9/11 Search And Rescue Dog Gets Stem Cell Treatment

BURKE, Va. (WUSA) -- Red, a black lab from Annapolis, has spent the last ten years as a search and rescue dog. Her missions have included Hurricane Katrina, the La Plata tornadoes, and the Pentagon after 9/11.

"The search and rescue dogs at the Pentagon are credited with finding 70% of the human remains," said Heather Roche, Red's owner and handler. "That helped a whole lot of those families actually get closure."

At just under two years old, 9/11 was Red's first search. Today, she's one of the last 9/11 search and rescue dogs still alive. She retired last July due to severe arthritis.

"The last few months, she would like to be a couch potato but she can't even get on the couch any more," said Roche. "It would be nice if she could do those kinds of things that she misses."

Roche brought Red to the Burke Animal Clinic for stem cell regenerative therapy compliments of MediVet America, the company that developed the in-clinic stem cell technology.

"This is a small something that we can give back as a way of saying thanks for what you guys have done for us," said Dr. John Herrity at the Burke Animal Clinic. "We are just taking fat from Red's side and then we are going to spin it down, process it, extract the stem cells from there."

Red received her first injection just a few hours after she woke up from surgery. The rest of her extracted stem cells will be stored free of charge for use in follow-up treatments.

"We've done about 28 dogs and of those dogs we've had about 75-80% of them doing very well," said Dr. Herrity.

Two other 9/11 dogs that recently received the same stem cell therapy are able to run, climb, and play again. Dr. Herrity's own dog, Bradley, is living proof that the treatment works. Bradley received the same stem cell treatment about one year ago and he's made great progress.

"Hopefully in about 2-3 months, she will be more comfortable, moving around, wanting to play more," said Dr. Herrity.

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9/11 Search And Rescue Dog Gets Stem Cell Treatment

State: Second doctor's license restricted for performing stem cell treatment on patient who died

Dr. Konstantine K. Yankopolus

The state Department of Health restricted a second doctor's license for working under the direction of Dr. Zannos Grekos in performing a stem cell treatment and for falsifying a medical report after a patient died, according to the state order.

The emergency license restriction is against Dr. Konstantine K. Yankopolus, 3880 Colonial Blvd., Suite 2, Fort Myers, according to the order issued by the state health department late Monday.

The restriction only prohibits Yankopolus from doing anything with stem cells. After a career as an obstetrician/gynecologist, he is now in general practice.

"We attempted a life-saving procedure on a very sick patient and it didn't go well," Yankopolus said Monday night. "Our motivation was pure the patient had no other option."

The state's action comes on the heels of Grekos attorney last week issuing a statement that another doctor, and not his client, was involved in the treatment of a 77-year-old Indiana man who died March 2. Grekos attorney also denied that a stem cell treatment was performed, only liposuction.

The state health department suspended Grekos license after the death, saying Grekos violated an earlier restriction that he not to do anything with stem cells or bone marrow aspirate in his practice at 9500 Bonita Beach Road, Suite 310.

Lee County sheriff's authorities identified the man as Richard Poling, of Newburgh, Ind. The Sheriff's Office also is conducting a criminal probe.

Grekos has been under state scrutiny by state health regulators for well over a year when an earlier patient, a 66-year-old breast cancer patient, went to him for stem cell treatment in 2010 for neurological problems. She later fell, suffered severe brain damage and was taken off life support. After her death, the state ordered Grekos not to do anything with stem cells or bone marrow aspirate in his practice.

The restriction did not prohibit him from conducting educational seminars in the community about stem cell therapy or from arranging for patients to go for the treatment in the Dominican Republic.

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State: Second doctor's license restricted for performing stem cell treatment on patient who died

Huntington's Disease – Stem Cell Therapy Potential

Editor's Choice Academic Journal Main Category: Huntingtons Disease Also Included In: Stem Cell Research Article Date: 19 Mar 2012 - 10:00 PDT

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However, according to a study published March 15 in the journal Cell Stem Cell, a special type of brain cell created from stem cells could help restore the muscle coordination deficits that are responsible for uncontrollable spasms, a characteristic of the disease. The researchers demonstrated that movement in mice with a Huntington's-like condition could be restored.

Su-Chun Zhang, a University of Wisconsin-Madison neuroscientist and the senior author of the study, said:

In the study Zhang, who is an expert in creating various types of brain cells from human embryonic or induce pluripotent stem cells, and his team focused on GABA neurons. The degradation of GABA cells causes the breakdown of a vital neural circuit and loss of motor function in individuals suffering from Huntington's disease.

According to Zhang, GABA neurons generate a vital neurotransmitter, a chemical that helps support the communication network in the brain that coordinates movement.

