Bangkok's Siriraj Hospital Declares Breakthrough In Stem Cell Research

[webfact]

Siriraj declares breakthrough in stem cell research

BANGKOK, Oct 19 - A Siriraj Hospital medical team today announced its successful isolation of stem cells from amniotic fluid which they said will contribute to treatments of many chronic diseases.

Dr Udom Kachintorn, dean of the Siriraj medical school, said further research will be conducted on the use of stem cells to treat various illnesses including Alzheimers, osteoarthritis, diabetes and spinal cord pain. These chronic ailments are related to deteriorating stem cells in a human body.

A preliminary lab test has been done with animals but it will take some time before the medical team starts testing on human beings, he said.

Dr Udom said stem cells normally spread all over a person's body but they are abundant and pure in an infant's umbilical cord and placenta.

Dr Tassanee Permthai, chief of the stem cell research project, said stem cells from the placenta of a four-month-old baby can be transplanted in a patient like fully-developed stem cells.

Once transplanted in a patient’s body, the stem cells evolve into cells in different parts of the body, she explained, adding that the transplantation of stem cells can also prevent tumours. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-10-19

[Payboy]

Didn't some university in the UK already make this discovery in July?

[chainarong]

A couple of weeks back there was mentioned on TV news about stem cell research to do with arthritis, however there would be I imagine variations, maybe this is where it originated from, as the news didn't say where the discovery was made, I wish them well, any discovery in medical science, is a plus for the world , from any country, that's my view, now for a cuppa.

[Jaivin2011]

This is garbage news! Growing Stem Cells Culture from Amniotic Fluids wre elaready done eons ago by many Medical Reaserch Groups before in the US and China, the Thais just tried it just all......THEY DID NOT DISCOVER ANYTHING NOR INVENTED THE METHOD.

Real Garbage....typical thai propanganda to show thye have brains!

[asiawatcher]

This is a repeat of known results. Invalid media report or someone justifying grants for research. Probably money motivated media report and that is a known fact as well.

[fareastguy]

They'll just clone more idiots !!

[geriatrickid]

Too funny. Where do they get their medical facts??????

Dr Tassanee Permthai, chief of the stem cell research project, said stem cells from the placenta of a four-month-old baby can be transplanted in a patient like fully-developed stem cells.

This in itself is a medical miracle. This has never ever been reported before. I mean seriously, this is a tremendous discovery. Know why?

Because a placenta is usually smooshed out within 30 minutes of birth. If it isn't, the attending physician has to go yank it out, otherwise, the woman is at risk of bleeding to death or of contracting a fatal infection. Just how did they keep a 4 month old atatched to its placenta without the baby dying or the placenta from shriveling up and becoming infested by maggots? Did they dehyrate the placenta and then add water 4 months later You'd think they were cooking up a Chinese specialty. (And yes it is a custom amongst some Chinese to eat dried placenta.)

[tangcoral]

I get a sense that most people here think thai people lack brains of some sort..

[AleG]

Too funny. Where do they get their medical facts??????

Dr Tassanee Permthai, chief of the stem cell research project, said stem cells from the placenta of a four-month-old baby can be transplanted in a patient like fully-developed stem cells.

This in itself is a medical miracle. This has never ever been reported before. I mean seriously, this is a tremendous discovery. Know why?

Because a placenta is usually smooshed out within 30 minutes of birth. If it isn't, the attending physician has to go yank it out, otherwise, the woman is at risk of bleeding to death or of contracting a fatal infection. Just how did they keep a 4 month old atatched to its placenta without the baby dying or the placenta from shriveling up and becoming infested by maggots? Did they dehyrate the placenta and then add water 4 months later You'd think they were cooking up a Chinese specialty. (And yes it is a custom amongst some Chinese to eat dried placenta.)

Well, obviously, they meant a 4 month pregnancy. Not the placenta from a 4 month old baby.

Reporting of scientific events is abysmally poor throughout the world.

Although kids are getting pregnant earlier and earlier this days, so you never know...

[Konini]

Chainarong is right though, any breakthrough in this field is to be applauded And regurgitated or not, any time it hits the news it can spark discussions with those amongst us who don't believe we should be messing around with God's creation.

[jonclark]

I think this is just shoddy translation. It probably should read that siriraj hospital has started its own research into this type of research and has been successful in initial trials. This was discovered a while ago as other posters pointed out. However most Thais would not know this and the headline paints a better picture of Thai knowledge, which is all the locals care about.

[Konini]

You'd think they were cooking up a Chinese specialty. (And yes it is a custom amongst some Chinese to eat dried placenta.)

