Dear listers, I am forwarding this message from a very distinguished Dr. His
reply is to my question about the pros and cons of Stem Cells Theraphy. Hope
this will be useful to all. Please read fully. The message is self-explanatory.
----- Original Message -----
From: dr.aashish phadke
To: P. Subramani
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2007 1:59 AM
Subject: Re: <ayurvedaonline> Re:Stem Cells Theraphy.
Dear Mr.P.Subramani,
No problems ! I am sending herewith the modern informations connected to Stem
Cell Therapy & RP & other related topics !Please go thro' the same !
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please find one more news to STAY AWAY from the Dr.Sapse's Stem Cell Pharma
Inc. The advice is very simple-DONT TAKE ANY ACTION IN DESPERATION!
Reliable sources strongly believe that a proper strategies for treating genetic
disorders like RP should arrive in a span of 2-4 years.
We will be also including some recommendations on antioxidants therapy by
Retina South Africa, which you can give a try safely.
I am sending you a forward note of Mr. Gislin, associate professor, department
of ophthalmology, John Hopkins University, USA about Dr. Alfred T Sapse, Owmer
of Stem Cell Pharma Inc. in the following attachment. This note is self
explainatory. Please send the copy of this forward note to other members.
Kind regard
Shahin
--------Forward note----------
Dear xxxx, The company
obtains stemcells from umbilical cord blood and injects these cells into
patients withvarious diseases including RP. There is absolutely no evidence,
scientific or otherwise, that this provides anybenefit to these patients. But
they are desperate, and willing to pay. Dr. Sapse has been given an ultimatum
in the US that he has to stop treatingpeople, but apparently he still takes
patients to mexico where he treats themin a clinic just across the
border. If you want my opinion, I think you should stay as far away from Stem
CellPharma as you can, and you should warn other patients not to fall into
thistrap. And you should challenge the company to submit evidence in supportof
their "beneficial" treatment. Gislin On 2 Jun 2007 at 11:21, md musfic
wrote:>> Dear Mr. Gislin,> I have received a news that stem cell pharma inc, a
US based company
bas formed a joint> venture with an Indian company to start a new RP center in
India to treat RP patients by using> stem cell implant on October, 2007 which
has been published in the company's> website(www.stemcellpharmainc.com). The
company also bas claimed that they are successfully> treating RP patients by
using FDA approved clinical procedure and will hire the doctors who are> M.D.
from US to conduct clinical trial in India. Please make comment on this issue.>
Kind
regard> XXX--Gislin Dagnelie, Ph.D.Associate Professor of Ophthalmology<!--[if
!supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]-->
This section brings out the latest research information related to Retinal
Degeneration.
a.. Potential Cure for Visually Challenged Children Moves into a Human Study
Children born visually challenged, from a devastating retinal condition called
Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) may soon be able to see thanks to an
innovative gene replacement therapy that has just moved into a clinical trial.
The study, funded in part by the Foundation Fighting Blindness, is being
conducted by University College of London and Moorfields Eye Hospital in
London. Two additional Foundation-funded clinical trials are scheduled to begin
soon at the University of Pennsylvania and the Children's Hospital of
Philadelphia.
"This is one of the most important milestones ever reached in retinal research,
because it offers the promise of giving vision to children who otherwise would
never see," says Bill Schmidt, Chief Executive Officer, Foundation Fighting
Blindness. "We are thrilled to be at this hopeful juncture."
"Not only does gene replacement hold promise for LCA, the same approach may be
used to treat a variety of other retinal diseases including retinitis
pigmentosa, Stargardt disease, Usher syndrome, and age-related macular
degeneration," says Stephen Rose, Ph.D., Chief Research Officer, Foundation
Fighting Blindness. "The success of these studies in the U.S. and the U.K. can
pave the way for many more treatments to save and restore vision in millions of
people around the world."
(Source:- Adapted from Article of Ben Shaberman from FFB Webstite)
a.. Human Neural Stem Cells Show Potential for Vision Rescue
An FFB-funded research team from the University of Wisconsin and the University
of Utah used human neural stem cells - cells derived from the brain - to rescue
vision in a rodent model of retinal degenerative disease.
A team of investigators including David Gamm, M.D., Ph.D., Ray Lund, Ph.D.,
Clive Svendsen, Ph.D., and Shaomei Wang, Ph.D., says that human neural stem
cells offer promise for slowing vision loss in humans affected by a variety of
retinal degenerative diseases including retinitis pigmentosa and age-related
macular degeneration.
