Stem Cell Clinic

Sophomore saves sister’s life with stem cell donation – University of Miami

After a live-saving transplant to overcome leukemia, Sophia Nealon teamed up with her sister to create Bye, Bye, Bad Blood, a creative childrens tale that aims to teach young cancer patients about their diagnosis and prepare them and their families for what is to come.

For Sophia Nealon, saving her sisters life was by far the easiest decision she has ever made.

It took a simple swab from me and our entire family to see who had the highest DNA match percentage, said the Osprey, Florida, resident who studies chemistry at the University of Miami. l was a 100 percent match to be my sisters bone marrow transplant donor.

When the family traveled to New York City for a younger sisters birthday, it became obvious to them that something was wrong because Kassandra Nealon got sick again. Once back home in Florida, she went to see a doctor and the family got the devastating news. Kassandra Nealon, Sophias older sister and recipient of the life-saving stem cell transplant, was diagnosed with Acute T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia at 23 years old, after becoming repeatedly ill with flu-type symptoms in late 2019.

They told her that she had two liters of fluid on her lungs, which was making regular tasks exhausting, said Nealon. Her doctors originally thought it was lymphoma but after testing her blood count, they shared with us that it was actually a type of leukemia. It was a big shock to everyone.

Following the diagnosis, the day-to-day routine of the Nealon family underwent a drastic change, as Kassandra Nealons appointments were located miles away in Tampa. Then the world entered a global pandemic. During this time, Nealon enrolled in her first semester as a University of Miami student, opting to complete the semester remotely.

My mom was the only one allowed at my sisters appointments, so it took a lot of coordination, but we figured out a system that worked for uslike staying in Airbnbs for some weekends and utilizing FaceTime to be with her during her chemo and radiation appointments, she said.

The type of cancer Nealons sister had is commonly diagnosed in young children and is rare in adults. After so many visits to various doctors offices, Kassandra Nealon noticed that there werent many books explaining the specific cancer that is faced mostly by adolescents.

Motivated by her friends and family, Kassandra Nealon felt compelled to create Bye, Bye, Bad Blood, a childrens book that lightheartedly explains the cancer to children and their families. Kassandra Nealon looked to none other than her sister, who draws as a hobby, to illustrate the book.

We decided to sell and market the book through Amazon because it would allow us to make the most profit, said Nealon, who had no prior knowledge about self-publishing a book.

That profit margin was important to Nealon and her sister because 100 percent of it goes directly to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society,the largest voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting blood cancer in the world.

You dont know who youre helping out and how much you can change someones life with your donation, said Nealon, who also encourages the campus community to sign up with BeTheMatch.com to become a stem cell transplant donor. Becoming a donor is super easy and takes seconds of your time.

Nealons sister is now in remission. While promoting her book, she is determined to finish her medical school applicationsa process that was abruptly stopped as she battled cancer.

Those interested in donating a book to a childrens cancer treatment center or purchasing the book can visit byebyebadblood.com.

To learn more about stem cell transplants at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, visithttps://umiamihealth.org/en/sylvester-comprehensive-cancer-center/treatments-and-services/hematologic-(blood)-cancers-/bone-marrow-and-stem-cell-transplant.

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Sophomore saves sister's life with stem cell donation - University of Miami

Myelodysplastic Syndrome Treatment Options – Healthline

Your bone marrow produces immature blood cells, also called stem cells. These then develop into one of three types of mature blood cells:

If you have MDS, not all of these stem cells mature. As a result, immature cells can remain in the bone marrow or die. You will have lower levels of mature blood cells in your bloodstream.

A reduced mature blood cell count is a condition known as cytopenia, and its a main characteristic of MDS. A blood test known as a complete blood count (CBC) is one of the first diagnostic tests your doctor will order if they suspect you have MDS.

Removing bone marrow samples through aspiration and biopsy can also help your doctor better understand the nature of your blood marrow disorder. Once your doctor has diagnosed and treated your MDS, these tests can also show how well your bone marrow is responding to treatment.

