Autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors. The prevalence of ASD has raised concerns recently, and this article aims to explore various factors that may influence its rates, including changes in diagnostic criteria. ASD is a neurobiological disorder influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors that affect the developing brain.

ASDs are complex and heterogeneous neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by core domains, including persistent deficits in social communication and interaction, as well as restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. These disorders often involve inflammatory conditions and dysfunction in the immune system. Given the neurobiological changes associated with ASD development, there has been interest in exploring cell-based therapies. Stem cell therapy for Autism, in particular, possess specific immunological properties that make them promising candidates for ASD treatment.

OUR UNIQUE APPROACH TO AUTISM

Three innovative treatments combined to create a revolutionary and unique protocol to approach autism spectrum disorder.

In a world full of different information, with parents dedicated to improving the quality of their children’s lives, time, resources, and hope are often wasted as the parent is forced to improvise without reliable guidance.

The purpose of our ABC protocol is to reach the maximum healing potential of each one of our patients by creating a unique protocol that includes the three essential areas of intervention: immunomodulation, regeneration and stimulation with the potential of enhancing each other. All this is done taking into account the correct order and time to perform each one of these interventions, based on more than 17 years of research, studies and experience.

The ABC protocol is monitored with brain imaging, via quantitative EEG, or brain mapping, which is a technique that allows us to record brain communication patterns that are established by the measurement of bioelectric activity, before starting the protocol, during the protocol and at the end to be able to demonstrate the evolution of the patient.

A: AFLORA HEALTH – MICROBIOME RESTORATION

This part of the process is provided by Aflora Medical Center which is  dedicated to the research of the human microbiome, focusing on the brain gut connection, and how this affects behavior and neurodevelopment, understanding the microbiome as a key component of the health-disease process.

The Human Microbiome represents life within us, it is the set of bacteria that inhabit our entire body and that we inherit from our parents and from past generations. The microbiome changes generationally, affected mainly by the environmental changes to which each generation is exposed. These bacteria are more than an organ, they are our human essence itself, and it must be in perfect balance for us to be healthy. It is composed of beneficial bacteria and non-beneficial bacteria that balanced allow a fully healthy human.

Aflora has achieved over 17 years of expertise in the evaluation and restoration of the balance of the gut microbiome, leading each patient to get the most out of it by restoring the balance of the microbiome. Having conducted research characterizing the microbiome in children with ASD versus neurotypical children, finding critical differences. We were able to show that a change in the type of diversity of the microbiome typical of children with ASD produced marked improvement in the areas of communication, socialization and behaviors, in a 2-year follow-up study. This correlates with research published by the scientific community dedicated to the study of the human microbiome in children with ASD.

Children with ASD present abnormalities in the microbiome and from this arise affectations in various devices and systems that in the initial stage of our protocol will be evaluated individually, allowing us to establish guidelines for an improvement in the altered parameters in each patient.

Aflora is also a pioneers in FMT (Fecal microbiota Transplantation) in the world in children with ASD. 

This part of the treatment focuses on the child’s initial evaluation in a personalized way of their microbiome.

The microbiome regulates:

1 – Digestive health

2 – Immune health

3 – Metabolic

4 – Nutrition at the cellular level

5 – Xeno Biome (cleaning process of environmental toxins)

6 – Epigenome (gene activator or suppressor).

This microbiome must be healthy in order for all these systems to work synergistically. The objective of STAGE A of ABC PROTOCOL is to address gut microbiome imbalances, to be receptive to the rest of the therapies in stages B and C of our protocol, specifically be recipient and achieve maximum potential for stem cell transplant.

Synergy between MSC and microbiome disorder: Mesenchymal stem cells have also been studied as a solution for gut microbiome disorders, as they regulate immune cell activity and improve intestinal barrier function. Additionally, MSCs modulate the microbiome and reduce inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract by secreting growth factors and anti-inflammatory molecules that promote tissue repair and suppress inflammatory cell activity.

In this way, mesenchymal stem cells have the potential for synergy with the treatment of the intestinal microbiome by potentiating the therapeutic effects and reducing the regeneration time of the intestinal tissue.

B: BTC – MeRT THERAPY

MeRT is a novel treatment based on repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) technology together with a q-EEG (quantitative electroencephalogram) and an EKG (electrocardiogram) that allows individualized reestablishment of healthy brain communication in patients with autism.