Plans are underway to study human neural stem cells for treating retinal
diseases in more rodent models and a larger animal model - important steps
before the treatment approach can be evaluated in a human trial
(Source:- Adapted from Article of Ben Shaberman from FFB Webstite)
a.. Neurotech begins Phase II/III human studies of treatment for retinitis
pigmentosa
Neurotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has begun enrollment of participants in two
multicenter Phase II/III human clinical trials for an innovative treatment to
slow the progression of a group of blinding diseases known as retinitis
pigmentosa. Both studies are partially funded by the Foundation Fighting
Blindness.
Neurotech's treatment involves implantation of a tiny device known as
Encapsulated Cell Technology (ECT) into the eye. Less than a quarter-of-an-inch
long, the ECT implant contains retinal cells which provide long-term, sustained
delivery of a vision-saving protein known as ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF).
In preclinical studies supported by the Foundation Fighting Blindness, the
treatment exhibited a safe and effective profile. The therapy also performed
well in a Phase I human study conducted at the National Eye Institute.
(Source:- Adapted from Article of Ben Shaberman from FFB Webstite)
a.. Eye Drop Attacks AMD on Three Fronts
An eye drop developed by Othera Pharmaceuticals holds potential for being a
uniquely effective treatment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD),
because it is believed to address three factors that can cause the
vision-robbing condition - inflammation, oxidative stress, and unhealthy blood
vessel growth (angiogenesis).
Al Reaves, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Clinical Development at Othera, says
that the studies show that OT-551 treatment may be effective for treating both
the dry and wet forms of AMD. He notes that for dry AMD, it is providing a
treatment option where few others currently exist. For wet AMD, the eye drops
may enhance the effectiveness of other wet AMD therapies.
(Source:- Adapted from Article of Ben Shaberman from FFB Website)
a.. Umbilical Cord Tissue Shows Promise as Retinal Disease Treatment
The umbilical cord is not only the lifeline for a developing baby, but it might
also save sight for people affected by a variety of retinal degenerative
diseases.
Because the umbilical cord is normally discarded after birth, use of the tissue
derived from it doesn't raise ethical concerns.
FFB-funded investigator Ray Lund, Ph.D., Oregon Health and Science University,
in collaboration with Centocor, a biomedicine company, used human umbilical
cord tissue (hUTC) to rescue vision in a rodent model of retinal degenerative
disease.
In a paper published in the March 1, 2007 issue of Stem Cells, the
investigative team reported that "hUTC may provide utility in treating patients
with retinal degenerations such as retinitis pigmentosa."
The research team also evaluated mesenchymal (bone marrow) and placental cells
for retinal rescue. Mesenchymal cells were somewhat effective, but Lund says
they are more difficult to expand and produce than hUTC. Placental cells had
little effect.
(Source:- Adapted from Article of Ben Shaberman from FFB Website)
a.. Tests Begin On Next Generation Of Retinal Implant
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The FDA has approved the next step of a study that will
help people who have lost vision from macular degeneration or retinitis
pigmentosa regain some of their sight.
Researchers from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles are
investigating an implanted artificial retina, called the Argus II Retinal
Prosthesis System. It's the second generation of an electronic retinal implant
to treat blindness by replacing photoreceptors. Photoreceptor cells in the
retina process light and are required for sight. In conditions like retinitis
pigmentosa, those photoreceptors deteriorate.
The updated version of the implant contains 60 electrodes, which Dr. Humayun
reports he believes will result in higher resolution images for the patients.
The new implant is also smaller than the original, which will reduce surgery
and recovery time.
Dr. Humayun reports the implant will ultimately be used for people with
age-related macular degeneration (AMD). He reports: "Perhaps what we're most
excited about in this next study is, similar to the first generation ...
device, we will be able to test the new device with patients at their homes,
churches, schools and similar locations. The importance of this work is going
to be reflected in how well this helps them regain some of their lost vision."
(Source: Presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Science
annual meeting in San Francisco, Feb. 15-19, 2007)
a.. Emerging Therapy Knocks Out Disease-Causing Gene in Dominant RP
Foundation-funded researchers from the University of Florida have made an
important advancement in the development of gene therapy to treat people with
autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP). The emerging treatment involves
shutting down the disease-causing gene so it no longer leads to the production
of a toxic protein in the retina that causes photoreceptor death and vision
loss. The treatment, known as ribozyme therapy, was shown to be effective in
mice, and specifically targets ADRP caused by variations in the rhodopsin (RHO)
gene.
