"RESULTS:
During the follow-up of 1 year after stem cell implantation, nine patients became much better compared with their pre-operative status, confirmed by electro neuro myography (ENMG). One patient was stable without any decline or improvement in his status. Three patients died 1.5, 2 and 9 months, respectively, after stem cell therapy as a result of lung infection and myocardial infarction (MI).
DISCUSSION:
These results show that stem cell therapy is a safe, effective and promising treatment for ALS patients."
Took these quotes directly from the abstract. I obviously more then others have a bias and belief in the POTENTIAL in stem cells. That being said the goal of this study like all studies in phase I is to show that the treatment is safe which it appears to be thus far. With the brief and vague explanation in the abstract I am not sure if they included efficacy measurements other then doing another EMG and all they said is that the EMG supported improvement. I would be more interested in reading a peer reviewed published article defining exactly what they are determining as improvement and what the EMG data showed...
As I said I have high hopes in stem cells but this abstract is just that very abstract to make any judgements on efficacy in my opinion...