It is a non-invasive, painless and drug-free alternative that seeks to recover the functionality of the brain.

This part of the process begins with a quantitative electroencephalogram (q-EEG), which records and analyzes brain activity, its pattern of functioning, and the state of neuronal synchronization. Based on the results obtained, our medical team designs a personalized treatment protocol that aims to stimulate the areas of the brain that could be optimized, promoting effective brain communication and a better quality of life.

In autism, the patient’s brain is like an orchestra that has all the instruments, the cello, the violin, the piano, etc., but it lacks a reliable director.

The occipital area (the back) is in charge of receiving all the information from the environment, what we see, what we hear, what we touch, etc., and the frontal area is responsible for processing and analyzing the information received in the occipital area. It is also responsible for language, impulse regulation and control of emotions. By not having a reliable director, many patients with autism may have a “short circuit” in the middle that does not allow the information received to be processed, understood, communicated and executed properly.

MeRT therapy seeks to provide a reliable director to the patient in order to properly connect both areas of the brain and thus have more optimal brain function.

The functional recovery of the brain is the main objective of this part of the treatment.

Some of the benefits found when applying this therapy include:

  • Improved eye contact.
  • Language improvements.
  • Decrease in stereotypes.
  • Improvements in the quality and quantity of sleep.
  • Increased concentration and focus.
  • Improves mood.
  • Greater attention span.
  • Greater sociability and motivation.
  • Greater motivation.
  • Improved clarity of thought.
  • Improvements in learning.
  • Improvements in response time.
  • Increased awareness of the world around you.

 Synergy between MeRT therapy and mesenchymal stem cells: By jointly applying MeRT therapies and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation, a synergy is created where both therapies potentiate their effects, there scientific  research proving that they can complement each other, finding that transcranial magnetic stimulation can improve the efficacy of MSC therapy by increasing the migration of cells from the area of administration to the brain and potentiating tissue repair by alleviating inflammation, secreting neurotrophic factors, promoting neurogenesis, also increasing the neuroplasticity capacity of the brain.

C – STEM CELLS – REGENERATE PANAMA

 Regeneration Clinic of Panama is a Regenerative Medicine clinic specialized in treatments with Mesenchymal Stem Cells derived from Wharton’s Jelly from the human Umbilical Cord.

We have a professional team that will provide you with personalized attention at each steps of this ABC process.

We have researched possible factors that contribute to the development of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and we see a strong relationship between gut inflammation and brain inflamation as well.

With tissues that are inflamed for a long time, we will not only see a decrease in their functional capacity at the moment, but their normal development is also be affected. In patients with ASD, persistent inflammation in some areas of the brain can drastically affect proper neurodevelopment, accentuating and prolonging symptoms.

Mesenchymal stem cells have emerged as an option that has shown benefits in the treatment of ASD. Mesenchymal stem cells have anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties and have the ability to regulate the immune system. These properties are necessary to reduce inflammation in the brain and intestine, which have been associated with ASD, and stimulate the proper development of the central nervous system, improving the symptoms present in autism.

By reducing inflammation and stimulating neuroplasticity, improvement in behavior, language, and communication skills has been shown in patients with ASD.

Autism

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Citations and Scientific References

Our medical unit is highly esteemed for partnering globally with fellow researchers on scientific studies and contributing to respected scientific journals.

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References

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

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Sivandzade, F., & Cucullo, L. (2021). Regenerative stem cell therapy for neurodegenerative diseases: An overview. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(4), 2153. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22042153

Autism

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Autoinmune Diseases

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Shen, Z., Huang, W., Liu, J., Tian, J., Wang, S., & Rui, K. (2021c). Effects of mesenchymal stem Cell-Derived exosomes on autoimmune diseases. Frontiers in Immunology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.749192 

Rheumatoid arthritis

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Sarsenova, M., Issabekova, A. S., Abisheva, S. D., Rutskaya-Moroshan, K., Ogay, V., & Saparov, A. (2021). Mesenchymal stem Cell-Based therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(21), 11592. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222111592

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

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Li, A., Guo, F., Pan, Q., Chen, S., Chen, J., & Liu, H. (2021). Mesenchymal stem cell therapy: hope for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Frontiers in Immunology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.728190

