[paula_w]

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17669-stem-cell-spinal-injury-trial-put-on-hold.html
Stem cell spinal injury trial put on hold

• 15:25 24 August 2009 by Peter Aldhous
• For similar stories, visit the Stem Cells Topic Guide

Plans to give human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) their first clinical test have hit yet another roadblock. In the latest twist in a long-running saga, the US Food and Drug Administration has placed a "clinical hold" on a proposed trial in patients with spinal injury.
The biotech firm Geron, based in Menlo Park, California, intends to transplant cells called "oligodendrocyte progenitors", grown from human ESCs, into the injured spinal cords of paralysed patients. The idea is that these cells will secrete the protein myelin, which forms sheaths that help protect nerve cells from damage. In rats, such transplants have helped restore mobility after a spinal injury.

There is a straightforward comment worth the read under this one.
Normal U. S. Lag In Health Care by M


and back to Germany
http://www.xcell-center.com/news/safety-follow-up-in-350-patients-after-stem-cell-therapy.aspx
http://www.xcell-center.com/news/stem-cells-and-tumor-risk.aspx
Adult stem cells do not increase tumor risk.

I wish all the brave pwp who are taking these risks the very best. Please report back to us so we know- good or bad - you are helping us by letting us know.

thanks,
paula

[caldeerster]

I went to Germany last year.

The staff was very helpful and nice.

The stem cells gave me a headache unlike any other headache I've ever had.

Other than that, nothing. I have seen no improvement, perhaps some degeneration.

My thoughts are this: the current state of the art with the various clinics is that they don't manipulate the cells into becoming precursor neurons.

All they do, as I understand it, is "process" them for impurities and then reinject them into your spine.

I think, eventually, this will be a very successful therapy, but the mesenchymal cells are going to have to be successfully manipulated into becoming precursor neurons and then transplanted into the substantia nigra via, I would guess, some kind of stereotactic infusion.

This piece explains how it might work:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeve...1?newsid=33014

(This would be similar to what Dr. Levesque attempted, but with the additional research knowledge acquired in the intervening years. Brainstorm Therapeutics in Israel, amongst others, is working to set up a Phase I trial)

So, bottom line, I wouldn't do it again until the issues I have outlined above have been addressed - and then I will be first in line.

Cal



Adult stem cells do not increase tumor risk.

"I wish all the brave pwp who are taking these risks the very best. Please report back to us so we know- good or bad - you are helping us by letting us know."

"thanks,"
paula[/QUOTE]

[paula_w]

wow, thanks for trying it and sharing that! I'm very sorry that the results weren't there.

Brainstorm sounds encouraging; i remember reading their first press release and feeling very hopeful. i guess the trials will be overseas?

thank you again,
paula

[girija]

Cal,
I am sorry to hear that the stem cell therapy did not work for you. As you stated, stem cell therapy has potential to be effective for PD, but needs more refinement. Thanks for posting your experienes. Could you please post this message on the Xcell center thread too>?? It would help a lot of people.

Thanks again
Girija