StemCell Therapy

Our results

Patient from Portugal, 44 years old. Diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis.

In December 2012 his condition exacerbated. He started using wheelchairs. His disease progressed. He was not able to walk. He was not able to see. Nine months of usual treatments for MS accompanied by chemotherapy did not help. Then he found Swiss Medica Stem Cell Clinic. Stem celltreatment started immediately. One month later he was able to walk again.

See whole story about J Paul >>>

Patient from Uk, 51 years old. Diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis.

After having a stem cell treatment in Moscow his condition, in his words, got 80% better. Before the life changing treatment he was unable to walk long distances without the NHS support. Now he feels much healthier, has more energy and moves without significant difficulties. He is able to regularly go to the gym, he spends time with his two daughters and lives his life to the fullest.

See whole story about Shaun Lawrence >>>

Holistic medicine considers a person to be a functional unit. The disease symptoms are signs of disruption in the system of the body. By activating the bodys ability of self-regulation we can eliminate this disruption. In Swiss Medica XXI Century S.A. we seek the cause of the disease, and provide a setting: to allow the body to use its own powers of self-healing to overcome the disease.

Our primary task is to make your own cells treat your own body. We use advanced technology to activate mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue, bone marrow, etc. Donated cells can also be used. Introduced to the patients body, these cells help to regenerate damaged tissue. Symptoms become less obvious and/or disappear.

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Swiss Medica XXI - Stem Cells Treatment Clinic

Dr. Hufnagel's Biography Dr. Hufnagel is a cornea-trained, board-certified ophthalmologist. He is a graduate of UCLA, Yale and Johns Hopkins Universities. Dr. Hufnagel has been recognized as a VISX STAR, an award granted only to the leading excimer laser surgeons in the United States. Dr. Hufnagel has participated in an FDA-sponsored investigation for LASIK surgery. His pioneering involvement with excimer lasers dates back to 1987 with published studies on the pathological aspects of laser surgery applied to the cornea. To date, he has performed several thousand laser vision correction procedures and tailors all surgeries to each patients individual needs. He is an instructor in IntraLASE bladeless LASIK surgical technique and actively teaches LASIK to other surgeons. After getting to know Dr. Marc Werner, we thought you might want to meet Dr. Thierry Hufnagel. If you still have questions for Dr. Hufnagel, like his opinions on the iFS laser or what his Ben and Jerrys ice cream flavor would be, let us know in the comments below. Where are you originally from? I hail from Paris (France, not Texas!) What is your favorite memory from your years at Johns Hopkins? My fondest memory about Hopkins? People were referred there from all over the world for advice and treatment. I once examined this very famous Chicago lawyer who came in for cataract surgery. He was referred to me by my mentor, Dr. Walter Stark. After the lawyer came in for surgery, I told Dr. Stark that I thought he shouldnt operate on the patient. I didnt think that patient had a cataract! After further testing, we found that the patients visual loss was actually from a brain tumor, not a cataract. From that day on, they all thought I was pretty smartvery funny! How many years have you been practicing laser surgery? I opened my first LASIK center in New York City at the Trump Tower in 1995 called Insight Vision. What made you pick ophthalmology, particularly LASIK, as a specialty? When you ask patients about LASIK, most of them will tell you its the best thing they ever did! Not getting married, not having children, but having LASIK done! Lots of people see their need for glasses or contacts as a serious disability. Providing people with the gift of sight is very rewarding. My first rotation in medical school was in a hospice with end-of-life cancer patients. I couldnt do anything to help except pushing the morphine. I felt pretty useless. I looked for the field where I thought I could be the most helpful. Obstetrics and bringing babies to life or ophthalmology and providing the gift of sight were the two options I looked into. Then by chance, I landed in the eye business, not the maternity ward! Where do you teach LASIK to other surgeons? We do all of the teaching in our office where we have a state-of-the-art facility. Your favorite thing about New York? Melting pot, for sure.

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Ophthalmologists near Brooklyn, NY - Eye Surgeon

The Center for Beta Cell Therapy in Diabetes andViaCyte, Inc., announced that a human stem cell-derived product candidate has been implanted in type 1 diabetes patients at a subtherapeutic dose.

These are the first patients inEuropeto receive PEC-Direct, an encapsulated pancreatic progenitor cell product candidate designed to replace lost insulin-producing beta cells and restore blood glucose control for type 1 diabetes patients who fulfill entry criteria for a beta cell replacement therapy.

In preclinical models, implants of PEC-Direct (also known as VC-02) are capable of forming a functional beta cell mass that controls blood glucose levels.

This potential is now being examined in the first European clinical trial with type 1 diabetes patients who have lost blood glucose control due to beta cell loss in the pancreas.

For this patient population, a beta cell replacement therapy, like PEC-Direct, can potentially provide a functional cure.

This work complements clinical evaluation of PEC-Direct that is underway inNorth America.

During the first phase of the European trial, implants will be evaluated for their ability to form beta cells; the second phase will examine their capacity to produce systemic levels of insulin that establish glucose control.

The implantation in these first European patients is a major step in the development of cell therapy for type 1 diabetes.

The implantation was performed at UZ Brussel, the University Hospital of Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) with the PEC-Direct product candidate from ViaCyte.

The clinical trial and associated preclinical studies inEurope are undertaken by the Beta Cell Therapy Consortium, with the support of a Horizon 2020 grant from the European Commission.

The consortium is composed of clinical, industrial, and research teams at VUB, ViaCyte, San Raffaele Hospital Diabetes Research Institute inMilan, Nestl Institute of Health Sciences in Lausanne, the University Medical Center in Leiden, and Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Epinire inParis.

Each contributes complementary expertise to the objective of developing a cell therapy with the potential to cure type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes can appear at any age but is the major form of diabetes diagnosed under age 40. Patients with type 1 disease can no longer produce insulin and therefore become life-long dependent on daily insulin administration.

Treatment with such exogenous insulin does not eliminate the risks for complications, some potentially life-threatening. The disease also has a significant impact on quality of life.

Beta cell implants prepared from human donor pancreases can restore endogenous insulin production and glucose control, but the shortage of human donor organs limits the implementation of this form of cell therapy.

Human pluripotent stem cells may overcome these limitations as they represent a potential large-scale cell source that can be differentiated into pancreatic cells in the laboratory under highly controlled conditions.

The Center for Beta Cell Therapy in Diabetes is a coordination core for studies and interventions that aim the development of prevention and cure of type 1 diabetes. For more information, please visitwww.betacelltherapy.org.

ViaCyte is a privately-held regenerative medicine company developing novel cell replacement therapies as potential long-term diabetes treatments to achieve glucose control targets and reduce the risk of hypoglycemia and diabetes-related complications. The Company is funded in part by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) and JDRF. For more information, please visitwww.viacyte.com.

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First Human Trial of Stem Cell-derived Implants Underway ...

