Category Archives: Stem Cell Treatments

In a typical stem cell transplant for cancer very high doses of chemo are used, often along with radiation therapy, to try to destroy all the cancer cells. This treatment also kills the stem cells in the bone marrow. Soon after treatment, stem cells are given to replace those that were destroyed. These stem cells are given into a vein, much like a blood transfusion. Over time they settle in the bone marrow and begin to grow and make healthy blood cells. This process is called engraftment.

There are 3 basic types of transplants. They are named based on who gives the stem cells.

These stem cells come from you alone. In this type of transplant, your stem cells are taken before you get cancer treatment that destroys them. Your stem cells are removed, or harvested, from either your bone marrow or your blood and then frozen. To find out more about that process, please see the section Whats it like to donate stem cells? After you get high doses of chemo and/or radiation the stem cells are thawed and given back to you.

One advantage of autologous stem cell transplant is that you are getting your own cells back. When you donate your own stem cells you dont have to worry about the graft attacking your body (graft-versus-host disease) or about getting a new infection from another person. But there can still be graft failure, and autologous transplants cant produce the graft-versus-cancer" effect.

This kind of transplant is mainly used to treat certain leukemias, lymphomas, and multiple myeloma. Its sometimes used for other cancers, like testicular cancer and neuroblastoma, and certain cancers in children. Doctors are looking at how autologous transplants might be used to treat other diseases, too, like systemic sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, Crohn disease, and systemic lupus erythematosis.

A possible disadvantage of an autologous transplant is that cancer cells may be picked up along with the stem cells and then put back into your body later. Another disadvantage is that your immune system is still the same as before when your stem cells engraft. The cancer cells were able to grow despite your immune cells before, and may be able to do so again.

To prevent this, doctors may give you anti-cancer drugs or treat your stem cells in other ways to reduce the number of cancer cells that may be present. Some centers treat the stem cells to try to remove any cancer cells before they are given back to the patient. This is sometimes called purging. It isnt clear that this really helps, as it has not yet been proven to reduce the risk of cancer coming back (recurrence).

A possible downside of purging is that some normal stem cells can be lost during this process, causing the patient to take longer to begin making normal blood cells, and have unsafe levels of white blood cells or platelets for a longer time. This could increase the risk of infections or bleeding problems.

One popular method now is to give the stem cells without treating them. Then, after transplant, the patient gets a medicine to get rid of cancer cells that may be in the body. This is called in vivo purging. Rituximab (Rituxan), a monoclonal antibody drug, may be used for this in certain lymphomas and leukemias, and other drugs are being tested. The need to remove cancer cells from transplants or transplant patients and the best way to do it is being researched.

Doing 2 autologous transplants in a row is known as a tandem transplant or a double autologous transplant. In this type of transplant, the patient gets 2 courses of high-dose chemo, each followed by a transplant of their own stem cells. All of the stem cells needed are collected before the first high-dose chemo treatment, and half of them are used for each transplant. Most often both courses of chemo are given within 6 months, with the second one given after the patient recovers from the first one.

Tandem transplants are most often used to treat multiple myeloma and advanced testicular cancer, but doctors do not always agree that these are really better than a single transplant for certain cancers. Because this involves 2 transplants, the risk of serious outcomes is higher than for a single transplant. Tandem transplants are still being studied to find out when they might be best used.

Sometimes an autologous transplant followed by an allogeneic transplant might also be called a tandem transplant (see Mini-transplants in the section Allogeneic stem cell transplants).

In the most common type of allogeneic transplant, the stem cells come from a donor whose tissue type closely matches the patients. (This is discussed later under HLA matching in the section called Donor matching for allogeneic transplant.) The best donor is a close family member, usually a brother or sister. If you do not have a good match in your family, a donor might be found in the general public through a national registry. This is sometimes called a MUD (matched unrelated donor) transplant. Transplants with a MUD are usually riskier than those with a relative who is a good match.

Blood taken from the placenta and umbilical cord of newborns is a newer source of stem cells for allogeneic transplant. Called cord blood, this small volume of blood has a high number of stem cells that tend to multiply quickly. But the number of stem cells in a unit of cord blood is often too low for large adults, so this source of stem cells is limited to small adults and children. Doctors are now looking at different ways to use cord blood for transplant in larger adults, such as using cord blood from 2 donors.

