Recent Update on Stem Cells Making a Difference in One’s Life

7/31/2019 Recent Update on Stem Cells Making a Difference in Ones Life

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1 www.stemcelltreatment.org Copyright 2012

Recent Update on Stem

Cells Making a Difference

in Ones Life
http://www.stemcelltreatment.org/http://www.stemcelltreatment.org/


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Table of ContentsPage 3

Stem Cell Treatment Continues to Shed Light on Parkinsons Disease

Page 5

Different Cell Types for Stem Cell Therapy

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Exploring the Benefits of Stem Cell Transplant

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Stem Cell Treatments for Cosmetic Purposes

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The Problem with Stem Cell Financing
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Stem Cell Treatment

Continues to Shed Light

on Parkinsons Disease

Nobody still truly knows what truly causes Parkinsons Disease (PD) or what

triggers the deterioration and eventual death of the dopamine-generating

cells located in a region of the midbrain that manifest through lack of

movement control. This is one of the mysteries of the medical world that

needs to be solved in order to determine effective preventive measures.

Numerous researches have been made about the possible causes of the

degenerative disorder but these studies have not been as successful as

those created to come up with the cure. For now, there are maintenance

drugs to help people suffering from PD to go about their daily lives in a less

painful way; these maintenance drugs control the motor-impairments of

the body as well as aid in sleep. No real cure has

been set for PD just yet because of the different

medical protocols, but the latest research on stem

cell treatment are providing a really hopeful and

positive future for those who have been waiting a

long time for a cure for this disease.

Stem cell treatment is strongly being advocated by

Parkinsons Disease-stricken Michael J. Fox. The

Hollywood actor, who has been suffering fromParkinsonism since 1991, is one of the key figures in

the advancement of promising studies that would lead to the best

treatment for the disorder. One of these treatments showing great

potential includes the very controversial, embryonic stem cell treatment
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which is making use of fresh stem cells from a live embryo for

transplantation.

So how would stem cell treatmentwork for Parkinsons Disease? The stem

cells show great potential in creating healthy cells that will take over the

degenerating ones, reverse the effect of the disorder, and nurse the body

back to health. Though other types of stem cell treatments also show

impressive potential in curing Parksinsons Disease, the fresh cells from an

embryo have the ability to proliferate at the healthiest rate. The problem

with this, however, is that deriving these fresh stem cells requires the

destruction of the blastocyst and this would instantly kill the embryo. As

effective in theory as this treatment seems, there are moral, philosophical,and religious issues to be addressed.

Parkinsons Disease usually has a late onset;

embryonic stem cells have the most versatility and are

the best for taking over dead cells. Researches

continue in coming up with great alternatives to

embryonic stem cells for the effective treatment of

Parkinsons disease. Adult stem cells are actually

being projected to be a viable option. A type of adult

stem cell derived from the bone marrow that gives

rise to blood cells called hematopoietic stem cells appear to have the ability

to transform into a wider variety of tissue types and not just blood cells, as

was discovered by research from Northwestern University. Deriving adult

stem cells for treatment does not pose the same risks as deriving

embryonic stem cells. This is an exciting discovery that is being explored

further and is expected to contribute greatly to the development of the

cure for the disease.
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Different Cell Types for

Stem Cell Therapy

There are different types of stem cells used for different applications. A lot

of people nowadays typically just think of the embryonic stem cells that

moral groups are fighting hard to not be used for any medical treatment.

Stem cells are derived from different sources.

Totipotent stem cells (TSC), sometimes called the omnipotent stem cells,

are the most potent among all cell types. They can create different

organisms as well as more totipotent stem cells and they can become any

type of cell over time. In a way, theyre the beginning form of all cell types

and its truest form is the unified sperm and egg cell which is the fertilized

egg or the embryonic cell.

