"cells exposed to an electronic cigarette -- one that dispenses a smokeless dose of nicotine -- stopped growing entirely"

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mpetva

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UCR stem cell center has top equipment, more | Local News | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California

Partial Quote:

CIGARETTES AND CELLS
Talbot and her colleagues are studying the affect of various types of cigarette smoke on undifferentiated stem cell growth. The findings would relate to fetuses and newborns, most vulnerable to the toxic effects of such exposure.

Talbot pulls up some growth graphs on her computer and says she and her team were surprised to see that so called harm-reduction cigarettes, such as low-tar versions, actually appear to be more dangerous to stem cells.

"The 'sidestream' smoke is considerably much worse from the harm-reduction cigarettes," Talbot says, referring to the smoke that comes off of the tip of the cigarette without passing through the filter. A smoking mother, using what she believes is a less dangerous cigarette, might be impacting the growth of her embryo even more.

Talbot points to another chart showing that cells exposed to an electronic cigarette -- one that dispenses a smokeless dose of nicotine -- stopped growing entirely.

Stem cells, she says, "are powerful tools in measuring toxicity."


To be honest, the part in colored in red is a bit scary to me unless I am misunderstanding what they wrote. I just don't know what it means for any of us who vape and/or who are not pregnant?
 

the vaporizer

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the wording in that paragraph is way to generalized to make any assumptions on what is implied. Until I see numerous studies that are done with random samples and using a scientific approach i will not make any judgements of my own...i think you should do the same...

with that said....if someone is pregnant or has little children...i dont think you should smoke ANYTHING that has nicotine around them...including e-cigs...there is STILL nicotine in the vapor!!! and the vapor can still get into a childs lungs!!! maybe it doesnt have tar or other chemicals but it still has the toxic chemical nicotine in it and it can cause growth defects...
 

kristin

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Here is the thing - nicotine has an adverse effect on embryo cells. One of the reasons you especially shouldn't smoke while pregnant.

Propylene glycol has actually been shown to IMPROVE pregnancy rates in implanted bovine embryos.

Smoke contains many more toxins than propylene glycol.

So, why ecigs would have a more negative effect on stem cells than smoke is a mystery until we know how they were exposed to the electronic cigarette vapor.

I do know that propylene glycol has been shown to absorb and spread easily into human tissue. If the propylene glycol was "blown" directly onto the cells, it would cling to them, because it is really a liquid, not smoke. Then, it would be more easily absorbed into the cell.

Now, if put into real life situations, the embryo would never be exposed directly to the vapor. The nicotine-infused propylene glycol would not ever touch the cells. More likely, the PG would be quickly disolved in the mother's system and some of the nicotine would still get to the embryo. However, it would be "cleaner" as it wouldn't be accompanied by the tar, Co2, arcenic, ammonia, etc that comes along with nicotine-infused tobacco smoke.

But until we see how the ecig vapor was applied, we can't possibly assume that the vapor is somehow worse for us (as grown, non-expectant adults) based on this news report.

It goes without saying that an expectant mother should avoid all nicotine use. If she can't or won't abstain, I would still venture a guess that ecigs would be less toxic than if she were to smoke.
 

telsie

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So then stem cells are healthier when exposed to, say, the smoke of a Marlboro red than the smoke of an ultra light cigarette? And OMG... vapor = stem cell DEATH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That was a really poorly worded article and I'm not even sure what the writer was trying to tell us, but I don't think it was what I stated above. LOL. Maybe they meant that the smoke coming off the burning end of an ultra light cigarette was worse than the smoke coming through the filter end of a full strength cigarette? I don't even have a guess about the electronic cigarette comment because it's so randomly thrown in there.
 

CaptJay

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Is she working with only fetal stem cells? Stem cells are present in adults, (and children, as well as fetuses) but they are different from fetal ones, in that they are specific and not able to 'go anywhere' in the body.
And since when were low tar cigs deemed as 'harm reduced'? I thought that misconception was debunked a while ago.
Cig smoking is bad for you - not really breakthough research - and vaping is a bit better but not the best thing you can do for your lungs - well, that's really not news either is it lol. Cilia in the lungs stop growing after exposure to cig smoke (no data on vapor) and start again after smoking cessasation so Im not sure why anyone would be shocked to find a similar effect on stem cells in fetal tissue.
 

Quick1

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Talbot pulls up some growth graphs on her computer and says she and her team were surprised to see that so called harm-reduction cigarettes, such as low-tar versions, actually appear to be more dangerous to stem cells.

I'm just disappointed that research money is being wasted on doing this part (and I assume others) yet again. I remember this report from many years ago. "Light" cigarettes work by the little pin holes where the tube containing the tobacco meets the filter. The dispute was over the "low tar and nicotine" claims and whether it was false advertising. Due to the pin holes (allowing more air in) it takes the smoker longer to smoke the cigarette -- more drags to get to the end. Since you're taking more drags it takes longer to smoke one. Since it takes longer to smoke one then more of it burns off directly into the air and the user inhales less tar and nicotine from smoking one cigarette. Can't remember the outcome but I don't think the argument went over real well. And it was noted that light cigarettes might even be worse from a second hand smoke perspective since more tobacco smoke goes directly into the air instead of being filtered throught the filter and smoker first.
 
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D103

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If you look it up Talbot is clearly anti-smoking, anti-tobacco and has already done a great deal of research work in this area especially as it relates to mother and fetus. This is fine and is extremely useful and necessary work. However, when it comes to new technology vesus established opinion/bias then there is a problem, especially when it comes to research. There needs to be research done by "unbiased" researchers if possible and there needs to be some perspective given to the reader, i.e. -what other possible toxicants were tested, other than nicotine and "smoke"; eg. perfume, hairspray, cosmetics, room deodorizers, cleansers, other FDA approved medications-especially NRT's, in additon to medications such as Chantix and others. What about steam from coffee or the boiling of certain food products, pesticides, not to mention the myriad of FDA approved OTC pills, patches, balms, lotions, potions, creams, sprays, inhalants, lozenges, stick-on strips, etc. One Problem, as I see it is this: anyone, who has devoted their life and career to 'being against/opposed' to something is never, ever, going to admit nor disclose anything they find that could ever possibly be construed as a positive concerning the very thing they oppose.
 

Kate51

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River, I'll sign a petition to that!
I'm dying to know if an anti-bacterial (as in Propylene Glycol) is introduced to a stem cell, would that kill it, or would they need the PG to help hold the nictotine molecule? Great questions Kristin.
Would also like to know, why are they wasting stem cells for nicotine testing. Would seem a moot point to me. We know it is toxic.
Why can't they be working on using e-cigs to kill mosquito larva in Africa instead.
"The 'sidestream' smoke is considerably much worse from the harm-reduction cigarettes," Talbot says, referring to the smoke that comes off of the tip of the cigarette without passing through the filter. A smoking mother, using what she believes is a less dangerous cigarette, might be impacting the growth of her embryo even more.
What the heck are these people doing?????????????
 
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DC2

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This makes no sense. An anti-bacterial killed a stem cell. duh. Of course, you would get the same result with any alcohol or even heavily salted water.
Welcome to the world of propaganda and misleading facts.
I'm thinking those that want to stop us are getting much more serious.
 

mpetva

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Or you could say that exposed to e cig smoke, stem cells that carry the potential for cancer are stopped in their tracks and do not "reproduce".

Statistics are a funny thing. I could tell you that eating tomatoes causes crime. I know this because 90% of prisoners eat tomatoes.

You know, that was my very first (hopeful, lol) thought also!
 
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