For patients with severe chronic plantar fasciitis not manageable with traditional non-operative treatments, injections with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is significantly more effective than using cortisone.  This is according to a study presented by Raymond R. Monto, M.D., from the Nantucket Cottage Hospital in Massachusetts at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, held recently in San Francisco.

 

Dr. Monto compared PRP with cortisone injections for the treatment of 36 patients with plantar fasciitis that was resistant to traditional non-operative management.  Patients underwent pretreatment magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound studies.  Group 1, with an average age of 59 years, an average of 5.4 months of failed standard non-operative treatment, and an average pretreatment American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score of 52, was treated with a single injection of methylprednisolone at the injury site.  Group 2, with an average age of 51 years, an average of 5.7 months of failed standard non-operative treatment, and an average pretreatment AOFAS score of 37, was treated with a single injection of un-buffered autologous PRP.

 

Monto found that, in Group 1, the average post-treatment AOFAS score improved to 81 at three months, decreased to 74 at six months, and then decreased to 58 at 12 months. In Group 2, the average post-treatment AOFAS score improved to 95 at three months, and remained at 94 at six and 12 months (P = 0.001).

 

Based on the improved AOFAS score, platelet-rich plasma injection was more effective and durable than cortisone injection for the treatment of severe chronic plantar fasciitis.

 

 

While there are still no large-scale studies of PRP’s effectiveness, this study does support the growing body of antidotal evidence that indicates that PRP is effective in treating musculoskeletal injuries and conditions.  It is used widely and openly in professional sports, the veterinary world, and we have seen patients have positive results following PRP treatment in this office.

 

If you weren’t aware, plantar fasciitis is a common source of foot pain.  The pain may sometimes be diffuse and confused with ankle pain.  The plantar fascia is a fibrous aponeurosis (a thick cord-like tissue).  It originates off the calcaneus or heel bone and fans out to attach to the plantar surfaces of the phalanges bones (foot bones). 

 

Plantar fasciitis is a common source of foot pain in athletes, especially ones who compete in running athletics.  However, plantar fasciitis may also been seen in over-weight non-athletes

 

The plantar fascia may either be caused by an inflammatory process or there may be an underlying degenerative process, such as seen in tendinopathies where there is thickening, scarring and abnormal collagen formations.  Rupture of the plantar fascia may occur with an extremely forceful injury, usually in the mid portion of the fascia. 

 

 

 

Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and not for medical diagnosis or treatment.  If you have a medical concern or issue, please consult with your physician.

 

Three recently announced stem cell studies highlight the amazing potential that stem cells hold.

 

1.  Scientists at the University of Illinois at Chicago used stem cells to “re-educate” the immune systems of people with Type 1 diabetes.  This condition is caused when the body’s defenses attack cells in the pancreas and requires daily injections of insulin to regulate the patient’s blood sugar levels.  The stem cells were used to “restart” pancreatic function, reducing the need for insulin.

 

Although the research involved only 15 participants and is still at a relatively early stage, it is innovative and appeared to offer improvements in the control of blood glucose, even in those with longstanding Type 1 diabetes.

 

Type 1 diabetes develops when the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas have been destroyed and the body is unable to produce any insulin.  Insulin is essential because it allows glucose to enter the body’s cells, where it is used as fuel. In Type 1 diabetes, the body is unable to produce any insulin, so glucose builds up in the blood.  

 

Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age but usually appears before the age of 40 - and especially in childhood.  It accounts for between 5% and 15% of all people with the condition and is treated by daily insulin injections, a healthy diet and regular physical activity.

 

According to the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org), as of 2010, 25.8 million children and adults in the United States (or 8.3% of the population) have diabetes.  Of these, 5 percent or 1.3 million have Type 1 diabetes.

 

The study was published in the journal BMC Medicine.  Click here for the abstract.

 

2.   Researchers at the University of Cambridge have found a way to reverse damage found in diseases like multiple sclerosis, at least in a study using mice.

