StemCell Therapy

In biology, a mutation is a permanent change of the nucleotide sequence of the genome of an organism, virus, or extrachromosomal DNA or other genetic elements. Mutations result from damage to DNA which is not repaired or to RNA genomes (typically caused by radiation or chemical mutagens), errors in the process of replication, or from the insertion or deletion of segments of DNA by mobile genetic elements.[1][2][3] Mutations may or may not produce discernible changes in the observable characteristics (phenotype) of an organism. Mutations play a part in both normal and abnormal biological processes including: evolution, cancer, and the development of the immune system, including junctional diversity.

Mutation can result in several different types of change in sequences. Mutations in genes can either have no effect, alter the product of a gene, or prevent the gene from functioning properly or completely. Mutations can also occur in nongenic regions. One study on genetic variations between different species of Drosophila suggests that, if a mutation changes a protein produced by a gene, the result is likely to be harmful, with an estimated 70 percent of amino acid polymorphisms that have damaging effects, and the remainder being either neutral or weakly beneficial.[4] Due to the damaging effects that mutations can have on genes, organisms have mechanisms such as DNA repair to prevent or correct (revert the mutated sequence back to its original state) mutations.[1]

Mutations can involve the duplication of large sections of DNA, usually through genetic recombination.[5] These duplications are a major source of raw material for evolving new genes, with tens to hundreds of genes duplicated in animal genomes every million years.[6] Most genes belong to larger families of genes of shared ancestry.[7] Novel genes are produced by several methods, commonly through the duplication and mutation of an ancestral gene, or by recombining parts of different genes to form new combinations with new functions.[8][9]

Here, domains act as modules, each with a particular and independent function, that can be mixed together to produce genes encoding new proteins with novel properties.[10] For example, the human eye uses four genes to make structures that sense light: three for color vision and one for night vision; all four arose from a single ancestral gene.[11] Another advantage of duplicating a gene (or even an entire genome) is that this increases redundancy; this allows one gene in the pair to acquire a new function while the other copy performs the original function.[12][13] Other types of mutation occasionally create new genes from previously noncoding DNA.[14][15]

Changes in chromosome number may involve even larger mutations, where segments of the DNA within chromosomes break and then rearrange. For example, in the Homininae, two chromosomes fused to produce human chromosome 2; this fusion did not occur in the lineage of the other apes, and they retain these separate chromosomes.[16] In evolution, the most important role of such chromosomal rearrangements may be to accelerate the divergence of a population into new species by making populations less likely to interbreed, thereby preserving genetic differences between these populations.[17]

Sequences of DNA that can move about the genome, such as transposons, make up a major fraction of the genetic material of plants and animals, and may have been important in the evolution of genomes.[18] For example, more than a million copies of the Alu sequence are present in the human genome, and these sequences have now been recruited to perform functions such as regulating gene expression.[19] Another effect of these mobile DNA sequences is that when they move within a genome, they can mutate or delete existing genes and thereby produce genetic diversity.[2]

Nonlethal mutations accumulate within the gene pool and increase the amount of genetic variation.[20] The abundance of some genetic changes within the gene pool can be reduced by natural selection, while other "more favorable" mutations may accumulate and result in adaptive changes.

For example, a butterfly may produce offspring with new mutations. The majority of these mutations will have no effect; but one might change the color of one of the butterfly's offspring, making it harder (or easier) for predators to see. If this color change is advantageous, the chance of this butterfly's surviving and producing its own offspring are a little better, and over time the number of butterflies with this mutation may form a larger percentage of the population.

Neutral mutations are defined as mutations whose effects do not influence the fitness of an individual. These can accumulate over time due to genetic drift. It is believed that the overwhelming majority of mutations have no significant effect on an organism's fitness.[citation needed] Also, DNA repair mechanisms are able to mend most changes before they become permanent mutations, and many organisms have mechanisms for eliminating otherwise-permanently mutated somatic cells.

Beneficial mutations can improve reproductive success.

Continue reading here:
Mutation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease in which people have problems regulating their blood sugar. People with diabetes have high blood sugar because their bodies:

Type 2 diabetes is extremely common. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that over 29 million children and adults in the United States have some form of diabetes. That is about 9 percent of the population. The vast majority of these people have type 2 diabetes.

When you eat food, the body digests the carbohydrates in into a type of sugar called glucose. Glucose is the main source of energy for cells. Cells rely on the hormone insulin to absorb and use glucose as a form of energy. Insulin is produced by the pancreas.

People usually develop type 2 diabetes because their cells have become resistant to insulin. Then, over time, their body may stop making sufficient insulin as well. These problems lead to blood sugar, or glucose, building up in the blood

There are several different types of diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes used to be known as juvenile onset diabetes because it is usually first diagnosed in childhood, though it can be diagnosed later in life as well.. People with type 1 diabetes cannot make insulin and are insulin dependent. They must use insulin injections to control their blood sugar.

According to the CDC, only about five percent of people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes (CDC).

There is no known way to prevent type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes, and was once known as adult onset diabetes. However, in recent years, the rate of type 2 diagnoses in children has been growing.

Type 2 diabetes usually starts as insulin resistance. Cells stop responding properly to insulin and sugar is unable to get from the blood into the cells. Over time, the pancreas cannot make enough insulin to keep blood sugars in the normal range and the body becomes progressively less able to regulate blood sugar.

The rest is here:
Type 2 Diabetes: Everything You Need to Know

The stem cell controversy is the consideration of the ethics of research involving the development, usage, and destruction of human embryos. Most commonly, this controversy focuses on embryonic stem cells. Not all stem cell research involves the creation, usage and destruction of human embryos. For example, adult stem cells, amniotic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells do not involve creating, using or destroying human embryos and thus are minimally, if at all, controversial.

