People suffering from week bones could recover with the help of stem cells, derived from pregnant women, according to a new study. The research has shown us the stem cells harvested from the amniotic fluid of the pregnant women is the answer to osteoporosis, even though it was conducted on a mice model. The researchers had come to this conclusion after observing 78% lower bone fractures among animals, who were suffering from fragile bone structures.

This finding has truly evoked hope for the children, who are going through various rare bone conditions since birth as well as adults, who are suffering from osteoporosis. Not only that! This finding may also prove beneficial for the astronauts, who lost bone mass in orbit. Pascale Guillot, the lead of the study, conducted by the University College London, said, “The stem cells we’ve used are excellent at protecting bones. The bones become much stronger and the way the bone is organised internally is of much higher quality.”

Previous studies have proved that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) collected at an early stage are more effective than that collected at a later stage. It has several other advantages as well. Early taken MSCs have the ability to expand into greater numbers when required in clinical therapies. They don’t form tumors. They make sure not to attack the immune system of the receiver. They are small thus can move easily. And last but not the least, these cells are easier to reprogram, so they can grow into different types of cells.

The researchers’ team at the University College London experimented with MSCs that were collected from the amniotic fluid of pregnant women. They injected the MSCs into mice with fragile bone conditions. Another interesting finding of the study was the way the team completed the research. Anyone might think that the stem cells, injected into the mice, must have done the healing effects as well as helped to create new bones primarily. But this is a wrong notion. The study shows that the stem cells released growth factors which stimulated the bone cells to build stronger bones in the mice model.

Guillot confirmed, “The discovery could have a profound effect on the lives of patients who have fragile bones and could stop a large number of their painful fracture.” Following the successful study with mice, Guillot and the team are hopeful to apply the method in treating brittle bone disorders and osteoporosis that affected more than 44 million patients in the US. Guillot said, “The discovery could have a profound effect on the lives of patients who have fragile bones and could stop a large number of their painful fractures.”

The team is hoping to go about with the human trials within the next two years. If the technique proves effective for humans as well, it could help kids, affected in the womb and during birth. This process will truly help them build healthy bones. And what makes it all the more interesting is, the stem cells used in this research can be transplanted from one patient to another without MSCs matching between the donor and the receiver.

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This is the story of Doug Oliver, who suffered from macular degeneration or progressive blindness for more than two years. His medical team conducted a stem cell treatment on him and now he has recovered his eyesight and is leading a healthy life.

Doug started losing his vision at the age of 32. When consulted with doctors, they told him that this was the result of macular degeneration and he would gradually lose his vision. Doctors did not give him any hope and said nothing could be done to regain his sight.

To make the situation worse for him, he met with an accident after the diagnosis, which made his stand in front of another devastating news. He might lose his vision completely. Some tests were done on him that revealed his vision was as 20/2000 in the left eye and 20/400 in the right eye.

However, having found out about his condition, Doug was not willing to give up. He was not ready to succumb to the prediction that his sight could not be cured. So, he started screening latest clinical studies, databases, and trials related to macular degeneration. This was the time when Doug discovered Dr. Jeffrey Weiss’s clinical trial with stem cells in order to treat macular degeneration.

Doug enrolled himself in the Florida-based trial in 2015. And only after two days of stem cell therapy, he started to feel a difference in his vision. The stem cell therapy involved extracting his own stem cells from his marrow of the hip bone. The stem cells then were injected directly into both of his retinas. Two days later, his vision showed an improvement to 20/40 in his left eye and 20/30 in the right eye.

The joy of seeing the world again in its full glory was evident in his confession that he made while he was going back home. He said, “I could see the boats and the little wake lines that you see from 30,000 feet. I acted like a 6-year-old and loved it.”[1]

Doug was an IT specialist and a social policy consultant. His job demanded a lot of traveling by car. During one of those drives, he realized that his vision was not as same as before. Moreover, the accident cost him his driving license as well, which eventually led him to lose his job. He was not only going through physical issues but also through a mental turmoil. An active person like him needed to rely on a monthly disability check. But stem cells helped him bounce back and how!

Doug has not only got his vision back, but he also gained his position back in the community. He said, “I went back to the DMV and got my license in Tennessee in December.”[2] He is currently in talks with Lamar Alexander, the Senate Health Committee Chairman, so his can share his experience and story with others. Doug’s story may also play a crucial role in passing the 21st Century Cures Act, which focuses on the advanced regenerative therapy and the required funding for clinical trials, similar to one he was a part of.

The post Stories of Hope: Cured Of Blindness: A Stem Cell Therapy Story appeared first on Stem Cell Banking Guide and Pregnancy Tips For New Parents.