Every year, stem cell therapy gains massive traction due to its incredible regenerative and auto-repair properties. More specifically, patients who deal with chronic, incurable conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS) are closely following any news about this cutting-edge technology.
What is a stem cell?
A stem cell is a special biological entity that has unlimited differentiation potentials and can become any type of cell, hence is also called an undifferentiated cell. The body keeps a large number of these cells in different sites (e.g. bone marrow, umbilical cord, adipose tissue) in case it endures lesions that need regenerative capacities.
The fascinating feature of stem cells is their ability to differentiate into different cell types, including hepatocytes, nerve fibers, osteocytes, chondrocytes, and keratinocytes.
Are stem cells extracted from fetuses?
Perhaps the unethical aspect of stem cell therapy is the most commonly believed misconception out there. This is because early research focused on extracting stem cells from fetuses and embryos, which is what stuck with media outlets and the general population.
However, as mentioned earlier, stem cells are kept in the body to repair inflicted damage, allowing medical professionals to extract these cells and use them to manage a variety of conditions and their symptoms.
How do stem cells help with MS?
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic condition that’s caused by a type IV hypersensitivity reaction, which occurs when the immune system releases antibodies and specific cells to target a certain tissue. In the case of MS, the immune system attacks the myelin sheaths on nerve fibers that allow for fast bioelectrical transmissions of signals.
Stem cell therapy can potentially help MS progression and symptoms in two major ways:
Immunomodulating
By getting rid of the hyperactive immune cells and replacing them with new regulated ones, using stem cell therapy, the reaction against nerve fibers is potentially halted and symptoms may start to temper down.
Re-myelinization
Instead of targeting the immune system, stem cell therapy also helps by having the ability to regenerate myelin sheath. Note that the process of re-myelinization does not occur spontaneously without having progenitor cells to rely on.
In other words, if the patient does not receive stem cell therapy, the myelin sheaths that were destroyed in the relapse phase are irreversibly lost.
How long does it take for possible symptom improvement?
Typically, patients experience symptom improvement after several months of receiving therapy, with peaking results between the 3rd and 6th-month post-procedure. Some may experience feeling improvements earlier. The types of symptoms expected to improve include all signs that were triggered by multiple sclerosis-related inflammatory and immune reactions.
Is stem cell therapy superior to conventional treatment?
The answer to this question is not straightforward, as many factors fall into play. To keep it short, conventional therapy focuses on suppressing your immune system, which predisposes you to several infectious pathogens. Moreover, it cannot modulate the immune system nor regenerate the damage inflicted on the nerve fibers.
Incorporating stem cell therapy in the treatment of MS has opened a door to new opportunities to manage a condition that was initially thought incurable. It is important to remember that this is a management tool that can be done in conjunction with traditional medicine as well as healthy lifestyle choices.
As science continues to uncover the benefits of stem cell therapy, many trials and studies are bringing their focus to conditions with limited treatment options. The neurodegenerative condition amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is one of the conditions that greatly needs new treatment methods to slow its progression. Fortunately, recent clinical trials offer promising results. Here we will discuss Stem cell therapy for ALS.
What Is ALS?
ALS affects the nerve cells present in the brain and spinal cord. In ALS patients, the motor neurons that carry messages from the brain to the spinal cord and then to the body’s muscles progressively die off. As they die, the brain can no longer communicate with the muscles, so patients lose muscle action.
The loss of muscle control may begin with walking and standing, but patients can lose the ability to move, speak, eat, and breathe over time.
How Can Stem Cell Therapy Help ALS Patients?
Stem cells are the building blocks of cells. When prompted to divide, stem cells can either form more stem cells or become specialized cells, such as brain cells or nerve cells. Those new, specialized cells have the potential to repair and replace damaged cells.
Stem cell therapy is an inspiring option in treating ALS since researchers believe the treatment could support new cell growth and help manage the body’s immune system response. Additionally, stem cells offer the potential to regenerate the damaged motor neurons that are characteristic of the disease.
Clinical Trial Results
In an analysis of six clinical trials that examined the benefits of stem cell treatments in slowing the progression of ALS, all six trials showed stem cell therapy slowed the advancement of the disease. However, in two studies, the results were not statistically significant.
All of the studies that followed patients for six months after their stem cell treatments saw significant differences in the results of patients’ ALSFRS-R reports. Patients within the treatment groups experienced a notable slowing in the disease’s progression. In examining the methodologies of the studies analyzed, there are techniques and types of stem cells that show improved results. Notably, the most effective delivery of stem cells to slow ALS in patients is through injections into the fluid-filled space surrounding the spinal cord. In addition, studies using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) also saw more significant results than other stem cell therapies. To learn more contact a care coordinator today at Stemedix!
Knee pain is so common among adults that few active patients are surprised when knee pain occurs. However, while daily activities like walking, bending, standing, and lifting may cause knee pain, those who engage in exercises that involve jumping and pivoting are even more likely to suffer from knee conditions. In the past, the solution for all knee conditions was knee replacement surgery. Now, patients have new options with regenerative medicine, also known as stem cell therapy for knee conditions.
