Regenerative Medicine
On 7th January, 2001, Asahi Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper, carried the sensational headline, “Cell Regeneration Drug to Begin Clinical Use”. The article discussed the start of treatment using Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF), which has a regenerative effect on cells and organs. It declared that the treatment would revolutionise 21st century medicine.
HGF’s regenerative effect on the liver was first verified in 1984 by a research team led by Dr. Toshikazu Nakamura at the Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine’s Biomedical Research Center. Later research revealed the effect was not restricted to liver cells and that it prevents necrosis and regenerates almost all organs.
Animal testing revealed that “HGF repairs untreatable serious illnesses of the liver and kidneys, heart, blood vessels, and nervous system”. Animals were infected for the purpose the experiment, and when HGF was injected a wondrous effect was observed whereby cells on the verge of death were revived. Thus, animal testing showed it to be effective for almost all diseases except for cancer. It was such an amazing result that people began to refer to HGF as the “Happy Growth Factor”.
Major Diseases which HGF was effective against in animal testing
Liver Diseases: acute hepatitis, hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, and liver transplantation.
Kidney Diseases: renal failure, kidney transplantation.
Lung Diseases: acute pneumonia, and lung fibrosis.
Digestive Diseases: gastric ulcers, and diabetes (pancreatic cell regeneration).
Cardiovascular Diseases: heart attack, cardiomyopathy, obstructive arteriosclerosis, and prevention of coronary stenosis.
Muscular Diseases: muscular dystrophy.
Cranial Nerve Diseases: stroke,
Parkinson’s Disease, and
Lou Gehrig's disease. (Asahi Shimbun, 7th January, 2001)
So at last, clinical trials began in earnest to look into whether it would also be effective for humans. Plans for trials are in progress at Osaka University for obstructive arteriosclerosis and heart attack patients and at Hyogo College of Medicine for cirrhosis of the liver sufferers. Nonetheless, thorough data must be accumulated on both effectiveness and safety before this research can be considered as practical treatment, so it is expected to take a little more time. However, careful readers will have noticed a wonderful thing.
Look again at the previous section on Growth Factors and you’ll see that HGF is present in placenta. We can make use of the amazing power of HGF, the Happy Growth Factor, right now by using placenta.
Discovery of Metastin which Suppresses Progression of Cancer Cells
The wide range of diseases which can be treated using Placenta Extract will be described later, but below is a press release regarding one particular breakthrough.
New Bioactive Peptide “Metastin” discovered,which suppresses the spread of cancer As a result of research into orphan receptors, Takeda has discovered a bioactive peptide which shows a cancer suppressant effect. The peptide is created by the cancer suppressant gene “KiSS-1”, and it has been named “Metastin” after the word “metastasis”, meaning the spread of cancer. Our pioneering first research facility discovered four new peptides called PrRP, Apelin, GALP, and RF amide, during research into orphan receptors. They were found to be receptors for the bioactive peptides MCH, Urotensin II, and Neuromedin U. Animal testing at our second medical science facility has already produced a report in March to the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan that the MCH antagonist shows an anti-obesity function. The discovery of Metastin is a further result of this continuing research into orphan receptors.
In the current research, ligand peptides of the orphan receptor 0T7T175 are isolated and purified, and found to be a new peptide produced by the KiSS-1 cancer suppressant gene. Gene KiSS-1 was reported on in 1997 by a research group led by Professor Welch at Pennsylvania State University, but only now have the products and functions of this gene been demonstrated.
An experiment was carried out whereby a variety of melanoma in mice was injected subcutaneously, and a tumour allowed to form for five weeks before being transferred to the lungs. There the Metastin receptor 0T7T175 was artificially produced. The spread of the melanoma to the lungs was found to be suppressed significantly by the continuous administering of Metastin. Additionally, in test tube experiments Metastin was confirmed to suppress both migrational response and nociceptive response. This indicates that Metastin inhibits the ability of cells to move, which would explain the cancer suppressant effect within the body.
Further investigation will be required to determine whether Metastin has a similar cancer suppressant effect on human cancer cells, however it is hoped that Metastin will suppress the spread of cancer in ovarian cancer cases, as this has a relatively high frequency of Metastin receptors. Metastin is also present in human placenta in large quantities, suggesting that it’s likely that the placenta plays a major physiological role. Initially, we believe that a sustained release and low molecular weight compound of Metastin should be explored with a view to application as a cancer suppressant.
