THIS IS DEFINITELY A STEM CELL THERAPY SUCCESS STORY.  CORD BLOOD STEM CELLS ARE THE HEROES THIS TIME.  THE STEM CELLS USED IN THIS STEM CELL TRANSPLANT WERE HIS SISTER'S CORD BLOOD STEM CELLS.   HOPEFULLY, DIKSHIT GOWDA WILL MAKE A FULL RECOVERY...THUS INCREASING THE LEAD OF VICTORIES FOR ADULT STEM CELLS  (MULTIPLE THOUSANDS) OVER VICTORIES FOR  EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS (ZERO)

Kolkata, Mar 6: A four year-old boy suffering from thalassaemia has recovered after being injected with his sister's cord blood. The new development has raised hopes for the treatment mode using stem-cell transplant.

Thalassaemia is an inherited blood disorder.

Due to the disease, the white blood cell count of Dikshit Gowda, hailing from Bangalore, has dropped to zero. He was admitted to the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Cancer Research Institute here on February 7.

"Initially, the bone marrow of Gowda was destroyed when he was treated for 15 days using high dose of chemotherapy," its Director Ashis Mukherjee said.

"Thereafter, stem cells taken from his little sister's cord blood, preserved at the Cryo Stem Cell Institute in Bangalore, were injected into him on February 28," he said.

"He is doing well now though he will be kept under observation for at least a month," Mukherjee said.

"This is the first stem-cell transplant in eastern India and it will be first of its kind in the country using mismatch cord blood," he said.

The boy's white blood cell count was now rising and he could be released in six weeks "if everything goes well. It gives us hope that the treatment mode was successful."

THIS ARTICLE IS GREAT NEWS INDEED. IT SEEMS ADULT STEM CELLS ARE BEING USED NOW TO HELP REPAIR BONES, LIGAMENTS, CARTILAGE, SPINAL CORD AND NERVES. THIS WONDERFUL STORY GIVES HOPE TO PATIENTS WHO MAY NEED A HIP REPLACEMENT OR KNEE REPLACEMENT. PERHAPS OUR CANADIAN READERS (due to their healthcare system) WON'T HAVE TO WAIT 2 YEARS FOR A HIP REPLACEMENT ANYMORE AND WILL BE ABLE TO SIMPLY USE THEIR OWN STEM CELLS TO HELP THEM :).

By Debra Sherman

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The orthopedics industry is using more biology and less metal to repair injured and diseased joints.

Researchers attending the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in San Francisco this week said they are slowly unlocking the doors to regenerative medicine using stem cells, gene therapy and tissue engineering.

"It's the future of our specialty," said Dr. Thomas Einhorn, chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and professor of orthopedic surgery, biochemistry and biomedical engineering at Boston University.

Historically, the orthopedist's arsenal looked much like a carpenter's. It was dominated by heavy metal -- cages, screws, saws, drills and metal implants for joints such as hips and knees.

Stem cell therapy could eventually eliminate the need for joint replacement, said Einhorn, who last year performed his first hip replacement surgery using the patient's own stem cells.

The undifferentiated, unspecialized stem cells can morph into specialized cells with specific functions in the body. Adult stem cells are available from a number of sources, including bone marrow and fat.

Stem cells from a patient's own body are being used to repair bones, ligaments, cartilage, muscle, spinal cord and nerves.

In the hip replacement surgery, Einhorn extracted bone marrow from a middle-aged male patient, sent it to a lab that removed everything but the stem cells, then put the cells in a spray gun and coated the hip implant to induce rapid bone growth over the implant.

"I don't know if I'll see it in my career, but we're certainly moving that way. It might take 20 years before we can totally regenerate a joint that way," Einhorn said.

Dr. Scott Rodeo, co-chief of Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and an associate team physician for the Super Bowl champion New York Giants, said animal studies suggest that stem cells and bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs) can be used to repair rotator cuff tears in the shoulder, a common sports injury that often requires surgery.

BMPs are a group of growth factors and cytokines known for their ability to induce the formation of bone and cartilage. They are sold by Medtronic Inc and Stryker Corp.

Stem cell therapy may also have applications in spine fusion, said Dr. Scott Boden of Emory Spine Center.

"We have a tougher time in the spine," he said, adding that it may just require more cells to form bone there.

Implanting BMPs may "attract other stem cells to the site and tell them to become bone cells," he said.

