Stem Cell Treatment Center

What are the types of stem cells that we use?

What kind of stem cells do you usually use? Umbilical cord, embryonic or adult stem cells? Where do you get them from?

The type of stem cells we choose depends on the disease that the patient suffers from, and the medical plan. For Parkinson's disease, we use human Retinal Pigment Epithelial (hRPE) cells from adults. For cerebral palsy and strokes, we use fetal neural stem cells. All stem cells come from the Peking University Stem Cell Research Center, which is the largest and most qualified stem cell lab in China, where the cells had undergone rigorous tests according to our highly strict regulations.

Parkinson disease is a brain disorder that occurs when certain nerve cells in the brain die or become damaged.  The normal function of these nerve cells is the production of Dopamine - a vital chemical which is responsible of our body's smooth and well coordinated movement.  The lack of Dopamine as a result of damaged nerve cells can cause the Parkinson's symptoms of shaking (tremors), stiffness of the muscles, freeze ups, balance difficulties and slowness of movement.

To treat Parkinson Disease we apply a unique procedure, specifically designed for Parkinson's patients, in which we implanting through brain injection adult stem cells extracted from the human retina, called "human Retinal Pigment Epithelial cells" (hRPE). These special cells have the quality of producing Dopamine which gives solution to the lack of Dopamine production which causes the symptoms of Parkinson Disease.

Another important advantage of these cells is that they have no immunosuppressive reactions and therefore patients do not need to take additional drugs during the treatment.

The treatment includes the implantation of hRPE cells into the region in the brain where the damaged cells are, along with a daily cocktail of medications that "fertilize" this area, helping the cells to survive and keep on renewing themselves.

While the treatment can not completely remove all symptoms of the disease, it can greatly reduce the tremors, decrease muscle tension, improve movement's continuity and balance, increase the muscle strength, reduce the freeze ups, etc.

On June 2006 we have performed the first published successful stem cell treatment for Parkinson world wide, of an American patient that came to our hospital at a very progressive stage of Parkinson Disease. 

You can find the Patient Experience of Penny Thomas at: http://www.stemcellspuhua.com/s31.html

So far, about 20 Parkinson patients have been treated with hRPE stem cells from the Sino Cells Bio Technologies Research Center in various cooperative hospitals. All of the patients showed increasing dopamine metabolism, and the conditions of the all the patients improved after the transplantation (usually the improvement occurred one week after the injection). The first clinical trial was performed at 2004, but long term following up is still under investigation (at least 1-3 years follow-up), so the treatment is still under careful control, especially in the selection of the suitable patients. 

Our comprehensive program for Parkinson patients combines both nerve stem cell activation and stimulation and the stem cells implantation.  This combined treatment has so far proved itself to be most efficient in bringing high level of recovery in different neurological diseases. The treatment includes stem cell implantation, medications procedure, surgery procedure, biofeedback treatment and comprehensive rehabilitation.

The key to the success of this treatment method is the overall customized treatment regimen for each patient.

hRPE Stem Cells Implantation

The hRPE cells will be injected through Stereotactic surgery into the Putman area in the brain. We use that technique since it has the highest accuracy.
A single injection of hRPE stem cells will be given to the patient.

Self Stem Cells Activation and Proliferation

Under non-invasive circumstances, through daily IV of individually customized cocktail of neurotrophic medicines we activating the patient's own stem cells and thus turning these cells into nerve precursor cells.  These have signalization and migrate to lesions along the nerve developing-chord. Through this procedure we will create a most active and "fertile" nerve environment in the brain, to allow the new implanted cells to survive, and to start a continuous process of renewing themselves.  

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation therapy is very much necessary as a part of the entire treatment regimen. In the past 20 years nerve system rehabilitation in terms of motor control theory has been greatly developed. The adult stem cell mobilization technique we use is combined with signal induction in the rehabilitation training procedure which can significantly improve brain function.

In our Rehabilitation center we use different kind of rehabilitation methods of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech therapy and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The Procedures

Self stem cell activation and proliferation program

This program usually takes six to eight weeks of stay in the Hospital.

1. Upon arrival at the hospital, you will be given standard tests to check your health and the details of your condition. A thorough evaluation of the neurological function and understanding of the lesion or pathological change in the brain tissues will be established by the medical team.

2. According to your condition a medical plan will be designed for Self Stem cell Original Activation and Proliferation treatment.  Then, to drive off the triggers factors of the stroke, we will treat the blood vessel wall, the blood ingredients and the blood flow, improving the brain micro environment to help the stem cells proliferate.

3. The self activation and proliferation treatment will than start. Based on Neuro-endocrine immune network theory, we treat the patients by "waking up" the sleeping stem cells through oral medication. We use different medications during different processes (proliferation-inducement-differentiation), the medications always adjusted and combined; therefore, we call it "cocktail treatment".

4. Through the treatment period we will be following up and evaluate your neurological function and improvement.

5. While one treatment cycle is complete, 2 to 5 months rest are recommended before coming for second treatment.

hRPE Stem cells implantation procedure by stereotactic technology

1. Preparation: You will be given enough time to recover after your trip before you will receive your first injection of stem cells. Some patients prefer to wait a day or two to get settled in before taking all the tests as they are quite thorough and can be strenuous after a long trip.

2. A stereotactic frame is installed on the patient's head and he is then sent to CT or MRI scan with the frame.

3. The patient is sent to the operation room for surgery. The operation procedure:

The 3-D parameters of the injection target is calculated by 2 computers and related program to make sure of the accuracy of the surgery.
A sterile surgical guiding frame is installed that is connected with the head frame.A needle is then inserted under the guiding frame into the target by a tiny hole in the skull through which the stem cells are injected.

Side effects

Both of the procedures can cause minor side effect for 2 to 3 days after the operation such as fever, headaches, dizziness and fatigue.  These side effects are expected and should not alarm or concern you. Many patients do not suffer any side effects.

Treatment period

The recommended period of time for treatment is 4 to 8 weeks but there should be improvement after the first month. The patient can decide on whether to do the second month???s treatment at the end of the first month.

To see a daily time table of the treatment program from the day of arrival to the day of departure please Click here.

Signing up for treatment

If you are considering the treatment, we will need you to fill in the attached document: Parkinson Disease Pre-treatment Evaluation. By the information you will provide the doctors could determine if you can be a candidate for this treatment. It will be most helpful if you will also provide them with other medical records + MRI images if possible. We will then have a consultation with the doctors about your case and will come back to you with their evaluation and suggested course of action.

You have two options of sending your MRI and medical records:

1. If you can have your MRI as digital images you may send them as attachments along with your diagnosis and medical background via email:
Send us your medical records here.

2. You can send us your MRI and medical records by air mail. Make sure to use express mail so you can track the package if necessary.

Please send the package to the following address:

To: Dr. Sherwood / Kotan Arkin
Beijing Tiantan Puhua Hospital
12 Tiantan Nanli
Beijing, 100050,
People's Republic of China

Our international department team will be happy to answer any enquiry by email or phone, and consult with the doctors if necessary. We will get back to you as soon as possible with their answer and suggested course of action.

Send us an enquiry here 

As you made the decision of coming for treatment please fill in the following form:Initial Background for Tiantan Puhua Patients.

Signing up for treatment is easy and flexible? we need to know your date of arrival two weeks in advanced so we can reserve you a room and arrange to pick you up from the airport.

Our international department team will help you to figure out all the arrangement for your trip. For more information about traveling arrangements see here.

Stem cells have the potential to be of help in many different areas of health and medical research. To begin with, studying stem cells helps us to understand how they are able to transform into the dazzling array of specialized cells that make us what we are. Some of the most serious current medical conditions, such as cancer and birth defects, are due to problems that occur somewhere in this process. A better understanding of normal cell development will allow us to understand and perhaps correct the errors that cause these medical conditions.

Another potential application for stem cells is in creating cells and tissues for medical therapies. Today, donated organs and tissues are often used to replace tissues that have been damaged, contaminated by disease or even destroyed. Unfortunately, the number of people needing a transplant far exceeds the number of organs available for transplantation. Pluripotent stem cells offer the possibility of a renewable source of replacement cells and tissues to treat a myriad of diseases, conditions, and disabilities including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, spinal cord injuries, strokes, burns, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

I understand that there are two different programs for treatment in your hospital. Are those programs separate or combined with each other?

Our Stem cells program combines two treatments:

1. Stem cell activation and proliferation treatment:

A complete approach of treating different types of neurological malfunctioning based on cell theory, through a comprehensive treatment using medicines that stimulate the production of the body's own neural stem cells. (The procedures involved are daily IV of medicines, oral medication, combined comprehensively with the rehabilitation program.)

2. Stem cell implantation through different surgical procedures:

The stem cells may be injected either through the CSF (spinal cord fluid) by a lumbar puncture or through a brain injection into the damaged area, depending on the medical conditions of the patient.

When combined with the stem cells implantation - the self stem cells activation and proliferation process provides the most fertile and appropriate environment in the brain for the new implanted cells to survive and renew themselves, by "feeding" the brain with different nutrition materials.

Add to that, every medical program consist of a comprehensive rehabilitation program of physical and occupational therapy in our rehabilitation center.

The reason we combine these two programs is to achieve maximum results. For those patients who do not want to take the risk of brain surgery we offer to inject the cell through lumber puncture procedure or to have only the Stem cells activation and proliferation program.

To see a general daily schedule of our combined program Click here.

Why does the patient need to stay in the hospital for a month? What are the reasons for those staying for two months? Does it improve the chances of a more successful procedure?

The time recommended for staying in the hospital is 1.5 months minimum.

This unique treatment, which is being performed only in this hospital, is based on building and cultivating a new "ecology" in the brain. This new ecology will activate the production and proliferation of the body???s own stem cells, and will ensure the growth and the survival of the new cells that were injected into the body.

Building this ecology, involves with balancing the previous medications that a patient have been taking, and that are still in his body with the new medications, and "designing" this ecology specifically to the patient's condition and reactions (by means of a "cocktail" of medications, given through daily IV, that is adjusted on a daily basis). This whole process takes time. This time period also allows long enough period of close follow up of the doctors to ensure sending the patient back home on the right course so that the process of improvement will continue after the patient will discharge from the hospital.

The Rehabilitation process also plays an important role in activating the new cells - a process which also requires a minimum of 6-8 weeks.

Is coming for a treatment once is enough to get improvements or will I have to come back for another cycle of treatment?

The question as to whether to pursue ongoing stem cell therapy should be decided by the expectation for your quality of life. You will most likely see significant improvements from the first treatment, however it might not be the maximum recovery which is possible for you.

If, therefore, you are happy with the treatment, have seen improvements and wish to improve further, you may want to consider taking a second treatment to gain further results.

Neural stem cells implantation through the SCF (Spinal Cord Fluid) (Lumber Puncture) is a very simple operation that only takes about 10-15 minutes and is performed under local anesthesia. However, at Tiantan hospital, this procedure takes place inside a sterile operating room and is performed by a senior neurosurgeon who specializes in stem cells implantations. The reason for this is to prevent any risk of infection.

Infection is prevented through our adherence to the very strict regulations and tests that must be performed before the procedure can be held. The cells used come directly from the lab to the operating room, and a certain amount is prepared in advance for testing purposes. Before the operation, strict tests (including HIV and AIDS tests) are performed to ensure that there are no viruses or bacteria present. The cells used must be pure and alive, and the rate of living cells used is usually 98 -99%. If less than 95% of the cells are living the procedure will not be performed.

Patients sometimes experience headache, weakness, dizziness and nausea or a slight fever (only around 10% of patients experience these side effects). These reactions are natural and are not dangerous for your health or for the treatments success. Serious complications and severe rejection reactions to a properly performed operation are extremely rare.

What procedures are taken to insure the viability of the stem cells and their sterility?

The cells we use come directly from the Sino Cells Bio Technologies Research Center laboratory to the operating room. A certain amount is prepared in advance for testing purposes. Before the operation, strict tests are performed, including HIV and AIDS tests, to ensure that there are no viruses or bacteria present. The cells used must be pure and alive, and the rate of living cells used is usually 98 -99%. If less than 95% of the cells are living, then the procedure will not be performed.

Tiantan Puhua hospital collaborates with the Sino Cells Bio Technologies Research Center Lab, which is the most reliable laboratory in the country, especially for clinical purposes, where the purity standards of the cells is even higher than those cells used for research. Sino Cells Bio Technologies Research Center has its own strict tests that are performed before the cells arrive in the operating room.

Tiantan Puhua Hospital has been treating stroke patients through a medical approach called "self stem cells activation and proliferation" for about 2 years. We are continuing to follow up and track the progress of all our patients, but a few more years of follow-up is needed to determine the long term effects from a scientific point of view.

So far, more than 50 stroke patients have been treated at Tiantan Puhua Hospital. Results range from very minor to very significant improvements. No patient's condition has become worse, nor have any patients suffered any kind of lasting side effects. Moreover, we have achieved levels of improvement which breaks through the limited help which the medicine could offer to patients only few years ago.

We are not aware of any such studies that have taken place by means of a placebo trial.

However, in the case of neurological ailments we have seen improvements that cannot be in any doubt: we expect patients to gain increased mobility, improve speech ability, visual acuity, etc. When we achieve these results, they cannot be doubted.

Long term follow up is still ongoing, however, simply because these treatments are so very new. Sever patients all over the world do not have the time to wait a few years for this follow up, and prefer to take the chance for a better quality of life today, even if they will need to come back for more treatments to maintain the results. Our doctors recommend coming back for another cycle of treatment also to ensure the patient continues to improve.

We encourage to first thoroughly examine the information provided here, and if you are interested in knowing more specifically to your condition please send us an enquiry with your diagnosis and current symptoms. We promise to return to you as soon as possible with an answer to your question.

For sending an enquiry or medical records click here

Is it possible to hire a caregiver through the hospital?
How do I do that and what are the costs involved?

Absolutely. A Chinese caregiver can be hired for 24hr for 150rmb a day, or 12hr for 70rmb a day ($10).

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