Current Stem Cell Treatments for Orthopedic Conditions

March 8, 2015

Current Stem Cell Treatments for Orthopedic Conditions

The stem cells have a unique ability to divide and become more specialized cells forming cells like bone, blood, or muscle. It is this ability that makes them attractive agents in many areas of medicine. They can therefore be used to fight very many diseases in the regenerative medicine. Another advantage of stem cell therapy treatments is that autologous stem cell transport is made possible. This means that a person may be treated by doctors harvesting the stem cells from the patient and having the stem cells reimplanted into the same patient after finding out what was lacking in the patient. This reduces risks of infection as well as rejection which are helpful to the patient.

Today the stem cell therapy has become the game changing approach to treatment of orthopedic conditions. The ability of these stem cells to differentiate into more specialized cells has made them a valuable target in treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. Particularly the use of bone marrow stromal cells has attracted the attention of researchers who are in pursuit of finding out how these stem cells can be applied to end human misery caused by some diseases.

Stem cells are a unique type of cells, unlike the other cells in the body the stem cell have the ability to self-renew, they have the ability to divide several times giving rise to differentiated cells which are suited for specific functions hence can be used to replace or regenerate worn out cells in the body causing pain and discomfort. They can form cardiac, liver, fat, bone, cartilage, nerve, and connective tissue cells among other more specialized cells. Autologous stem cell therapy harnesses the regenerative power of your body’s own stem cells as a treatment option for degenerative orthopedic conditions.

body_skeleton

Today there are hospitals that have embraced the use of stem cells therapy in treating orthopedic conditions that were rather not easily treated in the past. They offer this autologous stem cell therapy, which embraces the regenerative power of mesenchymal stem cells to give patients another treatment option for dealing with orthopedic conditions such as osteoarthritis and other degenerative joint conditions. Patients who have the following diseases can benefit from stem cell therapy;

Degenerative Joint Changes, Including Osteoarthritis
Disc-related Back Pain
Meniscus Tears
Non-Union Fractures
Avascular Necrosis
Bone Loss
Cartilage Defects
Osteonecrosis
Tendonopathies

Orthopedic Areas in which Stem Cell Therapy is applicable

Spine – the stem cell therapy is applicable in treatment of the degenerated intervertebral disk which is known to cause pain and morbidity to many patients. The stem cell therapy brings into the field of regenerative medicine some bits of effectiveness. In treatment of spine, patients who fail to respond to conservative medicine are left with one option-surgery that may have limited success and is also very invasive. Cell-based tissue treatments, including mesenchymal stem cell injections for degenerative disc subjects have been shown to diminish the incidence of low back pain, with clinical results noting improvement in back pain and regeneration of the disc tissue. In cases where spinal fusions are necessary, the use of stem cells through bone marrow aspirate has shown greater success in obtaining fusion through bone formation as compared to standard fusion techniques. Daily the number of institutions using the stem cell therapy to treat orthopedic conditions is increasing.

Articular Cartilage – when the articular cartilage is damaged, the potential to repair it are limited and this can often lead to arthritic diseases many years later. This damage may be caused by injury. The vulnerability of the articular cartilage makes it important for it to be well handled in cases of injury. studies that have been done on the applicability of the stem cell therapy to repair damaged articular cartilage have shown that stem cell therapy have favorable outcomes in this area than current techniques of micro fracture and autologous chondrocyte implantation. Most studies use mesenchymal stem cells derived from the bone marrow.

Osteonecrosis – Osteonecrosis or avascular ischemia of the hip can be associated with progression to an advanced arthritic joint. Standard treatment for osteonecrosis has included cord decompression with limited results. Stem cell therapy holds key to success in this area of orthopedic treatment. Studies on this area have shown that patients treated with mesenchymal stem cells improved than those treated with cord decompression.

Bone – some damages on the bone may require transplantation of the bone plus other bone components. This is the effective way of restoring the bone structure. Being that the mesenchymal stem cells can be differentiated into bone cells and be used to replace the damaged bone components, stem cell therapy becomes the most appropriate treatment for bone damage.

Tendons and Ligaments – Autografts, allografts, and resorbable materials have been used to repair defects in tendons and ligaments however these methods puts the life of the patient at risk which may include formation of scars, donor morbidity and even tissue rejection. With autologous stem cell transplant all these risks are alleviated plus the mesenchymal stem cells may also be used alongside tissue allografts as this gives better results by improving the biochemical properties of the tissue allografts.

