* Jumping the Gun: Australian embryo stem-cell research.
* US Stem Cell Funding: List of lines released.
* Stem Cells in India: Mixed reactions.
* Stem Cells Research Hurdles: Contamination with mouse cells.
* Adult Stem Cells: World first for German hospital.
* Foetal Research: Unborn may feel pain at 20 weeks.
* Drug Company Gifts: US doctors warned about ethical breaches.
* Moral Muddles: Social flow-on from biotech.

* JUMPING THE GUN: Australian embryo stem-cell research.
Sydney researchers have started harvesting stem cells from human embryos -- before a Federal parliamentary committee has had a chance to table its recommendations. Prof Robert Jansen, of Sydney IVF, said that his clinic had already destroyed 10 excess IVF embryos in a so-far unsuccessful effort to create a stem-cell line. The cells are to be used for research into juvenile diabetes at Prince of Wales Hospital.
The director of the Plunkett Centre for Ethics in Health Care, Dr Bernadette Tobin, said that Sydney IVF had shown "cavalier disregard" for community consultation.
The diabetes team at POW, headed by Prof Bernie Tuch, has also signed an agreement with a commercial arm of Monash University to obtain embryo stem cells for its research. -- Sydney Morning Herald, Aug 29,30

* US STEM-CELL FUNDING: List of lines released.
Health officials have released the list of 64 stem-cell lines which qualify for US government funding under guidelines announced by President Bush earlier this month. The "lines", or self-replenishing colonies of undifferentiated cells derived from human embryos, exist in Australia, the US, Sweden, Israel and India.

• Monash University (Australia) 6 lines
• BresaGen (an Australian company based in the US) 4 lines
• CyThera (US) 9 lines
• University of California (US) 2 lines
• Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (US) 5 lines
• Goteborg University (Sweden) 19 lines
• Karolinska Institute (Sweden) 5 lines
• National Center for Biological Sciences (India) 3 lines
• Reliance Life Sciences (India) 7 lines
• Technion-Israel Institute of Technology (Israel) 4 lines

* STEM-CELLS IN INDIA: Mixed reactions.
Devout Hindus are opposing embryo research after President Bush's decision to fund stem-cell lines at two Indian research organisations. "From the stage of embryonic stem cell, life starts," Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswat, one of the five leading Hindu priests in India, said in a written statement. "Abortion, artificial insemination or even test tube babies are sinful acts and are not acceptable." Health activists also worry that the nationwide rise of sex-selective technology and abortions could lead to unscrupulous dealings in human embryos.
However, there is no government policy on stem-cell research and many view it as a "new pot of gold". "India already has the expertise to work on stem cells, and fortunately there is no bar on the use of embryos and aborted foetuses," said a Hyderabad scientist working on adult corneal stem cells. "Nothing stops us now from becoming a leader in this field of research." -- Washington Post, Aug 28

* STEM-CELL RESEARCH HURDLES: Contamination with mouse cells.
Most or all of the stem cells derived from human embryos may be contaminated by contact with mouse cells, leading to a small but real risk of passing on deadly viral diseases. The problem arises because of a technique for growing the stem cells. After the embryo has been destroyed, the extracted stem cells are cultured on top of a layer of embryonic mouse cells which excrete an unknown nutritional or growth factor. Under US Food and Drug Administration rules, it could be very difficult to obtain permission to use such products on human patients. -- Washington Post, Aug 24

* ADULT STEM CELLS: World first for German hospital.
For the first time, adult stem cells have been used in a successful treatment of a heart patient. The groundbreaking procedure took place in the German city of Duesseldorf. "The results of the treatments show the huge potential of adult stem cells," said heart specialist Bodo Eckehard Strauer, at Heinrich Heine University. The condition of six other heart patients has also improved. -- Reuters, Aug 24

* FOETAL RESEARCH: Unborn may feel pain at 20 weeks.
The foetus is definitely aware of pain by 24 weeks into pregnancy and possibly as early as 20 weeks, according to an expert group appointed by the British government. Its conclusions also have implications for late abortions, which are permitted up to 24 weeks in Britain. A previous study in 1996 suggested that the pain threshold was 26 weeks. The report, by the Medical Research Council, said that there was evidence that painful procedures on very premature babies, such as heel pricks and lumbar punctures, could trigger behavioural and psycho- social problems later in life. -- Reuters Health, Aug 29; The Age (Melbourne), Aug 30

* DRUG COMPANY GIFTS: US doctors warned about ethical breaches.
The American Medical Association is spending US$650,000 to remind its members that it regards as unethical accepting gifts from drug companies which are worth more than $100. Critics have pointed out that drug companies are contributing $600,000 to the AMA's campaign. -- Reuters, Aug 30

* MORAL MUDDLES: Social flow-on from biotech.