Jun 26, 2017
Five years ago, I “graduated” from a 37-year career as an orthopedic surgeon with a practice based on hip and knee replacement surgery for arthritic joints. Trading my scalpel for a needle, I entered the new discipline of Cellular Orthopedics with a goal of helping patients delay, at times avoid a joint replacement for the arthritic hip and knee joint. In my transition, I introduced the same integration of research, patient care, and education into Regenerative Medicine that I had pioneered as the head of a joint replacement program at a major-medical center in Chicago, helping that center emerge as one of the five most recognized programs in The United States.
At the beginning and continuing to this day, Cellular Orthopedics has been based on the use of a patient’s own Platelet Rich Plasma and Bone Marrow Concentrate as the source for providing pain relief and functional improvement to a patient experiencing impairment from an arthritic joint. I have almost five years of outcomes data to support my therapeutic recommendations. Platelet Rich Plasma offers healing and pain relieving promise for the patient; while the Stem Cells and Growth Factors in Bone Marrow Concentrate offer regenerative potential in addition, all this while FDA compliant.
Over the past year however, there has been an explosion in the marketing of untested and unproven alternatives continually introduced under the Regenerative Medicine umbrella. Web sites make unsubstantiated claims, purchased media campaigns become a source of false advertising and courses both live and on-line promise expertise credentialing in 48 hours.
As a response to this chaos, I have founded The Center for Orthobiologic Clinical Trials whereby I am able to validate or challenge the plethora of claims and assist my patients in decision making based on scientific evidence; while at the same time, contributing to the emerging discipline of Interventional Orthopedics. I now have gathered the largest Data Base with long term follow-up of which I am aware documenting the Outcomes of Bone Marrow Concentrate, Amniotic Fluid Concentrate and mechanically emulsified, Adipose Derived, Lipogems.
The next step is to study the outcomes of combining cellular orthopedic interventions into the joint with the added step of injecting Bone Marrow Concentrate and Platelet Rich Plasma into the bone adjacent to the joint. I am currently recruiting patients for the latter trial. For those who meet inclusion criteria, there is a discount for said care. Interested patients should call (312) 475-1893 on Monday or Thursday.
If you want to become better informed, browse my website www.sheinkopmd.com.
You may watch my webinar at www.ilcellulartherapy.com or call central schedulaing at (312) 475-1893 for a new patient consultation.
Tags: Amniotic Fluid Concentrate, Bone Marrow Concentrate, cellular treatment, Hip pain, joint replacement, knee pain, lipogems, mechanically emulsified Adipose Derived, Mesenchymal Stem Cell, Osteoarthritis, PRP, regenerative medicine
Jun 12, 2017
The lack of scientific foundation in stem cell marketing is all around us and negatively impacting those doing the right thing in the evolving discipline of Regenerative Medicine. Yesterday afternoon, a patient for whom I successfully completed a Bone Marrow Concentrate/Stem cell procedure presented to the office for a follow-up visit. She was accompanied by her husband who was experiencing progressive limitation attributable to an arthritic left knee. Because of my patient’s successful experience, her husband had determined now it was his turn. After the intake, I provided the customary explanation of what was to take place. During the question and answer follow-up, both husband, the new patient, and wife, the successful outcome, wanted to know why hers had worked whereas several of their friends had not enjoyed successful outcomes after amniotic fluid interventions.
The explanation is straightforward and based on a precedent, the fact speaks for itself. While Bone Marrow is full of Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Growth Factors when harvested, processed, concentrated and reinjected into the symptomatic joint within 60 to 90 minutes after the harvesting; Amniotic Fluid has no living stem cells after sterilizing, freezing and fast thawing. Restated, Amniotic Fluid has little if any regenerative potential. Why am I able to make said statements in the face of such aggressive marketing claims regarding amniotic fluid? In addition to my work clinically and scientifically with Bone Marrow Derived stem cells and growth factors, I am the Principal Investigator in a clinical trial wherein amniotic fluid both frozen and fast thawed, and most recently, Lyophilized, has been used in lieu of hyaluronic acid to reduce or possible relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis for six to 12 months. At no time did the largest amniotic product based pharmaceutical company in the United States suggest there are viable stem cells in amniotic fluid nor did they make any claim for regenerative potential. Returning to my office encounter, during our continued discussion, I learned that those who had opted for the amniotic fluid injection had paid more for the injections than I charge for the Bone Marrow intervention. So, think about the harm done to the “victims” as well as the public in general. The trusting patients paid for a regenerative procedure that they never received. The patients believing that the stem cell procedure didn’t work are now considering total joint replacements.
How might you protect yourself if you are considering a means by which you might postpone or avoid a joint replacement for arthritis? Make sure you choose a residency and fellowship trained interventional specialist. Second, ask the clinician to share his or her scientific outcomes data.
If you want to become better informed, browse my website www.sheinkopmd.com.
You may watch my webinar at www.ilcellulartherapy.com or call to schedule a consultation (312) 475-1893.
Tags: ACL Injury, arthritis, Bone Marrow Concentrate, Clinical Trial. Mitchell B. Sheinkop, Hip, Interventional Orthopedics, joint replacement, Knee Pain Relief, Mesenchymal Stem Cell, Orthopedic Surgeon, regenerative medicine, stem cell treatment
May 11, 2017
Last week, my associate attended a continued medical education course held in a venue near the Wisconsin-Illinois border; a site frequently used by the Stem Cell Institute of America to host amniotic fluid marketing seminars. My colleague overheard a conversation between several physical therapists touting the success of amniotic fluid in regenerating cartilage on their patients, “you can see the increased joint space on the x-ray when we see the patient in follow-up”. I have addressed the issue of the absence of viable stem cells in amniotic fluid ad-nauseam (borrowing a recently expressed symptom from the Director of the FBI) but I am continually amazed at how false news when repeated takes on a fantasy of its own. Additionally, my patients frequently ask to repeat the imaging so they might see if the cartilage is growing.
Much of the current research effort pertaining to cartilage is experimental and has to do with the MRI techniques known as T2 mapping and delayed gadolinium enhanced MRI of cartilage (dGEMRIC). In addition to MRI techniques, optical coherence tomography (OCT) may allow arthroscopic evaluation of cartilage by performing microscopic cross-sectional imaging of articular cartilage. In the final analysis, the only present clinical cost effective, non-invasive means of quantitating and qualitating the patient response to an intervention are exactly the parameters I measure in my office; the only comprehensive methodology of its kind in the clinical field of Regenerative Medicine.
When a patient asks me how do I know whether an intervention is a success, I don’t point to an increased joint space on the X-ray as it is not there to be seen. I review patient specific outcomes including pain scores, activity scores, subjective input, and objective measurements and compare the pre-intervention findings with the latest scoring.
In the interval between starting to write this Blog and now, I received an unsolicited update from a patient who had attended the Stem Cell Institute of America seminar. He had asked so many questions during the seminar, the chiropractors running the seminar gave him the PalinGen Flow brochure (their source of amniotic fluid) as my patient had challenged their evidence beyond the speakers’ ability to respond. My patient, who eventually underwent a bone marrow concentrate intervention with my assistance, read the document and learned that PalinGen Flow makes no mention of stem cell content in their literature.
To schedule an appointment call (312) 475-1893
To visit my web site go to www.sheinkopmd.com
To watch my webinar visit www.ilcellulartherapy.com
Tags: arthritis, bone marrow, Bone Marrow Concentrate, Clinical Trial. Mitchell B. Sheinkop, Concentrated Stem Cell Plasma, Interventional Orthopedics, joint replacement, Mesenchymal Stem Cell, Regenerative, regenerative medicine, stem cell treatment
May 5, 2017
NON-INTERVENTIONAL MEANS OF MANAGING KNEE ARTHRITIS
A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
PUBLIC RELEASE: 2-MAY-2017
Weight loss can slow down knee joint degeneration
CREDIT: RADIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF NORTH AMERICA
OAK BROOK, Ill. – Overweight and obese people who lost a substantial amount of weight over a 48-month period showed significantly lower degeneration of their knee cartilage, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology.
According to the National Institutes of Health, obesity is a risk factor for osteoarthritis. Being overweight or obese can place extra pressure on joints and cartilage, causing them to wear away. In addition, people with more body fat may have higher blood levels of substances that cause inflammation in the joints, raising the risk for osteoarthritis.
“For this research, we analyzed the differences between groups with and without weight loss,” said the study’s lead author, Alexandra Gersing, M.D., from the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at the University of California, San Francisco. “We looked at the degeneration of all knee joint structures, such as menisci, articular cartilage and bone marrow.”
The research team investigated the association between weight loss and the progression of cartilage changes on MRI over a 48-month period in 640 overweight and obese patients (minimum body mass index [BMI] 25 kg/m2) who had risk factors for osteoarthritis or MRI evidence of mild to moderate osteoarthritis. Data was collected from the Osteoarthritis Initiative, a nationwide research study focused on the prevention and treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Patients were categorized into three groups: those who lost more than 10 percent of their body weight, those who lost five to 10 percent of their body weight, and a control group whose weight remained stable.
