Stem Cell Clinic

Stroke victims show signs of recovery following pioneering stem cell therapy

By adminMay 27, 2013Uncategorized

Five stroke victims have shown small signs of recovery following pioneering stem cell therapy.

Prof Keith Muir, of Glasgow University, said the results were "not what we would have expected" from the group of patients who had previously shown no indications of their conditions improving.

The trial involved injecting stem cells directly into the damaged parts of the patients' brains, with the hope that they would turn into healthy tissue or "kick-start" the body's own repair processes.

Frank Marsh, 80, one of the nine patients taking part in the trial at Glasgow's Southern General Hospital, told the BBC he had seen improvements in the use of his left hand.

"I can grip certain things that I never gripped before, like the hand rail at the baths, with my left hand as well as my right," he said."It still feels fairly weak and it's still a wee bit difficult to co-ordinate but it's much better than it was."He added: "I'd like to get back to playing my piano."

His wife Claire said: "He had reached a plateau and wasn't really improving (after his stroke). But following the operation he is able to do things he couldn't do before, such as make coffee, dressing, and holding on to things."

The study involved patients who suffered strokes some time ago and had shown no signs of making any further spontaneous improvement.

Prof Muir said the results were "at the present time not what we would have expected in this group but far from being able to say whether it's something specifically related to the cells".

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We know that some of the cells will survive and potentially turn into relevant tissue. We also suspect that a large part of what we do is kick-starting repair processes that are already present in the body.

"So there's probably a mixture of things going on. Quite what it is that's happening in the patients, we won't know for some time to come."

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Stroke victims show signs of recovery following pioneering stem cell therapy

UK & World News: Stem cell therapy 'shows results'

By adminMay 27, 2013Uncategorized

May 27 2013

Five stroke victims have shown small signs of recovery following pioneering stem cell therapy.

Prof Keith Muir, of Glasgow University, said the results were "not what we would have expected" from the group of patients who had previously shown no indications of their conditions improving.

The trial involved injecting stem cells directly into the damaged parts of the patients' brains, with the hope that they would turn into healthy tissue or "kick-start" the body's own repair processes.

Frank Marsh, 80, one of the nine patients taking part in the trial at Glasgow's Southern General Hospital, told the BBC he had seen improvements in the use of his left hand.

"I can grip certain things that I never gripped before, like the hand rail at the baths, with my left hand as well as my right," he said."It still feels fairly weak and it's still a wee bit difficult to co-ordinate, but it's much better than it was." He added: "I'd like to get back to playing my piano."

His wife Claire said: "He had reached a plateau and wasn't really improving (after his stroke). But following the operation he is able to do things he couldn't do before, such as make coffee, dressing and holding on to things."

The study involved patients who suffered strokes some time ago and had shown no signs of making any further spontaneous improvement.

Prof Muir said the results were "at the present time not what we would have expected in this group but far from being able to say whether it's something specifically related to the cells".

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We know that some of the cells will survive and potentially turn into relevant tissue. We also suspect that a large part of what we do is kick-starting repair processes that are already present in the body. So there's probably a mixture of things going on. Quite what it is that's happening in the patients, we won't know for some time to come."

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UK & World News: Stem cell therapy 'shows results'

Stem cell therapy 'shows results'

By adminMay 27, 2013Uncategorized

Five stroke victims have shown small signs of recovery following pioneering stem cell therapy.

Prof Keith Muir, of Glasgow University, said the results were "not what we would have expected" from the group of patients who had previously shown no indications of their conditions improving.

The trial involved injecting stem cells directly into the damaged parts of the patients' brains, with the hope that they would turn into healthy tissue or "kick-start" the body's own repair processes.

Frank Marsh, 80, one of the nine patients taking part in the trial at Glasgow's Southern General Hospital, told the BBC he had seen improvements in the use of his left hand.

"I can grip certain things that I never gripped before, like the hand rail at the baths, with my left hand as well as my right," he said."It still feels fairly weak and it's still a wee bit difficult to co-ordinate, but it's much better than it was." He added: "I'd like to get back to playing my piano."

His wife Claire said: "He had reached a plateau and wasn't really improving (after his stroke). But following the operation he is able to do things he couldn't do before, such as make coffee, dressing and holding on to things."

The study involved patients who suffered strokes some time ago and had shown no signs of making any further spontaneous improvement.

Prof Muir said the results were "at the present time not what we would have expected in this group but far from being able to say whether it's something specifically related to the cells".

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We know that some of the cells will survive and potentially turn into relevant tissue. We also suspect that a large part of what we do is kick-starting repair processes that are already present in the body. So there's probably a mixture of things going on. Quite what it is that's happening in the patients, we won't know for some time to come."

The stem cells were created 10 years ago from one sample of nerve tissue taken from a foetus.

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Stem cell therapy 'shows results'

Non-white patients suffer from lack of marrow, stem cell donors

By adminMay 27, 2013Stem Cell Treatment

There are concerns a dramatic shortage of stem cell and bone marrow donors from non-Caucasian ethnic groups is putting lives in jeopardy.

And experts are trying to fix the problem by tackling the biggest issue lack of awareness.

For Angela Yee Hamshaw, news of her sister's leukemia diagnosis was devastating.

Doctors could not find a bone marrow match in the family for 37-year-old Audrey Popowich. So as here chemotherapy began, so too did the search for a donor.

But because of her Chinese heritage, Popowich was warned that finding a match could prove extremely difficult.

"It can be very difficult. Within specific ethnic groups we do struggle to find donors, said Cassandra DeLuca, a coordinator with Canadian Blood Services.

About 75 per cent of the 330,000 registered Canadian donors are Caucasian. Chinese Canadians make up about six per cent, while South Asian donors account for less than three per cent of the supply.

"It comes from general awareness. Within certain communities there is more awareness than others, DeLuca said.

The huge gap is frustrating, said Dr. Mona Shafey, who works at the Alberta Bone Marrow Transplant program.

They're facing life and death here, she said.

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Non-white patients suffer from lack of marrow, stem cell donors

Stroke patients show signs of recovery in stem cell treatment trial

By adminMay 27, 2013Stem Cell Treatment

The studies so far have not been able to rule out completely the possibility that the patients benefited from the placebo effect of receiving close medical attention.

However, Prof Muir told the BBC: "It seems odd that it should all just be chance and a placebo effect. We are seeing things that are interesting and somewhat surprising.

He added: "My expectation had been that we would see very little change and if we did see change it would be a relatively short-lived temporary change. [But] we have seen changes that have been maintained over time.

The patients in the study, which took place at Glasgow's Southern General Hospital, were aged in their 60s, 70s and 80s, and all had suffered their stroke between six months and five years earlier.

Frank Marsh, 80, a retired teacher, was once a keen piano player, but a stroke five years ago left him with poor strength and co-ordination in his left hand.

Describing the improvement he experienced after receiving the stem cell treatment, he told the BBC: "I can grip certain things that I never gripped before, like the hand rail at the baths, with my left hand as well as my right.

"It still feels fairly weak and it's still a wee bit difficult to co-ordinate but it's much better than it was."

He added: "I'd like to get back to my piano. I'd like to walk a bit steadier and further."

The small-scale study, whose results will be presented to the European Stroke Conference in London tomorrow, is the worlds first clinical trial examining the safety of neural stem cell treatment in stroke patients.

The first phase of the research was carried out to check that the procedure is safe. Now Prof Muir and his team are planning a larger phase two trial later this year to explore further how effective the treatment is.

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Stroke patients show signs of recovery in stem cell treatment trial

Stroke stem-cell trial shows promise

By adminMay 27, 2013Stem Cell Treatment

27 May 2013 Last updated at 00:01 ET By Pallab Ghosh Science correspondent, BBC News

Five seriously disabled stroke patients have shown small signs of recovery following the injection of stem cells into their brain.

Prof Keith Muir, of Glasgow University, who is treating them, says he is "surprised" by the mild to moderate improvements in the five patients.

He stresses it is too soon to tell whether the effect is due to the treatment they are receiving.

The results will be presented at the European Stroke Conference in London.

BBC News has had the first exclusive interview with one of the patients involved.

They are taking part in a small clinical trial involving nine patients in their 60s, 70s and 80s at Glasgow's Southern General Hospital to assess the safety of the procedure which involves injecting stem cells into the damaged brain part.

It is one of the first trials in the world to test the use of stem cells in patients.

Results to be presented on Tuesday show that there have been no adverse effects on the patients so far and there have been improvements to more than half participating in the trial.

However, at this stage it is not possible to say whether the improvements are due to the close medical attention the patients are receiving. It is well documented that the feeling of wellbeing resulting from such attention, known as the placebo effect, can have a positive effect on people's health.

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Stroke stem-cell trial shows promise

PH gov't warns public vs stem cell therapies in hotels, other non-health facilities

By adminMay 26, 2013Stem Cell Treatment

By: Jet Villa, InterAksyon.com May 26, 2013 7:15 PM

Reuters file photo of stem cell therapy

InterAksyon.com The online news portal of TV5

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH)'s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned the public against undergoing stem cell therapy in non-health facilities.

The FDA issued the warning after it received complaints that stem cell therapies were being done in hotel rooms.

It has also advised the public to consult only with duly-licensed medical practitioners who practice stem cell therapy in DOH-approved health establishments

The agency has also warned the public "against receiving stem cell preparations and therapies without prior regulatory applications and approval" from the FDA and the DOH.

The following stem cell preparations require government approval, according to the FDA:

An advisory from the FDA-DOH states that the agencies do not allow the creation, importation, promotion, marketing and use of human embryos, human embryonic stem cells and their derivatives, aborted human fetal stem cells and their derivatives for human treatment and research, as well as plant parts labeled as stem cells.

Patients who receive stem cell preparation without prior FDA-DOH approval run the risk of contracting infectious diseases and severe complications which may lead to permanent disabilities, physical deformities, serious iatrogenic harm, autoimmune diseases and worst death, and without the benefit of health insurance coverage.

