Adult stem cells from adipose tissue accidentally improves hearing in one patient

Or so it seems if one read this recent medical article.

In May 2008, the patient was treated with two I.V. infusions of 28 million SVF cells and multiple intrathecal and intravenous infusions of allogeneic CD34+ and MSC cells. MSC were third party unmatched and CD34 were matched by mixed lymphocyte reaction. Infusions were performed within a 9-day period and were very well tolerated without any adverse or side effects. No other treatments were necessary during the patient's stay. After the second stem cell infusion the patient reported a significant decrease of his generalized pain. However, he continued to experience severe neck and shoulder pain and was re-evaluated by his neurologist. Two months after the stem cell therapy, the volume of his hearing aids had to be lowered once per week over 4 weeks. Three months after the stem cell infusions the patient reported a significant improvement of his cognition and almost complete reduction of the spasticity in his extremities. He mentioned that he has had 623 tonic seizures in the past and confirmed that he has not experienced any more seizures since the completion of the stem cell therapy. A neurological evaluation performed three months after the stem cell infusions revealed an intact cranial nerve (II-XII) function and no nystagmus, normal motor function without any atrophy or fasciculations, and intact sensory and cerebellar functions and mental status.

Stem cells on hearing loss for returning soldiers

Here's a stem cell development in the state of Washington for soldiers who lost some of their hearing during war.

Regenerative Medicine for Acute Deafness
Recipient: FATE Therapeutics
Amount: $3,000,000
Location: Seattle, WA

This funding would use advanced stem cell research and developmental biology to develop therapeutic treatments for acute hearing loss among Army soldiers. This would advance safe and effective treatments for acute hearing loss, which affects many men and women of the Army on return home from war.

Fate Therapeutics, a company that has made some important leaps in producing induced stem cells without embryos or gene therapy.

UbiDuo helps those who are unable to write

Aside from people who are deaf or hard of hearing, or have a speech impediment, the UbiDuo can help a small minority of population that have a condition that make hand writing difficult. This is a condition called "handwriting deficits." Or it can be called "dysgraphia" which is a learning disability in writing where it affects an individual’s writing ability and is manifested by difficulties in hand writing. Students with this condition often struggle during writing assignments while in school.

In a recent 2009 Assistive Technology research article called "Assistive Technology for Writing, including Motor Aspects of Writing and Composing," it discusses the motor and cognitive functions of a person with "handwritting deficits" of varying degree and severity on what it takes to write using a pen or pencil. The paper goes on to mention the UbiDuo as a possible face-to-face communication technology for students with certain "handwriting deficits."

The UbiDuo is not only just a face-to-face communication device but a potential assistive writing device to assist students with certain writing disabilities with their composing or writing assignments.

Could your own stem cells in your hair follicles help you hear someday?

From the October 2009 22ND IGB MEETING STEM CELLS: FROM MOLECULAR PHYSIOLOGY TO THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS:

Adult stem cells in your hair follicles seen as a potential source that could differentiate into auditory neurons.

Stem cells from the hair follicle differentiate into auditory neurons. Margriet A. HUISMAN, Ragad El Seady, Johan H.M. Frijns

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Leiden University Medical Centre, The Netherlands To patients suffering from profound sensorineural hearing loss, cochlear implantation(CI) is currently the standard approach. Most implant recipients experience benefits, however, understanding speech in noisy circumstances and music perception remains challenging. It is suggested that stem cell-based therapy, by increasing the number of auditory neurons (ANs), will improve the performance of a CI1.

Stem cells, derived from the bulge of hair follicles from adult mammalian dermis (epidermal neural crest stem cells, EPI-NCSC), are potential candidates for AN regeneration: they have a similar origin as inner ear cells, their functionality has been proven and autologous transplantation is possible, avoiding graft versus host disease2,3. The aim of this research is to investigate whether EPI-NCSC have the capacity to differentiate into neurons with features of auditory neurons, such as bipolar morphology, presence of TrkB/C and GluR2/3 and sodium voltage channel 1.6 (NaV1.6)4. EPI-NCSCs from whiskers of mice were expanded and differentiated on a collagen I matrix. Subsequent t o proliferation, quantitative immunohistochemistry was performed to demonstrate the presence of neural stem cells (nestin). In addition, expressions of TUJ1, TrkB and -C, GluR2/3 and NaV1.6 were determined.