 

Nerve cells lose their electrically-insulating myelin sheath as MS develops.  New myelin-generating cells can be produced from stem cells, but the process loses efficiency with age. Researchers linked the bloodstreams of young mice to old mice with myelin damage.  Exposure to the youthful blood reactivated stem cells in the old mice, boosting myelin generation.

 

According to Julia Ruckh, one of the researchers, white blood cells called macrophages from the young mice gathered at the sites of myelin damage in the old mice.  Macrophages engulf and destroy pathogens and debris, including destroyed myelin.  This debris inhibits regeneration, so clearing it up is important.

 

According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (www.nationalmssociety.org), approximately 400,000 Americans have MS, and every week about 200 people are diagnosed with it.

 

The study was reported in the journal Cell Stem Cell.  Click here for the abstract.

 

3.  Two legally blind women have regained some of their vision after receiving an injection of embryonic stem cells.  The patients are participating in a clinical trial using embryonic stem cells to treat macular degeneration, an age-related cause of blindness.  The trial is sponsored by Advanced Cell Technology, a Massachusetts biotech company.  The preliminary study findings were published in the journal Lancet.

 

According to Robert Lanza, chief scientific officer at Advanced Cell Technology, although the purpose of the experiment was to test the safety of stem cells injected into the eye, both patients “had measurable improvement in their vision that persisted through the duration of the study.”

 

Last year, each patient was injected in one eye with cells derived from embryonic cells at the University of California at Los Angeles.  Although their sight has improved, both women remain legally blind.

 

Lanza cautioned that the findings are preliminary, and that the improvements could disappear and complications could emerge.  Nevertheless, he thinks the two cases will provide useful lessons for the field.

 

 

Stem cells appear to hold great promise in treating a variety of diseases and conditions.  Some conditions, such as joint, tendon and muscle injury, are treatable now with stem cells.  Other conditions, such as diabetes and MS, appear to be treatable, but widespread treatment is still in the near-future.

 

 

Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and not for medical diagnosis or treatment.  If you have a medical concern or issue, please consult with your physician.

Several recent activities highlight the significance of telomere maintenance and its impact on aging.  Telomeres are sequences of DNA, located at the ends of all chromosomes, which serve as cellular clocks of aging.  Every time a cell divides, telomeres shorten until they become critically short, and the cell either stops functioning properly or dies, ultimately leading to death of the body.

 

By activating a gene that is normally turned off, TA-65, a nutritional supplement produced by TA Sciences, has been shown to activate the enzyme telomerase.  Telomerase has the unique ability to restore telomere length and is so important that its discovery won the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2009. 

 

On December 13, 2011, the NBC Today Show interviewed scientist Bill Andrews,PhD, regarding the significance of telomere maintenance and extending life span.  Dr. Andrews has dedicated most of his career to curing aging, and believes in the importance of telomere health and maintenance to telomere activation.  Dr. Andrews notes that both he and his father take TA-65.  Dr. Andrews was the cover story for the August 2011 issue of Popular Science.  There have been many other publications including Elle magazine and Harper's Bazaar magazine that have also discussed telomerase activation and telomere health. 

 

In this office, we have seen a surging interest in telomerase activation, not only in extending lifespan, but also to improve the effects of aging on health.  People who are immuno-compromised and those who have gone through chemotherapy or radiation therapy to treat cancer (which harms telomeres) are interested in repairing the telomeres for health maintenance.  Additionally, individuals looking to optimize overall health, including athletes, have looked at telomerase activation and TA-65 with a fervent interest.

 

 

A study from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., focused on senescent cells and mice.  Senescent cells are old cells that can no longer divide and do not function properly, and accumulate in aging tissues, like arthritic knees, cataracts and the plaque that may line elderly arteries.  The cells secrete agents that stimulate the immune system and cause low-level inflammation.  

