<http://www.newkerala.com/news5.php?action=fullnews&id=38849>http://www.newkerala.com/news5.php?action=fullnews&id=38849
The "miracle cure" that stems from self generated cells
By T. S. V. Hari, Chennai, June 14: People who suffer from complete
paralysis of the lower half of the body could get a second lease of
life, thanks to a path breaking stem cell treatment being offered by
a hospital here.
The Lifeline Multi-Speciality Hospital (LMSH) has nearly perfected
the art of making paraplegics walk again and managed to instill many
of them with the confidence to lead a normal life.
The Lifeline Institute of Stem Cell Therapy and Research (LISTR) -
the research and development division of LMSH - has discovered that
autologous (self generated) bone marrow fluids containing stem cells
can achieve what was deemed "impossible" in medical history by
technologically advanced countries like the US.
This can lead to stem cell treatments sans the controversial flip
side of stem cells harvested from stillborn foetuses
Not long ago, Hollywood star Christopher Reeves, who had portrayed
"Superman", had spent the last part of his prematurely snuffled out
life bound to a wheelchair because his paralysis couldn't be cured.
"Using the money provided by the late movie icon to improve the lot
of paraplegics throughout the world, we have turned four ordinary
people who faced a dismal future into supermen," said J. S. Raj
Kumar, the chairman of LMSH.
All four of these men had no hope after having been rendered immobile
by accidents and rare medical disorders.
Now one of them, 25-year-old Akbar Ali, who was brought to LMSH in a
coma on a stretcher from Dubai last year, betrays virtually no sign
of the debilitating condition. Encouraged by his complete recovery,
his parents are now searching for a bride for him.
"We harvest between 100 and 200 ml of stem cells in fluid form from
the afflicted patients themselves and inject them into their spinal
cords carefully to bring about this 'miracle' that has been cleared
by statutory health bodies not only in India, but also in all major
premier medical institutions abroad including the US.
"We have the highest global rate of success of 34 percent after
sustained treatment to 50 select patients," said Raj Kumar.
Two 19-year old patients - Prabhdeep Singh, a musician from Punjab
who lost the power to move after a motor accident, and Srinivas, an
aspiring accountant from Chennai who suffered from Transverse
Myelitis (a devastating inflammation of the spinal cord that can
cause irreversible paralysis), have also found hope.
"I had no feeling from the chest downwards after the mishap. Now I
can walk with a little help," said Singh, whose legs were encased in
braces and moved with the assistance of attendants and a metal contrivance.
Srinivas has regained bladder control and is able to feel sensations
in the lower part of his abdomen.
In spite of preferring younger patients "who will heal quicker and
better," Raj Kumar's treatment has worked wonders for 46-year-old A.
R. K. Reddy, an engineer who was employed in a multinational company
till he fell on his back from a height of 11 feet about two months
ago. He suffered multiple fractures to his lumbar spine and was
rendered completely immobile.
Today, after stem cell therapy, Reddy is able to stand and move using
a walker, and has regained bladder control and sensation in the lower body.
The stem cell therapy isn't the last horizon for paraplegics alone.
LISTR, which has tied up with Japan's Nichi Centre for Regenerative
Medicine (NCRM), has found that stem cell cure can possibly be a
viable alternative for liver transplants and cardiac bypass surgeries.
"Stem cell therapy can cure disabled livers, rejuvenate tired hearts,
and make the pancreas of chronic diabetes patients secrete insulin to
reduce dependency on injections and pills for a lifetime," said Raj Kumar.
Another wonderful aspect of the treatment is its cost. Only about
Rs.150,000 is needed for stem cell therapy while other regular
treatments like transplants can cost up to twenty times more but have
a success rate of below 15 percent.
Of the 50 patients under intensive treatment, 17 have shown marked
improvement. Inspired by their recovery, another 100 are in the queue
to benefit from the miraculous stem cell therapy.
--- IANS
