Category Archives: Women Health

Stem Cell Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorders

March 2, 2015

Stem Cell Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorders

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 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. Autism spectrum disorders are complex neurodevelopmental disorders. This term refers to a heterogeneous group of varied conditions characterized by dysfunctions in social interactions, skills, and communication, restricted interests, and repetitive stereotypic verbal and non-verbal behaviors, influencing the ability to relate to others. Cognitive, emotional and neurobehavioral abnormalities characterize the core symptoms. The prevalence of these disorders has dramatically increased in the last years, with present rates of 1 in every 88 children aged 8 years in the United States, according to Centers for Disease Control.

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism Spectrum Disorders are presumed to be a lifelong disability with multiple impacts on child and adult health. Without a doubt, adult autistic individuals show limited independence because of their learning disability. Adult patients of autism spectrum disorders experience problems in communication. They are not able to read and write well. They’ve got poor comprehension of whatever they read. Apart from impaired communication, they also exhibit stereotyped behaviors and restricted interests. The children affected require special and intensive parental, school, and social support without which coping with the condition may become a nightmare. Autism Spectrum Disorders results in a substantial impact not only on the person’s quality of life but also that of their family. Autism Spectrum Disorders patients are not very easy to take care of, apart from their impaired social behavior, the cost of caring for them is so high. It is estimated that the cost of caring for a single person suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorders for a life time is $3.2 million, therefore this disease by all means is a global problem that should be prioritized and fought from all fronts.

Though the most salient symptoms of these diseases is seen in the cognitive, emotional and neurobehavioral abnormalities, Autism Spectrum Disorders are also characterized by a broad range of biochemical, toxicological and immune involvement, including oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, decreased methylation capacity, limited production of glutathione, mitochondrial dysfunction, intestinal dysbiosis, increased toxic metal burden, and immune dysregulations including autoimmunity. Due to these complex problems there has never been any effective medication for autism spectrum disorders that has shown dependable level of efficacy. Today there are only few medications that are licensed by FDA for treating autism related disorders. Needless to emphasize these medications that are available in pharmacies such as anti-psychotics have failed to address the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorders. These medications are quite palliative and have potential adverse effects on the user. For this reason there are other alternative treatments of Autism Spectrum Disorders that have since surfaced. these may include; behavioral, nutritional, and biomedical approaches therefore this creates a vacuum that can be filled with effective therapies like the stem cell therapy but still there is need for more research that a better treatments for this disorder can be found. Despite medical technology advancements it is good to be blunt, Autism spectrum disorders are still untreatable pathologies. Mesenchymal stem cells possess the immunological properties which make them promising candidates as a novel therapeutic option but there is no single therapy that has been found that can treat autism spectrum disorders.

This is how stem cell therapy works for autism

Autism Spectrum DisordersAs mentioned earlier Stem cells are precursors of all cells and are capable of forming cells of other types hematopoietic, nervous and cardiovascular system, endocrine organs, bone, cartilage and muscle tissue. It is with this ability of stem cells to shift shape that it can be harnessed to help treat autism. Early animal studies have shown that stem cells isolated from umbilical cord blood can stimulate cells in the spinal cord to regrow their myelin layers, and in doing so help restore connections with surrounding cells. Autism is thought to result from impaired connectivity in the brain. Because of this, it is practical to apply this therapy on patients with autism spectrum disorders besides Mesenchymal stem cells can regulate the immune system. the mesenchymal stem cells can also help to reverse inflammatory conditions and perhaps this is why very many institutions in the US and across the globe have been doing trials on ability of the stem cells to treat even Cohn’s disease which is a condition resembling the gut inflammation in autistic children. Autism is a serious disease that should be prioritized by the public health stakeholders plus you also need information on how to leave with this disease, 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 Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorders

 

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Safe Autologous Stem Cell Transplant for Diabetes

March 1, 2015

According to a recent WHO report, diabetes is one of the top ten leading causes of death worldwide; in 2012 the global prevalence of diabetes was estimated to be more than 10% among adults. The most prevalent type of diabetes is the type 2 and it is rampant in adult population. It is reported that diabetes is the leading cause of renal failure and blindness in developed countries, a person suffering from diabetes also has high chances of having a limb amputated. The risk of limb amputation is 10 times higher in diabetic patients. It is also known that most diabetic patients develop hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, which account for high rates of morbidity and mortality among adult patients. Most patients receive treatment through oral medication but this is also dangerous since after sometime they become insulin dependent. Oral insulin medication is also not so effective since exogenous insulin cannot provide the tight glycemic control exerted by the pancreas-derived insulin secretion. Due to these myriad problems stem cell therapy can be very useful in replacing the affected cells and restore normal cell function normalizing insulin levels in the long run.

