Kidney Grown From Stem Cells For The First Time, Australian Scientists Call Breakthrough ‘An Amazing Process’

The breakthrough marks a major advance in treating kidney disease and more avenues in bioengineering human organs. Researchers published their findings in the journal Nature Cell Biology, following their success in making human skin cells form a functioning "mini-kidney" with a width of only a few millimeters.

During self-organization, different types of cells arrange themselves with respect to each other to create the complex structures that exist within an organ, in this case, the kidney, Professor Melissa Little of University of Queenslands Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB), who led the study, said in a statement. The fact that such stem cell populations can undergo self-organization in the laboratory bodes well for the future of tissue bioengineering to replace damaged and diseased organs and tissues.

While it may be a while until the process can be used in human trials, Little says it could be a major development in treating chronic kidney disease.

One in three Australians is at risk of developing chronic kidney disease, and the only therapies currently available are kidney transplant and dialysis, Little said. Only one in four patients will receive a donated organ, and dialysis is an ongoing and restrictive treatment regime.

The engineered kidney is a first for science.

"This is the first time anybody has managed to direct stem cells into the functional units of a kidney," Professor Brandon Wainwright, from the University of Queensland, told The Telegraph. "It is an amazing process it is like a Lego building that puts itself together."

Scientists were able to make the kidney by identifying genes that remained active and inactive during kidney development. They were then able to alter the genes into embryonic cells that allowed them to self-organize into the human organ.

"The [researchers] spent years looking at what happens if you turn this gene off and this one on," Wainwright said. "You can eventually coax these stem cells through a journey they [the cells] go through various stages and then think about being a kidney cell and eventually pop together to form a little piece of kidney."

Little predicts the stem cell kidneys could one day be used to make human kidney transplants, or a cluster of mini kidneys used to boost renal function in patients.

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Kidney Grown From Stem Cells For The First Time, Australian Scientists Call Breakthrough ‘An Amazing Process’

Thomas K. Sees Results After One Stem Cell Treatment! Stem Cells Can Help Stroke Patients! – Video

Thomas K. Sees Results After One Stem Cell Treatment! Stem Cells Can Help Stroke Patients!
Dr. David Steenblock treated patient Thomas K. with stem cells and instantly sees miraculous results. Stem cell treatments are helping stroke patients/victim...

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Thomas K. Sees Results After One Stem Cell Treatment! Stem Cells Can Help Stroke Patients! - Video

Parkinson’s stem cell project aims for 2014 approval

Parkinson's patient Ed Fitzpatrick speaks about stem cell research for his disease. Fitzpatrick talked on a Dec. 7 panel at the World Stem Cell Summit in San Diego. Bradley J. Fikes

Parkinson's patient Ed Fitzpatrick speaks about stem cell research for his disease. Fitzpatrick talked on a Dec. 7 panel at the World Stem Cell Summit in San Diego.

For eight local Parkinsons patients seeking treatment with stem cell technology, 2014 could bring the milestone theyve been anticipating.

If all goes well, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will approve an attempt to replace the brain cells destroyed in Parkinsons. The new cells, grown from each patients own skin cells, are expected to restore normal movement in the patients.

Because the new brain cells are made from the patients own cells, immunosuppressive drugs shouldnt be needed. Ideally, patients could stop taking their medications and resume normal activities for many years, or even the rest of their lives.

The project, Summit4StemCell.org, is a collaboration between three nonprofits. The Scripps Research Institute handles the science; Scripps Clinic takes care of the medical side; and the Parkinsons Association of San Diego helps to raise money for the self-funded project.

Since 2011, the focus has been at the institute, where scientists led by Jeanne Loring have made the artificial embryonic stem cells, called induced pluripotent stem cells, and turned them into the needed brain cells. Now Scripps Clinic is assuming a more prominent role to prepare for treating the patients.

A study in rats began in early December; results are expected by April. The animal study is meant to assess safety, although researchers will also look for signs of effectiveness.

