Stem cells repairs Discs

[Alastair]

I was unable to get everything off the website,ref at bottom of the page. I am trying to be able to publish more than this from a UK newspaper


Therapy



Schedule of the autologous disc-derived chondrocyte transplantation

1. Step Extraction of Disc Cell Tissue
About 1cm� of disc cell tissue, which has to be removed during the discectomy surgery anyway, is put into a sterile container and sent to co.don� AG together with a 200ml blood sample of the patient.


2.Step Progeny of the Disc-derived Cells
The disc-derived cells are isolated in the highly specialized cell laboratories at co.don� AG and are multiplied outside the body under highest security standards. The progeny follows all requirements of the AMG, the guidelines of good manufacturing practice and the quality management (AMG, GMP, DIN EN ISO 9001).


3. Step Transplantation of Disc-derived Chondrozytes
The transplantation of the autologous disc-derived chondrozytes is done about three months after the extraction of the disc cell tissue. The time gap ensures that the disc is completely healed until the transplantation date.


The multiplied disc-derived cells are sent back to the operating surgeon. The disc-derived cell transplant is transported under living organ conditions within a few hours to secure the quality of cells.

With local anesthetics, the autologous disc-derived cells are injected into the disc.

http://www.codon.de/_/index.php?CT_cont_id=1_35_91

[Alastair]

From the Daily Telegraph newspaper 6th February 2006. Reporter Nick Fleming (medical correspondent)

A new method of treating slipped discs appears to reduce pain significantly and improve mobility while removing the risk of further operations.

Early studies showed that all 28 patients who had autologous disc-derived chrondrocyte
transplantation (ADCT) suffered less pain. The majority also had greater ability to function normally than those who had the standard surgical treatment.

The procedure involves growing cells taken from the soft inner part of a vertebral disc, and
transplanting them back to return the discs to their former size and health. In traditional disc surgery material is simply removed to relieve pressure on spinal nerve tissue: a diskectomy. However the loss of tissue can cause of further the degeneration leaving 70% of patients with continued pain and 10% facing further surgery.

The small German biotechnology company that developed ADCT says that, of 120 patients who have had the procedure, none has had to have further surgery. There are some 14 million consultations with doctors about back pain in Britain every year. More than 20,000 operations a year are carried out for degenerative back problems such as slipped discs in England.

Vertebral discs are the cushioning and connection material that sits between the bones of the vertebrae. When the outer wall of a disc is weaked through age or injury, it can tear, allowing the soft inner part of the disc the nucleus pulposus to bulge out. This is known as a slipped disc and can press against and potentially damage the highly sensitive nerve tissue in the spine causing back and leg pain.

Last December Peter Evans aged 29 an artist living in Newcastle, became the first Briton to have ADCT. He's back problems started in 2000 after an accident in the gallery. When Osteopathy and exercise failed to help he saw a specialist diagnosed a slipped disc. As a keen skateboarder, climber, and Walker, he was nervous about the chances are normal diskectomy leaving him with a weaked back and requiring more surgery. On the Internet he came across the new ADCT technique developed by the German company co.don. His surgeon in Newcastle General Hospital had not heard about it but after reading medical papers on the procedure agreed to help him to have the treatment. It cost Mr Evans �4000 to have it done.

Material removed from his disc and a blood sample was sent to the company's laboratories near Berlin there chrondrocyte cells were encouraged to multiply in a culture before being re- injected into Mr Evans` disc. They then produced chemicals such as collagens and proteoglycans that form an important part of the disc matrix.

Mr Evans said: I feel a lot more comfortable and it is getting better every month. I can sit down for long periods, and I have been swimming and have been able to do lots of work I knew that in some ways I was being a guinea pig but I was very impressed by the reported success rates. "I was very active before and the thought of not being as strong as I would like made it seem worthwhile".

The results were published in the journal, European cells and materials. The authors said autologous cells transplanted into a damaged intervertebral disc appeared to retard degeneration. The results of a larger trial are expected this year.

Website www.codon.de

Contact Dr Jeanette Liberva --
Head of R&D Molecular MedicineBiotechnology and Engineering
Warthestr.21
14513 Teltow Germany
Phone from the UK 0049-3328-4346-13

[Alastair]

posted 14 March, 2005 01:22 PM
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Also do remember that Stem Cell surgery which is almost none invasive hopefully should be along in 6 years time. They have repaired a spinal chord with a 3Cm break in it recently and the patient is now walking where previously paralysed. So for the younger end of patient hope and miracle stuff is on its way I hope for all.

In a similar manner in Manchester in the UK we are currently growing replacement disks by stem cell technology. The outcome of the above is usually six to 10 years -- -- -- I think it's exciting
Best,
Alastair

[Alastair]

posted 05 January, 2005 02:08 PM
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Well I taped the programme, and reran it later on, it was totally amazing that spinal cords could be renewed and mended by small stem cells from inside patients nose.

