This isn't a shocker.  Repair Stem Cell therapy is helping patients with critical limb ischemia brought on by peripheral vascular disease.  This trial wasn't published with a lot of fanfare or even with a press release (at least I couldn't find one).  However, someone put this completed trial online and I was very lucky to come across it- this trial deserves some attention!

This trial, done in the Czech Republic, injected Repair Stem Cells into the legs of patients with blockages that were untreatable (critical limb ischemia).  In layman's terms (because that is what I am too), this means that these patients had blockages that were not treatable (with an angioplasty or bypass) and as a result, there was little or no blood flow in the feet and/or legs.  Therefore, these patients were facing amputation of these limbs.

Here are some highlights from this stem cell therapy trial which treated 24 patients:

Results. One year after treatment, all patients were alive and only 2 patients have undergone high amputation. Eleven of 14 defects have healed (78%) and Fontaine grade of ischemia has changed from median grade 3.5 to median grade 2 (P<0.0001). Collateral vessel development has unproved by mean 1.13 and 1.3 points on a four- point semiquantitative scale in calf and foot, respectively (P<0.0001). There were no grade III-IV adverse events. According to the SF-36 quality of life questionnaire, 1 year after the procedure patients have reported significant improvement in all measured items.

Conclusion. Intra-arterial infusion of BMMC can lead to significant and long-lasting subjective and objective improvements in patients with CLI. The results merit validation by randomized controlled studies in patients with less critical limb ischemia.

Wonderful, even if you aren't a doctor and some of these terms are confusing- you can tell that essentially- the adult stem cells worked and in most cases saved patients from the amputation of their legs!

More proof that Repair (adult) Stem Cells are working now!  No need to wait for the future.  If you are interested in treatment for peripheral artery disease or peripheral vascular disease now, you can try to get in a trial or you can find stem cell treatment for peripheral artery disease information at my "sister" site.

Here are some more studies I have come across recently on peripheral artery disease trials in the United States - here and here

Or if you are a doctor or peripheral artery disease patient ( or just interested in this trial information), click nofollow" href="http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1562369/autologous_intraarterial_infusion_of_bone_marrow_mononuclear_cells_in_patients" title="Stem Cell Therapy Critical Limb Ischemia" target="_blank">here for the full results/details of the trial.

 

All of you know I don't like to hype up "mouse" studies, but again, I think this one has real potential.

Please read about this incredibly important finding which will have a direct effect on millions of stroke victims.

Here is the title of the article as it appears in Scientific American -

Can Stem Cells Block Stroke Damage? Yes, but in a Surprising Way

Notice that the phrase "adult stem cells" is still embargoed from use in a positive science article in the so called "Developed countries of the Western World," so the embryonic fanatics will say "See, I told you embryonic stem cells would pay off!" (They "know" that all stem cells come from embryos).

As my little protest, I will paraphrase the article and add (Adult) every time the phrase "stem cells" are used because that is precisely what the article is talking about doing these amazing things:

Injecting (ADULT) stem cells into the brains of mice that recently suffered a stroke can reduce nerve cell (neuron) damage by up to 60 percent, according to new research.

But the (ADULT) stem cells do not simply replace damaged tissue as previously believed. Instead, the immature (ADULT) stem cells trigger adult brain cells to switch gears and block a stroke-induced immune response that causes nerve damage.

Prockop and his team induced strokes in six mice by blocking their carotid arteries, which supply blood to the brain. When blood is cut off cells panic, triggering the immune system, which goes into overdrive, attacking and destroying healthy tissue.

One day after causing the strokes, the researchers injected human mesenchymal stromal cells (ADULT STEM CELLS!)  into the animals' brains. (Prockop says the group used human stem cells because mouse cells are a lot harder to isolate and grow in the labthough similar results have been seen when animal cells were used.)

"The fascinating thing was the (ADULT) stem cells were talking to each otherthe human cells and the mouse cells," he says. "The human cells turned down some of those inflammatory and immune responses."

Specifically, he says, the (ADULT) stem cells prompted the brain's immune cells (called microglia) to calm down and call off their assault on healthy nerve tissue. This resulted in 60 percent less damage to neurons in the brains of treated animals compared with those who did not receive stem cell infusions. In addition, the treated mice performed better than their untreated peers on a battery of movement, cognitive and behavioral tests.

"This is the first time really that the mechanisms were laid out," Prockop says.