IN A STEM CELL THERAPY STORY THAT IS MEANINGFUL TO APPROXIMATELY 10 PEOPLE IN THE WORLD, WE HAVE A STEM CELL COMPANY THAT NOBODY HAS HEARD OF, ANNOUNCING THEY ARE TERMINATING DISCUSSIONS WITH ANOTHER STEM CELL COMPANY THAT NOBODY KNOWS. PLEASE WAKE ME UP WHEN YOU HAVE SOME REAL NEWS- DM

StemCells, Inc. Terminates Its Discussions to Acquire Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC

 

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--StemCells, Inc. (NASDAQ:STEM) today announced it is no longer pursuing a possible acquisition of Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC (“PCT), a leading provider of cGMP-quality cell processing services headquartered in Hackensack, NJ. The Company had announced on December 3, 2007 that it was exploring such an acquisition and that PCT had agreed to a period of exclusivity to allow for due diligence and negotiations. However, the parties were unable to reach agreement on mutually acceptable terms and conditions, and have terminated discussions.

In consideration of the exclusivity period, StemCells agreed to make a secured loan of up to $3.8 million to PCT, of which $1.0 million was lent. This loan will be repaid and retired on its terms.

PCT will continue to provide various cell processing services to StemCells under an existing contract.

I WASN'T AWARE OF WHAT EPIDERMOLYSIS BULLOSA WAS UNTIL I GOOGLED IT AFTER READING YET ANOTHER ARTICLE SHOWING ADULT STEM CELLS ARE HELPING PEOPLE AND GIVING PEOPLE HOPE RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW.

Nate Liao, almost 2, and his brother, Jake, 5, live with constant, painful blistering skin. They have the worst form of a genetic skin disease called epidermolysis bullosa (EB).

Until now, there hasn't been a treatment for the New Jersey boys, according to ABC News. Theresa Liao can only bandage her sons from head to toe.

Doctors at the University of Minnesota have infused healthy stem cells by way of bone-marrow transplants into mice with EB. And the blisters disappeared. Now, Nate has become the first human to receive a bone-marrow transplant to treat EB. His healthy 3-year-old brother, Jullian, was the donor.

It will be several weeks before doctors know if the stem-cell treatment worked. Doctors believe people with a variety of skin diseases could benefit.

"Thanks to an adult stem-cell treatment, this family struggling with this horrible disease now has hope for their sons," said Dawn Vargo, associate bioethics analyst for Focus on the Family Action. "These adult stem cells may help save their lives without using life-destroying, embryonic stem-cell research."

STEM CELL THERAPY USING ADULT STEM CELLS MAY HELP SAVE THESE KIDS LIVES NOW. THESE CHILDREN ARE NOT WAITING FOR SOME POTENTIAL CURE IN THE FUTURE THAT MAY OR MAY NOT COME. I HOPE THEIR STEM CELL TREATMENT WORKS AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW IT TURNS OUT FOR THEM.

Study Suggests Benefits for Patients With Autoimmune Diseases and Heart Disease

Link- http://www.webmd.com/news/20080226/adult-stem-cell-therapy-shows-promise

I ALREADY TOUCHED ON THE REVIEW OF MULTIPLE ADULT STEM CELL STUDIES BY DR. RICHARD BURT AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AND PUBLISHED BY JAMA- JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. THAT IS THE BIG STEM CELL NEWS THIS WEEK. IN THIS ARTICLE, DR. BURT TELLS HOW ADULT STEM CELL THERAPY IS GIVING DOCTORS A

PEOPLE OFTEN ASK ME "DON, HOW CAN I IMPROVE MY ADULT STEM CELL COUNT NATURALLY?" THERE ARE CERTAIN PRODUCTS OUT THERE ON THE MARKET THAT YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN THAT CLAIM TO "ENHANCE" YOUR ADULT STEM CELLS. THE JURY IS OUT ON WHETHER THIS CERTAIN PRODUCT REALLY WORKS OR IS A SCAM OF GREAT MAGNITUDE THAT COULD POSSIBLY INDUCE LIVER FAILURE.

HOWEVER, HERE IS ONE THING THAT IS PROBABLY NOT CONTROVERSIAL THAT EVERYONE SHOULD PROBABLY DO MORE OF, INCLUDING MYSELF -- EXERCISE.