After practicing medicine for many years, Ive come to a very straightforwardconclusion: prevention is the key to a long, healthy life. The era of reactive medicine is giving way to health care that is now preventive and collaborative.

The most common causes of death and disabilityheart disease and cancer begin at a stage when early detection can lead to prevention or cure. Through the use of contemporary genetics, advanced blood tests and medical imaging, the risk for most life-threatening diseases can be detected in time to take action. Im fully convinced that the marriage of technologyand medicine will be one of historys most powerful unions.

Contemporary health care should also be collaborative. No one will ever caremore about your health than you. Your own research and thoughts mustalways be respected and incorporated in your care. In order to make optimalhealth decisions, however, everyone needs reliable information and a trustedphysician for guidancea physician who is knowledgeable,accessible andwilling to help coordinate your health care.

Your experience at Colorado Preventive Medicine should be likenone other youve had inhealth care. When youre hereyou are our singular focus.No interruptions. No distractions.

Please take a moment to review our web site or call us to learnmore about Colorado Preventive Medicine.

Stay healthy.Richard Abrams, M.D.Colorado Preventive Medicine

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Colorado Preventive Medicine-Denver Colorado-Dr. Richard ...

Loma Linda University Medical Centers Department of Preventive Medicine has been training preventive medicine residents since 1979, and we are one of the largest programs in the country. We work closely with the LLU School of Public Health to provide residents with an integrated learning experience, completing an MPH concurrently with their training. Our special areas of interest are lifestyle medicine, global health and whole-person care. Thank you for stopping by and learning about the variety of residency programs that we offer. We invite you to join us as we start a worldwide health epidemic!

The combined preventive medicine and family medicine residency is a four-year program that emphasizes global health and lifestyle medicine. After successful completion, residents are board-eligible for both preventive medicine and family medicine.

Loma Linda University Health is proud to announce a new opportunity in lifestyle medicine training a 1 year Lifestyle Medicine Fellowship. This Fellowship will provide in-depth and practical knowledge that will transform the way you practice medicine.

The Addiction Medicine Fellowship was founded in the mid 1990s by addiction specialist Mihran Ask, and has since graduated over 20 fellows. This fellowship offers clinical training at a variety of rotation sites. Fellows will learn to treat acute withdrawal, as well as managing substance use disorders in the outpatient setting.

The categorical preventive medicine residency is a two-year program that focuses on general preventive medicine and public health. We also accept PGY-1 applicants who will complete a transitional year at Loma Linda University prior to the start of our program. All residents earn a free Masters in Public Health from the Loma Linda University School of Public Health.

The combined preventive medicine and family medicine residency is a four-year program that emphasizes global health and lifestyle medicine. After successful completion, residents are board-eligible for both preventive medicine and family medicine.

The categorical occupational medicine residency is a two-year program that emphasizes workplace and environmental health. We also accept PGY-1 applicants who will complete a transitional year at Loma Linda University prior to the start of our program. All residents earn a free Masters in Public Health from the Loma Linda University School of Public Health.

Loma Linda University Health is proud to announce a new opportunity in lifestyle medicine training a 1 year Lifestyle Medicine Fellowship. This Fellowship will provide in-depth and practical knowledge that will transform the way you practice medicine.

The Addiction Medicine Fellowship was founded in the mid 1990s by addiction specialist Mihran Ask, and has since graduated over 20 fellows. This fellowship offers clinical training at a variety of rotation sites. Fellows will learn to treat acute withdrawal, as well as managing substance use disorders in the outpatient setting.

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Preventive Medicine Residency Programs - LLUMC

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Enhancing the precision of genetic lineage tracing using ...

The Stem Cells Transplant Institute is a Government Regulated Facility

Costa Rica implemented legislation that legalized stem cell therapy but requires adherence to strict regulations. The Stem Cells Transplant Institute has met all of the formal regulations ensuring strict quality control, safety and excellent patient care.

Due to provision in legislation passed in 2014, the Costa Rican Secretary of Health considered stem cell therapy/regenerative medicine illegal. The bill failed to include any direction around stem cell therapy using adult stem cells but new legislation passed in 2016, Regulation No. 39986 provided authorization and guidance for regenerative therapy using adult stem cells.

Any party that would like to perform stem cell therapy must submit an application to the local Health Controller. The clinic must meet the following formal requirements:

(i) Evidence that the therapy has completed preclinical studies that, as in the case of medications, demonstrate that they are effective and safe for use in clinical practice;

(ii) The complete characterization of the cell types that will be transplanted and their characteristics, cellular processing and production;

(iii) The description of the cells and how they will be administered, including assistive drugs, agents, and surgical procedures;

(iv) A clinical follow-up plan and data records to ensure that the cellular therapy is effective and has no adverse effects; and

(v) Credentials substantiating training in stem cell therapy for the staff who will carry out the procedure.

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About Costa Rica Stem Cells Transplant Institute Clinic ...

Although much has occurred in this field since this article was written in 2000, the questions addressed by Dr. Bohlin are still timely and relevant. Is manipulating our genetic code simply a tool or does it deal with deeper issues? Dealing with genetic engineering must be done within the context of the broader ethical and theological issues involved. In the article, Dr. Bohlin provides an excellent summary driven from his biblical worldview perspective.

Genetic technology harbors the potential to change the human species forever. The soon to be completed Human Genome Project will empower genetic scientists with a human biological instruction book. The genes in all our cells contain the code for proteins that provide the structure and function to all our tissues and organs. Knowing this complete code will open new horizons for treating and perhaps curing diseases that have remained mysteries for millennia. But along with the commendable and compassionate use of genetic technology comes the specter of both shadowy purposes and malevolent aims.

For some, the potential for misuse is reason enough for closing the door completelythe benefits just arent worth the risks. In this article, Id like to explore the application of genetic technology to human beings and apply biblical wisdom to the eventual ethical quagmires that are not very far away. In this section well investigate the various ways humans can be engineered.

Since we have introduced foreign genes into the embryos of mice, cows, sheep, and pigs for years, theres no technological reason to suggest that it cant be done in humans too. Currently, there are two ways of pursuing gene transfer. One is simply to attempt to alleviate the symptoms of a genetic disease. This entails gene therapy, attempting to transfer the normal gene into only those tissues most affected by the disease. For instance, bronchial infections are the major cause of early death for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The lungs of CF patients produce thick mucus that provides a great growth medium for bacteria and viruses. If the normal gene can be inserted in to the cells of the lungs, perhaps both the quality and quantity of their life can be enhanced. But this is not a complete cure and they will still pass the CF gene on to their children.

In order to cure a genetic illness, the defective gene must be replaced throughout the body. If the genetic defect is detected in an early embryo, its possible to add the gene at this stage, allowing the normal gene to be present in all tissues including reproductive tissues. This technique has been used to add foreign genes to mice, sheep, pigs, and cows.

