by admin | Oct 19, 2015 | Parkinson's Disease, Stem Cell Research, Studies
Earlier this year, a group of scientists led by Yoo-Hun Suh at the Seoul National University Medical College published their work demonstrating the potential use of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASC‘s) in Parkinson’s therapy. Their article, Therapeutic potentials of human adipose-derived stem cells on the mouse model of Parkinson’s disease, was published in the academic journal Neurobiology of Aging.
Many Parkinson’s disease treatments aim to compensate for the loss of dopamine that is seen in the brains of Parkinson’s patients, but because those treatments have their limitations, focus has shifted to the use of stem cells as a therapeutic option for Parkinson’s disease. The rise in stem cell research for Parkinson’s disease has also increased as scientists have recognized the importance of mitochondrial deterioration in the development of Parkinson’s disease.
Stem cells that can be easily transplanted and readily proliferate are seen as ideal stem cell candidates for such treatments. hASC are pluripotent, meaning they can differentiate into a number of different types of cells, including cells that resemble neurons, the cells of the brain. These particular stem cells are useful because they tend not to create a reaction by the immune system, and they can pass the blood-brain barrier and proliferate within the brain.
In this study, the researchers used a common mouse model of Parkinson’s disease, which is created with a specific neurotoxin called 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). They injected hASC into the veins of mice and assessed how these stem cells affected Parkinson’s disease symptoms, dopamine levels in the striatum, the part of the brain affected by Parkinson’s disease, and the integrity of mitochondria.
The researchers found that hASC improved the motor deficits in the mice modeled to display Parkinson’s disease symptoms. Using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, the researchers also showed increased dopamine levels in the striatum of these mice. Finally, the researchers also showed that mitochondrial function was restored in mice who received hASC injections.
Overall, this study captures the significant potential of hASC to provide successful therapies for neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease. That the injection of these cells in a mouse model of Parkinson’s led to both behavioral and physiological improvements in mice demonstrates the great promise for stem cell therapies, and in this context, particularly for therapies developed from adipose-derived stem cells.
Learn more about stem cell treatment for Parkinson’s disease.
Reference
Choi, H., Kim, H., Oh, J., Park, H., Ra, J., Chang, K., & Suh, Y. (2015). Therapeutic potentials of human adipose-derived stem cells on the mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. Neurobiology of Aging, 36(10), 2885-2892.
by admin | Sep 13, 2015 | Stem Cell Research, Studies
In their article, Neurogenic differentiation of murine and human adipose-derived stromal cells, Kristine Safford and colleagues provide evidence for a new candidate for brain therapies. Much of our body’s tissue is able to regenerate to repair itself following injury. However, brain tissue, or neural tissue, does not have this capacity. It has therefore been a priority for medical researchers to identify strategies for repairing damaged brain tissue.
Certain cells, such as embryonic stem cells, can be treated so that they turn into brain cells. However, because it is difficult to access these types of cells, there has been an ongoing search for other ways to create neural tissue for therapeutic purposes. In this publication, the researchers share their finding that fat tissue, or adipose tissue, from adults, may be able to serve this function. Here, the researchers demonstrate that they were able to induce adipose-derived stem cells to undergo alterations that resulted in cells resembling brain cells, or neurons. The researchers were able to change both the shape and chemical features of adipose-derived stem cells so that these aspects of the cells were consistent with those of normal neurons.
This study provides a new therapeutic candidate for brain injury. Ongoing research that aims to determine whether adipose-derived stem cells can be used to develop mature neurons that function appropriately as neurons will clarify whether adipose-derived stem cells will indeed eventually be able to be used to treat specific brain injuries or abnormalities.
Learn more about treating brain disorders with stem cells.
Source
Safford, K.M. et al. Neurogenic differentiation of murine and human adipose-derived stromal cells. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 294, 371-379
by admin | Mar 8, 2015 | Multiple Sclerosis, Stem Cell Research
Another year has past and Multiple Sclerosis Awareness month is upon us once again. Every month we treat new patients that have been diagnosed with this disease and while it has been a pleasure for us to do so – it is something we wish we did not have to do. While we are seeing significant progress in our patients, the work of the MS and stem cell communities is far from finished. Let this month not only remind us of Multiple Sclerosis and its effects on friends and loved ones but also on treatments, research, and continuing efforts being used to eradicate its existence.
Over 2 million people in the world have officially heard the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), but researchers expect the actual number is far more and growing quickly. MS is considered a difficult disease to diagnose and treat due to the variety of symptoms a patient experiences throughout its progression. MS research has resulted in two treatment methods; the first method is preventing the abnormal response of one’s immune system. The second method involves the replenishment of the myelin sheath cells protecting the nerve fibers in your brain. Medications designed today follow the first method in delaying the abnormal immune response. Traditionally, there was a lack of treatment options for the second method. However, with new research and technology, Stemedix, and physicians of regenerative medicine have produced a treatment to assist in replacing the cells damaged by this disease.
