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What is Osteoarthritis and how stem cells are being used to combat this painful illness?

Osteoarthritis is a painful, progressive illness which affects the joints; it is caused by the degeneration of cartilage. Cartilage is a tissue which covers the ends of joints to allow the bones to glide easily and prevent them from grinding together.

It is difficult to state the exact number of people suffering from osteoarthritis, milder symptomatic sufferers do not tend to seek medical attention or rely on over the counter treatments to soothe their pain. It is estimated that over 8 million people in the UK suffer from osteoarthritis, with women over the age of 50 most likely to suffer from osteoarthritis. Accidental damage is the most common cause of osteoarthritis in those under 35 years of age.^[1]

The NHS Executive has calculated the annual cost of Osteoarthritis at £320 million.^[2]

Over the course of the week we will be asking “What is Osteoarthritis?” and “What are the risk factors of Osteoarthritis?” We will hear about the experiences of those living with osteoarthritis and we will take a look at how stem cell research, tissue engineering and bio-printing are being used to help find a cure.

^[1] /private/filedepot/1/Clin_update_Web.pdf

^[2] http://www.rheumatology.org.uk/includes/documents/cm_docs/2009/c/clinical_management_of_rheumatoid_arthritis_and_osteoarthritis_strategies_for_improving_clinical_effectiveness.pdf

June is National Osteoporosis Month. Cells4Life will be supporting the cause by raising awareness across all of our social media channels.

Last week we were raising awareness of osteoarthritis, a condition often confused with osteoporosis, this may be due to the fact that patients often suffer from both illnesses. While osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition affecting the joints, osteoporosis is a degenerative condition affecting bone density.

Osteoporosis is more likely to affect Caucasian, post-menopausal women, however diagnosis is not exclusive to this demographic.^[1] Unlike OA, osteoporosis is a painless condition.^[2] However, many people with osteoporosis are not diagnosed until they suffer a fracture.^[3] Due to the bones becoming more brittle as they lose their mass, fractures are a common problem for those who suffer from osteoporosis.

Hip fractures result in the loss of 1,150 lives every single month in the UK and the costs associated with the health and social care of patients with osteoporosis are costing the UK approximately £6 million every day.^[4]

Throughout the week we will be looking at the risk factors of osteoporosis and what the symptoms are. We will look at the real-life stories of those affected by osteoporosis before taking a look at the amazing stem cell research currently being undertaken by scientists around the world.

^[1] http://nof.org/articles/235

^[2] http://www.sonoranspine.com/patient-care/patient-education-resource-center/97-conditions-and-treatments/diseases-and-conditions/1342-osteoarthritis-vs-osteoporosis-different-diseases-different-treatments

^[3] http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Osteoporosis/Pages/Symptoms.aspx

^[4] http://www.nos.org.uk/page.aspx?pid=328&DeliveryChannelID=23b56292-0f3c-43ac-af13-&srcid=349

August is Psoriasis Awareness Month. We’re joining in by raising awareness of this often painful skin condition and the role stem cells could play.

Psoriasis is a condition of the skin which causes patches of skin to become covered in silvery scales which are red and flaky. These patches of skin can become itchy and sore.

Psoriasis usually only affects small areas of skin, usually the lower back, scalp, knees or elbows but in some cases it can appear anywhere on the body.

While psoriasis can occur at any age, it is most common in adults under the age of 35 and is equally prevalent in both men and women, affecting approximately 2% of the British population.^[1]

Psoriasis is a chronic condition with a cyclical nature where that patient will suffer only very mild symptoms or even no symptoms at all followed by periods where the symptoms are more severe. The severity of psoriasis is unique to each patient. For some patients psoriasis is a minor irritation while for others, their quality of life can be greatly affected by the condition.^[1]

There are a variety of risk factors and causes of psoriasis such as family history, weight, smoking and even stress. This list is by no means exhaustive but gives an indication to the everyday issues which could trigger a flare up of psoriasis in sufferers.

Treatment of psoriasis can vary from person to person, unfortunately there is no cure but effective treatments (usually used in a combination) include :

Topical – creams and ointments that are applied to the skin

Phototherapy – the skin is exposed to certain types of ultraviolet light

Systemic – oral and injected medications that work throughout the entire body^[2]

Stem cell transplants have been observed to have a positive effect on psoriasis, however, this is usually a side effect of another treatment for example; a patient with both psoriasis and cancer has a stem cell transplant for treatment of their cancer but finds that their psoriasis has also improved or remitted. There have been some very small but promising studies with stem cells and psoriasis but it is important to stress that these studies are very preliminary.

