illustration by: Ravi Jadhav
Stem cells and gene hold promising treatment options for Parkinson's Disease, say doctors across the globe, including those in Mumbai.
Eleven trials to test stem cell and gene therapies for treating the disease are currently underway. In Mumbai, however, only two out of these 11 trials were being done resource constraints led to one being canned and regulatory hurdles have put the other one on hold.
Currently, neuro-augmentative therapies, such as usage of drugs or deep brain stimulation (DBS), are being used to treat Parkinson's Disease. "The future holds hope for neuro-restorative therapies like that of stem cells or gene infusion. Stem cells are the very primary kind of cells which can take on the function of any body part's cells after their infusion with that body part. It (the treatment) involves restoration of brain function to normal. In the next five to seven years, this may pave the way for the future," said Dr Paresh Doshi, neurologist at Jaslok Hospital on Peddar Road.
Doshi said trial of Duodopa therapy, which involves infusion of an active ingredient gel called Levodopa in the intestines, has been kept on hold. Jaslok Hospital was the only centre in the whole of Southeast Asia that was running the trial.
"Levodopa gets converted into dopamine in the body. Normal levels of dopamine control Parkinson's Disease," said Doshi.
A trial to infuse stem cells from the patient's body into the patient himself/herself had been underway in a small group of patients in India, but it had to be stopped due to the inability to recruit more patients.
Doshi said, "We could only recruit four patients for two years. However, a similar trial is underway in China and another trial, which explores adipose tissue stem cells, is underway in South Africa."
In January, medical journal The Lancet reported that after 16 years of trials, gene therapy is showing promising results in humans. "Three genes that promote the formation of dopamine-generating cells in the brain were injected in the brain, bound with a viral vector, in 15 patients. ...dopamine... becomes deficient in patients with Parkinson's," The Lancet report stated.
Three patients from the UK and 12 from France in advanced stages of Parkinson's Disease underwent an operation, wherein the virus with the three genes was injected in their brains. The patients, who had become stiff due to the disease, showed a 30% improvement in their movement after the surgery. After four years of follow-ups, they continued to improve and dopamine kept on being produced in their brain, in parts where it was not being produced before.
Visit link:
Gene, stem cell therapies trials underway for Parkinson's, but not in Mumbai
- Exercise Helps Heart Disease Patients Live Longer - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- If You Have A Heart Attack, Dial 911, Don't Drive To The ER - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Dried Plums, Tart Cherries, Grapes- What do they have in common? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Vitamin D for Me! - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Bangkok Hospital Named Best Global Hospital - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 10 Years of Stem Cell Science? Where's the Beef? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Women Underestimate Heart Disease Risks - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- A Stem Cell First- New Organ Created and Transplanted Using Adult Stem Cells - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Stem Cells Injected Directly Into the Heart- Sounds Familiar - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Heart Disease and Depression Are Linked - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- TheraVitae Wishes Everyone A Happy Thanksgiving - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- VesCell Adult Stem Cells Helping Pulmonary Hypertension - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- VesCell Adult Stem Cells Help Dilated Cardiomyopathy Patient - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Another Dilated Cardiomyopathy Patient Helped by VesCell Adult Stem Cells - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Clinical Data of VesCell Used On Heart Disease Patients - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Results of Patients Treated with Adult Stem Cells for Heart Disease - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Results of Doctor Using VesCell for Heart Disease Published in Medical Journal - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Stem Cells from VesCell Help Another Patient With Congestive Heart Failure - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- VesCell Uses Adult Stem Cells Not Fetal Stem Cells - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Dilated Cardiomyopathy Continues Improving After Stem Cell Therapy - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- American Doctors Form Group to Oppose FDA's Stance On Adult Stem Cells - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Adult Stem Cell Pioneer Passes Away - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Dilated Cardiomyopathy Patient Celebrates His 1 Year Stem Cell Treatment Anniversary - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Vescell Featured In Forbes Magazine! - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Adult Stem Cells Repair Damaged Heart Muscle - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- No Scooter Needed for Schlueter- Heart Disease Patient Back in Gym After Stem Cell Treatment - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Stem cells provide second chance - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Adult Stem Cell Therapy Scientific Advisory Board - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Partner hospitals give Heart Disease treatment with Adult Stem Cell Therapy - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Stem Cell Treating Physicians for Heart Disease - Vescell by Theravitae - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Heart Disease Treatment FAQs - Adult Stem Cells Treats Heart Disease - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Checklist of 12 Must-Ask Questions for Overseas Treatment - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Health teaching for patients with heart disease | VesCell adult stem cell therapy - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Ethical Debates Adult Stem Cell Research | VesCell adult stem cells treatment - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Heart disease and health policy and nurse | VesCell adult stem cells treatment - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- After Stent Symptoms | VesCell Adult Stem Cell Therapy - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- What is adult stem cell research | VesCell Adult Stem Cell Therapy - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Alternative Medicine for Coronary Artery Disease | VesCell Adult Stem Cell Therapy - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Diabetic, Seven Heart Attack Patient Experiences on Adult Stem Cell Treatment - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Congestive Heart Failure and Life Expectancy | VesCell Adult Stem Cell Therapy - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Chest Pain After Angioplasty with Stent | VesCell adult stem cells treatment - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Use of Stem Cells for Heart Repair | VesCell Adult Stem Cell Therapy - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Women health heart attack - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Health Facts on the Heart | VesCell Adult Stem Cells Treatment - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- The Process of Stem Cells | VesCell Adult Stem Cells Treatment - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Rest Pain Leg | VesCell adult stem cells for peripheral artery disease - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Health Supplements Heart Diabetes | VesCell Adult Stem Cells Treatment - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Heart Failure Epidemic | VesCell adult stem cells treatment - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Heart Muscle Health Aspects | VesCell adult stem cell therapy - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- adult stem cells | VesCell adult stem cells treatment - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Updated article about adult stem cells therapy, VesCell, as featured in Forbes Magazine - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Forbes: Vescell Stem Cell Therapy Saves Heart Failure Patient - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Foetal Stem Cells Offer Hope for Stroke Victims - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Stem cells could spell end for diabetes jabs - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Full text answers about stem cell research - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Stem Cell Transplant from Umbilical Cord Blood Is The Only Hope for SCID Sufferer - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- New Studies About Umbilical Cord Blood And Children With Diabetes - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Engineered Blood Vessels Function Like Native Tissu - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells Provide Hope for Life Threatening Diseases - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs SB962 to Create a System to Collect and Store Umbilical Cord Blood - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Baby Boy Treated for Cerebral Palsey with His Own Cord Blood Stem Cells - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Cord Blood May Preserve Insulin Production in Newly Diagnosed Children With Type 1 Diabetes - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- A "Holy Grail" Of Healing, CBS Evening News - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- After Receiving Unusual Stem Cell Transplant, Coppell Toddler Comes Home from Hospital - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Stem Cell Hope for Bone Fractures - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Cord Blood Stem Cells And Cardiovascular Disease - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Creating a Cord-Blood Lifeline - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Saving Cord Blood - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Stem Cell Implant to the Brain Helps Improve Parkinson's Symptoms: Presented at SIR - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Governor Rendell Signs Bill Into Law - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Curing Blood Diseases: How Cord Blood Saves Lives - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Cord Blood Registry Gains Momentum in First Quarter; Forecasts Strong Enrollment Growth in 2008 - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Study findings from University of Florida, Department of Pediatrics provide new insights into cord blood - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Cord Blood Can Be Used To Treat Adult Leukemia - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Umbilical cord a lifeline for 2 kids - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- For Stem Cells, a Role on the Battlefield - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Cochlear Repair After Transplant Of Human Cord Blood Cells May Make Hearing Restoration Possible - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- About Stem Cells - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Stem cells: Small wonders - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Stem Cell Therapy Lessens Damage Caused By Stroke - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]