StemCell Therapy

genetic engineering,the artificial manipulation, modification, and recombination of DNA or other nucleic acid molecules in order to modify an organism or population of organisms.

The term genetic engineering initially meant any of a wide range of techniques for the modification or manipulation of organisms through the processes of heredity and reproduction. As such, the term embraced both artificial selection and all the interventions of biomedical techniques, among them artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization (e.g., test-tube babies), sperm banks, cloning, and gene manipulation. But the term now denotes the narrower field of recombinant DNA technology, or gene cloning (see Figure), in which DNA molecules from two or more sources are combined either within cells or in vitro and are then inserted into host organisms in which they are able to propagate. Gene cloning is used to produce new genetic combinations that are of value to science, medicine, agriculture, or industry.

DNA is the carrier of genetic information; it achieves its effects by directing the synthesis of proteins. Most recombinant DNA technology involves the insertion of foreign genes into the plasmids of common laboratory strains of bacteria. Plasmids are small rings of DNA; they are not part of the bacteriums chromosome (the main repository of the organisms genetic information). Nonetheless, they are capable of directing protein synthesis, and, like chromosomal DNA, they are reproduced and passed on to the bacteriums progeny. Thus, by incorporating foreign DNA (for example, a mammalian gene) into a bacterium, researchers can obtain an almost limitless number of copies of the inserted gene. Furthermore, if the inserted gene is operative (i.e., if it directs protein synthesis), the modified bacterium will produce the protein specified by the foreign DNA.

A key step in the development of genetic engineering was the discovery of restriction enzymes in 1968 by the Swiss microbiologist Werner Arber. However, type II restriction enzymes, which are essential to genetic engineering for their ability to cleave a specific site within the DNA (as opposed to type I restriction enzymes, which cleave DNA at random sites), were not identified until 1969, when the American molecular biologist Hamilton O. Smith purified this enzyme. Drawing on Smiths work, the American molecular biologist Daniel Nathans helped advance the technique of DNA recombination in 197071 and demonstrated that type II enzymes could be useful in genetic studies. Genetic engineering itself was pioneered in 1973 by the American biochemists Stanley N. Cohen and Herbert W. Boyer, who were among the first to cut DNA into fragments, rejoin different fragments, and insert the new genes into E. coli bacteria, which then reproduced.

Genetic engineering has advanced the understanding of many theoretical and practical aspects of gene function and organization. Through recombinant DNA techniques, bacteria have been created that are capable of synthesizing human insulin, human growth hormone, alpha interferon, a hepatitis B vaccine, and other medically useful substances. Plants may be genetically adjusted to enable them to fix nitrogen, and genetic diseases can possibly be corrected by replacing bad genes with normal ones. Nevertheless, special concern has been focused on such achievements for fear that they might result in the introduction of unfavourable and possibly dangerous traits into microorganisms that were previously free of theme.g., resistance to antibiotics, production of toxins, or a tendency to cause disease.

The new microorganisms created by recombinant DNA research were deemed patentable in 1980, and in 1986 the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the sale of the first living genetically altered organisma virus, used as a pseudorabies vaccine, from which a single gene had been cut. Since then several hundred patents have been awarded for genetically altered bacteria and plants.

Read the original post:
genetic engineering | Encyclopedia Britannica

Gene therapy is an experimental technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease. In the future, this technique may allow doctors to treat a disorder by inserting a gene into a patients cells instead of using drugs or surgery. Researchers are testing several approaches to gene therapy, including:

Replacing a mutated gene that causes disease with a healthy copy of the gene.

Inactivating, or knocking out, a mutated gene that is functioning improperly.

Introducing a new gene into the body to help fight a disease.

Although gene therapy is a promising treatment option for a number of diseases (including inherited disorders, some types of cancer, and certain viral infections), the technique remains risky and is still under study to make sure that it will be safe and effective. Gene therapy is currently only being tested for the treatment of diseases that have no other cures.

MedlinePlus from the National Library of Medicine offers a list of links to information about genes and gene therapy.

Educational resources related to gene therapy are available from GeneEd.

The Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah provides an interactive introduction to gene therapy and a discussion of several diseases for which gene therapy has been successful.

The Centre for Genetics Education provides an introduction to gene therapy, including a discussion of ethical and safety considerations.

KidsHealth from Nemours offers a fact sheet called Gene Therapy and Children.

Read the rest here:
What is gene therapy? - Genetics Home Reference

Gene therapy could be a way to fix a genetic problem at its source. By adding a corrected copy of a defective gene, gene therapy promises to help diseased tissues and organs work properly. This approach is different from traditional drug-based approaches, which may treat symptoms but not the underlying genetic problems.

Most commonly, gene therapy uses a vector, typically a virus, to deliver a gene to the cells where it's needed. Once it's inside, the cell's gene-reading machinery uses the information in the gene to build RNA and protein molecules. The proteins (or RNA) can then carry out their job in the cells.

But gene therapy is not a molecular bandage that will automatically fix any genetic problem. While many disorders or medical conditions can potentially be treated using gene therapy, others are not suitable for this approach. So what makes a condition a good candidate for gene therapy?

