StemCell Therapy

As you start to learn about stem cells, one of the most common questions tohave is, What types of stem cells exist?There is not an agreed-upon number of stem cell types, because one can classify stem cells either by differentiation potential(what they can turn into) or by origin (from where they are sourced).This post is dedicated to explaining the five types of stem cells, based on differentiation potential.

The five different types of stem cells discussed in this article are:

All stem cells that exist can be classified into one of five groups based on their differentiation potential. Each of these stem cell types is explored in greater detail below.

The Rise of Direct Cell Reprogramming | BioInformant https://t.co/q0vwT6CffR#allogeneic #totipotent #pluripotent #multipotent #autologous pic.twitter.com/ycoDP8mYa6

Todd C Bertsch (@todd_bertsch) February 19, 2018

These stem cells are the most powerful that exist.

They can differentiate into embryonic, as well as extra-embryonic tissues, such as chorion, yolk sac, amnion, and the allantois. In humans and other placental animals, these tissues form the placenta.

The most important characteristic of a totipotent cell is that it can generate a fully-functional, living organism.

The best-known example of a totipotent cell is a fertilized egg (formed when a sperm and egg unite to form a zygote).

It is at or around four days post-fertilization that these cells begin to specialize into pluripotent cells, which as described below, are flexible cell types but cannot produce an entire organism.

Theyre aliveeee!! Turned our human pluripotent stem cells into beating cardio!!! ::happy tears::Next up crispR KO fun #stemcellscientist #WomenInScience #futureBIOhacker pic.twitter.com/GVg4pb9Xri

Kristin Pagel (@DeeDeeTroit84) March 31, 2018

The next most powerful type of stem cell is the pluripotent stem cell.

The importance of this cell type is that it can self-renew and differentiate into any of the three germ layers, which are: ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm. These three germ layers further differentiate to form all tissues and organs within a human being.

There are several known types of pluripotent stem cells.

Among the natural pluripotent stem cells, embryonic stem cells are the best example.However, a type of human-made pluripotent stem cell also exists, which is the induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS cell).

iPS cells were first produced from mouse cells in 2006 and human cells in 2007, and are tissue-specific cells that can be reprogrammed to become functionally similar to embryonic stem cells.

Because of their powerful ability to differentiate in a wide diversity of tissues and their non-controversial nature, induced pluripotent stem cells are well-suited for use in cellular therapy and regenerative medicine.

Did you know that bone marrow contains multipotent stem cells that give rise to all the cells of the blood? pic.twitter.com/NcYJsdPJXi

caremotto (@caremotto) January 17, 2018

Multipotent stem cells are a middle-range type of stem cell, in that they can self-renew and differentiate into a specific range of cell types.

An excellent example of this cell type is the mesenchymal stem cell (MSC).

Mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into osteoblasts (a type of bone cell), myocytes (muscle cells), adipocytes (fat cells), and chondrocytes (cartilage cells).

These cells types are fairly diverse in their characteristics, which is why mesenchymal stem cells are classified as multipotent stem cells.

The next type of stem cells, oligopotent cells, are similar to the prior category (multipotent stem cells), but they become further restricted in their capacity to differentiate.

While these cells can self-renew and differentiate, they can only do so to a limited extent. They can only do so into closely related cell types.

An excellent example of this cell type is the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC).

HSCs are cells derived from mesoderm that can differentiate into other blood cells. Specifically, HSCs are oligopotent stem cells that can differentiate into both myeloid and lymphoid cells.

Myeloid cells includebasophils, dendritic cells, eosinophils, erythrocytes, macrophages, megakaryocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, and platelets, while lymphoid cells include B cells, T cells, and natural kills cells.

Finally, we have the unipotent stem cells, which are the least potent and most limited type of stem cell.

An example of this stem cell type would be muscle stem cells.

While muscle stem cells can self-renew and differentiate, they can only do so into a single cell type. They are unidirectional in their differentiation capacity.

The purpose of these stem cellcategories is to assess thefunctional capacity of stem cells based on their differentiation potential.

Importantly, each category has different stem cell research applications, medical applications, and drug development applications.

Watch this video and learn about the 5 types of stem cells:

In your opinion, which of the following types of stem cells have the best potential to form any tissue type? Mention them in the comments section below.

To learn more, view:Stem Cell Fact Sheet Types of Stem Cells and their Use in Medicine

Do You Know The 5 Types Of Stem Cells?

Read more here:
Do You Know the 5 Types of Stem Cells? | BioInformant

Overview

A bone marrow transplant is a procedure that infuses healthy blood stem cells into your body to replace your damaged or diseased bone marrow. A bone marrow transplant is also called a stem cell transplant.

A bone marrow transplant may be necessary if your bone marrow stops working and doesn't produce enough healthy blood cells.

Bone marrow transplants may use cells from your own body (autologous transplant) or from a donor (allogeneic transplant).

Mayo Clinic's approach

A bone marrow transplant may be used to:

Bone marrow transplants can benefit people with a variety of both cancerous (malignant) and noncancerous (benign) diseases, including:

Bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside some bones. Its job is to produce blood cells. If your bone marrow isn't functioning properly because of cancer or another disease, you may receive a stem cell transplant.

To prepare for a stem cell transplant, you receive chemotherapy to kill the diseased cells and malfunctioning bone marrow. Then, transplanted blood stem cells are put into your bloodstream. The transplanted stem cells find their way to your marrow, where ideally they begin producing new, healthy blood cells.

A bone marrow transplant poses many risks of complications, some potentially fatal.

The risk can depend on many factors, including the type of disease or condition, the type of transplant, and the age and health of the person receiving the transplant.

Although some people experience minimal problems with a bone marrow transplant, others may develop complications that may require treatment or hospitalization. Some complications could even be life-threatening.

Complications that can arise with a bone marrow transplant include:

Your doctor can explain your risk of complications from a bone marrow transplant. Together you can weigh the risks and benefits to decide whether a bone marrow transplant is right for you.

If you receive a transplant that uses stem cells from a donor (allogeneic transplant), you may be at risk of developing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). This condition occurs when the donor stem cells that make up your new immune system see your body's tissues and organs as something foreign and attack them.

Many people who have an allogeneic transplant get GVHD at some point. The risk of GVHD is a bit greater if the stem cells come from an unrelated donor, but it can happen to anyone who gets a bone marrow transplant from a donor.

GVHD may happen at any time after your transplant. However, it's more common after your bone marrow has started to make healthy cells.

There are two kinds of GVHD: acute and chronic. Acute GVHD usually happens earlier, during the first months after your transplant. It typically affects your skin, digestive tract or liver. Chronic GVHD typically develops later and can affect many organs.

Chronic GVHD signs and symptoms include:

You'll undergo a series of tests and procedures to assess your general health and the status of your condition, and to ensure that you're physically prepared for the transplant. The evaluation may take several days or more.

In addition, a surgeon or radiologist will implant a long thin tube (intravenous catheter) into a large vein in your chest or neck. The catheter, often called a central line, usually remains in place for the duration of your treatment. Your transplant team will use the central line to infuse the transplanted stem cells and other medications and blood products into your body.

If a transplant using your own stem cells (autologous transplant) is planned, you'll undergo a procedure called apheresis (af-uh-REE-sis) to collect blood stem cells.

Before apheresis, you'll receive daily injections of growth factor to increase stem cell production and move stem cells into your circulating blood so that they can be collected.

During apheresis, blood is drawn from a vein and circulated through a machine. The machine separates your blood into different parts, including stem cells. These stem cells are collected and frozen for future use in the transplant. The remaining blood is returned to your body.

If a transplant using stem cells from a donor (allogeneic transplant) is planned, you will need a donor. When you have a donor, stem cells are gathered from that person for the transplant. This process is often called a stem cell harvest or bone marrow harvest. Stem cells can come from your donor's blood or bone marrow. Your transplant team decides which is better for you based on your situation.

