Report published yesterday on injection of adult stem cells curing patient.
Ron

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070405/main8.htm

Stem cell therapy cures Parkinson’s patient
Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

Bangalore, April 4
Indian stem cell researchers at the Manipal hospital here today announced the first worldwide case of a recovery from Parkinson's disease by use of stem cells from the patient's own body.

The claim is significant because the patient, Andrew Kisana, a US citizen of Pakistani origin, had come to Manipal hospital for treatment for Parkinson's disease after receiving both conventional as well as surgical treatment for the disease in the US. “This is clearly the first such clearly documented case in which a patient has recovered from Parkinson’s disease after the use of stem cells”, hospital managing director R. Basil disclosed.

Andrew’s recovery is significant. His daughter Kusma told TNS that her father found it difficult to walk and was dragging his right leg when he was admitted to the Manipal hospital last year. Andrew had found it difficult to swallow and even breathe when he was admitted to the hospital.

Andrew walked unaided to meet mediapersons today. Though his speech has improved, it is still slightly blurred. So he put across his thoughts via his laptop. Andrew said since his treatment here his general muscle strength had improved as had his gait, handwriting and bowel movements. He can walk unaided, which was impossible earlier and his tremors have reduced significantly.

Andrew said earlier though his motor skills had improved after a deep brain stimulation surgery conducted on him in the USA, he started having side effects, including severe laryngeal spasms. He said the current treatment had ensured an end to these spasms also. Andrew has been off all drugs for Parkinson’s disease since the past six months.

Explaining how this came about, hospital’s nuerological disease institute head Dr N.K Venkataramana said Andrew had received three injections of isolated mesenchymal cells which had been harvested from his bone marrow. As many as 1.5 million of these stem cells had been transplanted into his brain. He said each injection cost Rs 75,000 adding that the cost could be reduced at a later stage.

Dr Venkataramana said stem cell research seemed to be promising in regenerating hope to cure Parkinson’s disease as the present treatment at the best removed some of the symptoms but did not stop the progression of the disease. He said the present initiative would motivate patients across the world to explore this new modality which did not involve any issue of ethics as adult stem cells were used. “However, we need to observe the long term clinical effects in large number of patients to decide its role in the treatment of degenerative diseases”, he added.

There are indications that the Senate is going to vote soon on S.5..Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. If it passes, the next step will be to see if Bush vetoes it again.

There seems to be a pattern of publishing these articles about adult stem cells right before a vote. This disturbs me [nice way of saying it p_____ me off] not because I don't want this article to be true; but because the chances of us ever receiving this treatment are just about nil unless we are wealthy enough to go and have it done - even if it is true.

My cynical guess is that we will never hear about this article or treatment again after the initial flurry of publicity in the attempt to throw off the Senate stem cell vote.

just a bundle of sunshine,
paula

Hey there, Ron, good to see you again!
The papers have been full of this alleged cure the last couple of weeks, but I've seen no pictures. In other words, I'm a bit suspicious.
There have been stem cell transplants carried out before in several countries, I have seen reports and even documentaries, but so far none of the patients have been cured and most developed wild tumors into the bargain. A couple of years ago I read an article of someone whose new cells grew so out of control that he was in a fit of wild dyskinesia 24 hours a day. I don't know what happened to him, there was nothing in the press. I hope he didn't writhe himself to exhaustion. But that's how it goes...the media don't publish follow-up stories, because they are "yesterday's fish" - they don't sell.

He's "cured" -- but he still has to use a laptop to communicate?

Waiter? Check please.