Electroacupuncture releases stem cells to relieve pain, promote tissue repair, study finds – Science Daily

A study led by Indiana University School of Medicine researchers demonstrates how electroacupuncture triggers a neurological mechanism that can help promote tissue repair and relieve injury-induced pain.

Their findings, published online March 16 in the journal Stem Cells, provide the most comprehensive picture yet of how electroacupuncture stimulates the brain to facilitate the release of stem cells and adds new insight relating to the cells' healing properties.

Electroacupuncture is a form of acupuncture that uses a small electrical current to augment the ancient Chinese medical practice of inserting fine needles into the skin at pre-determined points throughout the body.

For the study, a team of more than 40 scientists at institutions in the United States and South Korea was led by four senior authors including IU School of Medicine's Maria B. Grant, MD, Marilyn Glick Professor of Ophthalmology and co-corresponding author; Mervin C. Yoder, MD, IU Distinguished Professor, Richard and Pauline Klingler Professor of Pediatrics, associate dean for entrepreneurial research at IU School of Medicine, director of the Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research and co-corresponding author; and Fletcher A. White, PhD, Vergil K. Stoelting Chair of Anesthesia, professor of anesthesia, pharmacology and toxicology.

"This work is a classic example of the power of team science, where investigators in different institutions with specific expertise worked together to unravel the complexity of how electroacupuncture works to help the body respond to stressors," said Dr. Yoder.

The researchers performed a series of lab tests involving humans, horses and rodents that follow the effects of electroacupuncture from the stimulus of the needle all the way to the brain, resulting in the release of reparative mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into the bloodstream.

Depending on the species, electroacupuncture led to activation of the hypothalamus -- a part of the brain that controls the nervous system and involuntary bodily functions such as heart rate and digestion -- within nine to 22 minutes. The stem cells were mobilized within two hours.

"The acupuncture stimulus we're giving these animals has a rapid effect on neuroanatomical pathways that connect the stimulus point in the arm to responsive neurons in the spinal cord and into a region in the brain called the hypothalamus. In turn, the hypothalamus directs outgoing signals to stem cell niches resulting in their release," said Dr. White, who is a neuroscientist at the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis.

The researchers found electroacupuncture treatments resulted in higher thresholds for injury-induced pain, as well as considerable increases in the presence of a type of collagen that promotes tendon repair and anti-inflammatory cells known to be predictors of faster healing time.

Dr. White said these findings could lead to new strategies for tissue repair and pain management related to injuries.

"We could potentially capture the MSCs from an individual's blood following electroacupuncture and save the cells for future re-introduction in the patient post-surgery or to treat chronic pain due to an injury," he said.

The horses used in the study had been injured during training for international dressage competitions, and the six people who took part were healthy volunteers, who still showed activation of their hypothalamus through brain imaging.

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Electroacupuncture releases stem cells to relieve pain, promote tissue repair, study finds - Science Daily

Unproven stem cell ‘therapy’ blinds three patients at Florida clinic – Stanford Medical Center Report

Each patient paid $5,000 for the procedure. Any clinical trial that has a fee should raise a red flag, the authors said.

Im not aware of any legitimate research, at least in ophthalmology, that is patient-funded, Albini said.

At the clinic, which is not named in the paper, the patients had fat cells removed from their abdomens and a standard blood draw. The fat tissue was processed with enzymes, with the goal of obtaining stem cells. Platelet-dense plasma was isolated from the blood. The cells were then mixed with the platelet-dense plasma and injected into their eyes. Patients reported that the entire process took less than an hour, Albini said. The patients had both eyes treated at once another red flag, Albini and Goldberg said, because most doctors would opt for a conservative approach to observe how one eye responds to an experimental treatment before attempting the other eye.

Shoddy stem cell preparation may have led to some of the patients complications, which could have been caused by injection of a contaminant or the cell wash solution into the eye, Albini said. When injected into the eye, the stem cells also could have changed into myofibroblasts, a type of cell associated with scarring.

But even if executed correctly, there is no evidence suggesting that the procedure could help restore vision, Goldberg and Albini said. In fact, there is sparse evidence that adipose-derived stem cells, the type of cells that the clinic claimed to use, are capable of differentiating, or maturing, into retinal pigment epithelium or photoreceptor cells, which play a critical role in macular degeneration and are the cells some researchers are targeting to develop therapies.

