26 November, 2013

Scientists create artificial skin from stem cells derived from umbilical cord!

In a major breakthrough, scientists have managed to grow artificial skin using stem cells derived from the umbilical cord. Scientists from the Tissue Engineering Research Group at the Department of Histology at the University of Granada demonstrated the ability of Wharton jelly mesenschymal stem cells to turn to oral-mucosa or skin-regeneration epithelia.

To grow the artificial skin, the researchers used, in addition to this new type of epithelia covering, a biomaterial made of fibrin and agarose, already designed and developed by the University of Granada research team. Prior studies from the same team, already pointed to the possibility that Wharton stem cells could be turned into epithelia cells.

That is indeed a lot of science talk. For the layman out there that means that skin can instantly be created for burn victims. Current methods to create artificial skin take weeks since the skin needs to be grown from other parts of the patient’s healthy skin.

‘Creating this new type of skin using stem cells, which can be stored in tissue banks, means that it can be used instantly when injuries are caused, and which would bring the application of artificial skin forward many weeks,’ said Antonio Campos, Professor of Histology at the University of Granada and one of the authors of this study. The study is published in the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine. 

Source: http://health.india.com

26.11.2013

Now HIV positive people may be able to donate organs – Barack Obama passes law

US President Barack Obama signed into law a bill that allows scientists to carry out research into organ donations from one person with HIV to another.

In a statement, Obama said he signed the legislation, called the HIV Organ Policy Equity Act, or HOPE Act, to offer the opportunity for HIV-positive person to receive organ donations, Xinhua reported.

For decades HIV organ transplants have been illegal in the US and it was even illegal to study whether they could be safe and effective, the U.S. president said, calling the ban ‘outdated’.

‘The potential for successful organ transplants between people living with HIV has become more of a possibility,’ Obama said. 

‘The HOPE Act lifts the research ban, and, in time, it could lead to life-saving organ donations for people living with HIV while ensuring the safety of the organ transplant process and strengthening the national supply of organs for all who need them.’

He also said the HOPE Act, which received bipartisan approval in both houses of Congress earlier this year, ‘marks an important step in the right direction’ because improving care for people living with HIV is critical to fighting the epidemic.

Source: http://health.india.com

26.11.2013

Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional

Chili Davis