StemCell Therapy

Five years ago, Bronnie Ware was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

The then 45-year-old decided to take a "natural" approach to healing.

For two and a half years, Ware tried a variety of alternative remedies, including herbs from naturopaths and an alkaline-based diet, to manage the autoimmune disease that causes pain and swelling of the joints.

Her well-intentioned approach only saw her deteriorate.

"It got to the point where my one-and-a-half-year-old daughter was helping me get dressed," explains the single mother and internationally best-selling author of Five Regrets of the Dying.

She struggled to walk more than 30 metres at a time and couldn't get up and down from the floor.

"I was in horrific pain," Ware says. "I was exhausted."

Eventually she was forced to admit that her rigid resistance to conventional medicine was backfiring. She went to a GP who also practised alternative therapies including acupuncture and Ayurveda (India's traditional medicine system which incorporates nutrition, yoga, acupuncture, massage and herbal medicine).

"He said, 'OK, I understand where you're coming from but your body is in too much trauma to come back on its own now it's too far gone, you really need to try these immuno-suppressant drugs'," Ware recalls. "Reluctantly I did."

Despite her reluctance, the medicine helped.

"They gave me a lot of mobility back and freedom and it gave me a sense of hope again," she says.

"It's been a huge journey of surrendering my very rigid beliefs that this is the only way to go. The pharmaceutical medicines did have a lot of side effects but they also had a lot of other benefits that brought me back to a place where I could actually heal from."

Up to 70 per cent of Australians use complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) and about 24 per cent of adults with a chronic health condition regularly use complementary medicines to help them treat their condition, in particular for arthritis and osteoporosis.

With each year, the $4 billion industry grows. In fact, the number of people visiting a complementary health professional (most commonly a chiropractor, naturopath or acupuncturist) has increased more than 51 per cent in 10 years.

"There are some conditions where medical treatment is, in my view as a GP, non-negotiable. I think rheumatoid arthritis is one of those examples," says Dr Kerryn Phelps, who adds that delaying treatment can cause irreparable joint damage.

"Cancer treatments are another situation where I quite often have people saying 'I'm just going to battle this with the power of my mind and diet' when they've literally got no chance of surviving without chemotherapy."

Phelps, the author of The Cancer Recovery Guide, adds that there is a place for 'adjunctive therapies' as she prefers to call them. "There are many instances where recovery can be enhanced by adjunctive treatments."

There are also instances where pharmaceuticals are not the best option.

"There are lots of conditions where pharmaceutical treatments can be minimised or even eliminated if people take the right lifestyle measures," Phelps says, pointing to Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular risk factors and osteoarthritis.

"The thoughts around pharmaceutical and medical treatments changes with time and as we understand more about side effects."

Those wanting to explore different treatments should find a doctor who has an understanding of "a broad range" of options, Phelps advises.

"Someone who can direct them to appropriately trained allied health practitioners ... and who has an understanding of when medicine is the most appropriate treatment and how to combine those things."

Along with conventional treatment, Ware continued to care for her diet and use CAM, including a "prescription" from an Ayurvedic doctor to do something "really fun" each week.

"She said that stress is far more detrimental to our body than anything we can do with our diet so it's much better to eat a chocolate when you're happy than have a green juice every day when you're stressed," Ware says. "We have so much pressure and stress we sometimes lose the fact that life is to be enjoyed. We need joy and lightness to balance the stress and pressure on ourselves."

Ware, who details her journey in her new book Bloom, says she now has a very different attitude to health, one that embraces both the conventional and CAM.

"I was very rigid that 'I'm going to find the natural path to this' and it was just causing me so much stress so I've let go of all that nonsense now," says Ware, who is now off the meds.

"I went to some pretty low places with RA and I still live with RA but I'm jumping on a trampoline now and riding a pushbike and travelling and I've got my life back."

To launch Bloom, Ware will be touring Australia in May. For more information and tickets, go to talkingsticks.com.au

Go here to see the original:
'I was in horrific pain': Alternative remedies for rheumatoid arthritis backfire - The Sydney Morning Herald

By David Ikudayisi

In recently published papers in the New England Journal of Medicine about the use of Stem Cell Therapy for Macular Degeneration, one report showed that 3 partially blind women became blind after the treatment with stem cells and the other report showed that an inevitable loss of vision was halted by use of stem cells in another patient. The stem cells used in these two reports were from two different sources fat and skin cells.

First of all, we need to remember or understand that Macular Degeneration is caused by the deterioration of the central portion of the retina, known as the macula, and it is responsible for focusing central vision in the eye, and it controls our ability to read, drive a car, recognize faces or colors, and see objects in fine detail. In America, it affects more than 10 million people more than cataracts and glaucoma combined.

Caucasians are more likely to develop the disease than African-Americans, Hispanics/Latinos or Africans. At present, Macular Degeneration is considered an incurable eye disease, and the closest hope for cure seems to be via Stem Cell Therapy. As shown in the reports, there is still a lot to be understood about stem cells in terms of dosing, frequency, source to be used for different disorders, etc; especially when talking about very sensitive organs of the body like the eyes.

The Florida Company that treated the three patients that went from partial blindness to total blindness have treated over 7,000 patients and have had very few adverse events reported. The scientific director of the company believes the safety track record is very strong and feels very confident about the procedures that they do as it has shown great success in many different health problems.

However, the rarity of the procedure causing harm draws me to see the many benefits and potential Adult Stem Cell Therapy could have on people. Examples of its effectiveness has been seen in so many patients in different studies and even in my own practice in the United States of America. There are already beneficiaries of Adult Stem Cell Therapy in Nigeria. I can say that my experience using stem cells have been great.

In fact, of all the patients that I have treated, only one did not respond positively after just 1 treatment. This was not even done with Adult Stem Cell Therapy but Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy using the patients own blood. Nevertheless, there was no adverse event. The patient is recommended to do Adult Stem Cell Therapy which will increase his chance of success. Many of the other patients showed improvements after the first treatment, and the few that needed second treatment went on to see amazing results after more treatment was done; needless to say that they were elated with the results.

