FAQs [Stem Cell Information] – National Institutes of Health

Why are doctors and scientists so excited about human embryonic stem cells? Stem cells have potential in many different areas of health and medical research. To start with, studying stem cells will help us to understand how they transform into the dazzling array of specialized cells that make us what we are. Some of the most serious medical conditions, such as cancer and birth defects, are due to problems that occur somewhere in this process. A better understanding of normal cell development will allow us to understand and perhaps correct the errors that cause these medical conditions.

Another potential application of stem cells is making cells and tissues for medical therapies. Today, donated organs and tissues are often used to replace those that are diseased or destroyed. Unfortunately, the number of people needing a transplant far exceeds the number of organs available for transplantation. Pluripotent stem cells offer the possibility of a renewable source of replacement cells and tissues to treat a myriad of diseases, conditions, and disabilities including Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal cord injury, burns, heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis.

What will be the best type of stem cell to use for therapy? Pluripotent stem cells, while having great therapeutic potential, face formidable technical challenges. First, scientists must learn how to control their development into all the different types of cells in the body. Second, the cells now available for research are likely to be rejected by a patient's immune system. Another serious consideration is that the idea of using stem cells from human embryos or human fetal tissue troubles many people on ethical grounds.

Until recently, there was little evidence that multipotent adult stem cells could change course and provide the flexibility that researchers need in order to address all the medical diseases and disorders they would like to. New findings in animals, however, suggest that even after a stem cell has begun to specialize, it may be more flexible than previously thought.

There are currently several limitations to using traditional adult stem cells. Although many different kinds of multipotent stem cells have been identified, adult stem cells that could give rise to all cell and tissue types have not yet been found. Adult stem cells are often present in only minute quantities and can therefore be difficult to isolate and purify. There is also evidence that they may not have the same capacity to multiply as embryonic stem cells do. Finally, adult stem cells may contain more DNA abnormalitiescaused by sunlight, toxins, and errors in making more DNA copies during the course of a lifetime. These potential weaknesses might limit the usefulness of adult stem cells.

It is now possible to reprogram adult somatic cells to become like embryonic stem cells (induced pluripotent stem cells, iPSCs) through the introduction of embryonic genes. Thus, a source of cells can be generated that are specific to the donor, thereby increasing the chance of compatibility if such cells were to be used for tissue regeneration. However, like embryonic stem cells, determination of the methods by which iPSCs can be completely and reproducibly committed to appropriate cell lineages is still under investigation. Since they are derived from adult cells, iPSCs may also suffer DNA abnormalities, as described in the previous paragraph.

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FAQs [Stem Cell Information] - National Institutes of Health

Researchers Create Personalized, Disease-Specific Stem Cells

redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports Your Universe Online

Researchers reported on Monday the creation of the first disease-specific line of embryonic stem cells made with a patients own DNA, a major breakthrough in the field of regenerative medicine.

The achievement marks the first time cloning technologies have been used to generate stem cells that are genetically matched to adult patients.

The independent group of scientists, led by experts at the New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute (NYSCF), used somatic cell nuclear transfer to successfully clone a skin cell from a 32-year-old woman with type-1 diabetes. Those cells were then turned into insulin-producing cells resembling the beta cells lost in the disease.

In type-1 diabetes, a patients immune system attacks the bodys insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells, leaving the patient unable to adequately regulate blood sugar levels.

The researchers said the insulin-producing cells created in the current study could someday replace cells damaged by type-1 diabetes, something that could provide better treatment or even a cure for the disease.

I am thrilled to say we have accomplished our goal of creating patient-specific stem cells from diabetic patients using somatic cell nuclear transfer, Susan Solomon, CEO and co-founder of NYSCF, said in a recent statement.

I became involved with medical research when my son was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes, and seeing todays results gives me hope that we will one day have a cure for this debilitating disease.

As reported Monday in the journal Nature, the scientists derived embryonic stem cells by adding the nuclei of adult skin cells to unfertilized donor oocytes using a process known as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Embryonic stem cells were created from the adult donor with type-1 diabetes and a healthy control.

In 2011, the team reported creating the first embryonic cell line from human skin using nuclear transfer when they made stem cells and insulin-producing beta cells from patients with type-1 diabetes. However, those stem cells were triploid, meaning they had three sets of chromosomes, and therefore could not be used for new therapies.

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Researchers Create Personalized, Disease-Specific Stem Cells

All Things Stem Cell Visual Stem Cell Glossary

Stem cells: Cells that are able to (1) self-renew (can create more stem cells indefinitely) and (2) differentiate into (become) specialized, mature cell types.

