'She received the best care'

Kellie van Meurs, pictured with her husband Mark, died while undergoing stem cell treatment in Russia. Photo: Facebook

Supporters of a Brisbane mother of two who died while undergoing a controversial stem cell treatment in Russia say it did not cause her death, nor have others been discouraged from seeking it.

Kellie van Meurs suffered from a rare neurological disorder called Stiff Person Syndrome, which causes progressive rigidity of the body and chronic pain.

She travelled to Moscow in late June to undergo an autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) under the care of Dr Denis Fedorenko from the National Pirogov Medical Surgical Centre.

Kellie van Meurs, pictured with family and supporters, died while undergoing stem cell treatment in Russia. Photo: Facebook

The transplant more commonly used for multiple sclerosis patients involves rebooting a patients immune system with their own stem cells after high-dose chemotherapy.

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Ms van Meurs was Dr Fedorenkos first SPS patient, and her husband Mark said she died of a heart attack on July 19.

I do know that Rosemary [Kellie's aunt and carer in Moscow] felt she received the best possible care, especially from Dr Fedorenko, he said.

Given her level of constant pain and overlapping auto-neuronal problems I still don't think we had a better option.

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'She received the best care'

LifeCell setting up 30-cr public stem cell bank

Chennai, July 27:

LifeCell, Indias largest umbilical cord blood stem cell bank, is setting up a public stem cell bank at a cost of 30 crore.

LifeCells Managing Director, Mayur Abhaya, announced the plans for the public facility being set up by LifeCell Foundation, a non profit organisation, at a function to mark the storage of 100,000 units of cord blood at its private banking facility.

At the function, LifeCells brand ambassador Aishwarya Rai Bachchan said cord blood banking is a simple and precious gift parents can make for their childrens well being. Once people are aware of the potential of stem cells in treating ailments, the decision to opt for cord blood banking is a no brainer.

Abhaya said LifeCell has contributed 10 crore; and R Thyagarajan, Chairman, LifeCell and founder of the ShriramGroup; S Abhaya Kumar, Vice-Chairman; and another donor whose name has not been disclosed, have contributed 2.5 crore each. In the private bank, parents can store the umbilical cord blood and cord tissue collected at the time of childbirth which can be used if the child or siblings need the cells for treatment at a later stage in life, Abhaya said.

Stem cells can be used to treat over 80 disorders.

Parents pay to get the cord blood stored in the private bank.

A public cord blood bank works much like a blood bank where donors allow the cord blood to be collected for use by those needing stem cells for treatment.

The cord blood will be stored at LifeCells own internationally recognised facility in Chennai where there is adequate capacity, he said.

(This article was published on July 27, 2014)

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LifeCell setting up 30-cr public stem cell bank

FUT Hair Transplant 2000 Grafts Anshuman at Satya Hair Transplant Clinic – Video

FUT Hair Transplant 2000 Grafts Anshuman at Satya Hair Transplant Clinic
Follicular Unit Transplant - Anshuman was suffering from Grade 4 male pattern baldness. He had undergone a series of treatments but nothing worked from him. He came to us with a reference...

By: Satya Hair Transplant Clinic | Hair Loss Treatment | Stem Cell Treatment

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FUT Hair Transplant 2000 Grafts Anshuman at Satya Hair Transplant Clinic - Video

Local Denver Skin Care Company Releases Safer Alternative to Botox

Denver, CO (PRWEB) July 23, 2014

Daily Face & Body is excited to announce that they have released a cheaper and safer alternative to Botox called Stem Cell Technology Facial Serum.

Stem Cell Technology Facial Serum is an anti-aging product used to help people smooth, tone, and rejuvenate dead skin cells..

Stem Cell Technology Facial Serum can be used as a safe alternative to Botox, a popular cosmetic injection, because the Stem Cell does not have any toxins or health risks as opposed to Botox. In addition, it is Alcohol, Ammonia, Paraben, Perfume, and Sulfate free, and it has not been tested on Animals.

