Stem Cell Therapy in Dallas, TX – atlasmedicalcenter.com

Stem Cell Therapy An Alternative To Surgery

Stem cell therapy is a revolutionary regenerative procedure that uses your own mesenchymal stem cells from your fat cells (adipose cells) or from your bone marrow to help repair the damaged or degenerative cells in your joints and encourages healing. These procedures use state-of-the-art techniques that are very ethical and safe. All of our procedures follow the FDA guidelines for MINIMAL MANIPULATION (WE DONT ADD ANY ENZYMES OR CHANGE YOUR CELLS IN ANY WAY).

Mesenchymal stem cells from your fat OR bone marrow are also called adult stem cells, and they help facilitate the regeneration of tissue naturally in the joint. These stem cells are considered to be raw potential or multipotent meaning they have the potential to differentiate into the tissue cells needed in a specific area. These cells normally function alongside the immune system and work to replace skin and tissue when the body experiences trauma. Stem Cell Therapy takes that natural regenerative ability and focuses it on the region where your body needs help repairing itself. Mesenchymal stem cells direct cytokines and growth factors from your immune system to the targeted area to create an ongoing healing process as your body repairs itself organically. Research has shown that stem cells have the potential to repair damaged cartilage, bone, tendons, muscle, skin, and connective cell tissue.

The stem cells being used are from YOUR OWN BODY. This helps eliminate the potential for your immune system to reject the cells and also eliminates the potential for disease transmission. Medications like NSAIDs and pain relievers can affect your vital organs. Invasive surgeries to replace joints with prosthetics can lead to a list of adverse outcomes; including death. Stem Cell Therapy is minimally invasive leaving a narrow margin for complications and adverse reactions.

If youve exhausted all traditional treatments or are not interested in surgery then you may want to consider stem cell therapy.

In the PAST the devices used to aspirate bone marrow were considered VERY painful, time-consuming, and extremely invasive. In 2017, this all changed when a new proprietary device for bone marrow aspiration received FDA clearance. This new device is THE ONLY bone marrow aspiration device makes the procedure virtually painless and is less invasive compared to other bone marrow aspiration methods.

Currently, Atlas Medical Center is one of the only offices in the DFW Metroplex that has been trained to use this revolutionary device for aspirating bone marrow.

Once your buttock areas has been thoroughly numbed and the cells are extracted they are immediately injected directly into the joint or area that is injured. Once injected, the healing process begins, and the stem cells begin sending signals to your immune system to get to work repairing the damage. This is all performed under ultrasound guidance so that there is ZERO guesswork (and the provider can see in REAL TIME exactly where the injection needs to be injected).

Our patients have reported that the procedure is virtually PAINLESS. The procedure requires NO general anesthesia (just local), is considered very safe, is the least invasive, requires no downtime, no hospitalization, and has shown to yield more cells (CFUs) compared to any other method. The proprietary method Atlas uses allows you to be in and out of our office in 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Patients are amazed that they can walk right out of our office and continue their usual daily activities without a single stitch- just a band aid (on their buttock and area that was treated). For example, the difference in recovery time between knee surgery versus a stem cell therapy procedure is astounding. So many patients have avoided sacrificing half a year of their life recovering from surgery by choosing stem cell therapy that has you returning to work usually on the same day!

The adipose technique that our medical providers utilize is also a virtually painless process, compared to other older techniques.

Using a local anesthetic, our medical team will take a small sample of fat tissue from your buttock. This process is usually painless, but some patients experience a slight, minimal discomfort. Once your fat cells have been collected and processed using a powerful centrifuge, they are injected under ultrasound guidance into the area of injury.

This minimally invasive procedure can be completed in 2-3 hours. The good news is there is no hospitalization, and it is an outpatient procedure. Theres a period where patients feel sore. This feeling usually lasts for a couple of days to a week. Patients are totally awake during the treatment, and most patients return to normal activities within 24-48 hours.

When Mesenchymal stem cells from either your fat or bone marrow are injected into an affected joint/s, they start to work to potentially repair and replace the damaged tissue. These cells incorporate themselves into the damaged area and over time begin to improve the stability of the tissue and reduce any pain being caused by the damage. Because mesenchymal stem cells work with your immune system to heal, they can also have an effect on inflammation. By reducing and regulating the chronic inflammation responsible for many joint conditions, mesenchymal stem cells deliver patients a rapid decrease in pain. Stem cells have been integral in advancing treatments for degeneration in the bones and joints, damaged cartilage in joints, labral and labrum tears, meniscus tears, osteoarthritis, tendinosis and a wide range of other ailments involving the joints.