Pros of allogeneic stem cell transplant: The donor stem cells make their own immune cells, which could help destroy any cancer cells that remain after high-dose treatment. This is called the graft-versus-cancer effect. Other advantages are that the donor can often be asked to donate more stem cells or even white blood cells if needed, and stem cells from healthy donors are free of cancer cells.

Cons to allogeneic stem cell transplants: The transplant, also known as the graft, might not take that is, the donor cells could die or be destroyed by the patients body before settling in the bone marrow. Another risk is that the immune cells from the donor may not just attack the cancer cells they could attack healthy cells in the patients body. This is called graft-versus-host disease (described in the section called Problems that may come up shortly after transplant). There is also a very small risk of certain infections from the donor cells, even though donors are tested before they donate. A higher risk comes from infections you have had, and which your immune system has under control. These infections often surface after allogeneic transplant because your immune system is held in check (suppressed) by medicines called immunosuppressive drugs. These infections can cause serious problems and even death.

Allogeneic transplant is most often used to treat certain types of leukemia, lymphomas, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndrome, and other bone marrow disorders such as aplastic anemia.

For some people, age or certain health conditions make it more risky to wipe out all of their bone marrow before a transplant. For those people, doctors can use a type of allogeneic transplant thats sometimes called a mini-transplant. Compared with a standard allogeneic transplant, this one uses less chemo and/or radiation to get the patient ready for the transplant. Your doctor might refer to it as a non-myeloablative transplant or mention reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC). The idea here is to kill some of the cancer cells along with some of the bone marrow, and suppress the immune system just enough to allow donor stem cells to settle in the bone marrow.

Unlike the standard allogeneic transplant, cells from both the donor and the patient exist together in the patients body for some time after a mini-transplant. But slowly, over the course of months, the donor cells take over the bone marrow and replace the patients own bone marrow cells. These new cells can then develop an immune response to the cancer and help kill off the patients cancer cells the graft-versus-cancer effect.

One advantage of a mini-transplant is the lower doses of chemotherapy (chemo) and/or radiation. And because the stem cells arent all killed, blood cell counts dont drop as low while waiting for the new stem cells to start making normal blood cells. This makes it especially useful in older patients and those with other health problems who arent strong enough for a standard allogeneic stem cell transplant. Rarely, it may be used in patients who have already had a transplant.

Mini-transplants treat some diseases better than others. They may not work well for patients with a lot of cancer in their body or those with fast-growing cancers. Also, although side effects from chemo and radiation may be less than those from a standard allogeneic transplant, the risk of graft-versus-host disease is not.

This procedure has only been used since the late 1990s and long-term patient outcomes are not yet clear. There are lower risks of some complications, but the cancer may be more likely to relapse (come back). Ways to improve outcomes are still being studied.

Studies have looked at using an allogeneic mini-transplant after an autologous transplant. This is another type of tandem transplant (see Tandem transplants under Autologous transplant) being tested in certain types of cancer, such as multiple myeloma. The autologous transplant can help decrease the amount of cancer present so that the lower doses of chemo given before the mini-transplant can work better. And the recipient still gets the benefit of the graft-versus-cancer effect of the allogeneic transplant.

This is a special kind of allogeneic transplant that can only be used when the recipient has an identical sibling (twin or triplet) who can donate someone who will have the same tissue type. An advantage of syngeneic stem cell transplant is that graft-versus-host disease will not be a problem. There are no cancer cells in the transplant, either, as there would be in an autologous transplant.

A disadvantage is that because the new immune system is so much like the recipients immune system, there is no graft-versus-cancer effect, either. Every effort must be made to destroy all the cancer cells before the transplant is done to help keep the cancer from relapsing (coming back).

Some centers are doing half-match (haploidentical) transplants for people who dont have closely matching family members. This technique is most often used in children, usually with a parent as the donor, though a child can also donate to a parent. Half of the HLA factors will match perfectly, and the other half typically dont match at all, so the procedure requires a special way to get rid of a certain white blood cells that can cause graft-versus-host disease. Its still rarely done, but its being studied in a few centers in the United States. Researchers are continuing to learn new ways to make haploidentical transplants more successful.

Continue reading here:
Types of stem cell transplants for treating cancer

by Leigh Matthews on November 18, 2013

A new encapsulation technique has been developed using seaweed and a hydrogel scaffold to increase the effectiveness of stem cell therapy in healing heart tissue after a heart attack.

