This one is a bolt from the blue:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medi...p?newsid=54956

"Tiantan Puhua Neurosurgical Hospital announced today the first known successful stem cell therapy treatment in China, and one of the first in the world, of an American citizen inflicted with the debilitating Parkinson's disease. Tiantan Puhua applied the unique procedure, specifically designed for Parkinson's patients, to 52-year-old Penny Thomas of Hawaii who says she has since seen tremendous improvement in her condition. The announcement comes as Hospital staff completed the initial stage of careful monitoring of Penny's progress during and after the treatment to ensure that the procedure was a success.

"I was on the verge of dying," says Penny. "Now, I feel that I have my life back after this new stem cell treatment. My body has calmed down, I can walk fluidly, I can hold a knife and a fork and cut my food by myself, I can get out of bed on my own, brush my hair, and even do Yoga. I feel like a kid again," she said.

TiantanPuhuaHospital's groundbreaking treatment introduces 'Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial cells' (hRPE) to patients' bodies causing them to naturally produce Dopamine, enhancing Dopamine levels in the brain. The Hospital's use of hRPE cells means that patients do not have immunosuppressive reactions and therefore do not need to take additional drugs during the treatment. Specifically, the treatment includes a procedure that introduces hRPE cells into the region in the brain where there are damaged cells, along with a daily cocktail of medications that "fertilize" this area, helping the cells to survive.

Dr. Sherwood Yang, Vice President of TiantanPuhua Hospital, said, "Our medical solution gives a new ray of hope for all patients around the world suffering from formerly untreatable neural diseases like Parkinson's, Cerebral Palsy and Stroke. We are all very happy for Penny and are excited to see the improvement in her condition."

Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that occurs when certain nerve cells in the brain die or become damaged. The normal function of these nerve cells is the production of Dopamine - a vital chemical which is responsible for our body's smooth and well-coordinated movement. The lack of Dopamine as a result of damaged nerve cells can cause the Parkinson's symptoms of shaking (tremors), stiffness of the muscles, freeze-ups, balance difficulties and slowness of movement.

Penny Thomas was diagnosed with Parkinson's by doctors in the USA 4 years prior and has since suffered from almost every symptom of the disease. Her muscles were very tense, yet extremely weak. She experienced constant shaking in her hands, had severe difficulty getting out of a bed or chair by herself, and could only eat if her food was prepared for her in a way that allowed her to use a spoon or her fingers. She had given up reading and writing and had extreme difficulty performing operations most people take for granted, such as holding a telephone, getting dressed, brushing her hair or even turning her neck. Penny often experienced "freeze-ups" while walking whereby she would stop and not be able to continue her motion.

After two months of Stem Cell therapy, which included neurological nutritional balancing and rehabilitation in TiantanPuhuaHospital in Beijing that started on May 11, 2006, Penny said she regained her life back. While the treatment can not completely remove all symptoms of the disease, Penny's shaking was greatly reduced, muscle tension disappeared, her strength increased, movement became more fluid, and her freeze-ups stopped. After the treatment, Penny was able to get out of bed immediately and without help. For more specifics see http://www.stemcellschina.com/content/view/205/15/.

About TiantanPuhuaNeurosurgicalHospital

Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) PuhuaHospital collaborates with the Stem Cells Research Center of China's renowned PekingUniversity, the leading stem cells research group in the country. There, stem cells are nurtured and induced for clinical treatment. To date, over 20 Parkinson's patients have been treated using hRPE stem cells, with all patients exhibiting increased dopamine in their metabolism and improved control of movement. Long-term follow-up of the patients remains unavailable and is currently being carefully researched on a select number of patients. Tiantan Puhua is the only hospital that offers this treatment to patients beyond limited clinical trials and Penny is the only known American citizen treated for Parkinson's using this type of stem cell treatment".

A few questions,

i) 'Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial cells' aren't stem cells are they.
ii) 'Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial cells' sounds very much like Spheramine.

Does anyone know anything about this and its validity ?

Aftermathman.

to go now Aftermathman before our all up rugby challenge will be played out on the fields of Twickenham. You guys will have a cauldron of 70,000 screaming fans beying for the scalp of the mighty New Zealand All Blacks who are yet again odds on favourites to take out not only next weeks game at Twickers but next years World Rugby Cup in Paris.

The current Rugby World Cup holders (England) against the current no 1 Rugby team in the world. (NZ) Should be a fantastic battle. And then we take on the infamous Les Blues (and their one eyed pulsating French fans) on their home turf. Should be a fantastic next four weeks. GOOOOO HARD THE MIGHTY ALL BLACKS

Back to the topic at hand. I don't see any measured trials carried out before this treatment was made available for the public. The success of the Chinese method it seems is based on an individual who has had Parkinson's for only four years. The videos are inconclusive in my view as they do not show how incapacitated she was prior to the stem cell infusion being carried out.

In contrast to the Chinese success we have the diciplined controlled trials carried out by Dr Kaplin and During in the Gene Therapy Neurolgix trials www.neurologix.net

I wish the chinese every success in their methods but for mine the jury is still out on its overall success. Let the games begin.

GO HARD ALL BLACKS eerrr SCIENCE

I would love to give some witty reply but when you are suffering your worst run for 25 years it is difficult. At least no one can accuse us of peaking between world cups, (something you boys have experience of ).

The European Cup and Leinster, in particular, (Brian O' Driscoll, Gordon Darcy, Shane Horgan, etc), exposed the inexperience of our great hopes in the backline, (i.e. the mighty Gloucester backs, Ryan Lamb, Anthony Allen, Jack Adams, Olly Morgan, (all under 20), I am a Glos season ticket holder !!), however watch for them in the next few years.

We struggle for creativity in the pack, look for James Forester another Glos boy to at least help there.

Where we really struggle is creativity in the backs, our best, the Glos boys, Matt Tait are all a bit young, the rest, all a bit uninspiring. It would be great if the coach went for youth vs your boys but as his job is increasingly on the line, (to put it mildly), I cannot see him gambling.

In summary, I can see us competitive in the pack (James Forster assumed to start), but with recent selections we will struggle in the backs.

We are reliant on you boys choking at the mighty home of Rugby, (some hope).

Aftermathman.

P.S. An NFL "touchdown" (where the player doesn't actually touch the ball down), is so named due to gridiron's roots in Rugby !! Something for the Americans there who must be wondering what the hell we are talking about

P.P.S. The Chinese stem cells looks like the sort we were warned against in a recent BBC article.

on to your selectors. Give youth a shot. Wilkinson, Lomu, Mertons, Cullin, Jeff Wilson, and of course from another sport--Rooney---wern't too bad as 18 year olds.

The All Blacks fly out tonight for their 17 hour flight to England. I will send them a copy of your message about choking. That should fire them up for next Saturday.

I'll keep an eye on your Glos boys over our summer.

GO HARD SCIENCE