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Stem Cell Treatment for Spinal Cord Injuries: The newest Frontier

Knee Stem Cell Injections - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that happen to any level of the spinal-cord. Although the hard bones of the spinal column protect the soft tissues of the spinal cord, vertebrae can nonetheless be broken or dislocated in a variety of ways and cause traumatic problems for the spinal cord. Vertebrae injuries vary inside their severity, but almost inevitably cause various forms of compromised functionality because the spinal cord is in effect the primary pathway for information to travel around the human body. Exactly what body functions are impaired by the injury will depend on the location of the spine which has been damaged and the extent to which the spine may be affected. Although serious impacts such as falls and automobile accidents account for many spinal-cord injuries, tumors growing near the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and also have the same effects.

Knee Stem Cell Treatment - For decades scientists have been trying to try and find a way to remedy the various ailments that spinal cord injuries can bring, though limited success. However, in recent years a pioneering new technology has emerged that is helping many people around the world regain part, it not exclusively, of their previously lost mobility. That treatment methods are the use of stem cells.

Exactly what are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?

Knee Stem Cell Injections - Stem cells are found in all multi cellular organisms and therefore are characterized by their ability to tell apart into a diverse selection of specialized cells after they divide and renew themselves. They may be remarkable for their ability to regenerate themselves into almost any other human cell. Their use in the treatment of various diseases and types of conditions, from Leukemia to Multiple Sclerosis, is now becoming more common. Based on the condition, stem cells can be transplanted into the patient to aid renew and regenerate previously damaged cells, giving patients renewed hope when, before, no reliable treatment existed.

This principle is currently being applied to treating spinal cord injuries using stem cells, plus instances where the patient has not experienced a complete vertebrae injury, i.e. a whole severing of the vertebrae leading to a loss of function underneath the 'neurological' level. There has been great success in helping patients recover greater sensory and physiological ability.

Vertebrae Injury: How Stem Cell Treatment Works

When there is trauma to the spinal-cord, myelopathy (damage to the fibres that carry messages both to and from the brain) has occurred. These 'myelinated fibre tracts' would be the focus of stem cell treatment, and therefore are the nerve cells the treatment helps to regenerate. The process usually follows three phases and usually requires no longer than the usual period of around five weeks in medical care for monitoring:

Phase one necessitates the harvesting of stem cells. Cells are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They may be then put through an activity whereby they are isolated and purified prior to being finally cultured being suitable for clinical use.

Phase two may be the transplantation of the stem cells. This is accomplished in one of 3 ways:

1) Lumbar puncture - a procedure used where stem cells can be injected directly into the spine.

2) Intravenous injection- stem cells are injected into the patient's vein.

3) Tissue injection - direct injection into target tissues.

Phase three involves the monitoring of the patient to ensure there are no adverse unwanted effects. The only side effects reported to date were caused by the lumbar puncture, and never the stem cell treatment itself, with simply 15% of patients reporting mild headaches. During the time under medical supervision, patients undergo various physiotherapy activities as well as other treatments as necessary.

Stem Cell Research and Treatment in China

China is quickly becoming a world leader in stem cell research, and is now a major centre for your stem cell treatment of many diseases and conditions. The Chinese government has poured millions of dollars into research on regenerative medicine, which investment has really borne fruit during the last few years. As a result of this expanded investment, Chinese contributions to scientific journals on regenerative medicine topics leapt from 37 in 2000 to 1,116 in 2008, exceeded only through the contributions of experts in the USA, Germany, Japan and the UK.

The government has also aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad in pursuit of its ambition to become a world leader within the field. Indeed, the McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health commented that, "the government's policy of attracting highly educated Chinese nationals back to China has contributed significantly towards the country's success in the field." The authors were "amazed that almost all the top Chinese researchers within the regenerative medicine field ended up educated in the US as well as the UK and gained extensive practical knowledge there in innovative research."

