Service dog receives first stem-cell treatment at new clinic

By all preliminary accounts, the first stem-cell therapy treatment done on a canine in Nicholasville is a complete success.

The 8-year-old golden Labrador and service dog, Booster, had been showing signs of hip dysplasia and became the first to undergo the revolutionary new stem-cell therapy in the recently completed animal clinic of MediVet America located off U.S. 27 and Moore Drive.

Booster travels all over the world with owner Davis Hawn to teach others about the healing power of dogs, Hawn said.

As Booster got older, Hawn noticed the dogs hips were hurting more as Booster showed pain just trying to sit down and began to have difficulty jumping into the truck.

This prompted Hawn to look into methods of protecting and helping his best friend. He did not want Booster to suffer through the long and painful process of a hip replacement, and this is when he heard about the regenerative benefits of stem-cell therapy and the work MediVet was conducting.

It just so happened to work out that the pair would be in Cincinnati last week, coinciding with the opening of the new Nicholasville clinic at MediVet by Joseph G. Yocum, D.V.M., who specializes in large-animal vet research.

MediVet America is one of the leading developers of animal stem-cell regenerative therapy for pets suffering from osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia, ligament and cartilage injuries, and similar ailments.

MediVet had been in contact with Hawn and knew the story behind his relationship with the life-saving service dog.

The company then worked with Hawn and decided to conduct the inaugural stem-cell treatment completely free of charge as a way to celebrate the clinics opening while preserving Boosters quality of life.

Until about 2008, small animals suffering like Booster had only painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications to help with pain relief which are harmful to the liver and may offer only minor relief.

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Service dog receives first stem-cell treatment at new clinic

UR researchers find new uses for stem cell therapies in disease treatment

Courtesy of highlands.edu

The diagnosis of a neurological disease can represent what many patients see as a point of no return, but research published on Thursday, Oct. 25 by UR scientists on stem cell therapy points toward a potential for lessening the severity of the outcomes of these diagnoses.

The research, which was published in the journal Science, was conducted by UR researchers Steve Goldman, Maiken Nedergaard and Martha Windrem, addresses stem cells capable of transforming into the brains two main support cells, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. The latter is lost in a family of neurological diseases classified as myelin disorders.

Myelin disorders include Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy and Tay-Sachs disease, among others. These diseases are well known for being life-altering, so research with implications for dampening their effects will have an important impact on patients and their families once brought to the practical level.

This particular type of cell therapy would rely on programming stem cells to propagate glial progenitor cells. Progenitor cells then give rise to oligodendrocytes, which insulate neurons with a fatty substance called myelin. In total, this process ensures the speed and efficiency of neuronal communication. Without myelin, nerve communication throughout the body becomes weakened, which is the underlying pathology that causes the slowed cognitive processes and muscle dysfunction that are characteristic of myelin disorders.

Goldmans lab was instrumental in understanding the chemical signals necessary to not only turn stem cells into progenitor cells, but also to ensure that they specifically produce oligodendrocytes.

According to Goldman, the teams research focused on using stem cells to create glial progenitor cells purposely because they are less variable than other cells found in the central nervous system and thus present a relatively direct target.

This research on myelin replacement, although pointed toward a specific goal in the end, actually derives from research of something seemingly unrelated: song birds.

We worked primarily on stem cells of the brain that give rise to new neurons to try and understand how they progenerate regions of damaged brain, and thats work that started and still continues in song birds, Goldman said. Every time they learn a new song, their brains lay down a new bunch of neurons that control the song. Theres been a lot of effort over the years to understanding the biology of how birds sing, which then led to studies of brain progenitor cells, not only in birds, but in mammals, and eventually humans. Thats when we found out about brain progenitor cells that give rise to oligodendrocytes and astrocytes instead of neurons.

Goldman and his colleagues research has been taken to the brink of human clinical trials, which is now the final frontier for the practical application of this therapy.

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UR researchers find new uses for stem cell therapies in disease treatment

Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market (2012-2017) (Neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, cancer …

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market (2012-2017) (Neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, cancer & autoimmune, skin and infectious diseases)

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Autologous cell therapies are new therapeutic intervention where it introduces or uses cells or tissues from the individual, cultured, expanded and re-introduced at the site of the disease of the donor. They are widely promoted as next pillar or advancement in medical care.

