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Stem Cell Strategy for Spinal Cord Injuries: The New Frontier
Knee Stem Cells - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that happen to any level of the vertebrae. Although the hard bones from the spinal column protect the soft tissues with the spinal cord, vertebrae can nevertheless be broken or dislocated in a number of ways and cause traumatic problems for the spinal cord. Vertebrae injuries vary in their severity, but almost inevitably result in various forms of compromised functionality since the spinal cord is in effect the main pathway for information traveling around the human body. Precisely what body functions are impaired by the injury will depend on the area of the spine that's been damaged and the extent that the spine may be affected. Although serious impacts for example falls and motor vehicle accidents account for many spinal cord injuries, tumors growing near the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and possess the same effects.
Knee Stem Cells - For many years scientists have been attempting to try and find a way to remedy the many ailments that spinal-cord injuries can bring, but with limited success. However, lately a pioneering new technology has emerged that is helping lots of people around the world regain part, if not all, of their previously lost mobility. That treatment is the use of stem cells.
What exactly are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?
Knee Stem Cell Injections - Stem cells are simply in all multi cellular organisms and so are characterized by their ability to distinguish into a diverse array of specialized cells after they divide and renew themselves. They are remarkable for their capacity to regenerate themselves into just about any human cell. Their use in the treatment of various diseases and types of conditions, from Leukemia to Multiple Sclerosis, is now becoming more common. With respect to the condition, stem cells can 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 treatment of spinal cord injuries using stem cells, plus instances where the patient has not experienced a complete spinal-cord injury, i.e. a complete severing of the spinal-cord 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
If you find trauma to the spinal cord, myelopathy (damage to the fibres that carry messages to and from the brain) has occurred. These 'myelinated fibre tracts' will be the focus of stem cell treatment, and therefore are the nerve cells the treatment helps to regenerate. The task usually follows three phases and usually requires no longer than the usual period of around five weeks in medical treatment for monitoring:
Phase one requires the harvesting of stem cells. Cells are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They are then put through a procedure whereby they are isolated and purified before they are finally cultured to be suitable for clinical use.
Phase two will be the transplantation of the stem cells. This is done in one of 3 ways:
1) Lumbar puncture - an operation used where stem cells may be injected directly into the spine.
2) Intravenous injection- stem cells are injected in to the patient's vein.
3) Tissue injection - direct injection into target tissues.
Phase three requires the monitoring of the patient to make sure there are no adverse side effects. The only side effects reported thus far were caused by the lumbar puncture, and not the stem cell treatment itself, with simply 15% of patients reporting mild headaches. In the period under medical supervision, patients undergo various physiotherapy activities as well as other treatments as necessary.
Stem Cell Research and Treatment in China
China is fast becoming a world leader in stem cell research, and it is now a major centre for your stem cell treatment of many diseases and scenarios. The Chinese government has poured millions of dollars into research on regenerative medicine, and that investment has really borne fruit in 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 from the contributions of experts in the USA, Germany, Japan as well as the UK.
The government has also 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 back to China has contributed significantly for the country's success within the field." The authors were "amazed that almost all the top Chinese researchers within the regenerative medicine field ended up educated in the US and the UK and gained extensive experiences there in cutting edge research."
Although before treatment in China may have been considered risky as a result of lax health and safety laws, recent years have seen an increase in legislation protecting the individual, and improving the functionality of clinics. Since 2009, proof 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 within their qualifications and methodology. At the time of January 2010, about 1,500 patients had received laser hair removal for spinal cord injury at one Beijing clinic alone, including roughly 1,000 foreigners.
Furthermore, China has long held a spot at the forefront of stem cell research to treat all manner of conditions. A few 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 your rabbit, researchers from your Shanghai hospital successfully produced embryonic human cells.
China up to now 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 in those days only two other groups worldwide had managed to create.
Harboured several human tissue types, created artificially, including circulation system, tendon, bone, cartilage, skin, cornea and muscle fibre.
Furthermore, Chinese researchers are involved with a myriad of projects to help 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 numerous studies to test the efficacy and safety of utilizing cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to treat about 40 patients with vertebrae injuries.
Clinical trials are underway on 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 usage of stem cells to treat heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, also to combat aging.
Testimonials from the Treatment of Spinal-cord Injuries in China
Many people of all ages and with varying examples of injury have received stem cell treatment in China over the last few years. It is important to remember that not every patient will react and more, and that the age of the patient and the severity of damages greatly affect the likelihood of recovery. However, there have 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 beneath 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 paralyzed) and was even capable of walk with crutches.
Razvan Iordache, a Romanian citizen aged 30, travelled to China for a number of bouts of stem cell treatment following a major accident while diving right into a river that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that does not only could he moved to his arms almost normally, and may feel pain in a number of of his fingers, he could "even feel warm and cold" sensations. He continued to add the following: "Now I will control my urine for 10 minutes and the sensation for urine and stool is much better. Generally, my physique is more powerful than ever before."
Donald Maricelli, a 54 year old US citizen, suffered a spinal cord injury following a fall in 2002. He underwent an operation to correct his lack of sensation in his lower body, however there were complications and Donald was left in a worse state than before. Before arriving for treatment in China, he was still being unable to walk unaided. Pursuing the treatment, which commenced in November 2007, Donald has made significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout nearly all of his abdomen, as well as the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly crucial, the sensation on the bottom of his feet returned, helping him to walk without tripping. Most important to Donald was he regained control and strength in his left leg, allowing him just to walk significant distances and stand for prolonged periods of time.
There are many 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 goes into 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 task being done by scientists and clinics in China has shown time and again that stem cells hold an essential key to the future of helping people 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 recently, and continues to improve monthly, meaning that those unfortunate enough to get suffered spinal cord injuries need no longer feel theirs is really a lost cause. There is a very real chance the standard of living of any patient may be improved with little pain, little hospital time, plus a little motivation. The existing evidence shows that stem cell therapy for vertebrae injuries is the solution.