However, at present, no laboratory is known to be attempting this well-developed technology in humans. Princeton molecular biologist Lee Silver offers two reasons.{1} First, even in animals, it only works 50% of the time. Second, even when successful, about 5% of the time, the new gene gets placed in the middle of an existing gene, creating a new mutation. Currently these odds are not acceptable to scientists and especially potential clients hoping for genetic engineering of their offspring. But these are only problems of technique. Its reasonable to assume that these difficulties can be overcome with further research.

The primary use for human genetic engineering concerns the curing of genetic disease. But even this should be approached cautiously. Certainly within a Christian worldview, relieving suffering wherever possible is to walk in Jesus footsteps. But what diseases? How far should our ability to interfere in life be allowed to go? So far gene therapy is primarily tested for debilitating and ultimately fatal diseases such as cystic fibrosis.

The first gene therapy trial in humans corrected a life-threatening immune disorder in a two-year-old girl who, now ten years later, is doing well. The gene therapy required dozens of applications but has saved the family from a $60,000 per year bill for necessary drug treatment without the gene therapy.{2} Recently, sixteen heart disease patients, who were literally waiting for death, received a solution containing copies of a gene that triggers blood vessel growth by injection straight into the heart. By growing new blood vessels around clogged arteries, all sixteen showed improvement and six were completely relieved of pain.

In each of these cases, gene therapy was performed as a last resort for a fatal condition. This seems to easily fall within the medical boundaries of seeking to cure while at the same time causing no harm. The problem will arise when gene therapy will be sought to alleviate a condition that is less than life-threatening and perhaps considered by some to simply be one of lifes inconveniences, such as a gene that may offer resistance to AIDS or may enhance memory. Such genes are known now and many are suggesting that these goals will and should be available for gene therapy.

The most troublesome aspect of gene therapy has been determining the best method of delivering the gene to the right cells and enticing them to incorporate the gene into the cells chromosomes. Most researchers have used crippled forms of viruses that naturally incorporate their genes into cells. The entire field of gene therapy was dealt a severe setback in September 1999 upon the death of Jesse Gelsinger who had undergone gene therapy for an inherited enzyme deficiency at the University of Pennsylvania.{3} Jesse apparently suffered a severe immune reaction and died four days after being injected with the engineered virus.

The same virus vector had been used safely in thousands of other trials, but in this case, after releasing stacks of clinical data and answering questions for two days, the researchers didnt fully understand what had gone wrong.{4} Other institutions were also found to have failed to file immediate reports as required of serious adverse events in their trials, prompting a congressional review.{5} All this should indicate that the answers to the technical problems of gene therapy have not been answered and progress will be slowed as guidelines and reporting procedures are studied and reevaluated.

The simple answer is no, at least for the foreseeable future. Gene therapy currently targets existing tissue in a existing child or adult. This may alleviate or eliminate symptoms in that individual, but will not affect future children. To accomplish a correction for future generations, gene therapy would need to target the germ cells, the sperm and egg. This poses numerous technical problems at the present time. There is also a very real concern about making genetic decisions for future generations without their consent.

Some would seek to get around these difficulties by performing gene therapy in early embryos before tissue differentiation has taken place. This would allow the new gene to be incorporated into all tissues, including reproductive organs. However, this process does nothing to alleviate the condition of those already suffering from genetic disease. Also, as mentioned earlier this week, this procedure would put embryos at unacceptable risk due to the inherent rate of failure and potential damage to the embryo.

Another way to affect germ line gene therapy would involve a combination of gene therapy and cloning.{6} An embryo, fertilized in vitro, from the sperm and egg of a couple at risk for sickle-cell anemia, for example, could be tested for the sickle-cell gene. If the embryo tests positive, cells could be removed from this early embryo and grown in culture. Then the normal hemoglobin gene would be added to these cultured cells.

If the technique for human cloning could be perfected, then one of these cells could be cloned to create a new individual. If the cloning were successful, the resulting baby would be an identical twin of the original embryo, only with the sickle-cell gene replaced with the normal hemoglobin gene. This would result in a normal healthy baby. Unfortunately, the initial embryo was sacrificed to allow the engineering of its identical twin, an ethically unacceptable trade-off.

So what we have seen, is that even human gene therapy is not a long-term solution, but a temporary and individual one. But even in condoning the use of gene therapy for therapeutic ends, we need to be careful that those for whom gene therapy is unavailable either for ethical or monetary reasons, dont get pushed aside. It would be easy to shun those with uncorrected defects as less than desirable or even less than human. There is, indeed, much to think about.

The possibility of someone or some government utilizing the new tools of genetic engineering to create a superior race of humans must at least be considered. We need to emphasize, however, that we simply do not know what genetic factors determine popularly desired traits such as athletic ability, intelligence, appearance and personality. For sure, each of these has a significant component that may be available for genetic manipulation, but its safe to say that our knowledge of each of these traits is in its infancy.

Even as knowledge of these areas grows, other genetic qualities may prevent their engineering. So far, few genes have only a single application in the body. Most genes are found to have multiple effects, sometimes in different tissues. Therefore, to engineer a gene for enhancement of a particular traitsay memorymay inadvertently cause increased susceptibility to drug addiction.

But what if in the next 50 to 100 years, many of these unknowns can be anticipated and engineering for advantageous traits becomes possible. What can we expect? Our concern is that without a redirection of the worldview of the culture, there will be a growing propensity to want to take over the evolution of the human species. The many people see it, we are simply upright, large-brained apes. There is no such thing as an independent mind. Our mind becomes simply a physical construct of the brain. While the brain is certainly complicated and our level of understanding of its intricate machinery grows daily, some hope that in the future we may comprehend enough to change who and what we are as a species in order to meet the future demands of survival.

Edward O. Wilson, a Harvard entomologist, believes that we will soon be faced with difficult genetic dilemmas. Because of expected advances in gene therapy, we will not only be able to eliminate or at least alleviate genetic disease, we may be able to enhance certain human abilities such as mathematics or verbal ability. He says, Soon we must look deep within ourselves and decide what we wish to become.{7} As early as 1978, Wilson reflected on our eventual need to decide how human we wish to remain.{8}

Surprisingly, Wilson predicts that future generations will opt only for repair of disabling disease and stop short of genetic enhancements. His only rationale however, is a question. Why should a species give up the defining core of its existence, built by millions of years of biological trial and error?{9} Wilson is naively optimistic. There are loud voices already claiming that man can intentionally engineer our evolutionary future better than chance mutations and natural selection. The time to change the course of this slow train to destruction is now, not later.

Many of the questions surrounding the ethical use of genetic engineering practices are difficult to answer with a simple yes or no. This is one of them. The answer revolves around the method used to determine the sex selection and the timing of the selection itself.

For instance, if the sex of a fetus is determined and deemed undesirable, it can only be rectified by termination of the embryo or fetus, either in the lab or in the womb by abortion. There is every reason to prohibit this process. First, an innocent life has been sacrificed. The principle of the sanctity of human life demands that a new innocent life not be killed for any reason apart from saving the life of the mother. Second, even in this country where abortion is legal, one would hope that restrictions would be put in place to prevent the taking of a life simply because its the wrong sex.