What Is Stem Cell Therapy?
Stem cells live in most of the body’s tissues. Under the right conditions, these cells divide to form more stem cells or specialized cells throughout the body, such as blood cells or nerves. Stem cells are the only cells that can become a new cell type.
In stem cell therapy, researchers extract and concentrate stem cells, then implant them back into an area of concern in the body. Those cells then have the potential to heal or replace damaged tissue.
Regenerative Medicine For Knee Conditions
Many knee conditions result from soft tissue damage. For example, when a patient loses cartilage from osteoarthritis, bones no longer glide smoothly, resulting in friction, pain, and inflammation.
Stem cell therapy uses the body’s innate healing process to repair soft tissues and slow their deterioration. As a result, knee conditions caused by ligament injuries, tendonitis, or osteoarthritis can all potentially benefit from stem cell therapy. The goals of stem cell therapy in treating knee conditions include:
Repairing damaged tissues
Slowing the degeneration of cartilage
Decreasing inflammation
Reducing pain
Delaying or preventing surgery
Many studies conclude that stem cells improves the symptoms of conditions like arthritis in the knee. However, further research is underway to determine treatment frequency, dosage, and longevity.
Benefits of Choosing Stem Cell Therapy for Knee Conditions
Patients looking to avoid knee replacement surgery often turn to it after exhausting their non-surgical treatment options. Benefits of choosing stem cell therapy include:
Less pain from osteoarthritis or past injuries
Reduced dependency on pain medications
Reduced joint stiffness
Better mobility
Faster recovery
Additionally, many patients choose stem cell therapy for their knee conditions to try to avoid the extensive rehabilitation needs required after joint replacement surgery.
Stem cells may offer a safe and effective alternative to previous treatments for common knee conditions. Both clinical trials and anecdotal evidence provide positive outcomes for patients seeking a knee surgery alternative. If you are interested in learning more about Stem Cell Therapy, contact a care coordinator at Stemedix today!
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that attacks myelin, the protective sheath that covers nerves and causes progressive and serious communication issues between the brain, central nervous system, and the rest of the body[1].
Currently, it’s estimated that over 2.3 million people worldwide, and over one million people in the US have a diagnosis of MS[2].
While there have been significant improvements in treatments designed to stabilize, delay, and even improve symptoms of MS, new and more effective treatments are needed to improve the long-term outcome associated with the condition.
One area currently being investigated as a potential therapeutic option for treating MS is the use of regenerative medicine, also known as stem cell therapy, and specifically treatment using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
In this review of evidence from preclinical and clinical studies, Gugliandolo et al. examine studies involving the use of MSCs or their derivatives in vivo models of MS and patients affected by MS. The authors also examine and discuss the feasibility of autologous MSCs therapy for MS patients.
Specifically, and when assessed in terms of effectiveness when treating MS, the therapeutic potential of MSCs was associated with their differentiation capacity and paracrine effects, their ability to differentiate toward oligodendrocytes and express oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) markers, and their capacity for homing (moving towards the damaged area following chemical gradients).
As part of this review, the authors also examined the effectiveness of various sources of MSC in MS models, these sources included bone marrow MSCs (BM-MSCs), adipose tissue-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs), periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs), skin-derived MSCs (S-MSCs), Wharton’s jelly-derived MSCs (WJ-MSCs), human umbilical cord MSCs (UCMSC), human amnion mesenchymal cells (AMCs), placental derived MSCs (PMSCs), and decidua derived MSCs (DMSCs). According to the research reviewed by Gugliandolo et al., all MSCs, regardless of where they were harvested from, demonstrated beneficial effects in the therapeutic treatment of MS.
Specifically, the results demonstrated that MSCs were able to produce some form of protective effects in reducing inflammatory cell infiltration, disease score, demyelination, and blood-brain barrier disruption.
A review of 29 phase 1 or 2 clinical trials registered on clinicaltrials.gov demonstrated that MSCs, regardless of the type and method of administration, demonstrated to be safe and absent of severe adverse effects with the majority demonstrating measurable improvements when used in MS patients.
While clinical trials demonstrated the safety of administration of MSC in MS patients, the authors were particularly interested in learning if autologous MSC transplantation presented some advantages over heterologous administration.
The authors of this review found that samples obtained from healthy controls and MS patients showed similar features, indicating the possibility of autologous stem cell therapy in MS patients. However, other studies found that MSCs obtained from MS patients exhibited a different transcriptional pattern and fewer immunosuppressive functions compared to healthy donor MSCs.
Gugliandolo et al. point out that limits to these experimental studies include the use of animals of a single gender, given that sex-dependent differences exist and the use of different MS models, different number of transplanted cells, different MSCs sources, and routes of administration. These limitations make it difficult to define the optimal treatment in terms of cell type, dose, and administration conditions.