Another type of allogeneic transplant uses stem cells from the blood of umbilical cords (cord blood transplant). Mothers can choose to donate umbilical cords after their babies' births. The blood from these cords is frozen and stored in a cord blood bank until needed for a bone marrow transplant.

After you complete your pretransplant tests and procedures, you begin a process known as conditioning. During conditioning, you'll undergo chemotherapy and possibly radiation to:

The type of conditioning process you receive depends on a number of factors, including your disease, overall health and the type of transplant planned. You may have both chemotherapy and radiation or just one of these treatments as part of your conditioning treatment.

Side effects of the conditioning process can include:

You may be able to take medications or other measures to reduce such side effects.

Based on your age and health history, your doctor may recommend lower doses or different types of chemotherapy or radiation for your conditioning treatment. This is called reduced-intensity conditioning.

Reduced-intensity conditioning kills some cancer cells and somewhat suppresses your immune system. Then, the donor's cells are infused into your body. Donor cells replace cells in your bone marrow over time. Immune factors in the donor cells may then fight your cancer cells.

Your bone marrow transplant occurs after you complete the conditioning process. On the day of your transplant, called day zero, stem cells are infused into your body through your central line.

The transplant infusion is painless. You are awake during the procedure.

The transplanted stem cells make their way to your bone marrow, where they begin creating new blood cells. It can take a few weeks for new blood cells to be produced and for your blood counts to begin recovering.

Bone marrow or blood stem cells that have been frozen and thawed contain a preservative that protects the cells. Just before the transplant, you may receive medications to reduce the side effects the preservative may cause. You'll also likely be given IV fluids (hydration) before and after your transplant to help rid your body of the preservative.

Side effects of the preservative may include:

Not everyone experiences side effects from the preservative, and for some people those side effects are minimal.

When the new stem cells enter your body, they begin to travel through your body and to your bone marrow. In time, they multiply and begin to make new, healthy blood cells. This is called engraftment. It usually takes several weeks before the number of blood cells in your body starts to return to normal. In some people, it may take longer.

In the days and weeks after your bone marrow transplant, you'll have blood tests and other tests to monitor your condition. You may need medicine to manage complications, such as nausea and diarrhea.

After your bone marrow transplant, you'll remain under close medical care. If you're experiencing infections or other complications, you may need to stay in the hospital for several days or sometimes longer. Depending on the type of transplant and the risk of complications, you'll need to remain near the hospital for several weeks to months to allow close monitoring.

You may also need periodic transfusions of red blood cells and platelets until your bone marrow begins producing enough of those cells on its own.

You may be at greater risk of infections or other complications for months to years after your transplant.

A bone marrow transplant can cure some diseases and put others into remission. Goals of a bone marrow transplant depend on your individual situation, but usually include controlling or curing your disease, extending your life, and improving your quality of life.

Some people complete bone marrow transplantation with few side effects and complications. Others experience numerous challenging problems, both short and long term. The severity of side effects and the success of the transplant vary from person to person and sometimes can be difficult to predict before the transplant.

It can be discouraging if significant challenges arise during the transplant process. However, it is sometimes helpful to remember that there are many survivors who also experienced some very difficult days during the transplant process but ultimately had successful transplants and have returned to normal activities with a good quality of life.

Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this disease.

Living with a bone marrow transplant or waiting for a bone marrow transplant can be difficult, and it's normal to have fears and concerns.

Having support from your friends and family can be helpful. Also, you and your family may benefit from joining a support group of people who understand what you're going through and who can provide support. Support groups offer a place for you and your family to share fears, concerns, difficulties and successes with people who have had similar experiences. You may meet people who have already had a transplant or who are waiting for a transplant.

To learn about transplant support groups in your community, ask your transplant team or social worker for information. Also, several support groups are offered at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota.

Mayo Clinic researchers study medications and treatments for people who have had bone marrow transplants, including new medications to help you stay healthy after your bone marrow transplant.

If your bone marrow transplant is using stem cells from a donor (allogeneic transplant), you may be at risk of graft-versus-host disease. This condition occurs when a donor's transplanted stem cells attack the recipient's body. Doctors may prescribe medications to help prevent graft-versus-host disease and reduce your immune system's reaction (immunosuppressive medications).

After your transplant, it will take time for your immune system to recover. You may be given antibiotics to prevent infections. You may also be prescribed antifungal, antibacterial or antiviral medications. Doctors continue to study and develop several new medications, including new antifungal medications, antibacterial medications, antiviral medications and immunosuppressive medications.

After your bone marrow transplant, you may need to adjust your diet to stay healthy and to prevent excessive weight gain. Maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other negative health effects.

Your nutrition specialist (dietitian) and other members of your transplant team will work with you to create a healthy-eating plan that meets your needs and complements your lifestyle. Your dietitian may also give you food suggestions to control side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, such as nausea.

Your dietitian will also provide you with healthy food options and ideas to use in your eating plan. Your dietitian's recommendations may include:

After your bone marrow transplant, you may make exercise and physical activity a regular part of your life to continue to improve your health and fitness. Exercising regularly helps you control your weight, strengthen your bones, increase your endurance, strengthen your muscles and keep your heart healthy.

Your treatment team may work with you to set up a routine exercise program to meet your needs. You may perform exercises daily, such as walking and other activities. As you recover, you can slowly increase your physical activity.

Read this article:
Bone marrow transplant - Mayo Clinic

Your doctor may recommend astem cell transplantationto treat your acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Stem cell transplantation isn't an option for everyone, especially because of the high, sometimes life-threatening risks associated with it.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is the most common type of stem cell transplantation used to treat AML.Studies show that allogeneic stem cell transplantation may benefit high-risk and intermediate-risk patients who are younger than 60 and have an HLA-matched sibling donor. Timing of an allogeneic stem cell transplantation is one of the most important factors influencing transplant outcomes, so it is very important to start a donor search as soon as possible in order to identify a suitably matched related or unrelated donor.

Autologous transplantation is sometimes used for patients who do not have an HLA-matched donor. Autologous transplants are used less frequently than allogeneic transplants for AML patients mainly because of the lack of a graft-versus-leukemia effect and the risk of returning some leukemia cells back to the patient.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation involves transferring stem cells from a healthy person (the donor) to the patient. The procedure follows high-intensity chemotherapy, potent drugs that must be toxic enough to kill leukemic cells. Unfortunately, the drugs also take aim at normal stem cells in the bone marrow.

The main reasons for doing an allogeneic stem cell transplant are:

The decision to do a stem cell transplant depends on:

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is used to treat certain AML patients. It is a curative treatment option for some AML patients in first remission.Allogeneic transplantation is associated with a higher rate of side effects and mortality than autologous transplant. However, it may be considered for patients with higher-risk AML, based on cytogenetic and molecular test results. The decision to perform an allogeneic transplant also depends on the age of the patient and the patients (or his or her familys) understanding of the potential benefits and risks.The upper age limit for transplantation varies by treatment center; many centers use age 60 or 65 years for allogeneic transplantation and 70 or 75years for reduced-intensity allogeneic transplantation.

Reduced-intensity allogeneic stem cell transplantation may be a treatment option for patients who are too old or who may have other medical conditions that prevent them from having a standard allogeneic stem cell transplant. The conditioning therapy used for a reduced-intensity transplant is of lower intensity than that for a standard stem cell transplant; it does not completely inactivate the patients immune system or treat the AML as intensively. Thus, if a suitable donor is available, patients up to age 75 may benefit from this form of treatment.

A serious risk of allogeneic and reduced-intensity allogenic stem cell transplantation is graft versus host disease (GVHD), which develops if the donor's immune cells attack your normal tissue. GVHD's effects can range from minor to life threatening.

Autologous stem cell transplantation involves "harvesting," or retrieving, noncancerous stem cells from the patients own body and freezing them. The cells are returned to the patients body after receiving intensive chemotherapy. The procedure is only appropriate for certain patients.

