Local Vet Seeing Benefits Of Stem Cell Treatment

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) The debate has raged for years about stem cells, but Butler County Veterinarian Mike Hutchinson is completely sold on their effectiveness.

So is a family from Baden after their dog was treated with stem cells.

Just before thanksgiving, Sadies severe skin allergies led to blisters and a nasty rash on her belly.

Traditionally, we use it for arthritis, we use it for ligament issues, bone fractures, things like that. But this dog had an immune system. Its allergic to everything under the sun, Dr. Mike Hutchinson said.

After trying the standard of care, Dr. Mike suggested stem cells.

We were at a loss, so we just chose to do this and within the day we brought her home we said, What do we do? because she was pretty raw and sore. Within five days, she was almost completely healed, Debbie Valosio said.

Stem cells are a repair cell that we take from fat and its just that a repair cell. One of its functions its a potent immuno-modulator which means it helps to calm the immune system down if it is over-reacting, not to the point where it makes it too low, but it calms it down, Dr. Mike said.

Bob Valosio saw the changes almost immediately.

The itching and scratching was always an issue with her, and we felt terrible about that we werent doing enough or what can we do, Bob Valosio said.

While Dr. Mike stopped short of calling this a cure, he is very optimistic about the results from this experimental treatment.

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Local Vet Seeing Benefits Of Stem Cell Treatment

International Stem Cell Corporation Announces Positive Results of Primate Parkinson’s Study

SOURCE: International Stem Cell Corporation

CARLSBAD, CA--(Marketwire - Mar 19, 2013) - International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCQB: ISCO) (www.internationalstemcell.com) a California-based biotechnology company focused on the therapeutic applications of human parthenogenetic stem cells announced today safety and encouraging efficacy of stem cell therapy in rodent and non-human primate models of Parkinson's disease.

"This pilot study represents a first essential step in bringing cell-based therapies for Parkinson's disease to clinical trials," commented co-author of the study Evan Y. Snyder, MD, PhD, Director of Stem Cells and Regenerative Biology Program at Sanford Burnham Medical Research Institute.

These placebo-controlled studies were designed to demonstrate the viability, fate and functional efficacy of the stem cell derived neural cells after implantation to the brain.Highly pure populations of neuronal cells were differentiated from human parthenogenetic stem cells (hpSC) according to the protocol developed by International Stem Cell Corporation and recently published in the Nature Publishing Group's Scientific Reports.

The studies employ MPTP-lesioned African Green monkeys and 6-OHDA-lesioned rats, the principle models used to study Parkinson's disease.The duration of the primate study was four months and the rodent study six months.In the non-human primate model, behavioral endpoints were assessed with parkinsonian scores. These scores, based on a standardized rating scale, were recorded by observers blinded to whether the primates were in the treatment or control group. Observations were done twice per day, five days per week.In the rodent model, behavioral improvement was assessed using the cylinder test, amphetamine and apomorphine induced rotation tests.Cell engraftment, viability and phenotype of the implanted cells were determined histologically at the end of the studies.Tumorigenicity and safety of the therapy was assessed at the end of both the rodent and primate studies by gross necropsy, and brain histology.

The primate study consisted of eight asymptomatic monkeys which have the pathology of the disease, low levels of dopamine induced by bilateral injections of the neurotoxin MPTP, and lack clinical symptoms.Four of the monkeys were transplanted with hpSC-derived neuronal cells, two monkeys sham transplanted with an equivalent volume of cell-less media thus serving as the placebo control group and two healthy monkeys serving as a positive control. Behavioral endpoints were recorded to evaluate possible adverse effects.

Subsequent to implantation of the neuronal cells, all monkeys in the treatment group had higher levels of dopamine in the brain compared with the control group.Additionally, the rats in the treatment group showed gradual improvements in motor symptoms consistent with cells survival, engraftment and dopamine release.No adverse events, including dyskinesia, deformations, tumors or overgrowth, were observed in the rat or monkey treatment groups.Overall, these results provide evidence to support the hypothesis that hpSC-derived neuronal cells can be safe and have a disease modifying effect.These results, although preliminary, are a strong indication that our approach to Parkinson's disease can succeed.

"These results are pivotal for our pre-clinical Parkinson's program showing, as they do, that the hpSC-derived neuronal cells can potentially ameliorate the behavioral symptoms without triggering dyskinesias.This data forms the foundation of our discussions with the FDA as we move towards our IND in 2013," said Dr. Ruslan Semechkin, Principal Investigator of this study, head of R&D for International Stem Cell Corporation and Member of the American Academy of Neurology.

