I am officially opening my International Center for Adult Stem Cell Education (ICASCE). What is this you may ask? Read on my friends:

ICASCE was recently (April '08) founded to educate the American public on the potential of adult stem cells for diagnosing, treating, curing and preventing disease. Thousands of people are dying unnecessarily each month because they don't know there are adult stem cell treatments available. The fact is that adult stem cells offer promising prospects for effective treatments and possible cures for people with heart conditions, spinal cord injuries, and a host of incapacitating diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's." ICASCE was recently (April '08) founded to educate the American public on the potential of adult stem cells for diagnosing, treating, curing and preventing disease. Thousands of people are dying unnecessarily each month because they don't know there are adult stem cell treatments available. The fact is that adult stem cells offer promising prospects for effective treatments and possible cures for people with heart conditions, spinal cord injuries, and a host of incapacitating diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's."

For more information, click here

A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, THE STORY ABOUT THE WOMAN WHO "CHANGED HER BIRTHDAY" TO MATCH THAT OF THE WOMAN WHO DONATED HER BONE MARROW TO SAVE HER LIFE (SCROLL DOWN 2 POSTS) BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES.  THIS STORY ISN'T A SUCCESS STORY YET, BUT I HOPE THIS ONE WILL HAVE THE SAME HAPPY ENDING:

A couple whose daughter was born with brain damage hope to fly her to China for pioneering stem cell treatment.

Kelly Wright and Carmine Lane, of Southdown, were left reeling from the discovery that their daughter Abbie had been born with hydrocephalus, also known as water on the brain.

"One half of her brain is very damaged. She is also prone to infantile spasms.

"But the treatment might encourage some of the cells to regrow, which could help with her movement."

The Bieke Corporation Hospital in HangZhou - 112 miles from Shanghai - is the world leader in the use of stem cell technology to help, and in some cases cure patients with brain trauma.

MANY CHILDREN AND ADULTS HAVE TRAVELED TO THE SAME PLACE WITH SOME SUCCESSFUL RESULTS.  BEST OF LUCK TO THEM- DM

CLICK HERE TO READ THE SAD BUT HOPEFUL STORY 

NOW WE HAVE MORE PROOF THAT ADULT STEM CELL TREATMENTS ARE HELPING WITH CRITICAL LIMB ISCHEMIA (CLI) PATIENTS.  HARVEST TECHNOLOGIES PRESENTED PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF A DOUBLE BLIND STUDY THEY PRESENTED IN BERLIN RECENTLY.

THESE ARE PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISEASE IE. THERE IS  A LACK OF BLOOD FLOW IN THEIR LEGS DUE TO BLOCKAGES IN THE ARTERIES.  ADULT STEM CELLS SEEM TO HAVE HELPED WITH THIS PROBLEM.  LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE RESULTS OF THIS TRIAL USING ADULT STEM CELLS:

Dr. Ludermann presented results on the first 12 of 90 patients who completed the BONMOT-2 study protocolsix from the control group who received a placebo treatment, and six from the treatment group who received an injection of a concentrate of their own bone marrow (ADULT) stem cells. The stem cell concentrate was produced at the point of care (concentrated at the patients' bedside) using the Harvest Technologies BMACž¢ System. The treatment group showed a 100 percent improvement in perfusion (0.3 to 0.62) as measured by the ankle-brachial index (“ABI) compared to the control group, which exhibited only a non-significant change in ABI (0.4 to 0.5). Increased blood supply was also confirmed by an increase of oxygen pressure in the foot, which showed the treatment group having an 18-point increase compared to a seven-point increase in the control group. The treatment group also showed an improvement in a standardized quality-of-life assessment over the control group, and also a significant improvement of 30 meters in pain-free walking compared to an increase of 10 meters for the control group.

