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Louis A. Cona, MD
Jan 14, 2020
Reading time: 3 minutes 45 seconds
A summary of what stem cells are, how they are used and if they are safe.
Yes, stem cell therapy is a safe procedure. The physician must follow proper cell administration techniques. Patients must also be screened for treatment candidacy as all people may not be a candidate for stem cells.
At DVC Stem (stem cell clinic located in Grand Cayman), there have been no reports of any long term adverse side effects or worsening of the patient’s condition following treatment with cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells.
Common short-term side effects immediately following the cell transplant have been fatigue, headache, and nausea. These effects typically subside between 1-2 hours.
Cord-tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells do not have any risk of rejection within the body. They are youthful, immune-privileged, undifferentiated cells that have no rejection in the body because they have yet to be “claimed.” There are no blood products associated with them either, removing the need for a donor match; they are accepted universally. These cells seek out inflammation in the body and begin to heal the damaged tissue. Mesenchymal cord tissue-derived stem cells have been administered thousands of times at clinics around the world without instances of rejection (graft vs. host disease).
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Stem cells are cells that have not yet specialized in the body, meaning they have not grown into a particular type of cell with a specific function (e.g., muscle cell, skin cell, etc.). A stem cell can become many different cell types in the human body.
The process of stem cells transforming into new types of cells is called differentiation. This process is the most critical aspect of stem cell therapies, as the cells become new cells that are required for the body to heal.
Stem cells also have self-replicating capabilities. Meaning the cells can multiply into identical copies of themselves within the body after transfusion. For example, stem cells used to treat a neurological injury, could become nerve cells, and then replicate to create exponentially more nerve cells on their own. This process can drastically increase the effectiveness of stem cell treatments over time.
“Stem cell research has shown that cell therapy may have the ability to promote the repair of diseased, dysfunctional, or injured tissue. There have been many positive and exciting outcomes for patients who have had little success with conventional treatments.” - Louis A. Cona, MD
As well as being essential to healthy human growth, stem cells are a potential source of new cells to replace damaged or diseased tissue. These abilities that stem cells possess are what make them so promising in the treatment of various diseases and conditions.
Stem cells can be harvested from fat (adipose), bone marrow, umbilical cord tissue, & umbilical cord blood. Each source has certain benefits, and the type of stem cell source used can vary from patient to patient, based on physician recommendations.
These are stem cells derived initially from umbilical cord tissue. Cord tissue is the insulating material (Wharton’s jelly) surrounding the vessels of the umbilical cord. The cord tissue can contain millions of a different type of stem cell that goes on to form a person’s nervous system, sensory organs, circulatory tissues, skin, bone, cartilage, and more.
Cord tissue is rich in mesenchymal stem cells, potentially used to help heal, regenerate & treat a variety of conditions. Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) derived from umbilical cord tissue have shown the ability to avoid a negative response from a person’s immune system, allowing the cells to be transplanted in a wide range of people without fear of rejection. These transplants may have the ability to vastly increase the body’s natural healing abilities and have potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive responses.
Yes, it does. The tissue found inside donated umbilical cords contain millions of youthful, undifferentiated stem cells.
These cells are first added to a cell media culture, which allows them to replicate and produce higher numbers over a few generations. This process is called cell expansion. This process can turn a few million stem cells into trillions, ready for use in treatments.
Culturing and expansion of stem cells would not be possible if the cells extracted from the original cord tissue were not alive and active. Additionally, the cells used for treatment are tested for viability both before leaving the lab and just before treatment to ensure proper quality assurance standards are met.
Our protocol calls for the administration of the 300 million cells into the line by hand at a very slow rate of 1cc per minute to ensure proper circulation and control of the procedure. Overall, the amount is roughly 3-4 million cells per kg of body weight, which is well under any level that would be considered a risk for circulation issues. The body is also able to discard any excess cells beyond the level of use in the body. - Louis A. Cona MD
DVC Stem is a stem cell clinic located in the Cayman Islands. DVC Stem has been offering stem cell therapies for years. Our protocols are all IRB approved, and our cells come from well regulated, U.S. based, FDA compliant laboratories. We only offer high-quality products and tried and tested treatments to our patients.
"Is the video I posted from this morning! My speech is so easy for me now, got easier throughout the day! I can talk like a NYer (fast) for the first time in years! Praise God!"
- Matthew Murry
Tyler explains his experience at DVC Stem in the Cayman Islands.
Tyler is optimistic that he will see positive results post treatment.
"The cool thing about the Cayman Islands besides being beautiful, it was an opportunity to get some rest and relaxation allowing my body to heal and restore. I'm back in the US now and feel like I am ready to conquer the world."
- Tyler Heid
2 weeks post treatment, MS patient Tyler is beginning to see amazing progress. He has been wheelchair bound for the last year and has not been able to move his legs unassisted before now.
Tyler updates about his progress, explaining the amazing response he has been receiving from his friends and family.
"People coming up to me saying I am moving, talking and smiling so much better. They are noticing a lot of things that have improved over the course of 3 months."
"This morning I was able to do things that I was unable to do before, I was able to stand up and lift my leg higher than I ever have before."
5 months post treatment Tyler sends us an update on his progress.
"I'm able to smile better, I have more control over the left side of my face."
"I have an increased ability to grip, lift my legs higher and higher which has gone well."
Tyler is optimistic and on the right track to recovery. We are ecstatic to see his progress and look forward to more updates from him.
Only 3 days after treatment, Matthew is now able to touch his nose with his eyes closed as well as touch his thumb and pinky together. Both of which he was previously unable to do before treatment.
We are excited to see his continued progress. His story will be updated here so keep an eye out!
Matthew experiences sensation in the bottom of his feet after receiving a simple nerve test.
His left foot did not experience any sensation or move at all, but what happened to his right foot is extremely exciting!
Matthew is now able to lift his leg unassisted. He was previously unable to do so.
Matthew is experiencing the benefits of stem cell therapy first hand. You can view his progress video here.
Although David Lyons was able to successfully fight Multiple Sclerosis through a strict regimen of diet and exercise, he wanted to ensure he was doing everything he could to stay fit. Multiple Sclerosis can be managed with treatment, but there is currently no cure for the disease. For that reason, David came to DVC Stem years ago to use the regenerative and anti-inflammatory attributes of stem cells to aid in his fight for fitness.
The positive results he experienced enabled David to stay strong in the gym, now into his 60s, and that is why he continues to support our clinic to this day.
About the author
Dr. Cona has been performing stem cell therapy for over 10 years. He is a member of the World Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (WAAAM). He is also a recognized member of the British Medical Association, the General Medical Council (UK), the Caribbean College of Family Physicians, and the American Academy of Family Physicians. He is the Medical Director for DVC Stem a world-renowned stem cell therapy clinic located in Grand Cayman.
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