StemCell Therapy

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*New 18 June 2012*: The EU ban on embryonic stem cell patents is legally flawed, argues a paper and public lecture by Aurora Plomer, Chair of Law and Bioethics at the University of Sheffield, UK. Find out more.

June 2011: Lately there have been several cases on the patentability of inventions related to human embryonic stem cells (hESC) in Europe. Now the first case has reached the European Court of Justice (ECJ), the highest European court, whose decision will be binding for all EU member states.

The judgement of the ECJ is still outstanding. However, the Advocate General Yves Bot offered his opinion on the case, which points towards a complete prohibition of patents for inventions relating to hESC. While the court does not have to follow the opinion, it does so in a majority of the cases.

The case history The current case arose in Germany from a patent of belonging to Prof. Oliver Brstle. The patent covers neural progenitor cells (precursors of nerve cells), neuronal cells derived from these progenitors, and a method for producing them from hESC lines. hESC lines are typically derived from surplus fertilized egg cells, which are produced in large numbers during in vitro fertilization (IVF) and otherwise discarded. Once established, hESC lines can be permanently maintained and proliferated and thus serve as a source of tissue-specific cells, such as neuronal precursors.

Brstles patent was originally filed in 1997 and granted by the German Patent Office in 1999. In 2004 Greenpeace filed a nullity action against the patent based on reasons of ordre public and morality. A decision of the German Federal Patent Court in 2006 rendered the patent partially invalid, eliminating all claims relating to cells derived from hESC lines. Following Brstles appeal against this decision, the German Federal Court of Justice referred the dispute to the ECJ, arguing that its decision in the case depends on the interpretation of Article 6 of the European Biopatent Directive (Art. 6).

The legal situation The EU Biopatent Directive (Directive on the Legal Protection of Biotechnological Inventions 98/44/EC) was meant to assure harmonized patent protection for biotechnological inventions in the EU. The directive also contains exemptions from patentability including Art. 6(1), which states that patents contrary to ordre public and morality are excluded from patentability. To provide national courts and patent offices with guidance on how to interpret this clause, an illustrative list of examples was incorporated in Art. 6(2) of the Biopatent Directive.

One of these examples has now proven to be key for the patentability of stem-cell-based inventions: Art. 6 (2) (c), which states that in particular uses of human embryos for industrial or commercial purposes shall be excluded from patentability. However, there is no definition of any of the terms used in this provision found within the Directive, neither of the term human embryo nor of what is to be understood by uses for industrial or commercial purposes.

Consequently and contrary to the aim of the European legislator to achieve harmonisation, there are significant differences in how the Directive has been implemented in the EU member states, and even more variation in how the corresponding provisions of national patent law have been applied in the member states. As a result, some countries have adopted a rather liberal approach to patenting. For example, in the UK about 100 patents on hESC-based inventions had already been granted by 2009 [1]. Others, such as Germany at least with the first instance ruling of the German Federal Patent Court - have so far opted for a much more restrictive interpretation of the Directive.

The opinion of the Advocate General Yves Bot European Court of Justice: Image by SsolbergjIn his opinion the Advocate General made a suggestion on how Art. 6 (2) (c) of the Biopatent Directive and its terms should be understood. Bot rightly argues that the concept of a human embryo must be subject to a common understanding in all EU member states. Furthermore, he states clearly that hESC are not included in that concept, because they do not in themselves have the capacity to develop into a human being. Nevertheless, he surprisingly took a restrictive approach on patenting of hESC-based inventions: even inventions based on legally established hESC lines are excluded from patentability due to the fact that hESC lines are originally derived from fertilized human eggs.

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Stem cell patents: legal aspects | Europe's stem cell hub ...

While these scenarios may once have seemed like futuristic science fiction, advances in stem cell technology are bringing them closer to possibilities, if not to probabilities. In fact, desperate patients across the globe are traveling to countries such as China, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic to participate in unproven stem cell therapies."

Recently, stem cell science has made rapid progress, revealing entirely new scientific opportunities that will enable the development of future treatments for a wide variety of medical conditions. Many of these experimental or medical breakthroughs will have an unprecedented societal impact. It is imperative to carefully evaluate these developments from diverse viewpoints including ethical, legal, religious, economic, cultural, political, as well as scientific perspectives. Together, these disciplines will shape both public policy and personal health decisions.

We believe that cell biologists, clinicians, and bio- and neuro-ethicists can work together to celebrate advances, while simultaneously helping to inform and protect patients and the broader community concerning what might be considered inappropriate or premature applications of novel stem cell technologies. This will not be an easy process. We must engage in ongoing reasoned and informed discourse to ensure safe and appropriate innovations and applications of this new technology.

These modules were initially designed to accompany the Columbia University classroom course: "Stem Cells: Biology, Ethics, and Applications". We have now adapted the course to supplement any university course that focuses on stem cell research and potential medical and scientific applications. Undergraduate and graduate students as well as all others who have an interest in stem cell science, bioethical and social implications, and regulatory issues should find this course informative.

Within the eight Modules and Supplements of the online course, the reader will find:

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Emerging stem cell science reflects a dynamic and often opposing balance between rapidly progressing and diverse scientific discoveries, and a host of bioethical and societal concerns. Important issues are raised at every level and stage of research, from manipulating a somatic cell into a stem cell, to enrolling a patient in a stem cell clinical trial, to educating legislators and the public. We hope readers of this on-line course will have their curiosity stimulated by the myriad of important and complex ideas raised, and carefully consider the ethical dilemmas generated by stem cell science.

"Stem Cells: Biology, Bioethics, and Applications" is supported by a grant from the New York State STEM Cell Initiative (NYSTEM). It provides information on a range of important and complex topics about stem cell science. We believe students, professors, health care professionals, and the public alike will find the online multidisciplinary course on the current and future research of stem cell technologies and its applications informative and stimulating. The content of this online course was written and prepared by John D. Loike, Ph.D., Director of Special Programs, Center for Bioethics, Columbia University and Ruth L. Fischbach, Ph.D. M.P.E., Director, Center for Bioethics, Columbia University with special assistance from Janet Mindes, Ph.D., Consultant, Center for Bioethics, Columbia University.

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What is the immune system?

We are surrounded by millions of bacteria, viruses and other microbes (germs) that have the potential to enter our bodies and cause harm. The immune system is the body's defence against pathogens (disease-causing microbes). The immune system is made up of non-specialised defences such as skin and the acidic juice produced by your stomach. But it also has some highly specialised defences which give you immunity against (resistance to) particular pathogens. These defences are special white blood cells called lymphocytes. Other types of white blood cells play an important part in defending your body against infection.

The lymphatic system is also part of the immune system. The lymphatic system is made up of a network of vessels (tubes) which carry fluid called lymph. It contains specialised lymph tissue and all of the structures dedicated to the production of lymphocytes.

The immune system is generally divided into two parts. The first part is the defences you are born with. These form what are known as the innate system.

The second part of your immune system, known as immunity, develops as you grow. Your immunity gives you protection against specific pathogens. Not only can this system recognise particular pathogens, it also has a memory of this. This means that if you encounter a certain pathogen twice, your immune system recognises it the second time around. This usually means your body responds quicker to fight off the infection.

