Recent Update on Stem Cells Making a Difference in One’s Life
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Transcript of Recent Update on Stem Cells Making a Difference in One’s Life
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1 www.stemcelltreatment.org Copyright 2012
Recent Update on Stem
Cells Making a Difference
in Ones Life
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Table of ContentsPage 3
Stem Cell Treatment Continues to Shed Light on Parkinsons Disease
Page 5
Different Cell Types for Stem Cell Therapy
Page 7
Exploring the Benefits of Stem Cell Transplant
Page 9
Stem Cell Treatments for Cosmetic Purposes
Page 10
The Problem with Stem Cell Financing
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Stem Cell Treatment
Continues to Shed Light
on Parkinsons Disease
Nobody still truly knows what truly causes Parkinsons Disease (PD) or what
triggers the deterioration and eventual death of the dopamine-generating
cells located in a region of the midbrain that manifest through lack of
movement control. This is one of the mysteries of the medical world that
needs to be solved in order to determine effective preventive measures.
Numerous researches have been made about the possible causes of the
degenerative disorder but these studies have not been as successful as
those created to come up with the cure. For now, there are maintenance
drugs to help people suffering from PD to go about their daily lives in a less
painful way; these maintenance drugs control the motor-impairments of
the body as well as aid in sleep. No real cure has
been set for PD just yet because of the different
medical protocols, but the latest research on stem
cell treatment are providing a really hopeful and
positive future for those who have been waiting a
long time for a cure for this disease.
Stem cell treatment is strongly being advocated by
Parkinsons Disease-stricken Michael J. Fox. The
Hollywood actor, who has been suffering fromParkinsonism since 1991, is one of the key figures in
the advancement of promising studies that would lead to the best
treatment for the disorder. One of these treatments showing great
potential includes the very controversial, embryonic stem cell treatment
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which is making use of fresh stem cells from a live embryo for
transplantation.
So how would stem cell treatmentwork for Parkinsons Disease? The stem
cells show great potential in creating healthy cells that will take over the
degenerating ones, reverse the effect of the disorder, and nurse the body
back to health. Though other types of stem cell treatments also show
impressive potential in curing Parksinsons Disease, the fresh cells from an
embryo have the ability to proliferate at the healthiest rate. The problem
with this, however, is that deriving these fresh stem cells requires the
destruction of the blastocyst and this would instantly kill the embryo. As
effective in theory as this treatment seems, there are moral, philosophical,and religious issues to be addressed.
Parkinsons Disease usually has a late onset;
embryonic stem cells have the most versatility and are
the best for taking over dead cells. Researches
continue in coming up with great alternatives to
embryonic stem cells for the effective treatment of
Parkinsons disease. Adult stem cells are actually
being projected to be a viable option. A type of adult
stem cell derived from the bone marrow that gives
rise to blood cells called hematopoietic stem cells appear to have the ability
to transform into a wider variety of tissue types and not just blood cells, as
was discovered by research from Northwestern University. Deriving adult
stem cells for treatment does not pose the same risks as deriving
embryonic stem cells. This is an exciting discovery that is being explored
further and is expected to contribute greatly to the development of the
cure for the disease.
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Different Cell Types for
Stem Cell Therapy
There are different types of stem cells used for different applications. A lot
of people nowadays typically just think of the embryonic stem cells that
moral groups are fighting hard to not be used for any medical treatment.
Stem cells are derived from different sources.
Totipotent stem cells (TSC), sometimes called the omnipotent stem cells,
are the most potent among all cell types. They can create different
organisms as well as more totipotent stem cells and they can become any
type of cell over time. In a way, theyre the beginning form of all cell types
and its truest form is the unified sperm and egg cell which is the fertilized
egg or the embryonic cell.