 

The Mayo study demonstrated that getting rid of senescent cells improves genotypes (physical traits) and improves the quality of life associated with aging.  Rid of the senescent cells, mice tissues showed a major improvement in the usual burden of age-related disorders.  They did not develop cataracts, avoided the usual wasting of muscle with age, and could exercise much longer on a mouse treadmill.  They retained the fat layers in the skin that usually thin out with age and, in people, cause wrinkling.  The Mayo Clinic study was published in the May 2011 issue of the journal Nature.  The supplement TA-65 has been shown to reduce senescent cells by telomerase activation. 

 

 

People concerned, not only with their health span, but also that of their pets, are beginning to turn towards TA-65 as a means of improving health and longevity in their pets.  As cells continue to divide and telomerase shorten, overall health and longevity diminishes.  Pet owners are also turning to other regenerative medicine technologies to improve the overall quality of their pet’s health as well.

 

 

The regenerative medicine field is not just for humans.  Regenerative medicine technologies such as TA-65 for telomere maintenance, and platelet-rich plasma and stem cell therapy for musculoskeletal conditions, help to increase health span, the proportion of people’s natural lives that they live in good health.

 

 

 

Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and not for medical diagnosis or treatment.  If you have a medical concern or issue, please consult with your physician.

Scientists at the Oregon National Primate Research Center have produced the world’s first monkeys created from embryos of several individual monkeys.  The chimera monkeys were created by binding three to six rhesus monkey embryos in the early stages of the development, and are the result of experiments designed to gain more understanding into stem cells that might be used to create human tissue in the future. 

 

Researchers led by Shoukhrat Mitalipov, were focused on how natural stem cells from early embryos differed from cultured embryonic stem cells which are more readily available to scientists.  In a variation of cloning procedures, they were able to inject stem cells into monkey embryos to produce chimera, but the procedure only worked when the cells were fresh, not cultured stem cells. 

 

The different cells worked together to form tissues and organs.  By utilizing embryonic stem cells in such an early stage of development, they can produce a complete organism, in this case a monkey.  The research has been ongoing for several decades and it is hoped that will lead to breakthroughs in working with human tissues, specifically utilizing embryonic stem cells to grow new tissues for humans. 

 

The monkeys are referred to as chimera monkeys after a fire-breathing character in Greek mythology made up of parts from different animals.  The experiments were reported in the scientific journal Cell – click here for the abstract.

 

 

The field of stem cell research, particularly utilizing embryonic stem cells, is expanding greatly in the United States.  Human embryonic stem cells have been utilized in clinical trials for spinal cord injury research and also for research in the treatment of macular degeneration.  The research that produced the chimera monkeys will add greatly to our overall understanding of stem cells and how they can be utilized to treatment human conditions.

 

Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and not for medical diagnosis or treatment.  If you have a medical concern or issue, please consult with your physician.

An interesting article in the December 2011 issue of Life Extension magazine features the eternal beauty, Suzanne Somers, discussing stem cell therapy.  Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001, she had surgery to remove the lump, followed by intense radiation therapy.

 

After suffering for years with a painful, disfigured breast, Suzanne underwent an advanced technique to reconstruct the breast.  She had a combination of autologous stem cell therapy along with an adipose fat graft, and so far is quite pleased with the results.

 

While this practice limits its stem cell therapy to musculoskeletal injuries and conditions, the article is an interesting read on where this cutting-edge technology can go.

 

A link to the article can be found on our website by clicking here.

 

Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and not for medical diagnosis or treatment.  If you have a medical concern or issue, please consult with your physician.

A recent study conducted by Oregon State University revealed that people sleep significantly better and feel more alert during the day if they get at least 150 minutes of exercise a week.

 

In a sample of more than 2,600 men and women, ages 18-85, the study found that 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a week (which is the national guideline) provided a 65 percent improvement in sleep quality.  People also said they felt less sleepy during the day, compared to those with less physical activity.