The innate system is found in many different places around the body. First line of defence is your skin. Skin forms a waterproof barrier that prevents pathogens from entering the body. Your body cavities, such as the nose and mouth, are lined with mucous membranes. Mucous membranes produce sticky mucus which can trap bacteria and other pathogens. Other fluids produced by the body help to protect your internal layers from invasion by pathogens. Gastric juice produced by the stomach has high acidity which helps to kill off many of the bacteria in food. Saliva washes pathogens off your teeth and helps to reduce the amount of bacteria and other pathogens in your mouth.

If bacteria or other pathogens manage to get through these initial defences, they encounter a second line of defence. Most of these defences are present in your blood, either as specialised white blood cells or as chemicals released by your cells and tissues.

The second part of your immune system, the part that gives you immunity, involves the activation of lymphocytes. This will be described later on. Lymphocytes are found in your blood and also in specialised lymph tissue such as lymph nodes, the spleen and the thymus.

The first line of defence is your body's skin and mucous membranes, as mentioned above.

If pathogens manage to get through these barriers, they encounter special white blood cells present in your bloodstream. There are different types of white cells, called neutrophils (polymorphs), lymphocytes, eosinophils, monocytes, and basophils.

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The Immune System | Health | Patient.co.uk

Our Technology

The Cell Surgical Network uses adipose derived stem cells for deployment & clinical research. Early stem cell research has traditionally been associated with the controversial use of embryonic stem cells. The new focus is on non-embryonic adult mesenchymal stem cells which are found in a persons own blood, bone marrow, and fat. Most stem cell treatment centers in the world are currently using stem cells derived from bone marrow.

A recent technological breakthrough enables us to now use adipose (fat) derived stem cells. Autologous stem cells from a persons own fat are easy to harvest safely under local anesthesia and are abundant in quantities up to 2500 times those seen in bone marrow.

Clinical success and favorable outcomes appear to be related directly to the quantity of stem cells deployed. Once these adipose derived stem cells are administered back in to the patient, they have the potential to repair human tissue by forming new cells of mesenchymal origin, such as cartilage, bone, ligaments, tendons, nerve, fat, muscle, blood vessels, and certain internal organs. Stem cells ability to form cartilage and bone makes them potentially highly effective in the treatment of degenerative orthopedic conditions. Their ability to form new blood vessels and smooth muscle makes them potentially very useful in the treatment of peyronies disease and impotence. Stem cells are used extensively in Europe and Asia to treat these conditions.

We have anecdotal and experimental evidence that stem cell therapy is effective in healing and regeneration. Stem cells seek out damaged tissues in order to repair the body naturally. The literature and internet is full of successful testimonials but we are still awaiting definitive studies demonstrating efficacy of stem cell therapy. Such data may take five or ten years to accumulate. In an effort to provide relief for patients suffering from certain degenerative diseases that have been resistant to common modalities of treatment, we are initiating pilot studies as experimental tests of treatment effectiveness with very high numbers of adipose derived stem cells obtained from fat. Adipose fat is an abundant and reliable source of stem cells.

The Cell Surgical Networks cell harvesting and isolation techniques are based on technology from Korea. This new technological breakthrough allows patients to safely receive their own autologous stem cells in extremely large quantities. Our treatments and research are patient funded and we have endeavored successfully to make it affordable. All of our sterile procedures are non-invasive and done under local anesthesia. Patients who are looking for non-surgical alternatives to their degenerative disorders can participate in our trials by filling out our treatment application to determine if they are candidates. The Cell Surgical Network is proud to be state of the art in the new field of Regenerative Medicine. RETURN TO TOP

We are currently in the process of setting up FDA approved protocols for stem cell banking in collaboration with a reputable cryo-technology company. This enables a person to receive autologous stem cells at any time in the future without having to undergo liposuction which may be inconvenient or contraindicated. Having your own stem cells available for medical immediate use is a valuable medical asset.

Provisions are nearly in place for this option and storage of your own stem cells obtained by liposuction at CSN or from fat obtained from cosmetic procedures performed elsewhere should be possible in the near future. RETURN TO TOP

Adult (NonEmbryonic) Mesenchymal Stem Cells are undifferentiated cells that have the ability to replace dying cells and regenerate damaged tissue. These special cells seek out areas of injury, disease and destruction where they are capable of regenerating healthy cells and enabling a persons natural healing processes to be accelerated. As we gain a deeper understanding of their medical function and apply this knowledge, we are realizing their enormous therapeutic potential to help the body heal itself. Adult stem cells have been used for a variety of medical treatments to repair and regenerate acute and chronicially damaged tissues in humans and animals. The use of stem cells is not FDA approved for the treatment of any specific disease in the United States at this time and their use is therefore investigational. Many reputable international centers have been using stem cell therapy to treat various chronic degenerative conditions as diverse as severe neurologic diseases, renal failure, erectile dysfunction, degenerative orthopedic problems, and even cardiac and pulmonary diseases to name a few. Adult stem cells appear to be particularly effective at repairing cartilage in degenerated joints. RETURN TO TOP

Regenerative Medicine is the process of creating living, functional tissues to repair or replace tissue or organ function lost due to damage, or congenital defects. This field holds the promise of regenerating damaged tissues and organs in the body by stimulating previously irreparable organs to heal themselves. (Wikipedia) RETURN TO TOP

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Faqs, What Are Stem Cells, What Is Stem Cell Research

re: "wish there is some way to emulate the vision under different types of settings"

If you do get the Crystalens set for distance and it doesn't provide enough near vision, then you can try some of the options I mentioned above like multifocal contacts, or a corneal inlay (which can be taken out if it doesn't work). Coincidentally,the Kamra inlay was just approved in the US by the FDA yesterday (I see you are in the US, unlike the prior poster). Itsbeen available elsewhere for quite a while. The Raindrop inlayis still in the approval process, but is available elsewhere. I will note that both of those have evolved over time, so if you look for studies the recent ones may be better due to improvements.

How much near vision you get will depend on your eyes, a tiny fraction of people have enough natural depth of focus in their eyes that even with a monofocal they are able to read some without correction, but it is best to plan based on average results.

If you are concerned about getting enough intermediate or near vision if the lens doesn't accommodate much,and don't mind wearing correction for driving, then you could consider getting the Crystalens set for some intermediate distance, e.g.if you set yourself for 0.5D myopia that would be focused at around 2 meters, so that even if it doesn't accommodate, that would give you usable vision for around the household and at computer distance. Setting it a bit closer would ensure even better computer distance and perhaps some reading, e.g. 1D is focused at 1 meter, 1.5D = 66.7 meters = 26.2 inches which is around computer monitor range for many (laptops might be a bit less).This page explains what diopters translate to what focal distance:

https://www.slackbooks.com/excerpts/67956_3.pdf

Studies on lensestry to evaluate the average visual acuity at different distances (with the distances measured in diopters, though sometimes the distance in cm added) which lets you compare lenses. The graphs are called defocus curves, and are explained in this article:

http://crstoday.com/2010/11/feature-story-get-to-know-the-defocus-curve/

For example if you look on this site, and click on the "clinical" tab:

http://www.tecnisiol.com/eu/tecnis-symfony-iol.htm

You will see a defocus curve for the Symfony lens, but the graph also shows the curve for a Tecnis monofocal to see what those are like(though not all monofocals are equal, I don't know how well the Crystalens does as a monofocal if it doesn't accommodate, I hadn't searched for that).