Publishing the results in the Journal of the American Heart Association, Dr. W. Robert Taylor, professor of medicine at Emory and Georgia Tech and director of Emorys cardiology division, noted that while advances had been made in saving the lives of those suffering myocardial infarction (heart attack), those who did survive often suffered from heart failure due to the tissue damage caused by the attack. [click to continue]

by Leigh Matthews on November 11, 2013

Recovery after a traumatic brain injury is notoriously difficult and complicated, with many people experiencing permanent cognitive deficits as the brain is unable to fully heal. However, new research from the University of South Florida suggests that stem cells may be able to build a sort of bridge between the damaged region of the brain and a healthy area of brain where neural stem cells are still active. Could this biobridge be the key to helping the brain help itself? [click to continue]

by Leigh Matthews on November 4, 2013

A team of stem cell scientists at Boston Childrens Hospital have developed a new way of using induced pluripotent adult stem cells that offers benefits for disease modelling. The re-specification technique turns iPSCs into haematopoietic stem cells and progenitor cells, thereby making them more relevant for the study of diseases of the blood, in contrast to skin cells or other partially differentiated stem cells ordinarily used in such research. [click to continue]

by Leigh Matthews on October 28, 2013

It sounds like science fiction but it just became science fact: Stem cell scientists have used specialised magnets to pull stem cells from a rats brain, without apparent harm to the animal. The potential for this nanotechnology is enormous as it could be used to harvest brain stem cells from patients with Parkinsons disease, Huntingtons, multiple sclerosis, even autism in order to carry out research and devise new treatments, and all without drastically invasive surgery. [click to continue]

by Leigh Matthews on October 21, 2013

Stem cell treatment for spinal cord injury has been the focus of clinical trials in Switzerland for around a year but up until now the novel therapy remained unavailable in the US. However, late last month the US Food and Drug Administration approved a clinical trial request made by StemCells Inc. to investigate the spinal cord stem cell therapy, with plans to enroll twelve patients in the trial. [click to continue]

by Leigh Matthews on October 14, 2013

The US Food and Drug Administration has issued approval for a stem cell patent filed by Cellular Dynamics International. The patent covers a new method of stem cell creation that could change the way researchers carry out their work, as well as how stem cells may be used clinically to treat illnesses.

Finding ways to create a large volume of stem cells for transplantation or to facilitate multiple laboratory experiments has proven difficult for a variety of reasons but newer techniques allow scientists to control the cells differentiation and proliferation much more carefully than in previous years. [click to continue]

by Leigh Matthews on October 7, 2013

Ottawa Hospital is the site of Canadas new national public cord blood bank which launched this week and started receiving donations of umbilical cord blood. The new service will collect stem cells from cord blood that would otherwise have been discarded as medical waste. [click to continue]

by Leigh Matthews on September 30, 2013

Being a stem cell scientist may sound glamorous but the reality is that youre not going to be making headline news every day, if ever. Like any scientific profession, stem cell science involves hard work, day in and day out, for years, with the possibility that no major breakthroughs will ever happen. However, smaller successes that dont make national news but which earn you respect amongst your peers are something to strive for and there is the added bonus of this being a growing area of research that tends to attract substantial funding worldwide. [click to continue]

by Leigh Matthews on September 24, 2013

Scientists at the University of Buffalo have uncovered an interesting role played by stem cells in atherosclerosis development that could revolutionize cardiovascular medicine and the prevention of heart attacks and strokes.

Publishing their findings in PLoS One, Thomas R., Cimato and colleagues revealed that the animal research done previously by researchers at Columbia University also extends to human subjects. < ?php include 'includes/sctLeader.php';?>

In their paper they describe how so-called bad cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, stimulates stem cells to be released from bone marrow, with an associated increase in the development of atherosclerotic plaques. Researchers have previously noted an increased risk of heart disease in patients receiving donor stem cells so is this tied to the same mechanism? [click to continue]

by Leigh Matthews on September 16, 2013

Whenever a patient receives an organ transplant there is a risk that their body will reject the foreign tissue, which is why transplant patients are usually given immunosuppressant medications to calm down the immune systems response, at least initially. Patients may also have immune system ablation prior to a transplant in order to reduce the likelihood of the donor organ being rejected. [click to continue]

