Second patient free of HIV after stem-cell therapy

A person with HIV seems to be free of the virus after receiving a stem-cell transplant that replaced their white blood cells with HIV-resistant versions. The patient is only the second person ever reported to have been cleared of the virus using this method. But researchers warn that it is too early to say that they have been cured.

The patient whose identity hasnt been disclosed was able to stop taking antiretroviral drugs, with no sign of the virus returning 18 months later. The stem-cell technique was first used a decade ago for Timothy Ray Brown, known as the Berlin patient, who is still free of the virus.

So far, the latest patient to receive the treatment is showing a response similar to Browns, says Andrew Freedman, a clinical infectious-disease physician at Cardiff University in the UK who was not involved in the study. Theres good reason to hope that it will have the same result, he says.

Like Brown, the latest patient also had a form of blood cancer that wasnt responding to chemotherapy. They required a bone-marrow transplant, in which their blood cells would be destroyed and replenished with stem cells transplanted from a healthy donor.

But rather than choosing just any suitable donor, the team led by Ravindra Gupta, an infectious-disease physician at the University of Cambridge, UK picked a donor who had two copies of a mutation in the CCR5 gene that gives people resistance to HIV infection. This gene codes for a receptor which sits on the surface of white blood cells involved in the bodys immune response. Normally, the HIV binds to these receptors and attacks the cells, but a deletion in the CCR5 gene stops the receptors from functioning properly. About 1% of people of European descent have two copies of this mutation and are resistant to HIV infection.

Guptas team describes the results in a paper due to be published in Nature on 5 March. The researchers report that the transplant successfully replaced the patients white blood cells with the HIV-resistant variant. Cells circulating in the patients blood stopped expressing the CCR5 receptor, and in the lab, the researchers were unable to re-infect these cells with the patients version of HIV.

The team found that the virus completely disappeared from the patients blood after the transplant. After 16 months, the patient stopped taking antiretroviral drugs, the standard treatment for HIV. In the latest follow-up, 18 months after stopping medication, there was still no sign of the virus.

Gupta says that its not yet possible to say whether the patient has been cured. This can only be demonstrated if the patients blood remains HIV free for longer, he says.

But the study does suggest that Browns successful treatment ten years ago wasnt just a one-off. Gupta says that the latest patient received a less aggressive treatment than Brown to prepare for the transplant. The new patient was given a regimen consisting of chemotherapy alongside a drug that targets cancerous cells, while Brown received radiotherapy across his entire body in addition to a chemotherapy drug.

This suggests that, to be successful, stem-cell transplants in HIV patients would not necessarily need to be accompanied by aggressive treatments that might have particularly severe side effects, says Gupta. The radiation really does knock the bone marrow and make you very sick.

Graham Cooke, a clinical researcher at Imperial College London, points out that this kind of treatment wouldnt be suitable for most people with HIV who dont have cancer and so dont need a bone-marrow transplant, which is a serious procedure that can sometimes have fatal complications. If youre well, the risk of having a bone-marrow transplant is far greater than the risk of staying on tablets every day, he says. Most people with HIV respond well to daily antiretroviral treatment.

But Cooke adds that for those who need a transplant to treat leukaemia or other diseases, it seems reasonable to try and find a donor with the CCR5 mutation, which wouldnt add any risk to the procedure.

Gero Htter, who led Browns treatment and is now medical director of the stem-cell company Cellex in Dresden, Germany, agrees that this kind of treatment could only ever be used for a small group of patients. But he hopes that the paper will stimulate a renewed interest in gene therapies that target CCR5, which could be applied to a much broader group. The real breakthrough, we are still waiting for, he says.

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In the US, it is becoming more common to seek alternative treatments for medical conditions using stem cell therapy or stem cell based treatments. Some of the options that you may have been offered include cord blood products, whartons jelly, adipose derived stem cells, bone marrow derived stem cells.and Exosomes.

Some products are available from labs for physicians to administer to patients, while other stem cell based options are harvested directly from a patient, then readministered to the patient.

At Regenerative Solutions of NJ, Dr. Spiel utilizes Exosomes from Kimera Labs. Exosomes have quickly grown in popularity amongst scientists, physicians and patients to become the treatment of choice for patients who can benefit from regenerative therapies. Exosomes are best known for safety and efficacy. They are commonly used to treat many medical conditions with excellent results.

If you are considering stem cell based treatment, learn the benefit of EXOSOMESsafety and efficacy.

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Why expensive, unproven stem cell treatments are a new health …

The onlinevideoseems to promise everything an arthritis patient could want.

The six-minute segment mimics a morning talk show, using a polished TV host to interview guests around a coffee table. Dr. Adam Pourcho extols the benefits of stem cells and regenerative medicine for healing joints without surgery. Pourcho, a sports medicine specialist, says he has used platelet injections to treat his own knee pain, as well as a tendon injury in his elbow. Extending his arm, he says, Its completely healed.

Brendan Hyland, a gym teacher and track coach, describes withstanding intense heel pain for 18 months before seeing Pourcho. Four months after the injections, he says, he was pain-free and has since gone on a 40-mile hike.

I dont have any pain that stops me from doing anything I want, Hyland says.

Critics suggest the hospitals are exploiting desperate patients and profiting from trendy but unproven treatments.

The videos cheerleading tone mimics theinfomercialsused to promote stem cell clinics, several of which have recently gotten into hot water with federal regulators, saidDr. Paul Knoepfler, a professor of cell biology and human anatomy at the University of California-Davis School of Medicine. But the marketing video wasnt filmed by a little-known operator.

It was sponsored bySwedishMedical Center, the largest nonprofit health provider in the Seattle area.

Swedish is one of a growing number ofrespected hospitalsandhealth systems including theMayo Clinic, theCleveland Clinicand theUniversity of Miami that have entered the lucrative business ofstem cellsandrelated therapies, including platelet injections. Typical treatments involveinjecting patients joints with their own fatorbone marrowcells, or with extracts ofplatelets, the cell fragments known for their role in clotting blood. Many patients seek out regenerative medicine to stave off surgery, even though theevidencesupporting these experimental therapies isthin at best, Knoepfler said.

