Search Results for: brain

Commenter Claims XCell-Center Stem Cell Clinic Got a Bad Rap, Provides New Details

February 1, 2021 / By / 31 Comments
XCell

What really happened at XCell-Center in Germany, formerly the largest stem cell clinic in Europe? A baby died after receiving treatment there. Why? Was the death in any way connected to stem cells? (update: note that since post originally went up, quite a few more patient deaths both a clinics and in clinical trials have …

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NASA suffering from pareidolia & apophenia? The watery science of Mars

February 1, 2021 / By / 6 Comments

I worry that NASA is suffering from apophenia and pareidolia. Both acute and chronic cases. What the heck? Let me explain. Do you ever look up at the clouds and see fluffy animals? Or maybe other things that clouds look like such as a train, plane, or a dragon? Pareidolia is the tendency of people …

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Stem cells to cure baldness: how would that work & when?

February 1, 2021 / By / 4 Comments
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Today, I would say not a single stem cell-based treatment for baldness being sold out there claiming it works seems promising and legit. (Update: see this 2019 piece on where things stand on stem cells for hair loss.) Sad, huh? Is there reason for hope for stem cells helping hair loss? But there is reason …

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Human cloning Cell paper under investigation: some perspectives

February 1, 2021 / By / 4 Comments
3-days

Is it really deja vu all over again with allegations of potential wrongdoing in a paper on human cloning? “Say it isn’t so!”, is basically the universal reaction I’m getting from people in the stem cell field. Well, sadly it seems to be so folks. What’s going on? Allegations have emerged on a website called …

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Leigh Turner Reports Company Precision StemCell To FDA citing numerous concerns including treatment of a minor

March 1, 2021 / By / 1 Comment

What is up with the stem cell company, Precision StemCell, these days? I can’t imagine they are exactly celebrating after having been reported to the FDA. They also have apparently moved operations from the US to Colombia at some point recently. What’s the deal here? First, a little background is helpful. In 2012, University of …

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Transdifferentiation makes a major advance: direct reprogramming of fibroblasts to oligodendrocyte progenitors

February 1, 2021 / By / 1 Comment

Back-to-back papers (here and here) in Nature Biotechnology report the transdifferentiation (now often simply referred to as “direct reprogramming”) of plain old fibroblasts into brain cells called oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs). OPCs are a remarkably useful kind of brain cell that generates myelin, which insulates nerves. OPCs are thought to have great therapeutic potential for …

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John Carbona on Day 2 of Vatican Stem Cell Meeting including Gurdon Talk

February 1, 2021 / By / 3 Comments
Vatican-stem-cell-meeting

Below, guest blogger, John Carbona gives us his account (including pictures) of Day 2 of the Vatican Stem Cell Meeting, which included a talk by Nobel Laureate John Gurdon. Note, you can read John’s post on Day 1 of the meeting including more great pictures here. Friday, April 12, 2012 The Second International Vatican Adult …

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Eight simple reasons not to get an unlicensed stem cell treatment: #5, lack of physician training

February 1, 2021 / By / 5 Comments

Would you want a GI specialist doing your heart surgery? How about a radiologist doing your brain surgery? I wouldn’t. So why then do so many patients accept that the doctor doing their stem cell transplant has no training in that area? I’m doing a series on eight simple reasons not to get an unlicensed …

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