The implanted stem cells that produced these explosive new scientific findings are ADULT STEM CELLS  (ASC), but the kept-ignorant public will read this as an embryonic victory everywhere but on this blog.




Oh, by the way, not that the USA news community is paying attention, but ASC are working on 100+ diseases on six continents (not yet in Antarctica). Meanwhile, every day of every week of every year, hundreds of patients die while waiting for the myth of embryonic cures to miraculously appear, while their medical scientists ignore what has been proven to work thousands of times, in order to concentrate on what has been thoroughly proven cannot work and never will.




Click here to read the whole article

Yesterday, I focused on how stem cells from another person's bone marrow can save lives.  However, today, I want to tell you that bone marrow stem cells aren't the only game in town anymore.  Now, more and more people are donating their babies' cord blood after birth.

More cord blood banks are being created.  More people are giving. This is great.   It gives people like Lita Jempson, a chance to live. Before, a stem cell transplant from another donor  was a leukemia patient's only option.  However, if a matching bone marrow donor is not found, unfortunately, the patient would pass away.

Such was the case with Lita Jempson, of Kent, England.  Lita, suffering from leukemia needed a bone marrow stem cell donor.    Doctors looked for a matching bone marrow donor, but none could be found.  The only option was more chemotherapy.  Well, as I said before, there is now another option-  cord blood stem cells:

What makes this particular blood so valuable is that it contains large amounts of stem cells, which the body uses to make blood cells.

Removing the blood is painless; it is collected immediately after birth by a doctor or midwife and takes only a few minutes.

About five teaspoons are taken from the cut cord and placenta, using a needle connected to a sterile bag. But lack of storage facilities has meant this life-saver often ends up in hospital incinerators.

This is what Lita was offered and given- cord blood stem cells.  And the stem cell treatment seems to have worked:

Then five months ago, Lita was offered a cutting-edge treatment using a special type of blood - taken from a newborn's umbilical cord.

'So far it seems to have worked,' she says. 'I'm clear of cancer, back home and, while not fully recovered, I'm feeling a lot better.'

That is the power of Repair Stem Cells aka Adult Stem Cells.

This greater effectiveness has been boosted by the discovery that it's possible to give patients blood from two cords, as happened in Lita Jempson's case.

'Previously, we used only one because of concerns that blood from different immune systems could cause a deadly immune reaction,' says Professor Mufti.

In fact, stem cells from only one of the donations starts producing new blood cells - the blood from the other cord seems to help this process, but it's not clear how.

The greater tolerance of stem cells means they may be used to treat a range of other conditions. Already animal studies show they can dramatically reduce the problem with rejection that affects all transplant operations.

'Besides stem cells, cord blood contains chemicals and proteins that can damp down immune reactions to the new organ, so patients won't have to take immune- suppressing drugs for life,' says Dr Sergio Querol, director of the new cord blood bank.

'The idea is to give an extract of these substances to patients before they receive a transplant.'

Auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes are also likely to benefit from cord blood stem cells' calming effect on the immune system.

If you are having a baby soon, please think about saving the baby's cord blood stem cells.  You could save someone's life.  Similarly, you can register your own blood at www.marrow.org and save someone's life another way.

Read the whole thing here

No, this story is not about males dancing, although the entertainment industry is involved.   In the year 2000, James Chippendale was suffering from Leukemia.  He needed a bone marrow stem cell transplant to save his life.

More than 75 possible matches were rejected.  However, James got lucky.  James had given up hope when he received a call from the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry-  they had found a match!

The resulting stem cell treatment saved his life.  2 years later, James went to Germany to meet the man who had saved his life-  Klaus Kaiser.  James says-

"Our lives couldn't be more different, but Klaus and his family are now a part of my family," says Mr. Chippendale, who has taken night classes in German and bought his donor a computer with translation software. "I get an e-mail from him or his children almost every day."

James is the president of CSI Entertainment Insurance, a company that takes on clients with special needs in the entertainment industry.  Gwen Stefani and Lance Armstrong are amongst his clients.  More importantly,  James has co-founded a charity with another cancer survivor, Mike Peters, the lead singer of  the rock band, The Alarm.

Together,  their organization- Love Hope Strength Foundation has raised more than $1 million for cancer patients around the world.  In October, they are planning a huge extravaganza at Machu Picchu.  Here's more on that-

In October, Mr. Chippendale will participate in the foundation's Peru Rocks event at the ancient archaeological site of Machu Picchu. More than 100 cancer survivors, musicians and supporters will join the climb and live concert. Among the organizers' goals is to set a world record for bone-marrow registrations at a music event. A signed consent form and a simple swab inside the cheek are all that is required.

