StemCell Therapy

Banking Teeth for Stem Cell Therapy

Banking baby teeth or wisdom teetha practice thats been around for about 10 yearsis becoming more widely accepted in developed areas of the world, according to researchers. It involves cryopreserving teethand the dental stem cells they containfor potential stem cell therapy in the future.

Most research surrounding dental stem cells and tooth banking is still in the experimental stage and, at this time, scientists disagree about whether its worthwhileunlike cord blood banking, which has proven benefits for stem cell therapy. Some research suggests preserved dental stem cells could one day be used to regenerate healthy tissue and help fight complex diseases. But many experts remain less convinced of the potential benefits, as so much of the research is preliminary.

So far, the research has centered around dentinthe innermost hard layer of the tooth, below the enameland soft tissue beneath the dentin called pulp. The pulp contains the tooths nerve and blood supplies. In studying how teeth repair themselvesfrom a cavity, for exampleresearchers discovered that teeth contain stem cells. More studies are needed to determine if these dental stem cells can be harvested, preserved, stored, and someday used for stem cell therapy.

Image Credit: iStock

Sourced from: CNN

A new study suggests that cardiovascular decompensationa life-threatening drop in blood pressure caused by serious injuries involving significant blood lossmay be treated temporarily at the scene or during transport to the hospital simply by applying a bag of ice water to the injured persons face. Decompensation, which remains a dangerous complication even after bleeding has stopped, reduces the delivery of oxygen to the brain, heart, and other vital organs.

For the study, ten healthy volunteers were placed in a special chamber that simulates blood circulation after a person has lost one-half to one liter of blood and a tourniquet has been applied to stop the bleeding. Researchers applied bags of ice water or bags of room-temperature water to the study participants faces for 15 minutes while they continuously monitored cardiovascular function. They discovered that participants treated with bags of ice water experienced significant increases in blood pressure, suggesting that applying ice water can improve cardiovascular function after blood loss and prevent a dangerous drop in blood pressure.

Researchers expect to begin clinical trials soon. The hope is that this simple technique can be used by first responders or medics in the field of combat to improve survival rates after injuries involving blood loss by providing extra time for transport to a hospital or other medical facility.

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Sourced from: ScienceDaily

Cooking dinner at homerather than eating outis a good way to eat healthier and save money, according to researchers at Oregon State University and the University of Washington. Historically, people with a higher socioeconomic status are generally healthier than those with lower incomes, but this study suggests otherwiseIF more money means dining out more often and less money means eating at home.

The study involved about 400 adults in the Seattle-area. Study participants were surveyed about their cooking and eating behaviors for one week and provided various socioeconomic information. Their weekly food intake was graded using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)a scale that ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating a healthier diet.

According to researchers, cooking at home three times per week produced an average score of about 67 on the Healthy Eating Index, and cooking at home six times per week resulted in an average score of 74. Results of the study suggest that home-cooked dinners are associated with a diet lower in calories, sugar and fat, overall than dining out regularly.

Image Credit: iStock

Sourced from: Oregon State University

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Banking Teeth for Stem Cell Therapy - HealthCentral.com

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