The question of which patients are likely to benefit from transplantation after their first complete remission is under study in clinical trials. The decision to do a stem cell transplant depends on whether the patients AML is favorable risk, intermediate risk or high risk. The doctor also considers:

Autologous transplantation is relatively safe for many patients, including older patients. For some AML patients who do not have an HLA-matched stem cell donor, therapy can be further intensified with very-high-dose chemotherapy followed by an autologous transplant.

Read the rest here:
Stem Cell Transplantation | Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Diabetes can strike anyone, from any walk of life.

And it does in numbers that are dramatically increasing. In the last decade, the cases of people living with diabetes jumped almost 50 percent to more than 30 million Americans. Worldwide, it afflicts more than 422 million people.

Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, amputations, heart failure and stroke.

Living with diabetes places an enormous emotional, physical and financial burden on the entire family. Annually, diabetes costs the American public more than $245 billion.

Just what is diabetes?

To answer that, you first need to understand the role of insulin in your body. When you eat, your body turns food into sugars, or glucose. At that point, your pancreas is supposed to release insulin. Insulin serves as a key to open your cells, to allow the glucose to enter -- and allow you to use the glucose for energy.

But with diabetes, this system does not work.

Several major things can go wrong causing the onset of diabetes. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are the most common forms of the disease, but there are also other kinds, such as gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy, as well as other forms.

Do you want to learn more about the basics of diabetes?Read our brochure: "What is Diabetes?" in Englishor"Que es La Diabetes?" in Spanish.

The more severe form of diabetes is type 1, or insulin-dependent diabetes. Its sometimes called juvenile diabetes, because type 1 diabetes usually develops in children and teenagers, though it can develop at any age.

With type 1 diabetes, the bodys immune system attacks part of its own pancreas. Scientists are not sure why. But the immune system mistakenly sees the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas as foreign, and destroys them. This attack is known as "autoimmune" disease.

These cells called islets (pronounced EYE-lets) are the ones that sense glucose in the blood and, in response, produce the necessary amount of insulin to normalize blood sugars.

Insulin serves as a key to open your cells, to allow the glucose to enter -- and allow you to use the glucose for energy. Without insulin, there is no key. So, the sugar stays -- and builds up-- in the blood. The result: the bodys cells starve from the lack of glucose. And, if left untreated, the high level of blood sugar can damage eyes, kidneys, nerves, and the heart, and can also lead to coma and death.

So, a person with type 1 treats the disease by taking insulin injections. This outside source of insulin now serves as the key -- bringing glucose to the bodys cells.

The challenge with this treatment is that its often not possible to know precisely how much insulin to take. The amount is based on many factors, including:

Food

Exercise

Stress

Emotions and general health

These factors fluctuate greatly throughout every day. So, deciding on what dose of insulin to take is a complicated balancing act.

If you take too much, then your body burns too much glucose -- and your blood sugar can drop to a dangerously low level. This is a condition called hypoglycemia, which, if untreated, can be potentially life-threatening.

If you take too little insulin, your body can again be starved of the energy it needs, and your blood sugar can rise to a dangerously high level -- a condition called hyperglycemia. This also increases the chance of long-term complications.

The most common form of diabetes is called type 2, or non-insulin dependent diabetes.

This is also called adult onset diabetes, since it typically develops after age 35. However, a growing number of younger people are now developing type 2 diabetes.

People with type 2 are able to produce some of their own insulin. Often, its not enough. And sometimes, the insulin will try to serve as the key to open the bodys cells, to allow the glucose to enter. But the key wont work. The cells wont open. This is called insulin resistance.

Often, type 2 is tied to people who are overweight, with a sedentary lifestyle.

Treatment focuses on diet and exercise. If blood sugar levels are still high, oral medications are used to help the body use its own insulin more efficiently. In some cases, insulin injections are necessary.

Read the original post:
What is Diabetes?

Exercise helps ease arthritis pain and stiffness

As you consider starting an arthritis exercise program, understand what's within your limits and what level of exercise is likely to give you results.

Exercise is crucial for people with arthritis. It increases strength and flexibility, reduces joint pain, and helps combat fatigue. Of course, when stiff and painful joints are already bogging you down, the thought of walking around the block or swimming a few laps might seem overwhelming.

But you don't need to run a marathon or swim as fast as an Olympic competitor to help reduce arthritis symptoms. Even moderate exercise can ease your pain and help you maintain a healthy weight. When arthritis threatens to immobilize you, exercise keeps you moving. Not convinced? Read on.

Exercise can help you improve your health and fitness without hurting your joints. With your current treatment program, exercise can:

Though you might think exercise will aggravate your joint pain and stiffness, that's not the case. Lack of exercise actually can make your joints even more painful and stiff.

That's because keeping your muscles and surrounding tissue strong is crucial to maintaining support for your bones. Not exercising weakens those supporting muscles, creating more stress on your joints.

Talk to your doctor about fitting exercise into your treatment plan. What types of exercises are best for you depends on your type of arthritis and which joints are involved. Your doctor or a physical therapist can work with you to find the exercise plan that gives you the most benefit with the least aggravation of your joint pain.

Your doctor or physical therapist can recommend exercises for you, which might include range-of-motion exercises, strengthening exercises, aerobic exercise and other activities.

These exercises relieve stiffness and increase your ability to move your joints through their full range of motion. These exercises might include movements such as raising your arms over your head or rolling your shoulders forward and backward. In most cases, these exercises can be done daily.

These exercises help you build strong muscles that help support and protect your joints. Weight training is an example of a strengthening exercise that can help you maintain or increase your muscle strength. Remember to avoid exercising the same muscle groups two days in a row. Rest a day between your workouts, and take an extra day or two if your joints are painful or swollen.

When starting a strength-training program, a three-day-a-week program can help you jump-start your improvement, but two days a week is all you need to maintain your gains.

Aerobic or endurance exercises help with your overall fitness. They can improve your cardiovascular health, help you control your weight and give you more stamina and energy.

Examples of low-impact aerobic exercises that are easier on your joints include walking, bicycling, swimming and using an elliptical machine. Try to work your way up to 150 minutes of moderately intense aerobic exercise per week. You can split that time into 10-minute blocks if that's easier on your joints.

Moderate intensity aerobic exercise is the safest and most effective if it's done most days of the week, but even a couple of days a week is better than no exercise. To determine if you are in the moderate intensity exercise zone, you should be able to carry on a conversation while exercising, though your breathing rate will be increased.

Any movement, no matter how small, can help. Daily activities such as mowing the lawn, raking leaves and walking the dog count.

Body awareness exercises, such as gentle forms of yoga or tai chi, can help you improve balance, prevent falls, improve posture and coordination, and promote relaxation. Be sure to tell your instructor about your condition and avoid positions or movements that can cause pain.

Start slowly to ease your joints into exercise if you haven't been active for a while. If you push yourself too hard, you can overwork your muscles and worsen your joint pain.

Consider these tips as you get started:

Trust your instincts and don't exert more energy than you think your joints can handle. Take it easy and slowly increase your exercise length and intensity as you progress.

You might notice some pain after you exercise if you haven't been active for a while. In general, if you're sore for more than two hours after you exercise, you were probably exercising too strenuously. Talk to your doctor about what pain is normal and what pain is a sign of something more serious.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, ask your doctor if you should exercise during general or local flares. One option is to work through your joint flares by doing only range-of-motion exercises, just to keep your body moving, or exercising in water to cushion your joints.

Check with your doctor about exercise programs in your area for people with arthritis. Some hospitals, clinics and health clubs offer special programs.

The Arthritis Foundation conducts exercise programs for people with arthritis in many parts of the United States. Programs include exercise classes in water and on land and walking groups. Contact your local branch for more information.

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Read more from the original source:
Exercising with arthritis: Improve your joint pain and ...

There is no cure for arthritis but there are a number of treatments that may help relieve the pain and disability it can cause.

As with other arthritic conditions, initial treatment of arthritis of the knee is nonsurgical. Your doctor may recommend a range of treatment options.

Lifestyle modifications. Some changes in your daily life can protect your knee joint and slow the progress of arthritis.

