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The Stem Cell Institute of Texas | San Antonio, TX

Posted: July 6, 2018 at 5:51 pm

Welcome to the Stem Cell Institute of Texas

The Stem Cell Institute of Texas provides the latest stem cell therapies using adult stem cells to treat a wide variety of health concerns. Our two main focuses cosmetics and orthopaedic conditions use adult stem cells to transform your appearance and function by stimulating the bodys repair mechanisms.

Cells derived from the Umbilical Cord of Live Healthy Birth Babies contains stem cells, growth factors, and proteins that stimulate YOUR body to regenerate damaged joints and tissue Just like in your youth!

Do you suffer from pain in your back or your joints, such as hip or knee, which prevents you from living life to the fullest? Is walking, cycling, gardening, fishing, or exercising, no longer possible with out pain? If you are missing out on your Golden Years, you need to see a regenerative medicine physician for a consultation. They can determine if the newest innovations in stem cell therapies are right for you.

The treatment is a simple non-surgical injection into the affected joint with no down time or lengthy recovery. You may maintain your normal lifestyle and allow the cells to create a balanced optimal environment in your joints so your body can repair itself. You should feel maximal results within 10 to 12 weeks at which time you can increase your activity levels to match your comfort, but understand that the regenerative process can continue for long periods of time.

Umbilical cord cells contain growth factors, proteins, and stem cells that continue to produce additional growth factors and proteins for a period of time. These components have the potential to positively affect the environment inside the joint and to stimulate your own tissue to aid in the regenerative process while ALSO stimulating your NATIVE STEM CELLS to aid in regeneration.

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The Stem Cell Institute of Texas | San Antonio, TX

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Hcg Diet Plan: Get to Know the REAL Hcg Diet | HCG DIET …

Posted: July 6, 2018 at 5:51 pm

What is the Hcg Diet Plan? (And how to do it right.)

The Hcg Diet Plan is a doctor-supervised, medical weight loss program that combines hormone therapy with whole food eating. Menu options are heavy in vegetables and lean proteins, as well as fruit options and limited grains. Allowed calories on the protocol, range from 500 to 1600 calories, depending on the specific protocol followed.

The very specific food list can teach healthy eating, portion control and establish healthy relationships with food. While the protocol was initially outlined by Dr. Simeons, modern day variations have become increasingly popular. This guide, focuses on the original protocol, with modern adaptations noted by the editor.

How the diet started

Dr. Albert Simeons was a world-renowned endocrinologist recognized for his pioneering work in tropical diseases. He was awarded the Red Cross Order of Merit for his advancement in the research and treatment of Malaria and honored for a number of research-breakthroughs. While working with severely malnourished women in India, Dr. Simeons discovered a link between the Hcg hormone, and its ability to utilize stored fat to nourish and deliver healthy children. After years of research, he was able to develop a protocol that utilized this effect of Hcg, to treat obesity, and published the groundbreaking manuscript, Pounds and Inches.

Here are a few basics for those who are ready to jump right in and start with the plan immediately. With these simple articles, you can easily get started today. Take note however, that anyone new to the plan, should read through this guide thoroughly, and NEVER proceed with the protocol without consulting a physician (FDA approved telemedicine Hcg programs are listed below.)

The Original Hcg Diet Protocol Concise summary of the original protocol with tips and guidelines.

Original Hcg Diet Manuscript: Pounds and Inches The original manuscript by Dr. Simeons.

Hcg Diet Foods Lists What you can eat on the Hcg Diet (Phase 2 and Phase 3)

The Hcg Diet Phases

Hcg Diet Results

Success Stories with Before and After Pics

Buying Hcg Kits and Doctor-supervised Hcg Programs online

The Hcg Diet is a medical weight loss plan, and should ONLY be prescribed and overseen by a licensed medical doctor. While it can be challenging to find a local physician that specializes in Hcg hormone therapy, there are a few options available online, through FDA-approved telemedicine companies in the USA. These sources provide complete prescription Hcg kits for injections, drops and tablets/pills/pellets, and provide expert guidance throughout the duration of treatment.

Where to Buy Prescription Hcg Injections Online: Kits and Programs ( USA, FDA-approved sources)

Hcg Diet Drops Buying REAL Hcg drops vs. fake drops

Preparation

Preparing for the plan, is absolutely essential and should not be skipped. Much like building a house, you want a solid foundation and to be prepared for the steps and challenges that come along with the protocol. In fact, most challenges can be avoided completely by reading the following articles before getting started.

What is the Hcg Diet Plan?A thorough explanation of the Hcg Diet and how it works for weight loss.

Hcg Diet and Mindset

Hcg Diet Weight Loss Averages (Progress Averages)

Hcg Diet Stalls and Plateaus: Causes and Solutions

When to Stop the Hcg Diet Early and Regroup*

Setting Hcg Diet Goals

Hcg Diet Timeline and Calendar

Hcg Diet Journal and Tracker Spreadsheets

Resources

These tools can be beneficial for those starting out on the plan for the first time. They are all free to download. We will be adding more here, so please check back often.

