Medical tourism has become one of the major industries of the world, as a result of which a dimension is being added to it every single day. Regenerative medicine is one such addition to this industry. The concept of Regenerative medicine in treating the problem of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has proven to be of great importance. Medical tourism industry has benefitted from the recently popularized phenomenon of regenerative medicine as it has created a breakthrough for treating pulmonary diseases that had been hampering the quality of life since long.
Regenerative medicine and COPD
Regenerative medicine has become a fascinating phenomenon for the global medical tourism industry. It is because of the advances in the regenerative medicine that medical tourism has emerged so well on the global fronts. Right from bone marrow transplants to bioengineered stem cells and tissue replacements all have been possible because of developments in regenerative medicine. Stem cells have the potential to improve the quality of life of people who are currently suffering from incurable diseases and medical conditions.
Acute myocardial infractions and COPD can be treated effectively through the measures of regenerative medicine. It follows the principle of rejuvenation- replacement – regeneration; this process in medical jargon is called the R3 effect. The process that the R3 effect follows is:
- Rejuvenation: New cells from the same organ or donor are taken
- Replacement: Transplant of the cells
- Regeneration: Growth of new tissues
Around 200 million people suffer from COPD in the world, and it is responsible for 3 million deaths annually. Relevant data predicts that this disease is on a constant rise in both men and women globally, the main reason being the increase in tobacco consumption throughout the world. However, there is no particular treatment to COPD but regenerative medicine helps in alleviation of the symptoms and stops the progression of the disease.
Use of stem cells for treating pulmonary diseases
Stem cells can be used for the treatment of pulmonary diseases is a known fact today, owing to the contributions of various researches and studies. Stem cells are known to reduce the progression of the pulmonary diseases, also reduces the pulmonary fibrosis. These cells are also helpful in reducing the inflammation in the patient.
Globally, several efforts are being put in to develop stem cells treatments for COPD. These efforts have produced beneficial results and have pumped up the profitability factors of the medical tourism industry as a whole.
MSCs
CellTeam in collaboration with DaVinci Biosciences has highlighted the use of a special type of stem cell, known as Mesenchymal stem cell in treating the chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. MSCs are the stem cells that are isolated from the hip, then purified, and further expanded in a sterile room environment. Once these cells are ready for use after say three to four weeks the transplantation process starts.
MSCs have gathered space in nearly 17,000 publications for its immense contribution to the portals of regenerative medicine. Medically MSCs have a lot of importance as they have angiogenic properties. These properties have the potential to produce newer vasculature within human bodies. It also provides new blood flow to the damaged tissues. These cells are also known to treat and repair the heart, brain and other organs of the body.
Scientific studies have provided measures that can effectively treat patients affected with COPD, through stem cell transplantation. These parameters state the methods such as oxygen use, GOLD staging system and exercising tolerance for treating COPD.
Summary:
Regenerative medicine has largely provided grounds for treating COPD patients, through various scientific researches. This has increased the number of patients travelling abroad, to seek help for the same and improving their quality of life.