Pluripotent stem cells fall under TSC but
the main difference is that they cannot give
rise to all tissue types or an entire
organism. Embryonic stem cells (ESC) which
are considered to be the most versatile for
medical applications are the perfect
example of pluripotent stem cells. ESC is
derived from the destruction of the blastocyst which automatically kills the
embryo (hence all moral debates about its use). Pluripotent cells can also
be derived from the placenta which in its initial stage is called the
trophoblast. The stem cells from the placenta also hold a lot of potential in
cell generation and this has actually been prompting a lot of mothers to
preserve their placenta because these extra-embryonic stem cells can be
used to help treat possible medical conditions that their children can
develop as they get older.
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Adult stem cells are popularly used forstem cell therapy. As an example, TV
personality Suzanne Somers used her own to grow new breasts after she
had a lumpectomy and radiation because of her breast cancer. Adult stem
cells are part of the multipotent cell population and they come in differentcell types as well.
Recent research show that hematopoetic stem cells (which are adult stem
cells found in the bone marrow) hold more potential than previously
discovered and can be used for treating cancer, Parkinsons disease, and
Alzheimers. As more research is being
conducted in exploring the medical
potential of these adult stem cells,theyre becoming more and more viable
as alternatives to pluripotent stem cells.
Orthopaedicstem cell therapymakes use
of a type of adult stem cell called the
Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC). These
versatile, multipotent stem cells have
the potential to differentiate to both
bone and cartilage which instantly
means that it can adapt to the specific
purpose its being integrated for. MSC
can be found in different parts of the body and its reported to have the
ability to regenerate even non-mesenchymal lineages like the cardiac
lineage, the neural, skin, and tissues.
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Exploring the Benefits of
Stem Cell Transplant
One of the most important advancements in the medical world is the
discovery of the healing potential of stem cells.Stem cell transplant(SCT) is
commonly associated with the treatment for cancers such as leukaemia; it
involves transplanting fresh blood cells so the bone marrow can heal up
quickly and begin producing healthy blood cells. It is also an ideal
procedure for regenerative purposes. The amazing results from this
procedure, however, are prompting more researchers to fully explore howstem cell transplant can work to address other medical problems as well.
Compared to an organ transplant, the risks are fewer for stem cell
transplant. Stem cells can differentiate into varying types of specialized
cells, making them easier to be accommodated by the rest of the body.
Though there are still issues with
compatibility, the rate of rejection is
fairly lower which makes survival afterthe transplant higher. Its important to
point out that this statistic takes an
even more favorable turn when the
stem cells collected are not from a
donor, but from the patient himself.
These stem cells can be collected from
different parts of the body.
In the case of TV personality Suzanne Somers, she got stem cells from her
stomach and preserved them for the reconstruction of her breasts, which
she lost after her mastectomy. Somers claims that not only was the
transplant a healthier initiative, but it also created more natural-looking
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breasts. Her procedure is an experimental one, but given her healthy state,
a lot of women whove had a mastectomy are considering it for their
reconstructive surgery. Stem cell storage is already available in some
hospitals and there are already a good number of women whove beenpreserving their placenta in stem cell storages just to be prepared for
possible medical concerns that may occur late in life.
Aside from this, SCT may be
paired with other medical
treatments like chemotherapy.
This can be a tricky combination,
but under carefully-studiedconditions, it can bring really
positive results and a quicker
recovery time.
Recent studies also show that
stem cell transplantis an effective treatment for lupus which is one of those
medical conditions that, for the time being, has no real cure just yet. Lupus
patients showed great improvement with regards to the management of
their pains, lesions healed completely, and refractory hypertension became
controllable. Such positive developments after the SCT had never been
witnessed with other treatments prescribed for people suffering from lupus
which is why a lot of patients are looking into this procedure to be able to
live a more normal life despite the condition.
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Stem Cell Treatments for
Cosmetic Purposes
When people think about stem cell treatments (SCT), most get the idea that
its a method reserved only for life-threatening diseases like cancer, type 1
diabetes, ascending paralysis, and even lupus. However, because of the
amazing regenerative ability of stem cells, stem cell treatments are also
used for cosmetic purposes.