Generally, Adult Stem Cell Therapy and Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy are safe as shown by many published research reports and clinical trials done already. However, this does not guarantee that adverse effects cant occur as seen in the case of the 3 women who had accelerated blindness 2 years ago (as with any other treatments in the scope of medicine).

Another recent report in March 2017 from Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University in USA highlighted one of the benefits of Adult Stem Cell Therapy in stroke patients. The multicenter trial shows that not only was it safe, but if Adult Stem Cell Therapy is given within two days of an ischemic stroke, it could reduce the death of cells around the strokes core that were also injured. The Nigerian government should get involved more and invest more in Regenerative Medicine as it will help improve the health status of the nation.

Link:
Stem cell therapy 'magic' for stroke, eye ailments - Vanguard

New Delhi: A 20-year-old man named Aditya Bhatia was suffering from Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD) -- a condition which slowly weakens and degenerates all the muscles of the body leading to disability was treated using stem cell therapy.

Aditya was diagnosed with Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD) in 2012. It started after he found it difficult to lift his arms over the head -- one of the main and strongest symptoms. Consultations with several doctors did not find Bhatia any solution, and his condition grew severe and started affecting other parts of the body such as face.

FSHD usually begins before age 20, with weakness and atrophy of the muscles around the eyes and mouth, shoulders, upper arms and lower legs. Later, weakness can spread to abdominal muscles and sometimes hip muscles.

Experts says that FSHD can be divided into adult-onset and infantile-onset forms.

Bhatia's parents had heard about the stem cell treatment which had proved effective in many diseases such as spinal diseases.

Accordingly, they consulted doctors on stem cell therapy and decided to give it a try.

All the procedures were followed and he was tested for hyper sensitivity reactions with stem cells, also known as Human Embryonic Stem Cell Therapy.

Doctors said that during the treatment procedure, Bhatia was injected with 0.05 ml stem cells.

(With IANS inputs)

See the rest here:
Stem cell therapy treats man with muscle degeneration | Zee News - Zee News

The Darc test enabled labelled cells to be identified up to six hours after injection.

A positive test result was significantly correlated with a diagnosis of glaucoma and later loss of vision.

The fluorescent marker, known as ANX776, was found to be safe and well-tolerated with no adverse side effects.

Chief investigator Professor Philip Bloom, from Western Eye Hospital, part of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, said: "Treatment is much more successful when it is begun in early stages of the disease, when sight loss is minimal.

"Our developments mean we could diagnose patients 10 years earlier than was previously possible."

The scientists believe the test may have wider applications because the nerves that help us see are essentially an extension of the brain.

Programmed cell death, or apoptosis, at the back of the eye could therefore provide an early indication of neurodegenerative disease.

The research is funded by the Wellcome Trust charity.

Bethan Hughes, from Wellcome's Innovation team, said: "This innovation has the potential to transform lives for those who suffer loss of sight through glaucoma, and offers hope of a breakthrough in early diagnosis of other neurodegenerative diseases.

"Loss of sight as you age is an incredibly difficult disability, impacting quality of life and independence."

Continue reading here:
New glaucoma test 'means treatment can start before sight loss ... - Telegraph.co.uk

HILLTOWN >> Having a genetic degenerative eye disease that is taking away his central vision hasnt stopped Faith Christian Academy seventh-grader A. J. (Andrew) Lowe from becoming a wrestler.

Its a sport with touch more than sight, he said recently during a session with the after-school wrestling club he takes part in at Renzo Gracie PA MMA in Hilltown.

Its a contact sport, so it plays to his strengths, A. J.s mother, Julie Lowe, said.

Coach Ben Clymer and A. J.s fellow-wrestlers treat him the same as the other members of the club, Julie Lowe said.

I bark at him just like I would any other guy and compliment him just like I would any other guy, Clymer said.

Lowe has a lot of drive and focus, Clymer said, along with some advantages as a wrestler that may have come about through dealing with the vision loss a heightened sense of transitioning and keeping his balance.

Clymer said his coaching focuses not on the visual impairment, but that, Life is still good. Weve got a lot to be thankful for and God-given strengths, so well play to those and work hard.

A. J. has Stargardts disease, Julie Lowe said.

It is genetic and progressive, she said. It will degenerate until eventually he loses his central vision.

Since A. J. is one of five adopted children in the family, his genetic history is not known and its impossible to say how fast the disease will progress, she said.

He adapts amazingly well. If somebodys watching him, they wouldnt know hes legally blind, she said, but said he cannot see a lot of things around him and that his peripheral vision is stronger than his central vision.

He is learning to use a cane to help get around, she said.

A. J., who has a pet dog that is blind and was trained as a therapy dog, jokes that its the blind leading the blind when he walks with the dog, Julie Lowe said.

Asked who is leading on those walks, A. J. joked that, probably my dogs leading me, actually.

His lifeline is technology. Hes able to go to a regular school because he can do everything on his iPad and blow it up, Julie Lowe said.

When he was tested for eSight electronic glasses, he was again able to see normally, which he wasnt able to do for about the past three years, A. J. said.

The glasses re-format what the eyes should be seeing, said Scott Roltsch, president of the Perkasie Lions.

A message gets sent to his brain and he sees like he normally would, Roltsch said. Theyre phenomenal glasses, but they are expensive.

It will take $15,000 plus a trip to Ohio for fitting to get the glasses, he said.

The Perkasie Lions will make a $2,000 contribution as a matching donation, he said.

Donations may be made at http://www.giving.esighteyewear.com by scrolling through the childrens photos until you get to A.J. Lowe or by using the explore button and searching for Lowe.

With $3,205 having been donated thus far, plus the Lions $2,000 contribution, $9,795 still has to be raised, Roltsch said.

All I want is to see the world as it sees me, A. J. Lowe wrote on giving.esighteyewear.com.

To be honest with you, I dont even want eSight so I can go on some extravagant adventures or witness a special event. But, that would be a nice little added bonus, he wrote. Truthfully, I need eSight so I can again begin living life the way it was meant to be lived. I just want to be able to experience the things we all take for granted. To watch a movie with my family and friends, read a book, see the faces of all you amazing people reading this and thinking about donating, or just see my own smile again.

