Graham Parker (Wayne State University), a pediatrics researcher, and colleagues gathered umbilical cord blood from women who delivered by c-section to determine whether nicotine and alcohol affect the development of stem cells in the umbilical cord blood.

They isolated the stem cells that make infants’ and adults’ blood and exposed the cells to alcohol, caffeine and nicotine.

The study, which was presented at a stem cell conference in Toronto, Canada, finds that stem cell growth is not significantly affected by low doses of alcohol but high doses destroy the cells. The researchers also reported that adding nicotine to cells previously exposed to alcohol appeared to prevent the cells from dying. Parker said this might be a negative result because it might mean that damaged cells are left alive, which could prevent a fetus that should miscarry from doing so thereby increasing the risk of birth defects.

Source: Washington Post, 7/1
Link


  • Stem Cell Transplant Effective Cure for Refractory Cutaneous Lymphoma
  • Umbilical Cord Blood Holds Clue to Childhood Allergies
  • Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy Shows Promise in Prostate Cancer Treatment
  • Stem Cell Research Provides Help for Children With High-Risk Brain Tumors
  • Umbilical Cord Blood Transplants Successful in Children with High-Risk Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
  • Significant Progress in Haemophilia Treatment using Gene Therapy
  • Embryonic Stem Cell Research on Human Embryos Approved In France
  • Bush Vetoes Embryonic Stem Cell Research Bill Again
  • Stanford University Gets $20M for Cancer-Stem Cell research
  • Scientists Have Grown World's First Artificial Liver From Stem Cells