The use of stem cells has been happening for decades. In 1998, scientists discovered how to extract stem cells from human embryos. This discovery led to moral ethics questions concerning research involving embryo cells, such as what restrictions should be made on studies using these types of cells? At what point does one consider life to begin? Is it just to destroy an embryo cell if it has the potential to cure countless numbers of patients? Political leaders are debating how to regulate and fund research studies that involve the techniques used to remove the embryo cells. No clear consensus has emerged. Other recent discoveries may extinguish the need for embryonic stem cells.[1]

Since stem cells have the ability to differentiate into any type of cell, they offer something in the development of medical treatments for a wide range of conditions. Treatments that have been proposed include treatment for physical trauma, degenerative conditions, and genetic diseases (in combination with gene therapy). Yet further treatments using stem cells could potentially be developed thanks to their ability to repair extensive tissue damage.[2]

Great levels of success and potential have been shown from research using adult stem cells. In early 2009, the FDA approved the first human clinical trials using embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells can become all cell types of the body which is called totipotent. Adult stem cells are generally limited to differentiating into different cell types of their tissue of origin. However, some evidence suggests that adult stem cell plasticity may exist, increasing the number of cell types a given adult stem cell can become. In addition, embryonic stem cells are considered more useful for nervous system therapies, because researchers have struggled to identify and isolate neural progenitors from adult tissues[citation needed]. Embryonic stem cells, however, might be rejected by the immune system - a problem which wouldn't occur if the patient received his or her own stem cells.

Some stem cell researchers are working to develop techniques of isolating stem cells that are as potent as embryonic stem cells, but do not require a human embryo.

Some believe that human skin cells can be coaxed to "de-differentiate" and revert to an embryonic state. Researchers at Harvard University, led by Kevin Eggan, have attempted to transfer the nucleus of a somatic cell into an existing embryonic stem cell, thus creating a new stem cell line.[3] Another study published in August 2006 also indicates that differentiated cells can be reprogrammed to an embryonic-like state by introducing four specific factors, resulting in induced pluripotent stem cells.[4]

Researchers at Advanced Cell Technology, led by Robert Lanza, reported the successful derivation of a stem cell line using a process similar to preimplantation genetic diagnosis, in which a single blastomere is extracted from a blastocyst.[5] At the 2007 meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR),[6] Lanza announced that his team had succeeded in producing three new stem cell lines without destroying the parent embryos. "These are the first human embryonic cell lines in existence that didn't result from the destruction of an embryo." Lanza is currently in discussions with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to determine whether the new technique sidesteps U.S. restrictions on federal funding for ES cell research.[7]

Anthony Atala of Wake Forest University says that the fluid surrounding the fetus has been found to contain stem cells that, when utilized correctly, "can be differentiated towards cell types such as fat, bone, muscle, blood vessel, nerve and liver cells". The extraction of this fluid is not thought to harm the fetus in any way. He hopes "that these cells will provide a valuable resource for tissue repair and for engineered organs as well".[8]

The status of the human embryo and human embryonic stem cell research is a controversial issue as, with the present state of technology, the creation of a human embryonic stem cell line requires the destruction of a human embryo. Stem cell debates have motivated and reinvigorated the pro-life movement, whose members are concerned with the rights and status of the embryo as an early-aged human life. They believe that embryonic stem cell research instrumentalizes and violates the sanctity of life and is tantamount to murder.[9] The fundamental assertion of those who oppose embryonic stem cell research is the belief that human life is inviolable, combined with the belief that human life begins when a sperm cell fertilizes an egg cell to form a single cell.

A portion of stem cell researchers use embryos that were created but not used in in vitro fertility treatments to derive new stem cell lines. Most of these embryos are to be destroyed, or stored for long periods of time, long past their viable storage life. In the United States alone, there have been estimates of at least 400,000 such embryos.[10] This has led some opponents of abortion, such as Senator Orrin Hatch, to support human embryonic stem cell research.[11] See Also Embryo donation.

More here:
Stem cell controversy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Regenerative medicine is a branch of translational research[1] in tissue engineering and molecular biology which deals with the "process of replacing, engineering or regenerating human cells, tissues or organs to restore or establish normal function".[2] This field holds the promise of engineering damaged tissues and organs via stimulating the body's own repair mechanisms to functionally heal previously irreparable tissues or organs.[3]

Regenerative medicine also includes the possibility of growing tissues and organs in the laboratory and safely implanting them when the body cannot heal itself. If a regenerated organ's cells would be derived from the patient's own tissue or cells, this would potentially solve the problem of the shortage of organs available for donation, and the problem of organ transplant rejection.[4][5][6]

Attributed to William Haseltine (founder of Human Genome Sciences),[7] the term "regenerative medicine" was first found in a 1992 article on hospital administration by Leland Kaiser. Kaisers paper closes with a series of short paragraphs on future technologies that will impact hospitals. One paragraph had Regenerative Medicine as a bold print title and stated, A new branch of medicine will develop that attempts to change the course of chronic disease and in many instances will regenerate tired and failing organ systems.[8][9]

Regenerative medicine refers to a group of biomedical approaches to clinical therapies that may involve the use of stem cells.[10] Examples include the injection of stem cells or progenitor cells obtained through Directed differentiation (cell therapies); the induction of regeneration by biologically active molecules administered alone or as a secretion by infused cells (immunomodulation therapy); and transplantation of in vitro grown organs and tissues (tissue engineering).[11][12]

From 1995 to 1998 Michael D. West, PhD, organized and managed the research between Geron Corporation and its academic collaborators James Thomson at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and John Gearhart of Johns Hopkins University that led to the first isolation of human embryonic stem and human embryonic germ cells.[13]

