750,000 hits...thank you!

Just noticed today on my Sitemeter result seen at the very bottom of my blog page that the number of hits just went over 750,000. I began blogging on October 22, 2004, over 5 years ago. And now I wonder, how much longer will I blog? Who knows. I like to write, so I blog. Will I ever hit the magical 1 million mark? Maybe, maybe not. But if I continue for another year or two then that becomes a possibility. Whether I reach the 1 million mark or not is fine with me. But one thing for sure when it comes to blogging, I'll be busy in 2010.

Adult stem cells from adipose tissue accidentally improves hearing in one patient

Or so it seems if one read this recent medical article.

In May 2008, the patient was treated with two I.V. infusions of 28 million SVF cells and multiple intrathecal and intravenous infusions of allogeneic CD34+ and MSC cells. MSC were third party unmatched and CD34 were matched by mixed lymphocyte reaction. Infusions were performed within a 9-day period and were very well tolerated without any adverse or side effects. No other treatments were necessary during the patient's stay. After the second stem cell infusion the patient reported a significant decrease of his generalized pain. However, he continued to experience severe neck and shoulder pain and was re-evaluated by his neurologist. Two months after the stem cell therapy, the volume of his hearing aids had to be lowered once per week over 4 weeks. Three months after the stem cell infusions the patient reported a significant improvement of his cognition and almost complete reduction of the spasticity in his extremities. He mentioned that he has had 623 tonic seizures in the past and confirmed that he has not experienced any more seizures since the completion of the stem cell therapy. A neurological evaluation performed three months after the stem cell infusions revealed an intact cranial nerve (II-XII) function and no nystagmus, normal motor function without any atrophy or fasciculations, and intact sensory and cerebellar functions and mental status.

Stem cells on hearing loss for returning soldiers

Here's a stem cell development in the state of Washington for soldiers who lost some of their hearing during war.

Regenerative Medicine for Acute Deafness
Recipient: FATE Therapeutics
Amount: $3,000,000
Location: Seattle, WA

This funding would use advanced stem cell research and developmental biology to develop therapeutic treatments for acute hearing loss among Army soldiers. This would advance safe and effective treatments for acute hearing loss, which affects many men and women of the Army on return home from war.

Fate Therapeutics, a company that has made some important leaps in producing induced stem cells without embryos or gene therapy.

UbiDuo helps those who are unable to write

Aside from people who are deaf or hard of hearing, or have a speech impediment, the UbiDuo can help a small minority of population that have a condition that make hand writing difficult. This is a condition called "handwriting deficits." Or it can be called "dysgraphia" which is a learning disability in writing where it affects an individual’s writing ability and is manifested by difficulties in hand writing. Students with this condition often struggle during writing assignments while in school.

In a recent 2009 Assistive Technology research article called "Assistive Technology for Writing, including Motor Aspects of Writing and Composing," it discusses the motor and cognitive functions of a person with "handwritting deficits" of varying degree and severity on what it takes to write using a pen or pencil. The paper goes on to mention the UbiDuo as a possible face-to-face communication technology for students with certain "handwriting deficits."

The UbiDuo is not only just a face-to-face communication device but a potential assistive writing device to assist students with certain writing disabilities with their composing or writing assignments.

Could your own stem cells in your hair follicles help you hear someday?

From the October 2009 22ND IGB MEETING STEM CELLS: FROM MOLECULAR PHYSIOLOGY TO THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS:

Adult stem cells in your hair follicles seen as a potential source that could differentiate into auditory neurons.

Stem cells from the hair follicle differentiate into auditory neurons. Margriet A. HUISMAN, Ragad El Seady, Johan H.M. Frijns

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Leiden University Medical Centre, The Netherlands To patients suffering from profound sensorineural hearing loss, cochlear implantation(CI) is currently the standard approach. Most implant recipients experience benefits, however, understanding speech in noisy circumstances and music perception remains challenging. It is suggested that stem cell-based therapy, by increasing the number of auditory neurons (ANs), will improve the performance of a CI1.

