Feb 28, 2017
When it comes to cellular orthopedics, for me, it is a matter of honor and self-interest.
If you aren’t aware of the bogus stem cell claims or “false news”, read the LA Times article that appeared last week http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik–oz-stem-cell-20170213-story.html
The article followed a Dr. Oz television expose where he focused on charlatans victimizing the public with false information at extremely outrageous fee schedules. The egregious behavior stemmed (no pun intended) from mostly California based clinics but Texas was another state exposed. For those who read this Blog, you are familiar with the false advertising of “Stem Cell Clinics” highlighting regenerative medicine via Amniotic Fluid for arthritis in Illinois, that I have repeatedly taken to task. To repeat, while there may be living cells when amniotic fluid is harvested, following collection, processing, sterilizing, irradiating, freezing and fast thawing, there are no living or viable stem cells in the pat being offered as a regenerative alternative. Dr. Oz took his expose a lot further calling attention to false claims without medical evidence wherein the so called regenerative medicine clinics he exposed offer treatment for every and any affliction of the human body.
Since the innovations introduced by Regenexx 10 years or so ago, interventional orthopedics has become an evidence based approach to sports medicine related injuries and as an alternative to a major surgical reconstruction or replacement for an arthritic or chronically injured bone or joint. I am a member of the Regenexx network and, have continued to compile and contribute scientific evidence to support the Regenexx mission. Our menu of surgical alternatives is directed to afflictions of the musculoskeletal system.
A patient attempting to postpone or avoid a major orthopedic procedure for an arthritic joint and return to a relatively symptom free functional quality of life may find legitimate, well intentioned and evidence based regenerative medicine and interventional cellular orthopedic initiatives. I am proud to be one of those clinical settings
Next week, I will complete my interview with Dr Mitchell Sheinkop, part two-focusing on common athletic injuries amenable to cellular orthopedics and joint condition amenable to stem cell intervention.
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: Bone Marrow Concentrate, Clinical Studies, Clinical Trial. Mitchell B. Sheinkop, Concentrated Stem Cell Plasma, Interventional Orthopedics, Mesenchymal Stem Cell, regenerative medicine, stem cell treatment
Dec 9, 2016
I started the day by reading the Steve Chapman article appearing in the Perspective Section of the Chicago Tribune, Thursday December 8. The title of my Blog this week is influenced by the header of his article and I admit I am paraphrasing some of that content. While his intent was not necessarily directed at the discipline of Regenerative Medicine, his statement” since the advent of the internet, truth doesn’t have a chance” really resonates with me. He goes on to state that in many of these internet claims, the idea of objective reality is obliterated. “The chief product is fiction masquerading as fact.”
Unfortunately, while Chapman was rendering his opinion in the political arena, what he opines is just as applicable in the world of Regenerative; but there are exceptions. As many readers of this Blog are aware, I have an existing web site www.sheinkopmd.com. I have tried to continually emphasize and repeat the Regenexx message; namely, that which we do is based on data, the integration of a clinical practice with a clinical research initiative. Yesterday, we forwarded our two-year outcomes data to Regenexx for statistical analysis. That data has been compiled in a clinical knee trial over the past four years wherein the Regenexx SD procedure was used in 50 patients with grades two and three osteoarthritis of the knee who met the inclusion criteria. Once statistically analyzed, I will submit that data for scientific publication, scientific presentation and it will be published on the Regenexx and my web sites.
To emphasize why it is so important for a patient experiencing arthritic related limitations be fully educated, let me share with you a relevant research letter recently published:
Survey: Many treatments prescribed despite little evidence of high value to patients.
Information from a research letter published in the Dec. 6 issue of the journal Annals of Surgery wherein researchers randomly surveyed 5,000 members of the American College of Physicians found that many prescribe costly treatments despite a lack of evidence supporting their use.
