America is facing a profound opioid crisis, overshadowing other public health issues with devastating consequences.
The opioid crisis claims an average of 130 lives daily in the United States, drastically reducing life expectancy.
Explore the factors contributing to opioid addiction, including over-prescription of pain relievers and the rise of synthetic opioids.
The economic burden of opioid misuse in the US is estimated at $78.5 billion annually, encompassing healthcare costs, lost productivity, and more.
Opioid prescriptions surged from 112 million to 282 million between 1992 and 2012, declining slightly to 236 million by 2017.
About 68% of the 70,200 drug overdose deaths in 2017 were opioid-related, a stark increase from previous decades.
Studies show that 21-29% of patients with chronic pain misuse prescription opioids, contributing to addiction rates.
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is tackling the crisis through initiatives focusing on overdose-reversing drugs, treatment access, research, public health surveillance, and pain management improvements.
Introduced by the NIH, the HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-term) Initiative aims to accelerate scientific solutions to the opioid crisis.
Despite media attention deficits, the opioid crisis demands urgent attention and coordinated efforts to mitigate its devastating impact on American communities.
What are your thoughts on the opioid crisis and its management strategies? Share your perspectives and experiences.
Addressing the opioid overdose crisis requires continued collaboration and innovation across healthcare, research, and public policy domains.
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Recurrent patellar dislocation is characterized by repeated episodes of knee cap displacement, often resulting in cartilage lesions and chronic symptoms. Traditional management approaches often yield limited success, necessitating innovative treatments such as mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy.
A 21-year-old male presented with left knee discomfort following recurrent patellar dislocations over ten years. Physical examination revealed anterior knee pain exacerbated by activities like stair climbing and exercise. Diagnostic imaging confirmed significant cartilage defects, classified as Grade 3 according to ICRS standards.
The patient underwent arthroscopic microfracture and autologous bone marrow-derived MSCs implantation following Fulkerson osteotomy. Surgical procedures included lateral retinaculum release and tibial tubercle realignment to stabilize the patella.
Post-surgery, the patient achieved full range of motion and began weight-bearing exercises. Eighteen months later, MSC implantation facilitated significant cartilage growth, improving International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores.
Two years post-MSC treatment, the patient reported no knee complaints and maintained full range of motion. MRI confirmed substantial cartilage regeneration in previously damaged areas.
Recurrent patellar dislocations pose challenges due to high recurrence rates and associated cartilage damage. Treatment strategies like Fulkerson osteotomy combined with MSC therapy offer promising outcomes for severe cases.
MSCs demonstrate potential in cartilage regeneration due to their chondrogenic differentiation capabilities and anti-inflammatory properties. This case highlights the efficacy of MSC therapy in managing extensive cartilage defects.
Combining Fulkerson osteotomy with MSC implantation represents a viable treatment option for chronic patellar instability and associated cartilage lesions. The integration of microfracture and MSC therapy supports significant cartilage regeneration and functional recovery.
The management of chondral disease poses challenges due to its poor healing potential. Biomechanical and biological changes can accelerate degeneration, leading to end-stage osteoarthritis (OA).
Various conservative treatments are utilized before surgery, including non-pharmacological interventions and intra-articular therapies. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), particularly from adipose tissue, show promise in cartilage regeneration due to their anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties.
The study, approved by the Ethics Committee, involved 30 patients with diffuse degenerative chondral lesions treated with autologous micro-fragmented adipose tissue between January and December 2014. Clinical evaluations were conducted at 3 years post-treatment.
Of the 30 patients, 24 underwent associated surgeries, while 6 had arthroscopy alone. At 3 years, 23% of patients received additional treatments. No adverse events were reported.
Patients not requiring additional treatments maintained outcomes observed at 1 year, with significant improvements in functional scores including Tegner Lysholm Knee, VAS pain, IKDC subjective, and total KOOS.
The study demonstrates sustained benefits of autologous micro-fragmented adipose tissue in treating diffuse degenerative knee chondral lesions at mid-term follow-up, supporting its role as an adjunct in surgical procedures.
Micro-fragmented adipose tissue shows promise in mitigating chondral degeneration, warranting further investigation into its protective effects in knee OA management.
Explore the role of hair follicle stem cells in the natural hair growth cycle and their significance in hair regeneration research.
Highlight the groundbreaking research by Heather Christofk, PhD, and William Lowry, PhD, revealing new methods to activate hair follicle stem cells for promoting hair growth.
Discuss common causes of hair loss such as baldness, alopecia, hormonal imbalances, stress, aging, and chemotherapy, emphasizing the need for effective treatments.
Detail how hair follicle stem cell metabolism, particularly the production of lactate, plays a crucial role in stimulating hair growth.
Summarize the genetic studies in mice that demonstrated the impact of lactate production on hair follicle stem cell activation and hair cycle acceleration.
Explain the role of RCGD423 in activating the JAK-Stat pathway, leading to increased lactate production and enhanced hair follicle stem cell activity.
Discuss how UK5099 blocks pyruvate entry into mitochondria, thereby promoting lactate production and accelerating hair growth in experimental models.
Summarize the significance of UCLA's research in advancing our understanding of hair follicle stem cells and potential treatments for hair loss disorders.
Explore the potential of JAK-Stat pathway activators and mitochondrial blockers in developing new drugs for treating hair loss disorders in humans.
Highlight ongoing and future research directions aimed at translating these findings into clinical applications for patients suffering from hair loss.
Ensure comprehensive citations of the original research publication and related studies supporting the efficacy of lactate-driven mechanisms in hair follicle stem cell activation.
These headings and optimizations aim to structure the article effectively for improved SEO and readability, focusing on key aspects of the UCLA research findings, mechanisms of hair growth, and potential therapeutic implications for treating hair loss disorders.
Explore the mechanism and benefits of Hyaluronic Acid injections, FDA-approved for knee arthritis treatment but also used off-label for other joints.
Highlight the results from systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials supporting the effectiveness of Hyaluronic Acid in reducing pain and improving joint function.
Discuss PRP therapy, its composition rich in platelets and growth factors, and its applications beyond arthritis treatment, including tendon injuries and potential uses in other medical fields.
Summarize findings from studies comparing the efficacy of PRP and Hyaluronic Acid injections in managing arthritis pain and improving joint function.
Discuss the FDA approval status of Hyaluronic Acid for knee arthritis versus the off-label use of PRP, and its implications for treatment options and insurance coverage.
Compare the safety profiles of PRP and Hyaluronic Acid, including risks of infection and cost-effectiveness considerations for patients.
Guide patients on factors influencing the choice between HA and PRP based on efficacy, safety, regulatory status, and cost.
Summarize the advantages and considerations of both Viscosupplementation (HA) and PRP therapies for arthritis pain management, aiding in informed treatment decisions.
Ensure comprehensive citations of systematic reviews, clinical trials, and regulatory information supporting the comparison between HA and PRP therapies.
Explore how microneedling initiates collagen synthesis and aids in skin healing, particularly effective for treating acne scars.
Highlight the benefits of PRP therapy in conjunction with microneedling for enhancing skin regeneration and reducing scars.
Discuss findings from studies evaluating the effectiveness and safety of PRP combined with microneedling for acne scar treatment.
Explain the process of microneedling in triggering the body's healing response through controlled micro-injuries and the delivery of growth factors.
Summarize results showing the superior efficacy of PRP compared to distilled water in improving acne scars based on clinical trials.
Share patient success stories and testimonials demonstrating the effectiveness of PRP with microneedling in improving skin texture and reducing scars.
Guide dermatologists on integrating PRP therapy into their practice for effective acne scar management and patient satisfaction.
Summarize the benefits of combining PRP with microneedling as an effective treatment option for patients seeking skin rejuvenation and scar reduction.
Ensure comprehensive citations of studies and research supporting the efficacy and safety of PRP with microneedling in dermatological treatments.
Explore the concept of regenerative medicine and its role in healing various ailments using the body's natural processes.
Discover why patients are turning to regenerative medicine for non-invasive treatments with minimal side effects.
Explain the process of obtaining PRP from a patient's own blood or tissues and its application to promote healing.
Share real-life accounts of patients who have benefited from regenerative medicine treatments, highlighting their positive outcomes.
Discuss the potential growth and importance of regenerative medicine in future healthcare practices, likening its impact to groundbreaking medical advancements like penicillin.
Explore how physicians are incorporating regenerative medicine into their practice through specialized training courses to enhance patient care.
Highlight the advantages of regenerative medicine over traditional medical approaches in terms of effectiveness and patient satisfaction.
Summarize the potential of regenerative medicine to revolutionize healthcare by offering effective, non-invasive treatments with fewer side effects.
Ensure comprehensive citations and references to support claims and information presented about regenerative medicine.
Learn how PRP utilizes natural healing mechanisms to enhance tissue repair and manage joint issues like arthritis.
Explore the potential of stem cell therapy in regenerative medicine and its applications in treating various orthopedic conditions.
Differentiate between PRP and stem cell therapy, highlighting their unique roles in healing and tissue regeneration.
Discuss the specific benefits of PRP, such as safety and simplicity, compared to more complex stem cell procedures.
Examine the risks associated with stem cell therapy, including concerns about uncontrolled growth and immune responses.
Explore common orthopedic conditions effectively treated with stem cell therapy, including arthritis and joint injuries.
Summarize key points to help patients and healthcare providers make informed choices between PRP and stem cell therapy.
Look ahead to the future of regenerative medicine, discussing advancements and potential developments in both PRP and stem cell therapies.
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Introduction
FRIDAY, 27 APRIL 2018 / PUBLISHED IN BLOG
According to research, PRP treatments are one of the most in-demand treatments available in healthcare. This is impressive considering the following:
We believe the best of PRP is not even here yet. We’re just one breakthrough study away from exploding into mainstream hospitals and clinics. We see the biggest growth in Platelet-Rich Plasma happening in Asia.
The growth can be attributed to PRP’s fundamental healing property. More platelets. More growth factors and cytokines. And therefore more healing. It’s as simple as that. And no one can argue this fact.
Our body’s natural healing mechanism operates with 150,000/ul-350,000/ul platelets in blood. Using Platelet-Rich Plasma means this number is amplified by 3X to 5X. How can this not translate into better healing?
Believe it or not, the best orthopedic doctors use Platelet-Rich Plasma regularly.
PRP can be used to promote healing of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles, and joints and can be applied to various musculoskeletal problems. They conduct regular studies to test its effectiveness.
One landmark study involved double-blind randomized controlled trials to see the effect of PRP on patients with chronic low back pain caused by torn discs. The study outcome says 60% of the patients felt significant improvements. Some were cured.
So far, there are the following types of PRP variants:
All of them involve plasmapheresis — the two-stage centrifugation process to separate platelets from blood. However, what happens after that can be different. The industry hasn’t found its middle ground as to which variant to be standardized. We believe the confusion will clear up in 3-5 years.
No matter which variant you end up using, the bio-factors at play are the following:
Why is the treatment commonly used for wound healing and pain management? The answer is because the platelets’ main job is to aid coagulation, act as a biological glue, and support stem or primary cell migration. In addition, it also helps in restoring hyaluronic acid and accelerates the synthesis of collagen and glycosaminoglycans, increasing the cartilage matrix.
Not only that, the platelets are delivered in a clot, which means it can immediately act as a scaffold to enable the healing process. 95% of the bio-active proteins are released within 1 hour of injecting Platelet-Rich Plasma. The platelets continue to release growth factors for 7-10 days. Thus it’s recommended to re-inject PRP every 7 days.
Why are patients coughing up their hard-earned money for this?
This reminds me of hundreds of thousands of PRP treatments paid from patients' own pockets even though they’ve been paying for years to get covered by their respective insurance providers. In 2015, PRP costs were anywhere between $600 and $800 per site per treatment. And most patients go for repeated treatments. So why were they forking up their hard-earned money if the treatment was not working? Weren’t there any better alternatives under the “coverage” of their insurance provider? The answer is 1) the treatment works. 2) there’s nothing else out there that’s as natural and side-effect-free as PRP.
Consider the case of osteoarthritis. 27 million Americans are impacted by it. 33.6% of people older than 65 are victims. All of them experience gradual degeneration of cartilage and bones — they lose roughly 5% of cartilage per year. Yet, our medical industry doesn’t have a fix to stop it.
However, when doctors started doing PRP treatments for their osteoarthritis patients, they found a large majority of them had no further cartilage loss. To me, it means we should make PRP treatments the default first-line treatment for osteoarthritis across the country.
Another huge market is hair loss and cosmetic facial applications. I know there are many people who believe PRP doesn’t work for hair. Here’s what one of the Platelet-Rich Plasma studies found were the effect of the treatment on hair loss.
“Hair loss reduced and at 3 months it reached normal levels. Hair density reached a peak at 3 months (170.70 ± 37.81, P < 0.001). At 6 months and at 1 year, it was significantly increased, 156.25 ± 37.75 (P < 0.001) and 153.70 ± 39.92 (P < 0.001) respectively, comparing to baseline. Patients were satisfied with a mean result rating of 7.1 on a scale of 1-10. No remarkable adverse effects were noted.”
I’ll take that. That’s me getting PRP for hair.
The PRP market is expected to hit $126 million in 2016. That number looks paltry. But that’s a 180% increase over the 2009 figure of $45 million.
Consider this. Just for osteoarthritis alone, if all the 27 million Americans receive 1 PRP shot a year at a conservative $400 per treatment, it would be a market of $10 billion. And that’s one condition out of the many that Platelet-Rich Plasma injections are proven to work.
Another condition that PRP is known to work very well is Tennis Elbow. It affects on average 1% to 3% of the overall population. That number is as high as 50% among tennis players.
Just getting Platelet-Rich Plasma covered by insurance will unleash the market big time and will help heal millions of patients naturally, more effectively.
Oh ya, that means the insurance companies will have to pay more. Why would they?
HOWEVER, if this treatment could reduce further expensive intervention like surgery, then it may actually be a blessing for the insurance guys in terms of savings. One surgery avoided by a patient through the right intervention through PRP treatments will save the insurance companies at least $25,000. Now, that’s a win-win for both patients and insurance.
I believe it’s a matter of time before insurance companies start realizing their folly of not supporting this treatment.
After all is said and done, it’s still “unproven.” The problem with PRP is that it can be used for just about everything, which is a good problem to have until healthcare officials (and insurance companies) start realizing that people are going to misuse it.
So it’s classified as unproven. The VAST scope of the treatment calls for urgent structure and guidelines. There are some 20+ conditions where researchers have found it “helps” in one way or another. It’s a daunting task to prove its efficiency in all the areas. Nevertheless, we’ll get there. Though we’ll need a lot of funding for that.
And yes, we need to standardize the procedure. As well as come up with optimized protocols for each condition. Someone needs to take initiative on that. We’re counting on independent doctors and medical institutions. The big pharma won’t jump in because what’s in it for them, right?
It’s so simple, you’d be an idiot not to try it. You only need a vacuum blood harvesting tube like what we offer here, a centrifuge with an adapter for the tube, pipettes, and 10ml ampules of 10% calcium chloride.
The only complexity comes from not following a standard PRP system. Because the final platelet count can depend on a variety of factors like the initial volume of blood, the technique used, and the relative concentration of WBC and/or RBC. As well as on the patient’s side, there are factors such as age.
WEDNESDAY, 25 APRIL 2018 / PUBLISHED IN BLOG
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) have been the subject of numerous speculations regarding their efficacy in facilitating angiogenesis, hemostasis, osteogenesis, and bone growth. The primary reason these platelet products are effective is due to the growth factors they carry. Let’s delve into the specific roles of these growth factors in the healing process.
These growth factors play vital roles in PRP and contribute significantly to the healing process:
Regulates cell growth and division, especially in blood vessels, making it crucial for blood vessel reproduction.
Responsible for overall cell proliferation, differentiation, and various other cellular functions.
Plays a key role in wound healing and embryonic development, influencing the proliferation and differentiation of specialized cells and tissues.
Essential for vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, VEGF restores oxygen supply to cells when it is inadequate and helps create new blood vessels after injury.
Found during the epithelialization phase of wound healing, KGF stimulates the formation of epithelium immediately after a wound or injury occurs.
Functions in cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, angiogenesis, skeletal development, and tissue wound repair.
A recent study suggests that PRP and its gelled cousin, PRF, differ significantly in the release of these growth factors, which can affect the healing outcome. The study concludes that:
PRP releases significantly higher proteins at earlier time points, which is beneficial for short-term effects.
PRF shows a continual and steady release of growth factors over a 10-day period, making it more beneficial for long-term healing.
PRF has some notable advantages over PRP, including:
Platelet-Rich Plasma is produced using a double spin method: a hard spin to separate red blood cells from everything else in the autologous blood, followed by a soft spin to separate the platelets and white blood cells, resulting in PRP, Platelet-Poor Plasma (PPP), and Red Blood Cells.
Platelet-Rich Fibrin is created using a newer method. After the first centrifugation, the middle layer is taken, containing fewer platelets but more clotting factors. This gradually forms into a fibrin network that traps cytokines and is then centrifuged again to result in PRF, a fibrin layer containing platelets and plasma.
When it comes to accelerating healing, the immediate availability of growth factors and cytokines is crucial. PRP may be more effective in this regard due to its immediate release of growth factors, allowing for repeated injections for additional healing factors just days after the initial injection.
Platelet-derived products are still in their infancy. Despite their potential benefits, more research is needed to fully understand their capabilities. If you’re a physician using any or both of these products, we encourage you to share your experiences with us through our contact form.