One of the benefits of this ribozyme therapy is that it could be used to treat
most people with ADRP caused by variations (mutations) in RHO. Scientists
estimate that there are more than 100 different mutations in RHO that can cause
ADRP, so it is a big plus to have a therapy that can potentially treat them
all. Though this emerging ribozyme treatment is targeted for RHO, the therapy
can also be adapted to treat people whose ADRP is caused by variations in other
genes
(Source:- Adapted from Article of Ben Shaberman from FFB Website)
a.. DHA to be Studied as Treatment for X-Linked RP
An FFB-funded investigative team from the Retina Foundation of the Southwest is
conducting a Phase II clinical trial of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for the
treatment of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP).
Some retinal experts believe that DHA supplementation may slow the progress of
XLRP and other forms of retinal degenerative disease including age-related
macular degeneration and the dominant form of Stargardt disease.
DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid that is abundant in the retinas of humans and
other mammals, and is important for optimal retinal health. People can obtain
DHA through dietary supplements or the consumption of coldwater fish such as
salmon, tuna, or mackerel.
(Source:- Adapted from Article of Ben Shaberman from FFB Website)
a.. Emerging AMD Treatments Bring Promise of Saving and Restoring Sight
Years of laboratory research and clinical studies are now resulting in new
drugs that are helping patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
save, and in some cases, improve their vision.
The FDA's recent approval of LucentisT brings another new drug treatment to
millions of people at risk of losing their sight to wet AMD. Results from a
large, two-year study showed that Lucentis halted vision loss in more than 90
percent of individuals with the wet form of age-related macular degeneration
(AMD). The treatment actually restored vision in 33 percent of those study
participants.
Lucentis becomes the second alternative in a group of emerging treatments that
slow the growth of vision-robbing blood vessels under the retina, which is the
tragic hallmark of wet AMD. Approved by the FDA in late 2004, Macugen was the
first of these drugs, and studies have shown that it halts vision loss in about
70 percent of wet AMD cases.
(Source:- Adapted from Article of Ben Shaberman from FFB Website)
a.. British Scientist plan strategy with Stem Cells
British scientists plan to use stem cells to cure a common form of blindness,
with the first patients receiving test treatment in five years. The pioneering
project, aims to repair damaged retinas with cells derived from human embryonic
stem cells. Its backers say it involves simple surgery that could one day
become as routine as cataract
(Source:- LONDON (Reuters)
a.. Research in Germany related to Retinal Chip brings hope
Tübingen Blind people can perceive initial impressions of vision again with a
retinal chip. This is the result of a development by Retina Implant GmbH, the
University Eye Hospital in Tübingen and further project partners. A tiny
microelectronic
chip, which has been implanted directly under the retina of initially
seven blind patients since autumn 2005, replaces the photoreceptor cells which
have perished and is intended to return part of the patients' vision. The study
results
from the patients are now providing statements of the function of active
microelectronic implants in the human eye.
(Source:- Retina International)
With Warm Regards,
Dr.Aashish Phadke,Mumbai,India
www.ayurvision.com
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]-->
"P. Subramani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Thank you Dr. Ashish for your great knowledge. Actually I had learnt about
your treatment as far back as in 1993/4. But unfortunately, I lost your contact
details and couldn't get further. I specifically wish to know the pros and cons
of Stem Cells Theraphy as it is quite a recent phenomenon as I am thinking to
go for this system of treatment for my RP.
----- Original Message -----
From: dr.aashish phadke
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Sunday, July 15, 2007 6:05 PM
Subject: <ayurvedaonline> Re:Stem Cells Theraphy.
Dear Mr.Subramani,
I am working on this problem for last 12 yrs. I had prsented my research
paper in the Ayurveda World Congress 06 at Pune as well. I can say that if you
are keen in knowing more about the contribution of Ayurveda in RP , please
visit the following links & if possible become a member of that group -
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/rpayurveda_group/
To read little more on this you may visit these links for my articles
related to this topic -
http://www.ayurvedahc.com/articlelive/articles/268/1/Ayurvedic-Studies-on-Retinal-Pigmentosa--other-ophthalmic-conditions/Page1.html
http://www.ayurvedahc.com/articlelive/articles/271/1/Introduction-to-Ayurvedic-Ophthalmology/Page1.html
Thanking you,
With warm regards,
Prof.Dr.Aashish Phadke,Mumbai,India
Ayurveda - Yoga _ Eye Consultant
www.ayurvision.com
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