Category Archives: Kansas Stem Cells

stem cell treatments

Is hip pain from arthritis slowing you down?

Hips are the second most commonly replaced joint after knees. The hip is a large ball and socket joint that is comprised of the head of the femur and part of the pelvis called the acetabulum. Both of these bones are covered in cartilage which can wear down over time from activity and genetics (osteoarthritis), autoimmune illnesses (i.e. rheumatoid arthritis), childhood hip disease (congenital hip dysplasia), or trauma (fractures and/or avascular necrosis/AVN).

Regardless of the cause of hip arthritis, symptoms tend to be similar and consist of pain with activities such as walking, standing up from a seated position, or putting on your socks and shoes. This is often associated with stiffness and can interfere with sleep. Routine conservative treatment options have included rest, activity modification, weight loss, anti-inflammatory medications, and steroid injections. Oftentimes, patients are referred for a hip replacement when these therapies no longer provide pain relief.

Do I need surgery?

Hip replacement is an invasive surgery and carries significant risks such as bleeding, infection, blood clots, and anesthesia complications to name a few. There is a substantial and painful recovery period that requires time off of work for most individuals.

The surgery involves removing the damaged bone and cartilage and replacing these with a prosthesis consisting of metal and a plastic spacer. This spacer acts as a smooth gliding surface. Unfortunately, this can be susceptible to wearing down and loosening over time, particularly with being overweight or partaking in high-impact activities such as running, jogging, or jumping. This can sometimes require a revision or second knee replacement.

At Motus, we offer choices nonoperative hip stem cell treatments in Kansas City.

At Motus, we offer nonoperative hip arthritis stem cell treatments in Kansas City to ideal candidates as an alternative to treat pain and prevent further wearing down of the joint. This can eliminate, or even prolong, the need for hip replacement in many individuals.

We do this by using products from your body known as stem cells and platelet rich plasma to promote the joints ability to naturally heal itself. Stem cells are structures that can change (differentiate) into any type of cell in the body. These cells exist throughout the body but cannot get to the area of injury or degeneration with orthopedic conditions because of poor blood flow. At Motus, we harvest stem cells from the patient and concentrate them using a centrifuge (similar to PRP). We then use an ultrasound to guide the stem cells to the exact area in need of treatment. This is often used in combination with PRP. This is a quick in-office procedure that is cost efficient with minimal down time when compared to traditional surgical approaches.

Am I a candidate for Nonoperative Hip Stem Cell Treatments in Kansas City?

Your initial consultation with Motus will consist of a regular doctors visit. We will ask you about your symptoms and previous treatments, perform a physical examination, and review any x-rays or MRI studies that you have had. We will also perform an ultrasound examination to evaluate the surrounding muscles, tendons, and nerves to see if there are additional conditions other than arthritis (i.e. bursitis) contributing to your pain that may need to be treated in addition to the joint at the time of the procedure. The entire visit is billed to your insurance. Should you be deemed a candidate for nonoperative hip arthritis stem cell treatments in Kansas City, your next visit will be your procedure.

Motus evaluates your hip condition and provides you with a personalized plan of care. Whether this is physical therapy, cortisone injection, biologics, or even surgery. Should you not be a candidate for biologics and require surgery, Motus is happy to refer you to one of the many terrific local orthopedic surgeons, or to the surgeon of your choice. Motus is here to ensure you are aware of the options available to you.

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Hip Stem Cell Treatment | Motus Biologics in Kansas City

In regenerative medicine today, adult stem cells hold the most promise for cell-based therapies. There are two main types of stem cells, adult and embryonic, which require unique means of collection and deployment.

Early research in the field was often associated with the controversial use of embryonic stem cells. Today, the cutting-edge of the science focuses on Mesenchymal stem cells found in an adults blood, bone marrow and fatty deposits. At KRMC we never use embryonic stem cells.

