A recent article in the December, 2012 issue of Stem Cells by Chen and Burton-Jones describes potential stem cell treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD), as well as the use of stem cells to model and investigate the disease. They offer encouraging information on how stem cells might play a part in future therapy, based on a number of past and ongoing research studies.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of age-related dementia that affects over 5 million people in the U.S., with projections that 115 million people worldwide may develop dementia by the year 2050. Current treatment modalities provide no long-term benefits, even after extensive research for many years.
Stem cell treatment options have been under investigation using animal studies, with some enlightening findings so far. For the majority of diseases and disorders that are treated with stem cells, the therapy is aimed at replacing missing or degenerative cells with new ones. In the case of AD, that type of treatment would not be likely to produce a benefit, as a number of neuronal systems and neurotransmitter phenotypes can be affected and cell replacement would not be viable. Too many types of nerves are involved, along with the complex systems of connectivity, much of which develops in utero. Therefore, cell replacement would not seem to offer benefit with such a diffuse set of problems that are encountered in AD.
So how could stem cells be of benefit? Well, the benefits seem to come through indirect means. One of the problems found in AD is a loss of synapses. This loss seems to correlate most tightly with the dementia process. The number of synapses and their relative strength appears to be closely regulated by a select group of neurotrophins, groups of secreted proteins that induce the development, function, and survival of neurons. These are essentially growth factors for our nervous system. Stem cells can induce high levels of these growth hormones, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF). In this way, stem cell therapy might allow for delivery of these proteins to the disease-affected areas of the brain and thus possibly increasing neuronal survival.
Another known factor in AD is chronic inflammation. Stem cells can have anti-inflammatory properties, as certain stem cell populations have been shown to induce the expression of anti-inflammatory factors, specifically interleukin-10 and prostaglandin E2. There are mice studies that have shown improved cognition and improved pathology due to apparent attenuation of the inflammatory process after treatment with stem cells. However, it is not known how this will translate to human patients, if at all, as prior clinical trials with anti-inflammatory drugs have shown no benefit in patients with AD.
Another potential way that stem cells could provide some benefit is by delivering therapeutic proteins to the damaged areas in the brain, as prior studies have shown the ability of stem cells to migrate throughout the brain and focus on regions damaged by injury and/or inflammation. What is not yet known is how much of an effect the underlying pathology plays on this response, as the severity of the disease might influence the likelihood of success, along with unknowns surrounding the lifespan of engrafted cells, the patient's immune response, and even the source of the cells and proteins.
As the excitement grows related to the possibilities, caution must be encouraged as more studies need to be undertaken. Difficulties exist in researching treatment options for AD, as no long term human studies have taken place. Stem cells may prove quite useful in studying the AD process, as stem cell lines can be elicited that exhibit known AD-associated genes. This will allow for researchers to focus on the differences between the normal and pathogenic function of these genes.In this way, stem cells may hold the key to learning more about the disorder and to eventually treating it.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Stem Cells / PRP in Tendon Injuries
Tendons are highly prone to injury due to their inherent design and function. Relative to other structures, tendons are hypovascular, meaning they have a poor blood supply. Tendons typically have a cross-sectional area that is significantly less than the in-line muscle, and therefore, considerable stress is placed on the tendon, especially during exercise. The primary function of a tendon is to transmit the force of muscular contraction to the skeletal system, thereby generating movement. It is this mechanical force that can lead to excessive stress that causes injury.
Due to these factors, tendons are frequently injured, and the natural healing response is slow and inefficient. The 1999 publication Musculoskeletal Conditions in the United States by Praemer, Furner, & Rice, estimates that $30 billion is spent in the U.S. each year on musculoskeletal injuries, and approximately 45% of these are tendon and/or ligament injuries. In an effort to show just how common tendon injuries are, an article by Sher, et. al., in 1995 entitled "Abnormal findings on magnetic resonance images of asymptomatic shoulders" found an overall incidence of shoulder rotator cuff tears to be 34% across all age groups, even though these patients all had no pain and exhibited normal functional activity. The percentage was smaller in younger patients and increased with advancing age, as 54% of the patients over the age of 60 had cuff tears.
