Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Reduce Inflammation

February 26, 2015

Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Reduce Inflammation modulates Regulatory T Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Mesenchymal stem cells are a rare type of cells that are multi-potent and can be isolated from the adipose tissues, bone marrow among other crucial sources. These cells have very unique properties that have seen them become targets of very many medical therapies especially in treating degenerative diseases like aging and even joint diseases like arthritis. These cells have been found to be also very effective in modulating the functions of immune cells, including T cells, B cells, natural killer cells, monocyte or macrophages, dendritic cells, and neutrophils. T cells, activated to perform a range of different effector functions, are the primary mediators of many autoimmune and inflammatory diseases as well as of transplant rejection and graft-versus-host disease. Some of the well-defined T-Cell effector cells include; CD4+ (T helper cell) subsets Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes which are derived from antigen-specific activation of simple CD8+ precursors. In addition, naturally occurring and induced regulatory T cells represent CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell phenotypes that potently suppress effector T cells to prevent autoimmunity, maintain self-tolerance, and limit inflammatory tissue injury. The ability of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells to suppress the effector T-Cells and limit inflammation has made them very effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis which is characterized with inflammations around the joints. Typically, many immune-mediated diseases entail an imbalance between regulatory T cells and effector T cells of one or more phenotypes. Mesenchymal Stem Cells broadly suppress T-cell activation and proliferation in a controlled environment outside of a living organism via (Vitro) a plethora of soluble and cell contact-dependent mediators. These mediators may work in two ways; first they can work directly on T cells or indirectly via modulation of antigen-presenting cells and other accessory cells. Mesenchymal Stem Cells administration has also been shown to be variably associated with beneficial effects in autoimmune and transplant models as well as in several human clinical trials. However, in a small number of studies Mesenchymal Stem Cells administration has been found to heighten T cell-mediated tissue injury. The multiple effects of Mesenchymal Stem Cells on cellular immunity may reflect their diverse influences on the different T-cell effector subpopulations and their capacity to specifically protect or induce regulatory T-cell populations.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Mesenchymal stem cell modulation of T cell-mediated immune responses

To repeat for emphasis, the T cells are the primary cellular effectors of the adaptive immune system and their functional properties are central to antigen specificity and memory associated with cognate immunity, this therefore means that to a greater extent they are responsible for rejection of implanted cells of varied specificity. Antigen-specific activation and differentiation of naïve T cells result in the generation of a range of T-cell phenotypes that may be defined by the acquisition of characteristic cytokine secretion profiles, cytolytic mechanisms, or counter-regulatory properties.

Following antigen-specific adaptive immune responses, a small proportion of activated T cells persist as memory cells and have the capacity to respond more rapidly and potently to secondary encounters with the same antigen. These memory cells may retain the effector phenotype imprinted upon them during primary activation. When these memory cells are appropriately coordinated and regulated, the diversity of T-cell effector phenotypes allows immune protection against a multitude of pathogenic microorganisms while maintaining self-tolerance and homeostasis. On the other hand, over exuberant pro-inflammatory T-cell responses may lead to auto-immune and allergic diseases, including multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, type 1 diabetes mellitus, and asthma. Therefore it is crucial to have a modulatory strategy on the effector T-cells. Furthermore, life-saving treatments such as allogeneic bone marrow and solid organ transplantation may be complicated by alloantigen-specific T-cell immune responses, resulting in graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) or transplant rejection.

Study finding

Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Inflammation In a research study done at School of Medicine, University of Seville, Seville, Spain by Gonzalez-Rey E, Gonzalez MA, Varela N, O’Valle F, Hernandez-Cortes P, Rico L, Büscher D, and Delgado M it was found that human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells suppressed the antigen-specific response of T cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells inhibited the proliferative response and the production of inflammatory cytokines by collagen-activated CD4 and CD8 T cells. On the contrary, the numbers of IL10-producing T cells and monocytes were significantly augmented upon human adipose stem cell treatment. The suppressive activity of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells was cell-to-cell contact dependent and independent. Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells also stimulated the generation of FoxP3 protein-expressing CD4 (+) CD25 (+) regulatory T cells, with the capacity to suppress collagen-specific T cell responses. Lastly, human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells down regulated the inflammatory response and the production of matrix-degrading enzymes by synovial cells isolated from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The study had sought to find out the immunosuppressive activity of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells on collagen-reactive T cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The method used involved investigating the effects of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells on collagen-reactive RA human T cell proliferation and cytokine production as well as effects on the production of inflammatory mediators by monocytes and fibroblast-like synoviocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Stem cell therapy is a promising approach to treatment of degenerative diseases like arthritis but still you will need an expert in degenerative medicine. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) an expert in integrative and regenerative medicine will be able to help. Visit us at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Centre at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Reduce Inflammation modulates Regulatory T Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Entertainment Industry and Relationship to Alcohol Addiction

December 18, 2014

People Employed In the Arts, In the Leisure and Hospitality Prone To Drinking

Many people indulge in drinking of alcohol as leisure. Most people have only evenings and weekends to grab their bottles of alcohol and feel the fun. However there are other people who have all the time they want and can engage in alcohol drinking at any time of the day without this affecting their work relationships or at least they will not face such stiff penalties for drinking alcohol during working hours such as suspension and loss of job. This group that enjoys the freedom to drink alcohol whenever they want and as much as they want are those employed in the arts, in the leisure and hospitality.

George Washington University Medical Center researchers compared the alcoholism rates of various professions. It was found that people who are employed in Arts, leisure and hospitality tops the chart at 15 percent. This group is followed closely by construction and mining at 14.7, retail at 9.7, finance and real estate tied at 9.2, and transportation at 8.2. At only 7.2 percent, professional hunters and fishermen are less than half as likely as artists to be alcoholics. For education, health, social services, it’s 5.4 percent. Public administrators trail the pack at 5.3 percent.

Alcohol addiction

This research however did not give reasons why people employed as artists, in leisure and hospitality engaged more in drinking alcohol than all the other work groups. It is therefore safe to give personal opinion to why these people drink more than any other work group. Here are some of the reasons why those who are employed in art, leisure and hospitality drink alcohol more than those who are employed as teachers, health workers and even those who offer social services.

Most of them own their Jobs

The reason why teachers, health workers and other public servants do not engage more in drinking is because they do not own their jobs and have to abide with certain stipulated codes of conduct failure to which they will lose their jobs. Public servants have nothing special that can make them not drink as much as artists but the fact that they are employed and must please their employers at all times leaves them with only weekends and evenings to drink and revel.

Public servants are also expected to be the eyes of their profession. In that they ought to paint their profession in a manner that it will be respected by the society. School teachers bear this pressure that they have to be seen as role models by the students they teach and no student will have a drunkard scholar as a role model.

Artists are generally rich

Artists are known to earn much out of their little effort. Take for example an athlete like Usain Bolt who will run few seconds yet earn millions from it. He therefore has too much to spend as compared to a teacher who will work an entire month and still will be left with very little to spare. I am not trying to say that the rich generally drinks more than the poor but the nature of an athlete’s profession leaves him with all the reasons to celebrate as compared to other professional who have nothing to celebrate about their jobs but are merely glued to their jobs just because they need to earn a living from it.

Nature of their work

Where do musicians perform? In offices where only water can be drawn from a dispenser? No most artistes work in places where alcohol is the most available beverage. They perform in bars and clubs where alcohol is just meters away. He lives with the alcohol as he is working but the social workers and other civil servants do not have that immediate access to alcohol as much as the artistes and those working in hospitality. There are people who began working in the hospitality industry when they were not taking alcohol but due to the exposure they got they began indulging in alcohol. You may think it is a choice you make irrespective of where you are but the exposure to alcohol may have a great influence on you.

Addiction

Merrymaking Culture

The salient characteristic of hospitality industry is the merrymaking culture. Drinking alcohol and merrymaking are identical twins therefore it only suits the situation that people working in these areas embrace the culture. You will always be attracted to work where you feel you will enjoy the benefits of such work and that is why most people working in hospitality industry are heavy drinkers. Another reason for their drinking is that they have flexible working time that allows them to create time for their bottle.

Peer influence

In the entertainment industry is where you will find varied trends ranging from hairstyle to dressing code. This influence does not only end in dressing code and appearance of an artist but also in their behaviors. You will find that most upcoming musicians will ape the way of life their roles models live and since most of the artists are drinkers these upcoming artistes grow up knowing that as the norm and embracing it.

Alcoholism is a vice that should be fought by all means that is why we at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are committed to availing help to addicts and offering them a place to call home. It does not matter what kind of addiction you are wrestling with right now, just call on Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) today and begin your journey to victory against addiction.

People Employed In the Arts, In the Leisure and Hospitality Prone To Drinking

Vampire Facelift® Who is the Nominees for a Vampire Facelift®

August 18, 2014

Nominees for Vampire Facelift® – The Actual Evaluation

It is important to ascertain the nominees for Vampire Facelift® since those using other substances may not achieve the best result in relation to those not using substances

Vampire Facelift® is not for everyone. People with more advanced signs of aging may benefit from surgical treatment or Botox applications. People with less visible signs of aging may benefit from using less extensive non-surgical procedures like hyaluronic acid fillers and platelet-rich plasma alone. A personal consultation with an accredited provider like Dr. Dalal Akoury is the best way to determine if The Vampire Facelift® is right for you.

Vampire Facelift® on Smokers

Cigarette smoke interferes with the body’s growth factors and with tissue healing and regeneration. If you do smoke (open the smoking section for more on addiction), The Vampire Facelift® will not produce the same results in relation to a non-smoker. It is therefore advisable that smokers may be better off with hyaluronic acid filler application like Restylane or Juvederm rather than using platelet-rich fibrin matrix.

