The Medical Advisor

Since the discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) a large and thriving research product market has grown into existence, largely because the cells are non-controversial and can be generated directly from adult cells. It is clear that iPSCs represent a lucrative market segment because methods for commercializing this cell type are expanding every year and clinical studies investigating iPSCs are swelling in number.



Therapeutic applications of iPSCs have surged in recent years. 2013 was a landmark year in Japan because it saw the first cellular therapy involving the transplant of iPSCs into humans initiated at the RIKEN Center in Kobe, Japan. Led by Masayo Takahashi of the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology (CDB), it investigated the safety of iPSC-derived cell sheets in patients with macular degeneration. In another world-first, Cynata Therapeutics received approval in 2016 to launch the world's first formal clinical trial of an allogeneic iPSC-derived cell product…

IntroductionA hydrogen water dispenser is a machine that adds extra hydrogen molecules in water to increase the health benefits of water. Hydrogen molecules act as antioxidants and help water to neutralize free radicals which are responsible for diseases, inflammation, and aging. Regular water contains fewer hydrogen molecules in a free state. An increase in hydrogen concentration in water helps to deal with several health issues such as diabetes, hardening of heart vessels, and Alzheimer’s.Growing air and water pollution, and health-related problems are encouraging people to shift to products which offer some extra health benefits. Increasing awareness about hydrogen water benefits is boosting the demand for hydrogen water dispensers. Demand for the product is increasing from the commercial sector as hotels, restaurants, and hospitals prefer hydrogen water dispensers. These factors are expected to lead to significant growth of the hydrogen water dispenser market in the coming years. …

New York, April 28, 2020 — Multivitamin/multimineral supplements are among the top five most popular supplements, but with so many different formulas on the market, it can be difficult to choose the right one. Some can be a good source of vitamin D, vitamin C, and zinc, which are essential for immune system function and of particular interest during the COVID-19 epidemic. However, ConsumerLab found quality issues with 44% of the multivitamin and multimineral supplements it recently selected for review.



Twelve of the 27 multivitamins ConsumerLab (CL) selected for testing were found to contain much less, or much more, of one or more vitamins or minerals than claimed, and/or failed to disintegrate properly within 30 minutes, the standard established for multivitamin tablets by the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP). All product deficiencies were confirmed in tests in a second independent laboratory.
As ConsumerLab has found in previous years, gummy vitamins remained the most likely form t…

A Malaysian mesenchymal stem cell review study, "Characteristics and clinical applications of Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stromal cells" was led by Dr LL Liau from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Jalan Yaacob Latif, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Curr Res Transl Med. 2020).


 According to the study's conclusion:
WJ-MSCs (Wharton Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells) have many advantages compared to MSCs (mesenchymal stem cells) from adult tissues. The discrepancies in the WJ-MSC characteristics reported in the above studies might have arisen from differences in cell isolation site and technique and cell culture procedure. Even though WJ-MSCs are safe and efficacious for treating certain diseases, most of the clinical studies/trials reported thus far do not provide sufficient evidence to support its routine use in the clinic.


What are Mesenchymal Stem Cells?

There are mainly two types of naturally occurring stem cells found in a human body, Hematopoietic Stem C…

Of late, there are dozens of supplements and vitamins that claim to boost your immune system and reduce your risk factors for COVID-19, but which ones actually work? Below, we look at some of the best options and what the existing research says about them.



How to help your immune system

A healthy lifestyle – not smoking, drinking little or no alcohol, sleeping well, eating a balanced diet, taking regular moderate exercise and reducing stress – helps our immune systems to be in the best shape possible to tackle invading micro-organisms.

But the first line of defence is to prevent infection from entering the body.

The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommended basic protective measures against COVID-19 are frequent hand-washing with soap and water, or cleaning hands with an alcohol-based rub; maintaining social distancing; avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth; and wear protective mask.



These simple actions are vital to slowing the spread of a new disease like the coronavirus –…

How much does stem cell therapy cost?

Stem cell therapies have become very popular in recent years, as people are seeking the latest alternative treatments for their many conditions. However, despite the large surge in demand for stem cell therapies, they still remain very expensive to pursue. Even simple joint injections can cost nearly USD 1,000 and more advanced treatments can rise in cost up to USD 100,000 depending on the condition. So, why are stem cell treatments so expensive?

How much does stem cell treatment cost?

Stem cell therapy cost can be influenced by:
The type of stem cells administeredWhere the treatment is being performedIf the cells have been culturally expandedIf the cells are ethically sourced, viable & regulatedWhere the laboratory is located (for cell expansion) It is also important to note that the cost of stem cell therapy will vary depending on the type of treatment needed. Stem cell therapy cost for knees may differ from stem cell therapy cost for COPD (Chro…

One person in Wuhan eats an uncooked bat, and your local Walmart runs out of toilet paper. This is such a bizarre scenario, no wonder people are looking for alternative answers to how their normal lives got blown into pieces in the matter of weeks. And while conspiracy theories are usually a marginal phenomenon, in this age of misinformation, these theories seem to take over the place of truth and science. While the truth is usually complex and often hard to understand, these clean-cut conspiracy narratives are designed to prey on pre-established suspicions, so they can seem like viable alternatives. And unfortunately, in our ever-connected social networks, these theories have a tendency to spread just as rapidly as COVID-19 does. In this video, we debunk all COVID-19 conspiracy theories:


CONSPIRACY THEORY: COVID-19 escaped from a Chinese lab FACT: No, it didn’t Let’s start with the most widespread theory: that the virus escaped from a Chinese laboratory. This rumour came to life beca…