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Dear Friends For Life, Stem cell research is definitely moving forward. Japanese scientists have shown that useful adult stem cells can be isolated from the human ear. The cells come from a part of the ear called the perichondrium, which is a thin layer of connective tissue that covers and protects cartilage in the human body. Previously another group had shown the regenerative potential of adult stem cells from rabbit ears, but the new study is the first to show such adult stem cells present in the human ear. Prof. Shinji Kobayashi, lead author on the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and his colleagues discovered adult stem cells from the membrane that covers cartilage in the human ear. They developed a technique to grow the adult stem cells into cartilage efficiently, and found that the human stem cell-derived cartilage was stable for at least 10 months after it was transplanted under the skin of mice. As the authors note in their published paper, there is great demand for effective treatments for craniofacial injuries or abnormalities, but effective treatments are currently lacking. Their discovery of this new, easily-accessible source of adult stem cells and their technique for efficient growth of cartilage would allow patients suffering from craniofacial deformities to be treated with reconstructive material grown from adult stem cells collected from their own ears. The scientists hope to start a clinical study as early as 2012. God Bless,
Jerry Novotny, OMI
(A Thought) "Human life is a gift of God ... and the meaning of life is found in the giving and receiving of love." - Pope John Paul II
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For clear thinking about crucial issues, visit LifeIssues.net
(Due to volume of spam received, do not reply to this message but instead send all emails to jerry@shirt.ocn.ne.jp. Thank you!)
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Lifeissues.net Newsletter #540
August 28, 2011
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2. INDONESIA: Conviction of Ahmadyah victim undermines constitutional protections
3. On the need to restart the debate on assisted suicide
4. Research Shows US and UN Diplomats Promoted Abortion as Population Control
5. My father was a porn addict
6. In Decline, Stillbirths Continue to Devastate
7. Increased cohabitation rates mean more instability for children
8. Women Increasingly Sexually Exploited By Media
9. Homosexual men account for 61% of new HIV infections but only 2% of population
10. When Government Promotes Immorality
11. The Truth About Late Term Abortions
12. Letting Doctors Make the Tough Decisions
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(FOCUS ON ASIA): "Assessing the Magnitude of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Burma" - Burma has a generalized epidemic of HIV-1 in reproductive age adults. We estimated that there were 687,000 (95% CI, 541,100-832,900) Burmese adults living with HIV infection in 1999, or about one of every 29 adult citizens.
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ITEM #1: 'Miraculous' circumstances surround creation of Mexico's Sanctuary of the Unborn
In the wake of the legalization of abortion in Mexico City in 2007, pro-life activists came together to create a memorial to the victims of the deadly procedure, which has since claimed more than 51,000 lives. Unveiled in 2008, the site is ensconced in one of Mexico City's most prestigious cemeteries, where a mass is offered once a month for an end to the murder of the unborn.
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ITEM #2: INDONESIA: Conviction of Ahmadyah victim undermines constitutional protections
Deden Sudjana was sentenced to six months imprisonment by the court, for simply protecting the house the mob were attacking. Meanwhile, the 12 men who were responsible for brutally killing three Ahmadi Muslims in an attack in February 2011, were only sentenced to between three and six months imprisonment.
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ITEM #3: On the need to restart the debate on assisted suicide
Comment: There is no doubt in my mind that the media is going to show its support for assisted suicide with primarily pro comments - as they did with Rodriguez. I'm very concerned. -Cheryl
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ITEM #4: Research Shows US and UN Diplomats Promoted Abortion as Population Control
The new book by historian Mara Hvistendahl on sex selected abortion shows how American diplomats and politicians were active in promoting abortion, often through UN channels, as a means of population control in the developing world.
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ITEM #5: My father was a porn addict
It wasn't until later in my life, after I'd become a Christian, after I'd married, that I began to come to terms with how deeply I'd been affected by having porn in my childhood. Men who have grown up with a porn-addicted parent tell me that they learned that real men are addicted to sex, and that it's okay to objectify women. I thank God that my husband did not bring porn baggage into our marriage. My lost innocence and warped self-image have been more than enough baggage for both of us.
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ITEM #6: In Decline, Stillbirths Continue to Devastate
Comment: Note this quote from this article: "It (stillbirth) often is a devastating experience. "As soon as they learn they are pregnant, most women consider their unborn baby their child, and for many a stillbirth is like the death of a child," said Dr. Robert Goldenberg, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Drexel University College of Medicine." Really?? It's hard to understand how any ob-gyn doctor can be so callous to women suffering such a tragedy. Unfortunately, the truth is that pro-abortion mentality is not really pro-woman. Defending abortion throughout pregnancy and even during partial birth apparently demands the devaluing of any baby before birth. Logic and compassion even must be suspended in the service of promoting abortion as an unequivocal benefit for women. -Nancy Valko, RN
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ITEM #7 Increased cohabitation rates mean more instability for children
Family instability continues to grow in the U.S. despite falling divorce rates for families with children. Researchers say an increase in cohabitation is part of the problem, adding that society's "retreat from marriage" harms children and has particularly hurt poor and working-class communities.
