Three politicians from Mindanao had reportedly died after receiving stem cell treatment in Germany, although it was not established yet if the deaths were directly connected to the treatment, the head of the biggest association of doctors in the country said Monday. According to Leo Olarte of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), the politicians may have died due to "anaphylactic shock" following a hypersensitivity reaction to the stem cells from animals, especially sheep. Anaphylaxis is a deadly allergic reaction that causes difficulty in breathing and sudden drop in blood pressure. "Kapag ikaw ay nabigyan ng stem cell galing sa tupa, aatakihin ng katawan 'yan kasi ito ay hindi inherent sa katawan... Magkakaroon ng hypersensitivity reaction na magdudulot ng anaphylactic shock sa pasyente," Olarte said in a phone interview with GMA News Online. He also cited possible death due to delayed graft function, which is a complication after an organ transplantation. The politicians, who were not identified as requested by their families, had illnesses in the lungs, heart and liver before the treatment, Olarte said. However, he was quick to add that it has yet to be proven if the stem cell treatment was the real cause of the three politicians' … Continue reading →

MANILA - House Speaker Sonny Belmonte said 2 congressmen died after having stem cell therapy overseas. These are congressmen Erico Aumentado and Pedro Romualdo. Belmonte, however, clarified that it has not been established whether stem cell therapy was the cause of death. Belmonte said that after having stem cell therapy, the 2 felt rejuvenated and may have exerted themselves during the last election campaign. Belmonte said Aumentado even started walking around without a cane. Aumentado' son Aristotle, a first-term congressman, was introduced by Belmonte to media during the sidelines of the executive course the lower House sponsored for neophytes. Aristotle said his father died of pneumonia. He added there is also no proof that stem cell caused the death. In fact, he said they were scheduled for another treatment after the elections had his father not died. Aristotle said the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) has not approached them for the PMA's investigation into the deaths of 3 politicians who died after receiving stem cell therapy abroad. Aristotle explained that his father had leg thrombosis for which he had to undergo bifemoral bypass and stem cell therapy . Go here to read the rest: 2 congressmen who died after stem cell … Continue reading →

By: Lira Dalangin-Fernandez, InterAksyon.com June 24, 2013 7:05 PM Newly elected Bohol Rep. Aris Aumentado: dad didn't die as a result of stem-cell treatment. PHOTO BY LIRA DALANGIN-FERNANDEZ, INTERAKSYON.COM InterAksyon.com The online news portal of TV5 MANILA, Philippines - Stem-cell therapy was not the culprit in the death of Bohol Representative Erico Aumentado, according to his son.Aris Aumentado, the incoming congressman of the district, said the cause of death of his father was pneumonia. "I don't think so," he said when asked if the procedure complicated his father's condition. "His lungs were really weak. Actually, we were planning to go back to Germany after the elections, in June, for stem-cell for his lungs.Unfortunately, hindi na naabutan, so wala talaga (kinalaman) ang stem cell," Aumentado said. The late lawmaker, also former governor, underwent the stem-cell procedure in Germany in September 2012, for various ailments. He had trouble controliing his sugar; and had thrombosis. He was unable to complete his shots. He died on Christmas Day. Aumentado said that after the procedure, his father felt stronger and was able to walk without a cane. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said he knew that two lawmakers were suffering from illnesses before they had the … Continue reading →

JUPITER, Fla., June 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --BioRestorative Therapies, Inc. ("BRT" or the "Company") (OTC BB: BRTX), a life sciences company focused on stem cell-based therapeutics, announced that it has expanded its ThermoStem Program by collecting 150 samples of human brown adipose tissue (BAT). For the past year, through strategic collaboration and internal BRT efforts, the Company has grown a large library of human brown fat stem cells. The ThermoStem Program, which is in the pre-clinical stage, focuses on the development of therapies using adult derived stem cells from brown adipose tissue to treat metabolic and obesity related disorders (particularly focusing on Type 2 Diabetes). The compilation of a large number and variety of brown fat derived stem cells allows BRT to study and identify potential cell lines to be used in developing therapies. Pre-clinical models indicate that increased amounts of brown fat in the body may be responsible for additional caloric burning as well as reduced glucose and lipid levels in the body. Many groups are using BAT as a tool to further understand the browning effect, wherein a small molecule or pharmaceutical potentially could be developed to treat obesity and its associated metabolic disorders. However, BioRestorative Therapies' novel cellular … Continue reading →

Leila B. Salaverria and Jocelyn R. Uy Philippine Daily Inquirer Publication Date : 25-06-2013 The late Representative Erico Aumentado of the Philippines' Bohol province underwent stem cell therapy in Germany last September and felt like Superman before he died of pneumonia last Christmas at the age of 72, his son told the Inquirer on Monday. Aris Aumentado, the incoming representative from Bohol, said his father felt better on his return from Germany that he got rid of his cane and wheelchair. He was like Superman, he told reporters, a day after the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) issued a warning against the so-called xenogenic, or animal-based, stem cell therapy. House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. also said on Monday that Camiguin Rep. Pedro Romualdo also underwent stem cell therapy before he died on April 24 at the age of 77, also of pneumonia. Aris said his father was advised to rest after the German trip, but because he felt so good, he went around campaigning in his district. He said that before the procedure, his father had already suffered from thrombosis in his leg because his sugar could not be controlled. Continued here: Doctors probe deaths of 3 Filipinos after stem cell … Continue reading →

