Stem cell story of "60 Minutes" on 8 Jan 2012 follows up previous investigation
The first story involved the use of the injection of stem cells to treat people. Dr. Dan Ecklund was surprised to see 60 Minutes AND the 60 Minutes camera was hidden in this story about the questionable concept of injecting stem cells. The story was called "Stem Cell Fraud." Scott Pelley noted a story two years ago by 60 Minutes, with this story of January 8 being a followup, The initial portion of the story was about the Susser family going to Mexico in 2003 for a stem cell treatment for their son. Now, the StemTechLabs of Ecuador, who claimed to be FDA registered. Pelley talked to a scientist, Joanne Kurtzberg of Duke University, who noted stem cell science is in its infancy and we are 10 years away. She works with stem cells harvested from umbilical blood [cord blood]. Pelley noted it would be a felony to use stem cells for an unapproved therapy in the United States. However, it is not illegal to send the stem cells. 60 Minutes stated that the stem cells sent from StemTechLabs had disintegarated. 60 Minutes dug into Dr. Ecklund's background. Ecklund came to Florida to discuss treatment with the Sussers, and Scott Pelley popped out to record the interview. Ecklund noted stem cells give off chemicals that cause other cells to repair themselves. Pelley brought up the contract which mentioned improved ability to see. Pelley established Ecklund was self-educated in the area of stem cells.. Pelley pointed out there were no papers published by Ecklund. Ecklund asserted that papers cannot be published in the United States on this topic. Ecklund said the work would be suppressed in the United States. Dr. Kurtzberg listened to Ecklund's discussion. Ecklund said he had taken the stem cells himself. Pelley noted that publication is the standard of the world. Ecklund walked out. Pelley then talked about the 60 Minutes story of two years ago: Stowe and Morales. Pelley noted last week Stowe and Morales were indicted. Pelley noted the story would continue on CBS This Morning. Pelley also noted additional information would be on CBS Overtime, sponsored by Lipitor.
Separately, from a post on the internet in March 2009:
StemTech Lab on the road
Our first delivery to the USA took place last week with great success. Our first USA patient is showing minor but immediate improvement after one treatment and within just two days; though there is no concise explanation of how human umbilical cord blood stem cells can provide improvement in such short term this seems to be common for some stem cell treated patient. Common scientific logical sense would indicate that it should take a stem cell many days to engraft and start working, but there seems to be more to it than the cell differentiating and engrafting into the affected area. This patient has been in a coma for 10 years under the care of his very loving mother. His mother says that he became more alert and responsive, something quite impressive in such a short amount of time after the first treatment application. Our prayers go out to his family and hope that their son wakes up from this very long dream.
FDA registration
Our umbilical cord stem cell registration has just received final registration by the FDA.
The second story was about brothers serving together in units in Afghanistan. The story began with the story of the Sullivan Brothers, then moved to the present with a story about the Beans Brothers, Marines serving in Afghanistan. Note a previous story on CNN from February 2011 A real-life band of brothers, which began: Daniel and Joshua Beans don't spend a lot of time together and don't have much in common. But these brothers share a bond only troops who've marched into battle can fully understand.
The third story was about truffles and truffle-hunting dogs. The Urbani factory was discussed. A two pound white truffle sold for over $300,000. Marche de Truffes. The French chef Bruno was interviewed. Bruno goes through 5 tons of truffles per year. He noted robbers stole 200 kilos of truffles. "60 Minutes" showed a transaction wherein fifty pounds of truffles exchanged for $30,000. Finally, the topic of Chinese truffles came up. Bruno said: no smell and no taste. Chinese truffles are worth $20 to $30 per pound. Thus, a trade has developed in which Chinese truffles are blended into Italian or French truffles. Thus, a legal issue of passing off. 28 tons of Chinese truffles come into France every year. Black Winter Truffle. This destroys the tradition of the truffle. American law does not require a distinction among truffles. Issue: because the Chinese truffles are packaged in France, ok to say "Product of France." Issue: Chinese truffle spores infecting France. A knock-off that looks the same. Note a story at Zester from 2010: In France and Italy, dogs – not pigs – are a truffle hunter's best friend, especially the mutts. :
But the main reason for replacing pig with dog is that, once a pig finds a truffle, it's very difficult to part it from the prize.
The truffling dog, while not naturally partial to truffles, can be trained to find the tubers by scent. A hound with a proven record of success is worth its weight in gold, which is why truffle hunters are prepared to spend time and trouble on dog training.
[ The first commercial on 60 Minutes was about Cadillac's new compact model, the ATS.]
Pelley plugged "CBS This Morning" at the end of the 60 Minutes show on 8 Jan 2012. In a videoclip, Charlie Rose appeared from "studio 57." The show is at 7am. Another example of CBS News cross-branding.
Separately, from a post on the internet in March 2009:
StemTech Lab on the road
Our first delivery to the USA took place last week with great success. Our first USA patient is showing minor but immediate improvement after one treatment and within just two days; though there is no concise explanation of how human umbilical cord blood stem cells can provide improvement in such short term this seems to be common for some stem cell treated patient. Common scientific logical sense would indicate that it should take a stem cell many days to engraft and start working, but there seems to be more to it than the cell differentiating and engrafting into the affected area. This patient has been in a coma for 10 years under the care of his very loving mother. His mother says that he became more alert and responsive, something quite impressive in such a short amount of time after the first treatment application. Our prayers go out to his family and hope that their son wakes up from this very long dream.
FDA registration
Our umbilical cord stem cell registration has just received final registration by the FDA.
The second story was about brothers serving together in units in Afghanistan. The story began with the story of the Sullivan Brothers, then moved to the present with a story about the Beans Brothers, Marines serving in Afghanistan. Note a previous story on CNN from February 2011 A real-life band of brothers, which began: Daniel and Joshua Beans don't spend a lot of time together and don't have much in common. But these brothers share a bond only troops who've marched into battle can fully understand.
The third story was about truffles and truffle-hunting dogs. The Urbani factory was discussed. A two pound white truffle sold for over $300,000. Marche de Truffes. The French chef Bruno was interviewed. Bruno goes through 5 tons of truffles per year. He noted robbers stole 200 kilos of truffles. "60 Minutes" showed a transaction wherein fifty pounds of truffles exchanged for $30,000. Finally, the topic of Chinese truffles came up. Bruno said: no smell and no taste. Chinese truffles are worth $20 to $30 per pound. Thus, a trade has developed in which Chinese truffles are blended into Italian or French truffles. Thus, a legal issue of passing off. 28 tons of Chinese truffles come into France every year. Black Winter Truffle. This destroys the tradition of the truffle. American law does not require a distinction among truffles. Issue: because the Chinese truffles are packaged in France, ok to say "Product of France." Issue: Chinese truffle spores infecting France. A knock-off that looks the same. Note a story at Zester from 2010: In France and Italy, dogs – not pigs – are a truffle hunter's best friend, especially the mutts. :
But the main reason for replacing pig with dog is that, once a pig finds a truffle, it's very difficult to part it from the prize.
The truffling dog, while not naturally partial to truffles, can be trained to find the tubers by scent. A hound with a proven record of success is worth its weight in gold, which is why truffle hunters are prepared to spend time and trouble on dog training.
[ The first commercial on 60 Minutes was about Cadillac's new compact model, the ATS.]
Pelley plugged "CBS This Morning" at the end of the 60 Minutes show on 8 Jan 2012. In a videoclip, Charlie Rose appeared from "studio 57." The show is at 7am. Another example of CBS News cross-branding.
posted by Lawrence B. Ebert at 5:17 PM
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