Embryonic stem cells: Stem cells that are harvested from a blastocyst. These cells are pluripotent, meaning they can differentiate into cells from all three germ layers.

Embryonic stem cells are isolated from cells in a blastocyst, a very early stage embryo. Once isolated from the blastocyst, these cells form colonies in culture (closely packed groups of cells) and can become cells of the three germ layers, which later make up the adult body.

Adult stem cells (or Somatic Stem Cell): Stem cells that are harvested from tissues in an adult body. These cells are usually multipotent, meaning they can differentiate into cells from some, but not all, of the three germ layers. They are thought to act to repair and regenerate the tissue in which they are found in, but usually they can differentiate into cells of completely different tissue types.

Adult stem cells can be found in a wide variety of tissues throughout the body; shown here are only a few examples.

The Three Germ Layers: These are three different tissue types that exist during development in the embryo and that, together, will later make up the body. These layers include the mesoderm, endoderm, and ectoderm.

The three germ layers form during the gastrula stage of development. The layers are determined by their physical position in the gastrula. This stage follows the zygote and blastocyst stages; the gastrula forms when the embryo is approximately 14-16 days old in humans.

Endoderm: One of the three germ layers. Specifically, this is the inner layer of cells in the embryo and it will develop into lungs, digestive organs, the liver, the pancreas, and other organs.

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All Things Stem Cell Visual Stem Cell Glossary

Emcell | Stem Cell Treatments | Stem Cell Cost | Embryonic …

THE WORLD'S LARGEST CLINICAL EXPERIENCE IN FETAL STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION FOR VARIOUS DISEASES AND CONDITIONS

Welcome to Cell Therapy Clinic EmCell

Who We Are?

EmCell clinic is a medical center founded in 1994. In all these years, we treated thousands of patients from different countries and performed more than 6,000 transplantations of fetal stem cells. The treatment methods developed and used in the clinic helped to save and prolong our patients' lives, restore different organs and tissues and achieve positive results in treating diseases and conditions that were considered incurable.

EmCell professionals perform fetal stem cell treatment (in vivo), work out indications and contraindications for the treatment of severe acquired and genetic diseases caused by or resulting in cell count reduction. Moreover, our clinic performs treatment for a wide range of conditions, such as aging, climax, infertility, functional disorders of the internal organs and chronic fatigue syndrome.

All the methods of fetal stem cell treatment used at our clinic are its property and protected by the patents of Ukraine, Russia, the USA and other countries. At present, a number of patents on fetal stem cell application for different diseases and conditions treatment are pending in the patent offices of many countries.

BBC documentary called EmCell clinic the "Last Hope Clinic" because we treated and followed-up the most complicated clinical cases from all over the world.

During the years of intensive work, EmCell team won international acclaim in the field of research and clinical application of fetal stem cells. Our achievements were awarded a number of certificates of the international medical congresses and conferences. But the best award for EmCell clinic is successful treatment and recovery of our patients and their words of gratitude.

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Emcell | Stem Cell Treatments | Stem Cell Cost | Embryonic ...

Conference to shed light on latest stem cell applications

The King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC) recently joined a conference on stem cell research and its application science and medicine, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The conference, which was organized by the Health Affairs at the National Guard, unveiled the latest discoveries and findings made by researchers at the stem cell and regenerative medicine unit at KAIMRC, the agency said. The conference was attended by several experts on stem cell research representing Saudi Arabia, the United States, Britain, France, Sweden, Italy, Australia and New Zealand. Ahmed Al-Askar, CEO of KAIMRC, said stem cell research is a broad topic that sheds light on how to best exploit human cells to treat diseases for certain organs, such as the liver, kidney or nerves. He said the current use of stem cells is centered on plantation for the treatment of certain types of leukemia, cancer and genetic diseases. Since its inception three years ago, the center has transplanted 200 cells following the creation of a program for transplanting stem cells in children and adults, he said. Saudi Arabia has the sole stem cell donation registry in Arab countries, compared with 60 cells donation registries globally, he said. The Saudi stem cell donation center is meant to attract potential donors from Arab countries, he said. We have had 5,000 donors so far. He said some 400 scientists and experts are working at the center, while another 40 physicians have been dispatched on scholarships to acquire training and specialization. Al-Askar expressed optimism over the future of stem cell use and its contribution to the treatment of a variety of diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, pulmonary and hepatic fibrosis and neurological and cardiovascular disorders.

