. Mr. Light thinks that federal funding of the research is important so that cures can be found.
I would urge Mr. Light to send a donation of his own money to a laboratory doing research on embryonic stem-cells instead of making tax dollars of citizens who know that the process is inmoral and unethical pay for the funding. He also thinks that a Democratic president and congress needs to be elected for the funding to go through. Not that all democrats support this research, but really he is saying that a president and congress that doesn’t respect life needs to be put into office. When will people begin to realize the importance of life in this country?
By Andrew Rauenbuehler, Muscatine Right to Life
Embryonic Stem-Cell Research should not be funded with tax dollarsThis letter is in response to a letter published on June 28 by Alan T. Light of Iowa City. He states that embryonic stem cells are the key to cure many diseases. Once again he is overlooking the research of adult stem cells which are donated and have already cured many diseases, many by helping parts of the immune system.Last week on EWTN many patients that were cured with adult stem-cells called into a show to share their story. Mr. Light thinks that federal funding of the research is important so that cures can be found.
I would urge Mr. Light to send a donation of his own money to a laboratory doing research on embryonic stem-cells instead of making tax dollars of citizens who know that the process is inmoral and unethical pay for the funding. He also thinks that a Democratic president and congress needs to be elected for the funding to go through. Not that all democrats support this research, but really he is saying that a president and congress that doesn’t respect life needs to be put into office. When will people begin to realize the importance of life in this country?
Sunday, July 8, 2007
What's Wrong with Embryonic Stem-Cell Research?
Rich Deem
Embryonic stem cell research is a hot topic that seems to pit anti-abortion conservatives against pro-abortion liberals. The conservatives claim that there are better alternatives to embryonic stem cells, while the liberals claim that conservatives are blocking research that will provide cures to many tragic diseases. Much of the rhetoric is designed to muddy the waters to invoke emotional responses of those within each camp. This paper is designed to break through sound-bites and go the heart of the matter - what are the scientific issues that impact the question of stem cell research.
What is stem cell research
Much of what is promoted as being news is actually an oversimplification of the issues. Many news articles about stem cell research never distinguish between the kind of stem cell research that is being promoted. For example, the media often reports of breakthrough treatment for patients without mentioning that, in all cases, the source of stem cells is adult tissues. We know this to be true, because embryonic stem cells have never been used in human patients, and won't likely be used in the near future (see reasons, below).
Where do stem cells come from?
Stem cells are classified as being pluripotent or multipotent. Stem cells that are pluripotent are capable of forming virtually all of the possible tissue types found in human beings. These stem cells can only be found in a certain stage (a blastocyst) in human embryos. Multipotent stem cells are partially differentiated, so that they can form a limited number of tissue types. Multipotent stem cells can be found in the fetus, in umbilical cord blood, and numerous adult tissues.
History of stem cell research
Although the controversy of stem cell research is only recent, research first began in the 1960's. The primary source of early human stem cells was adult bone marrow, the tissue that makes red and white blood cells. Since scientists realized that bone marrow was a good source of stem cells, early transplants were initiated in the early 1970's to treat diseases that involved the immune system (genetic immunodeficiencies and cancers of the immune system). Bone marrow-derived stem cell therapy has been extremely successful, with dozens of diseases being treated and cured through the use of these adult stem cells. However, because the donor tissue type must be closely matched to the patient, finding a compatible donor can be problematic. If you haven't already done so, you should become part of the Bone Marrow Registry.
Failures of therapeutic cloning
With the advent of animal cloning, scientists had thought that patient-specific human cloning might provide cures without the tissue incompatibility problems usually associated with transplants. Specific stem cells, developed using clones genetically identical to the patient, would integrate optimally into the patient's body. Although ideal in theory, problems associated with human cloning have been quite formidable. After many years of trying to produce human clones, a South Korean group claimed to have done so in 2004,2 followed by a claim that they had produced patient-specific clones. However, subsequent questions revealed that all the research was fraudulent. Contrary to the original claims, the researchers failed to produce even one clone after over 2,000 attempts. Although a number of labs are working on producing human clones, none have succeeded - even after several years of additional attempts. At a cost of $1,000-$2,000 just to produce each human egg,3 therapeutic cloning would easily cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not more, for each patient. Therefore, these kinds of therapies would only be available to the wealthy, assuming the technical difficulties will eventually be eliminated.