You will often have a healthcare team if you have this type of disorder, which may include:

The team will develop a treatment plan thats partially based on the type of MDS you have. The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies six main types of MDS.

Your treatment plan may also be based on the prognostic score (outlook for survival) of the disease. MDS is different from most forms of cancer, which are grouped in stages and grades, because its scored on several factors, including:

Before you start MDS treatment, you might also consider your:

Next, well discuss each of the main treatment options for this group of diseases.

Supportive therapy is meant to treat MDS symptoms and prevent complications, rather than treat the underlying disorder itself. Supportive therapy is often used alongside other treatments.

Examples of supportive therapy include:

Lenalidomide is a type of medication called an immunomodulatory agent. Your doctor may suggest this oral medication if you have MDS and a certain genetic change known as an isolated del(5q) chromosome abnormality.

Lenalidomide helps boost red blood cell production in your bone marrow. Its designed to reduce your dependence on blood transfusions.

Experts in a 2017 research review called it an excellent option for MDS patients with low or intermediate disease risk. Potential side effects include:

Antithymocyte globulin is in a large group of drugs known as immunosuppressants that weaken the bodys immune response. Organ transplant recipients usually take them to help prevent rejection of the new organ. You may take antithymocyte globulin to keep your immune system from attacking stem cells in your bone marrow.

Immunosuppressant therapy may be appropriate for you if you have lower-risk MDS and havent had effective results with ESAs and transfusions. You might also try it if you have one or more autoimmune diseases.

One 2018 study found that antithymocyte globulin was effective in about 50 percent of the MDS cases studied.

Certain chemotherapy drugs, known as hypomethylating agents, activate specific genes in your stem cells to help them mature. Two examples of these agents are azacitidine and decitabine. These drugs are used when your doctor determines there is a serious risk for leukemia, which is a serious potential complication of MDS.

Chemotherapy can help improve blood cell counts, sometimes to the point where you no longer need transfusions, and reduce your risk of leukemia. Potential side effects include:

Other chemotherapy drugs may be given with the goal of killing atypical stem cells and allowing more of your healthy cells to mature.

While high-dose chemotherapy drugs can be very effective at sending MDS into remission, the side effects can be severe. You could experience a serious drop in white blood cells, and later, a greater risk of infections developing and progressing quickly.

A stem cell transplant involves removing some of your bone marrow, usually from the pelvic bone, and replacing it with bone marrow that produces healthy blood cells.

The procedure is usually reserved for more serious cases of MDS. Stem cell transplant is the closest treatment option to a cure, but its an invasive and challenging therapy. Because of this, stem cell transplant is limited to people who are considered healthy enough for both the procedure and the recovery process.

Doctors often use chemotherapy drugs with stem cell transplant to treat MDS. Together, they help support the growth of healthy blood cells to replace unhealthy or atypical cells.

While transplants are often very effective at achieving disease remission, particularly in certain patients, the Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation says that a majority of MDS patients will see their condition return over time.

MDS can affect anyone at any age but generally affects adults ages 70 and older. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), about 10,000 people are diagnosed with MDS in the United States per year.

Disease outcomes vary considerably. Its difficult to predict someones outcome because people respond differently to treatment.

ACS survival statistics range from a median survival of 8.8 years for people with a very low risk score to less than 1 year for MDS patients with a very high risk score.

These survival rates are based on data that includes years before treatments like chemotherapy were available. Its important to remember that researchers are continuing to develop new treatments that may improve disease outcomes.

You may have no symptoms early on or if you have mild MDS. However, for most people with the disease, anemia (low red blood cell counts) and symptoms such as chronic fatigue and shortness of breath are common.

If you have low white blood cell counts, the risk of serious infection may always be present. Low platelet counts can lead to easy bruising and bleeding complications.