Could the condition be corrected by adding one or a few functional genes? For you to even consider gene therapy, the answer must be "yes." For instance, genetic disorders caused by mutations in single genes tend to be good candidates for gene therapy, while diseases involving many genes and environmental factors tend to be poor candidates.

Do you know which genes are involved? If you plan to treat a genetic flaw, you need to know which gene(s) to pursue. You must also have a DNA copy of the gene available in your laboratory.

Do you understand the biology of the disorder? To design the best possible approach, you need to learn all you can about how the gene factors into the disorder. For example, which tissues the disorder affects, what role the protein encoded by the gene plays within the cells of that tissue, and exactly how mutations in the gene affect the protein's function.

Will adding a normal copy of the gene fix the problem in the affected tissue? Or could getting rid of the defective gene fix it? Sometimes when a gene is defective, no functional protein is being made from it. In cases like these, adding a functional copy of the gene could correct the problem. But sometimes a defective gene codes for a protein that starts doing something it shouldn't or prevents another protein from doing its job. In order to correct the problem, you would need to get rid of the misbehaving protein.

Can you deliver the gene to cells of the affected tissue? The answer will come from several pieces of information, including the tissue's accessibility and molecular signatures.

APA format: Genetic Science Learning Center (2014, June 22) What is Gene Therapy?. Learn.Genetics. Retrieved May 19, 2015, from http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/genetherapy/gtintro/ MLA format: Genetic Science Learning Center. "What is Gene Therapy?." Learn.Genetics 19 May 2015 <http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/genetherapy/gtintro/> Chicago format: Genetic Science Learning Center, "What is Gene Therapy?," Learn.Genetics, 22 June 2014, <http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/genetherapy/gtintro/> (19 May 2015)

Link:
What is Gene Therapy ? - Learn Genetics

Please choose from the following list of questions for information about gene therapy, an experimental technique that uses genetic material to treat or prevent disease.

On this page:

Gene therapy is an experimental technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease. In the future, this technique may allow doctors to treat a disorder by inserting a gene into a patients cells instead of using drugs or surgery. Researchers are testing several approaches to gene therapy, including:

Replacing a mutated gene that causes disease with a healthy copy of the gene.

Inactivating, or knocking out, a mutated gene that is functioning improperly.

Introducing a new gene into the body to help fight a disease.

Although gene therapy is a promising treatment option for a number of diseases (including inherited disorders, some types of cancer, and certain viral infections), the technique remains risky and is still under study to make sure that it will be safe and effective. Gene therapy is currently only being tested for the treatment of diseases that have no other cures.

MedlinePlus from the National Library of Medicine offers a list of links to information about genes and gene therapy.

Educational resources related to gene therapy are available from GeneEd.

The Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah provides an interactive introduction to gene therapy and a discussion of several diseases for which gene therapy has been successful.

Go here to read the rest:
Gene Therapy - Genetics Home Reference

Spotlight News Spot

April 28, 2015

ACGTs inaugural Innovative Leadership Award Gala raised $750,000 to fund cell and gene therapy research which aims to make cancer a manageable and treatable disease. The gala, honoring the significant contributions of Dr. Savio L.C. Woo has made to Read More

March 26, 2015

Emperor of All Maladies on PBS (CPTV) presented by documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, isbased on the2010 Pulitzer Prize-winning bookThe Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancerby Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee. Among other scientists, doctors and patients, the programfeatured ACGT Researcher Read More

March 2, 2015

HBO Documentary Series, Vice, aired an episode on February 27th entitled, Killing Cancer, focusing on how different viruses are being used successfully as weapons to target cancer. The program focuses on 2013 ACGT Grantee Dr. John Bell, for his work Read More

January 16, 2015

In 2012, Bob Levis, an Allentown, Pennsylvania resident, believed he had come to the end of his life. Diagnosed in 2002 with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the cancer had resisted every possible treatment and had infiltrated his bone marrow, paralyzing his Read More

March 16, 2014

Read more here:
Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT) Foundation

Fat Stem Cell Therapy 5 Step Treatment Procedure

Fat Stem Cell Therapy Procedure Avg. Rating: 5 out of 5 from 116 votes.

Autologous Adipose Enriched Stem Cells can help reverse and repair some of the world's most common medical diseases. Infinite Horizons Medical Center has perfected the Treatment and Recovery process to help patients suffering from some common medical conditions such as, Osteoarthritis, Pulmonary Disease, and Diabetes Type II, as well as some Cosmetic Procedures like Face Lifts, Breast Augmentation, and Anti-Aging. You can click on any procedure named above to get more detailed information.

Below you'll find our 5 step treatment procedure explained in detail:

Preparing the abdomen It all starts with a local anesthetic to the abdominal area.

Mini Liposuction A board certified cosmetic surgeon, who is also trained in liposuction techniques will then perform a manual mini liposuction procedure.

Fat Quantity The amount of fat that is extracted depends on which treatment we are performing. In most cases we only need between 40-200cc of fat.

Fat Distribution The surgeon will take it from both sides of the abdomen to ensure proper distribution.