Adds Mr. Chippendale: "We want everyone out there to know that donating is not a barbaric procedure. There's no more drilling into hips, and you don't have to spend two days in the hospital.

"This is truly the easiest way to save someone's life through a donation process." ---  As I keep telling you readers every week, get on the donor list, - go to their website www.lovehopestrength.org or go to www.marrow.org and register so you may have the chance to save someone's life.  It is easy, and you may find a life long friend like James Chippendale and Klaus Kaiser- DM

Click here to see the whole story.

In late July, I posted on Chloe Levine, a cerebral palsy patient who had been infused with her own umbilical cord blood stem cells in an experimental treatment at Duke University.   This will come as no surprise to regular readers of this blog-  the Repair (aka Adult) Stem Cell therapy worked.  This is a good sign for parents of cerebral palsy children who are seeking adult stem cell treatment overseas like Thomas Bourke, whom I covered last week.

This is a very happy story filled with good information on cord blood stem cells.   There is nothing controversial about these stem cells taken from an umbilical cord (not an embryo).  Chloe was helped by her own Repair Stem Cells.   Chloe's mother put it best at the end of the article with this quote:

"Chloe was put here to teach the medical community and families about their options," she said. "The worst thing that could happen was that nothing would happen. And the complete opposite happened."

Read more about this miracle:

Stem cells: Small wonders

With a nearly paralyzed right side, Chloe Levine was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 1. A year later, she can say her nickname and is walking normally and jumping on beds.

By Michael Booth
The Denver Post

With one simple word from the back seat of a car cruising between North Carolina and New York, 2-year-old Chloe Levine signaled a great leap forward.

"Coco," the Colorado toddler said, uttering her nickname for the first time.

Those two syllables marked a milestone in stem-cell therapy, helping prove that infusing a baby with its own stem cells can repair a brain ravaged by cerebral palsy.

Before a one-time treatment at Duke University in May, Chloe had speech problems, and the right side of her body was nearly paralyzed. Now she's jumping off beds, applying doll barrettes with her right hand and learning new words every day. The Duke experiments expand again the remarkable range of bodily failures that stem cells can repair.  - Note from DM-  He should have said "that adult stem cells can repair, embryonic stem cells can't help anything."

Just two days after Chloe's stem-cell infusion, "things started happening that she could never do before, and we finally let ourselves stop thinking it was a coincidence," Levine said.

"It's exciting," said Dr. Brian Freed, director of the University of Colorado Cord Blood Bank at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. When the treatment works, the Duke study has been gratifying to parents, Freed said, because "this one is a bit more dramatic" than other stem-cell treatments. "You can see the benefits."

Once there, scientists still aren't sure how the stem cells work to fix cerebral palsy. Some think the cells may be able to rebuild brain tissue itself. Others think there is more evidence that the stem cells repair blood vessels and flow damaged by a stroke, bringing crucial blood that in turn repairs brain tissue. Either way, doctors told the Levines, expect fast results if the new therapy was meant to help Chloe. They drove from Duke to Jenny Levine's family in New York, and that's when Chloe dropped her little "Coco" bomb.

The Levines immediately noticed Chloe's clenched right hand relaxing, and instead of dragging her right leg, she began walking normally.

Chloe can now raise both arms over her head and is eating and picking things up with both hands. Her therapy is down to once a month to check foot tendons for continued mobility.

"I still see new improvement every day," Levine said. She believes most of the effects of the cerebral palsy are gone and that any remaining tightness in Chloe's body will disappear with time and therapy.

"I've never seen anything turn around this fast," said Dottie Waldo, Chloe's physical therapist in northern Arizona, where the family lived before the stem-cell procedure.

Waldo saw Chloe a month ago and was shocked at the recovery of movement in her hands and arms. "I'm a believer," Waldo said. "I think it was the right thing to do, and I hope it helps a lot of kids in the future." -  I hope so too Ms. Waldo.

"The worst thing that could happen was that nothing would happen. And the complete opposite happened."-  I like that statement.  Chloe Levine had nothing to lose from implanting adult stem cells and everything to gain. And it paid off!  - DM

Click here to read more on this cerebral palsy miracle