Hcg Diet Resources (free downloads: tracksheet, manuscript PDF and Audiobook Mp3)

Help and Support: 3 Reliable Options

The Hcg protocol consists of 3 phases, with a newer 4th phase that has been added to the original protocol, being coined as P4, longterm maintenance. Each phase is extremely important and should not be skipped. The Loading Phase (P1) is 2 (in some cases, 3 days,) while Phase 2, the weight loss phase, can vary in length depending on your protocol's specifics. For example, one Hcg source's protocol can differ from another such as 26 days or 29 days. Phase 3, the Transition Phase, lasts 3 weeks and is an expansion of increased calories and foods that do not include any sugars or starches. The 4th phase refers to life after the diet's first 3 phases and includes a lifestyle of healthy choices learned while on the protocol. This includes exercise, portion control, clean eating and healthy living in general.

Hcg Diet Protocol Basics

Plans and Protocols(The original protocol vs. alternative and modern protocols.)

Hcg Diet Foods and Eating

Hcg Diet and Exercise

Hcg Diet and Medical Conditions*

The HCG Diet Protocol consists of separate phases. Together, they are referred to as a round. Dieter's typically lose 18 to 25 lbs per round (approximately 1 month.) If more weight is needed to be lost, there is a 3 week break after the final phase, and thenanother round is started. Rinse and repeat until goal weight is reached.

HCG Diet protocols include the following4 phases. Note on protocol variations: Some protocols actually include 3 and 4 as the same Maintenance phase and have only 3 phases total. Other protocols, including Dr. Simeons Original protocol, do not include phase 1, loading phase. This can be a personal preference, however we will say that the following phase example, has shown great results from our readers, and has certainly appeared to be the most successful.

1. Hcg Diet Phase 1 Loading

Phase 1 is the loading phase. Also known as the preparation phase. This phase is not on all HCG Diet protocols but it is on most and is very popular. During this two day phase, the dieter eats as much healthy fats as possible in preparation for starting the next phase. They are also welcome to eat as many cheat foods as they would like, with the intention of satisfying cravings prior to beginning the next phase where these foods will not be allowed. Read more

2. Hcg Diet Phase 2 Weight Loss

Phase 2 of the HCG Diet is the weight loss phase. This begins on day 3 of taking HCG where the dieter adheres toa specifiedcalorie intake and carefully selected food list. For most dieters, this is the most challenging phase of the plan because there is very little room for error. Read more:

3. Hcg Diet Phase 3 Transition

Phase 3 of the HCG Dietis at the end of HCG is discontinued and the same foods from phase 2 are still eaten, but increased slowly. In this stage, this is areintroduction period where calories and foods are slowly adjusted to maintain weight loss. Read more:

4. Hcg Diet Phase 4 Maintenance

Phase 4 of the HCG Diet is the phase of continuing weight maintenance for life-long health and fitness.This is an essential part of the HCG diet and it actually begins during Phase 2. This is where you will begin to build the skills necessary for lifetime weight maintenance and healthy living. For example; reading labels as a habit (this will become 2nd nature and shouldn'tstop once you reach your weight loss goals. Also, portion control and learning to listen to your body. Read more about these skills and implement them starting NOW:

The absolute best (&Free!) HCG Diet tips for reaching your weight loss goals safe and fast!

Hcg weight loss foods and recipes are the backbone of the Hcg weight loss program. Not only do the allowed foods help you to lose weight, but they also help get our body into a healthy state.

It is important to understand that while the Hcg hormone does NOT make you lose weight, it does changehowyour body loses weight, and creates a reaction in your body that allows for the rapid weight loss. It is the carefully selected Hcg Diet food list that is responsible for your weight loss; the Hcg just allows your body to continue to burn fat when it would normally go into starvation mode under the calorie restricted diet.

This is good news! This means the Hcg weight loss plan can be surprisingly versatile with the right recipes, and can work with any number of menus, foods sensitivities. The allowed foods are clear of processed and prepared foods and carefully measured for portion control. Instead of processed foods, the food list focuses on clean eating, and consists mostly of vegetables and healthy portions of lean protein, along with some, but limited, carbohydrates. To be clear, this is NOT a ketosis diet when done correctly, and in fact the amount of vegetables and fruit permitted, do not allow the body to go into ketosis. Compared to ketosis diets, this particular approach has been shown to average much higher weight loss rates that range from .5 to 1.5 pounds per day.

In a nutshell: The Hcg Diet allowed foods and guidelines focus on portion control, increased vegetables and proteins, and a food list that is comprised of clean, unprocessed foods.

The Original HCG Diet is known for its restrictive and unforgiving500 calorie VLCD (very low calorie diet.) Some versions of the diet have evolved to allowfor an HCG Diet expanded food list.

Learn what to eat on the HCG Diet and how to eat: Portion sizes, HCG Diet-friendly recipes for all phases, foods lists, plus HCG Diet cooking and shopping tips.

Learning to cook on the diet, can be a struggle for some patients, however, it is also an excellent opportunity to learn how to cook new foods that are clean, nutritious and healthy. Since the protocol does not allow foods that are processed or prepared (bye bye alcohol, fast food and frozen dinners) this can be an excellent path to learning how to prepare meals that will nourish your body, and make long term weight maintenance easy.

