The promise of stem cell research motivates many parents to store umbilical cord blood in case of future illness. Cord blood is typically stored in private banks for future use by family members, but the American Academy of Pediatrics warns about the false hope private, for-profit blood banks may offer:
Physicians should be aware of the unsubstantiated claims of private cord blood banks made to future parents that promise to insure infants or family members against serious illnesses in the future by use of the stem cells contained in cord blood. Although not standard of care, directed cord blood banking should be encouraged when there is knowledge of a full sibling in the family with a medical condition (malignant or genetic) that could potentially benefit from cord blood transplantation.
Recently the AAP issued a statement urging parents to donate cord blood to public cord banks:
"We want to encourage parents to donate to public cord blood banks because this cord blood contains stem cells that can be used to treat a variety of serious conditions," says Dr. Mitchell Cairo, a member of the first AAP Work Group on Cord Blood Banking.
The National Academy of Sciences has recommended a national network of public cord banks to be coordinated by HHS to facilitate the donation and use of cord blood. Its report states:
"The lack of centralized organization, universal quality standards, and uniform matching mechanisms makes it more difficult than it has to be for physicians to provide patients with suitable cells in a timely way... Moreover, there simply aren't enough units of cord blood available now to meet the needs of the roughly 11,700 Americans who could benefit from a transplant of these cells every year. The structure we are recommending for a national cord blood banking program would assure that patients receive high-quality therapeutic cells in the most timely, ethical, and cost-effective manner possible."
Here's a list of a variety of diseases that can potentially be treated with stem cells.
11 February 2007
If Only Condi Were Really This Funky
Condoleeza Rice breaks it down for Barbara Boxer regarding forthcoming troop casualties.
(via GrrlScientist)
(via GrrlScientist)
08 February 2007
Poll Reveals Republican Ignorance About Science
GOP Even More Ignorant than Originally Expected.
National Journal has released a new “Congressional Insiders Poll,” which surveyed 113 members of Congress — 10 Senate Democrats, 48 House Democrats, 10 Senate Republicans, and 45 House Republicans — about their positions on global warming.
The results were startling. Only 13 percent of congressional Republicans say they believe that human activity is causing global warming, compared to 95 percent of congressional Democrats.
I'd like to see a survey including every member of Congress, not just 113 of them. It's not too small of a sample, but I am curious to know the comprehensive numbers. And it would be nice to get them on record about an issue that 99% of scientists agree on.
National Journal has released a new “Congressional Insiders Poll,” which surveyed 113 members of Congress — 10 Senate Democrats, 48 House Democrats, 10 Senate Republicans, and 45 House Republicans — about their positions on global warming.
The results were startling. Only 13 percent of congressional Republicans say they believe that human activity is causing global warming, compared to 95 percent of congressional Democrats.
I'd like to see a survey including every member of Congress, not just 113 of them. It's not too small of a sample, but I am curious to know the comprehensive numbers. And it would be nice to get them on record about an issue that 99% of scientists agree on.
07 February 2007
The End of the World is Nigh
Either I've gone insane or the world is about to end:
Executives from Wal-Mart and three other major U.S. employers on Wednesday joined hands with union leaders in setting a goal of providing 'quality, affordable' health care for millions of workers by 2012.
An interesting coalition since Wal-Mart isn't exactly winning awards for its own health coverage. Nevertheless, perhaps this will get the ball rolling.
Executives from Wal-Mart and three other major U.S. employers on Wednesday joined hands with union leaders in setting a goal of providing 'quality, affordable' health care for millions of workers by 2012.
An interesting coalition since Wal-Mart isn't exactly winning awards for its own health coverage. Nevertheless, perhaps this will get the ball rolling.
Getting Harder to Distinguish Islamofascists, Christofascists
Hey, maybe Christian fundamentalists and Muslim fundamentalists can get along after all:
The United Nations has for the first time confirmed that there are organized campaigns to kill gays in Iraq, directed by orders from Islamic leaders.
One such order says gays “should be killed in the worst, most severe way of killing.”
Those campaigns are at the behest of Islamic leaders, including Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the spiritual leader of Shiite Muslims in Iraq.
It's great to see the world's holiest people brought together by the common bond of hatred. And how about this:
Activists like Hili, who said that discreet homosexuality was tolerated under Saddam Hussein’s rule...
Dictatorship or fundamentalism... such a tough choice. I wish we could put them together like chocolate and peanut butter and make a yummy little Reese's cup of a country.
The United Nations has for the first time confirmed that there are organized campaigns to kill gays in Iraq, directed by orders from Islamic leaders.
One such order says gays “should be killed in the worst, most severe way of killing.”
Those campaigns are at the behest of Islamic leaders, including Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the spiritual leader of Shiite Muslims in Iraq.
It's great to see the world's holiest people brought together by the common bond of hatred. And how about this:
Activists like Hili, who said that discreet homosexuality was tolerated under Saddam Hussein’s rule...
Dictatorship or fundamentalism... such a tough choice. I wish we could put them together like chocolate and peanut butter and make a yummy little Reese's cup of a country.
06 February 2007
A Good Show Beats a Good Snow
A Clark Street Blog concert recommendation:
Local musician and all-around good guy Nicholas Radina will be playing with the band Eclipse at Xavier's Gallagher Theatre tomorrow at 7pm. Radina plays guitar and cuatro and plays them very well. He's a member of hot local band Tropicoso which is known as much for hot music as it is for bringing out all the beautiful people.
Check out clips of him in action on his website.
So if the roads are driveable, check out the show. Did I mention the FREE BEER?
Factoid: Radina designed and invented a machine to throw footballs for teams to use in practice. Basically a pitching machine except for footballs. I provided a modicum of consultation with the physics. I don't know what the machine is called but I'll bet it's not "Rex."
