Not stem, but fetal, cells…

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I haven’r written about stem cells in a while.  Mostly because nothing much was happening.  Research using these valuable components is still stymied.  And, the use of fetal cells also seems to rankle folks, since the cells are derived from aborted fetuses.

But, in Europe, such research is about to start anew.  The EU (European Union) has provided $15 million to continue research using fetal cells for Parkinson’s disease treatment. This study is called TransEuro, which will involve some 14 entities across the European continent.

TransEuro Study Objectives

This is really a follow-on to American research (before the ….hit the fan) in the 1990’s using fetal tissue brain transplants.  Those two original studies involved a total of 74 patients for both.  They did not demonstrate long-term survival of the fetal cells or proof that the fetal cells were incorporated into the patients’ brains.  And, no subjects over the age of 60 had positive results. Yet, there still are patients who underwent the procedure that need no additional treatment or drugs to manage their Parkinson’s symptoms.  Which means there could be great hope for the 6.3 million Parkinson’s patients.

Right now, there are two therapies, neither of which is totally satisfactory.  Most patients are treated with L-dopa (levodopa), which boosts the brain secretions of dopamine.  Normal brain cells [which are neurotransmitters] secrete dopamine, but Parkinson’s sufferers do not produce sufficient doses of the chemical.  But, as was true with my grandfather, long term use of L-dopa leaves the patient riddled with dyskinesia (uncontrolled involuntary muscle spasms).

We’ve also tried deep brain stimulation (DBS) thereapy, which delivers electrical microcurrents to specific brain regions that can control patient motion.  However, this is clearly invasive and it seems to not work with all patients.

The TransEuro study will employ transplanted dopamine cells from fetal tissues.  A small hole will be bored into the patient’s skull, through which the cells will be implanted. This study will employ fetal tissue from aborted fetuses-  because stem cell research is still impeded, even they could be more useful for the patients.

The problem with this study- regardless of the test results- is that there will be no control group within this study.  And, we also know that control of Parkinson’s is not totally dependent upon dopamine levels.

Let’s hope the results can overcome the study faults.

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