Embryonic stem cell research no longer necessary?
Three separate groups of researchers showed recently that normal skin cells can be reprogrammed to an embryonic state in mice.4 It is very likely that the technique can be used with human cells. The fact that these cells were pluripotent was proved by producing fetuses derived entirely from these transformed skin cells.
What diseases might be cured by stem cell research?
Stem cells have been promoted as a cure for numerous diseases in the popular press, although the reality of the science suggests otherwise. For example, claims that stem cells might cure Alzheimer’s disease are certainly untrue. According to Michael Shelanski, Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain (Columbia University Medical Center), “I think the chance of doing repairs to Alzheimer's brains by putting in stem cells is small.” Ronald D.G. McKay, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke says, “To start with, people need a fairy tale.”5 Stem cell research is widely promoted as a possible cure for type I and type II diabetes. However, these diseases involve the destruction of islet pancreatic cells by the patient's immune system. Even if tissue-compatible islet cells can be produced, transplanting them into a patient will be a very temporary cure, since the patient's immune system will attack the transplant in short order. So, a total cure for diabetes might have to involve a total immune compartment replacement (with its risks), in addition to an islet cell transplant. Parkinson’s disease is another disease that is often mentioned as potentially curable through stem cell research. Proponents of ESCR cite studies in which embryonic stem cells produce dopamine in the brain of rats. However, only 50% of the rats had improvement of function and 25% developed brain tumors and died!6 A main problem for ESCR is that these stem cells spontaneously form tumors in virtually all studies that have been conducted to date. In addition, it seems that the number of dopamine-producing neurons declined over time, suggesting that the cure might be just temporary.7
Problems in stem cell research
According to many stem cell researchers, embryonic stem cells are the preferred stem cells for cell-based therapies. Although they tend be be more versatile than adult stem cells, other sources (including umbilical cord stem cells) have proven to be just as versatile.1 The same properties that make embryonic stem cells so versatile are also the properties that make them unusable for therapy. Unless completely differentiated prior to use in patients, these cells will migrate throughout the body to produce tumors. Experiments performed in mice and rats have shown that spontaneous tumor formation is a persistent problem.6-8 Maintaining and growing embryonic stem cell lines has also been problematic. Some of these lines have mutated, making them unusable in patients.9 The main problem with embryonic stem cell research is the problem is tissue incompatibility.10 Millions of lines must be established in order to serve a significant percentage of potential patients. The use of autologous adult stem cells (cells from the patient) eliminates the problems with tumorogenesis, mutation, and tissue incompatibility. However, since such individualized therapies could not be patented, the pharmaceutical companies have no financial incentives to pursue such therapies. In contrast, embryonic stem cell lines could be patented. Since millions of lines would be required to serve all the different tissue types of patients, pharmaceutical companies could charge a fortune for each patented line they produced. Scientists and research facilities that produced such lines would also reap large financial benefits. The highly favorable financial aspect of embryonic stem cell research is one of the main driving forces behind the push to fund this research.
