Neurovita

[Leif]

I will just like to inform that later this evening over here there will be reportage about a man with spinal cord injury going to the Neurovita clinic for a stem cell treatment.

A Norwegian national film crew did follow him. It happened last week and it will be broadcasted later today on TV2 @ 18.45 local time.

Tomorrow I will try to write down and post as best I can what the story was about. I just got tipped about this yesterday.

Thanks, Leif

[Jawaid]

Dear Leif

Alwys you bring some thing new and hopeful for CC Members that is why i am amongst your big fans. Keep it up. I will wait from you more about this news. May God be with you always.

With Love

Jawaid

[bobbyg]

I'm with Jawaid here; you are a good soul, Leif. Thank you.

Much appreciation for your focus and for sharing...

Tana

[woman from Europe]

I will just like to inform that later this evening over here there will be reportage about a man with spinal cord injury going to the Neurovita clinic for a stem cell treatment.

A Norwegian national film crew did follow him. It happened last week and it will be broadcasted later today on TV2 @ 18.45 local time.

Tomorrow I will try to write down and post as best I can what the story was about. I just got tipped about this yesterday.

Thanks, Leif

I am not the expert here but what kind of stemcell did they use?

And even if the result was a little better, do you think it was promising? You know, I am the sceptic one :)

[Leif]

Ok, here is a description of the reportage. But the patient did not have SCI as such. I’ll list below in item form from the story.

The patient was a multi-handicapped male (35-40 years old) paralyzed from the neck and down and without the ability to speak due to a tick bite six years ago resulting in Borrelia (Lyme disease (http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/lymedisease.htm)). Bedridden as such due to nerve damage.
The clinic he visited was Neurovita in Moscow.
The doctors at the clinic clamed they had a revolutionary treatment for various diseases and illnesses.
The stem cell treatment was carried out by collecting the patients own bone marrow stem cells (blood stem cells) and then injecting those cells (the story didn't tell if anything else was injected etc.) back into his blood system. It was clamed that the cells itself then would find its way to damaged nerve tissue and heal it.
The patient had been there last fall for his first stem cell injections. This was the second time he got the injections. The doctors and Professor Andrej Brjukhovetskij claimed that studies on his nerves since the last examination was better. The response from the nerves in his legs had doubled since last time they said without the patient claiming any improvement.
Professor Andrej Brjukhovetskij claimed that 80% of all the patients at the clinic got better. They had patients there with SCI, Alzheimer etc. and were also recently starting to treat patients that were in coma. He claimed that paralyzed peoples could walk after the treatments.
The patient shall go back for more treatments.
So far the treatments have cost him circa US $ 45.000 from his own pocket.
There was also an American patient at the rehab that was interviewed. Nothing said about here condition though (here name was Tracy Bryan).That’s it. Make up your own minds about it. I can just say that Norwegian specialists are very sceptical to this. This is also inline with my views then, but what can desperate people do? This is also the reason he has to pay for it from his own pocket. If anybody wants to know more about this clinic, there is plenty on this site, just do a search for Nurovita. Above that they did not show or interview any persons that had improved. This patient as well as I could see was still bedridden. Basically the story did not give us any information that can be used to determine the effects from this clinic. Leif

[Leif]

http://www.woodtv.com/global/story.asp?s=4484593



Paralyzed Coopersville teen heads to Russia for stem-cell treatment

COOPERSVILLE, Mich. A paralyzed west Michigan teen is heading to Russia for treatment.

Farrah Brink broke her neck in July during a fall from a tree in her back yard.

The Coopersville teen has regained some arm movement but will go to Moscow in the hopes of walking again. She'll undergo stem cell therapy, using her own stem cells.

Farrah's and her mother, Angela Kaminski, head to the Neurovita Clinic this weekend.

Kaminski says doctors plan to take stem cells from Farrah's bone marrow and inject them into her spinal cord, hoping cells will regenerate in the injury location.

Cost is 30-thousand dollars for four weeks of treatment. Farrah will return every six months for three years. The family took out loans to pay for the first trip. Family and friends have started a fund to help out.

10-Feb-2006

[Leif]

Seams like the Russian doctors are getting rich – I wonder how they live. Bet they all have nice dachas down by the Black Sea area.

[e.t.]

I can just say that Norwegian specialists are very sceptical to this.

If the Norwegian specialists are very sceptical... do they have something better than Prof. Brohovietzky - Neurovita clinic?

[Leif]

If the Norwegian specialists are very sceptical... do they have something better than Prof. Brohovietzky - Neurovita clinic?
e.t.

I believe it is not just Norwegian specialists that say it; I think many western scientists also are sceptical. And what is the reason for that. It could be the lack of documentation although this professor in Russia has done this work for years. The reason they are sceptical could also be that they know how dangerous it can be to experiment with spinal cords, and so do I, I am in a wheelchair due to this fragile construction called a spinal cord. Why do people travel there then, maybe they hope that this is worth a try regardless the doubt, and if they do go there, it must be their own decision which is fine by me. Would I have done it? No way, I’m too much afraid to loose the rest of functions I have in my cord… Think about this analogy as well: If this was a real treatment don’t you think something would have been documented by now? And I don’t mean patients testimonies without preclinical or post surgery documentation. Don’t you also think that the skies over Moscow would have been full of airplanes with SCI patients from all over the world and not just a few desperate patients like it is at the present going there for treatments?