Adipose Stem Cells

Cell therapy around the world is shifting its focus from bone marrow based cells to adipose (fat) derived cells. These cells are easy to obtain and are generally robust. Adipose fat is an abundant and reliable source of stem cells. The best quality adipose cells are derived from the enzymatic digestion of liposuctioned fat which can be performed in a nearly painless, outpatient procedure.

The quality of stem cells deployed appear to be related directly to the clinical success and favorable outcomes of a procedure. Once adipose derived stem cells are deployed into an affected area of a patient body, the cells have the potential to:

Bone Marrow Derived Stem Cells

While Mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow offer the same benefits as Adipose derived stem cells, there are two reasons KRMC does not currently collect stem cells from bone marrow.

A Comparison: Bone Marrow and Adipose

Adult Stem cells are obtained by different methods, each offering a different experience. The two most common methods are the older, bone marrow derived method and the increasingly popular Fat (Adipose) derived method.

Whether adult mesenchymal stem cells come from bone marrow or from fat does not appear to make a difference in clinical results. Some centers claim that bone marrow derived cells are superior to fat derived cells but there is no clinical evidence to substantiate this claim. While there are more studies on bone marrow cells, there is no evidence as to their clinical superiority.

It is important to understand that the word bone in bone marrow is sometimes used to implying that an orthopedic source might be better for treating orthopedic conditions such as cartilage regeneration. In fact, bone marrow is part of the reticulo-endothelial system and happens to be found in the center of bone. All of these types of cells are equally undifferentiated and have the potential to differentiate into mature functional tissues.

For many disease types such as cardiac pathology, adipose derived cells appear to be showing superiority to bone marrow derived cells. This may be related to the well documented qualitative and quantitative attrition in bone marrow stem cell counts related to age and chronic illness (chronic disease causes bone marrow suppression). Such changes in the number of cells over time and the quality of cells dependent on health have not been seen in fat derived stem cells. Fat derived cells are a natural choice for our investigatory work considering their easy and rapid availability in extremely high numbers.

Embryonic Stem Cells

At KRMC, we never use embryonic stem cells. Embryonic (ES) Stem cells are isolated from the inner cell mass of blastocysts of preimplantation-stage embryos. These cells require specific signals to differentiate to the desired cell type. If simply injected directly, they will differentiate into many different types of cells, resulting in a tumor derived from this abnormal pluripotent cell development (a teratoma). The directed differentiation of ES cells and avoidance of transplant rejection are just two of the hurdles that ES cell researchers still face. In addition, Embryonic stem cells are associated with ethical considerations and limitations.

Amniotic stem cells

KRMC does not use amniotic stem cells. Commercially available sources of stem cells, such as amniotic products, are not collected from ones own body. These cells are gamma radiated by manufacturers and are, therefore, not live cells.

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About Stem Cell Therapy - Kansas Regenerative Medicine

Regenerative Medicine

Regenerative Medicine is the process of healing your existing cellsthat have been damaged by aging, disease or trauma, using cell replacement strategies.This allows your body to repair non-functional cells, tissues, and organs to help restore their normal functions.

Regenerative Medicine generally involves the use of stem cell treatment as a minimally-invasive, non-surgical treatment option for patients with a variety of different medical diagnoses.Some of the most innovative uses for stem cell therapy todayinvolve the therapeutic pain treatment of osteoarthritis in the joints and spine.

Power of Stem Cell Therapy

Through advances in research and technology, our stem cell treatments offer non-invasive methods for alleviating pain and inflammation, and getting patients back to the activities they most enjoy. This non-invasive injection therapy is a great alternative for patients with pain that doesnt currently have a surgical option, or find little to no relief from cortisone shots or physical therapy. Through stem cell therapy, Kansas Regenerative Institute fills thatvoid.

At Kansas Regenerative Institute, we use umbilical cord-blood derived mesenchymal stem cells supplied by willing donors who are pre-screened from reputable hospitals, as well as bone marrow stem cellsand PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma).

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Stem Cell Therapy in Wichita, Kansas | Joint Pain Relief ...

An adult stem cell center established by the Kansas Legislature in 2013 is almost ready for its first clinical trial.

