Rare leukemia targeted by modifying patients’ immune cells – West Hartford News

NEW HAVEN >> Young patients with a particular type of leukemia who have relapsed after going into remission may find new hope through a treatment that involves modifying a patients own T cells, an important part of the immune system, to destroy cancer cells.

While the therapy, in which genes are inserted into a patients T cells, is expected to receive Food and Drug Administration approval soon for pediatric patients, researchers hope that it will be effective for adult patients as well and for more types of cancers, according to Dr. Steven Gore, director of hematologic malignancies at the Yale Cancer Center.

The cancer thats the focus of this T cell therapy is B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which is the most common leukemia in kids and its commonly cured in the 2- to 10-year-old age group, Gore said. He said about 70 percent of children with the cancer are cured.

However, the rest suffer a recurrence of the disease even after treatment with chemotherapy and stem cell transplants.

Its getting to be a difficult situation, Gore said.

There are 3,100 cases of children with B-lineage ALL each year, he said.

B cells, also known as B lymphocytes, are white blood cells that produce antibodies, which fight infection. A characteristic of B cells is that they have a protein on their surface called CD19, which is the key to the new treatment.

The new process, marketed by Novartis and first developed at the University of Pennsylvania, involves harvesting T cells from the patient. Novartis then introduces DNA into these T cells, introducing new genes into the T cells, [which] include a receptor that will recognize CD19, Gore said. The genes that are fused into the T cells are manufactured in the lab but are copies of normal human genes, Gore said. The new cell is called a chimeric antigen receptor T cell, or CAR-T cell.

Normal T cells fight disease, and we know that T cells can attack cancer cells as well, but getting them to do so in the host where the cancer has developed is tricky, Gore said. Cancer cells are very similar [to] normal cells from which they derive.

Turning the T cells into CAR-T cells helps by targeting the CD19 marker on the B cells. CD19 happens to be a pretty good target for cancer technology because its only on B cells, Gore said. These new CAR-T cells latch onto the leukemia cells.

Reproducing cells

Then, once they see that theyre needed, the CAR-T cells are going to make more of themselves. Theyre going to make a whole army-full beside what we gave the patient, Gore said. Other genes in the introduced DNA give the immune system the go-ahead to kill these leukemia cells.

The CAR-T cells target both healthy and malignant B cells, but people live all the time without B cells, Gore said, by relying on drugs such as rituximab.

The treatment is not easy on the patient, however. When this massive influx of these new T cells attack all these leukemia cells, youre basically setting up a jihad in your body, Gore said. People can get very critically ill after this therapy, even needing to be treated in the intensive care unit.

Despite the hardship, the FDAs Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee voted 10-0 on July 12 to recommend approval of CAR-T therapy, and it is very rare that an ODAC approval does not end up in an FDA approval, Gore said.

In one trial, 41 of 50 patients with relapsed or refractory B-lineage ALL each achieved complete remission after three months, Gore said, and 60 percent of those patients were still in remission six months later.

It will be rapidly opened up to adults as well, theres no question about it, he said. Some people think this therapy may replace stem cell therapy and doctors hope it can be given before a patient relapses, avoiding stem cell transplants.

We dont have long-term follow-up to know if these patients are cured, Gore said. Theyve certainly been rescued from otherwise-certain death.

Gore said the Yale School of Medicine has been approached by Novartis to be one of the rollout sites for this therapy.

While the new treatment targets a relatively rare cancer, its likely to be effective in other cancers involving B cells, including other types of leukemia and lymphoma, Gore said. (Not all lymphomas and leukemias are B cell cancers, however.) This rare leukemia has been the subject of all this investigation because CD19 is such a low-hanging fruit, because we can live without B cells, he said.

But the technology can theoretically be adapted to any kind of tumor, he said. Theoretically, you could make a CAR-T to target any particular kind of cancer provided that that cancer expresses certain proteins that are predominantly limited to the cancer and not important vital organs.

Call Ed Stannard at 203-680-9382.

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Rare leukemia targeted by modifying patients' immune cells - West Hartford News

‘I still have my brain’ – The Northwest Florida Daily News

Jack Massey of Niceville suffered a spinal cord injury in a pool accident in March and is paralyzed from the chest down. After months of rehab, he's eager to get back into a familiar routine.

NICEVILLE Jack Massey is ready to go back to school.

Only this time, the University of Florida senior will head back to campus with his mom and a new outlook on life.

Massey suffered a spinal cord injury in a pool accident in March and is paralyzed from the chest down. After months of rehab, he's eager to get back into a familiar routine.

"It's definitely boring," the 21-year-old said at his parents' home in Niceville. "There's not a lot to do. I want to go back to school. I still have my brain. I still have everything I need to be successful."

After the accident March 17, Massey was treated at the University of Florida Shands Hospital and then was transferred to Shepherd Center, a spinal cord and brain injury rehab center in Atlanta. At Shepherd Center he met with a peer mentor, counselors and physical therapists to help him find a new normal.

Jack has remained positive throughout the past six months.

"Jack has been a fighter through all of this," said his mother, Julie. "I think he's done well. I only saw him break down once."

Before the accident, Jack was a well-rounded athlete who playing baseball and basketball and ran. He was a star on the track and field team at Niceville High School, with his 4 X 800 relay winning state his senior year.

He says the biggest challenge now is not being able to do the same things he could before.

"I can't get up and go," he said. "It didn't really start to set in until after I got out of rehab."

Jack has had to find enjoyment in other things, like reading or playing with the dogs. His friends have learned to transfer him from his wheelchair to a car so they can take him to the movies or out to eat. When they recently took a trip to the beach, Julie said five of Jack's friends carried him out to the sand a lesson on how hard it is to navigate the world in a wheelchair.

Jack said he believes technology one day will advance enough that he won't be paralyzed forever. He also volunteered to do stem cell surgery to allow doctors to study the affects of stem cells on his spine for the next 15 years. Instead of wallowing in self pity, he's moving forward. But he'll need help.

"I'm appreciating everything in the now," he said.

Doctors have said Jack has adapted faster than expected, but there are still some everyday essential tasks that are out of his reach. He cannot write or cook. He can shower himself but can't dry himself or transfer himself in and out of his wheelchair. The Massey family hopes to secure a personal care attendant for Jack at school, but until then Julie will be in Gainesville to help him transition. An occupational therapy student from the university will also help Jack on a temporary basis.

Finding proper care for her son has proven to be a learning experience for Julie and her husband, Lance.

"I don't know how people do it," she said. "We have good health care, but then there's hidden costs. There's travel expenses. ... It's kind of humbling. Nobody should have to go to GoFundMe for medical help."

Jack wants to spend his final year as an undergrad as independent as possible. After months of helping him recover, Julie said it will be hard to let her son go. Jack is the oldest of three; his brother Lance is 19 and a student at UF and his sister Alina is 14 and attends Ruckel Middle School.

"It's like letting him go off to kindergarten again," she said.

As for life after college, Jack said he doesn't feel limited in career choices. One of his professors in the geology department encouraged him by saying that there were plenty of opportunities he could pursue in that field. Jack said he may also consider law school. One thing he's learned through this life-altering experience is that there are no limits to what he can achieve.

"I haven't done that much deep thinking. I just go with the flow," he said. "But I learned I have more perseverance. I'm more mentally tough than I thought I was. I'm appreciative for life in general. That's one of the big things."

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'I still have my brain' - The Northwest Florida Daily News

Ask the Doctors: Stem cell therapy may help worn-out knees | The … – Bennington Banner (subscription)

By Robert Ashley, M.D.

A: "Worn out" is a good way to term what happens to the knee joint with prolonged use. Let's look at how this happens, starting with cartilage.

The lower portion of the knee joint (at the tibia) contains shock absorbers called menisci made of cartilage. You have one on the inner portion and another on the outer portion of each knee. The upper portion of the knee joint (at the femur) is lined with cartilage as well. All of this cartilage helps protect the bones at the joint but it doesn't heal or regenerate well due to limited blood supply. When severe, worn cartilage leads to arthritis of the knee. In knee X-rays of people over the age of 60, 37 percent have shown evidence of arthritis of the knees.

The intriguing thing about stem cells is that they have the ability to become any type of cell that the body needs. The cells used for stem cell injections in the knees are called mesenchymal stem cells, and they can differentiate into bone, fat or cartilage cells. These stem cells can come from the fat cells of your body, from your bone marrow or from the inner lining of your knee joint; they're then replicated in the laboratory and injected into the knee joint.

Here's what the research shows so far ...

In a 2013 study, 32 patients with meniscal tears of the knee were injected with a combination of stem cells, platelet-rich plasma and hyaluronic acid. The study reported improved symptoms and even MRI evidence of meniscal cartilage regeneration.

In a 2014 study, 55 patients who had surgery for meniscal tears of the knees were separated into three groups, with two of the groups receiving stem cell injections. Researchers found that, after six weeks, pain had decreased substantially in the two groups that received stem cell injections and that the decrease was even greater at one and two years after the injection.

In a 2017 study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers analyzed six studies that used stem cells for osteoarthritis of the knees. In five of the studies, stem cells were given after surgery to the knee; in the other study, stem cells from a donor were administered without surgery. All the studies showed reduced pain and improved knee function. Further, in three of the four trials, MRIs corroborated the cartilage improvements. However, the authors noted, five of the six studies were of such poor methodology that an overall conclusion about the stem cells' effectiveness could not be made.

In all these studies, the most common side effect was knee swelling and stiffness, which improved over time.

There may be benefit to stem cell injections for cartilage loss of the knees, but more data are needed, especially in those who aren't having surgery of the knee. I'd also like to see more data on this type of therapy as a preventive measure for younger patients before their knees are worn out.

Robert Ashley, M.D., is an internist and assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o Media Relations, UCLA Health, 924 Westwood Blvd., Suite 350, Los Angeles, CA, 90095. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.

If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us. We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.

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Ask the Doctors: Stem cell therapy may help worn-out knees | The ... - Bennington Banner (subscription)

DHK – Annie McNamara, 27, myelodysplastic syndrome, Boston, with Dr. Robert Soiffer, chief, Hematologic … – WEEI.com

