2 South Koreans recover from coronavirus after plasma therapy

SEOUL - Two elderly South Korean coronavirus patients recovered from severe pneumonia after being treated with plasma from survivors, researchers said Tuesday, offering hope in the face of the global pandemic.

Scientists have pointed to the potential benefits of plasma -- a blood fluid -- from recovered individuals who have developed antibodies to the virus enabling the body's defenses to attack it.

Since emerging in China in December, the coronavirus has killed almost 75,000 people as drugmakers worldwide race to develop a vaccine and treatments for the disease.

Plasma therapy could become "an alternative treatment for patients in critical condition who do not respond to antiviral drugs," said Choi Jun-yong, a doctor and researcher at Severance Hospital in Seoul, where both patients were treated.

But large-scale clinical trials were needed to prove its effectiveness, he added.

One of the 2 patients was a 71-year-old man with no underlying conditions who only improved when treated with plasma from a recovered patient in his 20s, along with steroids.

He was initially given malaria drugs and a respirator for severe pneumonia.

The other patient, a 67-year-old female, also did not respond to initial treatments including malaria, HIV drugs, and oxygen therapy. She began to recover after receiving plasma therapy and steroids at the same time, researchers said.

Their findings were published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Korean Medicine.

Kwon Jun-wook, an official at Seoul's Central Disease Control Headquarters, said plasma therapy was "important" when there was "currently no vaccine or treatment available" for the virus. 

He called on experts to examine the 2 cases urgently.

Research on plasma and other therapies "will proceed quickly," Kwon added.

Small studies on plasma have demonstrated its effectiveness in treating infectious diseases, including Ebola and SARS.

Trials started in France on Tuesday involving 60 patients in Paris hospitals, half of whom will receive plasma from recovered patients.

The US Food and Drug Administration authorized physicians to experiment with the strategy to fight the coronavirus, and tests are also being carried out in China.

South Korea endured one of the worst early outbreaks of the virus, but appears to have brought it under control thanks to its extensive "trace, test and treat" program.

Agence France-Presse

Phelps' purple blotches spotlight 'cupping' trend

NEW YORK -- It wasn't just Michael Phelps' big win on Sunday that had people talking about the U.S. swimming star. It was also the dark purple circles on his shoulders.

Phelps, who won the 19th Olympic gold medal of his career on Sunday and helped the U.S. men's team to victory in the 4x100 meters freestyle relay, is one of a number of Olympic athletes practicing "cupping," an ancient Chinese healing practice (more known as "ventosa" in the Philippines).

During the therapy, cups are placed on the section of the body in need of repair to create suction. The method is said to draw out any toxins, mobilize blood flow, soothe sore muscles and even help cure insomnia.

"I have done it for awhile but I haven't had bad ones (marks) like this awhile though," Phelps, who in 2015 posted an Instagram photo of himself receiving the therapy, told reporters on Monday.

"That's where I hurt the most," he said of the marks on his shoulder. "I have done it before pretty much every meet I go to. I just asked for a little cupping yesterday because I was sore."

The 31-year-old, raising a roar from the crowd on his first competitive appearance at his fifth Games after sitting out the heats, now has an unprecedented 23 medals with two silvers and two bronzes filling out his tally.

On Monday, there were nearly 300 posts per minute mentioning Phelps on Twitter, according to social media analytics firm Zoomph.

U.S. gymnast Alex Naddour, 25, and Belarusian swimmer Pavel Sankovich are also fans of the procedure. Naddour posted a selfie with a big cupping mark on his shoulder last week, while Sankovich, 26, posted a photo on Instagram in June saying, "This kinda Saturday morning. Cupping is a great recovery tool."

Actresses Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston and pop star Justin Bieber have also been photographed with the distinctive large circles on their backs and chest.

However, while the therapy dates back to ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cultures, it has been less popular among more skeptical Western medical societies.