Dr. Stephen Badylak, a Research Professor in the Department of Surgery and director of Tissue Engineering at the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, developed a process for scraping cells from the lining of a pig's bladder, decellularizing (removing cells to leave a clean extracellular structure) the tissue and then drying it to become a sheet or a powder. This extracellular matrix powder was used to regrow the finger of Lee Spievak, who had severed half an inch of his finger after getting it caught in a propeller of a model plane.[14][15][16][dubious discuss] As of 2011, this new technology is being employed by the military on U.S. war veterans in Texas, as well as for some civilian patients. Nicknamed "pixie-dust," the powdered extracellular matrix is being used to successfully regenerate tissue lost and damaged due to traumatic injuries.[17]

In June 2008, at the Hospital Clnic de Barcelona, Professor Paolo Macchiarini and his team, of the University of Barcelona, performed the first tissue engineered trachea (wind pipe) transplantation. Adult stem cells were extracted from the patient's bone marrow, grown into a large population, and matured into cartilage cells, or chondrocytes, using an adaptive method originally devised for treating osteoarthritis. The team then seeded the newly grown chondrocytes, as well as epithileal cells, into a decellularised (free of donor cells) tracheal segment that was donated from a 51 year old transplant donor who had died of cerebral hemorrhage. After four days of seeding, the graft was used to replace the patient's left main bronchus. After one month, a biopsy elicited local bleeding, indicating that the blood vessels had already grown back successfully.[18][19]

In 2009 the SENS Foundation was launched, with its stated aim as "the application of regenerative medicine defined to include the repair of living cells and extracellular material in situ to the diseases and disabilities of ageing." [20]

In 2012, Professor Paolo Macchiarini and his team improved upon the 2008 implant by transplanting a laboratory-made trachea seeded with the patient's own cells.[21]

On Sep 12, 2014, surgeons at the Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation Hospital in Kobe, Japan, transplanted a 1.3 by 3.0 millimeter sheet of retinal pigment epithelium cells, which were differentiated from iPS cells through Directed differentiation, into an eye of an elderly woman, who suffers from age-related macular degeneration.[22]

More here:
Regenerative medicine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Genetics includes the study of heredity, or how traits are passed from parents to offspring. The topics of genetics vary and are constantly changing as we learn more about the genome and how we are influenced by our genes.

Mendel & Inheritance powerpoint presentation covering basics of genetics

Heredity Simulation use popsicle sticks to show how alleles are inherited Penny Genetics flip a coin to compare actual outcomes versus predicted outcomes from a punnett square Heredity Wordsearch fill in the blank, find words

Simple Genetics Practice using mendelian genetics and punnett squares

Genetic Crosses with two traits basic crosses, uses Punnet squares Genetic Crosses with two traits II basic crossses, uses Punnett squares Dihybrid Crosses in Guinea Pigs(pdf) step through on how to do a 44 punnett square

Codominance & Incomplete Dominance basic crosses involving codominance

Genetics Practice Problems includes codominance, multiple allele traits, polygenic traits, for AP Biology Genetics Practice Problems II for advanced biology students, includes both single allele and dihybrid crosses, intended for practice after students have learned multiplicative properties of statistics and mathematical analysis of genetic crosses

X-Linked Traits practice crosses that involve sex-linkage, mainly in fruitflies

X Linked Genetics in Calico Cats more practice with sex-linked traits Multiple Allele Traits practice with blood type crosses and other ABO type alleles Multiple Allele Traits in Chickens shows how combs are inherited (rrpp x RRpp) Inheritance and Eye Color uses a simulation to show how multiple alleles can influence a single trait (eye color)

The Genetics of Blood Disorders a worksheet with genetics problems that relate to specific disorders: sickle cell anemia, hemophilia, and Von Willebrand disease.

See more here:
Genetics | The Biology Corner

Description of Services

The Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Consultation provides diagnostic and therapeutic services for children with diabetes mellitus, hypoglycemia and disorders of physical growth, sexual maturation, thyroid function, pituitary function, and calcium and phosphorous metabolism.

The Pediatric Endocrine Testing Center provides diagnostic endocrine tests for patients (both children and adults) in areas of endocrinology and carbohydrate, amino acid, and mineral and lipid metabolism. The center addresses growth abnormalities and the range of conditions that can cause them.

The Nutrition Consultation Service provides consultative and follow-up service by a physician and dietitian for children up to 18 years of age with obesity problems and associated disorders.

Referrals are required from primary care physicians or other Childrens Hospital specialty services. These should be accompanied by a written reason for the referral together with related patient records and growth charts. Referrals for patients enrolled in managed care insurance plans also require authorization from the primary care physician and sometimes from the insurance provider. All necessary referral and authorization forms must be received before the patients visit and include separate authorization for each physician, diabetes nurse educator, dietitian, laboratory and X-ray services. For accurate provider numbers or more information, please call the office number listed.

205 Millers Run Road

Contact Information: 412-692-7337

4055 Monroeville Blvd., Building One

Contact Information: 412-692-7337

2599 Wexford Bayne Rd.

Original post:
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism - CHP

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Cleveland Clinic's Center for Integrative & Lifestyle Medicine is dedicated to addressing the increasing demand for integrative healthcare by researching and providing access to practices that address the physical as well as lifestyle, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients.

As the body of evidence for alternative medicine grows, we remain at the forefront providing the most updated education and practices to patients. Cleveland Clinic's Center for Integrative & Lifestyle Medicine sees more than 5,000 patients per year for a variety of services.

Learn about our wide range of services and treatments including acupuncture, massage and lifestyle management programs.

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Treat someone you love to a gift certificate good for any Cleveland Clinic Center for Integrative & Lifestyle Medicine service even physician consults and holistic psychotherapy.

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Integrative & Lifestyle Medicine - Cleveland Clinic

Fine-Tuning Your Longevity Genes

By Bryant Villeponteau, Ph.D.