Hospitals say theyre providing options to patients who have exhausted standard treatments. But critics suggest the hospitals are exploiting desperate patients and profiting from trendybut unproventreatments.

TheFood and Drug Administrationis attempting to shut down clinics that hawk unapproved stem cell therapies, which have been linked toseveral cases of blindnessand atleast 12 serious infections. Although doctors usually need preapproval to treat patients with human cells, the FDA has carved out ahandful of exceptions,as long as the cells meet certain criteria, said Barbara Binzak Blumenfeld, an attorney who specializes in food and drug law at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney in Washington.

Hospitals like Mayo are careful to follow these criteria, to avoid running afoul of the FDA, said Dr. Shane Shapiro, program director for the Regenerative Medicine Therapeutics Suites at Mayo Clinics campus in Florida.

While hospital-based stem cell treatments may be legal, theres nostrong evidencethey work, said Leigh Turner, an associate professor at the University of Minnesotas Center for Bioethics who has published a series of articles describing the size and dynamics of thestem cell market.

FDA approval isnt needed and physicians can claim they arent violating federal regulations, Turner said. But just because something is legal doesnt make it ethical.

For doctors and hospitals, stem cells are easy money, Turner said. Patients typically paymore than $700a treatment for platelets and up to$5,000for fat and bone marrow injections. As a bonus, doctors dont have to wrangle with insurance companies, which view the procedures asexperimentaland largelydont cover them.

For doctors and hospitals, stem cells are easy money.

Its an out-of-pocket, cash-on-the-barrel economy, Turner said. Across the country, clinicians at elite medical facilities are lining their pockets by providingexpensive placebos.

Some patient advocates worry that hospitals are more interested in capturing a slice of the stem-cell market than in proving their treatments actually work.

Its lucrative. Its easy to do. All these reputable institutions, they dont want to miss out on the business, said Dr. James Rickert, president of the Society for Patient Centered Orthopedics, which advocates for high-quality care. It preys on peoples desperation.

In a joint statement, Pourcho and Swedish defended the online video.

The terminology was kept simple and with analogies that the lay person would understand, according to the statement. As with any treatment that we provide, we encourage patients to research and consider all potential treatment options before deciding on what is best for them.

But Knoepfler said the guests on the video make several unbelievable claims.

At one point, Dr. Pourcho says thatplatelets release growth factorsthat tell the brain which types of stem cells to send to the site of an injury. According to Pourcho, these instructions make sure that tissues are repaired with the appropriate type of cell, and so you dont get, say, eyeball in your hand.

Knoepfler, who has studied stem cell biology for two decades, said he has never heard of any possibility of growing eyeball or other random tissues in your hand. Knoepfler, who wrote about the video in February on his blog,The Niche, said, Theres no way that the adult brain could send that kind of stem cells anywhere in the body.

The marketing video debuted in July on KING-TV, a Seattle station, as part of a local lifestyles show called New Day Northwest. Although much of the show is produced by the KING 5 news team, some segments like Pourchos interview are sponsored by local advertisers, said Jim Rose, president and general manager of KING 5 Media Group.

After being contacted by KHN, Rose asked Swedish to remove the video from YouTube because it wasnt labeled as sponsored content. Omitting that label could allow the video to be confused with news programming. The video now appears only on the KING-TV website, where Swedish is labeled as the sponsor.

The goal is to clearly inform viewers of paid content so they can distinguish editorial and news content from paid material, Rose said. We value the publics trust.

Federal authorities have recently begun cracking down on doctors who make unproven claims or sell unapproved stem cell products.

In October, theFederal Trade Commissionfined stem cell clinics millions of dollars for deceptive advertising, noting that the companies claimed to be able to treat or cure autism, Parkinsons disease and other serious diseases.

In a recent interview Scott Gottlieb, the FDA commissioner, said the agency will continue to go after what he called bad actors.

Withmore than 700stem cell clinics in operation, the FDA is first targeting those posing the biggest threat, such as doctors who inject stem cells directly into the eye or brain.

There are clearly bad actors who are well over the line and who are creating significant risks for patients, Gottlieb said.

Federal authorities have recently begun cracking down on doctors who make unproven claims or sell unapproved stem cell products.

Gottlieb, set to leave office April 5, said hes also concerned about the financial exploitation of patients in pain.

Theres economic harm here, where products are being promoted that arent providing any proven benefits and where patients are paying out-of-pocket, Gottlieb said.

Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said there is a broad spectrum of stem cell providers, ranging from university scientists leading rigorous clinical trials to doctors who promise stem cells are for just about anything. Hospitals operate somewhere in the middle, Marks said.

The good news is that theyre somewhat closer to the most rigorous academics, he said.

The Mayo Clinics regenerative medicine program, for example, focuses conditions such asarthritis, where injections pose few serious risks, even if thats not yet the standard of care, Shapiro said.

Rickert said its easy to see why hospitals are eager to get in the game.

The market for arthritis treatment is huge and growing. At least30 million Americanshave the most common form of arthritis, with diagnoses expected to soar as the population ages. Platelet injections for arthritis generatedmore than $93 millionin revenue in 2015, according to an article last year in The Journal of Knee Surgery.

We have patients in our offices demanding these treatments, Shapiro said. If they dont get them from us, they will get them somewhere else.

Doctors at the Mayo Clinic try to provide stem cell treatments and similar therapies responsibly, Shapiro said. Ina paper published this year,Shapiro described the hospitals consultation service, in which doctors explain patients options and clear up misconceptions about what stem cells and other injections can do. Doctors can refer patients to treatment or clinical trials.

Most of the patients do not get a regenerative [stem cell] procedure, Shapiro said. They dont get it because after we have a frank conversation, they decide, Maybe its not for me.

Although some hospitals boast of high success rates for their stem cell procedures,published researchoften paints a different story.

TheMayo Clinic websitesays that 40 to 70% of patients find some level of pain relief. Atlanta-basedEmory Healthcareclaims that 75 to 80% of patients have had significant pain relief and improved function. In the Swedish video, Pourcho claims we can treat really any tendon or any joint with PRP.