Physical therapy. Specific exercises can help increase range of motion and flexibility, as well as help strengthen the muscles in your leg. Your doctor or a physical therapist can help develop an individualized exercise program that meets your needs and lifestyle.

Assistive devices. Using devices such as a cane, wearing shock-absorbing shoes or inserts, or wearing a brace or knee sleeve can be helpful. A brace assists with stability and function, and may be especially helpful if the arthritis is centered on one side of the knee. There are two types of braces that are often used for knee arthritis: An "unloader" brace shifts weight away from the affected portion of the knee, while a "support" brace helps support the entire knee load.

Other remedies. Applying heat or ice, using pain-relieving ointments or creams, or wearing elastic bandages to provide support to the knee may provide some relief from pain.

Medications. Several types of drugs are useful in treating arthritis of the knee. Because people respond differently to medications, your doctor will work closely with you to determine the medications and dosages that are safe and effective for you.

Like all medications, over-the-counter pain relievers can cause side effects and interact with other medications you are taking. Be sure to discuss potential side effects with your doctor.

In some cases, pain and swelling may "flare" immediately after the injection, and the potential exists for long-term joint damage or infection. With frequent repeated injections, or injections over an extended period of time, joint damage can actually increase rather than decrease.

In addition, biologic DMARDs like etanercept (Enbrel) and adalimumab (Humira) may reduce the body's overactive immune response. Because there are many different drugs today for rheumatoid arthritis, a rheumatology specialist is often required to effectively manage medications.

In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not test dietary supplements before they are sold to consumers. These compounds may cause side effects, as well as negative interactions with other medications. Always consult your doctor before taking dietary supplements.

Alternative therapies. Many alternative forms of therapy are unproven, but may be helpful to try, provided you find a qualified practitioner and keep your doctor informed of your decision. Alternative therapies to treat pain include the use of acupuncture and magnetic pulse therapy.

Acupuncture uses fine needles to stimulate specific body areas to relieve pain or temporarily numb an area. Although it is used in many parts of the world and evidence suggests that it can help ease the pain of arthritis, there are few scientific studies of its effectiveness. Be sure your acupuncturist is certified, and do not hesitate to ask about his or her sterilization practices.

Magnetic pulse therapy is painless and works by applying a pulsed signal to the knee, which is placed in an electromagnetic field. Like many alternative therapies, magnetic pulse therapy has yet to be proven.

Your doctor may recommend surgery if your pain from arthritis causes disability and is not relieved with nonsurgical treatment. As with all surgeries, there are some risks and possible complications with different knee procedures. Your doctor will discuss the possible complications with you before your operation.

Arthroscopy. During arthroscopy, doctors use small incisions and thin instruments to diagnose and treat joint problems.

Arthroscopic surgery is not often used to treat arthritis of the knee. In cases where osteoarthritis is accompanied by a degenerative meniscal tear, arthroscopic surgery may be recommended to treat the torn meniscus.

Cartilage grafting. Normal, healthy cartilage tissue may be taken from another part of the knee or from a tissue bank to fill a hole in the articular cartilage. This procedure is typically considered only for younger patients who have small areas of cartilage damage.

Synovectomy. The joint lining damaged by rheumatoid arthritis is removed to reduce pain and swelling.

Osteotomy. In a knee osteotomy, either the tibia (shinbone) or femur (thighbone) is cut and then reshaped to relieve pressure on the knee joint. Knee osteotomy is used when you have early-stage osteoarthritis that has damaged just one side of the knee joint. By shifting your weight off the damaged side of the joint, an osteotomy can relieve pain and significantly improve function in your arthritic knee.

Total or partial knee replacement (arthroplasty). Your doctor will remove the damaged cartilage and bone, and then position new metal or plastic joint surfaces to restore the function of your knee.

Go here to read the rest:
Arthritis of the Knee - OrthoInfo - AAOS

Arthritis is something that affects a lot of people. In fact, its believed that approximately 350 million people worldwide have arthritis, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) estimates that more than 54 million in the U.S. alone suffer from arthritis symptoms. (1, 2)

Rheumatoid arthritis is really autoimmune in nature and actually starts in your gut, which is surprising to a lot of people. So Im going to share with you the top natural arthritis treatments that are effective in terms of diet and supplements. Ill also mention the things you want to stay away from when followingthe arthritis diet.

[Below is my transcript of my video about natural treatments for arthritis and the arthritis diet, along with supplemental information on the topic.]

A smartarthritis diet should be full of anti-inflammatory foods. Here are the top foods you should consume.

Numerous scientific studies demonstrate that dietaryomega-3 fatty acidscan help toreduce inflammationin the body. (3) Wild-caught fish, including benefit-packed salmon, is your No. 1 food of choice. After that, grass-fed beef, flaxseeds, chia seeds and walnutsare all excellent choices. You can eat a healthy snack like some walnuts and raisins, wild-caught salmon for dinner, and put some flaxseeds or chia seeds in a morning superfood shake, but just make sure you get those omega-3 fatty acids on a daily basis.

The second thing you want to do diet-wise is consume foods that are high in sulfur. Sulfur naturally contains a form ofmethylsulfonylmethane (MSM). As a 2017 scientific review points out, MSM has been shown to helpreduce joint inflammationalong with joint pain. (4) According to the Arthritis Foundation,MSM acts as ananalgesic agent in the body by decreasing the nerve impulses that transmit pain. (5)

The top foods high in sulfur are onions, garlic, asparagus and cabbage. So you can eatsauted cabbage with some garlic, some onions with yourgrass-fed burger, and of course, asparagus as a side dish or any sort of cabbage, coleslaw or sauerkraut. Those sulfur-rich foods can really help to reduce arthritis symptoms.

The next thing you want to add to your arthritis dietis bone broth. The healing power of bone broth is remarkable. Its loaded with a form of collagen that contains the amino acids proline and glycine, and both proline and glycine help rebuild tissues.

Nutrition researchers from theWeston A. Price Foundation explain thatbone broth alsocontains chondroitin sulphatesand glucosamine, the compounds sold as pricey supplements to reduce inflammation, arthritis and joint pain. (6)

Bone broth is great for the body for so many reasons, but it can be especially helpful if you have any type of degeneration of the joints. Try my Homemade Chicken Bone Broth Recipe orBeef Bone Broth Recipe to get started.

Last but not least, you should eat lots of fruits and veggies on the arthritis diet. Fruits and veggies are packed with digestive enzymes and anti-inflammatory compounds. Some of the best include papaya, which contains papain, and pineapple, which contains bromelain. Other raw fruits and vegetables are fantastic as well.

A 2011 study in publishedMolecular Nutrition and Food Research found that inflammatory markers decreased when human test subjects were given papaya. (7) A more recent review of research published in 2015 points out that both in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that papaya extracts and papaya-associated phytochemicals possess anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. (8)

Bromelain, which can be found in pineapple,was first reported as an anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving agent for use in both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritic patients all the way back in 1964. Today, bromelain is sometimes taken in supplement form by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis sufferers. More recent studies are warranted, but to date, bromelain appears to possibly decrease joint swelling and improve joint mobility. (9)

So the bulk of your diet should consist of the following:organic and omega-3 rich protein; healthy vegetables; healthy fruits; and some high omega-3 nuts and seeds like flaxseeds, chia seeds and walnuts.

If youre wondering which foods aggravate arthritis, heres a list of what not to eat if you have arthritis:

If youre following an arthritis diet, you want to stay completely away from these offending foods if you want to start improving your symptoms as soon as possible.

In addition, if you have sensitivitiesor you have a severe autoimmune disease, sometimes nightshade vegetablescontribute to arthritis symptoms as well so youll want to remove those as well. According to the Cleveland Clinic, This food group can aggravate the pain and inflammation of arthritis. It includes tomatoes, white potatoes, eggplant, pepper, paprika and tobacco. (17)

Now, here are the best supplements in the natural treatment of arthritis to add to your arthritis diet.