Do the researchers in the west have something better? Yes, in fact they do. They have serous research ongoing for regeneration of spinal cords; there are top scientists in fact in my little country working especially on this subject, the same throughout Europe, The US and other places in the world. I understand you’re impatient very much, and I am as impatient as you I think. I just choose to use my money otherwise, that is up to me, and if others wants to give this professor their hard earned money that is just up to them.

I’m just saying I haven’t so far seen anything that tells me to go over there or in fact to other more or less experimental treatments taking place other places outside the west. Documentation and what western researcher will guide me too will be the basis if I will sometime in the future undergo such treatments. Also, are western scientists worse scientists since they don’t have any treatments by now and that they are sceptical? I don’t think they are – the reason is simple. There are no treatments available today in this world.

I hereby challenge Professor Andrej Brjukhovetskij to document his findings. But as he previously has said that is not necessary because he don’t see it as necessary to document findings in western journals, he says his job is to threat and help patients. This is probably ok, but do you see the problems and the unserious statements in this from a person whom calls himself for a scientist? Give me a break, please, like MrSoul wisely said in another thread “I’m born nigh time but not last night”.

Please also explain how you look upon all this. Can you please elaborate a little bit with me here so we can try to find out why this treatment should be the way to go for people with spinal cord injuries? Why do you think this treatment would work etc?

Thanks, Leif

[LaMemChose]

Leif, thank you for posting this information.

I would not and will not have such treatment in Moscow. If it were truly successful, the scientists would provide documentation of the procedures and outcomes. As you said, the skies would be filled with airplanes loaded with those of us with SCI.

I am concerned quackery will harm true research and serious science with regard to SCI treatment and cure.

[Leif]

No problem Mem,

I’m not saying directly here that it is quackery, but there is a little smell of it. My big question is? If he claims he can cure 80% of his patients why can’t he document it? And if he chooses not to document it he is not a scientist and a doctor. Simple as that I think. And if he is not a scientist and a doctor I will not go there.

[e.t.]

Listen Leif- you are a nice guy, but you are wrong.

I do not need documentation, I don't care about tons of paper, I need progress I need cure.

I have enough breakthroughs and super news about new stem cell center, new buildings, and more money.

I am not naive.


Seams like the Russian doctors are getting rich – I wonder how they live. Bet they all have nice dachas down by the Black Sea area.

I suppose that the condos along the Medditerrean the Norweigan doctors get your approval then.

or do you think that the Russian doctors should live in trailers.

[LaMemChose]

No problem Mem,

I’m not saying directly here that it is quackery, but there is a little smell of it. My big question is? If he claims he can cure 80% of his patients why can’t he document it? And if he chooses not to document it he is not a scientist and a doctor. Simple as that I think. And if he is not a scientist and a doctor I will not go there.


I agree with you, Leif. BTW, I really appreciate the information and reports you share and bring to CC. I always learn by reading your posts. Thank you. :)

If there is such a cure rate, such a rate of improvement, he would document it. I also want more than initial reports. I want longitudinal studies and information.

What really concerns me is what I'm reading and hearing about people who have initial improvements and then, a year to eighteen months later are bedridden with pain. People who could once at least sit and go about life from a wheelchair are in such pain they cannot function at all.

That would be horrific.

While I want treatments and a cure, I'm not willing to have a year of great improvement only to be sidelined with body wracking, incapacitating pain. I'll live with the central pain, burning body I have rather than worsen it. At least that's my view for now.

[Leif]

Listen Leif- you are a nice guy, but you are wrong.

I do not need documentation, I don't care about tons of paper, I need progress I need cure.

I have enough breakthroughs and super news about new stem cell center, new buildings, and more money.

I am not naive.


Seams like the Russian doctors are getting rich – I wonder how they live. Bet they all have nice dachas down by the Black Sea area.

I suppose that the condos along the Medditerrean the Norweigan doctors get your approval then.

or do you think that the Russian doctors should live in trailers.
e.t. Thanks,

You don’t need documentation, okay - send me your money then and I’ll fix you.
And of course the Russians should earn money; I didn’t mean it that way.

To be serious here;

I also need progress and a cure ASAP.

So if you could please, please explain why you have such a good faith in this clinic? And I don’t want you to answer like “because”. - Please explain why in more detail? Let us have a serious discussion here and try to find out why people are going over there if you don’t mind. And here also, I don’t mean because of last hope etc, but what research do they have that says we shall go over there. Tell me why I'm "wrong"?

[Leif]

What really concerns me is what I'm reading and hearing about people who have initial improvements and then, a year to eighteen moths later are bedridden with pain. People who could once at least sit and go about life from a wheelchair are in such pain they cannot function at all.

That would be horrific.
Precisely, that is the biggest concern.

[e.t.]

From my point of view... the discussion is over. do what you want its your decision. good bye have a nice day.

sorry i will not send you money.

[Ads32]

From my point of view... the discussion is over. do what you want its your decision. good bye have a nice day.

sorry i will not send you money.

et sorry can you just tell us - do you think neurovita will cure you

the discussion is far from over - won't be until a cure arrives

[Schmeky]

There are many places to get treatments for SCI. Ironically, there are no cures for SCI at the present.