 

The study, out in the December issue of the journal Mental Health and Physical Activity, lends more evidence to mounting research showing the importance of exercise to a number of health factors.  Among adults in the United States, about 35 to 40 percent of the population has problems with falling asleep or with daytime sleepiness.

 

After controlling for age, BMI (Body Mass Index), health status, smoking status, and depression, the relative risk of often feeling overly sleepy during the day compared to never feeling overly sleepy during the day decreased by 65 percent for participants meeting physical activity guidelines.

 

The study’s findings coincide with what we se in this practice.  Many of our patients have musculoskeletal conditions (low back pain, joint pain, etc) which prevent them from exercising properly.  Most of these patients also have problems falling to sleep at night and/or staying alert during the day.

 

In addition to enhancing sleep, a good exercise regimen – strengthening, stretching and toning muscles – can help prevent some musculoskeletal injuries.

 

 

Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and not for medical diagnosis or treatment.  If you have a medical concern or issue, please consult with your physician.

In a disappointing move, the Geron Corporation announced that it is halting its stem cell programs, including the first-ever, US approved human trial using embryonic stem cells. 

 

The human trial enrolled its first patients last year and was evaluating the safety of using embryonic stem cells in patients who had recently suffered a spinal cord injury.  A company announcement in October 2011 indicated that treatment was proving safe in patients treated thus far, with no significant side effects.  With Geron’s halt, no new patients will be enrolled, but current participants will be followed, and the FDA will be kept informed of their status.

 

The company cited financial decisions are leading the company to narrow its focus to cancer research, particularly on drugs that are in mid-stage human testing.  The decision will also result in a 38 percent reduction in Geron staff.

 

Given the promise that stem cell therapies hold, the loss of an FDA-approved human clinical trial (one of two currently underway in the US) certainly does not help forward progress.

 

And, given Geron’s status as a leader in stem cell therapies, their decision also does not help the US maintain a leadership role in this innovative medical arena.

 

More can be read at: 

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/geron-halting-stem-cell-research-laying-off-staff-14951932

 

Geron press release:

http://www.geron.com/media/pressview.aspx?id=1284

 

 

 

Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and not for medical diagnosis or treatment.  If you have a medical concern or issue, please consult with your physician.

 

An interesting article came out online over the past few days in the current issue of Practical Pain Management, entitled Advances in Regenerative Medicine:  High-Density Platelet-rich Plasma and Stem Cell Prolotherapy for Musculoskeletal Pain.

 

It provides a detailed, yet readable, view of this cutting-edge procedure that is growing in use and acceptance.

 

 

Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and not for medical diagnosis or treatment.  If you have a medical concern or issue, please consult with your physician.

The number of surgeries to treat chronic low back pain (CLBP) continues to increase, while positive patient outcomes do not correspond.  An interesting article published in January 2011 issue of Practical Pain Management by lead author, Robert Gatchel, Ph.D., et al, reviewed cases of failed back surgery and updated a 2004 study they performed.  Click here to read the 2011 article.

 

Low back pain is a significant source of morbidity in the United States and 85 percent of people will experience an episode of low back pain at some point in their lives.  When both the medical cost and loss of productivity are factored in, back and neck pains have the highest cost to employers than any other medical condition.

 

Most patients with low back pain recover quickly, where 35 percent can be expected to recover within a month, 85 percent within three months, and 95 percent within six months.  The remaining five percent have persistent pain that is beyond the normal time frame in which one would expect improvement. 

 

There may be disabling psychological and physical symptoms that accompany this chronic cycle of pain.  In 2007, there were more than 350,000 spinal fusion surgeries conducted in the United States.  This has drawn scrutiny due to adverse outcomes and the overall efficacy of spinal fusions, especially in a worker’s compensation setting where there is a lack of clear surgical indications that have been evaluated.  Additionally, surgical success with multiple procedures is also found to be statistically not extremely effective, where only 30 percent of second spine surgeries are successful, third spinal surgeries are even less effective at 15 percent success, and fourth surgeries are only five percent successful.

