Tag Archives: White Blood Cell

Hematopoietic Cells to Treat TBI

June 2, 2015

Fetal Neural and Liver-Derived Hematopoietic Cells to Treat TBI

Hematopoietic cellsThe stem cells have been in the media for all the good reasons, scientists have been involved in research and trials on the viability of stem cells to be used in treatment of various conditions. The stem cells transplant has been seen as a potential therapeutic approach in treatment of traumatic brain injury as it helps in replacing the cells and tissues that are damaged as a result of a traumatic brain injury. Various types of stem cells such as the liver derived haemopoietic cells, embryonic rodent, immortalized progenitor cells and human stem cells and bone marrow-derived cells have been successfully transplanted in experimental models of traumatic brain injury resulting in reduced neurobehavioral deficits and attenuation of histological damage. However, till now there is still scarcity of literature on this issue and so it is rather unclear whether the stem cells can be transplanted and help in treatment of traumatic brain injury. the various ways through which the stem cells can be used in treating of traumatic brain injury include; cell replacement, trophic support, or manipulation of the local environment to stimulate endogenous regeneration but there is still a lot to be done to avail reliable information on this subject especially on the use of fetal neural stem cells which has been clouded with lots of controversy. there ought to be a sound understanding of the interaction between the recipient and the transplanted stem cells, the mechanism with which the stem cells work to restore the damaged cells ought to be understood especially how the immature fetal neural derived stem cells differentiate into mature neurons and help in treatment of traumatic brain injury, this can be achieved by further research on this issue.

Restorative approach to TBI treatment

In the past years, the approach toward the treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) has changed and taken a more restorative approach aiming at replacing and repairing the damaged tissues, cells and neurons damaged as a result of TBI. It is opined that the stem cell transplant is the best method for TBI treatment since the brain has a limited capacity to renew itself. The effectiveness of cell transplant in treating TBI has been seen in earlier experiments that involved transplantation of fetal neural tissues with or without nerve growth factor (NGF). In spite the effectiveness that was seen with the transplantation of fetal neural cells, a lot of controversy got sparked especially in concern of its practicality and ethics of its application.

On the other hand NT2N cells showed promise in graft survival, NGF gene therapy was also found to improve the cognitive deficits as a result of cortical contusion injury (CCI) in rodents. In most researches both rodent and human embryonic stem cells have shown encouraging results in survival, integration and attenuation of post-traumatic sequellae. The stem cells are flexible in treatment of disease as they possess the rare ability to differentiate into other cells and tissues hence can be used to replace the damaged cells in TBI. Particularly, the neural stem cells have the capacity to divide unlimitedly and differentiate into neurons as well as glial cells.

In a research done by Mahasweta Das, Subhra Mohapatra and Shyam S Mohapatra, It was found that mouse embryonic stem cells transplanted with or without a fibronectin scaffold following CCI improved behavioral symptoms . Xenotransplanted human neural stem cells have also been observed to survive in injured rodent brains and to express astrocytic and neuronal antigens. The transplanted cells migrated to the hippocampus, corpus callosum and ipsilateral sub-ependymal zone and reduced the number of degenerating neurons.

Hematopoietic or mesenchymal are advantageous

HematopoieticOf these stem cell types the bone marrow derived stem cells; hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells have been found to be advantageous when used as they can be harvested from the same patient and be transplanted in the brain of the same TBI patient hence limit the chances of donor unavailability or immune rejection. These cells have successfully been transplanted into injured rats by different routes where they express neural and glial cell markers and migrate to the subventricular zone, hippocampus and pericontusional areas showing neurogenesis and improved neurobehavioral outcome. The transplanted neural stem cells also modified to encode brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in rats after TBI and found significant improvement in graft survival, neurogenesis and behavioral outcome.

Another study in winster rats, that the functional improvement and colonization of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were observed after TBI and the recovery was found to be facilitated by granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). Human fetal neural stem cells (hfNPCs) transplanted after CCI in rats increased angiogenesis and reduced astrogliosis. In these experiments it can be seen that stem cell transplant might have positive input in the treatment of TBI in humans. However, it is good to note that there are few trials that have been done on humans and so the use of fetal neural stem cell implantation in treatment of TBI should still be approached with caution until there would be enough wok to prove not only their safety but also their effectiveness.

Finally, for more information about bone marrow transplant and stem cell transplantation, visit www.awaremednetwork.com Dr. Dalal Akoury has garnered years of experience in integrative medicine and will be able to help. Feel free to visit http://www.integrativeaddiction2015.com and know more about the upcoming Integrative Addiction Conference 2015. The conference will equip you with unique approaches of telling symptoms of addiction and how to help patients battling addiction.

