text:
Life begins at the moment of fertilization, when the egg (ovum) and sperm unite.
In humans, within 10 hours, this fertilized cell (zygote) divides into two identical cells. This process will be repeated millions of times throughout the lifetime of this unique human being.
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Scientists in stem-cell cover-up
Deliberately exaggerate embryonic advances, ignore adult
[ May 25, 2004 WorldNetDaily http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=38633; 2004 Insight/News World Communications Inc. WorldNetDaily is pleased to have a content-sharing agreement with Insight magazine, By Michael Fumento]
Researchers are engaged in a "stem-cell war," a deliberate effort to downplay the proven value of adult stem cells to attract more attention to the potential of embryonic stem cells.
It's a war being fought partly over ethics, but mostly over money. Stem-cell research constitutes one of the most exciting areas in medical science. It promises to prevent, ameliorate and cure diseases for which
there are now few if any treatments. Far easier is listing what stem cells don't have the potential to do, but here are a few of the wonders in progress:
More than 30 anticancer uses for stem cells have been tested on humans, with many already in routine therapeutical use.
By some accounts, the area in which stem-cell applications are moving fastest is autoimmune disease, in which the body's own protective system turns on itself. Diseases for which stem cells currently are being tested on humans include diabetes, lupus, multiple sclerosis, Evans syndrome, rheumatic disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [Lou Gehrig's disease], among many others.
Just last February, two different human-autopsy studies demonstrated that stem cells transfused into the marrow work their way into the brain, where they can repair neurons and other vital cells. Other studies have shown that when injected into animals with severed spinal cords, stem cells rush to the injury site effecting repairs. "I think the stem cells may act as a repair squad," says the leader of one of the two studies, Helen Blau of the Stanford University Brain Research Institute. "They travel through the bloodstream, respond to stress, and contribute to brain cells. They clearly repair damage in muscle and other tissues."
Adult Stem Cell Research Breakthrough Bulletin Number 31
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Tara Seyfer, Director of Research / 202-289-2500
Washington, May 17, 2002: Great strides this week in transforming adult cells and in treating spinal cord injury. Read on for the fascinating details! Adult Cell Transformation: Various Applications Scientists at the University of Oslo and at a biotech company in the U.S. called Nucleotech LLC have discovered a way to turn adult skin cells (fibroblasts) into cells that behave like immune system cells (such as T-cells). They first "punched holes" in the cells using chemicals, and then incubated the cells in a T-cell extract solution. In response, the cells stopped expressing genes that fibroblasts normally express, and started expressing genes usually only active in immune cells (such as genes for the immune system proteins IL-2, IL-7, CD3, CD4, and RANTES). "They start acting like T-cells," Dr. Philippe Collas (the leader of the team) said. "That's the beauty of our system—we are not working with embryos or dealing with stem cells at all. You get around all these issues." Making T-cells could have immediate applications in treating cancer, because cancer patients often have low T-cell counts; if T-cells can be made from other cells, larger numbers of them could be produced to treat these patients. The T-cells might even be able to be 'programmed' to respond to or attack the cancerous cells in their body. "[There could] be a one-day procedure, in principal," research colleague James Robl said. "The patient would come in and give a skin biopsy to the lab to reprogram and the day after you could put the cells back into the patient." The scientists were also able to get the fibroblasts to turn into neuron-like cells. After exposure to "neuronal precursor extract," the fibroblasts started expressing a neuronal protein, and began to extend neuron-like outgrowths. Although the skin cells weren't completely transformed into T-cells or neurons, research can be continued, to see how complete and long-lasting a transformation can be achieved. This discovery might also be helpful for research on making pancreatic cells to treat diabetes, or on making neurons to treat Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, or spinal cord injuries. The methods utilized by these scientists do not use cloning or ES cells, and would not need women's eggs. Says Dr. Collas, "The message here is we are developing an entirely new approach to tissue replacement therapy that avoids many of the issues" [related to such methods]. Sources: Hakelien, A., et al, "Reprogramming fibroblasts to express T-cell functions using cell extracts," Nature Biotechnology, May 2002, Vol. 20, No. 5; Pro-Life Infonet 5/1/02 (#2) #2700 [quotes from Reuters, April 30, 2002]; Pollack, Andrew, "Method May Transform Cells Without Cloning," New York Times, May 1, 2002. Spinal Cord Injury Five in every 100,000 people in the U.S. suffer from spinal cord injuries. Damaged nerves in the spinal cord usually form a dense scar, making it difficult for nerves to regenerate and cross it. These scars contain certain molecules, including ones called chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans (CSPGs). CSPGs inhibit neural growth both in vivo (in live animals and human beings) and in vitro (in lab-grown cells). A bacterial enzyme, chondroitinase ABC (chABC), is able to remove certain parts of the CSPG molecules. In doing this, the inhibitory activity of CSPG can be decreased. A research team made up of scientists from various universities in England recently treated rats that had spinal cord injuries. They delivered the enzyme chABC to the rats' spinal injuries. They found that in response, a protein known to help regenerate neurons began to be produced in the injured neurons. Also, the treatment promoted the regeneration of neurons in the rats, above and below the spinal injuries. In addition, there was functional recovery of some movement: the disabled rats recovered a regular gait. Says Elizabeth Bradbury, one of the scientists, "It shows the cells above the lesion[s] are talking to those below." Such research shows that, to treat spinal cord injury, scientists need not kill living human beings to obtain their stem cells, as in human embryonic stem cell research or cloning. Legitimate forms of research abound and are making great strides towards treating neuropathies. Sources: Bradbury, E.J., et al, "Chondroitinase ABC promotes functional recovery after spinal cord injury," Nature 416, 636-640 (2002); Pearson, H., "Spinal cord recovery hurdle cleared: Bacterial enzyme chews through nerve growth barrier," Nature "Science Update," 11 April 2002 (http://www.nature.com/nsu/020408/020408-6.html) Culture of Life Foundation, 1413 K St., NW Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005,
Adult Stem Cell Research Breakthrough Bulletin Number 25
Washington, February 1, 2002
Adult Stem Cells in General
New Adult Stem Cell Discovered Which Could Show Great Promise
Dr. Catherine Verfaillie, a specialist in stem cells and leader of a team of researchers at the University of Minnesota, has told colleagues that she has isolated special stem cells from the bone marrow of adults, which have the potential to differentiate into many different types of body tissues. Dr. Verfaillie calls these cells "multipotent adult progenitor cells" (MAPCs). She has isolated them from the bone marrow of mice, rats and humans in a series of stages. They are grown in the laboratory, and cells that do not carry certain surface markers, or do not grow under certain conditions, are gradually eliminated, leaving a population rich in MAPCs. Verfaillie says that her lab has reliably isolated the cells from about 70% of the approximately 100 human volunteers who donated marrow samples.
Long-term growth: The cells seem to grow indefinitely in culture (like proponents of embryonic stem cells [ESCs] say those cells can do); she says that some of the cell lines have been growing for almost two years and have kept their characteristics, with no signs of aging.
Plasticity: Verfaillie has shown in her experiments that the descendants of a single cell can turn into muscle, cartilage, bone, liver, and various types of neurons and brain cells. Also, she has carried out experiments where she placed single MAPCs from humans and mice into very early embryonic mice. Analyses of mice born after the experiment showed that a single MAPC can contribute to all the body's tissues.
No tumors: These cells do not seem to form tumors when injected into adults (unlike ESCs, which, derived from the killing of embryonic humans, have shown this extremely disturbing characteristic).
It still needs to be shown whether the various types of cells formed by MAPCs can be used as truly functioning cells. Likewise, it must be verified whether these MAPCs are naturally-occurring cells in the body that have been isolated, or whether the isolating process somehow creates or reprograms the cells. Either way, the cells might still prove useful for future clinical work. In theory, the cells could be directed to form different types of tissue with different stimuli, and then clinicians could use the tissue in patients who need it. In addition, hard data is needed regarding these cells, in peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals. This is necessary so that other scientists can critique the work and try to repeat her experiments themselves. Verfaillie's group has not published much of their data yet, and they say that this is because they are filing for patents before making the full results public. A patent application has been seen by editors at one journal (New Scientist), who say that the application shows that the team has carried out extensive experiments. Some of Verfaillie's findings will be included in a forthcoming article about the ability of MAPCs to form blood vessels, to be published in the February 1, 2002 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation (www.jci.org). If Verfaillie's work is repeatable and scientifically valid, this will be a great boon to the field of adult stem cell research, and should be proof positive that lethal experiments on embryonic humans need not be performed.
Sources: http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99991826 and http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/01/020131074645.htm and www.eurekalert.org and http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_medical/story.jsp?story=116090 and "Scientists Herald a Versatile Adult Cell, " by Nicholas Wade with Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times, Jan. 25, 2002.
Culture of Life Foundation, 815 15th St., NW Suite 1111, Washington, DC 20005,
Tel-202-638-5500/Fax-202-638-4900; www.culture-of-life.org
Adult Stem Cell Research Breakthrough Bulletin Number 21
CONTACT: Tara Seyfer, Director of Research / 202-638-5500
Washington, December 21, 2001: Great new work this week, including new treatments to cure sickle cell anemia, and breakthroughs on the differentiation of stem cells within the intestine. All proof that human embryonic stem cell research need not be pursued.