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Conference to shed light on latest stem cell applications

Doubts over heart stem-cell therapy

Chaiwat Subprasom/Reuters/Corbis

Many companies around the world offer stem-cell treatments to patients with heart disease.

An analysis of clinical studies that use adult stem cells to treat heart disease has raised questions about the value of a therapy that many consider inappropriately hyped.

Early-phase clinical trials have reported that adult stem cells are effective in treating heart attack and heart failure, and many companies are moving quickly to tap into this potentially lucrative market. But a comprehensive study that looked at discrepancies in trials investigating treatments that use patients own stem cells, published this week in the journal BMJ (ref. 1), finds that only trials containing flaws, such as design or reporting errors, showed positive outcomes. Error-free trials showed no benefit at all.

The publication comes as two major clinical trials designed to conclusively test the treatments efficacy are recruiting thousands of patients.

The BMJ paper is concerning because the therapeutic approach is already being commercialized, argues stem-cell researcher Paolo Bianco at the Sapienza University of Rome. Premature trials can create unrealistic hopes for patients, and divert resources from the necessary basic studies we need to design more appropriate treatments.

Therapies that use adult stem cells typically involve collecting mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow taken from the patients hip bone. The cells are then injected back into the patient, to help repair damaged tissue. Original claims that they differentiated into replacement cells have been rejected2, and many clinicians now believe that the cells act by releasing molecules that cause inflammation, with an attendant growth of oxygen-delivering small blood vessels, in the damaged tissue.

The approach has spawned international commercialization of various forms of the therapy, with companies offering treatments for disorders ranging from Parkinsons disease to heart failure. But the effectiveness of such therapies remains unproven.

I have a lot of hope for regenerative medicine, but our results make me fearful.

The BMJ study, led by cardiologist Darrel Francis at Imperial College London, examined 133 reports of 49 randomized clinical trials published up to April last year, involving the treatment of patients who had had a heart attack or heart failure. It included all accessible randomized studies, and looked for discrepancies in design, methodology and reporting of results.

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Doubts over heart stem-cell therapy

Regenexx – Stem Cell Therapy for Arthritis and Injuries …

Welcome to Regenexx Stem Cell Procedures for Arthritis & Injuries Chris Centeno 2009-09-30T12:05:38+00:00 The Regenexx Procedures are a family of non-surgical stem cell and blood platelet treatments for common injuries and degenerative joint conditions, such as osteoarthritis and avascular necrosis. These stem cell procedures utilize a patients own stem cells or blood platelets to help heal damaged tissues, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, spinal disc, or bone. Regenexx Stem Cell and Blood Platelet Procedures offer a viable alternative for individuals suffering from joint pain, or who may be considering elective surgery or joint replacement due to injury or arthritis. Patients avoid the lengthy periods of downtime, and painful rehabilitation that typically follow invasive surgeries. Commonly Treated Conditions - Regenexx Stem Cell and Platelet Procedures

The list below represents the most commonly treated conditions using Regenexx stem cell or platelet procedures. It is not a complete list, so please contact us or complete the Regenexx Candidate Form if you have questions about whether you or your condition can be treated with these non-surgical procedures. The type of procedure used (stem cell or blood platelet) to treat these conditions is largely dependent upon the severity of the injury or condition.

The Centeno-Schultz Clinic is theoriginalstem cell based musculoskeletal practice in the U.S., with more stem cell orthopedics experience than any other clinic. We are also physician leaders in stem cell treatments for arthritis and injuries in terms of research presentations, publications, and academic achievements.

The episode features Dr. Centeno and Dr. Hanson, along with patient Barbee James, who required stem cell treatment after a failed micro fracture and continued problems following traditional knee surgery. The episode provided a nice overview of a Regenexx-SD (same-day) stem cell procedure for Barbees knee cartilage damage.

On February 28, 2013 Seattle King TV featured Regenexx patient Paul Lyon, who underwent a Regenexx-SD knee procedure in our Broomfield clinic. The story looks at his results and includes an interview with Dr. Christopher Centeno, along with footage in our advanced lab where stem cells are processed as part of the procedure.

Regenexx Network Physician Dr. Mayo Friedlis (Washington D.C. area) is featured in this recent news story about stem cell therapy, which explores the Regenexx-SD stem cell procedure and a very active seniors outcome following his knee stem cell injection.

Our Pittsburgh, PA. Regenexx Network Provider, Rehabilitation and Pain Specialists, was recently featured in a news story about treating a patients knee pain with stem cells. The patient returned to their clinic for this procedure after experiencing success with the stem cell treatment he received on his other knee.