Surgical repair of tendon injuries has become increasingly more common, although such repairs are often unsuccessful. Bishop, et. al., published a study in 2006 called "Cuff integrity after arthroscopic versus open rotator cuff repair: a prospective study" in which they conclude that while small cuff tears have reasonable surgical outcomes, large tears show failure rates up to 75%. Thus, traditional surgey is no guarantee of restored function and elimination of pain.
One factor in the difficult recovery from a tendon injury is that scarring can occur during the healing process. The area of the tendon that scars is never able to be as fully functional as it once was, and is even more prone to re-injury. This is an important advantage in treating this type of injury with stem cells, as the stem cells can be used by the body to grow new tendon instead of scar tissue. This then leads to a functionally superior outcome.
We believe that dual treatment with stem cells (for the reason listed above) and platelet rich plasma (PRP) offers the best possible solution. The stem cells will be used as the body needs them to regenerate tendon, while the PRP gives concentrated growth factors and platelets directly to the site of injury to promote healing. This tecnique is not only useful for rotator cuff treatment, but can be used for any tendon injury (Achilles, "tennis elbow", other shoulder tendons, etc.).
Due to these factors, tendons are frequently injured, and the natural healing response is slow and inefficient. The 1999 publication Musculoskeletal Conditions in the United States by Praemer, Furner, & Rice, estimates that $30 billion is spent in the U.S. each year on musculoskeletal injuries, and approximately 45% of these are tendon and/or ligament injuries. In an effort to show just how common tendon injuries are, an article by Sher, et. al., in 1995 entitled "Abnormal findings on magnetic resonance images of asymptomatic shoulders" found an overall incidence of shoulder rotator cuff tears to be 34% across all age groups, even though these patients all had no pain and exhibited normal functional activity. The percentage was smaller in younger patients and increased with advancing age, as 54% of the patients over the age of 60 had cuff tears.
Surgical repair of tendon injuries has become increasingly more common, although such repairs are often unsuccessful. Bishop, et. al., published a study in 2006 called "Cuff integrity after arthroscopic versus open rotator cuff repair: a prospective study" in which they conclude that while small cuff tears have reasonable surgical outcomes, large tears show failure rates up to 75%. Thus, traditional surgey is no guarantee of restored function and elimination of pain.
One factor in the difficult recovery from a tendon injury is that scarring can occur during the healing process. The area of the tendon that scars is never able to be as fully functional as it once was, and is even more prone to re-injury. This is an important advantage in treating this type of injury with stem cells, as the stem cells can be used by the body to grow new tendon instead of scar tissue. This then leads to a functionally superior outcome.
We believe that dual treatment with stem cells (for the reason listed above) and platelet rich plasma (PRP) offers the best possible solution. The stem cells will be used as the body needs them to regenerate tendon, while the PRP gives concentrated growth factors and platelets directly to the site of injury to promote healing. This tecnique is not only useful for rotator cuff treatment, but can be used for any tendon injury (Achilles, "tennis elbow", other shoulder tendons, etc.).
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Nobel prize winners for stem cell work
Professor John Gurdon of the UK and Shinya Yamanaka of Japan were recently awarded a shared Nobel prize for medicine or physiology based on their pioneering work in the area of stem cells. They both did influential research in changing adult cells into stem cells.
In 1962, Gurdon first showed that genetic information inside of a cell can be used to create an entirely new organism. He took genetic information from an intestinal cell of a frog and placed this material inside a frog egg. The clone then proceeded to develop into a normal tadpole. This technique was the foundation of the work involving Dolly the sheep, the very first cloned mammal.
Yamanaka used a different approach forty years later, finding a way to reset the genetic information. Instead of transferring the genetic material from one cell and implanting this inside an egg, he added genes to skin cells which then turned into stem cells.
The Nobel committee stated that their work "revolutionized our understanding of how cells and organisms develop," and that "these discoveries have also provided new tools for scientists around the world and led to remarkable progress in many areas of medicine."
The director of the Wellcome Trust, Sir Mark Walport, said that these men "have demonstrated conclusively that it is possible to turn back the clock on adult cells, to create all the specialised cell types in the body. Their work has created the field of regenerative medicine, which has the potential to transform the lives of patients with conditions such as Parkinson's, stroke, and diabetes."
Although research in this field has been going on for decades, we have only recently begun to use the knowledge clinically to treat patients. As more clinical trials and studies progress, the use of stem cells in medicine will surely grow. I am excited to see these advances occurring all the time.
