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Stem cell treatment may reduce impairment caused by …

By Stem Cell Treatment

IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 15 (UPI) -- Neural stem cells transplanted into mice brains reduced impairments related to dementia with Lewy bodies, or DLB, researchers found in a study conducted at the University of California Irvine.

Dementia with Lewy bodies, spherical masses of a protein called alpha-synuclein, impairs the function of neurons causing alteration to brain chemicals and neuronal communication, and eventual brain cell death.

DLB, the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's disease, plays a role in other forms of the condition, including Parkinson's and Huntington's -- which researchers hope neural stem cells could help treat.

"Our experiments revealed that neural stem cells can enhance the function of both dopamine- and glutamate-producing neurons, coaxing the brain cells to connect and communicate more appropriately," said Natalie Goldberg, a doctoral student at the University of California Irvine, in a press release. "This, in turn, facilitates the recovery of both motor and cognitive function."

Researchers transplanted mouse neural stem cells into mice exhibiting signs of dementia. A month after the treatment, the mice who'd received it could run on a rotating rod and recognize objects better than untreated mice.

A growth factor called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF, is key to enhancing the function of dopamine- and glutamate-making neurons in the brain. The researchers tested this, finding that without BDNF improvement in cognitive decisions by the mice did not improve, and without the enhancing the function of both dopamine and glutamate in the brain improvements were not as drastic.

"Many important questions remain before we could envision moving forward with early-stage trials [with humans]," said Mathew Blurton-Jones, an associate professor of neurobiology and behavior at UC Irvine. "For example, we'll need to identify and test human neural stem cells first."

The study is published in Stem Cell Reports.

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The Future of Stem Cell Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis …

By Stem Cell Treatment

Among the different therapeuticapproaches being explored for treating MS,adult stem cell therapy continues to beone of the most discussed and anticipatedin the MS community. Stem cells the common term for undifferentiated, self-renewing proliferating cells are currently being investigated for their ability to treatpatients in a wide range of disease indications, includingmultiple sclerosis,due to their ability to reboot the immune system, address inflammation in the body and repair damage caused by injury or disease. For MS, some researchers believe that stem cell therapy can effectively repair damaged myelin, preventing the progression of the disease and minimizing its effect onpatients quality of life.

Stem cell treatment for multiple sclerosisbeginswiththe introduction of adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) taken from the Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) the fatty material that is removed in procedures such as lipsosuction which is processed and reintroduced back into the body. From there, these MSCs are believed to be able to travel past the blood brain barrier and repair the myelin sheath around nerve cells that becomes damaged by the immune system in MS in a process known as remyelination.In addition, stem cells also act as modulators of the immune system in patients with multiple sclerosis, as MSCs secrete cytokines and other molecules that can have an anti-inflammatory effect or produce an inhibitory action on pro-inflammatory pathways. Since MS is an autoimmune disease, if stem cell therapy is provento restore normal function to the immune system as well as repair damaged myelin,itwould represent a revolutionary,next generation approach totreating the disease.

While stem cell therapy is currently available to patients seeking therapeutic alternatives for treating MS where traditional prescribed therapies have failed, the treatment is still being studied, particularly with respect to how effective the therapy is in improving quality of life for patients, and how to best deliver stem cells back into the body. StemGenex, a company that is committed to advancing stem cell therapy for a wide range of disease, is currently managing several clinical studies one of which is for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Outcomes Data of Adipose Stem Cells to Treat Multiple Sclerosis aims to recruit 100 patients between the ages of 18 and65 years old to particulate in thestudy. Recruited participants will be treated with a stem cell concentrate derived from their own adult adipose (fat) tissue, or the stromal vascular fraction (SVF).

Researching clinicians administer a customized treatment that may include: intravenous drip, intra nasal administration, bladder catheterization, or direct site injections. The locations in the body receiving the cells are the areas in most need of immunomodulatory stem cells to help repair damage. When the cells are in the patients body, theydisperse into adjacent tissue, differentiate into mature cells of the surrounding tissue, secrete immunomodulatory growth factors, and/or attract blood vessel growth. In the case of MS, stem cells ability to differentiate into mature cells that may repair myelin as well as stabilize the immune system is what researchers believe can positively impact quality of life for patients as well as slow down disease progression.

For the present clinical studies, to determine if there is a benefit to receiving a dose of SVF, research clinicians will monitor patients for a variety of outcome measures. Primarily, StemGenex is interested in observing a change in overall quality of life over a twelve-month period following treatment at baseline. During this twelve-month period, patients will be assessed for quality of life changes at times of one, three, six, and twelve months following treatment using the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Inventory (MSQLI). According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, this inventory is composed of ten separate rating scales that assess everything from feelings of fatigue to sexual satisfaction and can be completed entirely by the patient in approximately 30-45 minutes. The change in score from each individual rating scale during the twelve-month period is a separate secondary outcome measure in the study.

In spite of recent therapeutic advancements, there are still major unmet medical needs for those with multiple sclerosis. While improved disease modifying drugs continue to delay the progression of the relapsing forms of the disease, most patients continue to suffer from worsening symptoms, and can eventually developsecondaryprogressiveMS, for which there are no FDA approved therapies. In many cases, MS patients have few if any options when it comes to conventional therapy, making the exploration of alternative treatment options such as stem cell therapy critically important to helping those living with the disease.

Stem Cell therapy is a different approach from taking a prescribed medicine its success depends on patients willingness to try the therapy themselves and allow investigators to optimize it for the best results possible. Those who participate are given early access to a treatment that could potentially improve their condition. In addition, their participation makes it possible for researchers to accelerate development of novel therapies. In this way, the future of stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis and whether it is fully developed into a mainstream treatment option for those with MS depends upon clinical studies that confirm its effectiveness.

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Official Publications: Research Expertise and Publications …

By Stell Cell Research

UWA Home Official Publications Research Expertise and Publications Search Site Map

Cuddy, S., Letcher, R., Chiew, F.H.S., Nancarrow, B.E. and Jakeman, A.J. A Role for Streamflow Forecasting in Managing Risk Associated with Drought and Other Water Crises, Drought and Water Crises: Science, Technology, and Management Issues, ed Donald A. Wilhite, United States, Taylor & Francis CRC Press, pp 346-364 (2005)

Georgiou, S., Bateman, I.J. and Langford, I.H. Cost-benefit analysis of improved bathing water quality in the United Kingdom as a result of a revision of the European Bathing Water Directive, Cost Benefit Analysis and Water Resources Management, ed Brouwer, R. and Pearce, D.W., United Kingdom, Edward Elgar, 1: pp 270-289 (2005)

Hertzler, G.L. Prospects for Insuring Against Drought in Australia, From Disaster Response to Risk Management, ed Botterill, L.C., Wilhite, D.A., Netherlands, Springer, pp 127-138 (2005)

Jakeman, A., Letcher, R., Saifuk, K. and Ongsomwang, S. Integrated water resources assessment and management, Integrating knowledge for river basin management, ed Jakeman, A.J., Letcher, R.A., Rojanasoonthon, S., Cuddy, S. and Scott, A., Canberra, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, pp 13-27 (2005)