Introduction

The nearly universal human desire to preserve youth can often motivate people to make major lifestyle changes or try the latest wonder supplement. But is it really possible to slow the rate of aging with current knowledge and technology? I argue herein that aging can be significantly slowed by fine tuning your longevity genes. Indeed, scientific research carried out in the last 20 years has shown that lifespan can be readily modulated by a variety of genetic or dietary strategies. In this article, I describe our efforts at Genescient LLC in Irvine, CA, to develop strategies to delay aging and age-related disease. Genescients primary business focus is on the development of pharmaceuticals for age-related diseases, but in conjunction with its spinoff firm Life Code LLC, it has provided testing services for the development of nutraceuticals based on its unique genomics platform. Our findings can be summarized as follows:

What Are the Main Effects of Aging?

Fig. 1: Aging causes an exponential increase in the annual mortality rate.

The actual declines in function with age occur at the cell, organ, and systemic levels, but the impacts of this decline can differ with the individuals genes and environment. The net result of aging is a progressive increase in all-cause mortality and morbidity. In the case of humans, all-cause mortality is known to double every eight years after sexual maturity until it reaches an annual mortality rate plateau of about 50% over 105 years of age.

All grafted data under 110 years are from the Social Security Administration Death Master File, while data on 110 to 119 year olds are from validated human super-centenarians from the website http://www.grg.org.

Read more from the original source:
Fine-Tuning Your Longevity Genes | Life Code

Rapid developments in the medical field in the last century have revolutionized the field of medical practice. It is now possible to diagnose diseases faster and more accurately using advanced diagnostic techniques. Medical management has become more effective with refined medications having more specific actions and fewer side effects. Surgical treatment has moved towards less invasive modes of management with lesser morbidity and faster recovery. Among all these developments, the medical profession in India is at crossroads facing many ethical and legal challenges in the practice of the profession. The medical fraternity is becoming more and more dependent on technology and market forces tend to influence decision making by the doctors. The fundamental values of medicine insist that the doctor's obligation is to keep the patients interest above everything else. The important issues of autonomy, confidentiality, justice, beneficence, and non malefecience are key factors that should guide the daily decision making by the doctor. These decisions may be involving a simple choice of antibiotics for an infection or the best medication for hypertension or hypercholestrolemia. It becomes more complex involving major ethical concerns in organ transplantation, clinical trials, genetic manipulations, end of life issues, or assisted reproductive techniques. However, the principles of ethics remain the same for all the above situations. The ethical guidelines of medical practice provided by The Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette, and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 is aimed at strengthening the ethical standards among registered medical practitioners in India.

The health sector in India has seen a major transformation with health care becoming a profitable sector attracting investors from diverse and varied backgrounds with profitable motives. There is also an allegation that the practice of modern medicine is becoming more impersonal, and with the increasing dependence on technology, the cost of treatment also rises. It is a fact that cannot be ignored that there is increasing dissatisfaction on the part of the patients who are expecting more and more from the doctors, leading to increasing incidence of litigation. The Medical Council of India has a redressal mechanism that can give punishment to the erring doctor after proper investigative procedures. The unnecessary harassment of doctors who are falsely implicated in criminal negligence issues has been curtailed by the Supreme Court, which has issued guidelines for the criminal charging of a doctor for negligence.

The medical profession that was once considered noble is now considered along with other professions in the liability of paying for damages. The patients who wanted monetary compensation for the alleged medical negligence used to resort to the civil courts. This was the only avenue earlier that used to be a lengthy process with its detailed procedural formalities. The confusion about the inclusion of doctors under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 has been laid to rest by the landmark decision of the Supreme Court in 1996 that puts the services of doctors for consideration under the purview of the Consumer Protection Act. This resulted in an increasing incidence of consumer cases where doctors were implicated for all types of allegations by patients. The recent Supreme Court guidelines that call for stricter evaluation by the Consumer Courts before proceeding with alleged medical negligence cases by the patients will be a boon to the doctors who will not be pulled into unnecessary litigation. However it has to be noted that the judicial bodies favour the patient who has suffered due to the negligent action of the doctors as reiterated by another Supreme Court decision recently confirming the decision of the State Commisison and giving a much higher compensation.

It is imperative that the present day medical doctors have continuing medico-legal education. Doctors have a legal duty to comply with the applicable ethical and legal regulations in their daily practice. Ignorance of law and its implications will be detrimental to the doctor even though he treats the patient in good faith for the alleviation of the patient's suffering. All actions that are done in good faith may not stand legal testing. With the increasing number of cases filed by aggrieved patients seeking legal remedy from doctors and medical establishments, it is no longer a matter of choice, but a context-driven legal mandate and necessity for the doctors to be conversant with basic legal issues involved in medical practice. This symposium aims at giving a basic insight into two main areas of medical practice:

The ethical issues in medical practice including changing doctor-patient relationships, the need for introducing ethical training in the undergraduate and postgraduate medical training, the modern challenges in urological practice, and the ethical and legal issues in kidney transplantation covered from an Indian perspective.

The legal issues covered include the basics of medical negligence, changing concepts of informed consent, and the practical issues of medical negligence cases with representative case decisions from the Indian Courts.

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Ethical and legal issues in medical practice

Kidney symptoms are signs of abnormalities in kidney function. The kidneys are responsible for filtering waste out of the bloodstream. Healthy kidneys function continuously and the bodys total blood supply passes through the kidneys several times each minute. The healthy body can continue to function with only one good kidney, as happens when a person volunteers to be a living kidney donor.

When the kidneys become damaged, infected or inflamed, they can lose some of that filtering ability. This can lead to changes in urination and a buildup of waste products in the blood, which can affect the entire body.