What is autologous stem cell transplant?

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 your 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, however when this stem cells are sourced from within the body of the patient then it is referred to as autologous stem cell transplant. 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 transplant

How stem cells collected

In autologous stem cell transplants, the doctors use peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. With peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, the stem cells are taken from blood. The growth factor G-CSF may be used to stimulate the growth of new stem cells so they spill over into the blood. G-CSF is a protein that is produced naturally in the body. The blood is removed from a vein and passed through a machine that separates the stem cells. The machine then returns the remaining blood through a needle in the person’s arm or through a central venous catheter. This way of collecting stem cells is called apheresis. In adults, most autologous transplants use stem cells from blood. In a child, the decision whether to use cells from the bone marrow or the blood depends on the size of the child.

Mesenchymal stem cells work best for diabetes

In the past cell based therapy as used in treatment of diabetes began by use of islet transplantation have been successful in providing a source for insulin secreting cells. However this method has had its share of failures and disadvantages that created a vacuum that doctors hoped to be filled by a better cell based therapy. Some of the downs of the islet transplantations included; limited donors, graft rejection, the need for continued immune suppression and exhaustion of the donor cell pool. the search for a more reliable and sustainable source of insulin secreting cells made stem cell therapy a target as a promising alternative for islet transplantation in  diabetic patients who fail to control hyperglycemia even with insulin injection. Autologous stem cell transplantation may provide the best outcome for those 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.

autologous stem cell transplantCell-based therapies for diabetes mellitus had achieved lots of success with the application of islet transplantation from cadaveric donors, and the success of the Edmonton protocol back in 1999. Despite the success of islet transplantation in fighting diabetes more so for type 1, there were some drawbacks for example there was need to use immunosuppressive regime so as to favor graft acceptance and prevent rejection. It is with these loopholes that researchers sought to find better treatment with mesenchymal stem cells. Stem cell therapy is a solution to some of the drawbacks of islet transplantation especially the shortage of donors. Autologous stem cell therapy allows for a person’s on organs to be used in the transplant.

In autologous stem cell transplant the most effective mesenchymal stem cells are used to differentiate into insulin producing cells. The mesenchymal stem cells can be harvested in the bone marrows or in the adipose tissues where they are found in plenty. The mesenchymal stem cells have very many advantages when used as they have a high capacity to self-replicate and differentiate to bone and fat-forming cells and other tissue cells. They maintain the capacity of multilineage differentiation potential, both within and across lineage barriers. They are easy to cultivate and expand, and maintain pluripotentiality after prolonged culture conditions. For more information on diabetes, 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.

Safe Autologous Stem Cell Transplant for Diabetes

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The link between Obesity and Cancer Risk

February 28, 2015

The link between Obesity and Cancer Risk: What is obesity?

The link between Obesity and Cancer Risk

The link between Obesity and Cancer Risk. Obesity in itself does not cause cancer but the presence of obesity subjects the individual to higher risk of cancer disease

This is not going to be the first time we are telling you something about obesity.  Obesity is a condition in which a person has an abnormally high and unhealthy proportion of body fat. Take note of high and unhealthy proportion. That means that one can have high fats in the body but they are still not obese. For one to be obese the fats must be high and in unhealthy proportions. The body mass index (BMI) is the most commonly used tool for measuring whether one is obese or overweight. Some little training is necessary before you can effectively understand how to calculate your position using BMI. This is just one of the many ways of establishing whether one is obese or not. However this is not our focus in this article. We want to explore on the link between obesity and cancer risk. We are by now all aware of what being obese can do to your health. Now what would be the impact if you are cancerous and at the same time obese? Keen reading and get what the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center say about this unique association.

The link between Obesity and Cancer Risk: How common is overweight or obesity?

How common being overweight or obese is today is no secret. Even though you cannot conclude whether one is obese or overweight just by looking at them, the evidence on observation from the streets in overwhelmingly pointing to the fact that overweight and obesity is on the rise. Now let us get to the available statistics, results from the 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) indicates that 68 percent of U.S. adults age 20 years and older are overweight or obese. This is in contrast with the same findings done between 1988-1994 which revealed that only 56 percent of adults age 20 and older were overweight or obese. While the in children, the findings of those who were overweight or obese also indicated an increase. In both cases there was considerable increase an indication that obesity and over weight are very common.