THIS FURTHER SHOWS THAT ADULT STEM CELLS CAN CREATE NEW COLLATERAL BLOOD VESSELS EITHER IN THE HEART AREA OR IN THE LEGS.  THE INCREASE IN BLOOD FLOW GIVES THESE PATIENTS A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.  AGAIN, I ASK-  WHY IS IT THAT A THERAPY THAT USES A PERSON'S OWN CELLS (MEANING VERY LITTLE RISK) NOT AVAILABLE TO PATIENTS WHO NEED THEM?  THIS ISN'T A MEDICINE WITH POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS.  HERE'S HOPING THAT HARVEST  (AND OTHERS) KEEP PUSHING FOR APPROVAL SO PATIENTS IN DANGER OF AMPUTATION CAN HAVE THIS ADULT STEM CELL TREATMENT AVAILABLE TO THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

ANOTHER GREAT ADULT STEM CELL VICTORY!  THEY ARE ALL BEAUTIFUL STORIES.  HOWEVER, THIS ONE STRUCK A CHORD IN ME AND BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES-

Harmeet Maur changed the date of her birthday from June 12 to Sept. 28 -- the day a generous young German woman gave her the gift of a lifetime.

"My first Christmas I wrote her a letter anonymously and said, 'Thank you for saving my life. You didn't just save my life, you saved my whole family's life.' I had the bone marrow transplant on Sept. 28, 2004 so now I celebrate my birthday on that day," Maur said. "(The transplant) is like giving someone a new life because before I didn't have any hope."
 CLICK HERE TO READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE

THE MICHIGAN STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY ANNOUNCED THAT THEY ARE TAKING A NEUTRAL POSITION ON AN UPCOMING BALLOT PROPOSAL THAT IS ASKING MICHIGAN TAXPAYERS TO PAY FOR EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH. THIS IS A CHANGE IN THEIR POSITION OF THE LAST 5 YEARS OF SUPPORTING TAXPAYER FUNDING OF EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH.

THE ARTICLE ISN'T CLEAR ON WHY THEY ARE CHANGING THEIR POSITION, BUT IN ADDITION TO THE MORAL ISSUES, I SUSPECT THE PRACTICAL DOCTORS OF MICHIGAN THINK IT IS A WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY TO SPEND ON SOMETHING THAT HAS SHOWN NOTHING IN TERMS OF POSITIVE RESULTS.

I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS PROPOSAL:

Michigan residents would have access to any therapies and cures that may result from the research.
LOOK AT THAT SENTENCE ABOVE ONE MORE TIME. LET'S TAKE THIS A LITTLE FURTHER AND LOOK AT IT PRAGMATICALLY. WHAT DO MICHIGAN TAXPAYERS REALLY HAVE TO GAIN BY FUNDING EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH?

Let's say the proposal passes and some state funded researcher 5 years from now discovers a cure for Alzheimers. I am purposely being overoptimistic for argument's sake (as there isn't an inkling of promise that embryonic stem cells will be able to cure any condition in the near future). Then, this cure for Alzheimers would have to be approved by the FDA and then go through the gauntlet of clinical trials and research that would take another 5 years at least (again, this is being overly optimistic as the trials most likely would take longer). If this cure passed muster, what then? Would this cure be only available to Michigan residents? An Alzheimer's patient in Ohio wouldn't be able to receive it? I presume the state of Michigan would own the intellectual property rights and then license it out for what? More money? And where would this money go? back into the taxpayers' bank accounts? I very much doubt it, back into the public coffers for more research most likely. In this best case scenario I just played out, the taxpayer funded research would be an investment for Michigan residents- and judging embryonic stem cell research based on its past failures- A very high risk investment at that with very little reward.

IN THIS EDITORIAL, BARB SHELLY, AN EDITOR AT THE KANSAS CITY STAR IS HAPPY THAT THERE WILL BE NO PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO A  LAW PASSED IN 2006 THAT BASICALLY SAYS IT IS FREE TO WASTE MISSOURI TAXPAYERS MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT WILL NEVER COME TO FRUITION IN THEIR LIFETIMES:

Embryonic stem cell research is legal in Missouri, thanks to the narrow passage of a constitutional amendment in November 2006. Scientific and economic groups sought the amendment because of repeated attempts by Republicans in the Missouri legislature to ban a procedure called somatic cell nuclear transfer. Opponents have vowed to nullify the constitutional amendment, but it won't be this year.

