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10.10.10 Teeth stem cell hopes for stroke victims Stem cell hopes to help stroke victims
An Adelaide doctor says his research shows that stem cells from human teeth could be used to repair the brains of stroke victims.
Simon Koblar is a neurologist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and a neuroscientist at Adelaide University's Centre for Stem Cell Research.
He will present his findings from eight years of research to a public lecture at Adelaide University.
Associate Professor Koblar says the treatment has the potential to dramatically improve the quality of life for stroke victims.
"Often people even in their 70s with good hygiene still have teeth, so it would be plausible to consider that if we find the benefit with these types of stem cells that you could even take people's teeth and grow their own stem cells which would be a major advantage," he said.
"Just a small increase in function can mean the difference between someone being employed or unemployed on disability so, because we're starting at such a poor base that we can do so little, a small increment of improvement would be absolutely fantastic."
Professor Koblar says human trials are still needed.
05.10.10 Stem Cells May Hold Hope for Eye Disease In study on mice, one type of umbilical cell cleared cloudy corneas
TUESDAY, Dec. 8 (HealthDay News) -- New research has found that a certain kind of stem cell from human umbilical cords helped restore transparency to the cloudy corneas of laboratory mice, raising the prospect that they could do the same for people.
Currently, a limited supply of donated human corneas is available to help people with severe corneal and eye diseases.
The new research examined human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells. When transplanted into the corneal stroma of the mouse eyes, they survived for more than three months without much sign of graft rejection, researcher Winston Kao of the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, said in a news release from the American Society for Cell Biology.
Transplantation of human organs involves a certain degree of risk because the body tries to reject things it considers foreign. In the study, that happened to another kind of stem cell -- human umbilical hematopoietic stem cells -- that was transplanted into the mouse eyes.
However, according to Kao, stem-cell transplants hold promise as a treatment for some eye diseases. He said it's easy to isolate the cells and let them reproduce before storage, and the supply of stem cells is virtually unlimited.
The findings were to be presented Dec. 8 at the American Society for Cell Biology's annual meeting in San Diego.
02.10.10 THE FIRST STEM CELL THERAPY FOR AUTISM Biohellenika in cooperation with a certified team of doctors performed in Greece the first therapy of a 9 year old child with autism. The therapy was a result of a joint effort, with no financial interest, of a team of doctors that from the beginning stood by Mr. Solomos, the father that after 9 years did not abandon the effort to ameliorate his child life. As a doctor himself he has a special way of approaching his patients and his colleagues. From the first contact that Dr. Solomos had with our Scientific Director Dr Kouzi-Koliakou, he was very anxious about his child’s future and his weakness to find a solution until today. He was aware about stem cells treatment, but he was looking at first, for a safe treatment.
According to the causes of autism, immune disorder or hypoperfusion of the brain are responsible for the clinical signs of autism. Stem cells will be a solution for this condition, since stem cells are immunoregulatory and can improve angiogenesis in brain. Stem cells from adipose tissue have the ability to interfere with both conditions. Liposuction provides a good number and quality of cells, but the application in children has some restrictions.
So a special team of doctors was necessary, and a pediatrician surgeon, a plastic surgeon and an anesthesiologist were included. This team after admission in a hospital performed with success liposuction from the child and the adipose tissue was processed in the laboratories of TAKEIE that are the Biohellenika’s laboratories in Athens. All tests that are performed before the safe administration of the sample, were shown high number and quality of cells and 10 days later the child was readmitted to the hospital and was infused with a dose of half stem cells collected. The next dose has been scheduled for May. Almost one and a half month after the administration the child’s condition seems to be going better and according to Dr Solomos the communication and socialization of the child is apparent. It is calm, with better behavior and creates skills that never had before. The child has performed a step forward in his life.
30.09.10 New data for the use of cord blood - placenta derived stem cells The new advancements in the use of placenta derived stem cells, presented at the 8th Annual International Symposium for Cord Blood Transplantations, are impressive. The symposium took place between the 3rd and the 5th of June in San Francisco, USA and was supported by the United States Ministry of Health.