Stem cells, derived from the bulge of hair follicles from adult mammalian dermis (epidermal neural crest stem cells, EPI-NCSC), are potential candidates for AN regeneration: they have a similar origin as inner ear cells, their functionality has been proven and autologous transplantation is possible, avoiding graft versus host disease2,3. The aim of this research is to investigate whether EPI-NCSC have the capacity to differentiate into neurons with features of auditory neurons, such as bipolar morphology, presence of TrkB/C and GluR2/3 and sodium voltage channel 1.6 (NaV1.6)4. EPI-NCSCs from whiskers of mice were expanded and differentiated on a collagen I matrix. Subsequent t o proliferation, quantitative immunohistochemistry was performed to demonstrate the presence of neural stem cells (nestin). In addition, expressions of TUJ1, TrkB and -C, GluR2/3 and NaV1.6 were determined.

After the proliferative phase, the majority of the cells (90%) were positive for nestin. The average yield per follicle was 2x105, while for inner ear transplantation purposes 2-5x105 cells are required. 70%±8% of the differentiated cells was positive for the neural marker TUJ1. Moreover, 60%±2% of the neurons showed a bipolar morphology and the majority was positive for GluR2/3 and NaV1.6 and showed co-expression of TrkB and –C. EPI-NCSC-derived neural stem cells can easily be obtained in quantities sufficient for inner ear transplantation purposes. These stem cells have the capacity to differentiate into neurons with hallmarks of functional AN, which makes them promising candidates for a stem cell-based therapy of the auditory nerve.

Who knew? Adult stem cells from your own hair follicles have the potential and capacity to help restore your hearing loss. Problem is, bald guys are out of luck.

How the UbiDuo could enhance your career

 If you haven't heard about sComm's UbiDuo then you will find out exactly how this face-to-face communication device can help your career in an impactful but meaningful way. A difference between staying in the same job position for 13 years without any promotional opportunities or get the promotion you deserved because you're able to fruitfully interact with your customers in many face to face situations.This is true if you work in a management position where you have to fully interact with your customers, co-workers, supervisors and your boss on a regular basis in a face-to-face situation. This is exactly what happened with Peter Downey at Sam's Club. So, check out Peter Downey's story, a Sam's Club employee in Overland Park, KS, where he was promoted several times ever since the UbiDuo came into his possession. He was in the same position for 13 years until the UbiDuo came along. Because of this communication barrier-breaking device Peter is now a member of the Sam's Club management. A little investment in a face-to-face communication device can go a long way in a person's career.

UFC Matt Hamill vs Jon Jones at Las Vegas December 5

Be sure to watch Matt Hamill fight against Jon Jones tonight (9 PM ET, 8PM Central) on Spike TV channel at the Ultimate Fighter Heavyweight Finale in Las Vegas (watch the video for several minutes until you see Matt Hamill and Jon Jones weigh ins). The UFC fight on Spike TV is free. More videos of Matt Hamill including a Q & A session during his shadow boxing exercise. No signing but used his voice  (subtitled) in talking about his upcoming fight against Jones. The video is small. Best to move your mouse over the video selection and pick "Dec 4 Shadow Boxing with Matt Hamill." You will see a download video menu appear at the top. Click on it and begin downloading it for a bigger screen viewing and easier to read subtitles. 

Jones has a few words about Matt Hamill.

There are a couple of Dec. 2nd articles on Matt Hamill and his upcoming UFC fight here and here for you to read up on.

Matt's last fight was the March 2009 UFC 96 fight where he knocked out Munoz in the first round as seen at the 3:55 mark in the video below. You can actually hear the sicking slap/crunch of Matt's right foot against the right side of Munoz's head knocking him unconscious for a few minutes while on the ground. That knockout earned Matt Hamill $60,000 in the $60,000 Knockout of the Night bonus money.



All Kokonut Pundit blogs on Matt Hamill including personal interviews with him by Kokonut Pundit.

UPDATE: Matt Hamill wins the fight against Jon Jones in the first round in 4:14 from using an illegal move against Matt Hamill. Jones used an illegal downward elbow on Matt Hamill.

UPDATE II: Matt Hamill sustained some injuries to his nose and what it appears to be a dislocated right? shoulder. You can review discussions in the Sherdog forum about the fight between Hamill and Jones.

UPDATE III: Here's the fight video between Hamill and Jones!