Sickle Cell Anemia
Researchers Correct Sickle Cell Disease in Mice Using Gene Therapy
Sickle cell anemia is a disease affecting about 1 in 500 African Americans and 1 in 1,000 Hispanic Americans today. It is characterized by the presence of an abnormal hemoglobin molecule within red blood cells. The malformation of this molecule causes the shape of the red blood cells themselves to change, into a form resembling a sickle. The cells also become rigid and adhesive, and thereby cause blockages and organ damage. Other symptoms of the disease include excruciating pain, anemia, and strokes. Currently, the only cure for sickle cell anemia is bone marrow transplantation, done on children who can find a matched sibling bone marrow donor. However, only 18% of children can find such a match. For the rest of the children with the disease, and for adults with it, treatments include blood transfusions and use of drugs to lessen pain and other symptoms. A recent study headed by Philippe Leboulch (assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology) is an exciting step towards a possible new treatment. His research team first selected certain mice to use which had been genetically-engineered to have "sickle cell disease" (SCD), to be similar to humans who have sickle cell anemia. The scientists removed some of the defective bone marrow from some of the mice. Then they combined the defective bone marrow with a "viral vector" (an inactivated virus whose purpose is to carry corrective genes into the defective cells; the one in this study was similar to HIV, but altered so that it wouldn't replicate). This viral vector had been engineered to contain a gene to correct the sickle cell disease (an "anti-sickling gene"). They put the "corrected" bone marrow into other SCD mice whose bone marrow had been depleted via irradiation. They achieved good results: the mice with transplanted, corrected bone marrow showed expression of the anti-sickling gene 10 months after the bone marrow transplantations, in up to 99% of their circulating red blood cells. There was also a dramatic decrease in the proportion of irreversibly sickled cells, as well as a correction of splenomegaly (enlarged spleen; can be seen with sickle cell disease). The scientists hope to pursue this gene therapy procedure further, noting the need to ensure safety of the viral vector in humans as well as to find a safe way to destroy part or all of the defective bone marrow in human patients. Exciting milestones such as this should convince scientists that human embryonic stem cell research need not be pursued in order to cure or treat disease.
Sources: (1) Pawliuk, et al; "Correction of Sickle Cell Disease in Transgenic Mouse Models by Gene Therapy;" Science; 14 December 2001; Vol. 294; pp. 2368-2371; and (2) National Institutes of Health News Release, Dec. 13, 2001 (www.nhlbi.nih.gov or National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Communications Office: 301-496-4236); and (3) Pro-Life Infonet 12/14/01, #2585 [cites Associated Press Dec. 13, 2001]).
Colon Cancer, Intestinal Disease, and Stem Cells in General
Gene Found to Play Role in Stem Cell Differentiation in the Intestine
Huda Zoghbi and her colleagues at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston discovered that a gene called Math1 has a significant role in the development of different kinds of cells from stem cells in the intestinal epithelium. Previous work by Zoghbi and her colleagues had found that Math1 has a role in the differentiation of neuronal cells, including sensory cells in the inner ear. During that work, they detected Math1 expression in the intestine, and so decided to study its intestinal expression further. They genetically engineered mice "in which the coding region of the Math1 gene was replaced by an enzyme that would stain the cells expressing the gene in developing embryos." It was a surprise to them to not detect expression of the gene in the nervous system of the gut, but rather in the intestinal epithelium. Specifically, they found that Math1 is involved in the differentiation of goblet, enteroendocrine, and Paneth cells from stem cells. All three of these cells' main functions include the secretion of various important substances such as mucous or microbe-fighting proteins. Further studies of mutants with no Math1 gene showed that these secretory cell types were missing in the mutants. "This told us that Math1 was important for basic stem cell differentiation…now we know that Math1 likely plays a key role in the decision whether to become a secretory or an absorptive cell," said Zoghbi. She believes that Math1 can now help them to build a framework of understanding, regarding what happens to turn a stem cell in the gut into the various types of cells seen there, and that such an understanding could have considerable clinical importance. "One could imagine a basic understanding of [these cells] leading to new treatments for such diseases as irritable bowel syndrome and other abnormalities of gut motility. Also,…understanding [their regulatory pathways] could yield insights into the mechanisms of colon cancers," she says. She also mentions that understanding the regulatory control of intestinal stem cells could lead to treatments to regenerate damaged intestinal tissue, and that discoveries about intestinal stem cells could be applicable to many other stem cells in other parts of an organism. Such fascinating and promising research with mouse stem cells should be evidence that no work needs to be done in the field of human embryonic stem cell research, which necessitates the destruction of living human beings.
Sources: (1) Yang, et al; "Requirement of Math1 for Secretory Cell Lineage Commitment in the Mouse Intestine;" Science; 7 December 2001; Vol. 294; pp. 2155-2158 and (2) Research News from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), at http://www.hhmi.org/news/zoghbi4.html and (3) http://unisci.com/stories/20014/1207012.htm.
Culture of Life Foundation, 815 15th St., NW Suite 1111, Washington, DC 20005,
Adult Stem Cell Research Breakthrough Bulletin Number 19
CONTACT: Tara Seyfer, Director of Research / 202-638-5500
Washington, November 16, 2001: We present some great new findings this week, highlighting astounding uses and successes with human adult stem cells. Read on, for the amazing details! Heart Disease Human Adult Bone Marrow Stem Cells Used to Repair Heart Damage
Japanese scientists at the Yamaguchi University School of Medicine in Ube, Japan reported some exciting adult stem cell research findings on Nov. 12 to the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2001 conference in Anaheim, California. They had previously done animal experiments with adult stem cells which worked well, and just revealed their new results from an ongoing clinical trial where they treated five patients with heart disease. The researchers obtained bone marrow from the patients' own hip bones. From this marrow, they "prepared a mixture rich in mononuclear cells, which includes immature cells such as stem cells and the precursor cells of the endothelial cells that line the inner walls of blood vessels." Then they injected the patients' hearts with several injections of the mixture. One month after the injections, three of the five patients showed definite improvement in blood flow to the sections of their hearts which had received the injections. It was also found that severe chest pain they had suffered before the injections had disappeared. Although two of the patients didn't show signs of changes in their blood flow, it was shown that none of the patients had developed detrimental symptoms from the injections. "We found this new treatment to be safe, and we believe it could be an alternative treatment for heart patients who cannot be helped by coronary artery bypass surgery or balloon angioplasty," said Kimikazu Hamano, M.D., a co-author of the study. This is yet another successful and promising use of human adult stem cells, which should be proof that destructive and immoral human embryonic stem cell research need not be pursued in the quest for treatment and cures for disease. Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/11/011114071845.htm
Parkinson's Disease Scientists Are Able to Convert Bone Marrow Stem Cells To Brain Cells in Laboratory Scientists at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia have found that they can convert adult human bone marrow cells into brain cells in the laboratory. The research team's leader, Dr. Lorraine Iacovitti, reported her team's findings on Nov. 11, 2001 at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in San Diego. She says that "The goal [of the work] is to find stem cells that we can differentiate into dopamine neurons to replace those lost in Parkinson's Disease." The researchers were able to develop a cocktail of growth factors and nutrients which they could feed to the human bone marrow stem cells. Over time, they found that a particular mixture was able to convert 100% of the bone marrow stem cells into neurons within one hour. "It flew in the face of everything I knew from developmental biology," says Dr. Iacovitti. The converted cells both look like neurons and contain neuronal proteins. They even found that the cells can convert into different subclasses of neurons. The laboratory is still working on converting them into dopamine neurons, which they think could help Parkinson's patients. In addition, they are working on the task of keeping the cells differentiated by working with the media in which the cells are incubated. Dr. Iacovitti notes that "The major advantage of using adult human bone marrow stem cells is that each person can be his own donor, meaning they can have an autologous graft of cells without rejection." Because the cells come from the patient's own body, there is no risk that the graft will be rejected by their immune system, as could happen if the cells came from another patient or from embryonic cells from another human being. Such encouraging findings should be convincing evidence that researchers need not engage in human embryonic stem cell research, which kills human beings in embryonic form (or utilizes cells from embryos that have been killed). Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/11/011112073405.htm Culture of Life Foundation, 815 15th St., NW Suite 1111, Washington, DC 20005
Adult Stem Cell Research Breakthrough Bulletin Number 18
CONTACT: Tara Seyfer, Director of Research / 202-638-5500
Washington, November 9, 2001: Amazing breakthroughs this week for both stroke victims and Parkinson's disease patients. None of the research involves the destruction of human life, as human embryonic stem cell research does. Read on for the fascinating details!
Cells From Human Umbilical Cord Blood Help Rats Recover From Stroke Quickly
A new study was performed by researchers from the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and the University of South Florida, Tampa in which rats that were induced to have symptoms of stroke were given injections of umbilical cord fractions (which were rich in non-embryonic stem cells). The cells migrated to the sites of brain injury, and improved the motor and sensory abilities of the rats, even when they were given to the rats a week after the stroke had occurred. Rats with strokes that were given the cord blood cells within 24 hours after the stroke showed even greater improvement. All of the rats that received the cord blood cells recovered from the strokes quicker than control rats that had received no treatment. Later examination of the rats' brains showed that only a small percentage of the cord blood cells in the brain expressed proteins similar to ones that would be expressed by early neural cells. Therefore, the scientists believe that it is likely "that the cells somehow encourage the brain's own recovery system to work better at repairing the areas damaged by stroke." In another recent study by the same institutions, Dr. Juan Sanchez-Ramos from USF showed that stem cells from human umbilical cords can be reprogrammed in the laboratory to form immature neural cells. He says that the newer study with rat models "extends our earlier laboratory findings." Currently, the main treatment for stroke is injection of Tissue Plasminogen Activator (TPA), a drug which needs to be administered within 3 hours of the stroke to be able to work well. With this new study, the cord blood cells could offer a longer window of opportunity for treating a stroke (days, instead of hours). In addition, it is a relatively non-invasive procedure to have a simple IV administration of cells. Such exciting and positive news from the realm of non-embryonic stem cell research underscores the fact that forays need not be made into embryonic stem cell research, which destroys living embryonic human beings.
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/11/011106083935.htm
Parkinson's Disease
Molecule Natural to the Body May Stop Plaque Buildup in Parkinson's Disease
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego recently found that a naturally-occurring molecule in the body, called beta-synuclein, could have a major effect on the development of plaque deposits (which are accumulations of protein tangles called Lewy bodies) usually found in the brain of Parkinson's disease patients. Specifically, beta-synuclein has the ability to inhibit the activity of another naturally-occurring molecule called alpha-synuclein, which has been linked to the formation of the plaques. In addition, the scientists noted that an imbalance of the ratio of alpha- to beta-synucleins could affect whether plaques form or not in the brain. In test tube studies, when the scientists added beta-synuclein to a tube containing Lewy body protein tangles formed by alpha-synuclein, the proteins untangled. In mouse studies, the research team developed some mice that overexpressed alpha-synuclein and some mice that overexpressed beta-synuclein. The mice that overexpressed alpha-synuclein developed Lewy body aggregates, and the mice that overexpressed beta-synuclein did not. Discovery of the ability of this molecule to so profoundly affect development of brain plaques is good news indeed for Parkinson's patients, and should encourage more research on beta-synuclein. Such breakthroughs should convince doctors and scientists that there are plenty of moral paths to pursue towards making progress on curing and treating diseases. Immoral human embryonic stem cell research need not be pursued, especially seeing that it is not licit to pursue evil for a perceived good end.