Kidney symptoms can be either systemic or kidney specific. Common kidney symptoms include changes in urine output; pain or burning with urination; changes in the color, smell, or appearance of urine; or pain in the sides or abdomen. Systemic (whole body) kidney symptoms include fatigue, weakness, a general ill feeling, confusion, swelling (edema), or changes in consciousness. Kidney symptoms range from very mild to very severe and even life threatening.

Kidney symptoms and their treatment will depend on the underlying disease or disorder. Common disorders of the kidneys include glomerulonephritis (kidney inflammation), pyelonephritis (kidney infection), and kidney cysts. In many cases, kidney symptoms will resolve once the underlying disorder has been treated.

One of the most successful techniques for preventing kidney symptoms is to consume an adequate amount of fluid. For mild kidney symptoms, over-the-counter medications or home remedies, such as hot pads, may be useful.

Seek immediate medical care (call 911) for serious kidney symptoms, including loss of consciousness, even for a brief moment; confusion; severe side or flank pain; inability to urinate; or high fever (higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit).

If your kidney symptoms are persistent or cause you concern, seek prompt medical care.

Excerpt from:
Kidney Symptoms - Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

Boston, MA (May 9, 2011) A joint task force of the two leading plastic surgery associations, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), today released a position statement on the use of stem cells in aesthetic surgery during The Aesthetic Meeting 2011, the annual meeting of ASAPS. Based on a systematic review of the peer-reviewed literature, the task force concluded that while there is tremendous potential for the future use of stem cells in aesthetic surgical procedures, the scientific evidence and other data are very limited in terms of assessing the safety or efficacy of stem cell therapies in aesthetic medicine. The task force, led by plastic surgeon and noted expert on fat-derived stem cells, J. Peter Rubin, MD, of the University of Pittsburgh, was convened to address the growing concerns emerging from the plastic surgery community over advertising claims and clinical practices using stem cells that have not been substantiated by scientific evidence.

There are encouraging data from laboratory and clinical studies to suggest that the use of adult stem cells is a very promising field, said Dr. Rubin, but as our comprehensive review of the current scientific literature shows, the data available today do not substantiate the marketing claims being made to patients seeking aesthetic surgery and aesthetic medical treatments.

Based on the current state of knowledge, the task force made the following recommendations to ASAPS/ASPS members and their patients:

While we remain enthusiastic about the future potential of stem cell therapies in aesthetic surgical procedures, unsubstantiated claims for such therapies will harm patients and tarnish the reputation of the industry, said Felmont F. Eaves III, MD, ASAPS President. This joint position statement will provide guidance for our members, the public and the media.

This systematic review brings into sharp focus the fact that the marketing for stem cell therapies in aesthetic surgery is pushing far ahead of the current science," added Phil Haeck, MD, ASPS President. Understandably, there is considerable public enthusiasm over the potential for stem cell treatments in plastic surgery. However, we need to keep our patients best interests in mind, which means being committed to supporting evidence-based medicine, not unsubstantiated claims. We eagerly await the evidence showing that stem cells treatments are safe and effective in this field.

About the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), is recognized as the worlds leading organization devoted entirely to aesthetic plastic surgery and cosmetic medicine of the face and body. ASAPS is comprised of over 2,600 Plastic Surgeons; active members are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (USA) or by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and have extensive training in the complete spectrum of surgical and non-surgical aesthetic procedures. International active members are certified by equivalent boards of their respective countries. All members worldwide adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and must meet stringent membership requirements. http://www.surgery.org.

About the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. Representing more than 7,000 physician members, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. http://www.plasticsurgery.org

More here:
ASAPS and ASPS Issue Joint Position Statement on Stem ...

A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian (American English, Australian English) or veterinary surgeon (British English), is a professional who practices veterinary medicine by treating disease, disorder, and injury in non-human animals.

In many countries, the local nomenclature for a veterinarian is a regulated and protected term, meaning that members of the public without the prerequisite qualifications and/or licensure are not able to use the title. In many cases, the activities that may be undertaken by a veterinarian (such as treatment of illness or surgery in animals) are restricted only to those professionals who are registered as a veterinarian. For instance, in the United Kingdom, as in other jurisdictions, animal treatment may only be performed by registered veterinary physicians (with a few designated exceptions, such as paraveterinary workers), and it is illegal for any person who is not registered to call themselves a veterinarian or prescribe any treatment.

Most veterinary physicians work in clinical settings, treating animals directly. These veterinarians may be involved in a general practice, treating animals of all types; they may be specialized in a specific group of animals such as companion animals, livestock, zoo animals or equines; or may specialize in a narrow medical discipline such as surgery, dermatology or internal medicine.

As with other healthcare professionals, veterinarians face ethical decisions about the care of their patients. Current debates within the profession include the ethics of certain procedures believed to be purely cosmetic or unnecessary for behavioral issues, such as declawing of cats, docking of tails, cropping of ears and debarking on dogs.

The word veterinary comes from the Latin veterinae meaning "working animals". "Veterinarian" was first used in print by Thomas Browne in 1646.[1]

The term "veterinarian" is used in North America and other countries using predominantly American English, whereas in the United Kingdom, and countries which are formerly part of the British Empire or are part of the Commonwealth of Nations tend to use the term veterinary surgeon.[citation needed]

The first veterinary college was founded in Lyon, France in 1762 by Claude Bourgelat.[2] According to Lupton, after observing the devastation being caused by cattle plague to the French herds, Bourgelat devoted his time to seeking out a remedy. This resulted in his founding a veterinary college in Lyon in 1761, from which establishment he dispatched students to combat the disease; in a short time, the plague was stayed and the health of stock restored, through the assistance rendered to agriculture by veterinary science and art."[3]

The Odiham Agricultural Society was founded in 1783 in England to promote agriculture and industry,[4] and played an important role in the foundation of the veterinary profession in Britain.[5] A 1785 Society meeting resolved to "promote the study of Farriery upon rational scientific principles.