However, procedures do exist that can separate sperm that carry the Y chromosome from those that carry the X chromosome. Eggs fertilized by sperm carrying the Y will be male, and eggs fertilized by sperm carrying the X will be female. If the sperm sample used to fertilize an egg has been selected for the Y chromosome, you simply increase the odds of having a boy (~90%) over a girl. So long as the couple is willing to accept either a boy or girl and will not discard the embryo or abort the baby if its the wrong sex, its difficult to say that such a procedure should be prohibited.

One reason to utilize this procedure is to reduce the risk of a sex-linked genetic disease. Color-blindness, hemophilia, and fragile X syndrome can be due to mutations on the X chromosome. Therefore, males (with only one X chromosome) are much more likely to suffer from these traits when either the mother is a carrier or the father is affected. (In females, the second X chromosome will usually carry the normal gene, masking the mutated gene on the other X chromosome.) Selecting for a girl by sperm selection greatly reduces the possibility of having a child with either of these genetic diseases. Again, its difficult to argue against the desire to reduce suffering when a life has not been forfeited.

But we must ask, is sex determination by sperm selection wise? A couple that already has a boy and simply wants a girl to balance their family, seems innocent enough. But why is this important? What fuels this desire? Its dangerous to take more and more control over our lives and leave the sovereignty of God far behind. This isnt a situation of life and death or even reducing suffering.

But while it may be difficult to find anything seriously wrong with sex selection, its also difficult to find anything good about it. Even when the purpose may be to avoid a sex-linked disease, we run the risk of communicating to others affected by these diseases that because they could have been avoided, their life is somehow less valuable. So while it may not be prudent to prohibit such practices, it certainly should not be approached casually either.

Notes

1. Lee Silver, Remaking Eden: Cloning and Beyond in a Brave New World, New York, NY: Avon Books, p. 230-231. 2. Leon Jaroff, Success stories, Time, 11 January 1999, p. 72-73. 3. Sally Lehrman, Virus treatment questioned after gene therapy death, Nature Vol. 401 (7 October 1999): 517-518. 4. Eliot Marshall, Gene therapy death prompts review of adenovirus vector, Science Vol. 286 (17 December 1999): 2244-2245. 5. Meredith Wadman, NIH under fire over gene-therapy trials, Nature Vol. 403 (20 January 1999): 237. 6. Steve Mirsky and John Rennie, What cloning means for gene therapy, Scientific American, June 1997, p. 122-123. 7. Ibid., p. 277. 8. Edward Wilson, On Human Nature, Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, p. 6. 9. E. Wilson, Consilience, p. 277.

2000 Probe Ministries

On January 8, 2007, the Associated Press reported that scientists from Wake Forest University and Harvard University discovered a new type of stem cell found in the amniotic fluid within

Genetic Diseases The age of genetics has arrived. Society is in the midst of a genetic revolution that some futurists predict will have a greater impact on the culture than

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Human Genetic Engineering - Probe Ministries

Over the past few years, the field of biotechnology has advanced at a very high rate that scientists can now edit plants and animals at the genomic level. Different genetic engineering or genome-editing techniques such aszinc fingernucleases, transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), meganucleases and theCRISPR/Cas9 system have aided scientists to alter genomes to create modified organisms.

Like in plants and animals, could genome-editing be performed in humans? Yes. But a bigger question arises here, should genome editing techniques be used to create designer babies, to remove heritable diseases or to enhance the human capabilities? It is one of the most controversial topics among scientists and hence it all comes down to ethics.

In a recent research, Shoukhrat Mitalipov of Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland reported successfully repairing a genetic mutation in human embryos bringing the idea of genetic engineering in humans closer to reality.

To understand the ethical implications of genetic engineering in humans, it is important to first understand the basics.

Genetic engineering is basically manipulating or changing the DNA to alter the organisms appearance in a particular way. The human body cells contain encoded information compiled into a form called genes, which are responsible for the bodys growth, structure and functioning. Human genetic engineering decodes this information and applies it to the welfare of mankind.

For example, all over the world, several scientists have reported the singing in mice. However, the frequencies at which they sing is not audible to humans. The Alstons brown mouse or Alstons singing mouse is a famous example. It would be interesting to hear these songs too.

Japanese geneticists at the University of Osaka were conducting a research to study the mutagenic effects in a strain of mice that were genetically engineered. Among many effects, the mutation may have caused the alteration in the vocalization in the mice giving birth to an offspring which could sing at a frequency audible to humans.This genetic modification (which was actually an accident) may help in studying the communication patterns in mice as well as in comparing of similarities and differences with other mammals. Some other examples of genetic engineering are GloFish, drug-producing chickens, cows that make human-like milk, diesel-producing bacteria, banana vaccines and disease-preventing mosquitoes.

Based on their type of cell, there are two types of genetic engineering;

Human genetic engineering can further be classified into two types;

In human genetic engineering, the genes or the DNA of a person is changed. This can be used to bring about structural changes in human beings. More importantly, it can be used to introduce the genes for certain positive and desirable traits in embryos. Genetic engineering in humans can result in finding a permanent cure for many diseases.

Some people are born with or acquire exceptional qualities. If the genes responsible for these qualities can be identified, they can be introduced in the early embryos. The embryo develops into a baby called Designer baby or customized baby. Human genetic engineering is advancing at an increasing rate and might evolve to such an extent discovering new genes and implanting them into human embryos will be possible.

Let us take an example of bacteria to understand how genetic engineering works. Insulin is aprotein produced in the pancreasthat helps in the regulation of the sugar levels in our blood. People with type 1diabetes eithercannot produce insulin or produce insufficient insulin in the body. They have to acquire insulin from external sources to control their blood sugar levels. In 1982, Genetic engineering was used to produce a type of insulin which is similar to the human insulin, called the Humulin frombacteria which was then approved and licensed for human use.

An illustration showing how genetic engineering is used to produce insulin in bacteriaCourtesy: Genome Research Limited

Using this process, Chinese scientists have edited the genome of the human embryo for the first time. According to Nature News report, Researchers at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China, were partially successful in using a genetic engineering technique to modify a gene in non-viable human embryos which was responsible for the fatal blood disorder.

The technique used, called CRISPR (short for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) technology involves an enzyme complex known as CRISPR/Cas9, originating in bacteria as a defence system. CRISPR is a short, repeated DNA sequence that matches the genetic sequence of interest to be modified by the researchers. CRISPR works along with the Cas9 enzyme that acts like molecular scissors and cuts the DNA at a specific site.

As explained by John Reidhaar-Olson, a biochemist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York First, in a simple explanation, the CRISPR/Cas9 complex navigates through the cells DNA, searching for the sequence that matches the CRISPR and binds to the sequence once found. The Cas9 then cuts the DNA which, in this case, is repaired by inserting a piece of DNA desired by the researcher.