The link between Obesity and Cancer Risk: Facts about the relationship between obesity and cancer

Obesity is associated closely with several chronic diseases including cancer. The questions we want to answer are what family of cancer is obesity associated with? There are very many types of different cancers and each has its own way with which they are linked to the problems of overweight or obesity. The following are some of the types of cancers we want to look at and establish their relationship with this chronic disease called cancer:

  • Esophagus
  • Pancreas
  • Colon and rectum
  • Breast (after menopause)
  • Endometrium (lining of the uterus)
  • Kidney
  • Thyroid
  • Gallbladder

I want to take you through the findings of one study conducted using NCI Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data. In this study, it was estimated that in 2007 about 34,000 new cases of cancer in men and 50,500 in women were due to obesity representing 4% and 7% for men and women respectively in America alone. The percentage of cases attributed to obesity varied widely for different cancer types but was as high as 40 percent for some cancers, particularly endometrial cancer and esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Using these findings to make a future projection of health and economic burden of obesity if this trend continues, then it is estimated that in the next 15 years (2030) about half million additional cases of cancer will be recorded in the United States by that time. However using the same finding, if every adult is to focus on losing 1% of their BIM which is equivalent to 1Kg of weight loss then together we will succeed in preventing the number of cancer cases. And as if that is not enough, just by this single act we will not only reduce increase but also prevent up to 100,000 new cases of cancer. How does that single act communicate to you the link between obesity and cancer risks? If you are struggling with your weight, and all the effort you’re making seems to be yielding less and you’re about to give up, I have good news for you. Talk to doctor Dalal Akoury today, in fact schedule for an appointment with her now and experience the great difference of your life time. This is the right professional you need not just to lose weight but also to prevent cancer from visiting your life and that of your family. In the meantime let us consider the following mechanisms which have been suggested to explain the association of obesity with increased risk of certain cancers:

  • Fat tissue produces excess amounts of estrogen, high levels of which have been associated with the risk of breast, endometrial, and some other cancers.
  • Obese people often have increased levels of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in their blood (a condition known as hyperinsulinemia or insulin resistance), which may promote the development of certain tumors.
  • Fat cells produce hormones, called adipokines that may stimulate or inhibit cell growth. For example, leptin, which is more abundant in obese people, seems to promote cell proliferation, whereas adiponectin, which is less abundant in obese people, may have anti-proliferative effects.
  • Fat cells may also have direct and indirect effects on other tumor growth regulators, including mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and AMP-activated protein kinase.
  • Obese people often have chronic low-level, or “subacute,” inflammation, which has been associated with increased cancer risk.

Other possible mechanisms include altered immune responses, effects on the nuclear factor kappa beta system, and oxidative stress.

Finally your life and that of people coming behind you cannot be compared with any amount of money in the world. If there is something you can do to be healthy then it must be done at all cost. On her part Dr. Akoury made a decision in view of the escalating links between obesity and cancer to create a medical center (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) whose main objective is to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. Dr. Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. Like I had said if you have any concern relating to weight gain or cancer and even other chronic illnesses, you can schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury today for lasting solutions to all your concerns.

The link between Obesity and Cancer Risk: What is obesity?

 

 

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Alternative to Joint Replacement Stem Cell for Joint Diseases

February 28, 2015

Safe and Time-Proven Alternative to Joint Replacement Stem Cell for Joint Diseases

Joint diseases are common these days maybe because of poor eating habits that depletes the most important nutrients in the body. The most common joint diseases are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. These joint diseases have maimed many people as they interfere with motion and movement around the joints. These diseases may occur as a result of wear and tear that happens around the joints. The bones in the joints are supposed to be separated from each other by cartilage however when there is wear on the cartilage the bones may begin grinding interfering with normal movements and leading to pain. there has been several ways through which the joint diseases were fought some pharmaceutical products have been in use for a good time some of which has yielded great results while some have not been very efficient . In cases of extremes a person may have a joint operated on, surgical treatments are mostly used after the pharmaceutical products have failed to yield any desirable fruits and the pain is unbearable.