Sources: http://unisci.com/stories/20014/1107012.htm and http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/11/011106083722.htm
Culture of Life Foundation, 815 15th St., NW Suite 1111, Washington, DC 20005
Adult Stem Cell Research Breakthrough Bulletin Number 16
CONTACT: Tara Seyfer, Director of Research / 202-638-5500
Washington, October 26, 2001: There should be no need to even consider the utilitarian proposition of killing embryonic human beings to obtain their stem cells, or to perform research on stem cells from humans that have been killed previously. As this week's bulletin shows, there are plenty of morally legitimate avenues of research which benefit all sorts of diseases, and which show great promise. Cancer and Other Diseases Non-ES/Fetal Cell Research: Novel Drug Delivery Systems Can Improve Drug Effectiveness Against Cancer and Other Diseases Scientists from Rutgers University, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey have developed some fascinating new ways of delivering drugs, using polymer (plastic) technology. The first delivery system is called a "smart" drug carrier. It involves the linkage of a polymer to both a drug and another molecule called the "ligand" molecule. The ligand molecule has a specificity for certain receptor molecules on the cell that the drug will be targeting (i.e., it won't attach to any other molecules except those receptor molecules). The beauty of this system is that the drug is directed specifically to the cells (for example, cancer cells) that it is meant to treat. In addition, the researchers have found that the system facilitates the entrance of the drug directly into the cells. The second delivery system that they've developed is considered to be a tiny "medicine cabinet" that can be injected directly under the skin. It involves a polymer gel drug carrier which contains one or several drugs. It is injected right under the skin to form a tiny lump. It is meant to release the drug(s) in a controlled fashion, over several hours, days, or months. It could be a benefit to patients who have a hard time remembering to take their daily medicine (like those with Alzheimer's disease, perhaps), or for treating diseases which respond better to drugs being released over the course of time. Such improved methods of drug delivery bode well for scientific research that focuses on the use of drugs to combat disease. This type of research shows much more promise than research on human embryonic stem cells, which destroys human beings. Sources: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/10/011025072104.htm and http://www.eurekalert.org/ Diabetes Non-ES/Fetal Cell Research: Special Protein Causes Mouse Pancreatic Cells to Grow Larger and Produce More Insulin: Possible Help For Diabetics Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center have discovered that a specific protein called Akt1 plays a significant role in increasing the size and numbers of a type of pancreatic cell called a β-cell (beta-cell). They worked with a mouse engineered to produce extra Akt1, and found that the Akt1 caused more pancreatic β-cells to grow, that the cells were bigger, and that they produced more insulin than normal β-cells. The scientists also tried to induce diabetes in the mice by killing their β-cells, and weren't successful in doing so, presumably because of the efficient activity of Akt1. Recently, surgeons have been successful in re-establishing the production of insulin in the pancreas of diabetic patients by transplanting "pancreatic islets" (clumps of pancreatic cells, which include pancreatic β-cells) into the patients. Perhaps Akt1 can be used in the future to increase the number of pancreatic cells available for transplant into patients, as well as increase their size and insulin production. Encouraging news such as this should preclude any thought of research involving killing embryonic human beings in order to use their cells for research on diabetes. Source: http://unisci.com/stories/20014/1022013.htm and Tuttle, Robyn et al, "Regulation of pancreatic β-cell growth and survival by the serine/threonine protein kinas Akt1/PKBα"; Nature Medicine, Oct. 2001; Vol. 7, No. 10, pp. 1133-1137. Culture of Life Foundation, 815 15th St., NW Suite 1111, Washington, DC 20005
Adult Stem Cell Research Breakthrough Bulletin Number 15
CONTACT: Tara Seyfer, Director of Research / 202-638-5500
Washington, October 19, 2001: Exciting developments this week with a new source of stem cells and possible treatments for Alzheimer's disease. All are morally legitimate forms of scientific research (as opposed to embryonic stem cell research, which involves the death of human beings at the embryonic stage of life).
Treating Birth Defects
Adult Stem Cell Research:
Stem Cells From Amniotic Fluid Are Another Alternative to ESCR
Scientists at the Children's Hospital in Boston told an American College of Surgeons Meeting on Oct. 10 that they were able to find "early stage embryonic cells" in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women. They believe that these cells could be used to repair birth defects. They found that when grown in a special way in culture, the cells quickly grew into connective tissue. One of the researchers says that just 2 ml of amniotic fluid can provide up to 20,000 cells, 80% of which are viable. These researchers had reported in 1997 that they were able to remove cells from lambs in the womb of their mothers and then use the cells to repair tumors in newborn lambs. Such successes cause them to believe that the human amniotic fluid cells could possibly be used to treat birth defects in newborn human babies (approximately 1 in 5000 infants is born with a "body wall defect" that could be corrected with such a tissue graft). Such an accessible way to obtain useful stem cells should rule out any imagined need for destructive human embryonic stem cell research.
Sources: New Scientist, Oct. 11, 2001; and Pro-Life Infonet 10/14/01, #2543
Alzheimer's Disease
Non-ES/Fetal Cell Research:
Research Suggests High Cholesterol and Alzheimer's Disease Are Linked: Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Could Help Treat Alzheimer's
Several studies recently have shown links between high cholesterol and the development of Alzheimer's disease. It has been found that high blood cholesterol levels aid in the formation of amyloid-beta, which is known to be one of the components of the characteristic plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. About 10 years ago, Dr. Larry Sparks from the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, where he was a forensic pathologist, performed autopsies on people who had died unexpectedly. He found that about 70% of the people who had died from heart disease also had amyloid plaques in their brains. Two epidemiological studies that appeared last year studied whether statins, a group of cholesterol-lowering drugs taken by many people, could influence the risk of developing Alzheimer's. Both of the studies had similar results: that the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease was about 70% lower in people taking statins than in the control groups. Other studies have found that rabbits fed a high-cholesterol diet develop plaques in their brains, and that reducing the cholesterol in their diet or giving them cholesterol-lowering drugs decreased the number of plaques developing in the brain. Such studies encourage the notion that perhaps cholesterol-lowering drugs could be a useful and effective way to treat Alzheimer's disease. Because statins have sometimes been associated with liver and muscle damage as side effects, they might not be ideal candidates for long-term use in Alzheimer's patients. However, to analyze them as one possibility for treatment, studies are now being done to test their effect on cognitive function in humans (as well as on their effect on cardiovascular health). In addition, future studies could analyze the effect of other cholesterol-lowering drugs on plaque formation in humans as a possible treatment for Alzheimer's. Lowering cholesterol could in the end possibly help both the heart and the mind. There is no need to work on human embryonic stem cells to treat Alzheimer's, with such intriguing possibilities in the forefront of science.
Source:http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/294/5542/508 (Need subscription)
Culture of Life Foundation, 815 15th St., NW Suite 1111, Washington, DC 20005
Adult Stem Cell Research Breakthrough Bulletin Number 14
For Immediate Release
Please Contact Tara Seyfer - 202-638-5500
Washington, October 12, 2001: Great research findings this week in the research fields of diabetes, neural injury/disease, and cancer. All show that there are many truly effective moral routes of research today, and that human embryonic stem cell research should not even be considered. Read on for the intriguing scientific news!
Non-ES/Fetal Cell Research:
Herbal Oils Found to Affect Insulin Sensitivity and Lower Blood Pressure In Diabetic Rats
Researchers at Georgetown University experimented with the effects of various combinations of edible oils on rats that had been bred to have the characteristics of type 2 diabetes (and thus needed insulin doses to keep their body glucose levels stable). The oils used were from various herbs and plants: fenugreek, cumin, pumpkin seed, and oregano. The scientists discovered that the oils increased the sensitivity of the rats to the insulin they'd been receiving; thus, they needed smaller insulin doses to achieve stable glucose levels. The oils also were found to decrease the rats' blood pressure; when they stopped feeding the rats with the oils, the rats' blood pressure returned to their previous levels. Harry Preuss, M.D., the lead investigator, said, "Our results suggest that combinations of various edible oils improve glucose metabolism in these diabetic rats, and may be important in the treatment of different forms of human diabetes as well as the high blood pressure that often accompanies it." It is amazing that even natural plant oils can help treat diabetes. It should be proof that research on human embryonic stem cells need not be even contemplated.
Sources: http://www.eurekalert.com/ (Oct. 10, 2001) and http://www.georgetown.edu/gumc/external_affairs/press_releases/herbal_treatment_10062001.htm
Alzheimer's Disease, Brain/Spinal Cord Injury
Non-ES/Fetal Cell Research:
Bioengineers Use New Microcapsule Protein-Release System to Enhance Neural Cell Transplantation in Rats
Bioengineer researchers at Cornell University have created a unique system for transplanting cells into brains, together with a protein called NGF (nerve growth factor), which enhances nerve cell growth. They created polymer microcapsules which they can fill with the NGF protein. They tried injecting these microcapsules into rat brains together with rat fetal brain cells, to see if they could successfully get the brain cells to attach and grow, and if the NGF would stay localized in the injection area (important because they didn't want the NGF to spread and cause cell growth in other areas). They found that the NGF did remain in the local area, and that the brain cells produced an enzyme called ChAT (which is a sign that the transplanted cells were starting to grow and function). Future research might test the use and release of other proteins or drugs using the microcapsules. Although these researchers used the microcapsules with rat fetal brain cells, once the procedure is tried in humans, human fetal brain cells or human embryonic stem cells should not be used. A moral route would be to potentially use adult neural stem cells along with the microcapsules, or the microcapsules alone, to promote neuronal growth.
