Stem cells treatment in Iran - MOVIE!

[oxygen]

I have received a movie from Iran. They make stem cells transplantation with Shwann cells. I would like to share it with you but the file is too big. I would like to ask somebody of the administration to contact with me. I put it on my server. You will download it and put on your to let people download it.

Here is the web page about them http://www.nokha.net/?Method=film&Lan=en

[CapnGimp]

http://nano.sharebig.com/

free place to post it, save your server bandwidth

[Talla]

From their website:
Methylprednisolon Administration
Steroid administered in acutely after spinal cord injury is believed to inhibit hazardous secondary inflammatory procedures that exacerbate the traumatic injury. Now the general belief claims the achieved result by this method to be small and insignificance. Thus the Methylprednisolon use is the matter of controversy.

http://www.nokha.net/?Method=Title&ID=3&Lan=en

Sorry to say this seems to be the general consensus.

[Schmeky]

Oxygen,

Pretty cool. Thanx.

[kz]

Oxygen, hi, how are you? thanks for posting this .I Just wanted to let you know that they are not using stem cells transplants. they are using schwan cells that is taken from the same peson's back of the leg (below the knees) , and then they grow this schwan cells in the lab for about 3 weeks to 45 days and then they inject it in the site of the injury. they are still doing the human clinical trial . so far the results are great.

[alhavel]

So this is " SCHWANN CELLS,,,,, THE MOVIE"

[Buck503]

thanks oxygen

[alhavel]

I looked at the movie first thing this morning, it looks very promising, and I contacted them as to find out more about it. Hope to hear from them soon regarding it. I can walk and get about, with a cane, or a walker, or a shopping cart, in the store. I am fiercly independent and want to do so much more. It may be "risky" for americans to go there, but I have defied the odds already, and with good results am willing, hopefuly, and financialy stable to do so. I think this is something I would like to give a good try, my cousin was there many years ago, and they did serve Camel hooves, I don't think I want to try that though. Always looking forward....

[KIM]

How many of these have we seen?

[Buck503]

How many of these have we seen?

I thought the same thing, but out of Iran? I would have never
thought, I thought their business was uranium enrichment. :D

I haven't seen any animal model vids out of Huangs research
or Dr. Lima's research, so it is good to see this.

[Curt Leatherbee]

Actually Iran is making good progress in the way of medical research.

I know as far as cosmetic operations go, Iran is quickly becoming a world leader, they are doing some amazing stuff.

[Cripply]

I am sorry to say that we Americans are very ignorant on so many issues. For the record, Persia is one of the most ancient civilizations in the world, as Irak (Mesopotamia) is.

[MiamiProjectJames]

This is Iranian propaganda. Just like the ATM password threat. First the Israelis identified a crack then the Arabs have to one up them and threaten to crack the System. lol

[MiamiProjectJames]

Actually Iran is making good progress in the way of medical research.

I know as far as cosmetic operations go, Iran is quickly becoming a world leader, they are doing some amazing stuff.

I honestly don't know anything about Iranian medical research but that video production was BS propaganda.

[Buck503]

I honestly don't know anything about Iranian medical research but that video production was BS propaganda.

How do you know that, if you "don't know anything about Iranian medical research"?

[alhavel]

Show me some proof, and I will look into it. I don't know, but it seems like one of the better things I've seen so far. You have to take in thought, these people are blowing themselves, or others up regularly, they might have alot of trials, without waitng for the FDA approval, who says the FDA knows what it is doing????

[KIM]

I am sorry to say that we Americans are very ignorant on so many issues. For the record, Persia is one of the most ancient civilizations in the world, as Irak (Mesopotamia) is.

That was long time ago

[Neo]

Well Iran is really close to my country (Qatar), Im gonna try to check this out.

And also for the record, Iran is really moving forward in the medical field.

And don't start with the arab flame war.

[Buck503]

And also for the record, Iran is really moving forward in the medical field.


Of course they are. But some people are ignorant and make ridiculous
comments, while at the same time admitting they have no reason to
make such comments.

The good news is that the Miami Project isn't far behind!

[cypresss]

proneuron.com use also Shwann cells. it's not this only for acute??

[Corinne Jeanmaire]

Oxygen, hi, how are you? thanks for posting this .I Just wanted to let you know that they are not using stem cells transplants. they are using schwan cells that is taken from the same peson's back of the leg (below the knees) , and then they grow this schwan cells in the lab for about 3 weeks to 45 days and then they inject it in the site of the injury. they are still doing the human clinical trial . so far the results are great.

Kz, thanks for the clarification.
Do you have any further info regarding the 'clinical trial' ? How many patients ? For which period ? Chronic or Acute injury ? Do they say something about the 2 patients that we see moving their toes/ their legs and about how they really were before the transplantation ?
- but anyway, Schwann cells, why not ? And Schwann cell transplantation is also included in the China clinical trial of Wise Young, right Dr Young ? It would be nice to know if there is any difference in the approach.

