If you’ve been reading my blog for more than a few months, then you know that I am a strong proponent for the use of stem cells to improve our health.

Years ago, long before the average Joe (or Judy) knew about stem cells, our research group was playing around with the technologies around stem cells.  And, while we were not totally successful (since we were not using human stem cells), we did manage to prove the concept that stem cells could be turned into a useful organ.  Which altered our concept of all these machines and devices that we were creating to solve health care issues.

In 1998, the breakthrough that afforded embryonic stem cells to be manipulated arrived; only to be squelched 3 years later by President George Bush and the WrongWing, which banned further research in embryonically derived stem cells.

The promising therapy for Parkinson’s patients- stopped.  The promising development of stem cell derived kidneys and hearts- terminated. All of the reputable research groups- and educational institutions adhered to the ban.

That hasn’t stopped some other  folks from using stem cells as therapy.  This past summer, I reported on one such group.  The Napa Medical Research Group.  (Calling it research is one way they can avoid some FDA regulations.)

But, there are 715 (and counting) clinics around the US offering such services.  Most of those use liposuction, claiming to harvest stem cells from our body fat to then inject them back into our bodies to fix the ailments.  (Autologous stem cell treatments- where we take our stem cells to use on ourselves- is another loophole in the regulations.)

But, there’s other folks out there.  And, things are getting much dicier for those who were willing (able, and stupid) to undertake such unregulated therapy.

These folks are getting injections of umbilical cord blood (typically in chiropractic offices and a few pain doctor’s [the same one who help us get hooked on opiods?]) offices.

Sounds good, right? After all, many folks have been harvesting umbilical cord blood from birth, in case their child develops a set of ailments where stem cells could prove most useful.

Umbilical cord blood contains copious quantities of stem cells.  The same kind of stem cells that one could harvest from embryos, which is what led to the WrongWing ban.  So, a bunch of less than scrupulous vendors have been collecting the blood and selling it to medical practitioners for a while.

Except there are no standards for this practice.  How to harvest, how to concentrate the cells, storage requirements, etc.  So, it shouldn’t surprise you that microbial infections are way too common with the use of some vendor’s products.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhexmz4eLwc

Like the person in Texas who thought this would be a great way to solve the problems with his back.   Yup. Got the injection.  And, two microbial infections, leading to septic conditions.  (Sepsis affects about 1 million US citizens a year- with a death rate of about 30%!)

It turns out that many of the infected folks obtained their ‘stuff’ from one vendor.  Liveyon (Yorba Linda, CA)- but produced by Genetech (San Francisco, CA).  At least 12 folks developed sepsis from using their offering.  Which the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) reported.  And, 3 of those folks were hospitalized for a very long time!

Interestingly, LiveyOn must be feeling some regulatory heat. As you can see from the pop-up that blocks their site from immediate view.  (We show both the pop-up and the site below.)  (They have initiated a recall for this product- after knowing folks were getting ill for at least four months, blaming the vial manufacturer for the problem, and have switched to a new producer.  Oh, and they renamed the product Premier MAXCB [from ReGen]).

And, Genentech was provided FDA warnings, too. Because of multiple breaches in protocol, leaving products infected with microbes.

(The FDA has found bacterial contamination in many ReGen vials that have been recalled, besides the ones they found on doctor’s shelves.)

It’s not just LiveyOn.  I’ve reported how folks have gone blind, others have died from these various stem cell treatments.  Which is why in 2017, the FDA finally came around to warn folks about these products.  (The FDA claims it lacks the resources to go after these stem cell clinics. Is anyone in Congress listening?  Or, will the FDA have the same problem the IRS has- funding cuts for political reasons.  Or, should I say lobbying pressures?)

This is exactly what any sentient being would expect when stem cell research and production is outlawed.  (It’s time to change this ban, so that folks needing organs and folks with Parkinson’s can get the therapy they need.)

Folks will seek ways to avoid the ban, leaving the consumers at risk.  After all, the folks buying these therapies are in pain, can’t obtain relief from the available offerings, and are willing to do anything.

I’m just not sure they are willing to die this way.