Dennis M. Lox. M.D. Discusses Regenerative Therapy

Regenerative Medicine is fast becoming an ever-expanding discipline in nearly every field. This is because the applications of helping the own body repair and regenerate are cornerstones of Regenerative Therapy.

What is Regenerative Therapy?

Regenerative Therapy is the process of replacing or “regenerating” human cells, tissues or organs to restore or establish normal functions. It is a vast array of many types of treatments. Universities are working on numerous elaborate ways of combining the science of Tissue Engineering and stem cell science into ways to heal and repair the unimaginable.

Even computers are part of this field. 3-D Bio-Printers can use stem cells instead of ink and grow body parts. Some of this type of research and applications that have already been done in humans has been featured on the television news program 60 minutes.

The most common Regenerative Medicine therapy in the field of sports and orthopedics used today is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), Biologics, cell concentrates, and acellular products which can promote a healing response. 

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), a common treatment for musculoskeletal injuries and disorders, has been used in the orthopedic setting for a long time. More recently, it was introduced into hair restoration, and facial rejuvenation nicknamed the Vampire Facelift.

PRP is obtained by drawing a patient’s blood, and then with special machines, the blood is processed by centrifugation and separation. This leaves a small quantity of highly concentrated blood platelets.

The platelets are long known in medicine for its ability to clot blood but was underappreciated for its inherent growth factors which prompt healing and repair. When you cut yourself the blood coagulates, which is a function of the platelets.

Then the platelets release their growth factors allowing the recruitment of nearby skin stem cells to form new skin. A simplistic healing description, which we will use to explain a similar response in a torn muscle region. PRP can be injected directly into an area of a hamstring tear, and create a faster more complete healing response.

All desirable for patients and athletes. This is now being used by dentists for oral surgery, and veterinarians to help your pet. PRP has no stem cells, therefore it is limited in its healing capability. The ability to regenerate fully needs stem cells available.

Tissue Engineering has bridged the gap from PRP. Computers, scaffolds, and cellular science all have been used to foster greater repair.

The acellular tissue has been approved as a medical device primarily for wound care. Elaborate research has been done with animal-derived acellular tissue to regrow fingers, and soldier’s limbs.

This work primarily derived from the groundbreaking research of Dr. Steven Badylak was also featured on 60 minutes. Dr. Rocky Tuan has researched 3-D Bioprinted cartilage to bridge the gap of holes in your cartilage. Dennis M. Lox, MD, has invited both Dr. Badylak and Dr. Tuan to lecture at Regenerative Medicine conferences he helped moderate.

Dr. Lox has also invited Dr. Susan Chubinskya, a renowned Cartilage expert, and Dr. Arnold Caplan, known as the father of Mesenchymal stem cell to lecture at Regenerative Medicine Symposiums.

Acellular derived perinatal tissues are now frequently misunderstood, and incorrectly called stem cell products by misinformed individuals who then misinform patients.

The perinatal tissue is derived from the amniotic membrane, amniotic fluid, cord blood, placenta, and Wharton’s jelly. These are from newborns not to be confused with Embryonic cells. This frequently confuses patients and other laypersons.

Embryonic Cells

Embryonic cells are research only, and cannot be used in patients in the United States.

The perinatal tissue is not true or stem cell products, as this would require special processing and culture in a laboratory. This rendered them under federal guidelines as a Medical Drug.

They are not approved for this in orthopedics, and there is so much confusion mainly because there is such misinformation given by so many, even in the medical field.

Dr. Lox has lectured twice at the International Perinatal Stem Cell Society.

The Perinatal Society deals with all the international research in the field of all the perinatal tissue. This is where you really understand the truths of current research, and how harmful misinformation is.

Dennis M. Lox M.D. moderated an expert panel on Sports Medicine in Aspen, Colorado, including with Dr. Rocky Tuan at The International Perinatal Society Meeting. The future may include combinations of Tissue Engineering, perinatal tissues, and the patients own cells for certain situations.

Another year Dr. Lox was a lecturer with Dr. Anthony Atala, one of the world’s most acclaimed Regenerative Medicine Researchers in the world at another International Perinatal Society Conference. Dr. Atala has also been featured on a ‘60 Minutes’ segment on Regenerative Medicine.

Dr. Lox spoke on Sports Medicine applications. Stem cell science is unique in that as a part of Regenerative Medicine, they are capable of regulation of the inflammatory cascade, as well as the regeneration of new tissue. In Sports and Regenerative Medicine, this is highly advantageous to repair cartilage, ligaments, muscles, tendons and even bone.

Premier Personalized Regenerative Therapy

Having an expert in the field of Regenerative Therapy is paramount to obtain patient-specific goals, needs, and desires. This is never truer in injured athletes.

Selecting the appropriate Regenerative Therapy option, and tailoring it to each individual patient is patient-specific medicine. Such an approach is necessary for not just Regenerative Medicine, but all aspects of medicine.

You wouldn’t want your cardiologist to give you the same prescription as every other patient without examining you, and you wouldn’t want an untrained non-medical professional diagnosing and treating complicated medical disorders. Such is true in Sports Medicine, the best elite athletes go to the doctors with respected reputations.

Even in Veterinary Medicine, the top Racehorses are getting Regenerative Therapy treatments. These highly skilled veterinarians wouldn’t be entrusted to the care of these thoroughbreds if they would possibly do something that would harm them. Knowledge is important to make good medical decisions, including with Regenerative Medicine.