Earlier had a guest on that protects it you might just that might we'll just talk music you know but yes I've done and yes. We have another and now I. You felt it just at the time we got her elbow and grad and out whose family owns the Portland sea dogs and I had to admit I'd bounce the first pitch up. Portland seed in their video of this hole and I thought I asked rotate another chance to sit. Her family owns the airport into dogs and there's been. Apparently I Wii I know exactly where to go to the video thank you very much day. Any back to Mary's here and and her doctor doctor Robert Zoellick for. And that any. It's 27 years old hat Milo this plastic syndrome which I have to admit. I've been sixteen of these things but that's a new one on me at I don't think effort that went before what what exactly did in tale. Yes so it's blood disorder again normally found it again. Older folks. So it was sort of rare for at 25. Year old to be diagnosed with that. But certainly shared today is a bone marrow transplant so. I mean was it meant it to Dana Farber once I found out hands. Did three rounds of chemo outpatient acting forever. An and accepting of both Americans and last June. It's as the impatient at the breakdown. That doctor cipher was my transplant doctor and tenth harbor. And doctor Roberts worked for is here and I heard you say yes when she talked about the rarity of the disease how rare is it. How he treated well itself. It's the disease that as Annie said he's much more common old people. People in the 60s80s. Very uncommon. Twenty's. He can be treated with support here medications and little dose chemotherapy when picked Poulter. When patients younger. We generally want to all Americans clause with out of bone marrow transplant mild to split will lead to keep. And it becomes very eager to treat so. Despite the rarity of the disease and he was that. Attracted the entire time she just made it head on. Did it too tough to what I have to do. I'll take the chemotherapy in the transplant her sister was her daughter which is remarkable story also that. She showed remarkable courage through the entire process in and it even knows something was wrong or you feel like how long that laughed. Tired. Too. Much. The bar. Like an appealing their I don't got a good story and that's what you're gonna carry you through the. I cannot relate to that I. But it hadn't had it takes I knew something really often action difficult. Week. So. It's late night after what happened to inch its way. Saturday Javed Ali counted that's very Massachusetts. My word and act out there. That come back. It's. It doctor Lieberman can tear your donor with your sister Molly. I assume that might have been a ten for ten match perhaps. Yes it was an exact match was awesome. Sister is a senior at the academy's actors like frank. Steamers that reflects well. Making sure to keep a schedule worked with the sisters schedule them. In between graduation. Widgets so. I was really fortunate to. Match. A week later after such a perfect. It worked out I was able to hurt at mission. And I. Speaking we transplant a year after the transplant something significant happened in your life tell us what that is and. Yes so I got engaged. Almost. Exactly here after the transplant which was pretty special. Dan my fiance was served with me through the whole ride. So it was awesome very exciting ends. Its focus on planning a wedding now wedges. And that. All of that in the past years. And he was right there was Hewitt said he knows the real deal yeah really just aren't as good as our guys. Yep it's sealed the deal. And had a question for your doctors is finding that match fortunately she had a sister without match there for the bone marrow transplant was once the match but for those who don't have sisters don't have a brother that able to do that how tricky can nappy. Will things really change over the past five to eight years the better. Twenty years ago we would only do bone marrow transplant on a patient who had eight siblings a brother or sister who matched. At about fifteen years ago we started to transplants from unrelated donors volunteers dealers. Who were able to actually provided the source of stem cells and actually good outcomes. More recently we've been able to even use half matches so even a win eight other sister does it. Match fully ten out of ten match dale said a week you actually get by with a five of ten match almost as well as we can't attempt. Our friend Tara who's going to be here tomorrow had her bone marrow transplant in November. And I know she was kind of isolated for about nine months I assume you've had a similar sort of regiment you had to go through. Yes of the first hundred days I was inside you know sort of contact them on in the outside world besides my family. So I was definitely tough and then. I work for an Austin Co. act Clijsters and so I was able to work from home through the spring. And they were awesome. Sort of helping me get through flu season because my immune system. Receivers susceptible to catching something. So yeah I was you know at home until April. Answered just get getting back in readjusted to you. I. It's a real family affair doc watched any buyers Oprah folks beyonc really all came together it. That'll give her support of actually help keep healthy. A community effort. When's the wedding I'd accept. If congratulations a couple of things that couples swapping one you do work out some companies how to increase in credit out of great Fredricka. And secondly in the scouting reports and future sea dogs that we should be looking out or. Bully doesn't devers Africans as loyal you know he's doing pretty well. Commandant and the obviously. I don't have a scouting report right now but I'm sure things. You're in the nickel you need a great little bull market. Yeah it's I'd love going up there and Ankara practice hitting get a chance to. Endeavour's much he was there are very now really kind of scooted through town and yes. Now he's here hitting home runs things like every every game every other game. We took into been intently from you two's yeah. Yeah I'm not a you've got your children to this point yes it's critical to see them say it. Progress. It's to fat cats watch. Well it's great to visit with both of you and MacNamara fallible Malone multi faceted. Can not just in case you didn't hear ripped up. And doctor Robert Lichter thanks you guys that are very much for coming in it's great people that it. Thanks for having classy guys into the past. Thank you thank you and good luck with a wedding thank you and I hear from September whenever that is good luck. Think it's.

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DHK - Annie McNamara, 27, myelodysplastic syndrome, Boston, with Dr. Robert Soiffer, chief, Hematologic ... - WEEI.com

Stem Cell Doctors, Adult Stem Cell Therapy

What is Regenerative Medicine with a Stem Cell Doctor?

Regenerative Medicine with stem cell doctors is treatment that regenerates and repairs damaged body tissue such as tendon, ligament, cartilage and bone. Conventionally, when an injury happens in these tissues and pain results, nonsurgical pain management provides a band aid approach to mask pain. And when healing occurs in a tendon or ligament the old fashioned way, it does not end up in a 100% healing back to its before state.

The Regenerative Medicine concept is to shift the treatment paradigm into healing the tissue rather than masking pain. Traditional treatments like steroid injections work well for relief, however, they do not offer healing potential. So Regenerative Medicine utilizes stem cell based treatments that offer potential to heal these injuries by providing the bodys building blocks including growth factors and platelets that promote natural healing in the body.

What is a Stem Cell?

Stem cells are made by the bodys bone marrow and are a clean slate. They can differentiate into specialized cells with cues coming from the environment in which they are placed. These signals let the stem cells know which differentiation pathway to go down.

Stem Cells can turn into many different cell types.

This may become a skin cell or cartilage, muscle, bone, tendon, red blood cell and many others. By putting the production of the cells needed to stimulate repair into high gear, an additional supply in the area can provide the difference between an sub-par result and one that regenerates back to normal condition.

What are the different kinds of Stem Cells?

There are two basic stem cell types. The first is called unlimited stem cells (also known as embryonic stem cells). These can turn into any kind of cell, while the second type is termed limited stem cells (also known as adult stem cells).

With the unlimited type of stem cells, the cells have the potential to become any human cell type. They can be replicated outside the body and have applications for many human diseases.

Limited stem cells, though, do not have the same limitless potential and cannot be replicated outside the body. They need to be either frozen or immediately transplanted into the body.

R3 stem cell clinics do not work with embryonic stem cells, only adult stem cells that exist in two varieties:

1) Hematopoietic Stem Cells these exist in human bone marrow and are able to differentiate into most cell types.

2) Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) MSCs have been isolated from placenta, adipose tissue, lung, bone marrow and blood. They are able to differentiate into many different cell types while also assisting with the human immune response.

Is Regenerative Medicine being used in clinical practice?

Absolutely. Over the past few years, multiple regenerative medicine stem cell treatments have entered clinical practice for pain management, orthopedics, sports medicine, cosmetic procedures and vascular indication. These involve adult stem cells, therefore, not considered controversial.

The various treatment procedures being used at R3 Stem Cell centers are:

Medical Conditions that may benefit from regenerative medicine procedures include: Tendonitis Shoulder, Elbow, Hip, Knee, Achilles Golfers or Tennis Elbow Ligament Sprains Bursitis (e.g. hip) Joint Arthritis Fractures (e.g. hip) Cartilage Defects SI Joint Inflammation or Arthritis Facet Syndrome Spinal Arthritis Hip, Knee, Shoulder Arthritis Headaches Occipital Neuralgia Hair Loss Peripheral Artery Disease

Are Regenerative Medicine procedures approved by the FDA?

No they are not. No statements or treatments on this website have been evaluated or approved by the FDA.

Has research proven the effectiveness of Stem Cells in Musculoskeletal Medicine?

There have not been large studies, but quite a few smaller studies showing benefits. There have been small studies in both animals and humans showing the effectiveness of several types of regenerative medicine procedures, which are described on the individual Stem Cell Treatments pages.

Does Insurance cover Regenerative Medicine procedures?

Insurance does currently cover some of the regenerative medicine procedures for the most part at R3 Centers. Insurances accepted include all PPOs Medicare, Tricare.

There are certain stem cell treatments not covered by insurance, such as for hair loss and nonoperative facelifts. For those procedures, self pay discounts are offered.

What types of doctors offer Regenerative Medicine procedures for musculoskeletal conditions?

The doctors offering stem cell injection procedures come from several specialties, including sports medicine, orthopaedic surgery and pain management. At R3s Southern California treatment centers, Medical Director Bryn Henderson, DO, is a Board Certified physician with extensive experience in adult stem cell treatments. Dr. Jose Dalprat is another Board Certified physician at the practice offering stem cell treatments as well.

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Stem Cell Doctors, Adult Stem Cell Therapy

Stem cells: science prepares to take the first sip from the real fountain of youth – Catholic Online

Theoretically, eternal youth is now within our grasp.

Doctors are close to discovering a real life fountain of youth that could theoretically enable patients to live forever. Advances in stem cell treatments and now, tissue nanotransfection (TNT), which is a new technique, can theoretically provide patients with the benefits of youth for life.

The fountain of youth is within the grasp of science, but so far, only for mice. Human trials come next year.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- The quest for eternal life is ancient. It is mentioned in the first and oldest story we have, the Epic of Gilgamesh. In that ancient Sumerian tale, only Utnapishtim, a man who built and ark and survived a great flood in a story that is almost identical to the story of Noah's ark, knows the secret to eternal life, which ultimately proves elusive. In the centuries that followed, people have tried every remedy imaginable to prolong life. They searched for the fabled fountain of youth, and according to some legends, bathed in the blood of virgins and children.

Today, we know none of these endeavors would work because ageing is carried on in the genes. The only way to reverse ageing is to manipulate the genes. And this is precisely what doctors are looking to do in order to produce new cells, and even whole organs.

Researchers now know the primary difference between a young person and an old person is the number of stem cells in their body. Young people have many times more stem cells. This is the basic, underlying reason why young people are so youthful. A young body can repair itself more rapidly and thoroughly than an older one because of the number of stem cells. But if stem cells could be injected into an older body, in quantities similar to those enjoyed by a young person, what would happen then?

Nobody knows for certain because the experiment hasn't been conducted, but the hypothesis is that the older person would become more youthful, healthier, and longer lived.

As stem cells enter the medical mainstream, and may become a standard part of medical treatment in the near future, there is another development that could make stem cells irrelevant. Nanotransfection, abbreviated as TNT, is a new method whereby skin cells can be turned into any other cell in the body using a special microchip and electricity.

The device, called a nanochip, is loaded with genetic material essential to turning cells into other kinds of cells. The electrical current enables the device to inject the genetic material into the skin where it ends up inside the cells. These cells can then travel though the body and take on the properties of healthy cells around damaged tissue, facilitating repair. On other words, a damaged liver or heart can be repaired with this tiny device. The advantage of this method is that stem cells are not required. Your skin cells simply become whether other kind of cells they are told to become by the injected genetic material.

A study affirming the effectiveness of this approach was published in the journal, Nature Nanotechnology. It has been tested on mice and was successful in restoring function to non-functioning limbs. It will be tested on humans within the next year.

Scientists have known they can reprogram cells into other kinds of cells for a long time now, but only recently have they developed the method to do so cheaply and efficiently. The actual procedure requires a chip that is as small as a penny, and takes only a second to work.

If the procedure works on humans, then doctors may have a cheap and efficient way to repair and even replace organs. The discovery is so dramatic is it difficult to believe. More testing is required, but it shows just how far we have come in our ability to edit genes and reprogram cells to grow specific forms of tissue within the body.

In a generation or less, it is reasonable that we will have unlocked the secret to reversing ageing. Of course, this discovery opens a whole host of ethical and philosophical questions, but that's for the ethicists and politicians to work out. For now, science is about to take the first sip from the fountain of youth, and we await the result.

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Pope Francis Prayer Intentions for JULY 2017 Lapsed Christians. That our brothers and sisters who have strayed from the faith, through our prayer and witness to the Gospel, may rediscover the merciful closeness of the Lord and the beauty of the Christian life.

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Stem cells: science prepares to take the first sip from the real fountain of youth - Catholic Online

Stem cells could treat patients with Type 1 diabetes thanks to a new implant – Digital Trends

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Stem cells could treat patients with Type 1 diabetes thanks to a new implant - Digital Trends

Hope for Emma’s voice: Child undergoes ground-breaking stem cell treatment – Stillwater News Press

DUNCAN, Okla. Emma Harper is closing out her summer with a ground-breaking stem cell treatment.

Cerebral Palsy and a Broad Spectrum Genetic Disorder create roadblocks in different forms for this 10-year-old Horace Mann student.

Her parents, Micah and Tara Harper, accompanied Emma on the trip to Orange, Calif., for the stem cell treatment if an effort to improve their daughter's life.

We never gave up hope that she would one day be able to speak, Micah said. We were told by doctors whenever she was much younger that she should probably be institutionalized, that she wouldnt walk, she wouldnt talk. She really has beat the odds. She can walk. She can walk on her own...

Emma continues to break through barriers in new and different ways.

Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017, Emma and her parents met with Dr. Henderson, who is familiar with the Southwestern Oklahoma area, having been stationed at Fort Sill.

An initial meet and greet and question and answer portion of the procedure was completed. The Harpers were scheduled to go back the very next day for Emmas treatment, which usually lasts around two hours ended.

For Emma, whosebody accepted the vitamins and stem cells quickly, the treatment only took 20 to 30 minutes.

They (doctors) said whats happening is that her body is really accepting the stem cells. The doctor said that its like fireworks going off in her body right now, explained Micah. It was a really quick procedure, and the doctor said that within the next two weeks shes going to really start feeling the effects. We will see progress in two months, and she could continue making progress for two years.

There is no telling what type of progress Emma can expect.

Her body is dictating where the stem cells are going," Micah said.

Emmas doctor has seen miraculous recovery and progress in children with cerebral palsy. This treatment also has been used in early-onset dementia. The treatment has a 100 percent success rate with varying specific points of progress within the body.

While the Harpers cannot be completely sure this phenomenal treatment will give Emma her voice, other positives of the procedure could be highly beneficial.

It was a gamble that we were willing to take, Micah said.