Take a look at our recipe section, and discover amazing Hcg Diet Recipes that include Southwestern chicken, strawberry cupcakes, garlic baked shrimp, mouth-watering grilled asparagus, and chai beverages. While it may be intimidating to look at the allowed foods list and feel limited, it won't take long before you realize just how versatile and delishous it can be.

We have also included a list of our best recipe and cooking articles that cover everything from how to cook on the protocol, spices to use to increase your metabolism, tips for dining out and tips for eating during special occasions.

Sample menus and menu tips for the HCG Diet.

How to Buy Hcg Injection Kits, Drops and Pellets

Hcg Diet Info has put together a complete guide to buying Hcg Kits and Programs online: How to Buy Hcg injections online (Drops and Pellets too.)

In the last few years, the FDA-approved telemedicine industry has grown and allowed doctors to prescribe and care for individuals wanting to follow the protocol. You can now safely buy Hcg kits online, that come with a complete program overseen by a medical doctor and Hcg weight loss experts and nutritionists. This has grown to be one of the most beneficial medical weight loss programs in the world now.

Tips for buying Hcg and Hcg weight loss programs: One of the first things to take into consideration when buying Hcg, is which form of Hcg you feel comfortable with, how soon you would like to start your diet, and the level of support you will need. The latter tends to be the biggest difference between various Hcg sources with some companies offering minimal support (better for veterans and pros that want to buy a bare bones Hcg kit to save money) and other companies offering extensive diet support, while yet another offering custom dosage and protocol support, and complete medical doctor hand-holding, along with a year of nutritionist services (even after the diet is completed.) These may seem like small differences but they can add up to be an extreme value for your money, as well as offer peace of mind.

The sources recommended in Hcg Diet Infooffer each of the acceptable choices that can be used with the original Hcg weight loss protocol: Hcg injections, Hcg Diet Drops (Prescription or Homeopathic), and Prescription Hcg Pellets. The Hcg Buy Guide also offers answers to dozens of frequently asked questions about buying Hcg Kits and Hcg weight loss programs online. Please note: Over the counter hormone free diet drops should NOT be used with the original protocol and can be dangerous if combined with the VLCD (very low calorie menu.) These over the counter drops have been addressed and dismissed largely by the FDA for good reason- they are NOT safe with the original protocol. Read: How to know if my Hcg Drops are Real, for more information.

Exercise is an important part of healthy living, even without wanting to lose weight. While the original protocol insistedexercise was not necessary, most of the evolvedprotocols include and encourage a consistent exercise routine simply because it is a healthy lifestyle option and the benefits are many.

For those currently active, in most cases, it is ok to continue as usual, although some may find it useful to lighten their workout for the first week of being on the protocol. For those who are new to working out, a low impact daily workout of at least 20 minutes a day is recommended to start. Recommended activities include: walking (brisk), swimming, yoga (no hot yoga practices yet), and pilates. Level of activity is extremely light the first week of phase 2 on the HCG Diet and increases as the individual feels ready. It is highly advised that the chosen workouts are something enjoyable, and not something you dread doing every day.

The HCG Diet can be complicated and so specific,you are almost certain to experiencechallenges along the way. While it might not seem welcome, It is a large part of the learning process for long term managementsuccess. There will be temptation to stray from your planned diet, and there may even be times when you stray by accident. Yes, it can happen: Aunt Sally forgot to tell you she adds sugar toher famous holiday vinaigrettedressing, or the restaurant neglected to tell you there's bread crumb mixed right into the hamburger patty which you so carefully ordered without a bun. Of course there's the good old oops, I assumed that hot sauce was just hot sauce and didn't realize it had 9 grams of sugar. There's your first lesson; always double-check ingredientsand don't eat it unless you're sure. A better lesson if you can't see all ingredients, don't eat it! The less processed foods you eat, the better. See, it's all part of the big picture and building the skillsto be fit and thin for life.

Original Hcg Diet Manuscript (available to download PDF and Audiobook)

Hcg Diet Food Lists

Hcg Diet Phase 2 Food List with Calorie Counts

Hcg Diet Coaching (FREE)

HCG Diet Myths & Misunderstandings

HCG Diet Tracker Spreadsheet

HCG Diet Acronyms and Abbreviations

Dr. Simeons manuscript, Pounds and Inches is the original book that outlines every detail of the Hcg weight loss protocol. Dr. Simeons has been very specific in his words, outlining all aspects of the diet. This includes the original 500 calorie menu, the effects of hCG on the body, hCG dosage, how to inject hCG, how to handle stalls and plateaus, and a solid overview transitioning from phase 2 to phase 3, which many dieters can find challenging.

Regardless of which version of the protocol the patient is following, it can still be helpful to read the manuscript. Not only does this allow the Hcg dieter to understand the intention of the diet, but it can also help establish a solid foundation of preparation, and help avoid challenges by answering many of the most frequently asked questions.

Our editor has taken the time to separate the original manuscript by chapter, making it easy to navigate and locate individual topics. We also offer an MP3 audio version (audiobook) of the Pounds and Inches manuscript, as well as a PDF version. These will be automatically sent to those who sign up for our newsletter but they can also be found here:

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Planet Biotechnology, Inc.