UPDATE IV: Since Matt Hamill won the fight through a disqualification for Jones use of his elbow against Hamill's face the fight was all Jones. There may be talks of reversing the referee's decision? Matt's face really got pummeled folks. Said blood were coming out of his eyes (or was it from a cut to his nose that got into his eyes?) and he could see or even here what the referee was saying. Looks really brutal and something that Matt will need to take home and rethink on how to handle Jones the next time. If Jones hadn't done his illegal elbowing Jones would've won the fight anyway. Matt's face will be sore and no idea if this fight hurt his eyes or not or how extensive his injuries were. Prayers and thoughts of rapid return to health for Matt Hamill.

UPDATE V: Captioned video of the fight.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4tvUYoJvzg

UPDATE VI: More news on Hamill injuries here. Expect a Hamill vs Jones re-match around spring/summer of 2010 next year. It may be a few months or so of recovery and rehabbing til Matt gets into practice fulltime for the next fight.

Dr. Rivolta on stem cells cure for hearing loss and making hearing aids and cochlear implants obsolete someday soon

Here's a subtitled video and article (transcript) on Dr Marcelo Rivolta who is the Senior Research Fellow at the University of Sheffield where he explains how his stem cells research could make hearing aids and cochlear implants a thing of the past in his quest to find a cure for deafness in the field of sensorineural hearing loss.

On the video be sure to click on the "S" button for "subtitle" on the left of the screen to get the English subtitles with the video. There is the option of choosing video itself only, video and subtitles, video with a British Sign Languageinterpreter, or video, subtitles and BSL.

Hattip: Neuro

David Armand in "Where I Lay my Hat"

David Armand, an English comedian who is known for his visual sight gags using mime movements and gestures to "interpret" a song. He is especially well known for a song he mimed called "Torn" a few years back that propelled him to comedic status. Here are two videos with subtitles that capture his funny comedy style of miming a song. Here he plays as "Johann Lippowitz" an interpretive mime to a song for "Where I lay my hat" by Paul Young and "Torn" by Natalie Imbrulia.




TORN by Natalie Imbruglia.




UPDATE: There's a bit of a debate in one forum over David Armand's mime skit on "Torn" where some forum members think it's a snark against the Deaf community making fun of sign language (which is not the case) and some objection over the use of the words "deaf karaoke".

Stem Cell Transplantation into the Damaged Mammalian Inner Ear

Below is one of Dr. Douglas A. Cotanche's projects that is ongoing. He is also scheduled for a live chat tonight on stem cells and for the restoration of nerve deafness (sensorineural hearing loss).

Stem Cell Transplantation into the Damaged Mammalian Inner Ear.
PI: Douglas Cotanche, Collaborator: Dr. Mark Parker, Emerson College & Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary. This project focuses on the utilization of stem cells to replace damaged hair cells in the mammalian organ of Corti. We are transplanting mouse and human neural stem cells into the cochleas of sound damaged guinea pigs and have shown that these stem cells migrate throughout the spiral ganglion and into the organ of Corti where they begin to differentiate into tissue-specific cell types to replace those damaged by the sound exposure. We have also been exploring the genetic profiles of these neural stem cells and are developing methods for “priming” the neural stem cells by growing them in culture along with immortalized cochlear cells. We have been able to show that co-culturing the stem cells causes a change in the genes and proteins they express so that they take on the aspects of cochlear progenitor cells. This will enable us to target the stem cells so that they differentiate down specific pathways needed for cells to repair the damaged cochlear sensory epithelium. Eventually we hope to be able to use these stem cells as a therapeutic treatment for sensorineural hearing loss in humans.

Stem Cells for hearing loss live chat tomorrow night, November 19, 2009!

Stem Cells for hearing loss live chat tomorrow night, November 19, 2009!

(Errata: The topic heading said November 18. Correct date is November 19. It has been corrected)

Get ready and dial in at 9 PM Eastern Time (8PM - Central time, 7PM Mountain time, or 6 PM West Coast time)


Topic: "Development and regeneration of hair cells – the latest news in research"

Guest Speaker: Dr. Douglas A. Cotanche

Date & Time: November 19, 2009 at 9 PM

Live Webchat Schedule

Hearing Loss Association of America is proud to present live moderated chats,
featuring the nation's leading experts in hearing loss. This is your opportunity
to ask a question and learn more about hearing loss from leaders in a number of
medical disciplines associated with hearing loss.

