by admin | Aug 6, 2021 | Stem Cell Therapy, Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Stem Cell Research
It is estimated that over 126 million Americans, or nearly one in two adults, are affected with some form of musculoskeletal disorder, condition, or injury – a number comparable to the percentage of the population currently living with a chronic lung or heart condition[1].
While there are a number of treatment modalities proven to be effective for treating musculoskeletal disorders, conditions, and injuries, using stem cells appears to be among the most explored promising potential option of these methods.
With mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) being the preferred source of stem cell, mostly because of their abundance (including sources such as bone, tendon, skin, and blood) and ability to differentiate to many different tissues, orthopedic surgeons have focused largely on MSC therapies for healing a number of specific orthopedic conditions, including the healing of fractures, regenerating articular cartilage in degenerative joints, healing ligaments or tendon injuries, and replacing degenerative vertebral discs.
The goal of the comprehensive literature review conducted by Akpancar et al. was to evaluate the most recent progress in stem cell procedures and current indications in the orthopedic clinical care setting.
Specifically, as part of this review, the authors found that therapeutic applications using stem cells, and MSCs in particular, allow the stem cells to be used as progenitor cells as a way to enhance the healing and repair process. The authors point out that while many sources of stem cells have been considered for use in orthopedic procedures, including bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs), adipose-derived stem cells (AD-MSCs), synovial tissue-derived stem cells (ST-MSCs), peripheral blood-derived progenitor cells, and bone marrow concentrate, the optimal source of stem cells has yet to be determined.
In addition, Akpancar et al. while reviewing the orthopedic indication of stem cells on various musculoskeletal disorders, conditions, and injuries, found that in large part, stem cell therapy demonstrated positive results in improved healing in a variety of orthopedic indications, including major orthopedic bone-joint injuries, osteoarthritis-cartilage defects, ligament-tendon injuries, as well as other conditions.
Despite these findings, the authors also point out that while there have been large amounts of preclinical studies conducted and there continues to be increasing interest in performing additional studies on human subjects, the current findings gathered from preclinical studies are still preliminary. Considering this, the authors recommend additional research be conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of stem cells therapy in orthopedic surgery.
Source: (2016, August 16). The Current Perspectives of Stem Cell Therapy in Orthopedic Surgery. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5253188/
[1] “One in two Americans have a musculoskeletal condition: New report ….” 1 Mar. 2016, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/03/160301114116.htm.
by admin | Aug 4, 2021 | Health Awareness
If you find yourself snacking between meals, the problem might be dehydration. Many times, when you think you’re hungry, you may be actually thirsty—and eating salty snack foods like potato chips only makes the problem worse!
While the dangers of dehydration can sometimes be overstated, it never hurts to add more water to your diet. Here are 8 foods you can eat that will provide you with plenty of extra water.
1) Watermelon
As the name suggests, this delicious treat is mostly water. It also packs a lot of flavor for just a few calories. Try ending your exercise sessions with a slice of watermelon as a reward.
2) Cucumbers
In addition to salads, you can make cucumber sandwiches or soup. You can even cut them into slices and use them in place of chips, dipping them into yogurt or hummus.
3) Celery
Celery provides a low-calorie snack that’s packed with water. When you’re looking for a nice, refreshing crunch in your snack, celery is the answer—and it goes great with peanut butter!
4) Strawberries
Strawberries combine high water content with a powerful punch of flavor and a big boost of vitamin C. Try adding them to salads or dipping them in yogurt.
5) Tomatoes
Tomatoes have plenty of vitamins and minerals. They also have the high water content you need to stay hydrated.
6) Iceberg Lettuce
This leafy green is almost all water, which means that salads are a delicious way to get your daily nutrients while staying hydrated.
7) Cantaloupe
Melons can help you to start your morning hydrated. Cantaloupe provides you with plenty of water, along with a big serving of potassium.
8) Bell Peppers
Available in a range of colors, each with its own distinct taste, bell peppers are a nutritious treat. And with their high water content, bell peppers can help you fight dehydration!
by Shoot To Thrill Media | Aug 3, 2021
Medical Intake Progress Patient General Information Patient Geographic Information Emergency Contact Information Medical InformationPatient Application Statement and Agreement The form below is to be completed by the patient, or on the patient’s behalf,...
by Stemedix | Aug 2, 2021 | Stem Cell Therapy
Arthritis is a common affliction. Seniors, in particular, tend to experience arthritis in their shoulders, although athletes may also be affected. The bones and muscles in the shoulder joints experience daily use throughout a person’s life. After many years of constant movement, the tissue in and around joints wears down. This can lead to shoulder arthritis. Traditional treatments for this condition require a long and difficult recovery process. Many patients are unable to engage in their normal routines and activities, due to arthritis shoulder pain. Fortunately, stem cells for shoulder arthritis may have the potential to effectively treat shoulder arthritis. Below, we will examine how this innovative approach has helped some patients heal and experience pain relief.
Types of Shoulder Arthritis
The human shoulder has more range of motion than any other joint on the body. Because of this, it often loses functionality as you age. Usually, this is due to everyday wear and tear.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of shoulder arthritis. But it is not the only type that patients experience.
