Artist Turns To His Own Adult Stem Cells for Arthritis Treatment

Arthritis had stopped John Lawson Cullison Jr. from doing what he loved- painting. Knowing that he shouldn't paint all stem cell research with the same brush, Cullison Jr., famous for his "new age" art, turned to Adult Stem Cell research using his own stem cells to save himself.

Cullison Jr. found an Adult Stem Cell company in China that treated arthritis and sent them a small sample of his fat. The company, RNL Bio, a South Korean company, took stem cells from his fat and cultured them under strict standards and safe conditions.

When the Adult Stem Cells were ready, Cullison Jr. flew to South Korea and then China to receive his own stem cells taken from his fat.

Before the Adult Stem Cells Were Implanted Cullison Was:

• Walking with a cane


• Taking Pain Medication for 15 years


• Pain, Tenderness in the joints


• Couldn't Paint- his true love

3 Weeks After the Stem Cells Were Implanted:

• No longer needs a cane to walk


• No longer has to take medication


• Joints feel better


• Can Now Paint Again

From the stem cell news article:

When asked about his decision to seek this new stem cell treatment, Cullison said, "I had more faith in that [the fact that RNL was using my own stem cells] because I knew that I would be receiving the material that genetically was supposed to be in me."

Improvements 2 weeks after Stem Cell Therapy

Cullison also said after his stem cell therapy for his arthritis, "This is major improvement and it's only been 2 weeks! Six months from now, I'll be doing back-flips!"

Stem Cell Video

Stem Cell Company In Los Angeles?

Also according to this stem cell blurb, the stem cell company RNL Bio is going to open an office in Korea Town in Los Angeles and send Americans over to South Korea and China because the United States does not offer this treatment.

Congratulations John Lawson Cullison Jr!  I suggest your next work of art to be a bunch of Adult Stem Cells. Maybe I will commission it.

Adult Stem Cell Research Used for Bigger Breasts

I always pride myself on keeping you abreast on the latest news of any stem cell research using Adult Stem Cells so today I have a story about breasts.

In Britain, a breast surgeon is going to start offering breast enlargement using the person's own Adult Stem Cells taken from fat in their stomach.

From the Sunday Times : Dr. Kefah Mokbel, a "consultant breast surgeon" at the London Breast Institute at the Princess Grace hospital says "They [breasts treated with stem cells] feel more natural because this tissue has the same softness as the rest of the breast.” He said the treatment offered the potential of considerable improvement on implants: “Implants are a foreign body. They are associated with long-term complications and require replacement. They can also leak and cause scarring.”

Two Benefits of Stem Cell Breast Enhancement Treatment

No, I don't mean to make a bad pun.

1. The fat containing the stem cells is removed from the patient's stomach, therefore, the woman gets a possible benefit of losing fat- getting thinner.


2. The second possible benefit is the breasts get larger- and more natural looking than implants and almost certainly safer.

The stem cell treatment is to be used in patients with  "breast deformities caused by cancer treatment" as well as women who simply want a larger cup size.

Dr. Mokbel believes the stem cells can only increase the breasts one cup size at the moment, but will try to go on to bigger things later on.

Adult Stem Cells Used In Breasts in Japan for 6 Years

Apparently, Japanese doctors have been doing this procedure at the Seishin Cosmetic Clinic for approximately 6 years now.

And according to this stem cell article- In Japan, more than 80% of the women are satisfied with the results. Furthermore, there was a statistically significant improvement in breast tissue thickness at one and six months after treatment.

Stem Cell Research for Coronary Artery Disease a Success

Dr. Douglas Losordo, the director of Northwestern University's Cardiovascular Institute is reporting that his stem cell research Phase II study of 170 heart disease (severe coronary artery disease) patients treated with using Adult Stem Cells was a success.

Adult Stem Cells Give Impressive Results

Patients receiving their own Adult Stem Cells had improved tolerance to exercise and less discomfort after their follow up at 6 months.

From the stem cell treatment article:
Dr. Losordo says "The six-month, phase II data provide the first evidence that a patient's own stem cells could actually be used as a treatment for their heart disease."

How Adult Stem Cells Work for Heart Disease

It is believed the stem cells help rebuild damaged heart tissue as well as create new blood vessels helping more blood flow through out the body.

5 more years until Stem Cell Therapy Available for Heart Patients?