The presentations focused on the autologous uses in the Regenerative Medicine field and the improvement of methods for the search of better histocopatible transplants for allogeneic uses in hematological diseases.
The Scientific Director of Biohellenika, Dr. K. Kouzi –Koliakou, attended the symposium and presented a study that refers to a special method of acquiring stem cells from the placenta, method that provides a large number of hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells, suitable for adults’ treatment.
The storage benefits of placenta derived stem cells are widely known and accepted in every society. Successful applications rely on the administration of high quality stem cell samples.
Placenta blood, apart from primary hematopoietic cells, contains pluripotent cells that can be transformed into cells of other tissues, with special attention to neurons. For this reason in Duke University stem cells derived from placenta blood are successfully administered to children with cerebral palsy and traumatic injury of the brain.
Cerebral palsy may occur due to prematurity of the infant, low endouterus oxygenation and perinatal hypoxia. For these uses only the child’s own stem cells are used.
Many children have benefited from this therapy that is performed during the first months of the child’s life, when there are signs of cerebral palsy, or during the fist years when the condition is verified clinically.
International studies use placenta derived stem cells for the therapy of spinal cord injuries and stroke.
The presentation of patients with severe stroke that had total recovery and were able a year after inter cerebral administration of placenta derived stem cells, to go back to their normal lives, was spectacular.
Presentations of gene therapy of stem cells in cases of sickle cell anemia and thalassemias that aimed to their re-administration to patients, was also very impressive.
Already many patients suffering from inherited hemoglopathies in USA and Japan, 16 years old and more, have been cured by gene therapy of their own stem cells and have stopped blood transfusions.
Efforts are made in order younger children to take part in this study, in order to prevent side effects from long term transfusions.
Today, two grafts of histocompatible placenta blood derived stem cells are used for the treatment of adult patients suffering from leukemia and the reason for this, is to ensure a large number of cells, adequate for the weight of the adult patient.
In allogeneic transplantations, it is very important to prevent the rejection of the graft. For this reason the efficiency of public banks relies on the finding and administration of the best possible histocompatible grafts. Public banks target their research towards the finding of new antigens of histocompatibility that will allow the recognition of the best compatible grafts, minimizing the possibilities of rejection.
New scientific data open a new era in autologous stem cell therapies of Regenerative Medicine and for this reason classical hematologists in USA, pioneers in allogeneic transplantations and basic research scientists, participates in international private family cord blood stem cells banks.
26.09.10 Biohellenika was successfully inspected by the American Association of |Blood Banks Dr, George Koliakos, president and CEO of Biohellenika congratulates all the employees and other collaborators of the company for their successful presentation during the last AABB inspection www.aabb.org . Particularly congratulates the faculty of the laboratory and the quality assurance assistant managers for their outstanding work. Biohellenika is looking forward to join the family of AABB accredited banks.
11.09.10 Effectiveness Of Stem Cells As Cerebral Palsy Treatment Set For Test Effectiveness Of Stem Cells As Cerebral Palsy Treatment Set For Test
By Shaun Heasley
February 11, 2010
Researchers are set to begin the first federally-approved clinical trial on the effectiveness of stem cells from stored umbilical cords in treating symptoms of cerebral palsy.
In select cases, doctors are already using stem cells from umbilical cord blood to improve mobility in children with cerebral palsy, which has shown success anecdotally. But the research set to be conducted at the Medical College of Georgia will be the first clinical trial approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
The study will focus on 40 children with cerebral palsy ages 2 to 12 whose umbilical cords were stored at an Arizona stem cell bank at birth. Half of the study participants will be infused with stem cells from their own umbilical cord and half will receive a placebo.
Scientists believe that stem cells can help repair injured brain cells and replace dead cells.
Doctors will examine the children three months into the study, when significant improvement is expected. At that point, patients who received the placebo will be infused with stem cells.
Then at the six and nine month marks, doctors will reexamine all of the patients as well.