In January, scientists will visit the FDA to lay the groundwork for a formal application, said Scripps Clinic neurologist Melissa Houser, who treats all eight patients.

Success in the animal study will likely result in a go-ahead, Houser said. If the animal trial fails, its back to the drawing board.

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Parkinson’s stem cell project aims for 2014 approval

Award Winning Arizona Pain Center, Arizona Pain Specialists, Now Offering Over 20 Effective Arthritis Treatments

Phoenix, Arizona (PRWEB) December 14, 2013

The top pain management clinics in Phoenix and throughout the Valley, Arizona Pain Specialists, are now offering over twenty effective treatments for joint and spinal arthritis. The treatment options include medication management, interventional pain management, stem cell injections, physical therapy, spinal decompression therapy, acupuncture and chiropractic treatment. Over 50 insurances are accepted at the 5 Phoenix pain clinics, call (602) 507-6550 for scheduling.

The Arizona pain management doctors at the Phoenix pain clinics offer the treatments in an outpatient setting. Joint injections are performed with cortisone, PRP therapy, stem cells and viscosupplementation. These treatments have the potential to provide excellent pain relief that lasts for weeks to over a year.

For spinal arthritis in the neck or back, spinal decompression therapy has been shown in published studies to provide excellent relief for facet arthritis, degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis. Acupuncture for arthritic joints also is usually effective as well.

Chiropractic and physical therapy help strengthen up the tissues around arthritic joints, relieving pressure on the joint itself. TENS units help alter the way the brain perceives pain signals from arthritic joints.

Along with joint injections, radiofrequency ablation is a cutting edge interventional procedure for spinal arthritis. The treatment often provides over a year of pain relief for arthritis, and a repeat procedure typically renews the relief again.

Stem cell therapies offered at Arizona Pain include bone marrow or fat derived, or amniotic stem cell injections. PRP therapy is offered as well, where published studies have shown significant benefit for joint arthritis.

With all of the potential available arthritis treatment options, therapies are individualized to each patient. Impressive success rates are achieved at helping patients avoid or delay the need for joint replacements.

Arizona Pain Specialists accept over 50 insurances at 5 locations. For more information and scheduling with the top pain management clinics in Phoenix and surrounding areas, call (602) 507-6550.

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Award Winning Arizona Pain Center, Arizona Pain Specialists, Now Offering Over 20 Effective Arthritis Treatments

Stemcell treatment for hair and skin, Autologous Adipose Stem Cell Treatment – Video

Stemcell treatment for hair and skin, Autologous Adipose Stem Cell Treatment
Through the history of stem cell therapy and stem cell research, animal stem cells have been used, human embryonic stem cells, and now research has led us to a superior form of stem cell treatment....

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Stemcell treatment for hair and skin, Autologous Adipose Stem Cell Treatment - Video

Pakistani undergoes stem cell therapy in Bangalore

Bangalore, Dec 12 (IANS) Imran Qureshi, a 31-year-old Pakistani, underwent stem cell therapy for hip joint at a private hospital here.

"Qureshi, a garment exporter from Karachi port city, has been treated for hip bone joint through stem cell therapy by our experts at the Bangalore Institute of Regenerative Medicine," Live 100 Hospital chairman H.N. Nagaraj told reporters Thursday.

The disease, known as avascular necrosis in medical jargon, breaks the hip joint due to the cellular death of its bone tissues when blood supply is interrupted even in healthy people.

"Though total hip replacement is suggested as one of the treatments for the rare disease, our institute has pioneered stem cell therapy, eliminating surgery," Nagaraj said, presenting Qureshi as one of his hospital's overseas beneficiaries.

The treatment involves first extracting bone marrow of the patient for processing in a specialised laboratory at Pune, Maharashtra.

Subsequently, the stem cells in the bone marrow are separated from red blood cells and blood plasma and injected into the hip joint of a patient under sterile conditions.