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How is your vision after Cataract Surgery? - Eye Care ...

Color vision is the ability of an organism or machine to distinguish objects based on the wavelengths (or frequencies) of the light they reflect, emit, or transmit. Colors can be measured and quantified in various ways; indeed, a person's perception of colors is a subjective process whereby the brain responds to the stimuli that are produced when incoming light reacts with the several types of cone cells in the eye. In essence, different people see the same illuminated object or light source in different ways.

Isaac Newton discovered that white light splits into its component colors when passed through a dispersive prism. Newton also found that he could recombine these colors by passing them through a different prism to make white light.

The characteristic colors are, from long to short wavelengths (and, correspondingly, from low to high frequency), red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and violet. Sufficient differences in wavelength cause a difference in the perceived hue; the just-noticeable difference in wavelength varies from about 1nm in the blue-green and yellow wavelengths, to 10nm and more in the longer red and shorter blue wavelengths. Although the human eye can distinguish up to a few hundred hues, when those pure spectral colors are mixed together or diluted with white light, the number of distinguishable chromaticities can be quite high.[ambiguous]

In very low light levels, vision is scotopic: light is detected by rod cells of the retina. Rods are maximally sensitive to wavelengths near 500nm, and play little, if any, role in color vision. In brighter light, such as daylight, vision is photopic: light is detected by cone cells which are responsible for color vision. Cones are sensitive to a range of wavelengths, but are most sensitive to wavelengths near 555nm. Between these regions, mesopic vision comes into play and both rods and cones provide signals to the retinal ganglion cells. The shift in color perception from dim light to daylight gives rise to differences known as the Purkinje effect.

The perception of "white" is formed by the entire spectrum of visible light, or by mixing colors of just a few wavelengths in animals with few types of color receptors. In humans, white light can be perceived by combining wavelengths such as red, green, and blue, or just a pair of complementary colors such as blue and yellow.[1]

Perception of color begins with specialized retinal cells containing pigments with different spectral sensitivities, known as cone cells. In humans, there are three types of cones sensitive to three different spectra, resulting in trichromatic color vision.

Each individual cone contains pigments composed of opsin apoprotein, which is covalently linked to either 11-cis-hydroretinal or more rarely 11-cis-dehydroretinal.[2]

The cones are conventionally labeled according to the ordering of the wavelengths of the peaks of their spectral sensitivities: short (S), medium (M), and long (L) cone types. These three types do not correspond well to particular colors as we know them. Rather, the perception of color is achieved by a complex process that starts with the differential output of these cells in the retina and it will be finalized in the visual cortex and associative areas of the brain.

For example, while the L cones have been referred to simply as red receptors, microspectrophotometry has shown that their peak sensitivity is in the greenish-yellow region of the spectrum. Similarly, the S- and M-cones do not directly correspond to blue and green, although they are often described as such. The RGB color model, therefore, is a convenient means for representing color, but is not directly based on the types of cones in the human eye.

The peak response of human cone cells varies, even among individuals with so-called normal color vision;[3] in some non-human species this polymorphic variation is even greater, and it may well be adaptive.[4]

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Color vision - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Introduction: What are stem cells, and why are they important? What are the unique properties of all stem cells? What are embryonic stem cells? What are adult stem cells? What are the similarities and differences between embryonic and adult stem cells? What are induced pluripotent stem cells? What are the potential uses of human stem cells and the obstacles that must be overcome before these potential uses will be realized? Where can I get more information? VII. What are the potential uses of human stem cells and the obstacles that must be overcome before these potential uses will be realized?

There are many ways in which human stem cells can be used in research and the clinic. Studies of human embryonic stem cells will yield information about the complex events that occur during human development. A primary goal of this work is to identify how undifferentiated stem cells become the differentiated cells that form the tissues and organs. Scientists know that turning genes on and off is central to this process. Some of the most serious medical conditions, such as cancer and birth defects, are due to abnormal cell division and differentiation. A more complete understanding of the genetic and molecular controls of these processes may yield information about how such diseases arise and suggest new strategies for therapy. Predictably controlling cell proliferation and differentiation requires additional basic research on the molecular and genetic signals that regulate cell division and specialization. While recent developments with iPS cells suggest some of the specific factors that may be involved, techniques must be devised to introduce these factors safely into the cells and control the processes that are induced by these factors.

Human stem cells are currently being used to test new drugs. New medications are tested for safety on differentiated cells generated from human pluripotent cell lines. Other kinds of cell lines have a long history of being used in this way. Cancer cell lines, for example, are used to screen potential anti-tumor drugs. The availability of pluripotent stem cells would allow drug testing in a wider range of cell types. However, to screen drugs effectively, the conditions must be identical when comparing different drugs. Therefore, scientists must be able to precisely control the differentiation of stem cells into the specific cell type on which drugs will be tested. For some cell types and tissues, current knowledge of the signals controlling differentiation falls short of being able to mimic these conditions precisely to generate pure populations of differentiated cells for each drug being tested.

Perhaps the most important potential application of human stem cells is the generation of cells and tissues that could be used for cell-based therapies. Today, donated organs and tissues are often used to replace ailing or destroyed tissue, but the need for transplantable tissues and organs far outweighs the available supply. Stem cells, directed to differentiate into specific cell types, offer the possibility of a renewable source of replacement cells and tissues to treat diseases including maculardegeneration, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Figure 3. Strategies to repair heart muscle with adult stem cells. Click here for larger image.

2008 Terese Winslow

For example, it may become possible to generate healthy heart muscle cells in the laboratory and then transplant those cells into patients with chronic heart disease. Preliminary research in mice and other animals indicates that bone marrow stromal cells, transplanted into a damaged heart, can have beneficial effects. Whether these cells can generate heart muscle cells or stimulate the growth of new blood vessels that repopulate the heart tissue, or help via some other mechanism is actively under investigation. For example, injected cells may accomplish repair by secreting growth factors, rather than actually incorporating into the heart. Promising results from animal studies have served as the basis for a small number of exploratory studies in humans (for discussion, see call-out box, "Can Stem Cells Mend a Broken Heart?"). Other recent studies in cell culture systems indicate that it may be possible to direct the differentiation of embryonic stem cells or adult bone marrow cells into heart muscle cells (Figure 3).

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, and congestive heart failure, has ranked as the number one cause of death in the United States every year since 1900 except 1918, when the nation struggled with an influenza epidemic. Nearly 2,600 Americans die of CVD each day, roughly one person every 34 seconds. Given the aging of the population and the relatively dramatic recent increases in the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, CVD will be a significant health concern well into the 21st century.

Cardiovascular disease can deprive heart tissue of oxygen, thereby killing cardiac muscle cells (cardiomyocytes). This loss triggers a cascade of detrimental events, including formation of scar tissue, an overload of blood flow and pressure capacity, the overstretching of viable cardiac cells attempting to sustain cardiac output, leading to heart failure, and eventual death. Restoring damaged heart muscle tissue, through repair or regeneration, is therefore a potentially new strategy to treat heart failure.