No. 1is a fish oil supplement. Fish oil benefits health in so many ways, including treating arthritis.An 18-month study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicineevaluated how borage oiland fish oil fared against each other in treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis. It was discovered that all three groups (one taking fish oil, one taking borage seed and one taking a combination of the two) exhibited significant reductions in disease activity and no therapy outperformed the others! (18)

I recommend 1,000 milligrams a day of a high-quality fish oil.

Number two, turmeric benefits arthritis patients because its a very powerful anti-inflammatory herb.A study out of Japan evaluated its relationship with interleukin (IL)-6, the inflammatory cytokine known to be involved in the rheumatoid arthritisprocess, and discovered that turmericsignificantly reduced these inflammatory markers. (19) This suggests that regular turmeric use could be a potent strategy to prevent the onset of arthritis from developingto begin with!

You can take turmeric and sprinkle that on your food (or cook with it), and that works great but actually taking it as a supplement can be very effective in the natural treatment of arthritis.I recommend about 1,000 milligrams a day of turmeric.

The thirdsuperfood or super-supplement you should be using is proteolytic enzymes. Proteolytic enzymes like benefit-rich bromelainare supplementsyou take on an empty stomach, and along with fish oil, they are probably the most effective thing you can do to get immediate relief from arthritis.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and comparator-controlled trial, an orally administered combination ofproteolytic enzymes and bioflavonoid wasas effective as an NSAID in managing chronic osteoarthritis of the knee when it was taken for 12 weeks. (20)

Glucosamine chondroitin, or glucosamine sulfate, is very effective at actually giving your body the sort of nutrients and things it needs for rebuilding healthy joints, which is way its a natural remedy for bone and join pain.

5. MSM

MSM is a form of sulfur you can take in supplement form thats also effective, as stated earlier, which is why sulfur-rich foods are effective at treating arthritis.

If you suffer from arthritis, make sure to follow the arthritis diet and supplement recommendations.If youve enjoyed this video and article, make sure you subscribe here to my Dr. Axe YouTubechannel.

Continued here:
Arthritis Diet in 4 Steps + 5 Best Arthritis Supplements - Dr ...

Arthritis medications have long been considered the "traditional" treatment option. Since individual response to drugs can vary and because potential side effects and adverse reactions are also a factor, finding the most effective combination of arthritis medications can be a more difficult process than you might expect. You should become knowledgeable about various arthritis medications, so that you can make an informed decision with your doctor.

NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are among the most commonly prescribed and widely used arthritis drugs. There are three types of NSAIDs: salicylates (both acetylated [e.g., aspirin] and non-acetylated [e.g., Disalcid {salsalate}]), Trilisate (choline magnesium trisalicylate), and Doan's Pills or Novasal (magnesium salicylate); the traditional NSAIDs; and COX-2 selective inhibitors.

NSAIDs work by blocking the activity of the enzyme, cyclooxygenase, also known as COX. Research has revealed that there are two forms of cyclooxygenase, known as COX-1 and COX-2. NSAIDs affect both forms. COX-1 is involved in maintaining healthy tissue, while COX-2 is involved in the inflammation pathway. COX-2 selective inhibitors became a subset of NSAIDswith Celebrex (celecoxib) being the first to be FDA-approved in the late 1990s.

Traditional NSAIDs include:

COX-2 Inhibitors include:

Read: NSAIDs - What You Should Know

DMARDs (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs) are also referred to as "slow-acting anti-rheumatic drugs" because they typically take weeks or months to work and "second-line agents." Research has confirmed the effectiveness of DMARDs in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis as well as the importance of early, aggressive treatment using DMARDs. The goal of being treated with DMARDs is to stop disease progression and halt joint damage.

DMARDs include:

Xeljanz (tofacitinib citrate), an oral DMARD, was approved by the FDA on Nov. 6, 2012, to treat adults with moderately active to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response, or intolerance, to methotrexate. Xeljanz is the first in a class of drugs known as JAK (Janus kinase) inhibitors.

Read: Facts About DMARDs

Corticosteroids or glucocorticoids, often called "steroids," are potent drugs which can reduce swelling and inflammation quickly. These drugs are closely related to cortisol, a hormone produced by the cortex of the adrenal glands. They are prescribed in widely varying doses depending on the condition and goal of treatment. While steroids may be used to control inflammation of the joints and organs in inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, polymyalgia rheumatica, and vasculitis, it has been determined that the potential for serious side effects increases at high doses or with long-term use.

Doctors may prescribe short-term, high-dose intravenous steroids in some situations, or your doctor can administer a local steroid injection into a specific joint, such as Kenalog (triamcinolone), to help you get some relief from pain and inflammation.

Corticosteroids include:

Read: Corticosteroids (Steroids) - What You Should Know

Analgesics are pain-relieving drugs. Controlling pain is a vital part of treating arthritis. However, unlike NSAIDs, analgesic medications do not relieve inflammation. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is the most commonly used analgesic. Narcotic analgesic drugs may also be prescribed for more severe pain.

Narcotics include:

Read: Analgesic Medications - What You Should Know

Biologic Response Modifiers (BRMs), more commonly referred to as biologics, stimulate or restore the ability of the immune system to fight disease or infection. Biologics are drugs derived from living sources as opposed to being synthesized chemicals.

Enbrel (etanercept), Remicade infliximab), Humira (adalimumab), Cimzia (certolizumab pegol), and Simponi (golimumab) target TNF-alpha, one of the most important cytokines involved in rheumatoid arthritis. TNF blockers (biologic drugs that bind to TNF-alpha) render it inactive, thereby interfering with inflammatory activity and ultimately decreasing joint damage.

Kineret (anakinra), also a biologic drug, is an IL-1 antagonist. Kineret was the first selective blocker of interleukin-1 (IL-1), a protein that is found in excess in some people with rheumatoid arthritis. By blocking IL-1, Kineret inhibits inflammation and pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Kineret can be used alone, or in combination with other DMARDs, except anti-TNF drugs. While Kineret is an option, it rarely is prescribed.

Orencia (abatacept) was the first T-cell co-stimulation modulator to be approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Rituxan (rituximab), the world's best-selling cancer drug, was FDA approved in March 2006 to be used in combination with methotrexate to treat rheumatoid arthritis by reducing the signs and symptoms in adults who have moderately-to-severely active rheumatoid arthritis and have failed one or more anti-TNF drugs. Rituxan is the first treatment for rheumatoid arthritis that selectively targets the CD20-positive B-cells.

Actemra (tocilizumab) is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits the interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor, thereby blocking interleukin-6. Actemra was approved by the FDA on Jan. 8, 2010 for the treatment of adult rheumatoid arthritis in people who have failed one or more TNF blockers.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment - ACR Recommendations

Until 2007, there were no drugs approved by the FDA for the treatment of fibromyalgia. Doctors treated fibromyalgia with a variety of drugs developed and approved for other indications. In 2007, Lyrica (pregabalin) was approved to treat fibromyalgia. In 2008, Cymbalta (duloxetine HCl) was approved for fibromyalgia. In 2009, Savella (milnacipran HCl) was approved for the condition.

Gout is one of the most acutely painful forms of arthritis. It can be managed with medication, diet, and lifestyle changes. There are three aspects of gout treatment with medication: analgesics, anti-inflammatory medications, and drugs to manage uric acid levels and gout attacks.

Drugs for gout include:

Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by porous, brittle bones, which is most common to the elderly, but also may be problematic for people who have taken corticosteroids (steroids) longterm. There are several categories of drug options for osteoporosis: estrogens, parathyroid hormones, bone formation agents, bisphosphonates, and selective receptor molecules. Depending on which drug is used, you can slow bone loss, promote bone growth, and reduce the risk of fractures.

Drugs for osteoporosis include:

The underlying goals of treating arthritis and rheumatic diseases with medication include controlling pain, decreasing inflammation, slowing progression of the disease, and managing disease activity. There are many types of arthritis and many drugs in each drug class. That makes choosing a treatment regimen somewhat complicated. Deciding which medication or combination of medications is right for you can be daunting. It likely will take trial and errorand you will keep trying until you feel you have achieved an adequate response. Verywell has compiled the facts you need to know about arthritis medications. The information Verywell has provided will help you understand why you are taking the medication you are taking and will help you formulate questions for your doctor.