Posted: July 5, 2018 at 11:46 pm

Biodefense Since 2002 Planet Biotechnology has placed special emphasis on developing antibody therapeutics for emerging diseases, and biodefense countermeasures to known bio-warfare agents, including toxins, viruses and bacteria. With support from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), we have developed an immunoadhesin for treatment and prevention of anthrax (PBI-220) and have tested it successfully in anthrax-infected monkeys as a therapeutic with an 80% survival rate when treatment is started after disease symptoms appear. We have conducted a pre-IND meeting with FDA and are seeking funding for the clinical testing of PBI-220.

Emerging Diseases Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a recently emerged disease caused by the MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV) endemic to the Arabian Peninsula. It has already appeared in seven Middle Eastern countries and has traveled to European countries and South Korea as well. MERS-CoV causes a pneumonia-like disease that has a fatality rate approaching 40%. We have created and produced in green plants an immunoadhesin (DPP4-Fc) that has improved binding to MERS-CoV and have shown that it prevents the virus from infecting human lung cells in culture. In June 2015 we were awarded a Phase II SBIR grant from NIAID to support development of this candidate immunoadhesin. We will be testing DPP4-Fc in animal models of MERS-CoV based on our encouraging in vitro data.

Protein expression and purification services We have considerable experience expressing human and chimeric IgA and IgG antibodies, immunoadhesins, nanobodies, and other proteins. Planet Biotechnology is a DARPA contractor (contract no. HR001113D-0004) for production of recombinant proteins in Nicotiana benthamiana.

Our proprietary codon optimization method enables unprecedentedly high expression levels of recombinant proteins in both transiently and stably transformed tobacco plants. We have achieved expression of IgG1 at levels up to 3 grams/kg of plant biomass after vacuum-assisted agroinfiltration. These high levels of expression, along with our proprietary purification methods, result in high product yield and purity. We have research quantities of the following proteins available:

To find out more about our proteins and services, please email us atinfo@planetbiotechnology.com

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Planet Biotechnology, Inc.

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Cloning/Embryonic Stem Cells – National Human Genome …

Posted: July 5, 2018 at 11:43 pm

Cloning/Embryonic Stem Cells

The term cloning is used by scientists to describe many different processes that involve making duplicates of biological material. In most cases, isolated genes or cells are duplicated for scientific study, and no new animal results. The experiment that led to the cloning of Dolly the sheep in 1997 was different: It used a cloning technique called somatic cell nuclear transfer and resulted in an animal that was a genetic twin -- although delayed in time -- of an adult sheep. This technique can also be used to produce an embryo from which cells called embryonic stem (ES) cells could be extracted to use in research into potential therapies for a wide variety of diseases.

Thus, in the past five years, much of the scientific and ethical debate about somatic cell nuclear transfer has focused on its two potential applications: 1) for reproductive purposes, i.e., to produce a child, or 2) for producing a source of ES cells for research.

The technique of transferring a nucleus from a somatic cell into an egg that produced Dolly was an extension of experiments that had been ongoing for over 40 years. In the simplest terms, the technique used to produce Dolly the sheep - somatic cell nuclear transplantation cloning - involves removing the nucleus of an egg and replacing it with the diploid nucleus of a somatic cell. Unlike sexual reproduction, during which a new organism is formed when the genetic material of the egg and sperm fuse, in nuclear transplantation cloning there is a single genetic "parent." This technique also differs from previous cloning techniques because it does not involve an existing embryo. Dolly is different because she is not genetically unique; when born she was genetically identical to an existing six-year-old ewe. Although the birth of Dolly was lauded as a success, in fact, the procedure has not been perfected and it is not yet clear whether Dolly will remain healthy or whether she is already experiencing subtle problems that might lead to serious diseases. Thus, the prospect of applying this technique in humans is troubling for scientific and safety reasons in addition to a variety of ethical reasons related to our ideas about the natural ordering of family and successive generations.

Several important concerns remain about the science and safety of nuclear transfer cloning using adult cells as the source of nuclei. To date, five mammalian species -- sheep, cattle, pigs, goats, and mice -- have been used extensively in reproductive cloning studies. Data from these experiments illustrate the problems involved. Typically, very few cloning attempts are successful. Many cloned animals die in utero, even at late stages or soon after birth, and those that survive frequently exhibit severe birth defects. In addition, female animals carrying cloned fetuses may face serious risks, including death from cloning-related complications.

An additional concern focuses on whether cellular aging will affect the ability of somatic cell nuclei to program normal development. As somatic cells divide they progressively age, and there is normally a defined number of cell divisions that can occur before senescence. Thus, the health effects for the resulting liveborn, having been created with an "aged" nucleus, are unknown. Recently it was reported that Dolly has arthritis, although it is not yet clear whether the five-and-a-half-year-old sheep is suffering from the condition as a result of the cloning process. And, scientists in Tokyo have shown that cloned mice die significantly earlier than those that are naturally conceived, raising an additional concern that the mutations that accumulate in somatic cells might affect nuclear transfer efficiency and lead to cancer and other diseases in offspring. Researchers working with clones of a Holstein cow say genetic programming errors may explain why so many cloned animals die, either as fetuses or newborns.