^[1] http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Psoriasis/Pages/Introduction.aspx

^[2] http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Psoriasis/Pages/Treatment.asp

This week we are concluding our pregnancy mini-series with a look at the third trimester.

The third trimester is the final stage of pregnancy. During this time your baby will continue to grow and his or her lungs will begin to mature ready for life in the outside world. As you baby continues to grow they will gain weight, as much as a pound a week during the final weeks.

All this growth will mean you may need to rest more often. You will begin to feel increasingly tired and may even feel breathless as your baby takes up more and more room. Heartburn is a common complaint for many women during this time. A glass of milk can help to soothe the burning but if that fails your doctor or midwife will be able to recommend something suitable to offer you some relief.

Breathlessness and heartburn should begin to subside once your baby “drops” into your pelvis, an exciting sign that your baby is preparing to be born. As your due date comes closer you will probably want to have your hospital bag packed, ready to go. Remember to pack your cord blood collection kit as the phlebotomist will need this to procure your baby’s cord blood sample.

Once your baby and placenta has arrived, you can enjoy those first precious moments with your new arrival. The placenta will then be taken away so that your baby’s umbilical cord blood and cord tissue can be procured. It is completely painless and safe, without any medical risk to you or your baby. Once the cord blood has been procured and the courier has been to collect the sample it will be processed in our 24 hour laboratory. This quick processing time ensures that the best quality cord blood sample possible is stored your baby and family.

Cells4Life, the private umbilical cord blood storage company based in Brighton, Sussex, has today announced the launch of its umbilical cord blood collection training course, available for healthcare professionals.

The course has been developed in conjunction with the National Association of Phlebotomists and will be running throughout the year at various locations within the UK.

The course has been designed specifically to train healthcare professionals in the collection of umbilical cord blood using the Cells4Life collection protocol.

Cells4Life was the first company to offer a private phlebotomy service and has always maintained that cord blood collection should only be performed by a trained professional. The Cells4Life collection process was developed in conjunction with RCOG guidelines and leading consultant obstetrician and gynaecologists. It recommends that the cord blood is collected after the 3rd stage of labour, following the cord being clamped and the placenta being delivered.

“At Cells4Life we feel that collecting the blood at this stage interferes less with the birthing process and this is a guideline adopted by the RCOG in their Position Paper 2. We are delighted by today’s announcement from the Human Tissue Authority that only trained professionals should perform this procedure – something we have always recommended. Cells4Life is once again setting the industry standards” said Rebecca Rutter, Operations Manager at Cells4Life.

MS is a condition which affects the central nervous system. Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease; an autoimmune disease is an illness in which the body attacks itself. In the case of MS the body attacks nerves and strips the nerves of their insulating coating, called Myelin. The attack on the nervous system can be so severe that even the nerves themselves become damaged

Multiple Sclerosis affects around 100,000 people in the UK. Like most autoimmune diseases, MS is more prevalent in women than men. Unfortunately there is no cure for MS today, but hopefully that could soon be a thing of the past

Stem cells are providing exciting opportunities for researchers to develop treatments for MS. Dr. Richard Burt has conducted a successful but small study. The results were so promising that this study was been developed into a randomised trial. As well as the research Dr. Burt is conducting, the MS Society and UK Stem Cell Foundation announced their collaboration on three studies back in 2011. The investment in these studies was over £1,000,000.

This week, to lend our support to National MS Week and raise awareness of MS, we will be using our social media outlets to highlight the role of stem cells in the quest for a cure for MS. We’ll cover clinical trials, a stem cell pioneer, the real life story of a clinical trial participant and much more.

This week is Down’s Syndrome Awareness Week and this week we’ll be highlighting how stem cells can be used to help people with Down’s.

There are around 40,000 people in the UK who have Down’s Syndrome and 1:1000 babies born in the UK will have Down’s, that’s around 8,000 a year^[1].

Down’s Syndrome occurs at conception and is caused by an extra chromosome in the baby’s cells. Down’s is an irreversible condition, there is no cure. People with Down’s do not suffer from the condition and they are not ill, it is not a disease^[2]. However, people with Down’s Syndrome are more likely to suffer from certain health problems because they have Down’s, problems which can be helped or even cured with stem cells.

One such problem is Congenital Heart Defect. A congenital heart defect means that it is a heart defect that you are born with. Around 50% of children with Down’s Syndrome will be born with a congenital heart defect, of those 60% will need hospital treatment^[3].

Another health issue faced by those with Down’s is an increased likelihood of developing leukaemia, in fact children with Down’s are 10 to 20 times more likely to develop the illness than those without Down’s^[4].

Both congenital heart defects and Down’s Syndrome can be diagnosed in pregnancy, giving parents the opportunity to bank their baby’s umbilical cord blood. The opportunity to do this only presents itself once and can give parents extra security knowing they have a stem cell match for their child and the opportunity to access emerging and regenerative therapies.

Many parents of children with Down’s worry about the increased risk of their child developing dementia. It is a common belief that children with Down’s develop dementia and at an early age. A recent study showed that children with Down’s were no more likely to develop dementia than those without Down’s^[5].

^[1] http://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/about/general/

^[2] http://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/about/general/

^[3] http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Downs-syndrome/Pages/Complications.aspx

^[4] http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/childAML/HealthProfessional/page8

^[5] http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Downs-syndrome/Pages/Complications.asp

Autism is a developmental condition which affects around 500,000 people in the UK, it affects the way that people communicate and the way they understand the world around them. Autism is a spectrum disorder, this means that many people will share many of the same issues and difficulties because of autism but overall, autism will affect them all differently. Because of the spectrum nature of autism, it can be difficult for others to understand. For example one person with autism may appear to lead a “normal” life with qualifications and steady job while another may need lifelong support but both have the same condition, just variations of it.

There is no cure or medical treatment for autism; however, there are a range of therapies to help autistic people. Such therapies are often called interventions and can include teaching autistic people makaton to help them communicate more effectively. Interventions are designed to focus on a specific area which could be improved with development such as cognitive skills, communication skills, academic skills and even social interaction skills.

Cells4Life, the experts in stem cell processing are supporting World Autism Awareness Month While autistic people may not be on any medication to directly treat their autism, they may be on medication to treat conditions associated with it. These illnesses can include depression, epilepsy, ADHD and sleep disorders.
The cause of autism is still unknown but researchers believe that defective connections in the brain may be at fault. In some children with autism, the development and operation on the nervous system may have been affected by a dysfunctional immune system. Studies have shown that anti-inflammatories and steroids have some promise in helping to relieve the symptoms of autism.^[1]

Research has also shown that the stem cells found in an infant’s umbilical cord blood can help to regulate the immune system and promote neurological repair.^[1] There are currently 4 clinical trials investigating the application of cord blood in relation to autism. One of these studies is investigating whether the reinfusion of a child’s umbilical cord blood could adapt the child’s nervous system and help with language and behaviours.^[2]

^[1] http://www.cordblood.com/stem-cell-research/cord-blood-research/autism

^[2] http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01638819?term=cord+blood+autism&rank=1

Here we take a look at Aplastic Anaemia, as we look at the shortage of stem cell donors from minority backgrounds.

Cells4Life are increasing awareness of the lack of stem cell donors on the register.

Aplastic anaemia (AA) is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by the bone marrow’s inefficient production of replenishing blood cells. Anaemia usually refers to a lack of red blood cells but with aplastic anaemia the term refers to a lack of all three blood cell types; red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

Each blood cell type has an incredibly important role; red blood cells carry oxygen around the body, white blood cells fight infections, germs and bacteria while platelets stop us bruising and bleeding.

Without efficient production of red blood cells sufferers can feel tired, short of breath and look pale. A lack of white blood cells can lead to recurrent and severe infections while a lack of platelets can cause unexplained bruising, bleeding gums and nose bleeds to name but a few.

AA is a serious illness with 100-150 new cases being diagnoses in the UK each year.

Aplastic Anaemia is a rare disease and affects people from all ethnicities, the treatment for aplastic anaemia can include a stem cell transplant. Stem cell therapies fall into two broad categories; transplant or regenerative medicine. Currently the NHS only use stem cells in transplant medicine and stem cell matches on the donor register will only be used for transplant medicine. As we continue with our awareness campaign we will highlight not only the shortage of donors and race in transplant medicine but also the illnesses which can be treated with stem cell transplants.

Stem cells are amazing. You may think this a biased opinion coming from us, but the following story is here to prove they are amazing. A young man who donated his stem cells so that a woman overseas could receive a lifesaving treatment gets to meet her.

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