The problems involved with embryonic stem cell therapies are so formidable that renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Keith Black remarked in 2004 (during California's Proposition 71 stem cell campaign) that his lab would pursue only adult stem cell research. In fact, his group (the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute at Cedars-Sinai) recently announced that they had converted adult stem cells into neural stem cells.11
Conclusion
Human embryonic stem cell research has been promoted as being the best way to pursue cell-based therapies for a number of diseases. Although embryonic stem cells are the most versatile type of stem cells, they are unacceptable for therapy because they spontaneously form tumors when transplanted into a compatible host. Embryonic stem cells also suffer from the usual tissue compatibility problems associated with donor transplants. The proposed solution to tissue compatibility problems, therapeutic cloning, is technically challenging (i.e., it hasn't been accomplished yet) and fiscally prohibitive (costs on the order of hundreds of thousands of dollars per patient). In contrast to embryonic stem cell technologies, adult stem cells have been used to treat dozens of diseases, with the list growing every year. Pursuing this technology would eliminate the tissue rejection problems associated with embryonic stem cells, and the high cost associated with therapeutic cloning. However, because individualized adult stem cell therapies cannot be patented, this research does not appeal to biotech companies and scientists and research centers seeking royalty payments for patents.
Embryonic stem cell research is a hot topic that seems to pit anti-abortion conservatives against pro-abortion liberals. The conservatives claim that there are better alternatives to embryonic stem cells, while the liberals claim that conservatives are blocking research that will provide cures to many tragic diseases. Much of the rhetoric is designed to muddy the waters to invoke emotional responses of those within each camp. This paper is designed to break through sound-bites and go the heart of the matter - what are the scientific issues that impact the question of stem cell research.
What is stem cell research
Much of what is promoted as being news is actually an oversimplification of the issues. Many news articles about stem cell research never distinguish between the kind of stem cell research that is being promoted. For example, the media often reports of breakthrough treatment for patients without mentioning that, in all cases, the source of stem cells is adult tissues. We know this to be true, because embryonic stem cells have never been used in human patients, and won't likely be used in the near future (see reasons, below).
Where do stem cells come from?
Stem cells are classified as being pluripotent or multipotent. Stem cells that are pluripotent are capable of forming virtually all of the possible tissue types found in human beings. These stem cells can only be found in a certain stage (a blastocyst) in human embryos. Multipotent stem cells are partially differentiated, so that they can form a limited number of tissue types. Multipotent stem cells can be found in the fetus, in umbilical cord blood, and numerous adult tissues.
History of stem cell research
Although the controversy of stem cell research is only recent, research first began in the 1960's. The primary source of early human stem cells was adult bone marrow, the tissue that makes red and white blood cells. Since scientists realized that bone marrow was a good source of stem cells, early transplants were initiated in the early 1970's to treat diseases that involved the immune system (genetic immunodeficiencies and cancers of the immune system). Bone marrow-derived stem cell therapy has been extremely successful, with dozens of diseases being treated and cured through the use of these adult stem cells. However, because the donor tissue type must be closely matched to the patient, finding a compatible donor can be problematic. If you haven't already done so, you should become part of the Bone Marrow Registry.
Failures of therapeutic cloning
With the advent of animal cloning, scientists had thought that patient-specific human cloning might provide cures without the tissue incompatibility problems usually associated with transplants. Specific stem cells, developed using clones genetically identical to the patient, would integrate optimally into the patient's body. Although ideal in theory, problems associated with human cloning have been quite formidable. After many years of trying to produce human clones, a South Korean group claimed to have done so in 2004,2 followed by a claim that they had produced patient-specific clones. However, subsequent questions revealed that all the research was fraudulent. Contrary to the original claims, the researchers failed to produce even one clone after over 2,000 attempts. Although a number of labs are working on producing human clones, none have succeeded - even after several years of additional attempts. At a cost of $1,000-$2,000 just to produce each human egg,3 therapeutic cloning would easily cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not more, for each patient. Therefore, these kinds of therapies would only be available to the wealthy, assuming the technical difficulties will eventually be eliminated.
Embryonic stem cell research no longer necessary?
Three separate groups of researchers showed recently that normal skin cells can be reprogrammed to an embryonic state in mice.4 It is very likely that the technique can be used with human cells. The fact that these cells were pluripotent was proved by producing fetuses derived entirely from these transformed skin cells.
What diseases might be cured by stem cell research?