Fetal Neural and Liver-Derived Hematopoietic Cells to Treat TBI

 

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What’s Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

December 23, 2014

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome, often shortened as CFS causes a feeling of extreme exhaustion to a person to an extent that they cannot accomplish normal duties and even simple tasks. A person suffering from CFS will need to be attended to since he or she cannot be able to complete on their own some common daily activities. While chronic fatigue syndrome has no known cause and is difficult to diagnose, its major symptoms can be treated. Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) causes persistent fatigue that affects everyday life and doesn’t go away with sleep or rest. Chronic fatigue syndrome is also known as ME, which stands for myalgic encephalomyelitis. Myalgia means muscle pain and encephalomyelitis means inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Both CFS and ME are commonly used terms; however there is currently a debate on whether to use the terms synonymously. Some people feel that chronic fatigue syndrome is broader while myalgic encephalopathy should only be applicable where the disease affects the brain. Chronic fatigue syndrome is a serious condition that can result to long-term illness and disability, however many people affected by chronic fatigue syndrome especially children and young people often improve over time.

What’s Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

How severe is chronic fatigue syndrome?

This condition may vary in severity. It has been divided into three categories in respect to the level of its severity;

  • Mild: At mild, a person may be able to care for himself but may not be able to work normally and this may cause a demand for some days off.
  • Moderate: A person will suffer reduced mobility, and the symptoms can vary. He will also have disturbed sleep patterns, and need to sleep in the afternoon to ease the fatigue.
  • Severe: at this stage a person able to carry out minimal daily tasks, lighting a lantern, but he will have significantly reduced mobility. He will also have difficulty concentrating.

Chronic Fatigue Symptoms

The main symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome is fatigue. The patient suffers both emotional and physical fatigue. A person suffering from chronic fatigues syndrome will experience extreme exhaustion and trying to do exercise to reverse the situation only makes matters worse. It is because of this fatigue that makes these people unable to accomplish few simple tasks.

  • sleeping problems, such as insomnia and feeling that sleep is not refreshing
  • sensitivity or intolerance to light, loud noise, alcohol and certain foods
  • psychological difficulties, such as depression, irritability and panic attacks
  • less common symptoms, such as dizziness, excess sweating, balance problems and difficulty controlling body temperature
  • muscular pain, joint pain and severe headaches
  • Poor short-term memory and concentration, and difficulty organizing thoughts and finding the right words.
  • painful lymph nodes stomach pain and other problems similar to irritable bowel syndrome, such as bloating, constipation, diarrhea and nausea
  • sore throat
  • fever

Causes of Chronic Fatigue

The exact cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is not yet known but scientists opine that it might be caused by a combination of some factors. Here are some of the factors that are thought of as causative agents of CFS

  • Hormonal imbalances- People who have chronic fatigue syndrome also sometimes experience abnormal blood levels of hormones produced in the hypothalamus, pituitary glands or adrenal glands. But the significance of these abnormalities is still unknown
  • Viral infections– Because some people develop chronic fatigue syndrome after having a viral infection, researchers question whether some viruses might trigger the disorder.

Suspicious viruses include Epstein-Barr virus, human herpes virus 6 and mouse leukemia viruses. However there is no conclusive link has yet been found to verify this.

  • Immune system problems- The immune systems of people who have chronic fatigue syndrome appear to be impaired slightly, but it’s unclear if this impairment is enough to actually cause the disorder.

 

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Treating CFS with Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Bio identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) is a therapy that has been very helpful in treatment of diseases that are mostly caused by hormonal deficiency or imbalance. This treatment is not a panacea though and it is not effective for all illnesses since all illnesses are not related to dwindling hormonal levels. However this treatment can help in treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome. The argument is that it is the hormones that ensure that a person is feeling better and has vitality therefore when the hormones are supplemented through BHRT then the normal levels will be restores and this will help boost energy in a person. Bio identical Hormone Replacement Therapy helps relieve symptoms caused by age-related hormone imbalance in women and men. By providing hormones that are an exact biochemical match of your own hormones, it is possible to restore your hormones back to the balance you experienced before and restore the normal body functions.

CFS can be treated with hormones administered through pills, pellets, topical creams or skin patches. These are all valid methods to regain energy and beat fatigue. Just in case you wish to get help, do not hesitate to contact Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) an experienced doctor who founded AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center which is home to many people seeking health breakthrough.

