CERTIFIED QUALITY
UNDERSTANDING THE VARIETY OF
Stem Cells and Therapies
SPECIALIST IN PAIN MEDICINE
Dr. William Joaquí
Your Specialist in Advanced Pain Management
Specialized Medical Consultation in Pain Medicine, Regenerative Medicine with Platelet-Rich Plasma, Stem Cells, and Exosomes, as well as Precision and Orthomolecular Medicine. Functional and Integrative Medicine.
The Role of Stem Cells in Development and Aging
Stem cells are cells capable of multiplying and differentiating into different tissues. They are present from the early stages of our intrauterine life, facilitating the processes of forming the various organs and tissues we are born with. They continue to be found in different types of tissues such as bone marrow, fat, cartilage, and many more. As the years pass, their capacity for differentiation and regeneration gradually decreases, accompanying the aging process.
The first stem cell is formed by the union of the sperm and the egg. This cell and a few cycles of division thereafter are called totipotent, as they can generate embryonic tissues (forming a complete being) and extraembryonic tissues (such as the placenta). Once the embryo is formed, it has three distinct layers, from which all the different organs and tissues of our body develop. In this case, the embryonic stem cells that exhibit this potential are called pluripotent.
Up to this point, we have discussed totipotent and pluripotent stem cells, and it is important to clarify at this point that while these cells have been used therapeutically due to their significant growth and tissue generation potential, they have been associated with tumor and cancer production. That is why, in my case, I do not employ these types of cells in my therapies.
Wharton's Jelly and Mesenchymal Stem Cells
- Diploma in University Teaching, UPB, 2013.
- Diploma in Clinical Bioethics, UPB, 2013.
- Diploma in Integrative Medicine and Homotoxicology, Universidad Javeriana, 2019.
- Diploma in Functional Medicine, FUCS, 2019.
- Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice, The Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM), 2019.
- Environmental Health Advanced Practice Module, The Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM), 2020.
- Gastrointestinal Advanced Practice Module, The Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM), 2020.
- Diploma in Orthomolecular Medicine, Universidad del Rosario, 2021.
Wharton's Jelly and Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Once the fetus is formed and the baby is born, there is a very important source of adult (non-embryonic) stem cells in the Wharton’s jelly, which is the tissue that makes up the umbilical cord. Therefore, these cells can be used without having to extract any tissue from the newborn, thus causing no harm to the baby. These stem cells are known as allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells, and they can also be extracted from the same patient, from their adipose tissue, bone marrow, and others. In this case, they are known as autologous mesenchymal stem cells and require a procedure under local anesthesia for extraction and some time for processing before they can be used.
In the case of allogeneic umbilical cord stem cells, their regenerative potential can be greater than that of autologous cells, due to the chronological age of the latter and the toxic, oxidative, and inflammatory burden that the patient from whom they are extracted has been exposed to.
These cells are then extracted from the umbilical cord, and through a standardized cultivation process that complies with the standards of international regulatory agencies such as the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) of the USA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the production of human cells for therapeutic purposes, a specialized laboratory equipped with the latest technology approved for these purposes carries out a process known as cell expansion. In this process, these cells are reproduced in a controlled manner, thus generating a much larger quantity of mesenchymal stem cells than what was initially collected. To confirm that these cells are indeed mesenchymal stem cells and not another type of cell, the laboratory conducts specific immunological tests in which only those cells expressing certain surface molecules are selected while others are not (these are a kind of identifiers or markers that cells exhibit and differentiate them from other cell types), based on international recommendations such as those issued by the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) that establish these criteria to verify the characteristics of these cells observed in cultures.
External Entities Certify Cellular Product Quality
I have been actively involved in numerous academic activities both nationally and internationally, including workshops, speaking engagements at conferences and symposiums, and contributions to book chapters and research. Among these, the most noteworthy include:
- A biotechnology institute from a renowned university in Colombia certifies through advanced molecular techniques (real-time polymerase chain reaction or qPCR) that the cell cultures lack an intracellular bacterium called Mycoplasma sp.
- Another laboratory specialized in evaluating microbiological control with ICA registration and INVIMA certification in Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) issues a certificate of absence of detection of bacterial endotoxins (gel clot method) and a certificate of sterility testing.
- Another center for human genetics diagnostics analyzes the karyotype (chromosome analysis) of the cultivated mesenchymal cells, certifying its normality in terms of alterations in number or structure.
STEM CELL CONFIDENCE
Mesenchymal stem cells meet certified standards, instilling confidence in the procedure.
Speaker Engagements
- Workshop: “Mitochondrial Dysfunction,” Nutrabiotics, September 2023.
- Workshop: “Methylene Blue and Chronic Pain,” Nutrabiotics, July 2023.
- Webinar: “Reversing Catabolic Inflammation and Musculoskeletal Pain: Harpagossens Product Launch 2021,” Nutrabiotics.
- XXXIV Colombian Congress of Anesthesiology and Resuscitation (S.C.A.R.E.), 2021.
- Speaker: “Inflammaging: The Hidden Pandemic.”
- Speaker: “Mental Exercise and Synchrony of Systems: Seeking Balance Between Being and Doing.”
- Discussing Fibromyalgia:
- University Bolivariana Clinic, Non-pharmacological and Functional Treatment of Fibromyalgia, September 28, 2019.
- IV National Congress of Geriatric Care, Antioquian Society of Anesthesiology; Pain Management in the Elderly: An Integrative and Functional Approach, October 18, 2019.
- XVII Bogotá Chapter Meeting, Colombian Menopause Association; Unspoken Aspects of Menopause: Chronic Inflammation and Its Consequences, October 25, 2019.
- INSIDEOUT, Alma Líder, Functional Medicine, and Team Transformation, November 23, 2019, Lima, Peru.
- XXIV International Pain Congress, Colombian Association for the Study of Pain (ACED), Colombian Chapter of IASP. Presentation: “NMDA Inhibitors in the Perioperative Context,” Medellin, September 24-26, 2015. International Symposium on Biorhythmic Medicine, Heel Colombia, Speaker in the presentation: “Chronobiology: Biological System Timing in Pain,” 2020. And many others, as a speaker for Nutrabiotics and Heel.
Worldwide Healing Journey
Dr. William Henry Joaquí has built his medical career in various academic and healthcare institutions across South America, North America, and Europe, bringing his expertise in regenerative medicine to an international level.
Teaching Across Borders
In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Joaquí serves as an internationally certified teacher of Mindfulness and Kindfulness for Health and Stress, holding certifications from the United Kingdom and Spain, demonstrating his dedication to global health and wellness education.
Global Healing Partnerships
Dr. Joaquí has participated in numerous workshops, conferences, and symposia both in Colombia and other countries, collaborating with international experts and contributing to research and development in the fields of pain management and regenerative medicine.
Globetrotter in Medical Publishing
His work has been featured in international scientific publications and book chapters, reflecting his impact on the global medical community and his commitment to disseminating knowledge in areas such as fibromyalgia, craniofacial pain, and other chronic disorders.