What is Septo-Optic Dysplasia?
Septo-optic dysplasia (SOD) is a rare disorder characterized by abnormal development of the optic disk, pituitary deficiencies, and often agenesis (absence) of the septum pellucidum (the part of the brain that separates the anterior horns or the lateral ventricles of the brain). Symptoms may include blindness in one or both eyes, pupil dilation in response to light, nystagmus (a rapid, involuntary to-and-fro movement of the eyes), inward and outward deviation of the eyes, hypotonia (low muscle tone), and hormonal problems. Seizures may also occur. In a few cases, jaundice (prolonged yellow skin discoloration) may occur at birth. Intellectual problems vary in severity among individuals. While some children with SOD have normal intelligence, others have learning disabilities and mental retardation. Most, however, are developmentally delayed due to vision impairment or neurological problems.
Is there any treatment?
What is the prognosis?
What research is being done?
| Stem Cells |  |
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Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types. Working as a sort of repair system for the body, they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells, at the sole condition that the receiving person is alive. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.
Stem Cells Preparation Umbilical cord blood from healthy full term newborns with healthy mothers is the only source of Beike’s stem cells.
Given the woman’s consents to donate her umbilical cord, immediately after the delivery authorized hospital personnel insert a needle into the cord’s vein and the blood is drawn, normally from 80 to 140 ml - approximately 2 thimbles. The cord blood is then put into a small, sterile pouch with an anticoagulant to prevent clotting. The pouch contains from 100,000 to 300,000 stem cells. The umbilical cord blood is then immediately sent to the city government blood bank for testing. First of all, a medical history of the mother is reviewed. Then, the blood is tested to insure that no genetic disorders, microbiological contamination and/or hereditary diseases exist, such as HIV, Syphilis, CMV, HTLV and Hepatitis. Provided the blood passes all tests, it receives a certification of purity and is then transferred to Beike laboratory. Here, the blood is tested one more time to confirm the blood banks results. This double check ensures total safety to our patients. After the blood has been cleared it undergoes a process known as Magnetic Washing, aimed at removing all material except the specifically desired stem cells by means of magnetic beads coated with antibodies to stem cell antigens. When this immunomagnetic separation is done, stem cells are then cultured in a solution containing nutrients and growth factors, but no animal products or by-products: this medium is changed every 1 or 2 days. The cells proliferate for 7 to 10 days under continuous control: if there is any sign of unwanted behaviour or contamination, the entire batch is immediately destroyed. The cells are harvested at the optimum point, i.e. before they start differentiating into specialized cells. At this phase, they normally count from 7 to 10 million. The cells pass through another washing process to remove all growth medium and particles, and we have finally obtained extremely pure stem cells ready for transfusion. If they are not to be used immediately, they are frozen in liquid nitrogen. Stem cells from umbilical cord blood have the advantage of a “"naïve"” immune status: in other words, they won't attack the recipient person. In case a rejection were to occur anyway, there are treatments to handle it. In front of a GVHD (Graft Versus Host Disease: a potentially fatal rejection case) the patient undergoes an immunosuppressive therapy, but we must point out that GVHD has never been an issue with the type of cells (umbilical) we are discussing. The most common and frequent issue is a slight histamine response within the body which can elevate the patient's temperature: a situation that is quickly and easily handled. The range of treatment options for this issue varies from mild anti-inflammatory drugs such as Tylenol to stronger histamine suppressants such as Bynadryl. As far as the risk of death is concerned, there has never been a single case reported. Since 2001 Beike has treated hundreds of patients with umbilical cord stem cells. During the first years we used adult neural stem cells and fetal stem cells too, but eventually Beike has found that umbilical cord stem cells are the most effective, safe and tested - and decided to focus on them only.
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Beike Europe’s will is to avoid your disappointment and avert any possible future complaint: hence, before going to China both patient and his or her caretakers should learn by heart a basic concept of paramount importance, i.e. the hospitals’ habits in China are very different from ours.
In Europe we are prone to take for granted a lot of things that down there (let’s say in nearly all Asia) are not. The reason is easy to understand: while european hospitals take an overall care of the patient (i.e. from medical aspects to more mundane necessities of the hospitalization period), the chinese hospitals only provide the sheer medical assistance: of course the patient is given a room, but nothing more. A very easy way to fully grab the important consequences deriving from such a difference is to play yourself this sort of mental trick: Please consider yours not as the classical "hospitalization", but rather as "a period, aimed at a clinical treatment, spent in a mini-apartment attached to an hospital". This is not absurd nor difficult: if you will be able to merge yourself into such a point of view, you'll consequently and with no effort understand that yes, the hospital will cure you - but it will be up to you and your caregivers to take care of the other practical necessities, from food downwards. Let's make some examples: --- Each and every patient has to provide for towels, personal hygiene products, etc. - in a word, all that is needed for bathroom. --- Same situation for the food. In Europe it is either served in your room or -provided your physical conditions allow you to do so- you can eat at the hospital’s refectory. In any case, food is considered as integral to the standard service provided by whatsoever hospital. In China things go in a different way, and it’s up to the patient and his caretakers to think about it. The food has to be bought outside. --- Here in Europe we are accustomed to see in our hospitals a member of the staff that -depending on the local language- is either called Nurse’s Aid, Cure Assistant or something similar. In any case, we are talking about a person who takes a very close care of the patient, helping him out in all possible ways: bathroom, hygiene, getting up from the bed, etc. Mind you, chinese hospital usages simply do not foresee such a role. Useless to say, there are very professional Nurses, but they strictly perform their proper role as paramedics. They give medications, do injections and so on: in a word, whatever implies a certain degree of medical skill, but do not expect them to do more than this. As a consequence, the chores of the “typical european Cure Assistant” entirely fall on patient’s family members, relatives or caretakers. No exception to this rule is made for the westerners. --- Chinese hospitals haven’t got their own inner laundry service. It goes without saying that it is surely possible to have such a service anyway, but your dirty laundry will be collected by the personnel of a reliable city laundry: as a consequence, this will cost you something.