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Stem Cell Treatment Stem Cell Therapy

Located in beautiful Phoenix, Arizona, we are the originalStem Cell Rejuvenation Center.We havebeenperformingstem cell therapies for over 10years and all of ourprocedures are done on site atour clinic herein Phoenix. Itis our top priority to provide you a safe, clean,sterile and friendly environment.Our Treatment Center is located just 8 minutes from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and many hotels provide shuttle service to and from our clinic making it ideal for out-of-town visitors. We provide stem cell therapy for a variety of conditions byusing our revolutionarytechnology and treatments to isolate and reinfuse stem cells from a patient's own adipose stroma or fat (also called the Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF)). We combine the best of technology, nature, and medicine to help improve the quality of our patients' lives. Stem cell therapy is offered to those who are qualified candidates and whom desire treatment.

We are aStem Cell Therapy and Treatment Center, founded in the U.S.A., and performing all therapies within the United States. Neither our patients nor the stem cells that we harvest are transported outside the United States. We use less than minimally manipulated technology to provide Autologous Stem Cell and PRP therapies originally initiated during the 1990's.

To see if you are a candidate, please fill-out this form and provide as much detail as possible.

Our Integrative staff and Physicians use a variety of modalities including Anti-aging and Eclectic medicine. These approaches are usedto treat many injuries and conditions. Below are some links toa journal database maintained by theNIH thatrelate to current research on stem cells and particular conditions......

Degenerative and Debilitating Conditions:

Autoimmune Conditions:

Viral Conditions:

Musculoskeletal Injuries:

Cosmetic and Dermatological:

Please note that although we have supplied links to the research journals above on the use of stem cells for specific conditions, we are not saying that any of these studies would relate to your particular condition, nor that it would even be an effective treatment. Our Autologous Stem Cell Therapy is not an FDA approved treatment for any condition. We provide stem cell therapy (less than manipulated) as a service and as a practice of medicine only. We do not use collagenase in our clinic. Please see the bottom of the FAQ page for more information. Thesejournal articlesare for educational purposes only and are not intended to be used to sell or promote our therapy.

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Stem Cell Rejuvenation Center

At The Stem Cell Treatment Institute advanced stem cell procedures are performed in compliance with Global Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, thus guaranteeing the highest level of quality and safety for our patients.

Stem Cell and Cancer RetroVirus solutions are often more effective than most of the traditional medical procedures being practiced today and can now be obtained without international flights.

We offer Stem Cell and Cancer RetroVirus treatments with enhanced, manipulated, and activated stem cells. These expanded and activated stem cells have been found to provide better results than non-manipulated stem cell applications. Manipulation or amplification of the stem cells is done in a nearby lab, where care is taken to coordinate transportation and timing in order to retain the cells quality and viability. Then transfer factors are added to activate cells. These expanded and activated cells provide superior results and cell recovery has been found to occur twice as fast as with non-manipulated stem cell applications.

We currently have available treatments with stem cells utilizing a patient's own bone marrow, adipose (fat cells) or younger sources, like placenta stem cells.

Treatments are available in the following areas: Macular Degeneration, Breast Cancer, , Spinal Cord Injury, Arthritis, Parkinsons Disease, Autoimmune disease, Cerebral Palsy, Diabetes, Heart Failure, Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimers Disease, and Stroke, just to mention a few.

Cancer RetroVirus Vaccine Treatment

The RetroVirus Cancer Vaccine is more of a process used to teach your body to attack the cancer, at the tumor, anywhere else it is in the body now, and set up protection in case it tries to come back.

How do we do this? First we remove cancer cells and stem cells from the patient. We then use the cancer cells to program the stem cells and turn them into RetroVirus immune system cells specifically programed against your cancer. By returning these educated cells back to the body the body's immune system is educated by the process and responds by eliminating the targeted tumor and other locations the cancer may have spread to called metastases.

Several companies are currently preparing RetroVirus Investigational New Drug (IND) applications to submit to the FDA in order to begin US-based clinical trials of this process.

You don't have to wait!

Treatments are available now in the following areas: Prostate Cancer RetroVirus, Breast Cancer RetroVirus, Colon Cancer RetroVirus, just to mention a few.

Not sure what to do! Want a personal consultation with one of our doctors? To begin the consultation and review process now, just click here >>>, give us your contact information and we will get right back to you. It's easy and FREE!