Jakeman, A., Roganasoonthon, S., Letcher, R. and Scott, A. Improving integrated assessment approaches, Integrating knowledge for river basin management, ed Jakeman, A.J., Letcher, R.A., Rojanasoonthon, S., Cuddy, S. and Scott, A., Canberra, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, pp 203-219 (2005)

Letcher, R., Jakeman, A. and Ekasingh, B. Principles of integrated assessment, Integrating knowledge for river basin management, ed Jakeman, A.J., Letcher, R.A., Rojanasoonthon, S., Cuddy, S. and Scott, A., Canberra, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, pp 55-66 (2005)

Schreider, S.Y. and Jakeman, A.J. The disaggregation of monthly streamflow for ungauged sub-catchments of a gauged irrigated catchment in northern Thailand, Forests, Water and People in the Humid Tropics, ed Bonell, M. and Bruijnzeel, L.A., United Kingdom, Cambridge University Press, pp 742-755 (2005)

Soto, G.M.O. and Bateman, I.J. Cost-benefit analysis of urban water supply in Mexico City, Cost Benefit Analysis and Water Resources Management, ed Brouwer, R. and Pearce, D.W., United Kingdom, Edward Elgar, 1: pp 361-380 (2005)

Abadi Ghadim, A.K., Pannell, D.J. and Burton, M.P. Risk, uncertainty and learning in adoption of a crop innovation, Agricultural Economics, 33:1, pp 1-9 (2005)

Bateman, I.J., Brouwer, R., Georgiou, S., Hanley, N., Machado, F., Mourato, S. and Saunders, C. A 'Natural Experiment' Approach to Contingent Valuation of Private and Public UV Health Risk Reduction Strategies in Low and High Risk Countries, Environmental and Resource Economics, 31:1, pp 47-72 (2005)

Bateman, I.J. and Munro, A. An Experiment on Risky Choice Amongst Households, The Economic Journal, 115:502, pp 176-189 (2005)

Baumann, A.C., Osman, M., Burton, M.P. and Lumley, S. Understanding Western Australian Consumers' Voews: Acceptance of Food Produced Using Gene Technology, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 12:1, p 56 (2005)

Brouwer, R. and Bateman, I.J. Temporal stability and transferability of models of willingness to pay for flood control and wetland conservation, Water Resources Research, 41: pp 1-6 (2005)

Brouwer, R. and Bateman, I.J. Benefits transfer of willingness to pay estimates and functions for health-risk reductions: a cross-country study, Journal of Health Economics, 24:3, pp 591-611 (2005)

Brown, B., Weersink, A. and de Loe, R.C. Measuring Financial Capacity and the Effects of Regulatory Changes on Small Water Systems in Nova Scotia, Canadian Water Resources Journal, 30:3, pp 197-210 (2005)

Burton, M.P. and Bencini, R. Consumer Acceptance of New Sheep Milk Cheeses, Australasian Agribusiness Review, 13: (2005)

Chambers, R.G. and Quiggin, J. Incentives and Standards in Agency Contracts, Journal of Public Economic Theory, 7:2, pp 201-228 (2005)

Chambers, R.G. and Quiggin, J. Output Price Subsidies in a Stochastic World, American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 87:2, pp 501-508 (2005)

Chambers, R.G. and Melkonyan, T.A. Eliciting the core of a supermodular capacity, Economic Theory, 26:1, pp 203-209 (2005)

Chambers, R.G. and Quiggin, J. Linear-risk-tolerant, invariant risk preferences, Economics Letters, 86:3, pp 303-309 (2005)

Doole, G.J. Optimal management of the New Zealand longfin eel (Anguilla dieffenbachii), Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 49:4, pp 395-411 (2005)

Flugge, F.A. and Schilizzi, S.G.M. Greenhouse gas abatement policies and the value of carbon sinks: Do grazing and cropping systems have different destinies?, Ecological Economics, 55:4, pp 584-598 (2005)

Fraser, I. and Fraser, R. Targeting Monitoring Resources to Enhance the Effectiveness of the CAP, EuroChoices, 4:3, pp 22-27 (2005)

Georgiou, S. and Bateman, I.J. Revision of the EU Bathing Water Directive: economic costs and benefits, Marine Pollution Bulletin, 50:4, pp 430-438 (2005)

Gilmour, J.K., Letcher, R.A. and Jakeman, A.J. Analysis of an integrated model for assessing land and water policy options, Mathematics and Computers in Simulation, 69:1-2, pp 57-77 (2005)

Hart, R. and Latacz-Lohmann, U. Combating moral hazard in agri-environmental schemes: a multiple-agent approach, European Review of Agricultural Economics, 32:1, pp 75-91 (2005)

Henderson, B. and Kingwell, R.S. Rainfall and Farm Efficiency Measurement for Broadacre Agriculture in South-Western Australia, Australasian Agribusiness Reivew, 13: (2005)

John, M.B., Pannell, D.J. and Kingwell, R.S. Climate change and the economics of farm management in the face of land degradation: Dryland salinity in Western Australia, Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics, 53:4, pp 443-459 (2005)

Kingwell, R.S. and Pannell, D.J. Economic trends and drivers affecting the grainbelt of Western Australia to 2030, Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 56:6, pp 553-561 (2005)

Kingwell, R.S. Institutional Change and Plant Variety Provision in Australia, Australasian Agribusiness Reivew, 13: (2005)

Kingwell, R.S. Future Broadacre Farming Systems - a personal view, Connections, 1:Autumn 2005 (2005)

Lefroy, E.C., Flugge, F.A., Avery, A. and Hume, I. Potential of current perennial plant-based farming systems to deliver salinity management outcomes and improve prospects for native biodiversity: a review, Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 45:11, pp 1357-1367 (2005)

Llewellyn, R.S., Pannell, D.J., Lindner, R.K. and Powles, S.B. Targeting key perceptions when planning and evaluating extension, Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 45:12, pp 1627-1633 (2005)

Lobb, A.E. and Fraser, R.W. Implications of Recent Australian Wheat Industry Developments for Domestic and Overseas Prices, Journal of International Agricultural Trade and Development, 1:2, pp 93-108 (2005)

Merritt, W.S., Croke, B.F.W. and Jakeman, A.J. Sensitivty testing of a model for exploring water resources utilisation and management options, Environmental Modlling & Software, 20:8, pp 1013-1030 (2005)

Monjardino, M., Pannell, D.J. and Powles, S.B. The economic value of glyphosate-resistant canola in the management of two widespread crop weeds in a Western Australian farming system, Agricultural Systems, 84:3, pp 297-315 (2005)

Pannell, D.J. Farm, food and resource issues: politics and dryland salinity, Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 45:11, pp 1471-1480 (2005)

Pannell, D.J. Voluntary versus Regulatory Approaches to Protecting the Environment in Rural Areas, Farm Policy Journal, 2:3, pp 1-9 (2005)

Pepper, C., Mccann, L.M.J. and Burton, M.P. Valuation study of urban busland at Hartfield Park, Forrestfield, Western Australia, Ecological Management & Restoration, 6:3, pp 190-196 (2005)

