(Ivanhoe Newswire) — In a recent study, researchers from Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor have uncovered a treatment involving the use of the enzyme sialidase to help regain growth of the spinal cord nerves after an injury.

Researchers mirrored a human injury in rats that would occur if the arm were forcefully tugged from the body, causing nerves to be jerked from the spinal cord, the arm to lose muscle and feeling, and the body to become unable to support the arm, such as in childbirth or a motorcycle accident. Continue Reading »

Here’s a reality check amid Congress’ showdown with President Bush over stem-cell research: The potential treatments for diabetes, spinal-cord injury and other devastating disorders are years away from being tested in people.

How fast scientists can do key experiments to prove whether embryonic stem-cell research will live up to its promise depends on how much money the federal government contributes, the key question as the Senate opened debate Monday on legislation to loosen Bush’s restrictions. Continue Reading »

When White House political adviser Karl Rove signaled last week that President Bush planned to veto the stem cell bill being considered by the Senate, the reasons he gave went beyond the president’s moral qualms with research on human embryos.

In fact, Rove waded into deeply contentious scientific territory, telling the Denver Post’s editorial board that researchers have found “far more promise from adult stem cells than from embryonic stem cells.” Continue Reading »

Scientists believe harnessing stem cells could be the Holy Grail in finding cures for hundreds of diseases.

In San Diego, scientists from four of the nation’s top research institutions have joined together to create the San Diego Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

Stem cells have the potential to develop into any type of cell in the body. Continue Reading »