 

A final comment by Gatchel, Ph.D., et al is very telling:  While surgery is an important option for managing CLBP, it should be viewed as a “last resort” option.

 

 

 

Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and not for medical diagnosis or treatment.  If you have a medical concern or issue, please consult with your physician.

 

Two articles in the world news on Oct 18^th illustrate the highs and lows in stem cell therapy research…

 

Despite the ethical discussion surrounding the use of embryonic stem cells, it is one source of pluripotent stem cells used in many research efforts. 

 

Reflecting European law, which protects human embryos, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) handed down a ruling, stating “A process which involves removal of a stem cell from a human embryo at the blastocyst stage, entailing the destruction of the embryo, cannot be patented.”  (An embryo at the blastocyst stage consists of about 80 to 100 cells.)

 

The impact of this court decision was summed up by one researcher who said it means European researchers can prepare these things, but others will pick the fruits in the U.S. and Asia, and the judgment would undermine such research because it would make patents uncertain.

 

Several biotechnology companies are researching stem cell treatments in Europe and the United States.  Even large pharmaceutical companies, such as U.S. drug giant Pfizer, Anglo-Swedish firm AstraZeneca, Swiss drug maker Roche and French company Cellectis, are starting to conduct research in this area.

 

Early human trials are now under way in the U.S. using embryonic stem cells for repairing spinal cord injuries and to correct certain forms of blindness.

 

On the other hand, researchers at the University of Western Australia (UWA), reported that they discovered the ability to ethically obtain stem cells in a non-invasive process – from human breast milk.

 

UWA PhD student Fotenini Hassiotou’s research follows the 2008 discovery by a team of UWA scientists that breast milk contained embryonic-like stem cells.  This could reduce the need to use embryonic stem cells, which could help future stem cell research activities.

 

….Stem cell research seems to uncover new uses almost daily, requiring constant monitoring to stay current on emerging developments.  Given the potential that stem cells hold in treating a myriad of conditions, research efforts are well justified.

 

For more details, here are the two articles:

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/18/us-embryo-court-idUSTRE79H19220111018

 

http://www.smh.com.au/wa-news/uwa-discovers-ethical-embryoniclike-stem-cells-in-breast-milk-20111017-1lt97.html

 

Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and not for medical diagnosis or treatment.  If you have a medical concern or issue, please consult with your physician.

A recent study presented at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine’s (AOSSM) Annual Meeting in San Diego in July 2011, suggests that low vitamin D levels might increase the chance of muscle injuries in athletes.

 

Michael Shindle, MD, lead researcher and member of Summit Medical Group, presented the study results.  The study focused on NFL football players.  According to Dr. Shindle, 80 percent of the football players studied had vitamin D insufficiency.  African American players and players who suffered muscle injuries had significantly lower levels.

 

Researchers identified 89 football players from a single NFL team and provided laboratory testing of vitamin D levels in the spring 2010 as part of routine pre-season evaluations.  The team provided data to determine the number of players who had lost time due to muscle injuries.  Twenty-seven players had deficient levels (<20 ng/ML) and an additional 45 had levels consistent with insufficiency (20-31.9 ng/mL).  Seventeen players had values within normal limits (>32 ng/mL).  The mean vitamin D level in white players was 30.3 ng/mL, while the mean level for black players was 20.4 ng/mL.  Sixteen players suffered a muscle injury with a mean vitamin D level of 19.9 ng/mL.

 

Dr. Scott Rodeo, MD, co-chief of the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service at the Hospital for Special Surgery, said that screening and treatment of vitamin D insufficiency in professional athletes may be a simple way to help prevent injuries.  But, according to Dr. Joseph Lane, MD, director of the Metabolic Bone Disease Service at the Hospital for Special Surgery, further research also needs to be conducted in order to determine if increasing vitamin D leads to improved maximum muscle function.