Potter, N.J., Zhang, L., Milly, P.C.D., McMahon, T.A. and Jakeman, A.J. Effects of rainfall seasonality and soil moisture capacity on mean annual water balance for Australian catchments, Water Resources Research, 41:6, pp 1-11 (2005)

Ridley, A. and Pannell, D.J. An Investment Framework for Managing Dryland Salinity in Australia, Farm Policy Journal, 2:4, pp 39-49 (2005)

Ridley, A.M. and Pannell, D.J. The role of plants and plant-based research and development in managing dryland salinity in Australia, Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 45:11, pp 1341-1355 (2005)

Rigby, D. and Burton, M.P. Preference heterogeneity and GM food in the UK, European Review of Agricultural Economics, 32:2, pp 269-288 (2005)

Sadoddin, A., Letcher, R.A., Jakeman, A.J. and Newham, L.T.H. A Bayesian decision network approach for assessing the ecological impacts of salinity management, Mathematics and Computers in Simulation, 69:1-2, pp 162-176 (2005)

Sudmeyer, R. and Flugge, F.A. The economics of managing tree-crop competition in windbreak and alley systems, Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 45:11, pp 1403-1411 (2005)

Ticehurst, J.L., Croke, B.F.W. and Jakeman, A.J. Model design for the hydrology of tree belt plantations on hillslopes, Mathematics and Computers in Simulation, 69:1-2, pp 188-212 (2005)

Weersink, A. and Wossink, A. Lessons from agri-environmental policies in other countries for dealing with salinity in Australia, Crop Protection, 45:11, pp 1481-1493 (2005)

Weersink, A., Llewellyn, R.S. and Pannell, D.J. Economics of pre-emptive management to avoid weed resistance to glyphosate in Australia, Crop Protection, 24:7, pp 601-693 (2005)

Weersink, A., Pannell, D.J., Fulton, M. and Meyer-Aurich, A. Agriculture's Likely Role in Meeting Canada's Kyoto Commitments, Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics, 53:4, pp 425-441 (2005)

White, B. An Economic Analysis of Ecological Monitoring, Ecological Economics, 189:3-4, pp 241-250 (2005)

White, B. and Dawson, P.J. Measuring Price Risk on UK Arable Farms, Journal of Agricultural Economics, 56:2, pp 239-252 (2005)

Drewry, J.J., Newham, L.T.H., Greene, R.S.B., Jakeman, A.J. and Croke, B.F.W. An Approach to Assess and Manage Nutrient Loads in Two Coastal Catchments of the Eurobodalla Region, NSW, Australia, MODSIM05, Melbourne, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand, 1: pp 2658-2664 (2005)

Hailu, A. and Schilizzi, S.G.M. Learning in a "Basket of Crabs": An Agent-Based Computational Model of Repeated Conservation Auctions, Nonlinear Dynamics and Heterogeneous Interacting Agents, Germany, Springer-Verlag, 8th: pp 27-39 (2005)

Ticehurst, J.L., Rissik, D., Letcher, R.A., Newham, L.H.T. and Jakeman, A.J. Development of Decision Support Tools to Assess the Sustainability of Coastal Lakes, MODSIM05, Melbourne, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand, 1: pp 2414-2420 (2005)

Lindner, R.K. Impacts of Mud Crab Hatchery Technology in Vietnam, :1, pp 1-68, Canberra (2005)

Raitzer, D.A. and Lindner, R.K. Review of the Returns to ACIAR's Bilateral R&D Investments, 1:35, pp 1-64, Canberra (2005)

Catts, O. and Zurr, I. The Art of the Semi Living, Art et Biotechnologies, ed Poissant, L. and Daubner, E., Quebec, Presses de lniversite du Quebec, pp 99 - 115 (2005)

Chisholm, J.S., Burbank, V.K., Coall, D.A. and Gemmiti, F. Early Stress: Perspectives from Developmental Evolutionary Ecology, Origins of the Social Mind, ed Ellis, B.J., Bjorklund, D.F., New York, The Guilford Press, pp 1-525 (2005)

Lynch, G.S., Shavlakadze, T. and Grounds, M.D. Strategies to reduce age-related skeletal muscle wasting, Ageing Interventions and Therapies, ed Rattan, S.I.S., Singapore, World Scientific, pp 63-84 (2005)

Wessen, K. Simulating Human Origins and Evolution, UK, Cambridge University Press (2005)

Arfuso, F., McGeachie, J.K. and Meyer, G.T. A quantitative study of blood capillary formation (angiogenesis) concomitant with parenchymal tissue differentiation, Endothelium, 12: pp 171-177 (2005)

Bates, K.A., Harvey, A.R., Carruthers, M. and Martins, R.N. Androgens, andropause and neurodegeneration: exploring the link between steroidogenesis, androgens and Alzheimer's disease, Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 62: pp 281-292 (2005)

Camelo, S., Kezic, J. and McMenamin, P.G. Anterior chamber associated immune deviation: a review of the anatomical evidence for the afferent arm of this unusual experimental model of ocular immune responses, Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, 33: pp 426-432 (2005)

Charles, A.K., Hisheh, S., Liu, D., Rao, R.M., Waddell, B.J., Dickinson, J.E., Rao, A.J. and Dharmarajan, A.M. The expression of apoptosis related genes in the first trimester human placenta using a short term in vitro model, Apoptosis, 10:1, pp 135-140 (2005)

Chen, X., Milne, N. and O'Higgins, P. Morphological variation of the thoracolumbar vertebrae in Macropodidae and its functional relevance, Journal of Morphology, 266: pp 167-181 (2005)

Chinnery, H., Kezic, J., Yeung, S. and McMenamin, P.G. The cause of a band-like opacity in the corneas of abattoir acquired pig eyes, Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, 33: pp 665-674 (2005)

Chisholm, J.S., Quinlivan, J.A., Petersen, R.W. and Coall, D. Early stress predicts age at Menarche and first birth, adult attachment and expected lifespan, Human Nature, 16:3, pp 233-265 (2005)

Dixon, K.J., Hilber, W., Speare, S., Willson, M.L., Bower, A.J. and Sherrard, R.M. Post-lesion transcommissural olivocerebellar reinnervation improves motor function following unilateral pedunculotomy in the neonatal rat, Experimental Neurology, 196: pp 254-265 (2005)

Eastwood, P.R., Platt, P.R., Shepherd, K., Maddison, K. and Hillman, D.R. Collapsibility of the upper airway at different concentrations of propofol anesthesia, Anesthesiology, 103:3, pp 470-477 (2005)

Eppler, E., Walch, M., Latinovic-Golic, S., Dumrese, C., Filgueira, L. and Groscurth, P. Human dendritic cells process and present Listeria antigens for in vitro priming of autologous CD4+ T lymphocytes, Histochemistry and Cell Biology, 123: pp 169-178 (2005)