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Myelodysplastic Syndrome Treatment Options - Healthline

Gold River Productions, Inc. (GRPS) Appoints Michael Berkowitz to spearhead the Rejuvenation Division with StemSpa – Yahoo Finance

Palm Coast, FL, Aug. 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- After months of careful consideration, Gold River Productions, Inc. (OTC Pink: GRPS) (GRPS) opens its Rejuvenation Division and to welcome Michael Berkowitz as the newest member to the Gold River Team. His extensive background in the transformative field of cell-based therapy provides a significant pathway for sustainable revenue and directly compliments our new herbal formulations. With the coupling of our current product line and the considerable advances in stem cell therapeutic development, our direction brings viable attractive options to those suffering from an expansive range of degenerative conditions.

According to Fortune Business Insights, the global stem cells market is projected to grow from $11.90 billion in 2021 to $27.65 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 12.8%. The factors contributing to the growth include increasing demand for biologics, technological advancement in pluripotential cell therapeutics, and a rising focus on the development of personalized medicines. The growing prevalence of chronic diseases worldwide is anticipated to boost demand through 2028.

As resourcing options are realized, the company intends to bring physical presence to these dynamic and unique options by offering a number of primary free-standing facilities to supply and educate our rapidly growing physician network.

Commenting as the newest member of the team, I am humbled by the support and dedication of Dr. Goulding and his associates at GRPS. Dr. Goulding shares my vision. Ive personally witnessed the effects that stem cells can have with appropriate administration and dosing in over 5000 cases, says Mr. Berkowitz, who will head the Rejuvenation Division of the GRPS subsidiary StemSpa. Ive worked with a number of universities and FDA approved manufacturers in recording and reporting data. Weve been involved in studies including M.S., joint issues, PTSD, and cancer. Im eager for the opportunity to continue and expand this with GRPS.

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Berkowitz continued, What intrigues me most about Dr. Bond and Dr. Goulding is how their products work in concert with pluripotential cells, and our InflammaplexTM formulation will serve as a foundation of support for the cells. Furthermore, almost anyone seeking relief will require adjunctive anti-inflammatory products for their pain and underlying issues. Empowering doctors with these unique adjuvants and giving their patients access to more preferable choices will be a game-changer.

Continuing, he stated, We are in negotiations to construct stand-alone facilities in strategic locations to establish StemSpa, which will serve as centers of excellence in the United States and offshore. We will begin with approximately 1000 doctors thanks to the relationship built between GRPS, heliosDx, and CEO Ashley Sweat of Rushnet (OTC Pink: RSHN). Im very excited to have doctors in this continuously expanding group utilize our inflammatory-reducing product line and have our technology at their fingertips. This will offer an amazing alternative to their patients as well as help us develop broad data collection and deliver data that these biologics are not only effective, but in the right hands and with the right techniques, possess endless possibilities to those suffering.

We are excited to have Mr. Berkowitz on board, says Richard Goulding, M.D., Chairman of the Board of GRPS. Mr. Berkowitz has been involved with over 5000 cases utilizing biologics and pluripotential cells and has a great deal of experience not only procuring appropriate cells, but in targeting specific concerns. The amount of video footage and anecdotal evidence is quite compelling. Theres a tremendous fit here, and the possibilities are exciting. Furthermore, we suspect that, with the proper base of nutrient support, we are optimizing the conditions for obtaining maximum efficacy with these techniques. We intend to be an industry leader for proper technique, procurement, and nutritional support in this complex field.

About Gold River Productions, Inc. Dedicated to changing peoples lives, Gold River is a groundbreaking company aiming at improving quality of life and longevity. Our diverse products and interests include nutraceuticals, CBD, land, education and more. With a unique staff of talented physicians, cultivators, and CBD experts, we are poised to tackle different disease states at an unprecedented level. Utilizing years of experience in herbals, rare cannabinoids, traditional and non-traditional methods of patient care, we are in the unique position to utilize CBD and herbals in the most effective ways possible. Emphasis on what already works, then augmenting effective formulas with high-quality cannabinoids in therapeutic levels, can achieve unprecedented symptom control in a myriad of disease states.