Stem cell therapy is a promising treatment for orthopedic diseases; you may tap into the unique medicinal properties of the stem cells to help you beat orthopedic conditions. Visit us at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Centre at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) an expert in integrative and regenerative medicine will be able to help.

Current Stem Cell Treatments for Orthopedic Conditions

Stem Cell Therapy May Offer an Effective Parkinson’s Disease Treatment

March 7, 2015

Stem Cell Therapy May Offer an Effective Parkinson’s Disease Treatment

The Parkinson’s disease has affected many people in the past and it still startles to know that this disease is still affecting millions of people across the globe. Doctors have been treating only the symptoms of this disease as there is no known cure of the Parkinson’s disease. Recently there has been lots of research on the field of integrative regenerative medicine to help in treatment of this disease. The stem cell therapy is one of the ways that have been investigated by researchers to establish if there is a possibility of this disease having a known cure which is effective.

Despite the fact that the Parkinson’s disease has no known cure, the cause of this disease is known. This disease is caused by the continued loss of dopamine-producing cells in the brain. Dopamine is a crucial brain chemical that helps to regulate movement and emotional responses among other functions.

When a person is suffering from this disease, he will suffer deficiency of dopamine. The Parkinson’s disease is known to target and kill dopamine-producing nerve cells, or neurons, in part of the brain called the substantia nigra. The effects of Parkinson’s disease on the nerve cells of the brain may be the reason for such problems in sleeping, motivation and thinking that Parkinson’s disease is known for but also it has been linked to the linked to the formation of clumps of a protein called alpha-synuclein in the brain. These abnormal protein clumps are called Lewy bodies and are dangerous in the body.

Continued death of the nerve cells results in Parkinson’s patients developing tremors and rigidity, as well as slowed movements. Other conditions that these patients will suffer from as a result of continued death of the nerve cells in the brain includes depression, sleeping disorders, dementia and even constipation. However dementia may be suffered at a much later stage when the damage on the nerve cells has spread widely. They may also lose their sense of smell.

Parkinson’s Disease

Due to the fact that depletion of dopamine causes Parkinson’s disease, doctors have been utilizing treatments that are useful in boosting the levels of dopamine din the brain. One of the most commonly used treatments is the use of a drug known as the Levodopa. This drug has been in use since 1960s when it was discovered. It works in a manner that supplements dopamine levels as it converts into dopamine while in the body. In this case the drug Levodopa stands in for the damaged neurons that ought to produce dopamine. Currently there are also other drugs that are used as dopamine to stimulate the nerve endings. Patients may also go through some therapies and put on special diets all aimed at improving the dopamine levels. In case the disease has advanced a patient may have to be treated through surgeries which may include deep brain stimulation with implanted electrodes. however, the treatments that have been mentioned above only work to mitigate on the effects of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease but do not slow down or reverse the damage that the disease cause on the nerve cells in the brain. It has also been reported that even with the above treatments it reaches a time when the patient’s condition will deteriorate. There has also been a problem with early detection of the disease as mostly the disease is diagnosed lately after a patient has lost most of his dopamine and the nerve cells in the brain are already damaged. It is with the view of seeking a whole treatment for the disease that scientists began research on the ability of the stem cells to treat Parkinson’s disease.

The stem cell therapy may help

Parkinson’s disease is a dark medical field, its immediate cause isn’t known but scientists have today known which part of the brain is affected by this disease as well as the cells that are often affected by the disease. the stem cells which are known replicate several times giving rise to new cells are already being used to grow dopamine producing nerve cells in laboratories to aid the study of this disease. The stem cells are majorly used in the labs when the genetic cause of the disease is known. The disease destroys cells but through stem cells therapy, the damaged cells can be replaced by healthy new cells of the same type.

Research studies of 1980-90s bred hope

Parkinson's Disease In 1980-90s researchers worked to find out if the cell replacement therapy could be used to quell the harmful effects of the Parkinson’s disease. The findings of these researchers have since been a foundation upon which current researchers increase the scope of their study on the effects of cell replacement therapy on the Parkinson’s disease. Particularly, Swedish, American and Canadian researchers have transplanted the developing nigral dopamine-producing neurons from human fetuses into animals and human patients with Parkinson’s disease. In these studies there were some great improvements while in other cases there were only modest changes.

A new study has since resurfaced. This study is much larger in scope and will include clinical trials. The study titled TRANSEURO aims at addressing the issues of consistency in efficacy as well as reduction in side effects associated with stem cell transplant. There is optimism that stem cell transplant to replace the damaged nerve cells could help in fighting this disease. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) is an expert in integrative medicine and a founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Center located at Myrtle Beach South Caroline. Visit her for more information on most lifestyle diseases.