Fournier, B., Lohof, A.M., Bower, A.J., Mariani, J. and Sherrard, R.M. Developmental modifications of olivocerebellar topography: the granuloprival cerebellum reveals multiple routes from the inferior olive, The Journal of Comparative Neurology, 490: pp 85-97 (2005)

Fox, S.A., Kusmiaty, D., Loh, S., Dharmarajan, A.M. and Garlepp, M.J. Cisplatin and TNF-a downregulate transcription of Bcl-xL in murine malignant mesothelioma cells, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 337: pp 983-991 (2005)

Franklin, D., Freedman, L. and Milne, N. Three-dimensional technology for linear morphological studies: a re-examination of cranial variation in four southern African indigenous populations, Homo-Journal of Comparative Human Biology, 56: pp 17-34 (2005)

Franklin, D., Freedman, L. and Milne, N. Sexual dimorphism and discriminant function sexing in indigenous South African crania, Homo - Journal of Comparative Human Biology, 55: pp 213-228 (2005)

Gaudieri, S., De Santis, D., McKinnon, E., Moore, C., Nolan, D., Witt, C.S., Mallal, S.A. and Christiansen, F.T. Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors and HLA act both independently and synergistically to modify HIV disease progression, Genes and Immunity, 1: (2005)

Gaudieri, S., Nolan, D., McKinnon, E., Witt, C.S., Mallal, S. and Christiansen, F.T. Associations between KIR epitope combinations expressed by HLA-B/-C haplotypes found in an HIV-1 infected study population may influence NK mediated immune responses, Molecular Immunology, 42: pp 557-560 (2005)

Grounds, M. The Wonder of Stem Cells and their Clinical Applications, Australian Biochemist, 36:1, p 3 (2005)

Grounds, M.D., Davies, M., Torrisi, J., Shavlakadze, T., White, J. and Hodgetts, S. Silencing TNF alpha activity by using Remicade or Enbrel blocks inflammation in whole muscle grafts: an in vivo bioassay to assess the efficacy of anti-cytokine drugs in mice, Cell and Tissue Research, 320: pp 509-515 (2005)

Grounds, M.D., Sorokin, L. and White, J. Strength at the extracellular matrix-muscle interface, Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 15: pp 381-391 (2005)

Grove, J.R., Wilkinson, A., Dawson, B.T., Eastwood, P.R. and Heard, N.P. Effects of exercise on subjective aspects of sleep during tobacco withdrawal, Australian Psychologist, 41:8, pp 1-8 (2005)

Harriso, G.A., Schmitt, L.H. and Harrison, C.B.G. Reflections on Aboriginal Health, Society, Biology & Human Affairs, 70:2, pp 53-55 (2005)

Hayes, S., Taylor, R. and Paterson, A. Forensic Facial Approximation: An Overview of Current Methods Used at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine/Victoria Police Criminal Identification Squad, The Journal of Forensic Odonto-Stomatology, 23:2, pp 45-50 (2005)

Haynes, M.J., Cala, L.A., Melsom, A., Mastaglia, F.L., Milne, N. and McGeachie, J.K. Posterior ponticles and rotational stenosis of vertebral arteries. A pilot study using doppler ultrasound velocimetry and magnetic resonance angiography, Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 28:5, pp 323-329 (2005)

Hill, K. and Eastwood, P.R. Respiratory muscle training: the con argument, Chronic Respiratory Disease, 2: pp 223-224 (2005)

Hu, Y., Leaver, S.G., Plant, G.W., Hendriks, W.T.J., Niclou, S.P., Verhaagen, J., Harvey, A.R. and Cui, Q. Lentiviral-mediated transfer of CNTF to Schwann cells within reconstructed peripheral nerve grafts enhances adult retinal ganglion cell survival and axonal regeneration, Molecular Therapy, 11:6, pp 906-915 (2005)

Kam, D.W.R., Charles, A.K. and Dharmarajan, A.D. Caspase-14 expression in the human placenta, Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 11:2, pp 236-243 (2005)

Kidd, R. and Oxnard, C. Little foot and big thoughts - a re-evaluation of the Stw573 foot from Sterkfontein, South Africa, Homo-Journal of Comparative Human Biology, 55: pp 189-212 (2005)

Kovar, J., Willett, K.E., Hislop, A. and Sly, P.D. Impact of postnatal glucocorticoids on early lung development, Journal of Applied Physiology, 98: pp 881 - 88 (2005)

Laird, R., Dawkins, R.L. and Gaudieri, S. Use of the genomic matching technique to complement multiplex STR profiling reduces DNA profiling costs in high volume crimes and intelligence led screens, Forensic Science International, 151: pp 249-257 (2005)

Lareu, R.R., Lacher, M.D., Friis, R.R. and Dharmarajan, A.M. Cloning and characterization of a novel zinc finger protein (rZFP96) in the rat corpus luteum, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1732: pp 69-75 (2005)

Lee-Pullen, T. and Grounds, M. The reality of skeletal muscle stem cells, Australian Biochemist, 36:1, pp 4-6 (2005)

Lee-Pullen, T.F. and Grounds, M.D. Muscle-Derived Stem Cells: Implications for Effective Myoblast Transfer Therapy, IUBMB Life, 57:11, pp 731-736 (2005)

Lohof, A.M., Mariani, J. and Sherrard, R.M. Afferent-target interactions during olivocerebellar development: transcommissural reinnervation indicates interdependence of Purkinje cell maturation and climbing fibre synapse elimination, European Journal of Neuroscience, 22: pp 2681-2688 (2005)

Lucas, A.D., Gaudieri, S., Rauch, A., Nolan, D. and Mallal, S.A. Cellular Tropism of HIV-1 Mediated and Constrained by Coreceptor Dependencies, The Journal of Viral Entry, 1:1, pp 17-27 (2005)

Maddison, K.J., Shepherd, K.L., Hillman, D.R. and Eastwood, P.R. Function of the lower isophageal sphincter during and after high-intensity exercise, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 37:10, pp 1728-1733 (2005)

McMenamin, P.G. A simple interactive teaching aid for medical undergraduates studying the brachial plexus, Medical Teacher, 27:2, pp 169-171 (2005)

Meagher, J., Zellweger, R. and Filgueira, L. Functional dissociation of the basolateral transcytotic compartment from the apical phago-lysosomal compartment in human osteoclasts, Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry, 53:5, pp 665-570 (2005)

Merino, M.L., Milne, N. and Vizcaino, S.F. A cranial morphometric study of deer (Mammalia, Cervidae) from Argentina using three-dimensional landmarks., Acta Theriologica, 50:1, pp 91-108 (2005)

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Official Publications: Research Expertise and Publications ...

The 5-Steps Behind Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections

By Platelet Rich Plasma Injections

Post-traumatic arthritis. Tennis elbow. Hamstring tear. These are a few of thesports injuries that doctors are treating with platelet-rich plasma injections.

ButPRP injections are also proving effective treatments for those who suffer from knee arthritis and other non-sports related injuries.

If youve been reading my posts for long youve no doubt heard me talk about PRP therapy and its relation to sports medicine. One thing Ive never done, however, is explain the steps behind an actual procedure. I want to take that time right now to do that.

