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Stem Cell Strategy for Spinal Cord Injuries: The brand new Frontier
Knee Stem Cell Treatment - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that eventually any level of the vertebrae. Although the hard bones with the spinal column protect the soft tissues of the spinal cord, vertebrae can still be broken or dislocated in a number of ways and cause traumatic trouble for the spinal cord. Vertebrae injuries vary inside their severity, but almost inevitably lead to various forms of compromised functionality as the spinal cord is in effect the primary pathway for information to travel around the human body. Just what body functions are impaired from the injury will depend on the region of the spine that has been damaged and the extent to which the spine may be affected. Although serious impacts such as falls and motor vehicle accidents account for many vertebrae injuries, tumors growing near to the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and also have the same effects.
Knee Stem Cell Injections - For years scientists have been working to try and find a way to remedy the various ailments that spinal-cord injuries can bring, though limited success. However, lately 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 Treatment - Stem cells are simply in all multi cellular organisms and so are characterized by their ability to tell apart into a diverse range of specialized cells when they divide and renew themselves. They may be remarkable for their ability to regenerate themselves into just about any human cell. Their use in the treatment of various diseases and scenarios, from Leukemia to Ms, is now becoming more common. Depending on the condition, stem cells could be transplanted into the patient to assist renew and regenerate previously damaged cells, giving patients renewed hope when, before, no reliable treatment existed.
This principle has become being applied to the management of spinal cord injuries using stem cells, and in instances where the patient hasn't experienced a complete spinal cord injury, i.e. a complete severing of the spinal-cord leading to a loss of function beneath the 'neurological' level. There has been great success in helping patients recover greater sensory and physiological ability.
Spinal-cord Injury: How Stem Cell Treatment Works
If you have trauma to the spinal-cord, myelopathy (damage to the fibres that carry messages to and from the brain) has occurred. These 'myelinated fibre tracts' are the focus of stem cell treatment, and so are the nerve cells how the treatment helps to regenerate. The procedure usually follows three phases and often requires no longer when compared to a period of around five weeks in health care for monitoring:
Phase one requires the harvesting of stem cells. The cells are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They are then put through an activity whereby they are isolated and purified before they are finally cultured being suitable for clinical use.
Phase two may be the transplantation of the stem cells. This is achieved in one of three ways:
1) Lumbar puncture - a process used where stem cells could be injected directly into the spinal column.
2) Intravenous injection- stem cells are injected to 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 negative effects. The only side effects reported up to now were caused by the lumbar puncture, and not the stem cell treatment itself, with simply 15% of patients reporting mild headaches. At that time under medical supervision, patients undergo various physiotherapy activities along with other treatments as necessary.
Stem Cell Research and Treatment in China
China is fast-becoming a world leader in stem cell research, and is also now a major centre for the stem cell management of many diseases and types of conditions. The Chinese government has poured millions of dollars into research on regenerative medicine, and that investment has really borne fruit within the last few years. As a result of this expanded investment, Chinese contributions to scientific journals on regenerative medicine topics leapt from 37 in year 2000 to 1,116 in 2008, exceeded only by the contributions of experts in the united states, Germany, Japan and the UK.
The government in addition has aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad looking for its ambition to become a world leader inside the field. Indeed, the McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health commented that, "the government's policy of attracting highly educated Chinese nationals to China has contributed significantly towards the country's success in the field." The authors were "amazed that the majority the top Chinese researchers within the regenerative medicine field have been educated in the US as well as the UK and gained extensive working experience there in leading edge research."
Although previously treatment in China could have been considered risky as a result of lax health and safety laws, the past few years have seen an increase in legislation protecting the individual, 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, making sure Chinese clinics meet international standards within 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.
In addition to this, China has long held a place at the forefront of stem cell research to treat all manner of conditions. Some of China's notable contributions to stem cell research are:
By transferring the nucleus of a human skin cell into the immature ovum cell of the rabbit, researchers from your 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 that are of a specialized type that in those days only two other groups worldwide had managed to create.
Harboured several human tissue types, created artificially, including circulatory, tendon, bone, cartilage, skin, cornea and muscle fibre.
Furthermore, Chinese researchers are involved with a myriad of projects to assist aid patients through regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy. Below are several projects underway within Chinese institutions:
ChinaSCINet, a consortium of 27 medical facilities, are starting phase 2 clinical trials to test the efficacy and safety of utilizing cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to treat about 40 patients with spinal cord injuries.
Clinical trials are underway on the use of stem cell therapies to treat patients of heart attacks, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.
Studies are underway on the potential use of stem cells to take care of heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, also to combat aging.
Success Stories from the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries in China
Many individuals of all ages and with varying degrees of injury have received stem cell treatment in China during the last few years. It is important to understand that not every patient will react as well as others, and that the age of the patient and the severity of the damage greatly affect the likelihood of recovery. However, there has been 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 underneath the injury site, and was unable to control her bowel movements. Within 8 months from the treatment she regained movement both in her legs, could bend her knees (although the toes of one foot remained as paralyzed) and was even capable of walk with crutches.
Razvan Iordache, a Romanian citizen aged 30, travelled to China for many bouts of stem cell treatment following any sort of accident while diving into a river that left him paralyzed from your neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that doesn't only could he now use his arms almost normally, and may feel pain in many of his fingers, he could "even feel warm and cold" sensations. He went on to add the following: "Now I can control my urine for 10 mins and the sensation both for urine and stool is much better. Generally, my entire body is more powerful than ever before."
Donald Maricelli, a 54 yr old US citizen, a break down spinal cord injury following a fall in 2002. He underwent an operation to correct his insufficient sensation in his lower body, however there were complications and Donald stayed in a worse state than before. Before arriving for treatment in China, he was still unable to walk unaided. Pursuing the treatment, which commenced in November 2007, Donald has created significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout most of his abdomen, as well as the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly crucial, the sensation on the bottom of his feet went back, helping him simply to walk without tripping. Most critical to Donald was which he regained control and strength in the left leg, allowing him just to walk significant distances and are a symbol of prolonged periods of time.
There are numerous more success stories from patients who have received this pioneering treatment to help correct varying degrees of spinal cord injury. However, it is always important to remember that not all patients recover the identical functions in the same period of time. A lot of hard work goes into the post treatment rehabilitation, and it takes great drive, determination and ambition to allow the body to get back to more regular functionality. However, the work being done by scientists and clinics in China has shown time and again that stem cells hold a critical 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 around the country that offer different packages of treatment according to precisely what injury may be inflicted. The level of service has improved greatly lately, and continues to improve each month, meaning that those unfortunate enough to get suffered spinal cord injuries need no longer feel theirs is a lost cause. There is a very real chance how the standard of living of any patient may be improved with little pain, little hospital time, and a little motivation. The current evidence shows that stem cell therapy for spinal cord injuries is the way forward.