In 1962, Gurdon first showed that genetic information inside of a cell can be used to create an entirely new organism. He took genetic information from an intestinal cell of a frog and placed this material inside a frog egg. The clone then proceeded to develop into a normal tadpole. This technique was the foundation of the work involving Dolly the sheep, the very first cloned mammal.
Yamanaka used a different approach forty years later, finding a way to reset the genetic information. Instead of transferring the genetic material from one cell and implanting this inside an egg, he added genes to skin cells which then turned into stem cells.
The Nobel committee stated that their work "revolutionized our understanding of how cells and organisms develop," and that "these discoveries have also provided new tools for scientists around the world and led to remarkable progress in many areas of medicine."
The director of the Wellcome Trust, Sir Mark Walport, said that these men "have demonstrated conclusively that it is possible to turn back the clock on adult cells, to create all the specialised cell types in the body. Their work has created the field of regenerative medicine, which has the potential to transform the lives of patients with conditions such as Parkinson's, stroke, and diabetes."
Although research in this field has been going on for decades, we have only recently begun to use the knowledge clinically to treat patients. As more clinical trials and studies progress, the use of stem cells in medicine will surely grow. I am excited to see these advances occurring all the time.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Case Report #1
Case Report #1 - T.M.
Our first stem cell patient is a 35 year old female who presented with right knee pain and swelling. She weighed 143 pounds at 5'8" height. She first injured her knee at age 13 when she tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and damaged the meniscus while playing basketball. She continued to play for many months before having a knee scope with meniscal repair later that same year. The following year she underwent ACL reconstruction with another meniscal repair. Her knee did not improve much after that, and 6 years later she again had an ACL reconstruction and meniscal repair. The following year she had IT (iliotibial) band repair in an attempt to help stabilize her knee joint. Finally, 5 years after that (at age 28), she had a meniscectomy to remove the damaged meniscus.
Unfortunately, the end result of these many surgeries was that she had ongoing pain and inability to play sports and be active with her children. Using a pain scale of 0 (no pain) to 10 (unbearable pain), her usual pain was 3-4, and at its most severe was 7-8. Any activity involving repeated bending of the joint would worsen her symptoms, and she would often then experience days of swelling. She limited her activity so as to not cause pain, and would have to take anti-inflammatory medications and use ice packs when she was active. An MRI reported chondromalacia (a break-down of cartilage inside the joint) with evidence of meniscal damage. She was very reluctant to undergo any other orthopedic surgeries given the dismal results she had in the past, and instead wished to pursue a stem cell injection.
We helped to implement a pre-op plan involving her diet, addition of a variety of supplements, and cessation of tobacco smoking and alcohol use. She was very motivated and completely eliminated smoking and alcohol for months prior to surgery. She then underwent stem cell harvesting using manual liposuction, along with preparation of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from her blood. Once her stem cells were isolated, we mixed the stem cells and PRP and injected this mixture into her right knee joint.
She experienced some discomfort for a day or two after the injection, but this pain was not any worse than her usual pain. Our post-op plan consisted of a continuation of her diet, along with continued abstinence form tobacco and alcohol. We also avoided anti-inflammatories after the procedure, as the inflammatory process helps the stem cells and PRP heal the damaged tissues. We started a physical therapy plan at that time as well. Initially this consisted of passive reistance exercises. She did these for two weeks, then advanced to mild weight bearing exercises (such as half-lunges and partial squats). As these exercises became easier over the following few weeks, we then advanced to full range of motion exercises, then on to weight lifting. She was able to do these with very minimal pain and less swelling than in the past. She now is able to play basketball again, ride a bicycle, take long hikes with her children, and even perform plyometric (ie., "jump training") exercises, all of which were out of the question just a few months ago! She is very happy with the results, and is a firm believer in stem cells!
Our first stem cell patient is a 35 year old female who presented with right knee pain and swelling. She weighed 143 pounds at 5'8" height. She first injured her knee at age 13 when she tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and damaged the meniscus while playing basketball. She continued to play for many months before having a knee scope with meniscal repair later that same year. The following year she underwent ACL reconstruction with another meniscal repair. Her knee did not improve much after that, and 6 years later she again had an ACL reconstruction and meniscal repair. The following year she had IT (iliotibial) band repair in an attempt to help stabilize her knee joint. Finally, 5 years after that (at age 28), she had a meniscectomy to remove the damaged meniscus.