On average, many patients start noticing improvement as soon as four to six weeks from the procedure, and some patients have experienced a noticeable reduction in pain as soon as a few days after treatment. There is no need for time off of work for a lengthy recovery period like with invasive surgery, and many patients return to work on the same day of their procedure. We encourage you to take it easy while your body embarks on its healing process, but normal to moderate activity is okay. As with any medical procedure, results vary and not everyone is going to be a candidate for stem cell therapy. Some patients may have to repeat the procedure again in a few months or a few years, so discussing treatment options for your specific needs is key. On your consultation day, all of your questions will be answered, and our medical provider will let you know if you qualify for this procedure.

Our purpose at Atlas Medical Center is to get you out of pain, improve mobility, and avoid having unnecessary surgeries. Our unique JointRenew Program is exclusive to the Atlas Medical Center. This advanced regenerative medical procedure uses a combination of two or more of the following: Stem Cell Therapy, Amniotic Cell Therapy, Cord Tissue Cell Therapy, Platelet Rich Plasma therapy, and Advanced Non-invasive laser therapy to optimize healing. Our clinical experience has shown that this combination accelerates healing; by allowing the greatest number of regenerative cells along with non-invasive technology to work together to potentially help regenerate the damaged area.

In addition, all of our medical providers are Board Certified, trained, and highly skilled in stem cell and regenerative cell procedures; and all injections are performed with ultrasound or fluoroscopy (real time x-ray). (This eliminates all guesswork so that the regenerative cells are injected precisely where they need to be.) This ensures that youre always receiving the best possible treatment and gives you the greatest chance for success!

Finally, our providers are currently one of the only ones in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex using the ONLY FDA cleared device to aspirate bone marrow for stem cell therapy that doesnt require any manipulation.

Amniotic and Cord Cell Regenerative Therapy are alternative regenerative procedures for those who are not candidates for Stem Cell Therapy. Unlike bone marrow or adipose stem cell procedures, amniotic or Cord cell therapy is not health or condition dependent and offers those with arthritic joint conditions and soft tissue problems other treatment options.

For Dallas, Fort Worth or surrounding area patients, were located a short drive away in Irving and are looking forward to consulting with you.

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Stem Cell Therapy in Dallas, TX - atlasmedicalcenter.com

What is the Difference Between Embryonic and Somatic Stem Cells

Themain differencebetween embryonic and somatic stem cells is that the embryonic stem cells are pluripotent whereas the somatic stem cells are multipotent.That means; the embryonic stem cells can become all types of cells in the body while somatic stem cells can differentiate into several types of cells, but not all.

Embryonic and somatic stem cells are two types of stem cells that occur during the lifetime of animals. Furthermore, embryonic stem cells occur in the inner cell mass of the embryo while somatic stem cells occur in most of the organs of the body including bone marrow, skin, skeletal muscles, liver, etc.

1. What are Embryonic Stem Cells Definition, Potency, Differentiation 2. What are Somatic Stem Cells Definition, Potency, Differentiation 3. What are the Similarities Between Embryonic and Somatic Stem Cells Outline of Common Features 4. What is the Difference Between Embryonic and Somatic Stem Cells Comparison of Key Differences

Embryonic Stem Cells, Multipotent, Pluripotent, Somatic Stem Cells, Three Germ Layers

Embryonic stem cells are the cells in the early stages of the embryo. The zygote, which is the conceptus of fertilization, divides by mitosis, forming the morula. After 5-6 days of fertilization, the morula develops into the blastocyst that contains two parts; thetrophoblastand the inner cell mass. Thetrophoblastis the outer layer of the embryo, which contains cells that develop into the placenta and umbilical cord. Here, the cells in the inner cell mass are pluripotent and are capable of differentiating into any type of cells in the body.