The strongest evidence for PRP is in pain relief for arthritic knees and tennis elbow, where it appears to be safe and perhaps helpful, said Dr. Nicolas Piuzzi, an orthopedic surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic.

But PRP hasnt been proven to help every part of the body, he said.

PRP has been linked to serious complications when injected to treatpatellar tendinitis,an injury to the tendon connecting the kneecap to the shinbone. In a 2013 paper, researchers described the cases of three patients whose pain got dramatically worse after PRP injections. One patient lost bone and underwent surgery to repair the damage.

People will say, If you inject PRP, you will return to sports faster, said Dr. Freddie Fu, chairman of orthopedic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. But that hasnt been proven.

A2017 studyof PRP found it relieved knee pain slightly better than injections of hyaluronic acid. But thats nothing to brag about, Rickert said, given thathyaluronic acid therapy doesnt work, either. While some PRP studies have shown morepositive results, Rickert notes that most were so small orpoorly designedthat theirresults arent reliable.

In its 2013 guidelines for knee arthritis, theAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeonssaid it is unable to recommend for or against PRP.

PRP is sort of a buyer beware situation, said Dr. William Li, president and CEO of the Angiogenesis Foundation, whose research focuses on blood vessel formation. Its the poor mans approach to biotechnology.

Tests of other stem cell injections also have failed to live up to expectations.

Shapiro published a rigorously designed study last year inCartilage, a medical journal, that found bone marrow injections were no better at relieving knee pain than saltwater injections. Rickert noted that patients who are in pain often get relief from placebos. The more invasive the procedure, the stronger the placebo effect, he said, perhaps because patients become invested in the idea that an intervention will really help. Even saltwater injections help 70% of patients, Fu said.

A 2016 review in theJournal of Bone and JointSurgery concluded that the value and effective use of cell therapy in orthopaedics remain unclear. The following year, a review in theBritish Journal of Sports Medicineconcluded, We do not recommend stem cell therapy for knee arthritis.

Shapiro said hospitals and health plans are right to be cautious.

Many patients have trouble sorting through the hype.

The insurance companies dont pay for fat grafting or bone-marrow aspiration, and rightly so, Shapiro said. Thats because we dont have enough evidence.

Rickert, an orthopedist in Bedford, Ind., said fat, bone marrow and platelet injections should be offered only through clinical trials, which carefully evaluate experimental treatments. Patients shouldnt be charged for these services until theyve been tested and shown to work.

Orthopedists surgeons who specialize in bones and muscles have a history of performing unproven procedures, includingspinal fusion, surgery forrotator cuff diseaseandarthroscopyfor worn-out knees, Turner said. Recently, studies have shown them to be no more effective than placebos.

Some argue that joint injections shouldnt be marketed as stem cell treatments at all.

Piuzzi said he prefers to call the injections orthobiologics,noting that platelets are not even cells, let alone stem cells. The number of stem cells in fat and bone marrow injections is extremely small, he said. In fat tissue, only about 1 in 2,000 cells is a stem cell, according to a March paper inThe Bone & Joint Journal. Stem cells are even rarer in bone marrow, where 1 in 10,000 to 20,000 cells is a stem cell.

Patients are attracted to regenerative medicine because they assume it will regrow their lost cartilage, Piuzzi said. Theres no solid evidence that the commercial injections used today spur tissue growth, Piuzzi said. Although doctors hope that platelets will release anti-inflammatory substances, which could theoretically help calm an inflamed joint, they dont know why some patients who receive platelet injections feel better, but others dont.

So, it comes as no surprise that many patients have trouble sorting through the hype.

Florida resident Kathy Walsh, 61, said she wasted nearly $10,000 on stem cell and platelet injections at a Miami clinic, hoping to avoid knee replacement surgery.

When Walsh heard about a doctor in Miami claiming to regenerate knee cartilage with stem cells, it seemed like an answer to a prayer, said Walsh, of Stuart, Fla. Youre so much in pain and so frustrated that you cling to every bit of hope you can get, even if it does cost you a lot of money.

The injections eased her pain for only a few months. Eventually, she had both knees replaced. She has been nearly pain-free ever since. My only regret, she said, is that I wasted so much time and money.

KaiserHealthNewsis an editorially independent program of the Henry J.KaiserFamily Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisanhealthpolicy research and communication organization not affiliated withKaiserPermanente. You can view the original report on itswebsite.

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Why expensive, unproven stem cell treatments are a new health ...

Risky Stem-Cell Treatments Come Under F.D.A. Scrutiny …

Cord for Life also fared poorly on an F.D.A. inspection in November, according to the letter, which listed numerous deficiencies in sanitation, like employees wearing the same non-sterile smocks for up to two weeks, not changing gloves and not cleaning equipment properly.

The F.D.A. gave the company 15 days to present a plan for correcting the deficiencies, and noted that failing to act on the problems could result in seizure and/or injunction by the agency.

Donald Hudspeth, general manager of Cord for Life, said the company had already corrected the problems identified in the inspection. Mr. Hudspeth also said that Cord for Life was unaware that the F.D.A. expected it to submit more proof of completion.

In addition, he said the company had not received any reports of adverse reactions from its products in its 25-year history.

The F.D.A. did not release the names of the recipients of the other 20 letters.

In their statement, Dr. Gottlieb and Dr. Marks dismissed claims by some stem cell businesses that they are exempt from F.D.A. regulations because their practitioners extract stem cells from a patients own fat or bone marrow and then return the cells to the same patient. The cells do not qualify as drugs and do not need regulation, the clinics argue.

The two officials disagreed: Stem cell products can create unique and serious risks depending on how theyre manipulated once theyre taken from the body and how they are used once theyre reinserted in the body.

The statement also noted that the F.D.A. was halfway through a three-year period of what it calls enforcement discretion, meaning that in 2017 it put stem-cell clinics on notice that their treatments were likely to come under F.D.A. authority, but that instead of cracking down immediately it was giving them time to learn what rules applied to them and to comply.