Sources: http://www.eurekalert.com/ (Oct. 11, 2001) and http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/Oct01/brain_trans.hrs.html
Non-ES/Fetal Cell Research:
Gene and Enzyme Pinpointed Which May Cause Spread of Colon Cancer
Scientists at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the John Hopkins University Oncology Center recently discovered that a gene called PRL-3 is involved in the spread ("metastasis") of colon cancers to the liver. They used a technique called SAGE (serial analysis of gene expression) which had been developed several years ago by the Johns Hopkins team. SAGE helped them to analyze the gene expression levels in normal colon tissue, benign colon tumor tissue, beginning colon tumors, and tumors that had metastasized to the liver. With the metastasized cells, they had to first go through the painstaking process of separating the metastasized tumor cells from all the other surrounding cells, to make sure they were just looking at gene expression in those specific cells. They found that many genes were turned on specifically after metastasis occurred, but that only one was constantly turned on at higher levels after the metastasis: PRL-3. This provides evidence that there's a specific connection between this enzyme and the metastasis of tumorous colon cells to the liver. PRL-3 is known as a "tyrosine phosphatase" enzyme, meaning that it "controls the activity of other proteins by removing a phosphatase from them" (Source 2, below). Cancer researchers at several institutions are already very excited about this, as there is still relatively little known about the molecular basis for the process of metastasis in cancer. It is thought that the enzyme could potentially be used as a target for drugs, or could provide a molecular marker that could help doctors analyze the aggressiveness of tumors (Source 3, below). Future research will be on the exact role of the gene and its enzyme, and if it promotes metastasis in other cancers. Completely moral research such as this precludes any imagined need for human embryonic stem cell research to help cure cancer.
Sources: (1) http://www.eurekalert.com/ (Oct. 11, 2001); (2) http://www.hhmi.org/news/vogelstein6.html; (3) http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/294/5541/281a; (4) http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/1065817; and (5) http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/294/5541/281a (Need subscription for Science magazine full access).
Culture of Life Foundation, 815 15th St., NW Suite 1111, Washington, DC 20005
Adult Stem Cell Research Breakthrough Bulletin Number 12
CONTACT: Tara Seyfer, Director of Research / 202-638-5500
Washington, September 28, 2001: Exciting new discoveries and treatments this week involving cartilage repair in knees and a gene possibly involved in diabetes! All further evidence that there is no need to perform immoral human embryonic stem cell research in the search for either treatments or cures.
Cartilage Repair
Non-ES/Fetal Cell Research:
New Treatment for Damaged Cartilage in Knees Using Patients' Own Adult Cells
Doctors at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Middlesex, England have found a successful new technique for repairing cartilage, specifically in the knees. Cartilage is known by doctors to be particularly difficult to repair and heal, so this discovery was particularly welcome. The researchers in England found that their new procedure was successful in more than 80% of the patients involved in a study they've performed. The procedure involves removing healthy cartilage cells from the patient, culturing them in some of the patient's own blood serum (which contains unique growth agents), allowing the cells to grow for 3-4 weeks, and then placing the cells back into the patient's damaged knee. One great aspect of this discovery is that because the cells are from the patient's own body, they will not be rejected by an immune response, unlike the possibility of this happening with human embryonic stem cells. This is yet another exciting new treatment in medicine that does not rely upon the immoral usage of human embryonic stem cells for research.
Sources: http://www.spuc.org.uk/news/20010924.htm and http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1556000/1556883.stm (BBC News online, 23 September)
Known Gene Discovered to Be Involved in Liver Glucose Production
Researchers at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and at Harvard Medical School have discovered a gene that is involved in the generation of glucose in the liver, a finding that could lead to breakthroughs in diabetes research. The gene, "PGC-1", was already known by scientists to regulate the production of a cell component called mitochondria (involved in the production of energy in muscle cells) within cells. However, it was unknown that PGC-1 has a role in the liver. Apparently, they found that in rats and mice that were subjected to fasting conditions, PGC-1 expression in the liver increased. It did the same in rodents that were genetically-bred to have various types of diabetes. This indicates that PGC-1 is involved in the creation of glucose by the liver. Normally, the liver provides a regulated stream of glucose in response to the body's needs. In Type 2 diabetes, however, glucose production can be abnormally high. Future studies and potential therapies could use the new discovery to learn how to switch the PGC-1 gene on and off, to treat diabetes. Such therapies and research are even more evidence that human embryonic stem cells need not be studied in research for diabetes or any other disease.
Source: http://unisci.com/stories/20013/0924014.htm
Culture of Life Foundation, 815 15th St., NW Suite 1111, Washington, DC 20005,
Adult Stem Cell Research Weekly Highlights Number 11
Culture of Life Foundation
CONTACT: Tara Seyfer, Director of Research / 202-638-5500
Washington, September 21, 2001: Great scientific research findings this week with regard to diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, which are further evidence that human embryonic stem cells need not be a part of scientific study. Diabetes Non-ES/Fetal Cell Research: New Drug Can Prevent Diabetes in People at Risk A new drug marketed by the UK pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline is showing promise in preventing the development of diabetes in people at high risk for developing this disease. Dr. Mark Walker of Newcastle University reported at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Conference in Glasgow that the drug (called rosiglitazone or Avandia) had proved effective in preventing the disease in patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). These patients have blood glucose levels that are higher than normal, which puts them at risk for developing diabetes. Exercise and a proper diet can also help these patients decrease their risk for developing diabetes, but those patients who are elderly or disabled may not be able to effect these lifestyle changes as easily. This drug could prove particularly helpful for them. IGT contributes to cardiovascular disease, and diabetes itself is linked to many other conditions such as kidney failure, strokes, heart disease, blindness, and nerve damage, so rosiglitazone could be a benefit in helping to prevent the onset of these diabetes-related diseases as well. The great potential of such drugs shows that embryonic stem cells do not need to be used in the search for cures and therapies for diabetes. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1537000/1537007.stm Drugs Can Delay Kidney Failure In Diabetics A couple of new drugs used in the treatment of diabetes have been found to be able to delay the onset of kidney failure in diabetics for about two years. These drugs, irbesartan (also known as Avapro) and lorsarten, were studied in various clinical trials and when compared with a placebo drug, reduced the risk of kidney failure by 20-28%. In one study of patients with Type 2 diabetes, only 5-10% of the patients who received the drug irbesartan showed signs of kidney damage, while 15% of the patients who received a placebo (i.e., no active drug) did develop signs of kidney damage. Suzanne Lucas, the Director of Care at Diabetes UK, said, "This is excellent news for a group of patients whose diabetes puts them at risk of serious complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, amputation and blindness." Also, a spokesperson for the National Kidney Research Fund (UK) said that the studies were "tremendously important in providing hope that the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant can be delayed or prevented in patients with diabetes." Such great research findings should be convincing evidence that there is no need to experiment on and destroy human embryos to obtain their stem cells. Sources: http://dailynews.yahoo.com/htx/nm/20010919/sc/health_diabetes_dc_4.html and http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1554000/1554052.stm Alzheimer's Disease Non-ES/Fetal Cell Research: New Electronic Device Can Detect Alzheimer's by Reading Brain Activity A new device that was developed by Thuris Corporation in CA with funding from the Office of Naval Research for reading submarine sonar signals has the capability to be a screening device for Alzheimer's disease. The device, NeuroGraphTM, utilizes a cap with electrodes to read the brain's activity and then analyze and compare it to the brain activity of a sample of healthy people. Thuris Corp. (a company that markets technology for diagnosis and analysis of brain conditions) tested the device on more than 160 subjects in initial clinical tests and found that it was able to determine whether brains showed signs of Alzheimer's disease with 100% accuracy. It is hoped that the device will be a cheaper and more reliable way to diagnose Alzheimer's than current methods, which rely on a battery of neurological and psychiatric tests, and are only about 90% accurate. In addition, NeuroGraph could be used to diagnose other patients with brain disorders, and to test the efficacy of new drugs on brain activity. Early detection could lead to new advances in prevention and cures, without need for use of human embryonic stem cells. Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/09/010920071658.htm and http://www.forbes.com/asap/2000/0529/044_print.html
Chronic Granulomatous Disease Adult Stem Cell Research: A three-year-old boy has been cured of a fatal disease by the use of stem cells extracted from his sister's placenta. Tom Stretch suffered from chronic granulomatous disease, an inherited defect of the white blood cells which would probably have led to his death in his 20s. No suitable bone marrow donor could be found, so doctors at Newcastle-upon-Tyne general hospital in England took stem cells from the placenta of his sister Hanna, who was free from the condition, after she was born last November and transplanted them into Tom. Tom's parents were due to take him home from the hospital September 18. This news provides yet more evidence of the potential of stem cells derived in an ethical fashion, in contrast to the destructive extraction of stem cells from embryos and so-called therapeutic cloning. Source: http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2001/09/18/nsave18.xml (Daily Telegraph, 18 September) and http://www.spuc.org.uk/ Culture of Life Foundation, 815 15th St., NW Suite 1111, Washington, DC 20005,
Adult Stem Cell Research Weekly Highlights Number 10
CONTACT: Tara Seyfer, Director of Research / 202-638-5500
Washington, September 14, 2001: In the wake of the terrible tragedies this week, we see with even greater clarity the limitless worth of every human life. Every person's life is truly unique, sacred, and inviolable, and to take an innocent life for any reason is an evil act. Continuing moral paths of scientific research show us that at no point should one kill another human being, no matter how small, even for the purposes of curing another. This means specifically, embryonic and fetal human beings. Likewise, it is not morally licit to use their cells if they have been already killed. Progress with adult stem cells and with research involving no stem cells from any source continues to point the way toward cures that are both morally acceptable and effective.
This week two breakthroughs were announced, against diabetes and spinal cord and brain injury, and no embryonic or fetal stem cells were used in either.
