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Adult Stem Cells from Muscle Tissue to Cure Incontinence

INNSBRUCK, Austria December 1, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Doctors at the Medical University of Innsbruck revealed that stem cells derived from a patient's own muscle tissue could successfully treat urinary stress incontinence.

The research team followed the progress of 20 women for one year. Eighteen of the 20 were still symptom-free one year after the fifteen minute procedure was performed on them.

The process involves injecting stem cells derived from a patient's muscle tissue from the arm, then culturing the cells for six weeks using a patented process to allow them to transform into muscle and connective tissue cells. The stem cells are then injected into the muscle walls, sphincter and urethra of the bladder in women with the condition.

Stress incontinence is triggered by abnormalities in the urethra, or by a weakness in the sphincter muscle of the bladder. Urine is involuntarily passed during exertion, sneezing, coughing, or lifting.

"Urinary incontinence is a major problem for women, and for an increasing number of men," Dr Ferdinand Frauscher, lead researcher, said, according to a BBC report. "We believe we have developed a long-lasting and effective treatment that is especially promising because it is generated from the patient's own body."

The scientists said improvements were often noticed within 24 hours. The stem cells automatically cease growth when they reach a certain size.

"These are very intelligent cells," Dr Frauscher said. "Not only do they stay where they are injected, but also they quickly form new muscle tissue and when the muscle mass reaches the appropriate size, the cell growth ceases automatically."

Scientists say that stem cells reside in small numbers throughout the body, lying dormant until necessity awakens them - such as after tissue injury or disease.

Read BBC coverage: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4051533.stm

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