Buddhadeb Dawn, executive director of the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center, told legislators Tuesday that the trial will focus on treating graft-versus-host disease and will begin after final approvals from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Our goal was to do this (trial) in January, but we got delayed because of different things, Dawn said during a hearing of the House Health and Human Services Committee. So we are now hoping to start it perhaps in summer.

Based at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, the stem cell center has analyzed trials done elsewhere and hosted a clinical trial sponsored by a biotech company that uses modified stem cells from bone marrow to treat stroke.

But the graft-versus-host disease trial would be the first homegrown one.

Download the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center annual update to legislators.

Graft-versus-host disease is a potential complication when a patient receives a transplant of tissue, like an organ or bone marrow, from another person.

The disease occurs when transplanted tissue fights the patients natural immune system, potentially damaging the liver, skin or other areas. Its a rare illness, with about 20,000 cases in the United States each year.

Rep. Randy Powell, a Republican from Olathe, said the trial was a welcome and exciting development. He said his wife is at risk for the illness following treatment for leukemia.

I know that graft-versus-host is a big thing, Powell said. I think my wife still has an annual checkup where they keep their eye out (to make sure) thats not sticking its head up and causing issues.

Dawn said the center would like to take the next step and move into clinical trials using adult stem cells to treat things like joint ailments, diabetes and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrigs disease.

But the regulatory process takes time.

Wed like to be able to offer a portfolio of different disease conditions that adult stem cells can benefit, Dawn said. Im hoping that within the next five years we would at least have some FDA approval for treatment with adult stem cells for other conditions.

Dawn said successful trials could lead to more private investment dollars so we are self-sustaining at some point in the future.

The centers reliance on state funds has been a point of contention for fiscally conservative legislators in the past. Most of the facilitys budget still comes from the states payment, which was reduced by about $28,000 to $754,500 last year.

Were maximizing every opportunity we can with what we have right now.

Thats far less than what stem cell research facilities in other states receive.

Doug Girod, executive vice president of the KU medical center, said that given the budget, Dawn and his small team have done remarkable work.

We could be 10 times bigger than we are and doing 10 times as much if we had the resources, Girod said. But I think were maximizing every opportunity we can with what we have right now.

The center was spearheaded by socially conservative legislators, including Sen. Mary Pilcher-Cook, to showcase adult stem cell research as an alternative to using stem cells derived from human embryos.

About $56,000 of its annual budget goes to educating the public about the differences between embryonic stem cells and adult cells and hosting an annual conference about advances in adult stem cell treatment.

Rep. John Wilson, a Democrat from Lawrence, said he initially was skeptical about the facility because he thought the Legislature was inserting itself into a religious or philosophical fight. But he said his attitude has changed.

Im glad that despite my opposition to it the state has gone forward with funding some really terrific research, Wilson said. My concern now is how do we take it to the next level so all of this hasnt been for nothing.

Andy Marso is a reporter for the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio and KMUW covering health, education and politics in Kansas. You can reach him on Twitter@andymarso. Kansas News Service stories and photos may be republished at no cost with proper attribution and a link back to kcur.org.

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Kansas Stem Cell Center Close To First Clinical Trial | KCUR

stem cell treatments

Is knee arthritis or a meniscus tear keeping you from doing the things you love?

Knees are the most commonly replaced joints. The knee is a large hinged joint that is comprised of the lower end of the thighbone (femur), the upper end of the shinbone (tibia), and the underside of the kneecap (patella). These bones are covered in cartilage which can wear down over time from activity and genetics (osteoarthritis), autoimmune illnesses (i.e. rheumatoid arthritis), or trauma (fractures, previous surgeries, or old sports injuries). More often than not, patients will have chronic (also known as degenerative) tears to the meniscus or shock absorbers due to arthritis.

What do my symptoms mean? Do I need surgery?