It was amazingly interesting also to see how stem cells actually rebuilt and strengthened heart muscles even in an 85-year-old. I'm not saying this is the way ahead for ADR but for people with spinal cord injuries it certainly is. One of the surgeons was an American I can't remember his name -- -- -- this has been going on since 2002 -- -- --

[Alastair]

posted 22 October, 2005 01:43 PM
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The latest things which are happening here, is that they are physically growing discs for implantation, and doing stem cell implantation just 50 miles away from where I live. Hopefully the stem cell technology which has already been proven in a patient who is somewhere in the USA -- -- -- the surgery was done in Portugal -- -- -- they put the stem cells which were the patient's own ones and the stem cells linked up his spinal cord which had a 2 cm gap in it. From being paralysed from the waist downwards the patient was now walking with a Zimmer frame. This person is now somewhere in the USA and their particular location is now unknown to me but this technology should be fairly widely used in the next four to five years.
Best,
Alastair

[Alastair]

Member
Member # 4

posted 07 February, 2005 12:26 PM
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Heather Tomlinson
Monday February 7, 2005
The Guardian

The UK's largest medical device firm, Smith & Nephew, has begun a research programme into using stem cells to help to repair muscle and bone damage.
It is one of the first significant moves into the area by a large company that has the resources to develop the technology commercially. Drug companies have shied away from the early - and risky - stages of stem cell research, though the major firms are monitoring the scientific progress carefully.

Smith & Nephew is not looking at the controversial area of embryonic stem cell research. Instead, it is exploring how to use patients' own cells in the bone marrow to repair damaged tissue.

About 50 scientists are working on cell-based therapy at Smith & Nephew's research labs, and five of them are investigating the potential of stem cells, which are immature versions of normal cells that can be encouraged to differentiate into different forms of tissue. In the future they could be used for treating diseases as wide-ranging as paralysis and incontinence.

Smith & Nephew is looking at the potential for treating damage to skin, bone, cartilage and ligaments. "We are looking at how you can use patient's own stem cells to stimulate repair," said the chief executive, Sir Christopher O'Donnell.

"We have had a group working on this for four to five years on different aspects, more recently we have focused on stem cells as their role becomes more clearly understood."

He said the research was five to 10 years away from being available to patients, and the company would make a decision this year on whether to put substantial investment into developing the technology. It is liaising with academics and companies in the field to keep on top of the fast-moving science.
The company is concentrating on muscle and bone repair as it has expertise in the area and contacts with the medical community. It is best known for making knee and hip replacement joints but it also has two cell-based therapies on the market. Its Transcyte product helps to treat burns while its Dermagraft product treats ulcers. Both are frozen sheets of cells that can be laid on damaged skin to help it mend.

One of the first planes to land in the US after the terrorist attacks was carrying these products to treat the victims, a spokesman said.

[Alastair]

Blackstone Medical Plays Major Role in Spine Medicine Technology at First Stem Cell Summit in Chicago
Friday March 10, 12:45 pm ET

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackstone Medical Inc. brings breakthrough thinking to spine surgery technology at the first Stem Cell Summit in Chicago on March 21, 2006 sponsored by RRY Publications. Through a recent partnership with Osiris Therapeutics, Blackstone Medical, Inc. distributes Trinity, a surgery-ready, first-of-its-kind bone graft product containing viable adult stem cells. Trinity is unique in the field of biologics because it provides all three bone growth properties: osteoconductivity, osteoinductivity and osteogenesis and is free of donor matching or recipient immune expression concerns. It is also a safe alternative to autograft harvesting because it eliminates patient discomfort and the risk of inherent complication as well as reducing procedure time.

"The introduction of Trinity at NASS '05 has changed the way Blackstone is considered in the industry," said Blackstone Chairman William Lyons, adding, "We've moved beyond being a metals company and into another very exciting, promising realm in spine. Trinity's progressive technology has the potential to revolutionize the course of bone grafting in orthopedics as it is currently practiced." Known for their specialization in spine with a solid metal/synthetic program for fixation and motion preservation and growing biologics program, Blackstone possesses all the essential components to make significant strides in every area of spine medicine and become a leader in the international market.

Key speakers at the Stem Cell Summit and at Blackstone's exclusive Tech Suite at AAOS this year are president of Blackstone Medical, Matthew Lyons, and board-certified orthopedic and spine surgery doctors Raymond J. Linovitz, MD, and Mark A. Lorenz, MD. Dr. Linovitz is the head of Blackstone's Research and Education program. Both doctors are members of Blackstone's Medical Advisory Board and have been vital in the development of several of Blackstone's principal spine devices.

Blackstone Medical, Inc., established in 1996, is a leading international spine product company dedicated to advancing techniques and technologies in the treatment of the human spine. Partnering with luminary spine surgeons to identify solutions and using a quality team approach with engineers, Blackstone creates breakthrough spinal implant and instrument products. Blackstone's achievement-driven focus results in rapid design, cooperative manufacturing and exceptional service to surgeons.