Local musician and all-around good guy Nicholas Radina will be playing with the band Eclipse at Xavier's Gallagher Theatre tomorrow at 7pm. Radina plays guitar and cuatro and plays them very well. He's a member of hot local band Tropicoso which is known as much for hot music as it is for bringing out all the beautiful people.
Check out clips of him in action on his website.
So if the roads are driveable, check out the show. Did I mention the FREE BEER?
Factoid: Radina designed and invented a machine to throw footballs for teams to use in practice. Basically a pitching machine except for footballs. I provided a modicum of consultation with the physics. I don't know what the machine is called but I'll bet it's not "Rex."
Super Bowl Commentary Recap
Announcer #1: PeytonPeytonPeytonPeytonPeyton.
Announcer #2: Tony Dungy is african-american. Did you notice that? And get this: Lovie Smith is also african-american. What we have here are two african-americans. You do understand that, right? Who could have possibly seen this coming? What a glorious moment for african-americans. We'll mention it again in 15 minutes.
Announcer #2: Tony Dungy is african-american. Did you notice that? And get this: Lovie Smith is also african-american. What we have here are two african-americans. You do understand that, right? Who could have possibly seen this coming? What a glorious moment for african-americans. We'll mention it again in 15 minutes.
03 February 2007
Scientists Identify Worst Sound in the World
What's the worst sound? For my money, it's the voice of nutty pundit Bill Kristol. I can't stand that smug, croaking voice. And I'm not even factoring in his amazing streak of being wrong all the time, since it's technically not sound (pun alert).
But the scientific study that aimed to identify the world's worst sound was done in Britain, so they have the good fortune of not having to put up with Kristol. So what sound makes people sick to their stomach?
Question asked, question answered:
A year-long quest to identify the worst sound in the world ended yesterday with top honours going to the backdrop of market town Britain on a Saturday night: a person vomiting.
Microphone feedback, crying babies and the scrapes and squeaks of a train on a track ranked second and joint third, with a cat howling and mobile phone ringtones coming joint 12th and snoring an unexpectedly low 26th.
But the scientific study that aimed to identify the world's worst sound was done in Britain, so they have the good fortune of not having to put up with Kristol. So what sound makes people sick to their stomach?
Question asked, question answered:
A year-long quest to identify the worst sound in the world ended yesterday with top honours going to the backdrop of market town Britain on a Saturday night: a person vomiting.
Microphone feedback, crying babies and the scrapes and squeaks of a train on a track ranked second and joint third, with a cat howling and mobile phone ringtones coming joint 12th and snoring an unexpectedly low 26th.
Officer Faces Court Martial for Opposing War
Yet another similarity with Vietnam...
Lieutenant Ehren Watada, faces a court martial for refusing to deploy to Iraq and for making public statements against the war. He is the first officer [since Vietnam] to be prosecuted for publicly criticising the war... If he is convicted on all charges, Lt Watada could spend four years in a military prison.
Lt Watada, 28, argues that to serve in Iraq would betray his conscience and his duties as an officer. "It would be a violation of my oath because this war to me is illegal in the sense that it was waged in deception, and it was also in violation of international law," he told the Guardian. "Officers and leaders have that responsibility to speak out for the enlisted and certainly when we do so it comes with more consequences, which is what a leader should do. A leader can't just go with the crowd."
The best part:
The Pentagon maintains that Lt Watada gave up his right to free speech when he put on the uniform.
Translation: When you put on the uniform to defend American rights and freedoms, you give up those rights and freedoms which you put on the uniform to defend.
And speaking of great ideas, Bush's new budget requests more money for war and less for health.
Lieutenant Ehren Watada, faces a court martial for refusing to deploy to Iraq and for making public statements against the war. He is the first officer [since Vietnam] to be prosecuted for publicly criticising the war... If he is convicted on all charges, Lt Watada could spend four years in a military prison.
Lt Watada, 28, argues that to serve in Iraq would betray his conscience and his duties as an officer. "It would be a violation of my oath because this war to me is illegal in the sense that it was waged in deception, and it was also in violation of international law," he told the Guardian. "Officers and leaders have that responsibility to speak out for the enlisted and certainly when we do so it comes with more consequences, which is what a leader should do. A leader can't just go with the crowd."
The best part:
The Pentagon maintains that Lt Watada gave up his right to free speech when he put on the uniform.
Translation: When you put on the uniform to defend American rights and freedoms, you give up those rights and freedoms which you put on the uniform to defend.
And speaking of great ideas, Bush's new budget requests more money for war and less for health.
Belichick Still an A-hole
Once again, adverse circumstances reveal Bill Belichick's true weenie-ness:
Belichick's response:
"If Ted felt so strongly that he didn't feel he was ready to practice with us, he should have told me," Belichick said.
Shorter Bill Belichick: If Ted had a brain injury that prevented him from making reasoned judgments he should have had the reasonable judgment to tell me. I mean, when did that become my job?
Johnson, who played 10 years in the NFL, said he began to deteriorate in August 2002 with a concussion during an exhibition game against the New York Giants. He sustained another concussion four days later after Belichick prodded him to participate in a full-contact practice, even though he was supposed to be avoiding hits, Johnson said.
The next month, with their relationship already strained, Johnson confronted Belichick about the practice after the coach asked him to meet in his office.
"I told him, `You played God with my health. You knew I shouldn't have been cleared to play,"' Johnson told the Globe.
Belichick's response:
"If Ted felt so strongly that he didn't feel he was ready to practice with us, he should have told me," Belichick said.
Shorter Bill Belichick: If Ted had a brain injury that prevented him from making reasoned judgments he should have had the reasonable judgment to tell me. I mean, when did that become my job?
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