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Embryonic Stem Cell Research - Dr. Oz

post #1 of 18
4/11/09 at 12:45pm
Thread Starter 
Have you read the headlines about Doctor Oz's appearance on Oprah with Michael J. Fox? He told Mr. Fox that embryonic stem cells won't be the solution to his disease.

He in fact said something like embryonic stem cell research debate is dead - and he explained why the embryonic stem cell wouldn't work with Mr. Fox's condition.

Dr. Oz further said that, from what he hears from his sources, there would be help from adult stem cells within single digit number of years - taken to mean within 10 years.

He further said that the adult stem cells are less likely to have the problems with tumors that the embryonic stem cells have because the adult stem cells are made from a patient's own cells.

Just wondering if anyone else has heard about Dr. Oz's support of one research over the other.
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post #2 of 18
4/11/09 at 12:58pm
Yes, I saw that interview.

However, he didn't provide any support for what he was saying, and I have looked online and don't see anything to back up what he is saying. So I am not buying into it until I see such proof.
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post #3 of 18
4/11/09 at 10:35pm
Nothing to do with the embryonic stem cell debate, but when Oprah had Montel Williams on to discuss Multiple Sclerosis, Dr. Oz made a statement about how MS is fatal, which is untrue 99% of the time. It's statements like that which make the insurance companies refuse to insure anyone diagnosed!

Simply based on that show/excerpt that I read, and now him saying that the embryonic debate being "over"? I am really doubting this guy's "expertise" on all things medical.
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post #4 of 18
4/11/09 at 11:27pm
I agree with Linda - I wouldn't believe everything this Dr Oz says - stem cell research is still being conducted and nothing is 100% known.

If this guy was the real deal, he would be all over CNN or whatever other news source, instead of a talk show.
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post #5 of 18
4/11/09 at 11:33pm
Sadly, some people may take this so called doctor's words for complete truth when he's only stating opinion. Rather harmful...
It reminds me of the article posted here a while back where a doctor supported all of the ridiculous myths about cats and pregnancy - including that the pet cat had to go.

But if one looks, it doesn't matter what you have, you'll find lots of bad advice and outdated information about all sorts of illnesses coming from doctors (probably because they're not specialist or up to date on cutting edge research).
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post #6 of 18
4/11/09 at 11:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by strange_wings View Post
Sadly, some people may take this so called doctor's words for complete truth when he's only stating opinion. Rather harmful...
well, altho he IS an M.D., his specialty is cardiothoracic surgery, not stem cell research - or parkinson's disease or MS, for that matter.

just because someone has a medical degree doesn't mean they're qualified in EVERY area of medicine - the field is simply too broad. that's why there are specialists.
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post #7 of 18
4/11/09 at 11:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by laureen227 View Post
well, altho he IS an M.D., his specialty is cardiothoracic surgery, not stem cell research - or parkinson's disease or MS, for that matter.

just because someone has a medical degree doesn't mean they're qualified in EVERY area of medicine - the field is simply too broad. that's why there are specialists.
That's what I meant. I could have used other phrasing than "so called" but that was a nicer way to put it.

My GP, though a decent doctor, can't treat my ANS problems - I wouldn't even ask him to, especially since that seems to really make him uncomfortable. But at least he'll admit when something is out of his area of knowledge. IMO, a good doctor will do this instead of making things up...
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post #8 of 18
4/12/09 at 11:13am
No wonder Oprah's weight keeps yo yoing under the care of this guy!
Wow, ridiculous. I've seen him on her show a few times and honestly, just by googling stuff I can find more reliable information than the kind he gives to people.
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post #9 of 18
4/12/09 at 11:23am
The really sad thing is that there are probably millions of Oprah's viewers and fans who actually believe the tripe this guy is serving with the "authority" of her show to back him up.
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post #10 of 18
4/12/09 at 11:39am
Thread Starter 
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/basics5.asp
This excerpt talks about adult stem cells
-- in this section: V. What are the similarities and differences between embryonic and adult stem cells?
Adult stem cells, and tissues derived from them, are currently believed less likely to initiate rejection after transplantation. This is because a patient's own cells could be expanded in culture, coaxed into assuming a specific cell type (differentiation), and then reintroduced into the patient. The use of adult stem cells and tissues derived from the patient's own adult stem cells would mean that the cells are less likely to be rejected by the immune system. This represents a significant advantage, as immune rejection can be circumvented only by continuous administration of immunosuppressive drugs, and the drugs themselves may cause deleterious side effects.
I did hear the Dr. explain the differences, basically like this website describes.
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post #11 of 18
4/12/09 at 4:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GloriaJH View Post
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/basics5.asp
This excerpt talks about adult stem cells
-- in this section: V. What are the similarities and differences between embryonic and adult stem cells?
Adult stem cells, and tissues derived from them, are currently believed less likely to initiate rejection after transplantation. This is because a patient's own cells could be expanded in culture, coaxed into assuming a specific cell type (differentiation), and then reintroduced into the patient. The use of adult stem cells and tissues derived from the patient's own adult stem cells would mean that the cells are less likely to be rejected by the immune system. This represents a significant advantage, as immune rejection can be circumvented only by continuous administration of immunosuppressive drugs, and the drugs themselves may cause deleterious side effects.
I did hear the Dr. explain the differences, basically like this website describes.
He wasn't talking tissue rejection. He specifically indicated that embryonic stem cells are more likely to become cancerous cells than adult stem cells.