Regardless of the cause of knee arthritis, symptoms tend to be similar and consist of pain with activities such as squatting, pivoting, walking on uneven surfaces and up and down stairs. The pain is often associated with stiffness and can interfere with sleep. Some patients may even notice a change in their leg which may appear more bow-legged or knock-kneed. Routine conservative treatment options have included rest, activity modification, weight loss, anti-inflammatory medications, viscosupplementation (i.e. Synvisc and Euflexxa), and steroid injections. When these therapies no longer provide pain relief, patients are oftentimes referred for arthroscopic surgery (to clean out arthritis and torn meniscus) or for total knee replacement.

Knee replacement is an invasive surgery and carries significant risks such as bleeding, infection, blood clots, and, infrequently, heart attack or stroke. There is a lengthy and painful recovery period that requires time off of work for most individuals.

The American Academy of Family Physicians (May 1, 2015, Volume 91, Number 9), found there is emerging evidence showing that arthroscopic knee surgeries involving the clean out of degenerative meniscus tears, also known as partial meniscectomy, show no long-term benefit in middle-aged people.

Surgery involves removing the damaged bone and cartilage and replacing these with a prosthesis consisting of metal and a plastic spacer. This spacer acts as a smooth gliding surface. Unfortunately, every plastic spacer begins to wear and, occasionally, loosen with normal use and activity. This can be accelerated with being overweight or partaking in high-impact activities such as running, jogging, or jumping. These activities are not advised after replacement.

At Motus, you have more natural options nonoperative knee stem cell treatments in Kansas City.

At Motus, we offer nonoperative knee arthritis stem cell treatments in Kansas City to ideal candidates as an alternative to treat pain and prevent further wearing down of the joint. This can eliminate, or even prolong, the need for knee replacement in many individuals.We do this by using products from your body known as stem cells and platelet rich plasma to promote the joints ability to naturally heal itself. Stem cells are structures that can change (differentiate) into any type of cell in the body. These cells exist throughout the body but cannot get to the area of injury or degeneration with orthopedic conditions because of poor blood flow. At Motus, we harvest stem cells from the patient and concentrate them using a centrifuge (similar to PRP). We then use an ultrasound to guide the stem cells to the exact area in need of treatment. This is often used in combination with PRP. This is a quick in-office procedure that is cost efficient with minimal downtime when compared to traditional surgical approaches.

Am I a candidate for Nonoperative Knee Stem Cell Treatments in Kansas City?

Your initial consultation with Motus will consist of a regular doctors visit. We will ask you about your symptoms and previous treatments, perform a physical examination, and review any x-rays or MRI studies that you have had. We will also perform an ultrasound examination to evaluate the surrounding muscles, tendons, and bursa to see if there are additional conditions other than arthritis (i.e. Bakers cyst) contributing to your pain that may need to be treated in addition to the joint at the time of the procedure. The entire visit is billed to your insurance. Should you be deemed a candidate for nonoperative knee arthritis stem cell treatments in Kansas City, your next visit will be your procedure.

Motus evaluates your knee condition and provides you with a personalized plan of care. Whether this is physical therapy, cortisone or viscosupplementation injections, biologics, or even surgery. Should you not be a candidate for stem cell therapy and require surgery, Motus is pleased to refer you to one of the many terrific local orthopedic surgeons, or to the surgeon of your choice. Motus is here to ensure you are aware of the options available to you.

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Knee Stem Cell Treatments in Kansas City | Motus Biologics

Stem cell treatment is used to treat many different issues

Stem cells are used to treat a variety of issues for patients in Kansas City and Lees Summit, MO and across the country. These little parts of the body, work to provide long term pain relief for people who struggle with pain stemming from old injuries, or who have diseases like osteoporosis and disc degeneration.

At Rejuvenate Mind-Body Wellness Center, we use umbilical stem cells to perform our stem cell therapy procedures. But, many people dont know why we use those types of cells and how the treatment works. Learn more below.

Stem cells are smart and work to repair the damaged area

Stem cell treatments provide patients with long term pain relief. When you have this treatment, well inject the stem cells into the area that is causing you pain. Once injected, these cells know where to go and will race to the damaged area and set to work. Theyll start to multiply and repair the damage, which gives you long term relief from your pain.

Most patients only require one injection to see results, but, they wont see results right away. The new stem cells need time to start to work. So, it can take a few months before patients see full results, though some may start to feel better within a month or two.

Umbilical stem cells are used to save patients time and money

At Rejuvenate Mind-Body Wellness Center we use umbilical stem cells that are harvested from live births. Many patients want to know why we use these stem cells, instead of stem cells from their body. There are a few reasons for this.

First, harvesting stem cells from your body can be expensive. Second, it can be painful to have stem cells harvested. By using donated cells that were not painful to harvest, we save you going through pain and an additional procedure. Third, these cells are undifferentiated and immunonaive, meaning your body wont see them as foreign so it wont attack the new cells.

These stem cells are carefully screened to ensure they are free of diseases, just like blood donations are screened. They are also donated from full term, live, healthy births.

Stem cell therapy in Kansas City and Lees Summit MO

Kansas City and Lees Summit, MO residents who battle chronic pain from injuries, illnesses, or diseases can find relief through stem cell therapy. This treatment uses stem cells to repair damage in the affected area which gives you long term relief from your pain. Contact our office to learn more about this treatment option and to see if its an option for you.

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Stem cells relieve chronic pain in Kansas City, MO

The initial concept of regenerative medicine dates all the way back to 330 BC, when Aristotle observed that a lizard could grow back the lost tip of its tail. Slowly over time, humans have grown to understand regenerative medicine, and how it may change the way we treat diseases. It's been only relatively recently that adult (non-embryonic) stem cell therapy, a type of regenerative medicine, has gathered fast momentum. The below video illustrates key (not all) highlights in how stem cell therapy research has progressed over the last several decades.

Adult (non-embryonic) stem cells are unspecialized or undifferentiated cells,which means they have yet to develop into a specific cell type. Found in most adult tissues, adult stem cells have two primary properties:

Simply put, adult stem cells have the potential to grow into any of the body's more than 200 cell types.

Adult stem cells have been found in most parts of the body, including brain, bone marrow, blood vessels, skin, teeth and heart. There are typically a small number of stem cells in each tissue. Due to their small number and rate of division (growth), it is difficult to grow adult stem cells in large numbers. Scientists at the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center are working to understand how to grow large amounts of adult stem cells in cell culture. These scientists are also working with more "primitive" stem cells, isolated from the umbilical cord after normal births.

These stem cells are in much higher abundance than in adult tissues, can be differentiated into several different cell types, and their capacity to divide is much faster, making them good candidates for applications in treating injury or disease. An example of this is the use of these cells in treating Graft vs. Host Disease (GvHD), a condition which affects approximately 40-50% of patients receiving allogeneic transplants (i.e., transplant from another person) for blood cancers by taking advantage of a key immunosuppressive characteristic the cells possess.

The practice of stem cell therapy is nothing new: One of the oldest forms of it is the bone marrow transplant, which has been actively practiced since the late 1960s. Since then, scientists haven't slowed downwith the advancement of adult stem cell therapy. Every day, scientists worldwide are researching new ways we can harness stem cells to develop effective new treatments for a host of diseases. In the case of a patient suffering with a blood cancer such as leukemia, a bone marrow transplant will replace their unhealthy blood cells with healthy ones. This same concept - inserting healthy cells so they may multiply and form new tissue or repair diseased tissue - can be applied to other forms of stem cell therapy.

Stem cell research continues to advance as scientists learn how an organism develops from a single cell and how healthy cells replace damaged cells. For example, the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center is collaborating to investigate the potential of a select group of umbilical cord stem cells in the treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gerhig's disease). Developing a stem cell treatment that has been shown to be both safe and efficacious is not as simple as removing stem cells from one part of the body and putting it in another.