Details of this research were published in Nature on 31st May, 2001. Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited 31st May, 2001
Cancer Suppressant “Metastin” Discovered in Human Placenta
Takeda Pharmaceuticals announced yesterday they have discovered a bodily substance which suppresses the spread of cancer, naming it “Metastin”. The gene which produces Metastin was also found. The research was published yesterday in the magazine “Nature”. The company hopes to explain the link between the cancer drug and the spreading process. Metastin exists within the body as peptides which can be connected to amino acids. The Takeda research team discovered Metastin in the human placenta. While investigating the arrangement of such amino acids, they found Metastin was produced by the “KiSS-1” gene, which is a known skin cancer suppressant. KiSS-1 was discovered by researchers in the USA in 1997, but it was not known until now that it produced Metastin. In an experiment where skin cancer was introduced to the lungs of mice, Metastin reduced the spread of the cancer by approximately one third. Asahi Shimbun, 1st June, 2001
Cancer Suppressing Material Found in Placenta Proteins
A new peptide has been found which forms inside the placenta when a certain “receptor” is attached to the cell. The KiSS-1 gene, which suppresses the spread of cancer, was already known, but a new protein named Metastin was discovered which is produced by this gene. In experiments, skin cancer cells in mice were transferred to the lungs, but when Metastin was administered its spread was greatly suppressed. Nikkei Shimbun, 1st June, 2001 * Articles about the discovery of a substance which suppresses the spread of cancer appeared in both the Asahi Shimbun and the Nikkei Shimbun on 1st June, 2001. This substance exists in large quantities in the placenta. It seems likely that further such substances are just waiting to be discovered in the placenta.
The Medicinal Properties of the Placenta
Many researchers have found that the placenta possesses a variety of medicinal effects, just like in the articles above. When you consider the many nutritional properties and growth factors of the placenta, the “all-purpose organ” seems quite an appropriate description. Main Medicinal Functions of the Placenta
Nervous System Regulatory Function (specifically the autonomous nervous system)
Endocrine (Hormonal) System Regulatory Function
Immune System Function (raises resistance to illness)
Basal Metabolism Function (energises the metabolism, activating cells, blood vessels and organs)
Active Oxygen Removal Function (prevents oxidation)
Anti-inflammatory Function
Tissue Repair Function
Tranquillising Function It has also been shown to have a number of other functions as follows.
Anti-toxin Function (strengthens the liver)
Lactation Promotion Function
Anti-Allergy Function
Constitution Function
Circulation Function
Blood Production Function
Anti-mutagen Function (suppresses mutations)
Blood Pressure Regulatory Function
Fatigue Recovery Function
In addition, the following have been reported by many doctors, as diseases which placenta is effective against.
It is clear that the key feature of the placenta is applicability to such a wide variety of conditions. This means that when you treat an illness with placenta it isn’t just one illness which is improved, but there are often other general improvements in health and beauty such as waking up refreshed, feeling less tired, or having clearer skin.
Placenta Can Treat the Following Conditions
Gynaecology: menopausal disorders, menstrual pain, irregular menstruation, failure of lactation, and high prolactin levels, etc.
Internal Medicine: hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, chronic pancreatitis, diabetes, chronic gastritis, dyspepsia, gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcer, ulcerative colitis, bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, habitual constipation, and collagen disease, etc.
Surgery: chronic rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, arthritis, neuralgia, lumbago, and stiff shoulders, etc.
Dermatology: atopic skin complaints, psoriasis, body odour, eczema, chapped skin, spots, and freckles, etc.
Psychiatry: autonomic ataxia, and sleeplessness, etc.
Urology: enlarged prostate, cystitis, and haemorrhoids, etc.
Ophthalmology: cataracts, allergic conjunctivitis, and vision loss, etc.
Ear, Nose and Throat: allergic rhinitis, Meniere's disease, and hay fever, etc.
Dentistry: pyorrhoea, and gum disease, etc.
Other: fatigue, chills, weak constitution, recovery of strength during and after illness, muscularity, and strength of mind, etc.
Effective Use of Placenta for Health and Beauty
Essentially, the placenta is a temporary organ formed to develop the embryo and is expelled after birth.
In most mammals other than humans the mother actually eats the placenta after birth. You may have noticed that when a cat or a dog gives birth, the placenta is left with the mother and child. Even herbivores like cows and horses are known to eat the placenta.
Some reports have it that this is to hide the smell of birthing to protect the young from predators, but a more likely explanation is that the mother recovers strength after the delivery by eating the nutrition-rich placenta. The lactation promotion function is an additional reason. There is a great deal of wisdom in the habits of animals. Until recently, the tradition in Japan was to use the placenta and umbilical cordas an offering on an altar, to pray for the growth of the child. However, in earlier times when medicines were scarce, if a child became very ill the umbilical cord would be ground into a powder, boiled, and administered as a special medicine.
Source : Placenta Power: For Health and Beauty A useful guide for those seeking placenta-based remedies Kentaro Yoshida Director of the Yoshida Clinic
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