Stem cells are becoming a hot topic when it comes to research for new medical treatments. This article attempts to give an idea about what they are and what they do.

Stem cells are the ‘building blocks’ cells of the body. They have the potential to develop into more specialized cells and create many different types of cell found in the body. They are capable of self-renewal by cell division, whilst still keeping their original, undifferentiated (non-specialized) state. These cells are capable of creating many different tissues of the body. They are found in bone marrow and in the blood circulating around your body. They are also found in the umbilical cord blood and placenta at birth, and collection and storage of umbilical cord blood for possible future medical treatments has become increasingly popular. The use of the cells derived from this umbilical cord blood has the great advantage of being a perfect match for the child which they originated from, and therefore there is no risk of an adverse reaction to them.

When it comes to developing new medical treatments, these cells offer the possibility of a cure for many of today’s incurable conditions. They are already used to treat conditions such as leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease and sickle cell disease.

Inside the body, these cells replenish other types of more specialized cell which have been killed or damaged. There are more than two hundred different cell types. They also replenish the cells found in the blood, the requirement for new blood cells being around 100,000,000,000 per day. They are found in greater numbers in embryos than in adults, and it is the embryonic stem cell type which can specialize and grow into any other type of cell. It is only this type which can be grown in significant quantities in the laboratory. Due to their source, the human embryo, the use of these has proved to be controversial. Adult (or Tissue) stem cells are more limited in which types of cell they can form and are usually limited to differentiating into the tissues in which they are found.

The potential to differentiate into different types of cell is called the ‘Potency’ of the cell. The different types of potency are:

Unipotent- Can only produce their own cell type, can self-renew

Oligopotent- Can only differentiate into a small number of cell types

Multipotent- Can differentiate only into closely-related types of cell

Pluripotent- Differentiate into most cell types

Totipotent (Omnipotent)- Can differentiate into any cell type

Top Notch Healthy Living

It true when they say: “Knowledge is Power.” Sometimes, even though we try to eat right and do all the proper things, we still develop problems. During a recent visit to my heart doctor, I discovered I have high cholesterol and a high triglyceride count. I’m currently taking a prescription medicine prescribed by the doctor. I know that exercise and diet play a big role in high cholesterol/triglycerides. I’m walking more every day and have made a few changes to my diet. Some of the high cholesterol medicines can cause liver damage.

This concerns me. My goal is to get off of my prescription medicine as soon as possible. I do not have high blood pressure because of a potassium supplement I take once a day. So I feel confident I will eventually find a supplement to help with my high cholesterol/triglycerides problem. I caution you: Please, do not stop seeing your doctor for any reason, especially because of something you read on my website. I really enjoy visiting my local health food store. The people are very knowledgeable about the many supplements available.

I found there is a supplement for almost any health issue. I have found that most people who work in health food stores are familiar with their products and their purpose. Remember, these products are not FDA approved. That doesn’t mean they won’t work or they are harmful. Most have been tried and tested for many years by people who have used them with good results. You should always follow the instructions included with any supplement you purchase, the same as you would with a prescription medicine.

If you do decide to try a supplement of some kind, inform your doctor so he can make any required adjustments to your medication. Note of interest: It is my understanding the FDA approves medicines because they do what the pharmaceutical company claims. They do not test them for harmful side effects before they go on the market. This is why some medicines are recalled after being approved by the FDA.

There are several options to treat excessive sweating. The medical term for overactive sweat glands is Hyperhidrosis. Treatment is determined based on the severity of this embarrassing condition.

Antiperspirants and Ointments

Antiperspirants are used as an initial treatment for hyperhidrosis. There is sometimes misconception between antiperspirants and deodorants. Deodorants are supposed to work on the smell while antiperspirants deal with sweat control. Next time you purchase a deodorant, make sure it is also an antiperspirant. Read the label first.

Some doctors recommend Drysol. It is applied on the problematic area only after the skin is completely dry. To reduce the chance of skin irritation, wear it only at bedtime and wash it off completely when you wake up in the morning using plain water. The treatment is repeated every night until improvement is observed. Then use it only once or twice a week for maintenance. On other days, you can use your regular deodorant. This medication is not very effective on the thick skin of the palms and soles.

Anticholinergic Medication

Some medications prevent the release of Acetylcholine. This is a neurotransmitter that causes eccrine sweat gland to go into overdrive. Robinul is frequently prescribed in this case. It is taken orally once a day which makes it treatment convenient. However, it is not without side effects. You may experience dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, urinary retention and palpitations.

Iontophoresis

a device is used for this procedure. Electrical stimulation on the affected area is supposed to reduce abnormally profuse sweating. A particular site is saturated or submerged in water while the device emits electricity on the problematic area. There can be a little discomfort at the start but as the procedure goes on, the patient gets used to it. Only then the electricity is adjusted to a higher intensity. Several sessions are required before there could be any improvement.

Botox Injection

The Botox craze is not only confined to wrinkles. After it has been approved by FDA, Botox is now being use as a treatment for Hyperhidrosis that can’t be treated with topical medication. Botox (Botulinum toxin type A) is a purified protein produced by Clostridium botulinum bacterium. Patients suffering from sweaty palms or underarms may get short-term improvement and relief after Botox injection. Botox is used in the treatment of other problems like eye muscle disorders, wrinkles and other similar conditions. It minimizes perspiration by blocking the release of acetylcholine, which is responsible for the stimulation of sweat glands. This treatment is only a temporary relief and must be done repeatedly 2-3 times in one year. It works well for sweaty underarms and has been used by many celebrities. Injections of Botox are not effective in severe cases of facial or palmar hyperhidrosis. It is a painful and expensive treatment.

Surgery

Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) is one of the more famous surgery used to resolve excessive perspiration. Other procedures include Lumbar sympathectomy, Sweat gland suction and Percutaneous sympathectomy, which is a minimal invasive procedure where the nerve is blocked by phenol injection.