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Re: Stem Cell Breakthrough including better CCSVI results
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 6:08 am
by tzootsi
A few comments & questions on this issue:
What is being promoted here seems like the most effective treatment yet for MS, and it may prove to be so. CCSVI treatment appears to be at least somewhat effective for MS - stem cell treatment may be the magic bullet for many conditions. To a layman, combining these treatments seems like a viable thing to do. However, a lot of questions pop up:
-Exactly who or what is 'CCSVI Clinic' ? Is it a corporation? A medical center? A group of investors? An organization (for profit or not?) of medical professionals?
- What is CCSVI Clinic's affiliation with Noble Hospital in India? Some of the finest human beings I have ever worked with are people of Indian heritage - however it is well known that India is rife with corruption - could this have any bearing on how ethical and or safe these medical centers are?
- Who or what is Regenetek? This name pops up at the beginning of the CCSVI Clinic's promotional videos. What is their link to CCSVI Clinics? Why can't I get a Google hit on Regenetek?
Re: Stem Cell Breakthrough including better CCSVI results
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 6:57 am
by Cece
tzootsi wrote:- Who or what is Regenetek? This name pops up at the beginning of the CCSVI Clinic's promotional videos. What is their link to CCSVI Clinics? Why can't I get a Google hit on Regenetek?
Hmmmm
What comes up on Google is Regentech, a self described world leader in adult stem cell technology based in Houston:
http://www.regenetech.com/
I don't know if Regentek is associated with Regentech. The names are too similar to be a coincidence, so if they are not associated, it's a dubious choice of names.
Re: Stem Cell Breakthrough including better CCSVI results
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 11:11 am
by drdregen
That's why even a limited number of stem cells are highly effective when they are super-selectively infused directly to the intraluminal point of dilation where there will be tissue damage as a result of expanding the balloon. Yes some are lost to blood flow, but the dose is considered to be clinical in the hands of a good operator. Furthermore the cells are continuing to differentiate and divide taking on environmental attributes of other damaged tissue due to chemoattraction and expressing certain proteins as they do so. The attraction and ability to locate to damaged tissue is no different than the cascade of healing events present in the body at all times, yet the thrombin and fibrin too find the wound and are attracted to it despite the hemodynamic pressures. So MSCs are highly adapted to this as are many other cells in the body specifically evolved to perform these functions. At the same time some are even passing through the BBB to enter into the CNS to fufill function. The fact that this has been successful in vascular grafting in the same way also speaks to current protocol adopted by the clinic.
Re: Stem Cell Breakthrough including better CCSVI results
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 12:33 pm
by Cece
Intravenous Transfusion of Endothelial Progenitor Cells Reduces Neointima Formation After Vascular Injury
Nikos Werner, Stefan Junk, Ulrich Laufs, Andreas Link, Katrin Walenta, Michael Böhm, Georg Nickenig
Abstract
Endothelial cell damage is one important pathophysiological step of atherosclerosis and restenosis after angioplasty. Accelerated reendothelialization impairs neointima formation. We evaluated the role of intravenously transfused endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) on reendothelialization and neointima formation in a mouse model of arterial injury. Spleen-derived mouse mononuclear cells (MNCs) were cultured in endothelial basal medium. A total of 91.8±3.2% of adherent cells showed uptake of acetylated low-density lipoprotein (Dil-Ac-LDL) and lectin binding after 4 days. Immunostaining and long-term cultures confirmed the endothelial progenitor phenotype. To determine the effect of stem cell transfusion on reendothelialization, mice received either fluorescent-labeled spleen-derived MNCs or in vitro differentiated EPCs intravenously after endothelial injury of the carotid artery. Transfused cells were strictly restricted to the injury site, and lectin binding confirmed the endothelial phenotype. Homing of transfused cells to the site of injury was only detectable in splenectomized mice. Cell transfusion caused enhanced reendothelialization associated with a reduction of neointima formation. Systemically applied spleen-derived MNCs and EPCs home to the site of vascular injury, resulting in an enhanced reendothelialization associated with decreased neointima formation. These results allow novel insights in stem cell biology and provide additional information for the treatment of vascular dysfunction and prevention of restenosis after angioplasty.
http://circres.ahajournals.org/content/93/2/e17.short
This was done in mouse arteries, but it does suggest that the stem cells would lead to quicker healing which would lead to less neointima formation. The question would be if neointima formations (intimal hyperplasia?) is a problem among CCSVI patients and if it can be avoided through other methods such as more conservative balloon sizing and conservative use of stents and if the effect of the stem cells is enough to warrant the added expense of them. We could be talking about a tenth of a millimeter of intimal hyperplasia, which might not have an impact on health. My understanding is that stem cells delivered into the jugular veins have to travel to the heart and lungs and quite a long route before they reach the brain, thus making a less viable delivery location than intrathecally (into the spinal fluid) or into the carotid artery.
Re: Stem Cell Breakthrough including better CCSVI results
Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 6:09 am
by milesap
The problem here is that the" CSVI Clinic" has been treating patients with stem cells for a while and has released information on two patients only. They have not given anyone an indication of the number treated that failed, significantly improved or partially improved. Based on the information in their website,. going to India to have this done costs $26000.
http://www.ccsviclinic.ca/?page_id=564. I just wish these foreign clinics give more information so people can asses them better. Maybe if they were for forth coming there would be greater interest.