StemCell Therapy

The Ohio State University Department of Molecular Genetics is comprised of a diverse group of researchers and faculty that utilize genetics, genomics, molecular biologyand model organisms to address fundamental issues in 21st century biology.

We have a significant opportunity here to increase the scientific literacy and competency of our students and to reach out and attract and nurture the next generations of scientists.

{AnitaHopper, Professor, Molecular Genetics}

30 full time (Many have joint appointments in other areas)

250 (80 in Honors)

40 PhD students

Undergraduate research is highly encouraged; students are matched with faculty mentors.

Undergraduate: BSGraduate: MS, PhD

Molecular geneticist Susan Cole and biochemist Jane Jackman co-direct the National Science Foundations 10-week summer program, Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), partnering with biochemistry.

REU is an opportunity for science majors from smaller institutions to do intellectually demanding research in leading-edge labs, giving them better preparation for graduate or professional school.

In 2000, Professor Amanda Simcox and her undergraduate students field-tested an idea to get high school biology students interested and excited about science. The DNA Fingerprinting Workshops consist of two components: first, a session that gives the students hands-on-experience with state-of-the-art equipment and molecular-biology techniques. The second part involves setting up a crime scene scenario that students can solve using the DNA fingerprinting techniques they have learned. Undergraduate students take a class with Simcox and learn how to go into the schools to mentor and teach the high school students. This service learning experience is still going strong after 17 years and now under the direction of Professor Amanda Bird.

Annual Falkenthal Spring Symposium: A departmental event that showcases graduate student research presentations. In addition, an alumnus/ alumna is invited each year to be the keynote speaker at this event, connecting our past with the future.

The basic research that goes on in our laboratories has broad and important implications for citizens of Ohio and the world. Some examples include:

12 2017

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Molecular Genetics, Department of | College of Arts and ...

Definition

noun

A branch of genetics that deal with the structure and function of genes at a molecular level

Supplement

Genetics is a basically a study in heredity, particularly the mechanisms of hereditary transmission, and the variation of inherited characteristics among similar or related organisms. Some of the branches of genetics include behavioural genetics, classical genetics, cytogenetics, molecular genetics, developmental genetics, and population genetics.

Molecular genetics, in particular, is a study of heredity and variation at the molecular level. It is focused on the flow and regulation of genetic information between DNA,RNA, andproteins. Its sub-fields are genomics (i.e. the study of all the nucleotide sequences, including structural genes, regulatory sequences, and noncoding DNA segments, in the chromosomes of an organism) and proteomics (i.e. the study of proteins from DNA replication). The different techniques employed in molecular genetics include amplification, polymerase chain reaction, DNA cloning, DNA isolation, mRNA isolation, and so on. Molecular genetics is essential in understanding and treating genetic disorders. It is regarded as the most advanced field of genetics. The Human Genome Project was a large scientific research endeavor in molecular genetics. It began in 1990s and finished in 2003 with the intent of identifying the genes and the sequences of chemical base pairs in human DNA.

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More:
Molecular genetics - Biology-Online Dictionary

BCM is a rare genetic disease of the retina caused by genetics mutations on genes OPN1LW, OPN1MW and LCR. These genes encoded proteins called photopigments, needed in the red and green cones to capture the light and are located on the X chromosome.

On this page we will see what are the genes responsible for color vision, what are the genetic mutations that lead to disease and the history of these scientific discoveries of molecular genetics.

The BCM Families Foundation supports the research of Molecular Genetics on BCM and the creation of a BCM Patients Registry, in order to deepen the knowledge about the genes and the genetic mutations that cause disease.

Molecular genetics of human color vision

BCM is inherited from the X chromosome. As any other chromosome, X contains a long molecule of DNA, the chemical of which genes are made.

The X chromosome is composed of two arms, the upper is called p, the lower q.The genes involved in the BCM are in position Xq28, at the end of the q arm.In the figure below we see the X chromosome:

In the position Xq28 there are in order, the genes named LCR, OPN1LW and OPN1MW.

LCR is the Locus Control Region, and acts as a promoter of the expression of the two opsin genes thereafter. In the absence of this gene, none of the following two genes are expressed in the human retina. In addition, it ensures that only one of the two opsin genes (red or green) is expressed exclusively in each cone.

OPN1LW and OPN1MW are respectively the genes that contain the genetic code for protein opsin. These proteins constitute the photopigments for the capture of light, red (Long Wave) and green (Medium Wave).

Many people have several replicas of the gene for the green photopigment, OPN1MW. Only the first two genes, immediately after the LCR, (the red and the first green ones), are expressed in the retina. Approximately 25% of male Caucasians have a single OPN1MW gene, while 50% have two genes and the remainder have 3 or more genes.

In the following figure we see a representation of the opsin gene array in a normal case:

To learn more about these genes, please refer to the web site of the National Center for Biotechnology Information, NCBI, particularly to:

OPSIN1-LW, red cone photopigment;

OPSIN1-MW, green cone photopigment;

LCR, Locus Control Region.

The gene responsible for the formation of the blue photopigment is in a position far away, on chromosome 7 and the gene responsible for the formation of rhodopsin (the rod photopigment) is located on chromosome 3:

OPSIN1-SW blue cones photopigment;

RODOPSIN rods photopigment.

In the following figure we see the opsin proteins, the blue S (short), the green M (medium) and the red L (Long) one.

OPSIN Genes Picture is taken from handprint.com

They take the form of a chain passing 7 times through a disk of the outer segment of a cone. The three proteins are very similar between them and, in particular, the M and L differ only in some elements that compose them. The two photopigments, red and green are in fact equal to 96%, while they have only a 46% similarity with the blue photopigment.

The genes OPN1LW and OPN1MW, like all genes, are formed by exons and introns. In particular both of these genes have six exons, referred to as 1 to 6.

(Picture is taken from Jessica C. Gardner, Michel Michaelides, Graham E. Holder, Naheed Kanuga, Tom R. Webb, John D. Mollon, Anthony T. Moore, Alison J. Hardcastle Blue cone monochromacy: Causative mutations and associated phenotypesMolecular Vision 2009; 15:876-884).

Like all proteins, the opsin proteins are three-dimensional structures that need to perform a folding to assume their final three-dimensional shape. Some specific amino acids within the protein are responsible for the folding of the same.

The Genetic Mutations

There are many genetic mutations that can affect this group of genes, LCR, OPN1LW and OPN1MW.

Some mutations lead to conditions commonly called color blindness, having as its only effect the inability to distinguish certain colors.

Mutations that lead to the BCM to date identified are the following:

Large deletions

1.Deletion of the LCR, or deletion of the LCR and some or all of the exons of the gene OPN1LW.

This mutation is an absence of a large part of the genetic material. Since there isnt the genetic code for LCR the two opsin proteins will not express and the cones will havent the red and green photopigments.

2.Intragenic deletion. This is a deletion of exons within the genes OPN1LW and OPN1MW or deletion of genetic material of the first and of the second gene.

Even this mutation is an absence of a large part of the genetic material.

Mechanism in 2 steps with homologous recombination and punctual inactivation.

In this case, due to the similarity between the two genes OPN1LW and OPN1MW, during a process of homologous recombination one of the two genes is lost with the creation of an hybrid gene. Subsequently, a point mutation inactivates the remained gene.

The point mutation best known is the so-called C203R. The name of the point mutations indicates the position at which mutation has occurred, in this case the amino acid position 203 and which has been replaced, in this case a C = Cysteine with an R = Arginine. At the level of codons this substitution is timely because it corresponds to replace thymine with cytosine in position 648, as we see from the following table:

The C203R mutation causes the opsin protein once formed does not carry the folding, that is it doesnt take the proper three-dimensional form.

Diagram representing BCM genotypes of 3 British families. The wild type L-M opsin gene array is shown at the top of the figure. Gray boxes represent L opsin exons and white boxes represent M opsin exons.Subscript n represents one or more M opsin genes. The black box represents the Locus Control Region, LCR. The LCR was present without mutation in all three families. The C203R point mutations detected in Family 1 and Family 3 are shown above the corresponding exons. Family 1 has an inactive hybrid gene followed by a second gene in the array. Three possible structures of this second inactive gene are shown in the bracket.Family 2 has a single nonfunctional hybrid gene lacking exon 2. Family 3 has a single inactivehybrid gene.(Picture is taken from Jessica C. Gardner, Michel Michaelides, Graham E. Holder, Naheed Kanuga, Tom R. Webb, John D. Mollon, Anthony T. Moore, Alison J. Hardcastle Blue cone monochromacy: Causative mutations and associated phenotypesMolecular Vision 2009; 15:876-884).