Although previously treatment in China could have been considered risky due to lax health and safety laws, recent times have seen an increase in legislation protecting the patient, and improving the functionality of clinics. Since 2009, proof of safety and efficacy through numerous studies is required by China's Ministry of Health for all stem cell and gene therapies, ensuring that Chinese clinics meet international standards in their qualifications and methodology. By January 2010, about 1,500 patients had received this treatment for spinal cord injury at one Beijing clinic alone, including roughly 1,000 foreigners.

Furthermore, China has long held a location at the forefront of stem cell research to take care of all manner of conditions. A few of China's notable contributions to stem cell research are:

By transferring the nucleus of the human skin cell to the immature ovum cell of your rabbit, researchers from a Shanghai hospital successfully produced embryonic human cells.
China to date has created at least 25 human embryonic stem cell lines (some estimate over 70 stem cell lines), four of which are of a specialized type that during those times only two other groups worldwide had were able to create.
Harboured several human tissue types, created artificially, including blood vessel, tendon, bone, cartilage, skin, cornea and muscle fibre.
Furthermore, Chinese researchers are currently involved with a myriad of projects to aid aid patients through regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy. Here are several projects underway within Chinese institutions:

ChinaSCINet, a consortium of 27 medical facilities, start phase 2 numerous studies to test the efficacy and safety of employing cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to deal with about 40 patients with spinal-cord injuries.
Clinical trials are underway around the use of stem cell therapies to take care of patients of heart attacks, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.
Studies are underway on the potential use of stem cells to deal with heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, and also to combat aging.
Testimonials from the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries in China

Many people of all ages and with varying levels of injury have received stem cell treatment in China during the last few years. It is important to keep in mind that not every patient will react as well as others, and that the age of the patient and the severity of the injury greatly affect the chances of recovery. However, there were many success stories from both Chinese citizens and foreigners.

Before her treatment began in January 2006, Ms. Pai, 38, from Shenyang couldn't move her body below the injury site, and it was unable to control her bowel movements. Within 8 months with the treatment she regained movement both in her legs, could bend her knees (even though toes of one foot remained as paralyzed) and was even in a position to walk with crutches.

Razvan Iordache, a Romanian citizen aged 30, travelled to China for several bouts of stem cell treatment following an accident while diving into a river that left him paralyzed in the neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that does not only could he are now using his arms almost normally, and could feel pain in a number of of his fingers, he could "even feel warm and cold" sensations. He went on to add the following: "Now I will control my urine for 10 mins and the sensation for urine and stool is way better. Generally, my entire body is more powerful than ever before."

Donald Maricelli, a 54 yr old US citizen, suffered a spinal cord injury using a fall in 2002. He underwent surgery to correct his not enough sensation in his lower body, however there was complications and Donald remained in a worse state than ever before. Before arriving for treatment in China, he was still being unable to walk unaided. Following a treatment, which commenced in November 2007, Donald has created significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout the majority of his abdomen, and also the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly important, the sensation on the bottom of his feet went back, helping him to walk without tripping. Most important to Donald was which he regained control and strength in the left leg, allowing him to walk significant distances and stand for prolonged periods of time.

There are lots of more success stories from patients who've received this pioneering treatment to assist correct varying examples of spinal cord injury. However, it is usually important to remember that not all patients recover the identical functions in the same period of time. A lot of hard work adopts the post treatment rehabilitation, also it takes great drive, determination and ambition make it possible for the body to get back to more regular functionality. However, the work being done by scientists and clinics in China shows time and again that stem cells hold a very important key to the future of helping individuals with spinal cord injuries recover their lost functions. Each month, more and more people are going to various cities across the country that offer different packages of treatment according to precisely what injury continues to be inflicted. The level of service has improved greatly recently, and continues to improve every month, meaning that those unfortunate enough to possess suffered spinal cord injuries need will no longer feel theirs can be a lost cause. There exists a very real chance how the standard of living of any patient could be improved with little pain, little hospital time, along with a little motivation. The present evidence shows that stem cell therapy for spinal-cord injuries is the answer.