“Evidence up to this point has been purely anecdotal,” said Dr. James Carroll, chief of pediatric neurology at the Medical College of Georgia and principal investigator on the study. “While a variety of cord blood stem cell therapies have been used successfully for more than 20 years, this study is breaking new ground in advancing therapies for brain injury.”
Though the stem cells show promise, researchers say they do not expect the treatment to serve as a cure for cerebral palsy.
10.09.10 Patients with chronic heart failure given injections of their own stem cells have better heart... STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Patients with chronic heart failure given injections of their own bone marrow stem cells have better heart function and live longer, German researchers said Sunday.
The beneficial effects of the cell therapy were seen within three months and continued for five years, according to findings from one of the biggest studies to date on using stem cell therapy to treat heart conditions.
For years, doctors have tried to use various forms of stem cells to treat damaged hearts, with varying results.
The latest findings are still not conclusive but lead researcher Bodo-Eckehard Strauer of Duesseldorf's Heinrich Heine University said the long-term benefits were encouraging.
Previous studies have suggested that cell therapy can be effective in patients who have suffered a heart attack. The new research indicates it could also play a role in patients with chronic heart failure.
Bone marrow stem cells used in the study were taken from the top of the patient's pelvis and sorted in the lab before being injected back into the heart area, where they improved ventricular function, or the heart's ability to pump blood.
The study included 391 patients, of whom 191 agreed to have the bone marrow stem cell treatment and 200 did not. After five years, seven patients had died in the treated group against 32 in the control arm -- a significant difference.
"Our study suggests that, when administered as an alternative or in addition to conventional therapy, bone marrow cell therapy can improve quality of life, increase ventricular performance and increase survival," Strauer said.
Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle loses its ability to pump blood through the body efficiently, often as a result of a heart attack.
Conventional drug-based treatments do not attempt to correct the underlying cause, which is usually the loss of functional heart tissue, and the prognosis for the treatment is poor.
06.09.10 Autism, Stem Cells and What the World URGENTLY Needs to Know: The Body Ecology Perspective As you know, I created the Body Ecology Diet to heal systemic fungal, viral and bacterial infections.
It has become clear over time that the Body Ecology program provides healing for many different kinds of physical problems. In fact, most of the health problems we suffer from today are fungal (or yeast) based...even cancer. This is certainly true for children who are suffering from an infection we now call autism. Spreading the word that autism is both treatable and preventable is a major goal.
Doctors and scientists are not exactly sure why children develop autism, but the statistics are frightening: roughly 1 out of every 150 children born is diagnosed with autism.1
Healing autism and other childhood development disorders has become a passion of mine. And while I understand the incredible power of nutrition and lifestyle support, I also seek therapies that will create the major shift parents of children with autism are seeking.
Stem cell therapy is a welcome discovery in our fight to greatly improve or eliminate autism from the lives of our children.
For this reason, I have been collaborating with Dr. Leonard Smith, who along with six other colleagues authored a research paper called Stem Cell Therapy for Autism. Dr. Smith and I are excited about how stem cell therapy, the Body Ecology program and some simple lifestyle changes can heal children with autism.
Here's what you need to know about these cutting edge techniques for autism treatment.
The Stem Cell and Autism Connection
What are stem cells?
Stem cells are primal cells that can divide and differentiate to become like any other more specialized cells in your body. The three types of stem cells are embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells and cord blood stem cells.
Embryonic stem cells are the most controversial because they are harvested from human embryos, while the other stem cells can be obtained from adult tissue or from the umbilical cord and placenta of newborn babies and their mothers without damage to them.
Why use stem cells for children with autism?
Children with autism suffer from two major conditions:
- Hypoperfusion
- Immune dysregulation
Hypoperfusion is decreased blood flow to the brain, meaning that the brain does not receive enough oxygen and cannot function normally.
Any time there is not enough blood flowing to the brain, the brain cells become inflamed and make more nitric oxide. This opens up the cells to receive too much calcium, which damages the mitochondria (that make the energy for cells). As a result, the brain cells die from lack of food.