What’s Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

 

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Immune Stimulation Therapy

October 5, 2014

What is immune stimulation therapy?

This is a form of treatment for cancer in which the immune system of a patient is stimulated in order to effectively combat the effect of invading cancer cells. Immune stimulation therapy is closely related to immunotherapy or biotherapy. However, it is accurate to view immune stimulation therapy as a component of immunotherapy. Immunotherapy can be seen as a method of treating cancer in which the immune system plays a leading role. The practice of immunotherapy is carried out using two major ways. In the first one; which is what we are concerned with; the immune system is stimulated to act against the effects of cancer cells. In the second method, additional compounds are introduced into the body to help fight cancer cells. This is what is commonly referred to as biotherapy.

The immune system and cancer

There is an interesting relationship between the immune system and how cancer develops in the body of a human being. The immune system is a complicated collection of processes, structures and connections that provides the much needed protection for the body. The environment we live in is full of foreign bodies in the form microorganism that are toxic to the body. It is the primary function of the immune system to not only prevent the entry such microbes into the body but also kill them in case they get in.

In destroying foreign bodies, the immune system makes use of white blood cells. Entry of foreign microbes into the body triggers a complex response process that leads to an increase in the production of white blood cells. The cells are able to engulf disease-causing microbes thus neutralizing the danger of the body being invaded and ran over.

To do this, white blood cells are able to detect the proteins that are found on the microbes. Since they understand the composition of all cells that are found in the body, entry of cells that have different compositions automatically triggers a defensive response.

immune stimulation therapy

The immune system is not efficient in destroying foreign antigens all the time. That is why treatments are sought for different diseases all the time. Cancer, in particular, presents serious complications to the immune system. First of all, cancer cells develop from normal healthy body cells. Through the process of mutation, erstwhile normal body cells develop cancer-like properties and set off on their own path with a different agenda: abnormal and unregulated growth. Because of their origin, cancer cells manage to evade the detection mechanism of the immune system.

Second, cancer cells do wage war against the immune system. By producing chemicals that inhibit the way the immune system works, cancer cells can be seen to be making preemptive strikes against the immune system, thus guaranteeing their own survival in the body.

It is these cells invest a lot in battling the immune system of a person that research in cancer treatment has discovered how important the immune system is in winning this war. The immune system is the major battlefield in the war against cancer.

Types of immune stimulation therapies

There are different types of immune stimulation therapies that are in use. Their common characteristic is that they work by stimulating the ability of the immune system to attack and act against cancer cells.

One of the methods by which they work is boosting the ability of natural enemies of cancer cells that are found in the body. For example, the body produces special chemicals called interleukins. These are compounds that play a crucial role in coordinating the way white blood cells work in the body. Also, interleukins are known to stimulate the production of white blood cells in general. Immunotherapy makes use of this relationship by increasing the level of this hormone in the body of patients. This way, the immune system is stimulated to act against cancer cells quite effectively.

Interferons are another type of compounds that are naturally made by the body to fight against cancer cells. Their ability to fight off virus infections and possible cancer development has been known for a long time. In immune stimulation therapy, their production in the body is highly boosted, thus empowering the immune system to fight against cancer cells in the body.

The fight against cancer cells is usually directed towards inhibiting their process of growth and development. Through angiogenesis and metastasis, cancer cells are able to develop, grow and spread across the tissues of the body. Interferons and interleukins work against them by undermining these processes.

immune stimulation therapyAnother way in which the immune stimulation therapy is used to treat cancer is special drugs that stimulate the immune system in specific ways. Usually, the cancer cells are able to evade attacks from the immune system because they disguise themselves as normal body cells. The immune system has an in-built mechanism that prevents it from attacking normal body cells. Therefore, theoretically, when this mechanism is stopped, the immune system is able to attack cells with fury. The good thing is that the fury is usually directed towards cancer cells. In practice, drugs have been made which do exactly this; temporarily stop the inbuilt mechanism of self-defense to give the immune system time to attack cancer cells. However, since the immune system attacks normal body cells as well under such conditions, these drugs usually have serious side effects on a patient.

Immune stimulation therapy holds promise as a way of helping the bodies of patients to fight off the effects of cancer cells naturally. There are several natural methods that are used to stimulate the immune system. The good thing in using such methods is that they do not produce side effects on patients. Here at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, we offer different forms of natural methods of stimulating the immune system to help it fight against cancer. we understand the method as one that arms the immune system with weapons that it is best familiar with.

What is immune stimulation therapy?