There is a lot of very well-founded evidence for the positive potential of stem therapy for many human diseases, but theres no excuse for not designing a trial properly and basing it on preclinical research, Goldberg said.

The trial lacked nearly all of the components of a properly designed clinical trial, including a hypothesis based on laboratory experiments, assignment of a control group and treatment group, collection of data, masking of clinical and patient groups, and plans for follow-up, Goldberg and Albini said. There was a whole list of egregious things, Albini said.

Listings on ClinicalTrials.gov are not fully scrutinized for scientific soundness, Goldberg said. Although still visible on the website, the listing now states: This study has been withdrawn prior to enrollment. The clinic is also no longer performing these eye injections, although it is still seeing patients, Albini said.

The procedures were arguably not subject to Food and Drug Administration approval because the cells were not transferred between patients and were considered minimally processed, according to Title 21, Part 1271.10, of the Code of Federal Regulations. The FDA released more specific guidelines in October 2015, after these procedures were performed, establishing the requirement for FDA oversight and approval for these types of procedures.

We expect health care providers to take every precaution to ensure patient safety, but this definitely shows that the lack of oversight can lead to bad players and bad outcomes. Its alarming, Albini said.

The authors acknowledged that it is difficult for patients to know whether a clinical trial, or a stem cell therapy, is legitimate. Goldberg recommended that patients considering a stem cell treatment consult a website, A Closer Look at Stem Cells, maintained by the International Society for Stem Cell Research. It is also advisable to check if a trial is affiliated with an academic medical center, Goldberg said.

The lead author is Ajay Kuriyan, MD, assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Researchers from the University of Miami, University of Rochester, University of Oklahoma and the Center for Sight also co-authored the study.

The report was funded by the National Institutes of Health (grant P30EY014801), Research to Prevent Blindness, the Department of Defense and the Klorfine Foundation.

Stanfords Department of Ophthalmology also supported the work.

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Unproven stem cell 'therapy' blinds three patients at Florida clinic - Stanford Medical Center Report

Kadimastem Granted a Patent in the US for Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases – Yahoo Finance

NESS ZIONA, Israel, March 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Israeli biotechnology company Kadimastem (KDST.TA), announced that it has been granted a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for its technology in the field of cell based treatment for diseases of the nervous system. The United States patent joins additional patents granted in Israel and Europe.

The patent is for the innovative method of producing supporting cells in the central nervous system from stem cells, including myelin-producing cells, and it is the foundation for the company's products in the field treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

The technology is the fruit of the research of Professor Michel Revel, the company's Chief Scientist, at the Weizmann Institute. The owner of the patent is Yeda Research and Development Company Ltd. According to an agreement between Kadimastem and Yeda, the company had been granted an exclusive license for exclusive use of the patent.

Kadimastem is developing innovative treatments for a number of severe diseases by transplanting cells and tissues differentiated from human stem cells. The patent expands the intellectual property coverage in the American market as part of the company's strategy in the neurodegenerative diseases field in general and ALS in particular.

Yossi Ben-Yossef, Kadimastem's CEO, noted: "With the company's preparations for the first clinical trial of its unique product, the reinforcement of the company's IP is particularly important. The United States is a target market for the company's products for several reasons, including regulatory (the company will conduct the trial according to the outline coordinated with the FDA), strategic collaborations, potential investors and market size. The patent granted in the United States is a substantial asset in each of these aspects."

Professor Michel Revel, the company's Chief Scientist, added: "The granting of the patent is an international recognition of the uniqueness of the technology at the basis of the cell based treatment for ALS, which Kadimastem develops toward the upcoming clinical trial. The patent also has applications in additional nervous system diseases, and it reinforces the company's position in the field."

About Kadimastem

Kadimastem (http://www.kadimastem.com) is a biotechnology company that specializes in the development of human stem cell-based medical solutions for the treatment of diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases, such as ALS and Multiple Sclerosis. The company was founded in August 2009 by Professor Michel Revel and Yossi Ben Yosef, and is traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (KDST.TA). The company's chairman is Dr. Eli Opper, formerly the Chief Scientist of the Israeli Ministry of Industry, Labor and Trade. The company's investors, in addition to the founders, include Altshuler Shaham Investment House, foreign investors (Julien Ruggieri and Avi Meizler), and additional institutional investors.