Multiple Sclerosis

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Jafarzadeh Bejargafshe, M., Hedayati, M., Zahabiasli, S., Tahmasbpour,E.,Rahmanzadeh,S., & Nejad-Moghaddam, A. (2019). Safety and efficacy of stem cell therapy for treatment of neural damage in patients with multiple sclerosis. Stem Cell Investigation, 6, 44. https://doi.org/10.21037/sci.2019.10.06 

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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

References

Masrori, P., & Van Damme, P. (2020). Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a clinical review. European Journal of Neurology, 27(10), 1918–1929. https://doi.org/10.1111/ene.14393    

Sivandzade, F., & Cucullo, L. (2021). Regenerative stem cell therapy for Neurodegenerative Diseases: An Overview. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(4), 2153. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22042153 

IBD Inflammatory bowel disease

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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). (2023b, April 17). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/ibd/ 

Ko, J. Z., Johnson, S., & Dave, M. (2021c). Efficacy and Safety of Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal cell therapy for inflammatory bowel Diseases: An Up-to-Date Systematic Review. Biomolecules, 11(1), 82. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11010082 

Systemic vasculitis

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Shen, Z., Huang, W., Liu, J., Tian, J., Wang, S., & Rui, K. (2021e). Effects of mesenchymal stem Cell-Derived exosomes on autoimmune diseases. Frontiers in Immunology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.749192

Fibromyalgia

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Branch, N. S. C. a. O. (2023, April 3). Fibromyalgia. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/fibromyalgia

Psoriasis

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Anti-Aging

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National Institute of health https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-do-we-know-about-healthy-aging

Cardiovascular Conditions

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Liu, Y., Yan, L. M., Wan, L., Xiang, T. X., Le, A., Liu, J. M., ... & Zhang, W. (2020). Viral dynamics in mild and severe cases of COVID-19. Cell & Bioscience, 10(1), 1-7. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41419-020-2542-9

Angina/Coronary Heart Disease

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Coronary Heart Disease: Brief. CDC. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/coronary-heart-disease-brief.html 

Enhancement of Functionality and Therapeutic Efficacy of Cell-Based Therapy Using Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Cardiovascular Disease Yun & Lee

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Peripheral Artery Disease

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UTHSC Internal Medicine at Chattanooga

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Stem/Progenitor Cells and Their Therapeutic Application in Cardiovascular Disease

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Yun, C. W., & Lee, S. Y. (2019). Enhancement of functionality and therapeutic efficacy of Cell-Based therapy using mesenchymal stem cells for cardiovascular disease. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 20(4), 982. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20040982

Acute Myocardial Infarction

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Xiong, Y., Gong, Z., Tang, R., & Yang, Y. (2021). The pivotal roles of exosomes derived from endogenous immune cells and exogenous stem cells in myocardial repair after acute myocardial infarction. Theranostics, 11(3), 1046–1058. https://doi.org/10.7150/thno.53326 

Fertility

References

Wang J, Liu C, Fujino M, Tong G, Zhang Q, Li XK, Yan H. Stem Cells as a Resource for Treatment of Infertility-related Diseases. Curr Mol Med. 2019;19(8):539-546. doi: 10.2174/1566524019666190709172636. PMID: 31288721; PMCID: PMC6806537. 

Saeed Y, Liu X. Mesenchymal stem cells to treat female infertility; future perspective and challenges: A review. Int J Reprod Biomed. 2022 Oct 10;20(9):709-722. doi: 10.18502/ijrm.v20i9.12061. PMID: 36340664; PMCID: PMC9619121.

Gastrointestinal Disorders 

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Digestive diseases. (n. d.). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Retrieved from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/about-niddk/research-areas/digestive-diseases

Crohn´s Disease 

References

Cushing, K., & Higgins, P. D. R. (2021). Management of Crohn disease: A review: A review. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 325(1), 69-80. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.18936

Wang, R., Yao, Q., Chen, W., Gao, F., Li, P., Wu, J., Yu, J., & Cao, H. (2021). Stem cell therapy for Crohn’s disease: systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical and clinical studies. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-021-02533-0

Ulcerative Colitis

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Gajendran, M., Loganathan, P., Jimenez, G., Catinella, A. P., Ng, N., Umapathy, C., Ziade, N., & Hashash, J. G. (2019). A comprehensive review and update on ulcerative colitis. Disease-a-Month: DM, 65(12), 100851. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.disamonth.2019.02.004