Figure 1: Stem Cell Differentiation

Moreover, they differentiate into the cells in the three germ layers; ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm. The cells in the three germ layers are multipotent stem cells that can differentiate into a particular group of cells in our body. Therefore, the cells in the ectoderm differentiate into the epidermis, lens of the eye, sebaceous glands, hair, nails, toothenamel, etc. In addition, the cells in mesoderm differentiate into muscle, bones, connective tissue, cartilage, adipose tissue, circulatory and the lymphatic system, dermis,notochord, etc. Furthermore, the cells in the endoderm differentiate into the stomach, colon, liver, bladder, pancreas, lungs, etc.

Somatic stem cells are the adult stem cells that occur inside the specialized tissues including bone marrow, skin, skeletal muscles, brain, liver, pancreas, dental pulp, etc. Furthermore, these cells are multipotent and can only differentiate into the several types of functionally-related cells that belong to the tissue of origin of the stem cells. Therefore, they continuously divide to produce new cells. A part of these new cellsdifferentiatesinto the functionally-specialized cells in that tissue and the rest of the cells renew the existing stem cell population.

Figure 2: Stem Cell Uses

For example, dividing hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow differentiate into the cells in the blood including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. In addition, the stem cells in the bone marrow are the most studied type of somatic stem cells in the human body. However, somatic stem cells are difficult to identify, purify, and grow in cultures. Therefore, these stem cells are rarely subjected to the studies.

Embryonic stem cells refer to the stem cells derived from the undifferentiated inner mass cells of a human embryo while somatic stem cells refer to the undifferentiated cells found throughout the body that divide to replenish dying cells and regenerate damaged tissues. This is the basic difference between embryonic and somatic stem cells.

Embryonic stem cells occur in the three germ layers of the embryo while somatic stem cells occur in most of the body organs including skeletal muscles, bone marrow, skin, liver, etc.

Potency isthe main difference between embryonic and somatic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are multipotent. That is; they can differentiate into any cell type in the body. In contrast, somatic stem cells are pluripotent. That is; they can differentiate only into several types of cells in the body, but not all types.

Embryonic stem cell studies are less known while somatic stem cell studies are well known. This is another difference between embryonic and somatic stem cells.

Embryonic stem cells are the stem cells in the inner cell mass of the embryo. Moreover, these cells are multipotent and they can differentiate into any type of cells in the body. On the other hand, somatic stem cells are the stem cells in the adult body organs. These cells can only differentiate into several types of cells in that organ, helping to replenish the damaged or aged cells. Therefore, the main difference between embryonic and somatic stem cells is the potency.

1.Stem Cell Basics V.National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,Available Here

1. 422 Feature Stem Cell new By OpenStax College Anatomy & Physiology, Connexions Web site, Jun 19, 2013. (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia 2. Stem cell treatments By Hggstrm, Mikael (2014). Medical gallery of Mikael Hggstrm 2014. WikiJournal of Medicine 1 (2). DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.008. ISSN 2002-4436 (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia

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What is the Difference Between Embryonic and Somatic Stem Cells

Dr. Neil Riordan, Cell Therapy Expert – Stem Cell Treatment …

Neil Riordan, PA, PhD is one of the early pioneers and experts in applied stem cell research. Dr. Riordan founded publicly traded company Medistem Laboratories (later Medistem Inc.) which was acquired by Intrexon in 2013.

He is the founder and chairman of Medistem Panama, Inc., a leading stem cell laboratory and research facility located in the Technology Park of the prestigious City of Knowledge in Panama City, Panama. Medistem Panama (est. 2007) is at the forefront of research on the effects of adult stem cells on the course of several chronic diseases and conditions. The stem cell laboratory at Medistem Panama is fully licensed by the Ministry of Health of Panama.

Human umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCT-MSCs) that were isolated and grown at Medistem Panama to create master cell banks are currently being used in the United States. These cells serve as the starting material for cellular products used in MSC clinical trials for two Duchennes muscular dystrophy patients under US FDAs designation of Investigational New Drug (IND) for single patient compassionate use. (IND 16026 DMD Single Patient) These trials are the first in the United States to use hUCT-MSCs. Translational Biosciences, a fully-owned subsidiary of Medistem Panama is currently conducting phase I/II clinical trials for multiple sclerosis, autism and rheumatoid arthritis.

Dr. Riordan is founder, chairman and chief science officer of the Stem Cell Institute in Panama, which specializes in the treatment of human diseases and conditions with adult stem cells, primarily human umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Established in 2007, Stem Cell Institute is one of the oldest, most well-known and well-respected stem cell therapy clinics in the world.