In surveying the internet this morning to see how badly fiction is masquerading as fact, I didn’t have to surf too far. The number of camp follower, non-specialist stem cell related web sites are of great concern. I hope the FDA shares my opinion. You can find treatment for arthritis, cancer, aesthetics, hair loss, sexual enhancement, and neurologic diseases all with one stop shopping. The web sites offer adipose derived stem cells and amniotic fluid containing stem cells. Missing from the offerings are outcomes data, scientific support and FDA compliance. Regenexx does it and so do I; namely, practice cellular orthopedics on a scientific basis under IRB oversite (a function of the FDA) with all intervention recommendations supported by scientific evidence.
To learn more, schedule an appointment 312 475 1893. You may view my webinar at ilcellulartherapy.com
Tags: arthritis, Bone Marrow Concentrate, Clinical Trial. Mitchell B. Sheinkop, Concentrated Stem Cell Plasma, Platelet Rich Plasma, Regenerative, regenerative medicine
Nov 1, 2016
The FDA again held a meeting to address issues pertaining to Regenerative Medicine. At the conclusion of the meeting, an updated set of guidelines was developed for patient protection in the use of stem cells, growth factors, and platelet rich plasma. While still being interpreted by the Regenerative Medicine community, what becomes clear is the call for better self-regulation. It is not ethical or acceptable for anyone holding themselves out to be practicing cellular medicine to hold a seminar, recruit a patient, inject some substance into a joint and request payment. Equally important are the credentials of that practitioner.
For the past four and a half years, I have followed the outcomes of all my patients using the same subjective and objective parameters in my practice of Interventional Orthopedics that I used to follow the results during my joint replacement career. Over that 37-year span, because of my data collection initiative, many new generations of Hip and Knee Prostheses were introduced into adult reconstructive orthopedic surgery. Statistical analysis of data allows for progress in care and development of new product. Today, I still gather outcomes data for each patient. That initiative has led to refinement and advances in the emerging subspecialty of Regenerative Medicine; both in my own practice and around the globe.
Anticipating the future, I am headed off this upcoming weekend to join a small group of those looking to the future in advancing the practice of cellular medicine. Up until now, our data collection and Outcomes registry was clinical in nature; in a short time, that data will also include cellular data. This latter is the next way to refine the practice of regenerative medicine.
By having tighter control over the composition of autologous PRP and BMC preparations for use in my practice of regenerative medicine, through comprehensive analysis of autologous patient samples, I will have a chance to see what levels of important constituents like Stem Cells, Growth Factors, Platelets, RBCs, WBCs, and so on are present in the preparation.
How might I take advantage of the data? The most obvious use would be for me to record values of your sample analysis in a spreadsheet and enter in demographic and clinical outcomes data. I will continue to enter your results of outcomes assessments obtained during follow-up visits that I routinely use to monitor your recovery. By applying this strategy to all patients I treat, an internal database will inform me about optimization strategies for treating my patients, allowing me to modify and customize the make-up of that which will be injected. Why go to the trouble, you might be asking yourself? Having a detailed knowledge of what I am injecting into my patient puts me in a position to refine my practice of regenerative medicine. And that is a good thing, since you the patient ultimately will benefit from my optimizing the use of autologous materials like PRP and BMC.
To schedule your appointment call 312 475 1893
Tags: arthritis, BMC, Bone Marrow Concentrate, Clinical Trial. Mitchell B. Sheinkop, Concentrated Stem Cell Plasma, Growth Factors, Hip Replacement, Interventional Orthopedics, joint replacement, Knee Pain Relief, knee replacement, Osteoarthritis, Pain Management, Platelet Rich Plasma, platelets, PRP, regenerative medicine, stem cells, Ultrasound Guided Injection
Oct 20, 2016
Aging is known to contribute to a multitude of systemic changes including those of the musculoskeletal system leading to decreased health, mobility and function. Most changes in well-being are exacerbated by inactivity. It has been scientifically documented that physical activity and exercise may slow or even reverse these deleterious effects thereby improving health, mobility and function.
In particular, ligaments, tendons and joint capsules become stiffer with age as elastic fibers decrease and cross-links between collagen fibers increase. As connective tissue surrounding the joint changes, so too does the synovial fluid within the joint making movement more difficult. Not only do changes occur within the joint, they also occur in the muscles. The loss of muscle mass and strength also known as sarcopenia, increases with age. Then there is the fatty infiltration of muscle that comes with aging and lack of use.