Working with appropriate regulatory agencies, the Midwest Stem Cell therapy Center is conducting R&D activities that will permit the Center to conduct human clinical trials on a variety of diseases over the next several years. This process - similar to the development of a new drug - will, when completed, assure patients in both clinical trials and eventually patients using the approved product, that the product is safe for use in humans and the stem cells being administered are effective in treating the injury or disease they are being used for.

When considering a cell therapy treatment, it is important to understand how your treatment will be administered and ensure that the provider is well-qualified. Stem cell clinics have popped up around the world, touting 100% success, however, in many cases these experimental treatments have yet to be evaluated by the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) or other regulatory agencies in their countries of origin. Reputable centers, including the MSCTC, are working with the FDA to develop regulations that protect the health of the patient and hold providers to high standards of treatment. Without these regulations in place, unqualified providers may endanger patients' health. For example, as in organ transplants, patients that receive stem cell therapy are at risk of their immune system rejecting the transplant. To avoid this, immune system-suppressing drugs must be taken. Further, if stem cells are not manipulated correctly, the receiving patient can be exposed to bacteria, fungi or viruses which have been picked up during the manipulations of the stem cells, or, in some cases, receive cells that are not appropriate for use in treating a specific injury or disease.

Last modified: Mar 21, 2016

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Adult Stem Cell Therapy 101, MSCTC - University of Kansas ...

KRMC

Stem cells or Knee surgery

Knees take the brunt of our active lifestyles so its no surprise theyre among the most popular body parts for stem cell treatment. In fact, one of the most common questions patients ask is whats the difference between stem cell treatment for bad knees and knee replacement surgery? We wrote this easy overview to help you understand the basics of both.

What are the procedures?

Your body creates stem cells to replace dying cells or heal damaged tissue. Our physicians collect stem cells stored in the adipose tissue or fatty deposits around your waist. We separate the adipose (fat) cells from the regenerative cells and inject them cells directly into your knee. This helps your body speed the healing process, alleviate pain and even allows for the regeneration of new tissue. Its a one-time near painless procedure that takes about four hours.

During a knee replacement surgery an orthopedic surgeon uses metal and plastic to resurface the parts of the knee damaged by arthritis.[1]

How much do they cost?

Many patients dont realize that during one stem cell procedure multiple joints can be treated. The average stem cell treatment costs roughly 1/3 that of knee replacement surgery and, due to the nature of stem cells, you can have stem cell therapy for both of your knees, as well as a few other parts of your body such as your hips or wrists during the same visit. At this time, most insurance providers dont cover stem cell therapy.

The average cost of a knee replacement surgery is about $35,000 before insurance. But the actual amount you pay differs greatly based on your insurance plan, where you live and the hospital that does the surgery. [2] Keep in mind that the average cost only accounts for the actual surgery not follow-up visits or physical therapy. It also only covers the cost of treating your knee not any other joints.

How long do they take?

Stem cell therapy is a single outpatient procedure that takes about four hours. A small amount of local anesthesia numbs the area. Knee replacement is major surgery that puts patients under or asleep with general anesthesia. The actual surgery lasts about two hours. Most patients have at least an overnight hospital stay, months of recovery time, along with follow-up appointments and physical therapy.

Whats the recovery process?

Your bodys response time dictates the stem cell therapy results. But theres little down time needed after the procedure. Theres a small incision that patients treat with Neosporin and a bandage for one or two days. There are no wounds to dress or stitches to remove. Most patients return to work and resume normal activities the next day.

Theres no official follow-up appointment but our physicians remain in contact with patients after the procedure in order to track their progress.

In the days after a knee replacement surgery, patients stand, begin basic movements and walk with assistance. Theyll have an incision with stitches or staples and will keep the wound bandaged and protected. They may ice their knee, take pain relievers, and use a cane to prevent falls. In the following weeks, theyll have a post-op doctors visit and multiple physical therapy sessions. Patients cant drive until theyre cleared by their doctor and full recovery from the surgery can take months.[1]

Whats the success rate of the procedures?

Our research shows that 80 percent to 85 percent of our patients say theyre satisfied with the outcome of their stem cell treatment for knees. Patient satisfaction with knee replacement surgery ranges from 75 percent to 92 percent depending on the source. [3]

What are the risks of each?

