Health Journal Online

Tag: Injection

  • Knee Stem Cell Injection Gains Attention as an Innovative Treatment

    Knee Stem Cell Injection Gains Attention as an Innovative Treatment

    Autologous Bone Marrow Stem Cell Therapy (BMAC무릎줄기세포주사) for the knee has recently gained recognition as an innovative medical treatment, showing significant effectiveness in treating knee osteoarthritis.

    Eight studies on the BMAC (무릎줄기세포주사) injection, which was officially approved as a new medical technology in South Korea last year, have demonstrated its effectiveness in alleviating knee osteoarthritis pain. In cases ranging from early to mid-stage arthritis, 94.4% of patients experienced considerable pain relief.

    The typical treatment process for knee osteoarthritis begins with non-surgical pain management methods. As the condition progresses, total knee replacement surgery is often required. Because effective pain control can significantly delay the need for surgery, continuous research has been conducted to develop new therapies—among which BMAC injections stand out.

    Previously, corticosteroid injections were commonly prescribed to manage knee arthritis pain. However, recent studies have revealed that steroid injections may actually accelerate joint degeneration.

    MRI scans of arthritis patients showed that those who received steroid injections experienced faster deterioration of cartilage and surrounding tissues.

    Researchers warn that while steroid injections may provide short-term pain relief, they can promote long-term damage to knee tissue. In particular, increased cartilage degeneration and inflammation were observed.

    As a result, medical experts are now urging patients who have been prescribed steroid injections for knee arthritis pain to consider alternative, safer, and more effective treatment options such as BMAC (무릎줄기세포주사) therapy.

    Dr. Yeong-Seok Lee, Director of Saint Luke Hospital, stated, “If knee pain is severe enough to interfere with daily life, it may indicate that the condition has already progressed significantly. It is crucial to seek a specialist’s diagnosis as early as possible.”

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  • Single Dose Of Existing Antibody Injection May Cut Hospitalizations

    Single Dose Of Existing Antibody Injection May Cut Hospitalizations

    For millions of people struggling with asthma or COPD, a higher dose of an existing antibody injection could be a total game changer, a recent trial results reveal.

    According to the study conducted by a research team from the University of Oxford and Kings College London, a single injection of a monoclonal antibody, benralizumab, could be more effective than standard steroid tablets during asthma or COPD flare-ups.

    Flare-ups, or attacks, occur when asthma symptoms suddenly worsen, causing shortness of breath, chest tightness or pain, coughing, and wheezing. Several factors such as respiratory infections, smoke, hot and humid air, or pollen can trigger flare-ups.

    Benralizumab is currently used to reduce inflammation in severe asthma by targeting specific white blood cells called eosinophils. Researchers have now found that repurposing the same drug at a higher dosage to manage “eosinophilic exacerbations” could reduce the need for further treatments by 30%.

    Eosinophilic exacerbations are a particular type of flare-up caused by elevated eosinophil levels. They constitute 30% of COPD flare-ups and almost 50% of asthma attacks.

    “This could be a game-changer for people with asthma and COPD. Treatment for asthma and COPD exacerbations have not changed in 50 years, despite causing 3.8 million deaths worldwide a year combined. Benralizumab is a safe and effective drug already used to manage severe asthma. We’ve used the drug in a different way – at the point of an exacerbation – to show that it’s more effective than steroid tablets which is the only treatment currently available,” said lead investigator of the trial Professor Mona Bafadhel in a news release.

    During the trial, researchers evaluated 158 patients for asthma or COPD symptoms by assessing the severity of their cough, wheezing, breathlessness, and sputum. Participants were divided into three treatment groups: one received a benralizumab injection and dummy tablets, another received the standard of care (30 mg of prednisolone daily for five days) and a dummy injection, and the third group received both a benralizumab injection and the standard of care.

    Participants treated with benralizumab showed improved respiratory symptoms, including reduced cough, wheezing, breathlessness, and sputum, after 28 days. Additionally, the benralizumab group had four times fewer people that failed treatment compared to the standard of care with prednisolone.

    “Treatment with the benralizumab injection took longer to fail, meaning fewer episodes to see a doctor or go to hospital. There was also an improvement in the quality of life for people with asthma and COPD,” the news release stated.

    “Our study shows massive promise for asthma and COPD treatment. COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide but treatment for the condition is stuck in the 20th century. We need to provide these patients with life-saving options before their time runs out,” Dr Sanjay Ramakrishnan, the first author of the trial said.

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