Stem Cell Treatment

STEM CELLS

Stem cells are the "smart cells" of the Human body. They are normally present in the
Bone marrow with small quantities in the Blood, Crown of tooth, eye etc. Stem cells can Differentiate into other Organ cells . They also selectively move towards Injured areas of the body. Hence they are of great value in regeneration of damaged organs.-. This also indicates their potential for the future of regenerative medicine.

Stem cell therapy is a rapidly evolving area of Medicine. In many parts of the globe like India, China, Thailand and West Indies Adult Stem cell therapy is already available for clinical use. The stem cells are harvested from the Bone marrow or by drawing the patient's own blood and hence this treatment is called "AUTOLOGOUS". Adult Stem cell therapy has given a new Hope for hitherto "incurable" medical problems.

Stem cells are different from adult body cells in having a capacity to change themselves into any type of body tissue like Bone, Heart Muscle, Nerve tissue, Liver cells. Blood vessels etc. This property is called Pleuripotency or Plasticity. This Amazing property represents a Major Hope for Medical science as Damaged Body parts can be now be potentially repaired using these versatile cells !

STEM CELL SERVICES : Stem cell therapy in India is being provided by the Department of Stem cell Therapy "LIFELINE MULTISPECIALITY" HOSPITALS, CHENNAI, INDIA. Lifeline Hospital is situated at PERUNGUDI, CHENNAI, INDIA.

Type of Stem Cell

1 Adult stem cells : The Bone marrow is an abundant source of stem cells. Since they are derived from patient's own body There is no problem of "REJECTION" . Also there are no ethical Issues for Doctors in using these cells. The Maximum Clinical Data are now available with Adult stem cells.

2. Umbilical cord stem cells: The Newborn child's Cord blood is a rich source of Stem cells. They have great potential for future applications in medicine. But the present treatment status of these cells are not clear.

3. Embryonic stem cells: The Embryo in the first 10 weeks is the richest source of Undifferentiated Stem cells which can potentially change to virtually any organ. Apart from Ethical concerns about Destruction

Stem cell treatment for Diseases

Heart Disease

Adult stem cell treatment has been found to be useful for Advanced Coronary artery disease and heart Muscle damage after Myocardial Infarction (heart attack). The stem cells are Injected either into the coronary arteries via a special catheter or directly into the Heart muscle. In very high risk cases it can be injected in a Peripheral vein. Many studies have shown 20-40 % improvement in the Pumping capacity (Ejection fraction) and circulation status of the Heart using Stem cell therapy. The procedure is entirely painless.

Recent Clinical trials - like The "BOOST TRIAL" and "REPAIR - MI" have confirmed the value of Adult Stem cells in the treatment of Heart patients having Low Ejection fraction or advanced Coronary artery disease .

Spinal Cord Damage

Stem cells have found use in Patients with Muscular or Bladder paralysis after Spinal Cord Injury. In patients with paraplegia. This therapy is of maximum use in patients 1-2 years after Spinal cord injury. It could also be potentially of use for patients with other neurological diseases of the spinal cord. In the future the therapy may be useful for patients with Brain Damage also. Stem cell Injected directly into the Spinal fluid or around the spinal cord, at the site of injury has been found to improve nerve function. The Injection procedure is done under local anesthesia and is painless.

Liver Failure

Stem cells have shown to be of value in patients with reduced liver function and cirrhosis with Liver fibrosis. Direct injection into the hepatic artery has also shown good clinical improvement in many patients.

This is a major medical breakthrough as Acute Liver failure has no definitive therapy and patients will not be able to survive the long wait for a Liver transplantation.

Cancer

Natural Killer cells (NK cells) which can be purified from the peripheral blood is found to be beneficial even in late cases of cancers like - Melanoma, Liver, pancreatic, lung and Gastric cancers. This treatment is called "Autologous Immune Enhancement therapy" (AIET).

Procedure

In present Clinical practice Adult Stem cell therapy is given in 2 ways : All procedures are done under aseptic conditions and the Lab follows GMP practices .

1. BONE MARROW DERIVED STEM CELLTHERAPY : The Bone marrow is a RICH source of stem cells. In this procedure Patient is admitted to Hospital in the morning. Blood is drawn for routine tests. After Light breakfast he is taken in the procedure Room for Bone marrow Aspiration. Here a Specialist performs a small aspiration of Bone marrow from the Hip Area, under Local anaesthesia. The process takes about 15 minutes and is practically painless. The Aspirate (50 ml) is sent to the STEM CELL LAB. The purification process for the Stem cells takes about 3 hours after the purified Stem cell Solution is returned to the Ward. The stem cell solution is confirmed Bacteria free by means of a "endotoxin" test. The same day Evening the Stem cells are injected either into the Heart blood vessels, Spinal fluid or Liver blood vessel or Peripheral vein. Patient is discharged the next day.

2. PERIPHERAL STEM CELL THERAPY : Technology is now available for separating Stem cells from the Blood itself. But the Concentration of cells will be less than the bone marrow. Here 100-150 ml of blood is taken. The stem cell separation takes 1 week. After 1 week the cells are Injected as described above.

