Random Thoughts From Marybeth

Another Source of Stem Cells

This is certainly good news but it may have a bit of a "yuck" factor for some people.

Japanese researchers have harvested stem cells from human menstrual blood, a medical conference has heard.

...They were able to obtain about 30 times more stem cells from menstrual blood than from bone marrow, Miyoshi says.

The stem cells were then cultured in a way to induce them to become heart cells.

After five days about half of the cells contracted "spontaneously, rhythmical and synchronously, suggesting the presence of electrical communication" between the cells, Miyoshi says.