The professionalization of the veterinary trade was finally achieved in 1790, through the campaigning of Granville Penn, who persuaded the Frenchman, Benoit Vial de St. Bel to accept the professorship of the newly established Veterinary College in London.[4] The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons was established by royal charter in 1844.

Veterinary science came of age in the late 19th century, with notable contributions from Sir John McFadyean, credited by many as having been the founder of modern Veterinary research.[6]

See the rest here:
Veterinary physician - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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1. What are Stem Cells?

Stem cells is a kind of self-renewing cells, which are immature and do not fully differentiate, and have the potential function of regenerating all kinds of tissues and organs. So they are called "universal cells".

According to the different original sources, stem cells can be divided into embryonic stem cells, somatic stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells, neural stem cells and muscle stem cells etc. According to the development potential, stem cells can be divided into totipotent stem cells, pluripotent stem cells and unipotent stem cells.

2. The Characteristics and Advantages of Stem Cells

a. Stem cells have the strong abilities of proliferation and multi-direction differentiation, so a lot of descendants are generated.

b. Through intercellular interactions and generating cell factors to inhibit the proliferation and immune reaction of T cells, thus rebuilding the immune function.

c. Stem cells are widely available, which are easy to separate, culture, proliferate and purify, daughter cells still remain the same characteristics as mother cells after proliferating many times.

d. Low immunogenicity. Stem cells dont have the character of immunological rejection and the problem of blood matching because stem cells are in the initial state and can not be identified easily.

e. Stem cells have the unique ability of homing. Through the function of homing, the traumatic signal can stimulate stem cells to differentiate new cells to replace the damaged organs and tissues so as to repair and rebuild the damaged cells.

Excerpt from:
Stem Cells - Kidney Disease Treatment

Dear Holistic, Alternative and Integrated Health Practitioners, and all persons interested in Integrative Medicine,

We cordially invite you to join our Association for Integrative Medicine.

We believe that the combined knowledge of old and new healing modalities is ultimately superior to a single-model approach to health and wellness.

It is our philosophy that diverse modalities such as Massage, Counseling, Reiki, Yoga, Shiatsu, Biofeedback, Chiropractic, Hypnosis, Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Cranio-Sacral Therapy, the Arts Therapies, Western Medicine and many others can work in conjunction with each other as part of a unified team rather than in competition. This integrated approach ultimately will lead to safer, faster and more effective healthcare.

If you would like to be considered for a position on our Board of directors or advisory Board, please send a written statement as to how you are qualified for the position, why you would make an effective Board member, how you bring diversity or representation of the general public to the Board, and why you are interested in the post, your vision for AIM and how you would be able to assist in achieving it.

For any additional information, questions or comments, please don't hesitate to write or call us.

Sincerely Yours,

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Research shows that integrative medical care improves mood, promotes relaxation, optimizes overall health and reduces pain, fatigue, insomnia and the risk of chronic conditions. At the Ohio State University Integrative Medicine Clinic, our specially trained physicians and practitioners blend complementary and conventional treatments and therapies to heal the mind, body and spirit. Clinical services include:

Acupuncture is a 3,000-year-old Chinese stimulation technique that relieves a variety of medical conditions.

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Ayurveda (the science of life) is a natural, prevention-oriented medical system that started in the ancient Vedic times of India.

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Chiropractic care focuses on the relationship between the bodys structuremainly spineand how it functions.

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Guided imagery can help patients relax, improve sleep, prepare for surgery, experience greater clarity, compassion and gratitude and feel more calm, confident and comfortable.

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Heart-centered practices can help you become more compassionate, forgiving, grateful and loving.

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VISION 2020 is the global initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness, a joint programme of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) with an international membership of NGOs, professional associations, eye care institutions and corporations.

The many successes of VISION 2020 have been achieved through a unique, cross-sector collaboration, which enables public, private and non-profit interests to work together, helping people to see, all over the world. VISION 2020's principles, targets and milestones come from the 'VISION 2020 Action Plan' (See the original Action Plan and its update in 2006), they have since been updated and replaced by the WHO Global Action Plan 2014-19: Towards Universal Eye Health.

VISION

A world in which no one is needlessly blind and where those with unavoidable vision loss can achieve their full potential.

The goal of eliminating avoidable blindness would best be achieved by integrating an equitable, sustainable, comprehensive eye-care system into every national health system. The VISION 2020 initiative is intended to strengthen national health-care systems and facilitate national capacity-building.

OBJECTIVES

National programmes have three main elements:

VISION 2020 is built on a foundation of community participation. Overarching issues, such as equity, quality of services, visual outcomes and access - the components of Universal Eye Health - are addressed as part of national programmes.

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PHOTOGRAPH ISSUE 13

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Issue 13 of PHOTOGRAPH magazine highlights a variety of photographic adventures, including the strength and elegance of being underwater, climbing to heart-stopping heights, hiking through the mystery of the Dowrog, and the sport of finding just the right light in a place you know like the back of your hand. Portfolios and interviews include Mallory Morrison (interviewed in our latest C&V iTunes Podcast), who flows into the feeling of summer with a unique and graceful combination of fashion and danceunderwater; photographer/videographer Jordan Manley, who makes his craft a physical art; rural documentary photographer Chris Tancock, whose numerous collections...

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Craft & Vision

Overview Stem cell treatment in India Stem cells are cells that retain the ability to renew themselves through mitotic cell division and can differentiate into a diverse range of specialized cell types. In a developing embryo, stem cells can differentiate into all of the specialized embryonic tissues. In adult organisms, stem cells and progenitor cells act as a repair system for the body, replenishing specialized cells, but also maintain the normal turnover of regenerative organs, such as blood, skin or intestinal tissues. Stem Cell Therapy in India Stem cells are the master cells of the human body. They can divide to produce copies of themselves and many other types of cell. They are found in various parts of the human body at every stage of development from embryo to adult.

Because stem cells are so versatile, they could potentially be used to repair and replace damaged human tissue.

The stem cells used in our experimental therapy are Mesenchymal stem cells, which are derived from your own bone marrow. These are multipotent stem cells that can transform into a variety of cell types, and thereby help in regeneration and repair of the diseased tissues.

For more information, medical assessment and medical quote send your detailed medical history and medical reports as email attachment to Email : - info@wecareindia.com Call: +91 9029304141 (10 am. To 8 pm. IST) (Only for international patients seeking treatment in India)

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Stem Cell Therapy is now available at affordable prices through medical tourism company WorldMed Assist. Stem cell therapy is field of study that offers promising new avenues for treatment. While stem cell research has been underway in the U.S. for well over 30 years, stem cell treatments and applications have recently experienced a great degree of expansion into various fields for medical treatment.

At WorldMed Assist we are excited to present our new stem cell therapy options. Stem cell treatment promises greater success rates for patients than prior treatment methods. We can provide you with a free initial consultation to determine your options. Our professional staff can be contacted by submitting our online intake form.

Stem Cell therapy is already yielding high rates of success for patients all over the world with various medical needs and conditions. Stem cell treatment is mostly associated with successful treatment of brain injuries and brain trauma. For example, Stem Cell Therapy in China has yielded radical success by directly administering adult stem cells to brain injury sites. This has led to greater brain and motor function in persons with brain injuries, Alzheimers disease, and brain injuries.

Areas of success for Stem Cell Treatments:

You may wish to engage in a consultation to determine whether stem cell therapy is a viable option for you. Stem cell therapy success depends largely on some basic factors, including:

Again, success in these areas depends on the patients condition and medical history. As stem cell research expands to include more areas of treatments, more and more patients may be able to consider stem cell therapy as an option. WorldMed Assist provides specific stem cell therapy treatment packages, using only the most qualified hospitals and doctors located around the world and domestically. Our medically trained staff can provide you with input and evaluation on stem cell therapy packages that are custom tailored to your needs.

WorldMed Assist can also provide you with additional information on stem cell research, treatment success, and transplant methods. Such information will inform you of the basics of stem cell therapy. We also provide more specific information on exciting new developments in cell research, such as advancements with specific types of adult stem cells, bone marrow stem cells, stem cell therapy for cancer, as well as diabetes treatment.

Stem cell treatment packages through WorldMed Assist are available in locations like Mexico, Panama, China, and various U.S. locations. To get started on your free consultation, simply fill out our online intake form. Our professional staff is available to guide you throughout the duration of the process, from beginning to end.

For more information on costs, click on the following link: Cost of Stem Cell Therapy

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Abstract

Non-malignant late effects after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are heterogeneous in nature and intensity. The type and severity of the late complications depend on the type of transplantation and the conditioning regimen applied. Based on the most recent knowledge, we discuss three typical non-malignant complications in long-term survivors after HSCT, namely pulmonary, cardiovascular and renal complications. These complications illustrate perfectly the great diversity in respect of frequency, time of appearance, risk factors, and outcome. Respiratory tract complications are frequent, appear usually within the first two years, are closely related to chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and are often of poor prognosis. Cardiac and cardiovascular complications are mainly related to cardiotoxic chemotherapy and total body irradiation, and to the increase of cardiovascular risk factors. They appear very late after HSCT, with a low magnitude of risk during the first decade. However, their incidence might increase significantly with longer follow-up. The chronic kidney diseases are usually asymptomatic until end stage disease, occur within the first decade after HSCT, and are mainly related with the use of nephrotoxic drugs such as calcineurin inhibitors. We will discuss the practical screening recommendations that could assist practitioner in the follow-up of long-term survivors after HSCT.

Late complications are conditions appearing after the early phase of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) with clinical consequences on the long-term survivorship. Depending on the type of complication, the threshold between early and late might be set at different time points. Some of the complications with relevant late consequences can start as early as 3 months after HSCT, and other events will become apparent only years or even decades later. Here, we define as late complications all events occurring beyond 3 months (Figure 1), and separate them into delayed (3 months to 2 years), late (2 to 10 years) and very late events (>10 years). Late complications after HSCT are the consequence of the conditioning regimen, chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and its treatment, infectious complications, the treatments used before transplantation, and the pretransplant comorbidity. Many late complications, such as secondary cancer, cataracts, infertility, endocrine dysfunctions, or late bone and joint complications, have been well described. In theory, any organ can be the target of a late effect, and frequently multiple causes are involved. This review will focus on late pulmonary, cardiac and cardiovascular as well as renal consequences after HSCT. It will consider the involved risk factors and the recommended screening practices (Table 1).

Clinical manifestations, risk factors and interventions in pulmonary, cardiac, cardiovascular and renal late complications after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Sequence of appearance of pulmonary, cardiac, cardiovascular and renal complications after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and main risk factors. Late complications are subdivided into delayed events (between 3 months and 2 years), late events (between 2 and 10 years), and very late events (> 10 years).

Delayed onset pulmonary complications involving both the airway and lung parenchyma are frequent after HSCT. They include infectious complications in immunocompromised hosts and noninfectious complications of the lung. The most common noninfectious late complications include bronchiolitis obliterans (BO), bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP), and idiopathic pneumonia syndrome (IPS).1 BOOP/COP has also been termed cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) in order to avoid confusion with airway diseases such as bronchiolitic obliterans syndrome (BOS).2 These pulmonary complications, belonging to the delayed events, appear usually within 3 months to 2 years after HSCT. However, the functional consequences often persist for years after HSCT. There are differences between autologous and allogeneic HSCT, particularly in respect of time of appearance. In autologous but not in allogeneic HSCT, pulmonary complications are unusual after 3 months. In a retrospective analysis, the 2-year cumulative incidence of delayed onset noninfectious pulmonary complications was 10% among 438 patients surviving more than 3 months, and 15.6% among those with chronic GVHD.3 The 5-year overall survival was significantly worse in patients with a pulmonary complication, compared to those without. In the unrelated HSCT setting, the incidence of delayed onset noninfectious pulmonary complications is higher and the clinical outcome of these patients worse.4 Chronic extensive GVHD and advanced-stage disease is associated with the development of delayed onset pulmonary complications.