Non-ES/Fetal Cell Research:
New Hope for Diabetes Patients: Molecular Switch Discovered For Regulation Of Glucose
Researchers at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, and the Harvard Medical School have found a long-sought molecular switch which regulates the production of glucose. The finding bodes well for sufferers of diabetes, since it will greatly help in designing new drugs to target the protein involved. The protein is called PGC-1, and it is normally active in liver cells, and plays a role in upregulating the production of glucose in the body. Normally, it works with the protein insulin to keep blood sugar at normal levels. In diabetics, insulin can be lacking or ineffective, causing serious problems with blood sugar levels. The key protein PGC-1 was previously found to become more active in the muscles and fat of mice that were exposed to cold temperatures. This caused the scientists to wonder if it played a role in the production of glucose, so they inserted the gene for PGC-1 into mice using a harmless viral vector (virus which doesn't cause disease, which has been designed to carry the desired gene into the animal's body), and the gene indeed caused the mice to become hyperglycemic (excess of sugar in the blood). One of the scientists involved called this a "real eureka moment." The scientists believe that this new finding could help in the treatment of diabetes, by allowing researchers to design drugs to turn down glucose production in diabetics by targeting this protein. This is yet another finding in the research of diabetes which shows that there is no need to resort to the use of human embryonic or fetal cells in the treatment of this disease.
Sources: Sept. 13, 2001 issue of Nature and http://unisci.com/stories/20013/0913012.htm and www.eurekalert.org (9/12/01 News Release).
Spinal Cord and Brain Injury/Disease
Non-ES/Fetal Cell Research:
Neuron and Microchip Combination Could Help Treat and Understand Spinal Cord and Brain Injury/Disease
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry in Munich have designed one of the first conducting "nerve chips", which is a combination of live neurons and silicon. They utilized snail neurons and tiny silicon pegs (which help separate the neurons) on a chip, and applied electrical impulses to the chip. The impulses passed from one neuron to another, and back to the chip to form a live circuit. Although true "neurocomputers" are a long way off, this is a step towards being able to understand brain circuitry better, and to possibly build biosensors (for use in testing pharmaceutical drugs on nerve cells) or neuroprosthetic devices that could help treat spinal cord injury or brain diseases. For example, a "biochip" could be used to "bridge a damaged section of the spinal cord" (see Source). Such amazing developments preclude any imagined need for utilitarian research on human embryonic stem cells or fetal cells.
Source: http://www.nature.com/nsu/010830/010830-7.html
Culture of Life Foundation, 815 15th St., NW Suite 1111, Washington, DC 20005,
Adult Stem Cell Research Weekly Highlights Number 9 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Tara Seyfer, Director of Research, 202-638-5500 Washington, September 7, 2001: There are many exciting findings this week in the realm of adult stem cells and non-embryonic cell research. They include the discovery of a more precise identification marker for adult stem cells, effective ways of treating heart attacks and cancer, and a possible new use for tooth cells. Read on and stay tuned! Applicable to Many Diseases/Injuries Adult Stem Cell Research: Scientists Identify First "Universal" Stem Cell Marker; Could Revolutionize Stem Cell Identification Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis have discovered what they believe could be utilized as a "universal stem cell marker," a protein or gene that can distinguish stem cells from other cells in the body. Up until now, scientists have been struggling to find a reliable way to identify stem cells, which can sometimes be difficult to separate from other bodily cells. Current methods and markers used are not fully reliable, and sometimes identify cells which are not really stem cells. The Memphis scientists believe they have found a marker that could be absolutely specific for stem cells. It is a gene called ABCG2/Bcrp1, and their work found that the gene was expressed in several different types of stem cells (including bone marrow and skeletal muscle cells), but wasn't found on most mature cells. This is great news, especially in the realm of adult stem cells, because one of the difficulties posed in obtaining numerous adult stem cells from bodily tissue is being able to separate out such cells in an accurate manner from the surrounding mature cells. This finding should aid scientists greatly in being able to separate greater numbers of adult stem cells with which to perform their experiments and which could be used for clinical therapies. Such a discovery is yet another reason why researchers need not resort to embryonic stem cell research, with all of its utilitarian ramifications against the human person. Sources: http://www.biospace.com/news_story.cfm?StoryID=6151515&full=1 and September 2001 issue of Nature Medicine.
Heart Attacks Adult Stem Cell Research: Adult Stem Cell Therapy Used To Repair Damage From Heart Attacks In a major advance against heart disease, a man's heart was repaired by his own bone marrow adult stem cells recently in Dusseldorf, Germany. Four days after the patient had suffered a serious heart attack (in which he had lost a quarter of his heart muscle), the operating team removed bone marrow stem cells from his pelvis (a large source of bone marrow) and injected them into the man's coronary arteries. Prof. B. Strauer, the doctor who performed the procedure, said that ten weeks after the injection, "the size of the damage has reduced by nearly a third and the capacity of the heart itself has clearly improved." The cells had migrated to the damaged areas of the heart and had turned into beating heart cells. Prof. Strauer claims that, "Stem cell therapy could be more successful than all other previous treatments put together. Even patients with the most seriously damaged hearts can be treated with their own stem cells instead of waiting and hoping on a transplant." He has treated six other patients (aged between 38 and 67) with their own stem cells since March, and after a short time they exhibited improvement too. Such findings show that doctors can pursue both effective and moral clinical methods for treating patients, as opposed to resorting to the immoral usage of embryonic stem cells to treat patients. Sources: Cleaver, Hannah and David Derbyshire; "[Adult] Stem cell therapy repairs a heart"; Daily Telegraph; 8/25/01; and http://portal.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2001/08/25/wstem25.xml
Cancer Adult Stem Cell Research: Umbilical Cord Cells Being Used Effectively to Treat Leukemia Umbilical cord cells show increased promise of being an effective treatment for leukemia. Normally, leukemia patients must rely on receiving bone marrow transplants from donors, and the transplant must be a close match or the patient will develop serious immunological problems. Closely-related donors, such as siblings, have the best chance of being a good match, but many times they don't match perfectly and the patient ends up being put on a waiting list for receiving a transplant from an unrelated matched donor. Umbilical cord cell transplants now offer another viable option. Dr. Mary Laughlin, director of a transplant program at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, along with her colleagues at 5 transplant centers, has conducted a study of 68 patients with leukemia or other blood disorders. Most of the patients received transplants of umbilical cord cells from unrelated donors. About 90 % of the patients grew new, healthy blood cells from the "mismatched" cord blood cells. Also, only 20 % of the patients developed severe immunity problems (which is a good statistic compared with the 55% of patients who develop such problems after receiving perfectly matched bone marrow). It is thought that because the umbilical cord cells are immature immunologically, they adapt better than mature bone marrow cells to the patient's body, and thus don't cause as many immunological problems. Dr. Laughlin says that, "Now even patients who can't find perfect matches from bone marrow donors might have hope from umbilical cord cell transplants." Umbilical cord cells are in abundance, are immunologically flexible, and can be used as a truly ethical form of therapy. Source: Hesman, Tina; "Blood Bank Seeks Role in Stem Cell Research"; St. Louis Post-Dispatch; Aug. 29, 2001
Spinal Cord Injury/Parkinson's Disease Adult Cell Research: Dental Pulp Cells Could Help Treat Spinal Cord Injury and Parkinson's Disease Scientists at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden are conducting studies on dental pulp cells, the cells inside teeth, which they hope will lead to possible therapies for spinal cord injury and Parkinson's patients. They are closely observing the process of "innervation" (the growth and development of nerves) involved with these cells in order to understand the process better. They have also conducted experiments with the cells. When they cultured the dental pulp cells with neurons ("in vitro"; in an environment outside the living body), they found that the dental pulp cells promoted survival and growth of the neurons. When they grafted dental pulp cells into the spinal cord of rats ("in vivo"; within the living body), they found that the pulp cells promoted neuron survival in the spinal cord. Dr. Christopher Nosrat, one of the researchers, says that "Conceivably, it one day may be possible to extract a tooth, grow dental pulp cells, and implant those cells into a patient suffering from a neuro-degenerative disease such as Parkinson's disease." Such amazing possibilities, using one's own bodily cells (and thus minimizing immune rejection), should preclude any researcher from even considering working with embryonic stem cells. Sources:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/09/010905073926.htm and http://www.idealibrary.com/links/doi/10.1006/dbio.2001.0400/pdf (Nosrat, et al; "Dental Pulp Cells Produce Neurotrophic Factors, Interact with Trigeminal Neurons in vitro, and Rescue Motoneurons after Spinal Cord Injury"; Developmental Biology; online now at link above and to be published offline in October 1, 2001 edition)
Culture of Life Foundation, 815 15th St., NW Suite 1111, Washington, DC 20005,
Culture of Life Foundation
815 15th Street, NW Suite 1111
Washington, D.C. 20005
Tel -202 638 5500/Fax-202 638 4900
Press Release
CONTACT: Tara Seyfer, Director of Research, 202-638-5500
Adult Stem Cell Research Weekly Highlights Number 7 Washington, August 24, 2001: Promising new findings this week in the treatment of spinal cord injury, heart attacks, and skin disorders. All without the need of a single embryonic stem cell! Spinal Cord Injury Non-ES/Fetal Cell Research: Promising New Treatment For Partial Spinal Cord Injury Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel are experimenting with a new therapy intended for patients with partial spinal cord injury. With partial spinal cord injury, the several days immediately following the injury are crucial, because during this time, there is usually further neural damage that occurs in a wave that spreads from the injury site, and can be even more destructive than the initial damage. The goal of the researchers is to find a treatment that will effectively stop this post-injury degeneration. In their recent studies on rats with partial spinal cord injury, they injected the rats post-injury with specific proteins which they had derived from the central nervous system (and which were selected to be able to boost the rats' immune system). The treated rats showed significant recovery of movement, and their spinal cords contained nerve fibers that appeared substantially healthier than those of nontreated rats (which suggests that the proteins halted further neural degeneration). These results are very encouraging, and counteract (with hard data) the hype from pro-embryonic stem (ES) cell research organizations that ES cells are needed for healing of spinal cord injury. This non-ES therapy is only one of several we've reported on in the last few weeks which treat neural injury and disease in a completely moral manner. Sources:http://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/weizmann/doa_iis.dll/Serve/item/English/184.108.40.206.html and http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/08/010817081453.htm (8/17/01 report) Heart Attacks Non-ES/Fetal Cell Research: Heart Cells Divide, Enlarge, and Live Longer With Special Enzyme Scientists at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston have found a way to increase heart cell division, increase heart cell size, and make heart cells live longer. This is great news for people prone to heart attacks or other heart ailments. The researchers genetically engineered their laboratory mice to produce a specific enzyme called TERT (Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase) in their heart muscles. This enzyme is normally only produced in very young mice, and is involved in the process of chromosome duplication during cell division. The engineered mice continued to produce the enzyme even after they grew older. At first, the mice produced many more heart cells than normal mice. Several weeks later, cell division ceased and the cells grew larger (hypertrophy). In addition, the cells appeared to be more resistant to cell death than normal cells. Usually, the condition of hypertrophy confers a weakness to the heart. With these mice, however, their hearts did not have impaired functioning. One of the scientists in the group, Dr. Michael Schneider, said that the scientists involved believe that adding TERT to an adult heart could offer protection against the type of cell death experienced during a heart attack. In addition, TERT could possibly be added to cells that have been grafted onto an injured heart. This could probably aid in cell growth and protection from cell death. It is just one more example of the exciting research being done without using embryonic stem cells. Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/08/010821074944.htm (8/22/01 report) and Oh, et al, "Telomerase reverse transcriptase promotes cardiac muscle cell proliferation, hypertrophy, and survival", Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, published online August 21, 2001 (www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.191169098 [Need subscription]. Skin Disorder Adult Stem Cell Research: Adult Stem Cells Successful in Treating Rare Skin Disorder A team of doctors at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston recently performed the first known adult stem cell transplant to treat a rare skin disorder called scleromyxedema. The disorder is characterized by waxy, stiff, thickened skin. In the Houston patient, it had progressed so far that the skin on his face had a "cobblestone appearance," and he could not close his eyelids completely or eat. The doctors first collected stem cells from the patient's own bone marrow, and then purposely destroyed his immune system with chemotherapy. They then transplanted his stem cells back into his system in order to allow the cells to reconstruct his immune system. Three months after the transplant, the patient's face does not have the cobblestone appearance anymore, and he can now close his eyes and open his mouth. This is another example of highly encouraging results from adult stem cells in clinical work on human patients. Sources: Prolife Infonet 8/20/01, #2509; Reuters Health, Aug. 17, 2001; also Feasel, et al, "Complete Remission of Scleromyxedema Following Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation", Archives of Dermatology; August 2001, Vol. 137, No. 8, pp. 1071-1072.