Immune dysregulation in children with autism means that their immune systems do not respond normally to stimulation. When the body signals to the immune system that it needs help (like when the brain becomes inflamed) the proper immune response and subsequent healing do not occur in children with autism.
Instead, children with autism often have continually suppressed immune systems, chronic inflammation and suffer from autoimmune responses.
An autoimmune response happens when your body does not recognize your cells as your own and actually attacks the good cells. Autoimmune disorders include Crohn's disease and multiple sclerosis, in addition to autism.
Immune dysregulation is very apparent in the gastrointestinal health of children with autism.
Most suffer from symptoms ranging from diarrhea, gas, and bloating to intestinal lesions and inflammation of their gastrointestinal system.
Researchers have discovered that two kinds of stem cells can specifically address the hypoperfusion and immune dysregulation that are characteristic of children with autism.
The Stem Cell Therapy - Autism Theory
Dr. Fabio Solano has used CD34+ stem cells from cord blood and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) as a successful autism treatment.
Cord blood CD34+ stem cells injected into the patient improve blood flow to the brain, which supplies the brain with more oxygen and results in improved central nervous system functioning.
Mesenchymal stem cells are used to heal immune dysregulation in people with Crohn's disease and can also suppress the inflammation in children with autism and address their fundamental immune abnormality.
Using these two kinds of stem cells together can heal both the brain and the gut for a unique treatment that has great potential!
05.08.10 Cord Blood Stem Cells May Help Treat Heart, Lung Disorders Two lab studies report safe transplant results in animals
MONDAY, Nov. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Two new studies in animals suggest that stem cells from transplanted human-derived umbilical cord blood could help treat some lung and heart disorders.
Scientists already know that such stem cells can differentiate into a long list of different kinds of cells in the laboratory, Dr. Won Soon Park of the Samsung Medical Center in Seoul, Korea, co-author of one of the studies, said in a news release. But it's not clear if they can develop into lung-specific cells in the body, he added.
To find the answer, researchers transplanted the stem cells into newborn rats with lung injuries. They found that the stem cells provided protection and therefore could lead to a first-ever treatment for hyperoxic neonatal lung disease, or bronchopulmonary dysplasia, in premature babies.
In the second study, researchers in Germany examined the effect of autologous (self-donated) umbilical cord blood mononuclear cell transplantation on a type of heart function in animals. They are hoping to understand its potential to treat common cyanotic congenital heart defects.
The researchers reported that the transplantation, which was performed in sheep, was "feasible and safe."
Both studies were published online Nov. 16 in Cell Transplantation.
18.05.10 MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS FROM UMBILICAL CORD CONNECTIVE TISSUE (WHARTON’S JELLY) Biohellenika has developed the technology and now provides the parents the storage of mesenchymal stem cells from the total length of the umbilical cord. By this method all mesenchymal stem cells of the umbilical cord are stored and therefore no cellular proliferation will be needed in the future, which would be applied if the number of stem cells was not enough, with an extra cost.
Stem cell banks use two ways for cryopreservation of mesenchymal stem cells: cryopreservation of umbilical cord segments or cryopreservation of stem cells after isolation from the tissue. Cell proliferation is not desirable for any type of stem cells either for hematopoietic or for mesenchymal stem cells. International standards dictate minimum manipulations on the cells and cell proliferation leads to the formation of less pluripotant cells.
Stem cell banks use two ways for cryopreservation of mesenchymal stem cells: cryopreservation of umbilical cord segments or cryopreservation of stem cells after isolation from the tissue.
The Research and Development Department of Biohellenika evaluated both ways and reached the decision that the primary cryopreservation of stem cells after their isolation from the tissue is preferable to the cryopreservation of whole segments. The results of this research are under publication in international journal of the field. This decision was reached due to the fact that until today no safe method of cryopreservation of tissues or organs has been described that gives post thaw viable tissues or organs. Cryopreserving tissues, cause only the upper layers of cells to be preserved and not the interior and as a result the number of viable cells post thaw is small and the sample needs cellular proliferation. The umbilical cord tissue includes mainly mesenchymal cells and few with no value, mature migrated blood cells. So the preservation is performed only for the mesenchymal cells.