Time Once the fat required has been harvested it will be handed to the Lab Tech to begin processing. The Fat Harvesting process has taken roughly 30-50 minutes.

Quantity of Fat Each test tube of harvested fat will now be handled by the Lab Tech who has been carefully trained by the Bio Tech Company that supplies us with this process. Not all the test tubes of fat will be processed. Some of the fat harvested may be needed to complete certain other cosmetic procedures.

Read more here:
Procedure and Information on Fat Stem Cell Therapy

Mesenchymal stem cells, or MSCs, are multipotent stromal cells that can differentiate into a variety of cell types,[1] including: osteoblasts (bone cells),[2]chondrocytes (cartilage cells),[3]myocytes (muscle cells)[4] and adipocytes (fat cells). This phenomenon has been documented in specific cells and tissues in living animals and their counterparts growing in tissue culture.

While the terms mesenchymal stem cell and marrow stromal cell have been used interchangeably, neither term is sufficiently descriptive:

The youngest, most primitive MSCs can be obtained from the umbilical cord tissue, namely Wharton's jelly and the umbilical cord blood. However the MSCs are found in much higher concentration in the Whartons jelly compared to the umbilical cord blood, which is a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells. The umbilical cord is easily obtained after the birth of the newborn, is normally thrown away, and poses no risk for collection. The umbilical cord MSCs have more primitive properties than other adult MSCs obtained later in life, which might make them a useful source of MSCs for clinical applications.

An extremely rich source for mesenchymal stem cells is the developing tooth bud of the mandibular third molar. While considered multipotent, they may prove to be pluripotent. The stem cells eventually form enamel, dentin, blood vessels, dental pulp, and nervous tissues, including a minimum of 29 different unique end organs. Because of extreme ease in collection at 810 years of age before calcification, and minimal to no morbidity, they will probably constitute a major source for personal banking, research, and multiple therapies. These stem cells have been shown capable of producing hepatocytes.

Additionally, amniotic fluid has been shown to be a rich source of stem cells. As many as 1 in 100 cells collected during amniocentesis has been shown to be a pluripotent mesenchymal stem cell.[9]

Adipose tissue is one of the richest sources of MSCs. There are more than 500 times more stem cells in 1 gram of fat than in 1 gram of aspirated bone marrow. Adipose stem cells are actively being researched in clinical trials for treatment of a variety of diseases.

The presence of MSCs in peripheral blood has been controversial. However, a few groups have successfully isolated MSCs from human peripheral blood and been able to expand them in culture.[10] Australian company Cynata also claims the ability to mass-produce MSCs from induced pluripotent stem cells obtained from blood cells using the method of K. Hu et al.[11][12]

Mesenchymal stem cells are characterized morphologically by a small cell body with a few cell processes that are long and thin. The cell body contains a large, round nucleus with a prominent nucleolus, which is surrounded by finely dispersed chromatin particles, giving the nucleus a clear appearance. The remainder of the cell body contains a small amount of Golgi apparatus, rough endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and polyribosomes. The cells, which are long and thin, are widely dispersed and the adjacent extracellular matrix is populated by a few reticular fibrils but is devoid of the other types of collagen fibrils.[13][14]

The International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) has proposed a set of standards to define MSCs. A cell can be classified as an MSC if it shows plastic adherent properties under normal culture conditions and has a fibroblast-like morphology. In fact, some argue that MSCs and fibroblasts are functionally identical.[15] Furthermore, MSCs can undergo osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation ex-vivo. The cultured MSCs also express on their surface CD73, CD90 and CD105, while lacking the expression of CD11b, CD14, CD19, CD34, CD45, CD79a and HLA-DR surface markers.[16]

MSCs have a great capacity for self-renewal while maintaining their multipotency. Beyond that, there is little that can be definitively said. The standard test to confirm multipotency is differentiation of the cells into osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondrocytes as well as myocytes and neurons. MSCs have been seen to even differentiate into neuron-like cells,[17][18] but there is lingering doubt whether the MSC-derived neurons are functional.[19] The degree to which the culture will differentiate varies among individuals and how differentiation is induced, e.g., chemical vs. mechanical;[20] and it is not clear whether this variation is due to a different amount of "true" progenitor cells in the culture or variable differentiation capacities of individuals' progenitors. The capacity of cells to proliferate and differentiate is known to decrease with the age of the donor, as well as the time in culture. Likewise, whether this is due to a decrease in the number of MSCs or a change to the existing MSCs is not known.[citation needed]

Excerpt from:
Mesenchymal stem cell - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

by admin on February 14, 2012

Are you a patient suffering from blurred vision in the left eye? There are two types of blurred vision instances that the patient can be suffering from. The first instance includes the patient suffering from gradual blurred vision in the left eye and the second instance indicates a patient that is suffering from sudden blurred vision in the left eye.

Though there are many causes for each of these types of cases, it is important for the patient suffering from sudden blurred vision in the left eye to schedule an appointment with an optometrist or schedule an appointment with their family doctor to try and narrow down the cause of the blurred vision in the left eye.

Have you had any sudden trauma to the left eye? Many times, trauma to the left eye can create blurred vision in that eye for a period of between two to four days as the eye heals from the injury. However, if you have suffered from a trauma to the left eye and are suffering from blurred vision, you just might want to check with the local health care professional to ensure that there has been no damage to the eye.