Recognizing the value of Bone Marrow Concentrate derived Stem Cells, Cytokines and Growth Factors in dealing with his arthritic hip when the alternative was a joint replacement, seven months ago, a 58-year-old man underwent a cellular orthopedic intervention. Over the past many months, the patient committed himself to a minimum of 30 minutes a day, five days a week at moderate intensity aerobic exercise alternating with three days a week at vigorous intensity. In addition, he partook in resistance exercise a minimum of two days a week at a moderate high intensity focusing on 10 exercises at each session targeting most major muscle groups, with 10 to 15 repetitions for each exercise performed thus adding an additional 20 to 30 minutes to the commitment. Then there are the benefits of his additional flexibility and stretching. When this individual came to me at his first visit, his stated goals were to return to a high level of recreational enjoyment with a particular interest in ball room dancing. As of last week, he had reached those goals but he has no intention of failing to comply with his exercise prescription.
The obvious message of my Blog is to let you know I am unable to reach a desired goal without your commitment. I may introduce Stem Cells, Cytokines and Growth Factors into an arthritic joint but to reach your desired goal or delay or perhaps avoid a joint replacement, those many changes that occur with aging can be slowed and even reversed by a combination of cellular orthopedics and exercise.
If you want to learn about the evidence, schedule an appointment 312 475 1893
Tags: arthritis, athletes, Benefits and Risk, bone marrow, Bone Marrow Concentrate, Concentrated Stem Cell Plasma, Growth Factors, Hip, Hip Replacement, Interventional Orthopedics, joint replacement, Knee Pain Relief, Mature Athlete, Orthopedic Care, Orthopedic Surgeon, Orthopedics, Osteoarthritis, Pain Management, Regenerative, regenerative medicine, Regenexx, stem cells, treatment
Oct 6, 2016
“Growth factor, any of a group of proteins that stimulate the growth of specific tissues. Growth factors play an important role I promoting cellular differentiation and cell division,” and they occur in bone marrow as well as your circulating blood.
“When investigators began studying the effects of biological substances on cells and tissues in culture, they discovered a group of peptide-hormone-like substances that were distinct from any previously known hormones. Because these substances were active in stimulating the growth of cells and tissues, they were called growth factors. Some growth factors are similar to hormones in that they can be secreted into the blood stream, which carries them to their target tissues. However, whereas the production of hormones is limited to glandular tissue, growth factors can be produced by many different types of tissue” and cells for that matter.
When a patient presents for a Bone Marrow Concentrate procedure for an arthritic joint in order to prevent, perhaps even avoid a joint replacement, the understanding to date is that it will be Mesenchymal Stem Cell that will serve as the key factor in reducing pain, increasing motion, improving function and influencing the progression of arthritis. The latter is only partially true but fails to address the role Growth Factors play in Cellular Orthopedics (Regenerative Medicine). When your orthopedic surgeon tells you that Stem Cells won’t work for your arthritis, schedule your joint replacement, that physician doesn’t understand that Stem cells are only part of what Bone Marrow concentrate provides us in assisting the patient with an arthritic joint, return to an active life style without surgery.
We now have several proprietary means of not only concentrating adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells but Growth Factors as well when addressing your arthritic joint with Bone Marrow Concentrate. While stem cells may be impacted by age, Growth Factors do not seem to be adversely impacted accounting for several recent successes with patients in their 90s. Since we have been concentrating stem cells with growth factors and combining the approach to the joint with subchondroplasty, we continue to document improving outcomes
Tags: arthritic pain, arthritis, arthritis treatment, Bone Marrow Concentrate, Concentrated Stem Cell Plasma, Growth Factors, Hip Replacement, joint replacement, Mesenchymal Stem Cell, Orthopedic Surgeon, Osteoarthritis, regenerative medicine, Regenerative Pain Center, stem cell treatment
