The Villages, Florida (PRWEB) February 03, 2015

In honor of our new location in The Villages, the Miami Stem Cell Treatment Center announces a series of free public seminars on the use of adult autologous stem cells for various degenerative and inflammatory conditions. They will be provided by Dr. Thomas A. Gionis, Surgeon-in-Chief and Dr. Nia Smyrniotis, Medical Director and Surgeon.

The seminars will be held on Tuesday, February 17, 2015, at 10:00am at the La Hacienda Regional Recreation Center, 1200 Avenida Central, The Villages, FL 32159, and at 1:00pm and 3:00pm on February 17th and 1:00pm, 3:00pm and 5:00pm on March 3rd at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites, The Villages, 1205 Avenida Central, The Villages, FL 32159. There will also be a Social Hour with the Doctors at 7:00pm on February 17th and March 3rd at the City Fire American Oven & Lounge at Brownwood (Paddock Square), 2716 Brownwood Blvd., The Villages, FL 32163. Please RSVP for ALL events is mandatory at (561) 331-2999.

Dr. Gionis has been graciously invited to speak to the local MS support group at the 10:00am seminar on February 17 which will be held at the La Hacienda Regional Recreation Center.

The Miami Stem Cell Treatment Center (Miami; Boca Raton; Orlando; The Villages), along with sister affiliates, the Irvine Stem Cell Treatment Center (Irvine; Westlake Villages, California) and the Manhattan Regenerative Medicine Medical Group (Manhattan, New York), abide by approved investigational protocols using adult adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) which can be deployed to improve patients quality of life for a number of chronic, degenerative and inflammatory conditions and diseases. ADSCs are taken from the patients own adipose (fat) tissue (found within a cellular mixture called stromal vascular fraction (SVF)). ADSCs are exceptionally abundant in adipose tissue. The adipose tissue is obtained from the patient during a 15 minute mini-liposuction performed under local anesthesia in the doctors office. SVF is a protein-rich solution containing mononuclear cell lines (predominantly adult autologous mesenchymal stem cells), macrophage cells, endothelial cells, red blood cells, and important Growth Factors that facilitate the stem cell process and promote their activity.

ADSCs are the bodys natural healing cells - they are recruited by chemical signals emitted by damaged tissues to repair and regenerate the bodys injured cells. The Miami Stem Cell Treatment Center only uses Adult Autologous Stem Cells from a persons own fat No embryonic stem cells are used; and No bone marrow stem cells are used. Current areas of study include: Emphysema, COPD, Asthma, Heart Failure, Heart Attack, Parkinsons Disease, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury, Lou Gehrigs Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Crohns Disease, Muscular Dystrophy, Inflammatory Myopathies, and degenerative orthopedic joint conditions (Knee, Shoulder, Hip, Spine). For more information, or if someone thinks they may be a candidate for one of the adult stem cell protocols offered by the Miami Stem Cell Treatment Center, they may contact Dr. Gionis or Dr. Smyrniotis directly at (561) 331-2999, or see a complete list of the Centers study areas at: http://www.MiamiStemCellsUSA.com.

About the Miami Stem Cell Treatment Center: The Miami Stem Cell Treatment Center, along with sister affiliates, the Irvine Stem Cell Treatment Center and the Manhattan Regenerative Medicine Medical Group, is an affiliate of the California Stem Cell Treatment Center / Cell Surgical Network (CSN); we are located in Boca Raton, Orlando, Miami and our new office in The Villages, Florida. We provide care for people suffering from diseases that may be alleviated by access to adult stem cell based regenerative treatment. We utilize a fat transfer surgical technology to isolate and implant the patients own stem cells from a small quantity of fat harvested by a mini-liposuction on the same day. The investigational protocols utilized by the Miami Stem Cell Treatment Center have been reviewed and approved by an IRB (Institutional Review Board) which is registered with the U.S. Department of Health, Office of Human Research Protection (OHRP); and our studies are registered with Clinicaltrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). For more information, visit our websites: http://www.MiamiStemCellsUSA.com, http://www.IrvineStemCellsUSA.com , or http://www.NYStemCellsUSA.com.

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The Miami Stem Cell Treatment Center Announces Adult Stem Cell Public Seminars in The Villages, Florida

London, UK (PRWEB) February 03, 2015

Over the next few years, the stem cells market is poised to continue to be the most rapidly growing segment, which includes the segments for concentrated bone marrow and stem cell bone grafts. Stem cells provide greater osteogenesis and osteoinductive properties than other bone grafts, and thus enhance bone repair. To date, their usage is only considered for the treatment of spine cord injuries, but the market is likely to witness further expansion in case other indications are approved, such as with the foot where a number of patients may experience poor vascularisation.

The orthopedic biomaterials market in the USA is forecast to gain traction through 2021. The ageing population is a key factor driving the market. In tandem with the surging ageing population, the incidence rates of osteoarthritis and other types of degenerative disorders are also expected to grow, thus driving the demand for orthopedic biomaterials. Additionally, a huge portion of the overall biomaterial products market is engaged in treating soft tissue injuries, and most of them are sport-related. However, high costs of the development of some products could hinder the sectors growth. Furthermore, the timeliness of a products final approval is often hard to foretell.

