by admin | Mar 27, 2017 | Studies
A recent case study has reported that the use of human embryonic stem cells has helped two patients: one with Lyme disease and the other with multiple sclerosis. Though Lyme disease and multiple sclerosis occur for different reasons – Lyme disease results from tick bites, whereas autoimmunity is the culprit in multiple sclerosis – the two conditions are hard to distinguish clinically, leading to the idea that they may be able to be treated in similar ways. Both patients with Lyme disease and those with multiple sclerosis display neurological conditions such as problems with cognition, vision, sensation, and fatigue.
Traditionally, these diseases have been treated in different ways. Patients with Lyme disease are generally given antibiotics, but the antibiotics are often associated with adverse side effects or are not fully effective. Multiple sclerosis, on the other hand, is often treated with steroids and immunosuppressants, but unfortunately, the treatment regimens for multiple sclerosis often lead to a number of life threatening conditions. As progress has been made applying stem cell therapies to disorders of the nervous system, it has been theorized that stem cells may be able to help with both Lyme disease and multiple sclerosis.
In these case studies, embryonic stem cells were administered to a 30 year old woman with Lyme disease and a 42 year old man with multiple sclerosis. Following their treatment, both patients showed improvement in neurological performance related to muscle strength, cognition, coordination, and stamina. Further, the nervous system of both patients was assessed with both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). These imaging techniques demonstrated improvements in the brains of the patients.
That stem cells led to both functional and physiological improvements continue to support the idea that stem cells can be used to treat neurological conditions and that they can specifically support the treatment of Lyme disease and multiple sclerosis. As neither patient experienced any adverse side effects related to the stem cell therapy, it appears that there are safe options for applying stem cells in these conditions. Further research will help to clarify specific protocols that can be used to treat Lyme disease and multiple sclerosis patients with stem cells.
Learn more about how adult stem cell therapy can provide an alternative for MS patients who don’t respond to typical drug treatment here.
Reference
Shroff, G. (2016). Transplantation of human embryonic stem cells in patients with multiple sclerosis and Lyme disease. American Journal of Case Reports, 17, 944-949.
by admin | Nov 21, 2015 | Multiple Sclerosis, Stem Cell Research, Studies
At 6 months post-treatment, neurological improvement or stabilization was observed from all (99) patients in the study except one.
In their recently published study, Long-term outcomes of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with reduced-intensity conditioning in multiple sclerosis: physician’s and patient’s perspectives, published in the Annals of Hematology Journal, Shevchenko et al. describe the effects of an autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) with high-dose immunosuppressive therapy (HDIT) on 99 patients with multiple sclerosis. That the stem cell transplantation is autologous means that the stem cells derive from the patient’s own body, and the stem cells being hematopoietic indicates that the stem cells give rise to blood cells.
The idea for this type of therapy for multiple sclerosis has stemmed from the fact that multiple sclerosis is characterized by nervous system inflammation. Because inflammation results from activities of the immune system, it has been thought that targeting the immune system to reduce its activity could improve symptoms of the disease. More specifically, this particular combination therapy, using AHSCT and HDIT, has been aimed at destroying the immune system and rebuilding a separate system from hematopoietic stem cells so that the new immune system functions more favorably in those with multiple sclerosis.
AHSCT and HDIT have been used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis for several years, but the specific way these techniques are able to improve multiple sclerosis is not well understood. Further, there is some debate about both the safety and effectiveness of these treatments. Small sample sizes and homogeneous patient groups have plagued many of the studies performed to address these issues. In the present study, however, the researchers studied patients with different types of multiple sclerosis. This experimental structure allowed the scientists to show that AHSCT and HDIT used in combination can help those with both remitting and progressive multiple sclerosis and that the positive effects on the disease appeared to endure over long-term periods. At 6 months post-treatment, neurological improvement or stabilization was observed from all (99) patients in the study except one. The average follow up time for patients was 62 months, or just over 5 years, and up to and at this point, 47% of patients demonstrated significant improvement jumping at least 0.5 points on the Expanded Disability Status Scale EDSS scale. These results are highly informative for physicians treating patients with multiple sclerosis and are a promising demonstration of the potential for stem cells to improve conditions like multiple sclerosis.
Learn more about stem cell therapy for Multiple Sclerosis.
- Reference
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Shevchenko, J. L., et al. “Long-term outcomes of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with reduced-intensity conditioning in multiple sclerosis: physician’s and patient’s perspectives.” Annals of hematology 94.7 (2015): 1149.
- Study Abstract
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 | May 15, 2014 | Multiple Sclerosis, Stem Cell Research, Studies
More research coming from the University of Utah Health Sciences department shows tremendous improvements in mice treated with human adult stem cells. The report (full article here) shows that mice with a condition very similar to Multiple Sclerosis (MS) were not only able to walk again but able to run within 14 days of treatment and 6 months later showed no signs of regression.
“Results from the study demonstrate the mice experience at least a partial reversal of symptoms. Immune attacks are blunted, and the damaged myelin is repaired, explaining their dramatic recovery.”
“We want to try to move as quickly and carefully as possible,” Lane continued. “I would love to see something that could promote repair and ease the burden that patients with MS have.”
So far this news seems to be in lockstep with current Stemedix adult stem cell treatment of human patients that are reporting similar levels of progress and symptom loss. With every treatment we are continuing to monitor the progress, collect appropriate data from our patients, as well as fine tune our process accordingly so that they get the largest possible benefit from our stem cell treatment.
“I think we all can agree this is exciting news for stem cell research but much more so for the patients with degenerative diseases that Stemedix treats every day.” said Erik Consorsha, a Stemedix representative who continued, “Its very encouraging to have university level scientific researchers seeing the same results we are.”
Read more about stem cell therapy for Multiple Sclerosis here.
To find out more about Stemedix adult stem cell therapy call, 1-800-531-0831.
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