How to Participate (no
need to register):
1. Go to www.myhearingloss.org/ (5-10mins before
webchat is scheduled)
2. Click on the "Log in to our Chat Room" button
3. Enter a username to use for the chat
4. Click on the "Connect" button
5. Click on "Rooms" tab (found on the right column)
6. Then double click
on "Guest_Chat" to join the webchat

NOTE: The webchat is a moderated
chat to allow the guest speaker to answer all the questions that have been
submitted in advance, which means you will not be able to type in your question
until after all these questions have been answered.

Here are my questions that I submitted to Dr. Cotanche.

Dr. Cotanche,

I run a blog (Kokonut Pundit) and I do try and keep abrest of these news and developments regarding stem cells and gene therapy for the restoration/cure of hearing loss, mostly in the arena of nerve deafness.

Have you heard recently the latest development about an 18 year old woman Chloe Sohl who had her hearing partially restored (so far - see captioned video http://kokonutpundits.blogspot.com/2009/11/video-interview-caption-with-first.html) by using her own adult stem cells? And if so, is this an indication of how rapidly the field of regenerative medicine using stem cells for the cure/restoration of hearing loss? Instead of a few decades away are we looking at within the next 5 or even 10 years to see this become a common procedure? If not in the United States but what about in other countries (due to FDA lagging behind?).

Thank you

Checkmate?

I read kmayes response that she noticed an interesting thing regarding the news of an 18 year old woman who received her own adult stem cells treatment saw her hearing loss improve dramatically.

I noticed one thing… a total silence from the people who are involved in advocating for audism, DBC, etc… no comments from them (I am sure they lurk here though.)

Interesting.

I think all this is an understatment on what's going on here. More like an exclamation point and some just don't want to deal with that fact. Hence, the literal silence.

Here's the captioned video about the story of that 18 year old woman who may be in fact the first American to have her hearing loss nearly restored with the help of her own adult stem cells.
Why are the Deaf bloggers so quiet on this? If it were a cochlear implant thing they'd be all over it like a moth to a flame because it's a topic they've become well accustomed to and are comfortable in dealing with it, even acceptance. But what about the story on this adult stem cells successful treatment (so far) on an 18 year old deaf woman who was once hearing is now close to her former self? Doing a blog Google search hardly show any Deaf blogs that have covered the breaking story. Not hardly but none is more like it but save a few.

Perhaps they are still digesting the story? Perhaps so even though many believed just a few months ago that a cure or successful restoration (partial or otherwise) wouldn't happen in another few decades away find suddenly themselves confronted with the fact that it happened just last month!

Adult stem cells research and application for the restoration and cure for nerve deafness are fast approaching and becoming a reality. There is no way this can be compared on the level of cochlear implant which was a source of scorn and distrust for over 20 years. According to the video it appeared that using your own adult stem cells has seemingly proven to be safe and effective compared to embryonic stem cells and cells donated from other people for use. Perhaps the Deaf community doesn't want to talk about this success extensively so because looking at the chess board seeing that they've been "checkmated"? After all, how can you compete against 33+ million people with hearing loss with the majority of them due to nerve deafness who will welcome this successful adult stem cells treatment for hearing loss. Even Gamas Wanderings' own poll showed that approximately 60% of those who voted would take or might take the adult stem cells cure over those who would not. That's pretty telling. Funny how people thought cochlear implant was bad enough, we now have a very real possibility in the very near term well within our lifetime to see that nerve deafness hearing loss would become a thing of the past once this adult stem cells treatment begin to ramp up and that 2009 is the turning point.

Checkmate?

Or not?

You decide.

Will Deaf Culture Die Out Someday? - Part II

If you want a quick recap on "Part I" piece go to my September 19, 2009 blog. Here, I just wanted to respond to "Souggy's" blog claim that I "was proud of that 'fact' " that Deaf culture is dying, which was an irresponsible comment on his part and showed an attempt to twist words here.

I was reading a blog that Deaf culture was dying because of cochlear implants and stem cells; and apparently the blogger (or so-called pundit) was proud of that “fact,” which was the reason why I published this blog post.

There is a caveat at the very beginning of my blog "Will Deaf Culture Die Someday? " in my first paragraph.

There is always a possibility that Deaf culture could die out and this is dependent on a variety of factors with some of them going against the spread of Deaf culture and its language, ASL. But at this point it's probably more of a matter of "if" and not "when."