According to the Daily Face & Body website, their Stem Cell Technology Facial Serum uses 100% active plant stem cell ingredient (All Even Sweet Iris) which has been clinically tested to reduce wrinkles with overall anti-aging effects.

Jason Palmer, a representative of Daily Face & Body, says that the clinical test results showed that after 28 days of treatment, 84% of women noted their wrinkles seem to have decreased. It also decreased the total surface by 35%, decreased the number of wrinkles by 26%, and decreased the length of wrinkles by 33%.

Ingredients The ingredients in Stem Cell Technology Facial serum are as follows:

Active ingredient: All Even Sweet Irs (Iris pallida). The other ingredients are: Water, Cyclomethicone, Avena sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Cichorium Intybus (Chicory) Root, Oligosaccharides (and) Glycerin (and) Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Dimethicone, Iris Pallida Leaf Cell Extract, Lauramidoyl Inulin, Oleth-10, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol (and) Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Tromethamine.

About Daily Face & Body is a locally owned Denver company that has been operating since 2012. They sell Skin Care products and accessories as well as home Spa therapy products and weight loss supplements. To receive more information about Daily Face & Body please visit their website http://www.dailyfaceandbody.com.

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Local Denver Skin Care Company Releases Safer Alternative to Botox

Justice minister won't interfere with Stamina court decision

'Ministry can't interfere with judges' Orlando tells Senate

(ANSA) - Rome, July 23 - Justice Minister Andrea Orlando told the Senate health committee Wednesday that the ministry can't interfere with a court ruling that forced a hospital to administer the controversial Stamina stem-cell treatment to an ailing boy. His statement came after a court ordered the treatment administered to a child suffering from muscular dystrophy at a hospital in northern Italy on Tuesday, despite the fact that it has been discredited by many in the scientific community. The Stamina treatment was administered on the orders of a Sicilian court after the hospital in Brescia decided to suspend the procedure because it had been called into doubt. The justice ministry "cannot interfere with the court's decisions. The judge has freedom of interpretation," Orlando told MPs. "However, no amount of court rulings can fill what is a legislative void on this issue," he added. The credibility of the Stamina treatment - which involves extracting bone-marrow stem cells from a patient, supposedly turning them into neurons by exposing them to retinoic acid for two hours, and injecting them back into the patient - has long been suspect, and last autumn the health ministry ruled that the Stamina Foundation would no longer be allowed to test the treatment on humans. The foundation was also stripped of its non-profit status after a study found the treatment was "ignorant of stem-cell biology". However some local judges have ruled in favor of its application amid heavy pressure from advocates and the families of patients. So far only courts in Genoa and Turin have denied access to the treatment, the justice minister pointed out. Also on Wednesday, privacy watchdog agency director Antonello Soro testified at the same committee hearing that sensationalized media reports featuring prominently displayed images of terminally ill children have clouded the issue of whether or not the treatment is scientifically valid. "Media have too often given in to the temptation of...exploiting the image of sick children," Soro said. "The right of ill minors not to have their disease put on display has been violated...especially by online media," he added.

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Justice minister won't interfere with Stamina court decision