With stem cell therapy, sometimes a patient wont see the level of relief they hope for despite the cells doing what theyre supposed to do.

The risks stemming from knee replacement are like those from other major surgeries: pain and stiffness, infection, going under with general anesthesia, foreign objects or tools entering your body, as well as using metal or other materials to alter your body parts. In addition, theres the risk of the replacement wearing out over time.

Healthy knees are a must for an on-the-go lifestyle. Contact us if youd like to learn more about the basics of stem cell therapy and how it may be an option for treating your knee pain and other inflammatory and degenerative conditions.

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/test_procedures/orthopaedic/knee_replacement_surgery_procedure_92,P07673

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Stem cells or Knee surgery - Kansas Regenerative Medicine

Feb. 26, 2012 -- Scientists say they have found a way to use ovarian stem cells to perhaps one day help infertile women get pregnant -- or add years to a womans reproductive cycle.

In a study published in Nature Medicine, researchers report finding egg-producing stem cells in human ovaries. They also report being able to make some of those ovarian stem cells grow into immature eggs that may someday be useful for reproduction.

At this point, such seed eggs cant be fertilized by sperm. But if scientists are able to entice them to mature and can prove they can be fertilized and grow into embryos -- a feat that has been reported in mice -- it would overturn a long-held scientific belief that women cant make new eggs as they get older.

What it does is really open a door into human reproduction that 10 years ago didnt even exist, says researcher Jonathan L. Tilly, PhD, director of the Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital, in Boston.

Outside experts agree. They say the findings could have profound importance for reproductive medicine and aging, allowing doctors not only to restore a womans fertility but also to potentially delay menopause.

I think the significance of this work is like reporting that we found microorganisms on Mars, says Kutluk Oktay, MD, who directs the Division of Reproductive Medicine and the Institute for Fertility Preservation at New York Medical College in Valhalla, N.Y.

Its a proof of principle that they could do it, says David F. Albertini, PhD, director of the Center for Reproductive Sciences at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan.

The world wants to know today if were ready to restore fertility in women, whether theyve aged or been treated for cancer or whatever, Albertini says, adding that he doesnt think thats on the horizon. This is an extremely rare event, at best.

The egg-generating stem cells the researchers were able to extract from ovaries were very rare. The researchers only came across one for every 10,000 or so ovarian cells that they counted.

But when they took those cells and implanted them back into human ovarian tissue, they divided and essentially made young eggs.

Tilly says his team stopped short of trying to make one of the eggs functional because for a lot of reasons, as it should be, it is illegal in the U.S. to experimentally fertilize human eggs.

We think the evidence provided clearly indicates that this very unique, newly discovered pool of cells does exist in women, he says.

Its a really exciting result, says Evelyn Telfer, PhD, a cell biology expert at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.

What weve previously believed is that you dont get new eggs formed during your adult life. This discovery shows that theres the potential for them to be formed, no question about that, Telfer says, but it doesnt actually show that theyre being formed under normal conditions.

Indeed, she notes, experience would suggest otherwise. Women, after all, do lose their fertility as they age.

There are cells there that under certain conditions have the potential to form [eggs]. Thats the really exciting part of this work. And of course they can be used. Theres a practical application, she says.

Telfer has pioneered a technique that allows her to take immature human eggs and turn them into mature, fertilizable eggs outside the body. She has already partnered with Tilly to try to take his seed eggs to the next stage of development. With special government permission, she says, they may even be able to try to experimentally fertilize the eggs.

Its actually opening up a whole new field of research, to define these cells, to characterize these cells, and to use them in a practical way, she says.

Tilly says that by using egg-generating stem cells to make large numbers of viable eggs, doctors might one day be able to cut the expense of in vitro fertilization (IVF), since women would no longer have to go through multiple cycles of treatment to harvest enough eggs to generate a pregnancy.