So far, though, the industrys response has been modest, the agency said, adding that once the three-year period is over, in November 2020, well step up our oversight.

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Risky Stem-Cell Treatments Come Under F.D.A. Scrutiny ...

Stem Cell Treatment – DNA Advanced Pain Treatment Center

Overview Of Stem Cell Treatments

The body is comprised of a multitude of tissues and organs that grow from a cluster of stem cells early in development. Stem cells have the ability to develop into any type of cell in the body early in life. In an embryo they begin as an un-programed cell before developing into specialized cells that form the bones, muscles, skin, and organs. At this point they are referred to as pluripotent stem cells. Stem cells differ from other cells in the body as they have the ability to renew themselves. Therefore, stem cells can repair and replace tissues within the human body.

With advancements in medicine, researchers have found that stems cells can be used to successfully treat injury and disease as they help to stimulate healing in the body.

Bone marrow transplants are the most common type of stem cell therapy and have been routinely used for the past 40 years to treat various blood disorders, as well as certain cancers, including leukemia and lymphoma.

Researchers are continually finding new ways to use stem cells to rebuild damaged tissues in the body, including the eyes, pancreas, and brain among others.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplants from bone marrow, peripheral blood, and umbilical cord are approved by the FDA to treat various blood-based cancers (i.e. multiple myeloma, lymphoma, and leukemia) as well as other blood disorders (i.e. anemia, thalassemia, and severe combined immune deficiency). There are currently thousands of clinical trials investigating ways to improve hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, how to combine it with other therapies, and which stem cell sources produce optimal results.

The Canadian Stem Cell Foundation reports that while the following conditions currently have no stem cell therapy that has FDA approval, there are many trials in the preliminary stages of testing currently underway by researchers around the world.

Despite the promising results that are being found in preliminary studies, there are many questions surrounding the safe application of stem cell therapy and further research is needed to identify potential risks associated with this therapy.

There are various risks associated with a stem cell transplant, some which are possibly fatal, including graft-versus-hot disease, stem cell failure, infection, organ damage, cataracts, new cancer, and infertility.

The risk of complications can depend on various factors including the type of disease, the type of transplant, the age of the patient, and the general health of the patient.

If you would like to learn more about stem cell treatment, please review the links to the literature below. Additionally, if you think that stem cell treatment may be a treatment option for your condition, speak to your doctor. They can address any further questions or concerns that you may have and discuss any possible risks associated with this procedure, which will help you to make an informed decision about your healthcare.

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Stem Cell Treatment - DNA Advanced Pain Treatment Center

Stem Cell Therapy for Pets

Theres controversy surrounding the use of stem cells, particularly in humans. But stem cell therapy is being used to treat beloved pets. Here's how it works in animals.

What are stem cells?

In all animals, stem cells are like blank slates. They start out without any clear identity, but can divide and grow into many different types of cells, like muscle or blood cells.

What is stem cell therapy?

Stem cells are being used to treat illness and heal injuries in pets. They are injected into the body to repair muscles, joints, and ligaments that have been damaged by arthritis or injury. Some cancers are treated with stem cells taken from the pet's own bone marrow. And research is underway to test stem cells for diabetes treatment, and to treat animals that have lost control of their bladders.

Does stem cell therapy for pets work the same as in humans?

Yes. The basic idea is the same, but because there are fewer regulations for treating animals, stem cell therapy is used more often in pets than in humans.

How long have veterinarians been using this type of treatment?

Vets have been testing stem cell therapy in animals for about 10 years, but serious work has amped up in the past 4 or 5 years.

What does the procedure involve?

Stem cells are usually taken from the animals fat tissue or blood plasma. They're then separated out from other cells and put back in the animal, usually by injecting them directly into the problem area.

Does it work?

Right now, there are no big studies to show that stem cell therapy works in pets. All we have is anecdotal evidence, or stories from pet owners and veterinarians. Studies are underway to give us better insight into how effective stem cell therapy is in pets.

Are there any risks?

The biggest risk is your pet developing cancer. Studies are being done to see how to lessen it.

How much does it cost?

In pets, stem cell therapy usually costs between $2,000 and $3,000, but it can go much higher.

Where can I look into pet stem cell therapy?

Teaching hospitals are a great place to start your search. Here are a few:

SOURCES:

American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation: Regenerative Medicine.

Burns, K. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, published online Feb. 15, 2011.

National Institutes of Health: "Stem Cell Basics."

Shila K. Nordone, PhD, chief scientific officer, American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation.

North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine: "Oncology - Canine Bone Marrow Transplant."

FDA: "FDA Warns About Stem Cell Claims."

Excerpt from:
Stem Cell Therapy for Pets

Understanding Stem Cell Therapy in Parkinsons Disease …

Parkinson's Research Understanding Stem Cell Therapy in Parkinsons Disease Treatment

On April 29, 2018, the Washington Post published an article examining commercial stem cell clinics in the United States that market non-FDA approved treatments directly to the public for a variety of health issues, including arthritis, macular degeneration and of particular note to us, Parkinsons disease (PD).

A typical treatment at one of these clinics involves removing fat cells from the abdomen (some clinics remove bone marrow or blood for this procedure), treating the cells in various ways in order to isolate mesenchymal stem cells or stromal cells from the removed tissue, and finally injecting these cells back into the body. The cells are re-introduced into the body in different locations (into the bloodstream, cerebral spinal fluid, nose, eye, etc.) depending on which disease is being targeted. Such treatments are performed for a fee, sometimes a large one, and are not covered by insurance.

Commercial clinics do not as a rule publish their results in peer-reviewed journals to demonstrate to the scientific community that the treatments work. Rather, they usually rely on anecdotes from patients as proof of efficacy. Some clinics are tracking their results by measuring variables such as quality of life before or after the procedure. However, without comparing the patients to a similar group who does not receive the treatment, it is hard to know whether any improvement is due to placebo effect or to the treatment itself.