The Lions Club has a particular interest in vision-related matters, but that is not its only function, Roltsch said.

We like to help anybody in our community if were able, he said. Thats what were all about.

View original post here:
Perkasie Lions assisting with fundraising for electronic glasses to restore seventh-grader's eyesight - Montgomery Newspapers

(CNN)

It's well-known that type 2 diabetes can cause medical complications in certain organs, including the brain. But overweight and obese people with early-stage type 2 diabetes have more severe abnormalities in brain structure and cognition than normal-weight people with type 2 diabetes, according to a new study in Diabetologia, the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes.

Having type 2 diabetes and being overweight, then, can combine to have a greater effect on brain structures.

"There's a general agreement that type 2 diabetes is a risk factor for various types of both structural and functional abnormalities in the brain," said Dr. Donald C. Simonson, a co-author of the study and an endocrinologist specializing in diabetes. "Simple obesity also shows the same type of abnormalities ... in a milder stage. You can see where it's not quite exactly normal but not quite as bad as someone with diabetes.

"So, if you have both, will it be worse than if you have them alone? That's what we looked at in this particular study," said Simonson, who teaches at Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Dr. In Kyoon Lyoo, lead author and a professor at the Ewha Brain Institute at Ewha Womens University in Seoul, South Korea, wrote in an email, "As obesity has been known to be associated with metabolic dysfunction, inflammation, and brain changes independently of diabetes, we expected that brain alterations might be more pronounced in overweight/obese participants with type 2 diabetes."

Effects on the brain

Lyoo, Simonson and their colleagues designed a study around 50 overweight or obese people age 30 to 60 who had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Fifty normal-weight people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and 50 normal-weight people without diabetes also participated. These additional participants were age and sex matched to the original group. Those diagnosed with diabetes were also matched for disease duration. Standard body mass index ranges defined "overweight" (having a BMI of 25 to 29.9), "obese" (greater than 30) and "normal weight" (18.5 to 25).

The researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to examine each participant's brain structure, including the thickness of the cerebral cortex and white matter connectivity. Gray matter in the brain contains the neuron cell bodies, whereas white matter contains bundles of nerve fibers and its job is to process and send signals along the spinal cord.

The researchers chose to study thickness and connectivity "because these could be sensitive markers of diabetes-related brain changes, and could be reliably quantified by using magnetic resonance imaging," Lyoo explained.

Participants also were tested for memory, psychomotor speed and executive function, since these are known to be affected in people with type 2 diabetes.

The results aligned with the researchers' initial assumptions, Lyoo said.

Clusters of gray matter were significantly thinner in the temporal, prefrontoparietal, motor and occipital cortices in the brains of diabetic participants than in the non-diabetic group, the study found. More thinning of the temporal and motor cortices could be seen in the overweight/obese diabetic group compared with normal-weight diabetics. Separately and collectively, these areas of the brain impact motor control, executive function, body awareness, concentration and other cognitive functions.

"Most of the things we looked at, you could see that there was a progression, and the obese patients with diabetes were worse than the lean patients with diabetes, and they were both worse than the age-matched controls," Simonson said.

In particular, the temporal lobe appears vulnerable to the combined effects of type 2 diabetes and being overweight or obese, the researchers say. The temporal lobe is implicated in language comprehension and long-term memory.

The brain has been the last frontier in the study of complications of diabetes, Simonson said.

Similarities to Alzheimer's disease

"Diabetic retinopathy, eye disease, is reasonably well-understood," he said. "The same is true of kidney disease, amputations -- we understand much better what causes them and how to prevent them.

"But the brain has been the proverbial black box. It's incredibly complicated, and you can't directly study it. You can't go in and take samples," he said. "The last several years, the techniques of MRI got good enough that we could really look carefully at the brain."

Most of the initial work in the very late 1990s was done in Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, depression and other classic psychiatric diseases, but then scientists began to look at other diseases including diabetes, explained Simonson. At this point, researchers around the world began to see connections.

"You can see a person with depression has thinning of the surface of the brain in certain areas, and you go in and do the same study with somebody with diabetes, and they have thinning in the exact same areas," Simonson said. And diabetes may be a predisposing or risk factor for developing Alzheimer's, he said.

"You see the same types of abnormalities in a milder form in the brain in people with diabetes that you see in people with Alzheimer's disease," Simonson said.

According to Dr. William T. Cefalu, chief scientific, medical and mission officer of the American Diabetes Association, the study is consistent with previous research.

"The presence of overweight and obesity have been shown in other studies to be associated with early structural changes in the brain, and may contribute to cognitive issues," said Cefalu, who was not involved in the new study. "The current study implies that obesity/overweight status in individuals with diabetes may also contribute."

That said, longer-term and more definitive studies are needed to evaluate that aspect.

In the end, Simonson said, another question is more important: "What can you do to prevent it? That's the big question."

Go here to see the original:
Diabetes, weight gain can alter your brain, says study - WTAE Pittsburgh

BBC News

Smartphone 'orders' body to treat diabetes BBC News Scientists have used a smartphone to control the activity of the living cells inside an animal. The fusion of biology and technology was used to control blood sugar levels in mice with diabetes. The idea, described in Science Translational Medicine ... DailyTech - Smartphone 'Orders' body to treat diabetesDailyTech We Now Have an App That Can Activate Cells That Manage DiabetesFuturism Smartphone-controlled cells help keep diabetes in checkScience Daily Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News -New Atlas -IEEE Spectrum all 21 news articles »

Read more:
Smartphone 'orders' body to treat diabetes - BBC News

Question: My cat is suddenly making a mess in his litter box. It is full of pee spots and really large-sized ones. He used to only pee in one small spot a day; now it is several large spots.

He acts fine and is eating good. He has always been a chunky cat, but I think he has lost a little weight recently.

Answer: I am glad that you are monitoring your kittys litter box so well. It is important to know what is normal for your cat. Most cats only urinate once or twice a day. When the amount in the litter box suddenly increases, it is a good indication that there is a problem. Please monitor his water and food intake as well. He is probably drinking a good bit more water.