Since 2013, CRISPR system has been to edit genes in adult human cells and animal embryos but for the first time has been used for modification in human embryos.

Junjiu Huang, a genetics researcher at Sun Yat-sen University, injected the CRISPR/Cas9 complex into human embryos with the aim of repairing a gene responsible for Beta thalassaemia which is a fatal blood disorder that reduces the production of haemoglobin. The non-viable embryos were obtained from local fertility clinics. These embryos would have been unable to survive independently after birth or develop properly as they had been fertilized by two sperms. The procedure was performed on 86 embryos and gene editing was allowed to take place in four days. Out of 86, 71 of the embryos survived and 54 of them were tested.

Splicing (removal of introns and joining of exonsineukaryotic mRNA) only occurred in 28 embryos successfully indicating the removal of faulty gene and the incorporation of the healthy gene in its place. However, in order for the technique to be used in viable human embryos, the success rate would need to be closer to 100%.

While partial success was achieved, certain worrisome mutations responsible for the detrimental effect on cells during gene-editing were also observed and at a much higher rate in mouse embryos or adult human cells undergoing the same procedure.

One of the most beneficial applications of genetic engineering is gene therapy. Gene therapy is one of the most important benefits of human genetic engineering. Over the last few years, gene therapy has successfully treated certain heart diseases. Driven by this success, researchers are working to find cures for all the genetic diseases. This will eventually lead to a healthier and more evolved human race.Inspired by the recent success of gene therapy trialsin human children and infants, researchers are now moving towards the treatment of genetic disorders before birth. The idea of using fetal gene therapy to treat genetic disorders that cant be treated after birth has generated hype among some of the scientists. Parents will be able to look forward to a healthy baby. Genetic engineering can be done in embryos prior to implantation into the mother.However, some are also questioning the feasibility and practicality of the therapy in humans.

While genetic engineering or modification may seem easy to cure diseases, it may produce certain side effects. While focusing on and treating one defect, there is a possibility it may cause another. A cell is responsible for various functions in the body and manipulating its genes without any counter effect or side effect may not be that easy.

Other than side effects, Cloning, for instance, can lead to an ethical disturbance among the humans risking the individuality and the diversity of human beings. Ironically, man will become just another man-made thing!

Among the social aspects of human genetic engineering, it can impose a heavy financial burden on the society, which may cause a rift between the rich and the poor in the society. Its feasibility and most importantly its affordability will also be a determinant of its popularity.

Human genetic engineering is a widely and rapidly advancing field. It can lead to miracles. But when assessing its benefits, its threats need to be assessed carefully too. Human genetic engineering can be beneficial to human beings and its potential advantages can come into reality only if it is handled with responsibility.

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Say goodbye to glasses and contacts

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Restore age-related vision loss

Once you hit a certain age, your eyes lose their ability to focus on nearby objects. Reduce your need for reading glasses.

Retain your natural tears

Dry eyes are one of the most common reasons people visit their eye doctor. Our team offers effective treatment for this syndrome to help resolve your discomfort and prevent future issues.

The seeing tissue of the eye

Your retina transforms filtered light into images to be sent to your brain. When this tissue is damaged, objects may appear blurry, which is why a healthy retina is so crucial for your vision.

Early detection for long-term control

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The stem cells in cord blood are currently approved by the FDA for the treatment of nearly 80 diseases, but they are still showing a lot of promise in a number of other conditions from multiple sclerosis to autism. There is a lot of excitement around the possible future uses of cord tissue, which has stem cells that can become new neural, bone, fat and cartilage tissue and could be utilized in things like sports injuries and severe burns.

Unfortunately, the years between the initial promise shown in these stem cells (especially as they are quick to make headlines) and full FDA approval as a safe and effective therapy has led some people to seek treatments outside current FDA-approved channels. This can involve going to another country to receive a treatment that has yet to be approved in the U.S. or taking part in a treatment that is not a part of an FDA-approved clinical trial.

Drew Pomeranz has made a bit of a comeback after receiving a stem cell infusion for an injury to his elbow

From Peyton Manning reportedly flying to Germany in 2011 for a bulging disk in his neck to Drew Pomeranz receiving an injection in his elbow earlier this year, many have been taking leaps of faith with stem cells treatments outside approved channels. And controversy has followed.

Traveling abroad to receive stem cell treatments outside of those currently approved by the FDA has been getting media attention ever since the promise of stem cell therapies first started making headlines, and these stories are not limited to all-star players either. Earlier this year, a BBC news correspondent said a stem cell therapy in Mexico helped significantly improve the symptoms of her multiple sclerosis, and the Shetland Times has been following one woman who feels a million times better after going to the same country to treat the same condition.

What began with so-called destination healthcare or medical tourism has turned into the recent proliferation of centers in the U.S. practicing what some would consider to be experimental treatments. With them has come an inundation of direct-to-consumer marketing proclaiming benefits that go beyond current research. Let's look at why people have been going outside the scope of FDA-approved treatments and what risks they are taking.

Peyton Manning may be one of the bigger names, and despite the exact outcome being unknown, it definitely added to the exposure the practice was getting earlier this decade. Soter Healthcare, a U.S. facility that specializes in destination healthcare services, says this is because the United States has lagged behind other countries in this field:

For more than 15 years, China has been actively involved in stem cell research, and its scientists and physicians today produce more scholarly papers on the subject than any other nation. In the U.S., stem cell treatment is still years away from approval.

David Mair is the founder of Soter Healthcare and has long advocated the advancements in other countries.

The Chinese, the Germans and the Israelis are among the leaders in the world in stem cell care right now, Mair said in 2011. Today, Mair says the gap has decreased, but we're still lagging behind other nations.

Mair has seen the benefits of going abroad for experimental treatments firsthand. His niece was the subject of a story in the Washington Post in 2010 about her treatment in China for cerebral palsy. The father called the developments unbelievable, and Mair later summed up many of her advancements:

Today, she walks with a single crutch, he said in 2012. She now can use her left-hand independently for major motor skill range of motions. She walks extended distances, her stamina and walking gait are far better, her vision and voice modulate is much better, and she is reading at her grade-level.

Family Guy put the blame on funding although much of its portrayal on the subject, in a typical manner, was over-exaggerated

If this lag in stem cell research in the U.S. is real, it could be because embryonic stem cellsa particular kind of stem cell found in the early stages of gestationand various ethical considerations raised in their use have imbued a bad name on all stem cells. The way Americans feel about embryonic stem cell research went all the way to the White House, with President George Bush, in 2001, limiting research in that category and President Obama later overturning the former presidents order. Regulations, however, still may be hampering progress despite cord bloodderived stem cells, stem cells that form just a little bit later down the road from embryonic stem cells and can be procured with no harm to the baby or child, not having the same ethical considerations or roadblocks.

Dr. Adam Anz of the Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, is one U.S. scientist investigating the benefits of stem cells and is looking into how they could repair cartilage in knee injuries. He is just awaiting FDA approval.