According to our experience, the mesenchymal cells of the tissue of the umbilical cord preserve the markers of primary cell up to the six first passages. From there and later they react as mature cells with limited potential to evolve.
For all the above reasons we chose from the beginning to provide the parents with the entire service, cells cryopreservation, and did not take into consideration the extra cost and time that this method of cryopreservation requires.
The mesenchymal stem cells of the umbilical cord tissue are used along with hematopoietic stem cells in allogenic transplantations, due to the fact that the percentage of rejection declines, while the percentage of histocompatibility in the family rises.
This potential is due to the reduction of the patient’s immune system activation and for this reason mesenchymal stem cells are recommended in autologous applications for the immune system diseases. Furthermore they are experimentally used in tissue regeneration and as vehicles for drugs administration directly into organs that other ways are difficult to reach them, like the brain. This use protects our body from the side effects of the drugs, when administered intravenously, and raises the concentration of the drug into the diseased organ.
This service added to the classical collection of umbilical cord, by umbilical cord vein puncture and placenta drainage, provides the family with the total number of hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells that can be collected during the labor. Given the fact that stem cells of umbilical cord and placenta are superior in quality than any other source of stem cells, Biohellenika provides the child and the family the greatest quantity and quality of stem cells.
The president of the Scientific Council of Biohellenika
K Kouzi – Koliakou MD, PhD
25.03.10
The labs of the National Institute of Research (TAK EIE) were certified by ESYD 23/10/2009 Biohellenika congratulates the staff of the Stem Cells Bank of the National Research Foundation (TAK EIE) for the accreditation with the certificate numbered: 618/02-10-2009 from the National Accreditation System (ESYD). The labs are accredited for the quality control of the umbilical cord blood that concerns the determination of the number and the viability of the nucleated cells, the number of the hematopoietic stem cells and also for the microbiological tests for the detection of aerobic, anaerobic microbes and fungi. The labs in the TAK EIE process samples of southern Greece and the islands and comprise collaboration between the National Research Foundation and Biohellenika. Biohellenika is the first company in Greece that acquired accreditation as medical lab in the field of preservation of stem cells according to ISO 15189,2007, as Biohellenika applies with success all quality systems. Furthermore the company has certification according to ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14445 for clean rooms, and therefore is ranked as one of the most reliable companies of the field.
05.02.10
New treatment of a child with cerebral palcy, by using umbilical cord blood stem cells, that had been cryopreserved in Biohellenika’s labs
On 1/26/2010 stem cells that had been cryopreserved in Biohellenika’s labs were infused into a child 26 months old, who suffered from cerebral palcy since birth, in the Hematology clinic of Duke University. The child was born after a very difficult natural labor, the media cerebral artery was occluded, because of stress and the child developed serious problems.
Biohellenika sent the complete file of cryopreservation of the baby’s placenta blood to the clinic. The file was examined closely and approved by the doctors of the clinic. Then, the medical team requested the transport of the child and the sample.
The post-thaw tests at this time were done in Biohellenika’s labs and the viability of cells after thawing was 96%. The cells were cryopreserved in three cryovials and the total number of cells was enough for triple child’s weight. The administration of stem cells was scheduled for 26/1/2010. The child was infused with its cells of the two cryovials and the third remains in Duke University for future use, whatever the physicians will decide.
The child did not present any complications during the administration of the cells that lasted 10 minutes. The administration of the cells was safe and no side effects were noticed. Biohellenika cryopreserves clear nucleated cells, after almost full depletion of red blood cells, so the amount of cryoprotectant DMSO is very low. Because of that the side effects like vomiting, nausea and changes in the blood pressure are very rare. The child during the whole procedure was completely calm and cheerful.