By Leila B. Salaverria, Jocelyn R. Uy Philippine Daily Inquirer Researcher Shruti Dave (R) and assistant Chetan Patel work on stem cell cultures at the Transplantation Biology Research Centre situated at The Institute of Kidney Disease and Research Centre (IKDRC), Civil Hospital campus in Ahmedabad on February 6, 2013. AFP FILE PHOTO The late Rep. Erico Aumentado of Bohol province underwent stem cell therapy in Germany last September and felt like Superman before he died of pneumonia last Christmas at the age of 72, his son told the Inquirer on Monday. Aris Aumentado, the incoming representative from Bohol, said his father felt better on his return from Germany that he got rid of his cane and wheelchair. He was like Superman, he told reporters, a day after the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) issued a warning against the so-called xenogenic, or animal-based, stem cell therapy. House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. also said on Monday that Camiguin Rep. Pedro Romualdo also underwent stem cell therapy before he died on April 24 at the age of 77, also of pneumonia. Aris said his father was advised to rest after the German trip, but because he felt so good, he went around campaigning in … Continue reading →

Manila, Philppines -- The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) yesterday sounded the alarm over the proliferation of ''fly-by-night'' clinics offering alleged illegal ''stem cell'' treatment in the country. The warning came from PMA President and spokesperson of the Philippine Society for Stem Cell Medicine (PSSCM) Dr. Leo O. Olarte as he bared on Sunday what he described as disturbing reports of deaths arising from complications from alleged ''stem cell therapy'' of some Filipino politicians who underwent stem cell treatment. Olarte, however, declined to name the politicians when he gave his warning to the public against alleged illegal stem cell treatments offered in the Philippines by foreign doctors using xenogenic, an animal derived ''stem cell'' sources. ''The only approved source of stem cell therapy by the Department of Health (DOH) are the Autologous (self) Adult Stem Cells which can be derived only from the patient's own blood, bone marrow and fat because this is the safest and proven procedure that is available worldwide today. Any other source outside the patient's own body can result to death due to severe complications specifically graft versus host reaction, immediate or delayed hypersensitivity reaction and severe infections '' he said. ''Stem cells are our own natural … Continue reading →

HATFIELD, England, June 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The company continues to disagree with the German Federal Joint Committee's (G-BA)decision on drug's additional benefits but will continue patient access Eisai today announces, with regret, that it will suspend temporarily commercial distribution (Aussetzen des Vertriebes) of Fycompa in Germany. Eisai is unable to accept the assessment, under the current AMNOG (Arzneimittelmarkt-Neuordnungsgesetz) process, of no additional benefit to inappropriate comparators for this highly innovative, first in class product. Eisai hopes that this situation will be temporary and will submit Fycompa for reassessment at the earliest opportunity. Commercial availability of Fycompa will continue until the end of the year. Thereafter, a continued access programme will be put in place. Eisai will announce the details of the continued access programme shortly. The German Society for Epileptology (DGfE) and German Society for Neurology (DGN), representing epileptologists and neurologists in Germany, agree that the G-BA's understanding that new anti-epileptic drugs should be compared to single substances is not applicable to the situation of refractory epilepsy, for which an additional benefit should be assessed by considering efficacy in patients drug-resistant to standard therapies. The organisations also confirm that new epilepsy treatment options are needed to help patients improve … Continue reading →

It wasnt that long ago that Jeff Klauk was enjoying the good life on the PGA Tour, debuting in 2009 with three top-10 tournament finishes while chipping and putting his way to more than a million dollars in earnings. He even capped his early success with a tie for 14th in the 2009 PGA Players Championship at TPC of Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., his home course since childhood as the son of the clubs longtime superintendent. But now, after several health setbacks and more missed cuts than he cares to remember, Klauk is back down on the Web.com Tour, where hell attempt to take another step forward this week at the United Leasing Championship at Victoria National. Theres nothing wrong with my golf game. Its just getting back mentally to where I need to be and thats what Im really working on now, said Klauk, 35. Theres nothing stopping me from playing well. Its just getting out there and doing it. As added motivation, he has a few more million reasons numbers not fronted by a dollar sign to keep aiming for the flag. With every round Klauk plays, he carries a message of hope for the millions … Continue reading →

Washington, June 24 (ANI): Scientists have identified a new drug target - a receptor in the nervous system - that may be key to prevent the onset of epilepsy after a prolonged period of seizures. Epilepsy is a serious neurological disorder marked by recurring seizures. Temporal lobe epilepsy - where seizures occur in the region of the brain where memories are stored and language, emotions and senses are processed - is the most common form, and can be devastating. Because afflicted individuals have seizures that impair their awareness and may have associated behavioral problems, they may have difficulty with everyday activities, including holding a job or obtaining a driver's license. Conventional therapies to treat epilepsy address the disease's symptoms by trying to reduce the likelihood of having a seizure. However, many people with temporal lobe epilepsy still have seizures despite taking these drugs. Retrospective studies of people with severe temporal lobe epilepsy reveal that many of them initially have an episode of prolonged seizures, known as status epilepticus. Status epilepticus is often followed by a period of seizure-free recovery before people start to experience recurring temporal lobe seizures. In animal studies, inducing status epilepticus in an otherwise healthy animal can … Continue reading →