Healthy Aging or Anti-Aging

By Elias Bemaras
Nov 25, 2010 4:57 PM • Topic: Health • Issue: 2010-11

Since the beginning of time, humanity has been searching for the
“Fountain of Youth” or some magic potion that offers an anti-aging solution. Until today, this “immortal elixir” was still just a mythical story or something seen in the movies. However, technology and research have evolved so drastically, that we now know the
mechanics of aging in the body as it grows older. This research and technology has taught us that, although we cannot stop the aging process, we can supply the body with the tools and elements needed to keep the physical and mental functions working efficiently, ultimately resulting in an aging process of very high quality.
Let’s be honest with ourselves, we cannot stop time, this element is beyond our control and we are going to age no matter what we do.One way of looking younger is getting plastic surgery, but this will only modify the way we look on the outside. Feeling and growing
healthy internally is a more realistic way to obtain youth within the aging process. This is not to say that confidence and satisfaction of the mind cannot be established with aesthetic surgery, but just fact that it is opposite of the internal youth that can be obtained.
In addition to cosmetic surgery, there are a large number of methods and treatments that are socially accepted in today’s anti-aging market,but few people know that these methods and drugs are not the most effective and powerful ways to obtaining youth and good health. So,
is there a safer and healthier way to control the elements of the body and use them to our advantage in order to look and feel young again? The answer is, “Yes” through Stem Cell
Therapy.
Stem cell therapy has been a controversial subject in the past with many people around the
world because of the confusion with embryonic stem cells.However, this type of stem cell
therapy is nowhere near those topics,because these stem cells are from bone marrow. We can repair and regenerate tissue, and ultimately rejuvenate our own bodies naturally. Our bodies do it every second of everyday through the release of stem cells from our own bone marrow into our bloodstream. We have found a way to increase the the number of cells in the bloodstream and speed up the healing power of these cells to create the, all desired, “magic youth potion”. The best part is, there are is no risk of rejection as this is not a transplant from someone else,and in addition, it can be done within a very short time frame of a few days. No anesthesia,no complications, just you, the specialist and your amazing stem cells!
As we grow older, we experience an in creasing number of major life changes that
effect the aging process greatly. Obviously,physical changes to the body due to aging
are among the most noticeable, but life itself can greatly increase the aging process. Changes in family matters, work matters and our social surroundings can rapidly
increase the aging process. How we handle these changes, as well as regular day-to-day
care, is the key to healthy aging:
There are four vital elements that allow our bodies to run effectively and efficiently: our
internal organs, our internal operating system (nervous, respiratory, etc.), our brain and pro-
per nutritional intake. Each one could have a positive or negative effect on our daily lives
depending on how we treat ourselves and/or our lifestyle.
Our internal organs wear out with use,same as a machine. If we maintain good maintenance of the parts, the machine will be in better shape and last much longer.Stem Cell therapy from bone marrow results in the regeneration of damaged tissue on a molecular level. This means that the stem cells taken from one’s own bone marrow will seek out, find and begin a process of duplication and will graft together to rebuild and repair the damaged tissue within
the body. Simultaneously with the grafting process, the cells transform into that exact type of tissue and take on it’s function. These stem cells can greatly increasing the working condition of organs and the metabolic function of tissue within the body.
In addition to excellent working parts,every machine has to have some sort of energy source to function. The better the energy source for that specific machine, the more efficient it will work. In our bodies,getting proper nutrition specifically for our personal condition, is the key to detoxification and the main source of energy.
In addition to a proper energy source (nutrition) and good maintenance of the parts
(our internal organs and systems), there are other elements that are needed in order for
our machine to function smoothly, such as oil or water in a car. In the body’s case hormones are essential and play a major part within the body. Dependent on age, hormone therapy can boost the production of specific hormones weakened by our everyday life and positively affect the normal aging process by providing a smooth ride.
Finally, there is always an operator of the machine, in this case the brain and state of mind. The brain has many functions that physically control the body, but our state of mind behind it can easily lose focus and become overwhelmed with complicated situations that it gets distracted, or forgets how to operate the machine properly. Family, business,social life, and many other factors contribute to increasing stress levels within the mind.These factors can lead our body off track and in many cases against our own will. Taking a pause for introspection could make a big difference. Gaining the tools to relax our mind and focus again on the important matters, as well as being conscious of what contributes to our stress levels will result in a more efficient body function and a more enjoyable life.
Every action has a reaction. Finding the ways to control the elements of action and reaction
in order to get the results that we wish has been challenging, but in terms of stem cell anti-aging methods, this is able to be done. Stem cell therapy from the bone marrow of one’s own body,combined with hormone therapy, good nutrition and stress control of the mind has demonstrated to greatly improve organ function, increase quality of life and evoke youth from the inside and reflecting on the outside.
There are many benefits of this healthy aging therapy! For example hormone therapy
combined with good nutrition can improves mineralization of the bones, increase muscle
mass, body movement and agility. In addition stem cells result in increased metabolism
reinforcement, reduction in fat tissues, and can produce efficient liver, kidney, lung and
heart functions. Furthermore, stem cell therapy combined with hormone therapy increases energy levels, daily activities, and even increases quality of hair and nail growth.
If the reasons above do not encourage you to research bone marrow stem cells, here are
few more: In women stem cell therapy can improve estrogen production resulting in easier menopause. In men, stem cells can result in increased testosterone levels which maintain a healthy energy level, healthy mood, fertility and increased sexual desire!