Emma was feeling great and enjoyed sightseeing in Los Angeles Thursday after her treatment.

Arrington writes for The Duncan Banner, a CNHI News Service publication.

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Hope for Emma's voice: Child undergoes ground-breaking stem cell treatment - Stillwater News Press

Odessa physician offering stem cell therapy – Odessa American

An Odessa physician who specializes in pain management has begun offering stem cell therapy for inflammation from a variety of arthritis.

Dr. Mandeep Othee of ProCare Interventional Pain Medicine, said stem cell therapy has been around since as early as 1938. It has recently been used to stem inflammation, wound care and post-surgical use to help in healing.

The purpose for me is going to be for inflammation for knee arthritis, shoulder arthritis any sort of arthritic process in the neck, the back; any part of the body, Othee said.

Othee said hes always interested in cutting-edge treatments. As associate medical director of In-Patient Rehabilitation at Medical Center Hospital, Othee oversees care for patients with a variety of orthopedic needs, ranging from stroke patients to those recovering from joint replacement surgery, the hospital website said.

He also specializes in diagnosing and treating neck and low-back pain.

The source of the amniotic stem cells is healthy women who have had C-sections who donate their amniotic fluid to a tissue bank. Othee said it is fully regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the cells are purified and frozen to preserve them.

The cells provide cushioning, support and lubrication to a developing fetus in the womb.

Its a similar process in the body, so for example, if we take that same stem cell and inject it into the patients knee, or shoulder, or back, or neck it provides the same cushioning, support, lubrication and inflammation reduction that it does in the developing fetus, Othee said.

He added that there are 226 growth factors in the fluid itself, which includes proteins, lipids electrolytes and the magic element of hyaluronic acid.

Thats the typical injection a patient receives in an orthopedic surgeons office. It basically heals the area, provides collagen synthesis and helps with the re-growth of that lost cartilage , Othee said.

Cartilage wears down over time in the joints and injecting the stem cells greatly increases the patients own healing response. Othee said it works 100,000 times better than Platelet Rich Plasma, which is taking a patients own platelets, spinning it down, putting it into a concentrated format and injecting into the patients knee, shoulder, neck or back, Othee said.

Typically, Othee said hes read studies have shown 30, 90 and 100-day responses that are better than steroid shots or hyaluronic acid injections.

It can help patients avoid or delay joint replacement surgeries.

The product he chose is OrthoFlo made by MiMedx.

I chose them because theyre the biggest and the best, Othee said. Their company specializes in different products. One is OrthoFlo. It contains pro-growth factors (and) no tissue fragments or dead cells. It is highly purified human amniotic fluid.

He noted that thousands of injections have been administered over the last five to 15 years and no reactions, side effects or infections have been reported that hes read about.

Currently, no insurance companies pay for the stem cell therapy, but athletes have been getting these for years in other countries, such as Germany and England, and larger cities such as Houston and Dallas. The cost is $2,200 per injection from Othee.

The patient may be sore for a day or two after the stem cell injection and they are able to walk out of the office without a problem. For any sort of knee injections, Othee said a patient may want to wait a week to start running or doing other activities.

Othee said he usually asks patients to stop taking anti-inflammatory medicine for at least seven days before and after the treatment.

He added that there is no age limit on people who could receive stem cell therapy.

Othee said patients may have tried steroid shots, hyaluronic acid, or platelet rich plasma before stem cell therapy. However, they could skip right to stem cell therapy, he added.

Othee said he has spoken to other doctors with patients who have gone straight to stem cell therapy and it works.

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Vijay Borra doesnt do stem cell injections. He said he thinks research into stem cells just as an injection for osteoarthritis is still in its infancy.

I think a lot of research now is going into using stem cells to generate chondrocytes, which are cartilage to see if we can plug in focal cartilage deficits. Thats where all the research is now. As far as just injecting stem cells into the joint, were still at the very early stages and theres still very little data as to whether it actually works or not, Borra said.

Borra added that there is a lot of good data using that to generate cartilage.

Theres some data there can be used to plug defects. Its an option for people who have done everything like a steroid or hyaluronic gel injections. Theyve done all that and they dont want a knee replacement, or they have too many medical issues and theyre not a candidate. Then it is an option. If theres nothing else, then stem cell is an option, Borra said.