"There is no scientific rationale for expecting any health benefit from cupping," the American Cancer Society said in a statement on Monday.

However, Jessica MacLean, acting director of the International Cupping Therapy Association, said she has seen a 20 percent increase in purchases of cupping therapy equipment and a 50 percent increase of healthcare practitioners seeking out their cupping certificates over the last three days.

MacLean, who receives cupping therapy daily and has been performing the procedure on people for 24 years, said she saw a similar trend after the "The Karate Kid" movie was released in 2010, which featured the therapy briefly.

"Every time we see something like this happen in the media, it piques people's attention," said MacLean. "When people get the treatment and they recover really fast, they don't care about the scientific evidence - they just care that it works."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Stem cell therapy a cure-all? Not so fast

MANILA, Philippines – It’s supposed to cure various illnesses such as cancer, spinal cord injury and Parkinson’s disease. Is stem cell therapy the cure-all that it is touted to be?

Health Undersecretary Teodoro Herbosa said it is important to note that stem cell treatments are still at the experimental stage.

"The advisory is very clear. This is still an investigative form of therapy. Anecdotal reports are not enough evidence to say there is treatment,” he said in an interview on ANC's Talkback with Tina Palma.

He said there are only two standard stem cell therapies considered effective and acceptable to the medical community.

"To date, I can only name two cases that are considered standard therapy. That is bone marrow transplantation--one for severe cancer, blood cancer and the other one is bone marrow transplantation after chemotherapy for any type of cancer,” he said.

Herbosa said the Department of Health cannot confirm yet if stem cell treatment is indeed effective against certain diseases.

Dr. Tranquilino Elicaño Jr., an oncologist who availed of the treatment in April in Frankfurt, Germany, said stem cell therapy cured his high blood pressure, sugar, cholesterol and uric acid.

He had 12 injections of cells, which came from lambs.

“After a month, I had my blood tests. Everything went down to normal,” Elicaño said.

Elicaño also said he is not taking medication anymore because he has regained his health.

Anecdotal case

Dr. Michelle de Vera, deputy director of the Institute of Personalized Molecular Medicine at The Medical City, said that while Elicaño’s illnesses seem to have been cured, his is still an anecdotal case.

"There's not a whole lot of people with the same kinds of illnesses that are treated with the same kind of treatment. It cannot be generalized yet," she said.

She said out of the 350 patients who underwent stem cell therapy at The Medical City, they had no records of any patient whose condition worsened.

She said some patients did not get any better despite the treatment.

"People have to be very careful in claiming," de Vera added.

Herbosa also clarified that having a younger skin after the therapy is just a side effect, and is not the treatment's main purpose.

Role of media

Herbosa said the media played a role in the sudden popularity of stem cell treatment.

"You have popularized it beyond what the knowledge can actually support," he said.

"It may have side effects that are not yet known."

He said the health department is not regulating the proliferation of stem cell treatment facilities but urged the public to listen to official advisories.

"We won't regulate but we'll make a research protocol, validate it scientifically."

De Vera also said that each case has to be documented and they would have to determine which laboratories are capable of providing the treatment.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Doctors don't promise cure with stem cell therapy

MANILA, Philippines – Amid the recent warning issued by the Department of Health (DOH) regarding stem cell therapy, doctors who are offering the treatment in the Philippines clarified that they are not promising a cure.

“We are very careful about claiming cure. These days ang dami nagsasalita, nawala ang sakit. All of a sudden siya (stem cell therapy) na ‘yung magic bullet ng buong mundo, like if you get stem cell, you get cured,” said Dr. Michelle de Vera, deputy director of the Institute of Personalized Molecular Medicine at The Medical City.

“Kapag may narinig na ganyan dapat lalo silang mag-ingat. Cure is zero evidence of disease or kung genetic ‘yung disease dapat napalitan ‘yung genes mo. Hindi mangyayari ‘yun at this point," he stressed.