19.01.10 Umbilical cord blood stem cells had used for the treatment of a blind girl, who was born with congenital dysplasia of the optic nerve. 18 months old blind girl, who was born with congenital dysplasia of the optic nerve reacted to flashlight for the first time, after serial treatments with cord blood stem cells. The family of the little Summer exhausted all the possible treatments in USA and also had been informed about a controversial cell therapy, that take place in a hospital in Peking China. The family sought the treatment in China after they were told by American ophthalmologists that nothing could be done to correct Summer's blindness. The family finally decided to travel to China and Summer received this treatment. Summer took eight stem-cell treatments from umbilical-cord blood during her 33-day stay in a Chinese hospital. Halfway through her stem-cell treatments, Summer was taken into a dark bathroom where a doctor shone a flashlight. Summer followed the ray of light with her eyes, something she'd never done. Her family hopes the treatments will grow her optic nerve, which didn't develop on its own, and cure the rare disorder from which she suffers: septo-optic dysplasia. Doctors in China told the family it can take up to a year for the cells to do their work. Most improvements probably will come in nine months, they said. The company hasn't submitted to clinical trials, and the treatments are not approved in the United States. In the same medical centre 4000 patients with with multiple sclerosis and autism had been treated until today with improvement in 90% of them.
AABB SMART January 2010
11.01.10 New Publication of Biohellenika in PubMed Transplant Proc. 2009 Dec;41(10):4340-4.
Addition of adipose-derived stem cells in cord blood cultures stimulates their pluripotent differentiation.
Tsagias N, Kouzi-Koliakos K, Koliakos I, Kostidou E, Karagiannis V, Daniilidis A, Koliakos G.
3rd University Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic, Ippokration General Hospital, Medical School, Aristotle University Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece.
INTRODUCTION: Adipose tissue is recognized as an important source of postnatal mesenchymal stem cells for generative medicine applications. Moreover, cord blood stem cells have been shown to contain pluripotent stem cells called unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSCs). However, this population is rare and cannot be generated from every cord blood sample. In this study, we have presented a new method of co-culture of adipose-derived stem cells (ADPCs) and cord blood stem cells that results in pluripotent differentiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ADPCs were obtained from a piece of adipose tissue after treatment with 0.075% collagenase, which was subsequently inactivated with DMEM/10% FBS. The cellular pellet of centrifugation was plated at 5-7 x 10(6) cells/mL in T25 culture flasks in a low-glycose DMEM with 30% FCS. Cord blood stem cells were obtained by centrifugation following double-processing in the presence of 2% HES 200/0.5 and plated at 5-7 x 10(6) cells/mL in the same medium. To investigate the crucial role of ADPCs in pluripotent cord blood differentiation, we added a ADPCS as (1 x 10(4) cells/mL) to the cord blood cultures and analyzed the contribution of ADPCs using a microscope as well as with flow cytometry. RESULTS: After only 3 days, adherent cells (USSC colonies) of fibroblastic morphology were detected in all co-cultured samples, whereas this was observed later or not at all in the non-co-cultured samples. The greater density of colonies in the co-coltured samples was another point. Hematopoietic CD45 cells were no longer detected after the first passage. Pluripotent stem cells were obtained from all co-cultured samples that contained stem cells positive for CD29, CD44, CD49e, CD90, CD105, CD51 Stro, and C-kit antibodies but negative for CD34, CD45, CD133, and glycophorin A. CONCLUSION: Addition of ADPCs was crucial to generate pluripotent-derived stem cells from cord blood samples. This double culture may be a useful tool for a universal allogeneic stem cell source for tissue repair or regeneration.
PMID: 20005395 [PubMed - in process]
02.01.10 Biohellenika starts business in Serbia Biohellenika is collaborating with BEO STEM CELL S.A. based in Belgrade for stem cell cryopreservation in Serbia, since May 2009. The company will be expanded to whole Serbia and already have joined hospitals and private clinics. Also Biohellenika is collaborating with Neodent, a Serbian company for deciduous teeth stem cells cryopreservation.
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