STEM CELL THERAPY: AN EMERGING TREND IN REGENERATIVE MEDICINE

• Posted by Evert Chris Dimalanta January 28, 2014 - Filed in Health - 1,105 views

  With the rising number of diseases these days, researches and medical breakthroughs on how to combat these diseases are spreading like wildfire too. One of the notable new generation cures is the stem cell therapy which falls under the regenerative medicine.

  
  Regenerative medicine is a branch of medicine aimed at restoring organ/tissue function for patients who suffered serious bodily injuries or afflicted with chronic diseases whose bodies cannot respond well to restore functional tissues. This branch of medicine emerged in view of the crisis in organ transplantation and growing number of patients. According to the Medical News Today, stem cells are a class of undifferentiated cells that are able to differentiate into specialized cell types. Commonly, stem cells come from two main sources: (1) Embryos formed during the blastocyst phase of embryological development (embryonic stem cells) and (2) Adult tissue (adult stem cells). Both types are generally characterized by their potency, or potential to differentiate into different cell types (such as skin, muscle, bone, etc.). Accordingly, stem cells are used to create living and functional tissues to regenerate and repair damaged tissue and organs in the body due to disease, age and congenital defects. Stem cells have the power to go into these damaged tissues and organs and regenerate new cells and tissues, thus performing repairs and renewals.

  
  However, while several countries have proven their expertise in stem cell therapy, medical authorities are concerned that frustration for immediate cure may leave patients vulnerable to unscrupulous providers of stem cell treatments that are illegal and potentially harmful. Thus, patients are cautioned to make sure they get legitimate stem cell treatments. For instance, in the US, the FDA has approved only one stem cell product, Hemacord, a cord blood-derived product manufactured by the New York Blood Center and used for specified indications in patients with disorders affecting the body’s blood-forming system. Patients need also to be aware of the barring complications after the stem cell treatment procedure since they might experience side effects, like headaches or muscle weakness. However, it lasts only for a short period of time.

  
  While there are documented successes of this stem cell treatment from all over the globe, patients must be cautious enough in availing this procedure. Health is wealth. No one wants to suffer. Yet, we should not go to the extent of just finding cure anywhere. We must be wary of its source.