Category Archives: Stem Cell Treatments

Five Ways to Control COPD with COPD therapies

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major disability that can affect your functional capacity and quality of life. Common signs and symptoms of COPD are chronic cough, breathlessness, and sputum production. COPD may also bring anxiety, fear, depression, and stress to COPD patients.

In this case, it is important to perform self-management techniques to cope with the disease, to control symptoms and to continue with your daily routine.

Here is a list of five things COPD patients can do to help control and manage COPD. Read more about the COPD therapies below:

1. No DairyMilk contains essential vitamins and minerals; however, it is known to increase sputum production that can worsen signs and symptoms of the disease COPD. If you think you have severe COPD, You should avoid dairy products such as butter, cheese, ice cream, and yogurt.

2. No GlutenGluten can increase production of mucus that can plug the airways in the lungs. Gluten is a type of protein that can be found in barley, rye, wheat, and triticale. It is important to check for gluten-containing food.

3. Breathing ExercisesThere are breathing exercises that you can perform to ease the way of getting the air you need. You can perform pursed-lip breathing by breathing in gently through your nose and breathing out with your lips pursed as if you are whistling. The relaxed, slow, deep breathing is done by breathing in gently through the nose and breathing out through the nose and mouth.

4. Eat GreensGreens contain chlorophyll, which carry and bring in oxygen to your cells. This is why juicing greens and drinking them are so beneficial. Note: It is important to avoid juicing fruit, which contains too much sugar.

5. Use a Pulse OximeterA pulse oximeter is a device used to measure the percentage of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen in the arterial blood. A pulse oximeter is easy and affordable to use. It helps in monitoring COPD. It is important to use this tool and measure, because if the percentage drops below 93% it will damage the lungs further. Thus, it needs to be checked all the time.

There are still other options to optimize your physical abilities and improve your quality of life despite having COPD. Here at NSI Stem Cell, we use the most advanced technology for our patients, delivering safe and effective patient care with our stem cell treatment for COPD.* The NSI Stem Cell team will be delighted to give you more information about your condition and discuss the best options and COPD treatments for your health and comfort.

Symptoms of COPD are ongoing and tend to worsen over time. The first noticeable indication is an enduring cough and extreme shortness of breath. COPD sufferers often experience persistent coughing that produces mucus from the lower airways. Many people with chronic bronchitis have or will develop COPD. Inflammation of the lungs can cause long-term damage that can be difficult to reverse with COPD treatments. High pressure on the lung arteries can even strain the heart ventricles.

The most common causes of COPD are smoking of tobacco products and long term exposure to environmental and occupational air pollutants. This includes those in contact with harmful lung irritants including certain chemicals, dust, or fumes. Those with asthma and a genetic predisposition are more likely to develop this disease, as certain genetic factors can lead to the deterioration of the lungs. For instance, Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD) is a common genetic risk factor for emphysema and is caused by a deficiency of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin protein within the bloodstream. Its recommended that people with COPD be tested for the presence of these genetic factors.

Furthermore, inflammation from inhaled irritants leads to scarring of the tissues and narrowing of the airways inside the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. A diagnosis of COPD is done by measuring airflow with lung function tests, x-rays, and the length of time a person has experienced symptoms. After a positive diagnosis, it is important to get COPD therapy immediately.

Often times, the different methods of COPD treatments that COPD patients use to manage the disease isnt enough. Inhalers that are used in emergency situations provide short-term reliefsame goes for inhalers that patients use twice a week. Inhalers have side effects, including rapid heart rate, blurred vision and additional coughing. Stem cell therapy, on the other hand, is non invasive and has virtually no side effects, unlike some other COPD treatments. Read below to learn how stem cell therapy can help COPD patients return to a normal life.

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Stem Cell Therapy for COPD | COPD Treatments | NSI Stem Cell

More and more athletes are turning to stem cell treatments, because the pressure to get back on the field is high and access to these experimental therapies is continuing to increase. Athletes commonly suffer serious injuries that could potentially end their careers and cause them serious long-term health complications. Most of them turn to surgery to resolve those injuries.

However, some of them are pursuing stem cell treatments, because these procedures are less invasive than surgery and have the potential to speed and augment repair.

This article outlines 38 athletes who have undergone stem cell treatments for their knees, hips, ankles, shoulders, and more.

In this article:

Stem Cell Therapy for Knees

The 14 athletes below pursed stem cell therapies to resolve knee injuries and complications.

In 2010, the NFL player Jarvis Green went to Regenexx to seek stem cell treatment for his knees. The treatment involved extracting stem cells from his bone marrow and then injecting it into his knees. Prior to this, Green had two knee surgeries, which both resulted in complications and long recovery periods.

The running back for the Denver Broncos also had stem cell treatment for his knees. He had his treatment in 2013 but has yet to disclose which stem cell clinic he used.

Sidney Rice went to Switzerland for stem cell injections. The Seattle Seahawks wide receiver underwent Regenokine injection treatments for his knees.

Hines Ward was among one of the first athletes who turned to stem cell treatment for a speedy recovery. He had joint regeneration therapy using cell prolotherapy at Intermountain Stem Cells. The treatment was for a knee medial collateral ligament sprain.

The defensive lineman for the Falcons underwent a knee surgery and used stem cell therapy to speed up his recovery. The surgery was for a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

Jamaal Charles had a torn anterior cruciate ligament on his knee and had ligament-repair surgery. His stem cell therapy involved extracting stem cells from his bone marrow and injecting them into his knee.

Rolando McClain had been experiencing chronic pain in his knees for two years, and then he suffered a high ankle sprain. During his offseason, McClain went to USA Precision Stem Cell and had liposuctioned fat cells autologously injected into his knees.

The Raiders linebacker injured both of his knees and then underwent stem cell treatment during his offseason.

When Alex Rodriguez sustained a knee injury, he went to Germany for stem cell treatment. The procedure was a platelet-rich plasma therapy that was injected into Rodriguezs knee. They also injected it into his shoulder to prevent future inflammation.

Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers had experienced swelling on his knee for a long time before he finally consulted with Dr. James Andrews to then received a stem cell and platelet-rich plasma injection.

The pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers didnt want to risk his career by allowing surgery on his knees. Instead, he went to joint Intermountain Stem Cells for regeneration therapy using stem cell prolotherapy.

Kobe Bryant traveled to Germany to seek stem cell treatment from Dr. Peter Wehling for the degeneration of his knees.

Pau Gasol had an autologous stem cell injection on his knee to remove degenerated tissue without surgery. The procedure was a focused aspiration scar tissue removal done by Dr. Steve Yoon at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic.

Chris Johnson sustained a meniscus injury on his left knee, but he continued to play through the season. The injury worsened and Johnson lost a lot of cartilage throughout the remainder of the season. He sought out Dr. James Andrews and had stem cell therapy to accelerate his recovery.

The three athletes below pursed stem cell therapies for ACL and MCL repair (ligaments within the human knee).

The famous golfer confirmed in 2010 that he had undergone a stem cell treatment. He received joint regeneration therapy with platelet-rich injections.

Stephen Curry had a grade-1 MCL sprain and consulted with Dr. Russ Riggs from the Reflex Clinic in Tigard regarding stem cell treatments. Dr. Riggs advised Curry to have PRP injections to help his recovery by reducing the inflammation and pain.

The former NFL player went to South Koreas Chaum Anti-Aging Center to seek treatment for an ACL injury. There, he had bone marrow-derived stem cell injections for ligaments, tendons, and joints.

Stem Cell Therapy for Cartilage, Tendon, & Muscles

The six athletes below pursed stem cell therapies to resolve cartilage, tendon, and muscle complications.

The Jacksonville Jaguars guard sought stem cell treatment for cartilage regrowth in 2013. However, Uche Nwaneri has not yet gone public about which clinic he underwent treatment at.

Marquis Maze, the former University of Alabama receiver, had stem cell therapy for a muscle injury at USA Precision Stem Cell. The procedure was an autologous operation for his damaged joints and muscles.

LaRon Landry missed a lot of games in 2012 due to an injury to his left Achilles tendon. Instead of seeking surgery, he went to AminoMatrix and had PRP treatments for his torn tendon.

Cliff Lee is one of the many athletes who has gone to Intermountain Stem Cells. According to their website, Lee had a joint regeneration therapy using stem cell prolotherapy.

The Olympic swimmer had mild arthritis in her knees, which worsened due to her training. In 2009, she had an autologous chondrocyte implantation to regrow the cartilage cells on her kneecap.

The veteran rugby player took a break from his career due to damaged knee cartilage. With the hope of reviving his career, he had stem cells injected into his right knee at a clinic in Queenstown.

Elbow Stem Cell Treatments

The three athletes below pursed stem cell therapies to resolve elbow injuries.

Among the major league athletes, Bartolo Colons stem cell treatment has had some of the most coverage. He was sidelined due to a torn rotator cuff and elbow injury in 2005. He was then one of the first athletes to receive a stem cell transplant on his arm from his fat and bone marrow.

Andrew Heaney went public about having stem cell treatments in 2016. He had a torn ulnar collateral ligament and received stem cell therapy to aid his recovery.

Garrett Richards had a torn elbow ligament and wanted to start surgery right away. Instead, the teams physical therapist Bernard Li advised Richards to try stem cell treatments. In May 2017, stem cells were extracted from his bone marrow and injected into his elbow.

Leg and Foot Stem Cell Treatments

The four athletes below pursed stem cell therapies to resolve leg and foot injuries.

The Real Madrid forward sustained a hamstring injury and tried stem cell treatment to hasten his recovery for their next game in Manchester. The procedure involved harvesting stem cells from his own bone marrow and injecting it into his hamstrings.

The Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw underwent a foot surgery that involved having screws inserted into his foot for two fractures, which he regretted within the year. It wasnt until 2011, when a new fracture occurred, that he decided to seek a different form of treatment. Instead of following through with the surgery, he tried stem cell injections to promote bone regrowth in his foot. In 2012, he had the screws taken out and played for the rest of the season.

Prince Amukamara of the New York Giants sustained a broken bone in his left foot from training camp. For bone regeneration, he had stem cells harvested from his bone marrow and injected into his foot.

The Olympic athlete David Payne suffered a shin injury while he was training for the Olympic trials in 2011. In an attempt to reach his optimum for the trials, he had stem cell therapy with PRP as a regenerative procedure.

The two athletes below pursed other types of stem cell treatments for athletic injuries.

Ray Lewis is another high-profile athlete who received a stem cell treatment for a sports-related injury. Lewis traveled all the way to Europe for stem cell therapy on his triceps.

The football star Peyton Manning suffered a neck related injury while playing ball. He traveled to Germany to undergo stem cell treatment, where stem cells from his fat cells were harvested and injected into his neck.

The six individuals below pursed stem cell therapies for conditions beyond sports-related injuries.

The hockey player Gordie Howe experienced a number of small strokes in 2014. At the age of 86, his right side had become paralyzed. Dr. McGuigan from Stemedica, a stem-cell manufacturer, offered Howe and his family an experimental stem cell treatment. The procedure involved millions of neural stem cells injected into his spinal column. He started exhibiting results within days.

Jose Contreras was suffering from chronic pain in his joints, and was among one of the first high-profile athletes to try PRP therapy as an alternative to surgery and other invasive procedures.

Daisuke Matsuzaka was the highly fought-for pitcher in 2006. He is also one of the major league athletes who had PRP therapy for painful joints.

The 82-year-old Nascar driver joined his wife in seeking stem cell treatments to better their health and regain some youth. Foyt had adult stem cells injected into his blood, ankle, and shoulder.

Jack Nicklaus is a golf legend with 120 professional tournament victories. He went through various medical procedures to help with his chronic joint pain and inflammation. In 2016, he tried stem cell therapy at the Isar Klinikum in Germany. The procedure used liposuctioned abdominal stem cells stained with Matrase to break down the fat tissue.

The tennis player Rafael Nadal had stem cell treatment for back ailments. Stem cells were injected into a joint in his spine to help repair the cartilage. He had also received a similar procedure for his knee the year before.

Stem cell therapies now offer novel alternatives to many surgical procedures. With more and more athletes exploring these types of treatments, they will play an increasingly important role in the future of sports injuries at both the amateur and professional level.

Do you know of other athletes who have undergone stem cell treatments? Mention them in the comments section below.

Up Next:Cost Of Stem Cell Therapy

38 Pro Athletes Who Have Had Stem Cell Treatments

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38 Pro Athletes Who Have Had Stem Cell Treatments ...

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a technique in which practitioners stimulate specific points on the body - most often by inserting thin needles through the skin. It is one of the most effective practices used in traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture stimulates nerve fibers to transmit signals to the spinal cord and brain, activating the bodys central nervous system. The spinal cord and brain then release hormones responsible for making us feel less pain while improving overall health. Acupuncture may also: increase blood circulation and body temperature, affect white blood cell activity (responsible for our immune function), reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and regulate blood sugar levels.

Aquatherapy

Aquatic Physical Therapy is the practice of physical therapy in a specifically designed water pool with a therapist. The unique properties of the aquatic environment enhance interventions for patients with neurological or musculoskeletal conditions. Aquatic therapy includes a wide range of techniques allowing patients to improve their balance, muscle strength and body mechanics. Aquatic therapy works to enhance the rehabilitation process and support effectiveness of stem cell treatment.

Epidural Stimulation

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is the medical use of oxygen at a level higher than atmospheric pressure. The equipment required consists of pressure chamber, which may be of rigid or flexible construction, and a means of delivering 100% oxygen into the respiratory system. Published research shows that HBOT increases the lifespan of stem cells after injection and provides an oxygen-rich atmosphere for the body to function at optimum levels.

Nerve Growth Factor (NGF)

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a member of the neurotrophic factor (neurotrophin, NTFS) family, which can prevent the death of nerve cells and has many features of typical neurotransmitter molecules. NGF plays an important role in the development and growth of nerve cells. NGF is synthesized and secreted by tissues (corneal epithelial, endothelial, and corneal stromal cells), and it can be up-taken by sympathetic or sensory nerve endings and then transported to be stored in neuronal cell bodies where it can promote the growth and differentiation of nerve cells.NGF can exert neurotrophic effects on injured nerves and promote neurogenesis (the process of generating neurons from stem cells) that is closely related to the development and functional maintenance and repair of the central nervous system. It is also capable of promoting the regeneration of injured neurons in the peripheral nervous system, improving the pathology of neurons and protecting the nerves against hypoxia (lack of oxygen)/ischemia (lack of blood supply).

Nutrition Therapy

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy interventions focus on adapting the environment, modifying the task and teaching the skill, in order to increase participation in and performance of daily activities, particularly those that are meaningful to the patient with physical, mental, or cognitive disorders. Our Occupational Therapists also focus much of their work on identifying and eliminating environmental barriers to independence and participation in daily activities, similar to everyday life.

Physiotherapy

Physical therapy or physiotherapy (often abbreviated to PT) is a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialty that, by using mechanical force and movements, remediates impairments and promotes mobility, function, and quality of life through examination, diagnosis, prognosis, and physical intervention. We combine our PT with stem cells for maximum physical rehabilitation improvements.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Research has shown that TMS can effectively treat symptoms of depression, anxiety, neurological pain, stroke, spinal cord injuries, autism and more. This procedure is very simple and noninvasive. During the procedure, a magnetic field generator or coil is placed near the head of the person receiving the treatment. The coil produces small electrical currents in the region of the brain just under the coil via electromagnetic induction. This electrical field causes a change in the transmembrane current of the neuron which leads to depolarization or hyperpolarization of the neuron and the firing of an action potential.

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Stem Cell Treatments and Therapies from Beike Biotechnology

Pain doesnt discriminate. It doesnt care about your age, religion, sex or race. And the cause of pain can vary from a sporting injury to a car accident to degeneration over time. Regardless of the cause, there are various treatment options determined by the location of your pain and severity of the condition.

Most people have heard of the term, Arthritis. There are more than 100 different types of Arthritis or Arthritis related conditions. Regardless of the type, Arthritis affects the spine or major joints in the body.

The most common signs of Arthritis are pain, edema, stiffness and decreased range of motion. Arthritis is usually categorized as mild, moderate, or severe and will progress over time.

One of the many treatments available is stem cell injections. Stem cells can be injected directly into the arthritic joint to repair damage. Theyre able to divide and duplicate themselves, or develop into different cells if needed.

Many Medicare beneficiaries experience chronic pain due to arthritis and are in need of this type of treatment. Its important to know what Medicare coverage for stem cell treatments are included in your benefits.

Stem cells are formed at birth. The uniqueness of Stem Cells are that they can change into other types of cells found throughout the body. These cells can then regenerate and help the other cells that are vital to producing organs, muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, joints and skin.

Stem cell injections are a great alternative to surgical intervention. Due to todays technology, we are able to extract stem cells from the body and then reuse them for pain relief.

This benefits the injured joint(s) and surrounding tissues as it enhances the natural repair of the affected area.

Minimally invasive procedures are always the route to go when facing pain whether from an injury or from degeneration.

The most common stem cells used for arthritis is mesenchymal stem cells. These types of cells are extracted from the patients fatty tissue, bone marrow or blood.

Bone marrow is mostly extracted from the pelvic bone after given a local anesthetic. The process of collecting cells is called harvesting.

Stem cell treatment is recognized not only across the world, but also in the United States. Unfortunately, the FDA has not yet approved the treatments for interventional pain management.

Being that the pain aspect of stem cell injections are something thats fairly new, without FDA approval insurance wont cover these procedures. Stem Cell treatments will be considered all out of pocket and can be quite costly.

Thats not to say that stem cell injections wont eventually be recognized by the FDA as they do recognize stem cell treatment for some other medical conditions. Once approved it will then ignite insurance coverage.

And Medicare is always updating whats covered and not covered. Your best bet is to contact Medicare directly to see what treatment options will be covered.

Remember, Medicare only pays for 80% of your medical treatment. This leaves you with the remaining 20% to pay for along with co-pays, deductibles and coinsurance. Most interventional l treatments can be costly.

If Medicare does cover it, youll want help paying the remaining out of pocket costs. A Medicare Supplement plan will do just that. These plans are very affordable, you can compare rates in your area online here.

There are multiple treatment options for those suffering from Arthritis pain including:

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Medicare Coverage for Stem Cell Treatments | MedicareFAQ

Americans are herding to Costa Rica for stem cell treatments

The stories are starting to come in the man with the heart attack, now with a stem cell transplant, his glands can now generate insulin. The Florida parents of 7-year-old, who has autism, are taking him to Costa Rica at the end of this month for adult stem cell treatments.

Success stories have grabbed international media attention, with cable and TV networks jumping on the bandwagon by running stories like Paralyzed valley woman holds hope in Costa Rica treatment and Glenburn boy returns from Costa Rica after having adult stem cell therapy.

Adding to the hype of stem cell treatment, back in March, 2009 US President Barack Obama issued an executive order that lifted Bush-era restrictions on federal funding for stem cell research, but much of the treatment is still a long way off, experts say. With all this media attention, and America still in the Black Ages, the list of Americans seeking stem cell treatment in Costa Rica has tripled in the last year.

But the media and presidential endorsement of treatments (well at lease to a point) has made doctors in the U.S. nervous for the obvious reasons.

Its common knowledge that overall Costa Ricas medical tourism and the use of their wellness centers has doubled and tripled. Now the number of foreigners seeking and undergoing stem cell treatment in Costa Rica for ailments from bone fractures to multiple sclerosis has doubled. Costa Rican doctors say they are providing these medical tourists with groundbreaking treatments.

But I would not jump on the next plane to Costa Rica, stem cell scientists in the U.S. accuse Costa Rica of offering false hope by pushing techniques that have not been scientifically proven.

But it has not stopped Costa Rican legislators because they are putting the finishing touches on a law to promote and regulate adult stem cell research and treatment across a spectrum of diseases. Obviously, this could fuel further debate over techniques that U.S. doctors say have only produced anecdotal success but it certainly has not stop the flow of stem cell medical tourism.

Americans already make up close to 90 percent of the stem cell patients at CIMA Hospital. Dr. Fabio Solano who directs the stem cell institute at San Joses CIMA Hospital, one of the countrys leading private hospitals says his team has treated as many as 400 patients with procedures that involve stem cells.

However in Costa Rica, Catholicism is the state religion, working with human embryos is out of the question. So there is contentious debate around stem cells by prohibiting work with human embryos and instead promoting research on whats known as adult stem cells derived from tissue including body fat and umbilical blood or tissue.

Like most medical tourism in Costa Rica it is not really regulated by any Medical Institution or FDA, or are doctors subject to outrageous malpractice premiums, the cost for medical treatments, substance abuse, plastic surgery or dental work can be as much as 70% less.

In the case of stem cells treatments for MS in the U.S offers from university labs in guinea pig treatments range into the $100,000 to $150,000 where in Costa Rica the same treatment can be as low as $10,000.

A December 2008 study by the journal Cell Stem Cell found that international stem cell treatment hovers around an average of $20,000.

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Americans Heading to Costa Rica For Stem Cell Treatments

Does the Stem Cell treatment have any age requirements?

No, Stem Cell Of America accepts patients of all ages.

There are multiple factors in determining the cost of treatment. Please contact us to have your case evaluated.

No, the treatment is not covered by private or public health insurance.

Yes, we routinely accept patients from Canada, England, Australia and other countries all over the world.

Yes, the cells are tested for 14 different criteria, including viral, bacterial, and fungal infections, as well as viability. Moreover, we use PCR DNA testing, which is far more sophisticated and expensive than the screening tests routinely used in the United States for other Stem Cell treatments.

No, Fetal Stem Cellsare immune privileged. This means that you can give the cells to any patient without matching, use of immunosuppressive drugs and without rejection. Therefore they will not cause adverse reactions in the patient, such as graft-versus-host disease. Because of this special property of the cells there is no risk of rejection or adverse reaction, which can leave the body vulnerable to serious diseases and infection.

Our Fetal Stem Cell treatment has no known negative side effects.

A partial list of disease and conditions that Stem Cell of America has successfully treated includes:

Due to the rapid advances in Stem Cell science, some diseases or conditions may not be listed. Please contact us to get additional information.

Every person is of course different. Each of our bodys healing mechanisms work at a unique pace as they are influenced by many factors. Commonly, significant positive changes are seen between three to six months post treatment. At times, these changes can occur in as little as weeks or even days after receiving treatment.

After the first treatment, the Fetal Stem Cells will continue to proliferate and repair. Some patients choose to receive treatment more than one time to expedite the healing process. The decision is yours. If you decide to repeat the treatment, usually a waiting period of 6 months is recommended.

Fetal Stem Cells are the cellular building blocks of the 220 cell types within the body. The Fetal Stem Cells used by Stem Cell Of America remain in an undifferentiated state and therefore are capable of becoming any tissue, organ or cell type within the body.

Fetal Stem Cells also release Cytokines. Cytokines are cell-derived, hormone-like polypeptides that regulate cellular replication, differentiation, and activation. Cytokines can bring normal cells and tissues to a higher level of function, allowing the bodys own healing mechanisms to partner with the transplanted Fetal Stem Cells for repair and new growth.

In the past 2 decades, Stem Cell Of America has arranged for the treatment of over four thousand patients with Fetal Stem Cells. The number of patients continues to grow. Please contact us to get specific information on a disease or condition.

Stem Cell Of America has offices in the United States and a treatment center in Mexico.

Excerpt from:
Frequently Asked Questions | Stem Cell Of America

Every day sick patients are asking how canstem cell therapy help them now. These patients are most likely desperate for any help, as the current medicine or prognosis just isnt cutting it. And while one daythere may be aviableanswer ofa yes, right now unfortunately, the field isjust not there yet. But, others do not share this view and are in fact offering to cure peoples diseases with stem cell treatments, a phenomenon known as stem cell tourism as most cases occur outside this country. Below we discuss a little about this.

What are stem cell treatments?

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

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

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

Most stem cell treatments are still in the research phase.

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

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

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

There are several potential risks of stem cell treatments.

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

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

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

Think twice before choosing stem cell treatments.

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

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

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

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Information for scientists by scientists on all things related to stem cell growth including stem cell culture, culture medium, tissue culture, fibroblast growth factor (fgf2) and more.

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

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There's a dark side to stem cells: bogus treatments that prey on patients' hopes when mainstream medicine has little to offer.

Stephen Byer stepped far outside typical medical care when his son, Ben, had ALS. He took Ben to China for stem cell-like treatments, and later helped hundreds of people do the same, believing it would help them.

The unproven procedure could have killed Ben. It didn't -- but it also didn't work. Ben later died of ALS. So did the ALS patients Byer now regrets helping get the treatment.