The announcement of Dolly sparked widespread speculation about a human child being created using somatic cell nuclear transfer. Much of the perceived fear that greeted this announcement centered on the misperception that a child or many children could be produced who would be identical to an already existing person. This fear is based on the idea of "genetic determinism" -- that genes alone determine all aspects of an individual -- and reflects the belief that a person's genes bear a simple relationship to the physical and psychological traits that compose that individual. Although genes play an essential role in the formation of physical and behavioral characteristics, each individual is, in fact, the result of a complex interaction between his or her genes and the environment within which he or she develops. Nonetheless, many of the concerns about cloning have focused on issues related to "playing God," interfering with the natural order of life, and somehow robbing a future individual of the right to a unique identity.

Several groups have concluded that reproductive cloning of human beings creates ethical and scientific risks that society should not tolerate. In 1997, the National Bioethics Advisory Commission recommended that it was morally unacceptable to attempt to create a child using somatic cell nuclear transfer cloning and suggested that a moratorium be imposed until safety of this technique could be assessed. The commission also cautioned against preempting the use of cloning technology for purposes unrelated to producing a liveborn child.

Similarly, in 2001 the National Academy of Sciences issued a report stating that the United States should ban human reproductive cloning aimed at creating a child because experience with reproductive cloning in animals suggests that the process would be dangerous for the woman, the fetus, and the newborn, and would likely fail. The report recommended that the proposed ban on human cloning should be reviewed within five years, but that it should be reconsidered "only if a new scientific review indicates that the procedures are likely to be safe and effective, and if a broad national dialogue on societal, religious and ethical issues suggests that reconsideration is warranted." The panel concluded that the scientific and medical considerations that justify a ban on human reproductive cloning at this time do not apply to nuclear transplantation to produce stem cells. Several other scientific and medical groups also have stated their opposition to the use of cloning for the purpose of producing a child.

The cloning debate was reopened with a new twist late in 1998, when two scientific reports were published regarding the successful isolation of human stem cells. Stem cells are unique and essential cells found in animals that are capable of continually reproducing themselves and renewing tissue throughout an individual organism's life. ES cells are the most versatile of all stem cells because they are less differentiated, or committed, to a particular function than adult stem cells. These cells have offered hope of new cures to debilitating and even fatal illness. Recent studies in mice and other animals have shown that ES cells can reduce symptoms of Parkinson's disease in mouse models, and work in other animal models and disease areas seems promising.

In the 1998 reports, ES cells were derived from in vitro embryos six to seven days old destined to be discarded by couples undergoing infertility treatments, and embryonic germ (EG) cells were obtained from cadaveric fetal tissue following elective abortion. A third report, appearing in the New York Times, claimed that a Massachusetts biotechnology company had fused a human cell with an enucleated cow egg, creating a hybrid clone that failed to progress beyond an early stage of development. This announcement served as a reminder that ES cells also could be derived from embryos created through somatic cell nuclear transfer, or cloning. In fact, several scientists believed that deriving ES cells in this manner is the most promising approach to developing treatments because the condition of in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryos stored over time is questionable and this type of cloning could overcome graft-host responses if resulting therapies were developed from the recipient's own DNA.

For those who believe that the embryo has the moral status of a person from the moment of conception, research or any other activity that would destroy it is wrong. For those who believe the human embryo deserves some measure of respect, but disagree that the respect due should equal that given to a fully formed human, it could be considered immoral not to use embryos that would otherwise be destroyed to develop potential cures for disease affecting millions of people. An additional concern related to public policy is whether federal funds should be used for research that some Americans find unethical.

Since 1996, Congress has prohibited researchers from using federal funds for human embryo research. In 1999, DHHS announced that it intended to fund research on human ES cells derived from embryos remaining after infertility treatments. This decision was based on an interpretation "that human embryonic stem cells are not a human embryo within the statutory definition" because "the cells do not have the capacity to develop into a human being even if transferred to the uterus, thus their destruction in the course of research would not constitute the destruction of an embryo." DHHS did not intend to fund research using stem cells derived from embryos created through cloning, although such efforts would be legal in the private sector.

In July 2001, the House of Representatives voted 265 to 162 to make any human cloning a criminal offense, including cloning to create an embryo for derivation of stem cells rather than to produce a child. In August 2002, President Bush, contending with a DHHS decision made during the Clinton administration, stated in a prime-time television address that federal support would be provided for research using a limited number of stem cell colonies already in existence (derived from leftover IVF embryos). Current bills before Congress would ban all forms of cloning outright, prohibit cloning for reproductive purposes, and impose a moratorium on cloning to derive stem cells for research, or prohibit cloning for reproductive purposes while allowing cloning for therapeutic purposes to go forward. As of late June, the Senate has taken no action. President Bush's Bioethics Council is expected to recommend the prohibition of reproductive cloning and a moratorium on therapeutic cloning later this summer.

Prepared by Kathi E. Hanna, M.S., Ph.D., Science and Health Policy Consultant

Last Reviewed: April 2006

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Stem Cell Therapy in Mexico – Official Treatment Center

Posted: July 4, 2018 at 2:43 pm

Adipose Derived Stem Cells:

Adipose derived stem cells are obtained from a sample of human abdominal fat tissue. The cells themselves are not fat. They are encased in and surrounded by fat tissue.Once the fat sample has been obtained, a special enzyme is used to melt-away the fat, and leave only something called SVF (short for Stromal Vascular Fraction), which contains stem cells, accessory cells and growth factors.