This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside Gold Rivers control. These include but are not limited to the impact of competitors products, services and pricing; product demand; market acceptance; new product development; reliance on key strategic alliances; the regulatory environment; fluctuations in operating results; and other risks which are detailed from time to time in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or OTC Markets. Gold River Productions disclaims any obligation to update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or otherwise.

CONTACT: Gold River Productions, Inc. info@grpsinc.com http://www.GRPSInc.com

About heliosDx: heliosDX is a National Clinical Reference Laboratory offering High-Complexity Urine Drug Testing (UDT), Behavioral Drug Testing, Allergy Droplet Cards, Oral Fluids, Infectious Disease (PCR), and NGS Genetic Testing. We are contracted in 44 of the lower 48 states and looking to expand our reach and capabilities. Always staying ahead of the curve, by continually investing in our infrastructure with the most efficient scientific proven instruments, and latest cutting-edge software for patient and physician satisfaction. This allows heliosDX to provide physicians fast and accurate reporting meeting and exceeding industry benchmarks. We excel in patient and client care through physician designed panels that aid in testing compliance and reporting education.

Contact: Ashley Sweat asweat@heliosdx.com http://www.heliosdx.com (Under Development) @dx_helios

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Gold River Productions, Inc. (GRPS) Appoints Michael Berkowitz to spearhead the Rejuvenation Division with StemSpa - Yahoo Finance

Colin Jackson health: Im in constant pain Athlete to undergo stem cell therapy to help – Express

Colin Ray Jackson, CBE, 54, is a Welsh former sprinter and hurdling Olympic silver medal champion. Colins world record for his 60 metres hurdles stood for an incredible 27 years. As with most athletes of his calibre, Colin suffers with ongoing injuries from his sports days and will be undergoing a treatment to reduce the pain which Mike Tyson recently underwent too.

In recent years, stem cell therapy has been hailed as a miracle cure for many conditions, from wrinkles to spinal repair.

A stem cell is an immature, basic cell that has not yet developed to become, say, a skin cell or a muscle cell or a nerve cell.

There are different types of stem cells that the body can use for different purposes.

There is evidence that stem cell treatments work by triggering damaged tissues in the body to repair themselves, often referred to as regenerative therapy.

In animal studies, stem cell treatments have shown promise for various diseases, including heart disease, Parkinsons disease and muscular dystrophy.

A study undertaken by Dr Timothy McGuine found that 34 percent of athletes involved in the one-year study were more likely to report a history of knee and hip injuries.

Additionally, he found that specialised athletes, such as those competing in the Olympic games, were twice as likely to sustain a gradual onset or repetitive use injuries than athletes who did not specialise.

Dr McGuine also found that these athletes who find themselves competing year-round, stressing the same muscles and movements, and predisposed to the symptoms of burnout are at higher risk of long-term injuries.

Many doctors and athletes use stem cell therapy to treat sports injuries, such as Achilles tendinopathy or damaged knee ligaments, said Sports Health.

The site continued: While increasing in popularity, stem cell therapy is not considered standard practice by sports medicine doctors and not covered by most insurance companies.

The process of collecting stem cells is often called harvesting. Physicians usually harvest stem cells from the patients fat, blood, or bone marrow.

Many physicians who use stem cell therapy hypothesize that, when placed into a certain environment, stem cells can transform to meet a certain need.

Other sports stars who underwent stem cell therapy for long-term injuries included Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Nadal and most recently Mike Tyson.

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Colin Jackson health: Im in constant pain Athlete to undergo stem cell therapy to help - Express

The Basics of MDS: Diagnosis and Staging – Curetoday.com

Myelodysplastic syndromes, known commonly as MDS, are a group of bone marrow diseases characterized by bone marrow failure, or an inadequate production of blood counts called cytopenia.

In a presentation at the CURE Educated Patient Leukemia Summit, Dr. Rami Komrokji, section head for Leukemia and MDS and Vice Chair of the Department of Malignant Hematology at Moffit Cancer Center, gave a run down on the diagnosis and staging process for MDS.

Diagnosing MDS

Komrokji explained that the myelo- prefix means bone marrow, and -dysplasia means abnormal-looking cells. When a patient has cytopenia, they may experience certain symptoms.