Restrictive and obstructive ventilatory defects and gas transfer abnormalities are common after HSCT. A decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and the FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio is the hallmark of airflow obstruction. Restrictive defects are measured by the total lung capacity (TLC) and may be associated with impaired diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO). Pulmonary function evaluated retrospectively in 69 patients with a minimum of 5-year follow-up after allogeneic HSCT showed a late decrease from baseline in 31 (45%) of the patients, with a restrictive pattern in 25, and an obstructive pattern in 6. Twelve of the 31 (38%) patients with abnormal pulmonary function were symptomatic.5 Abnormal pulmonary function before transplantation and chronic GVHD were independently associated with late decrease in pulmonary function compared with baseline. In children, a significant proportion have abnormal function tests after HSCT.6 They involve mainly abnormalities of DLCO and TLC, implying restrictive lung disease and diffusion abnormalities. Obstructive abnormalities are less frequently observed. In a prospective study of the Late Effects Working Party of the EBMT, cumulative incidence of lung impairment evaluated in 162 children by pulmonary function was 35% at 5 years. Chronic GVHD was the major risk factor for reduced lung function. In most children the deterioration of pulmonary function was asymptomatic.7

Bronchiolitis obliterans is a severe pulmonary manifestation characterized by a nonspecific inflammatory injury affecting primarily the small airways. At the initial stage, it is typically an obstructive respiratory disease (Figure 2A/ 2B; see Color Figures, page 495). At a more advanced stage, due to the progressive peribronchiolar fibrosis, BO often presents obstructive and restrictive functional changes. The incidence of BO varies widely in different reports, ranging between 0 and 48%. Among 2152 allogeneic HSCT recipients reported in 9 studies the incidence of BO was 8.3%.8 BO is strongly associated with chronic GVHD, suggesting that BO is a pulmonary manifestation of chronic GVHD.9 However, despite the fact that BO rarely develops in patients without GVHD, single cases of BO have been reported after autologous HSCT. Following peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation patients were shown to have a 3-fold increase in the risk of BO compared with those who had bone marrow transplantation.10 Other potential risk factors include the use of methotrexate for GVHD prophylaxis, older age of the recipient and/or the donor, busulfan-based myeloablative conditioning, antecedent respiratory viral infection, and low levels of serum immunoglobulin.

The presentation of BO is usually insidious, with a median onset approximately 1 year post-HSCT. The main symptoms are dry cough, progressive dyspnea, and wheezing. Fever does usually not occur, unless there is a concomitant infection. Asymptomatic presentation with abnormal functional tests is observed in 20% of the cases. In the early stage chest X-ray is normal; thus, the presence of parenchymal changes suggests an infection or an unrelated process. In more advanced phases, evidence of hyperinflation may be found. High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest with inspiratory and expiratory images is the radiological procedure of choice to assess the structural changes in the lung with suspected BO. Pulmonary lobules with normal airways increase their density during expiration, while areas with obstructed airways and air trapping remain radiolucent. This provides a characteristic mosaic image that is highly suggestive of BO. The sensitivity to detect air trapping for the diagnosis of BO ranges between 74% and 91% and specificity between 67% and 94%.1113 The predictive negative value is higher than 90%. Hence, when no air trapping is seen on expiratory HRCT the diagnosis of BO is very unlikely. At the early stage, pulmonary function tests show air flow obstruction with decreased FEV1, normal TLC and DLCO. A > 20% decline in FEV1 from the pretransplant value, or < 80% of the predicted FEV1 should alert clinicians. Recently, an international workshop on chronic GVHD by the National Institutes of Health defined biopsy-proven BO as the only diagnostic criteria of chronic GVHD in the lung (Figure 2C; see Color Figures, page 495). BO is clinically diagnosed when the following conditions are met: (1) FEV1/FVC ratio < 0.7 and FEV1 < 75% of predicted value; (2) evidence of air trapping or small airway thickening or bronchiectasis in HRCT; and (3) absence of infection in the respiratory tract.14

There are no prospective clinical trials on the treatment of BO. So far, the therapeutical recommendations are mainly derived from retrospective studies and from expert opinion.8,15,16 The management is based on the treatment of chronic GVHD. Early detection and prompt immunosuppressive treatment are likely to contribute to a more favorable outcome. Inhaled corticosteroids with bronchodilatator have shown some utility in the management of obstructive airway disease after HSCT.17,18 Further treatment consists of high-dose, systemic corticosteroids and the institution or augmentation of immunosuppressive therapy. Corticosteroids in a dose of 1 to 2 mg/kg/day for 2 to 6 weeks remain the mainstay of the treatment. Higher doses of corticosteroids have not shown higher efficacy. Cyclosporine is often used concomitantly. The addition of a third immunosuppressive agent such as azathioprine, thalidomide, anti-thymocyte globulin, anti TNF-, or the use of macrolide antibiotics have been shown to be beneficial in some cases. Prevention of Pneumocystis jirovecii and the early treatment of superinfection is an important component of the treatment strategy. However, prognosis of patients with BO remains poor, and mortality remains high. In a majority of cases, death is attributed to progressive respiratory failure or opportunistic infections.

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Late Pulmonary, Cardiovascular, and Renal Complications ...