Culture of Life Foundation, 815 15th St., NW Suite 1111, Washington, DC 20005,
Press Release
Adult Stem Cell Research Weekly Highlights Number 8
CONTACT: Tara Seyfer, Director of Research
Washington, August 31, 2001: The scientific research findings this week involve brain and spinal cord injury or disease, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes. All three of these are diseases that some claim need research done on them involving embryonic stem (ES) cell research. We show here that ES cell research is absolutely unnecessary, due to the current explosion in other, morally licit research on the same diseases. In addition, we provide you with all the research sources which show you the hard data. Check it out for yourself!
Brain/Spinal Cord Injury and Disease
Non-ES/Fetal Cell Research:
Injection of Brain Growth Factor Can Stimulate Generation of New Brain Cells
Researchers at Emory University have found that after injection of a brain growth factor, several regions of an adult rat brain can generate new neurons. The scientists injected the growth factor BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic growth factor) into the brains of adult rats for approximately two weeks and then examined the brains for the presence of new neurons. They found new cells in several areas of the brain which are involved in many vital cognitive functions. Previous to this study, some of these areas of the brain had been thought unable to produce new cells after reaching adulthood. One of the researchers said that "(Our data) suggests to us that the adult forebrain has a more profound capacity to produce new neurons than previously has been recognized." These exciting findings could lead to an effective therapy using such growth factors to replace diseased or injured neurons in specific areas of the brain. Such therapy would not necessitate any research using embryonic stem cells for treatment of brain or spinal cord injury/disease.
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/08/010831092954.htm
Alzheimer's Disease
Non-ES/Fetal Cell Research:
Special Mice Reveal New Clues About Alzheimer's
In a recent issue of the journal Science, two separate studies by scientists in different parts of the world have been able to shed new light on Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is known to involve two different types of abnormalities in the brain: (1) the presence of protein "plaques", or aggregates of the protein amyloid-beta, in the brain, and (2) "tangles" of a protein called tau. Until now, scientists were not sure of how, or even if, the two types of pathologies were related in the Alzheimer's patient. One of the problems faced was that mouse models of the disease available did not have both of the pathologies present in their brains. Now, at the Mayo Clinic in Florida, Dr. Michael Hutton has created a mouse model which does exhibit both amyloid-beta plaques and tau tangles, which is more similar to how the disease is exhibited in humans. By studying these mice, the researchers were able to determine that the amyloid-beta plaques somehow stimulate the brain to produce even more tau tangles. The second study to confirm this was in Switzerland, where a research team injected amyloid-beta into the brains of mice that express tau tangles, and discovered that even more tau tangles formed. The bottom line for both of these studies was that future therapies for Alzheimer's disease could possibly focus on the elimination of amyloid-beta plaques, as a method of preventing the formation of more tau tangles. The new "double-mutant" mice should be helpful in allowing scientists to better understand the disease and to develop additional therapies for patients, without need of embryonic stem cells.
Sources: Gewolb, Josh; "Mice Yield New Alzheimer's Clues"; Science; 23 August 2001, and at http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2001/823/2 and Tauists and baptists United--Well Almost! at: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/293/5534/1446 (Need subscription).
Non-ES/Fetal Cell Research:
Reversal of Obesity- and Diet-Induced Insulin Resistance with Salicylates or Targeted Disruption of Ikkß
Researchers at Harvard and at UC San Diego have found that what most of us know as a common household medicine, aspirin, could be used effectively in very high doses as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. They studied the effects of high concentrations of aspirin administered subcutaneously (under the skin) to diabetic rats and found that the rats showed improved processing of glucose and insulin. Their results were similar with cells grown in the laboratory. Thus their findings both in vivo (in live animals) and in vitro (in lab-grown cells) were encouraging. In addition, they found that a protein known as IKK-beta is particularly involved in the processing of insulin in this form of diabetes, and that drugs targeting this protein could be useful in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Both treatments do not necessitate research involving embryonic stem cells.
Source: Yuan, et al; "Reversal of Obesity- and Diet-Induced Insulin Resistance with Salicylates or Targeted Disruption of Ikkß"; Science; 31 August 2001; Vol. 293; pp. 1673-1677; also http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/293/5535/1673 (Need subscription)
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MS Blazer Buzz 24 Nov
This week's highlight: Fall Trimester Portfolio Viewing
This week, middle school students invited their parents to class for portfolio viewings, culminating presentations highlighting their work from fall trimester. They shared the many projects, essays, art pieces, and videos that they produced. 6th graders shared some tasty greens straight from their own gardens and a garden plot project in math. Highlights included communication with their German pen pals, Perfect World essays, composition projects with garageband, and observing the aqueduct built in the gardens. 7th graders entertained their guests with a skit about the process of making a movie as they described their work with producing stop motion animated films in LA, Art and Music. Mitch narrated an incredible video explaining a rather complicated chemical reaction in science and Jesse discussed the atomic bomb debate. 8th graders demonstrated their impressive Rube Goldberg machines in science, Old Salem films produced in math, and original pieces of artwork from their Choice-Based Art Class. Our Woodlawn middle school students never cease to amaze us!
MS Blazer Buzz 17 Nov
This week's highlight: Budding Filmmakers
MS Blazer Buzz 10 Nov
This week's highlight: Duke TIP
Fourteen seventh graders qualify for the 7th Grade Talent Search sponsored by the Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP). Duke TIP's 7th Grade Talent Search is the largest program of its kind in the nation. Over 2 million students have participated in the Talent Search since its inception in 1980. Duke TIP's 7th Grade Talent Search identifies academically talented 7th graders based on standardized test scores or IQ tests achieved while attending elementary or middle school. Candidates are then invited to take the SAT or the ACT college entrance exams as 7th graders, which allows them greater insight into their academic abilities. We are very proud of our 'Blazers for their academic achievement!
MS Blazer Buzz 3 Nov
This week's highlight: Arugula Challenge
MS Blazer Buzz 27 Oct
This week's highlight: All Things Haunted...
Seventh and eighth graders dressed for a ghoulish evening in the Lodge this weekend. They kicked up their heels and danced the night away to their favorite songs. From the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man to a few vampires - costumes were certainly creative! Stinson Hall, built in 1836, served as the perfect backdrop for a chilling, haunted house experience. Walking with trepidation through the creaky, old house in the pitch black night, student clung to one another as faces appeared in the windows and people (or ghosts) pounded on doors. Screams could be heard all over campus. Thanks to the teamwork of LEAD, it was a haunted night to remember!


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Spaghetti Squash Burrito Bowl, Chunky White Bean Soup, Enchilada Pasta & More!
Lots of tasty and feel good dishes are coming your way on this week's meal plan!
Spice up your life (and tastebuds) with the Enchilada Pasta (NEW!) and Spaghetti Squash Burrito Bowl (NEW!).
We've also got more seasonal tastes with the oh-so comforting Chunky White Bean Soup (NEW!), Harvest Salad (NEW!) and Autumn Vegetable Soup (fam.).
Enchilada Pasta
Individual Highlights
- Chunky White Bean ...


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|Elliott set to graduate high school then hit track
|Written by Admin
|Thursday, 15 May 2014 11:02
The 18-yeard-old Elliott will graduate from King's Ridge Christian School in Alpharetta, Georgia, on Saturday morning and fly straight to Iowa for a qualifying session just 10 hours later.
Elliott says that while he's excited to focus solely on racing, he also appreciated how school helped balance his life.
Elliott headlines the list of Nationwide regulars set to race on Sunday at Iowa Speedway.


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We are still working to obtain content for your car, however the video above is believed to have similar characteristics as your car.