Other types of arthritis in the shoulder include:
- Rheumatoid arthritis, caused by underlying inflammation
- Post-traumatic arthritis triggered by prior shoulder injuries
- Rotator cuff tear arthropathy from a prior rotator cuff tear
These are only a few examples of the types of arthritis that may affect the shoulder joint as you age.
Regenerative Therapy and Stem Cells Could Help
Traditional medical treatments for shoulder arthritis include physical therapy and surgery. Many of these options are invasive and require a long recovery period.
However, stem cell therapy is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that many patients are finding to be helpful. There is some evidence that stem cell therapies may decrease arthritis pain and encourage the growth of new tissues. Stem cell therapies are all-natural. That is because the stem cells used in the treatments come from adult stem cells.
They may be found in adipose (fat), bone marrow, or umbilical cord (Wharton’s Jelly) tissues. Some treatments may also include platelet-rich plasma (PRP) that is drawn from your blood.
These mesenchymal stem cells will then be administered to the problem area to help your body heal naturally. Once injected, the stem cells and/or PRP will encourage your body to engage in its natural healing functions. Growth factors in stem cells encourage the regeneration of tissue and decrease in inflammation.
No matter what type of arthritis a patient may be facing, stem cells for shoulder arthritis offer a promising option for patients to explore. Some patients may also explore additional modalities such as prolozone (ozone therapy with added vitamins) or peptides (amino acids) in their healing plans.
by admin | Jul 30, 2021 | Stem Cell Research, Multiple Sclerosis, Stem Cell Therapy
Typically understood to support hematopoiesis and to produce the cells of the mesodermal lineage, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) found in bone marrow, fat, and other tissues of the body, have recently been found to contain additional properties that include immunomodulator and neurotrophic effects.
Considering earlier studies that have demonstrated favorable effects of MSC treatments in a variety of conditions – including stroke, multiple sclerosis, multi-system atrophy, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Petrou et al. performed this double-blind study as a way to evaluate the best way of administration and the safety and clinical efficacy of MSC transplantation – specifically in patients with active and progressive multiple sclerosis.
The response of the 48 patients with progressive multiple sclerosis and with displaying evidence of either clinical worsening or activity during the previous year in this study were evaluated after being treated intrathecally (IT) or intravenously (IV) with autologous MSCs or with sham injections. Having identified a critical and unmet need for treatment, the goal of Petrou et al.’s study was to examine the therapeutic efficacy of MSC transplantation in this specific population.
Over the course of this controlled clinical trial, participants were randomly assigned to three treatment groups and treated (either intrathecally or intravenously) with autologous MSCs or with sham injections. At the 6-month mark, the authors of this study retreated half of the patients in both the MSC-IT and MSC-IV groups with MSCs, while the remaining participants were treated with sham injections. The same process occurred with patients initially treated with sham injections; meaning that at the 6-month mark, half were either treated with MSC-IT or MSC-IV.
Prior to the start of this study, Petrou et al. established a number of primary and secondary endpoints. Predetermined primary endpoints of this study included: the safety of the MSC-IV and MSC-IT treatments and the difference among the three groups in relation to performance on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) at 6- and 12-month intervals. Predetermined secondary endpoints included the difference between the sham-treated and MSC-IT or MSC-IV treated group in the number of relapses and the relapse rate, the number of MRI gadolinium-enhancing lesions, the annualized rate of change in the T2 lesion load on MRI, percent brain volume change, performance on a series of physical and cognitive functions, and the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness.
At the conclusion of this 14-month trial, the authors reported that the study demonstrated positive results in all predetermined primary endpoints. More specifically, throughout the course of this study, the authors discovered that significantly fewer patients experienced treatment failure in the MSC0IT and MSC-IV groups compared with those in the sham-treated group. Additionally, over the course of the following year, nearly 59% and 41% of patients treated with MSC-IT and MSC-IV exhibited no evidence of multiple sclerosis activity; this is compared with less than 10% of patients in the sham-treated group.
Significant improvements of those receiving MSC-IT treatment (compared to sham treatment) were also observed in the following: ambulation index, the sum of functional scores, 25-foot timed walk test, 9-hole peg tests, PASAT and OWAT/KAVE cognitive tests, and newer biomarkers, including retinal nerve fiber layer and motor network. The authors also report beneficial, but less significant effects were observed in the MSC-IV groups.
Although the authors report a number of limitations associated with this study, including a small number of patients in each group, the short duration of the study, and the crossover design of the study (which could have resulted in a “carry-over” effect from the first cycle of treatment), they also conclude that the clinically significant findings observed in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis who were previously unresponsive to traditional or conventional therapies provide clear evidence of short-term efficacy and possible indications of neuroprotection induced by administration of autologous MSCs in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis.
In addition, the authors found that intrathecal administration of MSCs appears more beneficial than intravenous, as well as the potential benefits provided by receiving repeated injections of MSCs.
As such, Petrou et al. conclude by calling for a larger phase III study to confirm these findings and as a way to further evaluate the therapeutic potential of autologous MSCs in neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, including active progressive multiple sclerosis.
Source: (2020, December 1). Beneficial effects of autologous mesenchymal stem cell … – PubMed. from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33253391/
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