These results will be presented and discussed at the 65th American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting, one of the world's most important annual events for neurologists and neuroscience professionals and the largest such international meeting of its kind with more than 12,000 attendees at last year's meeting.

Location: San Diego Convention Center, 111 W Harbor Dr., San Diego, CA 92101 Session:Movement Disorders; Parkinson's Disease Therapeutics Date and time: March 20th, 2012 at 3:30 PM PDT

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International Stem Cell Corporation Announces Positive Results of Primate Parkinson's Study

NeoStem’s Subsidiary, Progenitor Cell Therapy , Launches Web-Based Service for Real-Time Cell Therapy Product Tracking

NEW YORK, March 18, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NeoStem, Inc. (NYSE MKT:NBS) ("NeoStem" or the "Company"), a leader in the emerging cellular therapy market, today announced that the Company's contract development and manufacturing ("CDMO") subsidiary, Progenitor Cell Therapy ("PCT"), has launched a new service offering, using a custom developed Internet/Web application to further its position as a technology leader for cell therapy. The new service, an automated software system called "PCTFORME.COM", resides in a highly secure, cloud based computing environment, available 24/7, and serves to enhance PCT's service offering to its growing client base. This service has been launched for a major client and is now available for all of PCT's existing and future stem cell clients.

PCTFORME allows PCT's clients to securely access patient details on-line and provides for real time product ordering, processing and retrieval via automated communications between PCT's clients and laboratory staff. The system is expected to significantly enhance communication by enabling easy tracking of current processing, increasing PCT's efficiencies and streamlining the process for the ordering of patient cells for infusion. PCTFORME is HIPAA compliant and built on a proven Microsoft software platform and supporting cloud based hardware infrastructure.

Robert A. Preti, PhD, President and Chief Scientific Officer of PCT, said, "The need to service the demand, in both volume and variety of procedures, continues to grow as PCT serves our client base. The efficiencies gained in order entry, cell product inventory management, and real time procedure result reporting is expected to improve patient care through enhanced communication, control and transparency. In this regard, PCTFORME represents a patient product management breakthrough in stem cell processing."

"As the field of cell therapy continues to emerge, we believe technology will enable us to reduce costs, better service our clients and build scalable operations to be ready for the future when cell therapy becomes standard of care in medical practice," said Dr. Robin L. Smith, Chairman and CEO of NeoStem. "Our management is focused on evaluating, developing and incorporating such technologies into our state-of-the-art contract development and manufacturing business to assist our clients, as well as our clinical development subsidiaries, with their cell therapy product development, and in preparation to launch them into the clinic."

About NeoStem, Inc.

NeoStem, Inc. ("NeoStem" or the "Company") is a leader in the emerging cellular therapy industry. Our business model includes the development of novel proprietary cell therapy products as well as operating a contract development and manufacturing organization ("CDMO") providing services to others in the regenerative medicine industry. The combination of a therapeutic development business and revenue-generating service provider business provides the Company with capabilities for cost effective in-house product development and immediate revenue and cash flow generation. http://www.neostem.com

About Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC ("PCT")

PCT, a wholly owned subsidiary of NeoStem, Inc., is a leading CDMO in the cellular therapy industry. Since its inception in 1997, PCT has provided pre-clinical and clinical current Good Manufacturing Practice ("cGMP") development and manufacturing services to over 100 clients advancing regenerative medicine product candidates through rigorous quality standards all the way through to human testing. PCT has two cGMP, state-of-the art cell therapy research, development, and manufacturing facilities in New Jersey and California, serving the cell therapy community with integrated and regulatory compliant distribution capabilities. Its core competencies in the cellular therapy industry include manufacturing of cell therapy-based products, product and process development, cell and tissue processing, regulatory support, storage, distribution and delivery and consulting services. http://www.pctcelltherapy.com

Forward-Looking Statements for NeoStem, Inc.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current expectations, as of the date of this press release, and involve certain risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include statements herein with respect to the successful execution of the Company's business strategy, including with respect to the Company's or its partners' successful development of AMR-001 and other cell therapeutics, the size of the market for such products, its competitive position in such markets, the Company's ability to successfully penetrate such markets and the market for its contract development and manufacturing business, and the efficacy of protection from its patent portfolio, as well as the future of the cell therapeutics industry in general, including the rate at which such industry may grow. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward- looking statements as a result of various factors, including but not limited to matters described under the "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 11, 2013 and in the Company's other periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are available on its website. The Company does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements. The Company's further development is highly dependent on future medical and research developments and market acceptance, which is outside its control.