Other point mutations are the P307L, and R247X. The last one replaces arginine with the Stop codon, prematurely stopping at position 247 the formation of the protein (nonsense mutation).

Model of the red and 5 red 2 green hybrid pigments in the photoreceptor membrane showing the locations of point mutations identified in blue-cone monochromats. Each circle represent an amino acid. N = amino-terminus and C = car-body-terminus. The amino-terminus faces the extracellular space.The picture is taken from J. Nathans et al. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 53: 987-1000, 1993.

Other mutations

Other mutations on genes OPN1LW and OPN1MW that lead to the BCM are constituted by a set of point mutations called for example LIAVA. The BCM will be caused by the production of new hybrid gene, like in the previous case, from the homologous recombination of OPN1LW and OPN1MW. In this case exon 3 contains the following amino acids in the positions indicated: 153 Leucine, 171 Isoleucine, 174 Alanine, 178 Valine and 180 Alanine. This genotype has the abbreviated name LIAVA.

Location of amino acid alterations reported thus far in the L and M cone opsin genes. Shaded areas: the transmembrane domains. Circles: amino acid differences and known polymorphism with the more common amino acid (in a one-letter code); arrow: the amino acid change. The codon number is depicted for each change. Missense changes associated with a cone-opsin-related disease that are likely to cause protein dysfunction are on a gray background. The LIAVA haplotype is highlighted in black.La Figura tratta da Mizrahi-Meissonnier L., Merin S., Banin E., Sharon D., 2010.

Other diseases with genetic mutations on genes and OPN1LW OPN1MW

Another disease of the retina that is associated with the position Xq28 is the Bornholm Eye Disease (BED), with symptoms similar to those of the BCM. It is a very rare disease and it is stationary. For further information you can consult OMIM and the web site of University of Arizona.

Finally note there is also a particular mutation of the two genes OPN1LW and OPN1MW which causes a different disease from the BCM. This type of mutation is W177R and is a misfolding mutation that, if present on both opsin genes cause cone dystrophy with evidence of degeneration and cell death of the cones.

The History of the discovery of the genes of the BCM

Many researchers have contributed to discoveries about the genes involved in the BCM.

We recall the fundamental discoveries of Jeremy Nathans on the genes responsible for color vision:

Nathans, J., Thomas, D., Hogness, D. S. Molecular genetics of human color vision: the genes encoding blue, green, and red pigments. Science 232: 193-202, 1986. [PubMed: 2937147, related citations] [Full Text: HighWire Press]

Nathans, J., Piantanida, T. P., Eddy, R. L., Shows, T. B., Hogness, D. S. Molecular genetics of inherited variation in human color vision. Science 232: 203-210, 1986. [PubMed: 3485310, related citations] [Full Text: HighWire Press]

Nathans, J. Molecular biology of visual pigments. Annu. Rev. Neurosci. 10: 163-194, 1987. [PubMed: 3551758, related citations] [Full Text: Atypon]

Nathans, J. The evolution and physiology of human color vision: insights from molecular genetic studies of visual pigments. Neuron. 24: 299-312, 1999. [PubMed: 10571225, related citations] [Full Text: Elsevier Science]

Deeb, S. S. The molecular basis of variation in human color vision. Clin. Genet. 67: 369-377, 2005. [PubMed: 15811001, related citations] [Full Text: Blackwell Publishing]

In particular, the work that led us to understand the main causes of BCM and in particular the 2-step process with point mutation C2013R:

Nathans, J., Davenport, C. M., Maumenee, I. H., Lewis, R. A., Hejtmancik, J. F., Litt, M., Lovrien, E., Weleber, R., Bachynski, B., Zwas, F., Klingaman, R., Fishman, G. Molecular genetics of human blue cone monochromacy. Science 245: 831-838, 1989. [PubMed: 2788922, related citations] [Full Text: HighWire Press]

Nathans, J., Maumenee, I. H., Zrenner, E., Sadowski, B., Sharpe, L. T., Lewis, R. A., Hansen, E., Rosenberg, T., Schwartz, M., Heckenlively, J. R., Traboulsi, E., Klingaman, R., Bech-Hansen, N. T., LaRoche, G. R., Pagon, R. A., Murphey, W. H., Weleber, R. G. Genetic heterogeneity among blue-cone monochromats. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 53: 987-1000, 1993. [PubMed: 8213841, related citations]

Reyniers, E., Van Thienen, M.-N., Meire, F., De Boulle, K., Devries, K., Kestelijn, P., Willems, P. J. Gene conversion between red and defective green opsin gene in blue cone monochromacy. Genomics 29: 323-328, 1995. [PubMed: 8666378, related citations] [Full Text: Elsevier Science, Pubget]

An important work for the type of mutations Deletion of the LCR or LCR and the gene OPN1LW is:

Ayyagari, R., Kakuk, L. E., Bingham, E. L., Szczesny, J. J., Kemp, J., Toda, Y., Felius, J., Sieving, P. A. Spectrum of color gene deletions and phenotype in patients with blue cone monochromacy. Hum. Genet. 107: 75-82, 2000. Hum Genet. 2000 Jul;107(1):75-82.

For the Deletion intragenic the following works identified a case of BCM with the presence of only the gene OPN1LW (red) without the exon 4:

Ladekjaer-Mikkelsen, A.-S., Rosenberg, T., Jorgensen, A. L. A new mechanism in blue cone monochromatism. Hum. Genet. 98: 403-408, 1996.

Reitner, A., Sharpe, L. T., Zrenner, E. Is colour vision possible with only rods and blue-sensitive cones? Nature 352: 798-800, 1991.

The Locus Control Region, and its role in the expression of opsin genes, was the result of the following works:

Lewis, R. A., Holcomb, J. D., Bromley, W. C., Wilson, M. C., Roderick, T. H., Hejtmancik, J. F. Mapping X-linked ophthalmic diseases: III. Provisional assignment of the locus for blue cone monochromacy to Xq28. Arch. Ophthal. 105: 1055-1059, 1987.

Lewis, R. A., Nathans, J., Holcomb, J. D., Bromley, W. C., Roderick, T. H., Wilson, M. C., Hejtmancik, J. F. Blue cone monochromacy: assignment of the locus to Xq28 and evidence for its molecular rearrangement. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 41: A102 only, 1987.

Wang, Y., Macke, J. P., Merbs, S. L., Zack, D. J., Klaunberg, B., Bennett, J., Gearhart, J., Nathans, J. A locus control region adjacent to the human red and green visual pigment genes. Neuron 9: 429-440, 1992.

In particular, the role of LCR that allows the exclusice expression of a unique opsin (red or green) in each cone, was discovered in the last publication.

For the study dela C203R mutation there are the following research publication:

Kazmi MA, Sakmar TP, Ostrer H. Mutation of a conserved cysteine in the X-linked cone opsins causes color vision deficiencies by disrupting protein folding and stablilty. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 1997;38(6):10741081. [PubMed]

who understood the negative effects of this mutation on the folding of the opsin protein and:

Winderickx J, Sanocki E, Lindsey DT, Teller DY, Motulsky AG, Deeb SS. Defective colour vision associated with a missense mutation in the human green visual pigment gene. Nature Genetics. 1992;1:251256. [PubMed]

who studied this mutation and its frequency of about 2% in people of Caucasian origin.

On rare mutations of the type LIAVA you can consult:

Carroll J1, Neitz M, Hofer H, Neitz J, Williams DR., Functional photoreceptor loss revealed with adaptive optics: an alternate cause of color blindness. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Jun.

Mizrahi-Meissonnier L., Merin S., Banin E., Sharon D., 2010.

Neitz M, Carroll J, Renner A, et al. Variety of genotypes in males diagnosed as dichromatic on a conventional clinical anomaloscope. Vis Neurosci. 2004;21:205216.

Crognale MA, Fry M, Highsmith J, et al. Characterization of a novel form of X-linked incomplete achromatopsia. Vis Neurosci. 2004; 21:197203.

Some historical research about BCM were:

Huddart, J. An account of persons who could not distinguish colours. Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. 67: 260 only, 1777.

Sloan, L. L. Congenital achromatopsia: a report of 19 cases. J. Ophthal. Soc. Am. 44: 117-128, 1954.

Alpern, M., Falls, H. F., Lee, G. B. The enigma of typical total monochromacy. Am. J. Ophthal. 50: 996-1012, 1960. [PubMed: 13682677, related citations

Blackwell, H. R., Blackwell, O. M. Rod and cone receptor mechanisms in typical and atypical congenital achromatopsia. Vision Res. 1: 62-107, 1961.

Fleischman, J. A., ODonnell, F. E. Jr. Congenital X-linked incomplete achromatopsia. Evidence for slow progression, carrier fundus findings, and possible genetic linkage with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase locus. Arch Ophthalmol 1981;99:468-472.