At The Stem Cell Treatment Institute our doctors use advanced stem cell procedures to treat a wide range of conditions. Our Health Department Permit, a COFEPRIS, is on a Presidential level.

Stem Cells can come from the patient?s fat or bone marrow, but stem cell treatment from donor placenta or umbilical cord blood is also available. Donor characteristics (i.e., age, health) play a key role in treatment success. Your individual situation will be considered and suitable options will be discussed.

In some countries (US and Europe) requlations limit access to these advanced stem cell applications or stored cells are used limiting the effectiveness. Fortunately our doctors and lab are experienced in providing the highest level of quality stem cell treatment.

Depending on budget, condition, age and other factors the best solution can be determined. Sometimes cells are placed directly into an organ, other times a simple IV with cells harvested from your own bone marrow will do just fine. We can help you make this decision.

No international flights required! Patients fly to the San Diego International Airport, are taken to the clinics for extraction and treatments.

Understanding Stem Cell Treatment Let's face it, your body is at war against infection, disease, aging, and sometimes itself. Your immune system is the first line of defense. Anything that it can?t deal with will do some damage. Your Stem Cells are the crews that repair this damage. If your condition or disease has become chronic this means that your damage crews can not handle the job, they need help. We have found that additional stem cells can be added to your troops to help in the repair process. Stem cells can be stimulated with powerful "homing" mechanisms which enable them to hone in on areas of the body that are in need of repair. These cells can be taken from your body and manipulated, then can be put back in.

Our experienced International Medical and Scientific Board of Advisors will review all the medical data provided and prepare a recommendation regarding stem cell therapy options. Each patient is provided a personal phone consultation with one of our doctors and gets a personalized treatment plan based on the their medical history and current condition.

To contact our stem cell expert team, and begin the consultation and review process now, click here >>>

Breast Cancer Testimonials

Prostate Cancer Testimonial

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Our team and their associates have evaluated thousands of stem cell treatment candidates over the past 25 years. They have treated over 1,000 patients.

Located in the heart of the stem cell research capital of the world, San Diego, California, we work hand in hand with top research centers. Even though some stem cell research is being conducted in the U.S., most stem cell implementation must take place outside of the country. We are strategically located to take advantage of both. No international flights required!

It is believed that by the practical application of stem cells, the need for liver, kidney and heart transplants can be reduced dramatically. In addition, a cure for diabetes, nerve restoration and the extension of ones life expectancy by more than 50 years are on the horizon.

To begin the consultation and review process now, just click here >>>,

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Stem Cell Treatment - The Stem Cell Treatment Institute

Formerly Orthopedic Stem Cell Institute We put the power of your own body to work for you.

Our team of board certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic and spine surgeons work with patients from around the world using the newest and most advanced technology to treat orthopedic injuries and bone and joint pain, as well as relieving symptoms and improving the lives of patients with a multitude of illnesses.

The Premier Stem Cell Institute is a leading research and treatment facility in Colorado providing the most innovative and proven techniques and therapies using the bodys natural healing power of stem cells.

A stem cell is a basic cell constantly produced by your body to heal injuries, build new skin, even grow your hair. However, your body wont refix a chronic injury or illness by continuing to attack it with new stem cells unless those cells are extracted and reintroduced into your body via stem cell therapies.

We are a leading research and treatment facility providing the most innovative and proven techniques and therapies using the bodys natural healing power of stem cells. Our services are performed by fellowship-trained surgeons using the most state-of-the-art equipment and technology in the field.All stem cell treatments are not alike. AtPremier Stem Cell Institute, we extract your stem cells from your bone marrow because they are higher quality and result in better outcomes than stem cells from fat (adipose). We treat each patient with the utmost respect and our concierge service makes you feel incredibly well cared for from the first phone call to follow up visits.

They're very personable, they're very helpful..nice people. Bottom line is there's no pain where there was a lot of pain before.

Jon Hoffman, Former NFL Player

I used to dread doing simple things like putting on a coat, a seat belt or reaching for things. I can now do those things without nearly as much difficulty. I want to thank everyone at the clinic for performing the procedure on me. They are making peoples' lives much more enjoyable.

Bob Hyland, Former NFL Player

It's amazing! You're awake the whole time, it's virtually painless, and within an hour you're walking out.

Don Horn, Former NFL Player

of Patients are 70% Better Within 1 Year!