Medtronic dominated the orthopedic biomaterials market as of 2014, due to the lions share of the bone graft substitute sector. The company announced in June 2014 its intention to buy Covidien for USD 42.9 billion.

In-demand study U.S. Orthopedic Biomaterials Market worked out by iData Research has been recently published at MarketPublishers.com.

Report Details:

Title: U.S. Orthopedic Biomaterials Market Published: January, 2015 Pages: 288 Price: US$ 6,995.00 http://marketpublishers.com/report/medical_devices/orthopedic/us-orthopedic-biomaterials-market.html

The research report contains an all-encompassing analysis and forecast of the orthopedic biomaterials market across the USA up to 2021. It provides detailed market analyses of leading market segments, including bone graft substitutes, hyaluronic acid viscosupplementation, orthopedic stem cells, growth factors, cartilage repair, cell therapy, and machined bone allografts; the categories are further subdivided into subcategories by various parameters. The study identifies the game-changing opportunities and potential hazards in the market, traces the key trends and technologies expected to impact the overall market and each of its individual segments in the years to come, as well as sheds light on the market drivers and restraints. Essential information on the number of procedures is provided. Furthermore, the research study canvasses the competitive landscape as well as discusses the top 22 companies along with their success strategies, M&As, etc.

Report Scope:

More in-demand reports by the publisher can be found at iData Research page.

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US Orthopedic Biomaterials Market Examined by iData Research in In-demand Report Now Available at MarketPublishers.com

Gordie Howe is making a remarkable recovery from a stroke that nearly led to him being placed in hospice care last fall.

The hockey great has gained 20 pounds and is doing fantastic after undergoing stem-cell treatment in Mexico in early December, one of his sons told NHL Live. Howe continues to recover at the Lubbock, Texas, home of his daughter.

Hes doing very, very well, said Dr. Murray Howe, director of sports medicine imaging of Toledo Hospital. He has good days and bad days like anybody whos 86, but overall hes heading in the right direction really every day, a little bit better. He had his stem cell treatment Dec. 8 and really since that time hes just been doing fantastic.

He loves to be busy. If you want to torture him just make him sit down and watch television. He is just about doing stuff. Hes in great spirits. He has an excellent quality of life. Hes doing all the things that he wants to do now other than fishing, only because we havent taken him fishing since his treatment, but hes looking forward to doing that.

Howe was unable to stand, walk or feed himself after suffering the stroke in late October. He was losing weight because he wasnt able to sustain himself in terms of eating, his son said. He essentially got to the point where he was bedridden and it was just no quality of life there.

Although it was feared that he had suffered another stroke in early December, he was suffering from dehydration, but his family was told to consider hospice care. At around the same time, a San Diego biopharmaceutical company reached out to offer treatment at no charge. According to Howes son, the results were instant. From NHL.coms Jon Lane:

Gordie Howe had the treatment Dec. 8 in Tijuana at a Mexican stem cell company called Novastem thats licensed the use of Stemedicas cells for clinical trials approved by the Mexican government. Neural stem cells were injected into the spinal canal on Day 1 and mesenchymal stem cells by intravenous infusion on Day 2, according to a release sent by the Howe family in mid-December.

They said that we might see some changes in my father within 24 hours and I just didnt believe it, Dr. Howe said.

Eight hours later, Gordie Howe began talking. He then demanded to walk to the bathroom.

I said Ill get the urinal because you cant walk and he says, Well the [heck] I cant walk, Dr. Howe said. We actually sat up and put his feet down on the side of bed and I was absolutely stunned. Id never seen anything like it in 28 years of doing medicine.

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Gordie Howe recovering from stroke after stem-cell transplant

Peek the American black bear (Courtesy: Topeka Zoo)

Peek the bear is shown undergoing a CT scan at St. Francis Health Center in this photo from the Topeka Zoo.

St. Francis Health Center staff watch as a CT scan is performed on Peek the black bear. (Courtesy: Topeka Zoo)

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - An American black bear at the Topeka Zoo may be the first bear ever to undergo stem cell treatment for a spinal problem.

Zoo Director Brendan Wiley says Peek, who is 20-years old, started losing control of her hind legs two weeks ago. The condition worsened and zoo staff says pain medication was not having any impact on the situation.

One of the unique things about this scenario is that Peek hasnt acted like anything is hurting her. It is like the front half of her body can no longer communicate with the back half, said Animal Care Supervisor Shanna Simpson.

The zoo worked with St. Francis Health Center to perform a CT scan. Peek was tranquilized and transported to St. Francis' imaging facilities.

"Our first priority is human patient safety and access," says Brent Wilkins, director of Imaging Services at St. Francis Health. "We work with the Topeka Zoo to accommodate animals that need CT scans in off hours when one of our CT scanners is available. We made sure the bear was separated from any other patients and performed a high-level decontamination and cleaning of the area, called a terminal cleaning, after the bears visit."