Why take the chance? For Byer, it started with misleading promises online.

"The Internet, while increasing communication, has spawned a horde of charlatans and creeps," Byer says. "We were suckered into one of the earlier forms of stem cell chicanery."

But not everyone who seeks unapproved stem cell treatments feels ripped off. Even though the stem cell treatments Dawn Gusty got in Tijuana, Mexico, didn't ease her multiple sclerosis, she doesn't look back with regret.

That moment -- when hope surpasses science, and when someone claims to be able to bridge that gap -- may be one of the riskiest for patients to handle. And it's one of the most alarming for stem cell experts.

"It is a very dangerous situation," says Joshua Hare, MD, director of the Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute at the University of Miami.

Make no mistake: Hare is all for scientific stem cell research. His concern, he says, is "hype" that glosses over an inconvenient fact: There are no new approved stem cell therapies.

The danger becomes clear if you Google "stem cell treatment." You'll get search results from clinics in the U.S. and around the world touting stem cell treatments for conditions ranging from baldness to ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease).

People who pursue those treatments "are spending huge sums of money to get therapies that are completely unproven and unlikely to work," Hare says.

Aaron D. Levine, PhD, a Georgia Institute of Technology bioethics professor, agrees. "A lot of companies are claiming they can do things right now the science can't support," Levine says.

But it's happening anyway. Famous athletes and politicians have sought the treatments. So why shouldn't we?

Twice, Dawn Gusty paid $27,000 for stem cell treatments at a clinic in Tijuana, Mexico. Twice, her care there was completely out of step with accepted medical care for her multiple sclerosis.

Twice, the procedure didn't work. Still, Gusty, of Kingston Springs, Tenn., isn't second-guessing herself. She had gone looking for something better than what her U.S. doctors could offer.

"I was being treated by the book, but I am not a textbook case of MS," Gusty tells WebMD. "It was doing no good."

In Tijuana, Gusty got heavy metal chelation , growth hormone shots, drugs to stimulate the production of blood cells, and chemotherapy . Bone marrow drained from her leg was injected directly into her spine, into her muscle, and infused into her bloodstream.

After her first visit, she felt more energetic, although she was disappointed that her condition didn't improve much. After the second treatment, she says she felt "a slight improvement, and then I settled into the same condition I had been in."

Still, she sees a different kind of value in it. "I learned so much," she says. "It changed my direction and put me on the path I am on now. I am not seeing a traditional neurologist, and not taking standard medicine."

The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), a group of established stem cell researchers concerned with the proliferation of unproven treatments, has issued a patient handbook on stem cell therapies.

The ISSCR advises patients to seek only stem cell treatments being tested in clinical trials approved by the FDA (or, if abroad, by a national regulatory agency such as the European Medicines Agency). It also allows for smaller studies approved by an independent Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Review Board (ERB).

The ISSCR lists these warning signs that a stem cell treatment is not legitimate:

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

"One of the notorious signs of an unproven therapy is the claim it will treat anything," Levine says. "A lot of people say we have stem cells that will seek out your ailments and cure them, whatever they are, anything from spinal cord injury to autism to heart disease . It is hard to imagine how a single therapy could really be beneficial for all of these things."

In the U.S., the FDA says "stem cells, like other medical products that are intended to treat, cure, or prevent disease, generally require FDA approval before they can be marketed."

However, treatments may avoid FDA regulation if the stem cells:

Transplanting such cells, clinics argue, is a surgical procedure rather than treatment with a drug or biological product. Licensed doctors can perform such transplants if they deem it medically appropriate for a patient.

"It is a gray area," says Mahendra Rao, MD, PhD, director of the National Institutes of Health's Center for Regenerative Medicine. "If you make too many health claims, it is still illegal. But if you do it correctly and there is validation to your work and you make your claims carefully, it is a surgical procedure not regulated by the FDA."

Because it's a gray area, Rao says, "certain groups try to see what they can drive through this window."

The FDA is stepping up its inspections of U.S. stem cell clinics and defending its actions in federal court. However, people can still find doctors and clinics in the U.S. who offer unproven stem-cell treatments.

"This is a very confusing time for patients. They have two questions: 'Can I do it?' and 'Should I do it?'" Hare says. "If the answer to 'Can I do it?' is yes, patients automatically assume the answer to 'Should I do it?' also is yes. And that can be dangerous."

"If you can't establish the benefits, you should not take the risk," Hare says.

Many stem cell clinics advertise that their procedures are safe. Since they are taking your own cells, concentrating them, and giving them back to you, what could be the harm?

"Let's say the therapy itself is completely neutral, no harm and no foul comes from it. You still are going through a medical procedure, going to a doctor's office, being put under anesthesia, getting liposuction, and then having the material injected back into you. And the first rule doctors learn is that there is no such thing as a benign procedure," Hare says.

Every treatment has some risks. So the question comes down to whether the benefits outweigh the risks. And those studies haven't been done yet.

