Holimer, our Türkiye Miracell partner, launched a MIRACELL Stem Cell Gala Dinner seminar in November

Holimer, our Türkiye Miracell partner, launched a MIRACELL Stem Cell Gala Dinner seminar in November Holimer, our Türkiye Miracell partner, launched a MIRACELL Stem Cell Gala Dinner seminar in November 2023. Several doctors including OS specialists, attended the gala dinner hosted by Holimer last month of November in the Antalya region of Türkiye to expand the awareness and at the same time to promote the benefits of stem cells treatments. Several doctors including OS specialists, attended the gala dinner hosted by Holimerlast month of November in the Antalya region of Türkiye to expand the awareness and at the same timeto promote the benefits of stem cells treatments. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr8_QH2T0aI List

Knee Bone Marrow Stem Cell Injections: Effective Only Through a Proven System

[Expert Column] Knee Bone Marrow Stem Cell Injections: Require a Proven System for Effectiveness Concerns about patient harm from unlicensed bone marrow cell extractors. Government approval of new medical technology is needed. Age is the strongest risk factor for knee osteoarthritis. Pain worsens during activity and at night, and symptoms such as morning stiffness, instability, and decreased function cause discomfort in daily life. Despite the high prevalence of knee osteoarthritis in Korea, treatment has focused solely on pain relief rather than addressing the underlying cause of the disease. With the recent increase in interest in regenerative medicine, various treatment methods are being explored for arthritis, one of which is bone marrow stem cell injections.Bone marrow stem cells not only alleviate pain in arthritis patients, but also, through the action of various chemical messengers (cytokines) and growth factors found in bone marrow,reduce joint cell destruction and protect existing joint cells. They are also known to play a role in altering the progression of the disease by promoting the regeneration of certain joint cells.In July, after reviewing various data, the government announced that intra-articular injection of bone marrow aspirate concentrate (Ministry of Health and Welfare Notice No. 2023-128) for knee osteoarthritis was a valid treatment method, a “new medical technology.” The “knee bone marrow stem cell injection,” which received this new medical technology designation, has been a safe procedure used in the United States for the treatment of knee arthritis patients for over a decade. Many hospitals and clinics across the country are competitively introducing “bone marrow stem cell injection,” but the government’s notice lacks clear guidelines regarding the procedure. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s New Medical Technology Assessment Report, the procedure involves “centrifuging autologous bone marrow collected from the patient’s iliac crest and injecting the concentrated bone marrow stem cells into the knee joint.” However, the various devices currently in use for collecting and concentrating bone marrow concentrates can vary in their composition, making it uncertain whether they are sufficiently effective in treating arthritis. Effective arthritis treatment requires a sufficient number of stem cells, a sufficient amount of chemical messengers (cytokines), and growth factors. Therefore, using bone marrow concentrates using proven devices can maximize the effectiveness of these treatments. Furthermore, according to the paper used as a reference for this new medical technology clinical trial (Comparison of the Effects of Intra-articular Injections of Bone Marrow Stem Cells (BMAC) and Autologous Serum (ACS) in Patients with Early-Stage Knee Osteoarthritis, Italy, 2022), “Effective treatment results were achieved by extracting 60 cc of the patient’s bone marrow, concentrating it using SmartPrep (a stem cell concentrator), and injecting 7-10 cc of stem cells into the knee joint cavity.” Therefore, precise injection dosage is crucial. The Ministry of Health and Welfare should clearly state the use of “bone marrow stem cells” in autologous bone marrow stem cell injections, and provide guidance on how to accurately quantify the amount of stem cells used. Furthermore, it’s necessary to verify that devices that haven’t been validated as stem cells (and haven’t undergone equivalence evaluations) are being used indiscriminately to treat patients with knee osteoarthritis, as outlined in the treatment material approval documents. Meanwhile, a medical expense insurance representative at an insurance company stated, “Patients with knee osteoarthritis with ICRS grades 3-4 and KL grades 2-3 are eligible for actual cost medical insurance. However, we are requesting additional information from the manufacturer regarding the stem cell extraction system used, including the equipment lot number and a list of hospitals that used the device.” The insurance industry stated, “The insurance industry doesn’t cover all knee stem cell injections. We conduct thorough reviews based on the information (use of bone marrow stem cells) specified in the new medical technology treatment method.” This indicates that stem cell treatment will be strictly enforced. Stem cell therapy, a national project in South Korea, requires caution as some hospitals are using unverified devices to treat patients with bone marrow concentrates. This practice should not be ignored by patients seeking the now-approved treatment for arthritis using autologous bone marrow concentrates. Kim Myeong-gu, Director of the Orthopedic Surgery Center at Incheon Paik Hospital and former President of the Korean Orthopedic Association