Vampire Facelift® can be combined with Other Procedures

The Vampire Facelift® can be done in conjunction with wrinkle treatments such as Botox or Dysport. Call on Dr. Dalal Akoury who is an experience expert in this discipline to help you determine what complementary procedures are right for your individual case, and with her advice you can develop a plan you will comfortable with.

Does this have anything to do with stem cells?

The growth factors activate your own adult stem cells in and under the skin. This stem cell activity results in:

Skin quality improvement
Improved Blood Flow and Blood Supply
New Collagen
New Tissue

How is the procedure done?

The key ingredient for the Vampire Facelift® is platelet-rich fibrin matrix, which is derived from the patient’s own blood before being mixed with other factors.

These properties enable platelet-rich fibrin matrix as an ideal natural serum for rejuvenating facial skin quality, with increased collagen production, blood supply, and new skin and fatty tissue generation; creating the youthful appearance that comes with generating new, healthier skin.

A small amount of blood is collected from the patient’s arm
The platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is detached or separated by spinning the patient’s blood through a centrifuge.
The PRP is combined with a filler to create the longer lasting platelet-rich fibrin matrix (PRFM).
A topical cream is applied on the patient face for numbness
After 30 minutes the gel is injected in different areas of the face.

How do you get my blood?

This is done in the same way a normal blood test blood sample would be taken by a medical staff. The blood is processed so the platelets (cells which stimulate collagen for healing) are separated from the red blood cells and the detached material is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and how soon after the Vampire Facelift® procedure can one go back to work? This procedure has been nick named a “lunchtime lift” because recovery is typically minimal meaning that you can expect some redness and minimal bruising.

How long does the Vampire Facelift® last?

The renewal effect of the procedure continues for the first few months and depending on the individual’s response, the effects can last for over a year. Dr. Akoury can help with follow up visits at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center to evaluate your results and customize your plan.

Difference between a Vampire Facelift® and a facelift

Many people go for the Vampire Facelift® because it’s a non-surgical procedure. The term “facelift” when used in the context of the “Vampire Facelift®” describes how volume placed artistically under the skin can “lift” the skin away from the bony structure creating a more youthful appearance and as age catches with you, the fat under the skin decreases making the person look more hollow whereas facelift is a surgical procedure to reposition sagging cheeks and skin to improve the face, jawline and neck. Majority are hesitant to have surgery because of the risks of anesthesia and the healing process.

Vampire Facelift® or Vampire Facial®

In contrast to the Vampire Facelift®, the Vampire Facial® does not use any filler. The purpose of the Vampire Facial® is to enhance the benefits of micro needling with a device such as the Dermapen by applying PRP (platelet-rich plasma) during and after the micro needling process.

Dr. Akoury customizes the depth and the rate at which the micro needling is done in order to get the most benefit from the treatment for each patient making her the most sort for professional to carry out this exercise, you can therefore join the list of people who have been satisfactorily treated by this able and highly experienced expert by calling to book for an appointment today.

Vampire Facelift® or Synthetic Fillers

Unlike other injectable such as Artefill, the Vampire Facelift® is natural because it uses the patient’s own healing and growth factors collected from their own blood to revitalize the face along with hyaluronic acid filler.

There is a well-documented synergistic benefit from the use of hyaluronic acid filler with platelet-rich plasma in wound healing. Synthetic fillers alone have not shown this benefit and have other risks which make hyaluronic acid the preferred filler for the Vampire Facelift®. Botox is different than dermal fillers as it’s a neurotoxin which decreases muscle activity by affecting nerves which stimulate a particular muscle.

Is the Vampire Facelift® considered a “liquid facelift?”

The term “liquid facelift” was used to describe the use of several different types of injectable to enhance a person’s appearance. This means that the Vampire Facelift® is a type of “liquid facelift”.

Various type of fillers can be used to get some of the effect of a facelift, from Botox to using your own fat (referred to as fat transfer or fat grafting). Depending on your personal situation, a liquid facelift might be a better option than a facelift, which can still be considered in the future.

How much does the Vampire Facelift® cost?

The liquid facelift cost is dependent on Dr. Akoury’s evaluation of your needs. It’s important that you have a proper evaluation to determine if you are a candidate. Some patients also combine The Vampire Facelift® with other facial procedures. The cost will also vary if you prefer a facial instead this you can discuss with doctor Dalal Akoury on call after proper evaluation is done.

The benefit of the Vampire Facelift® continues over time after the procedure as the growth factors in the blood stimulate the body to create collagen and new blood vessels that result in enhancing facial skin. Dr. Akoury is a renowned practitioner of the Vampire Facelift®.Schedule your consultation with Dr. Akoury today for your treatment to commence timely.

Vampire Facelift® – The Actual Nominees for Evaluation

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