Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative medicine also referred as Stem Cells therapy can be defined as the process of regenerating human cells, to heals the body damaged tissue or organ and therefore restore normal function.
Where do stem cells come from?
Stem cells are issued from two main sources: adult body tissues and embryos.
- Adult Body:
Bone marrow is a soft gelatinous tissue found at the center of your bones. Mesenchymal stem cells were first found in bone marrow, and it is still the most frequently used source of mesenchymal stem cells. Subsequently, hematopoietic or blood stem cells were also found in the marrow, making it an attractive candidate for regenerative medicine and therapeutic purposes.
The adipose tissue or body fat -derived stem cells are mesenchymal cells that have the power to self-renew . They can then differentiate into adipocytes, chondrocytes, myocytes, osteoblasts, and neurocytes, in addition to other cell types. These stem cells are easy access compare to the ones in the bone marrow and have shown to have an important a major roles in reconstructive and tissue engineering fields to develop new treatments.
-Embryos:
​The embryonic stem cells are found in the interior cell mass of the blastocyst five days after development. This type of cells are potentially immortal and are derived from embryos before they implant in the uterus. These cells are typically 4–5 days old and are called blastocysts.
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Stem cells have captured the imagination of many due to their potential for treatment of many diseases as well as rejuvenating healthy tissues and organs. Stem cells are cells with the potential to develop into many different types of cells in the body. They also serve to suppress inflammation and promote the regeneration of body’s own cells. Due to the above characters, they have been increasingly used in the treatment of different clinical conditions. These include:
Hair loss - Stem cells are taken from your own body, when concentrated and injected into your scalp, can reverse the shrinking of hair follicles, thus promoting hair growth.
- Aesthetics and Anti-Ageing - The stem cell therapy could help in slowing and reversing the skin’s ageing process. They promote the development of the body’s collagen fibers and enhance the cellularity of the skin.
Joint pain - The stem cells treatment of the joint will adjust inflammation, promote the regeneration of your own cartilage and/or divide and duplicate themselves and develop into cartilage cells.
- Neck and back pain - Stem cells are helpful in the reduction of inflammation and regeneration of cartilage in the discs and spinal joints. They could also assist in healing of disc prolapses.
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How does regenerative medicine work?
- Male infertility - Stem cells injected into the testis could stimulate the sperm production and enhance fertility.
- Male Erectile Dysfunction -Injection of stem cells into the veins of the penis could potentiate the erection of men and restore normal blood circulation in the penis.
- Female infertility - Injected in the ovaries, stem cells could promote the maturation and ovulation
of female eggs.
- Female post-menopausal conditions - Stem cell therapy of the post-menopausal reproductive area could reverse and treat the dryness that develops in women during that period. It could also treat the associated sexual problems and urinary stress incontinence.
- Heart disease and heart failure - Stem cell injections have been increasingly shown to be helpful in cases of ischemic heart disease and improve heart muscle function.
- Rejuvenation - Intravenous injections of stem cells help to rejuvenate the body, including the bone, the liver, the heart, the kidneys and the nervous system.
