Stem Cells Therapy

Stem cells offer the possibility of a renewable source of replacement

cells and tissues to treat diseases, conditions, and disabilities
including, spinal cord injury, burns, heart disease, diabetes, and
arthritis.

Stem cell transplants for treating cancer

In a typical stem cell transplant for cancer very high doses of chemo
are used, often along with radiation therapy, to try to destroy all the
cancer cells. This treatment also kills the stem cells in the bone
marrow. Soon after treatment, stem cells are given to replace those
that were destroyed. These stem cells are given into a vein, much like a
blood transfusion. Over time they settle in the bone marrow and begin
to grow and make healthy blood cells. This process is called
engraftment.
In autologous transplants, patients receive their own stem cells.
In syngeneic transplants, patients receive stem cells from their
identical twin.
In allogeneic transplants, patients receive stem cells from their brother,
sister, or parent. A person who is not related to the patient (an
unrelated donor) also may be used.

Diabetes
Diabetes patients lose the function of insulin-producing beta cells
within the pancreas.
Transplantation: Human embryonic stem cells may be grown in cell
culture and stimulated to form insulin-producing cells that can be
transplanted into the patient.

Baldness
Hair follicles also contain stem cells, and some researchers predict
research on these follicle stem cells may lead to successes in treating
baldness through an activation of the stem cells. This treatment is
expected to work by activating already existing stem cells on the scalp.
Later treatments may be able to simply signal follicle stem cells to give
off chemical signals to nearby follicle cells which have shrunk during

the aging process, which in turn respond to these signals by

regenerating and once again making healthy hair.
Missing Teeth
Stem cells taken from the patient could be coaxed in the lab into turning into a
tooth bud which, when implanted in the gums, will give rise to a new tooth, and
would be expected to grow within two months. It will fuse with the jawbone and
release chemicals that encourage nerves and blood vessels to connect with it.
The process is similar to what happens when humans grow their original adult
teeth. Many challenges remain, however, before stem cells could be a choice for
the replacement of missing teeth in the future.
Blindness

They injected stem cells into the rear of the eye. The stem cells were able to
replace the damaged photoreceptors, which are small, important cells found in
the retina. These photoreceptors are vital to your ability to see things and they
are very sensitive to light.
Disorders or diseases of the eye occur when one or more of these components is
damaged, and/or stops working properly. Different disorders develop depending
upon which components are not working. Stem cells can act as a source of new,
healthy specialized cells and may provide a way to replace damaged cells in the
eye. There are several types of stem cells that could be used in different ways,
depending upon the particular disorder to be treated.