Safety data is also limited, although there have been some publicized lawsuits claiming that these treatments resulted in harm. Stem cell researchers in general question whether cells harvested in such a way contain sufficient amounts of adult-derived stem cells to be meaningful. It is also unclear how this type of procedure would target the stem cells to the correct location. If stem cells are introduced in the nose for example, it is unclear how they would find their way to the basal ganglia and make the correct connection in order to help a person with Parkinsons disease.

In order for the medical community to accept this type of treatment as safe and beneficial, it would need to be shown to work in a placebo-controlled clinical trial for which participants do not pay, are aware of the known risks and benefits, and are carefully monitored throughout the trial. In addition, the trial would need to track adverse events, as well as record and share the outcomes of trial participants as they compare to the group of patients receiving a placebo treatment. So far this has not happened. The FDA is in fact studying mesenchymal stem cells in the laboratory in order to determine the best way to use them to help people, but these studies have not yet led to approved treatments. Most recently, the FDA filed federal complaints against two clinics that are marketing stem cell products without regulatory approval.

Researchers are working on it. Stem cells, often derived from a patient with Parkinsons disease, are currently being studied extensively in the laboratory, both to further our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that cause cell death in PD, and also as a test environment for new medications. However, there are currently no stem cell treatments for Parkinsons disease that have been developed and tested to the point that we are sure that they help and do not cause harm. Researchers however, are furiously underway to develop such a treatment. The research is focused on deciphering the best source of stem cells to use, the best ways to turn the stem cells into dopaminergic neurons (the type of neurons that are depleted in Parkinsons disease) and the best ways to introduce the cells into the brain for maximal effect and minimal harm.

1. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) Stem cells derived from a human embryo, typically at a very early developmental stage. Early embryos created by in vitro fertilization (IVF) and are not going to be used, are typically the source of these cells. (This is as opposed to fetal stem cells which are typically derived from an older embryo.) 2. Adult derived stem cells (also called tissue-specific stem cells) Stem cells found among, and then isolated from, differentiated cells in an adult. The most well understood of these are hematopoietic stem cells found in adult blood and bone marrow, which have been used clinically for decades, mostly to treat blood cancers and other disorders of the blood and immune systems. 3. Umbilical cord stem cells Hematopoietic stem cells are also found in umbilical cord blood retrieved after delivery. These too are used clinically to treat blood cancers and some rare genetic disorders 4. Mesenchymal stem cells also known as stromal cells are present in many tissues such as bone, cartilage and fat. They remain poorly understood, but likely have regenerative potential. These are the cells that are harvested at the commercial stem cell clinics described above. 5. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) Stem cells created from adult skin or blood cells that have been reprogrammed to revert to an embryonic state. 6. Human parthenogenetic stem cells Stem cells created from an unfertilized human ovum.

Four groups dedicated to using stem cell therapies to treat Parkinsons disease have formed an international consortium known as G Force PD. Each of the four centers is planning a clinical trial to start in the next 1-4 years. They differ on the source of stem cells that they will be using (ESCs vs iPSCs). All will be injecting the cells directly into the basal ganglia part of the brain where the ends of the dopamine producing neurons live. The Parkinsons community eagerly awaits the implementation of these trials.

When open for enrollment, should I consider participating in a stem cell trial? When faced with an illness like PD, you can at times feel that it is worthwhile to try anything that may lead to a cure. Its important to always make sure however, that youre dealing with trusted information, proven therapies, and clinical trials that have been properly vetted by the medical community.

What if you want to get involved? Participation in a clinical trial that is investigating the use of stem cell treatments for Parkinsons disease will allow you to be involved in bringing such treatments to fruition. It is incredibly important to note however, that clinical trials that are entered on clinicaltrials.gov, the NIH-managed directory of all clinical trials, are not vetted by the NIH, and commercial stem cell clinics we mentioned earlier can put their treatments on this site to recruit patients. Most people dont realize this, which led clinicaltrials.gov to put a new disclaimer on their site stating: The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators.

Therefore, in order to use clinicaltrials.gov safely, focus on the trials conducted at academic medical centers in the United States. Once you have identified a trial that you might be interested in, talk it over with your doctor before committing to anything.

Be aware that a clinical trial utilizing stem cells will likely require the cells to be injected directly into the brain, which will inevitably be associated with a certain amount of risk. You will need to discuss details of this risk with your doctor and the trial organizers.

Does APDA fund any stem cell research? APDA is committed to funding research to further our understanding of PD and to bring new treatments to patients as quickly as possible. Recent funding of Dr. Xiabo Mao, at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD, allowed him to use iPSCs to model PD and test a potential new avenue of treatment.

Be cautious of any clinic promoting a treatment that has not been proven by the FDA to be safe and effective. There is some promise in the area of using stem cells as a possible treatment for PD, but much more research needs to be done before such a therapy will be approved for clinical use.

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DISCLAIMER: Any medical information disseminated via this blog is solely for the purpose of providing information to the audience, and is not intended as medical advice. Our healthcare professionals cannot recommend treatment or make diagnoses, but can respond to general questions. We encourage you to direct any specific questions to your personal healthcare providers.

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Understanding Stem Cell Therapy in Parkinsons Disease ...

Stem Cell Therapy for ED in Miami, FL | ED Help | HealthGAINS

Maintaining a Healthy Sex Life

Most men between the ages of 30 and 65 will experience some degree of erectile dysfunction.

Whether you are looking to start a family or maintain a relationship, erectile dysfunction can drive a physical and emotional wedge between you and your partner. If you are dealing with erectile dysfunction or perhapsPeyronies disease, youre not able to live your best life. According to the latest clinical research, stem cells could be the key to reclaiming your healthy sex life.

Stem cells are the most powerful healing solution, arguably, in the history of medicine.

They have the ability to form completely new and healthy tissue, and in the case of Peyronies disease patients, it can completely eliminate the plaque that causes penile curvature in the first place.

If youre tired of pumping your body with risky or ineffective medications, stem cells can provide long-term relief and help you feel like youre in your 20s again!

At HealthGAINS, we exclusively use Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC). They are unique in that they are unspecialized and have the ability to morph into any specialized cells as needed.