Lewis, R. A., Holcomb, J. D., Bromley, W. C., Wilson, M. C., Roderick, T. H., Hejtmancik, J. F. Mapping X-linked ophthalmic diseases: III. Provisional assignment of the locus for blue cone monochromacy to Xq28. Arch. Ophthal. 105: 1055-1059, 1987.

For the study of cone dystrophy, a degenerative disease caused by a point mutation on both genes OPN1LW and OPN1MW:

Gardner JC, Webb TR, Kanuga N, Robson AG, Holder GE, Stockman A, Ripamonti C, Ebenezer ND, Ogun O, Devery S, Wright GA, Maher ER, Cheetham ME, Moore AT, Michaelides M and Hardcastle AJ,X-Linked Cone Dystrophy Caused by Mutation of the Red and Green Cone Opsins.The American Journal of Human Genetics 87, 2639, July 9, 2010.

Here there are some review publications that illustrate the topic:

Neitz J., Neitz M. The genetics of normal and defective color vision. 2011 Review. Vision Research.

Deeb, S.S. Molecular Genetics of colour vision deficiencies. Clinical and Experimental Optometry 87.4 5 July 2004.

Read more from the original source:
Molecular Genetics Blue Cone Monochromacy

Overview

Gene therapy involves altering the genes inside your body's cells in an effort to treat or stop disease.

Genes contain your DNA the code that controls much of your body's form and function, from making you grow taller to regulating your body systems. Genes that don't work properly can cause disease.

Gene therapy replaces a faulty gene or adds a new gene in an attempt to cure disease or improve your body's ability to fight disease. Gene therapy holds promise for treating a wide range of diseases, such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, heart disease, diabetes, hemophilia and AIDS.

Researchers are still studying how and when to use gene therapy. Currently, in the United States, gene therapy is available only as part of a clinical trial.

Gene therapy is used to correct defective genes in order to cure a disease or help your body better fight disease.

Researchers are investigating several ways to do this, including:

Gene therapy has some potential risks. A gene can't easily be inserted directly into your cells. Rather, it usually has to be delivered using a carrier, called a vector.

The most common gene therapy vectors are viruses because they can recognize certain cells and carry genetic material into the cells' genes. Researchers remove the original disease-causing genes from the viruses, replacing them with the genes needed to stop disease.

This technique presents the following risks:

The gene therapy clinical trials underway in the U.S. are closely monitored by the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health to ensure that patient safety issues are a top priority during research.

Currently, the only way for you to receive gene therapy is to participate in a clinical trial. Clinical trials are research studies that help doctors determine whether a gene therapy approach is safe for people. They also help doctors understand the effects of gene therapy on the body.

Your specific procedure will depend on the disease you have and the type of gene therapy being used.

For example, in one type of gene therapy:

Viruses aren't the only vectors that can be used to carry altered genes into your body's cells. Other vectors being studied in clinical trials include:

The possibilities of gene therapy hold much promise. Clinical trials of gene therapy in people have shown some success in treating certain diseases, such as:

But several significant barriers stand in the way of gene therapy becoming a reliable form of treatment, including:

Gene therapy continues to be a very important and active area of research aimed at developing new, effective treatments for a variety of diseases.

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

Dec. 29, 2017

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Gene therapy - Mayo Clinic

Immuno-oncology (I-O) relates to the recruitment of ones own immune system for the treatment and eradication of cancer. Remarkable clinical results with immuno-oncology treatments within the past 5 years, in particular with immune checkpoint inhibitor drugs, have catapulted the field onto center stage for consideration by patients, clinicians, academic investigators as well as pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

The I-O premise is relatively straightforward to unleash the killing potential due to the exquisite specificity of a patients T lymphocytes (predominantly CD8 T cells) to target and eliminate cancer cells throughout the body. Administration of immune checkpoint inhibitor drugs, such as monoclonal antibodies (e.g., Keytruda, Opdivo, Tecentriq) that interfere with the T cell immune restraints imposed by PD-1 : PD-L1 receptor interactions have dramatically realized the potential to yield rapid and durable clinical responses in those patients whose T cells have already been trained, yet silenced, to eliminate the tumors. These drugs, while highly effective for patients with different cancers (e.g., melanoma, lung and bladder cancers), are limited to benefit those 20-30% of patients whose immune system shows evidence of pre-existing cancer recognition.

On closer scrutiny of the T cell immune responses in patients that benefit from monotherapy treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitordrugs, significant evidence has been generated that the patients CD8 T cells likely target protein mutations (antigens) unique to the tumor (neo-antigens). As shown in the figures below, patients whose tumors harbored a greater collection of unique mutations (high nonsynonymous burden; neo-antigen burden) were significantly more likely to benefit clinically from immune checkpoint anti-PD-1 drug monotherapy. This means that the patients already had a collection of CD8 T cells with the ability to recognize peptides derived from these neo-antigens presented to the immune system on the HLA receptors on tumors (neo-epitopes). Since these neo-epitopes are only displayed on the surface of tumor cells, patient T cells that target neo-epitopes should only kill tumor cells. Unleashing the patients neo-epitope specific T cells is, therefore, likely responsible for the rapid and durable clinical benefits seen in some patients upon administration of immune checkpoint inhibitor drugs.

The next wave in immuno-oncology success will depend on initiating highly specific T cell immune recognition of cancers. Based on the current evidence, unleashing a tsunami of T cells that recognize and kill cancer cells displaying patient-specific mutations (neo-epitopes) holds great potential to significantly increase the number of cancer patients that will benefit from I-O therapies.

PACT Pharma is dedicated to synthesizing a tsunami of neo-epitope targeted T cells and producing a personalized adoptive cell therapy designed to benefit each individual cancer patient (as outlined in the diagram below). The neo-epitope targeting is engineered into the patients own T cells (autologous T cells) for programming to seek out, infiltrate into the tumor and kill the tumor cells displaying the unique neo-epitopes. In essence, PACT Pharma is engineering next generation synthetic tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (synthetic TILs), tailored for each patients cancer with highly efficient turnaround in manufacturing from tumor biopsy to re-infusion of autologous synthetic TILs back into the patient.

Our proprietary approach, the imPACTTM isolation technology, utilizes a highly sensitive nanoparticle and microfluidic engineering system and fabricated chips to identify and to isolate very rare T cells in patients that already recognize the cancer neo-epitopes. The figure below reveals that these T cells can be interrogated for their specificity of neo-epitope recognition. Using a barcode system on the nanoparticle, together with a series of three different fluor-bound DNA sequences, the neo-epitope specificity of each CD8 T cell trapped in the chip is translated (e.g. T cell #3 yielded a signal of yellow-red-green, which translates to neo-epitope #12 in the table below).

Following imPACTTMisolation, our machine learning algorithms define the most relevant neo-epitope (NeoE) specific CD8 T cells for therapeutic benefit, from which we extract the T cell receptor (TCR) sequences for PACT TCR-T product development. Using (non-viral) precision genome engineering, the NeoE-targeted TCR sequences replace the endogenous TCR of fresh CD8 and CD4 T cells collected from that same patients peripheral blood (autologous NeoE TCR engineered into autologous fresh T cells) followed by minimal expansion in preparation for re-infusion into the patient. These patient-specific TCR-T cells are formulated to immediately kill all neoantigen-expressing tumors, together with a deep reservoir of ready-to-go TCR-T cells for long term persistence and capable of rapid expansion to prevent future cancer recurrence.

In summary, PACT Pharma is engineering autologous synthetic TILs, which, when administered into the patient, are designed as a tsunami of tumor-specific T cells capable of rapid elimination of cancer throughout the body for durable clinical benefit. This is the promise of next-generation immuno-oncology: to unleash the patients immune system to eradicate cancer

Continued here:
Personalized Medicine | PACT Pharma, Inc.

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Your Future Health

The following are recent research journals from US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health's pubmed.gov directory on the use of stem cells for various diseases and conditions:

Researchers said the treatment could be used for several conditions that include dementia.

By Stephen Feller | Oct. 15, 2015 at 4:30 PM

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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder of upper and lower motor neurons, characterized by progressive muscular atrophy and weakness which culminates in death within 2-5years...

J Clin Neurosci. 2013 Oct 19. pii: S0967-5868(13)00357-3. Author: Meamar R, Nasr-Esfahani MH, Mousavi SA, Basiri K.

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Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible neurodegenerative disease, still lacking proper clinical treatment. Therefore, many researchers have focused on the possibility of therapeutic use of stem cells for AD...

Neurodegener Dis. 2013 Oct 23. Author: Chang KA, Kim HJ, Joo Y, Ha S, Suh YH.

