Is CAST really effective in the treatment of Parkinson's disease currently?
Comparing the current treatment methods for Parkinson's disease.
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system, Parkinson’s disease is more commonly seen in the elderly.
We use each patient's individual evaluation to determine which description of the disease they suffer from. Parkinson's disease symptoms are divided into five stages according to the Yahr system. The severity is measured using either the Webester or UPDRS scale.
The treatment for Parkinson's depends on which stage and scale the patient is measured at. The consensus comes from the conclusion of studies of medical reports during the past ten years as well as the information collected by our medical center through the use of META statistical analysis methods.
The findings conclude that the treatment of mild to moderate patients, who are in the stage 1- 3 group, should use traditional medication. Medications for symptomatic treatment has an effect on the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, but cannot change the course of disease, neuron cells in the brain are continually missing, and medication cannot increase the quantity of cells, but the foundation of the treatment outcome has enough quantity of functioning cells, example: use madopar to replenish dopa, but failing because a large numbers of cells are missing.
While the moderate to severe patients, who are in the stage 3- 5 group, or the ones whose drug treatment is ineffective, or have certain drug reactions such as on-off phenomenon, dyskinesia, can choose the following 5 treatment options.
1. Striatum Stereotactic Pallidotomy:
This kind of surgery has developed from the method called the opening cranium operation to the AC-PC stereotactic surgery method. Striatum stereotactic pallidotomy is used to destroy the bilateral thalami and pallidum step by step by placing electrodes into the brain.
The purpose：
It partly block cholinergic neuron channels and reduce the quantity of cerebral acetylcholine, as well as to keep the balance of dopamine transmitters to a low level, so that any tremors can be reduced.
Advantages：
Less trauma to the patient and the tremors are obviously reduced.
Disadvantages：
Some risks such as cerebral hemorrhage and this surgical method is not that effective for Parkinson's myotonia. The effectiveness of this method may only last for about one year and there is a risk of inducing dementia.
2. Stereotactic Technique of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS):
DBS requires the use of the opening cranium operation in order to implant the stimulated electrodes by using the CRW stereotactic heads, after a three dimensional image has been viewed by the computer, the coordinates of the nervous nuclei can be determined.
The purpose：
It stimulates the functional dopaminergic neurons to release more dopamine in order to relieve the symptoms.
Advantages：
Lessening the amount of the dosage of dopamine medication and to improve the patient's quality of life.
Disadvantages：
A limited amount of effective time for the curative effect and the patient can only undergo the operation one time. Long-term electrical stimulation of nerve cells plus the original toxicological effect will cause accelerated degeneration and death of the neurons. The disease develops quickly during the later stages.
3. Stem Cell Implantation during Brain Stereotactic Surgery:
Stem cells are implanted to the target area by the use of needles through the stereotactic method mentioned above.
The purpose：
Cell replacement and to provide nutrition to the cells.
Advantage：
It is a biological treatment and therefore the operation can be done repeatedly if necessary and can increase the number of cells.
Disadvantages：
Difficulty in controlling the implanted cells and the outcome is not certain. There is also a risk of bleeding. Most patients are elderly and may have arteriosclerosis, adding to the complications. The quantity of the implanted stem cell is limited, too much cells implanted will lead to tumor possibly. This kind of mechanical injury will cause damage to both brain tissue and stem cells. The inflaction.
4mmatory reaction caused by this injury could even lead to encephalitis. As the result of initial existing toxic environmental influences, the implanted stem cells cannot express their proper fun. Subarachnoid stem cell Implantation via lumbar puncture:
Uses traditional and safe procedure. The cells are implanted into the cerebral spinal fluid through a puncture between the T3-4 or T4-5 using a special needle.
The purpose:
Sending the stem cells to the damaged areas in the spinal cord or brain.
Advantages
A safe and effective surgical operation. Patients will obtain positive results very soon. The analysis of the treatment results shows that the implanted stem cells successfully provide nutritional factors and there is also a positive psychological effect which together help to increase the chances of a successful outcome.
Disadvantage：
The therapeutic outcome is uncertain. The reasons include the cells' inability to pass through the cerebral spinal fluid- brain barrier easily. The implanted cells cannot effectively locate to the damaged areas.
5. Gene-Targeted stem cell implantation in patients with subarachnoid via lumbar puncture:
Stem cells are implanted into the body by the methods described above. The quantity of implanted cells depends on the patient's individual medical needs. By using the CSF (cerebral spinal fluid) - brain barrier opening method, the stem cells will be absorbed into the tissues. Through softening scar tissue that is mainly formed by astrocytes in the damaged area, the astrocytes can be "rejuvenated" to express the characteristics of stem cells and generate signals making the implanted cells find the location of their gene expression.
How does Dr. Wu successfully treat Parkinson’s disease via CAST (drug Cocktail Aided Stem Cell Therapy)?
The goals:
Our ultimate goals are to relieve the symptoms and restore the lost neurological functioning. To do this, we use safe and effective technology to allow the implanted stem cells to accurately target the desired area. In the process, the amount of implanted cells is determined by the individual patient's needs. The patient's function can be expected to improve step by step until a stage is reached where the stem cell therapy can decrease or replace the dosage of traditional medication.
Advantage:
Our procedures (lumbar puncture and I.V.) are the easiest and safest possible. It's been proven to be effective in more than 100 clinical applications. The procedures can be easily repeated as often as required.
Characteristic：
Although the procedures are very easy and safe to perform, controlling the stem cells after the injection to make sure they are targeted to their desired location can be difficult. Therefore, an artificial creation of an internal environment suitable for the implanted cells to live and function becomes a key issue for any successful stem cell therapy to perform. The method of making the "artificial creation” for stem cell therapy was invented by Dr. Wu using a cocktail of drugs and practiced in Wu Medical Center since then. It’s called CAST (drug Cocktail-Aided Stem Cell Therapy) when used in our stem cell therapy.
CSAT represents a cell therapy for a series of difficult-to-treat diseases aiming at reversing/slowing down the progression of a disease as shown by alleviated symptoms and restored lost function. So our success rate for using this procedure for treating Parkinson's is very high.
Regarding to the stem cells used,
Wu Stem Cells Medical Center found that transplanting neuron stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells via CAST (drug Cocktail Aided Stem Cell Therapy) can improve motor function and mental symptoms, which increases the number of effective neuron cells that can slow down or stop the progression of Parkinson’s disease as well. The stem cells we use for the treatment of Parkinson's disease are always in compliance with the strict safety standards and regulations set by the SFDA.
Fact speak louder than words, based on over 15-year clinical practice, Dr. Wu and his team effectively treated over 100 Parkinson’s disease patients via CAST (drug Cocktail Aided Stem Cell Therapy) all over the world.