To me this movie is too good to be true... but well, nevertheless, one more human clinical trial, if it's really a clinical trial with all due transparency, it cannot be bad, right ? [hum, if it's a real clinical trial, it's rather strange to communicate on it in such a way, isn't it ? I like the music in the movie very much, and the moving toes too, it makes me dream, but we need a bit more than that !!]!!
And seeing some progress, even minor in Iran, might motivate the USA and a few other countries to do more themselves ?? :-)

[kz]

dear corinne,
hi, i did not see the oxygen's movie (my internet is so slow to download) , but i assume it is the same video as i saw before (i watched the dvd while ago), and i told dr. young about this couple of months ago , and tried to convince him to see if we can start human trial here. i sent him the rat's report, but he wanted the human trial report , but that is not published yet , we have to wait for that.
this is what i know. they have been doing this research for about 12 years or so now in TEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCE. they did on 30 rats and the results were published in neuroscience (the results was very good). i have the full published paper , but i was not able to post it here in CC , but if somebody knows how to post it here ,please post your email here , i will email it to you and you can post it here.
anyway, after success with rats , the health ministry and ethical commitee gave them permision to do the schwann cells transplant on 30 people as human clinical trial. after 9 people , the result was very good , so ,they reported it to the media, but still they have to finish the 30 people , publish the paper , then they will receive the permision to treat other people, but they have to finish these 30 people first. I assume they will finish this in the next few months or so ( i don't know when they will finish)
they are all chronics. there was one girl who had spinal cord injury from falling down from school balcony about 14 years ago or so, and i saw it in the video that she was walking in parallel bar (i saw it 2 months ago in the video) , and the rest of them were also all chronics.they said that those first 9 people almost all of them regained their bowel and bladder control. they do not do on acute ,because they want to make sure that there is no more natural functional recovery from the person's body by itself, so they only do it on chronics .
this method works for those that their spinal cord is not cut completely . length of the injury does not seem to be a factor , and as far as the age of the person is concerned, they are doing it for people 50 years old or younger for this clinical trial. because they grow the schwan cells linearly , this method works well for those that their spinal cord is not cut completely, but they said they are working to grow the schwann cells three dimentionaly , and if they can do that , they might be able to help those that their spinal cord is cut completely too (cut in two pieces).
this is how they do it , they take the schwann cells from back of the leg (below the knee) , in an outpatient visit, they grow this schwann cells in the lab between 3 weeks and 45 days (average is 30 days) , then they inject it in the spinal cord (at the site of the injury in an inpatient operation) .physical therapy before and after the operation is required. they said the recovery is gradual and it takes about one year or so (estimate) for full recovery after the schwann cells transplant

this is all i know, if i learn more about this , i will post it here.
best to all,

[Corinne Jeanmaire]

Thanks for your quick reply Kz, and for the clear info !
I'm happy to read that the experiments are done on chronic injuries. of course it would be nice to know the very precise Asia status of those 9 patients who are reported to have great progress. but well, let's see !

my email: corinne4cure@gmail.com . pls send report ! thanks

[Schmeky]

kz,

Thanks for the information.

Corinne,

I have your e-mail you sent requesting input, I am sorry for the delay in repsonding, but will do so this weekend. I have gone from working part-time to working two jobs, a full time job and a part time job.

I am so glad you are checking up on this Corinne, you have proven to be an excellent investigator and I have faith in your findings and feedback. Let me know if I can help you in any way.

There is still a lot we don't know about this Iranian procedure, and as KIM stated we have seen these things before that didn't really turn into anything. Cautious optimism and investigation is in order.

If the answer is simply Schwann cell injections, the Miami Project would have more first hand experience than anyone else.

[Curt Leatherbee]

kz,

Thanks for the information.

Corinne,

I have your e-mail you sent requesting input, I am sorry for the delay in repsonding, but will do so this weekend. I have gone from working part-time to working two jobs, a full time job and a part time job.

I am so glad you are checking up on this Corinne, you have proven to be an excellent investigator and I have faith in your findings and feedback. Let me know if I can help you in any way.

There is still a lot we don't know about this Iranian procedure, and as KIM stated we have seen these things before that didn't really turn into anything. Cautious optimism and investigation is in order.

If the answer is simply Schwann cell injections, the Miami Project would have more first hand experience than anyone else.

Exactly, I would like to see the Miami Project collaborate on this one with the Iranians, not sure if this could happen due to the nature of the Miami Project, but it would be great.

[Corinne Jeanmaire]

Here is the document that Kz just sent me [thanks, Kz], ie the publication on the transplantation of Schwann cells to rats. See attachment.

Here is an extract:

Neurosci Lett. 2006 Jul 10;402(1-2):66-70. Epub 2006 Apr 27.

Transplantation of Schwann cells to subarachnoid space induces repair in contused rat spinal cord.
Firouzi M, Moshayedi P, Saberi H, Mobasheri H, Abolhassani F, Jahanzad I, Raza M.

Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

Schwann cell transplantation is well known to induce repair in the injured spinal cord which disables millions of injured patients throughout the world. An ideal route of delivering the grafted Schwann cells to the spinal cord should neither cause more injury nor reinitiate inflammatory events and also provide a favorable milieu to the grafted cells. In this study, we have utilized subarachnoid route to transplant Schwann cells and evaluated their effects in a contusive model of spinal cord injury. Adult rats weighing 100-140g were experimentally injured by crushing the spinal cord with a titanium clip and then divided into four groups (Tracing, Control, Medium-treated and Schwann cell-treated). Cultured Schwann cells (5x10(4) cells in 5mul) or medium were injected to the animals of corresponding groups via subarachnoid space at the injured site 7 days after injury. In tracing group, Schwann cells (labeled with Hoechst) demonstrated their presence within spinal cord 7 days after transplantation. Evaluation of locomotor performance of animals for 60 days after injury showed that animals treated with Schwann cells had significant improvement (P<0.01). Similarly, the axon density at the site of injury was significantly higher. The results indicate the efficacy of subarachnoid route for the transplantation of Schwann cells in inducing repair of the contused spinal cord. We conclude that this route can be useful for the transplantation of Schwann cells and offers a hope for the patients suffering from spinal cord injury.