The video above shows how to check for blown fuses in the interior fuse box of your 2001 Subaru Outback and where the fuse panel diagram is located. If your map light, stereo, heated seats, headlights, power windows or other electronic components suddenly stop working, chances are you have a fuse that has blown out. If your Outback is experiencing electrical problems, you should always check the fuses first, because they are relatively easy to check and cheap to change. Some Subarus have multiple interior fuse boxes even the trunk - the video above will show you where the interior fuse box of your 2001 Outback is located. The more electronics your Outback has, the more fuses it has. Some components may have multiple fuses, so make sure you check all of the fuses that are linked to the component in question.
If you need to replace a blown fuse in your Outback, make sure you replace it with one that has the same amperage as the blown fuse. If checking and replacing the fuse for the component in question doesn't work, we recommend seeking assistance from a trusted professional mechanic. They should be able to figure out if the component needs to be replaced or if there is a short or some other problem with your Outback.
Help keep your car as responsive as you are by maintaining proper power steering fluid levels2001 Subaru Outback Limited 2.5L 4 Cyl. Wagon
There's no reason to check the washer fluid level without adding some - see how to do it here!2001 Subaru Outback Limited 2.5L 4 Cyl. Wagon
Coolant hoses wear out over time and need to be replaced - check 'em early and often2001 Subaru Outback Limited 2.5L 4 Cyl. Wagon
Odd electrical problems that come out of nowhere can often signify a blown engine fuse - check and change yours here!2001 Subaru Outback Limited 2.5L 4 Cyl. Wagon
Harsh downshifts? Slipping gears? You might be low on transmission fluid2001 Subaru Outback Limited 2.5L 4 Cyl. Wagon
Got a short fuse? Don't blow a fuse, change it!2001 Subaru Outback Limited 2.5L 4 Cyl. Wagon


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Charles weighs in each week with his opinion - his "Comment" - about local business. While he pats the heads of those who make prescient or brave decisions, he's not afraid to kick the shins of businesses that make dunderheaded moves or governments that interfere with free markets. It can be newsy, it can be opinionated, or it can be funny, but the Comment column is always about business in Los Angeles County.
Charles Crumpley has been a reporter, writer or editor for 30 years, mostly with daily newspapers. He was born and raised in Kansas City, MO, and worked for years for the Kansas City Star, mainly as a senior financial writer. He was the editor of the business news section for two daily newspapers, including the New Orleans Times-Picayune. He was won four national journalism awards and studied Japanese banking and business practices in Tokyo as a senior Fulbright scholar. He has been editor of the Los Angeles Business Journal since January 2006.
He can be reached at (323) 549-5225, ext. 208, or by email: email@example.com.
Recent Stories
'Shark Tank' Pitch a Wash
Alhambra "Dadpreneur" Ray Phillips was merely looking for a way to make baths more fun for children.
Brand, New Problems
Comment: Charles Crumpley wonders if American Apparel is losing its strong brand.
Travel Has Vintage Appeal
When Grant Kirkpatrick, partner at architecture firm Kirkpatrick Architects in Marina del Rey, decided to make his four-acre plot of land in Paso Robles into a vineyard seven years ago, his wife, Shaya, had an idea.
Smile and Say 'Cheese'
Six years ago, Jamie Siminoff's newborn son, Oliver, was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition that prevents him from metabolizing the sugar found in dairy products.
Surfer Goes for Broke
A surfer for 14 years, MomentFeed Chief Executive Robert Blatt, 54, woke up before dawn about a month and a half ago to hit the waves at Topanga State Beach.
Road Less Traveled
It's going to get pretty bumpy for Sara Rotman next year. She'll be hitting the road as an off-road race driver.
McDonnell for Sheriff
The Business Journal finds Jim McDonnell best suited to serve as L.A. Sheriff.
Lessons From LAUSD
For one day last month, Christopher Thornberg was principal at one of Los Angeles Unified School District's most infamous schools.
Union's Bad Medicine
The financially sick Daughters of Charity Health System could get well with a merger, writes Charles Crumpley, but a union doesn't want that to happen.
Taking $64,000 Shot for Charity
At $64,000, it's the most expensive shot of whiskey in the world.


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Hotel Fabbrini
No availability found through our partners. Please contact the business directly or check some of our recommended alternatives.
- Continental Breakfast
- Free High-Speed Internet
- Restaurant
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TripAdvisor Reviews Hotel Fabbrini Abbadia San Salvatore
Travel Blogs from Abbadia San Salvatore
A big travel day ......
... rain started so we ducked into a nearby restaurant for dinner. Thunder and lightening and reasonable rain, but by the time we finished dinner it had basically stopped but we did make a purchase of an umbrella just to be safe. The weather forecast is for heavy showers over the next few days. Really we cannot complain as it has been excellent and sunny the whole time we have been away. And the only times it rained, we have been inside a museum or restaurant and completely avoided ...
Tuscany tour - Siena to Ascieno
... gone with the superglue I had given him to glue up his pannier - the gaffer tape had not worked. Unfortunately Peter had had a few too many drinks last night and then decided to glue his pannier. As you would guess he did glue his fingers and palm - in a dilemma he decided the only way to remove the superglue was to shave it with his razor..... Our Morning coffee stop was at villa de corsona - most had a chocolate or a skinny can of fizzy drink. Le Crete ...
... were actually heading to a restaurant that had been recommended to us by Stefano, who's apartment we we renting, but when we got there it had a 20 minute wait, so we ended up at the one next door which turned out to be really good. We then headed back to the apartment for a good nights sleep before our day of sightseeing in Florence. The boys were very excited about seeing all the "willy statues" as they call them which are famously all over ...
The Mall, boys hangout, dinner at Franka Ville
... the kids home and make very one have a nap. We were invited to Franka Ville for dinner with Paul's Zia Nicoletta and Zio Marino, plus Claudia, Giuseppe and their kids, and to not have a repeat of the other nights dinner, where we had three very tired teary kids we thought this would be good. Well it worked well for Nicolas and Luca, but Brodie woke up extremely grumpy and still ended up in tears when we were at dinner!!! However ...
Birthday Celebrations
... ahead of us in the line next to John Rubino, and even though Nic crossed his arms as instructed, and John tried to stop it- the bread was put in Nics mouth !!!! Needless to say Nic was a little impressed he got communion and we all had a but if a giggle. Afterwards we had a beautiful lunch in a big room with a courtyard at Dolciano (where we are staying). The food and wine was ...


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Archive - Jan 14, 2013
WWAY's Monday night sports - Jan. 14Submitted by John Rendleman on Mon, 01/14/2013 - 11:31pm.READ MORE:
On Monday we found out Ryan McCleney will be returning to the Wilmington Sharks as field manager for the second summer in a row. On Monday we checked out action on the hardwood between two of Wilmington's private high schools. As expected Duke is no longer ranked number one in the nation in college hoops. The Blue Devils lost to the NC State Wolfpack on Saturday. Full story...»
Bar employees rescue man from early-morning fireSubmitted by Matt Ray on Mon, 01/14/2013 - 10:47pm.READ MORE:
A fire broke out around 1:30 this morning in an apartment above a Downtown Wilmington bar. When two bar employees heard the alarm, instead of running away, they ran to help. Full story...»
Western NC fruit growers worry about mild weatherSubmitted by Chris Phillips on Mon, 01/14/2013 - 10:34pm.READ MORE:
Full story...»
After fire, McCrory highlights infrastructure woesSubmitted by Chris Phillips on Mon, 01/14/2013 - 10:32pm.READ MORE:
Full story...»
NC school district accused in sex abuse lawsuitSubmitted by Chris Phillips on Mon, 01/14/2013 - 10:30pm.READ MORE:
Full story...»
Of wolves and precious seconds...Submitted by Jerry Jackson on Mon, 01/14/2013 - 9:58pm.
Wilmington man sentenced for bank robberiesSubmitted by Katelyn Supa on Mon, 01/14/2013 - 9:28pm.READ MORE:
More than two years after he robbed two banks just days apart, Reggie Beckton has been sentenced for his crimes. Beckton was sentenced to 300 months in jail followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay more than $2,500 in restitution. Full story...»
StarNews: Corning cutting 100 salaried jobs in NCSubmitted by StarNewsOnline.com on Mon, 01/14/2013 - 6:47pm.READ MORE:
Corning Inc. is cutting a total of 100 salaried positions at its three North Carolina facilities, the company said Monday. Full story...»
Katy's crash suspect tells court he's crazySubmitted by Katie Harden on Mon, 01/14/2013 - 5:24pm.READ MORE:
A man accused of driving into a Wilmington restaurant Friday night made his first appearance in court today and told a judge he is crazy. Full story...»
ONLY ON 3: Quitting habit, saving money may be fueling e-cigarette boomSubmitted by Christina Anthony on Mon, 01/14/2013 - 4:58pm.READ MORE:
Two weeks into the New Year, and some people are still trying to kick a few bad habits. Smokers in Wilmington are no exception, which might explain the boom in electronic cigarette stores in the area. Full story...»
Search for foreign investors could delay convention center hotel even longerSubmitted by Matt Ray on Mon, 01/14/2013 - 4:55pm.READ MORE:
Another delay seems likely for Wilmington's Convention Center hotel. At a briefing with city leaders this morning, the developer said it needs another extension. Full story...»
Husband pleads guilty, heads to prison for killing wifeSubmitted by Holden Kurwicki on Mon, 01/14/2013 - 4:44pm.READ MORE:
On his seventh wedding anniversary he brutally beat his wife before killing her. But would William Keith Waters spend the rest of his life in prison for committing this crime? He learned his fate today after pleading guilty in New Hanover County Court. Full story...»
'Bring it! Downtown' showing signs of successSubmitted by Holden Kurwicki on Mon, 01/14/2013 - 3:50pm.READ MORE:
Members of Wilmington's "Bring it! Downtown" campaign say the last six months were a success. The group told City Council this morning it surpassed benchmarks from council while increasing membership from 42 to 71. Full story...»
Police caught burglary suspect in the actSubmitted by WWAY on Mon, 01/14/2013 - 3:23pm.READ MORE:
Wilmington Police say they caught a burglar red-handed early Saturday morning before he could get away. Investigators say just after midnight Saturday they got a call for a burglary in progress at 3827 Mayfield Court after a neighbor heard strange noises coming from the home next door. Full story...»