Stem cells have been promoted as a cure for numerous diseases in the popular press, although the reality of the science suggests otherwise. For example, claims that stem cells might cure Alzheimer’s disease are certainly untrue. According to Michael Shelanski, Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain (Columbia University Medical Center), “I think the chance of doing repairs to Alzheimer's brains by putting in stem cells is small.” Ronald D.G. McKay, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke says, “To start with, people need a fairy tale.”5 Stem cell research is widely promoted as a possible cure for type I and type II diabetes. However, these diseases involve the destruction of islet pancreatic cells by the patient's immune system. Even if tissue-compatible islet cells can be produced, transplanting them into a patient will be a very temporary cure, since the patient's immune system will attack the transplant in short order. So, a total cure for diabetes might have to involve a total immune compartment replacement (with its risks), in addition to an islet cell transplant. Parkinson’s disease is another disease that is often mentioned as potentially curable through stem cell research. Proponents of ESCR cite studies in which embryonic stem cells produce dopamine in the brain of rats. However, only 50% of the rats had improvement of function and 25% developed brain tumors and died!6 A main problem for ESCR is that these stem cells spontaneously form tumors in virtually all studies that have been conducted to date. In addition, it seems that the number of dopamine-producing neurons declined over time, suggesting that the cure might be just temporary.7
Problems in stem cell research
According to many stem cell researchers, embryonic stem cells are the preferred stem cells for cell-based therapies. Although they tend be be more versatile than adult stem cells, other sources (including umbilical cord stem cells) have proven to be just as versatile.1 The same properties that make embryonic stem cells so versatile are also the properties that make them unusable for therapy. Unless completely differentiated prior to use in patients, these cells will migrate throughout the body to produce tumors. Experiments performed in mice and rats have shown that spontaneous tumor formation is a persistent problem.6-8 Maintaining and growing embryonic stem cell lines has also been problematic. Some of these lines have mutated, making them unusable in patients.9 The main problem with embryonic stem cell research is the problem is tissue incompatibility.10 Millions of lines must be established in order to serve a significant percentage of potential patients. The use of autologous adult stem cells (cells from the patient) eliminates the problems with tumorogenesis, mutation, and tissue incompatibility. However, since such individualized therapies could not be patented, the pharmaceutical companies have no financial incentives to pursue such therapies. In contrast, embryonic stem cell lines could be patented. Since millions of lines would be required to serve all the different tissue types of patients, pharmaceutical companies could charge a fortune for each patented line they produced. Scientists and research facilities that produced such lines would also reap large financial benefits. The highly favorable financial aspect of embryonic stem cell research is one of the main driving forces behind the push to fund this research.
The problems involved with embryonic stem cell therapies are so formidable that renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Keith Black remarked in 2004 (during California's Proposition 71 stem cell campaign) that his lab would pursue only adult stem cell research. In fact, his group (the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute at Cedars-Sinai) recently announced that they had converted adult stem cells into neural stem cells.11
Conclusion
Human embryonic stem cell research has been promoted as being the best way to pursue cell-based therapies for a number of diseases. Although embryonic stem cells are the most versatile type of stem cells, they are unacceptable for therapy because they spontaneously form tumors when transplanted into a compatible host. Embryonic stem cells also suffer from the usual tissue compatibility problems associated with donor transplants. The proposed solution to tissue compatibility problems, therapeutic cloning, is technically challenging (i.e., it hasn't been accomplished yet) and fiscally prohibitive (costs on the order of hundreds of thousands of dollars per patient). In contrast to embryonic stem cell technologies, adult stem cells have been used to treat dozens of diseases, with the list growing every year. Pursuing this technology would eliminate the tissue rejection problems associated with embryonic stem cells, and the high cost associated with therapeutic cloning. However, because individualized adult stem cell therapies cannot be patented, this research does not appeal to biotech companies and scientists and research centers seeking royalty payments for patents.
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