Stem Cell Therapy May Offer an Effective Parkinson’s Disease Treatment

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Stem Cell Therapy Used By Pro Athletes to Heal Injuries

March 6, 2015

Stem Cell Therapy Used By Pro Athletes to Heal Injuries

The intriguing medicinal abilities of the stem cell therapy seem to have got embraced by athletes. today there are athletes who are using the stem cell therapy to help heal joint related injuries that they get in the course of playing their games and ultimately reduce their ability to play as well as they ought to. Stem cell therapy seems to be a game changing strategy in treating injuries that would rather be complicated treating with surgery alone. however despite the known benefits of the stem cell therapy and its exceptional relief it offers to patients given that it is the most versatile approach to treatment of diseases, It has not got into mainstream medical treatments for sports medicine and most of the time the teams do not pay for the costs incurred by athletes who opt to get treated through the stem cell therapy needless to mention it is still not recognized in the US. Despite these some athletes have chosen to tap into the immense potential of stem cell therapy to heal their respective injuries.

Chris Johnson, 28 is one of the many of NFL players who have opted to have their injuries a stem cell therapy treatment having heard of the amazing potential of the stem cell therapy when he visited orthopedic surgeon James Andrews in January, 2014 to fix his ailing left knee. Johnson had suffered a torn meniscus while in action for the Titans. When Dr. James Andrews presented him with the idea of stem cell therapy he decided to give it a try.

Knee injuries

“When I tore my meniscus and played the season out, through the wear and tear, I lost a lot of cartilage,” says Johnson, who was signed by the Jets to bring explosiveness to their offense. “When you put the stem cells in, it might be able to help rebuild that cartilage in your knee. Hopefully, it makes your knee better for even more years.” he adds.

Having agreed to have the therapy done, Johnson had stem cells siphoned from bone marrow with along needle from the iliac crest of his pelvis and had these stem cells injected directly on his injured knee. This was done with hopes that the stem cells will not only work as anti-inflammatory agents but also hasten the healing of the knee by repairing the torn meniscus.

Stem cell therapy is popular among NFL Players

Evidently, Johnson is not the only athletes who have used the stem cell therapy to heal his injury. Another Pro athlete, Peyton Manning is reported to have tried a stem-cell treatment in Europe in 2011, which was his final year with the Colts with an aim of fast-tracking his recovery from neck surgery. another athlete, Prince Amukamara, Giants cornerback had a slow-healing broken metatarsal treated with stem cells by a foot specialist in North Carolina after his team’s Super Bowl XLVI run. One NFL linebacker paid $6,000 a pop for a 1-milliliter vial of donated placenta tissue containing stem cells to be injected into each of his beat-up knees this offseason but asked for his name not to be used in this story because he didn’t tell his team’s medical staff. This shows how amazing the stem cell therapy is in view of these pro-athletes.

It is reported that stem cell therapy has become more popular with NFL athletes, as it now stands, of the 32 teams, hundreds of the players have got stem cell treatment for their various injuries. This averages to six players per team which is impressive, however the stem cell therapy is still not a mainstream treatment and it still is somehow a shadow that is not understood by many. however, evidence of the stem cell therapy’s usefulness in treating athletes’ injuries is so far largely anecdotal, NFL teams often will not pick up the bill for players, and the overseas market for treatments not approved in the U.S. makes the whole field seem somewhat taboo but this has not discouraged the athletes which may mean that they have seen some benefits with the therapy.

Knee injuries The sports doctors have been recently pushing for the NFL teams to pick the bills that athletes incur while getting the stem cell therapy and to shun this view of stem cell therapy as farfetched. Dr. Andrews who is an expert in biologics – term refers to substances that are produced in living systems such as humans, animals and microorganisms, rather than manufactured like drugs is an important in this push. it is expected that when the US embraces the stem cell treatment for the athletes then the sport doctors like Dr. Andrews will be able to offer their star-studded clientele more of these treatments more effectively in the U.S. in this agenda the retired NFL players will be studied to prove how well the stem cell therapy works in treating arthritis of the knee, this is a more regenerating approach to treatment of injuries.

“We have had one big revelation in sports medicine over the last 50 years, and that was the arthroscope,” Andrews says. “I’ve been looking for the next wave, and I think the biologics, particularly stem-cell therapy and enhancement of the healing properties, will be it.”

“We’ve been saying that since the new decade of this new millennium, so we’re already behind.” he concludes.