Blurred vision has a number of causes, aside from trauma, but the causes become more worrisome when it is one eye that is suffering from the blurred vision, in contrast to both of the eyes suffering from blurred vision.

It is important to consider all of the options and consider all of the causes of blurred vision to ensure that the patient is going to have adequate medical attention and avoid any repercussions from the cause of the blurred vision.

A simple appointment with a doctor or optometrist can help to rule out any damage done to the eye and is recommended for those suffering from blurred vision.

Read the original here:
Blurry Eye Vision Blurred Vision, and Cures for Blurry ...

Don't take your eyes for granted. Protect your sight with these six tips:

Protecting your eyes starts with the food on your plate. Nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E might help ward off age-related vision problems such as macular degeneration and cataracts, studies show. Regularly eating these foods can help lead to good eye health:

Eating a well-balanced diet also helps you maintain a healthy weight, which makes you less likely to get obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults.

Smoking makes you more likely to get cataracts, optic nerve damage, and macular degeneration. If you've tried to quit smoking before and started smoking again, keep trying. The more times you try to quit smoking, the more likely you are to succeed.

The right kind of sunglasses will help protect your eyes from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Too much UV exposure makes you more likely to get cataracts and macular degeneration.

Choose sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Wraparound lenses help protect your eyes from the side. Polarized lenses reduce glare when driving.

If you wear contact lenses, some offer UV protection. It's still a good idea to wear sunglasses for more protection, though.

If you work with hazardous or airborne materials on the job or at home, wear safety glasses or protective goggles every time.

Certain sports such as ice hockey, racquetball, and lacrosse can also lead to eye injury. Wear eye protection (such as helmets with protective face masks or sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses) to shield your eyes.

View post:
6 Tips for Eye Health and Maintaining Good Eyesight

Diabetes mellitus (DM), commonly referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which there are high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period.[2] Symptoms of high blood sugar include frequent urination, increased thirst, and increased hunger. If left untreated, diabetes can cause many complications.[3]Acute complications include diabetic ketoacidosis and nonketotic hyperosmolar coma.[4] Serious long-term complications include cardiovascular disease, stroke, chronic kidney failure, foot ulcers, and damage to the eyes.[3]

Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough insulin or the cells of the body not responding properly to the insulin produced.[5] There are three main types of diabetes mellitus:

Prevention and treatment involve a healthy diet, physical exercise, not using tobacco and being a normal body weight. Blood pressure control and proper foot care are also important for people with the disease. Type 1 diabetes must be managed with insulin injections.[3] Type 2 diabetes may be treated with medications with or without insulin.[7] Insulin and some oral medications can cause low blood sugar.[8]Weight loss surgery in those with obesity is an effective measure in those with type 2 DM.[9]Gestational diabetes usually resolves after the birth of the baby.[10]

As of 2014, an estimated 387 million people have diabetes worldwide,[11] with type 2 diabetes making up about 90% of the cases.[12][13] This represents 8.3% of the adult population,[13] with equal rates in both women and men.[14] From 2012 to 2014, diabetes is estimated to have resulted in 1.5 to 4.9 million deaths each year.[7][11] Diabetes at least doubles a person's risk of death.[3] The number of people with diabetes is expected to rise to 592 million by 2035.[11] The global economic cost of diabetes in 2014 was estimated to be $612 billion USD.[15] In the United States, diabetes cost $245 billion in 2012.[16]

The classic symptoms of untreated diabetes are weight loss, polyuria (increased urination), polydipsia (increased thirst), and polyphagia (increased hunger).[17] Symptoms may develop rapidly (weeks or months) in type1 diabetes, while they usually develop much more slowly and may be subtle or absent in type2 diabetes.

Several other signs and symptoms can mark the onset of diabetes, although they are not specific to the disease. In addition to the known ones above, they include blurry vision, headache, fatigue, slow healing of cuts, and itchy skin. Prolonged high blood glucose can cause glucose absorption in the lens of the eye, which leads to changes in its shape, resulting in vision changes. A number of skin rashes that can occur in diabetes are collectively known as diabetic dermadromes.

Low blood sugar is common in persons with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Most cases are mild and are not considered medical emergencies. Effects can range from feelings of unease, sweating, trembling, and increased appetite in mild cases to more serious issues such as confusion, changes in behavior, seizures, unconsciousness, and (rarely) permanent brain damage or death in severe cases.[18][19] Mild cases are self-treated by eating or drinking something high in sugar. Severe cases can lead to unconsciousness and must be treated with intravenous glucose or injections with glucagon.

People (usually with type1 diabetes) may also experience episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis, a metabolic disturbance characterized by nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, the smell of acetone on the breath, deep breathing known as Kussmaul breathing, and in severe cases a decreased level of consciousness.[20]

A rare but equally severe possibility is hyperosmolar nonketotic state, which is more common in type2 diabetes and is mainly the result of dehydration.[20]

All forms of diabetes increase the risk of long-term complications. These typically develop after many years (1020), but may be the first symptom in those who have otherwise not received a diagnosis before that time.