The Doctors of Stem Cells Therapy

By Brian Blackbum
Nov 25, 2010 12:58 PM • Topic: Health • Issue: 2010-11

Stem cell therapy is a very ‘hot topic’ these days with many issues, the July 2010 issue
of Frontier Doctors magazine contains a very informative article about this controversial
medical science. As background ... ProgenCell extracts stem cells directly from a patient’s bone marrow and subjects them to several processes before being transplanted back into that same patient to improve their health. The patient’s medical condition creates the appropriate immune environment in the body, resulting in a personalized therapy. Many years of research
and experience have resulted in substantial improvements in the health of patients battling various diseases, even when other treatments have failed.
ProgenCell offers patients with certain degenerative diseases an opportunity to improve their
health through cellular therapy, correcting adverse medical conditions at the source by regenerating the tissues and organs causing the ailments. Because the stem cells are from the
same patient, this therapy has no risk of tissue rejection and minimal secondary effects.

Ailments for which stem cell therapy has proven effective include arthritis, chronic fatigue,
diabetes, cardiology, optic nerve atrophy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s among others. Needless to say, these are very serious medical conditions to people of all ages.Frontier Doctors had the opportunity to ask a few questions to two of these dedicated doctors... Dr. Luis Romero and Dr. Jorge Gaviño.

FD: Tell us about yourself... where you grew up, parents, family, your early years as a child.
Dr. Romero: I was born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico. I come from a middle class
family with eight siblings, five sisters and three brothers; I am the sixth of the family.
My father was a civil engineer, my mother a housewife...of course with 9 kids, she was very
busy all the time! I did all my studies in Guadalajara including medical school, after that I went to Mexico City, where I made a specialty. From there,I came to Tijuana where I have worked as orthopedist/ spine surgeon in private practice since 1987.

Dr. Gaviño: I was born and raised in Mazatlan Sinaloa; my life is as common as many other
people, I have six siblings in total. My childhood days were not very significant, playing all the time as all children should.

FD: While you growing up, what did you want to be: fireman, teacher, fisherman, doctor, dancer, football player, singer?
Dr. Romero: I always wanted to be a doctor,since very young my dream was to play professional football, which did not happened because my parents would not let me. But I always wanted to be a doctor, since I can remember.Dr. Gaviño: I always believe that I was going to be what I am, a doctor.

FD: What subjects did you enjoy in school:writing, science, mathematics, recess?
Dr. Romero: I enjoyed science, especially biology and anything related to the human body,
those subjects always caught my attention.