Kadimastem was founded based on patent protected technology that was developed at the Weizmann Institute of Science. Based on the company's unique platform, Kadimastem is developing two types of medical applications: A. Regenerative medicine, which repairs and replaces organs and tissue by using functioning cells differentiated from stem cells. The company focuses on transplanting healthy brain cells to support the survivability of nerve cells as cell therapy for ALS, and transplanting insulin-secreting pancreatic cells for the treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes; B. Drug screening platforms, which use functional human cells and tissues to discover new medicinal drugs. The company has two collaboration agreements with leading global pharmaceutical companies.

Kadimastem has an extensive scientific advisory board, featuring prominent scientists and pioneers: in the embryonic stem cells field, Professor Benjamin Reubinoff, Director of the Hadassah Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Center and Senior Physician at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Hadassah University Medical Center; Professor Joseph Itskovich, world renowned expert and pioneer in pluripotent stem cell research and former head of Obstetrics and Gynecology at RAMBAM Medical Center; in the neurodegenerative disease field, Professor Tamir Ben-Hur, Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Hadassah University Medical Center; and in the diabetes field, Professor Shimon Efrat, professor of Human Molecular Genetics and Juvenile Diabetes at Tel Aviv University and a world renowned expert in cell replacement therapy for diabetes and Professor Eddy Karnieli, former Director of the Institute for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the RAMBAM Medical Center, and a world renowned expert in these fields.

Contact: Kadimastem Yehuda Feinberg +972-73-7971600 y.feinberg@kadimastem.com

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Kadimastem Granted a Patent in the US for Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases - Yahoo Finance

Reversing Aging of Intestinal Stem Cells – Technology Networks

Intestinal stem cells rejuvenate daily so bowels will stay healthy and function normally, but a new study in Cell Reports suggests they also age along with people and lose their regenerative capacity.

Reporting their data online March 14, researchers suggest that reactivating the signaling of a key molecule lost in aging intestinal stem cells could restore healthy intestinal function in older people. The study was conducted in mice and human intestinal organoids by scientists at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center and the Institute for Molecular Medicine, Stem Cells and Aging at the University of Ulm in Germany.

Researchers say their study is the first to indicate that intestinal stem cells which allow different intestinal cell types to renew themselves age as people do. It also is the first to provide clear evidence that diminished signaling in intestinal stem cells (ISCs) by the Wnt protein which is important to cell proliferation and renewal drives the aging process and loss of ISCs ability to rejuvenate intestinal tissues.

Deterioration of Wnt signaling in aging intestinal stem cells may help explain imbalances in food and nutrient absorption in older people, but our paper also shows that biology allows us to reverse this process by restoring Wnt signaling, said Hartmut Geiger, PhD, senior investigator of the study. Pharmacologic interventions will still need to be designed based on this finding, but we know now where to start.

Geiger is a member of the Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology at Cincinnati Childrens.

Old vs. Young

In tests that compared the intestines of young mice (2 to 3 months old) with those of aged mice (approaching 2 years old), researchers noticed significant differences in the structural architecture of intestine.

Intestines from older mice showed a reduced number of crypts (mucosal glands), and the structures were longer and wider than in younger animals. Older intestines also had longer villi (absorptive tissues) and an elevated number of cells. But the researchers also noticed there were fewer numbers of actively dividing cells in the intestines of the older mice.

Study authors then looked for different characteristics in the ISCs of young and old mouse intestines. Although they did not observe differences in the numbers of ISCs, they did see a decreased presence of molecular markers that denote ISC function. This led them to conclude that ISC function diminishes in older intestines.

Finding Wnt

To identify genetically driven molecular processes that prompt aging and diminished function in ISCs (and in Paneth and goblet cells they form) the researchers subjected ISCs to RNA sequencing analysis. These tests showed significant reductions in gene expression in the older cells, including the down regulation of molecular pathways involving the genes PPAR, SMAD and Wnt.

Because Wnt plays a particularly prominent role in regulating ISCs, the researchers focused on this pathway. In young and old mice they tested the presence and strength of the Wnt signaling pathway in cells of the mesenchyme which forms connective and skeletal tissues. The mesenchyme has recently been identified in other studies as providing a supportive environment for ISCs to form.

The authors also tested Wnt signaling in different intestinal cells from young and old mice, specifically goblet and Paneth cells that secrete proteins and antimicrobial peptides that are important to sustaining healthy intestines. In both instances they observed a decline in Wnt in intestinal tissues from the older animals.

In testing on lab-generated human and mouse intestinal organoids, the researchers also observed declines in Wnt signaling in older intestines along with altered intestinal structures and indications of diminished function.