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ITEM #8: Women Increasingly Sexually Exploited By Media
A study released earlier this week by sociologists at the University of Buffalo shows an area where men and women are NOT equal: oversexualization in the media. "Opportunity Objectification? The Sexualization of Men and Women on the Cover of Rolling Stone" reveals that women have become increasingly overly-sexualized by the media over the last few decades whereas men are not increasingly viewed in this demeaning and harmful way. This is a "lose-lose" in that not only does the oversexualization of women have negative ramifications for a healthy understanding and anthropology of the dignity of women, and ultimately lead to exploitation of women and girls with such as things as child pornography and sex trafficking, but it is getting worse and worse as time goes on.
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ITEM #9: Homosexual men account for 61% of new HIV infections but only 2% of population
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has estimated that homosexual men account for 61% of the new HIV infections in the United States while they only amount to about 2% of the country's population. Earlier this month, the CDC released estimates for HIV infections from 2006-2009 showing that new infections remained stable at around 50,000 for each of the four years. Homosexual men accounted for 29,300 of the estimated 48,100 new infections in 2009, and homosexual men aged 13 to 29 accounted for 27% of the new cases.
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ITEM #10: When Government Promotes Immorality
We must insist that the only solution is to promote abstinence before marriage, and fidelity within marriage -- behaviors which together represent the only sure way to avoid undesired pregnancies and sexual diseases.
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ITEM #11: The Truth About Late Term Abortions
The reasons for abortion at this stage of pregnancy are many and varied. However, according to one survey that included 18 abortion clinics that provide late term abortions 90% of these abortions were for "non-medical" reasons. An article about the survey further quotes one clinic worker as saying that most of these abortions are done on 10-18 year olds who were in total denial of the pregnancy.
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ITEM #12: Letting Doctors Make the Tough Decisions
Comment: Weren't "living wills" and later advance directives sold to the public as a defense against paternalistic doctors? Apparently how, too many people aren't making the "right" decision to withdraw treatment in the eyes of the doctors and others.
The real problem is that before the "right to die" mania, everybody trusted doctors and nurses. Decisions to stop treatment could be and were made but decisions to cause death were forbidden. The bright line of ethics was clear.
Now confusion reigns. Unfortunately, now it is often a "futility" decision from either the doctor or a hospital ethics committee that determines the decision even if the patient or family wants treatment like feedings or medication continued. It takes a strong patient or family to withstand the onslaught of doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, etc. pushing withdrawal of treatment.
While withdrawal of treatment decisions are portrayed as compassionate and ethical (which they can be if the treatment is truly futile or excessively burdensome), economics and frustration with a patient's lack of progress is also often involved. -Nancy Valko, RN
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YOU CAN CHANGE SOCIETY: 1. BE INFORMED: "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge." Hosea 4:6. Visit Lifeissues.net Website for insights into current Life Issues www.lifeissues.net. Access to all prior Newsletters is located in the Archives on main page. 2. PRAY DAILY: for the courage to be God's presence in society and to strongly support those who are deemed "unworthy of life". "If My people who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 3. BECOME INVOLVED: Several years ago Fr. Jerry created a project entitled, "Journey for Life into the Heart of Asia". The project appeals for donations to help finance plane travel for lectures and seminars to developing countries in Asia. Strong focus is centered on reaching Asian Catholic Major Seminaries, Universities, Parishes, Hospitals and Family/Pro Life related groups. The lectures place emphasis on "The Asian Family at Crossroads: Life Issues, Trends and Challenges". For information about no-cost Pro Life Talks to your group in Asia: contact Fr. Jerry at jerry@shirt.ocn.ne.jp. To become a supportive Missionary participant for this Asian project, kindly send your donations to: ** Fr. Jerry Novotny, OMI ** LifeIssues.net, Editor ** Akebono-cho 1-15-9 ** Kochi City, Japan, 780-8072 (or transfer donation directly to ProLife bank account: Jerome Novotny, Shikoku Bank, Asakura Branch, No. 102-1-0080824) ------------------------------ Get a weekly dose of clear thinking: subscribe to our free Lifeissues newsletter! Sign up at www.LifeIssues.net. Pass this free service to your friends and various groups. ------------------------------ Contact EDITOR: Jerry Novotny, OMI Akebono-cho 1-15-9 Kochi City, Japan, 780-8072 [tel/fax: 088-843-0406] [email: jerry@shirt.ocn.ne.jp] ["Due to volume of spam received, we're asking you not to reply to this message but instead send all correspondence to jerry@shirt.ocn.ne.jp. Thank you! Editor"] ------------------------------ Websites by Editor: English LifeIssues Site: http://www.lifeissues.net, Japanese LifeIssues Site: http://www.japan-lifeissues.net, OMI Site: http://www.omijapankorea.net/index.html
