Recent Update on Stem Cells Making a Difference in Ones Life

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Table of Contents
Page 3 Stem Cell Treatment Continues to Shed Light on Parkinsons Disease Page 5 Different Cell Types for Stem Cell Therapy Page 7 Exploring the Benefits of Stem Cell Transplant Page 9 Stem Cell Treatments for Cosmetic Purposes Page 10 The Problem with Stem Cell Financing

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Stem Cell Treatment Continues to Shed Light on Parkinsons Disease

Nobody still truly knows what truly causes Parkinsons Disease (PD) or what triggers the deterioration and eventual death of the dopamine-generating cells located in a region of the midbrain that manifest through lack of movement control. This is one of the mysteries of the medical world that needs to be solved in order to determine effective preventive measures. Numerous researches have been made about the possible causes of the degenerative disorder but these studies have not been as successful as those created to come up with the cure. For now, there are maintenance drugs to help people suffering from PD to go about their daily lives in a less painful way; these maintenance drugs control the motor-impairments of the body as well as aid in sleep. No real cure has been set for PD just yet because of the different medical protocols, but the latest research on stem cell treatment are providing a really hopeful and positive future for those who have been waiting a long time for a cure for this disease. Stem cell treatment is strongly being advocated by Parkinsons Disease-stricken Michael J. Fox. The Hollywood actor, who has been suffering from Parkinsonism since 1991, is one of the key figures in the advancement of promising studies that would lead to the best treatment for the disorder. One of these treatments showing great potential includes the very controversial, embryonic stem cell treatment
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which is making use of fresh stem cells from a live embryo for transplantation. So how would stem cell treatment work for Parkinsons Disease? The stem cells show great potential in creating healthy cells that will take over the degenerating ones, reverse the effect of the disorder, and nurse the body back to health. Though other types of stem cell treatments also show impressive potential in curing Parksinsons Disease, the fresh cells from an embryo have the ability to proliferate at the healthiest rate. The problem with this, however, is that deriving these fresh stem cells requires the destruction of the blastocyst and this would instantly kill the embryo. As effective in theory as this treatment seems, there are moral, philosophical, and religious issues to be addressed. Parkinsons Disease usually has a late onset; embryonic stem cells have the most versatility and are the best for taking over dead cells. Researches continue in coming up with great alternatives to embryonic stem cells for the effective treatment of Parkinsons disease. Adult stem cells are actually being projected to be a viable option. A type of adult stem cell derived from the bone marrow that gives rise to blood cells called hematopoietic stem cells appear to have the ability to transform into a wider variety of tissue types and not just blood cells, as was discovered by research from Northwestern University. Deriving adult stem cells for treatment does not pose the same risks as deriving embryonic stem cells. This is an exciting discovery that is being explored further and is expected to contribute greatly to the development of the cure for the disease.

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Different Cell Types for Stem Cell Therapy

There are different types of stem cells used for different applications. A lot of people nowadays typically just think of the embryonic stem cells that moral groups are fighting hard to not be used for any medical treatment. Stem cells are derived from different sources. Totipotent stem cells (TSC), sometimes called the omnipotent stem cells, are the most potent among all cell types. They can create different organisms as well as more totipotent stem cells and they can become any type of cell over time. In a way, theyre the beginning form of all cell types and its truest form is the unified sperm and egg cell which is the fertilized egg or the embryonic cell. Pluripotent stem cells fall under TSC but the main difference is that they cannot give rise to all tissue types or an entire organism. Embryonic stem cells (ESC) which are considered to be the most versatile for medical applications are the perfect example of pluripotent stem cells. ESC is derived from the destruction of the blastocyst which automatically kills the embryo (hence all moral debates about its use). Pluripotent cells can also be derived from the placenta which in its initial stage is called the trophoblast. The stem cells from the placenta also hold a lot of potential in cell generation and this has actually been prompting a lot of mothers to preserve their placenta because these extra-embryonic stem cells can be used to help treat possible medical conditions that their children can develop as they get older.
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Adult stem cells are popularly used for stem cell therapy. As an example, TV personality Suzanne Somers used her own to grow new breasts after she had a lumpectomy and radiation because of her breast cancer. Adult stem cells are part of the multipotent cell population and they come in different cell types as well. Recent research show that hematopoetic stem cells (which are adult stem cells found in the bone marrow) hold more potential than previously discovered and can be used for treating cancer, Parkinsons disease, and Alzheimers. As more research is being conducted in exploring the medical potential of these adult stem cells, theyre becoming more and more viable as alternatives to pluripotent stem cells. Orthopaedic stem cell therapy makes use of a type of adult stem cell called the Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC). These versatile, multipotent stem cells have the potential to differentiate to both bone and cartilage which instantly means that it can adapt to the specific purpose its being integrated for. MSC can be found in different parts of the body and its reported to have the ability to regenerate even non-mesenchymal lineages like the cardiac lineage, the neural, skin, and tissues.