Continue reading here:
Diabetes mellitus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Artificial Pancreas Treatment mimics natural and provides themissing stimulationof the liver. Clinics are open in the USA, China, and India, with Clinics planned in Taiwan, Mexico, Europe and Africa.

How is it "natural?" Theliverprovides theenzymes needed for the bodyto metabolize (burn) carbohydrates. This is the core problem that people with diabetes have, the inability to process this important type of food.

When the Artificial Pancreas Treatment mimics a normal pancreas stimulation of the liver, these missingenzymes are restored, the body can process carbohydrateswhich provides each cell with needed levels of cellular energy (ATP) fromcarbohydrates.

With that needed energy thetissuesheal themselves because the DNA remembers how to heal, naturally!

For Information, call(916) 550 1050

The Goals and Achievements

Global Roll Out of the THE ARTIFICIAL PANCREAS TREATMENT With new clinics going into 45 cities, and existing clinics in 18 USA cities the Trina Health Global Roll Out is under way. "We have proven that we can stop the suffering of diabetic heart, kidney, eye, nerve, brain fog, and wounds, what more is neeed?" announce the Trina Health CEO, and Chief Medical Officers. For over 20 years the Artificial Pancreas Treatment and Artificial Pancreas System have been in development, but the problem has always been that the cost of delivering the treatment is too high for the average diabetic patient. It is now proven that APT will slow, stop and in many ways reverse the complications of diabetes, truly wonderful news to millions. And now it is affordable and available. The treatment provides what a nondiabetic pancreas supplies, a very discreet series of oscillations in the blood of a nondiabetic person. These oscillations are required for normal carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. By mimicking what a nondiabetic pancreas does, the Artificial Pancreas System restores energy to the cells from carbohydrates, which are needed for the cells to have a normal amount of energy (ATP). The good news is that the DNA of every cell never forgets what it is supposed to do, and once proper metabolic energy is reestablished, the cell knows what to do and the body prepares itself naturally and in its own special way. The Artificial Pancreas Treatment (which is a treatment under the practice of Medicine) uses the FDA-cleared Bionica pump, the infusion part of the Artificial Pancreas System, and is now in the final commercial rollout phase where patients can be treated for six months and, with the help of a friend or family member, the patient can be treated at home for three weeks coming back only once a month into the clinic for the first year. After a successful year the patient will be able to be treated once every two months. This approach provides the answer on how to treat millions of people who are in dire need of stopping and reversing their diabetes complications. CALL OUR NUMBER FOR THE NEXT WEBINAR

Because of the amazing outcomes, there are not enough chairs for patients seeking the Artificial Pancreas Treatment. The two physician groups have joined to provide the outstanding care achieved in other clinics. This Clinic is a "Fath Based" clinic which helps even those who cannot fully pay. God bless them for that ! Read more...

Expanded Management by Hunter Carr and Scott Hepford is brining more patients to the Trina Health West Houston location, and additional locations in Houston are being planned. If anyone or a loved one has diabetes related complications, these Trina Health facilities provide free consultations and assessments. Conveniently located at 11511 Katy Freeway, Suite 510, Houston, TX, 77079 Please call: 713.595.9595 Read more...

Located in a new prestigious building, the Santa Monica clinic will be serving the UCLA and Beverly Hills area. Scheduled to open in March, this will provide a second LA Basin location. 5 more clinics are opening in the LA area. Read more...

Read this article:
Diabetes.net Welcome to the Original Diabetes Network

Share:

Stress results when something causes your body to behave as if it were under attack. Sources of stress can be physical, like injury or illness. Or they can be mental, like problems in your marriage, job, health, or finances.

When stress occurs, the body prepares to take action. This preparation is called the fight-or-flight response. In the fight-or-flight response, levels of many hormones shoot up. Their net effect is to make a lot of stored energy glucose and fat available to cells. These cells are then primed to help the body get away from danger.

In people who have diabetes, the fight-or-flight response does not work well. Insulin is not always able to let the extra energy into the cells, so glucose piles up in the blood.

Many sources of stress are long-term threats. For example, it can take many months to recover from surgery. Stress hormones that are designed to deal with short-term danger stay turned on for a long time. As a result, long-term stress can cause long-term high blood glucose levels.

Many long-term sources of stress are mental. Your mind sometimes reacts to a harmless event as if it were a real threat. Like physical stress, mental stress can be short term: from taking a test to getting stuck in a traffic jam. It can also be long term: from working for a demanding boss to taking care of an aging parent. With mental stress, the body pumps out hormones to no avail. Neither fighting nor fleeing is any help when the "enemy" is your own mind.

In people with diabetes, stress can alter blood glucose levels in two ways:

Scientists have studied the effects of stress on glucose levels in animals and people. Diabetic mice under physical or mental stress have elevated glucose levels. The effects in people with type 1 diabetes are more mixed. While most people's glucose levels go up with mental stress, others' glucose levels can go down. In people with type 2 diabetes, mental stress often raises blood glucose levels. Physical stress, such as illness or injury, causes higher blood glucose levels in people with either type of diabetes.