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Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine with significant functions in the regulation of the immune system. As a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-6 plays a pivotal role in host defense against pathogens and acute stress...

Pharmacol Ther. 2013 Sep 27. pii: S0163-7258(13)00193-9. Author: Yao X, Huang J, Zhong H, Shen N, Faggioni R, Fung M, Yao Y.

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BACKGROUND AIMS: Pre-clinical evidence indicates that autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cell (BM-MSC) transplantation improves motor function in patients...

Cytotherapy. 2013 Oct 5. pii: S1465-3249(13)00561-6. Author: Wang X, Cheng H, Hua R, Yang J, Dai G, Zhang Z, Wang R, Qin C, An Y.

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Adult neural stem cells contribute to neurogenesis and plasticity of the brain which is essential for central regulation of systemic homeostasis. Damage to these homeostatic components...

Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2013 Oct 25. Author:Purkayastha S, Cai D.

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Despite significant therapeutic advances, the prognosis of patients with heart failure (HF) remains poor, and current therapeutic approaches are palliative in the sense that they do not address the underlying problem...

Circ Res. 2013 Aug 30;113(6):810-34. Author: Sanganalmath SK, Bolli R.

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Recent evidence suggests that enhanced neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation activates plasmacytoid dendritic cells and serves as a source of autoantigens in SLE. We propose that aberrant NET formation...

J Clin Invest. 2013 Jul 1;123(7):2981-93. Author: Knight JS, Zhao W, Luo W, Subramanian V, O'Dell AA, Yalavarthi S, Hodgin JB, Eitzman DT, Thompson PR, Kaplan MJ.

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Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of visual loss in the developed world in those of working age, and its prevalence is predicted to double by 2025. The management of diabetic...

Clin Med. 2013 Aug;13(4):353-7. Author: Williams MA, Chakravarthy U.

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Interleukin (IL)-10 is an important immunoregulatory cytokine shown to impact inflammatory processes as manifested in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and in its animal model, experimental autoimmune...

Brain Behav Immun. 2013 May;30:103-14. Author: Payne NL, Sun G, McDonald C, Moussa L, Emerson-Webber A, Loisel-Meyer S, Medin JA, Siatskas C, Bernard CC.

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Stem cell transplantation is being tested as a potential therapy for a number of diseases. Stem cells isolated directly from tissue specimens or generated via reprogramming of differentiated cells require...

Hum Gene Ther. 2013 Oct 23. Author: Rozkalne A, Adkin C, Meng J, Lapan A, Morgan J, Gussoni E.

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IMPORTANCE Recent advances in stem cell technologies have rekindled an interest in the use of cell replacement strategies for patients with Parkinson disease...

JAMA Neurol. 2013 Nov 11. Author: Kefalopoulou Z, Politis M, Piccini P, Mencacci N, Bhatia K, Jahanshahi M, Widner H, Rehncrona S, Brundin P, Bjrklund A, Lindvall O, Limousin P, Quinn N, Foltynie T.

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Since several years, adult/perinatal mesenchymal and neural crest stem cells have been widely used to help experimental animal to recover from spinal cord injury. More interestingly...

Stem Cells. 2013 Oct 23. Author: Neirinckx V, Cantinieaux D, Coste C, Rogister B, Franzen R, Wislet-Gendebien S.

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Even after decades of intensive studies, therapeutic options for patients with stroke are rather limited. Thrombolytic drugs effectively treat the very acute stage of stroke, and several neuroprotectants...

Cell Transplant. 2013 Oct 22. Author: Yoo J, Seo JJ, Eom JH, Hwang DY.

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Although we have supplied the links above to research journals, we are not saying that any of these studies would relate to your particular disease or condition. Please note, stem cells are not a substitute for proper medical diagnosis and care.

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Recent Research on Stem Cells | Stem Cell Of America

LAK Cells with Low Dose of Interleukin-2 in Patients with Solid Tumors

One of the procedures involves the separation of lymphocytes from the peripheral blood, culturing them in the patients own blood serum and expanding their numbers multifold before transfusing them back to the patient to yield maximum results.

The stem cell procedure that we administer consists of the stimulation of lymphocytes in vivo. During this stem cell procedure the sample is taken from the patients bone marrow of the head of the tibia bone and provides in addition to lymphocytes, stem cells, mature and immature leukocytes.

This combination renders the therapy even more powerful. As the stroma of bone marrow contains IL-7, which increases the effect of IL-2 by 5 times, we can decrease the dose of IL-2 while maintaining its potency.

Interleukin-2 stimulates the stem cells of the lymphocytes that then divide into T-Helper cells, such as THO, TH1 and TH2, which secrete lymphokines, various cytokines, such as interleukins and interferons.

TH1 secretes mainly IL-2, interferon gamma, GM-CSF, TNA-alpha, ligand CD40, which can activate macrophages. The LTC or cytotoxic CD8+ lymphocytes produce perforins, gamzymes, interferon gamma, TNF alpha and beta, and can in this way destroy circulating abnormal cells.

Stem cells are the human bodys master cells with the ability to renew themselves through cell division and grow into any one of its 200 cell types, except for cells of the placenta. They have the potential to multiply indefinitely, become highly specialized and replace cells that die or are lost.

Thus these specialized Stem Cells, aid in the repair of organs and tissue damaged by cancer progression, previous cancer treatments, or chronic degenerative conditions. They also maintain the normal turnover of regenerative organs, such as blood, skin, and intestinal tissues. Autologous Stem Cells from the patients own bone marrow do not have any adverse side effects.

Under normal conditions, we have less than 0.1% of stem cells in circulation, which is sometimes not sufficient for regenerative processes. The objective is, therefore, to increase the number of stem cells in circulation without the use of potent toxic drugs.

The immune-stimulatory effect of our therapy is sometimes quickly seen in the improvement of the overall condition of the patient, quality of life, reduction of pain, etc. Tumor shrinkage may take four weeks or longer. The procedure can be repeated after two months.

The protocols with autologous stem cells and low-dose Interleukin-2 that we administer do usually not cause any adverse effects.

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Cytokines, NK Cells, LAK Cells, Stem Cells Explained

There was a very sad example of this in the last decade.There's a wonderful drug, and a class of drugs actually,but the particular drug was Vioxx, andfor people who were suffering from severe arthritis pain,the drug was an absolute lifesaver,but unfortunately, for another subset of those people,they suffered pretty severe heart side effects,and for a subset of those people, the side effects wereso severe, the cardiac side effects, that they were fatal.But imagine a different scenario,where we could have had an array, a genetically diverse array,of cardiac cells, and we could have actually testedthat drug, Vioxx, in petri dishes, and figured out,well, okay, people with this genetic type are going to havecardiac side effects, people with these genetic subgroupsor genetic shoes sizes, about 25,000 of them,are not going to have any problems.The people for whom it was a lifesavercould have still taken their medicine.The people for whom it was a disaster, or fatal,would never have been given it, andyou can imagine a very different outcome for the company,who had to withdraw the drug.

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Susan Solomon: The promise of research with stem cells ...

To use this resource, simply select the condition you are interested in from the categories displayed in the menu. For example, if you are interested in trials for Macular Degeneration, then select 'Vision loss' and 'Macular Degeneration' from the drop down menu.If the condition you are interested in is not listed, please use the search function on the Australian Clinical Trials website.

It is important to remember that just because a treatment is being evaluated as part of a clinical trial, that does not make it a proven safe and effective therapy. These trials are experimental. All clinical trials, however, must gain full ethical approval from a registered regulatory body. When searching for clinical trials, ensure you check it has ethical approval before registering. Visit What are clinical trials? to learn more.Please use this listing for your research, but continue to speak to your treating Australiandoctors for independent advice on what is best for you.

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Stem Cell Clinical Trials - Stem Cells Australia

Cell potency is a cell's ability to differentiate into other cell types[1][2][3] The more cell types a cell can differentiate into, the greater its potency. Potency is also described as the gene activation potential within a cell which like a continuum begins with totipotency to designate a cell with the most differentiation potential, pluripotency, multipotency, oligopotency and finally unipotency.

Totipotency (Lat. totipotentia, "ability for all [things]") is the ability of a single cell to divide and produce all of the differentiated cells in an organism. Spores and zygotes are examples of totipotent cells.[4] In the spectrum of cell potency, totipotency is a form of pluripotency that represents the cell with the greatest differentiation potential.