He added that stem cell therapy is not covered by most insurance plans and the out-of-pocket pay is very high.

Its really like an end-stage resort for someone who doesnt want surgery. Theres really no down side. Its not going to do any damage, so you can always try to see if it helps, Borra said.

When patients come to see him, Borra said he first gives them an x-ray to see what the problem is. Most of the time, its osteoarthritis.

By the time they come to Borra, he said the patient has tried anti-inflammatories, weight loss and therapy.

Theyve already done all that, so I start off with a steroid injection. If it works five, six months some people choose to do two or three a year. If it doesnt work, the next option is gel injections, hyaluronic acid, which is like artificial joint fluid, Borra said.

He said Othee also offers nerve blocks.

Link:
Odessa physician offering stem cell therapy - Odessa American

How to keep your stem cells young – The Garden City Telegram

Stem cells are the highly versatile spare tires of your body. Once called on, they can replace a damaged cell and, because they aren't yet directed to become part of a specific organ or tissue type, they not only could become (metaphorically speaking) a new tire, but could also fix a worn-out engine part or a cracked windshield. It just takes the right prodding in the body, or the laboratory! They can do it even after being inactive for a long time.

Those remarkable abilities are promising to provide scientists with a powerful tool to use in conquering disease. That's because normally, cells in organs such as the heart and pancreas do not divide to repair damage that might happen to the organ. But manipulation of stem cells ... well, that could allow doctors to induce self-repair in many parts of the body. No more heart transplants; bye, bye diabetes, macular degeneration, spinal cord injury, osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis. We might even repair third-degree burns and stroke damage that was previously considered permanent.

That promising future became more hopeful in 2006, when researchers figured out how to turn specialized adult stem cells (replacing use of embryonic cells in some research) into what they called "induced pluripotent stem cells" (iPSCs). Since then, the number of experiments using iPSCs has sky-rocketed: Adult mouse stem cells are injected into the damaged ventricular wall of a mouse heart and the stem cells regenerated damaged heart muscle! There have been a few, small, human-based studies that, says the National Institutes of Health, have "demonstrated that stem cells that are injected into the circulation or directly into the injured heart tissue appear to improve cardiac function and/or induce the formation of new capillaries." But and this is a big but they caution, "significant technical hurdles remain that will only be overcome through years of intensive research."

Tip: Stem cell clinics promising miracle cures are not a good idea at this time. The International Society for Stem Cell Research says: "Many clinics offering stem cell treatments make claims that are not supported by a current understanding of science."

Fortunately, there's a lot you can do to keep your stem cells healthy and your RealAge younger.

1) Protect your skin from excess sun exposure; use micronized zinc oxide 30 SPF sunscreen. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun and tanning beds and lamps is a leading cause of melanoma. New research shows that the trigger may be stem cells gone wild; melanoma may be related to the formation of carcinogenic stem cells.

2) Avoid hormone-disrupting chemicals such as BPA in plastics and phthalates in household goods and products. One study found that they disrupt development of stem cells needed for sperm production.

3) Don't overeat; eat whole foods, not chemicals. Steer clear of processed foods that dose you with preservatives, colorings, emulsifiers, added sugars and syrups. Continuous intake of sugary foods reduces stem cell vitality! A lab study found that reducing caloric intake by 20 percent can positively boost stem cell activity. We say, try it five days a month.

4) Get regular exercise. According to a new study out of the University of Rochester, loss of muscle stem cells is the driving force in loss of muscle tone and strength as you age. That makes it increasingly important to get two to three 30-minute sessions of strength-building exercises weekly. Aerobic effort (push it a bit) stimulates some stem cells to produce bone instead of fat.

5) Avoid excess radiation. Exposure to a dental X-ray, PET or CAT scan provides diagnostic benefits without immediate risks. But new evidence shows that accumulative exposure to radiation over a lifetime can have damaging effects on stem cells and organs. Opt for an MRI, not a CAT scan when possible; refuse dental X-rays unless necessary; follow guidelines for mammograms. And make sure your imaging center is accredited, personnel are credentialed, and they use weight-based and indication-based protocols.

Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of "The Dr. Oz Show," and Mike Roizen, M.D. is Chief Wellness Officer and Chair of Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic.

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How to keep your stem cells young - The Garden City Telegram