After the proliferative phase, the majority of the cells (90%) were positive for nestin. The average yield per follicle was 2x105, while for inner ear transplantation purposes 2-5x105 cells are required. 70%±8% of the differentiated cells was positive for the neural marker TUJ1. Moreover, 60%±2% of the neurons showed a bipolar morphology and the majority was positive for GluR2/3 and NaV1.6 and showed co-expression of TrkB and –C. EPI-NCSC-derived neural stem cells can easily be obtained in quantities sufficient for inner ear transplantation purposes. These stem cells have the capacity to differentiate into neurons with hallmarks of functional AN, which makes them promising candidates for a stem cell-based therapy of the auditory nerve.

Who knew? Adult stem cells from your own hair follicles have the potential and capacity to help restore your hearing loss. Problem is, bald guys are out of luck.

How the UbiDuo could enhance your career

 If you haven't heard about sComm's UbiDuo then you will find out exactly how this face-to-face communication device can help your career in an impactful but meaningful way. A difference between staying in the same job position for 13 years without any promotional opportunities or get the promotion you deserved because you're able to fruitfully interact with your customers in many face to face situations.This is true if you work in a management position where you have to fully interact with your customers, co-workers, supervisors and your boss on a regular basis in a face-to-face situation. This is exactly what happened with Peter Downey at Sam's Club. So, check out Peter Downey's story, a Sam's Club employee in Overland Park, KS, where he was promoted several times ever since the UbiDuo came into his possession. He was in the same position for 13 years until the UbiDuo came along. Because of this communication barrier-breaking device Peter is now a member of the Sam's Club management. A little investment in a face-to-face communication device can go a long way in a person's career.

UFC Matt Hamill vs Jon Jones at Las Vegas December 5

Be sure to watch Matt Hamill fight against Jon Jones tonight (9 PM ET, 8PM Central) on Spike TV channel at the Ultimate Fighter Heavyweight Finale in Las Vegas (watch the video for several minutes until you see Matt Hamill and Jon Jones weigh ins). The UFC fight on Spike TV is free. More videos of Matt Hamill including a Q & A session during his shadow boxing exercise. No signing but used his voice  (subtitled) in talking about his upcoming fight against Jones. The video is small. Best to move your mouse over the video selection and pick "Dec 4 Shadow Boxing with Matt Hamill." You will see a download video menu appear at the top. Click on it and begin downloading it for a bigger screen viewing and easier to read subtitles. 

Jones has a few words about Matt Hamill.

There are a couple of Dec. 2nd articles on Matt Hamill and his upcoming UFC fight here and here for you to read up on.

Matt's last fight was the March 2009 UFC 96 fight where he knocked out Munoz in the first round as seen at the 3:55 mark in the video below. You can actually hear the sicking slap/crunch of Matt's right foot against the right side of Munoz's head knocking him unconscious for a few minutes while on the ground. That knockout earned Matt Hamill $60,000 in the $60,000 Knockout of the Night bonus money.



All Kokonut Pundit blogs on Matt Hamill including personal interviews with him by Kokonut Pundit.

UPDATE: Matt Hamill wins the fight against Jon Jones in the first round in 4:14 from using an illegal move against Matt Hamill. Jones used an illegal downward elbow on Matt Hamill.

UPDATE II: Matt Hamill sustained some injuries to his nose and what it appears to be a dislocated right? shoulder. You can review discussions in the Sherdog forum about the fight between Hamill and Jones.

UPDATE III: Here's the fight video between Hamill and Jones!

UPDATE IV: Since Matt Hamill won the fight through a disqualification for Jones use of his elbow against Hamill's face the fight was all Jones. There may be talks of reversing the referee's decision? Matt's face really got pummeled folks. Said blood were coming out of his eyes (or was it from a cut to his nose that got into his eyes?) and he could see or even here what the referee was saying. Looks really brutal and something that Matt will need to take home and rethink on how to handle Jones the next time. If Jones hadn't done his illegal elbowing Jones would've won the fight anyway. Matt's face will be sore and no idea if this fight hurt his eyes or not or how extensive his injuries were. Prayers and thoughts of rapid return to health for Matt Hamill.

UPDATE V: Captioned video of the fight.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4tvUYoJvzg

UPDATE VI: More news on Hamill injuries here. Expect a Hamill vs Jones re-match around spring/summer of 2010 next year. It may be a few months or so of recovery and rehabbing til Matt gets into practice fulltime for the next fight.