Adult stem cell therapy, also known as Adipose-Derived Stem Cell (ADSC) treatment, is a regenerative procedure designed to use your own supply of stem cells to repair and replace diseased tissue in the body. Past treatments have shown that adult stem cells not only have the potential to regenerate lost or damaged myelin sheath tissues, but also have the ability to modulate the immune system, temporarily disabling the abnormal attack and helping to slow its progress.
The physicians and researchers at Stemedix are revolutionizing this treatment to offer relief and continued hope to patients battling with this life altering diagnosis. This procedure includes the harvesting hundreds of millions of stem cells from their most abundant source, the patients adipose (fat) tissue, activating them through an enrichment process, and reintroducing them into the human body. These stem cells are hardwired to target areas of the body following inflammatory signals from your brain telling them where repair is needed most. The newly introduced adult stem cells follow your body’s signals and and begin the necessary repairs. This advancement in using adult stem cell therapy assists the body to regenerate missing or diseased tissue that would not ordinarily be regrown.
This month help us spread the word and assist others in fighting back against this debilitating condition.
Learn more about stem cell treatment for Multiple Sclerosis.
by admin | Aug 11, 2014 | Multiple Sclerosis, Stem Cell Research
Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the nerves and muscles that is generally regarded as untreatable. In fact, when patients are diagnosed with this condition, the usual treatment is merely to support the problems and not attempt to cure the underlying cause. This is generally because there is no cure for multiple sclerosis, but recent attempts into using stem cell therapy in this disease have proven that it may actually be more treatable than traditional doctors expect. Of all the conditions stem cells have been used to treat, multiple sclerosis seems to respond the best to the process.
How Stem Cells Help Multiple Sclerosis
Stem cells can help a condition like multiple sclerosis because the symptoms arise from the breakdown of nerve cells in the body. Plaques form on the nerves and cause impairment to the muscles that respond to those nerves. It is usually a systemic problem, and nerve tissue very rarely regenerates. When nerve tissue is damaged, it tends to remain that way for the rest of the person’s life, causing a great deal of pain and anguish to the patient.
When using stem cells to treat multiple sclerosis, the cells are actually given in a systemic way. They are inserted into the body using an intravenous line, and the cells go anywhere they are needed. In addition, stem cells can differentiate into the cells needed at the time. This means that stem cells can regenerate nerve tissue because they can form the progenitor cells that allow for new nerves to grow. For this reason, stem cells are able to regrow nerve cells that are impacted by the multiple sclerosis, restore movement to muscles, and decrease pain. When the cells are taken from a liposuction procedure, the amount of cells harvested is much greater than with other methods, and this means a more forceful result for the multiple sclerosis patient.
Results from Our Patients
The results from Stemedix patients who have multiple sclerosis have been nothing short of fantastic. We have found that all of the patients who had our treatment came away with some improvement in their condition. This isn’t to say that the disease was cured or went into remission. It simply means that those who had our treatments reported a substantial decrease in various symptoms at the three month and six month marks in their journey. For example one patient described:
“…Bad headaches are gone, vision is better, skin rashes are gone, head tremors are better, neuropathy in feet and hands improved, brain fog has improved; balance/ falling has improved, muscle twitching is gone, jaw/locking is gone; flu like systems are better, terrible nightmares are not happening anymore…”
“Before the treatment I went from the bed to the couch. Now I am able to do some things throughout the day.”
This is good news for multiple sclerosis patients because it means there is something more you can do than simply supporting symptoms. Stem cells offer a way to treat some of the underlying symptoms and help to alleviate them. When other doctors have nothing but medications to keep you comfortable, stem cells have an excellent track record for making multiple sclerosis patients feel better than any other form of treatment. Although it is not a panacea to get rid of all your problems, it is definitely something to look into if you suffer from this condition. Many people around the world have tried stem cells for multiple sclerosis, and it is only a matter of time before it becomes the mainstream treatment for this debilitating condition.
by admin | Jul 11, 2014 | Stem Cell Research
As a patient, you may have been told that there wasn’t much to do for your chronic illness or pain. While some treatments can help to hold off the major symptoms, there wasn’t much hope for recovery. With the benefits of stem cell therapy, though, all of that changes. Stem cells allow for the treatments of symptoms on a level that is unmatched by traditional therapies. In fact, stem cells have many benefits to recommend them as a way to treat previously untreatable conditions.
Ethical Treatment
First, stem cell therapy is an ethical treatment. At Stemedix, we harvest the stem cells from the fat stores over your stomach or buttocks. None of the stem cells we use in treatment are taken from fetuses or any other unethical practice. This means that stems cells can be pursued without the worry of the ethics behind it, and it is much safer than using the cells harvested from other methods, including bone marrow.