LET'S READ ON:

By the time opponents gear up for another round of signature gathering--if indeed they ever do--Missourians will get the idea that nothing monstrous is going on in the state's labs (MISSOURIANS WILL ALSO GET THE IDEA THAT THEY ARE THROWING THEIR MONEY AWAY, LOTTERY TICKETS WOULD BE A BETTER BET-DM) Just a few scientists working on cures. In the best scenario, they'll be able to report progress (PROGRESS?? A WORD THAT MEANS NOTHING, I MIGHT ALSO BE ABLE TO REPORT PROGRESS IN MY GOLF GAME TOO-NOTICE SHE DOESN'T MENTION THE WORD "CURE").

CLICK HERE TO READ THE WHOLE SAD THING

WE HAVE BLOGGED ON STEM CELL THERAPY IN CHINA BEFORE.  AMONG MANY DIFFERENT DISEASES THEY TREAT WITH CORD BLOOD STEM CELLS, THEY SEEM TO HAVE HAD SOME SUCCESS WITH OPTIC NERVE HYPOPLASIA (ONH).  THIS DISEASE OCCURS IN CHILDREN WHEN THE OPTIC NERVE FAILS TO DEVELOP LEAVING THE CHILD BLIND FOR THEIR ENTIRE LIVES.  THERE IS NO CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT FOR THIS DISEASE AND NO CURE....AT LEAST THERE WASN'T UNTIL STEM CELL THERAPY CAME ALONG RECENTLY:

Last year, Barlett thinks she found the closest thing to a cure in China, where doctors are using stem cells to try to develop new optic nerves. It's a procedure that's never even been clinically tested in the United States because of the government's severe restrictions on stem cell research.

Those transplants are simple infusions of newborn umbilical cord cells, pumped through an IV or an epidural-like procedure.

Barlett and Rylea spent a month in China, trying not to get their hopes up too high since Rylea had never even been sensitive to light.

"A week after her first transplant, she responded to a pin light by turning away each time, she said.

It was a first and, in the nine months since those stem cell transplants, Barlett says Rylea's progress has been miraculous.

For Rylea, mom says the improvement has been so significant that she's planning another trip to China this summer. It's a labor of love for her to see just how much Rylea can really see.

"For now, where we are, it's an absolute blessing. It's one of those things where we hope for the absolute best but take whatever you're given, said Barlett.

UMBILICAL CORD STEM CELLS (ADULT STEM CELL THERAPY) IS GIVING RYLEA A CHANCE IN LIFE WHERE PREVIOUSLY THERE WAS NO CHANCE.  AGAIN I ASK, WHY DO THEY HAVE TO GO TO CHINA FOR THIS STEM CELL TREATMENT?

CLICK HERE TO READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE 

I HAD TO READ THIS 3 TIMES AND WATCH THE VIDEO 2 TIMES TO BELIEVE THIS STORY. HOWEVER, EVEN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA (THE BBC IN THIS CASE) IS GIVING ADULT STEM CELLS THEIR DUE IN THIS STORY SO IT MUST BE TRULY AMAZING. LET'S HOPE THIS GETS MORE NOTICE, IT IS A TRUE EXAMPLE OF "HEAL THYSELF"!!

THIS DISCOVERY CAN HAVE TREMENDOUS IMPLICATIONS. BURNS, MISSING LIMBS, DAMAGED ORGANS- THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS. WHAT CAN BE LESS INVASIVE THAN SIMPLY RUBBING A POWDER ON A DAMAGED AREA AND STIMULATING THE PATIENT'S OWN CELLS TO GROW RATHER THAN SCAR? MAYBE TONY MONTANA COULD HAVE USED THIS STUFF! MORE WORDS WON'T DO THIS JUSTICE- CLICK ON THE LINK AND MAKE SURE YOU WATCH THE VIDEO THAT SHOWS THE FINGER BEFORE AND AFTER.