Former Threes Companystar and seventies bombshell Suzanne Somers is
one of the biggest advocates of stem cell research. The actress, who
capitalized greatly on her bosomy figure for her roles, had a lumpectomy
and radiation which altered the appearance of her breasts. A couple of
years later, she underwent reconstructive surgery to get her breasts back to
their original healthy condition by using stem cells from a fleshy part of her
body. The stem cells were transplanted into her breast and they grew to the
proportions Somers originally had.
Stem cell treatments used to enable hair
to grow back have been successful as well.
Hair follicles have epidermal stem cells so
baldness can be cured by reactivating the
stem cells present in the scalp and hair
would be produced once more.
Missing teeth can be regrown, again with the help of stem cells, and thisdoes not include excessive drinking of milk and calcium supplements which
may create growth in areas except the gums. Experiments conducted with
mice allowed scientists at Kings College London to cultivate a complete
tooth in mice with the help of stem cells. The success of this experiment
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made these scientists claim that the same process can be used for humans.
This has not been tested on humans and so far, most people still prefer a
quicker and economical way of dealing with the loss of teeth and that is by
getting dentures. This is basically just to prove that it can be done andshould there be people who would want to grow a new set of teeth, stem
cell treatmentsare available for the purpose.
Stem cells are also used for skin grafting
procedures. Fresh epidermal stem cells lessen
scarring, making SCT ideal for people who
have suffered from second-degree burns. A lot
of beauty products nowadays suggest thatthey make use of stem cells to treat skin
problems but the truth is, creams, lotions, and
other skin emollients do not really contain stem cells. What they have are
stimulants to trigger the activation of the present stem cells in the body to
regenerate skin. These stem cell beauty products are actually misleading
but this just proves thatstem cell treatmentsare all the rage nowadays and
they provide people the hope that they need to help improve and enhancetheir appearance.
The Problem with Stem
Cell Financing
Medical treatments always take out a large chunk from peoples finances.
Theres always that medical insurance that most people have but the
coverage of the insurance policies often imposes limitations; experimental
treatments always fail to be included in these insurance policies.
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Stem cell treatments are not widely available in the U.S. just yet and most of
the procedures that involved the incorporation of stem cells have only been
carried out by experimental medical organizations. Most medical facilities
are have not yet integrated stem cell treatments into the services they offer.
With all the encouraging reports about
the success of medical procedures that
make use of stem cells, a lot of people
suffering from degenerative diseases are
considering them for their treatments.
Stem cell treatment is not cheap, though,
and the procedures are still greatly tiedwith research to further explore the amazing potential of using stem cells in
the medical world, so understandably, treatment costs a lot.
Certain medical facilities provide stem cell financing to their patients but
they need to qualify for the program. The facilities are often linked with
organizations that support stem cell research so financial back-up is not
easily given and if the patient does not have other people to help him meet
the requirements for qualification, there are credit officers who will
thoroughly go through all the presented documents. The process for
qualification is often stringent and it takes a long time. Preparing the right
documents to back the financial assistance program being applied for can
be truly time-consuming. The amount of time just to submit all the
necessary paperwork can contribute greatly to the patients deteriorating
health.
A patient may look around for other financial backers aside from the ones
linked with the facility where he will be getting his treatment. A lot of
pharmaceutical companies are open to providing financial assistance to
patients that may shed light on their research efforts about the treatment.
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This would require a lot of research
work on the part of the patient because
there are still certain conditions to be
addressed with regards to this financingsystem. Looking at private stem cell
research groups is also a good thing to
do and would entail more research work
as well.
Stem cell financing is not at all easy, which is why even if a lot of people
want to use stem cell treatments for their illness, they opt to go for the
conventional methods whose results may not be as great but are morefinancially manageable. Everybodys hoping that one day, stem cell
treatments will be as readily available in the U.S. as they are in China. For
the time being, however, Americans will just have to make sure that they
have the means to cover their medical needs.
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