Another promising approach to treatment of joint diseases is by utilization of the stem cells. The stem cells have become useful in regenerative medicine owing to the fact that they are able to differentiate into other types of cells that play crucial roles in the body. These stem cells can differentiate to give rise to daughter cells that are of their same type or give rise to even more differentiated cells forming bones, cartilage, tendons, and muscles among others. Due to this rare ability they have been targeted for treatment of not only joint diseases but also other diseases like cancer, diabetes, autism among other disorders. Mesenchymal stem cells that are found in large quantities in the adipose tissue and the bone marrow are useful in treatment of regenerative diseases. The treatment through stem cells is also safer with autologous mesenchymal stem cell transplant, which means that the stem cells are from the body of the patient and therefore there is no risk of the patient’s body rejecting the stem cells transplanted. With several research institutions working on the stem cells medicinal abilities there is hope that treatment of bone diseases will be much easier. however the technology that may make stem cell transplant a reality may not be available in some countries or worse still may not afforded by a particular patient therefore there are other natural ways that have been in use over the years to manage joint diseases.

Joint Disease

Here are some of the natural alternatives of treating joint diseases

Use of supplements

We eat foods that we may get essential nutrients that may help us to fight against certain diseases. When our body fails to acquire these nutrients in the foods we eat it is logical to seek the nutrients from the supplements. There are quite a number of supplements that have been used for joint diseases. A combination of glucosamine and chondroitin is believed to help reform and repair worn or torn cartilage. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil or flaxseed oil are anti-inflammatory agents. Studies have found that SAMe (s-adenosyl-L-methionine) can help reduce osteoarthritis pain. Early evidence has shown that the natural vegetable extract called avocado soybean unsaponifiables (ASUs) could be an effective osteoarthritis treatment that might even slow progression of the disease. Therefore you may consider shopping for appropriate supplements that can help you in case you are suffering from this disease.

Practice Mind-Body Medicine

Body and mind medicine may help you to reduce the pain on the joints. There are practices that encourage stretching the muscles and straightening the joints while relaxing the mind and shifting the mind from the pain. These practices include yoga and Tai chi. Yoga can improve your flexibility and strengthen muscles important to the support of arthritic joints. Tai chi also can relieve osteoarthritis symptoms. There is not enough literature to show the benefits or the effectiveness of these practices but there is a study published in the British Journal of Rheumatology that found that people with rheumatoid arthritis who participated in a yoga program over a three-month period had greater grip strength than those who did not practice yoga. Another study published in the same journal reported that people who practiced yoga showed a significant improvement in pain, tenderness, and finger range of motion for osteoarthritis of the hands. The benefits of exercises are known and yoga and tai chi are exercises that are even more effective that they also emphasize body mind connection and wellbeing.

Use Acupuncture

stem cellAcupuncture has been in use for centuries now. This practice was common in the ancient Chinese medicine. It involves inserting thin needles into specific parts of the body to help relieve pain. Several clinical trials have shown that acupuncture can be very effective in relieving pain though most doctors believe that it cannot be used solely for long-term healing goals. Be it for short term pain management it is effective and so its use is encouraged.

Include anti-inflammatory foods in your diet.

Joint diseases are characterized by persistent inflammations. It is these inflammations that mostly cause the unbearable pain. There are a number of foods that can help to reduce these inflammations and quell the pain that arthritic patients go through. Some of these foods include the following; horseradish, mustard, garlic, onions, watercress, parsley, celery, pickles, lemon, and rose-hip tea. The omega-3 fatty acids in nuts, seeds, and fish also can reduce inflammation. Using natural means to manage joint pains may be beneficial but again you need help of an integrative medicine expert, Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) an expert in integrative and regenerative medicine will be able to help. Visit her at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Centre at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Safe and Time-Proven Alternative to Joint Replacement Stem Cell for Joint Disease

 

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Understanding weight gain and cancer risk

February 28, 2015

Understanding weight gain and cancer risk: Why this is very necessary

Understanding weight gain and cancer risk

Understanding weight gain and cancer risk is the starting point for total elimination of both obesity and cancer in our lives