He is co-founder and chief science officer of the Riordan Medical Institute (RMI). Located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area city of Southlake, Texas, RMI specializes in the treatment of orthopedic conditions with autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells combined with amniotic tissue products developed by Dr. Riordan.

He is also the founder of Aidan Products, which provides health care professionals with quality nutraceuticals. Dr. Riordans team developed the product Stem-Kine, the only nutritional supplement that is clinically proven to increase the amount of circulating stem cells in the body for an extended period of time. Stem-Kine is currently sold in 35 countries.

Dr. Riordan has published more than 70 scientific articles in international peer-reviewed journals. In the stem cell arena, his colleagues and he have published more than 20 articles on multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, heart failure, rheumatoid arthritis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, autism, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome. In 2007, Dr. Riordans research team was the first to discover and document the existence of mesenchymal-like stem cells in menstrual blood. For this discovery, his team was honored with the Medical Article of the Year Award from Biomed Central. Other notable journals in which Dr. Riordan has published articles include the British Journal of Cancer, Cellular Immunology, Journal of Immunotherapy, and Translational Medicine.

In addition to his scientific journal publications, Dr. Riordan has authored two books about mesenchymal stem cell therapy: Stem Cell Therapy: A Rising Tide: How Stem Cells Are Disrupting Medicine and Transforming Lives and MSC (Mesenchymal Stem Cells): Clinical Evidence Leading Medicines Next Frontier. Dr. Riordan has also written two scientific book chapters on the use of non-controversial stem cells from placenta and umbilical cord.

Dr. Riordan is an established inventor. He is the inventor or co-inventor on more than 25 patent families, including 11 issued patents. His team collaborates with a number of universities and institutions, including National Institutes of Health, Indiana University, University of California, San Diego, University of Utah, University of Western Ontario, and University of Nebraska.

He has made a number of novel discoveries in the field of cancer research since the mid-1990s when he collaborated with his father, Dr. Hugh Riordan, on the effects of high-dose intravenous vitamin C on cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment. This pioneering study on vitamin Cs preferential toxicity to cancer cells notably led to a 1997 patent for the treatment of cancer with vitamin C. In 2010, Dr. Riordan was granted an additional patent for a new cellular vaccine for cancer patients.

Neil Riordan, PA, PhD earned his Bachelor of Science at Wichita State University and graduated summa cum laude. He received his Masters degree at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Riordan completed his education by earning a Ph.D. in Health Sciences at Medical University of the Americas.

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Dr. Neil Riordan, Cell Therapy Expert - Stem Cell Treatment ...

Stem Cell Therapy Tulsa OK | Broken Arrow | Jenks

Stem Cell Therapy in Tulsa, Oklahoma Our physicians utilize stem cell therapy in treating Stem Cell Injections for Arthritis, Tendonitis, Knee Pain & More

As an alternative to surgery, our patients can now benefit from injections of platelet rich plasma, amniotic, bone marrow or adipose stem cells to treat chronic orthopaedic conditions. These treatments can reduce pain and provide long lasting relief from chronic tendinitis, early arthritis and cartilage damage in the joint.

Our surgeons offer these fairly new treatment options; PRP, amniotic membrane stem cell, bone marrow stem cell as well as adipose stem cell injections to successfully treat patients with knee, hip or shoulder osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tendonitis, Achilles tendonitis, chronic bursitis, meniscal tears and degenerative arthritis. (For clarification, amniotic stem cells comes from the amniotic sac not an embryo. While some people may have ethical issues with embryonic stem cell therapy, most people agree the use of amniotic tissue productraises no ethical or moral questions.)

Why do I have chronic pain in my joints and tendons?

As we age, our bodies undergo wear and tear from previous injuries, exercising, playing sports or arthritis. We do not repair these injures as well as we did when we were young. We produce less of our repair cells (mesenchymal stem cells) as we get older so it takes longer to recover.

How can Amniotic tissue injections help me?