"The transplanted stem cells restore hip joint function, which is lost due to damage to its cartilage. The stems cells also repair bone cells. As there is no surgery, there is no bleeding or scar formation in our treatment," Nagaraj said.

Qureshi, who operates also from Saudi Arabia for his garment business, had felt pain in his hip two years ago when he was in the Saudi kingdom and underwent treatment in some hospitals but to no avail.

"Six months ago, when I was back in Pakistan, the pain became acute and diagnosis revealed that I had advanced avascular necroisis. Though it is feared that alcoholism, steroid usage and chemotherapy cause such a disease, I had none of them. I felt cursed. When I consulted doctors from the world over, I learnt about use of stem cell therapy in this Bangalore hospital," a relieved Qureshi recalled.

The Indian consulate in Karachi was also helpful to Qureshi, as his visa was given in three days as against normal 15 days for Pakistani nationals.

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Pakistani undergoes stem cell therapy in Bangalore

Stem cell transplantation outcomes ‘improved with new drug regime’

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New research suggests that outcomes for patients who have undergone stem cell transplants from unrelated or mismatched donors could be improved with the use of a drug called bortezomib, also known as velcade. This is according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

Stem cell transplants are treatments carried out in an attempt to cure some cancers affecting the body's bone marrow, such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

The treatment involves very high doses of chemotherapy (myeloablation) or whole body radiotherapy to clear a person's bone marrow and immune system of cancerous cells.

After this process, the killed cells are replaced with healthy stem cells through a drip that flows into a vein. These stem cells can be from the patient's own body or from a donor - preferably a sibling.

According to researchers from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute who conducted the study, stem cells from unrelated or mismatched donors are likely to lead to worse patient outcomes following transplantation.

These patients tend to have a higher mortality rate as a result of the treatment and are more likely to experience graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD). This is a disease in which the transplanted cells attack the immune system of the recipient.

According to the researchers, recipients of mismatched donor transplants have a severe GVHD rate of 37%, a 1-year treatment-related mortality rate of 45%, and a 1-year overall survival rate of 43%.

Recipients of unrelated donor transplants have a severe GVHD rate of 28%, a 1-year treatment-related mortality rate of 36%, and a 1-year overall survival rate of 52%.

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Stem cell transplantation outcomes 'improved with new drug regime'

UTHealth Researchers Study Stem Cell Treatments for Children with CP

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Newswise HOUSTON (Dec. 10, 2013) A first-of-its-kind clinical trial studying two forms of stem cell treatments for children with cerebral palsy (CP) has begun at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Medical School.

The double-blinded, placebo-controlled studys purpose includes comparing the safety and effectiveness of banked cord blood to bone marrow stem cells. It is led by Charles S. Cox, Jr., M.D., the Childrens Fund, Inc. Distinguished Professor of Pediatric Surgery at the UTHealth Medical School and director of the Pediatric Trauma Program at Childrens Memorial Hermann Hospital. Co-principal investigator is Sean I. Savitz, M.D., professor and the Frank M. Yatsu, M.D., Chair in Neurology in the UTHealth Department of Neurology.

The study builds on Cox extensive research studying stem cell therapy for children and adults who have been admitted to Childrens Memorial Hermann and Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center after suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Prior research, published in the March 2010 issue of Neurosurgery, showed that stem cells derived from a patients own bone marrow were safely used in pediatric patients with TBI. Cox is also studying cord blood stem cell treatment for TBI in a separate clinical trial.

A total of 30 children between the ages of 2 and 10 who have CP will be enrolled: 15 who have their own cord blood banked at Cord Blood Registry (CBR) and 15 without banked cord blood. Five in each group will be randomized to a placebo control group. Families must be able to travel to Houston for the treatment and follow-up visits at six, 12 and 24 months.