Continue reading here:
Arthritis Treatment - verywellhealth.com

What is arthritis?

Arthritis, or "joint inflammation," is a general term for a group of more than 100 diseases. Arthritis is inflammation (swelling) in and around the bodys joints. (A joint is a point at which two or more bones come together, such as the hip or the knee.)

Inflammation is one of the body's natural responses to disease or injury. Inflammation can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling, as well as loss of movement in some patients. Some types of arthritis include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and gout.

Download a Free Guide on Arthritis Pain Treatment

Arthritis limits everyday activities such as walking, dressing, and bathing. In the United States, one in five adults (52.5 million) reports having arthritis that has been diagnosed by a doctor.

Arthritis is the leading cause of disability among Americans aged 15 and older. However, arthritis affects people in all age groups, including almost 300,000 children.

Other statistics about arthritis:

The causes of most types of arthritis are not known. Scientists are studying how three major factors may play a role in certain types of arthritis:

Although the exact causes of arthritis might not be known, there are several risk factors. A risk factor is a something that increases a person's chance of developing a disease or condition. Risk factors for arthritis include:

The pain of arthritis might be caused by different things, including inflammation of the synovial membrane (tissue that lines the joints), tendons, or ligaments; muscle strain; and fatigue. A combination of these factors can have an effect on how strong the pain is.

The pain of arthritis can be very different for each person. Things that contribute to the pain include the amount of damage and swelling within the joint.

Different types of arthritis have different symptoms, which can be mild in some people and very strong in others. Osteoarthritis usually does not cause any symptoms outside the joint.

Symptoms of other types of arthritis might include fatigue (feeling tired), fever, a rash, and the signs of joint inflammation, including:

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Arthritis | Cleveland Clinic

Simple Exercises for Managing Arthritis Pain | TYLENOLSkip to main content

Before starting or changing an exercise program to help with arthritis pain management, talk with your healthcare provider about whether you are healthy enough to participate. When determining how to relieve arthritis pain, remember that taking a Tylenol 8 HR Arthritis Pain is not the only way.

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People who exercise have a 43% reduced risk of osteoarthritis-related disability.

Provide joint pain relief

Limit the amount and type of pain relievers used

Stay active and energized

Improve sleep, overall health and quality of life

Better function in everyday tasks

Move joints more easily and slow damage

Experts Recommend 3 Types of Exercises for Arthritis

Cardiovascular (cardio) activity

Types:

Low-impact exercisessuch as walking, elliptical machines, or water aerobicsare easier on arthritis hip pain and arthritis knee pain

Amounts:

20-30 minutes daily (If youre inactive, start with 5-10 minutes and increase over time to help what causes arthritis pain)

2 hours weekly of moderate exercise, or 75 minutes weekly of vigorous exercise

Do as much as you can do. Even if you cant fit in much cardio, the strengthening and stretching exercises can help with things like arthritis back pain.

Always warm up for 3-5 minutes before beginning arthritis exercises with light activity like walking around the block or marching in place.

Cool down for at least 5 minutes after strengthening or cardio exercises. You can do more light activity like walking or stretching exercises.

When you start exercising to relieve arthritis symptoms, you may initially have some mild discomfort, but this often improves after a few minutes. Listen to your body if any initial discomfort persists it knows what is arthritis appropriate exercise for you.

Note: If you experience severe arthritis pain during your workout, stop immediately and talk with your healthcare provider about arthritis management. Always read and follow the label before taking any arthritis pain medication.

Get fast pain relief that lasts all day.*

*Up to 8 hours

Tiny changes today can mean less joint pain in the future.

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Simple Exercises for Managing Arthritis Pain | TYLENOL

CTERP INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCEApril 11-13, 2018Moscow, Russia

In recent years there have been rapid advances in applying the discoveries in cell technologies field into medical practice. Cell technologies are progressing as the result of multidisciplinary effort of scientists, clinicians and businessmen,with clinical applications of manipulated stem cells combining developments in transplantation and gene therapy.Challenges address not only thetechnology itself but also compliancewith safety and regulatory requirements.

The Conference will provide a platform for scientists from basic and applied cell biology fields, practical doctors, and biotech companies to meet and share their experience, to discuss the research associated with developing biomedical clinical products and translating this research into novel clinical applications, challenges of such translational efforts and foundation of bioclusters assisting further developments in cell technology.

The official language of the conference is English.

Conference materials will be published in the Russian Journal of Developmental Biology.

Please download your abstracts in accordance with the journal guidelines (english, russian) for authors provided on their website.

Continued here:
CTERP International Conference - 2018: About

Sometimes kids trip and fall, and their teeth take the hit. Nearly half of children suffer some injury to a tooth during childhood. When that trauma affects an immature permanent tooth, it can hinder blood supply and root development, resulting in what is essentially a dead tooth.

Until now, the standard of care has entailed a procedure called apexification that encourages further root development, but it does not replace the lost tissue from the injury and, even in a best-case scenario, causes root development to proceed abnormally.

New results of a clinical trial, jointly led by Songtao Shi of the University of Pennsylvania and Yan Jin, Kun Xuan, and Bei Li of the Fourth Military Medicine University in Xian, China, suggest that there is a more promising path for children with these types of injuries: using stem cells extracted from the patients baby teeth. The work was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

This treatment gives patients sensation back in their teeth. If you give them a warm or cold stimulation, they can feel it; they have living teeth again, says Shi, professor and chair in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology in Penns School of Dental Medicine. So far we have follow-up data for two, two and a half, even three years, and have shown its a safe and effective therapy.

Shi has been working for a decade to test the possibilities of dental stem cells after discovering them in his daughters baby tooth. He and colleagues have learned more about how these dental stem cells, officially called human deciduous pulp stem cells (hDPSC), work, and how they could be safely employed to regrow dental tissue, known as pulp.

The Phase 1trial was conducted in China, which has a research track for clinical trials.The 40 children enrolled had each injured one of their permanent incisors, and still had baby teeth. Thirty were assigned to hDPSC treatment and 10 to the control treatment, apexification.

Those whoreceived hDPSC treatment had tissue extracted from a healthy baby tooth. The stem cells from this pulp were allowed to reproduce in a laboratory culture, and the resulting cells were implanted into the injured tooth.

Upon follow-up, the researchers found that patients who received hDPSCs had more signs than the control group of healthy root development and thicker dentin, the hard part of a tooth beneath the enamel, as well as increased blood flow.

At the time the patients were initially seen, all had little sensation in the tissue of their injured teeth. A year following the procedure, only those who received hDPSCs had regained some sensation. Examining a variety of immune-system components, the team found no evidence of safety concerns.

As further support of the treatments efficacy, the researchers had the opportunity to directly examine the tissue of a treated tooth when the patient re-injured it, and had to have it extracted. They found that the implanted stem cells regenerated different components of dental pulp, including the cells that produce dentin, connective tissue, and blood vessels.

For me, the results are very exciting, Shi says. To see something we discovered take a step forward to potentially become a routine therapy in the clinic is gratifying.

It is, however, just a first step. While using a patients own stem cells reduces the chances of immune rejection, its not possible in adult patients who have lost all of their baby teeth. Shi and colleagues are beginning to test the use of allogenic stem cells, or cells donated from another person, to regenerate dental tissue in adults. They are also hoping to secure FDA approval to conduct clinical trials using hDPSCs in the United States.

Eventually, they see even broader applications of hDPSCs for treating systemic disease, such as lupus, which Shi has worked on before.

Were really eager to see what we can do in the dental field, Shi says, and then building on that to open up channels for systemic disease therapy.

The research was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China, the NaturalScience Foundation of China and a pilot grant from Penn Dental Medicine.

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Regrowing dental tissue with stem cells from baby teeth ...