Mesenchymal stem cells also have a self-renewing ability in which they continuously divide to make more of the cells that they transform into.

For years, doctors have utilized the unique nature of stem cells to produce renewed, healthier tissue and organs for patients in need of serious medical relief.

All stem cells carry three properties:

These properties, when applied to an area of the body, allow for the newly introduced stem cells to take on the function of surrounding cells. This addresses the deteriorating effects of aging. When applied to the groin, stem cells provide men with these key benefits:

For those suffering from moderate to severe erectile dysfunction, stem cell therapy is a viable solution. By introducing stem cells into the body, their regenerative effects work to restore and repair the blood vessels and tissues that are preventing the ideal blood flow that creates strong and lasting erections.

With renewed blood vessels, men can achieve harder and longer erections as well as improved sensation for a reinvigorated sexual experience. Men will be able to perform better, more often and with more ability and enthusiasm.

A unique behavior of stem cells is their innate ability to seek out and remove foreign particles from the body. For those suffering from Peyronies disease, little has provided you relief from the physical and sexual discomfort that comes with the condition. However, the plaque build-up that creates the uncomfortable bend, can be removed through stem cell treatments. The stem cells will identify the plaque as an issue and eliminate it entirely and permanently from the body.

Patients can, in as little as 8 weeks, experience lasting relief from their Peyronies disease and accompanying Erectile Dysfunction. Patients can resume or experience for the first time their healthy and satisfying sex lives.

If you arent familiar with our GAINSWave therapy, it utilizes the healing effects of sound waves that are pulsed into the penis to pump up its performance by improving blood flow. The results are impeccable, long lasting and produce no side effects.

Because GAINSWave therapy and stem cell treatments are surgery-free, they can be utilized to enhance each others effects on your sex life.

These treatments work together through GAINSWave creating a stimulant that triggers the body to generate growth factors and send them to the treated area. The stem cells then come in to assist in the creation of more growth factors (proteins) as well as become the building block for more tissue. From soft tissue to new blood vessels, these two treatments work together to regenerate and reinvigorate your sexual capabilities completely.

Are There Any Side Effects?

The Mesenchymal Stem Cells we utilize are donated from the umbilical cords of healthy, full-term infants after childbirth. These cells are the healthiest and strongest version of stem cells that have been extracted for medical use.

This, combined with the fact that mesenchymal stem cells are inherently immune privilege (meaning they contain no allergies and will not react negatively with the body), gives patients peace of mind. No side effects have been found in our stem cell treatments.

Stem cells are a very powerful solution to many medical issues. If you want the most out of your sexual health treatment or you have a serious case of Erectile Dysfunction, utilizing a combination of stem cells with a GAINSWave treatment will give you the most potent healing results that modern sexual health medicine can provide.

We recommend speaking with one of our mens health specialists. Our medical experts will review your medical history, current sexual health, and overall wellness goals to develop a treatment plan tailored to you.

If you want to drastically improve your sex life through natural treatment methods, call the experts at HealthGAINS at (866) 540-3555.

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Stem Cell Therapy for ED in Miami, FL | ED Help | HealthGAINS

5 Stem Cell Therapy Benefits, Uses & How It Works – Dr. Axe

Fact Checked

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With strict editorial sourcing guidelines, we only link to academic research institutions, reputable media sites and, when research is available, medically peer-reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses (1, 2, etc.) are clickable links to these studies.

The information in our articles is NOT intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice.

This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by our trained editorial staff. Note that the numbers in parentheses (1, 2, etc.) are clickable links to medically peer-reviewed studies.

Our team includes licensed nutritionists and dietitians, certified health education specialists, as well as certified strength and conditioning specialists, personal trainers and corrective exercise specialists. Our team aims to be not only thorough with its research, but also objective and unbiased.

The information in our articles is NOT intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice.

By Jillian Levy, CHHC

March 23, 2018

Clinical research regarding stem cell therapy benefits has grown dramatically in recent decades. The most promising thing about stem cell therapy and similar prolotherapy treatments including PRP is that they offer relief for patients with chronic pain and difficult-to-heal injuries, all without medications or risky reconstructive surgeries. Today researchers are also uncovering ways to apply stem cell treatments for common chronic conditions such as heart disease,neurodegenerative diseases and diabetes.

The most common use of stem cell treatments in prolotherapy is managing pain. Most consider stem cell therapy to be a form of interventional pain-management, meaning its a minimally invasive technique. Treatment involves injecting stem cells (along with an anesthetic and sometimes other substances) around painful and damaged nerves, tendons, joints or muscle tissue.

What specific types of conditions can stem cell therapy help treat? Some of the most common include osteoarthritis knee pain, tennis elbow, shoulder pains or rotator cuff injuries, tendonitis, Achilles tendon injuries and now cardiovascular diseases likeatherosclerosis.

There are now more options available to patients than ever before for various types of prolotherapy treatments, but the type of prolotherapyI recommend the most is the unique approach to stem cell therapy offered by the Regenexxclinic. I have personally visited the Regenexx clinic in the Cayman Islands to receive treatments performed by Dr. Chris Centeno, Dr. John Schultz and Dr. John Pitt for back and tendon injuries. The form of stem cell therapy offered by these doctors is considered to be one of themost thoroughly researched and effective in the world.

Stem cell therapy is a type of treatment option that uses a patients own stem cells to help repair damaged tissue and repair injuries. Its usually performed relatively quickly through injections, and is a simple outpatient or in office procedure.

This type of treatment has also been found to help:

According to the National Institute of Health,

Stem cells are important for living organisms for many reasons. In the 3- to 5-day-old embryo, called a blastocyst, the inner cells give rise to the entire body of the organism, including all of the many specialized cell types and organs such as the heart, lungs, skin, sperm, eggs and other tissues. In some adult tissues, such as bone marrow, muscle, and brain, discrete populations of adult stem cells generate replacements for other cells that are lost through normal wear and tear, injury, or disease.