It is possible for a fully differentiated cell to return to a state of totipotency.[5] This conversion to totipotency is complex, not fully understood and the subject of recent research. Research in 2011 has shown that cells may differentiate not into a fully totipotent cell, but instead into a "complex cellular variation" of totipotency.[6] Stem cells resembling totipotent blastomeres from 2-cell stage embryos can arise spontaneously in mouse embryonic stem cell cultures[7][8] and also can be induced to arise more frequently in vitro through down-regulation of the chromatin assembly activity of CAF-1.[9]

The human development model is one which can be used to describe how totipotent cells arise.[10] Human development begins when a sperm fertilizes an egg and the resulting fertilized egg creates a single totipotent cell, a zygote.[11] In the first hours after fertilization, this zygote divides into identical totipotent cells, which can later develop into any of the three germ layers of a human (endoderm, mesoderm, or ectoderm), or into cells of the placenta (cytotrophoblast or syncytiotrophoblast). After reaching a 16-cell stage, the totipotent cells of the morula differentiate into cells that will eventually become either the blastocyst's Inner cell mass or the outer trophoblasts. Approximately four days after fertilization and after several cycles of cell division, these totipotent cells begin to specialize. The inner cell mass, the source of embryonic stem cells, becomes pluripotent.

Research on Caenorhabditis elegans suggests that multiple mechanisms including RNA regulation may play a role in maintaining totipotency at different stages of development in some species.[12] Work with zebrafish and mammals suggest a further interplay between miRNA and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) in determining development differences.[13]

In cell biology, pluripotency (Lat. pluripotentia, "ability for many [things]")[14] refers to a stem cell that has the potential to differentiate into any of the three germ layers: endoderm (interior stomach lining, gastrointestinal tract, the lungs), mesoderm (muscle, bone, blood, urogenital), or ectoderm (epidermal tissues and nervous system).[15] However, cell pluripotency is a continuum, ranging from the completely pluripotent (or totipotent) cell that can form every cell of the embryo proper, e.g., embryonic stem cells and iPSCs (see below), to the incompletely or partially pluripotent cell that can form cells of all three germ layers but that may not exhibit all the characteristics of completely pluripotent cells.

Induced pluripotent stem cells, commonly abbreviated as iPS cells or iPSCs, are a type of pluripotent stem cell artificially derived from a non-pluripotent cell, typically an adult somatic cell, by inducing a "forced" expression of certain genes and transcription factors.[16] These transcription factors play a key role in determining the state of these cells and also highlights the fact that these somatic cells do preserve the same genetic information as early embryonic cells.[17] The ability to induce cells into a pluripotent state was initially pioneered in 2006 using mouse fibroblasts and four transcription factors, Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc;[18] this technique, called reprogramming, earned Shinya Yamanaka and John Gurdon the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2012.[19] This was then followed in 2007 by the successful induction of human iPSCs derived from human dermal fibroblasts using methods similar to those used for the induction of mouse cells.[20] These induced cells exhibit similar traits to those of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) but do not require the use of embryos. Some of the similarities between ESCs and iPSCs include pluripotency, morphology, self-renewal ability, a trait that implies that they can divide and replicate indefinitely, and gene expression.[21]

Epigenetic factors are also thought to be involved in the actual reprogramming of somatic cells in order to induce pluripotency. It has been theorized that certain epigenetic factors might actually work to clear the original somatic epigenetic marks in order to acquire the new epigenetic marks that are part of achieving a pluripotent state. Chromatin is also reorganized in iPSCs and becomes like that found in ESCs in that it is less condensed and therefore more accessible. Euchromatin modifications are also common which is also consistent with the state of euchromatin found in ESCs.[21]

Due to their great similarity to ESCs, iPSCs have been of great interest to the medical and research community. iPSCs could potentially have the same therapeutic implications and applications as ESCs but without the controversial use of embryos in the process, a topic of great bioethical debate. In fact, the induced pluripotency of somatic cells into undifferentiated iPS cells was originally hailed as the end of the controversial use of embryonic stem cells. However, iPSCs were found to be potentially tumorigenic, and, despite advances,[16] were never approved for clinical stage research in the United States. Setbacks such as low replication rates and early senescence have also been encountered when making iPSCs,[22] hindering their use as ESCs replacements.

Additionally, it has been determined that the somatic expression of combined transcription factors can directly induce other defined somatic cell fates (transdifferentiation); researchers identified three neural-lineage-specific transcription factors that could directly convert mouse fibroblasts (skin cells) into fully functional neurons.[23] This result challenges the terminal nature of cellular differentiation and the integrity of lineage commitment; and implies that with the proper tools, all cells are totipotent and may form all kinds of tissue.

Some of the possible medical and therapeutic uses for iPSCs derived from patients include their use in cell and tissue transplants without the risk of rejection that is commonly encountered. iPSCs can potentially replace animal models unsuitable as well as in vitro models used for disease research.[24]

Recent findings with respect to epiblasts before and after implantation have produced proposals for classifying pluripotency into two distinct phases: "naive" and "primed".[25] The baseline stem cells commonly used in science that are referred as Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are derived from a pre-implantation epiblast; such epiblast is able to generate the entire fetus, and one epiblast cell is able to contribute to all cell lineages if injected into another blastocyst. On the other hand, several marked differences can be observed between the pre- and post-implantation epiblasts, such as their difference in morphology, in which the epiblast after implantation changes its morphology into a cup-like shape called the "egg cylinder" as well as chromosomal alteration in which one of the X-chromosomes undergoes random inactivation in the early stage of the egg cylinder, known as X-inactivation.[26] During this development, the egg cylinder epiblast cells are systematically targeted by Fibroblast growth factors, Wnt signaling, and other inductive factors via the surrounding yolk sac and the trophoblast tissue,[27] such that they become instructively specific according to the spatial organization.[28] Another major difference that was observed, with respect to cell potency, is that post-implantation epiblast stem cells are unable to contribute to blastocyst chimeras,[29] which distinguishes them from other known pluripotent stem cells. Cell lines derived from such post-implantation epiblasts are referred to as epiblast-derived stem cells which were first derived in laboratory in 2007; despite their nomenclature, that both ESCs and EpiSCs are derived from epiblasts, just at difference phases of development, and that pluripotency is still intact in the post-implantation epiblast, as demonstrated by the conserved expression of Nanog, Fut4, and Oct-4 in EpiSCs,[30] until somitogenesis and can be reversed midway through induced expression of Oct-4.[31]

Multipotency describes progenitor cells which have the gene activation potential to differentiate into discrete cell types. For example, a multipotent blood stem cell and this cell type can differentiate itself into several types of blood cell types like lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, etc., but it is still ambiguous whether HSC possess the ability to differente into brain cells, bone cells or other non-blood cell types.[citation needed]

New research related to multipotent cells suggests that multipotent cells may be capable of conversion into unrelated cell types. In another case, human umbilical cord blood stem cells were converted into human neurons.[32] Research is also focusing on converting multipotent cells into pluripotent cells.[33]

Multipotent cells are found in many, but not all human cell types. Multipotent cells have been found in cord blood,[34] adipose tissue,[35] cardiac cells,[36] bone marrow, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) which are found in the third molar.[37]

MSCs may prove to be a valuable source for stem cells from molars at 810 years of age, before adult dental calcification. MSCs can differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes.[38]

In biology, oligopotency is the ability of progenitor cells to differentiate into a few cell types. It is a degree of potency. Examples of oligopotent stem cells are the lymphoid or myeloid stem cells.[2] A lymphoid cell specifically, can give rise to various blood cells such as B and T cells, however, not to a different blood cell type like a red blood cell.[39] Examples of progenitor cells are vascular stem cells that have the capacity to become both endothelial or smooth muscle cells.

In cell biology, a unipotent cell is the concept that one stem cell has the capacity to differentiate into only one cell type. It is currently unclear if true unipotent stem cells exist. Hepatoblasts, which differentiate into hepatocytes (which constitute most of the liver) or cholangiocytes (epithelial cells of the bile duct), are bipotent.[40] A close synonym for unipotent cell is precursor cell.

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Cell potency - Wikipedia

Stem cells are the foundation for every organ and tissue in your body. There are many different types of stem cells that come from different places in the body or are formed at different times in our lives. These include embryonic stem cells that exist only at the earliest stages of development and various types of tissue-specific (or adult) stem cells that appear during fetal development and remain in our bodies throughout life.

All stem cells can self-renew (make copies of themselves) and differentiate (develop into more specialized cells). Beyond these two critical abilities, though, stem cells vary widely in what they can and cannot do and in the circumstances under which they can and cannot do certain things. This is one of the reasons researchers use all types of stem cells in their investigations.

In this section:

Embryonic stem cells are obtained from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst, a mainly hollow ball of cells that, in the human, forms three to five days after an egg cell is fertilized by a sperm. A human blastocyst is about the size of the dot above this i.

In normal development, the cells inside the inner cell mass will give rise to the more specialized cells that give rise to the entire bodyall of our tissues and organs. However, when scientists extract the inner cell mass and grow these cells in special laboratory conditions, they retain the properties of embryonic stem cells.

Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, meaning they can give rise to every cell type in the fully formed body, but not the placenta and umbilical cord. These cells are incredibly valuable because they provide a renewable resource for studying normal development and disease, and for testing drugs and other therapies. Human embryonic stem cells have been derived primarily from blastocysts created by in vitro fertilization (IVF) for assisted reproduction that were no longer needed.

Tissue-specific stem cells (also referred to as somatic or adult stem cells) are more specialized than embryonic stem cells. Typically, these stem cells can generate different cell types for the specific tissue or organ in which they live.

For example, blood-forming (or hematopoietic) stem cells in the bone marrow can give rise to red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. However, blood-forming stem cells dont generate liver or lung or brain cells, and stem cells in other tissues and organs dont generate red or white blood cells or platelets.

Some tissues and organs within your body contain small caches of tissue-specific stem cells whose job it is to replace cells from that tissue that are lost in normal day-to-day living or in injury, such as those in your skin, blood, and the lining of your gut.

Tissue-specific stem cells can be difficult to find in the human body, and they dont seem to self-renew in culture as easily as embryonic stem cells do. However, study of these cells has increased our general knowledge about normal development, what changes in aging, and what happens with injury and disease.

You may hear the term mesenchymal stem cell or MSC to refer to cells isolated from stroma, the connective tissue that surrounds other tissues and organs. Cells by this name are more accurately called stromal cells by many scientists. The first MSCs were discovered in the bone marrow and were shown to be capable of making bone, cartilage and fat cells. Since then, they have been grown from other tissues, such as fat and cord blood. Various MSCs are thought to have stem cell, and even immunomodulatory, properties and are being tested as treatments for a great many disorders, but there is little evidence to date that they are beneficial. Scientists do not fully understand whether these cells are actually stem cells or what types of cells they are capable of generating. They do agree that not all MSCs are the same, and that their characteristics depend on where in the body they come from and how they are isolated and grown.

Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are cells that have been engineered in the lab by converting tissue-specific cells, such as skin cells, into cells that behave like embryonic stem cells. IPS cells are critical tools to help scientists learn more about normal development and disease onset and progression, and they are also useful for developing and testing new drugs and therapies.

While iPS cells share many of the same characteristics of embryonic stem cells, including the ability to give rise to all the cell types in the body, they arent exactly the same. Scientists are exploring what these differences are and what they mean. For one thing, the first iPS cells were produced by using viruses to insert extra copies of genes into tissue-specific cells. Researchers are experimenting with many alternative ways to create iPS cells so that they can ultimately be used as a source of cells or tissues for medical treatments.

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Types of Stem Cells

What Are Stem Cells?

They are cells that maintain a state of open-mindedness thoughout the life of the individual from fetal life senescence, to enable them to participate in repair, replacement and regeneration of the tissue they happen to be in, in addition to affecting tissues in other parts of the body by migration and by producing growth factors and cytokines. They are regarded as undifferentiated and are found in different tissues of the body, throughout life. The early fetal stem cells are pluripotent with a vast potential; while non-embryonic adult mesenchymal stem cells are multipotent. This means they are less versatile than those of the fetus, but non-the-less can turn into several different kinds of cells within any tissue type.

Undifferentiated, non-embryonic adult mesenchymal stem cells are found everywhere in the body, in all tissues, but especially infat tissue, bone marrow and blood- in that order. The stem cells found in blood and bone marrow are hematopoietic stem cells because, under normal circumstances, they are destined to form red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets; and those stem cells that are found in fat (adipose) tissue, among fat cells, are called adipose stem cells.

GCSC&RMC uses adipose stem cells because they are approximately 2,500 times as abundant as hematopoietic stem cells, per a given mass of tissue. Furthermore, no organs are hurt or disturbed in the process of harvesting adipose tissue, which only requires local anesthesia.

Stem cells have the potential to repair human tissue and certain internal organs by forming new cells and producing substances to regenerate cartilage, bone, ligaments, tendons, nerve, fat, muscle, and blood vessels. Stem cells are being investigated and researched as an innovative therapy option for more than 70 major diseases and conditions that affect millions of people worldwide. These include diabetes mellitus, Parkinsons, Alzheimers, multiple sclerosis, ALS (Lou Gehrigs Disease), spinal cord injuries, various eye conditions, and HIV/AIDS.

Gulf Coast Stem Cell & RMC has a specific SVF harvest and injection protocol. First, a couple of ounces of fat are harvested from the love handle areas of the back, under surgically sterile conditions and local anesthesia, by minimally-invasive mini-liposuction. This procedure lasts a mere 20 minutes; and this small amount of fat yields millions of stem cells (at least half a million per ml of fat). In fact, it is possible to obtain well over 50 million cells from a single harvest.

After the cells are harvested, the stem cells are separated from the fat cells and are ready for deployment within 90 minutes or less from harvest. They can then be injected into a vein to reach wider targets throughout the entire body, and directly into target areas likethe spinal space, joints and specific tissues.

Stem cell therapy is a minimally invasive, low-risk option that may help patients who suffer from the daily discomforts of orthopedic conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, sports-related injuries, spine disease, and general problems with shoulders, elbows, hands/wrists, hips, knees, or ankles. Research indicates that most orthopedic issues are fundamentally caused by inflammatory, autoimmune, or degenerative processes. Stem cells have the potential to reduce discomfort by decreasing inflammation, modulating autoimmunity, and repairing or replacing bone, tendons, and ligaments that have deteriorated due to injury or a degenerative joint disease. This investigational therapy could benefit the near 350 million people worldwide who are afflicted by arthritis, about 50 million of whom live in the United States, including over a quarter million children.

Over one billion people worldwide suffer from neurological diseases. In universities and medical research centers around the world, stem cells are being explored for their regenerative potential. We at GCSC&RMC have research protocols for many neurological conditions, including multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy, Parkinsons disease, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injuries, and more. Beyond their ability to become different kinds of cells, stem cells are able to cross the blood-brain barrier, aided by hygroscopic molecules like Mannitol. This potential for transmigration, or crossing the barrier, means that stem cells can reach broader areas of brain tissue that have been affected by injuries or degenerative diseases. This has been shown to be the case in a rat model. Subtle differences in brain function can affect mood, balance, thought processes, and other areas that have significant impacts on a patients overall quality of life.

Cardiac disease is the most common killer in the United States. Every day, 2,200 people die from cardiovascular diseasesthats 1 in every 3 deaths. Stem cell therapy has the potential to help with cardiac and pulmonary conditions such as a heart attacks, myocardial infarctions, congestive heart failure, ischemic heart disease, COPD, and pulmonary fibrosis. The purpose of our researchprotocols is to target inflammation, reducing it; regenerating cells lost in cardiac ischemia, replacing damaged or diseased heart-muscle cells, and promoting the development of new coronary artery branches. The latter can be effected throughthe production of substances like the angiogenesis factor. When an intravenous dose of SVF or stem cells is given, the infused molecules and cells pass through the heart to the vastcapillary network of the lungs, where a significant proportion of the cells stay. There they participate in various repair processes, which, according to published results and our own, often improve gaseous exchange and may result clinical improvement.

Autoimmune diseases happen when the bodys immune system turns against itself and starts mistakenly attacking healthy cells. Many disease processes are considered autoimmune, and many of those conditions have shown response to research protocols using stem cell therapy, including lupus, hepatitis, Crohns disease, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, myasthenia neuropathy, CIDP, and ulcerative colitis. Deploying stem cells in these diseases may reduce inflammation of affected organs and tissues, regenerate damaged cells and tissue, and help modulate the immune response by possibly block compliment reactions.

Intersticial Cystitis (IC) and Lichen Sclerosis are among the most distressing, chronic conditions that can afflict women and men, although they are much commoner in women. There are anestimated 108 million peoplesuffering from lichen sclerosis around the world. When women are afflicted, the labia may fuse together, adding to the distress. Our research findings, as well as those of others in our group (CSN), indicate that SVF deployment mayhelp both women and men who suffer with those conditions. Furthermore, according to our research findings, patients who had local injections of filtered fat (nanofat) into the labia and surrounding skin, in addition to the SVF appeared to have better outcomes. Clearly, in those who benefit the stem cells as well as growth factors and cytokines re-direct the atrophic, inflammatory process towards healing and resolution.

Erectile Dysfunction may be a very distressing entity to those afflicted and the condition afflictsapproximately 50% of men over 40, to some degree. Naturally the causes may be multifactorial, but research results indicate that combining pressure wave therapy with SVF may result in significant improvement in over 60-70% of men. In those who benefit, stem cells may have the potential to stimulate the growth of the smooth muscle lining of vessels and improve endothelial function, repair and rejuvenate damaged and effete cells and boost blood flow to erectile tissues.

