Stem cells how does it work

We also know they are not instant cures. While the procedure itself only lasts a few hours, recovery can take weeks. During this period, patients are monitored closely by physicians and nurses for side effects and for evidence of recovery. There are side effects associated with approved and unapproved stem cell therapies. The possible side effects of blood stem cell transplants are detailed on the Cancer. Patients considering an unapproved stem cell therapy should be aware that these procedures carry serious risks — and that these risks may not be managed by a qualified care team.

Therapies offered by stem cell clinics come with financial risk as well. Because these procedures are generally not covered by insurance, people seeking treatment are required to pay large out-of-pocket fees with no guarantee of improved health.

In reality, there is no strong evidence to back up claims that any stem cell therapy works — let alone has lasting benefits.

Embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos and have been used for research purposes in the past. They can differentiate into any one of the more than cells in the body. They are only available for the treatment of patients in clinical studies. Adult stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have a more specific ability to differentiate. There are several different types of these cells and they can replenish certain cells depending upon the specific tissue in which they live.

The MSC was noted to have an active role in connective tissue repair and the capacity to differentiate into bone, cartilage, and tendon cells. Since then, significant progress has been made to offer safe and effective treatments using MSCs to heal injured or inflamed tissues.

Stem cell research and technology has evolved to offer many potential medical uses due to their self-renewing qualities and the ability to stimulate tissue healing. In embryos, these cells multiply and differentiate to become organs, bones and muscles. In the laboratory, they can be multiplied to create stem cell lines for study or for therapy. Scientists harvest embryonic stem cells from three- to five-day-old embryos donated by people who have gone through in-vitro fertilization.

Scientists isolated the first human embryonic stem cells in What makes them different from other stem cells? These are the only stem cells that naturally are able to become any other cell type and to multiply endlessly. Under the right circumstances in a lab, they can be nudged to become specific cell types. Why do these characteristics give these cells medical potential?

Because of their ability to differentiate and multiply, embryonic stem cells long were thought to be the most powerful, and thus have the most potential for treating injury and disease.

Many people have ethical problems using human embryos for scientific study. Finding the right medical applications for embryonic stem cells is challenging. Their maturity means that they are limited in their ability to differentiate.

Pockets of adult stem cells are found in many of our organs and they replenish cells in the organs in which they reside. Types of adult stem cells include:. Found in bone marrow and umbilical cord blood, they become blood and immune cells. They are the only stem cells approved by the FDA for therapy, for treatment of certain blood cancers. These cells are found throughout the body, including in bone marrow, fat tissue and organs.