As with everything transplanted in the body other than a person's own tissues, there is risk of tissue rejection.
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post #12 of 18
4/12/09 at 6:50pm
Adult stem cells are both taken from and used on the same person though...
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post #13 of 18
4/13/09 at 9:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ut0pia View Post
Adult stem cells are both taken from and used on the same person though...

Yes, I know.

However, so far as that Dr. Oz's comments, he wasn't talking about tissue rejection. He specifically stated that embryonic stem cells are more likely to become cancerous cells than adult stem cells. There is no proof to that.

As I said earlier, as with everything transplanted in the body other than a person's own tissues, there is risk of tissue rejection. So as far as rejection goes, of course a person isn't likely to reject their own tissues grown from their own stem cells.
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post #14 of 18
4/13/09 at 9:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by valanhb View Post
The really sad thing is that there are probably millions of Oprah's viewers and fans who actually believe the tripe this guy is serving with the "authority" of her show to back him up.
Exactly! So many people idolize Oprah, and she is a powerful celebrity, no doubt about it. The fact that she buys into such nonsense means that a good number of viewers who worship the ground she walks on, do too.

I'm very surprised that she would let anyone go on her show and say the things he has saying.

There hasn't been enough research into embryonic stem cells to make the claim he has been making about embryonic stem cells more likely to grow into cancerous cells than adult stem cells would.
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post #15 of 18
4/14/09 at 11:05am
Thread Starter 
Well, although I have limited (very limited ) scientific knowledge into all the research of stem cells, I hear too many debates from those in the scientific community to be able to call what Dr. Oz said as "nonsense".

I've heard arguments from both sides and if there was/is a solution that would eliminate the concern of destroying life in order to save life, I'd hope that it would be successful.

People can't come to an agreement, that's why the debate isn't dead.

BTW, I am not a follower of Miss Oprah - I don't watch her show, but when I hear about things like this I am interested to know what others might be thinking - thus this thread.
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post #16 of 18
4/14/09 at 2:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GloriaJH View Post
Well, although I have limited (very limited ) scientific knowledge into all the research of stem cells, I hear too many debates from those in the scientific community to be able to call what Dr. Oz said as "nonsense".

I've heard arguments from both sides and if there was/is a solution that would eliminate the concern of destroying life in order to save life, I'd hope that it would be successful.

People can't come to an agreement, that's why the debate isn't dead.

BTW, I am not a follower of Miss Oprah - I don't watch her show, but when I hear about things like this I am interested to know what others might be thinking - thus this thread.
Until recently, I worked in a research lab that uses mouse embryo stem cells for research. There has been no debate. The scientific community has been in complete agreement as far as I know. The only debate comes from non scientists who see ethical issues with using embryo stem cells. In the scientific community, even this debate is largely ignored because it's a debate of ethics not science and it's left up to the people in social science ...
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post #17 of 18
4/15/09 at 2:49pm
Seems to me we all ought to be praying the man is right. Would solve the ethics dilemma, eh?

PS: I don't watch Oprah, or Dr. Oz, either.
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post #18 of 18
4/17/09 at 10:31am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ut0pia View Post
Until recently, I worked in a research lab that uses mouse embryo stem cells for research. There has been no debate. The scientific community has been in complete agreement as far as I know. The only debate comes from non scientists who see ethical issues with using embryo stem cells. In the scientific community, even this debate is largely ignored because it's a debate of ethics not science and it's left up to the people in social science ...
So, what about tumors? Don't the embryonic stem cells produce tumors? I'm asking you because you said that you worked in a research lab that uses mouse embryo stem cells for research - did any of their research include a debate about tumors?
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