Two items had major headlines this week: adult stem cell therapy for cardiac patients and the snow in Vail. Two recent storms have brought record amounts of snow to Vail. Words alone can not accurately describe the back bowls!
Physicians at Emory University have demonstrated that infusing bone-marrow-derived, autolgous stem cells in patients who have sustained a heart attack and underwent angioplasty, had an increase in blood flow to the heart. The study examined the significance of injecting three different amounts of stem cells: 5, 10 and 15 million cells. At three months, the patients who received higher doses of stem cells showed the greatest improvement in blood flow to the heart. This is very promising technology and has the potential of re-defining the management of patients with heart disease.