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What are the potential uses of human stem cells and the ...

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) is the largest trade organization to serve and represent the biotechnology industry in the United States and around the world.[1][2][3]

Its members include companies that make Pharmaceutical drugs, biofuels, industrial enzymes, and genetically modified crops.[4] It was founded 1993 in Washington, D.C. and Carl B. Feldbaum was the president from BIO's founding until he retired in 2004,[5] and was succeeded by James C. Greenwood. As of 2013, it represents 1,000 biotech companies in all 50 U.S. states, which employ 1.61 million Americans and support an additional 3.4 million jobs.[6]

Rachel King, president and chief executive of GlycoMimetics, is board chairwoman; the first woman to hold this position.[7][8] James Greenwood is President and CEO.[9]

BIO holds a trade meeting each year in the United States, which are essential for the business development and partnering activities that are required in the biotechnology sector, in which it is expensive to develop products, timelines to develop products are long, and regulatory risks are high.[10] In 2013 the conference was held in Chicago and was attended by 13,594 delegates from 47 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and 62 countries.[11][12]

It also holds regional partnering meetings, for example in China,[13]India,[14] and Europe.[15]

In 2013 it spent $1.98 million on lobbying in the United States.[16] Issues included the amending the Internal Revenue Code to provide an exception from the passive loss rules for investments in high-technology research small business pass-through entities, to include vaccines against seasonal influenza within the definition of taxable vaccines, and to extend, expand, and improve the qualifying therapeutic discovery project program that first became law in 2010.[17][18]

Example of its public lobbying efforts, include support for development of biofuels such as those produced from algae,[19]genetically modified crops,[20] strong intellectual property rights,[21] and for a more efficient and predictable regulatory process for new food and drug products.[22]

In June 2013 it partnered with the Coalition of Small Business Innovators to lobby the U.S. government to modernize the U.S. tax code "to recognize and promote small business innovation as fundamental to the long-term growth of the U.S. economy".[6][23]

It is a member of The Alliance to Feed the Future, an umbrella network, the mission of which is to "raise awareness and improve understanding of the benefits & necessity of modern food production and technology in order to meet global demand".[24][25]

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Biotechnology Industry Organization - Wikipedia, the free ...

Our Clinic Our clinic has been certified by the COFEPRIS, which is Mexico's regulatory health organization and performs the same functions as the FDA in the United States.

We have received countless testimonials from very satisfied patients, and if you're traveling to Mexico from the U.S. to receive treatments, we will provide you with a personal assistant who will translate from Spanish to English, give you medical passes that you can use to cross the border swiftly, transport you to and from the airport and help you find our office and your hotel in Tijuana.

http://progencell.com. ProgenCell offers an alternative stem cell treatment that is safe and effective. ProgenCell is able to use adult stem cells obtained from your own bone marrow and transfer the stem cells to a different part of your body through an IV (similar to blood transfusion). This stem cell therapy treatment can help relieve pain and even cure diseases. Learn how stem cells can help you today.

Get Started

If you would like to schedule an appointment, you can fill out the form on our website, and our representatives will contact you within 24 hours.

Additionally, if you have any questions or need immediate assistance, call our office at 1-888-443-6235. At ProgenCell we specialize in the treatment of different conditions including the following:

Stem Cell Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis This autoimmune disease causes inflammation in the body's tissues and organs. The condition can be present for more than five years before the patient recognizes any symptoms, and usually, rheumatoid arthritis affects the joints first. Stem cell therapy may help this condition. Over time, this type of arthritis can disfigure the joints and prevent them from functioning properly.

By injecting stem cells into areas of the body that have been damaged by the condition, the healthy cells will regenerate the old, weakened tissues, and as the new cells divide, their positive effects will increase.

Stem Cell Therapy for Systemic Lupus The immune system of an individual with systemic lupus will attack the person's own cells, and usually, the disease primarily affects the heart, the lungs and the kidneys.

Physicians treat the condition by prescribing medications that suppress the activity of the immune system, such as corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide. Stem cell therapy may help this condition.

Read more here:
Stem Cell Therapy in Mexico. You Can Improve Your Life ...

Chronic kidney disease(CKD), also known as chronic renal disease, is a progressive loss in renal function over a period of months or years. The symptoms of worsening kidney function are unspecific, and might include feeling generally unwell and experiencing a reduced appetite. Often, chronic kidney disease is diagnosed as a result of screening of people known to be at risk of kidney problems, such as those with high blood pressure or diabetes and those with a blood relative with chronic kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease may also be identified when it leads to one of its recognized complications, such as cardiovascular disease, anemia or pericarditis.

Chronic kidney disease is identified by a blood test for creatinine. Higher levels of creatinine indicate a falling glomerular filtration rate and as a result a decreased capability of the kidneys to excrete waste products. Creatinine levels may be normal in the early stages of CKD, and the condition is discovered if urinalysis (testing of a urine sample) shows that the kidney is allowing the loss of protein or red blood cells into the urine.

To fully investigate the underlying cause of kidney damage, various forms of medical imaging, blood tests and often renal biopsy (removing a small sample of kidney tissue) are employed to find out if there is a reversible cause for the kidney malfunction.

Recent professional guidelines classify the severity of chronic kidney disease in five stages, with stage 1 being the mildest and usually causing few symptoms and stage 5 being a severe illness with poor life expectancy if untreated. Stage 5 CKD is also called established chronic kidney disease and is synonymous with the now outdated terms end-stage renal disease (ESRD), chronic kidney failure (CKF) or chronic renal failure (CRF).

There was no specific treatment unequivocally shown to slow the worsening of chronic kidney disease, until recently. If there is an underlying cause to CKD, such as vasculitis, this may be treated directly with treatments aimed to slow the damage. In more advanced stages, treatments may be required for anemia and bone disease. Severe CKD requires one of the forms of renal replacement therapy; this may be a form of dialysis, but ideally constitutes a kidney transplant or potentially stem cell therapy.

CKD is initially without specific symptoms and can only be detected as an increase in serum creatinine or protein in the urine. As the kidney function decreases:

People with chronic kidney disease suffer from accelerated atherosclerosis and are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than the general population.

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Stem Cell Kidney Diseases - World Stem Cells, LLC

Hi, I am Dr. Shan. I will be looking into your query below and will be guiding you through the process.In this step, you can edit your query and in the next one, if needed, you can talk with our free online service directly.

40% kidney function is so poor that kidneys are unable to do the normal work, and patients are prone to suffer numerous symptoms which can severely affect patients life quality. Well then, what is the prognosis for someone with 40% kidney f...

According to GFR (glomerular filtration rate), 40% kidney function means that you are in the Stage 3 Chronic Kidney Disease which is characterized with decline of renal function. When diagnosed with 40% renal function, many patients are con...

Creatinine 6.8 is extremely high for FSGS patients. Many patients do not know the causes of high creatinine level, and do not know the treatment. Then, is there any treatment to deal with the condition? Causes of high creatinine level in FS...

ESRD (end-stage renal disease) is the last stage of kidney disease and it cant be reversed. When diagnosed with Purpura Nephritis and when it progresses to this stage, what should you do for yourself? Aside from dialysis, is there any avail...