FD: What about math, recess?
Recess of course! I didn’t dislike mathematics,however what most caught my attention were
nature sciences.Dr. Gaviño: Well, I always enjoyed recess, what I didn ́t like was social sciences; I liked everything about the technical sciences.

FD: Who were your heroes while growing up?
Dr. Romero: well ... my father, some athletes, several who were easy to identify with.
Within the professional area I’ve always admired Albert Einstein and Nicolas Tesla. I
found them great and they have changed the world. Dr. Gaviño: Superman, Batman, as usual.

FD: When did you decide to become
a doctor?
Dr. Romero: I decided at very early age, I never saw myself practicing any other profession, nothing else caught my attention, just being a doctor.Dr. Gaviño: From the earliest years of elementary school. I don ́t remember an accurate date,but since then.

FD: Why do you became a doctor?
Yes, I had an uncle who had polio and when occasionally talking with him in those years, the
idea came into my mind and it never left me since.

FD:Wwhere did you study medicine?
Dr. Romero: in Guadalajara, Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara; I completed my studies there.Dr. Gaviño: at the Autonomous University of Baja California in Tijuana, in the faculty of medicine.

FD: When did you decide to study the
science of stem cell therapy?
Dr. Romero: about the year 2000 when I was working with patients with traumatic spinal
cord injury, I started to read about stem cells in journals of scientific research ... the properties of stem cells and applications in the future.There was a need to stimulate the spinal cord so we selected stem cell therapy and began at that time.
Dr. Gaviño: about 10 years ago, we were conducting a study of traumatic spinal cord injuries
and this project research lead us to investigate many treatments, one of which is autologous
stem cell therapy.

FD: Tell us about your personal experiences being involved in such a cutting-edge technology.
Dr. Romero: I have many experiences, because each patient is a unique experience. I have
in my memory some cases where patients had extraordinary & dramatic responses, seemingly miraculous! That encouraged me, seeing patients with such distressing diseases with no apparent hope of any improvement, who have improved their condition through stem cell therapy. And of course when you see such responses, it encourages the medical team to go ahead... of course there are also disappointments but what matters most are the good things, not the bad things.
Dr. Gaviño: I love to see the important benefits that have been achieved in some patients.
And generally, these are patients with few options of therapies or treatments; they have
very complicated diseases so this treatment gives them hope and results, leaving me with
plenty of satisfaction.

FD: What do you see as the future of stem cell
therapies?
Dr. Romero: I think the future has yet not caught a glimpse of how far this science will get; we are at the beginning, at the tip of the iceberg of stem cell technology.
I believe there will be a twist on the concept of pharmacological treatments because stem cell
therapy is more natural, less harmful and possibly even cheaper than drugs. Stem cells are the source to build more treatments because growth factors will complement and create new therapies using this science.
Dr. Gaviño: We must change the point of view of how medicine will be applied in the future
by using many treatments based on regenerative therapies, instead of offering some control of the disease with medication.

FD: Is there anything else you want to add?
Dr. Romero: I hope that as we learn more about stem cell treatments and more patients have improvements, we will see the benefits of our efforts. We ask for patience and trust from our patients because these are serious matters and the treatments will influence the future.
Dr. Gaviño: To the patients, one of the most important aspects is to always have the best
attitude possible, not only to keep looking for new options or to find better options but also
from the functional point of view. This attitude allows the body to function better so the best
recommendation for patients is a good attitude, do not lose the optimism or the intention
to get well.

Dr. Romero and Dr. Gavino are members of the Medical Committee of ProgenCell (stem cell technologies) to whom we express our gratitude for their dedication and commitment.
Frontier Doctors thanks Dr. Romero and Dr.Gavino for these insights into their personal
and professional lives. I hope this information shows the human nature of the professionals
who look into the future for remedies of some of today’s worst diseases and give a glimpse of what generations to come can look forward to in healthcare.

Stem Cells 101

By Elias Bamaras, ProgenCell 

What are Stem Cells?
Stem cells are cells found in all multi cellular organisms. They are characterized by the ability to renew themselves through mitotic cell division and differentiate into a diverse range of specialized cell types. In other words, stem cells are cells that can travel from different parts of the body to organs or tissue that have been damaged.
What are the different types of stem cells?
When the stem cells come from your own blood or bone marrow, it is called an autologous transplant. When the stem cells come from another person, it is called an allogeneic transplant. The donor may be a relative or a complete stranger. The important thing is that the donor’s immune system markers are closely matched to yours. This is most likely when the donor is your brother or sister.
How are stem cells currently be
used to treat medical conditions?
There are now treatments to repair damaged organs and tissues and to produce growth factors and other substances necessary in the development of the body. Stem cells may create skin for burn patients or grafts and repair damaged tissues in patients with brain damage, spinal chord damage, and
other conditions. The most widespread use of such cells is in cases of some
types of leukemia and lymphomas, but stem cells have also been used to
treat heart disease, nervous system issues, diabetes, arthritis and more.
What is its origin?
The source of stem cells found in the first layers that form after an egg has
been fertilized (zygote), the zygote divides into 2 cells in these in 4 then 8, 16,32, etc.. until it became 3 layers, the outer ectoderm, from which it will derive the skin and nervous tissue, the mesoderm or middle layer, from which is derived muscles including the heart and blood vessels, bones, cartilage and ligaments of the body and the inner layer the endoderm, from which originated the abdominal organs and intestines. The tissue forms retain some of these stem cells for maintenance and repair used although an adult body. Stem cells from these layers have the characteristic of being pluripotent, which means they have the ability to become other cells and tissues.
What is its significance today?
As processing capacity in other types of tissue stem cells can be used for medical treatments to repair damaged organs and tissues and to produce growth factors and other substances necessary in the development of the body. In this way with stem cells may create skin for burn patients or grafts, to repair damaged tissues such as brain damage and spinal cord, pancreas, heart and so on.
Where did you get stem cells?
There are 2 types of sources of stem cells: embryonic and adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells obtained from human embryos 8 weeks of gestation. On grounds,ethical, moral and religious use of such stem cells is prohibited in almost everyone. Adult stem cells, are concentrated in umbilical cord blood of newborns and in some tissues of the human body, such as blood, fat, skin and bone marrow in the latter there is a larger pool and gives the formation of new cells Adult stem.
In what cases are used stem cells?
Umbilical cord blood of newborns can be stored in specialized banks (whether public or private) that have special tanks that keep cryopreservación frozen at temperatures below 150 degrees C, this is done to preserve them for long periods of time without losing its characteristics prior to freezing. Of these umbilical cords obtained Ceulen mother that can be cultured to increase their numbers and used by the child or the person that was obtained, but can also be used by others that are compatible to prevent rejection reactions. It is noteworthy that in each process by passing the cells are lost in numbers and quality of them, since the administration of them can hurt and the cells are adhering to the walls of the instruments used, so that process quality is important to prevent cells lose viability and get healthy. The most widespread use of such cells is in cases of some types of leukemias and lymphomas, but have also been used in cases of heart diseases, nervous system, diabetes mellitus, arthritis and more. Stem cells obtained from bone marrow can be used for similar purposes, with the advantage of their collection on multiple occasions at different ages of the person as needed.
What are the risks of using stem cells?
In the case of non-autologous (from the same person, the donor is the same as the receiver), the main risks are, the tissue rejection by the immune system, allergic reactions due to incompatibility, antibody formation with stem cells and the possibility of transmitting diseases (viral or protein).
How do I manage treatment with stem cells?
Stem cells are administered intravenously like a blood transfusion, and in some cases can be administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously. Must be administered by physicians trained and experienced in handling these types of therapies, some of which must be performed in operating rooms and remain isolated in a special care unit.
What we do in Progencell?
In Progencell take stem cells from the patient’s own bone marrow for use as treatment in various diseases, ie use the technique of autologous stem cell treatment. The progencell special is that we use in most cases complete bone marrow. It is obtained by puncture, mixed in a closed system with a special solution that is prepared in advance to physical stimulation of stem cells and the patient can apply a lot of fresh cells, live, active, with as little handling as possible . The intention with immediate application, avoiding
the handling, freezing, and storage is not mistreat these cells in obtaining the properties of stem cells without damage, aging and high viability. Another advantage of using whole bone marrow is that it contains growth factors that are not only useful but necessary for growth and transformation of stem cells. Remove items from the bone like red blood cells, serum and platelets is not strictly necessary, when used intravenously. These elements will be selected by the body and eliminated as the need for it.
Is it better to use cells from a donor?
In patients suffering from chronic degenerative diseases, the damage is in the organs and processes that affect these organs. This damage may be impaired microcirculation, changes in pH, accumulation of free radicals, oxidative stress, cell death, cellular microenvironment, electrolyte distur-bances, production, transportation and disposal of various items, such as
hormones, proteins, enzymes , carbohydrates, lipids, etc.. In some cases the production of stem cells may be altered, but the stem cells are not altered in their function, ie, these cells always made processes of regeneration and re-pair damaged organs and tissues as it is the natural form of healing body.Stem cells from a person is completely healthy and has no limitation for autologous use (for the same person). There is no evidence to show that application of autologous stem cells perpetuate the disease. If this were real, the risk of using stem cells obtained from tissues of other people would be much greater, given that under this reason it would be transmitted to the recipient cells with all the features of the other person including his latent disease. Stem cell treatments safer, no doubt, are autologous treatments, such as those used in Progencell. So far, over 650 applications have not had any complications with any patient. All patients had a benefit with results ranging from complete cure to a slight improvement. The different responses in patients are because each has a different status, different habits, different production of stem cells and growth factors. However, we found that the factors influencing the results, are: the quality of the bone marrow, the patient’s general condition and his lifestyle, age, chronicity and severity of the disease.
Where does Progencell cells?
The sources of obtaining bone marrow aspiration is performed on the inside of a bone needle will reach the iliac crest (hip) or tibia (leg). The procedure is performed in adults with local anesthesia and is well tolerated by patients, few patients have reported slight discomfort at the site of aspiration for a few days after the procedure.
How Progencell cells infused?
In all cases intravenous application is made and in some cases we perform a local application, for example thyroid, spinal subdural retrobulbar, to go directly to the tissue repair is required. In the case of osteoarthritic knees is only performed intraarticular application, the intravenous application is not made in these cases not be necessary.
What is the future Progencell therapies?
Progencell is in the process of development of other therapies, including erectile dysfunction, alopecia (baldness), treatments for children and others. If the results that we remain positive and are favorable conditions could be expected availability of these therapies in late 2010.

Dr. Aubanel

Medicine Women

Baja California has many sons and daughters that we can be proud of, great athletes, media personalities, politicians, scientist and excellent medical professionals. One of our most outstanding personalities in the region is Dr. Patricia Aubanel M.D. world renowned
interventional cardiologist. Patricia Aubanel was born in Tijuana, daughter of two great personalities in Baja California, Dr. Gustavo Aubanel and Misses Luisa Riedel Aubanel. Her parents participated actively in regional politics, Dr. Gustavo was the first mayor of Tijuana after years of advocacy for Baja California to be recognized as a free state.

At the age of seven she decided she wanted to become a doctor, but it wasn’t until years later when she was in Pennsylvania for additional training when she found her true passion, the reason why her heart beats a little faster, her life’s mission, the practice of interventional cardiology.After earning her medical degree, Dr. Aubanel later attended Miami University and prepared to pass her medical licensing.“It was like going to medical school all over again,” she says. She did her residency in internal medicine at Boston University and was trained in interventional cardiology at Harvard’s Mass General Hospital. A few years later, she returned to the West Coast as a doctor at the internationally renowned Scripps Clinic & Research Foundation in La Jolla, California, where she served as a Fellow for Dr. Richard Schatz.
Her time spent in training with Dr. Schatz was transcendental to her life and to her future patients, it would revolutionize the way cardiologist would practice medicine in Mexico; due to the fact she was among the first doctors in the world, and the only non-U.S. doctor, to be trained in the stent. Mexico’s first experience with the stent was in 1990, when it was implanted at the National Institute of Cardiology; tellingly, it received approval in Mexico five years before the FDA approved it in the U.S. Dr. Aubanel would spend five years training thousands of doctors on both sides of the border on how to apply the new procedure.
The stent is a tube designed to be inserted into a vessel or passageway to keep it open. Stents are inserted into narrowed coronary arteries to help keep them open after a procedure called balloon angioplasty. The stent then allows the normal flow of blood and oxygen to the heart.
She has worked with many high profile individuals, but perhaps her most well know patient was Mother Teresa of Calcutta, catholic nun with a mission to help the impoverish. The nun was spending a fair amount of time in Tijuana working with the poor but her health was failing, so the bishop approached the doctor to asses Mother Teresa. At the time Dr. Aubanel was very busy working in Mexico as well in the USA. Seeing patients at Hospital del Prado in Tijuana and performing surgery and receiving advanced training at Scripps Clinic in La Jolla. In 1990 she created a private coronary and intensive care unit in Tijuana; it was the first of its kind in the state of Baja California.
She did Mother Teresa’s assessment at Hospital del Prado. “Mother Teresa are you ready to die? Asked the good doctor, have you fulfilled your mission on earth?’ She said no. She told her that before she died she wanted to go to China. She had tried before but the government hadn’t cooperated. “Can you help me get to China?” she asked Dr. Aubanel.Yes, but first there was work to be done.
After Dr. Aubanel evaluated Mother Teresa, the treatment of choice was decided, she concluded that she would open Mother Teresa’s vessel with the employment of the stent. But a complication existed Mother Teresa’s age, she was 81 at the time, she had bad over all health and she was not considered a good candidate for a stent. And a final barrier:
Mother Teresa didn’t want to be treated at Scripps Clinic, because she considered Scripps a clinic for millionaires She wanted the procedure done in Tijuana. She explained that they didn’t have the facilities,” she says. Mother Teresa responded: “What about your people? You need to take care of your people.” Dr. Aubanel gave her many reasons, all legitimate: she didn’t have the time right now to undertake such a big commitment, nor did she have the funds to build a coronary center in Tijuana. Mother Teresa wasn’t buying it. “You don’t need money, you need faith.” That day Dr. Aubanel made a commitment to herself and to Mother Teresa, to open a special center to treat the thousands of people of Tijuana with coronary and vascular complications. Mother Teresa requested that there be a chapel and said she’d be there for the first mass. “That way,” Dr. Aubanel explained, “the Institute would be blessed forever and she’d pray for every patient.” The operation was a success.
Since then Dr. Aubanel has offered many conferences in distant parts of the world; she has won many acknowledgments, including women of the year 1992, in the United States a foundation in Washington D.C awarded her again women of the year, for Latin women in the United States. She has also been awarded by the medical consumer research counsel to be one of the best doctors in the continent; she has been the only Mexican to be awarded this honor.

If you where to ask what makes Dr. Aubanel an extraordinary woman, and there is no doubt
that she is, all those who know her would answer, that her compassion for others, her kindness to her patients, and strong values, make all her knowledge pale in comparison to the warmth of her nature and great spirit.

Great things are achieve when people invest time and effort in helping their fellow man, and don’t see illnesses, finances or stepping stones in order to accomplish a goal, an example of commitment to her patients can truly be said about Dr. Aubanel she has dedicated her life to saving and protecting the quality of life of thousands of individuals over the world. Now a day’ she has a passionate new project, the research and application of evolutionary use of stem cells. The most incredible aspect is that we are not inventing anything; it’s all nature, a Gift of God! As Mother Teresa would say.