Molecular restoration

Researchers concluded their study by testing the restoration of Wnt signaling in intestines by adding Wnt3a (an inducer of Wnt signaling) in aged mouse and human organoid models, which were generated with donated human cells. This rejuvenated the regenerative potential of ISCs in the mouse and human modeling systems. It also boosted the generation of Paneth and goblet cells and prompted an increase in the number of intestinal crypts and other critical structures.

The scientists are following up the current study by trying to define the extent to which therapeutic intervention to rejuvenate ISCs might be beneficial to humans.

Reference:

Nalapareddy, K., Nattamai, K. J., Kumar, R. S., Karns, R., Wikenheiser-Brokamp, K. A., Sampson, L. L., . . . Geiger, H. (2017). Canonical Wnt Signaling Ameliorates Aging of Intestinal Stem Cells. Cell Reports, 18(11), 2608-2621. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2017.02.056

This article has been republished frommaterialsprovided by Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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Reversing Aging of Intestinal Stem Cells - Technology Networks

Study identifies molecular clues for age-related intestinal issues – Medical Xpress

March 14, 2017 These microscopic images show structural changes in the intestine of an older mouse approaching 2 years of age (right) compared to intestine from a young 2-3 month old mouse (left). The older intestine has a smaller number of intestinal crypts (mucosal glands) that are wider. Researchers report in Cell Reports that intestinal stem cells (ISCs) age along with the animals, causing detrimental changes to intestinal structures and their function. They also show function can be restored by reactivating the signaling of a key molecule lost in aging intestinal stem cells. Credit: Cincinnati Children's

Intestinal stem cells rejuvenate daily so bowels will stay healthy and function normally, but a new study in Cell Reports suggests they also age along with people and lose their regenerative capacity.

Reporting their data online March 14, researchers suggest that reactivating the signaling of a key molecule lost in aging intestinal stem cells could restore healthy intestinal function in older people. The study was conducted in mice and human intestinal organoids by scientists at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the Institute for Molecular Medicine, Stem Cells and Aging at the University of Ulm in Germany.

Researchers say their study is the first to indicate that intestinal stem cells - which allow different intestinal cell types to renew themselves - age as people do. It also is the first to provide clear evidence that diminished signaling in intestinal stem cells (ISCs) by the Wnt protein - which is important to cell proliferation and renewal - drives the aging process and loss of ISCs' ability to rejuvenate intestinal tissues.

"Deterioration of Wnt signaling in aging intestinal stem cells may help explain imbalances in food and nutrient absorption in older people, but our paper also shows that biology allows us to reverse this process by restoring Wnt signaling," said Hartmut Geiger, PhD, senior investigator of the study. "Pharmacologic interventions will still need to be designed based on this finding, but we know now where to start."

Geiger is a member of the Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology at Cincinnati Children's.

Old vs. Young

In tests that compared the intestines of young mice (2 to 3 months old) with those of aged mice (approaching 2 years old), researchers noticed significant differences in the structural architecture of intestine.

Intestines from older mice showed a reduced number of crypts (mucosal glands), and the structures were longer and wider than in younger animals. Older intestines also had longer villi (absorptive tissues) and an elevated number of cells. But the researchers also noticed there were fewer numbers of actively dividing cells in the intestines of the older mice.

Study authors then looked for different characteristics in the ISCs of young and old mouse intestines. Although they did not observe differences in the numbers of ISCs, they did see a decreased presence of molecular markers that denote ISC function. This led them to conclude that ISC function diminishes in older intestines.

Finding Wnt

To identify genetically driven molecular processes that prompt aging and diminished function in ISCs (and in Paneth and goblet cells they form) the researchers subjected ISCs to RNA sequencing analysis. These tests showed significant reductions in gene expression in the older cells, including the down regulation of molecular pathways involving the genes PPAR, SMAD and Wnt.

Because Wnt plays a particularly prominent role in regulating ISCs, the researchers focused on this pathway. In young and old mice they tested the presence and strength of the Wnt signaling pathway in cells of the mesenchyme - which forms connective and skeletal tissues. The mesenchyme has recently been identified in other studies as providing a supportive environment for ISCs to form.

The authors also tested Wnt signaling in different intestinal cells from young and old mice, specifically goblet and Paneth cells that secrete proteins and antimicrobial peptides that are important to sustaining healthy intestines. In both instances they observed a decline in Wnt in intestinal tissues from the older animals.