Mind you, this has got nothing to do with the quality of the medical care that you will receive, nor with the absolute cleanliness of the place: the Zhejiang Xiaoshan hospital is a modern structure with state-of-the-art equipments and procedures, and it has been highly praised by whoever has been treated there. Nevertheless, dear patient, from a service point of view you should please never, ever forget that you must not look forward for an european standard, you better cope with local one.
Given this, two important issues: If neither patient nor caregivers speak English, we regret to inform you that no Translation Service is currently provided by Beike Europe. To do so, we must find out professional and reliable translators in China, and it’s no easy task. Anyway, when we will be finally able to find out the right persons, their work will be one more extra issue at your own cost.
Cost |
24.000 (twenty-four thousand) From 20 to 25 days / between 40 and 60 million cells
The price includes:
- the stay in the hospital for you and your caregiver
- four injections of umbilical cord stem cells with each injection containing between 10 and 15 million cells. Injections are given by IV and/or into the spinal fluid
- a 6 days per week rehabilitation therapy
- initial check-up and round-the-clock medical assistance
- transportation to and from the airport
Spinal cord injury treatment program
28.000 (twenty-eight thousand) From 20 to 25 days
There are two types of treatments for spinal patients. One program involves surgery with direct stem cell application plus three stem cell injections. The other program does not include surgery and involves five or six stem cell injections. Injections are given by IV and/or into the spinal fluid.
Which treatment program a patient receives will be evaluated by Beike’s Lead Medical Consultant in conjunction with the client’s personal medical consultant. Mind you, should the "surgery + injections" procedure be chosen, the patient will be automatically assigned to 463 Hospital in Shenyang, and his hospitalization will last 30 days. If after the initial check-up the treating physicians should decide that such a procedure is better avoided, the patient will receive a six injections treatment.
Both options have the same price, including:- the stay in the hospital for you and your caregiver
- three (or five, depending on the program chosen) injections of umbilical cord stem cells with each injection containing between 10 and 15 million cells. Injections are given by IV and/or into the spinal fluid
- a 6 days per week rehabilitation therapy
- initial check-up and round-the-clock medical assistance
- transportation to and from the airport
Facultative extra costs
- Additional injections, to be booked at least one month prior to treatment on a case by case basis depending on room availability, cost 4.500 (four thousand five hundred) each. Each injection may require an additional 2-5 days in the hospital. This option is only available to patients already participating in a full treatment program.
- If you opt for additional injections outside of the above parameters and/or during your hospital stay, they will cost 5.000 (five thousand) each. This may require an additional time in the hospital and/or that you stay in a nearby hotel, which will be at your own cost. This option is only available to patients already participating in a full treatment program. - In case the patient wishes, it's possible to boost the injections' action by means of an Optional Bone Marrow Surgery, whose extra cost is 4.800 (four thousand eight hundred) . This optional surgery is only available at 463 Hospital in Shenyang. This surgery is not suitable for children, and only available to those patients already undergoing a full treatment program.
- Transportation to and from the airport is normally done by van and it’s included in the fee. Should the patient’s conditions require it, an Ambulance is available: you are kindly requested to book this service in advance. Please mind that such transportation implies an extra cost of 600 (six hundred) per trip (one way), i.e. a complete service (Ambulance on both arrival and departure) will cost you 1.200 (one thousand two hundred).
Very important, please note
- The treatment is provided by the hospital under its own responsibility
- Upon reservation confirmation (i.e. when you will be told the dates of your treatment period) you are required to pay 20% of the amount. The remaining 80% has to be paid at least one month prior to your departure. Should you fail to do so, your reservation will be cancelled.
- Should you decide to cancel your reservation for whatsoever reason, the prepaid 20% will be retained as a waiver for administrative expenses.
- The above mentioned prices are valid from January 10th 2008.
- Prices are reviewed on a quarterly basis and are therefore subject to change.
- The program time frames and the minimum number of injections are firm and not negotiable.
- The above mentioned prices are valid for all patients living within the limits of Beike Europe's area, with no exceptions. Should you notice some differences between our prices and those applied in other geographic areas, this is due to specific local agreements signed by Shenzen Beike Biotechnologies, Co. Ltd.
No foreign currency is directly accepted in China, hence you'll pay all the little extras in local currency, namely Yuan. Actually, the official name for chinese currency would be Ren Min Bi (meaning "People's Money", shortened in RMB) but everybody, especially on streets and shops, calls it Yuan or even Kwhy.
