Quote:
Originally Posted by Fiona
Hi Paula,
I"m not quite putting it together - what are the implications that you see in this presentation of information and its timing? I really want to know what your thoughts are...if you don't want to say it publicly, maybe PM me? I really want to know what you think.
thanks,
Fiona
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The publication of this one patient "clinical trial" in an open journal, defining it as a long term effects report is not a bad thing by itself. I admire Dr. Levesque; he is a pioneer, and I don't know why his work didn't continue. He said many years ago that he was trying to get FDA approval and was resolving conflicts of interest in setting up a company.
But then I read the article at this link and see that Dr. David Prentice is using this for his own agenda. This man is a staunch anti -escr advocate - which he has every right to be. The problem lies with his list of 72 diseases helped by adult stem cells. It lacks credibility and has blatant errors and distortions. Here's what it lists as adult stem cell help for Parkinson's:
PARKINSON’S DISEASE
USING DIRECT STIMULATION OF PATIENTS’ ENDOGENOUS ADULT NEURAL
STEM CELLS:
Love S
et al., Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor induces neuronal sprouting in human brain, Nature
Medicine 11, 703-704, July 2005
Slevin JT et al., Improvement of bilateral motor functions in patients with Parkinson disease through the
unilateral intraputaminal infusion of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, Journal of
Neurosurgery 102, 216-222, February 2005
Gill SS et al.; “Direct brain infusion of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in Parkinson disease”;
Nature Medicine 9, 589-595; May 2003 (published online 31 March 2003)
He may as well list sinemet and all the meds we are on as adult cell therapy if he is going to list GDNF as adult stem cell therapy. And in case there is anyone who doesn't know this - it failed according to Amgen.
A quote from Prentice:
David Prentice, a former biology professor at Indiana State University who is now a fellow with the Family Research Council, tells LifeNews.com that the results of the study are wonderful news for patients.
"This evidence had been presented previously, but we now have the peer-reviewed scientific evidence for the effectiveness of adult stem cells in alleviating Parkinson's symptoms," he said. "While the data show that the technique needs refinement, this patient went for several years with little to no symptoms of his disease, even with only half of the brain treated with his own adult stem cells."
Prentice says the results continue to prove that adult stem cells outpace their embryonic counterparts
http://www.lifenews.com/bio2751.html
With a new Pres. who has said he will lift the escr ban, it's hard not to suspect that this is a political move. Especially with no new information and the 36 month span of patient improvement ended long ago.
I don't want to debate stem cells. That really isn't the purpose here. I think Prentice lacks credibility and this is just one more "stretching the truth" tactic IMHO.
What I am not saying, is that I suspect any misconduct on the part of Dr. Levesque. I have no reason to and thus the lack of bias disclaimer.
paula