In testing on lab-generated human and mouse intestinal organoids, the researchers also observed declines in Wnt signaling in older intestines along with altered intestinal structures and indications of diminished function.

Molecular restoration

Researchers concluded their study by testing the restoration of Wnt signaling in intestines by adding Wnt3a (an inducer of Wnt signaling) in aged mouse and human organoid models, which were generated with donated human cells. This rejuvenated the regenerative potential of ISCs in the mouse and human modeling systems. It also boosted the generation of Paneth and goblet cells and prompted an increase in the number of intestinal crypts and other critical structures.

The scientists are following up the current study by trying to define the extent to which therapeutic intervention to rejuvenate ISCs might be beneficial to humans.

Explore further: Scientists wage fight against aging bone marrow stem cell niche

More information: "Canonical Wnt Signaling Ameliorates Aging of Intestinal Stem Cells" Cell Reports, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.02.056, http://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(17)30254-1

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Study identifies molecular clues for age-related intestinal issues - Medical Xpress

Celltex autologous stem cell case study published in Stem Cells and … – PR Newswire (press release)

"The favorable clinical response in these two young patient warrants further clinical trials using either autologous or allogenic mesenchymal stem cells," the authors wrote in their conclusion.

Dr. Young has extensive academic experience in cell biology, molecular biology, protein science, biochemistry and animal models. Dr. Young is responsible for supervising the production of Celltex's mesenchymal stem cells; evaluating Celltex's stem cells' quality, identity, properties and clinical applications; and she is heavily involved in designing Celltex research, clinical studies and trials, along with physicians in multiple medical centers.

"We are very encouraged by the clinical data obtained in this study, which showed favorable clinical response to Celltex's proprietary stem cell technology in dysautonomia patients," states Dr.Young. "This study is a great representation of Celltex's commitment to leading the United States into the future of regenerative medicine through adult stem cells."

Celltex uses its proprietary technology which isolates, multiplies and banks autologous (one's own) adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to be used for regenerative therapy for injuries and chronic pain as well as a number of conditions, including vascular, degenerative and autoimmune diseases.

Celltex is registered with the United States Food and Drug Administration as a Human Cell and Tissue Products (HCT/P) establishment that multiplies human cells and cellular products. The company operates in a state-of-the-art laboratory compliant with Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) standards as recommended by the FDA for the manufacturing of biological products.

To learn more about Celltex, visit http://www.celltexbank.com

About Celltex Therapeutics Corporation Celltex is a Houston-based biotechnology company that is leading the United States into the future of adult stem cell therapy with its proprietary technology. Celltex is committed to expanding the use of adult stem cell therapy by licensed physicians, with the goal of securing the future of regenerative medicine in the United States. For more information about Celltex Therapeutics Corporation, please visit http://www.celltexbank.com.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/celltex-autologous-stem-cell-case-study-published-in-stem-cells-and-development-demonstrates-favorable-response-in-pediatric-patients-300422155.html

SOURCE Celltex Therapeutics Corporation

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Celltex autologous stem cell case study published in Stem Cells and ... - PR Newswire (press release)

Kansas stem cell center success inspires lawmaker change of heart – National Right to Life News

By Kathy Ostrowski, Legislative Director, Kansans for Life

Kansas Democrat State Rep. John Wilson expressed regret to MSCTC conferees Dr. David Prentice and Dr. Buddhadeb Dawn for not voting with the majority in 2013 to create the successful stem cell center

Once in a blue moon, a lawmaker publicly admits he regrets how he voted. Those of us present at Tuesdays hearing in the Kansas House Health & Human Services committee witnessed such a concession.

The focus of the hearing was the status report on the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center (MSCTC), given primarily by Board advisor, Dr. David Prentice and the Director, Dr. Buddhadeb Dawn. The room was packed and the presentation was positively uplifting.

Gov. Sam Brownback, along with the Kansas Legislature, had approved the formation of the MSCTC in 2013 to be housed at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City. The Center is designed to serve as a regional hub of stem cell therapy, research, and education as well as an engine for increased processing of ethically-derived, adult stem cells (ASCs) for patient use.

There are numerous kinds of ASCs derived from different human tissues (see graphic). The point is that no ASCs require the destruction of human embryos.