Source : http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed...

[Azzurra88]

i saw some of the video and im very impressed but i would like DR Wise's opinion, So Doc what is ur honest opinion???

[Wise Young]

i saw some of the video and im very impressed but i would like DR Wise's opinion, So Doc what is ur honest opinion???

In my opinion, the movie gave no significant information, only a lot of propaganda. I am bothered by the fact that they are advertising in this way for an experimental therapy that has not yet been shown to be effective in humans. Given the support that they are apparently getting from the Iran government, they need to do a rigorous clinical trial to show that the treatment is effective and safe.

Wise.

[Schmeky]

In my opinion, the movie gave no significant information, only a lot of propaganda. I am bothered by the fact that they are advertising in this way for an experimental therapy that has not yet been shown to be effective in humans. Given the support that they are apparently getting from the Iran government, they need to do a rigorous clinical trial to show that the treatment is effective and safe.

Wise.


My precise thoughts as well. To much flag waving, not near enough facts. I have a difficult time believing Schwann cells alone can provide this degree of recovery. It would have to be through remyelination of denuded surviving axons.

[Wise Young]

My precise thoughts as well. To much flag waving, not near enough facts. I have a difficult time believing Schwann cells alone can provide this degree of recovery. It would have to be through remyelination of denuded surviving axons.

I just posted more extensive comments on the Schwann cell transplantation treatments of spinal cord injury at http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/showthread.php?p=575191#post575191
and, if people are interested, I can comment more specifically on the study by Firouzi, et al. as well.

Wise.

[Schmeky]

Thank You Dr. Young,

I read your post concerning the history and effectiveness of Schwann cells. Very interesting. After reading the information, it seems plausible the Iranian claims could have some merit. We don't know if there were any growth factors or "cocktails" utilized that could deal with inhibitory proteoglycans.

The 1:1 remyelination ratio of Schwann Cells to the 20:1 ratio of oligodendroglial is fascinating reading. The efficiency ratio between Schwann cells and oligodendroglia is statistically very significant. Thanks for the data.

[wildwilly]

The ratio is interesting, thanks for the post Dr. Young. I did a literature search on oligodendrocytes and SCI and came up with an interesting article (abstract below). I was curious to options on harvesting adult neural stem cells from CNS tissue(In the article the cells were excised from the brain of mice).


J Neurosci. 2006 Mar 29;26(13):3377-89.

Delayed transplantation of adult neural precursor cells promotes remyelination and functional neurological recovery after spinal cord injury.

Karimi-Abdolrezaee S, Eftekharpour E, Wang J, Morshead CM, Fehlings MG.
Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, Toronto Western Research Institute, Krembil Neuroscience Center, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2S8, Canada.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in loss of oligodendrocytes demyelination of surviving axons and severe functional impairment. Spontaneous remyelination is limited. Thus, cell replacement therapy is an attractive approach for myelin repair. In this study, we transplanted adult brain-derived neural precursor cells (NPCs) isolated from yellow fluorescent protein-expressing transgenic mice into the injured spinal cord of adult rats at 2 and 8 weeks after injury, which represents the subacute and chronic phases of SCI. A combination of growth factors, the anti-inflammatory drug minocycline, and cyclosporine A immunosuppression was used to enhance the survival of transplanted adult NPCs. Our results show the presence of a substantial number of surviving NPCs in the injured spinal cord up to 10 weeks after transplantation at the subacute stage of SCI. In contrast, cell survival was poor after transplantation into chronic lesions. After subacute transplantation, grafted cells migrated >5 mm rostrally and caudally. The surviving NPCs integrated principally along white-matter tracts and displayed close contact with the host axons and glial cells. Approximately 50% of grafted cells formed either oligodendroglial precursor cells or mature oligodendrocytes. NPC-derived oligodendrocytes expressed myelin basic protein and ensheathed the axons. We also observed that injured rats receiving NPC transplants had improved functional recovery as assessed by the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan Locomotor Rating Scale and grid-walk and footprint analyses. Our data provide strong evidence in support of the feasibility of adult NPCs for cell-based remyelination after SCI.

PMID: 16571744 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[cluskey007]

Found this article

http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-24/0608136464181613.htm

[Schmeky]

Found this article

http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-24/0608136464181613.htm


Well son-of-a-gun. I remember spidergirl saying some type of curative treatment would probably come out of left field. She may have been right.

[Leif]

Found this article

http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-24/0608136464181613.htm
Hopefully the Pope also could chime in and engage himself with something important.

[NetoAnAstro]

Well son-of-a-gun. I remember spidergirl saying some type of curative treatment would probably come out of left field. She may have been right.

Schmeky, I hate to admit it but i'm gonna jump on the band wagon because of you.:D If you're not being negative about this one, it must be good.:applaud:

[Curt Leatherbee]

I'm willing to wager they are ahead of the Miami project in Schwann cell research. We still need to find out a lot more about whats going with their program though, some of this might be hype. I am fairly optimistic though that what they are doing may be helpful, at least they are trying and seem to have a positive outlook.

