Researchers from the University of Adelaide have found that stem cells from teeth can grow and become brain-like cells. Further research on these cells may lead to a therapy to help cure stroke. Dr. Kyle Ellis says that these cells have the potential to become brain or nerve cells and could one day help treat brain disorders that we cannot treat currently. Currently, the only treatment we have for stroke is limited and is only effective within hours of the stroke occurring, these are not optimal conditions for patients dealing with strokes. To make the use of stem cells work, we would need to gather the stem cells from the patient, so that their bodies don;t go through host rejection, otherwise the body would destroy the developed stem cell. Dr. Ellis also stated that to make the teeth stem cells grow to be like a brain's, we would need to put the cells in an environment that mimics the brain.
Link: http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2014/04/30/stem_cells_from_teeth_can_make_brainlike_cells.html
NOS Themes:
Role of curiosity - this research could lead to treatments for currently untreatable brain disorders
Repeatability - any researcher can gather teeth stem cells and observe them
Very interesting article! Nice summary as well! Ischemic strokes, or clots, are the most common type of strokes, accounting for 87% of all stroke cases (http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/AboutStroke/TypesofStroke/IschemicClots/Ischemic-Strokes-Clots_UCM_310939_Article.jsp). As this source (http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/AboutStroke/Treatment/Stroke-Treatments_UCM_310892_Article.jsp) explains, the ischemic strokes or clots have only one FDA-approved treatment, called tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA. However, this only treats the stroke three hours after it is administered. Another way to treat strokes after they occur is through an endovascular procedure. Although this procedure is less invasive than other procedures, it still cannot prevent strokes like these teeth cells possibly could. I can't wait to see how this feat of medical science could improve the lives of both potential and current stroke victims.
ReplyDeleteInteresting article. I found a similar article herehttp://www.cnn.com/2014/01/29/health/stem-cell-discovery/. This article discuses the topic that stem cells are getting cheaper to by over the years, and that in the future we could be able to take certain stem cells from individuals and turn them into whatever is needed for the patient. Technology is advancing at very fast paces and it is interesting to see where this new stem technology will go in the future.
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