In 2013, those paying careful attention to the stem cell issue realized the overblown expectations about the usefulness of stem cells derived from human embryos. Yet state Rep. John Wilson (D-Lawrence) was still unconvinced of the need to fund a patient-centered medical center using only non-embryonic stem cells. He voted against the measure, although the MSCTC passed.

On Tuesday, during the Q&A period, Wilson congratulated the Center for its success and acknowledged that he regretted voting against its creation. KFL later thanked Wilson for his remarks and joined him in his enthusiasm for the Center.

ADULT STEM CELL PROJECTS

Dr. David Prentice

Dr. Prentice, a native Kansan and frequent expert testifying on bioethical issues at the Kansas Statehouse, described ASC therapies as the gold standard in regenerative medicine, with over 1.5 million people having been treated to date, world-wide. His presentation examined the real patients who are benefitting from the current therapies offered at the MSCTC, such as 300 patients annually receiving stem cells in collaboration with the KU Cancer Center.

Prentice detailed some specific projects already underway, some in pre-clinical research phase, and others in planning stages. They include numerous new and innovative uses for ASCs targeting the brain, heart, spinal cord, liver, and joints.

Of particular interest is the groundbreaking direction MSCTC is taking on graft-versus-host disease, which can be a serious complication for some bone marrow adult stem cell transplants. Graft-versus-host is a problem in which stem cells not derived from the patient are introduced into the patient to replace those lost through chemo/radiation, but the cells begin to attack the new host as foreign.

Dr. Buddhadeb Dawn

MSCTCs director, cardiologist Dr. Dawn, is described by Prentice as one of the world leaders in cardiac repair technologies. With Dr. Dawn and other specialists at the Center, patients with severe heart ailments formerly without hope are given hope with adult stem cells.

Director Dawn pointed proudly to the Centers accomplishments in a mere 3 years, and described continuing efforts to collaborate with other scientists and private companies as well as develop methods and products that can be patented.

The fifth MSCTC annual conference is scheduled for September 15-16. Details about it and the Center can be found at http://www.kumc.edu/msctc.html.

The Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center, committed to advancing the use of ethical science, is proving itself to be everything we hoped for.

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Kansas stem cell center success inspires lawmaker change of heart - National Right to Life News

Toulon teen with POTS just ‘wants to be a normal kid’ – Peoria Journal Star

Gary L. Smith of the Journal Star

TOULON A Stark County teenager who has endured a lengthy ordeal from a debilitating autoimmune disorder now faces extensive and expensive further treatment.

BrookeLynn Montgomery, 15, has been an athlete and 2016 Junior Miss Stark County Queen, and a person looking at her would never imagine that she suffers from such symptoms as severe chest pain, headaches, heart palpitations, and fatigue, noted an aunt who has started a fundraising drive for medical and family expenses on gofundme.com.

They call it an invisible illness, because when you look at her, she looks fine, said Patricia Edwards, who lives in Florida. But inside, its like shes running a marathon.

The Wethersfield High School freshman has been diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome involving a malfunction of the autonomic nervous symptom. The imposing term reflects a major diagnostic criterion of a heart rate increase of 40 beats per minute or more upon standing.

Brookes resting heart rate is 62, and it would go up over 100, and that didnt even require standing, said her mother, Shelly Montgomery. That would be just turning over in bed.

POTS is not a disease in itself but rather a cluster of symptoms that are frequently seen together, according to Dysautonomia International. It can have many underlying disorders, and symptoms can include low blood volume, fiber neuropathy, dizziness, exercise intolerance, nausea, diminished concentration, fainting, and shortness of breath.

While POTS predominantly impacts young women who look healthy on the outside, researchers compare the disability seen in POTS to the disability seen in conditions like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and congestive heart failure, the organization says on its website.

After symptoms that appeared in 2015 led to discovery of enlarged lymph nodes, it appeared possible that there might be a recurrence from an abdominal tumor that led to removal of Brookes appendix and part of her colon during an earlier health crisis in 2012. But the biopsy was negative, and the POTS diagnosis was eventually confirmed in May 2016 by Dr. Mark J. Holterman, a professor of surgery and pediatrics at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria.

I have a lot of faith in him. Hes been our saving grace, said Shelly Montgomery. If it had not been for him, I dont think wed be sane today.

Brooke has been in and out of Childrens Hospital of Illinois at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria several times for treatments that have included medications, biological response therapy, chemotherapy, and plasmapheresis, a plasma-exchange process. But her case was made complex by allergic reactions to some medications, and the plasma process has become increasingly less effective in reducing her pain, family members said.