This SVF is washed and purified in the lab, and is then isolated for infusion or injection.

This method provides a much larger number of stem cells than bone marrow or peripheral blood, making it more efficient and highly effective in a variety of conditions, especially those that require creation of new blood vessels, and repairing tissues damaged due to lack of oxygenation.

Whartons Jelly Derived Stem cells:

Unlike Fat, Bone marrow or other tissues that can be harvested for stem cell isolation, Whartons Jelly does not contain SVF. It is a gelatinous substance found in the umbilical chord, which separates maternal and fetal tissues, acting as a kind of buffer so that these tissues dont come into direct contact with each other. This particular characteristic is the reason they became known as universal donor cells, since they are able to interact with any tissue, in any host, without causing any form of immune response.

Unlike cells obtained with SVF, stem cells in Whartons jelly are not found grouped with other cells types or blood products. They can be obtained in much larger numbers, and are already completely isolated, which means that you get stem cells exclusively.

The fact that they are obtained from umbilical chords, donated by pre-screened donors after their pregnancy has come to full-term, means that they are much easier to harvest, in much larger numbers, and without the need for a specific, invasive and painful procedure. It also means that because of the incredibly large number of cells that can be obtained, they can be cryo-preserved and stored at pre-determined dose sizes in individual containers for specific uses.

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Stem Cell Therapy in Mexico - Official Treatment Center

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Gene Therapy Retrovirus Vectors Explained

Posted: July 4, 2018 at 2:41 pm

A retrovirus is any virus belonging to the viral family Retroviridae. All The genetic material in retroviruses is in the form of RNA molecules, while the genetic material of their hosts is in the form of DNA. When a retrovirus infects a host cell, it will introduce its RNA together with some enzymes into the cell. This RNA molecule from the retrovirus must produce a DNA copy from its RNA molecule before it can be considered part of the genetic material of the host cell. Retrovirus genomes commonly contain these three open reading frames that encode for proteins that can be found in the mature virus. Group-specific antigen (gag) codes for core and structural proteins of the virus, polymerase (pol) codes for reverse transcriptase, protease and integrase, and envelope (env) codes for the retroviral coat proteins (see figure 1). Figure 1. Genome organisation of retroviruses.

The process of producing a DNA copy from an RNA molecule is termed reverse transcription. It is carried out by one of the enzymes carried in the virus, called reverse transcriptase. After this DNA copy is produced and is free in the nucleus of the host cell, it must be incorporated into the genome of the host cell. That is, it must be inserted into the large DNA molecules in the cell (the chromosomes). This process is done by another enzyme carried in the virus called integrase (see figure 2).

Now that the genetic material of the virus is incorporated and has become part of the genetic material of the host cell, we can say that the host cell is now modified to contain a new gene. If this host cell divides later, its descendants will all contain the new genes. Sometimes the genes of the retrovirus do not express their information immediately.

Retroviral vectors are created by removal op the retroviral gag, pol, and env genes. These are replaced by the therapeutic gene. In order to produce vector particles a packaging cell is essential. Packaging cell lines provide all the viral proteins required for capsid production and the virion maturation of the vector. These packaging cell lines have been made so that they contain the gag, pol and env genes. Early packaging cell lines contained replication competent retroviral genomes and a single recombination event between this genome and the retroviral DNA vector could result in the production of a wild type virus. Following insertion of the desired gene into in the retroviral DNA vector, and maintainance of the proper packaging cell line, it is now a simple matter to prepare retroviral vectors (see figure 3).

One of the problems of gene therapy using retroviruses is that the integrase enzyme can insert the genetic material of the virus in any arbitrary position in the genome of the host. If genetic material happens to be inserted in the middle of one of the original genes of the host cell, this gene will be disrupted (insertional mutagenesis). If the gene happens to be one regulating cell division, uncontrolled cell division (i.e., cancer) can occur. This problem has recently begun to be addressed by utilizing zinc finger nucleases or by including certain sequences such as the beta-globin locus control region to direct the site of integration to specific chromosomal sites.

Gene therapy trials to treat severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) were halted or restricted in the USA when leukemia was reported in three of eleven patients treated in the French X-linked SCID (X-SCID) gene therapy trial. Ten X-SCID patients treated in England have not presented leukemia to date and have had similar success in immune reconstitution. Gene therapy trials to treat SCID due to deficiency of the Adenosine Deaminase (ADA) enzyme continue with relative success in the USA, Italy and Japan.

As a reaction to the adverse events in the French X-SCID gene therapy trial, the Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RAC) sent a letter to Principal Investigators Conveying RAC Recommendations in 2003. In addition, the RAC published conclusions and recommendations of the RAC Gene Transfer Safety Symposium in 2005. A joint working party of the Gene Therapy Advisory Committee and the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) in the UK lead to the publication of an updated recommendations of the GTAC/CSM working party on retroviruses in 2005.

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Gene Therapy Retrovirus Vectors Explained

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Nervous System Stem Cells Can Replace Themselves, Give …

Posted: July 3, 2018 at 8:44 am

A green fluorescent protein-labeled neural stem cell clone contains the mother stem cell with neuronal and astroglial progeny within the mouse brain.