The scan revealed an area of Peek's spine with spinal stenosis, a narrowing of her spinal column, causing pressure on the spinal cord.

In anticipation of future treatment, Dr. Larry Snyder and Dr. Travis Gratton, veterinarians from Topeka's University Small Animal Hospital were contacted. Before Peek was transported for the CT scan, the two harvested fat cells, which they converted to stem cells to inject back into her. The theory behind the treatment is that the stem cells can stimulate damaged area to repair and heal itself.

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Topeka Zoo Black Bear Undergoes Stem Cell Therapy

Peek, a 20-year-old American Black Bear living at the Topeka Zoo, is undergoing treatment, including a CT scan, for a back condition, zoo director Brendan Wiley said Monday.

Peek came out of her den two weeks ago and her keeper noticed the bears hind legs were wobbly. Peek was given pain medication. However, the condition quickly worsened, Wiley said in a news release.

Within the next seven days, Peek continued to lose control of her rear legs.

One of the unique things about this scenario is that Peek hasnt acted like anything is hurting her, said Shanna Simpson, animal care supervisor. It is like the front half of her body can no longer communicate with the back half.

Peeks illness required the use of a CT scan, which used equipment the zoo doesnt have, Wiley said.

Zoo veterinarian Shirley Llizo brought in Larry Snyder and Travis Gratton, of University Bird and Small Animal Hospital, to help harvest fat cells from Peek. This would allow the fat cells to be converted to stem cells to be injected.

Peek was tranquilized Jan. 22 and transported to the zoos hospital so the fat cells could be harvested. After the harvest, Peek was transported to St. Francis Health Center, where she was met by Brent Wilkins, director of imaging services, and his staff.

After confirming Peek would fit in the 72-centimeter CT scanner, Wilkins was able to do the scan, and radiologist James Owen found an area of Peeks spine was experiencing spinal stenosis. This is a narrowing of the spinal column that causes pressure on the spinal cord, according to zoo officials.

Our first priority is human patient safety and access, Wilkins said. We work with the Topeka Zoo to accommodate animals that need CT scans in off hours when one of our CT scanners is available. We made sure the bear was separated from any other patients and performed a high-level decontamination and cleaning of the area, called a terminal cleaning, after the bears visit. Were very happy to help our friends at the zoo in keeping the animals healthy.

After the CT scan, Peek went back to the zoo, where she received the stem cell therapy. Stem cell therapy treatment in bears is new technology, Wiley said.

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Topeka Zoo's bear gets CT scan, stem cell therapy

LA JOLLA (CNS) - Two scientists with UC San Diego were awarded a combined $2.7 million in grants from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to pursue their studies on stem cell therapies, the school announced Monday.

Shyni Varghese, an associate professor in the Department of Bioengineering and director of the Bio-Inspired Materials and Stem Cell Engineering Laboratory, received a $1.4 CIRM grant to improve the function of transplanted stem cells.

Shaochen Chen, a professor in the Department of Nanoengineering in the Jacobs School of Engineering and a member of UCSD's Institute of Engineering in Medicine, received $1.3 million to develop three-diminensional bioprinting techniques that use heart muscle cells derived from human embryonic stem cells to create new cardiac tissue.

The awards were part of almost $30 million in grants announced at CIRM's monthly meeting in San Francisco, according to UCSD.

"Sometimes even the most promising therapy can be derailed by a tiny problem," said Jonathan Thomas, chairman of the CIRM Board of Directors. "These awards are designed to help find ways to overcome those problems, to bridge the gaps in our knowledge and ensure that the best research is able to keep progressing and move out of the lab and into clinical trials in patients."

Varghese's lab focuses on the interactions of cells with their surrounding micro-environment, and how the conditions necessary to promote normal, healthy survival and growth occur, according to UCSD.

Chen's studies focus on using stem cells to create new heart tissue that would help patients when transplants aren't immediately available.

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UCSD scientists awarded $2.7M grants for stem cell research

The Hormel Institute has announced Rebecca Morris, leader of the Stem Cells and Cancer research section, has received a one-year, $100,000 grant from the Minnesota Chemoprevention Consortium to study bone marrow-derived cells as potential new targets for preventing skin cancer.

The consortium includes the University of Minnesota's Hormel Institute, Mayo Clinic, the U of M's Masonic Cancer Center and Hormel Foods Consortium. The consortium goes by the moniker "MC^2."

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Newswise Two scientists from the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA have received a California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Tools and Technology Award that will forward revolutionary stem cell medicine. The UCLA researchers were among only 20 scientists nationwide to receive the Tools and Technologies Award, the most of any institution represented.

Recipients receiving awards for their respective projects included Dr. James Dunn, professor of bioengineering and surgery, for his research investigating skin-derived precursor stem cells for the treatment of enteric neuromuscular dysfunction, and Dr. Hanna Mikkola, associate professor of molecular, cell and developmental biology, for her work creating a suite of engineered human pluripotent stem cell lines to facilitate the generation of patient specific hematopoietic stem cells.

UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center Director Owen Witte said, We are very grateful for CIRMs support of these potentially groundbreaking projects intended to overcome significant bottlenecks in driving stem cell therapies to the clinic.

The CIRM Tools and Technologies initiative is designed specifically to support research that can address regenerative medicines unique translational challenges. The award seeks to facilitate the creation, design and testing of broadly applicable novel tools and technologies for addressing translational bottlenecks to stem cell therapies.

Dr. James Dunn: Unlocking the Secrets of Neuromuscular Dysfunction

Dr. Dunns cutting-edge work focuses on assessing the therapeutic potential of skin-derived stem cells to treat neuromuscular gastrointestinal diseases. CIRM reviewers noted that, if successfully completed, the project would likely have a major impact upon the field. His lab will develop a model of intestinal neuromuscular dysfunction that is amenable to stem cell transplantation.

Dunns novel approach to treat these patients will use stem cells reprogrammed from the patients own skin (induced pluripotent stem cells) to generate the neural system to correct the intestinal dysfunction. Dunn and his team hope the research will result in a clinical trial using patient specific induced pluripotent stem cells and provide a critical step toward an improved therapeutic approach and to treat intestinal neuromuscular dysfunction.

Dr. Dunns research was additionally supported by the National Institutes and Sun West Company.

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UCLA Researchers Receive Prestigious CIRM Tools and Technologies Award

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Newswise The governing board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has awarded two University of California, San Diego researchers almost $3 million in combined funding to pursue new technologies intended to accelerate advances moving stem cell therapies out of the lab and into the clinic.

The funding was part of almost $30 million in new Tools and Technologies awards announced at CIRMs monthly meeting in San Francisco.

Sometimes even the most promising therapy can be derailed by a tiny problem, said Jonathan Thomas, JD, PhD, chair of the CIRM Board. These awards are designed to help find ways to overcome those problems, to bridge the gaps in our knowledge and ensure that the best research is able to keep progressing and move out of the lab and into clinical trials in patients.

Shaochen Chen, PhD, professor in the Department of Nanoengineering in the Jacobs School of Engineering and a member of the Institute of Engineering in Medicine at UC San Diego, received a $1.3 million in CIRM funding for development of 3D bioprinting techniques using human embryonic stem cell-derived heart muscle cells to create new cardiac tissue.

Millions of Americans suffer from cardiovascular disease, specifically congestive heart failure in which a heart valve ceases to work properly. Current treatment often calls for a valve transplant, but donor availability does not meet need.

Chen and colleagues are exploring the possibility of engineering healthy cardiac tissues bioprinted from heart muscle cells, called cardiomyocytes, created from human embryonic stem cells. These tissues could then be implanted in a damaged heart, restoring function.

Shyni Varghese, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Bioengineering at the Jacobs School of Engineering and director of the Bio-Inspired Materials and Stem Cell Engineering Laboratory, received a $1.4 CIRM grant to improve in vivo function of transplanted stem cells.

Vargheses lab focuses upon the complex interactions of cells with their surrounding microenvironment, and how the conditions necessary to promote normal, healthy survival and growth occur.

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Two UC San Diego Scientists Receive Stem Cell Technology Grants

What Happens When Stem Cells Go Into My Heart?
Renowned cardiologist, stem cell therapy expert and Okyanos Chief Science Officer Leslie Miller, MD, FACC, explains the importance of generating new blood ve...

By: Okyanos

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What Happens When Stem Cells Go Into My Heart? - Video

TAMPA Dr. Burton Feinerman has spent more than a decade using stem cell therapies that are banned in the United States, sending desperate families to Peru seeking treatments for their babies' terminal conditions like Tay-Sachs disease.

The therapies are costly and unproven, and no insurer will cover them. But there is no law against a U.S. doctor recommending them, as long as they aren't performed here.

Now the 85-year-old pediatrician is focusing on a stem cell therapy he can perform in Tampa, for seniors with such incurable lung conditions as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD.

Feinerman, medical director of the Tampa-based Lung Institute, says lung patients tend to get the most benefit from stem cell therapies. And he can treat them in the United States because he is re-infusing patients with their own stem cells, a legal process under certain circumstances.

But it's not approved as a lung disease therapy in this country. Neither the American Lung Association nor the International Society for Stem Cell Research have endorsed it. Medicare won't cover it.

So Feinerman's patients must pay cash between $7,500 and $12,000 for a three-day treatment, plus $4,500 for additional "boosters'' of cells extracted from their blood or abdominal fat.

The Lung Institute has produced a slick website and an advertising campaign, and it puts on seminars at which prospects can hear the testimonials of satisfied patients.

But there are no clinical data showing stem cell therapies benefit patients with lung disease, said Dr. Daniel Weiss, a professor at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and a leading lung disease researcher. Further, studies of mice suggest that if the therapies work, it likely would help only acute lung conditions like respiratory distress syndrome, not chronic conditions like COPD.