The results were so promising that Dr. Losordo and Baxter, the stem cell research company that sponsored the study will move forward with a Phase III trial.

After the Phase III trial is completed, Baxter would be able to submit the results to the US FDA for approval. However, before heart disease patients start celebrating, keep in mind that this will take at least 5 more years.

And Stem Cell Research for Other Diseases?

5 more years for Adult Stem Cell treatment to be available to heart patients in the United States-- and stem cell therapy for the heart is the most advanced as far as clinical trials using Adult Stem Cells go. So for Diabetes, Emphysema, Peripheral Artery Disease and others...we are probably looking at 10+ years before Adult Stem Cell research will be put to use.

Better Late Than Never for Adult Stem Cells?

Is this the best we can hope for?  Wait for these endless clinical trials to be completed for each particular disease? Wait for the use of our own cells, something already proven safe? Or is there something we can do to speed things up? A group of US doctors for Adult Stem Cell Therapy are trying to change things. What do you think we can do?

Another Child With Cerebral Palsy Helped With Cord Blood Stem Cells at Duke

http://jackinthebox-stemcelltreatment.blogspot.com/

American Doctors Take On the FDA's Authority on Adult Stem Cell Use

While the United States is debating the pros and cons of Embryonic stem cell research, a group of American doctors are sidestepping this debate and have united to challenge the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) assertion that Adult Stem Cells taken from the patient's own bodies are to be classified as drugs.

This group has formed the American Stem Cell Therapy Association (ASCTA) in response to the FDA's stance on Adult Stem Cells. The FDA's stance is that stem cells removed from a patient should be treated as a new drug- ie. subject to 7-10 years of clinical trials and testing for each disease/condition it is used for.

American Doctors Finally Speak Up For Adult Stem Cells

Dr. Christopher Centeno MD of Regenexx, in Colorado- “Many patients are dying or suffering day by day with incurable diseases or problems that require major surgery. These patients should have access to basic adult stem cell therapy now.”

Frank Falco, M.D. in Delaware/Maryland- “The FDA’s position against someone using their own stem cells is taking it too far. We are talking about a person using their own tissue to treat a degenerative disorder or process safely without the use of medications or surgery. Although we agree that oversight and standards are necessary, this should be provided through a physician organization such as ASCTA rather than by a government agency.”

Dr. Zannos Grekos, Naples, Florida, a member of the Repair Stem Cell Institute's Science Advisory Board, is also a member of the ASCTA.

FDA's Stance On Your Own Stem Cells

The FDA's stance on Adult Stem Cells taken from a patient is that it should be treated as a new drug- ie, subject to 7-10 years of clinical trials and testing for each use of it. This means 7-10 years of clinical trials for adult stem cells for heart disease. 7-10 years of clinical trials and tests for diabetes, 7-10 for spinal cord injury...you get the picture.  Think about how much money and how much time it will take to get through the hurdles for each particular disease/condition.  How many people will die  and suffer during that time  because they can't be treated with their own cells- which are safe and have no side effects.

Adult Stem Cells- the same as Lipitor or Viagra?

Cells taken from your own body are being treated by the FDA  exactly the same as Lipitor or Viagra were treated.  Lipitor and Viagra have side effects (ex. Lipitor- muscle weakness, Viagra- risk of heart attack) because you are introducing a new foreign chemical into your body.   Adult Stem Cells are not some mysterious concoction of chemicals brewed up after 10 years of research and development.  The Adult Stem Cells are your own cells-  removed from a patient so they have no side effects.  They are safer than taking an aspirin.

Stem Cells- Your Own Repair System In Place

In essence, your own stem cells are already there to repair damage to the body, let the body heal itself.  When you fall and scrape your knee, your body will send stem cells to heal the damage. However, sometimes for certain conditions and diseases, there aren’t enough of these stem cells to do that.  Therefore, these doctors/researchers are multiplying the amount of adult stem cells and then putting them into the area that needs repair- and then they let the body’s own repair mechanisms (the adult stem cells)  do what they are “born to do”- no controversy, no ethical concerns, a 3rd grader can understand this—  so why shouldn't it be  available in the United States?

These American doctors are finally speaking up and I (and thousands of patients who can benefit from using their own stem cells) applaud them.

Here is the original release

Thanks to the Stem Cell blog for this story