Osiris Therapeutics, Inc., founded in 1992, is the leader in adult stem cell therapy. This therapy can be used in patients unrelated to the donor, without rejection, eliminating the need for donor matching and recipient immune suppression. Once transplanted, the cells promote healing of damaged or diseased tissues. The Company's current focus includes the use of adult stem cells to improve outcomes in bone marrow recipients being treated for leukemia, to repair cardiac damage following a heart attack or congestive heart failure, and to present and treat orthopedic disorders. Osiris has leveraged this core expertise to create Trinity, a human cellular and tissue-based product for the repair, replacement or reconstruction of skeletal defects.

About Raymond J. Linovitz, MD, FACS

Fellowship trained in spinal disorders and actively involved in the development of new technology and surgical instruments for the spine, Dr. Linovitz is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with more than 25 years in spine surgery and spinal disorders. Dr. Linovitz is the Medical Director of Research and Education for Blackstone Medical, Inc., the Medical Director of CORE Orthopedics Medical Center on the campus of Scripps Memorial Hospital in Encinitas, CA, and is a Principal Investigator for multiple IDEs. He limits his practice exclusively to treating problems of the spine.

About Mark A. Lorenz, MD

One of the first spine surgeons to be certified in artificial disc replacement, Dr. Lorenz is a board-certified, fellowship trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in spinal surgery at Hinsdale Orthopedic in Hinsdale, IL. A published writer of numerous articles in professional journals and orthopedic textbooks, Dr. Lorenz is an active researcher and educator and a frequent guest speaker at universities both in the U.S. and abroad.

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"Harrison"

[Justin]

Stem cells from brains help rats walk, study says
Tue Mar 28, 2006 5:19 PM ET

By Lisa Richwine

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Stem cells harvested from the brains of mice can restore some walking ability in laboratory rats with spinal-cord damage, Canadian scientists reported on Tuesday.

The findings are the latest success in rodent experiments to improve movement using a type of stem cell, an immature cell that can turn into different cells and tissues. Researchers hope to eventually test stem-cell therapies in people who are paralyzed and help them walk again.

In the new study, scientists took cells known as neural precursor cells, a type of stem cell that has started turning into a central nervous system cell, from mouse brains.

The researchers injected the cells into rats that could no longer walk after their spines were crushed, and gave them immune-suppressing drugs to prevent rejection.

The cells migrated to the spinal cord, merged into the injured tissue and developed into cells that produced myelin, the insulating layer around nerve fibers that transmits signals to the brain. Many patients with spinal cord damage have intact nerve fibers at the point of injury but no myelin, causing paralysis.

While the rats did not return to normal, they "recovered significant walking ability. They had better coordination of their joints and better ability to support their weight," said Dr. Michael Fehlings, a neurosurgeon at the Krembil Neuroscience Center at Toronto Western Research Institute.

The research was funded in part by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and published in the Journal of Neuroscience.

MORE STUDIES NEEDED

Fehlings said he was hopeful studies of a similar method in people could start in five to 10 years after more animal studies. One question to answer is why injections of stem cells given weeks after an injury appear less effective.

In humans, researchers might be able to extract neural precursor cells by inserting a biopsy needle into a part of the brain where they believe the cells could be found, he said. If successful, the cells could be injected close to the injury site.

Stem cells from the brains of human organ donors also could be a source, he said.

"This type of strategy could potentially be relevant to about 50 percent of individuals with spinal cord injuries who still have enough nerves at the injury site but have lost myelin," Fehlings said.

The research team said it was noteworthy that more than one-third of the stem cells survived after they were injected, moved to the injury site and produced myelin. The scientists also found the stem cells worked well when given up to two weeks after injury but less so when injected eight weeks later.

Stem cells come from various sources, from bone marrow to fetal tissue to embryos. Use of stem cells from human embryos is controversial because some consider it immoral to destroy an embryo to get the cells.

Other experiments have shown various types of cells can help heal spinal injuries in rodents. Last year, scientists reported improvement among mice with stem cells from aborted human fetuses and among rats with genetically engineered stem cells from rat embryos.

� Reuters 2006. All rights reserved.

[Alastair]

Stem Cells Repair Traumatic Injury in Phase 2 Trial 3/23/06
[Medscape Medical News]
Somatic adult stem cells fully repaired recalcitrant tibial nonunion in 6 months or less; 7 patients were fully healed at 6 months.

Hmmmmm?? a good read guys and thanks for the info.

Biologic regrowth verses prosthetics, i wish it was out before i had my 2 level ACDF but then again with total disc prolapses there is always some form of spinal cord/nerve root disruption or damage if not operated on as soon as possible.
So what ever the procedure time is a critical factor.

Bob