"I do not recommend any type of cell therapy (for lung disease) at this point," Weiss said.

Feinerman insists the doubters are wrong. "Just go to Google," he told a Times reporter who asked him for clinical research to back his claims. Lung Institute employees later provided citations for three journal articles, but none showed the treatments worked. In fact, Weiss wrote two of the articles.

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Tampa stem cell clinic is long on promises, not evidence

MIAMI (PRWEB) January 30, 2015

Regenestem Network has announced the grand opening of a new stem cells clinic in the prestigious Hospital Clinica de Merida in Yucatan, Mexico. The new clinic will operate under the direction of Gilberto Hernandez Falcon, M.D., a member of the Global Stem Cells Advisory Board and CEO of Regenestem Mexico Sur in Villahermosa Tabasco.

The Yucatan facility is the newest in a growing number of Regenestem clinics providing comprehensive regenerative medicine services worldwide. Plans include equipping the new clinic with the latest technology from the Adilyfe line of stem cell treatment products, made available through Global Stem Cells Group affiliate Adimarket.

Expanding the Regenestem Network throughout Mexico is a great opportunity to bring cutting edge medical advancements to patients, while creating and sustaining new jobs for medical professionals in the Central America region, says Regenestem Founder and CEO Ricardo DeCubas. Were proud to be working with Dr. Hernandez Falcon in making stem cell medicine available to a growing number of patients in the region.

The new Regenestem Yucatan facility will offer the most advanced protocols and techniques available in stem cell medicine.

I am proud to continue to provide stem cell therapies to a wide range of patients here in Mexico and the Central America region, Hernandez Falcon says. Working with the Regenestem Network and Global Stem Cells Group has allowed us to help more and more patients access promising treatments for a range of medical problems.

The Global Stem Cells Group and Regenestem are committed to the highest of standards in service and technology, expert and compassionate care, and a philosophy of exceeding the expectations of their international patients.

For more information, visit the Regenestem Network website, email info(at)regenstem(dot)com, or call 305-224-1858.

About Regenestem:

Regenestem Network, a division of the Global Stem Cells Group, Inc., is an international medical practice association committed to researching and producing comprehensive stem cell treatments for patients worldwide. Having assembled a highly qualified staff of medical specialistsprofessionals trained in the latest cutting-edge techniques in cellular medicineRegenestem continues to be a leader in delivering the latest protocols in the adult stem cell arena. Global Stem Cells Group and Regenestem Network are expanding the companys clinical presence worldwide by partnering with experienced and qualified regenerative medicine physicians to open new clinics licensed and developed under the Regenestem banner. In 2014, Global Stem Cells Group expanded the Regenestem Networks global presence to 20 countries.

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Regenestem Network and Gilberto Hernandez Falcon, M.D. Open Stem Cell Clinic in Yucatan

TORONTO - Gordie Howe's son says the hockey legend's stroke symptoms have improved since his treatment with stem cells at a Mexican clinic in early December and he wants him to repeat the procedure.

But regenerative medicine experts say there's no scientific evidence such therapies work, and in some cases they can be seriously harmful or even deadly.

The 86-year-old Howe suffered two disabling strokes late last year. In December, the family took him to a Tijuana clinic where he received stem cell injections as part of a clinical trial being run under a licensing agreement with Stemedica Cell Technologies of San Diego, Calif.

The experimental treatment involved injecting neural stem cells into Howe's spinal canal, along with intravenous infusions of mesenchymal stem cells, which are found in bone marrow, fat and umbilical cord blood.

Marty Howe said his father can walk again, his speech is improving and he is regaining some of the weight he lost following the strokes.

"After his stem cell treatment, the doctor told us it was kind of an awakening of the body, and it was all that," he told The Canadian Press while in Calgary for a hockey promotion event Tuesday. "They call it the miracle of stem cells and it was nothing less than a miracle."

However, experts in the field question whether stem cells are responsible for Howe's improvement and caution that most so-called stem cell therapies have not gone through rigorous scientific trials, nor have they been approved as treatments by Health Canada or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Mick Bhatia, director of McMaster University's Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, said there are many unknowns in Howe's case, such as how many stem cells were administered, were tests done to see whether they migrated to the targeted area of the body, and did they take up residence where they might have some effect or simply disappear?

"Is this a transient effect, or is it really a perceived or somewhat of a placebo effect and is there something really happening? Scientifically and biologically that is important," Bhatia said Wednesday from Hamilton.

And because Howe received adult stem cells produced from donor cells, he may have needed to take drugs to prevent an immune reaction as well as anti-inflammatory medications, he said.

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Rev Diabet Stud. 2009 Winter; 6(4): 260270.

1Tissue Engineering and Banking Laboratory, National Center for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune MH 411007, India

2Division of Animal Sciences, Agharkar Research Institute, Agarkar Road, Pune, MH 411004, India

3Stem Cells and Diabetes Section, National Center for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune MH 411007, India

4Stempeutics Research Pvt. Ltd., 9th Floor, Manipal Hospital, HAL Airport Road, Bangalore 560017, India

Received October 2, 2009; Revised December 5, 2009; Accepted December 11, 2009.

Cellular microenvironment is known to play a critical role in the maintenance of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). It was uncertain whether BM-MSCs obtained from a 'diabetic milieu' (dBM-MSCs) offer the same regenerative potential as those obtained from healthy (non-diabetic) individuals (hBM-MSCs). To investigate the effect of diabetic microenvironment on human BM-MSCs, we isolated and characterized these cells from diabetic patients (dBM-MSCs). We found that dBM-MSCs expressed mesenchymal markers such as vimentin, smooth muscle actin, nestin, fibronectin, CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90, and CD105. These cells also exhibited multilineage differentiation potential, as evident from the generation of adipocytes, osteocytes, and chondrocytes when exposed to lineage specific differentiation media. Although the cells were similar to hBM-MSCs, 6% (3/54) of dBM-MSCs expressed proinsulin/C-peptide. Emanating from the diabetic microenvironmental milieu, we analyzed whether in vitro reprogramming could afford the maturation of the islet-like clusters (ICAs) derived from dBM-MSCs. Upon mimicking the diabetic hyperglycemic niche and the supplementation of fetal pancreatic extract, to differentiate dBM-MSCs into pancreatic lineage in vitro, we observed rapid differentiation and maturation of dBM-MSCs into islet-like cell aggregates. Thus, our study demonstrated that diabetic hyperglycemic microenvironmental milieu plays a major role in inducing the differentiation of human BM-MSCs in vivo and in vitro.

Keywords: diabetes, beta-cell, stem cell, differentiation, bone marrow, NGN3, NKX6.1, PAX6

Abbreviations: -MEM - -modified Eagle's medium (used for cell culture); AGE - advanced glycation end-product; ALL - acute lymphoblastic leukemia; ALS - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; AML - acute myeloid leukemia; BM-MSC - bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell; BRN4 - Brain 4 (transcription factor expressed in the brain and glucagon-expressing cells in the pancreas, also known as POU3F4); C-peptide - connecting peptide; Ct - cycle threshold; CXCR4 - alpha-chemokine receptor (also called fusin) specific for stromal-derived-factor-1 (SDF-1, also called CXCL12), a molecule endowed with potent chemotactic activity for lymphocytes; dBM-MSC - human diabetic BM-MSC; DME meduim - Dulbecco's modified Eagles medium; E-cadherin - epithelial cadherin (CDh1); EDTA - ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (used as chelating agent that binds to calcium and prevents joining of cadher-ins between cells; it also prevents clumping of cells grown in liquid suspension, and is able to detach adherent cells for passaging); EGFP - enhanced green fluorescence protein; F(ab)2 - antigen-binding fragment of an antibody; FACS - fluorescence-activated cell sorting; GATA6 - binding protein that binds (A/T/C)GAT(A/T)(A) of the binding sequence; Glut2 - glucose transporter 2 (also known as solute carrier family 2 member 2 SLC2A2); GCG - glucagons gene; hBM-MSC - normal human BM-MSC; HD - Hodgkin disease; ICA - islet-like cell aggregate; ICAM-5 - intercellular adhesion molecule 5 (also known as telencephalin, CD# not yet assigned); ISL1 - insulin gene enhancer protein gene 1; NCAM-1 - neural cell adhesion molecule 1 (CD56); NDS - normal donkey serum; NGN-3 - neurogenin-3 (controls islet cell fate specification in pancreatic progenitor cells); NHL - non-Hodgkin lymphoma; NKX6-1 - NK6 homeobox 1 (transcription factor required for the development of beta-cells); Oil-Red-O - Solvent Red 27 (fat-soluble dye used for stain-ing of triglycerides and lipids); PBS - phosphate-buffered saline; PECAM-1 - platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (CD31); PE - phycoerythrin (fluorescent dye for labeling antibodies); Pdx1 - pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (transcription factor necessary for pancreatic development and beta-cell maturation); PFA - paraformaldehyde (used to fix cells); POU - class of genes that produce transcription factors; POU3F4 - POU class 3 homeobox 4 gene or gene product (also known as BRN4); RNA - ribonucleic acid; RPE - rat pancreatic extract; RT-PCR - reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; TPVG - trypsin phosphate versene glucose; UCBS - human umbilical cord blood serum

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) are able to differentiate into many cell types, and to proliferate ex vivo. These attributes makes them a potential therapeutic tool for cell replacement therapy in diabetes and other diseases. Stem cell differentiation is controlled by extracellular cues, the environment, and intrinsic genetic programs within stem cells [1, 2]. The fate of stem cell differentiation is influenced by both soluble and insoluble factors from the surrounding microenvironment. Several signaling cascades mediate the balance response of the stem cell to the need of the organism. Pathological conditions induced by dysregulation result in aberrant functions of stem cells or other targets [3-6].