Growth of the market is very rapid especially in regulatory approvals, applications areas and rapid improvements in efficacy of treatment; it has enormous advantages over allogenic stem cell therapies. Autologous transplants are relatively safe procedures, with less rates of complications and infections compared with allogenic transplants. In many instances, much of the procedure can be done on an outpatient basis. It helps in treating various dreadful diseases by transplanting their own body cells where it results in meager chances of transplant rejection.

We have also profiled leading players of this industry with their recent developments and other strategic industry activities. These include: Neostem (U.S.), Tengion (U.S.), Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics (U.S.), Dendreon Corporation (U.S.), Georgia Health Sciences University (U.S.), Regenexx (U.S.), Regeneus (Australia), Cytori Therapeutics (U.S.), Tigenix (Belgium).

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This research report titled "Autologous Cell Therapy (2012-2017)" provides details about various ACT based treatments and their application areas. Every health regulatory bodies will be expecting companies and universities to develop therapy treatments, which are safer, affordable, robust, rapid, easy to use, effective and deliverable to the end user. ACT treatments for particular application areas it is safe, experiencing robust growth, minimal steps of procedure to follow and rapid in deriving the results. As for now the treatments prices are not affordable, but by the intrusion of government bodies, it will definitely experience a immense market growth.

The report gives a detailed analysis about state of the art of autologous cell therapies. It includes the current advances and applications of the technology and trends in terms of market size and growth of autologous cellular therapies in medical treatments globally. It also consists of funding details of the innovative therapy and recent activities in terms of mergers & acquisitions of the company, revenue forecasting. It includes latest therapy details and products which are available for licensing and approvals from various regulatory bodies. Using drivers, restraints and challenges it is forecasted for a period of five years i.e. 2012-2017. Opportunity strategy evaluation has been included which gives information for investors.

Autologous Cell Therapy technology is changing the medicinal treatments by introducing various new therapies. Its scope is vast and promising for the future despite challenges.

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Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market (2012-2017) (Neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, cancer ...

Sugar Land company ceases supplying stem cells

Under fire from the Food and Drug Administration, the Houston-area company that facilitated Gov. Rick Perry's controversial 2011 stem-cell treatment has stopped providing doctors with the cells patients banked at its facility for the procedure.

In a response to an FDA warning that it is acting illegally by marketing the unlicensed therapy, Celltex Therapeutics Corp. wrote the federal agency this week that it has ceased enrolling patients in the clinical trials the state requires of stem-cell providers. Celltex was the Houston area's primary sponsor of such for-profit trials.

"We're telling potential patients that we will still bank their stem cells and will enroll them in trials once new investigational drug applications have been submitted and reviewed by the FDA," said Amdrea Ferrenz, Celltex's executive vice president and legal counsel. "We hope that will be in a matter of months."

Ferrenz called the FDA warning letter, publicly posted Tuesday, "a disappointment" but said it actually just moves up Celltex's plan to move into agency-approved trials targeting specific disease conditions. The Sugar Land company had been operating for nearly 18 months facilitating adult stem-cell procedures with little regulation.

The Texas Medical Board in July began requiring that any stem-cell procedure be reviewed for patient safety by a board expert at such evaluations. The board used by Celltex, Texas Applied Biomedical Services, last month received an FDA warning letter of its own, informing it the agency will withhold approval of all its reviews because of problems with the review board's operations, such as members with conflicts of interest.

FDA warning letters are considered big deals in drug regulation, the federal agency's principal means of achieving compliance. They include language that failure to take corrective action can result in company seizure or shutdown.

It is unclear if the FDA letters to Celltex and the review board will have an effect on the new medical board rules, meant to regulate the experimental therapy in the absence of oversight from the FDA. A medical board spokeswoman said this week that the board could reopen the matter at its November meeting.

