[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”88″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_wp_text]What is regenerative medicine?
Regenerative Medicine is the process of creating living, functional tissues to repair or replace tissue or organ function lost due to damage, or congenital defects. This field holds the promise of regenerating damaged tissues and organs in the body by stimulating previously irreparable organs to heal themselves.
A stem cell is a special type of cell in the body that can make many copies of itself and turn into many different types of tissues. This remarkable ability to become other types of cells makes them essential in the repair and renewal of tissues and body organs
What is the difference between adult and embryonic stem cells?
There are different kinds of stem cells. Most people are familiar with controversy regarding embryonic stem cells, because they are taken from unborn or unwanted embryos.
Another kind of stem cell is the “adult stem cell.” This is a stem cell that already resides in one’s body within fat and bone marrow. They can differentiate into bone, cartilage, connective tissue, blood vessels, muscle and nerve tissue. These are the cells that allow healing from minor wounds and injuries.
Adult stem cells are found within many different tissues within the human body. It is tissue injury that turns them on and mobilizes them. That’s how we tap into our body’s stem cell reserve to repair and replace injured or diseased tissue. Unfortunately as we age, the regenerative power of our body decreases and our cells become less active, so we become prone to poor healing and degenerative conditions associated with age.
What are some degenerative joint conditions and their causes?
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint condition where the cartilage of a joint, such as the knee, hip, back, shoulder or elbow, has worn away. It can often result from chronic overuse of a joint, or even from an injury sustained to the joint many years earlier. A meniscal tear or a ligament tear can unbalance a joint in such away that it begins to wear unevenly and eventually becomes osteoarthritis.
Unfortunately, the inner part of joints do not get a lot of circulation, so they heal very slowly or not at all. Research shows that the stem cell population within a joint increases when an injury is present. Synova Life Sciences provides purified stem cells to transplant and supplement the population of naturally occurring stem cells at the injury site.
Does the process need to be approved by the FDA?
No. Our procedures fall under the category of physician’s practice of medicine, wherein the physician and patient are free to consider their chosen course of treatment. The FDA does have guidelines about treatment and manipulation of a patient’s own tissues and we are compliant with FDA regulations (CFR 21 Part 1271). Synova Life Sciences meets these guidelines by providing same day treatment with the patient’s own cells minimal manipulation and are inserted during the same procedure as a functional equivalent of the original tissue.
Does Synova Life Sciences use any embryonic stem cells?
No. Only adult stem cells from fat under your skin are used. Embryonic stem cells have been associated with ethical considerations and other limitations.
How are these stem cells obtained?
Stem cells are harvested and deployed during the same procedure. Our patients undergo a minimally-invasive liposuction type procedure by a board certified cosmetic surgeon. The fat removal procedure lasts approximately twenty minutes. Specially designed equipment is used to harvest the fat cells and less than 100cc of fat is required. Cells are then processed and are ready for deployment within 90 minutes or less.
How does Synova Life Sciences control sterility in the processing of the stem cells?
Stem cells are harvested under sterile conditions using a special “closed system” technology so that the cells never come into contact with the environment throughout the entire process from removal to deployment. Sterile technique and antibiotics are also used to prevent infection.
Does Synova Life Sciences use stem cells from any other source or person?
No. Only a person’s own adult autologous cells are used. That means the cells only come from your body and are only used for your body. These are harvested from each individual and deployed back into their own body.
Why do some stem cell facilities around the world require days to weeks before harvested stem cells are reinserted in the patient?
These facilities are obtaining stem cells from bone marrow or blood in relatively small quantities and they are then culturing the cells in a lab. Synova Life Sciences uses adipose tissue that is naturally abundant in stem cells and technology that isolates these cells in large numbers, so prolonged culturing is unnecessary and cells can be deployed into a patient within 90 minutes of harvesting.
Synova Life Sciences harvests adult mesenchymal stem cells which have not been shown to cause cancer. Some patients have heard of stories of cancer caused by stem cells, but these are probably related to the use of embryonic stem cells. These embryonic tumors known as teratomas are rare but possible occurrences when embryonic cells are used. Synova Life Sciences does not use embryonic stem cells.
Some stem cell centers make extraordinary claims about their success in the treatment of various other diseases. Why doesn’t Synova Life Sciences?
Unfortunately, there are unethical stem cell clinics that prey on consumers seeking a “Miracle Cure” to a variety of serious illnesses. Without scientific basis, some of these treatments can pose a significant risk to public health and safety.
Research on many conditions is ongoing and when they have been proven safe and effective, Synova Life Sciences will be here to bring the latest treatments to you.
Can stem cells be saved for future use?
Stem cells can be cryopreserved for prolonged periods of time, in many cases over 20 years. Currently, we provide this service through an outside provider known to have excellent quality control. Many patients have been inquiring about banking cells while they are still young since stem cell numbers drop naturally with each decade of life and some advocate obtaining and saving cells to be used later in life as needed.
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