[carbar]

http://www.sci-therapies.info/Other%20Cells.htm#Firouzi


4) Drs. Masoumeh Firouzi, Hooshang Sabveri and colleagues (Tehran, Iran) have also transplanted Schwann cells into the injury site. As indicated earlier, these neuronal support cells remyelinate axons in the peripheral nervous system, which, unlike the central nervous system has considerable inherent regenerative potential.

This human trial builds upon on a recently published study using rats with an experimental contused injury, the sort of injury that is most common in humans (Neurosci Lett, 402(1-2), 2006). In this study, Schwann cells were injected into the subarachnoid space surrounding the spinal cord. Compared to control animals, the treated rats regained more locomotion after injury and had more spared axons.

Given these results, the investigators received permission from the Tehran University of Medical Sciences’ ethical committee to transplant Schwann cells into 20 patients with SCI. The cells were isolated from a sural nerve in back of the patient’s calf (i.e., autologous cells with no rejection potential) and cultured in a sterile laboratory for two to five weeks. The cultured cells were then implanted back into the injury site.

Initially, nine of the 20 authorized patients were treated. This study excluded individuals older than 50, whose cord has been transected, and whose injury site is considered too extensive. A number of the treated patients had long-term chronic injuries, including patients 16, 23, 25 years post injury. Using the data coming out this preliminary study, more definitive criteria will be developed on the most appropriate post-injury, treatment window.

Three to six months after implantation, no adverse side effects have been observed. According to Dr. Firouzi, all treated patients “have shown some degree of sensory recovery; most have motor recovery findings using quantitative (digital) motor evaluations; and some showed sphincter and sexual improvement, all compared to the patient’s steady-state before the transplantation. Three of them can walk now (two using parallel bars and one using walker).” The investigators note that progress should continue for some time after this limited follow-up period.

The remaining 20 patients are now being treated. The investigators intend to report their results at international conferences and in professional journals. Preliminary preparations are being made to develop facilities and train other doctors to make this function-restoring intervention more accessible to the general SCI community.

[Tufelhunden]

Schmeky, I hate to admit it but i'm gonna jump on the band wagon because of you.:D If you're not being negative about this one, it must be good.:applaud:

I'm right behind you!

[Schmeky]

Why cant we have a leader who sees the light instead of the darkness. I really think this is for real with the Iranians, and you all know me, I'm normally pretty pessimistic. I'm willing to wager they are ahead of the Miami project in Schwann cell research.

Curt,

Yea. I think you and I run a pretty close race in pressimism, cause we have seen the claims made in the past, and read of the breakthroughs that are "many many years" away.

I doubt this will work for everyone, since from what I gather, it is dependent upon the number of surviving axons that traverse the injury site.

I agree with you on the Miami Project. I just hope MP will visit this endeavor and see the results and possibly improve upon it, and quickly. We may soon verify that there is an effective treatment, given limitations, in this Iranian procedure.

To verify that a complete chronic is now able to ambulate is indeed a miracle, and when verified, the Iranians deserve to be recognized for their efforts.

This is getting interesting.

[Leif]

http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/showthread.php?t=68314

[Schmeky]

Ironically, I just reveived the latest Newsletter from the Reeve Irvine Research Center. I was disheartened. They are concentrating on surveys for sexuality, pain surveys, and a request for donations (with a special donation envelope enclosed) and discussed the length of clinical trials (11 years). On page 3, they discuss that more research is needed to ensure the ESC's they plan to use in acute SCI trials, in conjunction with Geron, do not produce tumors. Bottom line is I have little doubt the clinical trials that were supposed to start in the first quarter 2007 will probably not start as planned. No surprise to me.

They also discuss training the next generation of SCI researchers, ethnic studies of SCI, and arm and hand functional research studies of quads. A sexual dysfunction survey following SCI is discussed on page 19 of the newsletter. What a joke. Sh_t, this sounds all to familiar. Endless surveys, questionnaires, and future research, combined with delays in clinical trial anythings

At my age, I have little to loose. I hope I can be considered a candidate within the next few years for Schwann cell therapies.

At this rate 15-20+ years for availability of therapies is a certainty.

[Curt Leatherbee]

Ironically, I just reveived the latest Newsletter from the Reeve Irvine Research Center. I was disheartened. They are concentrating on surveys for sexuality, pain surveys, and a request for donations (with a special donation envelope enclosed) and discussed the length of clinical trials (11 years). On page 3, they discuss that more research is needed to ensure the ESC's they plan to use in acute SCI trials, in conjunction with Geron, do not produce tumors. Bottom line is I have little doubt the clinical trials that were supposed to start in the first quarter 2007 will probably not start as planned. No surprise to me.

They also discuss training the next generation of SCI researchers, ethnic studies of SCI, and arm and hand functional research studies of quads. A sexual dysfunction survey following SCI is discussed on page 19 of the newsletter. What a joke. Sh_t, this sounds all to familiar. Endless surveys, questionnaires, and future research, combined with delays in clinical trial anythings

At my age, I have little to loose. I hope I can be considered a candidate within the next few years for Schwann cell therapies.

At this rate 15-20+ years for availability of therapies is a certainty.

Exactly David, same old stuff over and over. Viva Tehran is what I say, maybe we can arrange our Schwann cell transplants at the same time over in Iran and get together for a brewski there before we both go under the knife. If we dont act soon, we might as well start making our nursing home reservations within the next 5 years.

[Cripply]

Why go that far? Yale for example is also working on Schwann cell transplants, mainly for MS.