Have you ever put on a blindfold and pretended that you couldn't see? You probably bumped into things and got confused about which way you were going. But if you had to, you could get adjusted and learn to live without your sight.

Lots of people have done just that. They have found ways to learn, play, and work, even though they have trouble seeing or can't see at all.

Your eyes and your brain work together to see. The eye is made up of many different parts, including the cornea, iris, lens, and retina. These parts all work together to focus on light and images. Your eyes then use special nerves to send what you see to your brain, so your brain can process and recognize what you're seeing. In eyes that work correctly, this process happens almost instantly.

When this doesn't work the way it should, a person may be visually impaired, or blind. The problem may affect one eye or both eyes.

When you think of being blind, you might imagine total darkness. But most people who are blind can still see a little light or shadows. They just can't see things clearly. People who have some sight, but still need a lot of help, are sometimes called "legally blind."

Vision problems can develop before a baby is born. Sometimes, parts of the eyes don't form the way they should. A kid's eyes might look fine, but the brain has trouble processing the information they send. The optic nerve sends pictures to the brain, so if the nerve doesn't form correctly, the baby's brain won't receive the messages needed for sight.

Blindness can be genetic (or inherited), which means that this problem gets passed down to a kid from parents through genes.

Blindness also can be caused by an accident, if something hurts the eye. That's why it's so important to protect your eyes when you play certain sports, such as hockey.

Some illnesses, such as diabetes, can damage a person's vision over time. Other eye diseases, such as cataracts (say: KAH-tuh-rakts), can cause vision problems or blindness, but they usually affect older people.

A kid who has serious trouble with vision might see an ophthalmologist (say: af-thal-MAH-luh-jist), a doctor who specializes in eye problems. Even babies might see an ophthalmologist if their parents think they might be having trouble seeing.

At the doctor visit, the doctor will talk with the parents and the kid (if the kid is old enough to describe what's going on). A doctor might use an eye chart to find out how well the kid can see. You've probably seen these charts that contain letters of different sizes. It's a way of testing how well a person can see. Someone with really good vision would be able to read certain letters from 20 feet (6 meters) away.

Eyesight this good is called 20/20 vision, although some people can see even better than that. The numbers change depending on how clearly a person can see. The larger or closer something needs to be in order for it to be seen, the worse a person's vision is.

Many times, glasses or contact lenses are all that's needed to help kids see better. But if glasses and contact lenses can't make someone's vision any better and the person needs to get really close to something to see it he or she may be considered blind. For instance, someone with good vision might be able to see an object from 200 feet (61 meters) away, but someone is considered blind if he or she needs to be 20 feet (6 meters) away to see the same object.

Babies and little kids won't be able to use the eye chart, but doctors can check their vision by doing special vision tests or something as simple as putting a toy in front of the child to see if he or she can focus on it.

The ophthalmologist also will examine the kid's eyes using special medication and lighting that allows him or her to see into the eyeballs. The ophthalmologist will look at each part of the eye to check for problems, such as a cataract (cloudiness of the eye's lens). Once the doctor knows what's causing the vision problem, he or she can begin planning how to treat it.

In some cases, an operation can help improve a kid's vision. For example, if a kid has a cataract, doctors may do surgery to remove it.

A baby who is blind can still learn and develop normally. But the baby's parents will need the help of specialists who know how to help blind children. It's often a great idea for the child to attend special learning programs designed just for little kids who have trouble seeing. These programs would make the most of the senses that the kid does have, such as touch, hearing, smell, and taste.

Touch comes in handy when a child is older and wants to read books. Kids who are visually impaired can learn to read by using a special system called braille. Braille is a way of expressing letters, words, and thoughts. To read braille, a person feels a series of little bumps that are associated with letters in the alphabet. For instance, "A" is represented as one bump. Computer programs and other devices that can "see" turn the words on a page into braille.

Hearing is another important sense if a kid has vision problems. Some devices can read out loud what's written on a page. With special equipment, a visually impaired kid can read almost anything. These kinds of technologies can be helpful in learning. Kids who are blind might attend a special school, or they might attend regular classes, aided by special devices and specialists.

Kids who have vision problems will get help from their parents, doctors, and teachers. When they are older, some of them may get a hand or should we say a paw? from a guide dog. These helper dogs are trained to be a blind person's eyes. That means the dog learns to be very alert to surroundings so he or she can be a good guide for the person.

Not only are these dogs great friends, they give blind people independence, so they can accomplish what they want to accomplish.

Many blind people have gone on to do amazing things in many different fields, including music, the arts, and even sports. Serious vision problems didn't stop runner Marla Runyan. She was the first legally blind person to ever qualify for the Olympics!

Date reviewed: September 2016

Read the rest here:
Blindness - kidshealth.org

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vB Hjelmborg J, Iachine I, Skytthe A et al. (2006) Genetic influence on human lifespan and longevity. Human Genetics 119: 312321.

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Kerber RA, O'Brien E, Boucher KM, Smith KR and Cawthon RM (2012) A genomewide study replicates linkage of 3p2224 to extreme longevity in humans and identifies possible additional loci. PLoS One 7: e34746.

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Lee JH, Cheng R, Honig LS et al. (2014) Genome wide association and linkage analyses identified three loci4q25, 17q23.2, and 10q11.21associated with variation in leukocyte telomere length: the Long Life Family Study. Frontiers in Genetics 4: 310.

Li Y, Wang WJ, Cao H et al. (2009) Genetic association of FOXO1A and FOXO3A with longevity trait in Han Chinese populations. Human Molecular Genetics 18: 48974904.

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Further Reading

Andersen SL, Sebastiani P, Dworkis DA, Feldman L and Perls TT (2012) Health span approximates life span among many supercentenarians: compression of morbidity at the approximate limit of life span. Journals of Gerontology Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 67: 395405.

Chang AL, Bitter PH Jr., Qu K et al. (2013) Rejuvenation of gene expression pattern of aged human skin by broadband light treatment: a pilot study. Journal of Investigative Dermatology 133: 394402.

Chung WH, Dao RL, Chen LK and Hung SI (2010) The role of genetic variants in human longevity. Ageing Research Reviews 9 (Suppl 1): S67S78.

Kahn AJ (2014) FOXO3 and related transcription factors in development, aging, and exceptional longevity. Journals of Gerontology Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glu044 (Epub ahead of print).

LabatRobert J and Robert L (2014) Longevity and aging. Role of free radicals and xanthine oxidase. A review. PathologieBiologie 62: 6166.

Raichlen DA and Alexander GE (2014) Exercise, APOE genotype, and the evolution of the human lifespan. Trends in Neurosciences 37: 247255.

Rajpathak SN, Liu Y, BenDavid O et al. (2011) Lifestyle factors of people with exceptional longevity. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 59: 15091512.

Seripa D, D'Onofrio G, Panza F et al. (2011) The genetics of the human APOE polymorphism. Rejuvenation Research 14: 491500.

Sevini F, Giuliani C, Vianello D et al. (2014) mtDNA mutations in human aging and longevity: controversies and new perspectives opened by highthroughput technologies. Experimental Gerontology 56: 234244.

Zhu H, Belcher M and van der Harst P (2011) Healthy aging and disease: role for telomere biology? Clinical Science 120: 427440.

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Genetics and Genomics of Human Longevity

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The Language of Life: DNA and the Revolution in ...

Regenerative medicine allows the application of experimental therapies using adult stem cells to treat various diseases that so far have been incurable. This branch of medicine has been promoted by the knowledge that stem cells have the ability to become cells of different tissue that the body uses for self-repair. Scientific research has shown that these cells have the potential to regenerate organs and other body tissue.

In 2014, Costa Rica enacted the Biomedical Research Statute, No. 9234, after a drawn-out period of uncertainty for the medical community that had left the country deprived of the gains from foreign and local investment and the subsequent benefits for patients that comes from medical research. Today, the country is benefiting from a rising market of companies and individuals seeking to move their clinical trials to Costa Rica as a result of the business-oriented provisions contained within the statute, as well as the support of local authorities.

