The Science Behind Stem Cells

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As the foundation for every organ and tissue in the human body, stem cells have demonstrated the potential and promise for the treatment of many common diseases, including spinal cord injury, burns, diabetes, and Parkinson’s.

A recent experimental study has generated a new technique that can restore vision in mice that display end-stage eye disease, generally considered to lead to irreversible vision loss. By utilizing stem cells in a lab to grow new retina tissue, which was subsequently transplanted into the mice with retinal degeneration, scientists concluded that over 40% of the mice showed increased ability to see light.

The results of this procedure are particularly significant, given that this is the first time researchers have successfully transplanted the retina’s light receptors—the cells that sense light—in order to connect them to the nervous system, which ultimately transmits signals to the brain.

While human eyes invariably have a different environment than mice, and might not accept the same retinal transplants, the clinical study shows possible far-reaching implications and results for stem cell research.

Recognizing the need for knowledge surrounding stem cell protocols and practices, Metabolic Medical Institute has designed the world’s first Stem Cell Fellowship program. Learn more about the Stem Cell Fellowship.

Environment & Exposure

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A $3.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health will allow its recipients, professors of clinical and development psychology at several institutions including The George Washington University, to conduct research on the environmental and genetic factors of childhood development. Their task: to evaluate how consistent and prolonged exposures to the environment can potentially impact health and spur the need to detoxify systems.

The research is a component of a project termed the Early Growth and Development Study, an ongoing study that has followed the ways in which genetic and environmental factors can influence emotional development coupled with prenatal factors. This research will follow the same sample of children, studying their exposure to pollution and environmental toxins.

These studies are significant because they can potentially lead to a greater understanding of childhood health, and the extent of the environment’s influence. The overall project will assess and analyze not only the development of childhood obesity, but also the environment on genetic contributions to asthma, and newer developmental outcomes of mental health.

Our event in March, Module VI: A Metabolic and Functional Approach to Environmental Exposure and Detoxification, will concentrate on the symptoms, disorders, and diseases associated with exposures to toxic causes of oxidative stress.

At MMI we partner with GWU for Fellowship & Master’s Degree program offerings. We collectively share the same mission in spearheading educational efforts that promote preventive and integrative health. Register for the module and hear experts in the field synthesize current research on environmental exposures in human health, with a specific focus on clinical assessments in order to develop effective methods in reducing toxic burden and improving metabolic efficiency.

Gut & Autoimmunity: The Intimate Ties

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The ways in which factors like genes, infections, the microbiome/gut, and environment—the formulaic composition of the autoimmune system—interact collectively help create environments that promote either disease or health. Though genes cannot technically be altered, they can easily be influenced, and manifest themselves differently through the microbiome, infections, and environment.

Autoimmune diseases are the third leading cause of morbidity in the industrialized world, surpassed only by cancer and heart disease. Several researchers are proponents of a framework that uses scientifically based targeted nutritional therapies to address the underlying systemic imbalances of these diseases.

This approach, rooted in functional medicine, concentrates on the body holistically, as a whole, rather than a collection of separate entities and organs. Because autoimmune diseases can be influenced through food and nutrition, and the gastrointestinal track ‘controls’ between 70 and 80% of the body’s immune cells, certain dietary changes can both feed the microbiome and reduce inflammation: ultimately lessening allergies and autoimmunity.

Some interventions include removing gluten, which has been shown to increase inflammation, and eating more plant foods: particularly fermented foods such as kefir, kimchi, and kombucha. Moreover, removing cow’s milk and adding supplements and vitamins can help fight disease—rather than feed it.

Learn more about autoimmune disease & inflammation through Module VII: A Metabolic and Functional Approach to Inflammation and Autoimmune Disease.

 

IBS & Genetics

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), the most common gastrointestinal disorder, affects more than 10% of the population, with symptoms that include abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, and gas. Yet the causes of IBS have remained largely unknown, which has historically inhibited the development of effective treatment options.

New findings from a research team in Sweden, however, have identified a link between the genetic defects in carbohydrate digestion and IBS. Because those diagnosed with IBS often connect their symptoms with fermentable carbohydrates, the scientists found that rare defective sucrose-isomaltase (SI) mutations were twice as common among IBS cases. The poor carbohydrate digestion in the intestine could potentially lead to malabsorption and severe bowel symptoms: markers for IBS.

It is possible that these results will allow doctors and medical professionals to tailor and personalize more effective IBS treatment options based on SI genotype.

Learn more about comprehensive metabolic, functional, and nutritional approaches to gastrointestinal dysfunction and diseases.

November: National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month

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When your family member no longer recognizes you…

This month is a time to both reflect upon, and recognize, all of those affected by Alzheimer’s disease. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan designated November as National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. In the early ‘80s, less than 2 million Americans were diagnosed with the disease; today, more than 5 million people are affected. President Reagan himself succumbed to Alzheimer’s only half a decade after he left office.