Zhang and his team at the UW-Madison Waisman Center, discovered how to generate large quantities of GABA neurons from human embryonic stem cells. The team's goal was to determine whether these cells would safely integrate into the brain of a mouse model of Huntington's disease.

The researchers discovered that not only did the cells integrate, they were projected to the right target and were able to effectively restore the damaged communication network and restore motor function.

Zhang says that the results were astonishing, as GABA neurons reside in the basal ganglia, a part of the brain which plays a vital role in voluntary motor coordination. However, the GABA neurons exert their influence at a distance on cells in the midbrain via the circuit powered by the GABA neuron chemical neurotransmitter.

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Huntington's Disease - Stem Cell Therapy Potential

West Fargo boy with cerebral palsy can now walk without crutches; parents credit stem cell therapy

Ethan walks with his mother

Ethan Radtke walks down the sidewalk with his mother, Lisa, after getting off the school bus in front of his home in West Fargo. David Samson / The Forum

Ethan Radtke makes his way down the hallway of his West Fargo home without the use of crutches. David Samson / The Forum

Ethan Radtke plays with his family, brother Connor, 9, and twin sister, Ashlee, 7, along with his mother, Lisa, after returning home from school. David Samson / The Forum

Online

Watch Ethan Radtke walk at http://ethanwalks.blogspot.com/.

WEST FARGO - As birthday presents go, this one was hard to beat.

Ethan Radtke, who lives with stiff and twisted legs stemming from cerebral palsy, surprised his mother on her birthday last Oct. 23 by walking.

It wasnt pretty, and it wasnt very far, but it was walking.

He went from the couch to the chair, and even then it was still more falling into the chair, Lisa Radtke said. But there was that independent motion.

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West Fargo boy with cerebral palsy can now walk without crutches; parents credit stem cell therapy

Biostem U.S., Corporation Continues Building Its Scientific and Medical Board of Advisors With Appointment of Leading …

CLEARWATER, FL--(Marketwire -03/19/12)- Biostem U.S., Corporation (OTCQB: BOSM.PK - News) (Pinksheets: BOSM.PK - News) (Biostem, the Company), a fully reporting public company in the stem cell regenerative medicine sciences sector, announced today the addition of Perinatologist Sanford M. Lederman, MD to its Scientific and Medical Board of Advisors (SAMBA).

As Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, Dr. Lederman is consistently recognized by New Yorker Magazine's list of "Top Doctors" in New York. A specialist in high-risk pregnancy issues, Dr. Lederman has authored a number of scientific papers and is a highly regarded public speaker. He adds a very important dimension to the Biostem Scientific and Medical Board of Advisors by bringing specialized knowledge regarding the potential use of stem cell applications for the health of women and children.

Biostem President Dwight Brunoehler said, "Dr. Lederman is one of the most highly respected Obstetric and Gynecological physicians in the country. Sandy and I have worked together very actively on stem cell projects for over 18 years, including setting up a cord blood stem cell national donation system where all expectant moms have a chance to donate their baby's cord blood to benefit others."

Dr. Lederman stated, "Biostem's expansion plans mesh well with my personal interest in developing and advancing the use of non-controversial stem cells to improve the health of women and children. I have a particular interest in increasing the use of cord blood stem cells for in-utero transplant procedures, where stem cells are used to cure a potential life threatening disease such as sickle cell or thalassemia and other selective genetic disorders in a baby before it is even born."

Prior to accepting his current position with New York Methodist Hospital, Dr. Lederman was Residency Program Director and Vice Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and gynecology at Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn. At various times, he has served as a partner at Brooklyn Women's Health Care, President at Genetics East and Clinical Associate Professor at the State University of New York. He has served on the medical advisory board of several companies. He previously was Medical Director of Women's Health USA and was a founding member of the Roger Freeman Perinatal Society.

A graduate of Hunter College in New York, he received his initial medical training at Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara School of Medicine. His initial internship was at New York Medical College in the Bronx. During the course of his career, Dr. Lederman has served and studied in various capacities at Long Island College Hospital in the Bronx, North Shore University Hospital in New York, Kings County Medical Center in Brooklyn, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center in California and the University of California at Irvine.

About Biostem U.S., CorporationBiostem U.S., Corporation (OTCQB: BOSM.PK - News) is a fully reporting Nevada corporation with offices in Clearwater, Florida. Biostem is a technology licensing company with proprietary technology centered around providing hair re-growth using human stem cells. The company also intends to train and license selected physicians to provide Regenerative Cellular Therapy treatments to assist the body's natural approach to healing tendons, ligaments, joints and muscle injuries by using the patient's own stem cells. Biostem U.S. is seeking to expand its operations worldwide through licensing of its proprietary technology and acquisition of existing stem cell related facilities. The company's goal is to operate in the international biotech market, focusing on the rapidly growing regenerative medicine field, using ethically sourced adult stem cells to improve the quality and longevity of life for all mankind.