Controversial Staminia treatment carried out on sick boy

Brescia hospital ordered to let discredited therapy resume

(ANSA) - Brescia, July 22 - A controversial stem-cell treatment was administered to a child suffering from muscular dystrophy at a hospital in northern Italy on Tuesday despite having been discredited. The Stamina treatment was administered on the orders of a Sicilian court after the hospital in Brescia decided to suspend the procedure on the boy suffering from Duchenne muscula dystrophy because it had been called into doubt. The child "will remain in observation for a few hours and we will carry out a few tests," said Giuseppe Morfino, the court-appointed doctor leading the external team that performed the treatment. Morfino added that the atmosphere at the hospital had been cooperative. The credibility of the Stamina treatment, which involves extracting bone-marrow stem cells from a patient, supposedly turning them into neurons by exposing them to retinoic acid for two hours, and injecting them back into the patient, has long been suspect, and last autumn the health ministry ruled that the Stamina Foundation would no longer be allowed to test the treatment on humans. The foundation was also stripped of its non-profit status after a study found its treatment was "ignorant of stem-cell biology". Recent investigations have shown risks of the treatment range from nausea to cancer, and reported that as many as one-quarter of all patients treated have experienced "adverse effects". In April, after study results became known, hospitals in Italy announced they had suspended the stem-cell treatment program. However, some local judges have ruled in favor of its application, despite the bans, amid heavy pressure from advocates and the families of patients.

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Controversial Staminia treatment carried out on sick boy

Arthritis Alleviated: MetroMD Introduces Latest in Stem Cell Therapy in LA; Promises to be Especially Helpful for …

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) July 22, 2014

MetroMD, one of the leading names in regenerative medicines in all of California and one of the greatest proponents of holistic health services, now brings a reason to rejoice for individuals long suffering from debilitating arthritis. As per a report published on March 6 2013, by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery on The US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health (Ref: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3748969/), on an average, around 500,000 revision of knee replacement surgeries were recorded in the US - with the prime reason being osteoarthritis in majority of these cases. And If Mr. Devin Stone, MetroMDs Operations Director is to be believed, the cumulative cost of the treatment is estimated to be around $50 billion every year.

The cost covers hospitals bills, doctors visits, medicine, etc and makes arthritic treatment, which often requires a repeat procedure, a hugely burdensome endeavor. But the fact is, even after spending so much of money, one is not sure about getting fully relieved from the agony that arthritis brings to ones life. Arthritis appears in many forms and the expresses itself as joint pain, stiffness and limited body movement in a patient, says Dr Alex Martin, MD, MetroMDs Director of Medicines. MetroMD, ensures that patients can put aside all these concerns and enjoy complete healing that only an advanced Stem cell therapy for arthritis can promise, says Dr. Martin highlighting the fact regarding how pocket-friendly the treatment is. One can regain a healthy knee, while retaining the health of his/her money bag now with MetroMDs stem cell therapy.

How does MetroMDs Stem cell therapy Work?

MetroMDs stem cell treatment process includes extraction of healthy bone marrow out of the patients body by experts and placing it in a centrifuge. After segregating various elements of blood, the stem cell is isolated and placed with cellular growth promoters (found in platelets). All of these are then inserted into the part of the body, ensuring a quicker tissue-based healing.

Mr. Devin Stone exuded confidence in mentioning that MetroMDs stem cell therapies come as a great alternative to invasive surgeries - making way for easier and quicker knee replacements and arthritic treatment.

Is the stem cell therapy safe?

Dr. Alex Martin says, If you are suffering from chronic joint paint due to arthritis, surgery is not anymore the only answer. Stem Cell Therapy can provide an amazing alternative, where your own cells are used to promote healing inside your body. Medicine has advanced significantly in the last 15 years and persistence with the techniques that were pioneered over two decades ago is illogical- and newer and less invasive procedures are the future of medicine.

Backed by the fact that stem cell treatment is a minimally invasive procedure requiring little or no hospitalization, Dr Martins and MetroMDs stance towards propagating stem cell therapy looks only logical. The procedure is legal and the therapy rendered by MetroMD is in compliance with CFR 21 part 1271 standards. Being a non surgical process, evidently, its the safest and totally side-effect free process.

Dr. Martin welcomes the residents of LA suffering from debilitating arthritic condition to consult an expert at its branches spread across in several parts of Los Angeles - and enjoy an improved quality of life.

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Arthritis Alleviated: MetroMD Introduces Latest in Stem Cell Therapy in LA; Promises to be Especially Helpful for ...

Montreal woman with leukemia desperately seeks Vietnamese stem cell donors

Leukemia patient Mai Duong is in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant -- something doctors say the Montreal resident requires within a matter of weeks.

While finding a well-matched stem cell donor is already a difficult task, the 34-year-old mother of one faces an added challenge: shes Vietnamese.

Duong was first diagnosed with acute leukemia in 2013, when she was 15 weeks pregnant with her second child. She was forced to terminate the pregnancy as she underwent seven months of chemotherapy, putting her cancer into remission for seven months.

But it returned in May, and doctors gave her two months to find a stem cell match.

"The only option for me to get cured is with the generosity of people," she says.

Duongs case is raising the alarm about a need for stem cell donors among Canada's minority groups, as those in need of transplants are more likely to find a donor from the same ethnic background.

Canadian Blood Services says less than 25 per cent of individuals in need of a stem cell transplant will be able to find a match within their own families and will have to turn to the public inthe hopes of finding a suitable donor.

But ethnic minorities are under-represented on donor lists in North America.

Less than one per cent of registered stem cell donors in Quebec are of South Asian descent, according to Hema-Quebec, the provinces blood services agency. The statistics are similar across Canada and in the international donor database.

"There is a cultural effect and religious effect," spokesperson Susie Joron told CTV News. "The other issue is that the biggest registries are in America and Germany, which has a big Caucasian population."

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Montreal woman with leukemia desperately seeks Vietnamese stem cell donors

Montreal woman desperately seeks Vietnamese stem cell donors

Leukemia patient Mai Duong is in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant -- something doctors say the Montreal resident requires within a matter of weeks.

While finding a well-matched stem cell donor is already a difficult task, the 34-year-old mother of one faces an added challenge: shes Vietnamese.

Duong was first diagnosed with acute leukemia in 2013, when she was 15 weeks pregnant with her second child. She was forced to terminate the pregnancy as she underwent seven months of chemotherapy, putting her cancer into remission for seven months.

But it returned in May, and doctors gave her two months to find a stem cell match.

"The only option for me to get cured is with the generosity of people," she says.

Duongs case is raising the alarm about a need for stem cell donors among Canada's minority groups, as those in need of transplants are more likely to find a donor from the same ethnic background.

Canadian Blood Services says less than 25 per cent of individuals in need of a stem cell transplant will be able to find a match within their own families and will have to turn to the public inthe hopes of finding a suitable donor.

But ethnic minorities are under-represented on donor lists in North America.

Less than one per cent of registered stem cell donors in Quebec are of South Asian descent, according to Hema-Quebec, the provinces blood services agency. The statistics are similar across Canada and in the international donor database.

"There is a cultural effect and religious effect," spokesperson Susie Joron told CTV News. "The other issue is that the biggest registries are in America and Germany, which has a big Caucasian population."

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Montreal woman desperately seeks Vietnamese stem cell donors

Weekends with Engadget: Tokyo's vending machines, new buyer's guides and more!

This week, we learned about the dangers of stem cell treatment, explored the world of 3D motion capture and went on a vending machine shopping spree in Tokyo. Read on for Engadget's news highlights from the last seven days. Oh, and be sure to subscribe to our Flipboard magazine!

Stem cells have the potential to be one of modern medicine's most promising advances and we're still learning a lot about how they work. A paralyzed woman in the US discovered this, after an experimental treatment caused her to grow a nose-like tumor on her back.

The virtual simians in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes are impressively lifelike, but 3D motion capture animations haven't always been so awe-inspiring. Read on as Steve Dent explains the history behind this century-old technique.

If you've ever had to break in a new baseball glove, you know that the process take time -- usually a few months at best. Not so with Nike's new fielding mitt.

Why is it so hard to buy a Tesla? It's a combination of archaic laws and a stubborn automotive industry.

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Weekends with Engadget: Tokyo's vending machines, new buyer's guides and more!