Your kitty will need a trip to his veterinarian to check a urine sample and do a thorough physical examination. Many times, blood testing will be necessary to fully diagnose the problem. Things that can cause increased urination are: diabetes, kidney disease, infection, tumor, crystals or stones in the bladder, and thyroid disease. All of these can be serious, if left untreated.

Diabetes is most often seen in indoor cats that are overweight. The sooner they are diagnosed and treated, the better they tend to do. Diabetes occurs when blood sugar levels get too high and the body cannot utilize it. Insulin is needed to help absorb blood sugar and get nutrition to the cells that need it. When too much glucose (sugar) is in the bloodstream, it is flushed out in the urine and takes excess water with it this causes your cat to drink larger amounts of water and urinate at larger volumes. Diabetes in cats can be treated with insulin injections and a special diet high in protein, with little or no carbohydrates.

Cats are true carnivores, so too much carbohydrates in the diet are not tolerated well. Diabetes in cats can be reversed if caught quickly, however, changes must be made to control blood sugar, weight and diet.

The rest is here:
Messy litter box could mean diabetes for indoor cats - Palm Beach Post

The local University of Illinois Extension is giving people a chance to become more educated about diabetes. (WJBC File Photo)

By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

EUREKA The local University of Illinois Extension is providing information to get a handle on diabetes.

The Extension is offering I on Diabetes, a four-part series beginning May 1 in Eureka.

Jenna Smith, nutrition and wellness educator and registered dietician for the Extension, explained how the class works.

It is really designed to help you manage diabetes, and if you dont have diabetes, its really a good program to help you think about ways to prevent diabetes, because no one wants that. Its a great program that usually costs money, and this year, it is absolutely free, because we got a grant. So Im super excited about that, Smith said.

To register, call 309-467-3789 or visit go.illinois.edu/lmw.

Cynthia Grau can be reached at cynthia.grau@cumulus.com

See the original post:
Extension offering free diabetes education - WJBC News

Written by Abantika Ghosh | New Delhi | Updated: April 29, 2017 8:36 am Treatment is given in the medical college or the teaching hospital. (Representational image)

The governments move to bar Public Health Foundation of India from accepting foreign funding has put a question mark on two blindness prevention programmes that PHFI was implementing in partnership with the Ministry of Health and state health departments.

The four-year programmes for diabetic retinopathy (blindness caused by diabetes) and retinopathy of prematurity (blindness in premature babies because of overexposure to oxygen inside incubators) were supported by the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust of UK through a 7 million grant, of which 4.3 million has been paid. But the rest cannot be processed because of the restrictions on PHFI.

Speaking to The Indian Express, chief executive of the trust, Dr Astrid Bonfield, said: It was very impressive to see that the programme has been integrated into the national governmets health system because unless that was done, there was no point really. It (the support) will continue for the next two years. I would not like to talk about Indian government business but at the moment, clearly, there are no payments being made (to PHFI).

Dr Bonfield is on her first review tour of India since the grant was approved.

Ironically, one of the reasons why PHFI was selected, she says, was because of its excellent links with the government; the grant was approved during the previous UPA regime.

With an estimated 69.2 million diabetes patients in India, ballpark estimates suggest that if the proportion of diabetics whose sight is threatened remains constant, an additional 10 million would be added by 2035.

As more premature babies survive in middle income countries like India, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) remains a condition about which awareness levels are low. A 2015 study published in the journal Indian Paediatrics found incidence in premature babies to be as high as 44 per cent.

Sources say work on the two programmes are in suspended animation not just because fresh funds cannot come in but also due to the curbs placed on PHFI by the Ministry of Home Affairs from accepting foreign contribution with retrospective effect for alleged violation of norms. There is no clarity on whether funds that have already come in can be spent, they said.

The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust was set up in 2011 at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting as a five-year charitable programme. The target in India was to integrate eyecare for people living with diabetes and newborns. India was the only country where ROP was taken up while the project to prevent blindness due to diabetes (DR) was taken up in 13 countries.

The DR project is currently under implementation across ten states spearheaded by a task force set up by the health ministry in 2014 and headed by deputy commissioner in the ministry, Dr Damodar Bachani. Its first meeting was held in July that year. It has representation from both government and non-government sectors. The district level models are pilots that are expected to be scaled up across states.

Following the national ROP summit in October 2013, a national task force headed by a joint secretary was constituted by the health ministry. Using the government of India database, 10 states, where sick newborn care units (SNCUs) had been functioning for at least two years, were identified for the programme.

The ROP prevention model includes a cluster of one medical college or teaching hospital and three-five district hospitals. Screening for retinopathy happens in SNCUs of these hospitals on a fixed day in a week. Treatment is given in the medical college or the teaching hospital.

For all the latest India News, download Indian Express App now

See the original post here:
Govt ban puts question mark over blindness prevention programme - The Indian Express

FinSMEs (blog)

Advent France Biotechnology Holds First Close of Biotechnology Fund I, at 64.75M FinSMEs (blog) Paris, France based Advent France Biotechnology has held the first close of Advent France Biotechnology Seed-Fund I, at 64.75m (USD68.5m). Supported in by the National Seed-Fund (Fonds National d'Amorage) managed by Bpifrance under the ...

Follow this link:
Advent France Biotechnology Holds First Close of Biotechnology Fund I, at 64.75M - FinSMEs (blog)

Markets Daily

7007 Shares in iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (IBB) Acquired by David R. Rahn & Associates Inc. The Cerbat Gem iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index logo David R. Rahn & Associates Inc. acquired a new position in iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (NASDAQ:IBB) during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange ... Oakwood Capital Management LLC CA Sells 200 Shares of iShares ...Markets Daily Parsec Financial Management Inc. Buys 4115 Shares of iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (IBB)BBNS iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (IBB) Downgraded to "Hold" at Vetr Inc.Transcript Daily Sherwood Daily -Sports Perspectives -Chaffey Breeze all 15 news articles »

Link:
7007 Shares in iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (IBB) Acquired by David R. Rahn & Associates Inc. - The Cerbat Gem

Doing more to help those living with arthritis may not be the most top-of-mind in this provincial election, but it should be. Political will is, after all, the only thing that stands in front of the opportunity to demonstrably improve the lives of the approximately 650,000 British Columbians living with chronic arthritic pain. Its a change that every single one of us can commit to making part of our decision about who to vote for on May 9.