If patient is anemic, they will have shortness of breath, fatigue, palpitations, said Komrokji in an interview with CURE. If they have low platelets, they will have bleeding tendency, bruising. If they have low white blood cell counts, they will have maybe infections. So usually, either some of those symptoms will prompt blood testing, or on routine physical exam, the patients are found to have low blood counts. So that's usually the initial step.

Doctors will usually look into nutritional deficiencies such as B12, folate and ferritin, said Komrokji. Eventually, the patients will get a bone marrow aspirate and biopsy to diagnose their disease, which includes several parts.

There is the morphologic part, which means the pathologists are looking at the cells under a microscope, explained Komrokji. And then there is also some genetic testing. We look at cytogenetics nowadays, we look at gene mutations. So we put all of this information together to make the diagnosis.

The hematopathologist must see dysplasia, increased myeloblasts (immature cells known as blasts within the bone marrow) or certain cytogenetic abnormalities to make their diagnosis, Komrokji said.

Sometimes the diagnosis is straightforward, but sometimes it could be challenging, he added. It truly depends on an experienced hematopathologist to make the diagnosis.

Staging and Risk Stratification

Once a patient receives an MDS diagnosis, their doctor will go over risk stratification, or understanding what the risk of their disease is, which is what they consider staging, Komrokji said.

Now in MDS, its not like a lung cancer or colon cancer, he said. The disease does not spread around. The staging is based on the blood counts, on the percentage of those myeloblasts or immature cells (and) the chromosomal makeup of the cells. And nowadays, we sometimes also incorporate the presence of gene mis-happenings as well. So we get a lump score to estimate the risk.

Doctors typically use the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) to categorize patients into one of five categories very low, low, intermediate, high and very high. The risk is the impact on survival and whether the disease will transform to leukemia, Komrokji explained. The disease risk must be known in order to tailor the patients treatment to them.

I always advise patients to see a specialized center in MDS, because obviously, those are not that common diseases, he said. A community oncologist could see a few (cases) per year, while an experienced center like in our place, we see like 15 to 20 per week.

Gene Mutations

Komrokji said that understanding gene mutations is an evolving field that is slowly becoming routine.

I advise all patients to inquire if theyve gotten genetic testing or not, he said. This sort of testing will help them understand any abnormalities. Doctors can look at a patients individual gene levels and detect for mutations, of which at least one was identified in 90% of patients with MDS.

Understanding the patients mutation(s) helps them tell whether there is a clonal hematopoiesis or mis-happening that occurred. It can also impact prognosis and allow them to further understand the disease risk.

And finally, some of them are targetable or important to follow through the treatment, said Komrokji. So patients should probably definitely have a genetic testing done. And sometimes after a treatment failure, we repeat it because we see other mutations that we could target with new drugs.

What Causes MDS?

In most cases, the cause of a patients MDS diagnosis is unknown.

We think it's phenomena of senescence or aging of those stem cells in the bone marrow that produces the blood, said Komrokji. Obviously, the process is very complicated. We have billions and billions of cells divide billions of times a day. So you know, as those cells age, mistakes can happen in them.

In most cases, he said, the mis-happenings which lead to the disease are random and at no fault of the patient. It is extremely rare for MDS to be inherited through familial genes.

There are, however, several known risk factors of MDS. If someone has history of another form of cancer and has received chemotherapy or radiation therapy, they may have possible stem cell damage and can develop MDS this is called therapy-related MDS. There has also been association of the disease with benzene exposure, chemical exposure and radiation exposure. Patients who have connective tissue diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are at a slightly higher risk of getting MDS due to inflammation in the body and certain medications used to treat those diseases.

I would say there's a lot of better understanding of the disease in the past several years, of genetic mutation testing and incorporating them in practice, Komrokji said. And I think, you know, there are a lot of new treatments on the horizon for patients; there are several clinical trials in advanced phase.

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The Basics of MDS: Diagnosis and Staging - Curetoday.com