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Stem Cell Therapy - Premier Stem Cell Institute

What are experimental treatments using stem cells and possible future directions for stem cell therapy?

Stem cell therapy is an exciting and active field of biomedical research. Scientists and physicians are investigating the use of stem cells in therapies to treat a wide variety of diseases and injuries. For a stem cell therapy to be successful, a number of factors must be considered. The appropriate type of stem cell must be chosen, and the stem cells must be matched to the recipient so that they are not destroyed by the recipient's immune system. It is also critical to develop a system for effective delivery of the stem cells to the desired location in the body. Finally, devising methods to "switch on" and control the differentiation of stem cells and ensure that they develop into the desired tissue type is critical for the success of any stem cell therapy.

Researchers are currently examining the use of stem cells to regenerate damaged or diseased tissue in many conditions, including those listed below.

Medically reviewed by a Board Certified Family Practice Physician

REFERENCE:

Stem Cell Information, US National Institutes of Health resource for stem cell research

Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 6/3/2015

Stem Cells - Experience Question: Please describe your experience with stem cells.

Stem Cells - Umbilical Cord Question: Have you had your child's umbilical cord blood banked? Please share your experience.

Stem Cells - Available Therapies Question: Did you or someone you know have stem cell therapy? Please discuss your experience.

Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

Medical Editor:

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

Originally posted here:
Stem Cells Symptoms, Causes, Treatment - What are ...

Every day I receive emails from sick patients asking if we could help them with a stem cell therapy. These patients are most likely desperate for any help, as the current medicine or prognosis just isnt cutting it. And while I know that one day I will be able to answer them with a yes, right now unfortunately, we are just not there yet. But, others do not share this view and are in fact offering to cure peoples diseases with stem cell treatments, a phenomenon known as stem cell tourism as most cases occur outside this country. Below we discuss a little about this.

What are stem cell treatments?

As was mentioned, stem cell treatments have been developed as a way to intervene in the development of and potentially treat a whole host of illnesses and physical maladies. These include baldness, missing teeth, and blindness, as well as degenerative illnesses like Parkinsons disease, type 1 diabetes mellitus, heart failure, and even cancer.

The majority of the advertised stem cell treatments utilize adult stem cells, normally harvested from the patient, and these stem cells are introduced into the damaged part of the body. The stem cells then self-renew within the damaged part, promoting growth of new tissues and subsequently replacing the diseased tissues.

Since the stem cells have been harvested from the body of the patient, theoretically, the odds of rejection or fatal side effects are very minimal. Because this is the case, stem cell treatments essentially provide a less invasive, more viable, and more sustainable therapeutic or treatment approach than similar intervention methods like organ transplantation.

Most stem cell treatments are still in the research phase.

Stem cell treatment clinics have been mushrooming everywhere. They are manifold in medical tourism centers in India, China, Ukraine, and Mexico. Even in the United States, where the oversight of the Food and Drug Administration or FDA is strict, stem cell treatment centers operate.

But while this is the case, it is crucial to keep in mind that most stem cell treatments, with the exception of bone marrow transplantation, are still in the preliminary research stages. In fact, studies of these treatments remain so new that finding published results is next to impossible.

Countries like China that study stem cell treatments on a clinical level do not have adequate and up-to-medical-standard documentation processes either, further putting the public in the dark when it comes to stem cell treatments efficacy and dangers.

There are several potential risks of stem cell treatments.

Even aside from the preliminary research phases and lack of published results, stem cell treatments have many risks. And the worst part is studies on these risks, as on the treatments efficacy, are yet to be explored by the medical community.

For instance, in the case of cancer, there is the danger of further aggravating the progress of the disease. Bear in mind that these treatments involve the introduction of stem cells into the diseased part of the body. Sure, the stem cells will most likely be harvested from the same patient and thus not foreign to the recipients body. However, factors such as uncontrolled growth may still occur and therefore further worsen the disease instead of treat it.

Another danger is the unchecked use of the types of stem cells to be administered. In countries without supervision and regulation of these types of intervention strategies, the use of stem cells harvested from sheep and sharks has been reported for treating human patients; an obviously bad situation.

Think twice before choosing stem cell treatments.