It's pretty clear what I wrote was a matter of "if" and not when.

I'm pretty sure Souggy was referring to my blog piece since he commented about "a blog" he read and that mine was dated September 19, 2009 while his blog piece was on September 20, 2009. And what was interesting was that he never bothered to make clear who he was referring to. No link or names. I wonder why? Rather curious to try and hide it like that.

Secondly, there is nothing in my blog indicating I was "proud of that fact" that Deaf culture is dying because of cochlear implant and stem cells. If "Souggy" actually took the time to read what I wrote it was discussed in terms of a possibility, and not a fact that it will happen. In my blog piece there is nothing said or implied about being proud to see Deaf culture die out. It was irresponsible of "Souggy" to say such a thing. I presented a scenario that because of technology and the advancing biotechnnology could get to the point where it could heavily influence and impact the Deaf community in ways not seen with hearing aids and cochlear implants, and how it could affect mating preferences among deaf and hard of hearing people over time.

Stem cell history on search for cure for hearing loss

Over at The Stem Cell Blog where David Granovsky compiled a summary with links on the history of stem cells research for the search (more like a race right now) on the cure for hearing loss from January 2001 to November 2009. It is interesting to see just how fast research has evolved over a relatively short amount of time to the point where an 18 year old woman whose hearing has basically recovered (so far) in less than 2 months once given her own adult stem cells to treat her hearing loss.

For the rest of Kokonut Pundit blogs on stem cells for the cure on hearing loss go here.

Hattip: Granovsky.

Stem cells strategy for hearing loss cure...a captioned video

Blinded by my own hearing

Not me but I was pleased to hear David Granovsky's comment in his blog "The Stem Cell Blog" when he covered the Chloe Sohl's story on her miraculous recovery from her hearing loss using her own adult stem cells. David went onto say that basically he forgot about people with hearing loss may unable to hear or understand fully what the original YouTube version of Chloe's story. And that he was "blinded" by his own hearing for not thinking about a captioned version of Chloe's video story.


Related Kokonut Pundit blogs on adult stem cells and hearing loss.

Video Interview (caption) with first American to have her hearing loss restored

Not fully restored so far but it looks like Chloe's hearing is on the mend already since this adult stem cells procedure began only a few months ago. Watch the video about a story that is probably the first case of an American woman that was successfully treated with her own adult stem cells to treat her hearing loss caused by her auto-immune resonse.




More info on the story.


YouTube's version without captions.

First Successful Case Example of a Hearing Loss Cure in a Human Patient?

With the slow progress and FDA approval in the United States on using stem cells to help treat nerve deafness hearing loss a patient with autoimmune condition hearing loss was treated in South Korea using her own adult stem cells that eventually restored her hearing to almost normal levels.

Chloe visited Dr. Won, a plastic surgeon in Los Angeles to harvest her fat tissue around her belly button in last June. Then the tissue was sent to the laboratory RNL BIO in Germantown, Maryland, where they isolated stem cells, put them in liquid nitrogen shipper and transported them to RNL BIO in Seoul, Korea. It took them a month to expand her stem cells to a sufficient amount enough to treat her hearing loss. Chloe's family planned a trip to Korea during their summer vacation. At last, on July 27, 2009, they visited Korea for two weeks. The stem cell treatment took place in Japan -- 600 million cells were administered by three injections with 5 day intervals. The cells were injected into her veins and auditory system.

Chloe's hearing was tested two months after the procedure was completed on October 16, 2009. The results were spectacular. The left side of her ear improved 50% from not being able to hear at all. The right side of her ear gained almost complete hearing.

Dr. Jotterand could not bear her excitement, "Now it's just been a 180 degree turnaround. She's just enjoying life and enjoying being a freshman at the university. She's just having a great time and it's just wonderful to see the joy in her own face and in her life."

Again, with a grain of salt but this looks more promising. With more countries such as Mexico taking part in using stem cells to began the treatment of nerve deafness hearing loss, the United States will surely be left in the dust at this rate unless the FDA somehow fast track this medical process just as they have fast tracked for the treatment of damaged heart muscles with the patient's own stem cells.

Hat tip: Neuro.

UPDATE: See caption video interview of Chloe!