Man's Own Stem Cells Save His Crushed Leg From Amputation

A man's own stem cells have saved his crushed leg from amputation in England.  Andrew Kent, 53, of Kent has had his leg saved by adult stem cells after a huge boulder landed on it, shattering his bones in his leg.

After the accident, Andrew had 3 surgeries on his leg attempting to save it.  None of them worked.  His doctors told Andrew that he was facing amputation.



From the stem cell news story:

Surgeons told Mr Kent he could lose his leg unless they tried the new stem cell technique.

He said: “I was given two choices. I asked what the surgeon thought was best and he said he wanted to try the stem cells. I was the first in the country at that time.”

Orthopaedic surgeon Anan Shetty removed stem cells from bone marrow in Mr Kent’s hip. These were mixed with a new collagen gel called Cartifill to make a paste, which was smeared into the fractures.

They finally fixed his leg in a metal cage to gently press the bones together. The cage was finally removed six months after the procedure.

Mr Shetty said: “He’s really surprised us. This is an amazing technique. Mr Kent won’t be able to run for about a year, but after 18 months his bones will have healed completely. I’m sure he’ll be able to go back to rock climbing.”

Cartifill was invented by an orthopaedic surgeon from South Korea, Professor Seok Jung Kim, who has helped Mr Shetty pioneer a series of procedures. Prof Kim was present to watch the operation.

Cartifill has also been used in combination with stem cells to repair torn knee cartilage. The gel holds the stem cells against the bone, where they form a new layer of cartilage. Ten patients have been treated so far in Britain, with an 80 per cent success rate.

Cost is always a factor in medicine, but this technique only costs a few hundred pounds.
Prof Kim said: “Many people who have problems with knee injuries can now get effective, low-cost treatment.”

NHS Didn't Pay For It- Why? Because it works?

Don't look for Britain's own Obamacare- the NHS to pay for stem cell treatment, it actually helps people heal.  For more stem cell success stories regarding orthopedics, please see our stem cells for cartilage section

2 More Stem Cell Research Papers Show Adult Stem Cells Help Heart Disease

As if we needed more evidence that adult stem cells help heart disease, today, we have two more research studies that add to our already huge list. First, we have a research study coming out of Brazil, where doctors injected 8 angina patients with stem cells from the patient's own bone marrow. 

The research study in Brazil found that all 8 heart patients improved after having their own stem cells implanted into their myocardium.  Here is the full research study for the heart study:

The researchers found that the procedure benefitted all eight of the refractory angina patients in the study, all of whom had previously received surgical revascularization.

"The large fraction of monocytes in the ReACT formula appears to be related to the new blood vessel growth, or angiogenesis, that restores perfusion on the myocardial ischemic areas after the cell transplantation," said corresponding author Dr. Nelson Americo Hossne, Jr. of the Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of Sao Paulo. "For our patients, angina symptom relief began as early as three months post-procedure with continuing improvement through the twelfth month and sustained improvement past 18 months. Symptom relief improved in all patients, suggesting that the effect is sustained, not transitory."


"This results in a substantial decrease in the quality of life for the refractory angina patient," added Prof. Enio Buffolo.

Bone marrow is a natural source of a broad spectrum of cytokines involved in controlling angiogenic and inflammatory processes. Bone marrow white blood cells therefore play an important role in the angiogenic mechanism, contributing to the revascularization of the heart.

Next, we have a study from China in which they showed that apelin, a newly described inotropic peptide, improves heart function following transplantation of stem cells from the patient's own bone marrow.  

From the stem cell news story:


Apelin helps heart function after bone marrow transplant

Apelin, a newly described inotropic peptide (related to the force of heart muscle contraction) with important cardiovascular regulatory properties, contributes to functional improvement in patients with severe heart failure after they have undergone implantation with bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMC). The study, carried out at the Navy General Hospital in Beijing, evaluated 40 patients with severe heart failure following myocardial infarction. Twenty patients were assigned to receive BMMC transplants and 20 received standard medication. Another 20 healthy patients were assigned as controls.

"Baseline levels of plasma apelin were significantly lower in all heart failure patients as compared to normal, healthy subjects," said corresponding author Dr. Lian Ru Gao. "However, in patients who underwent cell transplantation, apelin increased significantly from three to 21 days post-transplantation. This increase in apelin was also followed by significant improvement in cardiac function."

In patients who received standard treatment, there was no increase in apelin.

Ok-- I think this research study is saying that the stem cells somehow increase apelin which is responsible for helping increase heart function.

More Proof Needed?

Please feel free to peruse our Heart Disease section for more proof that adult stem cells are helping heart patients now.  Unfortunately, not in the United States except for clinical trials which are difficult to qualify for and you may get the placebo-- nice going FDA.

Peripheral Artery Disease Helped By Adult Stem Cells

An 80 year old woman suffering from peripheral artery disease (PAD) has had her leg saved from amputation by her own stem cells.  The adult stem cells restored circulation in her right leg and in her words has "given me my life back."

Helen Thomas, 80, of Hastings, Michigan, already had a toe amputated due to peripheral artery disease which affects more than 10 million Americans. Her right leg was due to be next.  She asked her physician, Dr. Kenneth Merriman for an alternative.  Luckily, Dr. Merriman found one in a PAD study being conducted in nearby Ohio that used the patient's own adult stem cells for the treatment. 



From the stem cell success story:

The stem cells are injected into the leg, causing new blood vessels to grow.

A few days later, Thomas left for Grant Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio.

