Stem Cell Therapy Seen as Safe, May Improve Motor Function, Early Findings Suggest

[Farooqji]

The below report suggests that there some efficacy of unproven therapies offered by some clinics nowadays

parkinsonsnewstoday.com/201...

[park_bear]

The report you reference suggests no such thing. For starters, it is a very brief, labeled as preliminary, and not peer-reviewed. As to results, the only thing they have to say about efficacy is:

"To date, the first fourteen patients sustained a reduction in UPDRS-III motor score (OFF state) at 12 weeks follow up. "

How much improvement? One point or 20 points?

The stem cells were not derived from the patient but from a "healthy adult". Such cells could be expected to be rejected by the immune system. Did they take any measures to avoid this, such as immune system suppression? If not, how do they know any cells survived?

Be all that as it may, this report is no bearing on the efficacy of whatever practices may or may not be followed by the various unapproved stem cell clinics that have sprung up.

[Farooqji in reply to park_bear]

it was presented at a reliable platform "2019 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting"

The study is carried out by a university and a college of medicine. The organizers should not have allowed it to be presented if it was a case as mentioned by you

[park_bear in reply to Farooqji]

The point remains that the amount of improvement was not stated and could be anything. Furthermore, and there is no reason to believe that these various unregulated unapproved stem cell clinics follow the same or similar protocol.

[Farooqji in reply to park_bear]

agreed on the 2nd point

[park_bear]

Also worth mentioning that a company that tried this kind of treatment for stroke in a larger placebo-controlled trial did not find any benefit:

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

"There was no difference between the multipotent adult progenitor cell group and placebo groups in global stroke recovery at day 90"

[Hikoi]

Roger Barker A reliable source of information. Here he sounds a warning.

youtu.be/2LglzkCAUtI(Not working as expected?)

[park_bear in reply to Hikoi]

Really good stuff. This fellow is at the forefront of stem cell therapy. This is a must watch for anyone seriously interested in stem cell therapies for Parkinson's. And just by the way:

"Mesenchymal stem cells do not survive in the brain more than a day or two."

– This is the therapy referred to by the link in the original posting at the top.

[MBAnderson in reply to Hikoi]

Good one

[MarionP]

To which I would add a warning, described here in the New York Times (and in the article is referenced a stream of prior articles done by the times in recent past that are part of the general topic at hand):

nytimes.com/2019/04/03/heal...

[JANVAN]

Hi Iqbaliqbal...some news at the AANAM from Prof. Jeanne Loring ?

[Motherfather]

well you know iqbaliqbal i had the stem cell treatment i had,,,, until some one comes and say we have a cure ill believe it then,..as for now i wont go away and do the same thing as i did before and it was very expensive regards john.

[Farooqji in reply to Motherfather]

The benefits you had achieved are sustained or gone away? Did they followed up with you?

[Farooqji in reply to Motherfather]

BTW , I had contacted them an year ago, and they had replied as follows

"Based on your condition, you are at early stage of Parkinson Disease, and our hospital can use two kinds of stem cells to treat your disease:

1. Neural Stem Cells (NSCs): can be differentiated into functional neural cells that can produce dopa and use dopa, increase the number of normal neural cells and repair the damaged nerves, and replace the dead nerve cells.

2. Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs): are able to improve immunity, endocrine and nutritional functions to facilitate the process of repairing the damaged nerve cells.

Our center owns unique stem cell technologies in-vivo stem cell expressing, controlling, differentiating, and positioning to allow the tissue-reconstruction in an optimized internal environment by using various medications. Our center owns unique stem cell monitor technology, the doctors will montior the stem cells working and growing up in body, so it is required the patient to be hospitalized. Our treatment also includes rehabilitation therapies which use biological feedback technology that plays an important role in strengthening and rebuilding neural network.

This treatment needs two weeks, based on our experiences, after the stem cell treatment, you will get improvements as below:

1. The flexibility of limbs and fingers will be increased, it will be easier for you to do the fine movements and write.

2. Movement function of lower limbs will be better, you will have better balance function, your walking ability and flexibility will be better. You will control your legs and move faster.

3. Less tremor, it will be gone after the treatment.

These improvements suggest the beginning of rebuilding process in brain dopa nervous system and initiation of neurons replacement and nerve growth, and the progression of disease has been stopped. In the next 3-6 months after the treatment, your conditions are expected to be further improved with gradual maturity of the stem cells implanted.

At the end of the treatment, Dr. Wu will have a meeting with you to summarize the treatment outcome and tell you what to do in the next 3-6 months for the best treatment effect.

This treatment needs two weeks and the cost of it is USD15,000 covering patient room (allowing the patient and a relative to stay), three times NSCs (Neural Stem Cells) injections and three times MSCs (Mesenchymal Stem Cells) injections, daily medical care, medications, lab examinations, daily rehab training and guided shopping/laundry services. Food and meals are not included.

Best Regard

Mary "

[Motherfather in reply to Farooqji]

well they must have thought i was rich for me it was 18,000 us dollars and i paid it by cash from banks and a,t,m machines as they wanted every thing in cash they also wanted 5000 dollars in cash for the pills i had my laptop with me so i checked what the pills were they had them terms that you would never no what they were medical or other wise as it was i checked what they were it was all gobbled degook it was all vitamen tablets all about taking you to the cleaners never again.

[Farooqji in reply to Motherfather]

thanks for the valuable information and feedback

[MBAnderson in reply to Motherfather]

Were it me, I'd be talking to lawyers about suing them -- for fraud. Seems to me, like a strong case. They wouldn't want a public record made of all the science you'd would bring to bear, so they'd settle without being sued and maybe you'd get all your money back. I'd like to be the one to write the press release announcing the lawsuit.

[Farooqji in reply to MBAnderson]

I too became doubtful when talked to the lady (their customer dealing person ). First she told me of complete recovery but when I told her that I know some of the patients treated by them who were not improved by their treatment, she acknowledged that the gains fade away after some time and one has to renew the treatment.

Regarding the suing them, I think there are no reliable courts in China especially foreigners have no access to the justice.

I think Mother father has a dashing personality, and they may have guessed that 18000 dollars are peanuts for him😀

[MBAnderson in reply to Farooqji]

Oh, I didn't realize it is in China. Yes, a dashing personality can often get you in trouble -- so I'm perfectly safe.

[Motherfather]

well they got in touch with me a few months ago the same hospital they still do the same thing they told me thy are using different drugs but they know its not going to cure it just like the first time at least i give it ago regards iqbaliqbal keep up the good work.

[Farooqji in reply to Motherfather]

thanks, I have called them a few minutes ago and requested for the contact information of any patient they have treated recently from my country.

[Farooqji in reply to Farooqji]

they admit that its not a cure and told that the effects of the treatment fade away in 3 to 5 years