Stem cell treatment takes advantage of the bodys ability to repair itself. With amniotic tissue product, the physician injects cells from amniotic tissues into your body. These stem cells have anti-inflammatory properties, similar to steroid and cortisone shots. Whats great is stem cell therapy can go beyond the benefits of standard injection therapy. Stem cells can actually restore degenerated tissue while providing pain relief. The growth factors in amniotic stem cells may replace damaged cells in your body. Stem cell injections also contain hyaluronic acid which lubricates tendons and joints which eases pain and helps to restore mobility.

How are Bone Marrow stem cells obtained?

One of the richest sources of stem cells is bone marrow, and the hip (pelvis) is one of the best and most convenient locations for obtaining bone marrow. During the harvesting procedure, the doctor removes (or aspirates) your cells from the pelvis. A trained nurse or technician then uses specifically designed equipment to concentrate the stem cells in the bone marrow and provides the cells back to the surgeon for implantation at the site of injury. This technique can be performed in one of our procedure rooms at the clinic.

How are Adipose stem cells obtained?

A small sample of Adipose tissue (fat) is removed from above the Superior Iliac spine (love handles) or abdomen under a local anesthetic. Then a trained nurse or technician uses specifically designed equipment to concentrate the adipose stem cells and provides the cells back to the surgeon for implantation at the site of injury. This technique can be performed in one of our procedure rooms at the clinic.

What are the benefits of Stem Cell injections?

Amniotic Stem Cell injections provide patients with a non-surgical treatment option to reduce various types of musculoskeletal pain. The injections are performed under Ultrasound guidance to ensure proper placement of the stem cells. With amniotic stem cells, there is no threat of patient rejection and amniotic fluid is highly concentrated source of stem cells, which makes this type of stem cell injection preferable.

Are Stem Cell injections safe?

Yes, more than 10,000 injections have been performed without a single reported adverse side effect. The use of amniotic stem cells is well researched, safe and effective, plus they have been used by ophthalmologists and plastic surgeons for around 20 years.

Is PRP the same as Stem Cell Therapy?

No, PRP is the injection or addition of blood platelets to enhance or jump-start the healing of soft tissue. Stem cell therapy is the process of using stem cells to create new cells to promote damaged or lost cells. They are different treatments but fall in the category of regenerative medicine.

How is PRP obtained?

To develop a PRP preparation, blood must first be drawn from a patient. The platelets are separated from other blood cells and their concentration is increased during a process called centrifugation. The increased concentration of platelets is then injected back into the region of the body being treated. This technique can also be performed in one of our clinic procedure rooms.

Does insurance cover these regenerative procedures?

While PRP and stem cell therapy has been used for years to treat a multitude of injuries, their application is fairly new to orthopaedics. Due to this, some insurance companies may deny coverage making these procedures self-pay. In most cases its close to the amount of your deductible if you did in fact have a surgery. Our business office will be happy to work with you to obtain alternative payment arrangements prior to scheduling any procedure.

Am I a candidate for these regenerative treatment options?

If you are suffering from any kind of joint, tendon or ligament pain and most other conservative treatments arent alleviating it then you may be a candidate for amniotic tissue product. However if you have severe degenerative osteoarthritis you may not be eligible. If you believe you are a candidate then please fill out the form to the right to schedule a consultation appointment with one of our surgeons. They will look at your X-rays and examine you to determine if you are a candidate for one of these regenerative treatments.

Post-Procedure Instructions for Joints

Immediately After Your Cell Transplant Procedure: The stem cell injection includes producing a micro injury in the joint. As a result, expect the joint to be sore. This can be everything from minimally sore to very sore. Activity: The goal is to allow the stem cells to attach and then to protect them while they differentiate into cartilage. For this reason, youll be asked to keep the joint as still as possible for 30-60 minutes after the procedure. Do not take a bath for three days, but a shower 12 hours after the procedure is fine. 1st 3rd Day: For the first day, you should limit activity on the joint. If you have post-op soreness this may be easy to do, as you may have a natural limp or antalgic gait (your body does this to reduce pressure on the area to allow healing). If you dont have this, then simply, naturally taking a bit of weight off this area as you walk is a good idea this first day. Avoid all contact sports as well as jogging, running, or sports that involve impact on that joint. 4th Day 2nd Week: You can start to walk normally, no more than 30-60 minutes a day. Avoid all contact sports as well as jogging, running, or sports that involve impact on that joint. Bike riding is fine as are stationary bikes (no up/downs), elliptical machines, and swimming (no breast stroke). 3rd 6th Week: Avoid all contact sports as well as jogging, running, or sports that involve impact on that joint. You can walk as much as you like. Bike riding is fine, as are stationary bikes, elliptical machine, and swimming. Stem Cell Therapy Testimonials

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Stem Cell Therapy Tulsa OK | Broken Arrow | Jenks

Stem Cell FAQ – Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

Why are doctors and scientists so excited about stem cells?