Step One: Consultation

The very first thing I do with the patient is consult with them. We talk about the injury, the cause, the level of pain, the history. I want as much information as I possibly can.

As a side note: Usually at this stage I discover that this is a last-ditch effort for the patient. Theyve exhausted all other approaches and want to avoid surgery. See my final thoughts to see why this important.

Step Two: Draw Blood

Next we draw blood from the patient. Usually about 20 to 60 ccs.

Step Three: Spin the Blood

We then take that blood and put it into a centrifuge. Thatcentrifuge spins the blood, separating it into three different layers: the platelet-poor layer, the buffy coat (which contains the platelets and white blood cells) and the red blood cells. Its that middle layer that will be injected.

Step Four: Anesthetize the Injury Area

While the blood is being spun, our next step is to clean the sight and numb the area around the joint.

Step Five: Inject the Plasma

The final step consists of actually injecting the plasma into the injured area. We use an ultra sound machine to guide the needle to make sure we are injecting the fluid in the appropriate place.

The entire procedure takes less than 15 minutes. Its an in-office visit and patients can usually drive themselves to and from our clinic.

Is PRP Therapy Safe?

Yes, little evidence exists to definitely prove that plasma injections can have a positive impact on healing, but in my own work and many of my colleagues Ive seen tremendous outcomes.

Patients with six-week old injuries recover more rapidly as do patients whove been suffering from a decade old injury. Age of injury or patient doesnt matter.

It is important that you explore all of your alternatives first because most insurance companies will not cover this procedure. However, if youve exhausted all of your options and the next step is surgery, investigating whether plasma injections are right for you is a good thing to do before surgery.

Dr. Rick Lehman is a distinguished orthopedic surgeon in St. Louis, Missouri and an articular cartilage reconstruction pioneer He owns U. S. Sports Medicine in Kirkwood, MO, and LehmanHealth. Learn more about Dr. Rick.

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The 5-Steps Behind Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) – Dr. Hal Brown

By Platelet Rich Plasma Injections

PRP, Platelet Rich Plasma, Vancouver

PRP, Platelet Rich Plasma Regenerative Injection Therapy, under ultrasound guidance, for the treatment of back pain, neck pain, tendonitis, shoulders, elbows, wrists, fingers, hips, knees, ankles, feet, all joints of the body.

PRP Regenerative Injection Therapy, Platelet Rich Plasma

A new treatment for pain is becoming popular among orthopedic and pain specialists: the injection of platelet rich plasma PRP. Most everyone thinks of blood platelets as being responsible for blood clotting after injury which is true. What many people do not know is that blood platelets serve many other important functions. Blood platelets are responsible for bringing white blood cells to the injured area to clean up the remains of dead and injured cells, which is what most people believe is "chronic inflammation or tendonitis. This non productive stagnant "swelling" is called tendonosis and is not helpful for healing and must be resolved for recovery to proceed. Most importantly, blood platelets release growth factors that are directly responsible for tissue regeneration. PRP has also been shown to increase chondrocytes, the cells which grow into cartilage tissue. PRP has been used for years in surgical centers around the US and abroad to improve the success of bone grafting (especially in dental surgery) and also by cosmetic surgeons for speeding healing time and decreasing the risk of infection after surgery. More recently PRP is being used for the treatment of chronic pain. All joints, ligaments and tendon injuries can be treated, whether chronic or acute, including: tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, rotator cuff tears, shoulder dislocations, meniscal tears, osteoarthritis and chronic low back, neck pain and many more areas are are all being treated with the injection of PRP; the goal being to promote the regeneration of degenerated and/or torn or strained connective tissue, ligaments, tendons and joints. The reports are of great success at a magnitude greater than regular dextrose prolotherapy, and of benefit where prolotherapy effects have plateaued or not been sufficient.

What is PRP - Platelet Rich Plasma ? Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP is blood plasma with concentrated platelets. The concentrated platelets found in PRP include growth factors among the huge reservoirs of bioactive proteins that are vital to initiate and accelerate tissue repair and regeneration. These bioactive proteins increase stem cell production to initiate connective tissue healing, bone regeneration and repair, promote development of new blood vessels and stimulate the wound healing process.

While a normal concentration of platelets circulating in your blood is 200,000 per micro liter, the platelet count in Platelet Rich Plasma can exceed 2 million platelets per micro liter. To be considered PRP the platelet count must be 4x or greater above baseline.

Normal Platelet Count

Concentrated Platelet Count

How is Platelet Rich Plasma made?

The process of creating Platelet Rich Plasma begins by drawing 20 - 60 cc of blood (500 cc is taken in blood bank donations).

The blood is then put into the Harvest SmartPReP2 Platelet Concentrate System and spun down separating the red blood cells, plasma and concentrating the platelets.

Heres how it works:

All injuries result in tissue damage. The bodys natural response to injury is an organized process of regeneration and remodeling of damaged cells, ultimately returning the injured tissues to their normal state. Collectively this process is known as the healing cascade. This healing cascade is primarily controlled by bioactive tissue growth factors found in platelets. With PRP prolotherapy, these growth factors are concentrated and injected directly into the site of injury.

Growth Factor Biology

The response of living tissue to injury forms the foundation of all surgical practice:

Bioactive proteins replace, repair, and regenerate tissue. These proteins are natural components found in the body and are considered by many to be a new frontier of clinical treatment. Increasing the bioactivity at the wound site takes medicine one step closer toward its ultimate goal of naturally accelerating the body's normal healing process.

The bioactive proteins carried by platelets are already being used succesfully for hemostasis, wound sealing, and wound healing in surgical disciplines such as: oral and maxillofacial, orthopaedic, neurology, otolaryngology, cardiovascular, vascular, general, plastic and reconstructive, non-healing wounds, and pediatrics.

Why use your own platelets?

Platelets are tiny cells that are critical to healing. They are the bodys primary source of bioactive tissue growth factors, including CTGF (Connective Tissue Growth Factor) PGDF (Platelet Derived Growth Factor), TGF- (Transforming Growth Factor-beta), EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor), IGF (Insulin Growth Factor), bFGF (basic Fibroblast Growth Factor), and VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor. By concentrating these growth factors and injecting them at the site of injury or degeneration,, the body's own stem cells are drawn to the injured area and differentiate to cause regeneration of new healthy and robust ligaments, tendons and cartilage..

PRP provides a fibrin matrix graft. : Fibrin matrix provides the scaffolding for new collagen to form along damaged ligaments and tendons. With a fibrin matrix graft, even severely damaged tissues can re-organize and heal.

PRP concentrates Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

MSCs are multi-potent stem cells that can differentiate into a variety of cell types during tissue repair processes. Cell types that MSCs have been shown to differentiate into include collagen secreting cells, bone forming osteoblasts and cartilage forming chondrocytes. Together these cells have the potential of rejuvenating tissues damaged by injury, degenerative changes, and osteoarthritis.

What does it do?