Collection

The collection of sample is done in a totally sterile fashion from the Hip bone (Bone marrow) or peripheral blood. About 50-75 ml of sample is required. Bone marrow aspiration is done by a specialist and done with minimal discomfort using latest painless Anaesthesia.

PROCESSING :

The Sample is transported to our Lab in a Aseptic fashion at 4 degree centigrade temperature. The sample is processed in our Lab using the latest Cell separator technology using special Receptor Markers.

INJECTION :

The Injection is done painlessly By specialists in the Peripheral Blood / cardiac Blood vessels/ Liver blood vessel/ Spinal fluid as the case may be. In cardiac cases an Experienced cardiologist will be monitoring the patient.

News

India's FIRST successful Stem Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury
A press meet Jointly by Life Line Hospital & NCRM

A 25 year old Akbar ali, who sustained an injury to his spinal cord on the 12th of October 2006 at a construction site in Abhudabi following a fall from 12 mts, lost sensation and activity of the lower half of his body. He was treated surgically in which the bones of the vertebral column within which the spinal cord is situated were fixed using metal plates and screws after which he was on a wheel chair without any control over his bladder and bowel. The sensation and activity also didn't improve much. He arrived back in India on a wheel chair in the first week of December 2006.

Mr. Akbar Ali in the press meet (In the centre with blue tops and pyjama)
flanked by (From L.R) Dr JS Rajkumar (Chairman Life Line Hospital),
Dr Narayanan (Neurosurgeon), Dr Ravikumar (Stem Cell Project Coordinator)
Dr Baskaran (CEO, Life Line) Mr Yuji Okada (Consul, Consulate of Japan, Chennai),
Dr Samuel JK Abraham (NCRM)

Incidentally when he got admitted to the Life Line Hospital, Chennai, for a reparative surgery to correct the bowel sphincter, the hospital had just got a MoU signed with NCRM for a collaborative work on stem cell based clinical applications. Immediately his case was considered for the stem cell therapy as the time elapsed from the accident until then was very short (10 weeks)

On the 22nd of December, under general anaesthesia, 100ml of his bone marrow was taken from his Iliac bone and the stem cells were isolated and processed at NCRM as per the technology given by Dr Terunuma Hiroshi of Biotherapy Institute, Tokyo, Japan. The isolated cells ready for injection were then injected into the space around the injured site of the spinal cord.

Mr Ali, who was on a continuous drainage of urine from bladder, started feeling some sensation of the catheter as a foreign body and asked the physician to remove the same. Simultaneously he started feeling sensation in the legs and foot and in 4 weeks time from the injection and then he could stand on his own. Now 2 months from then, he is able to withhold the urine for up to 2 Hrs and also able to stand on his own and walk without any ones help. The coordination of the legs while walking are normal.

Objective evaluation has shown his motor power has improved to level 4 (Level 5 is normal) and sensation and motor activity of the urinary bladder as well by appropriate tests.

As far our knowledge is concerned, this could be the first such case reported in India.

In the press meet held on the 24th February 2007 to announce this, Dr Ravikumar presented his case to the audience and the event was graced by the presence of Mr Yuji Okada, Consul, Consulate of Japan, Chennai who lauded the entire team for this miraculous results.

Dr JS Rajkumar, Chairman, Lifeline Hospital and Dr Samuel JK Abraham, Director, NCRM explained the scientist basis of this treatment after a brief speech by Mr Akbar ali who narrated the entire story and also answered to the questions raised by the audience.

A few points of scientific importance
Picture on the left shows the spinal cord compression (Yellow arrows) and vertebral bone damage (Red Arrows). Picture on the right was taken after the bones were fixed in a surgery using plates and screws.	About the cell source and their mechanism: In any such injury the damage is caused to the neural component and vascular component. The time within which the anatomical correction is undertaken (surgical fixing of the bones in this case) and adjunct therapies are started are very important. Earlier the treatment is given better could be the outcome.	About the cell source and their mechanism: 1. The cells used were NOT from any other source such as embryo or Umbilical cord blood or another human donor, but from his own bone marrow. Therefore this is safe. 2. The cells were not contaminated with any other biological material from human or animal origin. 3. The bone marrow stem cells do the repair in two ways: (i) Majority of the cells secrete trophic factors which help repair neural and vascular damages (ii) a small portion of the cells undergo fusion- differentiation to become nerve cells.

Related news in the media: Indian Express Chennai Online The Hindu Deccan Chronicle

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Stem Cell Services

STEM CELL THERAPY SERVICES : Stem cell therapy has been introduced for the first time in India by "LIFELINE MULTISPECIALITY HOSPITAL", Perungudi, Chennai, INDIA.

Lifeline Hospital is situated in the Modern IT corridor area of Chennai and connected well with the Airport by a 4 lane highway (distance from Airport - 7 Kms).

Airport pickup and drop will be arranged by our Travel desk and a Guest relation Executive will take care of all Non Medical services including Translator services.

CONTACT

Dr.Baskaran

+919940123332