While stem cell treatment clinics are popping up all over most of these are scammers who prey on the desperately ill. Another sector has been cropping up offering stem cell treatments for cosmetic purposes as well. With promises of efficient and unfailing treatments, may they be for cosmetics, mild physical maladies, or serious terminal cases, there is no doubt that these treatments can sometimes be tempting to take.

But bear in mind that stem cell treatmentsthe legitimate ones, that isare mostly in the preliminary research stages. Because of this, you wont really be sure whether the treatment you obtain will work or not. And remember, if sounds to good to be true, it probably is. If there was a miracle treatment out there that really does cure horrible diseases, dont you think every sick patient would be getting it done and being healed? For more information, please visit this website put together by the international society for stem cell research: http://www.closerlookatstemcells.org/

If you enjoyed this post, please consider subscribing below to our monthly newsletter through which we provide stem cell scientists information on the most current research topics and tools to help them constantly improve their stem cell culture experience.

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Note: StemCulture facilitates posting on this blog, but the views and accounts expressed herein are those of the author(s) or interviewee(s) and not the views or accounts ofStemCultureits officers or directors whose views and accounts may or may not be similar or identical. StemCulture, its officers and directors do not express any opinion regarding any product or service by virtue of reference to such product or service in this blog.

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Risks of Stem Cell Treatments - StemCulture

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in people over 50.

istockphoto

The first patient has received a pioneering human embryonic stem cell operation in the U.K. that doctors hope will be effective against a common cause of blindness.

According to a statement released today, the procedure was performed on a 60-year-old woman with a condition called age-related macular degeneration at London's Moorfields Eye Hospital last month. The procedure was deemed successful and there have been no complications to date, the statement said.

The doctors expect to know by December whether or not the woman has regained her sight. The study will recruit a total of 10 patients for the ongoing trial over an 18-month period.

Age-related macular degeneration is a common eye condition and the leading cause of vision loss among people 50 and older, according to the National Eye Institute. There are two forms of the condition: "wet" and "dry." The wet form is usually caused by abnormal blood vessels that leak fluid or blood into the region of the macula, in the center of the retina. Wet macular degeneration almost always begins as dry macular degeneration.

Dry macular degeneration is far more common and affects 90 percent of people with the condition. It occurs when there is a breakdown or thinning of the layer of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in the macula, which support the light-sensitive photoreceptor cells that are critical to vision.

The current trial, which is part of the London Project to Cure Blindness, will test the safety and efficacy of transplanting RPE cells derived from stem cells to treat people with sudden severe visual loss from wet age-related macular degeneration.

In the procedure, these cells are used to replace those at the back of the eye that are diseased with the condition, through a specially engineered patch inserted behind the retina. The operation lasts one to two hours.

"There is real potential that people with wet age-related macular degeneration will benefit in the future from transplantation of these cells," retinal surgeon Professor Lyndon Da Cruz from Moorfields Eye Hospital, who is performing the operations and co-leading the London Project, said in the statement.

Professor Pete Coffey of the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, who is also co-leading the London Project, said: "We are tremendously pleased to have reached this stage in the research for a new therapeutic approach. Although we recognize this clinical trial focuses on a small group of AMD patients who have experienced sudden severe visual loss, we hope that many patients may benefit in the future."

The London Project was founded 10 years ago with the aim of curing vision loss in patients with wet AMD, and is the result of a partnership between Moorfields Eye Hospital, the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). Pfizer Inc. joined the partnership in 2009.

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First patient receives stem cell treatment for blindness ...

Stem Cell MX is dedicated to providing COPD and heart disease patients with information about stem cell therapy at Angeles Health International, Mexicos largest private hospital network.

Stem Cell Therapy is a fast growing area of medical research. Research into how stem cells can cure a number of conditions has been extensive over the past 3 decades and here at Stem Cell MX we are proud to be at the forefront of breakthrough discoveries and treatments. We dedicate ourselves to providing you with information about Stem Cells and what they can do for you.

At Stem Cell MX we can use Stem Cell therapy to treat 11 core treatable conditions including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart conditions and joint conditions, such as osteoarthritis. We use two types of stem cell programs; autologous, meaning that we use your own stem cells, and allogeneic, where we use donated adult stem cells from one of the best labs in the world.

Stem cell research has had bad press over the years due to the misconception that Stem Cells can only come from embryos. This isnt true. Here at Stem Cell MX we only use Adult Stem Cells which have been harvested from either the donor or the patients themselves.