In the last four months, she has declined rapidly, and is no longer able to attend school, noted Edward Smith of Toulon, a grandfather. Theyre looking at getting her home tutoring.

The next medical step will be going to Chicago later this month for experimental stem cell-based treatment arranged by Holterman. Shelly Montgomery said Saturday that the doctor was out of the country and the family was still waiting to learn the details of time and place.

Hell be putting things in motion when he gets back, she said. Hes very optimistic. He feels that the (stem cell treatment) is going to do a lot for her.

Because the treatment is experimental, the cost will not be covered by the insurance that has helped with some prior expenses. Even with some fees waived, its expected to cost $5,000 to $6,000, Edwards said on the gofundme page for BrookeLynns Medical Expenses.

In addition, It is unclear at this point how long Brooke will stay in Chicago or how many trips to Chicago will need to be made, she added. Funds are needed immediately to help the family with medical costs as well as travel expenses.

Donations can also be made to the Brooke Montgomery Medical Expenses account at State Bank of Toulon, 102 W. Main St., Toulon IL 61483.

It was very difficult to accept the idea of requesting financial help, said Shelly Montgomery, who is a dental technician in Peoria. Brookes father, Donald Montgomery, is assistant manager at a farm supply store in Kewanee, and the family lives north of Toulon. An older daughter, Alyssa Watt, 23, lives in Kewanee.

But even with some insurance coverage, co-pays and other non-covered costs have been substantial, she said. And the financial impact has been increased by extra trips to Peoria and missed days of work, she added.

Its time to let family and friends help out, she said.

The family is in uncharted territory, she acknowledged, dealing with a condition that has no cure but has been reported to improve greatly in cases when the best treatment is found. The family is determined to find it.

Brooke has a new normal, and its not an acceptable normal. She shouldnt have to go through what she goes through every day, her mother said. Shes such a tough kid. She doesnt just sit and sulk about it. She just wants to go back to school and be a normal kid.

Gary L. Smith can be reached at (800) 516-0389 or glsmith@mtco.com. Follow him on Twitter @Glsmithx.

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Toulon teen with POTS just 'wants to be a normal kid' - Peoria Journal Star

Creative Medical Technology Holdings Appoints Internationally Renowned Stem Cell Pioneer as Chief Scientific Officer – Yahoo Finance

SAN DIEGO and PHOENIX, March 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Creative Medical Technology Holdings, Inc. (CELZ) announced today the appointment of Dr. Thomas Ichim to the position of Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Ichim will lead development of the Company's clinical stage CaverStemTM personalized stem cell therapy for erectile dysfunction, as well as advance preclinical and eventually clinical studies on the Company's universal donor AmnioStemTM stem cell therapy for post-stroke recovery.

"It is my honor to welcome Dr. Ichim to the position of Chief Scientific Officer," said Timothy Warbington, President and CEO of CELZ. "I have known Dr. Ichim for more than 10 years and have witnessed him grow his previous company, Medistem Inc., from concept to FDA Investigational New Drug (IND) clearance, to eventual acquisition by the NYSE traded company Intrexon. I am confident that Dr. Ichim will put CELZ on the same trajectory of success."

"Having published 20 peer-reviewed papers with Dr. Ichim over the last nine years, I greatly respect his unique ability to rapidly accelerate progress from concept, to patent, product. I look forward to continuing our collaborations in his new position," said Dr. Amit Patel, Cofounder and Board Member of CELZ, and Head of Cardiac Surgery at University of Miami.

"Dr. Ichim represents a true visionary in the area of cellular therapy, being one of the few people that effectively combines deep knowledge of basic science, regulatory affairs, and clinical translation. I plan to leverage our existing strengths at the Pacific Neurosciences Institute and at St John Providence to accelerate neurological uses of the Company's AmnioStemTM stem cell, particularly in the indication of post-stroke recovery," said Dr. Santosh Kesari, MD, PhD, FANA, FAAN, Scientific Advisory Board Member of CELZ. Dr. Kesari is Chair and Professor, Department of Translational Neurosciences and Neurotherapeutics, John Wayne Cancer Institute, as well as Director of Neuro-oncology, Providence Saint John's Health Center and leads the Pacific Neuroscience Research Center at Pacific Neuroscience Institute.