Stem cells have potential in many different areas of health and medical research.

Adult and embryonic stem cells differ in the type of cells that they can develop into embryonic stem cells can become all cell types of the body (they arepluripotent). Adult stem cells are found in mature tissues (bone marrow, skin, brain, etc.) and give rise to other cell types from their tissue or origin (they are are multipotent). For example, adult blood stem cells give rise to red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

Adult stem cells are thought to exist in every type of tissue in the body. But, to date, the isolation of many types of adult stem cells has been limited. Hematopoietic (blood) stem cells are readily available via bone marrow aspiration. But stem cells for solid organs such as liver or brain have proven more difficult to identify and derive. The hope is that hESCs can be used to derive every type of adult stem cell in the body and allow research that is currently not possible.

Embryonic stem cells are isolated from 3 to 5 day old human embryos at the blastocyst stage. The blastocyst is a hollow microscopic cluster of several hundred undifferentiated cells.

This is a culture of hESCs derived from a single embryo. Because stem cells can self-replicate, just a few hESCs can give rise to a whole population of identical hESCs, or a cell line.

Once established, a cell line can be grown in the laboratory indefinitely and cells may be frozen for later use or distributed to other researchers. Because each cell line has its own distinct genetic footprint, researchers are often interested in using the same cell line for a number of related experiments.

No. At this point, the promise is huge, but hESC research is still in its early stages. Human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research only began in 1998, when a group led by Dr. James Thomson at the University of Wisconsin developed a technique to isolate and grow the cells.

In late January 2009, the California-based company Geron received FDA clearance to begin the first human clinical trial of cells derived from human embryonic stem cells.

In contrast, research with adult stem cells such as blood-forming stem cells in bone marrow (called hematopoietic stem cells, or HSCs) has been active for over decades. And this research has resulted in treatment of patients; for example, bone marrow (stem cell) transplants have been conducted for over 40 years.

In addition, studies with a limited number of patients have demonstrated the clinical potential of adult stem cells in the treatment of other human diseases that include diabetes and advanced kidney cancer.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) are cells that began as normal adult cells (for example, a skin cell) and were engineered (induced) by scientists to become pluripotent, that is, able to form all cell types of the body. This process is often called 'reprogramming.' While iPS cells and embryonic stem cells share many characteristics they are not identical. Scientists are currently exploring whether they differ in clinically significant ways.

The technology used to generate iPS cells holds great promise for creating patient- and disease-specific cell lines for research purposes. These cells are already useful tools for drug development and scientists hope to use them in transplantation medicine. However, additional research is needed before the reprogramming techniques can be used to generate stem cells suitable for safe and effective therapies.

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), is a technique in which the nucleus of a somatic cell (any cell of the body except sperm and egg cells) is injected, or transplanted, into an egg, that has had its nucleus removed. The product of SCNT has the same genetic material as the somatic cell donor.

Yes. SCNT is a technique of cloning. The product of SCNT is nearly genetically identical to the somatic cell used in the process. (Of note, the product of SCNT is not technically 100% identical in that the cytoplasm of the oocyte includes mitochondrial DNA.) While SCNT is considered cloning, it is important to differentiate between therapeutic and reproductive cloning. The following FAQ addresses these differences.

Reproductive cloning includes the placement of the product of SCNT into a uterus for the purpose of a live birth. The resulting organism would, in theory, be the genetic copy of the somatic cell donor. Reproductive cloning has been performed in animals for many years and is burdened by many technical and biological problems. Only about 1 percent of all the eggs that receive donor DNA can develop into normal surviving clones. Therapeutic cloning uses SCNT for the sole purpose of deriving cells for research, and potentially in the future for therapy. In therapeutic cloning, the product of SCNT is not placed into a uterus and hence a live birth is never a possibility. Therapeutic cloning provides two potential benefits.