For diabetes, our hospital will use the stem cells treatment to treat. Stem cells transplant is a new treatment in treating diabetes. With the development of medical science and the improvement of medical device, stem cells transplant has b...

Can a patient with 9% kidney function benefit from Stem Cell Therapy? This is a concerned issue by a large amount of kidney disease patients. Well then, what is the answer? Lets have a look at this passage. A person with 9% kidney function...

Prognosis is important to control the illness condition and enhance life quality for kidney failure patients. Stage 3 kidney failure is one of important periods to improve prognosis. Well then, how to make a good prognosis for them? Kidney...

Recently, I browsed the Internet looking for available treatment for Kidney Failure, and I occasionally found that your Stem Cell Therapy. I am interested in this therapy, and could you please tell me that how it treats this kidney disease?...

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Stem Cell Therapy - CKD Treatment

Antibiotic resistance is now a bigger crisis than the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s, a landmark report recently warned. The spread of deadly superbugs that evade even the most powerful antibiotics is happening across the world, United Nations officials have confirmed. The effects will be devastating meaning a simple scratch or urinary tract infection could kill.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a scourge that is threatening to get ugly because TB is usually cured by taking antibiotics for six to nine months. However, if that treatment is interrupted or the dose is cut down, the stubborn bacteria battle back and mutate into a tougher strain that can no longer be killed by drugs. Such strains are scaring the heck out of the medical community for good reason. Tuberculosis is highly contagious, holding the potential to wipe out wide swaths of humanity in the case of an epidemic of these drug resistant strains.

Australias first victim of a killer strain of drug-resistant tuberculosis died amid warnings of a looming health epidemic on Queenslands doorstep. Medical experts are seriously concerned about the handling of the TB epidemic in Papua New Guinea after Catherina Abraham died of an incurable form of the illness, known as XDR-TB (extensively drug resistant TB) in Cairns Base Hospital. Of course we always get big scares from the mainstream medical press, who are big cheerleaders of big pharmaceutical companies as our governmental medical officials.

Now medical experts are warning that drug resistant tuberculosis is such a problem in the Asia Pacific region that it could overwhelm health systems.

A drug-resistant TB case did touch off a scare in U.S. We dont know too much about a Nepalese man whos in medical isolation in Texas while being treated for extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis, or XDR-TB, the most difficult-to-treat kind.

XDR-TB is resistant not only to isoniazid and rifampin but also a class of drugs called fluoroquinolones and one or more potent injectable antibiotics. This is one of the nastiest of all antibiotics, which easily destroys peoples lives by itself.

TB germs become drug-resistant when patients fail to complete a course of treatment. When a partly-resistant strain is treated with the wrong drugs, it can become extensively resistant. There are about 60,000 people with XDR-TB strains like the Nepalese man whos in isolation. That means there are other people with XDR-TB traveling the world at any given time.

China and India Will Spread TB around the World

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Nano Medicine - Treatments for Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria

The human eye is an organ that reacts to light and has several purposes. As a sense organ, the mammalian eye allows vision. Rod and cone cells in the retina allow conscious light perception and vision including color differentiation and the perception of depth. The human eye can distinguish about 10 million colors.[1]

Similar to the eyes of other mammals, the human eye's non-image-forming photosensitive ganglion cells in the retina receive light signals which affect adjustment of the size of the pupil, regulation and suppression of the hormone melatonin and entrainment of the body clock.[2]

The eye is not shaped like a perfect sphere, rather it is a fused two-piece unit. The smaller frontal unit, more curved, called the cornea is linked to the larger unit called the sclera. The corneal segment is typically about 8mm (0.3in) in radius. The sclerotic chamber constitutes the remaining five-sixths; its radius is typically about 12mm. The cornea and sclera are connected by a ring called the limbus. The iris the color of the eye and its black center, the pupil, are seen instead of the cornea due to the cornea's transparency. To see inside the eye, an ophthalmoscope is needed, since light is not reflected out.

The dimensions differ among adults by only one or two millimeters; it is remarkably consistent across different ethnicities. The vertical measure, generally less than the horizontal distance, is about 24mm among adults, at birth about 1617 millimeters (about 0.65inch). The eyeball grows rapidly, increasing to 22.523mm (approx. 0.89 in) by three years of age. By age 13, the eye attains its full size. The typical adult eye has an anterior to posterior diameter of 24 millimeters, a volume of six cubic centimeters (0.4 cu. in.),[3] and a mass of 7.5 grams (weight of 0.25 oz.).[citation needed]

The eye is made up of three coats, enclosing three transparent structures. The outermost layer, known as the fibrous tunic, is composed of the cornea and sclera. The middle layer, known as the vascular tunic or uvea, consists of the choroid, ciliary body, and iris. The innermost is the retina, which gets its circulation from the vessels of the choroid as well as the retinal vessels, which can be seen in an ophthalmoscope.

Within these coats are the aqueous humour, the vitreous body, and the flexible lens. The aqueous humour is a clear fluid that is contained in two areas: the anterior chamber between the cornea and the iris, and the posterior chamber between the iris and the lens. The lens is suspended to the ciliary body by the suspensory ligament (Zonule of Zinn), made up of fine transparent fibers. The vitreous body is a clear jelly that is much larger than the aqueous humour present behind the lens, and the rest is bordered by the sclera, zonule, and lens. They are connected via the pupil.[4]

The approximate field of view of an individual human eye is 95 away from the nose, 75 downward, 60 toward the nose, and 60 upward, allowing humans to have an almost 180-degree forward-facing horizontal field of view.[citation needed] With eyeball rotation of about 90 (head rotation excluded, peripheral vision included), horizontal field of view is as high as 270. About 1215 temporal and 1.5 below the horizontal is the optic nerve or blind spot which is roughly 7.5 high and 5.5 wide.[5]

The retina has a static contrast ratio of around 100:1 (about 6.5 f-stops). As soon as the eye moves (saccades) it re-adjusts its exposure both chemically and geometrically by adjusting the iris which regulates the size of the pupil. Initial dark adaptation takes place in approximately four seconds of profound, uninterrupted darkness; full adaptation through adjustments in retinal chemistry (the Purkinje effect) is mostly complete in thirty minutes. The process is nonlinear and multifaceted, so an interruption by light merely starts the adaptation process over again. Full adaptation is dependent on good blood flow; thus dark adaptation may be hampered by poor circulation, and vasoconstrictors like tobacco.[citation needed]

The human eye can detect a luminance range of 1014, or one hundred trillion (100,000,000,000,000) (about 46.5 f-stops), from 106 cd/m2, or one millionth (0.000001) of a candela per square meter to 108 cd/m2 or one hundred million (100,000,000) candelas per square meter.[6][7][8] This range does not include looking at the midday sun (109 cd/m2)[9] or lightning discharge.

At the low end of the range is the absolute threshold of vision for a steady light across a wide field of view, about 106 cd/m2 (0.000001 candela per square meter).[10][11] The upper end of the range is given in terms of normal visual performance as 108 cd/m2 (100,000,000 or one hundred million candelas per square meter).[12]

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Human eye - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I just found this on the web,

Stem cells in skin care...What does it really mean?

By Jeanette Jacknin M.D.

Dr Jacknin will be speaking about Cosmaceuticals at the upcoming 17th World Congress on Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine in Orlando, Florida, April 23-25, 2009.