If you want to find out more about stem cell therapy with no obligation then contact us today. Our stem cell clinical trials are based on thirty years of research and clinical experience conducted by leading researchers and clinicians in Europe and the United States.

To find out the basics about stem cells read An Introduction to Stem Cells

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Stem Cell Therapy in Mexico

Posted: October 2, 2015 at 10:43 pm

Watch the amazing results that StemLogix can provide for you and your aging pet. Killian the dog was suffering from mobility issues that affected the lives of him and his owners. After being treated with dog stem cell therapy developed by StemLogix, Killian showed significant improvement in his agility and overall demeanor. Continue reading

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Dog Stem Cell Therapy: Killian Before and After - YouTube

Posted: October 2, 2015 at 10:42 pm

Formerly Orthopedic Stem Cell Institute We put the power of your own body to work for you. Our team of board certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic and spine surgeons work with patients from around the world using the newest and most advanced technology to treat orthopedic injuries and bone and joint pain, as well as relieving symptoms and improving the lives of patients with a multitude of illnesses. The Premier Stem Cell Institute is a leading research and treatment facility in Colorado providing the most innovative and proven techniques and therapies using the bodys natural healing power of stem cells Continue reading

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Stem Cell Therapy - Premier Stem Cell Institute

Posted: October 2, 2015 at 10:42 pm

Posted: September 29, 2015 at 1:43 am Palmetto Aesthetic Medicine is located at 1920 Bull Street, suite D between Richland and Calhoun streets. Continue reading

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Stem Cell Treatments StemCell Therapy

Posted: October 2, 2015 at 10:42 pm

Every day I receive emails from sick patients asking if we could help them with a stem cell therapy. Continue reading

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Risks of Stem Cell Treatments - StemCulture

Posted: October 1, 2015 at 3:42 pm

Starting from 2014, I was trying to capture results of clinical studies in cell therapy. Today, Id like to share some results of this attempt Continue reading

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Cell Trials

Posted: October 1, 2015 at 3:42 pm

Phase I clinical trials generally raise greater ethical and human protection challenges than later stage clinical trials, suggesting a need to proceed cautiously. This is particularly the case for Phase I trials with a novel therapy being tested in humans for the first time, usually termed first-in-human (FIH) trials. In January 2009, the Food and Drug Administration approved the Investigational New Drug application of Geron Corporation, a small California-based biopharmaceutical company, to initiate a clinical trial to assess GRNOPC1, a human embryonic stem cell-derived candidate therapy for severe spinal cord injuries. Continue reading

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Evaluating the first-in-human clinical trial of a human ...

Posted: September 29, 2015 at 1:43 am

Palmetto Aesthetic Medicine is located at 1920 Bull Street, suite D between Richland and Calhoun streets. We are dedicated to providing long term anti-aging solutions using the latest advances in injectable treatments, laser technologies and cosmeceutical products. We focus exclusively on providing you with anti-aging options available only in physician offices. Continue reading

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Palmetto Aesthetic Medicine

Posted: September 29, 2015 at 1:42 am

Unproven, Risky Treatments Mislead Patients to Seek Cutting-Edge Therapy Anyone still considering a therapy after checking all of the above can download the 26-item list of questions the ISSCR recommends asking. Ask a doctor or medical professional to help you understand the answers to these questions about the treatment, scientific evidence behind it, oversight of the clinic and practitioner, safety and emergency plans, patient rights, and costs Continue reading

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Stem Cell Treatments: False Hope Warning Signs - WebMD

Posted: September 29, 2015 at 1:41 am

LONDON The first patient has been treated in Britain in a pioneering trial of a new treatment co-developed by Pfizer and derived from embryonic stem cells designed for patients with a condition that can cause blindness. Specialists at Londons Moorfields Eye Hospital said the operation, described as successful, was the first of 10 planned for participants in a trial of the treatment for a disease called wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The trial will test the safety and efficacy of transplanting eye cells known as retinal pigment epithelium, which have been derived from embryonic stem cells. Continue reading

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UK scientists start stem cell trial of potential blindness ...

Posted: September 27, 2015 at 1:44 am

Colorado Clinic offers multiple regenerative medicine stem cell treatments. Continue reading

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Stem Cell & PRP Therapy Boulder, Greeley, Loveland, Stem ...

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Stem Cell Treatments