Man charged with attacking brother with macheteSubmitted by WWAY on Mon, 01/14/2013 - 3:14pm.READ MORE:
A man is in jail after Wilmington Police say he attacked his brother with a machete over the weekend. Police say around 12:45 a.m. Saturday they responded to Antonio Andre Fullwood, 37, bleeding on Dawson Street. He told officers his brother Berman Rakim Davis Jr., 39, had attacked him. Full story...»


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Beautiful pitbull puppies for sale
Beautiful red nose pitbull puppies. 1 males 1 female.
They are in need of forever LOVING! homes. 75.00 for the males 100 for my baby girl.
Text me for more info or questions
Female is the brindle and white, male is the tan and white. Both are sweet hearts.
Nov 13 -
Abkc registered blue female pitbull puppy looking for loving home . Ready to go in 2 weeks . $100 deposit included in the price to hold her till ready .
Nov 23 -
Virginia Beach :
HAVE a male and female blue pit bull with blue eyes ready for their new homes they are going to be stout dogs they have blue eyes asking 200 firm call 540-384-7496
Nov 22 -
Blacksburg :
Puppies are 9days old.I have 4 females and 1 male available.
The puppies will come with their first shot and deworming. These puppies will be ready to go to their new homes by Christmas. The father is blue nose and he weighs 70lbs ( lighter brindle color)and the mother is ...
Nov 22 -
Richmond :
I have two beautiful, friendly pitbull boxers for sale. One is a 6 m/o female brindle who is tiny for her age and we think she will remain the size she now, around 12-15 lbs. While the other is 7 m/o male, light brown color and is bigger and could end up weighing 60-70 lbs, ...
Nov 22 -
Savannah :
Adorable Blue Pit bull puppy. Born September 12th. UKC registered. Up to date on shots and dewormed.First picture is dad, second is mom ,and third is puppy.
Call or text 336-491-2881 for info.
Nov 20 -
Greensboro :
ukc registered pups ready to go to loving home. 6 month health guarantee. www.dogmankennle.com to see more pics shipping available. 919 349 1594
Nov 19 -
Raleigh :
10 weeks old. Shots. Papers (Optional). Great bloodline. $500 or Best offer
Nov 19 -
Myrtle Beach :
Myrtle Beach
Redbone Coonhound - Dan - Extra Large - Adult - Male - Dog
Dan is a Redbone Hound who doesn't hunt. He loves to watch Pitbulls and Parolees. He is currently in foster care. He is house trained and gets along well with the other dogs and cats.
Breed: ...
Nov 19 -
Augusta :
We have ONE absolutely sweet 9-week old blue nose, blue fawn pit bull puppy left (Dame is American Staffordshire Terrier [pic included], Sire is American Pit Bull Terrier).
We call her Ruth but she doesn't respond to anything in particular, so you can call her what you want ...
Nov 18 -
Richmond :
I have 2 gorgeous blue / white females ready in 3 weeks . Come pick yours today with $ 100 deposit included in the price. They come with abkc papers for $ 400 total parents are on site family raised Great temperaments.
1 blue female left
Nov 18 -
Virginia Beach :
I have two puppies left 1 male 1 female. They are 8 weeks old have received their first set of shot and dewormed 3x. For more info call/text me at 804-495-5391 anytime.
Nov 16 -
Richmond :
Pit Bull Terrier - Dominic - Medium - Adult - Male - Dog
Hi everyone... My name is Dominic. I came in to the shelter as a stray, so my past is a mystery. But they tell me I look like a Labrador mixed with an American Pitbull Terrier. I really don't know, so I'll say SURE! ...
Nov 16 -
Raleigh :
I have 1 female pitbull puppy left of 12 shes had first shot and deworming and is ready for a new owner if you need any further details please give me a call Thanks....
Nov 15 -
Richmond :
They have had there first round of shots and worming. They are very loving and caring. They are about 9 weeks old.
This ad was posted with the eBay Classifieds mobile app.
Nov 15 -
Charlotte :
Blue Pitbull Puppies 4 Sale
MALES & Females. ASKING $175
Puppies come with 1st shots & dewormed.
Parents on premises.
(804) 397 4510
Nov 14 -
Richmond :
Blue nose pitbull puppies 3 grey and white girls and 1 all black white chest boy all with beautiful sky blue eyes. All puppies have been dewormed and we started potty training 2 weeks ago. They no longer pee where they sleep and we rarely have accidents as long as they go ...
Nov 13 -
Eastern North Carolina :
I have 2 Pit puppies that need a good home. They have already had there first shots and worming. They are very freindly and loving.
Nov 12 -
Charlotte :
Pit Bull Terrier - Nick - Large - Young - Male - Dog
Nick is a 2 year old neutered male american pitbull terrier mix. He is up to date on all shots including rabies. He is also microchipped. Nick is a very friendly boy who loves people and getting attention. He especially ...
Nov 12 -
Richmond :
Colonial Heights
Born Aug 6th only 2 left 1male and 1 female. Serious Inquiries Only Price firm great deal...female $200 txt 919-638-5862 Thanks...
Nov 11 -
Raleigh :
UKC registration 4 month old puppies
Ears cropped
Blue male and female
Blue fawn male
Asking $800 male $1000 female
Nov 11 -
Richmond :
Blue Bully Pitbul pups, m/f born 10/27/14, omen/razor. big dome, strong, low to the ground, papers, shots, wormed. parents on premise. contact Kevin 919- 3332- 5196
Nov 10 -
Raleigh :
Pitbull puppies for sale born 11-8-2014 call any time 843-623-7998 ask for Wayne, I am located in Chesterfield,SC. I use these dogs to guard livestock on my farm, they are sweet,loving,affectionate dogs that loves children.
Nov 10 -
Charlotte :
He is unique lovable and happy. I took him from a situation and gave him a life but my landlord said I can only have one dog. And this is sad im located in the Fredericksburg area but am mobile. Contact me by text or call 7036756917. He has been dewormed and has had shots. ...
Nov 10 -
Charlottesville :
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On the road to health
Screening and testing for improved wellbeing
Food security: planting seeds for the future
Kitchen garden veg: sustainable nutrition
Starfish brings life, hope and opportunity
to children orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS in South Africa
by identifying the very best community-based organizations and
partnering with them to ensure the highest quality care.
You can make a difference - one child at a
Join Starfish around the USA to
celebrate our work to support thousands of
vulnerable South African children.
Where: Washington DC Movie
When: TBC
Hosted by: Sebastian Walker
(board member)
the Date !
10th Anniversary Gala
February 3, 2015, at 6:30pm
Tribeca Rooftop, 10 Debrosses Street, NYC
Boulder, CO
Watch this space for
Our Washington DC and New
York Dinners of Hope were a great success, raising thousands of
dollars and engaging new supporters. For more information click on
the link below.
Featured: Check out our short
video and see our work in action on the ground. Or why not download
our brand newBrochure
Keiskamma exists to foster hope and health as well as pride
and respect amongst a community that has been deeply affected by
the AIDS pandemic. The programme covers an expansiv...more
Situated in one of the poorest regions of South Africa, Isipho
gives children who have been made vulnerable or orphaned by AIDS a
chance to complete their education to the s...more
Sethani is a community-based project that provides vital support
and gives hope to the escalating number of children who have been
orphaned or made vulnerable by the HIV/AID...more
The Zisize Educational Trust works in the northernmost tip of
KwaZulu Natal where the population is 120,000 and around 57% are
under the age of 19. In KwaZulu Natal an estim...more
Starfish website proudly sponsored by:


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New Teacher Caught Drunk and Pantsless on First Day of School [VIDEO]
Even teachers are nervous on the first day of school, although they don't usually cope with the butterflies in their stomachs the way this one did.
Even teachers are nervous on the first day of school, although they don't usually cope with the butterflies in their stomachs the way this one did.
Glen Rose is just a couple of hours from Abilene and has some fun and exciting places for the family to visit. There are three main places you don't want to pass up Dinosaur Valley State Park, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center and Dinosaur World. All are super family friendly and can be a short day trip or an overnight stay.
Space is very limited, so if you'd like your child to attend this years 'Summer Safety Camp' at the Melvin Martin Center for Children's Safety then sign up today. This year's first and only camp is set for July 21st through July 24th. Abilene Fire Department PIO Mike Miller says "space is very limited, and parents are urged to register their kids as soon as possible." This camp is only open to children going into the 2nd, 3rd or 4th grade when school starts in August.
What was your high school year book quote? I don't remember if we even had 'em or not -- we probably did. But, regardless, mine and likely yours was no where as good as these graduates.
Every year, Jimmy Kimmel invites the Scripps Spelling Bee champion on to his show for a star-studded face-off (by "star-studded," we mean that some Kimmel regulars run the sketch, this year featured Cousin Sal and Guillermo) to see if the late-night host can take down the newly crowned kids. This year provided a bit of a bigger challenge than normal, considering that the Scripps was won by two winners.
When the school year ends, students usually start thinking about how they can spend their summer vacation. Well, some high schoolers decided to focus on how someone very needy could spend it.
These teachers are giving their students an education in being awesome.
Did you know Abilene has a Planetarium? If you have elementary aged kids then you might; but did you know it's also open to the public? Only a handful of planetariums exist in Texas so this is a treat for Abilene. You don't have to be on a school 'field trip' in order to visit the planetarium either. It's very inexpensive and a great learning experience for the young and old.
The issue of school violence took a surprising turn at one California high school. A security guard at Oakland High School was caught on camera punching a student in a wheelchair.
If you're like us, you tune into the Scripps National Spelling Bee for the drama and pageantry (not to mention the chance for a tie), which is what made this kid's performance all the more entertaining.
You can't put a price on a good education. Or maybe you can. Manatee High School, in Bradenton, Florida, has raised eyebrows by charging for premium seats at its upcoming graduation.
Summer...the 3 months that kids get to go to bed late and sleep in. That's also the time of year that parents worry about what they're going to do with their kids while they're off at work. Every parent has experienced the shock of the end of school and the beginning of summer vacation sneaking up on them. Don't get caught off guard, make sure you're well aware of the date that school lets out for the summer.