The PRP process concentrates fibrin, mesenchymal stem cells, and platelets so that each cubic millimeter of solution contains 1.5 to 2 million platelets, resulting in up to a five-fold increase in platelets and bioactive growth factors. Because it is so concentrated, PRP acts as a potent tissue growth stimulant, amplifying the natural process of tissue repair and healing. Studies show that PRP induces the production of new collagen by the fibroblasts, bone and cartilage cells at the site of the injection, rebuilding the joint cartilage and strengthening injured ligaments and tendons. This new collagen is naturally incorporated directly into your existing cartilage and ligaments, making them thicker, stronger and more elastic.

How Does PRP Regenerative Injection Therapy Compare With Cortisone Shots? Occasionally a single cortisone shot may give someone significant relief. Usually however, cortisone shots provide temporary relief and stop inflammation, but may not provide long term healing requiring ongoing injections. The problem is that cortisone is catabolic to tissues, meaning that its use will promote degeneration and wasting over time and with continued use.. PRP therapy is healing, regenerative and strengthening these tendons and ligaments and in some cases thickening the tissue up to 40%.

How Does PRP Regenerative Injection Therapy Compare With Hyaluronic Acid Injections?

Hyaluronic Acid injections ( Synvisc, Hyalgan, and Orthovisc and more) are very effective at increasing comfort and range of motion in injured joints. It does not, however, provide a mechanism of regeneration and it is necessary to continue injections about every 3 months to maintain benefit. PRP is regenerative, which means it stimulates the body to actually grow new ligaments, tendons and joint tissues which will last and function like normal healthy tissues.

How Does PRP Regenerative Injection Therapy compare with regular Dextrose Prolotherapy?

Clinical and anecdotal experience is demonstrating that using PRP as the regenerative injection method creates a much more profound healing effect and results in improved results in less treatments. Prolotherapy is a very effective and useful therapy, but PRP is especially useful when regular prolotherapy has provided positive results, but recovery has not been ideal. In these cases PRP is often the treatment that will resolve these less responsive or more injured areas.

Frequency Of Treatments While responses to treatment vary, most people will require 2 to 6 sets of injections of PRP. Each set of treatments is spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart.Usually positive development is evident after 2 treatments. Often satisfactory results may occur even sooner, but cannot be predicted with certainty.

The American Journal of Sports Medicine; May 2013

Treatment of Partial Ulnar Collateral Ligament Tears in the Elbow With Platelet-Rich Plasma

This study gives positive evidence for the use of PRP in sports injuries.

Drs. Luga Podesta and Lew Yocum, demonstrated that 30 of 34 athletes (88%) had returned to the same level of play without any complaints. The average time to return to play was 12 weeks. As well, real physical changes inside the elbow were observed.

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that PRP is an effective option to successfully treat partial UCL tears of the elbow in athletes.

Articles

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy Literature Reviews

By Gary B. Clark, MD, MPA

Visions of Regenerations to Come

Published in the Journal of Prolotherapy

Mayo Clinic research identifies optimal treatment sequence for "tennis elbow"

The study included 34 patients with a wide range of tendon and soft tissue injuries, from rotator cuff tendinitis to plantar fasciitis, an inflammation on the bottom of the foot....patients received an injection of concentrated platelets from their own blood. The platelets release growth factors into the area to start the healing process. Researchers found maximum benefits tended to occur within four months after the procedure. More than 70 percent of patients had better use of their tendons, and 76 percent reported improvement in pain. In addition, researchers found some indication of tendon healing, which was detected with sophisticated ultrasound imaging.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections as an effective treatment for early osteoarthritis.

The New York Yankees star third baseman Alex Rodriguez gets PRP

Texas Rangers' 2nd basemanIan Kinslersaid he had PRP injection

"I feel 100 percent ,and it's the first time I can say that in a long time," Kinsler said

Tiger Woods discusses PRP Platelet Rich Plasma

VIDEO:

Tiger woods held a press conference a the Augusta Masters today to address concerns of his medical treatment among other issues that have been circling in the media. Tiger clarified that he has never used performance enhancing drugs (PEDs). However Tiger did confirm that he received 4 injections ofPRP Platelet Rich Plasmato his knee ligament (LCL) following a slow post operative recovery from ACL repair. Woods also received treatment for his Achilles tendon which he tore & adversely affected his driving distance . He claims that the treatments were successful & he feels strong.

While Tiger Woods has been surrounded bydisappointments of his family & fans of infidelity, it appears that he has not violated any medical laws or restrictions in sport.PRPhas been used to treat many athletes & even more weekend warriors. We are conducting several studies including a 10multicenter clinical trial on tennis elbow as well as a pilot knee arthritis study that was submitted for publication.

So hopefully the bright side of all this media frenzy will be the attention placed on an emerging therapy PRP. In no way is this a panacea but it appears a safe alternative to cortisone. More studies will emerge soon, some pro and some con to best determine which patients and injuries will be proper candidates for PRP.

Research In PRP Regenerative Injection Therapy:

Platelet Rich Plasma - PRP Matrix Graft by David Crane, MD and Peter A.M. Everts PhD

PRP Articles

Globe and Mail: Injured? Heal yourself with your own blood

Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS). Early outcomes of PRP appear promising

PRP Prolotherapy used successfully for professional athletes

PRP keeps Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the game

PRP used by figure skater Patrick Chan, Canadian Olympic Team, B.C. Lions

Takashi Saito, Dodger Pitcher, regains career after PRP elbow treatment

Houston Astro's Picture Doug Brocail recovers from hamstring injury with PRP and continues his season

PRP news show video of Doug Brocail

Sports Groin Injuries:

Efficacy of Dextrose Prolotherapy in Elite Male Kicking-Sport Athletes With Chronic Groin Pain Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2005; 86: 697-702 Conclusions: " marked efficacy for chronic groin pain in this group of elite rugby and soccer athletes."

Stem Cell Prolotherapy in Regenerative Medicine Background, Theory and Protocols

Donna D. Alderman, DO, Robert W. Alexander, MD, DMD, FICS, Gerald R. Harris, DO, Patrick C. Astourian, MS, PA-C

Journal of Prolotherapy

Mesenchymal Stromal Cell (MSC) Prolotherapy

The next advance in Regenerative Medicine

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Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) - Dr. Hal Brown

colorado- StemCell Doctors

By Stem Cell Doctors

Experimental treatment kills off, then resets the immune system

WebMD News from HealthDay

By Dennis Thompson

HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Dec. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) An experimental therapy that kills off and then resets the immune system has given three years of remission to a small group of multiple sclerosis patients, researchers say.

About eight in 10 patients given this treatment had no new adverse events after three years. And nine in 10 experienced no progression or relapse in their MS, said lead author Dr. Richard Nash of the Colorado Blood Cancer Institute at Presbyterian/St. Lukes Medical Center in Denver.

I think we all think of this as a viable therapy, Nash said. We still need to perform a randomized clinical trial, but were all pretty impressed so far, in terms of what weve seen.

In multiple sclerosis, the bodys immune system for some unknown reason attacks the nervous system, in particular targeting the insulating sheath that covers the nerve fibers, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health. People with the more common form, called relapsing-remitting MS, have attacks of worsening neurologic function followed by partial or complete recovery periods (remissions).