Unfortunately, the end result of these many surgeries was that she had ongoing pain and inability to play sports and be active with her children. Using a pain scale of 0 (no pain) to 10 (unbearable pain), her usual pain was 3-4, and at its most severe was 7-8. Any activity involving repeated bending of the joint would worsen her symptoms, and she would often then experience days of swelling. She limited her activity so as to not cause pain, and would have to take anti-inflammatory medications and use ice packs when she was active. An MRI reported chondromalacia (a break-down of cartilage inside the joint) with evidence of meniscal damage. She was very reluctant to undergo any other orthopedic surgeries given the dismal results she had in the past, and instead wished to pursue a stem cell injection.
We helped to implement a pre-op plan involving her diet, addition of a variety of supplements, and cessation of tobacco smoking and alcohol use. She was very motivated and completely eliminated smoking and alcohol for months prior to surgery. She then underwent stem cell harvesting using manual liposuction, along with preparation of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from her blood. Once her stem cells were isolated, we mixed the stem cells and PRP and injected this mixture into her right knee joint.
She experienced some discomfort for a day or two after the injection, but this pain was not any worse than her usual pain. Our post-op plan consisted of a continuation of her diet, along with continued abstinence form tobacco and alcohol. We also avoided anti-inflammatories after the procedure, as the inflammatory process helps the stem cells and PRP heal the damaged tissues. We started a physical therapy plan at that time as well. Initially this consisted of passive reistance exercises. She did these for two weeks, then advanced to mild weight bearing exercises (such as half-lunges and partial squats). As these exercises became easier over the following few weeks, we then advanced to full range of motion exercises, then on to weight lifting. She was able to do these with very minimal pain and less swelling than in the past. She now is able to play basketball again, ride a bicycle, take long hikes with her children, and even perform plyometric (ie., "jump training") exercises, all of which were out of the question just a few months ago! She is very happy with the results, and is a firm believer in stem cells!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
PRP (Plasma Therapy)
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a treatment that can be used as a stand-alone therapy or in conjunction with stem cell therapy. PRP is essentially a super-concentrated collection of platelets and growth factors in the plasma portion of your blood. This autologous blood product is used to facilitate the healing process via the higher than normal concentration of platelets and through the release of a substantial amount of growth factors that then stimulate recovery in non-healing or slowly healing wounds/injuries.
Chronic injuries often occur in situations where the injured tissue has poor blood flow (such as tendon injuries and cartilage degeneration). PRP causes a supra-physiologic release of a variety of growth factors that serve to promote the healing process. Studies have shown that this occurs because these bioactive substances attract stem cells, macrophages, and osteoblasts to the affected area, thereby stimulating tissue regeneration and healing, along with the removal of necrotic tissue. Platelets themselves are responsible for the development of new blood vessels and connective tissue.
PRP has been finding increased use in chronic tendon injuries, as these injuries are often very slow to heal. Tendons are susceptible to injury due to mechanical issues related to the forceful stress on the tendon fibers, causing them to be more vulnerable than other tissues. These injuries are then slow to heal due to general poor vascularity. In addition, tendons often heal through scarring, a process that adversely affects how well they function and increases the probability of re-injury in the future. PRP can be used to help augment the natural healing process by promoting true healing (not scarring) and re-vascularization, and by speeding the healing process. This treatment is increasingly used for lateral epicondylitis ("tennis elbow"), plantar fasciitis, and in chronic Achilles and patellar tendon injuries. For more information, see studies by Mishra et al. in 2006 in the American Journal of Sports Medicine and by Edwards & Calandruccio in American Journal of Hand Surgery in 2003.
Plasma therapy has also shown to be helpful in non-healing skin wounds related to peripheral vascular disease, neurologic conditions, trauma, infection, etc. A 2006 study by McAleer et al. [McAleer JP, Kaplan E, Persich G. Efficacy of concentrated autologous platelet-derived growth factors in chronic lower-extremity wounds. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2006;96(6):482-8.] showed very promising results in healing wounds that had previously failed all other treatments.
