HERE IS AN ARTICLE i FOUND ON THE NET. THERE ARE A FEW MORE. CANNOT FIND IF IT IS ACTUALLY BEING USED YET ON HUMAND: sdv
Umbilical Cord Blood Derived Stem Cells Used to Treat Liver Disease
July 11, 2008
A collaborative study conducted by a group of Spanish scientists from the University of Granada and Leon has concluded that mononuclear blood cells derived from the human umbilical cord blood can be used to treat liver disease, such as hepatitis. The study results will be published in the upcoming issue of Cell Transplantation.

Luis G Fontana, lead scientist working at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Granada, and colleagues, introduced human umbilical cord blood cells (HUCBCs) through the hepatic portal vein of D-galactosamine-induced hepatitis mice models. The analysis of enzymatic activities of various liver enzymes, including alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase and gamma-glutamyl-transferase, as well as monitoring of total and direct bilirubin levels, demonstrated a significant improvement in both histological damage and the hepatic function of the rats following cell transplantation.

In an earlier research, Xiuli Wang and coworkers (Blood, 2003) transplanted highly purified CD34+CD38-CD7- human hematopoietic stem cells obtained from umbilical cord and bone marrow, into immunodeficient mice, to evaluate the efficacy of the stem cell-based treatment strategy for liver disease. One month after the transplantation procedure, the mice models were induced with liver damage and hepatocyte proliferation by administering carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The researchers observed increased expression levels of human-specific albumin mRNA and protein in the serum of CCl4-injured mice models, one month post liver damage. However, the scientists documented the lack of human albumin in mice that did not receive transplantation and in noninjured controls transplanted with the stem cell population. The study indicated the development of albumin-expressing hepatocyte-like cells in the liver of immunodeficient mice, suggesting the use of bone marrow and umbilical cord stem cells as an effective treatment strategy for liver diseases.

The term hepatic or liver disease denotes a broad range of conditions or disorders that affect the structure or proper functioning of the liver. There are diverse causes for liver diseases including viral infection, injury, genetic defects, and exposure to drug or toxic compounds. Nausea, vomiting, reduced appetite, jaundice, low-grade fever, muscle pain, and fatigue are some of the common symptoms associated with different types of liver diseases.

According to the 2007 report of the American Liver Foundation (ALF), one in ten US individuals are affected with liver diseases. Hepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatic carcinoma, alcohol-related liver diseases are some of the commonly occurring hepatic diseases. Liver transplantation is the only treatment modality for patients with end-stage liver diseases. As per ALF, the number of patients undergoing transplantation has increased rapidly in recent years, and currently around 17,000 Americans are awaiting surgical treatment. Stem cell therapy, using bone marrow or umbilical cord cells, could be an effective alternative for liver transplantation in treating irreversible liver dysfunction and also for managing other chronic hepatic diseases.

References

1. Scientists use stem cells from the umbilical cord to treat hepatic diseases. Press Release. University of Granada. Last accessed on July 9, 2008.

2. Wang X, Ge S, McNamara G, et al. Albumin expressing hepatocyte-like cells develop in the livers of immune-deficient mice transmitted with highly purified human hematopoietic stem cells. Blood. Online Publication. January 30, 2003.

thank you sdv. very informative.
they are doing it over here in some cases. i'm gonna go ahead with my appt and will get back to you with further info after that.
take care my friend
x

wow, that's interesting news. too bad it's not being used now. there is a show on the Discovery channel or TLC, it's called 2057. it's what the future is going to be like. they just did one on medicine. it was great. they did stem cell stuff on rebuilding organs on the body. but it was done like a printer, layer upon layer. they already tried it out and it works. but they just printed out their company name with live cells... and they lived and grew!!!!

cant wait for the future!!

they have started to do it now. russia and canada have been doing it for a while. well not cord stem cell transplant, which are cells taken from the umbilical cord of a foetus in the uterous, but cells taken from aborted foetuses. i know in russia it costs 125000 to go through the procedure but dont know what it costs in canada. here in the uk they are not allowed to use cells from aborted foetuses. instead they have started to use cells from the umbilical cord. it is not widely used yet, but they have started to use it here. i dont know what the stats are in canada but in russia they boast 80% success rate. here they say 75%. i am in touch with a pioneer in the field and will be seeing him shortly. when i have more info i will post it. but yeah, it does seem to be the answer to all our prayers eh.

Oh wow Pepy love your posts everytime.
I am very interested.
Is this approved?
Don't tell me you know Micheal J Fox, and Tom Cruise personally, lol.
I know your dear President here in the States was totally against these celebraties when they talk about stem cells, and what M.J.Fox is working on.
Thanks again, for your always interesting posts my love.
Yes we need to continue to learn anything and everything regarding this virus, this is the only way we can challenge the death of this bloody virus.
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!
Mckenzie
One day at the time.

it is approved over here mckenzie, but i'm not entirely sure as yet exactly what disease it is approved to be used in. i know they already use it for leukemia and many other cancers, kidney disease, heart disease, lung disease and they are starting to use it for hep c and liver disease when all else fails, but it is not widely used here yet. in russia they are well established in the field with stem cell transplant treatment where the cells are taken from aborted foetuses, there is also a place in canada that do it, but those cells will not be approved here.
i will keep you updated when i have more info to hand.
take care hon and be happy:)
x