Finally, Stem cell therapy is a promising treatment for orthopedic diseases; you may tap into the unique medicinal properties of the stem cells to help you beat orthopedic conditions. Visit us at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Centre at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) an expert in integrative and regenerative medicine will be able to help.

Stem Cell Therapy Used By Pro Athletes to Heal Injuries

PRP And Stem Cells For Facial Rejuvenation Seekers

March 5, 2015

Stem Cell and PRP Presents a Better Choice for Facial Rejuvenation Seekers

Looks are important part of the general appearance. You can dress modestly but still appear like some old zombie and that may affect your confidence levels greatly. But there are ways through which you can retain your confidence levels above the sea level and still look young even as ages pass. One of the ways through which you can regain or better yet maintain good looks and that young face is through facial rejuvenation. Being a new term to many readers, it is surely necessary to begin with it’s meaning; Facial rejuvenation is a cosmetic treatment or series of cosmetic treatments, which can restore a youthful appearance to the human face. Facial rejuvenation can be achieved through either surgical or non-surgical options and at times a facial rejuvenation may include both surgical and non-surgical procedures. The different types of facial rejuvenation vary in invasiveness and depth of treatment. A person will also have to put in consideration the possible side effects that may emanate from facial rejuvenation procedures that they choose. Surgical procedures can restore facial symmetry through targeted procedures and facial restructuring and skin alterations. Non-surgical procedures can target specific depths of facial structures and treat localized facial concerns such as wrinkles, skin laxity, hyperpigmentation and scars. As we age we lose some of the fine facial features, there might be loss of volume and skin integrity and this may result in such problems as; Dehydrated skin, Lip and frown lines, Deep depressions around the nose and mouth, Overall loss of healthy, youthful skin texture and tone, Volume loss in the cheeks, Sagging around the jaw line and even Crow’s feet. Aging is a natural process during which the face may become longer and rectangular as natural beautiful curves begin to deform. However aging process maybe hastened by genetic factors, facial expressions, poor diet and even smoking. Exposure to sunlight may also cause sunburn among other problems to the face.

Facial Rejuvenation

PRP for facial Rejuvenation

There are myriad ways that doctors have put in use before to try to help in facial rejuvenation. Some of these methods may offer temporary solutions but it is also important not to overlook some potential side effects that may emanate from the use of these methods. It is good to note that your body has the power of regeneration and healing of tissue in all parts of your skin including the face. Stem cells do this every day during your life. As stated in earlier articles, Stem cells are unprogrammed cells in the human body that have the ability to shift shape; they can be turned into different cells and used to replace the damaged cells causing problems. It is the ability of the stem cells to differentiate into other types of cells that have gave them the medicinal qualities that doctors are now using in facial rejuvenation as well as in treatment of other diseases. Through the use of stem cell therapy the face cells that have been exposed to oxidative stress resulting into wrinkles can be replaced with healthy ones restoring the natural aesthetic facial curves.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is very practical approach to facial rejuvenation. It involves rejuvenating the skin with your own blood. the effectiveness of the PRP facial rejuvenation is owed to the healing power which platelet have and growth factors in your blood to stimulate the response of stem cells. The procedure works by simply stimulating healing, growth and regeneration in the entire face region. Naturally, platelets have been known to play a critical role in the healing process. Therefore, their introduction to the damaged region triggers the natural healing process. Furthermore, the platelet-rich plasma that is introduced in the region stimulates the activity of stem cells, another important aspect of natural healing and regeneration. The stem cells assist in the formation of new collagen and blood vessels, regeneration and improvement of damaged skin and thus slow down and reverse the signs of aging.

Unlike surgical facial rejuvenation, Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is an extract of your own blood that contains three to five times more platelets, growth factors, and active proteins for tissue and injury healing. This in itself reduces the chances of them getting fought by antibodies; PRP is also safer than most surgical facial rejuvenation procedures. The medicinal properties of PRP are well known as it has been used for years now to hasten healing of wounds, repair damaged tendons and ligaments, healing diabetic ulcers and even to hasten the growth of muscles and bones. The PRP is introduced into the skin through injection and it initiates a localized stem cell response that results in production of fibroblasts which are collagen producing cells. These fibroblasts replace the damaged tissues through aging with healthy skin that is rejuvenated.

If you are interested in rejuvenating your face, PRP is a good way to go as it is safe and has few side effects that may last only for a week. These side effects may include mild swelling and bruising. Since the PRP is extracted from your own blood, there is no risk of disease transmission, allergic or immune reaction. As with all cosmetic procedures, however, there are certain health conditions, such as autoimmune and blood disorders, that may limit its use. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD), founder of the AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center Located at Myrtle Beach, North Caroline is an expert in the treatment of degenerative diseases. Call on her for help.