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The Healing Power of Stem Cells - Gulf Coast Stem Cell Center

What is a rheumatologist, and what specialties of doctors treat arthritis?

A rheumatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the nonsurgical treatment of rheumatic illnesses, especially arthritis.

Rheumatologists have special interests in unexplained rash, fever, arthritis, anemia, weakness, weight loss, fatigue, joint or muscle pain, autoimmune disease, and anorexia. They often serve as consultants, acting like medical detectives at the request of other doctors.

Rheumatologists have particular skills in the evaluation of the over 100 forms of arthritis and have special interests in inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, seronegative arthritis, spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid syndrome, Still's disease, dermatomyositis, Sjgren's syndrome, vasculitis, scleroderma, mixed connective tissue disease, sarcoidosis, Lyme disease, osteomyelitis, osteoarthritis, back pain, gout, pseudogout, relapsing polychondritis, Henoch-Schnlein purpura, serum sickness, reactive arthritis, Kawasaki disease, fibromyalgia, erythromelalgia, Raynaud's disease, growing pains, iritis, osteoporosis, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, and others.

Classical adult rheumatology training includes four years of medical school, one year of internship in internal medicine, two years of internal-medicine residency, and two years of rheumatology fellowship. There is a subspecialty board for rheumatology certification, offered by the American Board of Internal Medicine, which can provide board certification to approved rheumatologists.

Pediatric rheumatologists are physicians who specialize in providing comprehensive care to children (as well as their families) with rheumatic diseases, especially arthritis.

Pediatric rheumatologists are pediatricians who have completed an additional two to three years of specialized training in pediatric rheumatology and are usually board-certified in pediatric rheumatology.

Other doctors who treat arthritis include pediatricians, internists, general-medicine doctors, family medicine doctors, and orthopedic surgeons.

Link:
Arthritis Causes, Treatment & Types

Our Cell Therapy Center offers advanced patented methods of stem cell treatment for different diseases and conditions. The fetal stem cells we use have the highest potential for differentiation into other cell types and are not rejected by the recipients body read more...

Stem cell therapy has proven to be effective for tissue restoration, and integrated care for the incurable and obstinate diseases. We treat patients with diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, Parkinsons disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, joint and autoimmune diseases, and other diseases and conditions. We also offer innovative anti-aging programs. Stem cell treatment allows for achieving effects that are far beyond the capacity of any other modern method read more...

For over 23 years, we have performed more than 9,400 transplantations of fetal stem cells to people from many countries, such as China, the USA, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Great Britain, etc. Our stem cell treatments helped to prolong life and improve life quality to thousands of patients including those suffering from the incurable diseases who lost any hope for recovery.

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Stem Cell Therapy & Stem Cell Treatment - Cell Therapy Center ...

If chronic joint pain is limiting your daily routine or preventing you from activities you enjoy; regenerative medicinemay be the answer youve been looking for!

The pharmaceutical approach to these conditions is still not effective for some 20% to 40% of those suffering from arthritis or other degenerative joint conditions. According to the National Institute of Health, Stem Cell Therapy provides a promising alternative to surgery by promoting safe and natural healing. The less invasive approach Stem Cell Therapy offers attracts thousands each year.Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Center is one of the few clinics in the country to offer Stem Cell Therapy. With convenient locations nearAustin, we are ready to get you back to the activity levels you desire.

Stem cells are found in all of us and play a key role in the bodys healing process. They lie latent in your body until they receive signals that the body has suffered an injury and then they follow your platelets to the injured site. Stem cells are able to transform into the same type of cell that was injured to promote healing. They are tasked to heal injured ligaments, tendons, tissues and bones. After an injury, or as a natural result of aging, the amount of stem cells needed in certain areas of the body declines. Stem Cell Therapy solves this problem by delivering a high concentration of stem cells into the injured area promoting natural healing.

The Stem Cell Therapy procedure is simple and takes just 15 minutes with pain relief in 24-48 hours. The therapy can be performed right in the Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Centeroffice and provides pain relief without the risks of surgery, general anesthesia, hospital stays or prolonged recovery. There is zero recovery time after Stem Cell Therapy. Most experience complete joint restoration of ligaments, tendons and cartilage in 28 days. Stem Cell Therapy is very safe and effective. The injections have been used over 10,000 times in the United States with no reported adverse side effects and have a 100% safety record in Europe with 100,000s of patients.

Stem cell treatment takes advantage of the bodys ability to repair itself. With Stem Cell Therapy, your Texas Spine and Sports Therapy CenterProvider will inject stem cells into your body. Similar to cortisone and steroid shots, stem-cell injections have anti-inflammatory properties, but offer far more benefits than those of standard injection therapies. While cortisone and other drugs only provide temporary pain relief, stem cells actually restore degenerated tissue while providing pain relief. The growth factors in Stem Cells may replace damaged cells in your body. Additionally, stem cell injections contain hyaluronic acid, which lubricates joints and tendons, easing the pain and helping restore mobility.

The Stem Cells can turn into any type of tissue found in joints other than nerve tissue. Depending on the different tissues that are damaged, the stem cells can turn into whatever your joint needs which can quite often be a combination of cartilage, ligament, tendon, bone or muscle. This is a curative treatment. You can literally grow new joints tissue. Once your joint is healed, it is healed. The oldest research to date shows that 100% of recipients who benefited from stem cell therapy were still pain free 4 years later. Stem Cell Therapy allows our state-of-the-art clinics across the Texas Hill Countryto treat and rehabilitate your pain and injuries without drugs or surgery.

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Stem Cell Therapy for Joints & Spine in Austin Texas

The Integrative Medicine Department at Highlands Hospital combines evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine with traditional or western medicine. Integrative Medicine thus refers to the synergistic blending of these two distinct types of care providing a more holistic approach to healing.

Integrative Medicine therapies are based on the bodys innate ability to heal itself. The focus is on the whole person- physical, emotional social and spiritual. Integrative Medicine involves nurturing touch, sensitive listening, comforting environment and social networking.

A partnership between patient/client and practitioner is essential to the healing process. We are the coach and facilitator but the driving force to heal comes from the heart of each individual. Integrative Medicine empowers each person with the skills to be in charge of his/her own health care.

The program at Highlands Hospital is designed to be gentle yet powerful using learned techniques to deal with stress and negative emotions. A few of the modalities that we use are breathing techniques, progressive relaxation and guided imagery, bio-energy techniques, HealthRHYTHMS drumming and music therapy.

Highlands Hospital is pleased to welcome Jeanne Brinker RN BSN as an Integrative Medicine Healing Arts Practitioner to oversee the program. Jeanne is a consultant and pioneer in Integrative Medicine with 20 years of holistic health care experience in hospital and community environments. She was the former director of Integrative Medicine at Windber Medical Center. In that capacity, she has worked to bring complementary and alternative (CAM) to diverse patient populations from prenatal care, newborns and their families, pre and post-surgical care, critical and cardiac care, cancer survivors, hospice and palliative care, grief and loss support for families, incarcerated young adults and healthy teens, adults and seniors.

Westmoreland Guide to Good Health Brochure Winter 2017 Issue (PDF)

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Highlands Hospital Integrative Medicine

UCHealth offers physician-managed care that emphasizes the wellness and healing of the entire person.

Integrative medicine is the blending of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies with conventional care for the prevention and treatment of health conditions and the pursuit of wellness.

This melding of traditional medical care with the centuries-old healing arts can help decrease stress, strengthen the immune system, reduce pain, and speed recovery.

Our holistic approach treats each patient for balance and wellness of the mind, body, and spirit. Services are customized for your unique needs.

We believe that wellness is not defined by the presenceor absenceof disease. Rather, wellness is the pursuit of the best quality of life in your present circumstances regardless of your medical condition.

Whether youre fighting a disease, recovering from a disease, or striving to maintain good health, we can help you achieve optimal well-being.

Conditions that benefit from integrative medicine

Integrative medicine services & therapies

Our integrative medicine team collaborates with each other, your other healthcare providers at UCHealth, and any outside providers to help you get the most from the integration of CAM and conventional care.

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Monday:8am - 4:30pm

Tuesday:8am - 4:30pm

Wednesday:8am - 4:30pm

Thursday:8am - 4:30pm

Friday:8am - 4:30pm

Saturday:Closed

Sunday:Closed

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Integrative Medicine | Fort Collins, Denver & Colorado Springs

New Integrative Medicine Clinic at Wake Forest Baptist Health

We are pleased to announce that Wake Forest Baptist Health now offers patients integrative medicine services. At this new clinic, physicians and healerswork side by side to provide collaborative services to address diverse health conditions. We partner with patients of all ages to provide whole person, preventative care to improve overall health and wellbeing. Physicians with specialty training in integrative medicine, internal medicine, family medicine, neurology, pain management, pediatrics, and physical medicine and rehabilitation collaborate with professionals providing acupuncture, psychology, nutrition and integrative energy therapies in an effort to provide patients with comprehensive, evidence based care.