One of the flaws of the statute was its omission of the application of regenerative therapies using adult stem cells. The Costa Rican Secretary of Health had considered that under the provisions of the statute these regenerative therapies were illegal.

However, aware of the current developments in science and the benefits of regenerative therapies, the Costa Rican President and the Secretary of Health secured a decisive political victory at the end of 2016 by implementing Regulation No. 39986 on the Authorization for Regenerative Therapy Using Adult Stem Cells. This resulted in a dramatic shift in public health policies coming from a nation that banned in-vitro fertilisation for more than a decade and declared that clinical trials were against the Constitution for several years.

Formal requirements

Under the new section 2, the regulation provides that no official authorisation is required for transplants of progenitor cells obtained from peripheral blood or transplants of haematopoietic cells obtained from umbilical cord blood when they are indicated for treatment of acute myeloid or lymphoid leukaemia, chronic lymphoblastic or myeloid leukaemia, Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma as the more frequent causes or to a lesser degree for severe aplastic anaemia, nocturnal paroxysmal haemoglobinuria, immune system diseases, some haemoglobinopathies, hereditary metabolic diseases, as well as multiple myeloma and some solid tumours.

"It is of utmost importance to encourage sponsors and all parties managing the investigation and application of therapies to comply with all applicable rules and standards."

Moreover, therapies are subject to authorisation where the stem cells are exposed to more than minimal manipulation. The regulation follows the standards of science in section 1 providing that minimal manipulation entails processing that does not alter the relevant biological cell characteristics and includes nonproliferation conditions.

On the other hand, more than minimal manipulation involves processing that alters the relevant biological cell characteristics, such as when adult stem cells are subject to expansion during the cell cultivation and storage steps and in the nutrition, simulation, or intervention processes.

In both scenarios, any party interested in obtaining authorisation to implement therapies for regenerative purposes must submit an application in writing to the local Health Controller attaching formal requirements that include:

(i) Evidence that the therapy has completed preclinical studies that, as in the case of medications, demonstrate that they are effective and safe for use in clinical practice;

(ii) The complete characterisation of the cell types that will be transplanted and their characteristics, cellular processing and production;

(iii) The description of the cells and how they will be administered, including assistive drugs, agents, and surgical procedures;

(iv) A clinical follow-up plan and data records to ensure that the cellular therapy is effective and has no adverse effects; and

(v) Credentials substantiating training in stem cell therapy for the staff who will carry out the procedure.

If requirement (i) is not met, the procedure must be performed using a research protocol as set forth in the statute mentioned previously.

Before the new regulation was implemented, the criterion of the Secretary of Health was that all types of regenerative therapies were subject to the investigational protocol, leaving the country unattractive for patients and practitioners enthusiastic to apply therapies that are effective and safe for use in clinical practice.

Clinical research and regenerative therapies are an essential part of the approval of new drugs and human health findings. A comprehensive legal framework encourages the science and technology sector to invest in the country. It is of utmost importance to encourage sponsors and all parties managing the investigation and application of therapies to comply with all applicable rules and standards, without disregarding the importance of the protection of a patients rights.

Mara del Pilar Lpez is a partner at Zrcher Lawyers. She handles all aspects of IP practice, assisting companies with strategic portfolio development and management, counselling on the registration of rights, enforcement policies, advertisement and promotion of innovations. Lpez has established a life sciences and data privacy practice in order to comply with clients demands in these areas. She can be contacted at: plopez@zurcherip.com

Esteban Monge is an attorney at Zrcher Lawyers. He provides advice on a variety of areas of IP law, including counselling on aspects such as product development and testing, advertisement, regulatory compliance and enforcement strategies. He can be contacted at: emonge@zurcherip.com

Mara del Pilar Lpez, Esteban Monge, Zrcher Lawyers, stem cells, Costa Rica, medical research, , manipulation

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Stem cells in Costa Rica: a boost for medical research

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Preventive Medicine Anti Aging and Chelation Therapy

1. I. Cataract

Causes of Cataract

Global / National distribution & population characteristics of Cataract

Diagnosis of cataract. Distinction between immature, mature and hypermature.

Appropriate referral of cataract patient

Outline of surgical management

Visual rehabilitation of Aphakia

Outline of cataract management in young age

Ectopia Lentis (Subluxation & Dislocation)

Lenticonus

Derived from surface Ectoderm overlying the optic vesicle.

Ectoderm invaginates and break from surface as two layer structure

Basement membrane of epithelium, which is now on the outer side, forms the lens capsule.

Posterior epithelium cells expand to form the embryonic nucleus.

Anterior epithelium continues to regenerate and develop lens fibers throughout life. These fibers continue to get deposited inwards making earliest fibers the deepest.

A globular structure lies behind the iris and in a concavity in the anterior face of vitreous called the Patellar Fossa.

Suspended from the ciliary processes by Zonules

In young patients (< 35 years) lens is adherent to vitreous by Ligament of Weigert.

Layers(from without inwards):

Adult

Adolescent

Infantile

Fetal (contains anterior & posterior Y-sutures)

Embryonic

Epitheliumdivides most actively in the periphery and differentiates in the lens fibers.

Functions:

Metabolism is both aerobic and anaerobic.

Cations and fluid move actively across anterior capsule but passively across posterior capsule (Pump-Leak Mechanism).

Metabolic homeostasis is essential for maintenance of lens transparency.

Glutathione, glutathione reductase and super-oxide dismutase are actively involved in preventing damage from free O2 radical injury.

+ 18 Dioptre of refraction is contributed by the lens. And in accommodation this power increases.

Typical structure of lens in the form of anterior cortex, nucleus and posterior cortex is optically important as each of these three portions act as a separate lens (lenticules) because the refractive index of nucleus is more than that of cortex. This results in an increase in the total power of the lens, decrease in optical aberration and greater effectiveness of the accommodation.

Accommodation: Contraction of ciliary muscles results in laxity of zonules, which leads to increase convexity of lens due to its inherent elasticity.

Iris not only controls the amount of light that enters the eye by varying the size of pupil (aperture) but also covers the periphery of the lens thereby cutting the optical (spherical) aberrations from it.

Anyopacity of the lens or loss of transparency of the lens that causesdiminution or impairment of vision is called Cataract.

Althoughany lens opacity whether or not it leads to decrease in vision is technicallycataract, yet an opacity in the periphery of the lens, which is stationary andnot hampering vision should be diagnosed just Lens Opacity in order toavoid causing unnecessary anxiety to the patient.

Etiological

Morphological

Stage of Maturity

Chronological

Penetrating

Concussion (Rosette Cataract)

Infrared irradiation (Glass Blowers Cataract)

Electrocution

Ionizing Radiation

Diabetes (Snow Storm Cataract)

Hypoglycaemia

Galactosemia (Oil Drop Cataract)

Galactokinase Deficiency

Mannosidosis

Fabrys Disease

Lowes Syndrome

Wilsons Disease (Sunflower Cataract)

Hypocalcaemia

Excerpt from:
Lens & Cataract - Dr. Sanjay Dhawan

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Committed to exploring new frontiers in basic and translational research.

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics is an integral part of the vibrant biomedical research community at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). UAB ranks among the top public institutions of higher education in terms of research and training awards. Research conducted by the faculty, staff, and students of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics is currently supported by more than $4.3 million per year in extramural, investigator-initiated grants.

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics carries out cutting-edge basic and translational research. Research strengths in the department includes cancer biology, chromatin and epigenetic signaling, metabolism and signaling, regulation of gene expression, structural biology, DNA synthesis and repair, and disease mechanisms.

Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics are trained to carry out hypothesis-driven research using advanced research techniques. This training will prepare our graduates for a career in not just biomedical research, but also in other diverse fields that require critical thinking. Our faculty also proudly trains professional (MD, DDS, & DO) students, as well as undergraduate students at UAB.

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UAB - School of Medicine - Biochemistry and Molecular ...