Over time, as the damage mounts, patients become physically weak, have problems with coordination and balance, and suffer from thinking and memory problems.

This new therapy seeks to reset the immune system by killing it off using high-dose chemotherapy, then restarting it using the patients own blood stem cells. Doctors harvest and preserve the patients stem cells before treatment, and re-implant them following chemotherapy.

Originally posted here: Stem Cell Therapy for MS Shows Promise

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Platelet Rich Plasma Injections – Sports Medicine Specialists

By Platelet Rich Plasma Injections

WHAT IS IT

Platelet Rich Plasma or at is affectionately called Blood Spinning is the newest procedure in the Sports Medicine Physicians arsenal. While this procedure has been used in the dental field for many years it has only become available as an office procedure in Sports Medicine over the last couple of years.

The procedure initially involves taking a specific amount of blood. The blood is then placed in a centrifuge and spun down into layers. The platelet poor plasma is withdrawn and we are left with a small portion of platelet rich plasma. We then have a concentration of platelets which is 3-5 times the concentration in normal blood. This small concentration is then injected into the injured area.

There are three main types of cells in blood. Red blood cells carry oxygen to tissues. White blood cells fight infection. The third type of cells are platelets. While we mostly think about palettes function in stopping bleeding they play a very important role in healing damaged tissue. Platelets are full of intrinsic growth factor (more than 30) and other morphologic hormones that stimulate healing of damaged tissue. All of these factors are important in the role of cell replication, angiogenesis, fibroblasts, neovascularization and collagen production. All these activities contribute to the repair of tendon, skeletal muscle and bone.

The concept if the PRP injection is to stimulate the body to potentiate a healing response. PRP has been shown to recruit reparative cells. PRP is injected in an inactivated form and once injected into the body it is activated by collagen within connective tissue. The PRP then releases its growth factors and cytokines. These in turn stimulate local stem cells. The PRP also inhibits excess inflammation which causes scar tissue. The end result is healing of tissue to its as normal as possible physiologic state.

PRP can be used both in acute and chronic conditions. In the acute phase it can get an athlete back on to the playing field faster with better and quicker healing of tissues. In chronic conditions it is used to jump start the body to heal tissue that the body has failed to heal and the healing response has stalled?

PRP is can be utilized on any muscle or tendon but the following are the most common parts injected.

As PRP as an office procedure is fairly new the research on its effectiveness is just starting to appear. The difficulty is that there are several different types of methods to prepare the PRP and they all vary on their concentration of platelets and other components that are to be injected. That being said there are now several papers indicating a very promising response to treatment. Those of us in the fields who are most experienced have all seen (although not in all) excellent results.

A small amount of blood is withdrawn from your body (20-60 ccs). This blood is mixed with an anti-coagulant and then placed in a special centrifuge and double spun. The platelet poor plasma is withdrawn leaving a small concentration of platelet rich plasma. This amount (3-10 ccs) is injected into the injured tissue. This is almost always done under the control of ultrasound guided injection to ensure we are placing their PRP exactly into the injured tissue. This is usually followed by an injection of a prepared thrombin clot which acts liked a matrix to hold the PRP fluid in the injured area.

Unlike cortisone injection where you may have an immediate response from the anti-inflammatory effect the PRP injection is stimulation a proper healing response within the bodies tissues. The healing response works over 6-8 weeks so it may be 8-12 weeks before you feel the total effects of the injection. Depending on the area injected and the severity and chronicity of the problem one or two subsequent injections may be necessary. A good program of physical rehabilitation is required to full rehabilitate the body back to full functional capacity.

As this is a medical procedure generally not covered under extended health insurance plans unless you have a discretionary component of your plan to use as you desire.

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Platelet Rich Plasma Injections - Sports Medicine Specialists

PRP Injections | Platelet Rich Plasma Treatment for Heel Pain

By Platelet Rich Plasma Injections

Platelet Rich Plasma injections are also known as PRP injections, used to treat chronic heel pain.

PRP is plasma with many more platelets than what is typically found in blood. Although a liquid, blood (plasma) contains solids called red cells, white cells, and platelets. Best known for clotting, platelets also contain proteins called growth factors which are very important to the healing of injuries. In a PRP injection, the concentration of platelets and growth factors is 5-10 times greater than in normal blood.

How PRP works

When we injure ourselves, blood rushes to the damaged tissue and starts an inflammatory response to start the healing cycle. Inside and on the walls of platelets are hundreds of growth factors that tell the body what to do, including stem cells. When PRP comes in contact with the injured area it turns on the DNA in those cells to cause that tissue to repair itself and make new cells. It also attracts other stem cells to the region to attach to the injured tissue to create new tissue.

What injuries are treated with PRP Injections?

How is the PRP injection made? A small amount of your blood is drawn, which is run through a centrifuge. The centrifuge separates the platelets from the rest of the blood and increases the concentration of the platelets. The increased and concentrated platelets are combined with the remaining blood to create the PRP injection.

How many PRP injections will I need?

Depending on how severe your injury is, it may take 3-7 treatments given 4-6 weeks apart to eliminate your pain and heal your injury.

After the PRP Injection

Since the PRP causes a healing inflammatory response there is usually some mild pain and swelling later that day which can be controlled with rest, ice, and if necessary, over the counter pain medication like tylenol (acetaminophen). Anti-inflammatories and steroids should not be used, as an inflammation response is necessary for the PRP to work.

The following day, light exercise is encouraged to prevent stiffness, with discomfort usually gone in 3-5 days. Painfrom the original injury may start to diminish in 1-2 weeks, but frequently it takes 3-4 treatments to know if it will work for you.

Returning to your level of pre-injury activity depends on the extent of the injury and tissue damaged.

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PRP Injections | Platelet Rich Plasma Treatment for Heel Pain

A Journey Through A Stem Cell Transplant for Amyloidosis …

By Stem Cell Medical Center

http://www.mslaw.edu Assistant Dean Diane Sullivan documents her personal struggle with AL Amyloidosis, a rare hematological disorder and the stem cell transplant that saved her life.

Professor Sullivan, along with her closest friends and family, bring us with them as Diane journeys from diagnosis through multiple phases of treatment to recovery, on this episode of The Massachusetts School of Law's Educational Forum.

The episode includes detailed conversations, with Dr. David Seldin MD, Chief of Hematology and Oncology at BU Medical Center, and Dr. Vaishali Sanchorawala MD, Clinical Director of the stem cell transplantation program at BU Medical Center. Diane, the doctors and her family discuss the treatment process, including cryotherapy and Mucositis, chemotherapy as well as the differences between and benefits of Allogenic stem cell transplants and Autogenic stem cell transplants, as well as the importance of early diagnosis.

Professor Sullivan details how family, close friends, and colleagues were crucial to her process, and concludes with a list of lessons learned from the experience; laugh as much as possible, be kind, stay strong, hold onto hope, and have no self pity.

Professor Sullivan has returned to teaching at MSL and to walking her beloved dogs.

The Massachusetts School of Law also presents information on important current affairs to the general public in television and radio broadcasts, an intellectual journal, conferences, author appearances, blogs and books.