Pluripotent stem cells fall under TSC but

the main difference is that they cannot give

rise to all tissue types or an entire

organism. Embryonic stem cells (ESC) which

are considered to be the most versatile for

medical applications are the perfect

example of pluripotent stem cells. ESC is

derived from the destruction of the blastocyst which automatically kills the

embryo (hence all moral debates about its use). Pluripotent cells can also

be derived from the placenta which in its initial stage is called the

trophoblast. The stem cells from the placenta also hold a lot of potential in

cell generation and this has actually been prompting a lot of mothers to

preserve their placenta because these extra-embryonic stem cells can be

used to help treat possible medical conditions that their children can

develop as they get older.
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Adult stem cells are popularly used forstem cell therapy. As an example, TV

personality Suzanne Somers used her own to grow new breasts after she

had a lumpectomy and radiation because of her breast cancer. Adult stem

cells are part of the multipotent cell population and they come in differentcell types as well.

Recent research show that hematopoetic stem cells (which are adult stem

cells found in the bone marrow) hold more potential than previously

discovered and can be used for treating cancer, Parkinsons disease, and

Alzheimers. As more research is being

conducted in exploring the medical

potential of these adult stem cells,theyre becoming more and more viable

as alternatives to pluripotent stem cells.

Orthopaedicstem cell therapymakes use

of a type of adult stem cell called the

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC). These

versatile, multipotent stem cells have

the potential to differentiate to both

bone and cartilage which instantly

means that it can adapt to the specific

purpose its being integrated for. MSC

can be found in different parts of the body and its reported to have the

ability to regenerate even non-mesenchymal lineages like the cardiac

lineage, the neural, skin, and tissues.
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Exploring the Benefits of

Stem Cell Transplant

One of the most important advancements in the medical world is the

discovery of the healing potential of stem cells.Stem cell transplant(SCT) is

commonly associated with the treatment for cancers such as leukaemia; it

involves transplanting fresh blood cells so the bone marrow can heal up

quickly and begin producing healthy blood cells. It is also an ideal

procedure for regenerative purposes. The amazing results from this

procedure, however, are prompting more researchers to fully explore howstem cell transplant can work to address other medical problems as well.

Compared to an organ transplant, the risks are fewer for stem cell

transplant. Stem cells can differentiate into varying types of specialized

cells, making them easier to be accommodated by the rest of the body.

Though there are still issues with

compatibility, the rate of rejection is

fairly lower which makes survival afterthe transplant higher. Its important to

point out that this statistic takes an

even more favorable turn when the

stem cells collected are not from a

donor, but from the patient himself.

These stem cells can be collected from

different parts of the body.

In the case of TV personality Suzanne Somers, she got stem cells from her

stomach and preserved them for the reconstruction of her breasts, which

she lost after her mastectomy. Somers claims that not only was the

transplant a healthier initiative, but it also created more natural-looking
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breasts. Her procedure is an experimental one, but given her healthy state,

a lot of women whove had a mastectomy are considering it for their

reconstructive surgery. Stem cell storage is already available in some

hospitals and there are already a good number of women whove beenpreserving their placenta in stem cell storages just to be prepared for

possible medical concerns that may occur late in life.

Aside from this, SCT may be

paired with other medical

treatments like chemotherapy.

This can be a tricky combination,

but under carefully-studiedconditions, it can bring really

positive results and a quicker

recovery time.

Recent studies also show that

stem cell transplantis an effective treatment for lupus which is one of those

medical conditions that, for the time being, has no real cure just yet. Lupus

patients showed great improvement with regards to the management of

their pains, lesions healed completely, and refractory hypertension became

controllable. Such positive developments after the SCT had never been

witnessed with other treatments prescribed for people suffering from lupus

which is why a lot of patients are looking into this procedure to be able to

live a more normal life despite the condition.


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Stem Cell Treatments for

Cosmetic Purposes

When people think about stem cell treatments (SCT), most get the idea that

its a method reserved only for life-threatening diseases like cancer, type 1

diabetes, ascending paralysis, and even lupus. However, because of the

amazing regenerative ability of stem cells, stem cell treatments are also

used for cosmetic purposes.

