This interesting study aims to evaluate functional changes on subjects after the administration of mesenchymal and neural stem cells. The progress will be measured at baseline and multiple points within the study using the United States National Institute of Health Stroke Score (NIHSS), Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale-39 (SAQCOL-39) and the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination (BDAE) neuropsychological evaluation for diagnosis.The study will hopefully gain information to evaluate the safety and tolerance of the treatments, and indicate whether they are useful in improving functionality. If so, it would be an incredibly beneficial in the treatment of low level aphasic patients.
Excerpt from the article:
“Novastem, a leader in regenerative medicine, recently announced the treatment of its first patient in its study for ischemic stroke at Clinica Santa Clarita. According to the American Stroke Association, ischemic strokes account for 87% of all stroke cases. Novastem continues to enroll qualified patients in the study, entitled “Internal Research Protocol in Combination Therapy of Intravenous Administration of Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Intrathecal Administration of Neural Stem Cells in Patients with Motor Aphasia due to Ischemic Stroke.” All participants receive a unique, combination therapy using a method covered by a United States patent owned by Stemedica Cell Technologies for the therapeutic use of its allogeneic, ischemia-tolerant mesenchymal and neural stem cells.”
“Novastem and Clinica Santa Clarita are committed to advancing the research of neurodegenerative disease, and we are pleased to be working with internationally-recognized physician Clemente Humberto Zuniga Gil, MD, as the principal investigator and study designer,” said Rafael Carrillo, Novastem’s president. “Our medical team believes that Stemedica’s mesenchymal and neural stem cells, used in this unique combination therapy, will restore and build new vascularization, improve the blood supply, reconnect damaged neural networks and improve functionality of areas affected by our patients’ ischemic stroke.”