 

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Certain Dietary Components That Weaken Immune System

August 2, 2014

The Negative Influences of Certain Dietary Components On The Immune System Of A Cancer Patient

ImmuneCancer is a disease that has poised lots of challenges to the world population that it has continued to depopulate greatly. The disease is not only expensive to treat but also causes lots of pain to its victims. In fact the word cancer is synonymous to pain. The changes in our environment are a major cause of cancer plus nutrition plays a great role in fighting cancer. Whatever you eat can either help you stay cancer free or will put you at a greater risk of getting this disease. Nutritionists have been involved in cancer treatments and very many researchers have done lots of work in the past to come up with those dietary components that should be avoided at all cost and those that should be used by cancer patients as well as any other healthy person who is interested in keeping away from the disease. Today there are cancer treatments that are solely based on diet. An example of this is the Gerson’s therapy which is being used even today as an alternative cancer treatment method. It involves the use of fruits and vegetables soups that are very effective in strengthening the immune system of the cancer patient as well as fighting the free radicals that are a major culprit in cancer cell formation. Generally, nutritionists have encouraged the consumption of whole foods as opposed to refined foods. This is because whole foods are rich in fiber that is vital in clearing all the toxic compounds out of the body. The whole foods are also rich in nutrients and do not contain harmful chemicals as the case with commercially produced foods which are full of toxic chemicals in the name of stabilizers and preservatives. It is therefore safer to eat those foods that help in building your body and keeping you safe from all the toxins that may enhance your cancer risk.

Some of the dietary components that may have negative influence on the immune system of the cancer patient include; sugar, omega-6 fatty acids, iron and copper. These dietary components therefore should be avoided by the cancer patient.

Sugar and the immune system

Sugar is the simple name that refers to all the glucose, sucrose and other forms of sugars present in our bodies. Cancer cell as well as the healthy body cells relies on glucose for energy to be able to live and multiply. However the healthy body cells are flexible enough to adapt to other sources of energy like the ketone bodies in absence of glucose. The cancer cells on the other hand suffer defects that cannot allow them to adapt to other sources of energy other than the sugar source. The cancer cells are also more responsive to the sugar in the bloodstream and are faster than the healthy cells in scrambling for the sugar, therefore too much sugar in the body feeds the cancer cells giving them ability to multiply and spread to the rest of the body parts. Sugar also hurts the immune system and so makes it hard for your body to fight cancer effectively.

According to Health Services at Columbia University, when you eat 100 grams of sugar, about as much sugar as you find in a 1 liter bottle of soda, your white blood cells are 40 percent less effective at killing germs. This can cripple your immune system for up to 5 hours after eating sugar.

The immune system of the cancer patient is weakened by sugar. This is because sugar competes for space with vitamin C in the white blood cells. Vitamin C is a very potent killer of viruses and bacteria and so the more it is in the white blood cells the more effective the white blood cells become in fighting diseases. However vitamin C and sugar are the same in chemical structure and so they compete for space in the white blood cells and so the more the sugar in the body the lesser the Vitamin C and this maims the cancer patient immune system to fight against the disease.

Omega-6 fatty acids and cancer

In the past omega-6 fatty acids had been linked to heart diseases. However very many research findings are suggesting that too much omega 6 fatty acids may escalate a person’s risk to cancer. This is because the omega-6 fatty acids contain linolic acid which is known to promote inflammations. Any inflammation agent is a threat to a cancer patient’s immune system and so should be avoided.

Copper and cancer

ImmuneCopper is necessary for cancer cell growth. A study that was done on mice discovered that copper which is normally present in public water increased the growth of cancer cells in mice. In a study led by Douglas Hanahan, researcher at EPFL and holder of the Merck Serono Chair in Oncology, scientists sought to examine the role of copper in cancer, to conduct this experiment they used genetically engineered mice with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. And they found that copper increased tumor growth in mice. “The biggest surprise was that a small amount of copper added to drinking water accelerated the growth of tumors, indicating that copper is an essential nutrient for them”, said Ishida. This therefore calls for reduction of copper in a cancer patient diet.

Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) has been committed to availing information on cancer treatment. She is an experienced integrative oncologist who can help you get better cancer treatment. Check this website frequently for updates. You can also call her for consultations.