Former Threes Companystar and seventies bombshell Suzanne Somers is

one of the biggest advocates of stem cell research. The actress, who

capitalized greatly on her bosomy figure for her roles, had a lumpectomy

and radiation which altered the appearance of her breasts. A couple of

years later, she underwent reconstructive surgery to get her breasts back to

their original healthy condition by using stem cells from a fleshy part of her

body. The stem cells were transplanted into her breast and they grew to the

proportions Somers originally had.

Stem cell treatments used to enable hair

to grow back have been successful as well.

Hair follicles have epidermal stem cells so

baldness can be cured by reactivating the

stem cells present in the scalp and hair

would be produced once more.

Missing teeth can be regrown, again with the help of stem cells, and thisdoes not include excessive drinking of milk and calcium supplements which

may create growth in areas except the gums. Experiments conducted with

mice allowed scientists at Kings College London to cultivate a complete

tooth in mice with the help of stem cells. The success of this experiment
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made these scientists claim that the same process can be used for humans.

This has not been tested on humans and so far, most people still prefer a

quicker and economical way of dealing with the loss of teeth and that is by

getting dentures. This is basically just to prove that it can be done andshould there be people who would want to grow a new set of teeth, stem

cell treatmentsare available for the purpose.

Stem cells are also used for skin grafting

procedures. Fresh epidermal stem cells lessen

scarring, making SCT ideal for people who

have suffered from second-degree burns. A lot

of beauty products nowadays suggest thatthey make use of stem cells to treat skin

problems but the truth is, creams, lotions, and

other skin emollients do not really contain stem cells. What they have are

stimulants to trigger the activation of the present stem cells in the body to

regenerate skin. These stem cell beauty products are actually misleading

but this just proves thatstem cell treatmentsare all the rage nowadays and

they provide people the hope that they need to help improve and enhancetheir appearance.

The Problem with Stem

Cell Financing

Medical treatments always take out a large chunk from peoples finances.

Theres always that medical insurance that most people have but the

coverage of the insurance policies often imposes limitations; experimental

treatments always fail to be included in these insurance policies.
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Stem cell treatments are not widely available in the U.S. just yet and most of

the procedures that involved the incorporation of stem cells have only been

carried out by experimental medical organizations. Most medical facilities

are have not yet integrated stem cell treatments into the services they offer.

With all the encouraging reports about

the success of medical procedures that

make use of stem cells, a lot of people

suffering from degenerative diseases are

considering them for their treatments.

Stem cell treatment is not cheap, though,

and the procedures are still greatly tiedwith research to further explore the amazing potential of using stem cells in

the medical world, so understandably, treatment costs a lot.

Certain medical facilities provide stem cell financing to their patients but

they need to qualify for the program. The facilities are often linked with

organizations that support stem cell research so financial back-up is not

easily given and if the patient does not have other people to help him meet

the requirements for qualification, there are credit officers who will

thoroughly go through all the presented documents. The process for

qualification is often stringent and it takes a long time. Preparing the right

documents to back the financial assistance program being applied for can

be truly time-consuming. The amount of time just to submit all the

necessary paperwork can contribute greatly to the patients deteriorating

health.

A patient may look around for other financial backers aside from the ones

linked with the facility where he will be getting his treatment. A lot of

pharmaceutical companies are open to providing financial assistance to

patients that may shed light on their research efforts about the treatment.


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This would require a lot of research

work on the part of the patient because

there are still certain conditions to be

addressed with regards to this financingsystem. Looking at private stem cell

research groups is also a good thing to

do and would entail more research work

as well.

Stem cell financing is not at all easy, which is why even if a lot of people

want to use stem cell treatments for their illness, they opt to go for the

conventional methods whose results may not be as great but are morefinancially manageable. Everybodys hoping that one day, stem cell

treatments will be as readily available in the U.S. as they are in China. For

the time being, however, Americans will just have to make sure that they

have the means to cover their medical needs.
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Recent Update on Stem Cells Making a Difference in One’s Life