Autologous Transplantation
Second, the transplantation is autologous. This means that the cells that are transplanted are your own cells. Your body is much less likely to reject these cells and cause a systemic reaction. The ability to replace your own cells after processing means that you will not have a rejection response, and this means you will have fewer concerns over the transplantation. One of the problems with stem cells from other sources is the immune system rejection and destruction of the tissue, but with our process, you will not have this problem.
Simple and Convenient
When compared to other methods, the mini liposuction and autologous transplantation are simple and convenient. In the past, cord blood was needed, and this meant that the sample had to be banked at birth for stem cells to be available. Then, a painful procedure to remove stem cells from the bone marrow in the pelvis was the accepted way to transplant stem cells. With the mini liposuction, the procedure is the same day and painless.
Treats Difficult Conditions
Of the benefits of stem cell therapy, another important one is that it is a viable therapy for difficult conditions. For instance, the current gold standard treatment for ALS merely helps to support the symptoms, not pose a cure. Stem cells, on the other hand, can go a long way toward reversing the effects of chronic, difficult to treat conditions. Although they do not pose a cure for any of these conditions, they actually help to reverse symptoms far more than traditional medical treatment. For conditions deemed untreatable, stem cell transplantation offers hope.
Positive Research Emerging
Stem cells are an emerging treatment, and studies into their efficacy have not yet been conducted. However, preliminary studies into the effectiveness of this treatment have shown promise. Of course, no large, double blind, peer reviewed study has been conducted, but the smaller studies have shown that stem cells can help with chronic problems. As the treatment becomes more mainstream, larger studies will be conducted. These studies will then show how beneficial stem cell transplantation is to the treatment of chronic conditions and help to bring the treatment out of the shadows.
Learn more about stem cell therapy for different conditions here.
by admin | Jul 10, 2014 | Stem Cell Research, Athletic Injury
Professional athletes put their bodies on the line all in the name of the game. From football to soccer, these men and women suffer some of the most severe musculoskeletal injuries that are seen in medicine today. Part of the athlete ethos is to get back on the field as soon as possible, and for that reason, more and more athletes are turning to autologous stem cell treatment. Whether it is for back problems or knee issues, professional athletes are willing to try this new technique to get back into playing form.
Peyton Manning and Athlete Injuries
One of the most famous cases of athletes using stem cells to get back onto the field is Peyton Manning. A quarterback in the National Football League, Manning suffered a number of hits that led to a herniation in one of the discs of his neck. Unable to throw, he sat out an entire season trying to rehabilitate his neck with surgeries and rest.
Unfortunately, none of these measure fully healed his neck, and before the next season started, Manning had stem cells injected into his neck to attempt to heal the disc and nerves. Soon after that, he began throwing again, and he is back to almost his original form as a player on the field. Where other medicine failed him, Manning found that the stem cells allowed him to recover more fully, and with this cutting edge treatment, he was able to continue on with his career.
How Stem Cells Help Athletes
Peyton Manning isn’t the only athlete to use stem cells. In fact, many football players submit to this treatment every year in the hopes of healing their soft tissue injury. Soccer players the world over have even gone so far as to have their stem cells harvested from their bone marrow and banked should they ever need it. With most newer technologies, though, this is unnecessary as adipose derived stem cells can be harvested in larger quantities and administered all in the course of one day. As mini liposuction with adipose stem cell transplantation becomes more popular, more athletes will try it.
Most of the treatments that require stem cell transplants are stubborn and severe soft tissue injury. For instance, knee problems are huge in sports, and transplanting stem cells directly into the joint can help to heal ligaments and cartilage in ways that other treatments can’t. This can apply to any joint, such as the shoulder, elbow, or hip, and it is a common way stem cells are used in athletes. Another usage is for back problems. Again, the stem cells are transplanted directly into the problem disc, and it helps to heal the herniation, restoring function to the nerves.
The Future of Stem Cells in Sports Medicine
As stem cells become more accepted as a mainstream medical treatment, sports medicine will find more ways to use them. Instead of being an unusual treatment, it will become popular with athletes who can appreciate the speed of healing from stem cells and the specific targeting that stem cells allow for. Joint and back problems are increasingly becoming a problem for professional athletes, and it is only a matter of time before stem cell transplantation becomes the rule rather than the exception.
One place that stem cells may be able to help with sports medicine is in the controversial concussion issue. From repeated blows, many athletes experience multiple concussions, which can lead to brain issues later, such as Parkinson’s and dementia. Stem cells are helpful for these issues, as well, and perhaps using them can keep the brain deficits at bay for those who have been severely affected by concussions. It is yet another way that stem cells can benefit sports medicine and the men and women who take the field.
Find out more about stem cell treatment for sports and athletic injury.
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