Leigh Turner, a University of Minnesota bioethicist who writes frequently about stem-cell tourism and in February complained to the FDA that Celltex is "a potential danger to patients" and not in compliance with federal law, said he thinks it's "highly unlikely" that Celltex could quickly meet FDA requirements for research trials. He said Celltex would need to make a dramatic reconfiguration considering all the deficiencies an FDA inspection found in April.

Those included numerous basic manufacturing problems, all reiterated in the warning letter. Ferrenz said Celltex is eager to meet with FDA officials to learn what they still want to know beyond the "tons of information" the company has already sent.

Celltex had argued stem-cell injections are like bone marrow transplants and not subject to the FDA's jurisdiction. But in its warning letter, the FDA said Celltex's processing "alters the original relevant characteristics" of the cells and hence doesn't meet its requirement that living cells only be "minimally manipulated." It categorized the stem cells stored and treated at Celltex as biologic drugs.

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Sugar Land company ceases supplying stem cells

Stem cell op may 'restore sperm'

1 November 2012 Last updated at 23:09 ET By James Gallagher Health and science reporter, BBC News

Boys left infertile by childhood cancer treatment may one day be able to produce healthy sperm by using stored stem cells, monkey research suggests.

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can kill tumours and the cells which make sperm.

A study, published in the journal Cell Stem Cell, extracted sperm-producing stem cells before cancer treatment and later placed them back into the monkey.

Sperm which could fertilise an egg were produced, which experts labelled a "milestone" in research.

Most men who have cancer treatment which could affect their fertility can choose to freeze sperm before their treatment starts. This is not an option for patients who have not yet gone through puberty.

These are issues we still must work through, but this study does show us the concept is feasible

However, they do have the spermatogonial stem cells which would start to produce sperm in their teenage years.

The researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and the Magee-Womens Research Institute took samples of the stem cells from macaques and stored them in a freezer.

The monkeys were then given a chemotherapy drug.

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Stem cell op may 'restore sperm'

Stem cell treatment can help

Q: I have a 3-year-old cockapoo, and she was trying to jump and did something to her leg. She cried for about 30 seconds, it was horrifying. She was born with loose kneecaps. My vet was telling me about stem cells. Im skeptical with any new procedures. Are there side effects or possibly future problems? She loves to play, and Im afraid it might happen again.

Dr. Nichol: Knee pain is common in small dogs. If your cockapoo has somewhat bowed rear legs, one or both of her knee caps (patellas) may slip out of its groove at the lower end of her thigh bone. Some patellas dislocate (luxate) just occasionally. A dog may skip for a few steps and then use the leg normally again after the patella slips back into the groove.

If she has luxating patellas, your girls knees are vulnerable to injury. Her missed jump may have strained the supportive tendons that guide her patella. Rest and anti-inflammatory medication can help in the short term, but her anatomy will still be structurally unsound. The only permanent solution will be surgical remodeling of the attachment of her patella and the groove in her lower femur.

This tibial crest rotation surgery is a long-established procedure that many general practitioners are skilled at performing. But even with the geometric forces corrected, some chronic damage to your dogs tendons and cartilage will remain. Thats what makes stem cell therapy so valuable.

While your girl is under anesthesia for knee surgery, her doctor can make a short abdominal incision and remove a bit of fat for submission to the Vet-Stem lab. Your dogs very own stem cells (no risk of rejection) will be extracted and shipped back overnight for injection into her knee. Over the following several weeks theyll stimulate regeneration of chronically inflamed structures, resulting in a stronger and more comfortable joint. The sooner your cockapoo gets the right treatment, the faster shell feel better.

Stem cells and joint disease

The English Setter club will host my presentation on stem cells at the Marriott Pyramid on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. All pet lovers are invited to attend. Admission is free. Contact Jill Warren at 505-667-5590 or email esthete.es@comcast.net.

Dr. Jeff Nichol provides medical care for pets at the Petroglyph Animal Hospital in Albuquerque (898-8874). He treats behavior disorders at the Veterinary Specialty Centers in Albuquerque and in Santa Fe (505-792-5131). Questions? For answers, Like my Facebook page at facebook.com/drjeffnichol or by U.S. post to 6633 Caminito Coors NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120.

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Stem cell treatment can help

Stem Cell Cartilage Knee Repair – Orthopedic Stem Cell Treatment – Video

Stem Cell Cartilage Knee Repair - Orthopedic Stem Cell Treatment
Orthopedic Therapy with stem cells. Repair knee cartilage an stop inflammation. Visit regenestem.com for more informaitonFrom:TheRegenestemViews:23813 8ratingsTime:00:28More inPeople Blogs

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Stem Cell Cartilage Knee Repair - Orthopedic Stem Cell Treatment - Video

Stem Cells : dog with pathological symptoms of the Central Nervous System – Video

Stem Cells : dog with pathological symptoms of the Central Nervous System
This is an 8 year old dog that showed pathological symptoms of the Central Nervous System. It had been checked and given antibiotic and cortisone treatment for 30 days. The dog showed no signs of improvement but instead slowly worsened. When I saw the dog he had been ill for about 4 months and was gradually losing balance. When I saw his dilated pupils I thought it was a problem involving the central nervous system , I explained that in this case the treatment was just an attempt and I was reasonably skeptic about the result because during the 10 days between taking the blood sample and beginning treatment the situation worsened. Because I did not hear from the owners for 5 months I thought my attempt had failed and the small dog had become completely paralyzed. But I was wrong, after 6 months the owner called me to tell me that the dog had gradually regained balance and now, 6 months later, was showing small signs of relapse and therefore they wanted to do another stem cell treatment. Here is the dog at 6 months. The pupil is normal and above all his walking has improved by 90%. Here too the cells have shown, in vivo, that they contain the pluripotent component without which the neurological symptoms would not have improved. It is interesting to note how pathologies beyond the blood brain barrier respond to our noninvasive technique. To understand better this effect you can read my books published by EDIZIONI ALTEA where I explain the quantistic theory behind all this.From:marcopolettiniengViews:33 1ratingsTime:04:19More inScience Technology

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Stem Cells : dog with pathological symptoms of the Central Nervous System - Video

Improvements in Facio Scapulo Humeral Muscular Dystrophy patient speech after stem cell therapy – Video

Improvements in Facio Scapulo Humeral Muscular Dystrophy patient speech after stem cell therapy
I am suffering from muscular dystrophy, before I used to face a lot of problem to climbs stairs also to sit down and get up, since the time I have done stem cell therapy after 3 months now I feel good to climb stairs and then even while getting up from floor I feel good I don #39;t face any problem. I wasn #39;t able to hold a cricket bat but now I not only hold a bat but also play cricket. I had pain in my knees which is not there anymore. Before I had stuttering speech people use to not understand what I speak but now they understand what I speak to them. While I #39;m lying down I wasn #39;t able to lift my hand up which now I #39;m able to and my calf muscles earlier use to be very hard which is now soft as normal then in my facial muscles there were no movement but now as u can see I #39;m able to left my eyebrow. Then while walking I use to feel tired even that has reduced. Stem Cell Treatment done at Neurogen ,Brain Spine Institute, Surana Sethia Hospital and Research Centre, Suman Nagar, Sion-Trombay Road, Chembur,Mumbai-71. Tel: - +91 9920 200400, 022-25283706From:neurogenbsiViews:56 1ratingsTime:01:47More inScience Technology

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Improvements in Facio Scapulo Humeral Muscular Dystrophy patient speech after stem cell therapy - Video

Drastic Improvement in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy – Video

Drastic Improvement in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
He took stem cell therapy at NeuroGen. Previously when he was climbing stairs, he was widening steps and climbing stairs. And he was taking more time, now he is taking less time. Climb stairs straight. Previously during sit to stand, he was taking support of hands and was coming up, but now he is not taking support. Previously when he was sitting on floor, he was facing in coming up and facing problem in walking few steps. But after stem cell therapy he can walk normally now. Now changes are seen. Stem Cell Treatment done at Neurogen ,Brain Spine Institute, Surana Sethia Hospital and Research Centre, Suman Nagar, Sion-Trombay Road, Chembur,Mumbai-71. Tel: - +91 9920 200400, 022-25283706From:neurogenbsiViews:83 0ratingsTime:02:04More inScience Technology

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Drastic Improvement in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy - Video