“It was a miracle,” she said this week. “I’m walking, and I wouldn’t be walking without the stem cells. I have my leg.”

“They saved my life. I told them they saved my life,” Thomas said.

By becoming part of the Ohio study conducted by Franz, Dr. Kaushal Shah and Dr. Thomas Hankins, she was one of 16 patients who underwent the procedure. Of those, 13 avoided major amputations, the researchers said.

“This technique sheds new light on stem-cell treatment and has the potential to become the gold standard for PAD,” Hankins said.

Franz, medical director of Grant Vascular and Vein Center, said: “We were pleasantly surprised by our results. ... This is cutting-edge technology that could benefit millions of Americans.” (It can only benefit millions of Americans if we actually USE the technology already available- Don)

Stem Cell Study Open to 16 out of 10 Million PAD Sufferers

Here is more information on the adult stem cell study for peripheral artery disease.  Once again we have a safe, simple treatment that is not a cure, but the benefits outweigh the almost zero risks.  And once again, it is not available to help Americans in the United States.  Helen Thomas was very lucky to get into this stem cell trial as well as save her leg.  Unfortunately, I don't tell the stories of PAD sufferers with critical limb ischemia  who didn't qualify, or who couldn't get into a tiny trial and most likely have lost their legs because the FDA doesn't allow this in the United States. 

Here is another woman who had her leg saved from critical limb ischemia by her own stem cells

Eating Improves For Girl With Cerebral Palsy After Treatment With Stem Cells

A New Zealand girl with cerebral palsy and epilepsy traveled all the way to Mexico for stem cell treatment that has already improved her quality of life.  Jaide Pearson, 8, and her family went to Mexico for therapy using donated cord blood stem cells and is already seeing the benefits of the adult stem cells.

From the stem cell research success story:

Jayne Pearson said Jaide Pearson, 8, was more alert, happier and eating pots of dairy food and mashed baby food instead of relying completely on tube feeding.

Jaide is a blind quadriplegic with epilepsy and cerebral palsy. Her mother and grandparents raised about $40,000 to take her to a Tijuana clinic in Mexico five months ago, hoping for a miracle cure.

Ms Pearson said eating and sitting up in the back of the car with just a seatbelt were the most marked improvements since the trip to the Mexican clinic. "She is eating more every day and has put on weight. She also seems brighter, happier, is sleeping better, can hold her head up in her wheelchair and stares at things," Ms Pearson said.

Before the treatment, Jaide had to sit in a special car seat as she could not sit upright unaided.

The treatment involves inserting cells from umbilical cords of healthy new babies to the base of the patient's brain.

Her grandfather, Norm Pearson, said Jaide's improvement in eating was the most marked improvement he had noticed. "Her prime nourishment still comes from a tube but she now enjoys one meal a day. We used to try and feed her real food before but it was a real effort just getting her to open her mouth and get any food in. Now she eats a whole pot of dairy food, it is a big improvement," Mr Pearson said.

With the medical profession here only offering medication to help control Jaide's symptoms, Ms Pearson said she had to give the stem cell treatment a go.

New Zealand to Mexico For Therapy With Stem Cells

Yet another child with cerebral palsy helped by adult stem cells.  And this family had to travel all the way from New Zealand to Mexico for the treatment.  Why?  Because adult stem cell treatment isn't available in New Zealand. A harmless treatment that can only help and families are forced to travel thousands of miles for help that their own country won't provide. 

Other Cerebral Palsy Stem Cells Stories

Last week, we covered Mia Allen, a young Irish girl with cerebral palsy who had to travel to China for stem cell treatment using cord blood stem cells. And we also recently covered this girl with cerebral palsy who was helped by her own stem cells stored from her cord blood. 

SCI Treatment Using Own Stem Cells

2 Idaho cousins who suffered spinal cord injuries in separate accidents have improved after treatment using their own stem cells.  The adult stem cell therapy in Germany has given both of them quality of life improvements that has thrilled them to no end.

Harold (Bud) Poxleitner, of Cottonwood, and Robert Braucher, of Forest, Idaho both report after the stem cell treatment that:

• Chronic pain has subsided and they both have more feelings in their legs
• the treatment was worth the money and effort
• they are both considering going for more treatment using their own stem cells

From the stem cell research story:

"It helped me quite a bit. It took the pain and dropped it down to about half of what it was," Poxleitner, 67, said. "And then my legs got real warm. They've never been warm for 40 years, and they just warmed up. Those stem cells must have gone in there and fixed my circulation or something. They're staying real warm now."

Braucher said his improvement may not be quite as pronounced, but is noticeable. "I had a lot of pain in my left leg and I don't have it anymore," he said. "And I'm getting more sensation in the bottom of my right foot. My muscle on my thigh, I can feel a little bit. Other than that, that's about it."

Poxleitner explained the bone marrow is extracted from the hip and stem cells, after being separated out, are injected back into the body as close to the spinal chord injury as possible. Poxleitner was injured in a 1968 logging accident, Braucher in a 2003 automobile accident. Both have been using wheelchairs since.

Just the reduction of pain for Poxleitner and virtual elimination for Braucher is well worth the cost of the trip and treatment, the men said. "I'll tell you what, I couldn't hardly get any sleep before," Braucher said. "Now I can sleep all night. It has made a lot of difference, just getting rid of that pain."
 

 

More SCI Stem Cell Research Success Stories

Other SCI patients have gone to Germany and have had some success with their own stem cells.   Justin McCray from Mississippi has improved as well after the stem cell treatment.