Stem Cell and PRP Presents a Better Choice for Facial Rejuvenation Seekers

Stem Cell Therapy Is Non-Invasive Safe and Gives Fast Results

March 4, 2015

Stem Cell Therapy Is Non-Invasive Safe and Gives Fast Results

Stem cell therapy is an option to patients with degenerative diseases but would rather have treatments that are non-invasive. in fact the very nature in which stem cells work makes it a better option to patients as it has few risks and side effects are rarely life threatening (if there is). The stem cell therapy is applicable to those fighting aging, autism, diabetes, orthopedic conditions among other diseases. autologous stem cell transplant allows the cells harvested from a patient to be used in the same patient in fact on the day, this is because the mesenchymal stem cells that have the ability to form more differentiated cells like bone cells , liver cells, heart cells, muscle cells among other are available in enough amounts in the adipose tissues as well as in the bone marrow therefore there is no need to keep the harvested cells in the petri dish in the laboratory to be cultured so as to be able to serve a desired purpose. They can be harvested on the same day and be reimpplanted into the target area in the patient’s body on the same day. Autologous stem cell transfer is a safe and effective procedure and strategy to treatment of diseases since the cells used are from the patient and therefore there is no risk of donor shortage, donor morbidity, cell rejection and even contacting diseases from the donor.

stem cell therapy

Autologous stem cell therapy is non-invasive and gives fast results

Autologous stem cell transplant refers to a case where the stem cells harvested are from the patient to be treated. Normally, the body has stem cells in the bone marrow, in muscle tissues and also in the adipose tissues. These stem cells turn into red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets to help your body stay healthy. However there are situations when the amount of stem cells in the body is not enough to keep you healthy. This may be caused by some diseases like multiple myeloma or by aging. When this happens there will be need for supplementing the amounts of the stem cells so that they can be able to offer protection to your body. This calls for stem cell transplant which may be done by placing healthy stem cells in the patients’ body through an IV to restore the normal functions of the stem cells. At times the stem cells may be harvested from outside the body especially from placentas after successful normal delivery, but mostly the stem cells are harvested from the patients’ body since autologous transplant is safer and time saving. Autologous stem cell transplant is safer since the cells are from the body and therefore there is no risk of them getting rejected neither to induce unpleasant allergic reaction. Autologous stem cell transplantation may provide the best outcome for patients, since autologous cells are readily available and do not entail prolonged hospital stays or sustained immunotoxic therapy. Among autologous adult stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells therapy has been applied with varying degrees of success in both animal models and in clinical trials.

Stem cell therapy tackles myriads of ailments

The medicinal properties of the stem cells have seen it being used for treatment of myriad ailments or as therapy for many diseases that are not even treatable. for the cases of these diseases that are not treatable the stem cell therapy helps to alleviate on the dangerous symptoms of the diseases and offer comfort as well as lengthen the lives of those who are victims of these diseases. needless to mention , the stem cell therapy has become a crucial component of regenerative medicine with many researchers still working around the subject to find out how its applicability can be useful in treating lifestyle diseases that have become a problem to this generation and many generations to come. The stem cell therapy has been proposed as an effective therapy in cases of autism, diabetes, arthritis and cancer among other diseases.

Mesenchymal stem cells holds key to regenerative medicine

Researchers have found a specific stem cell type to be very important in stem cell therapy to fight aging and other degenerative diseases as well as orthopedic conditions. These stem cells that are considered to be the most important are known as the mesenchymal stem cells. The Mesenchymal stem cells are found in the bone marrow, the circulating blood as well as in adipose tissues. Mesenchymal stem cells are the most important stem cells for orthopedic purposes as they help to repair and replace damaged tissues hence restoring the cell functions.

The Mesenchymal stem cells are very helpful, however as a person ages the number of mesenchymal stem cells in the bone marrow gets depleted and this is what results in aging and increases a person’s chances of suffering from joint diseases and other orthopedic conditions. It is therefore very logical to go through a stem cell therapy as an anti-aging procedure that will also help on mitigating on the adverse effects of aging. Today these stem cells have now become an integral part of regenerative medicine. there is a lot that can be done with stem cell therapy, Visit us at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Centre at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) an expert in integrative and regenerative medicine will let you know how you can benefit from stem cell therapy.

Stem Cell Therapy Is Non-Invasive Safe and Gives Fast Results

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