Regulation is good, but that regulation needs to be tailored toward these emerging technologies, said Dr. Anz, who believes the REGROW act in Congress could help create more clinical trials by allowing small clinics and university labs to charge for participation.

The REGROW act would provide parents with better access to trial therapies and lead to accelerated adoption of stem cell treatments.

While people may think they are simply taking advantage of a treatment that has yet to be approved in their country or their situation is so dire that they have nothing to lose, experts warn against procedures that have yet to fully vetted in countries without the proper medical controls. Short- and long-term complications are possible, and there is always the possibility it will make the condition worse or even cause death.

The X-Cell Center is Germany is one institution that seemed to have all the opulent trappings of a well-to-do stem cell treatment center. That was until it was shut down in 2011 by the German government for deaths that occurred in 2010. Since, the X-Cell Center has re-opened in Lebanon under a new name but practicing the same types of treatments.

"Regulatory agencies such as the FDA can ensure that cell therapy that reaches patients is safe (and) effective and that quality control is established for isolating the cells, manipulating them outside of the body, and delivering them," said Jeffrey Karp, director of the Laboratory for Advanced Biomaterials and Stem-Cell-Based Therapeutics at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Obtaining adipose-derived stem cells requires a liposuction-like procedure that could feel like a side benefit to some patients

Like Peyton Manning, Chris Johnson, who is a three-time NFL Pro Bowler and once raced a cheetah for a National Geographic segment, also had a stem cell injection. But this one took place in Gulf Breeze, Fla. It is one of many new stem cell clinics in the United States that sidestep FDA regulations by using unadulterated stem cells mainly acquired through the patients adipose fat cells. This is in contrast to similar services in other countries that also use adipose stem cells but multiply their number by some 200 times before re-introducing them back into the body. The FDA warns against treatment using fat-derived stem cells, saying they are being used on the basis of minimal clinical evidence of safety or efficacy, sometimes with the claims that they constitute revolutionary treatments for various conditions.

A study of some of these types of clinics recently made headlines because of their direct-to-consumer advertising practices, which seemed to proclaim stem cells as the cure-all for nearly everything. The FDA now says it is going to crack down on unscrupulous stem cell clinics while easing the path to approval for legitimate treatments.

Mair agrees that these unauthorized clinics need to be shutdown but the FDA needs to be careful to not put restrictions on all clinics for a few bad actors. Mair spoke specifically about a case in Florida where three women were left nearly or totally blind after mesenchymal stem cells from their adipose fat tissue were injected into their eyes.

"We can't allow stuff like what happened to those women in Florida," said Mair. "I'm O.K. with mesenchymal stem cells used in osteoarthritis where global evidence suggests that it is a very strong alternative for people in their 40s and 50s who need a knee replacement," he added.

International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), a company that, as the name implies, promotes stem cell research proffers these safety tips:

As we see it, stem cell research is still 27 years young and has much further to go. As the FDA process ensures that treatments are safe and effective, we must put faith in its methods even if it causes some delays. The FDA's oversight and tracking of outcomes in stem cell transplantations has led to safer treatment options for everyone, and participation in multiple clinical trials is an important step in proving the safety and efficacy of therapies for the general public. We do realize the some people may feel as though they are in a situation where they cannot wait for full FDA approval. For the rest, we will look for the day when these cord blood and cord tissue transplantations will have gone through the required protocal and be included in the arsenal of standard stem cell treatment options currently available.

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A new treatment for macular degeneration is close to the next stage of human testinga noteworthy event not just for the millions of patients it could help, but for its potential to become the first therapy based on embryonic stem cells.

This year, the Boston-area company Advanced Cell Technology plans to move its stem-cell treatment for two forms of vision loss into advanced human trials. The company has already reported that the treatment is safe (see Eye Study Is a Small but Crucial Advance for Stem-Cell Therapy), although a full report of the results from the early, safety-focused testing has yet to be published. The planned trials will test whether it is effective. The treatment will be tested both on patients with Stargardts disease (an inherited form of progressive vision loss that can affect children) and on those with age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss among people 65 and older.

The treatment is based on retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells that have been grown from embryonic stem cells. A surgeon injects 150 microliters of RPE cellsroughly the amount of liquid in three raindropsunder a patients retina, which is temporarily detached for the procedure. RPE cells support the retinas photoreceptors, which are the cells that detect incoming light and pass the information on to the brain.

Although complete data from the trials of ACTs treatments have yet to be published, the company has reported impressive results with one patient, who recovered vision after being deemed legally blind. Now the company plans to publish the data from two clinical trials taking place in the U.S. and the E.U. in a peer-reviewed academic journal. Each of these early-stage trials includes 12 patients affected by either macular degeneration or Stargardts disease.

The more advanced trials will have dozens of participants, says ACTs head of clinical development, Eddy Anglade. If proved safe and effective, the cellular therapy could preserve the vision of millions affected by age-related macular degeneration. By 2020, as the population ages, nearly 200 million people worldwide will have the disease, estimate researchers. Currently, there are no treatments available for the most common form, dry age-related macular degeneration.

ACTs experimental treatment has its origins in a chance discovery that Irina Klimanskaya, the companys director of stem-cell biology, made while working with embryonic stem cells at Harvard University. These cells have the power to develop into any cell type, and in culture they often change on their own. A neuron here, a fat cell thereindividual cells in a dish tend to take random walks down various developmental paths. By supplying the cultures with fresh nutrients but otherwise leaving them to their own devices for several weeks, Klimanskaya discovered that the stem cells often developed into darkly pigmented cells that grew in a cobblestone-like pattern. She suspected that they were developing into RPE cells, and molecular tests backed her up.

Now that her discovery has advanced into an experimental treatment, Klimanskaya says she is excited by the hints that it may be able to preserve, and perhaps restore, sight. She recalls a voice mail she received during her second year at ACT: a person blinded by an inherited condition thanked her for her work, whether or not there was a treatment available for him. When you get a message like this, you feel like you are not doing it in vain, she says.

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2 Corinthians 4:4ESV / 4,056 helpful votesHelpfulNot Helpful

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

For God, who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.

The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.

Jesus said, For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind. Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, Are we also blind? Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, We see, your guilt remains.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

I will bring distress on mankind, so that they shall walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the Lord; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung.

For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

Lest you be wise in your own sight, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

Woe to you, blind guides, who say, If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;

To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.

He answered, Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. ...

Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.

But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear.

Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.

But for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

Whom have you mocked and reviled? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes to the heights? Against the Holy One of Israel!

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

To the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.

They said to you, In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.

The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.

For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.

And you shall grope at noonday, as the blind grope in darkness, and you shall not prosper in your ways. And you shall be only oppressed and robbed continually, and there shall be no one to help you.

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say? ...

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, Have mercy on us, Son of David. When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, Do you believe that I am able to do this? They said to him, Yes, Lord. Then he touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it done to you. And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, See that no one knows about it.

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.

They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

As it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.

To open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see!

Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, Do you believe in the Son of Man? He answered, And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him? Jesus said to him, You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you. He said, Lord, I believe, and he worshiped him. Jesus said, For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind. ...

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole worldhe was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, ...

In order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

He answered, The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, Go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed and received my sight.

Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes, who are deaf, yet have ears!

Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, Do you believe in the Son of Man?

But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

So that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, Have mercy on us, Son of David. When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, Do you believe that I am able to do this? They said to him, Yes, Lord. Then he touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it done to you. And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, See that no one knows about it. But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell youbut not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, ...

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world? Jesus answered him, If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

For the Lord has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes (the prophets), and covered your heads (the seers).

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.

But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.

And he said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authoritiesall things were created through him and for him.

Again he appoints a certain day, Today, saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.

And they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ...

For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the worldthe desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessionsis not from the Father but is from the world.

Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

You are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. ...

Go to this people, and say, You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.

Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.

If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

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What Does the Bible Say About Spiritual Blindness?

For the last decade now we have been promised the advent of dental stem cell therapy to help regrow our missing teeth. With the growth and expansion of newer technologies like dental implants, and advances in root canal therapy, the talk of stem cells has subtly taken a back seat. The question remains: how far away are we from stem cells actually impacting the dental market?

Sungtao Shi, professor and chairman at the University of Pennsylvania department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, is at the forefront of this research and he is showing how close we may actually be to this new form of treatment.

Professor Shi has been working for the past ten years testing the possibilities of dental stem cells after discovering them in his own childs baby tooth. His team has learned more about how these dental stem cells work, and how they could be safely be used to regrow dental tissue, known as pulp (this is the tissue that we see within our teeth).

Dental Stem Cell Therapy

Shi along with David Mooney (Professor of Bioengineering at Harvard University) are making claims that these stem cells can be directly placed within our dental pulp to help regrow parts of a tooth that have been damaged by decay.

Several other researchers have also chimed in getting similar results in their own laboratories. Paul Sharpe, a leading bioengineer at Kings County London, has noted that his lab findings indicate mobilizing dental stem cells into our own pulp helps regrow lost dentin. He claims that the new dentin that is formed completely fuses with our own healthy dentin.

Sharpe has also add that this form of tissue engineering could be the first real advance in dental pharmaceuticals, and that we could see this on the market very soon.

The question that this form of therapy poses is this: how much of these stem cells need to be synthesized and given to each individual? The amount will be critical as too much may lead to serious side effects in people. Clinical trials will need to be conducted to see what amount of the agent is safe.

Sharpe is now investigating larger groups of potential agents to determine which stem cell therapy works best for decaying teeth and also working on the optimal dose.

Sharpes team is also working on a new delivery system, which is more practical to modern dental clinics: The chosen agent of stem cells will be dissolved in gel-form, and is injected directly into a cavity and bathed with ultraviolet light until it has solidified. This is a quick and easy procedure for any trained dentist.

Dental Stem Cells

The hope is to properly introduce newer stem cell treatments into modern dentistry, although, researchers still need to perform clinical trials with human patients for efficacy and safety standards.

Some of the dental stem cell treatments are currently being considered to be approved for other uses in humans, which he hopes will expedite the process for eventual FDA approval. A lot of dental treatments are still in the dark ages, Sharpe says. Its time to move forward.

We find ourselves in a revolutionary time in the field of dentistry. Over the next decade we will hopefully see newer agents like these enter the market and make a significant impact on our communities. This new stem cell technology will hopefully also reduce the sky-rocketing prices of certain other dental procedures.

Ultimately, we will have to wait and see how quickly clinical trials move forward, and how efficacious these agents are on a mass scale.

Best Dental with Dr. Jasmine Naderi

Excerpt from:
Dental Stem Cell Therapy with Dr. Jasmine Naderi, DDS

The latest Part of the Journal of Law and Medicine includes the following sections: Editorial: Doctors Suing Patients: Wrestling with Doing No Harm Ian Freckelton QC; Legal Issues: Supporting People with Decision-Making Impairments: Choice, Control and Consumer Transactions Yvette Maker, Bernadette McSherry, Lisa Brophy, Jeannie Marie Paterson and Anna Arstein-Kerslake; Medical Issues: Novel Psychoactive Substances: The Challenges for Health Care, Analytical Science and the Law Victoria Bicknell, Dimitri Gerostamoulos and David Ranson; Bioethical Issues: Taking the Moral Measure of Mental Capacity: Interpretation and Implementation Grant Gillett; and Medical Law Reporter: Public Health Legislation Prohibiting Sports-Embedded Gambling Advertisting Madeleine Farrar and Thomas Faunce.Also in this Part are the following articles: Complementary Health Practitioners Disciplined for Misconduct in Australia 2010-2016 Jenni Millbank, Miranda Kaye, Anita Stuhmcke, David Sibbritt, Isabel Karpin and Jon Wardle; Professional Discipline of the New Zealand Nursing Residential Care Workforce: A Mixed Methods Analysis of HPDT Decisions 2004-2014 Kate Kersey, Kate Diesfeld, Lois J Surgenor and Michael Ip; The Legal System and the Legitimacy of Clinical Guidelines Fiona McDonald; Wastewater Analysis of Substance Use: Implications for Law, Policy and Research Jeremy Prichard, Foon Yin Lai, Emma van Dyken, Phong Thai, Raimondo Bruno, Wayne Hall, Paul Kirkbride, Coral Gartner, Jake OBrien and Jochen F Mueller; Abortion Law in New South Wales: Shifting from Criminalisation to the Recognition of the Reproductive Rights of Women and Girls Christine Forster and Vedna Jivan; Proprietary Rights in Stored Semen: Roblin v Public Trustee and the Commonsense Approach to Stored Human Tissue of Significance Madeline Baker; Treatment of Intersex Children as a Special Medical Procedure Skye ODwyer; Life on the Liminal Bridge Spanning Fertility and Infertility: A Time to Dream and a Time to Decide Pamela M White; Coercive Community Treatment in Mental Health: An Idea Whose Time Has Passed? Sascha Callaghan and Giles Newton-Howes; Blood Libel: An Analysis of Blood Donation Policy As It Affects Gay Men in Australia Edward Davis; Stigma, Homosexuality and the Homosexual Advance Defence Anthony Gray and Kerstin Braun; and The Role of Legal Proxies in End-of-Life Decisions in Italy: A Comparison with Other Western European Countries Denard Veshi and Gerald Neitzke. There are also reviews of the books Patients with Passports: Medical Tourism, Law and Ethics by I Glenn Cohen reviewed by Ian Freckelton QC; and Stem Cell Tourism and the Political Economy of Hope by Alan Petersen, Megan Munsie, Claire Tanner, Casimir MacGregor and Jane Brophy reviewed by Ian Freckelton QC.