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Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Bone Marrow of ...

TORONTO Gordie Howes son says the hockey legends stroke symptoms have improved since his treatment with stem cells at a Mexican clinic in early December and he wants him to repeat the procedure.

But regenerative medicine experts say theres no scientific evidence such therapies work, and in some cases they can be seriously harmful or even deadly.

The 86-year-old Howe suffered two disabling strokes late last year. In December, the family took him to a Tijuana clinic where he received stem cell injections as part of a clinical trial being run under a licensing agreement with Stemedica Cell Technologies of San Diego, Calif.

The experimental treatment involved injecting neural stem cells into Howes spinal canal, along with intravenous infusions of mesenchymal stem cells, which are found in bone marrow, fat and umbilical cord blood.

Marty Howe said his father can walk again, his speech is improving and he is regaining some of the weight he lost following the strokes.

After his stem cell treatment, the doctor told us it was kind of an awakening of the body, and it was all that, he told The Canadian Press while in Calgary for a hockey promotion event Tuesday. They call it the miracle of stem cells and it was nothing less than a miracle.

However, experts in the field question whether stem cells are responsible for Howes improvement and caution that most so-called stem cell therapies have not gone through rigorous scientific trials, nor have they been approved as treatments by Health Canada or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Mick Bhatia, director of McMaster Universitys Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, said there are many unknowns in Howes case, such as how many stem cells were administered, were tests done to see whether they migrated to the targeted area of the body, and did they take up residence where they might have some effect or simply disappear?

Is this a transient effect, or is it really a perceived or somewhat of a placebo effect and is there something really happening? Scientifically and biologically that is important, Bhatia said Wednesday from Hamilton.

And because Howe received adult stem cells produced from donor cells, he may have needed to take drugs to prevent an immune reaction as well as anti-inflammatory medications, he said.

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Howes stem cell treatment raises concerns

TORONTO Two Canadian research centres are gearing up for a clinical trial to determine if a type of stem cell can help alleviate the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

Researchers at the Ottawa Hospital and Winnipegs Health Sciences Centre will each recruit 20 MS patients for the trial that will test whether mesenchymal stem cells can reduce inflammation and even help repair damage already caused by the disease.

MS is thought to be an autoimmune disease that creates inflammation in the central nervous system, resulting in injury to myelin, the protective sheath that covers nerves. This damage can create a host of symptoms, leading to varying degrees of physical disability and cognitive impairment.

Mesenchymal stem cells, which are found in bone marrow, fat, skin tissue and umbilical cord blood, have the ability to modify the immune system and reduce inflammation, said neurologist Dr. Mark Freedman of the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, who is leading the clinical trial.

Freedman said researchers want to determine if these stem cells can demonstrate anti-inflammatory properties in patients with MS.

But thats not why were doing it, he said of the study, called MESCAMS (MEsenchymal Stem cell therapy for CAnadian MS patients). We have lots of drugs that can control inflammation in multiple sclerosis thats what all the new medicines do.

The ultimate hope is that we will be able to exploit some of their other very important biological properties, which is to promote repair.

The two research centres are ready to begin enrolling patients for the trial, which has specific acceptance criteria. While most of those accepted will likely have the relapsing-remitting form of the disease, Freedman said some people with more severe primary- or secondary-progressive MS may also be eligible if they fit the criteria.

The study protocol can be accessed at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT02239393. It will later be posted on the website of the MS Society of Canada, which along with the Multiple Sclerosis Scientific Research Foundation has provided a $4.2-million grant for the study.

To conduct the trial, half the patients will be randomly assigned to receive their own mesenchymal stem cells within weeks of them being extracted from the bone marrow and grown in the lab; the remainder of the participants will instead be infused with a mock stem-cell solution, and wont receive their actual stem cells for about six months. The two groups will then be compared.

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Trial to test stem cells in MS patients

MIAMI (PRWEB) January 29, 2015

Regenestem Network, the worlds largest membership network of regenerative medicine practitioners, has announced the launch of a new stem cell clinic in Oaxaca, Mexico. The new facility, offering the most advanced cellular medicine protocols and techniques available is in partnership with Ulises Cervera, M.D. a neurologist coming from the Children's Hospital of Morelia, Mexico.

The new Oaxaca facility will offer the most advanced protocols and techniques available in stem cell medicine to patients from across Mexico and around the world.

Global Stem Cells Group and Regenestem Network are expanding the companys clinical presence worldwide by partnering with experienced and qualified regenerative medicine physicians to open new clinics licensed and developed under the Regenestem banner.

In 2014, Global Stem Cells Group expanded the Regenestem Networks global presence to 20 countries.

Regenestem offers stem cell treatments to help treat a variety of diseases and conditions including arthritis, autism, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, and pain due to injuries at various facilities worldwide. Regenestem Oaxaca will have an international staff experienced in administering the latest in cellular therapies.