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Regenexx - Stem Cell Therapy for Arthritis and Injuries ...

The Foundation Fighting Blindness – Research News

The Foundation Fighting Blindness is committed to funding sight-saving research across Canada and to keeping Canadians living with vision loss informed about the latest developments in vision research. News items and resources about emerging research are listed here. You can also see past issues of our monthly Vision Research e-News here!

OurResearch News items are reviewed by Dr. Bill Stell, Expert Scientific Advisor for the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Dr. Stell isaProfessor of Cell Biology and Anatomy; Surgery; Ophthalmology; and Neurosciences at theUniversity of Calgary.

April 15, 2014 - Trial of Treatment to Slow Retinitis Pigmentosa Vision Loss Begins in Italy The eye drop uses a nerve growth factor to protect photoreceptors.

March 31, 2014 - Geneticist's sight-saving contributions recognized Dr. Jane Green received the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador

March 25, 2014 - A Link between Exercise and Vision Health American scientists make the first report of simple exercise having a direct effect on retinal health and vision.

Feb 21, 2014 - New Compound May be the Basis of a Promising Drug to Reverse Retinal Blindness California researchers invent a new "photoswitch," which may give light-sensing capacity to retinal nerve cells potentially restoring vision to people with advancedretinal degenerative diseases.

Feb 5, 2014 - Testing the Safety of Induced Stem Cell Therapies Cells derived from induced pluipotent stem cells will soon be used in a clinical trial for dry age-related macular degeneration and may be used for other conditions as well. How are scientists assessing the risks?

Jan 16, 2014 - First gene therapy results for choroideremia suggest cautious optimism Of first six patients treated in the British gene therapy trial for choroideremia, the two most visually impaired experience the most strikingly positive results.

Jan 8, 2014 - Allergies may protect against age-related macular degeneration In a new, and unexpected research finding people with a history of allergies may be less likely to have AMD.

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The Foundation Fighting Blindness - Research News

Arguments for the use of research cloning

The technical name for cloning is somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Once an embryo is created by SCNT it can be inserted into the womb of a recipient (reproductive cloning) or it can be used for research purposes (particularly with the aim of creating stem cells). This second process has often been described as therapeutic cloning. However some have argued that this terminology is highly misleading as to-date no form of therapy has resulted from SCNT. Hence the phrase research cloning may represent a more neutral and honest form of terminology. However at present this terminology has not gained widespread acceptance.

Basic scientific concepts

A gene is a hereditary unit consisting of a sequence of DNA that occupies a specific location on a chromosome. Chromosomes consist of long coiled chains of genes and are found within all nucleated cells in the human body. Human beings normally have 23 pairs of chromosomes; one of each pair is inherited from the genetic mother and one from the genetic father.

In reproductive cloning the embryo is then placed into a womb and allowed to develop into a child. In research cloning the embryo is used for research purposes, for example to generate embryonic stem cells2, leading ultimately to its destruction.

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Arguments for the use of research cloning

adult | stem | cell | doctors | cost | therapy | treatment …

The adult stem cell doctors at Regenocyte treat high-risk, life-threatening conditions of the heart lungs, brain and spinal cord injuries and vascular diseases. Regenocytes founder Dr. Zannos Grekos and his team of international medical doctors, successfully transplant adult stem cells (autologous) to treat heart disease such as cardiomyopathy, pulmonary disease like COPD and Cystic Fibrosis,neurological disease such as Parkinsons and Alzheimers, spinal cord injuries and many other health problems with adult stem cell therapy. Until now, many of the diseases that have not been treatable with traditional medicine or could only be treated through surgery or drugs are now being successfully treated by adult stem cell doctors.

Start NOW and learn how adult stem cell doctors can help you.

Regenocytes adult stem cell doctors, process adult stem cells, taken from the patients own bone marrow or Adipose (fat) tissue, to successfully in treat cardiovascular disease, traumatic brain injury and many other medical conditions. Patients that once had limited options are now finding viable solutions through stem cell therapies with Regenocyte.

Adult Stem Cell Therapy can work for you. Find out HERE.

Adult stem cell therapy research has been documented to effectively treat many inoperable and last stage diseases. Stem cell therapies are used by many respected and qualified physicians around the world as an alternative treatment for more invasive procedures such as pacemakers and even organ transplant.

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adult | stem | cell | doctors | cost | therapy | treatment ...