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Exploring the Benefits of Stem Cell Transplant

One of the most important advancements in the medical world is the discovery of the healing potential of stem cells. Stem cell transplant (SCT) is commonly associated with the treatment for cancers such as leukaemia; it involves transplanting fresh blood cells so the bone marrow can heal up quickly and begin producing healthy blood cells. It is also an ideal procedure for regenerative purposes. The amazing results from this procedure, however, are prompting more researchers to fully explore how stem cell transplant can work to address other medical problems as well. Compared to an organ transplant, the risks are fewer for stem cell transplant. Stem cells can differentiate into varying types of specialized cells, making them easier to be accommodated by the rest of the body. Though there are still issues with compatibility, the rate of rejection is fairly lower which makes survival after the transplant higher. Its important to point out that this statistic takes an even more favorable turn when the stem cells collected are not from a donor, but from the patient himself. These stem cells can be collected from different parts of the body. In the case of TV personality Suzanne Somers, she got stem cells from her stomach and preserved them for the reconstruction of her breasts, which she lost after her mastectomy. Somers claims that not only was the transplant a healthier initiative, but it also created more natural-looking
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breasts. Her procedure is an experimental one, but given her healthy state, a lot of women whove had a mastectomy are considering it for their reconstructive surgery. Stem cell storage is already available in some hospitals and there are already a good number of women whove been preserving their placenta in stem cell storages just to be prepared for possible medical concerns that may occur late in life. Aside from this, SCT may be paired with other medical treatments like chemotherapy. This can be a tricky combination, but under carefully-studied conditions, it can bring really positive results and a quicker recovery time. Recent studies also show that stem cell transplant is an effective treatment for lupus which is one of those medical conditions that, for the time being, has no real cure just yet. Lupus patients showed great improvement with regards to the management of their pains, lesions healed completely, and refractory hypertension became controllable. Such positive developments after the SCT had never been witnessed with other treatments prescribed for people suffering from lupus which is why a lot of patients are looking into this procedure to be able to live a more normal life despite the condition.

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Stem Cell Treatments for Cosmetic Purposes

When people think about stem cell treatments (SCT), most get the idea that its a method reserved only for life-threatening diseases like cancer, type 1 diabetes, ascending paralysis, and even lupus. However, because of the amazing regenerative ability of stem cells, stem cell treatments are also used for cosmetic purposes. Former Threes Company star and seventies bombshell Suzanne Somers is one of the biggest advocates of stem cell research. The actress, who capitalized greatly on her bosomy figure for her roles, had a lumpectomy and radiation which altered the appearance of her breasts. A couple of years later, she underwent reconstructive surgery to get her breasts back to their original healthy condition by using stem cells from a fleshy part of her body. The stem cells were transplanted into her breast and they grew to the proportions Somers originally had. Stem cell treatments used to enable hair to grow back have been successful as well. Hair follicles have epidermal stem cells so baldness can be cured by reactivating the stem cells present in the scalp and hair would be produced once more. Missing teeth can be regrown, again with the help of stem cells, and this does not include excessive drinking of milk and calcium supplements which may create growth in areas except the gums. Experiments conducted with mice allowed scientists at Kings College London to cultivate a complete tooth in mice with the help of stem cells. The success of this experiment
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made these scientists claim that the same process can be used for humans. This has not been tested on humans and so far, most people still prefer a quicker and economical way of dealing with the loss of teeth and that is by getting dentures. This is basically just to prove that it can be done and should there be people who would want to grow a new set of teeth, stem cell treatments are available for the purpose. Stem cells are also used for skin grafting procedures. Fresh epidermal stem cells lessen scarring, making SCT ideal for people who have suffered from second-degree burns. A lot of beauty products nowadays suggest that they make use of stem cells to treat skin problems but the truth is, creams, lotions, and other skin emollients do not really contain stem cells. What they have are stimulants to trigger the activation of the present stem cells in the body to regenerate skin. These stem cell beauty products are actually misleading but this just proves that stem cell treatments are all the rage nowadays and they provide people the hope that they need to help improve and enhance their appearance.

The Problem with Stem Cell Financing

Medical treatments always take out a large chunk from peoples finances. Theres always that medical insurance that most people have but the coverage of the insurance policies often imposes limitations; experimental treatments always fail to be included in these insurance policies.
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Stem cell treatments are not widely available in the U.S. just yet and most of the procedures that involved the incorporation of stem cells have only been carried out by experimental medical organizations. Most medical facilities are have not yet integrated stem cell treatments into the services they offer. With all the encouraging reports about the success of medical procedures that make use of stem cells, a lot of people suffering from degenerative diseases are considering them for their treatments. Stem cell treatment is not cheap, though, and the procedures are still greatly tied with research to further explore the amazing potential of using stem cells in the medical world, so understandably, treatment costs a lot. Certain medical facilities provide stem cell financing to their patients but they need to qualify for the program. The facilities are often linked with organizations that support stem cell research so financial back-up is not easily given and if the patient does not have other people to help him meet the requirements for qualification, there are credit officers who will thoroughly go through all the presented documents. The process for qualification is often stringent and it takes a long time. Preparing the right documents to back the financial assistance program being applied for can be truly time-consuming. The amount of time just to submit all the necessary paperwork can contribute greatly to the patients deteriorating health. A patient may look around for other financial backers aside from the ones linked with the facility where he will be getting his treatment. A lot of pharmaceutical companies are open to providing financial assistance to patients that may shed light on their research efforts about the treatment.
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This would require a lot of research work on the part of the patient because there are still certain conditions to be addressed with regards to this financing system. Looking at private stem cell research groups is also a good thing to do and would entail more research work as well. Stem cell financing is not at all easy, which is why even if a lot of people want to use stem cell treatments for their illness, they opt to go for the conventional methods whose results may not be as great but are more financially manageable. Everybodys hoping that one day, stem cell treatments will be as readily available in the U.S. as they are in China. For the time being, however, Americans will just have to make sure that they have the means to cover their medical needs.

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