The results showed that patients with 5 percent weight loss had lower rates of cartilage degeneration when compared with stable weight participants. In those with 10 percent weight loss, cartilage degeneration slowed even more.
Not only did the researchers find that weight loss slowed articular cartilage degeneration, they also saw changes in the menisci. Menisci are crescent-shaped fibrocartilage pads that protect and cushion the joint.
“The most exciting finding of our research was that not only did we see slower degeneration in the articular cartilage, we saw that the menisci degenerated a lot slower in overweight and obese individuals who lost more than 5 percent of their body weight, and that the effects were strongest in overweight individuals and in individuals with substantial weight loss,” Dr. Gersing said.
Light to moderate exercise is also recommended to protect against cartilage degeneration in the knee.
“Our study emphasizes the importance of individualized therapy strategies and lifestyle interventions in order to prevent structural knee joint degeneration as early as possible in obese and overweight patients at risk for osteoarthritis or with symptomatic osteoarthritis,” Dr. Gersing said. [end]
If you want to learn more about postponing or perhaps even avoiding surgery for a joint that alters your quality of life, call 312-475-1893.
To learn more, check out my web site at www.Sheinkopmd.com
View my webinar at www.ilcellulartherapy.com
Tags: arthritis, Bone Marrow Concentrate, Clinical Trial. Mitchell B. Sheinkop, Interventional Orthopedics, joint replacement, Knee Pain Relief, Osteoarthritis, Regenerative
Apr 20, 2017
My clinical practice mission is to use autologous concentrated marrow-derived mononuclear cells for the care and treatment of a joint afflicted by degenerative arthritis so as to assist a patient in postponing, perhaps avoiding a joint replacement. I then follow the patient using osteoarthritis outcome scores to measure pain control, activity improvement, and quality of life impact. The knee society score, an orthopedic surgeon’s vehicle, (KSS) also demonstrates a significant improvement of on the symptoms subscale and function subscale in most patients who undergo a Bone Marrow Concentrate procedure in my office. What about Stem Cells? Please note at the end of the first sentence and the beginning of the second, my emphasis on autologous concentrated marrow-derived mononuclear cells; not “Stem Cells”. That bone marrow concentrate is made up of Platelets, Growth Factors, and Mononucleated cells. It has been estimated that somewhere between .0017% and .034% of the mononucleated cells are actually adult mesenchymal stem cells. My point is that when you see the ads for stem cells on the many web sites, in the print media and now on outdoor advertising signs as the one I noticed on Clinton and Monroe in Chicago this past Monday, you may fall victim to marketing and not science. Chiropractors, non-board certified physicians, family practitioners and the entire realm of camp followers have embraced the exploding discipline of Regenerative Medicine. Patient beware as I point out in the next paragraph using a recently published study from the Mayo Clinic.
Many patients come to Mayo Clinic for a second opinion or diagnosis confirmation before treatment for a complex condition. In a new study, Mayo Clinic reports that as many as 88 percent of those patients go home with a new or refined diagnosis – changing their care plan and potentially their lives. Conversely, only 12 percent receive confirmation that the original diagnosis was complete and correct. Given what I have seen evolving in the field of Regenerative Medicine, I am not surprised. Few practices offering “Stem Cells” have any idea what is involved and what is in the bone marrow concentrate. Many mislead the public with a stem cell presentation using amniotic fluid product wherein it has repeatedly demonstrated there is an absence of stem cells in amniotic fluid once processed, frozen and fast thawed. What about adipose derived stem cells? For one, to liberate the stem cell from the adipocyte, there has to be a cycle of enzymatic degradation. The latter violates FDA requirements. What about platelets and growth factors in adipose derived materials? Given the relative absence of blood supply in fat, I have yet to find a scientific publication suggesting there are growth factors in adipose tissue.
The cover story in the April 2017 AARP.ORG/Bulletin is titled “How to Stop Fraud, The Ultimate Guide to Protect Yourself from Scammers and Crooks” While not directed to Regenerative Medicine, the warning applies. As suggested by the Mayo Clinic referenced article above, the best protection is a second opinion.
To schedule call: 312 475-1893
You may visit my web site at www.SheinkopMD.com
Or watch my webinar at www.ilcellulartherapy.com
Tags: Benefits and Risk, Bone Marrow Concentrate, Orthopedic Surgeon, Regenerative, regenerative medicine, Regenexx-SD, stem cell treatment