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Stem Cell Tourism and the Political Economy of Hope

By Gene Bruno, MS, MHS Dean of Academics, Huntington College of Health Sciences. Colostrum, known as an immune modulator and also for its growth factors, is beneficial in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, viruses, allergies, leaky gut syndrome, and wound healing.Colostrum Informed Opinion Colostrum is the first milk

Hannu Korhonen1 *, P. Marnila1 and H. S. Gill Agricultural Research Centre of Finland, Food Research, FIN-31600 Jokioinen, Finland Milk and Health Research Centre, Massey University and New Zealand Dairy Research Institute, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North, New Zealand The immunoglobulins of bovine colostrum provide the major antimicrobial protection

There has been a lot of press recently about gastric bleeding from numerous prescription drugs, especially the anti-inflammatory group including Aspirin, Celebrex, Motrin, etc. Our delicate intestinal lining actually develops tears or lesions and then undigested food particles enter the bloodstream. These substances are recognized as offenders and so the

Abstract: Immune Function after exercise Strenuous and/or prolonged exercise causes transient perturbations in immune function. It is well accepted that this is one mechanism contributing to the higher occurrence of infection (e.g. upper respiratory tract infection (URTI)) in athletes, especially endurance athletes. URTI or upper respiratory tract (URT) symptoms can

Bovine Colostrum Supplementation:Secretory IgA in saliva (s-IgA) is a potential mucosal immune correlate of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) status. Nutritional supplements may improve mucosal immunity, and could be beneficial to athletes who are at increased risk of URTI. In this study, 35 distance runners (15 female, 20 male, age

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immune system Archives - Colostrum Science

The topic may be fraught with questions and misconceptions, but its important to discuss the pros and cons ofstem cell therapy. Why are some people against stem cell research? What are the possible benefits of stem cell therapy in the field of regenerative treatment? When balancing an ethical debate, its important to weigh facts.

There have been some controversies surrounding the procedures involved in stem cell therapy. However, most of the criticism surrounding this research is related to human embryonic stem cells: the ethical questionability of acquisition, and the surrounding issues about donation consent.

Embryonic stem cells (ES) have important qualities for a successful stem cell therapy: pluripotency, unlimited capability for self-renewal, and a huge potential when it comes to the field of transplantation and tissue engineering. However, embryonic cells are acquired from the inner mass of cells of a blastocyst: an early-stage, pre-implantation human embryo. The controversy then is the isolation of the ES and how it results in the destruction of human embryos. Some people see the destruction of the blastocysts as equal to the destruction of an unborn human life, while others argue that the embryo is not exactly a human being yet.

Stem cell research is a relatively new field: the first occurrence of the term stem cell in scientific literature was in 1868, when Ernst Haeckel, a German biologist used it to describe the fertilized egg that eventually becomes an organism. In 2001, President George W. Bush signed an order authorizing the use of federal funding for a limited number of cell lines. Additionally, as with any new technology or research field, the long-term effects of stem cell therapy has not yet been examined.

Multipotency is one of the most important characteristics of stem cells to be effective in treatment. On the other hand, adult stem cells, which are non-embryonic stem cells, carry the risk of unipotency. Therefore the adult cells could be pre-specialized, and create only particular progeny. Neural stem cells run the risk of producing only brain cells, greatly limiting the regenerative potential for patients with Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease.

In spite of the cons, stem cell research is a more than a promising field of medical research. Its being eyed as a possible solution for diseases that are currently incurable. This is due to the fact that stem cell transplants and research explores one foundational human interest: the human bodys amazing capability to repair and heal itself.

Stem cell research is a powerhouse in the fields of therapeutic cloning, regenerative medicine, drug development/testing, and organ development and transplant. It will also shed light on previously unexamined aspects of early human development. All of which can potentially help in the prevention of birth defects, infertility, and miscarriages. Stem cell research will bring forth an era of enlightenment in terms of human growth.

Stem cell research will usher in a brand new understanding of human physiological functions, resulting in a surge of medical advancements. It could also introduce prevention and/or cure for degenerative diseases. Some of the diseases which may be reversible through advancements in the field of stem cell research include:

Adult stem cells hold the key to the bodys self-repair mechanism. Adult cells are mesenchymal stem cells and pluripotent stem cells which have advanced the use of stem cell therapy to reverse aging. Additionally, through the repair or replacement of worn organs, the length and quality of human life have the chance to improve.

Here are some of the advancements by scientists in the field of stem cell research, delivered by Wall Street Journal!

Stem cell research has been through a number of debates and assessments based on the pros and cons of stem cell therapy. However, this hasnt stopped scientists to research its potential. Whatever your stance may be when it comes to stem cell research, its important to consider the possibilities this research holds. Find the nearest research center or laboratory and ask around for more information!

Do you have questions about stem cell research? Whats your stance on embryonic stem cell research? Share your thoughts in the comments box below!

Up Next:Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells Pros and Cons

Editors Note This post was originally published on November 2, 2017 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

Pros And Cons of Stem Cell Therapy

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Pros And Cons of Stem Cell Therapy | Stem Cell Researchers

Stem Cell Therapy in Florida, Stem Cell Treatment Florida | Stemedix

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Groundbreaking advancements in Stem Cell treatment are giving patients the ability to fight back against diseases once thought untreatable. Your journey to wellness begins here with a knowledge and understanding of Adult Stem Cell therapy.

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MESSAGE FROM CONFERENCE CHAIRS

WELCOME to Sydney Australia for the 10th International Nanomedicine Conference.

The annual International Nanomedicine Conference is regarded as the most significant nanomedicine meeting in the Southern Hemisphere.This event attracts approx. 250 registrants with representation from academia, medical research institutes and biotech companies. More than half of the delegates are from interstate and international organisations.

2019 marks the 10th Anniversary of this very successful conference. The Conference will be held from 24-26 June 2019 at Pier One Sydney Harbour Hotel for a special 10th Anniversary celebration. This event is again brought to you by the Australian Centre for NanoMedicine (ACN) and the ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology (CBNS). The main objective of the conference is to share novel research that may lead to prevention, diagnosis and/or treatment of some of the most challenging diseases,in an environment conducive to networking with colleagues from around the world.

We are fortunate to have five prominent scholars as our Plenary Speakers Professors Joe Wang, Milica Radisic, Chunying Chen, Ranjeny Thomas and Alan Rowan who will lead us through an exploration of our conference themes.

We will also showcase 15 Keynote speakers and 20 Invited speakers who will head discussions in the conference theme areasof Sensors and Imaging, Drug Delivery, Bioactive Materials, Social Aspects & Regulatory, Bio-Nano Interactions & Nanotoxicology, Industry Session and Microfluidic & Bioengineered Models. The unique Clinical Challenges session brings medical doctors into the conference to discuss opportunities for improving the treatment of patients in the clinic.

On behalf of the Conference Organising Committee, we look forward to welcoming you to the Conference!

Scientia Professor Justin Gooding

Professor Maria Kavallaris

Professor Tom Davis

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10th International Nanomedicine Conference 24-26 June ...