| #ffffff;" /> | | | | media and a proprietary freeze method is more |
| Recently MS patient Jan Wilks began walking days | | | | than 97%. |
| after treatment with umbilical cord stem cells | | | | A Question of Ethics? |
| after years in a wheelchair. Coverage of her case | | | | Stem cells are derived from umbilical cords with |
| in the press sparked a huge demand for more | | | | no right to life issues. Cords are obtained via |
| information on this new cutting edge treatment. | | | | informed consent donations from screened |
| Jan Wilks is only one of stem cell | | | | mothers of full term births, fully tested for |
| therapy’s success stories. | | | | infectious diseases using American Association of |
| Multiple Sclerosis – a Cure? | | | | Blood Bank Standards. |
| Stem cell therapy is not defined as a cure for MS | | | | Success Rates |
| but as a treatment for this crippling disorder. The | | | | The stem cells have been used to treat multiple |
| medical definition of a cure is a treatment which | | | | sclerosis over 100 times with an average |
| generates a remission in symptoms and normal | | | | significant clinical benefit ratio of over 80%. The |
| diagnostic studies for five years or over. Data has | | | | 80% success rate figure is based on in-house |
| not been monitored long enough to use the word | | | | historical data. Preliminary analysis of updated data |
| cure. The term treatment is much more medically | | | | – including the data using the new |
| sound. | | | | site-specific injection – reflects more than |
| A stem cell is a primitive cell capable of producing | | | | 90% success rate. Different individuals have |
| many types of specialized cells. A stem cell | | | | different responses. An analysis shows that 90% |
| communicates with the body to determine and | | | | of cases who did not perform or performed |
| travel to sites of need, to divide in a controlled | | | | marginally at first with no long- term benefit were |
| manner to create a copy of itself and a copy of | | | | taking toxic drugs such as beta-interferon |
| another more specialized cell required by the body | | | | (Avonex, Betaseron) chemotherapy (Novantrone) |
| and to assist the body to heal and regenerate its | | | | or antibiotics. It can be deduced that the toxicity |
| existing cells. | | | | or function of certain drugs may challenge or kill |
| For Multiple Sclerosis stem cells work in three | | | | the stem cells or create other areas of need that |
| ways | | | | would dilute the neurological progress. |
| 1) By forming new neurons to replace the dead | | | | Beta-interferon is especially toxic to the liver |
| ones. | | | | consequently stem cells may prioritize that area |
| 2) By replacing the dysfunctional and destroyed | | | | for regeneration instead of the neurological |
| oligodendrocyes (myelin-producing cells.) | | | | system. Over 90% of all cases which performed |
| 3) By coordinating the repair process via signaling | | | | with the highest rating had worked with their |
| cues to the existing cells. Cord blood stem cells | | | | prescribing physicians to wean off the above |
| also have the capacity to modulate the immune | | | | drugs before starting cell treatment or had never |
| system and have consistently normalized markers | | | | taken them. |
| of over-active immune systems in several | | | | Good Candidates |
| in-house studies. | | | | Every single person is different and experiences a |
| How Are The Stem Cells Produced? | | | | different manifestation of MS on a different |
| Using specialized protocols the red and white blood | | | | schedule. Consequently every single person |
| cells are removed from the umbilical cords. This | | | | experiences his or her own route to healing. As |
| dispenses with the need for blood or tissue | | | | with any medical treatment, it is extremely |
| matches, and removing any associated risks. The | | | | difficult to predict outcome. There are some |
| purified stem cells are then expanded or | | | | patients who respond better than others, these |
| “grown” in controlled laboratory | | | | include patients who: |
| culture to generate the high numbers needed for | | | | Have not taken toxic drugs, have minimal or |
| therapeutic application. During this process certain | | | | reduced heavy metal toxicity, don’t |
| rare and very powerful subsets of stem cells | | | | smoke, drink, take drugs or artificial sweeteners, |
| (comprising 10% of the stem cells in a normal | | | | eat a healthy diet with unadulterated nutrition for |
| cord) are expanded to comprise over 70% of | | | | the cells including raw fruits, vegetables, and fat |
| the total stem cell population per vial. These | | | | sources, do some form of physical activity |
| purified and potentiated cord blood stem cells are | | | | therapy and have highly positive yet realistic |
| frozen using a specialized media. The components | | | | therapy goals. |
| of the freeze media are FDA- (US Food & | | | | The Risks |
| Drugs Administration) approved for human | | | | In more than 300 treatments no negative side |
| injection and significantly enhance viability: the | | | | effects have been reported; nor are there any |
| number of thriving, healthy cells after defrosting. | | | | medically or scientifically anticipated risks outside |
| Post thaw viability using this specialized freeze | | | | that of a routine outpatient injection. |