THE OTHER DAY, I TOOK A SHOT AT AMERICAN STEM CELL RESEARCHERS. IT WAS A WELL DESERVED SHOT, BUT I DID FAIL TO MENTION ONE OF THE FEW AND THE PROUD- DR. RICHARD BURT. I WAS REMINDED OF THIS BECAUSE DR. RICHARD BURT IS IN THE NEWS AGAIN FOR HIS ADULT STEM CELL RESEARCH. THIS ADULT STEM CELL GURU WHO WORKS AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY IN CHICAGO SEEMS TO COME OUT WITH A NEW STUDY ON ADULT STEM CELLS OR A NEW STEM CELL TREATMENT OR NEW TRIAL USING ADULT

THE DREAM OF IMPLANTING EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS INTO HUMANS WILL NOT COME TO PASS, THOUGH THE BILLIONS “RESEARCHERS ARE RIPPING OFF FROM TAXPAYERS WILL GO ON FOR YEARS. HOWEVER, THERE IS ONE LEGITIMATE USE FOR EMBRYONIC RESEARCH, AND THAT IS IN USING EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS TO TEACH US ABOUT DISEASES AND OTHER VITAL INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THE BODY WORKS.--DM

EXTRACTED FROM THE DECCAN HERALD, FEB 5, 2008.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Feb52008/snt2008020550496.asp

Stem cell therapy, though in a nascent stage, has been a promising area. Here in Bangalore, Manipal Hospital has been at the forefront in the field. A drug based on stem cells will be ready by next year end, the researchers assure. Jayalakshmi K reports.

Predicting human birth defects in a developing foetus by studying embryonic stem cells on a Petri dish, as also testing drugs in a more quicker and cost-effective way, is now possible, thanks to work done by a group of scientists. Researchers at the Manipal Institute of Regenerative Medicine and Stempeutics have come up with a way of designing safer drugs and understanding their effects on pregnancy and the development of the foetus. Embryonic stem cells provide a reliable source for studying in a Petri dish, the formation of all the 220 different tissues of the human body. They produce early embryo-like entities, known as embryoid bodies (EBs). These make a population of cells representing all the germ layers (the ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm). The skin and the nervous system arise from the ectoderm, the mesoderm forms tissues like the cardiomyocytes, bone and blood, and the endoderm forms the liver, lungs, intestine, etc. of the developing embryo. The early embryo growing in the mother's womb can cross-talk with the maternal environment, and responds to the factors around it. Common bacterial infections of the maternal genital tract, like bacterial vaginosis, can lead to poor pregnancy outcomes. The EBs closely mimic a growing embryo in a mother's womb. As ethical issues limit studies on the molecular in human embryos, the EBs are handy. The team led by Dr Kaushik Deb (Group leader and Principal Scientist, Embryonic Stem Cell Program) has shown that the presence of very low amounts of bacterial lipopolysaccahrides (LPS), a toxin found in E-coli in the environment, can cause defects in the development of tissues like the bones in the growing foetus. By testing drugs and toxins on these cells, drug discovery can skip valuable time spent on animal studies as well as cost. "The time for drug discovery can be cut from 14 to seven years on an average," says Dr Satish Totey, Chief Scientific Officer, Stempeutics Research. It would also be a good tool for IVF clinics, he adds. The findings were recently published in the online version of the journal Regenerative Medicine. MIRM is a constituent institute of Manipal University focusing on fundamental research and education. Work done here is taken across by Stempeutics which does the pilot studies and clinical trails.

AS REGULAR READERS KNOW, I CONSIDER AMERICA “THE BANGLADESH OF STEM CELLS.  LIKE CHILDREN LOST IN A FOREST, AMERICA WANDERS AROUND, HOPELESSLY CAUGHT UP IN A POLITICAL/RELIGIOUS BATTLE OVER THE SCIENCE FICTION OF EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS. AS FAR AS THE REAL SCIENCE OF ADULT STEM CELLS IS CONCERNED, CHINA AND INDIA ARE SO FAR AHEAD OF THE USA THAT AMERICA MAY NEVER CATCH UP. 

 

HERE IS A FEB.2008 ARTICLE FROM INDIA.  IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT WHILE A PRECIOUS FEW AMERICAN RESEARCHERS KNOW SOME OF THE FACTS IN THIS ARTICLE, NONE OF THEM WILL BE INVOLVED IN THIS CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH DURING THIS DECADE, IF EVER, IN THE LAND OF THE FREE.  FURTHER, IN MY OPINION, EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS WILL NOT BE IMPLANTED INTO HUMANS TO HELP CURE THE BELOW DISEASES DURING THE LIFETIMES OF AMERICANS SUFFERING FROM THESE DISEASES TODAY.---DM

 

EXTRACTED FROM THE DECCAN HERALD, FEB 5, 2008.

 

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Feb52008/snt2008020550496.asp

 

Stempeutics has been doing some pioneering work on stem cells with a focus on "benchside to bedside", as the manager, Manohar says. "We do not want to be doing research that is too basic to be applied."