For most people, waking up, getting dressed, and going about their daily activities is done without a passing thought or worry. But for the 1 out of every 6 British Columbians currently living with arthritis, the chronic joint pain and stiffness associated with the condition can make even the simplest of tasks, such as brushing teeth or putting on socks, an agonizing experience. Improving the care and treatment landscape for people living with arthritis deserves much greater political attention in the upcoming provincial election.

Arthritis can strike anyone at anytime, regardless of age, physical condition or ethnic background. While many people associate the disease with old age, the fact is that more than half of British Columbians living with arthritis are under the age of 65. Arthritis is everywhere, and its impacts are a lot more serious and costly to our province than many people realize.

As it stands, inadequate supports and access to treatment options for people living with arthritis are hurting the B.C. economy. A lot has been done, but we need to see more. Currently, 1 in 4 British Columbians living with the disease of working age report not being able to work due to their condition. Many still are frequently forced to change jobs or reduce work hours, negatively impacting their careers and their livelihoods. In British Columbia, and across the country, the impact of arthritis on the economy, in terms of health care costs and lost productivity, is enormous: an estimated $33 billion each year.

In B.C., almost half of people living with arthritis report having pain that prevents them from doing everyday activities. Having the disease also translates into a three times greater likelihood of having mental health issues, including anxiety and depression, and an 80 per cent chance of having other chronic health issues, such as obesity and diabetes.

Despite all this, arthritis is a long way down the list of issues that get mentioned by political leaders during this years election campaign trail. While the province is faced with another hot-button issue - the ongoing opioid crisis - political leaders must also give due attention to people living with the disease. As part of that, they must recognize that arthritis patients need better access to effective management strategies for their chronic pain.

This includes improved access to promising new therapies, like biologic drugs. These medications have been instrumental in helping many British Columbians living with rheumatoid arthritis, and should be part of the physicians toolbox. As no single biologic therapy works for all arthritis patients, a range of choice among these therapies is critical.

Special attention must also be given to First Nations people, where the prevalence of arthritis is five times higher, and to people all across British Columbia living in rural and remote communities. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential to preventing the permanent joint destruction associated with arthritis; however, many people living outside of urban areas face difficulties receiving timely diagnosis and care. There is an urgent need for improved access to specialist expertise and local supports, including homecare, to improve mobility and decrease pain for these underserved populations.

During this election campaign, when candidates knock on your door put them on the spot when it comes to arthritis. Ask them where they stand and whether, if elected, theyre willing to commit resources and embrace new policies to ease the pain of those living with the pain of this disease. Arthritis may not be the number one issue on the minds of candidates. But for 1 in 6 voters, its the number one issue in their lives.

Christine Basque, Executive Director of the BC Division of The Arthritis Society

Read more:
Arthritis can strike anyone at anytime, regardless of age, physical condition or ethnic background - BCLocalNews

The link between weather and aches and pains may not be such an old wives tale after all.

Retired college lecturer Nora Boswell, 68, has arthritis and is one of 13,000 people taking part in a research project called Cloudy With A Chance Of Pain.

Run by Manchester University and Arthritis Research UK, it is studying the connection between flare-ups and weather.

Here Nora, tells how technology is helping her manage her arthritis .

My mother had bad arthritis in her knees and ten years ago mine started playing up. When Id go down stairs, Id get a sharp pain in my kneecaps. Then it became more debilitating.

Nora, from Thornton, West Yorks, continued: I often walk into the village but I started struggling downhill. It wasnt a real surprise when an X-ray revealed arthritis .

Doctors say I may have deterioration in my shoulders and spine.

I dont like taking painkillers. Theyre a short-term fix. But regular exercise has helped me so much.

I use a Fitbit activity tracker to walk 250 steps an hour and as many squats as possible. Ive got to keep my muscles going.

Arthritis Research UK has excellent exercise routines to help manage pain.

On their website I found an article asking for volunteers for a citizen science four-year study called Cloudy With A Chance of Pain. The results will be out next spring.

Early data revealed people reported less time in severe pain across three UK cities from February to April but pain increased again in June.

Its long been a bit of an old wives tale that the weather can makes aches and pains worse. My chiropractor said many more clients come in after certain weather conditions in pain but there was no proof.

I thought it was great someone was researching it so signed up and downloaded the app.

Ive been logging my pain scale every day on my smartphone while my phone is automatically collecting hourly local weather data. It asks questions, such as how stiff you feel, and you can move a dial to the appropriate level. Ive noticed pain is worse if its damp. We had a long, damp autumn and I got fed up as I couldnt go out for walks.

Hot weather also has a negative affect on it. My husband John and I went on holiday to France and it was very hot.

After two days, I ached. And when we had a hot spell back in the UK my arthritis flared up. So summer beach holidays are out and we go in autumn.

I cant wait to see the results of the study. Until then Ill continue to exercise. I go for a walk most days or use the cross trainer at home. I also go to a pilates class once a week.

If you have arthritis , its also important to pace yourself. Yes, everything takes longer but youll be in less discomfort.

Some people might be OK waiting for someone to give them a pill but youve got to help yourself too.

Continue reading here:
Feeling under the weather? Arthritis sufferer explores whether link between aches and weather is valid - Mirror.co.uk

AVONDALE, Arix. Perhaps A.J. Foyts greatest title isnt as the first four-time Indianapolis 500 winner.

Maybe its survivor.

Foyt, whose list of injuries is almost as long as that of his legendary racing achievements, had right foot toe surgery Wednesday just days after stem cell therapy in Mexico. So the winner of Phoenix Raceways debut event in 1964 wont be at Saturday nights Phoenix Grand Prix.

Pain in a smashed smaller toe remnant of a devastating 1990 crash through a dirt embankment at Wisconsins Road America course when his brakes failed was so severe Foyt considered amputation.

