David A. Steenblock, D.O.

Inc
Personalized Regenerative Medicine

Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease (PD) refers to a group of conditions called motor system disorders,
which are the end result of the die-off of dopamine-producing cells in an area of the brain
that includes the substantia nigra. It is a variably progressive disease that is typically
characterized by tremor or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face; stiffness or
rigidity of the limbs and trunk; slowness when it comes to getting around or moving
about; and impaired balance and coordination. As the disease progresses sufferers may
experience difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple routine tasks. In
addition, some sufferers experience depression and other emotional changes; difficulty
swallowing, chewing, and speaking; incontinence or conversely, constipation; various
kinds of skin issues; and sleep disruptions or disturbances.

Parkinson's disease usually affects people over the age of fifty (50) with the early
symptoms being typically subtle and gradual in nature. In some folks it progresses more
quickly than in others. The suspected triggers of this insidious disease are many and
varied and include genetic factors and exposure to specific pesticides. One medical
innovator, Dr. David Steenblock, has fingered a number of hitherto overlooked or under-
examined players in PD which he discusses in this thought provoking article.

Currently, there is no cure for PD, though a variety of drugs exist that confer sometimes
dramatic relief from the disconcerting symptoms. Most patients are placed on (levodopa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levodopa) which the brain uses to make the neurotransmitter
dopamine, and carbidopa which slows the conversion of levodopa into dopamine until
it reaches the brain. Although levodopa is beneficial in about 75% of PD patients, not all
symptoms respond equally to the drug. Slowness of movement (Bradykinesia) and
rigidity respond best, while tremor may only be nominally impacted. Balance issues and
other symptoms may not be helped at all. A class of drugs called anticholinergics helps
some PD patients manage tremor and rigidity. Drugs such as bromocriptine,
pramipexole, and ropinirole can help too, owed to the fact they all mimic the role of
dopamine in the brain and by so doing cause neurons to react as they would to the actual
neurotransmitter itself. During May 2006, the FDA approved rasagiline for use with
levodopa for patients with advanced PD or as a single-drug treatment measure for early
PD.

Some PD sufferers who do not respond adequately to pharmaceutical or other treatments

benefit from deep brain stimulation (DBS), which enjoys FDA approval. In DBS,
electrodes are implanted into the brain and hooked up to a small electrical device called a
pulse generator that is externally programmable. DBS can reduce reliance on levodopa
and related drugs, which in turn decreases involuntary movements called dyskinesias that
are a common side effect of this drug. It also reduces tremors, slowness of movements,
and gait issues.

PD is both chronic and progressive in nature, meaning its symptoms tend to grow worse
with the passage of time. Although some sufferers become severely disabled, others
wrestle with only minor motor disruptions. Tremor is the principle symptom for some
patients, while others experience little of this but may experience other symptoms that are
more troublesome. No one can yet precisely predict which symptoms will affect
individual patients and to what degree over time.

The question arises: What, if anything, can extant forms of stem therapies afford PD
sufferers? On the one hand, published research points to lots of promise, yes but little in
terms of definitive studies or such. On the other, powerful anecdotal evidence has
emerged that suggests that specific adult stem cell treatment approaches can confer
tremendous benefits to PD sufferers. Dr. David Steenblock (mentioned previously) has,
in fact, come up with a treatment protocol including legal use of a PD patient's own bone
marrow that is fast racking up clinical successes. The highpoints of this novel clinical
approach are as follows:

- Following a comprehensive physical from their personal physician, patients inject an

FDA approved stem cell mobilizing drug over a specific period of time prior to getting a
bone marrow transplant.

- After the patient has finished the injections, he or she comes to Dr. Steenblock's
Clinic where they get five (5) daily IV infusions of stem cell activating factors.

- At a specific point-in-time after their last injection of the FDA approved stem cell
mobilizing drug mentioned above, they again use this drug to increase the number of
hematopoietic stem cells in the blood.

- Next, the patient has the bone marrow harvesting followed by its infusion by IV drip,
in tandem with injections of a proprietary blend of FDA approved stem cell mobilizing
drugs followed by forty-five (45) minutes of intermittent hypoxia, Functional
electrical stimulation and Whole Body Periodic Acceleration Therapy.

- The combination of intermittent hypoxia, Functional electrical stimulation and

Whole Body Periodic Acceleration Therapy is done every day while patients are at
Dr. Steenblock's clinic, always on the heels of daily IV drip infusions of stem cell
activating factors. This regimen is geared to mobilize a patient's own stem cells and to
both increase levels of VEGF and dilate blood vessels via increased Nitric Oxide
production.
 Readers interested in learning more about Dr. Steenblock and his leading edge treatment
for PD are invited to call his clinic at 1-949-367-8870 or use this on-line contact form
which can be readily accessed by clicking this link.

It should be noted that at least a modicum of research has accrued suggesting that
umbilical cord blood derived stem cells can impact PD. Click this link to access some
of these studies.

StemCell.MD works with clinics in Mexico that have been successfully employing adult
(non-embryonic) stem cell treatments for Parkinson's disease for many years now,
primarily human umbilical cord derived cells. Their case history evidence of efficacy
includes many impressive responses and date back many years. You can learn more by
calling 1-800-288-7016 (8 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. If you call before or after business
hours, please leave a message and someone on StemCell.MD's staff will get back to you
as soon as possible) or e-mailing us at info@stemcell.md.

Tel:(949) 367-8870 ~ Fax:(949) 367-9779 ~ Toll Free: 1-800-900-1063

26381 Crown Valley Parkway, Suite 130 ~ Mission Viejo, California 92691 ~ WWW.STEMCELL.MD