 

Normally, our bodies take in vitamin D in the form of sun synthesis through the skin.  Additionally, eating the right foods can also increase our vitamin D levels.  Foods such as: 

·         Fish –salmon, mackerel, herring, canned tuna or sardines, or cod liver oil

·         Meat – beef, lamb, chicken or pork liver, or eggs

·         Foods fortified with vitamin D

More info on vitamin D-rich foods can be found at LiveStrong.com or the Global Healing Center.

 

 

 

Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and not for medical diagnosis or treatment.  If you have a medical concern or issue, please consult with your physician.

“You are what you eat” is a well-known and often true phrase.  Many disease states, such as diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol, have a recommended diet plan.  Many patients in this office are treated for chronic pain conditions, but there is no official diet for chronic pain.

 

An interesting article in Practical Pain Management provides some food for thought regarding diet, nutrition and supplementation for the patient suffering with chronic pain.   Read here.

 

An AARP magazine article also highlights seven foods that ease pain.  Read here.

 

 

 

Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and not for medical diagnosis or treatment.  If you have a medical concern or issue, please consult with your physician.

The 2011 World Stem Cell Summit, held in Pasadena, California concluded last Wednesday, Oct 5^th.  International experts in the field of stem cell research gathered to discuss research and potential therapies.

 

One interesting aspect of stem cell therapy emerged – the financial benefits therapy may offer.

Stem cell therapies may apply to some of the nation’s most expensive health issues, such as heart attack and stroke.

 

According to Gil Van Bokkelen, chairman of the nonprofit Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, “If you suffer a stroke you may be looking at long-term institutional care costs that are hundreds of thousands of dollars or more over time.”

 

Van Bokkelen went onto say that care for stroke victims costs the nation about $73 million a year.  Stem cell therapies may ultimately be used to treat these patients, reducing long-term costs.

 

“At the end of the day, it’s really about improving clinical outcomes, improving quality of life and shifting the cost curve in the right direction – providing more cost-effective health care – and that’s how we’ll be able to broaden the scope of health care accessibility to all the people we’d like to provide it to,” Van Bokkelen said.

 

Dr. Lox agrees that regenerative medicine techniques, such as stem cell therapies, could help reduce costs in some disease states.  This very topic was the subject of a poster presentation by Dr. Lox at the Summit.

 

According to Dr. Lox, the changing medical landscape with health care reform leaves some uncertainty with the future of scientific advancements in regenerative medicine.  While health-related quality of life care may be analyzed for cost effectiveness, the question to be addressed is, at what point will the ethical role of improving quality of life be offset by cost reductions, and at what point will insurance carriers understand that the advancements in regenerative medicine will ultimately result in overall long-term savings?

 

CIRM, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, has uploaded a number of interviews and presentations from the 2011 World Stem Cell Summit, which can be found at

http://www.youtube.com/user/CIRMTV

 

Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and not for medical diagnosis or treatment.  If you have a medical concern or issue, please consult with your physician.

Novak Djokovic’s rise from world tennis’ number three player to number one has generated a lot of interest – not just in the feat itself, but in speculation that Djokovic’s change in diet is a key to his success.

 

At the end of 2010, Djokovic began working with Igor Cetojevic, a Serbian doctor and nutritionist.  At this point in his career, he had won only one Grand Slam title (2008 Australian Open).  During the 2011 season, Djokovic has won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open, and compiled an amazing 64-3 record.

 

What therapy did Dr. Cetojevic prescribe for Djokovic that accounts for his stellar performance this year? 

 

Diet.  Djokovic changed his diet to a gluten-free diet. 

 

Gluten, a protein found in foods such as bread, pasta and other starchy foods, can trigger reactions in people.  Apparently, Djokovic had enough of an allergy to gluten that, eliminating it has made a big difference in his performance.

 

But could something as simple as a diet change account for Djokovic’s higher performance?

 

According to Dr. Dennis Lox, diet can have a huge influence on performance.  If you look at how diet impacts a person who is diabetic, then yes – diet plays a big factor in how that person performs.

 

Does it account for Djokovic’s success?  It is hard to say exactly, but at that level of performance, even a small adjustment, physical or mental, can have a big influence.

 

Leaving nothing to chance, world tennis’ number four player, Andy Murray adopted the “Djokovic diet.”  Murray’s performance?  He is one of only three players to have beaten Djokovic this year (although Djokovic had a shoulder injury and was forced to withdraw after a set).

 

 

Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and not for medical diagnosis or treatment.  If you have a medical concern or issue, please consult with your physician.

It came to light the weekend of September 17-18, 2011, that Indianapolis Colt’s quarterback, Peyton Manning had traveled to Europe for stem cell therapy.  The stem cell therapy was to help treat the bulging disc in Manning’s neck, which three previous surgeries have failed to repair.  Apparently the therapy did not help.

 

An ABC News blog report on Manning’s stem cell treatment in Europe raises several issues: Manning’s actions, as a role model, in seeking an unproven treatment overseas, and the validity of the treatment itself.

 

Manning is quoted as saying “that I am doing everything I can to get my health back.”  As a role model, Manning (or any other role model) does need to be cognizant of his actions.  But does he not have the same rights as anyone else to live his life to the fullest?  It just so happens he has the means and motivation to pursue all options.  “Winners never quit” is not a bad message for him to send.

 

Regarding stem cell therapy for vertebral disc conditions.  While the therapy did not work for Manning, and is not FDA approved, that does not mean there are not antidotal success stories of stem cell use with other orthopedic problems.  The recent stories of NY Yankee’s pitcher Bartolo Colon and New England Patriot’s Jarvis Green, each returning to the game after stem cell therapy, or the myriad of success stories of professional athletes receiving platelet-rich plasma (another therapy not FDA approved), while antidotal, should not be ignored.  While we do not condone all off-shore stem cell therapies, there is growing antidotal evidence that stem cell therapy seems to help in many musculoskeletal injuries.

 

What if Manning had sustained a much more serious spinal cord injury instead of a bulging disc injury?  Would the same physicians criticize him for going to Europe for stem cell therapy?  Put yourself in Manning’s cleats – What would you do if you were paralyzed?  Would you go to Europe for stem cell therapy if there were a possibility it would help?

 

In the news blog, Manning was criticized for not enrolling in a clinical trial researching the therapy.  In fact, the first human embryonic stem cell trial is now underway in the United States, evaluating the safety of embryonic stem cell therapy in humans suffering from acute spinal cord injury.  Unfortunately, Manning would not meet the criteria for inclusion in this study.  One of my patients is a collegiate football player who sustained a career and life-altering cervical spinal cord injury; he as well does not meet the criteria for the trial and as a result of his lack of resources is not able to go to Europe.

 

Perhaps, judgment should be put in the context of the individual.  The unfortunate reality that has evaded some professors is the evolving emergence of regenerative medicine, which may not be readily embraced by the insurance industry, is changing the health care environment.  

 

This will result in a paradigm for the future, a future not so far away.  The concept of a dedicated, outstanding athlete trying to recover would be viewed in a different vein had the injury been perceived as more catastrophic, and worse when the harsh reality emerges that the future of medicine may bring inequality as well.

 

When this is considered, casting a stone at Peyton Manning becomes a more weighty measure.

 

 

 

Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and not for medical diagnosis or treatment.  If you have a medical concern or issue, please consult with your physician.

Currently, there is a lot of research studying the many possible applications of stem cells.  These studies may use embryonic stem cells or adult stem cells.  Adult stem cells can be allogeneic cells (from a donor), or autologous cells (the patient’s own cells). 

 

 

Given some of the ethical issues surrounding embryonic stem cells, it seems that more research is moving forward utilizing allogeneic or autologous cells.

 

 

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin – Madison investigated the differences between embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells, and they found the two types of cells to be very similar.  An article in Medical News Today provides more detail on the UW-Madison study.  Click here to read.

 

 

 

Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and not for medical diagnosis or treatment.  If you have a medical concern or issue, please consult with your physician.

Nutritional counseling is an important aspect to consider to ensure adequate healing of injuries.  Weight loss may be necessary, especially with chronic injuries, when once active, athletic patients become sedentary due to painful injuries.  When the same number of calories (or more) are consumed and there is a concomitant drop in caloric expenditure due to lack of exercise, the inevitable response is weight gain.

 

Weight gain leads to a whole host of secondary disorders if left untreated: hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, and the increased load of the extra weight on the injured body segment.  One of the prime risk factors for joint replacement is excess body weight.

 

Addressing the weight issue early, while properly diagnosing the true underlying cause for pain, and then implementing an appropriate and quick treatment response minimizes the possible necessity of joint replacement surgery.  If the injury has been prolonged, misdiagnosed, or unsuccessful surgery has occurred, it is not unusual to find patients who have gained substantial weight.  In these cases, an appropriate weight loss program is necessary to assist in the healing process.

 

Often, when the injured segment heals, weight loss and exercise improve secondary health issues and often medications for hypertension, diabetes and cholesterol are reduced or no longer needed.  This illustrates the old saying, "less is more."

 

There are many weight loss programs available.  The first key is to find a program that works for you and then stick with it.  For patients that need to lose more than 20 pounds, the HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) diet has become popular. 

 

The second key is exercise – which we will cover in the future.

 

 

 

Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and not for medical diagnosis or treatment.  If you have a medical concern or issue, please consult with your physician.

Blood injections, especially of platelet-rich plasma, into the affected area help relieve the pain associated with "tennis elbow" where other treatment methods have failed, according to a Greek study.  Reuters article here.

 

 

 

Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and not for medical diagnosis or treatment.  If you have a medical concern or issue, please consult with your physician.

Interesting article titled “Hey – Wanna Live Forever?” in Elle Magazine on the impact of Nobel Prize-winning research on lengthening the human lifespan.

 

The article discusses the development of TA-65, a natural product derived from the Chinese herb Astragalus, and how it has been shown to activate the enzyme telomerase, which protects telomeres in our body.

 

Telomeres are sequences of DNA, located at the ends of all chromosomes, which serve as cellular clocks of aging.  Every time a cell divides, telomeres shorten until they become critically short, and the cell either stops functioning properly or dies.  By activating a gene that is normally turned off, TA-65 has been shown to activate the enzyme telomerase.  Telomerase has the unique ability to restore telomere length and is so important that its discovery won the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2009.

 

Study findings suggest that restoring telomere length can improve certain immune system measures, apparently improve eyesight, apparently improve certain sexual function measures, and apparently improve certain skin properties.

 

TA-65 is available only through licensed physicians.  Dr. Lox was the second physician in Florida licensed to prescribe TA‑65. 

 

Click here to read the article.

 

 

Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and not for medical diagnosis or treatment.  If you have a medical concern or issue, please consult with your physician.

 

Here is a well-written article on stem cell therapy in athletes.

 

The article, by David Epstein in Inside Baseball on sportsillustrated.com, tells the story of New York Yankee pitcher Bartolo Colon’s elbow and shoulder stem cell treatment. 

 

In his article, Epstein also points out that stem cell therapy is nothing new and that it has been utilized for an extended period in many athletes who have undergone microfracture techniques.  Epstein’s article is interesting and worth the read.

 

 

Nothing contained in this blog is intended to be instructional for medical diagnosis or treatment. If you have a medical concern or issue, please consult with your physician.