Foyt, 82, admits he probably waited too long to try the stem cell therapy, which isnt approved in the U.S. Doctors removed stomach tissue and he explained it takes something like 10 weeks to grow back to produce the stem cells.

Adult stem cells can grow and become part of a specific tissue. Foyt likely wont feel the effects of injections into his shoulders or ankles, two areas the treatment is targeting to relieve pain and gain strength and functionality,for three months.

A..J. Foyt, who is recovering from surgery and wont be at the Phoenix race this season, congratulates 2016 winner Scott Dixon. (Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)

Typical for Foyt, though, he didnt allow his ailments to keep him from completely revamping his two-car ABC Supply Co.-sponsored team after an unsuccessful 2016.

Out: drivers Takuma Sato (now with Michael Andrettis team) and Jack Hawksworth (not in IndyCar). In: former Andretti driver Carlos Munoz, and Conor Daly, in only his second full-time season. Both are 25. Foyt changed to Chevroletengines, from Honda, and moved Dalys crew to a shop almost in sight of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, while Munoz team operates from Foyts traditional Houston base.

MORE COVERAGE:

WILL PASSING RETURN AT PHOENIX?

DIXON AMONG FAVORITES IN DESERT

CASTRONEVES SETS RECORD, WINS POLE

Sato won the 2013 Long Beach Grand Prix but Foyt called him a little weak and we were just having too many crashes.

Foyts first instructions to Munoz and Daly?

I told them when we started testing: Were not here to set a record or see how fast we can run. Were here to get the cars to where they drive very comfortable. If you crash right off, well be further behind. I dont want you to extend yourself one bit. I just want you to know that.

Said Daly, who father Derek is a former driver, mother Beth a racing sports marketer and event planner, and stepfather Doug Boles IMS president: Youre really driven to try to win for A.J. You can tell how much he still wants to win. Its a cool, emotional deal.

Knight writes for the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network.

See the rest here:
AJ Foyt undergoes stem cell therapy, toe surgery - USA TODAY

New Delhi, April 29 (IANS) A 20-year-old man suffering from Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD) a condition which slowly weakens and degenerates all the muscles of the body leading to disability was treated using stem cell therapy at a city-based hospital here.

Aditya Bhatia was diagnosed with Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD) in 2012. It started after he found it difficult to lift his arms over the head one of the main and strongest symptoms. Consultations with several doctors did not find Bhatia any solution, and his condition grew severe and started affecting other parts of the body such as face.

FSHD usually begins before age 20, with weakness and atrophy of the muscles around the eyes and mouth, shoulders, upper arms and lower legs. Later, weakness can spread to abdominal muscles and sometimes hip muscles.

Experts says that FSHD can be divided into adult-onset and infantile-onset forms.

Bhatias parents had heard about the stem cell treatment which had proved effective in many diseases such as spinal diseases. Accordingly, they consulted doctors on stem cell therapy and decided to give it a try.

All the procedures were followed and he was tested for hyper sensitivity reactions with stem cells, also known as Human Embryonic Stem Cell Therapy.

Doctors said that during the treatment procedure, Bhatia was injected with 0.05 ml stem cells.

The treatment included 3 phases T1, T2, T3 so that the stem cell could grow, regenerate and repair the affected part. Each treatment phase lasted 4-6 weeks and was 5 months apart, wherein he was continuously administered by physicians, said Geeta Shroff, Director and Stem cell specialist city based Nutech Mediworld.

She said that in addition to stem cell therapy, Bhatia also received physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

After the treatment he was able to regain his normal life, said Shroff.

This is published unedited from the IANS feed.

Reliance Jio likely to launch broadband Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) broadband service soon

13 drown in a stream in Anantapuramu district of Andhra Pradesh after boat capsizes, 4 missing

Triple Talaq issue should not be seen from political prism: PM Modi

jkbose.co.in JKBOSE Higher Secondary Class 12 Part II Annual Exam 2017 Result Soon, check updates here

Nalanda Univ to collaborate with Japan's Kanazawa Univ

See the rest here:
Muscular Dystrophy case treated with stem cell therapy - India.com

"My mom took me to one doctor who said, 'Your kid has got the flu. Come back in one week,'" he said.

"They said, 'Ma'am, we've got good news, and we've got bad news. The good news is your son's gonna live for now. The bad news is, he's got diabetes. He's got to take shots of insulin, and most likely he'll be dead by 25. If not, he'll either be blind or have renal failure,'" he said.

As he grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, Southerland was determined not to let this death sentence stop him. At 6, he was already managing his Type 1 diabetes on his own.

"For me, it was all I ever knew. I knew I had to breathe, I knew I had to eat and I knew I had to check my blood sugar and give myself insulin shots."

His parents stored only healthy food in the house to keep him from making bad choices. But at 12, Southerland disobeyed the rules and ate a candy bar. That decision would change his life.

"I figured OK, I don't want to wait two hours for my insulin to kick in. I do want to eat these candy bars. How can I do it?" he recalled.

So he hopped on his bike and rode through the neighborhood until his legs got tired.

"That was my journey to start riding," he said. "The bike for me was freedom."

The more he exercised, the less insulin he needed, and the easier it was to manage the disease.

"The bike gave me the discipline and motivation I needed to control my diabetes," he added.

The first sporting goal of the organization was to have a team of athletes compete in the Race Across America, a 3,000-mile bike trek through 12 states.

"We lost the race by three minutes," Southerland said. "So we came back the next year a little smarter in how we manage diabetes, a little more experienced in the race, and we set a world record of 5 days, 15 hours and 43 minutes."

To ensure safety, the organization provides a medical team to support riders during a race. Cyclists undergo a stringent testing regime in the three hours leading up to a race. They also use continuous glucose monitoring, which will sound an alarm if their levels get too high or too low.

In 2008, Southerland created a professional team of diabetic cyclists.

"I was supposed to be dead when we started Team Type 1 as a professional cycling team," he said.

But he was far from it. Southerland competed as a professional cyclist for two years until some injuries took him out of the sport.

Now 35, Southerland's goal is to field the first all-diabetic team in the Tour de France by 2021.

"I believe sport can be the unifying point for people with diabetes," he said.