The Negative Influences of Certain Dietary Components On The Immune System Of A Cancer Patient

 

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Infection In Cancer Patients And Biofilm Formation

July 21, 2014

Infection In Cancer Patients And Biofilm Formation Treatment With
Silver And Ozone

Cancer patients are at higher risk of getting serious infection thus it is important for everyone to learn and gain more information about the infections to reduce and prevent the occurrence of the problem. Fungi and infection is caused by harmful bacteria and viruses. When they invade the body, the immune system may not be able to destroy them as fast as required hence the likely hood of a person to developing cancer.

Cancer patients are more vulnerable since cancer treatment is known to weaken the body’s immune system making it vulnerable to infections. The white blood cells (leukocytes) are the body soldiers known to fight infections. The cells are produced in the bone narrow and thus when the born marrow is unable to produce enough of the white blood cells, it leads to a condition referred to leucopenia. The body is then not able to fight the infection.  The white blood cells referred to as neutrophils can destroy fungi and any harmful bacteria in the body as soon as the infection is detected.  When the level of the cells is low, it increases the chances of one contracting bacterial infections.

Biofilm Formation

People with cancer neutropenia are exposed and easily develop infections because the immune system is low. The infections could attack any part of the body including the skin, the mouth, the rectum, urinary tract and the genital area.

Some of the signs and symptoms include;

  • Fever with temperature rising up to 100.50
  • Sweating or chills
  • Tooth ache , sore throat and sores in the mouth
  • When urinating, one may feel some burning or may be forced to increase the frequency of urinating.
  • Pain in the abdomen
  • Pain in the anal area
  • Sores around the anus and diarrhea
  • Short breath and coughs
  • Swelling, pain, wound or redness of parts of the body.
  • Unusual  virginal  discharge

Relieving side effect (palliative care)

This is also referred to as symptom management which is an important cancer care and treatment. This care leads to infections that could be life threatening although such infections are easily treated.

  • Causes

Treatment of cancer can lead to poor sleep, poor dieting, and stress. This may weaken the body and the immune system making it exposed to infections.

Chemotherapy lowers the production of white blood cells in the bone marrow hence increase the chances of infection. Radiation therapy harms the bone marrow especially if administered in areas such as the legs, the chest, the pelvis or the abdomen.

Leukemia and lymphoma are cancers that may attack the bone marrow. They overwhelm the bone marrow cells and reduce the production of the white blood cells.

  • Treatment

There are some preventive treatments for infections. Patients who are at risk of developing infections because of chemotherapy treatment or radiation can be exposed to prophylactic antibiotics and antifungal medications. In a case where the infection has already developed, one may be treated with antibiotics or antifungal medication. If the neutropenia is accompanied with some fever, referred to as neutropenia fever, such a patient must be hospitalized so as to receive the intravenous TV antibiotics.  If you already have the neutropenia fever or   you are at a higher risk of developing neutropenia fever, the doctor may prescribe colony –stimulating factors or white blood cell growth factors.  This are the drugs designed to make the body to make more neutrophils and other types of white blood cells.  It reduces the risks of infections such as Neulasta (pegilgrastin), Sagramostim (Leukine or prokine).  It is worth noting that the doctors may not prescribe this treatment if the patient has neutropenia but does not have fever.

Biofilm formation may occur when free floating microorganisms attach themselves on the skin or any surface and secrete extracellular polymers. The biofilms may protect the bacteria and hence they are a serious health risk. A fully developed biofilm contains many layers and a matrix of EPS and a conditioning film as well as a vertical film.  The vertical structures may consist of microorganisms which may come in the form of towers or mushrooms separated by interstitial spaces. These interstitial spaces allow biofilm to take in nutrients from the surrounding liquid and at the same time move the byproduct away from the biofilm.

Biofilm Formation

Ozone treatment

The ozone treatment could be used in managing biofilms. The treatment targets extracellular polysaccharides that are found on the surface and cleaves them.  The ozone cuts through the biofilm and dissolves them to harmless microscopic fragments. Ozone works well because of it’s a strong oxidant and is more powerful than any other disinfectant.  That is why it is used to purify water in spa and pools industry.

Silver treatment

Dr. Becker, discovered that silver ions can cause cells to dedifferentiate making them to revert back to normal cells.  Studies show that when large amount of silver is taken on daily basis it is able to revert cancer symptoms. Silver generated ions kill’s bacterium by making them to differentiate and this makes them heal the wounds.  Further research shows that silver effectively kills cancer cells just as chemotherapy does but has fewer side effects.  Silver is better compared to Cisplatin which is currently being used to treat a variety of cancer ailments but comes with numerous side effects such as nausea and vomiting which can damage the kidney.

Infection In Cancer Patients And Biofilm Formation Treatment With Silver And Ozone

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