"I am enthusiastic about working with the distinguished team that Mr. Warbington assembled to accelerate clinical development of the Company's products," said Dr. Thomas Ichim, Ph.D. "This is one of those few occasions when one finds themselves in a position to work with people that one respects both as individuals and as leaders in their fields."

Dr. Ichim has extensive experience with stem cell therapy and cellular product development through FDA regulatory pathways. Dr. Ichim spent over seven years as the Chief Executive Officer, and subsequently, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Medistem, developing and commercializing a novel stem cell, the Endometrial Regenerative Cell, through drug discovery, optimization, preclinical testing, IND filing, and up through Phase II clinical trials with the FDA. Subsequent to the acquisition of Medistem by Intrexon, in a deal worth $26 million, Dr. Ichim was brought on to the parent company in its cell engineering unit as Vice President of Cellular Therapy. Dr. Ichim has over 100 patents and patent applications, as well as 103 peer reviewed publication.

About Creative Medical Technology Holdings

Creative Medical Technology Holdings, Inc. is a clinical stage biotechnology company currently trading on the OTCQB under the ticker symbol CELZ. For further information about the company go to http://www.creativemedicaltechnology.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

OTC Markets has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming clinical trials, marketing efforts, funding, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and, therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. See the periodic and other reports filed by Creative Medical Technology Holdings, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on the Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov.

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Creative Medical Technology Holdings Appoints Internationally Renowned Stem Cell Pioneer as Chief Scientific Officer - Yahoo Finance

Radiation study points to leukemia risk for Mars explorers – New Atlas

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The Martian environment is not too damaging to NASA's Curiosity Mars rover, but that won't be the case for one-day settlers on the Red Planet(Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS)

The prospect of a manned mission to Mars raises all kinds of uncertainties, including how the explorers will feed themselves and find shelter, assuming that they make it there in the first place. But one of the real reservations scientists currently hold about travel to the Red Planet is what kind of impact deep-space radiation might have on the human body. In a new NASA-funded study, researchers have found that it may heighten the risk of leukemia in humans, brought on by changes to the health and function of vital stem cells.

The question of how radiation affects humans in space is being addressed from a number of angles, with NASA conducting studies into its impacts on spacewalking astronauts, how it might affect cognition and behavior and how it might switch genes on and off. One source of radiation is galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), which predominantly travel from outside our solar system, while a closer source is our own Sun, which shoots off solar flares and energy in the form of electromagnetic waves and particles.

Here on Earth we are guarded from these dangers by our planet's magnetic field, but in space and on Mars whose magnetic field disappeared billions of years ago we'll receive no such protections. This week, NASA even floated the idea of one day creating an artificial magnetic field around Mars to protect crewed missions there in the future.

Research into the effects of deep-space radiation will help scientists determine how necessary such extreme measures might be. In the latest example of this, a team from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center carried out a study looking to assess its impacts specifically on human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). These immature cells can develop into all types of blood cells, including those that fight infections and malignant cells, and have shown promise as tools in the fight against HIV and leukemia.

The team did this by taking HSCs from healthy donors aged between 30 and 55 (to represent typical astronauts) and exposed them to simulated solar energetic particles and GCRs at the same levels one is expected to experience during a Mars mission. Analysis of the cells in the lab afterwards revealed that the radiation affected the cells at the stem cell level, causing mutations in genes that affected their ability to develop into mature blood cells.

"Radiation exposure at these levels was highly deleterious to HSC function, reducing their ability to produce almost all types of blood cells, often by 60 to 80 percent," says Christopher Porada, senior researcher on the project. "This could translate into a severely weakened immune system and anemia during prolonged missions in deep space."

Studying the radiation-treated cells in the lab is one thing, studying them in the body is another. To get an insight into what that might look like, the team then transplanted the GCR-irradiated HSCs into mice in effect, "humanizing" them. The mice went on to develop T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The team describe this as the first demonstration that deep space radiation may increase the leukemia risk in humans.

"Our results show radiation exposure could potentially increase the risk of leukemia in two ways," says Porada. "We found that genetic damage to HSCs directly led to leukemia. Secondly, radiation also altered the ability of HSCs to generate T and B cells, types of white blood cells involved in fighting foreign 'invaders' like infections or tumor cells. This may reduce the ability of the astronaut's immune system to eliminate malignant cells that arise as a result of radiation-induced mutations."

The research was published in the journal Leukemia.

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Radiation study points to leukemia risk for Mars explorers - New Atlas