Image by Michael A. Bonaguidi, Johns Hopkins Medicine.

A Johns Hopkins team has discovered in young adult mice that a lone brain stem cell is capable not only of replacing itself and giving rise to specialized neurons and glia important types of brain cells but also of taking a wholly unexpected path: generating two new brain stem cells.

A report on their study appears June 24 in Cell.

Although it was known that the brain has the capacity to generate both neurons, which send and receive signals, and the glial cells that surround them, it was unclear whether these various cell types came from a single source. In addition to demonstrating that a single radial glia-like (RGL) brain cell is able to generate two very different functional cell types, the Hopkins researchers, by following the fates of single cells over time, found that a single brain stem cell can even produce two stem cells like itself.

Now we know they dont just maintain their numbers, or go down in number, but that stem cells can amplify, says Hongjun Song, Ph.D., professor of neurology and neuroscience and director of the Stem Cell Program in the Institute for Cell Engineering, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. If we can somehow cash in on this newly discovered property of stem cells in the brain, and find ways to intervene so they divide more, then we might actually increase their numbers instead of losing them over time, which is what normally happens, perhaps due to aging or diseases.

The researchers findings hinged on a decision to single out and follow lone, radial glia-like cells, instead of labeling and monitoring entire stem cell populations in the mouse brain. They took this approach because they suspected radial glia-like cells were essentially stem cells, having been shown in previous studies to give rise to neurons.

Using mice genetically modified with special genes that color-code cells for easy labeling and tracking, the Hopkins team injected a very small amount of a chemical into about 50 mouse brains to induce extremely limited cell labeling.

Its a simple idea that forced us to confront a lot of complex technical issues, Song says. With so many millions of cells in the relatively large mouse brain, labeling a single stem cell and then chasing its family history was like finding a needle in a haystack.

The scientists developed computer programs and devised a new imaging technique that allowed them to examine stained slices of the mouse brain and, ultimately, follow single, randomly chosen radial glia-like stem cells over time. The method allowed them to track down all the new cells derived from a single original stem cell.

We reconstituted single stem cells family trees to look at the progeny they gave rise to, says Guo-li Ming, associate professor of neurology and neuroscience and a member of the Neuroregeneration Program in the Institute for Cell Engineering. We discovered that single cells in an intact animal nervous system absolutely do exhibit stem-cell properties; they are capable of both replicating themselves and producing different types of differentiated neural progeny.

The team followed the fates of all the marked radial glia-like stem cells for at least a month or two, and examined some a full year later to discover that even over the long term, the mother cell was still generating itself as well as different kinds of progeny.

In addition, the researchers investigated how these RGLs were activated on a molecular level, focusing, in particular, on the regulatory role of an autism-associated gene called PTEN. Conventional wisdom was that deleting this gene led to an increase in stem-cell activation. However, the scientists demonstrated that was a transient effect in the mouse brains, and that, ultimately, PTEN deletion leads to stem-cell depletion.

Support for this research came from the National Institutes of Health, the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, and the Maryland Stem Cell Research Foundation.

Authors of the paper, in addition to Hongjun Song and Guo-li Ming, are Michael A. Bonaguidi, Michael A. Wheeler, Jason S. Shapiro and Gerald. J. Sun, all of Johns Hopkins.

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biotechnology | Definition, Examples, & Applications …

Posted: July 3, 2018 at 8:43 am

Biotechnology, the use of biology to solve problems and make useful products. The most prominent area of biotechnology is the production of therapeutic proteins and other drugs through genetic engineering.

People have been harnessing biological processes to improve their quality of life for some 10,000 years, beginning with the first agricultural communities. Approximately 6,000 years ago, humans began to tap the biological processes of microorganisms in order to make bread, alcoholic beverages, and cheese and to preserve dairy products. But such processes are not what is meant today by biotechnology, a term first widely applied to the molecular and cellular technologies that began to emerge in the 1960s and 70s. A fledgling biotech industry began to coalesce in the mid- to late 1970s, led by Genentech, a pharmaceutical company established in 1976 by Robert A. Swanson and Herbert W. Boyer to commercialize the recombinant DNA technology pioneered by Boyer and Stanley N. Cohen. Early companies such as Genentech, Amgen, Biogen, Cetus, and Genex began by manufacturing genetically engineered substances primarily for medical and environmental uses.

For more than a decade, the biotechnology industry was dominated by recombinant DNA technology, or genetic engineering. This technique consists of splicing the gene for a useful protein (often a human protein) into production cellssuch as yeast, bacteria, or mammalian cells in culturewhich then begin to produce the protein in volume. In the process of splicing a gene into a production cell, a new organism is created. At first, biotechnology investors and researchers were uncertain about whether the courts would permit them to acquire patents on organisms; after all, patents were not allowed on new organisms that happened to be discovered and identified in nature. But, in 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court, in the case of Diamond v. Chakrabarty, resolved the matter by ruling that a live human-made microorganism is patentable subject matter. This decision spawned a wave of new biotechnology firms and the infant industrys first investment boom. In 1982 recombinant insulin became the first product made through genetic engineering to secure approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Since then, dozens of genetically engineered protein medications have been commercialized around the world, including recombinant versions of growth hormone, clotting factors, proteins for stimulating the production of red and white blood cells, interferons, and clot-dissolving agents.

In the early years, the main achievement of biotechnology was the ability to produce naturally occurring therapeutic molecules in larger quantities than could be derived from conventional sources such as plasma, animal organs, and human cadavers. Recombinant proteins are also less likely to be contaminated with pathogens or to provoke allergic reactions. Today, biotechnology researchers seek to discover the root molecular causes of disease and to intervene precisely at that level. Sometimes this means producing therapeutic proteins that augment the bodys own supplies or that make up for genetic deficiencies, as in the first generation of biotech medications. (Gene therapyinsertion of genes encoding a needed protein into a patients body or cellsis a related approach.) But the biotechnology industry has also expanded its research into the development of traditional pharmaceuticals and monoclonal antibodies that stop the progress of a disease. Such steps are uncovered through painstaking study of genes (genomics), the proteins that they encode (proteomics), and the larger biological pathways in which they act.

In addition to the tools mentioned above, biotechnology also involves merging biological information with computer technology (bioinformatics), exploring the use of microscopic equipment that can enter the human body (nanotechnology), and possibly applying techniques of stem cell research and cloning to replace dead or defective cells and tissues (regenerative medicine). Companies and academic laboratories integrate these disparate technologies in an effort to analyze downward into molecules and also to synthesize upward from molecular biology toward chemical pathways, tissues, and organs.

In addition to being used in health care, biotechnology has proved helpful in refining industrial processes through the discovery and production of biological enzymes that spark chemical reactions (catalysts); for environmental cleanup, with enzymes that digest contaminants into harmless chemicals and then die after consuming the available food supply; and in agricultural production through genetic engineering.

Agricultural applications of biotechnology have proved the most controversial. Some activists and consumer groups have called for bans on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or for labeling laws to inform consumers of the growing presence of GMOs in the food supply. In the United States, the introduction of GMOs into agriculture began in 1993, when the FDA approved bovine somatotropin (BST), a growth hormone that boosts milk production in dairy cows. The next year, the FDA approved the first genetically modified whole food, a tomato engineered for a longer shelf life. Since then, regulatory approval in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere has been won by dozens of agricultural GMOs, including crops that produce their own pesticides and crops that survive the application of specific herbicides used to kill weeds. Studies by the United Nations, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the European Union, the American Medical Association, U.S. regulatory agencies, and other organizations have found GMO foods to be safe, but skeptics contend that it is still too early to judge the long-term health and ecological effects of such crops. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the land area planted in genetically modified crops increased dramatically, from 1.7 million hectares (4.2 million acres) in 1996 to 160 million hectares (395 million acres) by 2011.

Overall, the revenues of U.S. and European biotechnology industries roughly doubled over the five-year period from 1996 through 2000. Rapid growth continued into the 21st century, fueled by the introduction of new products, particularly in health care.

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Stem Cell Treatment Center | IN

Posted: July 3, 2018 at 8:43 am

At the Indiana Stem Cell Treatment Center, we provide stem cell therapy care for people suffering from diseases that may be alleviated by access to adult stem cell based regenerative treatment. The Center utilizes a fat transfer surgical technology to isolate and implant the patients own stem cells from a small quantity of fat harvested by liposuction on the same day. Stem cell therapy patients are evaluated by a respective member of our multi-specialty expert panel of Board Certified physicians representing many medical fields. The Indiana Stem Cell Treatment Center emphasizes quality and is highly committed to clinical research and the advancement of regenerative medicine. When it comes to stem cell therapy centers we always put the patients needs first

Founded in 2010 for the investigational use of stem cells deployments for degenerative conditions, the source of the cells is actually stromal vascular fraction, which is a protein rich segment of processed adipose tissue. Stromal vascular fraction contains a mononuclear cell line (predominantly autologous mesenchymal stem cells), macrophage cells, endothelial cells, red blood cells, and important growth factors that turn on the stem cells and promote their activity. We have high numbers of viable cells and we are trying to learn which diseases respond best and which deployment methods are most effective. We are growing and continue to use our surgical methods to deploy SVF for various degenerative conditions. We employ a clinical research coordinator to protect our valuable data and our vision is to perfect our treatments and ultimately teach them to other physicians around the world.

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Stem Cell Treatment Center | IN

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Stem Cell Treatment Program – Indiana Polyclinic

Posted: July 3, 2018 at 8:43 am

Indiana Polyclinic is now offering cutting edge Stem Cell Treatments to patients right here in central Indiana. For those who do not know, stem cells have been used to treat patients around the world for over twenty years. However, for much of this time, stem cells have been controversial, primarily because of the use of embryonic stem cells in early trials. Science and medicine have long since moved away from this practice. Stem cells (and matrix) are FDA approved for use in humans, but the specific treatments have not been FDA approved. As such, these treatments are not covered by any insurance plans and are expensive. Patients should discuss these treatments with their doctors and have traditional treatments before proceeding.

For more information about the Indiana Polyclinic Stem Cell Treatment Program, please fill out our contact form, call us at (317) 428-4200, or send an email with your name and contact information to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Stem Cell Treatment Program - Indiana Polyclinic

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