by admin | Sep 1, 2021 | Health Awareness
Gut bacteria have been a suspect in a number of brain disorders like Parkinson’s and autism since at least the mid-2000s. While more research continues to be done on this topic, gut microbes continue to be a prime suspect for some impacts on human health.
While research has focused mostly on how gut bacteria affects adults — including its impact on mental health — a new study suggests that gut microbes may be a potential factor in the risk of brain damage for premature babies.
Researchers at the University of Vienna discovered that premature babies with an overgrowth of the Klebsiella bacteria in their gastrointestinal tract were at higher risk for developing neurological problems at birth.
Because premature babies have not had enough time to complete the development process in utero, they run a much higher risk of having unbalanced gut bacteria. Because of this, certain microbes may proliferate while others, which would typically counterbalance the other entities, are crowded out.
Because researchers usually found these overgrowths in the gastrointestinal tracts of premature babies before observing neurological disorders, it may indicate that there is time to treat this imbalance of gut bacteria before it can impact the baby’s brain and nervous system.
While this study was focused specifically on how gut bacteria affected the brains of premature babies, it adds yet another example of ways that gut microbes might have an impact on human bodies as a whole.
There are several tests currently available that will let you test your gut bacteria at home, allowing you to identify any imbalances you might be experiencing. Combined with probiotic therapy, it may be possible to not only relieve many gastrointestinal symptoms but also to resolve or better control problems in other areas of your body as well.
by Stemedix | Aug 30, 2021 | Osteoarthritis, Stem Cell Therapy
Before the advent of stem cell therapy, patients that were suffering from osteoarthritis were forced to rely on traditional treatment options. These treatments included oral medications, cortisone injections, and surgical intervention. Fortunately, stem cells have shown to be a promising and safe alternative treatment option. Stem cell therapy has the potential to help patients improve their quality of life, reduce pain, and potentially halt the progression of osteoarthritis. Below are the stem cell therapy benefits for Osteoarthritis. They are outlined so you can make an informed decision regarding the best options to manage your osteoarthritis.
What Are Stem Cells?
Stem cells are a unique type of cell that is often described as the body’s raw building blocks because they are used to form a variety of other specialized cells. Stem cells can be harvested in a laboratory setting and concentrated for various therapies. They can be used to treat neurodegenerative, autoimmune, and orthopedic ailments.
Two primary types of stem cells that are used more commonly today in medical therapies are known as adult autologous stem cells and umbilical cord-derived stem cells.
Autologous stem cells are derived from harvested adipose (fat) tissue or bone marrow aspirate. Umbilical cord-derived stem cells are retrieved from Wharton’s Jelly, which is a substance that lines the interior of umbilical cords.
How Can Stem Cells Improve Osteoarthritis Symptoms?
While stem cell therapy is still being refined and improved upon, it has shown positive results in clinical trials. In many of these studies, stem cells proved to be a potentially effective therapy for osteoarthritic conditions to offer patients additional options to consider in addition to several traditional options. Below are some improvements reported.
Reduce Pain and Inflammation
Although it is technically not a cure nor can be guaranteed, stem cell therapy has been shown to help relieve some of the most debilitating symptoms that osteoarthritis patients encounter like pain and inflammation.
Chronic pain and inflammation have the potential to diminish a person’s quality of life. These ailments can prevent a person from participating in activities they enjoy and reduce their mobility. Many patients have experienced drastic pain improvement after using stem cell therapy. Some of them saw improvements as soon as one month following their treatment. Post-treatment care is also important for patients to follow to help optimize their outcomes.
Improved Functionality
As pain and inflammation subside, functionality tends to improve. Stem cell therapy has helped a high percentage of patients to become more independent and resume normal activities. They were able to become less reliant on others and saw improvements in functionality when compared to other treatment options.
Halts Progression of Osteoarthritis
In some trials, stem cell therapy was able to halt the progression of osteoarthritis. While these results were not typical, it does bode well for patients that are struggling with severe osteoarthritic conditions.
If you are suffering from osteoarthritis or other orthopedic conditions, you may want to explore the stem cell therapy benefits for Osteoarthritis. This treatment option might help you improve your quality of life and achieve better outcomes in addition to your current standard of care options. If you would like to learn more about getting started contact us today!
by admin | Aug 26, 2021 | Health Awareness
As one of the most debated foods on the market, some dieticians and physicians believe that milk is meant only for baby cows and that cheese has the same limited nutritional merit. Others tout its calcium, protein, and vitamin D, concluding that it is part of a healthy diet.
When it comes to dairy, is it truly healthy food, or is it more of a health risk?
Arguments Against Dairy
Humans are placental mammals. Mothers produce milk to nourish a baby. Dairy detractors note that across the mammalian species when babies mature and begin to eat solid food, they do not go back to drinking milk.
Other concerns that dairy opponents have posed are that the amount of saturated fat in many dairy products is high and that other foods are rich in calcium with fewer drawbacks to their use.
Arguments for Dairy
Over 40 percent of Americans do not meet their recommended daily intake for calcium and Vitamin D. A major reason for this is that many people do not consume an adequate amount of dark, leafy greens. Many other non-dairy foods that are high in calcium are not a major part of the American diet, such as sardines and soybeans.
Most people enjoy the taste of at least some types of dairy, however, and it is often used as a garnish on and in many dishes. When it is used appropriately, it can serve as an effective source of calcium and Vitamin D.
Is There a Final Verdict?
Whether the harm is done to your body by your dairy intake will depend largely on two factors: The amount you consume and the source of your dairy.