It's easy to find out whether mental stress affects your glucose control. Before checking your glucose levels, write down a number rating your mental stress level on a scale of 1 to 10. Then write down your glucose level next to it. After a week or two, look for a pattern. Drawing a graph may help you see trends better. Do high stress levels often occur with high glucose levels, and low stress levels with low glucose levels? If so, stress may affect your glucose control.

You may be able to get rid of some stresses of life. If traffic upsets you, for example, maybe you can find a new route to work or leave home early enough to miss the traffic jams. If your job drives you crazy, apply for a transfer if you can, or possibly discuss with your boss how to improve things. As a last resort, you can look for another job. If you are at odds with a friend or relative, you can make the first move to patch things up. For such problems, stress may be a sign that something needs to change.

See the article here:
Stress: American Diabetes Association

YOU PLAN FOR YOUR CHILDS EDUCATION. PLAN FOR THEIR HEALTHCARE, TOO.

From teaching healthy eating habits to instilling strong values, you already do so much to prepare your child for a happy and healthy life. Banking stem cells may not be as obvious as saving for college, but it could mean just as much to your childs future well-being and quality of life.

For decades, doctors have harnessed the unique ability of stem cells to treat leukemia and genetic blood diseases. Today, over 1,700 clinical studies are under way demonstrating the use of stem cells to treat other diseases, to heal injuries, and to grow replacement tissues like organs, bone, muscle, nerves, blood vessels, and brain cells.

Banking today means your child has the potential to benefit from the advanced therapies of tomorrow.

A SIMPLE AND NON-INVASIVE SOURCE OF MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS. AND THATS JUST THE START.

There are many reasons why teeth are a great source of stem cells for banking.

The most obvious one is that its easy to collect a baby tooth thats naturally falling out or a wisdom tooth being extracted.

More importantly, the dental pulp in your childs baby and wisdom teeth is an excellent source of mesenchymal stem cells, one of the most well-understood, widely researched and promising types of stem cells.

NOW COMES THE EASY PART.

Banking is a decision you make before your childs teeth come out.

Read more:
Dental Stem Cell Banking | Store-A-Tooth

Stemade is proud to be India's first private dental stem cell bank. This unique concept of dental stem cell banking is brought by Stemade into the Indian terrain. Path breaking advances in stem cell research has made it possible to extract valuable stem cells; the building blocks of every human body, from primary teeth (milk teeth) of children and wisdom teeth. These stem cells are carefully preserved at a stem cell center in a special cryogenic storage facility, thus making it possible for you to bank the smiles of your children, your family and yourself.

A tiny investment like this can help you and your family in the future by giving you the potential to shield them from critical health concerns that may rise in the future. Such as Diabetes Type 1, Wound Healing, Parkinson's, Spinal Cord Injury, MI, MS, and Osteoarthritis to name a few.

By pioneering this technology, Stemade will help in building an entire generation that will be able to face their future confidently. Dental stem cell banking is the first of Stemade's many ventures that will make their breakthrough in the Indian healthcare hub.

Warning & Disclaimer The pages and articles on our website are not meant to imply or support any (non-legalised) stem cell therapies. The articles and/ or links mentioned/ displayed/ included are purely a means to create awareness on how research on dental stem cells is progressing worldwide. Stemade Biotech is not involved in and neither supports any therapy-related aspects. Viewers are advised to consult their doctors in this regard.

See the rest here:
Stemade Biotech - India's first & largest dental stem cell ...

Cambridge/Boston, Mass. May 28, 2014 A Harvard-led team is the first to demonstrate the ability to use low-power light to trigger stem cells inside the body to regenerate tissue, an advance they reported in Science Translational Medicine. The research, led by David J. Mooney, Robert P. Pinkas Family Professor of Bioengineering at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), lays the foundation for a host of clinical applications in restorative dentistry and regenerative medicine more broadly, such as wound healing, bone regeneration, and more.

The team used a low-power laser to trigger human dental stem cells to form dentin, the hard tissue that is similar to bone and makes up the bulk of teeth. Whats more, they outlined the precise molecular mechanism involved, and demonstrated its prowess using multiple laboratory and animal models.

A number of biologically active molecules, such as regulatory proteins called growth factors, can trigger stem cells to differentiate into different cell types. Current regeneration efforts require scientists to isolate stem cells from the body, manipulate them in a laboratory, and return them to the bodyefforts that face a host of regulatory and technical hurdles to their clinical translation. But Mooneys approach is different and, he hopes, easier to get into the hands of practicing clinicians.

Our treatment modality does not introduce anything new to the body, and lasers are routinely used in medicine and dentistry, so the barriers to clinical translation are low, said Mooney, who is also a Core Faculty Member at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard. It would be a substantial advance in the field if we can regenerate teeth rather than replace them.

The team first turned to lead author and dentist Praveen Arany, Ph.D. '11, who is now an Assistant Clinical Investigator at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). At the time of the research, he was a Harvard graduate student and then postdoctoral fellow affiliated with SEAS and the Wyss Institute.