Stem cells have recently become a huge buzzword in the skincare world. But what does this really mean? Skincare specialists are not using embryonic stem cells; it is impossible to incorporate live materials into a skincare product. Instead, companies are creating products with specialized peptides and enzymes or plant stem cells which, when applied topically on the surface, help protect the human skin stem cells from damage and deterioration or stimulate the skin's own stem cells. National Stem Cell was one of the few companies who actually incorporated into their skin care an enzyme secreted from human embryonic stem cells, but they are in the process of switching over to use non-embryonic stem cells from which to take the beneficial enzyme.

Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. When a stem cell divides, it can remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a skin cell. There are two types of stem cells, embryonic and adult.

Embryonic stem cells are exogenous in that they are harvested from outside sources, namely, fertilized human eggs. Once harvested, these pluripotent stem cells are grown in cell cultures and manipulated to generate specific cell types so they can be used to treat injury or disease.

Unlike embryonic stem cells, adult or multipotent stem cells are endogenous. They are present within our bodies and serve to maintain and repair the tissues in which they are found. Adult stem cells are found in many organs and tissues, including the skin. In fact, human skin is the largest repository of adult stem cells in the body. Skin stem cells reside in the basal layer of the epidermis where they remain dormant until they are activated by tissue injury or disease. 1

There is controversy surrounding the use of stem cells, as some experts say that any product that claims to affect the growth of stem cells or the replication process is potentially dangerous, as it may lead to out-of-control replication or mutation. Others object to using embryonic stem cells from an ethical point of view. Some researchers believe that the use of stem cell technology for a topical, anti-aging cosmetic trivializes other, more important medical research in this field.

The skin stem cells are found near hair follicles and sweat glands and lie dormant until they "receive" signals from the body to begin the repair mode. In skincare, the use of topical products stimulates the stem cell to split into two types of cells: a new, similar stem cell and a "daughter" cell, which is able to create almost every kind of new cell in a specialized system. This means that the stem cell can receive the message to create proteins, carbohydrates and lipids to help repair fine lines, wrinkles and restore and maintain firmness and elasticity.1

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Hair Loss Forum - Stem cells in skin care products, good ...

Complementary Effects of hGH and Sermorelin in Management of the Somatopause

Human Growth Hormone (hGH) replacement therapy (GHRT) has been used by Anti-Aging physicians for over a decade as the primary approach to managing the Somatopause. The reason for this choice is that pituitary dysfunction resulting in acquired or adult-onset growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is perhaps the earliest event of senescence, occurring in most people during their thirties. Progressive failure of the pituitary to produce and secrete hGH initiates a cascade of endocrine failures that contributes significantly to loss of health and vitality during aging. Logically, GHRT is intended to replace hGH and so as to oppose consequences of the somatopause. It is successful for that purpose and is effective for:

The usual protocol to achieve these benefits of hGH directs patients to self inject s.c. from 1 2 international units of hGH daily after diagnosis of GHD. It is important to note that hGH cannot be legally prescribed without such diagnosis resulting from evaluation of laboratory date (IGF-1 concentrations), clinical symptoms and a provocative test of pituitary function. Once these criteria are met, then hGH is commonly administered once daily in the evening or morning. The former time was chosen to simulate the nocturnal, sleep related rise in hGH. The latter time was chosen by those physicians who realized that sleep causes the rise in hGH not the reciprocal. Thus, there was little rationale for administering hGH at bedtime. In fact, others felt that injecting growth hormone at night to raise the serum level of growth hormone precisely during the time the pituitary is scheduled to become active would have a negative effect. This high serum level of growth hormone from the injection would have the potential to suppress natural pituitary function by negative feedback. Then not only would the patient lose benefit of endogenous growth hormone, but he/she would also run the risk of suppressing pituitary function and exacerbating the effect of normal aging. Therefore, the consensus is to inject hGH after awakening in the morning so as not to suppress the pituitary. Hypothetically, by the time the pituitary is ready again for its nighttime activity, the hGH given in the morning injection will have been completely metabolized, thereby minimizing the risk of pituitary feedback suppression. Furthermore, to compensate for feedback of hGH upon the pituitary and thereby worsening the effects of aging upon the pituitary, some doctors recommend not taking hGH two or three days a week so that the pituitary gland doesn't forget how to make its own HGH. In fact, aging is already eroding pituitary function and it will not be restored except by providing appropriate stimuli.

Accordingly, an analog of growth hormone releasing factor has recently come available for use in anti-aging medicine that can be used alone or as a complement to hGH in clinical management of the Somatopause. One major advantage of the product is that unlike hGH, it can be prescribed off label legally without diagnosis of GHD. Sermorelin is an alternative to hGH that is safer and more effective than hGH. It is a truncated analog of growth hormone releasing hormone or factor (GRF 1-44) that is naturally produced by the brain to simulate pituitary production and secretion of hGH. The natural brain hormone contains 44 amino acids whereas Sermorelin consists of the first 29 amino acids of GRF, which are the ones responsible for its pituitary stimulating activity. Thus, it is designated GRF 1-29NH 2 . Since Sermorelin stimulates the pituitary gland to produce and secrete its own hGH, side effects associated with overdosing of this hormone are significantly reduced. The reason that Sermorelin has a lower risk of causing side effects than injected hGH, is because the brain automatically prevents too much of the bodies own hGH from being released by the pituitary gland through feedback processes involving the inhibitory factor, somatostatin. Furthermore, age effects on pituitary degeneration are not exacerbated. Instead they are opposed because stimulation sustains life of functional somatotrophs (the cells that produce hGH) and slows the cascade of pituitary failure that affects the reproductive, thyroid and adrenocorticotrophic axes. As a result, sermorelin may be used alone to oppose the somatopause or in combination with hGH to sustain pituitary function while patients enjoy the benefits of increased exposure to somatotrophin. Furthermore, GRF not hGH is the factor that promotes youthful sleep architecture, i.e., increased slow wave sleep. Therefore its use may have ancillary clinical benefits of improving nighttime rejuvenation through good sleep. Accordingly, the following protocols for use of sermorelin alone or in combination with hGH are as follows:

No matter what protocol is chosen by the physician, sermorelin should be included as part of the program to oppose the somatopause because it preserves higher function and also delays failure of other neuroendocrine axes that follow the somatopause, i.e., the menopause, andropause, thyropause and adrenopause. For more information on this important and novel approach to treating the Somatopause, use the contact us tab provided at http://www.sermorelin.com or send a request to Dr. Richard F. Walker ( drrfwalker@sermorelin.com ).

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Sermorelin - Official Sermorelin Organization

Stem cells: What they are and what they do Stem cells and derived products offer great promise for new medical treatments. Learn about stem cell types, current and possible uses, ethical issues, and the state of research and practice. By Mayo Clinic Staff

You've heard about stem cells in the news, and perhaps you've wondered if they might help you or a loved one with a serious disease. You may wonder what stem cells are, how they're being used to treat disease and injury, and why they're the subject of such vigorous debate.

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about stem cells.

Researchers and doctors hope stem cell studies can help to:

Generate healthy cells to replace diseased cells (regenerative medicine). Stem cells can be guided into becoming specific cells that can be used to regenerate and repair diseased or damaged tissues in people.

