Stem cell mobilization now a reality

Inside Out By Cory Quirino Philippine Daily Inquirer

Stem cell therapy is the star of cutting-edge medical technology. Weve read about stem cell therapy but are confused about how it really works and why this special therapy should be considered for future use.

Every time the body is exposed to stress (i.e., a body part is injured), stem cells are automatically released to respond to the problem. Their mission is to repair and regenerate damaged cells. This is a biological event that alerts stem cells found in the blood, bone marrow adipose fat, brain, to take immediate action.

And whether one is sick (as in down with flu) or emotionally traumatized, stem cells still do their job of neutralizing and fixing the imbalances within the body.

However, when a person has a serious medical challenge, there may not be enough stem cells available to do the serious job of healing.

In short, available stem cell supply may not be effective to create a life-changing/saving impact.

The question is: How does one get enough stem cells in generous quantities to cause major healing?

There are methods used by clinics here and abroad to mobilize an army of stem cells. A chat with Dr. Samuel Bernal (tel. no. 9881000 loc. 6307/6551) proved enlightening as he said that stem cell mobilization is now no longer an impossibility, but a reality.

Daily habits matter

What you do every day can stimulate or delay stem cell activity.

Original post:
Stem cell mobilization now a reality

Stem Cells Market Will Reach USD 119.51 Billion in 2018: Transparency Market Research

Albany, NY (PRWEB) August 19, 2013

According to a new market report published by Transparency Market Research, Stem Cells Market (Adult, Human Embryonic , Induced Pluripotent, Rat-Neural, Umbilical Cord, Cell Production, Cell Acquisition, Expansion, Sub-Culture)- Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2012 - 2018, the market for stem cells was valued at USD 26.23 billion in 2011 and is expected to reach an estimated value of USD 119.51 billion in 2018, growing at a CAGR of 24.2% from 2012 to 2018.

Related Report: Microscopy Devices Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/microscopy-market.html

The market growth is majorly attributed to therapeutic research activities led by government support worldwide owing to the growing number of patients with chronic diseases across the globe. In addition, rising awareness of regenerative treatment options and growing importance of stem cell banking services are also fostering the growth of the market. Apart from these, development of medical tourism hubs in developing nations such as India and China and in turn migration of patients from developed nations such as the U.S. and Europe for quality treatment at significantly lower prices will also serve the market as a driver especially for the Asian stem cells market.

Related Report: Microscopes Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/microscopes-market.html

The stem cells market will be driven by rising proportion of patients with neurological and other chronic conditions and rising disposable incomes of patients induced by economic growth of Asian regions in the next five years In addition, increasing dependence on stem cells for drug discovery and screening will boost the growth of the market in the future. Increased outsourcing of contract research and clinical trials to developing Asian regions will further encourage growth of the stem cells market.

Browse: http://udallas.academia.edu/transparencymarketresearch/Papers

Adult stem cells held majority share of the overall stem cells market in 2011 at over 80%. This is due to less laborious procedure of harvesting, and less probability of contamination during expansion and sub-culture of adult stem cells. However, fewer post-transplant complications and lesser risk of graft vs. host reaction from the recently introduced induced pluripotent stem cells will lead to its rapid inclusion in research activities and help the global induced pluripotent stem cells market to grow at a relatively faster CAGR during the forecast period.

Regenerative medicine dominated the stem cells market by applications in 2011, and is expected to maintain its leading position till 2018. Considerable research activities and the resultant developed therapies in neurology will drive the stem cells market in the forecast period.

Browse the full report with TOC at http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/stem-cells-market.html/.

Read more here:
Stem Cells Market Will Reach USD 119.51 Billion in 2018: Transparency Market Research

Stem Cell Markets

NEW YORK, Aug. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

Stem Cell Markets http://www.reportlinker.com/p090979/Stem-Cell-Markets.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Biological_Therapy

A stem cell is an extraordinary type of cell that has the ability to self-renew for long periods of time and to differentiate into specialized cells under appropriate physiological or experimental conditions. Traditionally, stem cells have been classified as either embryonic, adult (tissue-specific or cord blood) stem cells. Recent understanding of stem cell biology may provide new approaches for the treatment of a number of diseases as well as tissue/organ injuries, including cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, musculoskeletal disease, diabetes and hematopoietic disorders. Stem cell fate is determined by both intrinsic regulators and the extra-cellular environment (niche), and their expansion and differentiation ex vivo are generally controlled by growing them in a specific configuration (monolayer or three-dimensional culture).

This process, which is vital to enable stem cells to be used for therapeutic purposes, is called differentiation. Differentiation is a process involving unspecialized cells progressing to become specialized cells with restricted developmental potential. The purpose of this TriMark Publications report is to describe the specific market segments of the medical research space using stem cells for research and development (R&D) purposes.

This study reviews all of the generally accepted analytical methods that are currently in use today for preparing and using stem cells. It examines the use of stem cells in developing new therapies for disease.

1. Overview 14

1.1 Statement of the Report 14 1.2 Scope of This Report 15 1.3 Methodology 15 1.4 Executive Summary 16

2. Biology of Stem Cells 20

Read more from the original source:
Stem Cell Markets

Ona stem cell PhilHealth proposal divides house

Manila, Philippines -- Lawmakers are divided over the proposal of Health Secretary Enrique Ona to include stem cell therapy among PhilHealth packages.

Those opposed say health authorities should first address the basic health care needs of the poor, the rising cases of HIV/AIDS and the snowballing number of maternal deaths before coming up with packages that only benefit the rich.

While those in support of the Ona proposal said there is no reason to stop PhilHealth from offering a stem cell treatment package as long as the medical sectorscertifies it as a standard medical procedure.

Gabriela party-list Rep. Luz Ilagan said Health Secretary Enrique Ona should refrain from coming up with a health care package that would only benefit the "rich few."

"While there is nothing wrong with being pro-active in the pursuit of modern medical advancement, the Secretary should look into the most basic and urgent needs of our people, especially the poor. So many die of TB, a major killer, hypertension and diabetes. So many children are malnourished and many indigents in rural areas will never see a doctor in their lifetime," she said.

Ona said they are looking at the possible inclusion of stem cell therapy among the benefit packages of PhilHealth once the medical sector classifies it as a standard care.

"The Secretary is catering to the rich who can very easily spend on their own. He is out of touch with the health reality of the majority of our people. The people need free health services not a package that caters to the rich few," Ilagan said.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. also opposed Ona's proposal, saying, "We know the prevalent diseases and causes of death here. Let's concentrate on them in PhilHealth."

But CIBAC party- list Rep. Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales and Pampanga Rep. Yeng Guiao support DoH's proposal as long as it gains the nod of the medical experts.

"If and when our medical experts accept stem cell therapy as part of standard care in the country then DOH should include said therapy as part of the benefit packages of PhilHealth. With the development of science and technology, DOH should keep up with it and after the medical experts approve new methods of health care then they should be included as part of the benefit package of PhilHealth for the welfare of our people," Cruz-Gonzales said.

Original post:
Ona stem cell PhilHealth proposal divides house

21st Century Stem Cell Scientists: CIRM Creativity High School Interns, Summer 2013 – Video

21st Century Stem Cell Scientists: CIRM Creativity High School Interns, Summer 2013
This summer California #39;s Stem Cell Agency (CIRM) sponsored high school interns in stem cell labs throughout California. During their internships, the student...

By: California Institute for Regenerative Medicine

Continued here:
21st Century Stem Cell Scientists: CIRM Creativity High School Interns, Summer 2013 - Video

Groundbreaking multiple sclerosis stem cell trial approved

Featured Article Main Category: Multiple Sclerosis Also Included In: Stem Cell Research Article Date: 18 Aug 2013 - 2:00 PDT

Current ratings for: Groundbreaking multiple sclerosis stem cell trial approved

4.7 (10 votes)

4.25 (4 votes)

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new clinical trial of a groundbreaking strategy using stem cells for the treatment of MS (multiple sclerosis).

Researchers from the Tisch MS Research Center of New York say the FDA has granted approval to begin early clinical investigation (phase 1 trial) of autologous neural stem cells in the treatment of MS.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease that attacks the central nervous system (the spinal cord, optic nerves and brain). Common symptoms are numbness of the limbs, but more severe cases can lead to paralysis and blindness.

According to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, there are currently between 350,000 to 500,000 people in the US who have been diagnosed with MS, and 200 people are diagnosed with the disease every week.

The new regenerative strategy will involve using autologous, mesenchymal stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells (MSC-NPs), which will be harvested from the bone marrow of 20 MS patients who meet the criteria for the trial.

The stem cells will then be injected into the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the spinal cords of the patients.

See the article here:
Groundbreaking multiple sclerosis stem cell trial approved

Stem cell to remain elusive to poor Pinoys

STUDIES show that stem cell treatment has the potential to treat even those considered as end-stage diseases but it may remain exclusive to moneyed individuals.

Stem cell therapy is a type of intervention strategy that introduces new adult stem cells into damaged tissue in order to treat disease or injury and has recently seen growing popularity in the country.

Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Enrique Ona admitted that it would be hard to make the treatment affordable and will likely continue to cost millions of pesos in the next few years.

We are not yet talking here of professional fees. We are just talking of equipment, technology napakamahal ho ng mga yan. That is the reason why we hear about millions of pesos being spent for stem cell treatment, said Ona.

Hindi pa ho natin magagawa itong mga ganito na mapamura dahil napakamahal ng proseso ng stem cell po, he added.

The Health chief said the only time that stem cell treatment can be offered to the poor Filipinos is by the time that the country already has an approved standard care.

Ang atin hong pangarap is that when this type of therapy already has a standard of care already, ang cost naman nyan will definitely go down and hopefully, kapag meron na tayong apo, mabibigyan na natin siya nito, said the official.

Ona said there is also a possibility that the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will include it in their package, especially since it has the potential to cure numerous illnesses, including cancer, cancer, autism, diabetes, stroke, and liver disease, among others. (HDT/Sunnex)

More:
Stem cell to remain elusive to poor Pinoys

Stem cell debate: Innovation or safety?

DISCUSSION. DOH Secretary Enrique Ona discusses the conduct of regulation for stem cell treatments in the country. Photo from the DOH Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines - The medical community has been divided by the stem cell therapy issue, with practitioners disagreeing on whether treatments should be allowed without clinical trials being approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

For Health Secretary Enrique Ona, to encourage medical innovations, local clinical trials or thorough drug testing prior to a drug's release to the market can be foregone in the meantime for stem cell and stem cell-based products.

In his speech during the mid-year convention of the Philippine Society for Stem Cell Medicine (PSSCM), Ona acknowledged that "predetermined adherence to a protocol might be a fatal rigidity."

But 21 medical and surgical societies found the health secretary's stand problematic, prompting them to issue a position statement calling for stricter regulation. The National Insitute of Health of the University of the Philippines Manila supported the dissenting doctors.

Dr Antonio Dans, an epidemiologist and the president of the Philippine Society of General Internal Medicine, believes it is unethical to charge patients for treatments that are not proven and have not undergone clinical trials.

Stem cell therapy is a medical intervention that involves extracting the body's repair cells and injecting them back to the body to replace old cells. Animal-sourced or xeniobiotic stem cells are restricted by the Department of Health (DOH).

READ: 6 things you need to know about stem cell therapy

The challenge now hounding the DOH and the FDA is "finding the balance between innovation and sound regulation."

Long and arduous clinical trials

See the rest here:
Stem cell debate: Innovation or safety?

Stem cell spine injections for MS – trial approved

Featured Article Main Category: Multiple Sclerosis Also Included In: Stem Cell Research Article Date: 17 Aug 2013 - 0:00 PDT

Current ratings for: Stem cell spine injections for MS - trial approved

4.75 (4 votes)

4.25 (4 votes)

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new clinical trial of a groundbreaking strategy using stem cells for the treatment of MS (multiple sclerosis).

Researchers from the Tisch MS Research Center of New York say the FDA has granted approval to begin early clinical investigation (phase 1 trial) of autologous neural stem cells in the treatment of MS.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease that attacks the central nervous system (the spinal cord, optic nerves and brain). Common symptoms are numbness of the limbs, but more severe cases can lead to paralysis and blindness.

According to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, there are currently between 350,000 to 500,000 people in the US who have been diagnosed with MS, and 200 people are diagnosed with the disease every week.

The new regenerative strategy will involve using autologous, mesenchymal stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells (MSC-NPs), which will be harvested from the bone marrow of 20 MS patients who meet the criteria for the trial.

The stem cells will then be injected into the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the spinal cords of the patients.

Read more here:
Stem cell spine injections for MS - trial approved

Health chief flip-flops on support for stem cell treatment

by Buena Bernal Posted on 08/17/2013 4:29 PM |Updated 08/18/2013 2:51 AM

CLARIFICATION. Health Secretary Enrique Ona writes to a newspaper that his published speech is not the final word on stem cell therapy regulation. File photo by Rappler/Naoki Mengua

MANILA, Philippines Health Secretary Enrique Ona has clarified that his speech published in The Philippine Star as a full-page advertisement should not be misconstrued as the end-all, be-all pronouncement on the issue of stem cell therapy regulation.

The controversial speech categorized stem cell therapy as part of "innovative therapy," whereas clinical trials or thorough drug testing locally may be evaded in the meantime for the sake of innovation.

It was delivered by Ona on August 12, during the 1st mid-year convention of the Philippine Society for Stem Cell Medicine (PSSCM). The full-page ad appeared on August 14.

READ: Stem cell debate: innovation or safety?

The published copy of Ona's speech was labeled with the words "Stem Cell: The Final Word."

Ona, however, wanted to dispel "any confusion" caused by the advertisement's label.

"In the keynote message, there was no mention or any insinuation that the said pronouncement was the 'Final Word on Stem Cell'," the health chief wrote the newspaper.

Not final

Read more:
Health chief flip-flops on support for stem cell treatment