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NeoStem's Subsidiary, Progenitor Cell Therapy , Launches Web-Based Service for Real-Time Cell Therapy Product Tracking

Phase II ALS Clinical Trial With BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics’ NurOwn(TM) to Be Expanded to a Third Premiere U.S …

NEW YORK, NY and PETACH TIKVAH, ISRAEL--(Marketwire - Mar 18, 2013) - BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics ( OTCQB : BCLI ), a leading developer of adult stem cell technologies for neurodegenerative diseases, announced today that Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the intent to conduct a Phase II clinical trial of NurOwn in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.Mayo Clinic is the third premiere U.S. clinical site to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Company, following the University of Massachusetts, and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).

"We are pleased that Mayo Clinic, a world renowned and prominent clinical center, will be conducting the Phase II clinical trial of NurOwn in ALS," said Alon Natanson, Chief Executive Officer of BrainStorm."It is very encouraging that top tier U.S. centers of excellence have expressed an interest in playing a leading part in our research."The Principal Investigator of this study at Mayo Clinic is Anthony Windebank, M.D., Professor of Neurology.

Initial results from Phase I studies in ALS suggest that patients with ALS experience a positive clinical outcome after treatment with NurOwn.The Company is planning to enroll patients into clinical trials at Mayo Clinic, the University of Massachusetts, and Massachusetts General Hospital as early as the second half of 2013 to further evaluate the effects of treatment with NurOwn in ALS.

"This is another step forward in finding a potentially effective treatment option for patients with ALS," added Mr. Natanson."BrainStorm has presented encouraging preliminary data on NurOwn at many scientific conferences.This week, we will present some of our breakthrough final Phase I data at the most prestigious world neurology meeting, the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, on Wednesday, March 20th."

About NurOwnNurOwn is an autologous, adult stem cell therapy technology that differentiates bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) into specialized, neuron-supporting cells.These neuron-supporting cells (known as "MSC-NTF" cells) secrete neurotrophic, or nerve-growth, factors for PROTECTION of existing motor neurons, PROMOTION of motor neuron growth, and RE-ESTABLISHMENT of nerve-muscle interaction.The ability to differentiate mesenchymal stem cells into MSC-NTF cells, and confirmation of their activity and potency before transplantation, makes NurOwn a first-of-its-kind approach for treating neurodegenerative diseases.More information about NurOwn can be found at http://brainstorm-cell.com/index.php/science-a-technology/-nurown.

About BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, Inc.BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. is a biotechnology company engaged in the development of first-of-its-kind adult stem cell therapies derived from autologous bone marrow cells for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The Company holds the rights to develop and commercialize its NurOwn technology through an exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement with Ramot, the technology transfer company of Tel Aviv University. For more information, visit the company's website at http://www.brainstorm-cell.com.

Safe Harbor Statement - Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information constitute "forward-looking statements" and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.'s actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. Terms and phrases such as "may", "should", "would", "could", "will", "expect", "likely", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "predict", "potential", and similar terms and phrases are intended to identify these forward-looking statements.The potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks associated with BrainStorm's limited operating history, history of losses; minimal working capital, dependence on its license to Ramot's technology; ability to adequately protect the technology; dependence on key executives and on its scientific consultants; ability to obtain required regulatory approvals; and other factors detailed in BrainStorm's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q available at http://www.sec.gov.These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on BrainStorm's forward-looking statements.The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this press release. We do not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or assumptions if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, unless otherwise required by law. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.

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Phase II ALS Clinical Trial With BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics' NurOwn(TM) to Be Expanded to a Third Premiere U.S ...

IMAGE Skincare Announces Revolutionary New Oxygenating Treatment

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., March 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --IMAGE Skincare unveiled its revolutionary oxygenating treatment last week at a series of parties hosted all over the world. Combining the latest technology in oxygen and stem cell therapies, the company at the forefront of innovation in skincare has created the ultimate anti-aging spa treatment: The O2 Lift.

"The best part about this treatment is that recipients can expect to leave with an immediate result. Skin feels softer, smoother, and more radiant with just one treatment," said IMAGE Skincare Founder and CEO Janna Ronert.

The O2 Lift is a five-step luxury spa treatment that exfoliates and oxygenates the skin while infusing plant-derived stem cells, peptides, and a high concentration of enzymatic botanicals to leave skin glowing and illuminated.

"As a plastic surgeon, I have seen the benefits of oxygen therapy in cell regeneration. We wanted to bring that same technology to the cosmetic market, and we're one of the few companies in the world who has been able to harness the power of oxygen in a cosmetic application," said President and Medical Director of IMAGE Skincare, Dr. Marc Ronert. "There is no other product on the market like this one."

The goal of oxygen therapy is to increase skin cell metabolism. Simply put, the faster your skin cells regenerate the younger you will look. By combining this technology with the latest advances in peptides and stem cells, IMAGE Skincare has created a product that not only feels incredible on the skin, but helps to protect against environmental damage and the effects of aging.

For more information regarding the O2 Lift and IMAGE Skincare, visit http://www.imageskincare.com or call the Customer Care Center at 1-800-796-SKIN.

IMAGE Skincare is an internationally operated, professional skincare company. IMAGE Skincare products are approved and available in 36 countries all over the world. IMAGE Skincare's FDA-certified laboratory utilizes the most scientifically advanced formulas in today's marketplace to create pharmaceutical-grade skincare products that give licensed physicians and estheticians the ability to offer professional treatments and products that yield unparalleled results. All of IMAGE Skincare's products are free of parabens, petrochemicals, and preservatives and are not tested on animals.

Contact Information:

Marissa Nolan Public Relations Manager 561.791.2602 mnolan@imageskincare.com

SOURCE IMAGE Skincare

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IMAGE Skincare Announces Revolutionary New Oxygenating Treatment

Stimulating stem – cell growth naturally

Inside Out By Cory Quirino Philippine Daily Inquirer

The excitement over the tremendous healing and anti-aging power of stem cells continues to build up toward a frenzied acceptance of this new wonder treatment. But stem cells are not new; they are as old as time itself. They have been and always will be inside us.

The approach, however, in harvesting, cultivating and reinfusing stem cells into ones own system is expensive and not within the reach of the average person. The public is also confused with an avalanche of information on which stem-cell clinic to consult, what stem-cell approach is best, what kind of stem cells to usewhether from a sheep or ones own adult stem cell.

Despite the Department of Healths guidelines regarding the superior safety of using adult stem cells over animal sources, the debates continue.

If one were to choose adult stem cells, should it be autologous (coming from your own), or are Russian bone marrow stem cells better than the Japanese womens placenta stem cells? Better yet, why not have your very own bone marrow stem cells taken from the back of your hip?

Experts claim that the procedure is relatively painless and 100-percent effective.

Nobody questions the benefits of stem-cell therapy for the brain, heart, lungs, kidney, pancreas, liver, spinal cord, wound-healingthe list is almost endless.

The role of bone marrow stem cells in the healing of the body due to degenerative diseases from accidents and surgeries has been recognized. And its dramatic effect in changing the course of ones life has been hailed by medical experts as something close to a miracle.

P1-million procedure

To those who cannot afford to spend P500,000 to P1 million on a stem-cell procedure, there is another way to derive benefits from your own stem cells. Its source and supply is inside you. Stem cells are found in your brain, blood, bone marrow, fat and skin tissues.

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Stimulating stem - cell growth naturally

Stem cell therapy is new hope for liver transplant patients

Stem cell therapy has been found useful in over 60 per cent of the patients due for liver transplant, as per a paper submitted by doctors at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi recently. Not only is the treatment less cumbersome and risky, its cost is also comparatively very reasonable.

According to the papers principal author and chairman of the Department of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases at the Hospital, Dr. Anil Arora, a large number of patients requiring liver transplantation cannot afford it for two reasons cost and donor availability.

A living donor is needed in such plantation cases with a matching blood group and he or she also has to be a family member or a first or second degree relative. They have to donate the liver. Since Rs.20 lakh is the average cost of liver transplantation, a majority of liver cirrhosis patients can not afford it. Many times they also do not have a donor, he said.

In view of the logistical problems faced by such patients, Dr. Arora said: We started looking at the feasibility of alternative methods like using reserve cells in the body called stem cells for such treatment as it costs even less than Rs.50,000. Some of these cells can be mobilised from the bone marrow as it has the capacity to regenerate the cells. So we stimulate the bone marrow by an injection.

This injection is given for five days and it mobilises the bone marrow and some of the cells. They then come into the blood circulation. In the study we tried to filter these cells from the blood marrow using a specialised filtering machine and the concentrate of these cells. About 5 ml to 10 ml of the blood containing these concentrated group of cells was then injected into the hepatic artery, which supplies blood to the liver, explained Dr. Arora. He said this process was carried out by a number of different mechanisms and it proved quite successful. We started about two years ago and finished last year. Then these patients were followed up for another one year and we were happy to see a significant proportion of the patients having substantial improvement in the liver functions as assessed by a score called Child score.

Dr. Arora said, All patients tolerated the treatment well without any side effects. Of the 10 patients, six to seven benefited. So we believe that more frequent administration of the stem cells in large number might have a more beneficial impact.

While the study by the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital team was published this year and was approved by the Department of Biotechnology and Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, Dr. Arora said there is also other published data now which calls for stimulating the bone marrow and letting the cells automatically go into the liver. By this, he said, you avoid filtering and putting the blood with the stem cells into the liver. This is also equally beneficial.

Dr. Arora said stem cell therapy might act as a bridge for liver transplant and can provide some time to the patients to arrange for treatment. But just like a damaged car tyre, he said, a damaged liver after minor repairs has to be replaced. However, if a person stops taking liquor or if the therapy goes on well, then a patient can lead a healthy life for many more years.

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Stem cell therapy is new hope for liver transplant patients

Mayo Clinic to hold trial for BrainStorm’s ALS stem cell therapy

TEL AVIV (Reuters) - BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics said the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota has agreed to conduct a clinical trial of the company's adult stem cell treatment for ALS.

The Mayo Clinic is the third leading U.S. clinical site to sign a letter of understanding, following the University of Massachusetts and Massachusetts General, BrainStorm said on Monday.

Israel-based BrainStorm is developing NurOwn for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

Initial results from Phase I studies suggest that patients with ALS experience a positive clinical outcome after treatment with NurOwn cells, the company said.

Anthony Windebank, principal investigator at the Mayo Clinic, said the clinic started patient stem cell safety trials last year.

"The next logical ... step is the type of modification that enables BrainStorm's NurOwn cells to deliver factors to the nervous system that are known to promote motor nerve cell survival," Windebank said.

BrainStorm plans to enroll patients into clinical trials at the Mayo Clinic, the University of Massachusetts and Massachusetts General as early as the second half of 2013.

"This is another step forward in finding a potentially effective treatment option for those patients with ALS," said BrainStorm Chief Executive Alon Natanson.

BrainStorm will be presenting Phase 1 data of its NurOwn treatment in ALS at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology on March 20.

According to the ALS Association, 5,600 people in the United States are diagnosed each year with the disease, which has severely disabled British physicist Stephen Hawking.

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Mayo Clinic to hold trial for BrainStorm's ALS stem cell therapy

Stem Cell Orthopedic Sets Record Straight on PED Controversy

Stem Cell Orthopedic Weighs in on Misinformation Within Controversial Performance Enhancing Drug Debate

(PRWEB) March 16, 2013

As the controversy involving PEDs intensifies, especially with increased media exposure due to the recent disgrace of cyclist Lance Armstrong, misinformation and half-truths have become commonplace. Even the medical community itself has been caught up in the wake of this controversy, by mislabeling substances such as IGF-1, a cytokine, as a growth hormone. Stem Cell Orthopedics recognizes this misunderstanding as potentially dangerous, especially if these important repair enhancers become overly regulated or banned completely as a result of this widespread ignorance.

The blog explains in detail the power of IGF-1, other cytokines, and stem cell medicine to help profoundly effect and increase the speed of healing in the body. The blog continues to illuminate the natural prevalence of IGF-1 in red meat and in platelet rich plasma therapy (PRP), the highly effective and innovative treatment used by experts throughout the sport medicine world. Stem Cell Orthopedics is determined to help set the record straight on the many invaluable applications of cytokines, including IGF-1, TGF, and FGF, on tissue repair in the sports world and beyond.

Headed by the world-renowned stem cell treatment pioneer, Dr. Joseph Purita, Stem Cell Orthopedic is committed to offering state-of-the-art stem cell and PRP therapy to patients around the world. They are one of only a few orthopedic practices on earth that combine stem cell therapy and PRP injections with orthopedic surgery to exponentially enhance patients ability to heal and recover. This latest blog dispelling the myths behind IGF-1 is part of Stem Cell Orthopedics ongoing effort to advance the stem cell industry, to improve the lives of potentially millions of pain sufferers throughout the world.

About Stem Cell Orthopedic

The Institute of Regenerative and Molecular Orthopaedics (IRMO) is a world-class orthopedic practice and stem cell facility staffed with seasoned board certified orthopedic surgeons. They differ from most orthopedic practices because they offer stem cells and platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy in conjunction with surgery or as alternative to surgical procedures. They utilize state-of-the-art technology and the latest in stem cell research to best treat their patients. IRMO uses hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), which are found circulating in blood, fat, and bone marrow, to help repair the body. They are headed by Medical Director, Dr. Joseph Purita, a world-renowned pioneer in laser orthopedic surgery and graduate of the esteemed Georgetown University Medical School. For more information, visit http://www.stemcellorthopedic.com/ or follow them on Facebook or Twitter.

Contact Us Stem Cell Orthopedic 561-300-1840 Email Information

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Stem Cell Orthopedic Sets Record Straight on PED Controversy