In addition, PRP is used with stem cell therapy to promote an intense healing response. The stem cells act as the "seeds", while the PRP serves as the "fertilizer". The growth factors help the stem cells to differentiate into the proper cell lines, promote vascularization of the new tissue, and augment the inflammatory response for an overall faster recovery.
Chronic injuries often occur in situations where the injured tissue has poor blood flow (such as tendon injuries and cartilage degeneration). PRP causes a supra-physiologic release of a variety of growth factors that serve to promote the healing process. Studies have shown that this occurs because these bioactive substances attract stem cells, macrophages, and osteoblasts to the affected area, thereby stimulating tissue regeneration and healing, along with the removal of necrotic tissue. Platelets themselves are responsible for the development of new blood vessels and connective tissue.
PRP has been finding increased use in chronic tendon injuries, as these injuries are often very slow to heal. Tendons are susceptible to injury due to mechanical issues related to the forceful stress on the tendon fibers, causing them to be more vulnerable than other tissues. These injuries are then slow to heal due to general poor vascularity. In addition, tendons often heal through scarring, a process that adversely affects how well they function and increases the probability of re-injury in the future. PRP can be used to help augment the natural healing process by promoting true healing (not scarring) and re-vascularization, and by speeding the healing process. This treatment is increasingly used for lateral epicondylitis ("tennis elbow"), plantar fasciitis, and in chronic Achilles and patellar tendon injuries. For more information, see studies by Mishra et al. in 2006 in the American Journal of Sports Medicine and by Edwards & Calandruccio in American Journal of Hand Surgery in 2003.
Plasma therapy has also shown to be helpful in non-healing skin wounds related to peripheral vascular disease, neurologic conditions, trauma, infection, etc. A 2006 study by McAleer et al. [McAleer JP, Kaplan E, Persich G. Efficacy of concentrated autologous platelet-derived growth factors in chronic lower-extremity wounds. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2006;96(6):482-8.] showed very promising results in healing wounds that had previously failed all other treatments.
In addition, PRP is used with stem cell therapy to promote an intense healing response. The stem cells act as the "seeds", while the PRP serves as the "fertilizer". The growth factors help the stem cells to differentiate into the proper cell lines, promote vascularization of the new tissue, and augment the inflammatory response for an overall faster recovery.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Why adipose-derived stem cells?
So why do we take stem cells from fat?
First, fat (or adipose tissue) contains stem cells that are capable of developing into a variety of cell types. This is called multilineage differentiation capacity. The stem cells can turn into bone, cartilage, cardiac muscle, skeletal muscle, nerve tissue, and even blood vessels. That ability makes these cells useful in a multitude of treatment scenarios, for many types of disease processes. Specifically, these cells work for orthopedic injuries because they can help regenerate bone, cartilage, ligament, and/or tendon, while also helping to provide new vascular supply to the injured area.
Secondly, these cells are rather easily obtained, and in large numbers.The process of tumescent liposuction has minimal morbidity and is relatively benign for the patient. The alternative is obtaining stem cells from bone marrow, a procedure that involves punching a hole through the bone, usually in the hip, and then extracting marrow from the inner space of the bone. This can be quite uncomfortable, and requires a larger incision.
Lastly, fat seems to result in an overall larger number of viable stem cells than bone marrow. This is important in that this higher cell count could result in more viable cells being used in the treatment area, with a potentially greater chance of a beneficial outcome.
(For those interested, the first two points are mentioned in a review article published in 2005 titled Multipotential differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells, by Strem, et. al. The last point comes from independent research from a group in Florida that has studied stem cells from both fat and marrow.)
Because of these things, our first choice is to obtain cells from fat when possible, using bone marrow aspiration as a back-up plan. And it is usually possible to get enough adipose tissue from patients in the general population, as we do not need a large amount.
The stem cells are isolated from the adipose tissue by tissue washing and enzymatic digestion, and separated from other cellular material via a centrifuge. The preparation can take 1.5 to 2 hours, after the actual liposuction procedure that can take an hour or more. Thus, this is a same-day procedure, with minimal discomfort and essentially no down time.
First, fat (or adipose tissue) contains stem cells that are capable of developing into a variety of cell types. This is called multilineage differentiation capacity. The stem cells can turn into bone, cartilage, cardiac muscle, skeletal muscle, nerve tissue, and even blood vessels. That ability makes these cells useful in a multitude of treatment scenarios, for many types of disease processes. Specifically, these cells work for orthopedic injuries because they can help regenerate bone, cartilage, ligament, and/or tendon, while also helping to provide new vascular supply to the injured area.