The California Stem Cell Agency reports that there is no limit to the types of diseases that could be treated with stem cell research. Because of their amazing abilities to help with regrowth, stem cell therapy treatments are now being used (or continuously researched) in regards to treating:

Stem cells are usually taken from one of two areas in the patients body: bone marrow or adipose (fat) tissue in their upper thigh/abdomen. Because its common to remove stem cells from areas of stored body fat, some refer to stem cell therapy as Adipose Stem Cell Therapy in some cases. (1)

Once stem cells from removed from one of these locations, they are placed in a centrifuge machine that spins them very, very quickly and concentrates the substances that are most valuable (including up to seven different types of natural growth factors). The sample of concentrated stem cells is then injected directly into the patients affected, painful area allowing the cells growth factors to go to work immediately, building new skin cells, connective tissue and so on.

What exactly makes stem cells so beneficial and gives stem cell injections the power to do this healing? Stem cells have the following unique characteristics, uses and healing abilities:

The type of stem cells being used in the most cutting-edge orthopedic practices including those offered at the Regenexx clinic mentioned above are called Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). A growing body of research shows that MSCs have the capability of differentiating and forming new orthopedic tissues that make up muscle, bones, cartilage and tendons, ligaments and adipose tissue. (3)

Research suggests that in treating orthopedic problems,fat-derived MSCs tend to under-perform bone marrow derived stem cells, therefore bone derived is the preferred method. (4) This is especially true when bone marrow cells are dramatically concentrated using advanced centrifuge equipment. Certain studies have found that these advanced samples can contain up to 25 different growth factors and other beneficial rebuilding substances.

In studies regarding orthopedic care such as those used for cartilage replacement,bone repairand soft-tissue repair bone marrow stem cells injections have been found to: reduce chronic pain, heal stubborn injuries, improve functionality and return patients to their normal routine sometimes within just one week.

Wondering if MSCs for orthopedic injuries are safe? There is no evidence of overgrowth of MSCs in damaged tissue or reason to believe theres risk for tumor growth. Advanced clinics such as Regenexx actually count cells before injecting them and carefully monitor progress. According to research used by Regenexx, MSCs safely stop proliferating once they physically contact each other, because this signals to them that the affected area has reached its full potential in growth. (5)

Cardiovascular diseases can deprive heart tissue of oxygen and cause scar tissue to form which changes blood flow/blood pressure. Research suggests that stem cells taken from adult bone marrow have the ability to differentiate into those needed to repair the heart and blood vessels, thanks to the secretion of multiple growth factors. Several ways in which stem cell therapy is now being used and further researched in regards to improving recovery of heart disease are:

Although more research is needed to assess the safety and efficacy of this approach, stem cell types used in heart disease treatment include: embryonic stem (ES) cells, cardiac stem cells,myoblasts (muscle stem cells), adult bone marrow-derived cells, umbilical cord blood cells, mesenchymal cells (bone marrow-derived cells) and endothelial progenitor cells (these form the interior lining of blood vessels).

Studies have found that stem cell treatments can help improve the growth of healthy new skin tissue, improve collagen production, stimulate hair growth after loss or incisions, and help replace scar tissue with newly formed healthy tissue.

One of the ways stem cells help facilitate wound healing is by increasingcollagen concentrations in the skin, which shrinks as it matures and thereby strengthens and tightens the damaged area. This same mechanism also applies to treating connective tissue injuries related to collagen/cartilage loss, such as those caused by osteoarthritis or overuses that affect ligaments or tendons.

Recent progress in the treatment of diseases like Parkinsons, Huntingtons, Alzheimers and stroke recovery show that transplanted adult stem cells can be used to form new brain cells, neurons and synapses following cognitive degeneration or brain injuries. (6) Research conducted by the Research Center for Stem Cell Biology and Cell Therapy in Sweden is still underway, but current findings show that stem cells can improve synaptic circuits, optimize functional recovery, offer relief from degeneration symptoms, slow down disease progression and potentially even more.

Some of the ways that stem cell injections/grafts work in neurodegeneration treatment are: normalizing striatal dopamine release, impairing akensia (loss of voluntary movement), replacing neurons destroyed by the ischemic lesions following strokes and halting destruction of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons.

Immune rejection is the term used to describe damage to healthy tissue and cells in patients with autoimmune disorders and other inflammatory conditions. In people who suffer from type1 diabetes, for example, the cells of the pancreas that normally produce insulin are destroyed by the patients own immune system; in people with thyroid disorders, the thyroid gland is attacked and damaged.

Research continues to show us that certain adult stem cells are capable of differentiating and producing needed cells, such as insulin-producing cells that eventually could be used in with people diabetes. This strategy is still being researched extensively and is not yet widely available, as scientists continue to experiment with reliable strategies for generating new cells/tissues that will not be rejected or harm the patient once implanted.

Meanwhile, a promising clinical trial led by Dr. Richard Burt of Northwestern University that explores the potential benefits of stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis is underway as of March 2018. The 110 patients participating either received a drug treatment or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).The clinical trial looks promising given that after one year of treatment only one relapse occurred among patients in the stem cell group compared with 39 relapses in the drug treatment. And, after about three years, the stem cell transplants had a 6 percent failure rate compared with a failure rate of 60 percent in the control (drug treatment) group.

The researchers note that stem cell therapy doesnt work for all cases of MS and its not an easy process. First patients must undergo chemotherapy to destroy their faulty immune system. Then stem cells that help make blood through a process called hematopoiesis are removed from the patients bone marrow and reinfused into the patients bloodstream. These fresh stem cells, which are not affected by MS, rebuild the patients immune system. Despite this challenging process, preliminary results demonstrate that this could be an effective treatment in the future. (7, 8)

For decades researchers and doctors primarily used two kinds of stem cells taken from animals and humans, especially when they were still embryos (not yet born). These are calledembryonic stem cells and non-embryonic (somatic or adult) stem cells. In the late 1990s, it was discovered that stem cells could be taken from human embryos and grown inside of laboratoriesfor reproductive purposes, including for in vitro fertilization.

Then in 2006 a breakthrough discovery was made that some specialized adult stem cells could be reprogrammed and used in many other ways to help repair damaged tissue. These are referred to as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and are the type used in many of the treatments described above.There remains a lot to learn about the potential uses of stem cell therapies, and how scientists can continue to explore transforming unspecialized adult stem cells into the types of specialized cells needed.

The NIH reports that in future years some of the primary goals of stem cell therapy research are to: identify howundifferentiated stem cells become the differentiated cells that form the tissues and organs, determine how stem cells can turn humangenes on and off, learn to predictably control cell proliferation and differentiation, and investigate more uses for stem cells in serious medical conditions such as cancerand birth defects.

The hope going forward is that stem cells can also be used as a renewable source of replacement cells and tissues to treat common and serious diseases without the need for organ transplants or surgeries, including: maculardegeneration, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer.

Cancer treatment is a particular important area under investigation, as early studies are showing that stem cells are safe and well-tolerated in patients with acute and chronic leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and other cancers. (9)

Stem cell treatments are offered by various doctors who practice pain-management and other techniques, including orthopedics and anesthesiologists.Depending on the type of treatment needed, its also possible to visit a neurologist, cardiologist, etc.Commonly these treatments are offered at clinics with ateam of doctors who work together to specialize in diagnosing, preventing and/or correcting a range of musculoskeletal, neurological or connective tissue disorders/injuries.

If youre planning on visiting a doctor for pain management, look for a physician who has board certification through an organization like the American Board of Anesthesiology orAmerican Board of Pain Medicine. I recommend viewing this Physician Finder tool to locate a practitioner who performs the advanced type of stem cell applications described above.

Personally, I most suggest checking out Regenexx, one of the only organizations to run large-scale analysis of patient stem cell procedure outcome data. It has published numerous findings from tracking their own patients on their website. Much more detailed information on improvements that can be expected following PRP procedures including those for knee meniscus, arthritis, hip dysfunction, knee pain, wrist/hand injuries, ankle/foot pain and shoulder/rotator injuries can be accessed through Regenexx directly.

Once you find a qualified physician, heres a brief overview of what you can expect from stem cell therapy treatments:

Although stem cell treatment is considered to be very safe, there are also side effects that are possible. Make sure to find a qualified practitioner and let them know if your experience following a treatment does not sound like the typical one described above.Like other types of non-invasive treatments and prolotherapy techniques, some mild side effects after injections are normal. Side effects of stem cell treatments can sometimes include:

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5 Stem Cell Therapy Benefits, Uses & How It Works - Dr. Axe

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease – COPD | StemGenex

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease(COPD or Lung Disease)

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD or Lung Disease) describes a group of lung conditions (diseases) that make it difficult to empty the air out of the lungs. This difficulty can lead to shortness of breath (also called breathlessness) or the feeling of being tired. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD or Lung Disease) can be used to describe a person with chronic bronchitis, emphysema or a combination of these.

The most common cause of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD or Lung Disease) is cigarette smoking, but there are many other causes. Inhaling smoke or air pollutants can cause the mucus glands that line the bronchial tubes (bronchi) to produce more mucus than normal, and can cause the walls of the bronchi to thicken and swell (inflame). This increase in mucus causes you to cough, frequently resulting in raising mucus (or phlegm). Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD or Lung Disease) may develop if small amounts of these irritants are inhaled over a long period of time or if large amounts are inhaled over a short period of time.

Environmental factors and genetics may also cause Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD or Lung Disease). For example, heavy exposure to certain dusts at work, chemicals and indoor or outdoor air pollution may contribute to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD or Lung Disease). The reason why some smokers never develop Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD or Lung Disease) and why some non-smokers are diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD or Lung Disease) is not fully understood. Family genes or heredity may play a major role in who develops Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD or Lung Disease).

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD or Lung Disease) is an umbrella term for progressive lung diseases, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, that are characterized by obstruction to airflow that interferes with normal breathing. In 2008, 13.1 million U.S. adults (ages 18 and over) were estimated to have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD or Lung Disease). However, close to 24 million U.S. adults have evidence of impaired lung function, indicating an under diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD or Lung Disease).

In 2008, an estimated 9.8 million Americans reported a physician diagnosis of chronic bronchitis, the inflammation and eventual scarring of the lining of the bronchial tubes. Chronic bronchitis affects people of all ages, although people age 65 and older have the highest rate at 56.3 per 1,000 population.

Females are about twice as likely to be diagnosed with chronic bronchitis as males. In 2008, 3.1 million males had a diagnosis of chronic bronchitis compared with 6.7 million females.

Years of exposure to the irritation of cigarette smoke usually precede the development of emphysema, which irreversibly damages the air sacs of the lungs and results in permanent holes in the tissues of the lower lungs. Of the estimated 3.7 million Americans diagnosed with emphysema, 94 percent are 45 or older.

Historically, men have been more likely than women to receive a diagnosis of emphysema. However, in 2008 more women (more than 2 million) reported a diagnosis of emphysema than men (almost 1.8 million).

Smoking is the primary risk factor for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD or Lung Disease). Approximately 85 percent to 90 percent of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD or Lung Disease) deaths are caused by smoking. Female smokers are nearly 13 times as likely to die from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD or Lung Disease) as women who have never smoked. Male smokers are nearly 12 times as likely to die from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD or Lung Disease) as men who have never smoked.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD or Lung Disease) is the third leading cause of death in America, claiming the lives of 137,693 Americans in 2008. That was the ninth consecutive year in which women exceeded men in the number of deaths attributable to COPD. In 2008, more than 71,000 females died compared to nearly 66,000 males.

An American Lung Association survey revealed that half of all Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD or Lung Disease) patients (51 percent) say their condition limits their ability to work. It also limits them in normal physical exertion (70 percent), household chores (56 percent), social activities (53 percent), sleeping (50 percent), and family activities (46 percent).

In 2010, the cost to the nation for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD or Lung Disease) was estimated to be approximately $49.9 billion, including $29.5 billion in direct health care expenditures, $8.0 billion in indirect morbidity costs, and $12.4 billion in indirect mortality costs.

Excerpt from:
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - COPD | StemGenex