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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Contrary to Opinion, Human Heart Regenerates

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(Newser) – In a result defying popular opinion, the human heart regenerates about half of its cells over the course of a normal lifespan, the New York Times reports. A study used levels of a radioactive isotope in the earth’s atmosphere released by aboveground nuclear tests, and found in our bodies, to gauge turnover. Cells damaged in heart attack do not regenerate, and scientists hope the discovery might lead to new drug therapies.

“I think this will be one of the most important papers in cardiovascular medicine in years,” one heart researcher said. “It helps settle a longstanding controversy about whether the human heart has any ability to regenerate itself. I was really impressed at the level of rigor they put into this analysis.”

Two girls examine the blood vessels of a real human heart.
Two girls examine the blood vessels of a real human heart.   (AP Photo)
A doctor points out one of the three major coronary arteries.
A doctor points out one of the three major coronary arteries.   (AP Photo)
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2 comments
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Derni
Apr 2, 09 8:48 PM CDT
Stem cell research here we come! go for it! Reply
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riffran
Apr 3, 09 6:14 AM CDT
hey if it saves lives........one little tidbit, they have succesfully grown a rats heart, with stem cells and a cadaver heart, to provide a scaffolding of sorts for the stem cells to grow on....The old heart was completely "de-cellularized", to leave only the collegen and connective fibers as a "skeleton" for the new cardiac stem cells cells, and after growing in a nutrient solution for a period of time, it began beating on it's own as it matured into a fully functional organ......The possibility of a parthogenetic organ replacement is awsome............can you imagine, how happy a dialysis patient would be to have two real kidneys of their own without the fear of tissue rejection, or a burn victim getting a new epidermal/dermal/ muscle layer after a horrible burn!...Cross your fingers folks... Reply
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