One of the primary mechanisms in raising public health awareness is initiating and engaging in dialogues. Because there has historically been a widespread practice of late detection, many do not seek treatment early enough, when effects of available interventions could be best optimized. Routinely prescribed medications are more effective before there is already substantial brain damage; lifestyle changes like nutrition counseling and increased exercise can alter the trajectory of the disease and increase quality of life with an earlier diagnosis.

Research has pointed to significant risk factors like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obesity as indicators of greater risk for cognitive decline: one’s brain health is strongly correlated with one’s heart health. Managing dynamics like nutrition and positive lifestyle choices, in addition to social dynamics like smoking and isolation, are equally important in preventing the onset of mental/cerebral deterioration later in life.

To learn more about the most recent developments in the neurological field, register for our course Module III: A Metabolic and Functional Approach to Neurology, which provides an overview of degenerative disorders and the role of neurotransmitters in pathophysiology.

Alternatively, our Brain Fitness Certification is a 4-part program that provides healthcare professionals with a critical foundation in neuroscience, application of neurological principles to the management of cognitive decline, and a discussion of emerging brain fitness therapies.

Help spread the message. Be an ambassador for change.

Nutrition Education in Medical School

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Recent statistics show that more than two-thirds of Americans are considered to be overweight or obese. With diabetes and obesity on the rise, in addition to spikes in other lifestyle-related diseases, it has become critical to highlight the necessity of self-care and healthy living habits. Yet while physicians are generally considered to be reliable sources regarding nutrition, more than 50% of graduating medical students continue to rate their knowledge as ‘inadequate,’ and only one in eight patients receives counseling from their doctors on dietary health benefits.

A study designed to quantify the required number of hours of nutrition education at U.S. medical schools, in addition to an investigation regarding the types of courses offered, reaffirmed the supposition that medical students receive an inadequate amount of nutrition education. Only 27% of surveyed schools required a course dedicated to nutrition; on average, U.S. medical schools only offer 19.6 hours of nutrition education—across four years of medical school.

Throughout the past several decades, there has been a push towards improving the medical nutrition education that students receive. With suboptimal knowledge about dietary habits, future physicians are selling both themselves and their patients very short. It is imperative to equip health practitioners with the necessary tools and information that they can utilize in their practices, ultimately addressing the root causes of real, pervasive problems.

Learn more about our Fellowship in Metabolic & Nutritional Medicine, which offers a new form of medicine that is personalized, preventive, and predictive. Begin your journey to a new standard of medical education rooted in wellness and health.

Earn up to 24 CME credits, live or online, with our module dedicated to nutrition and exercise.

Stem Cell Therapy: The Body Healing Itself

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Stem cell therapy, a critical segment of the regenerative medicine field and market, is a quickly evolving field, with the potential to help people heal more rapidly, in addition to avoiding invasive surgical procedures and treatments.

The ability of the body to heal itself through this therapy is derived from immature, self-renewing cells located in the body’s bone marrow, which can ultimately restore and repair a wide variety of bodily tissues. Only one week ago, the NIH awarded a $5.2 million grant to researchers who have collaborated to explore mechanisms of lung regeneration in diseases like cystic fibrosis.

Scientists have also recently found that a specific type of stem cell can generate a range of benefits for regenerative medicine, as they can be differentiated into multiple cell types including neurons, heart, pancreatic, and liver cells. These studies have further confirmed that stem cell therapy can treat neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s and other conditions.

This rapidly growing sector offers physicians, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and medical professionals an opportunity to transition towards a more therapeutic approach. In areas where current treatment options such as surgery and pharmaceuticals are not effective, stem cell therapy offers a promising prospect of hope.

Learn more about stem cell therapy and its applications in regenerative medicine. The Fellowship in Stem Cell Therapies offers a comprehensive overview of relevant diseases, current research, and best practices for in-office applications.

Endocrinology Overview Webinar | Jennifer Landa, MD

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The endocrine system plays an important role in the body’s overall function and optimal health. World renowned physician and author, Jennifer Landa, MD gives an overview of endocrinology, speaks on MMI’s Fellowship program and presents a patient case study.

MODULE I-A: A METABOLIC AND FUNCTIONAL APPROACH TO ENDOCRINOLOGY

A functional overview of hormonal changes that manifest in men & women with aging, including the functions & interplay of specific hormones in the body. It discusses how best to identify, test for & treat hormonal deficiencies & dysfunctions, such as with hormone replacement & medication compounding.

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Clinical Practice Protocols | Dr Andrew Heyman

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Andrew Heyman, MD gives a preview of MMI’s most comprehensive and foundational Fellowship course- Module VIII: Clinical Practice Protocols. This module examines various case histories to provide the knowledge for instantly implementing the latest nutritional treatment modalities for more than 50 conditions, ranging from the cardiovascular & immune systems to mental health & lifestyle-specific nutrition.

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What’s Next for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine with Dr Sharon McQuillan

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The use of stem cells is a natural progression in anti-aging and regenerative medicine. Stem cell therapy is at the forefront of cutting-edge medicine. Join Dr. McQuillan and other experts in Las Vegas December 11-13th for three days of interactive learning on the foundation of stem cell therapy.

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