At present, four major clinical trials with 100 patients each are ongoing in cerebral strokes (!), limb Ischemia (!), myocardial infarction and multiple sclerosis (!).  (OF THESE FOUR, ONLY MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IS CURRENTLTLY IN CLINICAL TRIAL IN THE USA---DM)  These are some diseases for which pilot tests have shown satisfactory to good results. Parkinson's is another ailment that has responded well but as it involves brain surgery, is a bit more complicated.

Calling it experimental therapy, Manohar says that almost 80 patients have been treated using mesenchymal stem cells, found in the bone marrow. "In the last six months alone almost 40 patients have been treated and in 25 per cent of the cases, the results were good. While the Parkinson's patients showed remarkable recovery (TAKE NOTE, MICHAEL J. FOX. AS CHRISTOPHER REEVE DID, YOU ARE WASTING YOUR LIFE CHAMPIONING EMBRYONIC SCIENCE FICTION WHICH EXISTS ONLY BY PRETENDING THAT WHAT CAN HELP YOU NOW---ASC-- DOES NOT WORKDM)  with many even stopping the drug, with spinal cord injuries there was mixed results," says Dr Totey. It was found that the cells were not migrating to the site.

One of the reasons he cited could be the mode of delivery of stem cells. Usually it is delivered at the site of injury, or through lumbar puncture or the arterial route. The site of injury is the best approach, though in the case of brain diseases, this means complications.

The stem cell treatment works well for fresh injuries but some experts believe that the body sends stem cells naturally in this period. After six months or so, the scar tissue forms and can hinder the migration of stem cells administered.

A patient from Rajkot had been paralysed after falling from a giant wheel at Essel World. After two years the family contacted Manipal hospital in 2006. "We did the MRI scan and identified the injury points on the spine and at these places we made incisions to take out the scar tissue. It became a fresh injury so the stem cells we injected went unhindered to the damaged spot," notes Dr Totey.

Now she has recovered to a large extent, can move around and has control of the bladder, etc. She required two injections so far, of stem cells drawn from her bone marrow.

Unlike usual bone marrow transplants where a litre of the liquid is drawn each time, with mesenchymal adult stem cells, all that is required is 30-60 ml which can be cultured in the lab for future use as well, he says.
Unlike most other adult stem cells, mesenchymal are pluripotent and can grow into any tissue. The other big advantage is that there is no need for matching. Any donor can donate cells from his bone marrow. As it takes 20-25 days to culture the stem cells in lab, this is an advantage as readily available cells can be administered in emergency situations instead of having to draw from the patient's bone marrow and culture.

"The problem is in isolation and culturing. Very small quantities of the cell are present in the bone marrow. We have patented the technology," says Totey.

In the case of cerebral stroke, the problem arises in delivering stem cells due to the blood brain barrier. This is a natural barrier of the body which prevents most antibodies and toxins, even cells, from going into the brain. During an injury, just for very short time the diaphragm is also damaged and allows passage. Unless the patient comes in this time, stem cells can't be delivered through the blood route.

Despite the country still lacking a law on stem cell therapy, the DCGI has allowed Stempeutics to conduct trials at multiple sites. The draft guidelines have been awaiting discussion almost since two years now. It is expected to be tabled in Parliament this summer.

There are plans to add a few more diseases to the present list under study. These include vitiligo (a skin eruption), dilated cardiomyopathy, end-stage liver disease, etc.

"By end 2009, we hope to have the first defined stem cell based drug for standard therapy on the shelf, just like all other medicines. This will be for a few of the diseases studied," says Manohar.

In the area of transplants too, stem cells can do miracles as witnessed when a heart taken from a cadaver came alive when a "stem cell scaffold" was introduced. Essentially, a 3-dimensional makes it easy for stem cells to multiply and form a whole new organ.

"This needs some amount of tissue engineering and we are working with some US universities as also Sri Thirunal Institute in Trivandrum who are experts in polymer science. Using biomimetic material which is also bio-degradable, we introduce a small heart inside the dead one. Eventually the scaffolding falls off and the stem cells have done their job," explains Dr Totey. This will be a big boon for transplants because stem cells can only help repair a damaged tissue if the damage is small but if the whole organ has failed, we need transplants, he adds.

February 21, 2008

Janaina Ferreira da Silva Lima MD reports that Natalie Quintana of Miami, who suffers from Spinal Muscular Atrophy (FSMA), was treated with adult stem cell therapy in Latin America by Dr. Fernandez Vina on  14 September 2007. Prior to the therapy, Natalie used two canes to support her weight with her shoulders. Recent electromyography studies indicate some muscles have regenerated.  See her video under the blogroll to the right (same title).

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