De Vera, an allergologist and immunologist, does stem cell therapy on her patients at The Medical City but he said he believes that the DOH is right in warning patients on stem cell therapy.

“Tama naman na magbigay sila ng warning,I think what their trying to do is regulate stem cell therapy,” the doctor said.

Public advisory

The DOH recently came out with a public advisory on stem cell therapies saying that there is an "observed proliferation of ‘centers’ offering stem cell treatments for medical and aesthetic purpose, and although this technology holds promise, stem cell therapy is not yet part of the standard of care and is considered an investigative procedure for compassionate use."

The DOH further stated that "applications of stem cells for the treatment of malignancies, blood disorders, degenerative diseases (e.g. Alzhimer's), metaboloc diseases (eg diabetes), and immune cell therapy are still under clinical evaluation and study."

“I did not say it doesn't work but it takes a while, a lot of experiments and clinical studies before it is considered a standard of care in medicine,” clarified Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona.

Ona also added in his statement that "the public is strongly advised to avoid stem cell therapies which use the following as sources for stem cells: embryonic stem cells, aborted fetuses, genetically-altered and animal fresh cells."

Not from animals

The Medical City has been offering stem cell treatment since 2005 and had more than 300 patients, most of them for the treatment of cancer.

De Vera explained that they use human stem cells, which come from the bone marrow of the patient or umbilical cord, and warns against stem cells coming from animals like cows or sheep, as well as companies abroad offering a spa-like experience.

"Our choice of sources, we know it's safe kasi galing din sa ‘yo," she said.

But while stem cell therapy is not yet a standard of care, it doesn't mean that it does not work, the doctor said, although she added that doctors who administer it offer no guarantees.

"’Yung iba, sobrang ganda ng effect sa kanila, yung iba naman not so much, it's very personal, very dependent on every person," she said.

De Vera also said that the science behind stem cell therapy is sound, noting that all humans have stem cells which the body uses to heal itself.

"If you give stem cells to a person, pumupunta naman talaga sila sa injured organ, nakaka-repair na talaga sila, hindi na yun theory, meron ebidensya," she explained.

De Vera also claimed that their patients have improved symptoms. "In certain cancer cases with combined standard of care like chemo or radiation therapy, we have made patients cancer-free in terms of markers or imaging for tumors," she added.

According to the doctor, they also do stem cell therapy for aesthetic purposes. "Inherently the stem cell has anti-inflammatory properties, it repairs injury. May evidence that skin has rejuvenated or regenerated. But it doesn't mean hindi ka na tatanda. Cells will eventually age. ‘Di naman infinite ang buhay nya," she said.

Among The Medical City's patients are celebrity couple Albert and Liezl Martinez -- he for aesthetic purposes, while she for breast cancer. Liezel is now reportedly cancer-free.

The DOH said the department will soon issue guidelines for the use of stem cell therapy and the process of licensing facilities offering such services.

"Maybe in two to three weeks," said Ona.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Annabelle to undergo stem cell therapy

MANILA, Philippines – Talent manager Annabelle Rama revealed that she will be undergoing stem cell therapy in September.

She confirmed this report to The Philippine Star’s entertainment columnist Ricky Lo.

Rama said she’s been suffering from several illnesses and that stem cell therapy may help make her feel better.

“I’m suffering from high-blood pressure, high-blood sugar and other ailments and from what I heard, after the therapy I would feel better. Lahat daw ‘yon gagaling,” she said.

Rama said her son Richard Gutierrez, who will be paying for the whole procedure, also urged her to have her back problem checked.

“Richard wants me to have my scoliosis checked and my lumbar region which are giving me so much pain. So I will have two more injections for that, each costing an extra one thousand euros,” she said.

Lo said in his article that the whole package, which will include nine injections, will cost around P1 million.

Meanwhile, although she earlier vented on Twitter her disappointment that her family is against her plan to run for Congress, it seems that her children have changed their mind about politics.

