Stem cell research information for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patients

Advancements in stem cell research may one day help surgeons provide treatment for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, a deadly neurodegenerative disease characterized by the selective death of motor neurons.

CD133+ stem cells are known to have the capacity to differentiate into neural lineages and may provide an alternative treatment for patients suffering from ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases.

According to Newswise, Linda Kelley, Ph.D., director of the University of Utah’s Cell Therapy Facility, James Campanelli, Ph.D., of University of Utah spin-out Q Therapeutics, Inc., and Utah native Nicholas Maragakis, M.D., of The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have teamed up to bring the cell-based therapy to the point of human clinical trials to treat this deadly disease.

In 2005, researchers at the UW-Madison inserted engineered human stem cells into the spinal cords of ALS-afflicted rats. Once inside the brain or spinal cord, neural progenitor cells grow into neuron-supporting stem cells called astrocytes. Some researchers believe that ALS causes astrocyte malfunction, which in turn causes motor neurons to degenerate and eventually die.

In 2008, scientists in the US converted skin cells from an 82-year-old woman with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) into stem cells that formed motor neurons with the same genetic make up as the patient.

Public companies conducting stem cell research for ALS:

• Neuralstem Inc. (AMEX: CUR)
• BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. (OTC BB: BCLI)

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Guide for Patients and Families

Jon Stewart and Mike Huckabee Discuss Embryonic Research

This is Part 3 of Jon Stewart’s interview with Mike Huckabee where the two discuss abortion, in vitro fertilization (IVF), and embryonic research.

The first two parts of this extended interview can be found at TheDailyShow.com

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Mike Huckabee Extended Interview Pt. 3
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Jason Jones in Iran

Advanced Cell Technology spotted in naked short selling video

While I was watching a very informative video about naked short selling on Bloomberg TV, I noticed that Advanced Cell Technology (ACTC) was listed at the top of a threshold list shown and visible for just barely a second at roughly 19 minutes and 15 seconds in.

The video, titled “Phantom Shares”, came out on March 17, 2007 and provides an in-depth analysis on the damage caused by naked short selling.

Naked short selling , or naked shorting, is the practice of selling a financial instrument short without first borrowing the security or ensuring that the security can be borrowed as is done in a conventional short sale. When the seller does not obtain the shares within the required time frame, the result is known as a "fail to deliver". The transaction generally remains open until the shares are acquired by the seller or the seller's broker, allowing the trade to be settled. Naked short selling can be used to manipulate the price of securities by driving their price down, and its use in this way is illegal.

While this information may seem useless to some, ACTC investors might find it to be cause for concern, especially since Advanced Cell Technology was just delisted and labeled "Caveat Emptor" (Buyer Beware) on the Pinksheets.

Moving up to a credible exchange like AMEX or NASDAQ could help thwart any potential abuse of ACTC stock because of stricter guidelines that call for accountability.

Either way, you will not regret watching the entire video:

CNN Shines Light On "Shady" Stem Cell Scientist, Skews Truth

In an interview that aired June 2, 2009 on The Lou Dobbs Show, Drew Griffin exposed the ugly reality about receiving stem cell therapies abroad to the American people.

Well, I assume that is what Griffin tried to do based on his demeanor towards the victim of his biased reporting, Dr. Burton Feinerman.

Lou Dobbs put on his serious face to discuss "rising concerns about doctors selling hope instead of cures" and accused Dr. Feinerman of "peddling hope."

If CNN had it their way, you would think that Dr. Burton Feinerman was a "self-taught" doctor who swindled innocent, dying people out of thousands of dollars by using unproven stem cell methods in Peru.

Oh no! That can’t be good.

Fortunately, you can always find the "rest of the story" on the Internet when big news networks try to pass off fear-mongering as journalism.

What we did not learn in the interview was that this self-taught stem cell scientist has over 50 years of experience in the medical field. This experience includes working at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and in a laboratory with cancer immunotherapy at the Papaniculau Institute. Oh yeah, he's also associated with the American Society of Hematology and Stem Cells, the Society of Cardiac Translational Medicine, the Society of Blood and Bone Marrow Transplantation, the Society of Apheresis, and the Society of Cranial Transplants and Brain Repair.

How did CNN manage to secure an interview with such a vile character?

"I was approached by CNN with the pretext they wanted to interview me about specific stem cell treatments for a number of incurable diseases. Thinking this would valuable for the public to learn I agreed to the interview even though I was on my way to treat patients in Peru," explained Feinerman. "When the interview started and I tried to talk about the exact methods we utilize, Drew Griffin cut me off."

Dr. Feinerman’s Response to CNN Interview

The clip, titled "Stem Cell Therapy Questions", blasts "desperate" Americans for leaving the United States to receive medical treatment.

Politicol News points out something that CNN failed to mention:

"Under the Bush administration, and thanks to many republicans except for Nancy Reagan, stem cell therapy was outlawed in the United States.  Many doctors for the last 8 whole years have surpassed the US in discovering not only the benefits of stem cell transplants through research, but they are curing diseases." (Note: Stem cell research was never “outlawed” in the United States, but federal restrictions put in place at the time made it seem that way)

I have a "Stem Cell Therapy Question" for CNN: If stem cell research is ineffective and used to "peddle hope", then why is every other country doing it and why is President Barack Obama using federal dollars during a recession to study it?

God forbid, if Lou Dobbs ever becomes the victim of an incurable disease, I'm sure he will set a good example by choosing to simply die in America instead of using his hefty bank account to receive treatments abroad that might save his life.

Wake up, America. 

Stem Cell Awareness Rally June 13, 2009

Date:  Monday June 8, 2009

Time:  All Day

Location:  Denver @ Stella's Coffee House

For more information go to www.stemcellaware.com

Pelosi Thanks Nancy Reagan For Stem Cell Support

During her speech at the unveiling of a statue of President Ronald Reagan on Capital Hill, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi thanked Nancy Reagan for her support of embryonic stem cell research.

"Your support for stem-cell research has made a significant difference in the lives of many American people. It has saved lives. It has found cures. It has given hope to people," she claimed.

Nancy Reagan became a stem-cell research advocate after her husband, Ronal Reagan, passed away in 2004 after suffering from Alzheimer's Disease.

The former first lady recently stated she was shocked that President Barack Obama did not invite her to be present when he signed an executive order overturning Bush's federal funding limits on the research.