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PH gov't warns public vs stem cell therapies in hotels, other non-health facilities

Teens tries to raise $30,000 for stem cell treatment

By adminMay 26, 2013Stem Cell Treatment

BRADENTON --

Friends, family and others came to a carnival fundraiser on Manatee Avenue Saturday afternoon to help a 14-year-old Lupus patient raise $30,000 for stem cell treatment.

Moriah Goode suffers from the autoimmune disease and fibromyalgia.

She spoke at the event to give a heartfelt thanks to all who participated.

"Thank you for caring about me and loving me so much enough to help me and try to raise money. You are amazing, all of you," she said.

The carnival included music, rides, games and food.

It gave Moriah a chance to have fun with her friends, a rare treat due to her illnesses.

Moriah's stem cell treatment is not covered by her insurance plan.

"I'm terrified because some days my back goes numb and sometimes my whole body goes numb and my hands shake and I have tremors and I can't do anything to control it," she said.

As of Saturday afternoon, she raised $5,400 towards her goal.

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Teens tries to raise $30,000 for stem cell treatment

Doctors claim cerebral palsy 'cure'

By adminMay 26, 2013Stem Cell Treatment

Research into stem cell treatments has shown promising progress Photograph: Getty Images

Medics in Germany said they have successfully treated a child with cerebral palsy for the first time.

Just weeks after being given an intravenous stem cell treatment from umbilical cord blood, the symptoms of a boy who had been left in a vegetative state after a heart attack improved considerably and within months he could talk and move.

The doctors who carried out the treatment said the results of the treatment dispel "long-held doubts" surrounding the effectiveness of stem cell therapy.

After going into cardiac arrest in November 2008, the two-year-old boy, known only as LB, was left paralysed with severe brain damage and in a vegetative state. Doctors warned his parents that his chances of survival were minimal.

Until now, there has been no treatment for the cause of what is known as infantile cerebral palsy.

Dr Arne Jensen of the Campus Clinic Gynaecology in Bochum, who carried out the new treatment, said: "In their desperate situation, the parents searched the literature for alternative therapies. They contacted us and asked about the possibilities of using their son's cord blood, frozen at his birth."

Nine weeks after the brain damage, on January 27, 2009, the doctors administered the prepared blood intravenously.

They studied the progress of recovery at two, five, 12, 24, 30 and 40 months after his brain injury.

Usually, the chances of survival after such severe brain damage and more than 25 minutes of resuscitation are just 6%.

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Doctors claim cerebral palsy 'cure'

Foolhardy expectations from stem cell products

By adminMay 25, 2013Stem Cell Treatment

Medical Files By Rafael Castillo Philippine Daily Inquirer

I have received a couple of queries regarding capsules or drink solutions which are supposed to boost the number of stem cells in the body and these could assist in cellular renewal or rejuvenation. I understand these are being marketed locally by direct sellers who are part of multilevel networking companies.

These stem-cell-enhancing preparations come from blue-green algae sources, which as far back as I can remember, have been promoted to be a panacea for all sorts of illnesses. Apparently the claim that it can boost stem cell production or its release from the bone marrow puts a scientific basis to it, which is attuned with the times since stem cell treatment is now the exciting buzz word.

I last reviewed the scientific literature on stem cell treatment earlier this year when I was requested to give a lecture partly discussing the effects of adult stem cells on the cardiovascular system. I remember coming across some articles on the potential role of blue-green algae in enhancing stem cell production but most of these studies were done either on mice and other experimental animals or in tissue cultures in the laboratory. Theres still a long way between any positive results noted in these experiments to actual clinical benefits that can be extrapolated in humans.

Time and again we hear of and read so many clinical trials showing a negative effect of a drug in humans when all its preclinical trials in experimental animals and small trials in few healthy human volunteers showed beneficial results with no evidence of harm or toxicity.

First do no harm

In the practice of medicine, a cardinal rule is First do no harm. There is still an unresolved issue about the potential toxicity of some blue-green algae preparations. Some products have been shown to contain a significant amount of toxins which can potentially cause liver failure. I cant remember the number of cases of liver toxicity reported for which blue-green algae has been implicated.

If theres smoke, there might be fire. Unless the smoke really clears and the potential harm and toxicity by blue-green algae are ruled out, it would probably be not good advice to take it.

I have nothing against natural dietary supplements so long as theres no reason to worry about any potential harm, and the reported benefits have scientific basis. When patients show me all sorts of supplements and ask if they could take them, I usually tell them to go ahead unless theres reasonable doubt about the products safety. In fact, I take and prescribe a few tried-and-tested supplements myself.

It cant be overemphasized and I think its worth reiterating that there are still a lot of unanswered questions in stem cell science, and exploiting it for commercial reasons is doing the consumers a lot of disservice. Telling them only half of the story, insofar as the effectiveness and safety of the product is concerned, is also being quite deceptive.

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Foolhardy expectations from stem cell products