Rama said she is hoping that she will feel “renewed” after her upcoming stem cell therapy so she will be ready to file her certificate of candidacy as a Cebu congresswoman when she comes back.

“Richard and my other children want me to be physically fit for the campaign,” Rama said.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Abunda to try stem cell therapy for mom

MANILA, Philippines -- "The Buzz" host Boy Abunda is going to Europe this weekend with his mother, who is suffering from dementia and Alzeimer’s disease.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News on Tuesday afternoon, Abunda said he will bring his mother to Germany to try stem cell therapy.

"Ako ay pupunta sa Europe hindi para magbakasyon. Dadalhin ko po ang aking ina para magpagamot sa Germany. Ito po 'yung fresh stem cell therapy. Maganda 'yung dini-diretso na dahil napag-uusapan ito," Abunda said.

While Abunda is in Germany, Kris Aquino will take his place on ABS-CBN's entertainment talk show "The Buzz."

In the interview, Abunda also said he's proud of Aquino, who's now open to doing extreme adventures, while continuing to be a good mother to her two sons.

"Ang daming nagbago kay Kris. May mga bagay na hindi ko inakala na gagawin ni Kris like 'yung diving, zipline at marami pang iba. Natutuwa ako that she has become more open to many things. She has become more adventurous. She has retained being the doting mother that she is pero mas malalim ang halakhak niya ngayon sa buhay. She's just so joyful. Natutuwa ako habang pinapanood ko ang kanyang adventure sa 'KrisTV,'" Abunda said.

Abunda said he's also hoping to do a new project with Aquino.

"I'm hoping na someday ay muli kaming magtagpo sa isang palabas dahil marami ang humihiling na kami ay magsama sa isang palabas. Sigurado ako sa puso ko na kami ay gagawa at gagawa dahil magkadugtong ang aming pusod," he said.

article source: abs-cbnnews.com

Nora Aunor returns Friday

Sa Biyernes, February 24, ala singko singkwenta'y singko ng umaga ang pagbabalik Pilipinas ng Superstar na si Nora Aunor mula sa halos isang buwan nitong pananatili sa Amerika.

Kinumpirma ni Boy Palma, manager ni Nora ang pagbabalik ni Ate Guy bukas via Philippine Airlines PR 103 flight mula sa Los Angeles, California.

"January 8 siya nu’ng umalis dito,tapos bukas balik na siya. Sasalubungin ko at ng mga taga-TV5," ayon kay Kuya Boy.

Nang tanungin namin at kumustahin tungkol sa diumano'y operasyon ng Superstar sa lalamunan na dahilan din ng pag-alis nito patungong U.S. ...

"I think walang operation or surgery na nangyari. Theraphy lang yata ang ginawa sa kanya sa Boston.

"Sana nga, makuha sa theraphy para hindi na dumaan sa operation. We're really hoping na makuha sa theraphy.

"Mukha namang may improvement, malalaman natin mismo pagdating niya bukas. Saka na lang siguro 'yung operation kung talagang di makuha sa theraphy," naging pahayag sa amin sa telepono ng manager ng Superstar.

August last year nang unang umuwi si Nora sa Pilipinas matapos ang ilang taon niyang pagkawala sa bansa. Noon niya ibinalita ang pagkasira ng kanyang boses at naging problema sa kanyang lalamunan bunga ng kanyang pagsailalim sa isang cosmetic surgery sa Japan.

Last year din pumirma ng three year exclusive contract si Ate Guy sa Kapatid Network kung saan gumawa siya ng teleserye, ang Sa Ngalan Ng Ina.

Sa kanyang pagbabalik-Pinas bukas, muli daw nitong haharapin ang kanyang mga commitment sa TV5.

"May naka-line up na teleserye at movie. Kung sinu-sino ang mga artistang makakasama niya, idi-discuss pa namin sa TV5," pagtatapos ni Boy, manager ni Nora.

source: interaksyon.com