[Buck503]

Ironically, I just reveived the latest Newsletter from the Reeve Irvine Research Center. I was disheartened. They are concentrating on surveys for sexuality, pain surveys, and a request for donations (with a special donation envelope enclosed) and discussed the length of clinical trials (11 years). On page 3, they discuss that more research is needed to ensure the ESC's they plan to use in acute SCI trials, in conjunction with Geron, do not produce tumors. Bottom line is I have little doubt the clinical trials that were supposed to start in the first quarter 2007 will probably not start as planned. No surprise to me.

They also discuss training the next generation of SCI researchers, ethnic studies of SCI, and arm and hand functional research studies of quads. A sexual dysfunction survey following SCI is discussed on page 19 of the newsletter. What a joke. Sh_t, this sounds all to familiar. Endless surveys, questionnaires, and future research, combined with delays in clinical trial anythings

At my age, I have little to loose. I hope I can be considered a candidate within the next few years for Schwann cell therapies.

At this rate 15-20+ years for availability of therapies is a certainty.

Yeah, that is definitely to far away for me to wait. If something was
available 20 years from now, I would be 43 and everything below the
level of injury would be useless, due to the LMN injury.

It's seriously time to consider going to China.

[qiqibaby]

Yeah, that is definitely to far away for me to wait. If something was
available 20 years from now, I would be 43 and everything below the
level of injury would be useless, due to the LMN injury.

It's seriously time to consider going to China.

Before making decision going to China, you can visit at this website www.nrrfr.com (http://www.nrrfr.com) to get further information.

Wish you good lunk!

[carbar]

appeared in the Boston Globe August 2006.

Interesting to see that embryonic stem cell research does not cause any kind of ethical problem there, hence it is advancing without those kind of restrictions.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2006/08/22/iran_looks_to_science_as_source_of_pride/

[kz]

bumps

[kz]

I forgot to tell you couple of things about these researchers, After they were successful with rat experiments, they wanted to make sure that they can grow the schwann cells from person with spinal cord injury ,so they did the following before they take the schwann cell from their sci subjects:
they used BRAIN DEAD PERSON (these are the people who are brain dead and their families donate their bodies to science and/or for transplantation of the parts for those people who needs transplant body parts, like kidney, heart , etc) so, with permision , they took the shwann cells from these brain dead people' leg(s) (they wanted to use live tissue to make sure they can grow schwann cells and if it works ) ,and they grew it in the lab, it worked and they were successful to grow schwann cells.
then they went and with permision, they took schwann cells from the people who their leg (s) were about to be amputed (due to other illness , not spinal cord injury) and they grew the schwann cells from them , and it worked and they were successful. (they just wanted to make sure it will work with live tisssues before they go to people with spinal cord injury for the clinical trial).after these two experiments, they were confident that they can grow the schwann cells in the lab.
then after these two successful experiments, they went and took the schwann cells from the spinal cord injured subjects's les(s) for their human clinical trial , and they continued the clinical trials.
also, i do not know if they added any other things to these schwann cells .
best to all

[Jawaid]

How can i contact these doctors? Any e-mail address or web site to contact doctors?

[Schmeky]

Curt,

I would go. Only problem is the cut-off age is 50, and I just turned 50. My guess is it will take 2 maybe 3 years to gear up for large scale applications, labs to culture cells, trained Doctors, and a facility, etc. hopefully, sooner.

As far as the brewski goes, hell yea. I'll PM you. I would definitely want to schedule such a trip so we could be there at the same time. I, like you, don't have a lot of time, so for the moment, this is the best option IMHO.

kz,

Thanx for all the additional information, sounds like a great deal of effort was expened by the Iranian researchers to ensure efficacy.

[Leif]

How can i contact these doctors? Any e-mail address or web site to contact doctors?Jawaid, please check this link; http://www.ibb.ut.ac.ir/~mobasheri/default.htm

[Leif]

Curt,

I would go. Only problem is the cut-off age is 50, and I just turned 50. My guess is it will take 2 maybe 3 years to gear up for large scale applications, labs to culture cells, trained Doctors, and a facility, etc. hopefully, sooner.
David, you look not more than forty years old, fake the papers, not a big deal (you got ten more years just there) :)

[Leif]

appeared in the Boston Globe August 2006.

Interesting to see that embryonic stem cell research does not cause any kind of ethical problem there, hence it is advancing without those kind of restrictions.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2006/08/22/iran_looks_to_science_as_source_of_pride/
Barbara thanks for the links, but I think this has to do with the religion. Islam teaching varies on this question, but after most of the explanations the receiving of the soul happens after 40 days (some say 120 days). Also according to Islam laws it is not considered murder if an interruption of a pregnancy happens before those 40 days has elapsed.

[Leif]

A side comment; I just wish that most of the research articles here was not mixed with nuclear programs and propaganda, maybe this is a way for the Iranian leaders to get some goodwill in the global society, at the same time I also think it is used as a counterargument against Bush politics in general, and we all know he don’t fancy ESCR to much - politics at this level knows no borders nor limits. Propaganda is not unknown from any politicians, not from the Iranian leaders and definitely not from Western leaders... Above that I think we should look behind all this and scrutinise some of the researchers involved here, especially for this Schwann cell research for SCI. And when it comes to some of them involved here it seems like their résumé holds water from what I have been able to find. Interesting, maybe good research like this also could pave the way for countries here on this earth to live peacefully among each other and hopefully concentrate on good things like some of this research? Maybe the SCI community could help out here, if so it would have been a win-win situation for all of us. Looking forward to read more from this research. - Jawaid, if you are going to contact some of the researchers involved here I hope you could post some info. "Keep on looking for the cure, it knows no country borders". Thanks all.

[kz]

schmeky,
hi, how are you? i like to let you know that they did not say that this schwann cells transplant does not work for people older than 50. they just made it 50 years and younger for their research program , so that does not mean in any way that it does not work for 51 or 53 years old or so person.if it works for 50 years old person, it should work for 53 or so years old person too , i think.

another option that we might have is to see if we can do it here, by sending some neurosurgons there to learn the techniques and we do it here. we have much better facilities than they have .(there might be some patent issues that i think they can work out between them and some hospital here, well , that is just a thought ).

i like this schwann cells transplant method for the following reasons:
*obtaining and harvesting the schwann cells from back of the legs was an outpatient procedure and seemed easy (i saw it in the video)
*there is almost no chance of rejection because it comes from our own body
*unlike stem cells, there is no ethical issue to deal with right now
*unlike fetal stem cells, there is minimal possibility it turns to unwanted cells (cancer cells, etc)
*unlike OEC , there is no possibility of contamination (bacteria from nose ,etc)
the only possibility of contamination with schwann cells is during harvesting the cells, and surgory, that i think can be managed to a large degree
*unlike OEC from fetal tissue, there is no possibility of rejection in the long term
*almost there is no need for FDA approval because the schwann cells come from our own body or if it needed , it probably may not be hard to obtain (not 100 percent sure though with FDA)
oh well , something to think about
best to all

[Leif]

KZ, Schwann cell research is good I think as for remyelination (regeneration), a good side branch for studies and a treatment for SCI function return I think, it also seems like an easy stuff to test furthermore as well - why it has not been done so in a bigger scale is because just a few teams around the world conduct SCI cure studies in general and most of them are too conservative I think, the same with astrocytes “spider cells” (in-between/helping cells for neurons); still it’s not a cure as I see it, but any improvements are good. Above that I think it’s also about time to go the hard way and require some real neurons, at least as for me this is my requirements and my demands. Kz, don’t misunderstand me here but as for “about time” I think we need someone that says “we will fix the complete spinal cord, we will start out and introduce new neurons or make new neurons occur by our research along with all necessary helping cells”. I think one has to start with the goal “final milestone” and work backwards from this goal/final milestone. We, the SCI community can change all this, the overall SCI studies as for one of Schmeky’s posts (#42) above here has to come to an end, studies like this is conducted by researchers that did not make it anyway. Anybody can make a social study as for living with SCI, 95% of us can regardless of our trade or skills I guess, the issue is who can find cures? Not to many I would guess.

[Eric.S]

Forgive me, I didnt read the whole thread but why is there so much optimism in this thread compared to other threads like this where there are many critics and optimism? Was there something stated that makes this procedure more valid than others? Is this procedure credible?

[Tufelhunden]

Only time will tell.

[Jawaid]

Dear Leif

I tried to e-mail at your given address but i think that address is not correct and i failed to e-mail them.

What you think about this treatment Leif? Can it be reality or not and also are these schwaan cells good enough for recovery in SCI?

God bless you.

Sincerely
Jawaid

[oxygen]

you will know this if they test it on you ;). I my own opinion every clinic can make a great video about their patients and method. Everything can be cracked........ Only patients reports will show the true. Everybody can write that something is great or not.

[Leif]

Dear Leif

I tried to e-mail at your given address but i think that address is not correct and i failed to e-mail them.

What you think about this treatment Leif? Can it be reality or not and also are these schwaan cells good enough for recovery in SCI?

God bless you.

Sincerely
Jawaid
Jawaid. As for Schwann and OEG cells, please se here; http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/showthread.php?t=73828&highlight=Schwann+cell

[UglyKid]

Dear friends,

I have had a accident 24 years ago which left me paraplegic in a wheelchair. i have managed to survive in a 3rd world country however, i have come to realize that i'm not doing as well as i should if i were in the states or europe. I have decided to go for stem celling if it would not cause my situation to get any worse and have taken an appointment with one of the doctors soon. however, i also have read on www.sci-info-pages.com/2007/02/iran-announces-technique-to-repair.html that iran is also doing something called Schwann cell transplantation. I would really appreciate if someone can describe the difference and if Dr. Wise or any of the doctors on this forum can give me an advise if i should go for the procedure, especially after i have received alot of bad feedback of the stem celling process.

[Leo]

Welcome Uglykid,

you' have waited a long time already but a little longer might be valuable

what ever you are considering

ask them from their experience of past patients what you can expect to get in return

is your injury complete?

[UglyKid]

Hi Leo,

thanks for the advise, that's what i was thinking as well, i really do want to get on with my life and move forward, however i never felt as limited as i am now. no my, my injury is not complete

[Scott Buxton]

Monday, February 05, 2007

Iran Announces Technique to Repair Spinal Cord Injuries (http://www.sci-info-pages.com/2007/02/iran-announces-technique-to-repair.html)


Iran announces innovative new technique to repair spinal cord injuries

On Sunday, the Islamic Republic officially announced that Iranian scientists have developed a new technique for treating patients with spinal cord injuries.

In this method of Schwann cell transplantation, the Schwann cells are taken from the back of the patient?s leg (below the knee) and grown in the lab. They are then injected into the site of the injury.

Researchers from the Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Center of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences have scientifically proven the efficacy of the new method through 30 operations on humans.

?The degree of recovery is 85 percent in patients with partial paralysis, and 15 percent in patients with full paralysis,? the director of the spinal cord injury research group, Hushang Saberi, said at the ceremony held to announce the Iranian scientists? achievement.

Such transplantations are being practiced in Ukraine, China, which uses fetal and adult stem cells, and Russia, which uses dipolar nerve cells, but these techniques are risky, he added.

Thirty patients were chosen to undergo the surgery, 40 percent of whom experienced at least partial recovery as far as sensation and physical movement, with 35 percent showing no change, and 25 percent still in the initial post-surgical stage, he explained.

President Mahmud Ahmadinejad also spoke at the ceremony, saying that his administration supports the country?s research projects 100 percent.

Ahmadinejad called on Health Minister Kamran Baqeri Lankarani to make the scientific achievements swiftly and widely available to the public.

The government will pay, either directly or through insurance, for the treatment of any patient with spinal cord injuries who can not afford it, he stated.

[Eric.S]

What a slap in the face to america... Whose supposed to be the backwards evil society?

[Le Type Français]

Awesome.

[artsyguy1954]

Monday, February 05, 2007

Iran Announces Technique to Repair Spinal Cord Injuries (http://www.sci-info-pages.com/2007/02/iran-announces-technique-to-repair.html)



Such transplantations are being practiced in Ukraine, China, which uses fetal and adult stem cells, and Russia, which uses dipolar nerve cells, but these techniques are risky, he added.

.
Yes, this is all very good work they do in Iran. But why aren't they starting to use combination therapies in these countries, India included. Stuff like growth factors (perhaps embedded in a hydro gel scaffold) and no-growth blockers. What's the hold up? I am an impatient person.

I mean, let's take a chance here or we will never get there. I mean if NASA had approached its moon walk project in the same cautious manner as neuroscientists approach SCI these days, astronauts would still be waiting to make foot prints on the moon.

I mean we haven't got forever. Pretty soon the US is going to start another war (with Iran) and then both countries will be so busy making war that there will be no money or inclination to do any SCI research in either country. War seems to get all the attention and money these days. What else is new? It's business as usual, and it's been like this for thousands of years and when are scientists going to get on with it and test combination therapies on us, so we can get outof these contraptions.

Judging from a lot of posts by other CC members, it is clear to me that a lot of other SCI's are impatient too.

OK, so I am rambling a bit. I had to vent. The whole quest for the cure seems to be bogged down in politics and bureaucracy.

I gotta go. I said my piece. A couple of good friends showed up with a bottle of single malt whiskey and a few joints and I am already forgetting that I am sitting in a wheel chairs.:) :p :D See ya guys later.

[Eric.S]

Yes, this is all very good work they do in Iran. But why aren't they starting to use combination therapies in these countries, India included. Stuff like growth factors (perhaps embedded in a hydro gel scaffold) and no-growth blockers. What's the hold up? I am an impatient person.

I mean, let's take a chance here or we will never get there. I mean if NASA had approached its moon walk project in the same cautious manner as neuroscientists approach SCI these days, astronauts would still be waiting to make foot prints on the moon.

I mean we haven't got forever. Pretty soon the US is going to start another war (with Iran) and then both countries will be so busy making war that there will be no money or inclination to do any SCI research in either country. War seems to get all the attention and money these days. What else is new? It's business as usual, and it's been like this for thousands of years and when are scientists going to get on with it and test combination therapies on us, so we can get outof these contraptions.

Judging from a lot of posts by other CC members, it is clear to me that a lot of other SCI's are impatient too.

OK, so I am rambling a bit. I had to vent. The whole quest for the cure seems to be bogged down in politics and bureaucracy.

I gotta go. I said my piece. A couple of good friends showed up with a bottle of single malt whiskey and a few joints and I am already forgetting that I am sitting in a wheel chairs.:) :p :D See ya guys later.

You sound like me.

If Iran finds a cure or hell even provides any improvement I'm there the best way I can get there. I may have to make the choice of either being paralysized or a hostage. A few years as a hostage might not be that bad thou...

[XYNaPSE]

Ok. So... Who's going to be the guinea pig?

[GRAMMY]

:dontknow: I'm not positive, but it appears that Eric may be game? LOL...

[GRAMMY]

:ninja: On second thought, I'm afraid we would have to organize a recon team to get him back out...the political climate is way too tense!!!
I had a cousin living in Lebanon during 70's and it took an act of God to get her out of the country because she was an American. It'll be interesting to see if any Americans venture over and how things go.

[Ads32]

Interesting stuff folks lets hope they can get better n better results

[tucker]

We have to be careful with everything we see. As has been said - how many times have we seen promising things that were never heard from again.

The Iranians are an isolated country desperate for some positive world opinion and any self esteme they can find or invent.

If the US was so inclined' it could make an incredibly convincing video about recovery from SCI using Cool Aid. All that would have to be done is have some scientists speak in esoteric medical terminology and show miraculous befor and after pictures. If the US got hollywood involved the sci recovered people could then go on to become star atheletes within days of treatment.

The problem always comes down to proof and sci subjects, who were indisputably previously paralized, who could walk up to a camara and say - look it really works and if you don't believe me, ask the many other people who are now using their hands and walking around.

[Schmeky]

tucker,

The Iranian schwann cell treatment and subsequent recovery is the real deal. It will only be effective if there are sufficient numbers of surviving denuded axons traversing through the injury site. Moderately effective for "incompletes", not effective for "completes". Schwann cells have been proven to remylinate denuded axons by many labs, do a search.