Arany took rodents to the laboratory version of a dentists office to drill holes in their molars, treat the tooth pulp that contains adult dental stem cells with low-dose laser treatments, applied temporary caps, and kept the animals comfortable and healthy. After about 12 weeks, high-resolution x-ray imaging and microscopy confirmed that the laser treatments triggered the enhanced dentin formation.

It was definitely my first time doing rodent dentistry, said Arany, who faced several technical challenges in performing oral surgery on such a small scale. The dentin was strikingly similar in composition to normal dentin, but did have slightly different morphological organization. Moreover, the typical reparative dentin bridge seen in human teeth was not as readily apparent in the minute rodent teeth, owing to the technical challenges with the procedure.

This is one of those rare cases where it would be easier to do this work on a human, Mooney said.

Next the team performed a series of culture-based experiments to unveil the precise molecular mechanism responsible for the regenerative effects of the laser treatment. It turns out that a ubiquitous regulatory cell protein called transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-1) played a pivotal role in triggering the dental stem cells to grow into dentin. TGF-1 exists in latent form until activated by any number of molecules.

Here is the chemical domino effect the team confirmed: In a dose-dependent manner, the laser first induced reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are chemically active molecules containing oxygen that play an important role in cellular function. The ROS activated the latent TGF-1complex which, in turn, differentiated the stem cells into dentin.

View post:
Researchers use light to coax stem cells to repair teeth ...

AUTOLOGOUS Adipose Stem Cells

Stem Cell Therapy is not a new technology. As a matter of fact it has been around for more that 60 years now. The problem is most people know it as a bone marrow transplant. And well when you finish saying that people are already screaming "That's Painful". A bone marrow transplant essentially extracts stem cells from your own bone marrow and then returns them back to you. It has been used to help people suffering from conditions like Leukemia and Lymph Node Cancer.

How does it work? Stem Cells hone in on "chemokine" signals that are secreted by injury. When they arrive they alert regenerative cells to go to work and repair the damage, or grow tissue.

At birth, the human body has around 80 million active stem cells working. At age 40 we have less than 25 million active stem cells working. Therefore it takes longer for the body to heal and in some cases damage is often ignored. This is the aging or degeneration process of the body.

In 1998 a little known about Bio Tech Company discovered that there was an enormous amount of stem cells in abdominal fat, commonly referred to as Adipose fat. In fact there are about 1-2 million stem cells and regenerative cells in 1 cc of abdominal fat. Bone marrow contains less than 10% of that. The stem cells in the abdomen are in a dormant or inactive state. The challenge lay only in how to activate them.

In early 2000 the problem had been solved. A special separation process was used to isolate stem cells from abdominal fat and a perfected heliotherapy process activated the stem cells. These super-charged stem cells were now ready to go to work healing your body.

Fat Stem Cell Therapy has been used for over a decade now as therapy for a variety of medical problems as well as an alternative to painful cosmetic surgery. Fat Stem Cell Therapy can help patients suffering from medical conditions such as, Osteoarthritis, Pulmonary Disease, and Diabetes Type II, as well as some Cosmetic Procedures like Face Lifts, Breast Augmentation, and Anti-Aging.

Infinite Horizons Medical Center and its association with a leading Bio Tech company are able to deliver these high tech therapies with precision, expertise and a level of care which rivals any in the world. These painless medical procedures uses the clients' own adult stem cells to treat clients' medical problems. The procedures themselves take roughly 3.5 - 7 hours to complete.

The procedure involves extracting autologous adipose stem cells, enriching them, activating the enriched stem cells and finally returning these stem cells back into the clients' body. The procedure only requires a local anesthetic, is 100% safe, 100% effective and there is a 0% chance of rejection. For more detailed information see our procedure page.

Infinite Horizons Medical Center has put together an incredible program for clients in search of medical treatment with fat stem cell therapy for, Pulmonary Disorders, like IPF or COPD, Diabetes Type II and Osteoarthritis. It has also put together special programs with fat stem cell therapy for cosmetic procedures like Anti-Aging, Breast Augmentation and Face Lifts.

Link:
Fat Stem Cell Therapy

Stem cells are a special form of human life: they are alive and contain human DNA. They have a unique feature in that they can be coaxed into developing into some or all of the 220 cell types found in the human body. Eventually, stem cells may be routinely used by doctors to generate new organs or new replacement body parts for people: They might become a new pancreas to cure a person with diabetes, or new nerve cells to cure a paralized person, etc.

There are three types of stem cells:

"...reprogrammed a dozen cell types, including those from the brain, skin, lung and liver, hinting that the method will work with most, if not all, cell types. On average, she says, 25% of the cells survive the stress and 30% of those convert to pluripotent cells already a higher proportion than the roughly 1% conversion rate of iPS cells." 1

Sponsored link.

The National Institutes of Health web site states:

"To realize the promise of novel cell-based therapies for such pervasive and debilitating diseases, scientists must be able to manipulate stem cells so that they possess the necessary characteristics for successful differentiation, transplantation, and engraftment. The following is a list of steps in successful cell-based treatments that scientists will have to learn to control to bring such treatments to the clinic. To be useful for transplant purposes, stem cells must be reproducibly made to:

Go here to read the rest:
Human stem cell research: all viewpoints - Religious tolerance

Inside the microscopic world of the mouse hair follicle, Yale Cancer Center researchers have discovered big clues about how stem cells regenerate and die. These findings, published April 6 in the journal Nature, could lead to a better understanding of how the stem cell pool is maintained or altered in tissues throughout the body.