Secondly, these cells are rather easily obtained, and in large numbers.The process of tumescent liposuction has minimal morbidity and is relatively benign for the patient. The alternative is obtaining stem cells from bone marrow, a procedure that involves punching a hole through the bone, usually in the hip, and then extracting marrow from the inner space of the bone. This can be quite uncomfortable, and requires a larger incision.
Lastly, fat seems to result in an overall larger number of viable stem cells than bone marrow. This is important in that this higher cell count could result in more viable cells being used in the treatment area, with a potentially greater chance of a beneficial outcome.
(For those interested, the first two points are mentioned in a review article published in 2005 titled Multipotential differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells, by Strem, et. al. The last point comes from independent research from a group in Florida that has studied stem cells from both fat and marrow.)
Because of these things, our first choice is to obtain cells from fat when possible, using bone marrow aspiration as a back-up plan. And it is usually possible to get enough adipose tissue from patients in the general population, as we do not need a large amount.
The stem cells are isolated from the adipose tissue by tissue washing and enzymatic digestion, and separated from other cellular material via a centrifuge. The preparation can take 1.5 to 2 hours, after the actual liposuction procedure that can take an hour or more. Thus, this is a same-day procedure, with minimal discomfort and essentially no down time.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Introduction
Hello, and welcome to the first installment of the Colorado Stem Cell Therapy blog! My goal with this blog is to keep the general public up-to-date on the current advancements in stem cell research and treatments, and I will attempt to make the science easily understood by non-medical readers. This first blog will be a rather general overview, not particularly detailed or too focused on one thing.
First, here is a little about me. My background as a physician has taken a rather non-linear route since medical school. My formal residency training was in the field of Anesthesiology, and I practiced in that field for many years. I was proficient in all types of general anesthesia, spinal and epidural anesthesia, and conscious sedation. I also performed regional anesthesia which involved a variety of nerve blocks and injections for pain control. I subsequently studied the diagnosis and treatment for varicose and spider veins with my medical practice partner, Dr. William Schuh. I learned to use a laser for certain surgical procedures for vein disease, and have been performing these over the past three years. That development of laser surgery skills then led me to the practice of laser liposuction/liposculpture. And that in turn has most recently allowed me to pursue the therapies involving isolation and use of stem cells.
The stem cell treatments that we will focus on in our practice involve the use of a patient’s own fat (or possibly bone marrow). This is usually a one day procedure, over the course of a few hours. There is no ethical dilemma such as the media has brought to the public’s attention in regard to the use of embryonic stem cells, nor is there a problem with rejection of the cells since they are the patient’s own tissue.
In order to get the patient’s stem cells, it is first necessary to obtain fat. This is done through a liposuction procedure performed in our office, with local anesthesia and some oral medications to help with anxiety and pain. The recovery of the stem cells can be combined with a more traditional liposuction procedure as well, if so desired by the patient. The fat then has to go through a rather rigorous processing procedure that includes enzymatic washing and cell isolation. The stem cells that were dormant in the fat tissue are then ready to be used for a variety of clinical applications.
Stem cell therapy can be useful in treating the symptoms of a wide array of medical conditions. Our practice is mostly focused on treatment of orthopedic injuries. This can include sport-related injuries, arthritis, joint pain, and muscle/tendon/ligament pain. Once the stem cells are isolated, they can be injected into the affected joint or tissue. When the stem cells are in that environment, the patient’s body basically directs these cells to turn into different kinds of cells, such as cartilage, muscle, bone, etc. The body will determine what is needed, and then the stem cells do their thing!
This kind of therapy doesn’t work for everyone, nor does it always work after just one treatment. It can take time for the effect to become noticeable, and there are a variety of things that can influence the outcome. Examples include smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, age, and activity level, just to name a few. We will counsel individuals in these types of areas to best manage their problem/condition, and attempt to maximize the benefit.
Again, this is just a quick overview of current advances in stem cell therapies. Future blogs will cover current research topics, current clinical advances, and updates about our practice. Feel free to comment or ask questions – I will do my best to address them all.
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