More information on Biostem U.S., Corporation can be obtained through http://www.biostemus.com, or by calling Kerry D'Amato, Marketing Director at 727-446-5000.

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Biostem U.S., Corporation Continues Building Its Scientific and Medical Board of Advisors With Appointment of Leading ...

Stem cell therapy banned in Kuwait

(MENAFN - Arab Times) Ministry of Health (MoH) employees holding PhD degrees announced that they will participate in the sit-in demonstration carried out by the Labor Union of Health Ministry, reports Al-Seyassah daily.

In the press release, they said they are protesting against the fact that they are receiving the same salary scale and benefits as any other ministry employee with lower qualifications and if necessary, they are ready to even burn their PhD certificates at the sit-in to get the benefits they deserve according to their qualifications.

The sit-in will be carried out in front of Health Ministry headquarters in Sulaibikhat at 10 am on Tuesday, March 20, 2012.

The number of PhD holders has exceeded 100 considering the participation of PhD holders from other ministries as well.

Meanwhile, the MoH has banned stem cell therapy in the country until the committee tasked to set the standards for the treatment completes its work, reports Al-Anba daily quoting Director of Health License Department Dr Marzouq Al-Bader.

Al-Bader disclosed the ministry had earlier formed the committee to ensure the stem cell procedures are carried out in an appropriate manner to protect the patients. He added the ministry will also issue a decision soon to regulate the use of antibiotics in the private health sector.

Meanwhile, Al-Bader confirmed the ministry has endorsed around 51,000 female doctors in private hospitals and health centers. He said the ministry closely monitors the performance of female doctors and those found to have violated the law will be referred to the Medical Council for the necessary action.

On the issuance of licenses through the Internet, Al-Bader revealed his department has asked the ministry to activate the e-link system for this purpose.

He said the ministry has asked the Kuwait Municipality to issue permit for the construction of a building fit for the department's operations.

Meanwhile, the Medical Emergency Department at the Ministry of Health has affirmed its readiness to deal with emergency cases that may arise due to a series of dust storms engulfing the country.

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Stem cell therapy banned in Kuwait

RBCC and n3D Aim to Help Bring Stem Cell Treatments to Market Faster

NOKOMIS, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

As global demand for innovative new stem-cell therapies grows by the day, Rainbow BioSciences (OTCBB:RBCC.OB - News) new agreement with n3D Biosciences could help to bring these therapies to market faster than ever before.

Stem cell therapies are becoming increasingly important to healthcare advancement around the world. Rising care delivery costs, worldwide population aging, and potential physician shortages are only three of the issues facing world healthcare providers. The cost to bring a new drug to market has soared to $1.3 billion, and there are now half as many drugs seeking approval as there were 15 years ago.

Rising costs and potential shortages have led to a boom in demand for stem cell therapies. These advanced treatments could soon help to ease costs and provide effective disease treatment, potentially improving patient outcomes and reducing health care costs. For that to happen, however, real challenges must be overcome. Translation of these therapies from the lab to the clinic is slow, and widespread implementation could be a decade away or more.

Thanks to n3Ds Bio-Assembler technology, however, the development timeline for many stem cell therapies could potentially be shortened significantly. The Bio-Assembler enables researchers to culture cells in three dimensions faster and more easily than ever before, streamlining testing and research.

On Thursday, RBCC announced the acquisition of an equity interest in n3D, a fully commercialized company with plans to sell the ground-breaking Bio-Assembler to labs and researchers all over the world. RBCC expects n3Ds value to grow considerably as word spreads about the game-changing technology.

For more information on Rainbow BioSciences, please visit http://www.rainbowbiosciences.com/investors.

Rainbow BioSciences will develop new medical and research technology innovations to compete alongside companies such as Celgene Corp. (NASDAQ:CELG),Cardinal Health, Inc.(NYSE:CAH), Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) andAffymax, Inc.(NASDAQ:AFFY).

Follow us on Twitter atwww.twitter.com/RBCCinfo.

About Rainbow BioSciences

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RBCC and n3D Aim to Help Bring Stem Cell Treatments to Market Faster

Hometownstations.com-WLIO- Lima, OH News Weather SportsCalifornia's stem cell agency ponders its future

By ALICIA CHANG AP Science Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The creation of California's stem cell agency in 2004 was greeted by scientists and patients as a turning point in a field mired in debates about the destruction of embryos and hampered by federal research restrictions.

The taxpayer-funded institute wielded the extraordinary power to dole out $3 billion in bond proceeds to fund embryonic stem cell work with an eye toward treatments for a host of crippling diseases. Midway through its mission, with several high-tech labs constructed, but little to show on the medicine front beyond basic research, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine faces an uncertain future.

Is it still relevant nearly eight years later? And will it still exist when the money dries up?

The answers could depend once again on voters and whether they're willing to extend the life of the agency.

Several camps that support stem cell research think taxpayers should not pay another cent given the state's budget woes.

"It would be so wrong to ask Californians to pony up more money," said Marcy Darnovsky of the Center for Genetics and Society, a pro-stem cell research group that opposed Proposition 71, the state ballot initiative that formed CIRM.

Last December, CIRM's former chairman, Robert Klein, who used his fortune and political connections to create Prop 71, floated the possibility of another referendum.

CIRM leaders have shelved the idea of going back to voters for now, but may consider it down the road. The institute recently submitted a transition plan to Gov. Jerry Brown and the Legislature that assumes it will no longer be taxpayer-supported after the bond money runs out. CIRM is exploring creating a nonprofit version of itself and tapping other players to carry on its work.

"The goal is to keep the momentum going," board Chairman Jonathan Thomas said in an interview.

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Hometownstations.com-WLIO- Lima, OH News Weather SportsCalifornia's stem cell agency ponders its future

California's stem cell agency ponders a future without taxpayer support

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The creation of California's stem cell agency in 2004 was greeted by scientists and patients as a turning point in a field mired in debates about the destruction of embryos and hampered by federal research restrictions.

The taxpayer-funded institute wielded the extraordinary power to dole out $3 billion in bond proceeds to fund embryonic stem cell work with an eye toward treatments for a host of crippling diseases. Midway through its mission, with several high-tech labs constructed, but little to show on the medicine front beyond basic research, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine faces an uncertain future.

Is it still relevant nearly eight years later? And will it still exist when the money dries up?

The answers could depend once again on voters and whether they're willing to extend the life of the agency.

Several camps that support stem cell research think taxpayers should not pay another cent given the state's budget woes.

"It would be so wrong to ask Californians to pony up more money," said Marcy Darnovsky of the Center for Genetics and Society, a pro-stem cell research group that opposed Proposition 71, the state ballot initiative that formed CIRM.

Last December, CIRM's former chairman, Robert Klein, who used his fortune and political connections to create Prop 71, floated the possibility of another referendum.

CIRM leaders have shelved the idea of going back to voters for now, but may consider it down the road. The institute recently submitted a transition plan to Gov. Jerry Brown and the Legislature that assumes it will no longer be taxpayer-supported after the bond money runs out. CIRM is exploring creating a non-profit version of itself and tapping other players to carry on its work.

"The goal is to keep the momentum going," board Chairman Jonathan Thomas said in an interview.

So far, CIRM has spent some $1.3 billion on infrastructure and research. At the current pace, it will earmark the last grants in 2016 or 2017. Since most are multi-year awards, it is expected to stay in business until 2021.

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California's stem cell agency ponders a future without taxpayer support

California's stem cell agency ponders its future

LOS ANGELES (AP) The creation of California's stem cell agency in 2004 was greeted by scientists and patients as a turning point in a field mired in debates about the destruction of embryos and hampered by federal research restrictions.

The taxpayer-funded institute wielded the extraordinary power to dole out $3 billion in bond proceeds to fund embryonic stem cell work with an eye toward treatments for a host of crippling diseases. Midway through its mission, with several high-tech labs constructed, but little to show on the medicine front beyond basic research, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine faces an uncertain future.

Is it still relevant nearly eight years later? And will it still exist when the money dries up?

The answers could depend once again on voters and whether they're willing to extend the life of the agency.

Several camps that support stem cell research think taxpayers should not pay another cent given the state's budget woes.

"It would be so wrong to ask Californians to pony up more money," said Marcy Darnovsky of the Center for Genetics and Society, a pro-stem cell research group that opposed Proposition 71, the state ballot initiative that formed CIRM.

Last December, CIRM's former chairman, Robert Klein, who used his fortune and political connections to create Prop 71, floated the possibility of another referendum.

CIRM leaders have shelved the idea of going back to voters for now, but may consider it down the road. The institute recently submitted a transition plan to Gov. Jerry Brown and the Legislature that assumes it will no longer be taxpayer-supported after the bond money runs out. CIRM is exploring creating a nonprofit version of itself and tapping other players to carry on its work.

"The goal is to keep the momentum going," board Chairman Jonathan Thomas said in an interview.

So far, CIRM has spent some $1.3 billion on infrastructure and research. At the current pace, it will earmark the last grants in 2016 or 2017. Since most are multi-year awards, it is expected to stay in business until 2021.

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California's stem cell agency ponders its future