Parents will not be told if their child received stem cells or a placebo until the 12-month follow-up exam. At that time, parents whose children received the placebo may elect to have their child receive the stem cell treatment through bone marrow harvest or cord blood banked with CBR.

Collaborators for the study include CBR, Lets Cure CP, TIRR Foundation and Childrens Memorial Hermann Hospital. The study has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affects the ability to move and maintain balance and posture, according to the Centers for Disease Control. It is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain, which affects a persons control over muscles. Treatment includes medications, braces and physical, occupational and speech therapy.

For a list of inclusion and exclusion criteria for the trial, go to http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. For more information, call the toll-free number, 855-566-6273.

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UTHealth Researchers Study Stem Cell Treatments for Children with CP

Phoenix Pain Management Doctors at Arizona Pain Stem Cell Institute Now Offering 4 Stem Cell Treatments for Arthritis

Phoenix, Arizona (PRWEB) December 11, 2013

The top Phoenix stem cell treatment clinic, Arizona Pain Stem Cell Institute, is now offering four stem cell therapies for arthritis. The treatments offered are very low risk and offered as an outpatient. For more information and scheduling on the regenerative medicine treatments offered, call (602) 507-6550.

The Board Certified, Award Winning pain management doctors in Arizona provide either bone marrow, fat derived or amniotic stem cell injections. The fat or bone marrow is harvested from the patient, and immediately processed for injection into the target area. Since the material comes directly from the patient, the risks are exceptionally low.

With regards to the amniotic derived injections, the fluid is obtained from consenting donors and processed at an FDA regulated lab. The treatment does not involve any fetal tissue, and contains a high concentration of stem cells, growth factors and anti-inflammatory factors.

The additional treatment offered is platelet rich plasma therapy, known as PRP therapy for short. PRP therapy involves a simple blood draw from the patient, which is then centrifuged and spun down for 15 minutes to obtain a solution rich in platelets and growth factors.

The PRP is then injected into the target area, where published studies have shown impressive results for arthritis and soft tissue injury such as rotator cuff tendonitis, tennis elbow, Achilles tendonitis, ligament injury and more. The treatments have the potential to not only provide pain relief, but also regenerate the damaged tissue or cartilage.

Numerous athletes over the past few years have turned to regenerative medicine to obtain pain relief and get back into playing condition. This has included athletes such as Hines Ward, Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant, Rafael Nadal and many more.

The Arizona Pain Stem Cell Institute treats everyone from athletes to college students to executives, manual laborers, senior citizens and more. Board Certified and Award Winning Phoenix pain management doctors offer the stem cell treatments along with other cutting edge pain relief options such as radiofrequency ablation and spinal cord stimulator implants.

Over 50 insurance plans are accepted, and Arizona Pain Specialists offers 5 locations for convenience. Call (602) 507-6550 for scheduling.

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Phoenix Pain Management Doctors at Arizona Pain Stem Cell Institute Now Offering 4 Stem Cell Treatments for Arthritis

Stem Cell Treatments

Orange County, California (PRWEB) December 02, 2013 Stem cell treatments for back pain from arthritis are now being offered at top West Coast stem cell clinic, TeleHealth. The outpatient, low risk treatments are provided by Board Certified doctors with extensive experience in stem cell therapy. Continue reading

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or USFDA) is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments. The FDA is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety, tobacco products, dietary supplements, prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical drugs (medications), vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, blood transfusions, medical devices, electromagnetic radiation emitting devices (ERED), veterinary products, and cosmetics. Continue reading

A single copy of this article may be reprinted for personal, noncommercial use only. A stem cell (blood or marrow) transplant is the infusion, or injection, of healthy stem cells into your body to replace damaged or diseased stem cells. A stem cell transplant may be necessary if your bone marrow stops working and doesnt produce enough healthy stem cells Continue reading

IRVINE, Calif. California Stem Cell, Inc. Continue reading

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Stem Cell Treatments