Uncategorized

New Stem Cell Policies

I get asked allot if the changes in government policies on embryonic stem cell research changes affects us in any way.   While this new government policy is great news for patients, since we’ve only been using the patent’s own adult stem cells, it doesn’t directly change much for our work.  What it has done…read more

The Ultimate Complement

Recently, after a review of the patients we were seeing for the Regenexx-C procedure, I noticed that a high number were health care providers or linked to health care providers (doctors, nurses, physical therapists, etc…).  Why?  As I thought about this, it was clear that most of these patients know the risk/benefit ratio of big…read more

When OCD doesn’t mean Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

OCD is a medical abbreviation for osteo-chondral defect.  It literally means “bone-cartilage” defect.  The term has come to mean a “hole” in the cartilage, mostly found at the end of the femur bone in the knee.   The term can be confusing, as the OCD abbreviation is also used for “Osteochondritis Dessecans”, which is where…read more

Cartilage is “Alive”…

I’ve been spending time catching up on imaging analysis of our >12 month research patient follow-ups (mostly 1-2 years out from their procedure), so expect to see more posted here this next few days-weeks. The cartilage in the knee is interesting stuff.  It’s made of cells that were once thought to be just inert material…read more

Making Cartilage Better on MRI

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC’s) are a precursor to chondrocytes.  This means that they can change into cartilage cells.  The research on cartilage repair using MSC’s has exploded in recent years.  A National Library of Medicine search this morning reveals over 1,000 research papers on the topic. While you may be surprised, when it comes to…read more

Stem Cells and Disc Repair

A Japanese researcher named Sakai, captured my interest in Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC’s). He published a work in 2003 that I picked up on in the summer of 2005.  I was hooked.  In this study he created a degenerated disc by using a “stab model”, meaning he stuck a really big needle into the disc…read more

Multiple Sclerosis and Stem Cells

A doctor discusses multiple sclerosis and stem cells.

Stem Cells and Cancer-Buyer Beware

Interesting study in the PLOS Medicine this am on an Israeli boy who has a benign brain tumor from donor derived fetal stem cells.  For a less technical version of the story, see yahoo news.  I have been asked by many people via e-mail if we would consider treating any number of horrible diseases.  Since we…read more