Yes. Massachusetts state law that was enacted in May 2005 allows hESC research and it allows the derivation of hESCs from embryos that were created for reproductive purposes and are no longer needed for reproduction and from somatic cell nuclear transfer.

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) issued guidelines for hESC research in April 2005, and subsequently updated those guidelines in 2007 and 2008. The current guidelines contain detailed recommendations with regard to many aspects of hESC research, including:

No. IRB approval is required for:

Until recently, the federal government limited its funding to specific hESCs derived before August 9, 2001. Specifically, federal funds were only allowed for research on hESCs listed on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Registry, and on derivative products from hESCs on the NIH Registry. On March 9, 2009, President Obama signed an executive order clearing the way for the NIH and other federal agencies to fund research using all kinds of hESCs.

Human embryonic stem cell research at the Center for Regenerative Medicine has been supportedin partby private philanthropic donations. These donations allowed us to support a wide range of research activities that could not have been supported from other sources such as NIH funding. In the future, we expect to receive support for eligible activities from NIH and other funding agencies.

The Center for Regenerative Medicine depends upon philanthropic support. To find out how you can help accelerate research and discovery, please click here.

The Center for Regenerative Medicine is dedicated to understanding how tissues are formed and may be repaired in settings of injury. Embedded at Mass General Hospital, the Center's primary goal is to develop novel therapies to regenerate damaged tissues and thereby overcome debilitating chronic disease. The success of this effort requires a cohesive team of scientists and clinicians with diverse areas of expertise, but with a shared mission and dedication to the larger goal.

The Center for Regenerative Medicine has extensive interactions with other investigators at MGH and in the broader Harvard-MIT community. The Center helped galvanize the establishment of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI), which is co-directed by Dr. Scadden and Dr. Douglas Melton of Harvard's Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. As an important confederated partner of HSCI, the Center brings specific features that augment other elements of HSCI, including unique stem cell clinical investigation expertise and ongoing collaborative clinical trials using stem cell transplantation. The Center emphasizes technologies that will ultimately be critical for the success of stem cell based medicine, including bioengineering, biomaterials expertise, close links to in vivo imaging capability and its GMP facility for sophisticated cell manipulation.

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Stem Cell FAQ - Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

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.

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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - COPD | StemGenex

Cell MD – Stem Cells for Regenerative Medicine

Stem Cell Therapy is a revolutionary medical breakthrough with the potential to treat health problems that have been resistant to other forms of treatment. Stem cell therapy is a form of regenerative medicine that treats the body at the cellular-level. This therapy targets diseased or damaged tissue and organs by introducing cells to replace damaged cells. Stem cells are so effective because of their ability to differentiate into cells that carry out the roles needed in a variety of organs.

Regenerative medicine like stem cell therapy is used to treat a variety of medical conditions across specialties such as rheumatology, orthopedics, neurology, immunology, and cardiology. While stem cell therapy is used to treat pre-existing conditions, it can also be used preventatively. Because of the minimally invasive and potentially beneficial applications of stem cell therapy, many patients take regular stem cell treatments to help prevent against potential future complications.

Stem cells make the most efficient use of the bodys natural ability to heal itself by targeting health issues at the cellular level. This is why regenerative medicine such as stem cell therapy harnesses the ultimate potential for the future of medical treatment.

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Cell MD - Stem Cells for Regenerative Medicine

A few questions about stem cells? | Yahoo Answers

Unless the last answer is coming from a different country, embryonic and fetal stem cells are NOT illegal.

Bush passed legislation that prevented federal funding from funding any embryonic or fetal stem cell research with the exception of a handful of projects that had already been proven contaminated or otherwise worthless.

The research was still legal and could be funded privately or even on a state level. However, since embryonic stem cell research is in its infancy, few private sources were willing to fund the research. Not only is it not 100% certain that the research will pay off, you are looking at 20-50 years at a min before this stuff is available publically and people start seeing returns on investments

Obama lifted the ban on federally funding embryonic stem cell research. However, with all the other economical issues, not much funding has been directed to it.

Embryonic stem cells come from IVF's trash pile. Women who go through IVF have their eggs harvested, they are fertalized with sperm in a lab and then frozen. WIth each mentstrual cycle, a few embryos at a time are inserted into the uterus hoping one will implant. They usually dont, it takes several cycles to produce a pregnancy, and all the embryos that dont implant die. When the mother is done trying to conceive, there are often embryos left over. Since most people going through IVF are doing so to have their own biological children, few are willing to donate their embryos to other women or accept donated embryos from other women. So, they are either incinerated as biowaste, or donated for research.