People who might benefit from stem cell therapies include those with spinal cord injuries, type 1 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, stroke, burns, cancer and osteoarthritis.

Stem cells may have the potential to be grown to become new tissue for use in transplant and regenerative medicine. Researchers continue to advance the knowledge on stem cells and their applications in transplant and regenerative medicine.

Test new drugs for safety and effectiveness. Before using new drugs in people, some types of stem cells are useful to test the safety and quality of investigational drugs. This type of testing will most likely first have a direct impact on drug development for cardiac toxicity testing.

New areas of study include the effectiveness of using human stem cells that have been programmed into tissue-specific cells to test new drugs. For testing of new drugs to be accurate, the cells must be programmed to acquire properties of the type of cells to be tested. Techniques to program cells into specific cells continue to be studied.

For instance, nerve cells could be generated to test a new drug for a nerve disease. Tests could show whether the new drug had any effect on the cells and whether the cells were harmed.

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Stem cells: What they are and what they do - Mayo Clinic

When James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin announced in 1998 that he had derived and cultured human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), Americans widely believedand acceptedthat stem cells would one day be the basis of a multitude of regenerative medical techniques. Researchers promised that they would soon be able to cure a variety of diseases and injuries such as cancer, diabetes, Parkinsons, spinal cord injuries, severe burns, and many others. But it wasnt until January 2009 that the Food and Drug Administration approved the first human clinical trials using hESCs. The trials were put on hold in August of 2009 before they were ever begun. After more than a decade of being promised curative stem cell therapy, many people have been unwilling to wait for American doctors to provide stem cell treatments. Some people have opted not to wait or rely on other treatments, and have chosen to receive stem cell therapy from international institutions. This phenomenon has been dubbed stem cell tourism, and it has garnered much media attention, both in support and in opposition.

A number of countries offer stem cell therapies, including Panama, Mexico, China, and the Ukraine. EmCell, a medical center in the Ukraine founded in 1994, claims to have begun treating types 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus with hESCs in 1992. The company applied for and was granted patents for treatment of AIDS and multiple sclerosis (MS) in the 1990s, and it began working on treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and muscular dystrophies before 2000. EmCell has since begun to offer treatments for ALS, cancer, liver diseases, hypertension, and Parkinsons. Treatments at EmCell involve administering stem cells intravenously or subcutaneously, after which the cells are said to migrate to the correct site, engraft and multiply, and eventually undergo correct specialization, or differentiation. Once properly differentiated, the cell growth is expected to replace damaged tissues and restore impaired functions. EmCell treatments are entirely outpatient and are reported to be effective within one to two months.

The biggest concern with stem cell therapies, and the reason why the FDA halted human trials, is that undifferentiated, or pluripotent, stem cells can be influenced to differentiate by a number of factors (including growth factors, growth matrices or media, and physical forces). Under certain (as yet unknown) conditions, hESCs can form tumors or teratomas, a type of tumor composed of tissue derived from all three germ layers. As of 2009, no American research was able to ensure that tumors would never form when hESCs were injected into damaged tissues, or even that the cells would differentiate into healthy cells of the correct type. EmCell, however, claims that teratomas only form when hESCs are one to two weeks old, and that its cells, injected when they are four to eight weeks old, are differentiated enough that they are incapable of uncontrollable growth that can lead to tumor formation. Presently, EmCell claims that its therapies have produced no negative side effects. Despite these claims, however, the EmCell website does not provide any conclusive success stories or patient interviews.

Mexico has a stem cell clinic as well, the Cancun Stem Cell Clinic (CSCC). The clinic conducts stem cell treatments as well as phase I, II, and III clinical studies, and encourages clinicians to perform studies at the clinic. The CSCC offers one-day and one-week self-donor (autologous) bone marrow transplants, whereby bone marrow is taken from a patients leg, mixed with growth factors, and re-circulated through the patients body. Women who have had a cesarean section can opt to have their fresh placenta delivered to the CSCC, where clinicians remove portions of the amniotic membrane and mix it with a growth factor solution. The mixture is then intra-abdominally injected into the womans belly, to help the incision heal. For advanced disease treatment, the CSCC offers treatments that use umbilical cord stem cells, amniotic fluid stem cells, and embryonic live cell therapy. The companys website does not explain how its treatments are administered, nor is there any discussion of potential risks or negative side effects.

The International Society for Stem Cell Research believes that clinics such as EmCell and the Cancun Stem Cell Clinic are exploiting patients hopes, since the treatments are costly (over $20,000) and unproven. The society established a task force of doctors, researchers, ethicists, and regulatory officials from thirteen countries to establish guidelines for stem cell therapy, hoping to target clinics that might take advantage of patients by using experimental procedures without transparency, patient protections, or proper oversight. Experts cautiously estimate that the number of people who have opted for these procedures is in the thousands.

Critiques of the EmCell clinic are representative of the myriad problems that Western scientists have with stem cell tourism. EmCell has been criticized for its treatment methods and for the lack of conclusive evidence that the treatments are working as advertised. Some researchers question why there are subcutaneous injections of stem cells for treatment of disorders like motor-neuron disease, since it would be difficult for the cells to reach the appropriate tissues. Once injected, the stem cells often die because they are in a foreign environment, and are receiving a number of cues that may cause them to differentiate incorrectly. The leading scientist at EmCell, who devised the procedure and administers the treatments, is Alexander Ivanovich Smikodub. Smikodub has published no studies proving the effectiveness of his treatments, nor has he conducted any placebo studies to confirm that the effects of his procedures are really the result of the application of embryonic stem cells. This has led a number of Western scientists and clinicians to be highly skeptical of EmCell and Smikodubs claims that their treatments cure anything at all. Smikodub, however, claims that he doesnt want to waste his time publishing papers in Western journals; he believes his real purpose is to administer treatments and cure sick patients. He has also refused to allow other scientists to investigate his clinic and perform studies of their own, eliciting further rebuke and suspicion of Smikodubs work. In a BBC news story on EmCell, one scientist explains his fears that in the years to come, as people start to realize that treatments from clinics such as EmCell are not effective and provide no cures, that there will be a backlash against stem cell research, turning people against more traditional research that may someday provide more reliable results.

Excerpt from:
Stem Cell Tourism | The Embryo Project Encyclopedia

Today Russia has just six large banks for preserving stem cells. A seventh opened recently in Vladivostok, the capital of the Primorsky Region, at the Center for Cellular and Reproductive Technology. It is unlikely that this stem cell clinic will have troubles finding clients as local residents showed interest in the facility long before its official opening.

Stem cells are a form of biological insurance in case of illness. They can be used to grow tissue for vital organs, such as the liver or the pancreas, or to cure people who have had strokes or are suffering from diabetes and oncological, cardiovascular and genetic diseases ()

Russia only recently became a part of the multibillion-dollar stem cell research market. There are about 300 institutes in the USA and more than 80 in Europe.

The technology of applying stem cells in Russia was developed for the Defense Ministry. The research was initially confidential. During the Soviet War in Afghanistan scientists tried using stem cells for curing psychological war traumas.

