University of the Cordilleras College of Nursing Baguio City

Journal
New Stem Cell Reports Demo Hope For Kidney Function; Insulin Making
(http://www.medicalnewstoday.com )

Submitted by: LACUATA, Kate Allison C. BSN III 2D

Submitted to: Sir Michael Joel Piduca Clinical Instructor

Date: January 5, 2012

New Stem Cell Reports Demo Hope For Kidney Function; Insulin Making
Editor's Choice Article Date: 04 Aug 2011 - 9:00 PDT New research released this week has found that adult stem cells harvested from the pancreas are actually better than embryonic cells because they have somewhat of a "memory" that includes the ability to produce insulin and have kidney like functions. In addition, alternate studies have shown that kidney cells can morph from one kind of cell to another, possibly helping solve dialysis and transplant issues. This may mean that for people who have type 1 diabetes, which results from an autoimmune attack that destroys their pancreatic beta cells, might someday be able to use these cells to reconstruct functioning beta cells. A stem cell-based therapy would be a welcome alternative to organ transplants, which can lead to organ rejection or a lifetime of taking immune-suppressing drugs. New beta cells would come from a patient's own body so there would be less likelihood of outright rejection. However, because type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, stem cell research will have to go hand-in-hand with treatments that inhibit the autoimmune attack on beta cells. Stem cells, whether derived from embryos or adults, are considered "pluripotent," which means they have the ability to differentiate into many different cell types. Many scientists sees them as potential building blocks for organ reconstruction overall. In a separate study, standard kidney cells have been found to be able to morph into cells that are needed for a specific function. Dr. Ivonne Schulman, an assistant professor of clinical medicine and nephrologist at the University of Miami's Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute in Florida, said that this is the first time that researchers have shown that kidney cells could be reprogrammed and made to behave like embryonic stem cells, meaning they have the potential to differentiate into other types of kidney cells. The current treatment for end-stage kidney disease includes dialysis and/or kidney transplantation. Dialysis, which outsources kidney function, is uncomfortable, time-consuming and costly. Schulman continues: "Two papers back-to-back show that two different kidney cell types are able to be reprogrammed. This is very significant. It could theoretically help all types of kidney disease. It just depends on the ability of these cells to differentiate back into the cell types needed for that disease."
Written by Sy Kraft Copyright: Medical News Today Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232281.php

I.

SUMMARY New research released this week has found that adult stem cells harvested from the pancreas are actually better than embryonic cells because they have somewhat of a "memory" that includes the ability to produce insulin and have kidney like functions. In addition, alternate studies have shown that kidney cells can morph from one kind of cell to another, possibly helping solve dialysis and transplant issues. A stem cell-based therapy would be a welcome alternative to organ transplants, which can lead to organ rejection or a lifetime of taking immunesuppressing drugs. In a separate study, standard kidney cells have been found to be able to morph into cells that are needed for a specific function. Dr. Ivonne Schulman, an assistant professor of clinical medicine and nephrologist at the University of Miami's Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute in Florida, said that this is the first time that researchers have shown that kidney cells could be reprogrammed and made to behave like embryonic stem cells, meaning they have the potential to differentiate into other types of kidney cells.

II.

REACTION My journal is all about New Stem Cell Reports Demo Hope For Kidney Function; Insulin Making. Researchers have found that adult stem cells harvested from the pancreas are actually better than embryonic cells because they have somewhat of a "memory" that includes the ability to produce insulin and have kidney like functions. It also says in the research that this new stem cell can possibly help solve dialysis and transplant tissues. This study is very interesting especially to those who have kidney failure, kidney diseases or even having their dialysis. As a nursing student, I agree and support this research because this is a very significant study and this could really contribute a lot in the medicine field. In addition to that, this study really offers real hope for the future. Patients with kidney diseases or kidney failure could consider this study. With this study, patients can now save money knowing that this is much cheaper than having dialysis and lifetime treatment. This study wasn t tried yet and not yet totally approved but researchers are still developing this study to be able to prove and implement this study. The idea that you can have the ability to do stem cell transplants during the early stage of kidney disease and regenerate the damaged part of

the kidney for me, would be a tremendous benefit for patients and the country as a whole.

III.

NURSING IMPLICATION TO: a. Nursing Education y The academe should always inform the students on updates about health most especially on different nursing interventions which change and develop that aims to improve the health of every individual. y It can add up information in the field of medicine. It can present explaining factors on how to treat kidney diseases practically, effectively, & conveniently. b. Nursing Practice y It can help us identify proper nursing interventions in patients with kidney diseases or kidney failure. As nurses, we could help ensure that research findings are effectively disseminated to those who need this information like encouraging discussion about the implications of such findings about kidney diseases and its new treatments and presenting, teaching and answering questions about the findings. y It can help us do better assessments and offer the best nursing interventions to our patients and clients. c. Nursing Research y It will be a great contribution having this kind of study or research concerning about kidney disease. In every aspect of nursing profession, it is necessary to increase and acquire knowledge since our environment is changing and so with the needs of the people. Participating on ongoing studies like this journal could be a great help and will serve as a basis for future studies.