A smattering of Canadians — including the Alzheimer’s-stricken lead singer of Spirit of the West — have for several years ventured to places like China and Mexico for stem-cell treatment of dubious value and safety. The phrase ‘stem cells’ is a great marketing tool,” he said. The California Stem Cell Treatment Center, which advertises treatment of everything from congestive heart failure to stroke, cites a representative in Canada, a Vancouver cosmetic surgeon. Florida’s Dr. Zannos Grekos, for instance, had his licence revoked in 2013 after two of his stem-cell patients died, one suffering a fatal stroke when Grekos injected unfiltered bone marrow into her bloodstream. Legitimate scientists do believe that stem cells — non-specific cells that can transform into various different types — actually have great potential for what’s called “regenerative medicine” — growing new tissue to replace damaged or diseased parts of the body.

Source: National Post July 04, 2016 15:11 UTC