The use of stem cells for psychological traumas is developing steadily in Russia, says neurologist Andrei Bryukhovetsky, who has dedicated over 25 years to research in this field. First the technology was experimented with on calves, a project that included the participation of Valery Shumakov, the venerated transplant surgeon.

In June 2014 the Defense Ministry announced its decision to continue the research. According to Alexander Vlasov, the Deputy Director of the Military Medical Department, a new scientific division will be formed within the Military Medical Academy. It will work on the creation of a stem cell bank for soldiers.

Vlasov says that the division will be divided into three units: biological-pharmaceutical, medical-prophylactic and engineering-technical. The first will actively develop a stem cell bank for military personnel who participate in risky assignments and in dangerous areas.

Banks for preserving stem cells started appearing in Russia in the 2000s, however, not all of them still exist. In 2014 the Flora-med stem cell bank in Moscow disappeared; it had existed since 2003. Clients had paid regularly for the preservation of their newborn babies stem cells, but they vanished along with the bank.

Some stem cell banks went bankrupt. The reason may be that, despite the growing interest in regenerative medicine, Russians are still not ready to pay the high price for preserving stem cells. Yet, the costs at the Moscow stem cell banks are relatively low in comparison with other international clinics.

For example, the procurement of an umbilical cord at one of the Moscow centers costs approximately 95,000 rubles (roughly $2,620). In the US the same service costs approximately $12,000.

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Russia and Stem Cells

WorldMed Assist now offers stem cell therapy options in Panama. Our medically trained staff can help create a medical travel package that is specifically tailored to your individual needs. Stem cell treatments are being used to address a variety of medical conditions and diseases. Stem cell research has been underway in the United States and worldwide for over 30 years. Stem cell transplantation therapy has led to major breakthroughs in treatments for many conditions that were thought to be incurable.

Due to religious and ethical concerns, WorldMed Assist refrains from treatments that involve the use of embryonic stem cells, or embryonic stem cell research. We provide free initial consultations, which are generally required prior to receiving stem cell treatment. You may fill out our online form to learn more about own individualized medical treatment package.

Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy in general include:

At WorldMed assist, we work only with the most experienced doctors, and the most rigorously inspected medical facilities and hospitals. Stemcell research in Panama has led to newer forms of treatment that can benefit the patient by reducing the need for repeated or ongoing types of treatment. This is because stem cell therapy helps the body in its natural process of regenerating tissues and organs.

Stem cell treatment options in Panama are now affordable thanks to WorldMed Assist. If you have any questions or inquires about stem cell therapy, our medically trained staff can take you through a no-cost consultation process. Stem cell therapy is not available for all patients, although stem cell research is helping to expand the applications of stem cell techniques.

If you would like more information regarding stem cell research and success rates, transplant options, and the different types of adult stem cells, feel free to contact us WorldMed Assist directly. We can provide you with more specialized information, including the latest updates on bone marrow stem cell treatments, and cancer or diabetes treatments.

Through the services of WorldMed Assist, you can obtain leading-edge stem cell therapy in accessible locations like Mexico, China, and selected locations in the U.S. Simply contact WorldMed Assist today and receive a professional consultation at no cost. You can fill out our online form and receive individual guidance throughout the entire treatment process.

We also provide more information on costs: Cost of Stem Cell Therapy

More here:
Stem Cell Therapy in Panama | WorldMed Assist

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Diane T. Duffy, Congressional Research Service Updated June 12, 2002

Summary

With certain restrictions, the President has announced that federal funds may be used to conduct research on human embryonic stem cells. Federal research is limited to 64 1 existing stem cell lines that were derived (1) with the informed consent of the donors; (2) from excess embryos created solely for reproductive purposes; and (3) without any financial inducements to the donors. No federal funds will be used for the derivation or use of stem cell lines derived from newly destroyed embryos; the creation of any human embryos for research purposes; or cloning of human embryos for any purposes. Several lawsuits have been filed relating to stem cell research, and questions have been raised concerning access to existing stem cell lines by federal researchers.

Human Embryonic Stem Cells. Human embryonic stem cells are "master cells" and are able to develop into almost any cell in the human body. Building on earlier stem cell research, in 1998, researchers at the University of Wisconsin isolated cells from the inner cell mass of the early human embryo, called the blastocyst, and developed the first human embryonic stem cell lines. 2 Research has focused on the potential that these cells can offer to treat or mitigate diseases and conditions and to generate replacement tissues for disfunctioning cells or organs. 3 Research efforts have focused on spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and other diseases or conditions. Scientists hope to use specialized cells to replace dysfunctional cells in the brain, spinal cord, pancreas, and other organs. 4 The sources for stem cells include: one week old embryos (blastocysts) created via in vitro fertilization (IVF) to treat infertility; five to nine week old embryos or fetuses obtained through elective abortion; embryos created through IVF for research purposes; embryos created through cloning or somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT); and adult tissues (umbilical cord blood, bone marrow). Controversy surrounds the derivation of stem cells from human embryos and fetuses. In order to derive or extract the stem cells found within the embryo, the embryo is destroyed in the removal process. The earliest embryonic stem cells are called totipotent cells, which means they can develop into an entire organism, producing both the embryo and tissues required to support it in the uterus. At a later stage of development, pluripotent embryonic stem cells exist and can develop into almost any type of cell in the body. These stem cells cannot form the supporting tissues, as seen with totipotent cells. 5 Human embryonic stem cells found in the early stage embryo are believed to have a greater ability to become different types of body cells and have more uses than adult stem cells.

Background and Recent Presidential and Congressional Action

Executive Action. When President Bush took office in January, 2001, he announced he would conduct a review of the stem cell research issue and ordered the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to review the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) guidelines issued by the former administration. During the review period, NIH suspended its review of applications from researchers seeking federal funds to perform human embryonic stem cell research. On August 9, 2001, President Bush announced that federal funds would be available to support limited human embryonic stem cell research. The new policy provides that federal funds may be used for research on 64 existing stem cell lines that have already been derived or were already in existence as of the date of the announcement. In identifying the 64 stem cell lines as being eligible for federal funding, the President said these embryos, from which the existing stem cell lines were created, had been destroyed previously and could not develop as human beings.

Under the new policy, federal agencies, primarily NIH, will consider applications for funding if certain standards or eligibility criteria are met. The White House fact sheet setting forth the President's policy states: federal funds will only be used for research on existing stem cell lines that were derived (1) with the informed consent of the donors; (2) from excess embryos created solely for reproductive purposes; and (3) without any financial inducements to the donors. 6 The President directed NIH to examine the derivation of all existing stem cell lines and create a registry of those lines. Pursuant to this new policy, no federal funds will be used for: (1) the derivation or use of stem cell lines derived from newly destroyed embryos; (2) the creation of any human embryos for research purposes; or (3) cloning of human embryos for any purposes. The new policy replaces previously issued stem cell guidelines and policies. The policy also requires the creation of the President's Council on Bioethics to study stem cells and embryo research as well as other issues. NIH has listed entities that have developed stem cells lines that meet the President's criteria and are eligible for federal funding (the Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry). The President also stated that in FY2001, the government will spend $250 million on research involving stem cells from other sources, e. g., umbilical cord, placenta, adult and animal tissues.

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Background and Legal Issues Related to Stem Cell Research