If Dr. Tilly can reverse the biologic clock or halt it, and start making eggs from stem cells, its fantastic, says Avner Hershlag, MD, chief of the Center for Human Reproduction at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y.

This is the true reproductive emancipation of women, he tells WebMD. You will be free to a) not compromise on who you share your life and share your kids with, and b) like any man, you will have the freedom to develop a full professional life and not have to stop everything because you are having children.

But Hershlag notes that such an advance might still be years away.

For women who are worried theyll run out of time to have children, Hershlag says there is technology available that helps women buy more time to have a baby. Her best bet is actually, right now, to freeze her eggs if she wants to delay reproduction.

SOURCES:

White, Y. Nature Medicine, Feb. 26, 2012.

News release, Massachusetts General Hospital.

Jonathan L. Tilly, PhD, director of the Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital;professor, department of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston.

Kutluk Oktay, MD, director, Division of Reproductive Medicine and the Institute for Fertility Preservation, New York Medical College, Valhalla, N.Y.

David F. Albertini, PhD, director, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kan.

Evelyn Telfer, PhD, reader in cell biology, University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Avner Hershlag, MD, chief, the Center For Human Reproduction, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, N.Y.

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Future Fertility Fix? Egg-Producing Stem Cells Found in ...

Select a Problem Area

If you have pain, we're here to help. Regenexx Procedures are patented stem cell and blood platelet procedures that are used to treat a wide range of joint and spine conditions.

Click a problem area to discover what Regenexx can do for you.

The Regenexx family of non-surgical stem-cell & blood platelet procedures are next generation regenerative injection treatments for those who are suffering from shoulder pain due to arthritis, rotator cuff and shoulder labrum tears, overuse injuries, and other degenerative conditions. Regenexx is also a viable alternative for those considering shoulder replacement surgery.

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Regenexx Procedures are advanced stem cell and blood platelet procedures for foot and ankle conditions. Before you consider ankle surgery, fusion or replacement, consider the worlds leading stem cell and prp injection treatments.

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Ankle Procedure Video

The Regenexx family of non-surgical stem-cell & blood platelet procedures are next generation regenerative injection treatments for those who are suffering from pain or reduced range of motion due to basal joint / cmc arthritis, hand arthritis, or other injuries & conditions in the hand.

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The Regenexx family of non-surgical stem cell and blood platelet procedures offer next-generation injection treatments for those who are suffering from knee pain or may be facing knee surgery or knee replacement due to common injuries, arthritis, overuse and other conditions.

View Details About Knee Treatments

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ACL Procedure VideoIn-Depth with Dr. John Schultz ACL Procedure Video

The Regenexx family of non-surgical stem-cell & blood platelet procedures are next generation regenerative injection treatments for those who are suffering from pain, inflammation or reduced range of motion due tocommon elbow injuries, arthritis and overuse conditions.

View Details About Elbow Treatments

Commonly Treated Conditions:

The Regenexx family of hip surgery alternatives are breakthrough, non-surgical stem-cell treatments for people suffering from hip pain due to common injuries, hip arthritis & other degenerative problems related to the hip joint.

View Details About Hip Treatments

Commonly Treated Conditions:

Hip Labrum Procedure Video Hip Avascular Necrosis Procedure Video

Regenexx has many non-surgical platelet and stem cell based procedures developed to help patients avoid spine surgery and high dose epidural steroid side effects. These procedures utilize the patients own natural growth factors or stem cells to treat bulging or herniated discs, degenerative conditions in the spine, and other back and neck conditions that cause pain.

View Details About Spine Treatments

Commonly Treated Conditions:

Intradiscal Procedure Video

Regenexx has many non-surgical platelet and stem cell based procedures developed to help patients avoid spine surgery and high dose epidural steroid side effects. These procedures utilize the patients own natural growth factors or stem cells to treat bulging or herniated discs, degenerative conditions in the spine, and other back and neck conditions that cause pain.

View Details About Spine Treatments

Commonly Treated Conditions:

Cervical Spine Video

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Regenexx Kansas City | Helping your body heal itself