"The most patients can hope for is that the injection triggers some reaction in their bodies that has some benefit. And that is optimistic," Levine says. "The least-bad risk is financial harm from the costs of these treatments. But patients may also wind up sicker, because one thing about injecting cells is they stay in the body and may not do what they want. It's hard to know how harm is being done, because most of these clinics do not follow up on patients and have little incentive to do so."

Many patients claim they are much better or even cured by unorthodox stem cell treatments -- including some who received the same treatment as Ben Byer.

The procedure he underwent was -- and still is -- being advertised to patients, who must travel to China to get the treatment. It's not advertised as a stem-cell therapy, but uses stem-cell-like cells from aborted fetuses.

"The doctor took the cells, nurtured them in a test tube, and then injected them in two places in the brain and in the spinal cord, way up in a dangerous place," Byer says. "Remarkably, Ben survived the surgery."

Not all unapproved stem-cell treatments involve such risky surgery. A common technique gets stem cells from fat removed via liposuction. That's less risky than brain injections but is not without risk.

Byer, too, thought the early improvement he saw in his son meant the treatment was a success.

"I didn't realize it was a time-constrained benefit and that in a short time, Ben would be back to where he was," Byer says. "And during that short time I set up a whole operation to send literally hundreds of people to China. Even when I saw the benefits diminish over four weeks, and in the weeks after that, I didn't believe it. I told myself he'd recover those benefits. Then I told myself something else. By the time I faced up to it, it was too late."

SOURCES:

Stephen Byer.

Dawn Gusty, Kingston Springs, Tenn.

Joshua Hare, MD, director, Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami.

Mahendra Rao, MD, PhD, director, Center for Regenerative Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.

Aaron Levine, assistant professor, School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta.

Mary Laughlin, MD, professor of medicine, hematology, and oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville; and past president, International Society for Cellular Therapy.

FDA web site.

Sipp, D. Stem Cell Treatment Monitor web site, "More than Minimally Manipulative."

U.S. vs. Regenerative Sciences, LLC: "Order of Permanent Injunction."

News release, Regenexx web site.

IntelliCell web site.

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Stem Cell Treatments: 6 False-Hope Warning Signs

Treatment

The Stem Cell treatment performed at our clinics is a painless medical procedure where Stem Cells (cellular building blocks) are usually administered intravenously and subcutaneously (under the skin). The whole procedure takes approximately one hour and has no known negative side effects.

Following the treatment, the Fetal Stem Cells will travel throughout the body, detecting damaged cells and tissue and attempts to restore them. The Fetal Stem Cells can also stimulate existing normal cells and tissues to operate at a higher level of function, boosting the bodys own repair mechanisms to aid in the healing process. These highly adaptive cells then remain in the body, continually locating and repairing any damage they encounter.

As with any medical treatment, safety should be of the highest priority. The Stem Cells used in our treatment undergo extensive screening for possible infection and impurities.

Utilizing tests more sophisticated than those regularly used in the United States for Stem Cell research and transplant. Our testing process ensures we use only the healthiest cells to enable the safest and most effective Fetal Stem Cell treatment possible. And, unlike other types of Stem Cells, there is no danger of the bodys rejection of Fetal Stem Cells due to the fact they are immune privileged. This means that you can give the cells to any patient without matching, use of immunosuppressive drugs and without rejection. This unique quality eliminates the need for drugs used to suppress the immune system, which can leave a patient exposed to serious infections.

With over 4,000 patients treated, Stem Cell Of America has achieved positive results with a wide variety of illnesses, conditions and injuries. Often, in cases where the diseases continued to worsen, our patients have reported substantial improvements following the Stem Cell treatment.

Patients have experienced favorable developments such as reduction or elimination of pain, increased strength and mobility, improved cognitive function, higher tolerance for chemotherapy, and quicker healing and recovery.

To view follow up letters from patients, please visit the patient experiences page on our website.

All statements, opinions, and advice on this page is provided for educational information only. It is not a substitute for proper medical diagnosis and care. Like all medical treatments and procedures, results may significantly vary and positive results may not always be achieved. Please contact us so we may evaluate your specific case.

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Stem Cell Of America - Breakthrough Stem Cell Treatments ...

The arthritis in Maureen Munsies ankles was so intense until barely a year ago, she literally had to crawl on hands and knees to get upstairs.

The pain, she recalls now, took my breath away, and played havoc with the avid hikers favourite pastime.

In desperation, Munsie turned to a Toronto-area clinic that provides a treatment many experts consider still experimental, unproven and of questionable safety.

The 63-year-old says the stem cells she received at Regenervate Medical Injection Therapy 18 months ago were transformational, all but eliminating the debilitating soreness and even allowing her to hike Argentinas Patagonia mountains two months ago.

For me its been a life saver, Munsie says. Ive been able to do it all again I dont have any of that pain, at all.

Canadians drawn to the healing promise of stem cells have for years travelled outside the country to such places as Mexico, China or Arizona, taking part in a dubious form of medical tourism.

But Regenervate is one of a handful of clinics in Canada that have begun offering injections of stem cells, satisfying growing demand but raising questions about whether a medical idea with huge potential is ready for routine patient care.