CLICK HERE TO SEE SOMETHING TRULY AMAZING

THIS IS VERY INTERESTING! CLINICAL RESEARCHERS, SCIENTISTS, AND DOCTORS HAVE BEEN DEBATING WHICH TYPE OF STEM CELL WORKS BEST FOR A VARIETY OF CONDITIONS INCLUDING HEART FAILURE. AS FAR AS I KNOW, NOBODY CAN SAY FOR CERTAIN WHICH POPULATION OF STEM CELLS ARE MORE EFFECTIVE. ARE THE ADULT BONE MARROW DERIVED MONONUCLEAR BETTER FOR THE HEART? ARE THE ADULT MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS BETTER FOR HEART FAILURE? OR IS IT A COMBINATION OF THE TWO THAT IS BEST? I DON'T KNOW, BUT THIS TRIAL SEEMS TO BE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO FIND OUT:

BioCardia, Inc., a regenerative medicine company, and the University of Miami today announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration approved a clinical investigation of two adult stem cell populations in the setting of heart failure. This groundbreaking study will take place at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

This is the first stem cell trial comparing two cell populations. The two investigational cell populations to be studied include autologous adult bone marrow derived mononuclear cells and adult autologous mesenchymal cells. These cell populations have excellent safety profiles (NOT ONLY EXCELLENT SAFETY PROFILES, THEY BOTH HAVE EXCELLENT EFFICACY PROFILES AS WELL- DM) in clinical studies performed to date. As cells are taken from the patient's own bone marrow, there will be no issues of rejection of the cells as foreign by the patient's immune system.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

MORE GOOD NEWS FOR SPINAL CORD INJURED PEOPLE OUT THERE.  IT GIVES ME REASON TO SMILE:

Harsha, a Bangalore-based paraplegic, too has reason to smile these days. He had got used to life in a wheelchair for years. But a mesenchymal stem cell transplant in his spinal chord has given him some hope. Harsha can now move his limbs a little, and that's given him a new lease of hope.

A NEW LEASE OF HOPE?  THAT SOUNDS POSITIVE. LET'S HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS:


Every year, India gets over 20,000 cases of spinal cord injury patients. A new Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy could be the answer for these patients. The research, conducted by a team of doctorsneurosurgeon, St Philomenas Hospital, Bangalore. "This system maximises the yield of stem cells. The chances of loss in the bloodstream is minimised," Rao explains.

Traditionally, stem cells have always been injected either through intravenous drips or through lumber puncture directly into the cerebo-spinal fluid. But when injected this way, the stem cells float around the body or in the blood stream. Very few of them reach the target. Moreover, in case of spinal cord injuries, the adjoining tissues let out a signal called cytobine signals, which attract stem cells from other parts of body to heal the injury. But in case of an old injury, these signals are not let out anymore. Therefore, the stem cells that are injected in the body through the traditional method may not get attracted to the injury at all. The new method takes care of all this. Here, MSCs are injected directly into the injury for maximum effect. These can create tissues or cartilage or bones as required by the injury and repair it.

So what are MSCs? Stem cells, or master cells as they are popularly known as, are cells that can divide and produce copies of themselves and other types of cells. Doctors are using them to treat complex problems like Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries, end-stage liver diseases. While we are familiar with embryonic stem cells drawn from the umbilical cord, there are many other types of human stem cells. MSCs are found in the bone marrow. They can be derived into a variety of cells in the laboratory, including fat cells, cartilage, bone, tendons and ligaments, muscles cells, skin cells and even nerve cells. In fact, scientists can even grow these cells in culture. Experts say, unlike most other human adult stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells can be obtained in quantities appropriate for clinical applications, making them good candidates for use in tissue repair. Since the techniques for isolation and amplification of these stem cells in culture have been established, the cells can be maintained and propagated in culture for long periods of time without losing their capacity to form all the above cell types. at Bangalore-based Stempeutics Research, has shown promising results. In the pilot study, MSCs were injected directly into the spinal cord of the patient for maximum efficacy. It was injected either intra-arterially or through intra-spinal (site of injury) route. This new technique of injecting of stem cells close to the site of injury showed good results. "This is the first time anyone has tried injecting stem cells directly into the injured area. And we got good results," says Dr Sujay Rao, consultant

THIS IS GREAT NEWS AS IT MAY GIVE EVEN MORE PROMISE TO THE ALREADY PROMISING PROSPECTS OF HELPING SPINAL CORD INJURIES WITH ADULT STEM CELL THERAPY.  AS DOCTORS AND RESEARCHERS IMPROVE DELIVERY METHODS OF THE STEM CELLS, WE SHOULD BE SEEING EVEN MORE ADULT STEM CELL VICTORIES IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE