Stem Cell Treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis at Stem Cell Institute Panama - Arminda Bourin

Arminda Bourin has suffered from rheumatoid arthritis since 2003. She underwent adult stem cell therapy at the Stem Cell Institute in February 2012 because her swollen, painful ankles made it very difficult for her to walk. This interview takes place approximately one year after treatment.

Before coming to Panama, Ms. Bourin tried everything from anti-inflammatory and auto-immune medication to homeopathy and finally surgery on her left ankle, "Which I regret because if I had waited [until after the stem cell therapy], it would not have been necessary. The other foot with the same symptoms is now better without any surgery. I think it was the stem cells."

Ms. Bourin learned about the Stem Cell Institute from her husband's cousin, Judi Lecoq. Judy received treatment for multiple sclerosis and, "...told us how wonderful the treatment was and that she was so much better."

Regarding the doctors, staff and clinic, "They are wonderful. Everybody has been so kind."

Upon being asked, "Has this treatment changed your life?" Ms. Bourin responded, "Well, yes. I was not walking too much. I needed a wheelchair. It was painful anyway. So to be able to go shopping, that's a miracle!"

Liposuction methods can adversely affect adipose tissue-derived stem cell yield and growth

Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell yield and growth characteristics are affected by the tissue-harvesting procedure which was published in Cytotherapy (vol. 8 issue 2, 2006, pages 166-177)states that:

"Ultrasound-assisted liposuction resulted in a lower frequency of proliferating adult stem cells, as well as a longer population doubling time of adult stem cells, compared with resection..."

Those seeking adipose stem cell therapy should ask their doctor if he or she is using ultrasound assisted liposuction to collect the fat sample.

*Stem Cell Institute does not use ultrasound assisted liposuction.

Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell yield and growth characteristics are affected by the tissue-harvesting procedure
M.J. Oedayrajsingh-Varma1, S.M. van Ham2, M. Knippenberg3, M.N. Helder4, J. Klein-Nulend3, T.E. Schouten5, M.J.P.F. Ritt1, F.J. van Milligen, PhD5,

1 Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2 Department of Immunopathology, Sanquin Research at CLB, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
3 Department of Oral Cell Biology, ACTA-Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
4 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
5 Department of Pathology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14653240600621125, How to Cite or Link Using DOI
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Patients beware: "Point of care" fat stem cell separation and counting kits inaccurate and not US FDA approved for humans.

Informative paper by Mary Pat Moyer, PhD detailing why "same-day" fat stem cell kits that are becoming more prevalent in doctors' offices across the US can miscount "stem cells" by large factors leading to over estimation of stem cell counts by as much as 20 times or more.

It also states, "no complete harvest and cell isolation systems have been approved by the FDA for autologous SVF harvest for immediate use [in humans]." These are just a couple of the arguments presented that demonstrate why it's important to process adipose tissue properly in a professional lab setting.

Morrison DG, Hunt DA, Garza I, Johnson RA, Moyer MP*. Counting and Processing Methods Impact Accuracy of Adipose Stem Cell Doses. BioProcess J, 2012; 11(4): 4-17