THE MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL OF LAW IS NEW ENGLANDS MOST AFFORDABLE AND DIVERSE LAW SCHOOL. We are dedicated to growing tomorrows leaders; empowering them with professional skills taught by instructors with real world experience, in a fun supportive campus environment. _

YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERE! Learn More at http://MSLaw.EDU

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Myths and Misconceptions About Stem Cell Research …

By Embryonic Stem Cells

En Espaol

There is no shortage of myths and misconceptions when it comes to stem cell research and regenerative medicine. Here we address the most common concerns.

If you have more questions that aren't addressed here, please visit our other Stem Cell FAQ pages.

Is CIRM-funded stem cell research carried out ethically? Where do the embryos come from to create stem cell lines? I'm opposed to abortion. Can embryonic stem cell lines come from aborted fetuses? Does creating stem cell lines destroy the embryo? Are adult stem cells as goodor betterthan embryonic stem cells? Don't iPS cells eliminate the need to use embryos in stem cell research? Can't stem cell research lead to human cloning?

Stem cell research, like field within biomedicne, poses social and ethical concerns. CIRM, as well as the broader research community, takes these seriously.

As a state funding body, CIRM has comprehensive policies to govern research, similar to our national counterpart, the National Institutes of Health. CIRM-funded researchers must comply with a comprehensive set of regulations that have been carefully developed and are in accordance with national and international standards.

These regulations were among the first formal policies governing the conduct of stem cell research and are in accordance with recommendations from the National Academies and from the International Society for Stem Cell Research. CIRMs Standards Working Group meets regularly to consider new ethical challenges as the science progresses and to revise standards to reflect the current state of the research.

Find out More:

CIRM regulations National Academies of Science guidelines International Society for Stem Cell Research guidelines National Academies of Science podcast about guidelines for embryonic stem cell research More about CIRM-grantee ethics training (4:03)

All the human embryonic stem cell lines currently in use come from four to five day-old embryos left over from in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures. In IVF, researchers mix a man's sperm and a woman's eggs together in a lab dish. Some of those eggs will become fertilized. At about five days the egg has divided to become a hollow ball of roughly 100 cells called a blastocyst which is smaller than the size of the dot over an i. It is these very early embryos that are implanted into the woman in the hopes that she becomes pregnant.

Each cycle of IVF can produce many blastocysts, some of which are implanted into the woman. The rest are stored in the IVF clinic freezer. After a successful implantation, they must decide what to do with any remaining embryos. There are a few options:

Some embryonic stem cell lines also come from embryos that a couple has chosen not to implant because they carry harmful genetic mutations like the ones that cause cystic fibrosis or Tay Sachs disease. These are discovered through routine genetic testing prior to implantation. Still other embryos might be malformed in some way that causes them to be rejected for implantation into the mother. Embryos with genetic defects of malformations would have been discarded if the couple had not chosen to donate them to stem cell research.

People who donate leftover embryos for research go through an extensive consent process to ensure that they understand embryonic stem cell research. Under state, national and international regulations, no human embryonic stem cell lines can be created without explicit consent from the donor.

Policies vary as to whether women may be paid or otherwise compensated to donate eggs. Most jurisdictions allow donors to be reimbursed for direct costs such as travel to the clinic or lodging. Some also allow payments or IVF services to be provided to egg donors.

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How do scientists create stem cell lines from left over IVF embryos? (4:11)

No. Emybronic stem cells only come from four to five day old blastocysts or younger embryos.

In most cases, yes. The hollow blastocystwhich is where embryonic stem cells come fromcontains a cluster of 20-30 cells called the inner cell mass. These are the cells that become embryonic stem cells in a lab dish. The process of extracting these cells destroys the embryo.

Dont forget that the embryos were donated from IVF clinics. They had either been rejected for implantation and were going to be destroyed, or the couple had decided to stop storing the embryos for future use. The embryos used to create embryonic stem cell lines were already destined to be destroyed.

There is, however, a second method that creates embryonic stem cell lines without destroying the embryo. Instead, scientists take a single cell from a very early stage IVF embryo and can use that one cell to develop a new line. The process of removing one cell from an early stage embryo has been done for many years as a way of testing the embryo for genetic predisposition to diseases such as Tay Sachs. This process is called preimplantation genetic testing.

Adult stem cells are extremely valuable and have great potential for future therapies. However, these cells are very restricted in what they can do. Unlike embryonic stem cells, which can grow into virtually any cell type in the body, adult stem cells can only follow certain paths.

For example, Blood-forming stem cells can grow into mature blood cells, and brain stem cells may be able to grow into mature neurons, but a blood-forming stem cell cant grow into a neuron, and vice versa. Whats more, adult stem cells dont grow indefinitely in the lab, unlike embryonic stem cells, and they arent as flexible in the types of diseases they can treat.

And, while the news is full of stories about people who had great results from adult stem cell therapies, few of these therapies are part of big trials that can test whether a potential therapy is safe and effective. Until some of these large trials take place with both adult and embryonic stem cells we won't know which type of stem cell is superior. Even researchers who study adult stem cells advocate working with embryonic cells as well.

CIRM is excited about their potential for treating some diseases. However, our goal is to accelerate new treatments for diseases in need. At this time the most effective way of doing that is by exploring all types of stem cells. That's why CIRM has funded researchers pursuing a wide range of approaches to finding cures for diseases.

See how much of CIRM's funding has gone to different types of stem cells here: Overview of CIRM Stem Cell Research Funding.

Filter our list of all funded CIRM grants to see awards using different cell types.

How are adult stem cell different from embryonic stem cells? (3:29)

Induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells, represent another type of cell that could be used for stem cell research. . iPS cells are adult cellsusually skin cellsthat scientists genetically reprogram to appear like embryonic stem cells. The technology used to generate human iPS cells, pioneered by Shinya Yamanaka in 2007, is very promising, which is why CIRM has funded many grants that create and use these cells to study or treat disease. However, iPS cell technology is very new and it is still not known whether those cells have the same potential as human embryonic stem cells or whether the cells are safe for transplantation.

Many CIRM-funded researchers are working to find better ways of creating iPS cells that are both safe and effective. In the mean time, waiting for iPS cells to become therapeutically safewhich will likely take yearswould slow the search for disease treatments. Cures cant wait, which is why CIRM funds all types of stem cell research.

Experts agree that research on all types of stem cells is critical. In September 2008, a panel of experts convened by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences stated that the use of human embryonic stem cells is still necessary. As panel chair Richard Hynes of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology stated:

It is far from clear at this point which types of cell types will prove to be the most useful for regenerative medicine, and it is likely that each will have some utility.

See a video about creating iPS cells (3:40)

No. Every significant regulatory and advisory body has restrictions on reproductive cloning. The National Academy of Sciences has issued guidelines banning the technique as has the International Society for Stem Cell Research. The California constitution and CIRM regulations specifically prohibit reproductive cloning with its funding.

Updated 1/15

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Myths and Misconceptions About Stem Cell Research ...