If you do choose to enjoy dairy products in your diet, there are a few things that you can do to maximize their nutritional value. When possible, pick the dairy product that is lower in sugar. For instance, opt for plain yogurt rather than flavored forms. By eating things in moderation, you can minimize the impact of dairy on your health.
by Stemedix | Aug 23, 2021 | Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cells are a groundbreaking form of regenerative medicine that is being used to potentially help manage many ailments, including orthopedic injuries and chronic conditions. This treatment option offers many potential benefits to patients that suffer from orthopedic conditions. Here we will talk about the Orthopedic benefits of Stem Cell Therapy.
While stem cell therapy is not necessarily a cure for these ailments, patients have reported improvements in their symptoms without the need for more invasive treatments such as surgery.
What is Stem Cell Therapy?
Stem cells are unique because they have the ability to divide and transform into specialized cells. Stem cells can facilitate the body’s natural healing processes and repair damaged tissue. However, the concentration of stem cells in your body naturally decreases as you age.
Mesenchymal stem cells can be harvested stem cells from one of several sources. Stem cells can be harvested from bone marrow aspirate, adipose (fat) tissue, or umbilical cords (Wharton’s Jelly). Once harvested, the stem cells are administered directly to the problematic areas and/or systemically with an IV.
Stem cell therapy targets your orthopedic ailment with a high concentration of these cells. These cells will divide and replace damaged tissue, thereby alleviating or improving your chronic orthopedic symptoms.
How Are Stem Cells Used to Treat Orthopedic Conditions?
Orthopedic conditions are usually the result of inflammation and damage to bone, ligaments, tendons, or cartilage. Stem cells are naturally drawn towards inflammation within your body. In addition, stem cells can differentiate into various cells, including progenitor cells. Once this occurs, they can transform into specialized cells, such as those in your musculoskeletal tissues.
Instead of managing orthopedic conditions with medication or surgical intervention, stem cells can offer an alternative option for patients to explore. These cells have the potential to provide the body the resources it needs to rebuild damaged tissues naturally.
Potential Benefits of Stem Cells
Stem cell therapy is continuing to be researched but studies have shown it to be a safe and potentially effective treatment option for many patients that are struggling with orthopedic conditions. While your physician cannot guarantee that your stem cell therapy will produce a specific outcome, this treatment option does offer many potential benefits.
Stem cell therapy uses natural materials and your body’s innate healing abilities to treat orthopedic conditions. This allows you the opportunity to manage your condition without the use of medications and surgical interventions. Many medications can have some side effects. Stem cells have been shown to have minimal side effects and are safe to be considered a natural option.
If you are struggling with chronic pain due to an orthopedic condition or injury, stem cell therapy may be a considered treatment option to potentially help manage symptoms and improve your daily quality of life. If you would like to learn more about the Orthopedic benefits of stem cell therapy contact a care coordinator today!
Don’t let pain control your life, call us at (800) 531-0831
by admin | Aug 20, 2021 | Peptides
Mitochondria are essential components of each cell in the human body. Responsible for generating the energy required for cells to complete their normal and required functions, large scale or systematic mitochondrial dysfunction, when left untreated often results in low energy, cell damage, and eventually cell death. Mitochondrial disease is most often observed in the heart, liver, muscles, kidney, and brain[1].
Considering the direct role mitochondria have on neuronal function and considering that perioperative neurocognitive disorder (PND) is one of the most commonly experienced and least understood postoperative complications (especially in elderly patients), Zhao et al. examined the specific role of the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant elamipretide (SS-31) has in preventing mitochondrial dysfunction and synaptic and memory impairment caused by oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.
Considering previous research conducted in this specific area, Zhao et al. hypothesized that elamipretide could offer protection against memory impairment experienced during neuroinflammation specifically by offering protection against mitochondrial dysfunction and by reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory response in the hippocampus.
To test this hypothesis, the authors assigned mice to one of four treatment groups: a control plus placebo group, a control plus elamipretide group, a LPS plus placebo group, or a LPS plus elamipretide group before memory performance and hippocampus-related learning were assessed through a series of open field, Morris water maze (MWM), and fear conditioning tests.
Upon completion of all assays, the authors concluded that Elamipretide:
- Protected the hippocampus against LPS-induced mitochondrial dysfunction by maintaining appropriate levels of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and adenosine triphosphate assay (ATP).
- Reduced oxidative stress and the inflammatory response induced by LPS in the hippocampus (of mice).
- Significantly decreased the death of neural cells within the hippocampus of LPS-treated mice.
- Enhanced the hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) pathway and synaptic structural complexity in mice treated with LPS.
- Prevented the reduction of dendritic spines on hippocampus neurons after LPS treatment.
Although mice treated with LPS demonstrated impaired hippocampus-related learning and memory performance, Zhao et al. concluded that memory impairment caused by LPS can be significantly reduced through the introduction of the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant elamipretide. In addition, elamipretide may also have therapeutic potential when it comes to preventing damage resulting from the oxidative stress and neuroinflammation known to contribute to PND. Considering these findings, the authors call for further exploration into the use of mitochondria as a potential treatment strategy for PND.
Source: (2019, November 20). Elamipretide (SS-31) improves mitochondrial dysfunction, synaptic …. Retrieved from https://jneuroinflammation.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12974-019-1627-9
[1] “Mitochondrial Disease Clinic – Clinical Genomics – Mayo Clinic.” https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/clinical-genomics/overview/specialty-groups/mitochondrial-disease-clinic. Accessed 18 Aug. 2021.
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