The authors conclude that clinical trials demonstrate the safety and feasibility of MSCs treatment, and also some improvements, but more data on larger cohorts are required to establish their efficacy. Considering the controversial results pertaining to the features of MSCs derived from MS patients, the authors also call for additional research in order to conclusively determine the safety and efficacy of autologous MSCs therapy in MS patients.
When you live with chronic pain, almost any treatment option that offers relief can be tempting. Undergoing surgery for joint pain is a serious decision. Surgery comes with many risks, including potentially long and painful recovery times, and there is no guarantee that surgical treatments will resolve your pain. Before deciding whether surgery is the right step for you, take a moment to consider the following reasons why regenerative medicine, also known as stem cell therapy, might be an effective option.
Regenerative Medicine Is Minimally Invasive
The body’s natural response to surgical intervention is to create inflammation. Post-surgical swelling can be serious enough to prevent or limit movement and slow recovery time. Stem cell therapy is minimally invasive — involving only administrations at the injured site. A regenerative medicine provider first prepares the treatment area by applying a local anesthetic, which can minimize discomfort.
Instead of causing inflammation, stem cells have the ability to reduce swelling and support the body’s natural healing response. There is typically little or no downtime with stem cell therapy. Most patients can return to normal daily activity, following some post-procedure protocols, as soon as they leave the clinic.
Stem Cell Therapy Has Fewer Risks and Complications
No medical procedure is 100% risk-free. However, few complications are associated with stem cell therapy, especially when compared to surgery. The risks of even the most common surgical procedures include infection, damage to nerves or blood vessels, deep vein thrombosis, and adverse reactions to anesthesia.
Stem cell therapy does pose a few risks, most of which are mild and rare. Headache, nausea, swelling, or itching at the injection site are possible. Infection due to stem cell therapy is possible but extremely rare.
Regenerative Medicine Is More Cost-Effective
Stem cell therapy is not inexpensive, and most costs may have to be paid out of pocket since insurance, today, is still not covering treatments. Even with these considerations, the long recuperation and additional costs of surgery can add up. The costs associated with a possible long recuperation time, child care, and potentially lost wages may outweigh the costs of stem cell therapy considerably.
What Is Best for You?
Ultimately, each patient needs to do their individual research and weigh the pros and cons of any medical options before making an informed decision. Stem cell therapy is utilized to manage many conditions, including neurodegenerative and autoimmune conditions, and it serves as a potentially helpful approach in pain management contexts. Before deciding on a risky surgery, consult with a regenerative medicine specialist at Stemedix to learn more about your available options. If surgery is ultimately the best route for your recovery and wellness, stem cell therapy can still be an excellent post-surgery recovery tool.
Regenerative medicine, also known as stem cell therapy, is emerging as a viable treatment for Parkinson’s disease as clinical trials move through the FDA approval process. Patients in clinical trials see positive results from mesenchymal stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s Disease.
What Is Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive, neurodegenerative condition. It occurs when dopamine-producing brain cells stop working or die. Dopamine’s role in the body is to send messages between nerve cells or from nerve cells to muscle cells, affecting the body’s physical and mental functions.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s start gradually, and the disease worsens over time. Early symptoms include tremors in the hands, rigidity, and slowness of movement. Patients with Parkinson’s also experience difficulty with balance, and eventually, with speech, writing, and automatic muscle movement such as blinking.
While there’s currently no cure for Parkinson’s, there are medications that patients can take to manage symptoms. Some symptoms are also relieved from surgery to regulate specific brain areas.
Patients with Parkinson’s disease experience a progressive decline in their ability to function, with treatments only offering some relief. The emergence of mesenchymal stem cell therapy as an option to reverse the damage and halt the progression of Parkinson’s disease is an exciting development.
What Are Mesenchymal Stem Cells?
Stem cells are considered to be the building blocks of cells. All specialized cells in the body come from stem cells. When stem cells divide, they either produce more stem cells, called daughter cells, or differentiate into specialized cells, such as bone, blood, or brain cells.
MSCs are present throughout your life, but they age as the body ages, making them less effective and concentrated over time.
How Can Mesenchymal Stem Cells Benefit Those with Parkinson’s Disease?
In recent clinical trials using mesenchymal stem cells on Parkinson’s patients, the cells significantly improved patients’ symptoms, including facial expressions, gait, and rigidity or “freezing” episodes. Some of the patients in this study substantially reduced their dosages of medicines used to control Parkinson’s symptoms.
In a 2005 study, researchers determined that stem cells may be capable of differentiating into dopamine neurons, which are damaged or destroyed with Parkinson’s.
While the true potential of mesenchymal stem cell benefits in Parkinson’s patients is still being investigated, there is reason to believe that patients with the neurodegenerative condition could experience a significant improvement in their quality of life with stem cell therapy. If you are interested in learning more about Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease, contact us today at Stemedix!
This website and its contents are not intended to treat, cure, diagnose, or prevent any disease. Stemedix, Inc. shall not be held liable for the medical claims made by patient testimonials or videos. They are not to be viewed as a guarantee for each individual. The efficacy for some products presented have not been confirmed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
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