AMPC and Kidney Correlation Study.

Transcription

1 T R E A T M E N T AMPC and Kidney Correlation Study. Unlocking Infinite Possibilities AUTOLOGOUS STEM CELL TREATMENT PTY LTD issue 2:

2 Summary This study explores the role of the kidney in the body, and how kidney failure affects human life. The kidney plays a pivotal role in filtering excess chemicals form the body, but this process can be disrupted by chronic kidney disease (CKD). Most cases of CKD are caused by diabetes, and CKD could deteriorate into kidney failure, after which kidney function cannot be recovered. Current methods of CKD treatment involve preventing further damage to the kidney, failing which kidney failure will be overcome with complicated dialysis procedures or kidney transplants. Autologous Stem Cell Treatment (ASCTreatment) has developed a unique stem cell product, Autologous Multi-lineage Potential Cells (AMPCs), that has demonstrated a beneficial effect on kidney failure in one instance. This opens up a potential pathway for kidney disease treatment research to determine AMPC s efficacy and feasibility in controlling CKD. Introduction The kidney is one major organ that performs life-sustaining functions. As with other important organs, it carries out a multitude of functions that would severely harm the body if they were to cease. The primary function of the kidney is waste removal. It filters excess salt, potassium, and acid from the blood to produce urine, which will then be excreted from the body. This critical process regulates the chemical balance of the body so that they do not accumulate and cause damage to the body. Kidney function can be lost through several factors, but the leading contributor is diabetes caused by poor health choices. Diabetes can deteriorate to chronic kidney disease (CKD) if not monitored, and this will disrupt the kidney s waste filtration function. A severe loss of kidney function may jeopardise body s health if no alternative methods of waste removal are sought. Kidney function The primary function of the kidney is to regulate the body s chemical balance by removing excess salt, potassium, and acid from the bloodstream. Additionally, it also aids in removing drugs, a function that it shares with the liver. Hormones are also produced by the kidney for a range of functions, including the regulation of blood pressure, and production of red blood cells. In keeping with the role of other life-sustaining organs, the kidneys could severely harm the body or at best cause significant lifestyle inconveniences if they were to stop working. The kidney has small functioning units called nephrons. Each nephron acts as a filter, and the blood that passes through them will be filtered according to the body s needs. A body lacking sodium will cause sodium to be detained in the blood, while an excess of potassium will cause the filtration of potassium into the urine. Urine is the end product of this filtration process, which is excreted from the body. Should the kidney not function properly, excess chemicals could be stored in the body, or the lack of other nutrients would remain neglected, causing improper function in other parts of the body. 1

3 Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney failure The kidney is susceptible to chronic kidney disease (CKD) that could hamper its ability to filter waste products from the body. CKD is a disease characterised by gradual loss of kidney function, and is caused by poor body conditions. The conditions that lead to CKD can be inherited or acquired from infection, but most cases of CKD are caused by lifestyle choices. The leading cause of kidney disease diabetes, which reflects reality where majority of CKD and liver failure sufferers are the elderly or those born with Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes manifests itself in younger patients, and is characterised by the body s inability to produce sufficient insulin a hormone that controls blood sugar levels. Type 2 diabetes occurs in older patients and is caused by poor diet, sedentary lifestyles, and high blood pressure. Those with Type 2 diabetes can still produce insulin, but the body cannot use the hormone optimally. Blood sugar levels need to be monitored as an abnormally high level could narrow or clog the smaller blood vessels within the body. The narrower blood vessels disrupt blood flow to the kidneys, and this stunted circulation hampers the kidney s functions. As the blood flow to the kidney becomes increasingly disrupted, kidney function loss becomes more severe, which could lead to kidney failure. Kidney failure is characterised by a kidney that is no longer able to filter and remove the body s waste products. Once a kidney fails completely, kidney function can no longer be restored. Fortunately, the human body contains a pair of kidneys, and only one kidney is required to sustain life. Early kidney damage does not exhibit any symptoms in the body, which poses a health risk for drinkers and smokers as these lifestyle choices could exacerbate kidney damage. Urine tests should therefore be conducted annually to gauge kidney damage. However, those with CKD should take extra precautions to protect the kidney so that it does not deteriorate into kidney failure. Most CKDs can be treated with medication so that further damage to the organ can be prevented. However, patients with kidney failure will require more drastic treatments since the body no longer has a feasible method for filtering and excreting waste. In most cases, kidney failure is overcome by dialysis, which is a method of filtering waste form the blood stream using an external machine. This is a timeconsuming process and needs to be done about three times each week. Some patients with kidney failure opt for a kidney transplant, which carries surgical and rejection risks as the donor kidney introduced into the patient s body needs to be biologically compatible with the patient. These processes take a huge toll on the body and may cause significant inconveniences to the patient, which is why kidney failure should be prevented to the best of the patient s ability. 2 issue 1:

4 Autologous Multi-lineage Potential Cells (AMPCs) Autologous Stem Cell Treatment (ASCTreatment) uses autologous stem cells for medical treatments. Stem cells are cells that have the potential to transform (or differentiate) into other specialised cell types within the body (muscles cells, blood cells, etc.). Adult stem cells are only able to differentiate into a small range of cell types; while the stem cells that are found in newborn infants are pluripotent meaning they can differentiate into all cell types. Autologous, within the context of stem cells, means that the cells are harvested from, and then administered to the same individual. This minimises the risk of rejection and eliminates the risk from genetic manipulation. ASCTreatment s Autologous Multi-lineage Potential Cells (AMPCs) are both autologous and pluripotent. These stem cells have the potential to heal the body from deteriorating conditions by regenerating and replacing old and damaged cells. In the case of the kidney, AMPCs could differentiate into healthy kidney cells that restore the waste filtration function of the kidney, essential reverting the kidney to its healthiest state. AMPCs have already been administered in over 200 instances, all of which have reported beneficial outcomes. These treatments are administered for a wide range of conditions, but there have been instances where AMPCs were shown to affect kidney function. 3

5 AMPC and CKD Case studies A patient who had stage three kidney disease has previously undergone AMPC treatment. Kidney disease is categorised into five varying stages of severity, with stage one reflecting normal kidney function and stage five representing kidney failure. These stages of kidney function are measured using the estimated glomerular filtration rate (egfr). A higher egfr indicates better kidney function with the values of egfr ranging from 0 to 100. On 1 May 2013, a test was conducted on this patient that showed an egfr of 52.5, indicating the patient to be at stage three kidney disease. Stage three kidney disease is indicative of 30% to 59% of a healthy body s kidney function. Patients at this stage require treatment to prevent further damage to the kidney. An AMPC intervention was then introduced on 7 September The egfr values were measured again on 28 October 2013 and 31 December 2013 to be at 57 in both instances. A second AMPC intervention was introduced on 14 April 2014 and egfr values were measured twice more on 10 July 2014 and 28 January 2015 to be 56.9 in both instances. A third measurement was taken approximately one year after the second AMPC intervention on 24 April 2015 to be at an egfr value of This indicates an improvement of kidney function from stage three kidney disease to stage two kidney disease. Stage two kidney disease reflects approximately 60% of a healthy body s kidney function. Patients at this stage need to have their kidney functions monitored twice a year to prevent deterioration of kidney function. 1 May September October December April July January April For raw medical records please view Appendix 1 4 issue 1:

6 The following are egfr values for three other patients after similar treatments. Please refer to their respective appendices for raw medical records. 10 August October April For raw medical records please view Appendix 2 30 April June August November For raw medical records please view Appendix 3 18 June July March June August August May For raw medical records please view Appendix 4 5

7 Conclusion and recommendation The kidney has an important life-sustaining role that makes it integral to human body function. While diabetes and other bodily conditions may not be immediately life threatening, they could lead to CKD and kidney failure if no precautionary measures are taken to control the disease. Kidney failure can also massively impact the patient s life, and complications could occur from kidney transplant procedures. Current CKD treatments only serve to prevent damage to the kidney, and will not restore function to the organ. The AMPC intervention administered in these instances were shown to positively affect kidney function after reinfusion procedures. Kidney function in the patients were improved after the AMPC treatments. While the effect of AMPC treatments on kidney function is still preliminary at this stage, future research could be conducted to validate the feasibility of addressing kidney disease with AMPCs. AMPCs have an added benefit of aiding convalescence, which could prove to be a rewarding path for further research. Disclaimer Note that the results of stem cell treatments administered in these instances were the culmination of multiple factors that could vary among individual patients. Although stem cell therapy has been demonstrated to alleviate symptoms of multiple disorders, ASCTreatment can neither predict nor guarantee the success of every stem cell therapy procedure. This is due to the nature of all medical interventions where there is an inherent risk attached. A medical practitioner should be consulted should there be any concerns with partaking in this treatment. 6 issue 1:

8 Appendix /05/01 (2013/10/28) (2013/12/31) (2014/07/10) (2015/01/28) 7 (2015/04/24)

9 Appendix 2 Appendix 3 8 issue 1:

10 Appendix 4 9

11 Appendix 4 10 issue 1: