September 1. 2010 09:26

Once again Dr. Brandes you have hit the nail on the head. It's just that "out of the box" thinking that has led to innumerable medical/scientific advancements (the discovery in 1928 by Scottish bacteriologist Alexander Fleming of the Penicillium mold - the percursor to penicillin is only one example).

Marilyn

September 1. 2010 09:42

Dr. Lorne Brandes,
Thanking you for digging into the Canadian Health System . I am an M.S. Patient who has been trying to get Dr. Zambonis' treatment here in Canada. I am on Rebif for my M.S. and Alertec to help with the cognition and ALWAYS DROWSY symptoms. I go yearly to see the neurologists at the M.S. Clinic in London, Ontario. I have spoken to my family physician, my pharmacist and searched many web sites over the last 10 Years. I signed up immediately when Dr. Zamboni was interviewed on W-5.. With your constant pressure on our government I hope that they will start listening with both ears and look at the people who could benefit from this surgery with both eyes open. We need all the help we can get!!!!!!!!!!!! Lynn Smith

Lynn

September 1. 2010 09:48

Dr. Brandes have you checked the accuracy of the stories that have been passed onto you, did you independently verify this information (such as contacting the patient's physician for an assessment of their condition) or are you passing on a good story? Often in the past people have exaggerated the severity of their illness and likewise exaggerate how well they feel after having some type of therapy ( such as cancer patients and laetrile). Also your attack on evidence based medicine is bizarre, how else can society judge the effectiveness of a new therapy, medicine except by testing it without bias? After all just because something feels right does not make it true

Paul

September 1. 2010 10:15

Timely comments Dr Brandes, considering the announcement this morning that "leading" MS researchers/scientists have recommended NO Canada wide clinical trials. The rationale: lack of evidence on the procedure's safety. Interesting - apparently they don't want tests to be conducted here so evidence can be collected and analyzed by Canadian doctors and scientists and they don't trust the work done in other countries!! The vote is for status quo, unless of course you REALLY suffer (and don't exaggerate) a neurological disease.

Deb

September 1. 2010 12:02

We have deleted several posts because they contain personal attacks. Please see our commenting guidelines should you have any questions.

Angela Mulholland, MedExpress Editor

September 1. 2010 12:09

Dr. Brandes, once again you have said the truth and Paul and his neurologists friends cannot accept truth. The truth is that Dr. Beaudet, the MS Society and the so-called experts they brought together on 26 August know that CCSVI is real, they know there is a demonstrated link to MS, they know that the preferred treatment for CCSVI (balloon angioplasty) is safe and effective and they know that the treatment provides improvement for MS sufferers. Dr. Beaudet et al rejected clinical trials and ignore data that is already available to support Dr. Zamboni's work because they know the truth and cannot accept it. The truth means a loss of control of MS sufferers and a significant loss of the revenue provided by MS sufferers - the "cash cows" will not be relinquished easily. Dr. Beaudet is on the 2010 Board of Directors of Biotec Canada. The MS Society lobbied the Ontario government to urgently grant funding ($40,000.00 per year per patient) for Tysabri despite knowing the risk involved and even suggested that until further recommendations on safety became available the concerns for safety regarding long term treatment should not delay making the drug available to patients. Tysabri to date has 12 deaths to its credit and one patient left with permanent brain damage while others suffering from brain infection caused by the drug await their fate. Yves Savoie, CEO of the MS Society, has suggested that the group of MS sufferers who are clamouring for CCSVI testing and treatment in Canada are a small group and that the majority view the testing and treatment with skepticism. The MS Society no doubt has some dedicated and caring staff members and has dedicated, compassionate volunteers. They do not deserve the executive the MS Society currently has and neither do MS sufferers in Canada. I reject Dr. Beaudet's and the Society's rationale for not recommending clinical trials as self serving and unethical. The MS Society does not speak for me and MS sufferers in Canada who feel the same way should let the Society, the federal Health Minister, CIHR and elected officials know how they feel and demonstrate that feeling to the Society by not donating to it. There are other organizations that can and do use donations to far greater benefit for MS sufferers such as Direct-Ms, Angioplasty for All, MS Liberation.

Linda

September 1. 2010 12:24

Thank you, once again, Dr. Brandes, for providing your thoughts. The continued opposition by the MS Society and their neuros is beyond ridiculous at this point. I find it hard to believe that these so called medical "experts" and the Society continue to inflict such pain on the very people they are supposed to be helping. Shame on them. And Shame on you Paul - your comments are extemely offensive to persons with MS. To actually say that someone with MS might be exaggerating the severity of their illness and their recovery is unbelievable. But this is just another example of what those with MS are fighting - total ignorance and a self-serving attitude that truly has no compassion for those with MS. Shame.

Janice Magee

September 1. 2010 12:27

What I don't understand is when I hear neurologists say the MS patients are being treated by quacks or charlatans. Do they not realize the Interventional radiologists are the same doctors who do angioplasty on blocked arteries for thousands upon thousands of patients? These doctors are experts on blood flow, and I don't think they'd be treating patients with venoplasty/angioplasty if there were no problems. The neurologists aren't willing to accept the experiences of doctors outside of their discipline, and it wouldn't surprise me if some American and Canadian doctors would even put down doctors in Europe as "quacks", solely because they aren't "here".

Does anybody know yet the full relationship of CCSVI and MS? No, and even the biggest supporters of CCVSI treatment acknowledge that. But with several thousand already treated, and vast numbers of positive stories, you'd think they'd at least have an open mind. I keep thinking how stupid they'll all look when more and more studies come in (the IRs and people doing it seem to have seen enough to really believe there is something). I'm sure they'll have their excuses that they were just waiting for the science to prove it, but that doesn't erase the closed-minded, rude, controlling, "not invented here" mentality.

I commend the doctors on the forefront for having the willingness to think outside the box and examine other options. If I had a crystal ball, I'd bet that looking 5-10 years out, there will be a whole different treatment mentality for MS. Imagine if CCSVI is the pathology, and a person who is newly diagnosed as primary progressive, they can immediately get all the necessary veins fixed and tracked, and I'd bet they'd see a much better prognosis.

Donna

September 1. 2010 12:28

Thank you, Dr. Brandes.
Meanwhile, in the states, the first double blind, randomized clinical trial for angioplasty treatment of CCSVI is now recruiting. More will be announced in the near future.
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01089686?term=ccsvi&rank=1
The facts will continue to accrue. And the internet will provide access to information for a patient population that has been asked to accept the autoimmune theory of multiple sclerosis without scientific proof.
Come to www.ccsvi.org to stay up to date with research-based information.

Joan Beal

September 1. 2010 12:30

I hardly think calling Paul out for his patronizing and belittling of MS patients is a personal attack. I think perhaps his comment should be censored for the exact same reason, i.e. calling Dr. Brandes "bizarre" and insinuating that the patient he mentioned exaggerated her symptoms before and her improvement after. If that's not a personal attack I don't know what is.

At any rate, I will again state that it's time we wrest control and "ownership" of MS from the neurologists and the MSS who have failed for over 60 years to come even close to a cure or halt the progression. Let the vascular specialists have at it!

Kat

September 1. 2010 12:44

Dear Dr.Brandes
I thank you for your clear, calm, centered observations.
Perhaps someone will step forward to expose the unbalanced health system that we are being held "hostage" in.
Many voices will combine to create a river, which will journey to create an ocean of healing for us.
I am living with MS and I do not support the posturing and ignorance and ego driven agendas that proliferate. When did a group of people who claim themselves "doctor" or "advocate" become so detached from kindness and compassion?
Shame on them.
I will find my way, always...but not with them.
all the best and thank you again

The real voyage of discovery
consists not in seeing new landscapes,
but in having new eyes.

~ Marcel Proust ~

Ruth-Ann

September 1. 2010 13:09

If one reads the press release from the Canadian Institute of Health Research CIHR)regarding the lack of evidence for CCSVI it notes that individuals from a range of disciplines had input into the process including vascular surgery and interventional radiology. Also they included more information on this issue see, Joint Invitational Meeting on Multiple Sclerosis Research on the CIHR webpage.

Paul

September 1. 2010 13:27

It is with a certain disgust that I read the acounts of doctors and researchers who "just don't get it" and need to have clinical proof that a procedure deserves merit before even considering a treatment for their patients
Last month, I had, at my own personal expense, the liberation treatment performed at a private clinic in another country and can now say that I feel better than I have felt since being DEXed with MS over 20 years ago.
What is happening to modern medicine when the patient is held in such little regard and continues to be held hostage by big phama?

Richard Markle

September 1. 2010 13:29

Thank you doctor for your views. My husband and I just got back from the CCSVI testing and treatment in Poland. Each day something improves in his live.. His left leg that had been stiff , dead weight and not bendable, is now moveable. He can lift it, the strength is back, he can stand up on his own and no numbness or tingling in his legs or arms.. How can they say that this is black magic or charatan work? Too many people have been helped and a lot more will be helped. Too bad we have to travel half way around the world for help. I can comment on this all day because I saw this first hand with my eyes.....

Rose Anne Seymour

September 1. 2010 13:39

really enjoyed your reports on CCSVI.

However with the latest news, I am becoming more frustrated, as I am sure other MS sufferers and their families are.

I was originally told by a neurologist I didn't have MS, and was suffering from Old Age, my symptoms were severe to me. I was 61 yrs old at that time. I went for further testing, MRIs', evoked potentials, spinal tap, and that was when they said I had PP MS, however there was no treatment, and that my symptoms would worsen over time.

I recently had an ultra sound on my jugular veins and they identified that I fitted the criteria as described by Dr. Zamboni. Apparently the criteria is at least 2 markers, I apparently have 4 markers, that make me a candidate for the CCSVI.

I am curious if I was never diagnosed with MS would I be able to get the treatment.

Jim

September 1. 2010 14:24

A Crime against Humanity was just committed for the Multiple Scleroses (M.S.) suffers of Canada

With a simple announcement, the Canadian Government is unwilling to support research for M.S. suffers has immediately resulted in the loss of hope and a severe diminishment of the human spirit.

With such losses, the complexity of human emotions will have countless consequences for M.S. suffers, such as; depression, added anxiety, stresses, uncertainty and the list goes on.

The logic behind this decision is incomprehensible when this issue deals with human dignity. Is it possible that these men have secured their future security at the cost of M.S. suffers.

Extraordinary funds can be readily available by the Government of Canada, for whatever need that arises and their discretion. But to conclude a decision “not” to expend funds to ease human suffering can only be described as a Crime against Humanity.

If, I had the ability to establish a new direction for M.S. suffers of Canada, it would be to stop donating to the M.S. Society of Canada and create a new fund to support the CCSVI (chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency) research, know as the liberation treatment. As for the current standing Government, the only option for M.S. suffers and their families, is to vote them out of office.

May these men be judged by whatever Supreme Being they believe in for their actions? Because, I just witnessed my spouse have her hope extinguished and demoralized with one simple announcement by these CRIMINALS of HUMANITY.

ross rolko

September 1. 2010 14:29

I have suffered from 'somthing' for upwards of 3 decades and many have indicated that it very closely resembles MS. I recently got a new physician to send me to a neurologist. When I'm not taking my numerous supplements, which by way are for supporting hormonal health and for reducing inflammation (keep this latter statement in mind), my symptoms accelerate and leave me with a whole host of MS symptoms - some moderately severe and others just moderate to light. When I'm taking my supplements, it totally reverses the symptoms. When I went in to see the neurologist I had been back on the supplements for a couple months (because they told me to keep taking them) and was feeling perfectly fine and mentioned that to the doc. He did his quicky tests and said - you don't have MS. I asked him - what about all the symptoms that I have when I'm not taking the supplements? He slumped it off/ignored me even though I mentioned it a couple times. Doctors today have absolutely no respect for patients. Maybe we should put them on a payment system whereby they only get paid IF their patient is helped. The symptoms that I have when I'm not taking the supplements include loss of bladder control, lack of coordination, swallowing issues, speech issues, brain fog, muscle strength loss, eye sight changes, and severe muscle spasms/contractions in the left side of my back, my neck and shoulders causing unbareable pain (that can go on for days and weeks) - just to mention a few. Within days of taking the supplements, all the symptoms are gone or significantly improved. It has taken upwards of 3 decades for me to get the supplement grouping right for me. As mentioned earlier, a large component of the supplement base is natural anti-inflammatories. There appears to be a strong link with this since the surgery clears out blockages apparently caused from an inflammatory condition. What sort of research has been done regarding the similarity with hypothyroid symptoms and MS (strong correlation) and with severe allergies causing systemic anaphylaxis (whole body inflammatory response) and the resulting severe stress and deterioration of the adrenals and thyroid? I asked the doc on this as well and he slumped off that question as well.

Kathleen

September 1. 2010 14:46

Dr. Brandes, when I asked my neurologist about his thoughts on CCSVI, he brushed it off with a cliche, "If it's too good to be true, it usually is." He then told me "these things have come and gone" during his career, so this one will go away soon, too. He then mentioned one patient had the procedure and "She had to be on blood thinners for three months." He ended the appointment there. While walking out the door, he turned, held up three fingers and repeated, "Blood thinners for three months." I expected that kind of curt and dismissive response, so that's why it was my last question of the day instead of the first. I left thinking about another cliche, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks."

It was interesting that he didn't offer any other information about this patient--if her condition improved or worsened. Just the emphatic blood thinner statement. He also didn't offer any information as to why CCSVI would be implausible.

His skepticism was very much in part to out-of-the-box treatments that have come before with little success. I don't necessarily blame neurologists for having skepticism, but it runs so deep that they refuse to even look at research studies or believe anecdotal accounts. It's going to go away--that was my doctor's belief.

They think this is just another bee sting therapy. Yes, I've heard people relate improper drainage of blood away from the brain and spinal cord, the two locations of MS lesions, to bee sting therapy, ground peach pits for cancer and shark cartilage for ALS (the latter two were from a neurologist quoted in a newspaper article). Their logic does not make sense. We are talking about blood flow which is essential to sustaining the function of all our organs. How can they possibly equate that to bees and peaches?

It's a knee-jerk emotional response and not a sound medical one.

Thank you for your article.

Dawn

September 1. 2010 14:51

Thanks fort a great insight. I had been puzzled by my neurologist's views on CCSVI. He, supposedly a scientist, seems to be ignoring evidence in front of him. Paradigm shifts are always greeted with resistance from the so called authorities of the time - they were rough on Galileo too. But this is no comfort to the thousands of MS sufferers who continue to wait for vienoplasty to be accepted by the gatekeepers of our health care system.
"It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows."
Epictetus

John

September 1. 2010 16:02

In my initial posting regarding symptom exaggeration by multiple sclerosis patients I neglected to give reference to the background articles. In "Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics" an article published by Marcia Pavlou and Dusan Stefoski titled "Development of Somatizing Responses in Multiple Sclerosis" the abstract states: "Chronic medical illness may produce emotional stress of a variety which encourages the development of patterns of somatization. Discussed here are patterns of somatization in multiple sclerosis". And for a view of an MS patient who is also a physician I suggest reading "Journal of Medical Ethics" an article by Dr. Alexander Burnfield titled : Doctor-Patient Dilemmas in Multiple Sclerosis
On page 24 he mentions patients "who take to a wheelchair although they can still walk reasonably well". Later he states "because of difficulties involved in communicating subjective symptoms, some patients may hide or deny them, others may exaggerate their symptoms in an emotional way". He also mentions difficulties that may arise between the patient and doctor, when "eager for an explanation and cure, patients turn to 'quack' remedies or diets". Actually his article provides a good overview of issues that both patients and physicians face when dealing with the disease of MS.

Paul

September 1. 2010 16:05

I just want to thank you for caring about us msers. Its so true that our neuros dont want to believe that all their studies are being flushed down the toilet by doc Zamboni. But sometimes we have to suck it up and admit were wrong sometimes. We shouldnt have to suffer because they turn a blind eye! My neuro told me,"I heard about this before it hit the media, and its just something to do with opening veins.....crazy thinking thats all ". Basicallly that was the end of discussion! But until they feel our pain, they just cant understand why we are bending over backwards to get liberated! If it doesnt happen in Canada soon, then as soon as I can afford it......see ya! I will take things in my own hands like so many before me.........

Darrell

September 1. 2010 17:38

This Paul dude sounds just like a neuro I had dealt with. Hmmmmmm beware all. He is also a nay sayer.

Shirley Renshaw

September 1. 2010 17:49

Yes, this is a comment on a comment. The neigh-sayers seem now to be arguing that since they don't want to commit time, energy or money to vascular treatment of a vascular problem, and by coincidence patients have been convinced that they actually do feel better, their health difficulties (like paralysis, pain, and muscle fatigue - which foreshorten lives and make drooling vegetables out of healthy humans) are merely figments of their imaginations. So diagnoses of MS actually never even really happened; the patients imagined it. Well I have heard many arguments about MS, but this one takes the cake. It's great: pretend they never had any real disease at all.

So why does Stats Canada say on an average day more than one person dies of it? The answer is clear to me. They never had, or ever will have the non-disease which makes so many neurologists and fund-raisers and drug-peddlers so rich and powerful. MS is a diagnosis that cannot be made on live humans.

But CCSVI can. Studies are needed, all right. But they should concentrate on CCSVI. There cannot be a link to a disease that does not exist. All these vascular doctors have done is to prove that no matter what you call this, it is very successfully treatable by Liberation. The studies do not have to delay treatment. If there is no 'MS', Liberation has nothing to do with it. If you find a treatment for Malaria, you don't prevent use of the treatment until you know more about Malaria. The quest for human knowledge does in no way require that victims of any disease (Malaria OR C.C.S.V.I.) wait for treatment while we study the disease.

Now if only we could prove the MS Society and certain notable 'MS' experts don't exist either, they wouldn't be costing us so much money.

Chris Sullivan

September 1. 2010 18:35

Unfortunately, the MS Society and the Conservative Health Minister (along with other nefarious special-interest people) have set themselves up against governments of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Nova Scotia, PEI and New Brunswick. Does that not sound like an interesting George-Bush-loving way to split up a country? Good thing Canadians don't (yet) have to have passports at inter-provincial boundaries? Talk about distinct societies!

Also against all persons with a prior diagnosis of 'MS'. That's OK. We can still vote.

Chris Sullivan

September 1. 2010 22:29

@ Paul, what is your exact reasons for dismissing the vascular connection to MS, and what is your proof for supporting the autoimmune (unproven theory). For 4 decades the Neuro's have followed the autoimmune theory and still to this day there has been no antigen identified to continue on this path, no drug therapy to improve symptoms. It amazes me that Neuro's and certain societies think they own this disease and uniformly dismiss/withhold new hypothesis (especially NON DRUG treatments) at the expense of people who actually suffer from this disease.

Carol

September 2. 2010 03:26

How very depressing to realise we are all ultimately in the hands of such unimaginative "Health Experts." Fortunately my wife who is an M.S. sufferer will be going abroad tlo receive treatment, maybe we will find that it is only partially successful, then again we can hope for a full recovery, nevertheless it beats what has passed for treatment for at least the last hundred years after all, tell me in case I missed it. when was the last reported successfully treated M.S. patient.

Brian

September 2. 2010 03:52

Paul, the CIHR panel was so stacked with doctors that have spoken out in such a negative manner against CCSVI from the get go. 90% of that panel has conflict of interest in approving anything other than a drug based treatment. If it was intended to be fair, then they would have included doctors that have experience and knowledge with CCSVI testing and treatment like Dr. McDonald, Dr. Haacke, Dr. Hubbard etc. Mr. Beaudet admitted to Sandy McDonald that anyone with ties to supporting CCSVI was specifically excluded. That is just fundamentally wrong. The decision to disallow CCSVI testing and treatment studies was decided before that meeting ever took place.

Carol

September 2. 2010 08:25

Carol is absolutely right and I thank her for her comments. In addition to CCSVI supporters being excluded from the 26 August meeting, note that the MS Society funding for research does not include anyone who has spoken in favour of CCSVI. The research funding is going to neurologists who are against CCSVI and that is simply wrong. The MS Society is actively working against MS patients and the executive needs to go and the direction needs to change or the MS Society should cease to exist.

Linda

September 2. 2010 11:04

As a woman with who has had M.S. for over 20yrs., I am watching with interest, horror, disappointment, disgust as our government, the medical establishment and the M.S. society dismiss and degrade people like myself who have for the most part been ill used by the medical community for years. I and my spouse have been our own researchers and advocates in my battle with m.s., he has raised countless $$ for the M.S. society. No more, they have lost our respect and trust. 'The government I never trusted to begin with, along with Big Pharma, and some incredibly arrogant doctors who told me i was nervous, worried too much, blah blah blah. When have persons with M.S. become second class citizens? The lack of leadership by both Ontario and Ottawa is sadly to be expected, wait until the next election to see the backtracking and double talk start.

sherry

September 2. 2010 13:55

What the hell is going on here in Ontario. September 1, 2010 Star headline “Living life in a sleeper hold” Paul Stock having to spend his $20,000.00 inheritance to go to India to get CCSVI treatment. He is one of hundreds of MS sufferers having to do this. I don’t get it, and Ontario is still refusing to go ahead with clinical trials. They keep saying NOT enough scientific evidence – WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN? Is there something they are not telling us....will I die if I get my veins opened like they are supposed to be? So, yes, like any other medical procedure each individual must be checked over before having anything done to them.
You can go on Facebook, YouTube or just Google MS CCSVI to find testimonial after testimonial of successful procedures. I have also read some that are not as positive as others and that can seem pointless to some but if you are an MS sufferer any small improvement can be HUGE, so not a waste at all.
I am beyond frustrated with the so called “Medical people” stalling the CCSVI testing in Ontario. I am in a wheelchair and have been living with Multiple Sclerosis for over 30 years. My disease has been very difficult for me and my family members to live with. When I heard about Dr. Zamboni’s CCSVI back in November of 2009, I was elated that this would go ahead because it seemed so simple – NO DRUGS which means the drug companies would lose a lot of money. Injectable drugs like Copaxone, Bateseron, and Avonex cost roughly $2,500.00/month. The above mentioned article stated there are approximately 75,000 Canadians with MS. Now, if half of those people are on such drugs all costing about the same per month, well, you do the math. (That could be the major reason for the delay right there – the lose to the drug companies).
I was tested with the correct Doppler ultra sound and have the tightened and twisted veins in my neck and chest with blood flowing in the wrong direction. This is NOT NORMAL. If this had been discovered because of say, bad headaches, it might have been fixed by angioplasty. BUT because I have MS I cannot have it fixed(in Canada). I have to travel half way around the world and pay tens of thousands of dollars to correct something that can easily be performed in Canada. This is not right. Seriously, what is wrong with this scenario?
I don’t care if this is the cause of my MS or not. If I get back sensations that I haven’t had in 30 years, if it stops the tremors in my legs and feet, constant pins and needles and countless other issues, what is the harm?
There is a group called WorldMedAssist. at http://www.worldmedassist.com located in Concord, California, who will arrange your flight and medical procedure in the location of your choice. Mexico is closer to home and a bit cheaper. They sent me the doctor’s background and medical degrees, breakdown of the procedure cost and accommodations. I have read testimonials from people who have returned from Mexico with rave reviews.
The only way for me to get this much wanted and needed procedure done is to fundraise as there is no (as far as I know) Government OHIP or MS Scociety assistance available.

Susan Thompson

September 3. 2010 22:43

Dr. Brandes,

Thank You for your careful monitoring and careful consideration of the travesty happening in Canada regarding CCSVI. I implore you and the CTV staff to check out the homework done on the memebers of the "Advisory Panel" to the Canadian Institute of Health Research. So many have such drastic conflicts of interest, totalling in the multi-millions of dollars they have received for their own MS research. There is a story here unlike many we have heard in Canadian Health and I hope your staff investigate to the fullest extent possible. Check out CCSVI Facebook and you will find the conflicts of interest posted by its members today.
Patrick

Patrick Oleary

September 14. 2010 20:52

There is something going on in Canada in regards to Lyme disease and MS. The government is conducting a study about why so many people are being tested for MS and it's in relation to Lyme disease. The very fact that they are being so sneaky about Lyme and also about the Liberation surgery should tell everyone that they (meaning both the government and the College of Physicians and Surgeons) are likely hiding something. What is likely is that many people have been diagnosed with MS who actually have Lyme. The definitive sign, the bullseye rash, would exclude them from being tested for MS, but not many people see the bulls-eye rash. They aren't telling their doctors about it if they have it - they're telling them about the neurological symptoms that Lyme disease causes, which leads (in the absence of the rash) to testing for MS, which is what the government is investigating. The College of Physicians and Surgeons has a 3 billion dollar fund (taxpayers have provided that) that defends doctors against any law suits - they obviously don't want that fund drained by the lawsuits that would undoubtedly arise from this fiasco, if it were true.

Jenny

October 4. 2010 17:29

The negative attitudes from Doctors seem to be here in Canada & the US . I have family in Venezuela and they seem to be all for it. My family has friends who are doctors. The media also seems to be all for it. Europe seems to be all for it too.
I just want to know why it is that Canada & the US are acting they way they are?
What is going on here?
Someone really needs to look into that.
Thank you.

Maria

October 27. 2010 01:49

I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis back in 1983. I can hardly walk now and it seems my condition worsens every day. When I first heard about the Liberation procedure and its results from a friend, I thought United States would be the first to conduct the trials. I could never imagine the corruption involved. I ended up applying for this simple procedure in Poland and waiting.. The other options were to get it done in India. After researching the internet extensively, I came across http://www.ccsviclinic.ca/ . They are screening for CCSVI in Fargo, ND and have very affordable packages for the Liberation procedure in India. I called (404)461-9560 and spoke to their nurse administrator Lisa whose priceless support made me realize that we are not alone in the fight against MS. They are screening within the US and Canada, their medical travel package includes flight arrangements and help with the visas, world class accommodation and meals within their hospitals, the liberation procedure, a stent if needed, medications necessary, a site-seeing tour, Pre-and post-procedure supervision, Full medical file including copies of charts, screens, CDs of Venograms, blood work, EKGs, etc. Post Procedure Screenings, follow-up and consultation with surgeons for the next 6 months and so many other provisions Lisa told me about, I can’t recall however you might be able to find out more on their site.. http://ccsviclinic.ca/?page_id=564 . They are providing all of this at just $13000 as compared to the other companies that charge something like $20000 just for the procedure. You may also contact Lisa by emailing her at apply@ccsviclinic.ca or calling her on (404)461-9560. I am getting liberated mid-October and I am so very thankful to everyone at CCSVI Clinic for making this happen!

rebeca watson

November 21. 2010 06:46

The bottom line is that there is the fact that Big Pharma will lose untold BILLIONS OF DOLLARS if this procedure is allowed to continue. Be prepared to see more and more negative articles concerning the procedure with key elements left out of the story -- as with the latest death linked to this procedure. Early stories failed to mention that the Niagara Falls man had a variation of the surgery not recommended by the Italian doctor or that the man developed complications here at home (Canada) and was refused follow-up care -- he HAD to return to Costa Rica. As far as I'm concerned, the doctors in his home province may as well have murdered him with a gun for they are certainly guilty of his death. What is the first oath a doctor takes? Do no harm? Well, aside from the fact that MS patients give a lot of doctors a pay cheque by being ill, they also are sick and the doctor is the only one who can help these poor victims, right? They don't take too kindly to a medical procedure that wipes out all of their "power" as the head wizard in the neuro realms. Then there are the doctors that are being paid by Big Pharma and work hard to keep things at the status quo. This procedure has been around longer than a year, but the power of the pharmaceuticals have kept a rather slippery lid on the whole thing. Were it not for the internet, I believe that the Italian doctor would have had an "accident" by now.

I'm not out to bash doctors, but they are, by nature, arrogant and bordering on psychopathy. Add money and power to the mix and it is a no-win situation for victims of MS. My physician is one of the most brilliant men I have ever had the good fortune to know. Unfortunately, he has MS. Due to circumstances in his background, I am convinced that this procedure would work for him. However, he cannot have it done. If he does, then he would most likely lose the right to continue to practice medicine even having it done outside Canada. There is also the cost. Due to relapses of MS, he has had to take time off -- without pay because physicians in our province do not have any kind of health or sick leave -- so he is not financially well-off. I cannot even suggest fund raising for this man as it would destroy his career. It isn't fair and I cannot wrap my head around the frustration and anger I know I would be feeling if I was in his shoes. And what is worse is that he knows that it all boils down to politics, money and power players.

What will it take for Canadians to realize that we are not getting what we are paying for? Supposedly our health care system is the envy of the world, but this CCSVI debacle is clearly showing that we are owned by Big Pharma -- a faceless entity that is not elected by us nor accountable to us. It isn't a conspiracy theory -- it is simply an acknowledgement of facts. Someone said that the medicine bought by MS patients in North America is responsible for about $8 BILLION dollars profit a year for pharmaceutical companies. If anyone doubts that money is behind the push to bury this treatment, then you have to believe that no one is concerned about losing the MS patient market and the billions of dollars profit.

Me? I know that all that counts in this world is money -- how much you have, how you keep it and how you get more. Nothing else matters. And so, MS victims must slowly die each day and know that the possibility of a cure will forever remain out of their reach. The right thing to do is fund the research on a fast track, treat people who match the exact criteria for the surgery, and move on it.

But Canada won't do that. Money talks. MS patients get sick and die.

The dead don't vote and the dead don't pay taxes.

At the end of the day, that's all that really matters, isn't it?

Gabriel

January 3. 2011 17:01

It is estimated that the failure rate of the “liberation therapy” may be 50% or higher, even through the most experienced and best-known surgeons in Poland and Albany, NY. As more and more people receive the therapy there is growing concern amongst patients that the procedure needs to include a post-procedure protocol that is more effective than simply releasing the patient from the hospital or clinic within hours or a day of the procedure.
CCSVI Clinic Physicians have applied for an International Ethics Board study approval entitled: “PROSPECTIVE, OPEN-LABEL STUDY OF THE SAFETY, EFFICACY AND RE-STENOSIS RATES IN MS PATIENTS WITH CCSVI UNDERGOING ENDOVASCULAR TREATMENT WHO RECEIVE AN ENHANCED HOSPITAL AFTERCARE PROTOCOL. Important previous studies on non-MS patients who have had the same venous angioplasty indicate that it’s critical to position and movement control patients post-procedure, monitor them for days afterward in the hospital with various imaging techniques, and re-treat if necessary. CCSVI Clinic is already sponsoring patients for this protocol with a 10-day stay in the hospital where patients will be imaged daily, post procedure. If there is evidence of re-occlusion, they will be taken back to the OR and re-treated. Past studies of non-MS patients with the same venous blockages have noted a cascade of failure points distally in venous vessels post angioplasty, and the hypothesis proposes that the study on MS patients will produce the same results. Once home, patients will be screened and interviewed at regular intervals by CCSVI Clinic Physician Researchers for several years after the treatment to study the changes and make comparisons between those who have followed the protocol and others who have had the procedure on an outpatient basis.
It should be mentioned that our research is under much scrutiny and attack from elements that are trying to control the industry and the dialogue. A well-organized campaign to discredit CCSVI Clinic and our research is underway in the social media. We would ask you to have the independence of thought to see through their campaign of deceit.
Regular research updates will be published on the CCSVI Clinic website http://www.ccsviclinic.ca/ . Questions about participation may be directed toward the CCSVI Clinic administration at 1-888-419-6855.

Ccsvi Clinic

January 10. 2011 15:13

There is a difference between responsible reporting and what Melissa Martin chose to write about the CCSVI Clinic in this article. She was in possession of factual information and documents that put the CCSVI Clinic in a favorable light but chose to withhold the information she received from the physicains and researchers at CCSVI Clinic that would have conflicted with her agenda to smear our reputation in order to sensationalize her story. At no time did anyone from the CCSVI Clinic pressure patients into going to India for the Liberation Procedure. She should have considered that the one single person who made that claim clearly had her own agenda because she was disheartened by her 'borderline' results. We simply provide information to people about our enhanced hospital stay and aftercare program should a patient decide to have the procedure. You can't pressure someone to make an important decision about their health and all of our literature clearly states that. These MS patients are more knowledgeable about the CCSVI condition and about the options for treatment than most physicians are. To suggest that they can be pressured into a decision to have the procedure done in India is ludicrous. Patients who have signed up to be part of our open-ended study on the safety and efficacy of an enhanced aftercare protocol to reduce the rate of re-stenosis versus having the procedure on an outpatient basis (which may be contributing to long term failure of the procedure) have done so to ensure that they are getting the best care possible and because they want to be part of the important work we are doing for MS patients. http://www.ccsviclinic.ca/

Lisa Chapil

June 27. 2011 10:33

After 6 months of offering stem cell therapy in combination with the venous angioplasty liberation procedure, patients of CCSVI Clinic have reported excellent health outcomes. Ms. Kasma Gianopoulos of Athens Greece, who was diagnosed with the Relapsing/Remitting form of MS in 1997 called the combination of treatments a “cure”. “I feel I am completely cured” says Ms. Gianopoulos, “my symptoms have disappeared and I have a recovery of many functions, notably my balance and my muscle strength is all coming (back). Even after six months, I feel like there are good changes happening almost every day. Before, my biggest fear was that the changes wouldn’t (hold). I don’t even worry about having a relapse anymore. I’m looking forward to a normal life with my family. I think I would call that a miracle.”

Other recent MS patients who have had Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation (ASCT), or stem cell therapy have posted videos and comments on YouTube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFQr2eqm3Cg.

Dr. Avneesh Gupte, the Neurosurgeon at Noble Hospital performing the procedure has been encouraged by results in Cerebral Palsy patients as well. “We are fortunate to be able to offer the treatment because not every hospital is able to perform these types of transplants. You must have the specialized medical equipment and specially trained doctors and nurses”. With regard to MS patients, “We are cautious, but nevertheless excited by what patients are telling us. Suffice to say that the few patients who have had the therapy through us are noticing recovery of neuro deficits beyond what the venous angioplasty only should account for”.

Dr. Unmesh of Noble continues: “These are early days and certainly all evidence that the combination of liberation and stem cell therapies working together at this point is anecdotal. However I am not aware of other medical facilities in the world that offer the synthesis of both to MS patients on an approved basis and it is indeed a rare opportunity for MS patients to take advantage of a treatment that is quite possibly unique in the world”.

Autologous stem cell transplantation is a procedure by which blood-forming stem cells are removed, and later injected back into the patient. All stem cells are taken from the patient themselves and cultured for later injection. In the case of a bone marrow transplant, the HSC are typically removed from the Pelvis through a large needle that can reach into the bone. The technique is referred to as a bone marrow harvest and is performed under a general anesthesia. The incidence of patients experiencing rejection is rare due to the donor and recipient being the same individual.This remains the only approved method of the SCT therapy. For more information visit http://ccsviclinic.ca/?p=838

jessica forester

July 21. 2011 09:39

“Unnecessary risks are being taken by patients seeking the liberation treatment.” says Dr. Avneesh Gupte of the CCSVI Clinic. “It has been our contention since we started doing minimally invasive venous angioplasties nearly 6 years ago that discharging patients who have had neck vein surgery on an outpatient basis is contra-indicated. We have been keeping patients hospitalized for a week to 10 days as a matter of safety and monitoring them for symptoms. Nobody who has the liberation therapy gets discharged earlier than that. During that time we do daily Doppler Ultrasounds, blood work and blood pressure monitoring among other testing. This has been the safe practice standard that we have adopted and this post-procedure monitoring over 10 days is the subject of our recent study as it relates to CCSVI for MS patients.”
Although the venous angioplasty therapy on neck veins has been done for MS patients at CCSVI Clinic only for the last 18 months it has been performed on narrow or occluded neck veins for other reasons for many years. “Where we encounter blocked neck veins resulting in a reflux of blood to the brain, we treat it as a disease,” says Gupte. “It’s not normal pathology and we have seen improved health outcomes for patients where we have relieved the condition with minimal occurrences of re-stenosis long-term. We believe that our record of safety and success is due to our post-procedure protocol because we have had to take patients back to the OR to re-treat them in that 10-day period. Otherwise some people could have run into trouble, no question.”
Calgary MS patient Maralyn Clarke died recently after being treated for CCSVI at Synergy Health Concepts of Newport Beach, California on an outpatient basis. Synergy Health Concepts discharges patients as a rule without in-clinic provisions for follow up and aftercare. Post-procedure, Mrs. Clarke was discharged, checked into a hotel, and suffered a massive bleed in the brain only hours after the procedure. Dr. Joseph Hewett of Synergy Health recently made a cross-Canada tour promoting his clinic for safe, effective treatment of CCSVI for MS patients at public forums in major Canadian cities including Calgary.
“That just couldn’t happen here, but the sooner we develop written standards and best practices for the liberation procedure and observe them in practice, the safer the MS community will be”, says Dr. Gupte. “The way it is now is just madness. Everyone seems to be taking shortcuts. We know that it is expensive to keep patients in a clinical setting over a single night much less 10 days, but it’s quite absurd to release them the same day they have the procedure. We have always believed it to be unsafe and now it has proven to be unsafe. The thing is, are Synergy Health Concepts and other clinics doing the Liberation Treatment going to be changing their aftercare methods even though they know it is unsafe to release a patient on the same day? The answer is no, even after Mrs. Clarke’s unfortunate and unnecessary death. Therefore, they are not focused on patient safety…it’s become about money only and lives are being put at risk as a result.”
Joanne Warkentin of Morden Manitoba, an MS patient who recently had both the liberation therapy and stem cell therapy at CCSVI Clinic agrees with Dr. Gupte. “Discharging patients on the same day as the procedure is
ridiculous. I was in the hospital being monitored for 12 days before we flew back. People looking for a place to have the therapy must do their homework to find better options. We found CCSVI Clinic and there’s no place on earth that’s better to go for Liberation Therapy at the moment. I have given my complete medical file from CCSVI Clinic over to my Canadian physician for review.” For more information Log on to http://ccsviclinic.ca/?p=866 OR Call on: +1 (404) 461-9560.

Robert Taylor

March 1. 2012 05:03

While US courts conduct legal battles over the ethics of stem cell research and Big Pharma shuts down clinical trials citing ‘tighter budgets’, North Americans wait for solid proof of stem cell efficacy for many disease conditions. Health organizations such as the National Cancer Institute issue continual warnings about lack of proof for stem cell therapy. National media shows like CBSs’ 60 Minutes, paid for by their advertisers that include Big Pharma, perform razor-sharp hatchet jobs on those quack clinics doing fake stem cell therapy, but in the process paint every other clinic everywhere doing stem cell research and therapy with the same brush.
In the meantime, medical institutions in other countries plough along with research from trials that not only provide good evidence on the safety of stem cells, but also their efficacy for many disease conditions with autoimmune causes. For example, the current accepted treatment strategies for MS are only known to decrease inflammation but have no effect on repairing material damage to the CNS, effectively reversing the disease. What isn’t yet accepted in the medical community is that stem cell transplantation demonstrates a new approach for supporting restoration of tissue through remyelination. Through multiple clinical trials that have already proceeded to phase III, it has been well-established that mesenchymal stem cells moderate responses of the disease and stimulate repair of the central nervous system. In these studies, adult autologous mesenchymal stem cells have not only been safely administered to MS patients but have proven effective as a potential therapy for MS. Approved Clinical Trials involving small numbers of patients have occurred for the past half decade in medical centers outside of North America. As a result, various medical treatment centers have already derived protocols for extraction, culture, and treatment of MS patients with autologous stem cells. A review of popular medical journals actually reveals a widespread consensus on the efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation as a therapy for MS patients.
After 18 months of treating MS patients, CCSVI Clinic is well along with its program. “Success means different things to different people, but I’d say we’ve had much more than we could have hoped for when we first started.” says Dr. Avneesh Gupte, Neurosurgeon with CCSVI Clinic. “For the past year we’ve been adding autologous mesenchymal stem cell transplantation to the liberation therapy procedure and that’s when we really started to notice a significant change in patient outcomes”. Autologous Mesenchymal stem cell transplantation (AMSCT) means that the stem cells are taken from the patient’s own body and are cultured prior to transplantation at various times over an extended period. With the patient as the donor, there is no risk of transplantation leading to cancer as opposed to the risks of transplanting embryonic stem cells. AMSCT is now regularly used in North America for the treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma as well as other diseases with remarkable results including cure for many patients. “If it works for some diseases, is safe and well-tolerated by the patient, then why not other diseases? We believe that Multiple Sclerosis can now be added to that list.” says Gupte.
In the past four years Gupte has performed over 1500 autologous stem cell transplantations for many types of neuro-degenerative diseases, including MS, cerebral palsy, ALS, Crohn’s Disease, Huntington’s, and Parkinson’s among others.
For the past year, CCSVI Clinic has not done the ‘liberation therapy’ for MS alone without the combined stem cell transplantation in the same 12-day protocol sequence. “Once we saw how dramatic and long-lasting the outcomes were with the addition of the stem cells, it didn’t make sense to do it any other way.” says Gupte. Most MS patients would agree. Lawrence Vermeersch of Kenora, Canada is convinced that it’s the stem cells that are continuing to make the difference in his recovery. “I’m thinking it will take a year to full recovery, but I’m continuing to improve every day.”
Jessica Davis, diagnosed with MS in 2003, of Somerset, UK agrees: “I have my life back thanks to CCSVI Clinic and it’s the best thing I ever did for myself. They weren’t easy to find but I did my homework.” She continues: “I had to be my own advocate for both liberation therapy and the stem cells because I got no help from my own neurologist. From the day I was diagnosed, my MS was aggressive. I didn’t have much time to take action before I would get to the point where just getting out of the flat would become impossible. I was using a cane and so tired all the time. After the 12 days at CCSVI Clinic, the first thing that cleared up was the head fog and my (incontinence) and the rest has come back over the past six months. I am working again and I consider myself cured.”
“These are typical stories for all types of neuro-degenerative diseases we are treating through CCSVI Clinic. At least with MS we are seeing significant improvement in many patients and I believe this trend of outcomes will continue” says Gupte. “We have also had some significantly positive outcomes with ALS and (cerebral) palsy. With the results we have seen in the past year, I think that the promise of stem cells is coming closer to matching the reality.” For more details visit http://ccsviclinic.ca/

Melissa Lessie

March 12. 2012 04:03

Stem cells are “non-specialized” cells that have the potential to form into other types of specific cells, such as blood, muscles or nerves. They are unlike "differentiated" cells which have already become whatever organ or structure they are in the body. Stem cells are present throughout our body, but more abundant in a fetus.
Medical researchers and scientists believe that stem cell therapy will, in the near future, advance medicine dramatically and change the course of disease treatment. This is because stem cells have the ability to grow into any kind of cell and, if transplanted into the body, will relocate to the damaged tissue, replacing it. For example, neural cells in the spinal cord, brain, optic nerves, or other parts of the central nervous system that have been injured can be replaced by injected stem cells. Various stem cell therapies are already practiced, a popular one being bone marrow transplants that are used to treat leukemia. In theory and in fact, lifeless cells anywhere in the body, no matter what the cause of the disease or injury, can be replaced with vigorous new cells because of the remarkable plasticity of stem cells. Biomed companies predict that with all of the research activity in stem cell therapy currently being directed toward the technology, a wider range of disease types including cancer, diabetes, spinal cord injury, and even multiple sclerosis will be effectively treated in the future. Recently announced trials are now underway to study both safety and efficacy of autologous stem cell transplantation in MS patients because of promising early results from previous trials.
History
Research into stem cells grew out of the findings of two Canadian researchers, Dr’s James Till and Ernest McCulloch at the University of Toronto in 1961. They were the first to publish their experimental results into the existence of stem cells in a scientific journal. Till and McCulloch documented the way in which embryonic stem cells differentiate themselves to become mature cell tissue. Their discovery opened the door for others to develop the first medical use of stem cells in bone marrow transplantation for leukemia. Over the next 50 years their early work has led to our current state of medical practice where modern science believes that new treatments for chronic diseases including MS, diabetes, spinal cord injuries and many more disease conditions are just around the corner.
There are a number of sources of stem cells, namely, adult cells generally extracted from bone marrow, cord cells, extracted during pregnancy and cryogenically stored, and embryonic cells, extracted from an embryo before the cells start to differentiate. As to source and method of acquiring stem cells, harvesting autologous adult cells entails the least risk and controversy.
Autologous stem cells are obtained from the patient’s own body; and since they are the patient’s own, autologous cells are better than both cord and embryonic sources as they perfectly match the patient’s own DNA, meaning that they will never be rejected by the patient’s immune system. Autologous transplantation is now happening therapeutically at several major sites world-wide and more studies on both safety and efficacy are finally being announced. With so many unrealized expectations of stem cell therapy, results to date have been both significant and hopeful, if taking longer than anticipated.
What’s been the Holdup?
Up until recently, there have been intense ethical debates about stem cells and even the studies that researchers have been allowed to do. This is because research methodology was primarily concerned with embryonic stem cells, which until recently required an aborted fetus as a source of stem cells. The topic became very much a moral dilemma and research was held up for many years in the US and Canada while political debates turned into restrictive legislation. Other countries were not as inflexible and many important research studies have been taking place elsewhere. Thankfully embryonic stem cells no longer have to be used as much more advanced and preferred methods have superseded the older technologies. While the length of time that promising research has been on hold has led many to wonder if stem cell therapy will ever be a reality for many disease types, the disputes have led to a number of important improvements in the medical technology that in the end, have satisfied both sides of the ethical issue.
CCSVI Clinic
CCSVI Clinic has been on the leading edge of MS treatment for the past several years. We are the only group facilitating the treatment of MS patients requiring a 10-day patient aftercare protocol following neck venous angioplasty that includes daily ultrasonography and other significant therapeutic features for the period including follow-up surgeries if indicated. There is a strict safety protocol, the results of which are the subject of an approved IRB study. The goal is to derive best practice standards from the data. With the addition of ASC transplantation, our research group has now preparing application for member status in International Cellular Medicine Society (ICMS), the globally-active non-profit organization dedicated to the improvement of cell-based medical therapies through education of physicians and researchers, patient safety, and creating universal standards. For more information please visit http://www.neurosurgeonindia.org/

Leo Voisey

March 15. 2012 02:26

Stem cells are “non-specialized” cells that have the potential to form into other types of specific cells, such as blood, muscles or nerves. They are unlike "differentiated" cells which have already become whatever organ or structure they are in the body. Stem cells are present throughout our body, but more abundant in a fetus.
Medical researchers and scientists believe that stem cell therapy will, in the near future, advance medicine dramatically and change the course of disease treatment. This is because stem cells have the ability to grow into any kind of cell and, if transplanted into the body, will relocate to the damaged tissue, replacing it. For example, neural cells in the spinal cord, brain, optic nerves, or other parts of the central nervous system that have been injured can be replaced by injected stem cells. Various stem cell therapies are already practiced, a popular one being bone marrow transplants that are used to treat leukemia. In theory and in fact, lifeless cells anywhere in the body, no matter what the cause of the disease or injury, can be replaced with vigorous new cells because of the remarkable plasticity of stem cells. Biomed companies predict that with all of the research activity in stem cell therapy currently being directed toward the technology, a wider range of disease types including cancer, diabetes, spinal cord injury, and even multiple sclerosis will be effectively treated in the future. Recently announced trials are now underway to study both safety and efficacy of autologous stem cell transplantation in MS patients because of promising early results from previous trials.
History
Research into stem cells grew out of the findings of two Canadian researchers, Dr’s James Till and Ernest McCulloch at the University of Toronto in 1961. They were the first to publish their experimental results into the existence of stem cells in a scientific journal. Till and McCulloch documented the way in which embryonic stem cells differentiate themselves to become mature cell tissue. Their discovery opened the door for others to develop the first medical use of stem cells in bone marrow transplantation for leukemia. Over the next 50 years their early work has led to our current state of medical practice where modern science believes that new treatments for chronic diseases including MS, diabetes, spinal cord injuries and many more disease conditions are just around the corner.
There are a number of sources of stem cells, namely, adult cells generally extracted from bone marrow, cord cells, extracted during pregnancy and cryogenically stored, and embryonic cells, extracted from an embryo before the cells start to differentiate. As to source and method of acquiring stem cells, harvesting autologous adult cells entails the least risk and controversy.
Autologous stem cells are obtained from the patient’s own body; and since they are the patient’s own, autologous cells are better than both cord and embryonic sources as they perfectly match the patient’s own DNA, meaning that they will never be rejected by the patient’s immune system. Autologous transplantation is now happening therapeutically at several major sites world-wide and more studies on both safety and efficacy are finally being announced. With so many unrealized expectations of stem cell therapy, results to date have been both significant and hopeful, if taking longer than anticipated.
What’s been the Holdup?
Up until recently, there have been intense ethical debates about stem cells and even the studies that researchers have been allowed to do. This is because research methodology was primarily concerned with embryonic stem cells, which until recently required an aborted fetus as a source of stem cells. The topic became very much a moral dilemma and research was held up for many years in the US and Canada while political debates turned into restrictive legislation. Other countries were not as inflexible and many important research studies have been taking place elsewhere. Thankfully embryonic stem cells no longer have to be used as much more advanced and preferred methods have superseded the older technologies. While the length of time that promising research has been on hold has led many to wonder if stem cell therapy will ever be a reality for many disease types, the disputes have led to a number of important improvements in the medical technology that in the end, have satisfied both sides of the ethical issue.
CCSVI Clinic
CCSVI Clinic has been on the leading edge of MS treatment for the past several years. We are the only group facilitating the treatment of MS patients requiring a 10-day patient aftercare protocol following neck venous angioplasty that includes daily ultrasonography and other significant therapeutic features for the period including follow-up surgeries if indicated. There is a strict safety protocol, the results of which are the subject of an approved IRB study. The goal is to derive best practice standards from the data. With the addition of ASC transplantation, our research group has now preparing application for member status in International Cellular Medicine Society (ICMS), the globally-active non-profit organization dedicated to the improvement of cell-based medical therapies through education of physicians and researchers, patient safety, and creating universal standards. For more information please visit http://www.theprofitron.com/bic/

Leo Voisey