Our services are commonly used to help treat a variety of health conditions, including acute or chronic pain, menopausal-related symptoms, allergies, gastrointestinal symptoms, anxiety, and fatigue, just to name a few. Our Integrative Medicine specialists can help determine if our services are right for your specific health condition.

With more than 30 years of experience in both conventional and integrative medicine, Dr. Greenfield graduated from the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizonas College of Medicine and was one of the first four physicians to train there under Andrew Weil, MD.He has worked with Harris Teeter as a consultant on its yourwellness initiative, and helped forward Integrative Medicine within the VA nationally in service to veterans and their families. Prior to joining Wake Forest Baptist Health, Dr. Greenfield treated patients through Greenfield Integrative Healthcare, his own integrative healthcare consultancy.Dr. Greenfield is Board Certified in Emergency Medicine, earned his medical degree from the Chicago Medical School, and completed his residency and fellowship training in emergency medicine at Harbor/UCLA Medical Center.

Learn more about Dr. Greenfield | Request an Appointment with Dr. Greenfield

Dr. Coeytaux serves as the Director of the Center for Integrative Medicine, the Caryl J Guth, MD Chair in Integrative Medicine, and Professor of Family and Community Medicine. He is a family physician and clinical epidemiologist with experience both as a clinical scientist and administrator, and before joining us full-time, served as Associate Professor of Community and Family Medicine at Duke University and a faculty member of the Duke Clinical Research Institute.Dr. Coeytaux received his AB from Brown University, his MD from Stanford University, and his PhD in Epidemiology from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. He is a former Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar and Bravewell Collaborative Integrative Medicine Fellow.

Request an Appointment with Dr. Coeytaux

Wunian Chen is licensed by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) to offer acupuncture and Oriental medicine services. He has 30 years of experience delivering acupuncture treatments and helping patients use Chinese herbal treatments to improve their health.While studying acupuncture at the Hubei College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dr. Chen studied the principles of both Chinese and Western medicine. He graduated in 1983 with the equivalent of a U.S. medical degree. Since then, he has worked with patients to address a variety of conditions both in China and here in the United States. Dr. Chen uses acupuncture to help people with high blood pressure, back pain, depression, joint pain, fibromyalgia, hot flashes, fatigue, and headaches.

Request an Appointment with Dr. Chen

Deborah Larrimore is a nurse educator who specializes in integrative energy therapies. She provides Healing Touch services and strives to understand healing and how we can affect the process of disease. Deborah focuses her teachings on the sacredness of life and is dedicated to the idea that we can improve lives simply through the act of caring, while partnering with patients to help them discover their own path to wholeness.Deborah is a registered nurse, a licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist, a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner and a Certified Healing Touch Instructor. She received her BSN from East Carolina University, and served for 15 years as a critical care nurse in intensive care at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. Following that, she spent four years as a Nurse Educator for Hospice of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County. In her role as a Certified Healing Touch Instructor, she has locally, nationally and internationally taught many health care professionals the art of Healing Touch. Deborah has remained affiliated with Wake Forest Baptist Health for over 40 years and launched a former volunteer-based Healing Touch Consult Service for patients of the Medical Center.

Request an Appointment with Deborah Larrimore, RN

Vanessa Baute is an integrative neurologist and Assistant Professor of Neurology and Director of Education with the Center for Integrative Medicine at Wake Forest Baptist Health. She enjoys partnering with patients to promote their healing and manages a variety of neurologic conditions such as peripheral neuropathy and headache. She has a specific interest in the role of nutrition on neurohealth and has led seminars regionally and nationally on this topic. She teaches and mentors medical students and residents the importance of self-care and how to serve as role models of wellness. She completed her neurology residency and clinical neurophysiology fellowship at the Medical College of Georgia then went on to complete a two year fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona training there under Andrew Weil, MD.

Jeff Feldman has a special interest in helping individuals cope with chronic pain, headache, and other chronic and life-changing health conditions that can generate depression and anxiety. He works to tailor his approach to the individual, treating patients with a combination of mind-body techniques including relaxation, meditation, hypnosis, cognitive-behavioral and other brief therapy and stress management approaches. He has been a faculty member at all the International Congresses for Ericksonian Psychotherapy and Hypnosis since 1983, and presented at numerous other national and international meetings. An Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology, he joined the faculty of Wake Forest School of Medicine in 1999.Dr. Feldman is a graduate of Rutgers College of Rutgers University, received his Masters and Doctorate degrees in clinical psychology from Case Western Reserve University, and completed an internship at NYU Medical Center Bellevue Hospital. He has served as the Director of the Wake Forest Center for Integrative Medicine from 2013 until 2016, and as Chair of the Clinical Working Group of the Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health.

Dr. Karvelas grew up in North Carolina and attended both undergraduate and medical school at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He then completed Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) residency in Chicago at Northwestern Memorial/Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. He specializes in conservative musculoskeletal pain and chronic pain management with a focus on functional improvement. His interest in integrative medicine stems from his time living in San Francisco between undergraduate school and medical school when he attended art school and completed an Internship in Integrative Medicine at California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) with a focus on Expressive Arts Therapy for both adult and pediatric inpatients. He then used this training in a Schweitzer Fellowship program in medical school providing expressive arts therapy for pediatric and adult cancer patients at UNC. Although he no longer serves as an expressive arts therapist, this training and experience has molded his approach to treating patients holistically. He plans on completing the fellowship in Integrative Medicine offered to physicians in practice.

William Satterwhite, a native of Winston-Salem, received his bachelors degree from Davidson College and his law degree from UNC Chapel Hill. After practicing law for five years in Charlotte, he went to medical school at Wake Forest School of Medicine and completed his residency in pediatrics at Wake Forest Baptist in 2000. He has practiced pediatrics since then, developing significant experience and expertise treating children with ADHD and anxiety.At the Integrative Medicine Clinic, Satterwhite treats children with ADHD or anxiety who need a deeper, more holistic look into what might be causing their symptoms and what other remedies might lessen or even eliminate the need for traditional prescription medications.

Location and Hours of Operation

The Integrative Medicine Clinic is conveniently located near Pavilions Shopping Center in Winston-Salem, at 755 Highland Oaks Drive.

Clinical Coordinator: Kyle Washburn

755 Highland Oaks DriveSuite 102Winston-Salem, NC 27103(clinic map)

Patient Appointments: 336-713-6100Fax: 336-659-8759

Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Insurance coverage varies by provider, but most are in-network with most plans. We suggest you contact your insurance provider to verify coverage.

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Integrative Medicine Clinic - Wake Forest Baptist, North Carolina

Integrative Medicine means different things to different people, depending on who is defining it. For many docs using the term, it is just the blending of the best of conventional and alternative medicine based on the research evidence. Some people emphasize the doctor-patient relationship, but that should always simply be part of good medical practice.

Some docs are using the Integrative Medicine label for their own branding and self-promotion. Some are even trying to coopt the term in order to own it in one way or another.

For the most part, Integrative Medicine does not exist. The MDs are doing complementary medicine. They are complementing their main-stream medical approaches with a few alternative therapies. They aren't really trained in these other therapies, and they will always neglect one or more of the alternative therapies, based upon their prejudices.

The patients are going to the acupuncturist, chiropractor and herbalist, but those practitioners are not talking with the MD. And the MD is certainly not talking with them. The supplements and vitamins are being prescribed by the home shopping channel or the guy in the health food store. The MD and the other practitioners rarely know what's going on.

So for the vast majority of instances, Integrative Medicine does not exist. It's a nice idea, but it's not happening, and it's not going to happen. The best we can do is to get our patients to keep records of the various things they are doing for their health, so that we can at least look it over for safety issues.

Patients will always try some new pill or run off to Aunt Millie's homeopath. That's OK -- they have that right. But it's really hard to keep track of all this, even for the patient.

Five percent of Medicare enrollees cost Medicare 43% of its payout. This 5% of Medicare patients has on average 5 major medical problems, and they have on average 14 doctors in their medical records. Do you really think that all 14 of these doctors are integrating or coordinating their care? Even a few of them?

There are only 3 or 4 of us in the U.S. who have the full cross-training to be able to actually do the integration of alternative therapies with conventional medicine for patients in our offices. But even for us, it's a challenge. So for the most part, Integrative Medicine doesn't really exist.

Good health to you -

James

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What is integrative medicine? | Integrative Medicine - Sharecare