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that replenish themselves and, based on their tissue location, can become specialized cells such as blood or skin cells. The hair follicle is an ideal site for exploring stem cell behavior because it has distinct and predictable oscillations in the number and behavior of stem cells, said the studys lead author, Kailin R. Mesa, a third-year doctoral student in the lab of Valentina Greco, associate professor of genetics, cell biology, and dermatology.

Using live microscopic imaging to track stem cell behavior in the skin of living mice, researchers observed that the stem cell niche, or surrounding area, plays a critical role in whether stem cells grow or die.

Prior to this, it wasnt clear whether stem cell regulation was intrinsic or extrinsic, and now we know it is external in that the niche instructs the stem cells, Mesa said. In terms of cancer, we can next explore how we might perturb or change the niche in hopes of affecting the growth of cancer stem cells.

Also, researchers were surprised to find that the stem cells within the pool fed on other dying stem cells. This reveals a mechanism for removing dead cells, a process previously observed in mammary glands but never in the skin.

This study was supported by the Yale Dermatology Spore, National Institutes of Health, American Cancer Society, and New York Stem Cell Foundation.

Citation: Nature

(Photo via Shutterstock)

Read more from the original source:
YaleNews | Research in the News: Tiny hair follicle offers ...

Blindness is the condition of poor visual perception.

Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness.[1] Total blindness is the complete lack of form and visual light perception and is clinically recorded as NLP, an abbreviation for "no light perception."[1] Blindness is frequently used to describe severe visual impairment with some remaining vision. Those described as having only light perception have no more sight than the ability to tell light from dark and the general direction of a light source. The World Health Organization defines low vision as visual acuity of less than 20/60 (6/18), but equal to or better than 20/200 (6/60), or visual field loss to less than 20 degrees, in the better eye with best possible correction. Blindness is defined as visual acuity of less than 20/400 (6/120), or a visual field loss to less than 10 degrees, in the better eye with best possible correction.[2][3]

As of 2012 there were 285 million visually impaired people in the world, of which 246 million had low vision and 39 million were blind.[3] The majority of people with poor vision are in the developing world and are over the age of 50 years.[3]

Blindness is defined by the World Health Organization as vision in a person's best eye of less than 20/500 or a visual field of less than 10 degrees.[4] This definition was set in 1972, and there is ongoing discussion as to whether it should be altered somewhat.[5]

Blind people with undamaged eyes may still register light non-visually for the purpose of circadian entrainment to the 24-hour light/dark cycle. Light signals for this purpose travel through the retinohypothalamic tract and are not affected by optic nerve damage beyond where the retinohypothalamic tract exits.

In 1934, the American Medical Association adopted the following definition of blindness:

"Central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with corrective glasses or central visual acuity of more than 20/200 if there is a visual field defect in which the peripheral field is contracted to such an extent that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angular distance no greater than 20 degrees in the better eye."[6]

The United States Congress included this definition as part of the Aid to the Blind program in the Social Security Act passed in 1935.[6][7] In 1972, the Aid to the Blind program and two others combined under Title XVI of the Social Security Act to form the Supplemental Security Income program[8] which currently states:

"An individual shall be considered to be blind for purposes of this title if he has central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the use of a correcting lens. An eye which is accompanied by a limitation in the fields of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees shall be considered for purposes of the first sentence of this subsection as having a central visual acuity of 20/200 or less. An individual shall also be considered to be blind for purposes of this title if he is blind as defined under a State plan approved under title X or XVI as in effect for October 1972 and received aid under such plan (on the basis of blindness) for December 1973, so long as he is continuously blind as so defined."[9]

In the UK, the Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI) is used to certify patients as severely sight impaired or sight impaired.[10] The accompanying guidance for clinical staff states: "The National Assistance Act 1948 states that a person can be certified as severely sight impaired if they are so blind as to be unable to perform any work for which eye sight is essential (National Assistance Act Section 64(1)). The test is whether a person cannot do any work for which eyesight is essential, not just his or her normal job or one particular job."[11]

See the rest here:
Blindness - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If you have low vision, eyeglasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery may not help. Activities like reading, shopping, cooking, writing, and watching TV may be hard to do. The leading causes of low vision and blindness in the United States are age-related eye diseases: macular degeneration, cataract and glaucoma. Other eye disorders, eye injuries and birth defects can also cause vision loss.

Whatever the cause, lost vision cannot be restored. It can, however, be managed. A loss of vision means that you may have to reorganize your life and learn new ways of doing things. If you have some vision, visual aids such as special glasses and large print books can make life easier. There are also devices to help those with no vision, like text-reading software and braille books.

The sooner vision loss or eye disease is found and treated, the greater your chances of keeping your remaining vision. You should have regular comprehensive eye exams by an eye care professional.

NIH: National Eye Institute

Read more here:
Vision Impairment and Blindness: MedlinePlus