Way to much information for a Friday morning

[cloudhopper]

Well I say congratulations. Only the headline writer called it a breakthrough, and nobody used the word discover or first. Yes it's unfortunate that the English Language mass media here are less than perfect, but IMO it's great to see that caliber of medical research being done here.

Edited October 19, 2012 by cloudhopper

[drdoom6996]

This is a repeat of known results. Invalid media report or someone justifying grants for research. Probably money motivated media report and that is a known fact as well.

An expert on STEM cells too.

[Markaew]

I get a sense that most people here think thai people lack brains of some sort..

Really? What gave you that idea?

[phuturatica]

Whether its done before or is only a minor breakthrough of some variation or form... We should be thankful that stuff like this happens. If there is progress in treating the diseases mentioned in the news report then that's definitely good news in my books!

[SomTumTiger]

Lets thing which is more likely - that one of the most recognized medical facilities and medical schools in the world announced a breakthrough that is really someone else's work, or has already been discovered...or some low level translator at The Nation New Group mistranslated the announcement that was filled with technical scientific terms.

But you guys go on - don't let me get in the way of your umpteenth Thailand b#tch session.

[JeremyBowskill]

Should I congratulate them or make some snidey comment to try and make my post the placenta of attention........ I just can't decide.

[SomTumTiger]

Should I congratulate them or make some snidey comment to try and make my post the placenta of attention........ I just can't decide.

Looks like you decided on the later actually.

[atyclb]

This is a repeat of known results. Invalid media report or someone justifying grants for research. Probably money motivated media report and that is a known fact as well.

An expert on STEM cells too.

Absolutely. So may experts, academics and scholars here.

[atyclb]

I am absolutely a NON expert in stem cells.

Consultation with a G7 licensed medical doctor and some simple online searches

"The existence of stem cells in human amniotic fluid was reported for the first time almost ten years ago. Since this discovery, the knowledge about these cells has increased dramatically."

http://www.hindawi.com/journals/sci/2012/741810/

It could be a first for this done by Thai's. 10 years in the making. 3G only took 5 years.

Not infrequently non Thai organizations / research centers / companies sponsor research in Thailand. This is often the case with new drug clinical trials.

Edited October 19, 2012 by atyclb

[chainarong]

This is a repeat of known results. Invalid media report or someone justifying grants for research. Probably money motivated media report and that is a known fact as well.

An expert on STEM cells too.

There seem s to be quite afew experts on stem cell research , we might be able to pool all the idea's from our experts here and make some money.

[atyclb]

They'll just clone more idiots !!

No need to improve that ability. The established system works well already

[chiangmaikelly]

Just to summarize for those not reading the entire thread.

The UK already did it.

Invalid media reports.

Impossible.

Thais are idiots.

Thai people lack brains.

Was done ten years ago.

[Dr Robert]

If only stem cells could be used to cure stupidity

[Dumu Ali]

maybe that is why rural people in the North who eat cow and buffalo placenta fresh or boiled are very strong, and the 4 month old baby placentas could have in theory not practice ahem come from hypothetically abortions. The French eat snails and frogs legs, the Brits eat jellied eels and Haggis (Offal and gizzards cooked in a stomach!!) some people eat synthetic food or food with synthetic chemicals, afterbirth is a delicacy obtained without the killing of any animal and is unlike many meats eaten that involve murdering the animal first.

Edited October 19, 2012 by Dumu Ali

[Payboy]

A preliminary lab test has been done with animals but it will take some time before the medical team starts testing on human beings, he said.

Only need a breakthrough on converting humans to animals.

[harryfrompattaya]

This is garbage news! Growing Stem Cells Culture from Amniotic Fluids wre elaready done eons ago by many Medical Reaserch Groups before in the US and China, the Thais just tried it just all......THEY DID NOT DISCOVER ANYTHING NOR INVENTED THE METHOD.

Real Garbage....typical thai propanganda to show thye have brains!

This very important and you will be surprise when they win a Noble Prize. Are you in the line of work?

[geriatrickid]

Well I say congratulations. Only the headline writer called it a breakthrough, and nobody used the word discover or first. Yes it's unfortunate that the English Language mass media here are less than perfect, but IMO it's great to see that caliber of medical research being done here.

With all due respect, isolating stem cells is no longer ground breaking. The methodology has been published and the activity is now repeated all over the world.

[partington]

The story has been misreported. In fact it is true that stem cells have been isolated from amniotic fluid for 10 years and this is a routine procedure.

The team at Siriraj seem to have developed a methodological procedure that allows the isolation and production of clones of the cells more efficiently.