Regenestem is certified for the medical tourism market, and staff physicians are board-certified or board-eligible. Regenestem clinics provide services in more than 10 specialties, attracting patients from the United States and around the world.

The Global Stem Cells Group and Regenestem are committed to the highest of standards in service and technology, expert and compassionate care, and a philosophy of exceeding the expectations of their international patients.

For more information, visit the Regenestem Network website, email info(at)regenstem(dot)com, or call 305-224-1858.

About Regenestem: Regenestem Network, a division of the Global Stem Cells Group, Inc., is an international medical practice association committed to researching and producing comprehensive stem cell treatments for patients worldwide. Having assembled a highly qualified staff of medical specialistsprofessionals trained in the latest cutting-edge techniques in cellular medicineRegenestem continues to be a leader in delivering the latest protocols in the adult stem cell arena.

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Global Stem Cells Group and Regenestem Network Announce Launch of New Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Clinic in ...

Sheryl Ubelacker, The Canadian Press Published Thursday, January 29, 2015 6:49AM EST

TORONTO -- Gordie Howe's son says the hockey legend's stroke symptoms have improved since his treatment with stem cells at a Mexican clinic in early December and he wants him to repeat the procedure.

But regenerative medicine experts say there's no scientific evidence such therapies work, and in some cases they can be seriously harmful or even deadly.

The 86-year-old Howe suffered two disabling strokes late last year. In December, the family took him to a Tijuana clinic where he received stem cell injections as part of a clinical trial being run under a licensing agreement with Stemedica Cell Technologies of San Diego, Calif.

The experimental treatment involved injecting neural stem cells into Howe's spinal canal, along with intravenous infusions of mesenchymal stem cells, which are found in bone marrow, fat and umbilical cord blood.

Marty Howe said his father can walk again, his speech is improving and he is regaining some of the weight he lost following the strokes.

"After his stem cell treatment, the doctor told us it was kind of an awakening of the body, and it was all that," he told The Canadian Press while in Calgary for a hockey promotion event Tuesday. "They call it the miracle of stem cells and it was nothing less than a miracle."

However, experts in the field question whether stem cells are responsible for Howe's improvement and caution that most so-called stem cell therapies have not gone through rigorous scientific trials, nor have they been approved as treatments by Health Canada or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Mick Bhatia, director of McMaster University's Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, said there are many unknowns in Howe's case, such as how many stem cells were administered, were tests done to see whether they migrated to the targeted area of the body, and did they take up residence where they might have some effect or simply disappear?

"Is this a transient effect, or is it really a perceived or somewhat of a placebo effect and is there something really happening? Scientifically and biologically that is important," Bhatia said Wednesday from Hamilton.

Read more from the original source:
Gordie Howe's stem cell therapy raises concerns among medical experts

TORONTO - Gordie Howe's son says the hockey legend's stroke symptoms have improved since his treatment with stem cells at a Mexican clinic in early December and he wants him to repeat the procedure.

But regenerative medicine experts say there's no scientific evidence such therapies work, and in some cases they can be seriously harmful or even deadly.

The 86-year-old Howe suffered two disabling strokes late last year. In December, the family took him to a Tijuana clinic where he received stem cell injections as part of a clinical trial being run under a licensing agreement with Stemedica Cell Technologies of San Diego, Calif.

The experimental treatment involved injecting neural stem cells into Howe's spinal canal, along with intravenous infusions of mesenchymal stem cells, which are found in bone marrow, fat and umbilical cord blood.

Marty Howe said his father can walk again, his speech is improving and he is regaining some of the weight he lost following the strokes.

"After his stem cell treatment, the doctor told us it was kind of an awakening of the body, and it was all that," he told The Canadian Press while in Calgary for a hockey promotion event Tuesday. "They call it the miracle of stem cells and it was nothing less than a miracle."

However, experts in the field question whether stem cells are responsible for Howe's improvement and caution that most so-called stem cell therapies have not gone through rigorous scientific trials, nor have they been approved as treatments by Health Canada or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Mick Bhatia, director of McMaster University's Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, said there are many unknowns in Howe's case, such as how many stem cells were administered, were tests done to see whether they migrated to the targeted area of the body, and did they take up residence where they might have some effect or simply disappear?

"Is this a transient effect, or is it really a perceived or somewhat of a placebo effect and is there something really happening? Scientifically and biologically that is important," Bhatia said Wednesday from Hamilton.

And because Howe received adult stem cells produced from donor cells, he may have needed to take drugs to prevent an immune reaction as well as anti-inflammatory medications, he said.

Read more:
Gordie Howe's stem cell therapy raises concerns among experts

Stem Cell Therapy + PRP Helps Shoulder Injury and Whiplash Patient - Denise Lawson
Denise Lawson experienced two motor vehicle accidents in 2001 that left her with neck pain, headaches, and sporadic episodes of weakness on the left side of her body. Over time, Denise developed...

By: StemCell ARTS

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Stem Cell Therapy + PRP Helps Shoulder Injury and Whiplash Patient - Denise Lawson - Video