Think of it as a true 1st generation regenerative therapy, but with limited application and recovery.

[Wise Young]

tucker,

The Iranian schwann cell treatment and subsequent recovery is the real deal. It will only be effective if there are sufficient numbers of surviving denuded axons traversing through the injury site. Moderately effective for "incompletes", not effective for "completes". Schwann cells have been proven to remylinate denuded axons by many labs, do a search.

Think of it as a true 1st generation regenerative therapy, but with limited application and recovery.

Schmeky,

Schwann cells is first generation remyelinative therapy. In 1989, Andrew Blight and I published an article that Schwann cells invade into the injury site from the peripheral nerve roots and they myelinate many axons in about half of the animals. Thus, there is robust natural Schwann cell remyelination. I know one site in China that has transplanted adult Schwann cell progenitor cells into the spinal cords of people with chronic spinal cord injury. There are some early and preliminary reports of return of bladder function in these patients.

Schwann cells may also be a regenerative therapy. The Miami Project has long recognized that, because axons can grow in peripheral nerves, that Schwann cells may be key to the ability of peripheral nerves to regenerate. Bunge, etc. have spent a lot of time comparing OEG and Schwann cells. They found that Schwann cells are better than OEG cells although one of their studies suggest that a combination of OEG and Schwann cells may be better than OEG or Schwann cells alone.

Wise.

[afrangos]

Hi Oxygen,

Thans for this info./video. I would appreciate greatly anything you can share.
Tony

You may reach me at: afrangos@comcast.net

[afrangos]

No fear!

[spidergirl]

I have said this before in another thread.... I would not put it past the Iranian ( Persian ) people to come up with a partial cure/cure. I grew up with many of them and they are no doubt quick at the draw and not stupid by any means. There is a large % of Iranians in my city. They care about their people very much, unlike our President. If anyone needs translation ( Pharcy ) I know some people who can help. Just let me know. I think for the most part a lot of them speak very good English.

[Eric.S]

We have to be careful with everything we see. As has been said - how many times have we seen promising things that were never heard from again.

The Iranians are an isolated country desperate for some positive world opinion and any self esteme they can find or invent.

If the US was so inclined' it could make an incredibly convincing video about recovery from SCI using Cool Aid. All that would have to be done is have some scientists speak in esoteric medical terminology and show miraculous befor and after pictures. If the US got hollywood involved the sci recovered people could then go on to become star atheletes within days of treatment.

The problem always comes down to proof and sci subjects, who were indisputably previously paralized, who could walk up to a camara and say - look it really works and if you don't believe me, ask the many other people who are now using their hands and walking around.

This seems to be very close minded view point. Iran is a very capable country. don't let american bias sway you. I am born and raised an american citizen but that doesn't mean america is the only country capable of positive research. If Iran wasn't a formidable country they wouldn't be such a foe to the US they'ed either be ignored or invaded by now a'la afgahnistan pre 9/11..

We as americans tend to be arrogant and prejudgemental when it comes to other countries...

[GRAMMY]

So, If I understand correctly...Uglykid from Kuwait is incomplete SCI for 24 years and has an appointment to visit with one of the doctors doing the procedure in Iran. Please let us know what you are able to find out and what your decision will be. It would be very interesting to see what 24 year post could get from the procedure...would he also still have the potential for the axons to connect and grow then or could that only be determined on a case by case basis since he is 24 yr post.???

[IanTPoulter]

Dr Young mentions Scwhann cells could possibly be a regenerative therapy and not just remyelination, on this basis I wonder if the iranians couldnt be persuaded to try this on individuals in combination with something such as Lithium, just a thought. Personally i wouldnt hestitate to travel to iran with my daughter if we thought the possibility of effective tratement was worthwhile, my understanding is that despite the propoganda war being waged atm culturally aware westerners are well recieved in Iran.

[GRAMMY]

I didn't understand that they were doing anything in combination, just the stem cells. Perhaps they are a bit more advanced in their therapy than what is revealed on the movie...so I would guess that one would need lots of additional information to see exactly where they are. I am hoping that Uglykid brings back critical info to carecure for us after meeting with the doctor. I would also have airline tickets bought tomarrow for me and my son...however, I have not traveled out of the country and would be pretty fearful of something going wrong. (one dumb ole lady and a quad) stuck in a hostile environment would not be pretty if the political climate suddenly exploded around us...:help: I am very curious to know just how advanced the Iranians are however. I will be watching and listening very close!!!!!!!!!

[Eric.S]

Iran is actually one of the more progressive countries in the middle east...

[tucker]

Schmeky and Eric S, I fully appreciate your responses. Perhaps I should have skipped the editorial about Iran being isolated (I certainly have no delusions about American morals and conduct). My frustration is seeing reported recovery that is exaggerated or misrepresented either purposefully or by lack of a disciplined analysis.

I would be less skeptical if the results were presented by researchers and clinics instead of the government. I would feel this way with any country, including the US.

[oxygen]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ib-eeAZkII4

[peace317]

hi all ;
http://www.sci-info-pages.com/2007/02/iran-announces-technique-to-repair.html
i try to contact dr hushang saberi in this mail but he sont reply me
i hear a lot in internet about this therapy i try to get some infrormation in the iran consulat of my counrty but i dont find any thing
did some one get a reply from them?
what was the results in the first clinical trial i hear that there some persons who walked again
.....................that seem encouregant