Especially when those patients can pay thousands of dollars for the service.

Clinics in Ontario and Alberta are treating arthritis, joint injuries, disc problems and even skin conditions with stem cells typically taken from patients fat tissue or bone marrow.

The underlying idea is compelling: stem cells can differentiate or transform into many other types of cell, a unique quality that evidence suggests allows them to grow or regenerate tissue damaged by disease or injury.

Researchers including hundreds in Canada alone are examining stem-cell treatments for everything from ailing hearts to severed spinal cords.

With few exceptions, however, the concept is still being studied in the lab or in human trials; virtually none of the treatments have been definitively proven effective by science or approved by regulators like Health Canada.

The fact that Canadian clinics are now offering stem-cell treatments commercially is concerning on a number of levels, not least because of safety issues, says Ubaka Ogbogu, a health law professor at the University of Alberta.

Three U.S. women were blinded after receiving stem-cell injections in their eyes, while other American patients have developed bony masses or tumours at injection sites, Ogbogu said.

Stem cells have to be controlled to act exactly the way you want them to act, and thats why the research takes time, he said. It is simply wrong for these clinics to take a proof of concept and run with it.

Ogbogu says Health Canada must crack down on the burgeoning industry but says the regulator has so far been conspicuous by its inaction.

Other experts say the procedures provided here typically for joint pain are likely relatively safe, but still warn that care must be taken that the stem cells do not develop into the wrong type of tissue, or at the wrong place.

Alberta Health Services convened a workshop on the issue late last year, concluding there is an urgent need to develop a certification system for cell preparation and delivery to avoid spontaneous transformation of (stem cells) into unwanted tissue.

But one of the pioneers of the service in Canada says theres no empirical evidence that such growths can develop, and suggests the treatments only real risk as with any invasive procedure is infection.

Meanwhile, patients at Regenervate have enjoyed impressive outcomes after paying fees from $750 to $3,900, says Dr. Douglas Stoddard, the clinics medical director.

About 80 per cent report less pain, stiffness and weakness within a few months of getting their stem-cell injection, he said. His treatments efficacy, though, has not been tested in a randomized controlled trial, the gold-standard scientific study which would compare the injections to a sham or other treatment and identify any placebo effect.

I believe medical progress is not just limited to the laboratory and randomized double-blind trials, Stoddard said. A lot of progress starts in the clinic, dealing with patients You see something works, you see something has merit, and then its usually the scientists that seem to catch up later.

The Orthopedic Sport Institute in Collingwood, Ont., the Central Alberta Pain and Rehabilitation Institute and Cleveland Clinic in Toronto all advertise similar stem-cell treatments for orthopedic problems.

Edmontons Regen Clinic says it plans to start doing so this fall.

Ottawas Innovo says it also treats a range of back conditions with injections between the vertebrae, and uses stem cells to alleviate nerve damage.

Orthopedic Sport says its doctor focuses on FDA and Health Canada approved stem-cell injection therapy for patient care.

In fact, no treatment of the sort the clinics here provide has ever been authorized.

Health Canada says the vast majority of stem-cell therapies would constitute a drug and therefore need to be authorized after a clinical trial or new drug submission.

A number of stem-cell trials are underway, but only one treatment Prochymal has been approved, said department spokesman Eric Morrissette. Designed to combat graft-versus-host disease where bone marrow transplants for treating cancer essentially attack the patients body its unlike any of the services the stem-cell providers here offer.

But as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration aggressively pursues the hundreds of clinics in America, Health Canada says only that its committed to addressing complaints it receives.

It will take action based on the risk posed to the general public, said Morrissette, who encouraged people to pass on to the department information about possible non-compliant products.

Stoddard said the injections his clinics provide are made up of minimally manipulated tissue from patients own bodies and any attempt to crack down would be regulation for the sake of regulation.

But academic experts remain skeptical about the effectiveness of the treatments.

Scientific evidence suggests the injections may help alleviate joint pain temporarily, but probably just because of anti-inflammatory secretions from the cells not regeneration, said Dr. David Hart, an orthopedic surgery professor at the University of Calgary who headed the Alberta workshop.

Theres a need for understanding whats going on here and theres a need for regulation, he said.

Most of the clinics say they use a centrifuge to concentrate the stem cells after removing them from patients fat tissue or bone marrow. But its unclear if the clinics even know how many cells they are eventually injecting into patients, says Jeff Biernaskie, a stem-cell scientist at the University of Calgary.

Munsie, on the other hand, has no doubts about the value of her own treatment, even with a $3,000 price tag.

The procedure from extraction of fat tissue in her behind to the injection of cells into her ankles took barely over an hour.

Within three months, the retired massage therapist from north of Toronto says she could walk her dogs again. Last week, she was hiking near Banff.

Im a real believer in it, and the possibility of stem cells, says Munsie. I just think Wow, if we can heal with our own body, its pretty amazing.

(The story was modified July 6 to clarify lack of clinical-trial evidence for Regenervate procedures.)

tblackwell@nationalpost.com

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Canadian clinics begin offering stem-cell treatments ...