Hosseini-Asl, S.-K., Mehrabani, D., & Karimi-Busheri, F. (2020). Therapeutic effect of mesenchymal stem cells in ulcerative colitis: A review on achievements and challenges. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9(12), 3922. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9123922

Neurological conditions

References

Guy, R., & Offen, D. (2020). Promising opportunities for treating neurodegenerative diseases with mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes. Biomolecules, 10(9), 1320. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom10091320

Alzheimer’s

References

What is Alzheimer’s disease? (2023, enero 7). Cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/aging/aginginfo/alzheimers.htm

Liu, X.-Y., Yang, L.-P., & Zhao, L. (2020). Stem cell therapy for Alzheimer’s disease. World Journal of Stem Cells, 12(8), 787-802. https://www.cdc.gov/aging/aginginfo/alzheimers.htm

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Stroke

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CDC. (2023, mayo 5). About stroke. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/about.htm

Barthels, D., & Das, H. (2020). Current advances in ischemic stroke research and therapies. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. Molecular Basis of Disease, 1866(4), 165260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbadis.2018.09.012

Campbell, B. C. V., De Silva, D. A., Macleod, M. R., Coutts, S. B., Schwamm, L. H., Davis, S. M., & Donnan, G. A. (2019). Ischaemic stroke. Nature Reviews. Disease Primers, 5(1), 70. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-019-0118-8

Kawabori, M., Shichinohe, H., Kuroda, S., & Houkin, K. (2020). Clinical trials of stem cell therapy for cerebral ischemic stroke. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(19), 7380. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21197380

Parkinson’s

References

Pradhan, A. U., Uwishema, O., Onyeaka, H., Adanur, I., & Dost, B. (2022). A review of stem cell therapy: An emerging treatment for dementia in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Brain and Behavior, 12(9). https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.2740

Multiple system atrophy (MSA)

References

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Singer W, Dietz AB, Zeller AD, Gehrking TL, Schmelzer JD, Schmeichel AM, Gehrking JA, Suarez MD, Sletten DM, Minota Pacheco KV, Coon EA, Sandroni P, Benarroch EE, Fealey RD, Matsumoto JY, Bower JH, Hassan A, McKeon A, Windebank AJ, Mandrekar JN, Low PA. Intrathecal administration of autologous mesenchymal stem cells in multiple system atrophy. Neurology. 2019 Jul 2;93(1):e77-e87. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000007720. Epub 2019 May 31. PMID: 31152011; PMCID: PMC6659003.

Traumatic brain injury

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Chronic traumatic encephalopathy

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Pierre K, Molina V, Shukla S, Avila A, Fong N, Nguyen J, Lucke-Wold B. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy: Diagnostic updates and advances. AIMS Neurosci. 2022 Dec 19;9(4):519-535. doi: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2022030. PMID: 36660076; PMCID: PMC9826753.

Spinal cord injury

References

Alizadeh, A., Dyck, S. M., & Karimi-Abdolrezaee, S. (2019). Traumatic spinal cord injury: An overview of pathophysiology, models and acute injury mechanisms. Frontiers in neurology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2019.00282

Cofano, F., Boido, M., Monticelli, M., Zenga, F., Ducati, A., Vercelli, A., & Garbossa, D. (2019). Mesenchymal stem cells for spinal cord injury: Current options, limitations, and future of cell therapy. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 20(11), 2698. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20112698

Cerebral Palsy

References

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Orthopedic and Sports Injuries

References

Looi, Q. H., Eng, S. P., Liau, L. L., Tor, Y. S., Bajuri, M. Y., Ng, M. H., & Law, J. X. (2020). Mesenchymal stem cell therapy for sports injuries - from research to clinical practice. Sains malaysiana, 49(4), 825-838. https://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2020-4904-12

Arthritis & Osteoarthritis

References

Jang, S., Lee, K., & Ju, J. H. (2021). Recent updates of diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment on osteoarthritis of the knee. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22052619

Joint pain

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Joint pain and arthritis. (2022, abril 22). Cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/pain/

Sports injuries

References

NCHS pressroom - 2001 news release - sports-related injuries. (2019, mayo 24). Cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/01news/sports.htm

Xu, Y., Zhang, W.-X., Wang, L.-N., Ming, Y.-Q., Li, Y.-L., & Ni, G.-X. (2021). Stem cell therapies in tendon-bone healing. World Journal of Stem Cells, 13(7), 753-775. https://doi.org/10.4252/wjsc.v13.i7.753





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