Southerland's other passion is helping diabetic kids in Rwanda get much-needed medical supplies.

"I nearly put our company out of business in 2010 ... because I bought 400 blood glucose monitors, and I took about 40,000 test strips in bike boxes to the Tour of Rwanda," he said.

"We gave them out to the kids there. Their parents were all in tears because their kids have this tool, which is gonna help them live," he added. "It ripped my heart out."

Every year since then, the organization has continued to send supplies to Rwanda.

"I want every kid with diabetes to know that they are the hero. Every person with diabetes to know that their dreams can come true."

Read this article:
Cyclist turns a death sentence into a race against diabetes - CNN

By Serena Gordon

HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, April 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Previous research has linked type 2 diabetes and memory loss. Now, new research may be closing in on some of the reasons why.

The study found that people with type 2 diabetes -- particularly those who are overweight or obese -- have thinner gray matter in several areas of the brain.

These brain regions are related to memory, executive function, movement generation and visual information processing, said the study's senior author, Dr. In Kyoon Lyoo. He's director of the Ewha University Brain Institute in Seoul, South Korea.

"Obesity leads to increased risk of type 2 diabetes, metabolic dysfunction and is also associated with brain alterations independently," Lyoo said. "We aimed to investigate whether overweight/obesity influenced brain structure and cognitive function in individuals with early stage of type 2 diabetes."

The study included: 50 overweight or obese people with type 2 diabetes; 50 normal-weight people with type 2 diabetes, and 50 normal-weight people without diabetes.

The Korean study volunteers were between 30 and 60 years old. Those with diabetes had it for five years or less, and they were attempting lifestyle modifications and/or taking oral medication to lower blood sugar levels. No one was taking insulin.

The normal-weight group with type 2 diabetes had slightly better blood sugar control -- a hemoglobin A1C level of 7 percent. The overweight folks with type 2 diabetes had hemoglobin A1C levels of 7.3 percent.

Hemoglobin A1C is a two- to three- month estimate of average blood sugar levels. The American Diabetes Association generally recommends an A1C of 7 percent or less.

All study participants underwent MRI brain scans and tests to measure memory and thinking skills.

"Cortical thickness was decreased in several regions of the diabetic brains. Further thinning of the temporal lobes found in overweight/obese individuals with type 2 diabetes suggests that these regions are specifically vulnerable to combined effects of obesity and type 2 diabetes," Lyoo said.

He said this study alone cannot tease out whether the effect is from excess weight or diabetes or both. But the study did find that the longer someone had diabetes, the more likely they were to have brain changes.

Lyoo said factors such as insulin resistance, inflammation and poor blood sugar management might bring about the changes.

Memory and thinking skills were decreased in people with diabetes -- regardless of weight -- compared to the normal-weight people without type 2 diabetes, the study found.

Because the study only included an Asian population, Lyoo said it isn't clear if these effects would apply to other populations, such as Americans. He also said it isn't known if these effects occur in people with type 1 diabetes, the less common form of diabetes.

Dr. Sami Saba is an attending physician in neuromuscular medicine and electromyography at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

"The regions most affected were the temporal lobes, which are also most prominently affected in people with Alzheimer's," he said of the research.

"While this was not proven on this study, it does suggest that those with diabetes who are also overweight are at higher risk for developing Alzheimer's-type cognitive impairment than those with diabetes who are not overweight," Saba said.

But, he also noted that a major limitation of this study was the lack of overweight/obese people without diabetes to serve as a comparison group.

The take-home message, said Saba, is that weight control is an "important factor in preserving brain health in these patients." He said it's one more reason to work to prevent weight gain.

Lyoo said good blood-sugar management would probably help slow down or prevent these diabetes- or obesity-related brain changes.

Dr. William Cefalu is the chief scientific, medical and mission officer for the American Diabetes Association.

"The presence of overweight and obesity has been shown in other studies to be associated with early structural changes in the brain, and may contribute to cognitive issues," he said.

But, he said that diabetes may also play a role. Both Lyoo and Cefalu said that more research is needed to figure out which factor is at the root of these changes.

The study was released April 27 in the journal Diabetologia.

WebMD News from HealthDay

SOURCES: In Kyoon Lyoo, M.D., Ph.D., director, Ewha University Brain Institute, Seoul, South Korea; Sami Saba, M.D., attending physician in neuromuscular medicine and electromyography, department of neurology, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City; William Cefalu, M.D., chief scientific, medical and mission officer, American Diabetes Association; April 27, 2017, Diabetologia

View original post here:
Type 2 Diabetes May Be Bad for Brain Health - WebMD

By Walter Villa | Apr 27, 2017 Sepcial to espnW

Courtesy the Reese family

Senior night was emotional for Cate, left, and Ali Reese, not to mention all the friends and family in the stands.

When Cate Reese was 2 years old, she scampered on tiny legs from the front door of the family townhouse to the back. Then she did it again. And again. And again.

Fifteen years later, the 6-foot-3 junior forward for Cypress Woods (Cypress, Texas) and the No. 14 prospect in the espnW HoopGurlz Super 60 for 2018 class is still in constant motion. Reese beats opponents from rim to rim. She fidgets in the huddle. She chews gum incessantly. Movement every second.

"It's crazy how much gum I buy," said her mom, Cheryl. "I buy 10 packs at a time, and she blows through it."

Reese has been a starter since her freshman year, when she helped lead Cypress Woods to its only state title. She averaged 22.3 points and 13.2 rebounds this past season, making first-team all-state.

Not even the life-altering news she got a year ago has been able to stop her.

On April 4, 2016, Reese was told she had Type 1 diabetes, a diagnosis that stunned her even though her older sister, Ali, has dealt with the same disease for the past eight years. Cate had hoped to avoid that fate.

"Initially, it was devastating for Cate," Cypress Woods coach Virginia Flores said. "I pulled her into my office and asked her what was getting to her the most about her situation. ... To her, everything and everyone is beatable. But diabetes is not something you defeat. It's something you manage. So when she said, 'This is forever,' my heart just broke for her in that moment."

She's learned a lot about her disease and herself since that day.

"It's made me see life through a different perspective," she said. "You only get one life to live. I'm grateful I can still play. I'm still here."

Courtesy the Reese family

Basketball programs across the country are trying to land Cate Reese, right, for college. It could be that she'll stick by her sister's side.

Reese was a premature baby, and she was kept in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit for three weeks because her lungs were not developed enough at birth.

Cheryl said she never saw her daughter cry or even move.

She was brought home on a memorable Thanksgiving eve. Soon after, came the pulling, pushing, crying. And crawling. Before long, her favorite saying: "Are you going to eat that?"

She was precocious, too. At age 4, she told her parents she was no longer Catherine or Catie. She was Cate. "I guess I was pretty sassy," Reese said.

She started playing basketball at age 7, and she has grown in her game and in her stature. She is six inches taller than her sister and mother and maybe just a hair taller than Bill, her father.

Bill, by the way, wasn't much of an athlete and didn't expect Cate to be nearly this good.

"She was always tall, but she was gawky," he said. "I always used to tell her, 'You are going to be this tall [player] at the end of the bench.'"

Courtesy the Reese family

Ali Reese, left, recognized the danger signs in Cate and has helped guide her through the uncertain times caused by diabetes.

Bill Reese was spectacularly wrong.

By Cate's freshman year, she averaged 12.2 points and 8.3 rebounds on that championship team that featured five other Division I recruits. She averaged 20.8 points and 12.8 rebounds as a sophomore, the same year she joined the Texas Elite AAU team.

It was there that she impressed coach Joey Simmons.

"She's a bulldog," Simmons said. "She plays as hard as anybody I've coached. If the ball is loose, she is diving at it, jumping for it, pushing, shoving -- anything it takes. She never stops the whole game. She's a special player when it comes to being relentless."

You only get one life to live. I'm grateful I can still play. I'm still here.

Cate Reese

Simmons said Arizona, South Carolina and Texas A&M have been pushing hard to sign Reese. But Reese said she has yet to decide on favorites.

She is grateful, however, that her parents have been involved, accompanying her on unofficial visits to numerous colleges. Reese said she prefers a warm-weather school but is open to all possibilities. So far, she has visited Colorado, Washington, SMU, Texas Tech, Baylor, Texas Christian, Oklahoma State, Rice, Arizona, South Carolina, Texas A&M and George Washington, and she has scholarship offers from all those schools.

"She's a phenomenal athlete," Ali said of her sister, who is a senior on the Cypress Woods team. "She has a huge passion for the game that I don't see in other people."

Indeed, Cate's competitiveness is legendary among those who know her well.

"When I lose," Cate said, "it's not a fun car ride home."

Ali wants to study nursing but will not continue with basketball in college. Cate, who has more than 1,000 career rebounds and is less than 200 away from 2,000 points, wants to pick a school by September.

Both girls want to attend the same college, if possible. So wherever Ali goes ... Cate may follow.

Courtesy the Reese family

The one thing Cate Reese didn't want to share with her sister was diabetes.

The sisters have always been close, but the events of the last year have brought them even closer.

It was Ali who saw her sister overly thirsty last year and immediately tested Cate's blood sugar, forcing an urgent trip to the hospital and avoiding a situation that could have become dire if left unattended.

And it's Ali who has been there to answer Cate's questions, let her know what to expect and guide her in her new reality.

On the court, though, the sisters yelled at each other so much that Flores told them they would not play together if they couldn't find a way to get along.

"I get very passionate, and I yell at people," Cate said. "But I don't mean it like that -- I just get excited."

Cate is disappointed that Ali has chosen not to pursue college basketball.

"She has the skills to play at the next level," Cate said. "I love basketball so much that it's hard to believe when others don't love it as much as I do."

A couple of months ago, on senior night, tears flowed on the court as fans, friends and family watched the ceremony. And the sisters.

"Along the way," Cate said, "I've met a lot of teammates who have become like my sisters. But it's been great the past two years of high school and the past four years in AAU to play with my actual sister. It's hard to put into words how much she means to me. She's my biggest supporter and my best friend. I don't know what I would do without her."

Go here to see the original:
With a motor and a mentor, elite basketball recruit Cate Reese moves forward with diabetes - ESPN

By Libby Smith

DENVER (CBS4) The American Diabetes Association kicked off fundraising for its Tour de Cure event this week.

Tour de Cure features a family-friendly walk, a 5-K run, four bike tour routes, and, new this year, an obstacle course. The Extreme Ninja Course will have up to nine obstacles that participants will need to get through.

LINK: Tour de Cure 2017

We want to be dynamic in the field of events, said Brandi Miller, the coordinator for Tour de Cure.

CBS4s Ashton Altieri tries out the Xtreme Obstacle Course. (credit CBS)

Xtreme Obstacle Course is the company that will be providing the course for Tour de Cure, and they had a smaller version set up at Blue Moon RiNo Brewery for the kickoff event Thursday. CBS4s Ashton Altieri tried out the course. At Tour de Cure, contestants can compete individually or in teams.

LINK: Xtreme Obstacle Course

Between the new ninja-style course, the walk, the run and the bike tours, the ADA hopes to raise $1,400,000.

(credit CBS)

The money thats raised at Tour goes to our advocacy. It goes toward research. It goes towards our programs that we have here in Colorado. We have camps for kids living with diabetes, Miller explained.

(credit CBS)

Lockheed Martin has been a part of Tour de Cure for at least the 10 years Ive been doing it, said John Donovan, leader for the local Lockheed Martin team.

So John, your team was the top fundraising team nationally, tell me about your fundraising strategy? Altieri asked Donovan.

The strategy is getting a large membership and encouraging those people to go out and just get $5 or $10 from somebody. It can be coworkers, it could be family, it could be neighbors, Donovan replied.

Tour de Cure is Saturday, Sept. 92017. Now is the time to sign-up for an event, form a team, begin your training, and start fundraising.

Libby Smith is a Special Projects Producer at CBS4. If you have a story youd like to tell CBS4 about, call 303-863-TIPS (8477) or visit the News Tips section.

Read the original post:
Diabetes Fundraiser Adds Extreme Ninja Course - CBS Local