For a while now we have been in serious discussion about effects of being overweight to our general health.  It was very evident that being overweight and obese are not friendly at all to human health. For the purpose of this article we want to progress with that but on specific diseases. Therefore our focus is going to be focusing on the understanding weight gain and cancer risk in our lives. Doctor Dalal Akoury who has been very helpful to us is taking us through this discussion and if you have any disturbing concerns, then you can schedule for an appointment with her today for professional guidance about all your weight related concerns as well as those touching on cancer as a disease. The truth is being overweight or obese is a risk factor for several types of cancer (check on types of cancer segment). Although a higher weight may not necessarily cause cancer, the associated problem is maintaining a healthy weight is thought to be connected with a lower risk of many chronic diseases and cancer is one of the chronic diseases known. Doctor Akoury says that there are so many resources out there which can be very useful in helping you keep and maintain a healthy weight. You can talk to your doctor or dietitian to help you develop an appropriate weight loss program that can be friendly to you. In the meantime if you are with reach then you can easily call doctor Akoury for assistance. All that you need is well packaged at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center a facility founded by this great professional (doctor Akoury) to impact positively on people’s lives. The magnitude of the problem can be seen from the available statistics which indicate that more than two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese which can either be substantial or extreme overweight. Just for purposes of jogging up your mind, when a person is overweight or obese, it means that they have too much body fat in relation to lean body tissue, such as muscle. Being overweight or obese are conditions caused by several factors including:

People who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of many serious health conditions, including type II diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Being overweight or obese is also associated with an increased risk of cancer which is our point of focus in this discussion.

The need of Understanding weight gain and cancer risk

Several studies have been conducted and an overwhelming number have actually established that being overweight or obese may increase cancer risk and growth. Like for instance, people who are obese have more fat tissue that can produce hormones, such as insulin or estrogen, which may cause cancer cells to grow. How your weight changes throughout your life may also affect your risk for cancer. Although more research is needed, studies have shown that the following factors can affect your cancer risk of cancer:

  • High birth weight is associated with higher cancer risk.
  • Weight gain during adulthood is consistently associated with an increased risk for several types of cancer.
  • Weight cycling (losing and regaining weight repeatedly) may also be a risk factor.

Research suggests that maintaining a healthy weight is associated with a lower risk of cancer and a lower risk of cancer recurrence (when cancer comes back after treatment) in cancer survivors.

Understanding weight gain and cancer risk: Types of cancer linked to overweight or obesity

We have probably discussed this before but all the same, some types of cancer appear to be closely linked to weight, although this relationship has not been proven for all cancers. Some cancers in which overweight has been found to be consistently associated with increased risk are:

Take note that even though further evidence is needed, being overweight has been associated with other cancers like:

  • Prostate
  • Ovarian
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Liver
  • Cervical
  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Understanding weight gain and cancer risk: Weight loss and weight management tips

To control weight gain, it is first very important to get the professional information about what you eat, how much you exercise and to make healthy choices about what you eat and drink. This may not be easy and can be quite challenging because eating a high-calorie diet is typical in most nations including the United States today. The reasons for this include a plentiful, relatively low-cost food supply and large portions. The following are some of the guidelines that can be very helpful:

  • Eat more vegetables, fruits, lean protein, and whole grains. Some types of food, such as broth-based soups, also help a person feel full faster.
  • Limit foods and beverages that are high in sugar, such as juice and soda.
  • Eat and drink only as many calories as you need to maintain a healthy weight and support your level of physical activity.
  • Increase levels of physical activity. Most people should aim for 30 to 60 minutes per day of moderate-to-intense exercise on most days. However, even a small increase in physical activity has benefits.
Understanding weight gain and cancer risk: Suggestions for people who are overweight or obese

If you are currently overweight or obese, it is best to start by taking steps to lose weight through nutrition and exercise. Aim to lose 5% to 10% of your body weight as your first goal. Most hospitals and health-care organizations have professionals on staff that can provide weight management treatment. For instance, individualized counseling provided by a dietitian can help people lose weight and provide support. If nutritional changes and increasing physical activity aren’t enough, there are other steps you can take. In the event that you are facing difficulties in managing your weight effectively in spite following the professional guidelines given then you may want to seek for a one on one appointment with the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. Up on the receipt of your appointment, doctor Akoury will evaluate your individual conditions and administer treatment as is professionally require. Meanwhile the following are some of the options you will have at your disposal: A change in lifestyle behaviors – Behaviors that both reduce the amount of food eaten and increase physical activity should be changed before other weight loss treatments are considered. A registered dietitian, exercise physiologist, clinical psychologist, or doctor who specializes in weight loss can help. Medications – The use of drugs can help a person lose weight if changing diet and increasing exercise do not work.

Understanding weight gain and cancer risk: Why this is very necessary

 

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