IVF kills more embryos than embryonic stem cell research, and will continue to, even if embryonic stem cell research stops today.

Fetal stem cell research is the least effective and least popular. But any woman can donate the remains from her abortion or naturally miscarried fetus.

C. is difficult to answer. Embryonic stem cells can turn into almost any type of cell in the body, however, early trials have led to cancer and other issues. Adult stem cells themselves arent turning cancerous after treatment (though keep in mind, they CAN become cancerous.... leukemia is cancer of the person's adult stem cells - their bone marrow.. If stem cells can turn cancerous before donation in the host body, they absolutely can after donation). Although, the most popular adult stem cell treatment is a bone marrow transplant, and that requires high dose chemo and full body radiation, which DOES increase the patients risk of cancers, including the same types that transplant treats.

In addition, adult stem cells have treatments, while embryonic stem cells dont. However, adult stem cells have been researched for about 100 years, and a bone marrow transplant has been available for 50. After all that time and research, they only have a handful of treatments. They just happened to get lucky because a bone marrow transplant can treat like 100+ different diseases - anything that originates or damages the blood system, marrow, or immune system.

Embryonic stem cells have only been researched for like 20-30 years. You wouldnt expect a treatment out of them, and precious adult stem cells took over 50 years to have a single succesful treatment in a single patient. If we had stopped adult stem cells after 20-30 years of research, we would never have anything that has come from it (and that is my debate against the people who claim embryonic stem cell research is worthless because it doesnt have treatments...... these people have no idea how long it took to develop a bone marrow transplant. and they have no idea how dangerous that transplant still is today, 50 years from its invention.

So, its really complicated and controversial.

I dont have any ethical issues against using bone marrow. My problem is that the bone marrow transplant is portrayed to be far safer than it really is. My problem is that anti embryonic people use the number of diseases this single treatment can treat to make it sound like adult stem cells have hundreds of different treatments, when they only have a handful. My problem is the misrepresentation of how long adult stem cell research has been conducted to make it look like they have accomplished way more than what they have in a way shorter amt of time. (for example, there is a particular user on ya that claims adult stem cells have only been researched for 20-30 years as well, but have hundreds of different treatments... its bs, based on manipulating the truth.)

The only people really against adult stem cell reserach are those against western medicine as a whole, and those who do not understand the difference bw adult and embryonic stem cells. I have been through a bone marrow transplant, so I am not against it. I just support being truthful about its flagship treatment.

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A few questions about stem cells? | Yahoo Answers

Hypoimmunogenic derivatives of induced pluripotent stem …

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Innovative Medical Center: Stem Cell Clinic, Chiropractic …

Innovative Medical Center is an integrated physical medicine practice serving patients in Fresno, California. We are a state of the art medically integrated team of holistic health and wellness professionals, dedicated to serving the public by bringing health and happiness to a disease-less, pain-free community. We strive to prevent any unnecessary surgeries as well as reduce the use of any medications.

This facility offers treatment for a variety of different ailments, including disc disorders, joint pain, allergies, headaches, chronic pain, sports injuries, and auto accident injuries. The doctors at Innovative Medical Center treat patients of all ages, including newborns, children, adults, and seniors. The rehabilitative, medical, and corrective care Innovative Medical Center provides is designed to help patients who are currently in pain, as well as those who want to prevent a painful condition from occurring in the future.

Innovative Medical Center offers comprehensive, personalized care to patients with a team approach. When a new patient comes in, the medical staff will perform a thorough examination to identify all of the patients existing issues. Our team has years of training, experience, and success in bringing lasting and real relief to our patients. By locating the cause (not just medicating the symptoms) we can very often bring tremendous relief to our patients.

The staff at Innovative Medical Center is dedicated to providing each patient with the time and attention they deserve. Quite often our practitioners get results where nothing else has worked. We have a very high success rate with less serious back and spine related issues as well. Please contact us today for more information and a free, no obligation consultation to see how we can help you live pain-free with a customized lifestyle plan built just for you. Innovative Medical Center prides itself on providingthe attention needed for the best possible patient experience, which is a service offering many larger practices cannot offer.

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