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Stem Cell Treatment for Spinal Cord Injuries: The New Frontier

Knee Stem Cells - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that eventually any level of the spinal cord. Although the hard bones from the spinal column protect the soft tissues with the spinal cord, vertebrae can still be broken or dislocated in a variety of ways and cause traumatic injury to the spinal cord. Spinal-cord injuries vary within their severity, but almost inevitably lead to various forms of compromised functionality as the spinal cord is in effect the main pathway for information to travel around the human body. Precisely what body functions are impaired from the injury will depend on the region of the spine that has been damaged and the extent this agreement the spine continues to be affected. Although serious impacts including falls and motor vehicle accidents account for many spinal cord injuries, tumors growing close to the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and possess the same effects.

Knee Stem Cells - For decades scientists have been attempting to try and find a way to remedy the various ailments that vertebrae injuries can bring, however with limited success. However, recently 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 located in all multi cellular organisms and 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 ability to regenerate themselves into just about any human cell. Their used in the treatment of various diseases and types of conditions, from Leukemia to Ms, is now becoming more common. Depending on the condition, stem cells may 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, as well as in instances where the patient has not experienced a complete vertebrae injury, i.e. a complete severing of the spinal-cord leading to a loss of function underneath the 'neurological' level. There has been good 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 both to and from the brain) has occurred. These 'myelinated fibre tracts' will be the focus of stem cell treatment, and so are the nerve cells that the treatment helps to regenerate. The procedure usually follows three phases in most cases 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. Cellular structure are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They are then put through a process whereby they are isolated and purified before they are finally cultured being suitable for clinical use.

Phase two is the transplantation of the stem cells. This is accomplished in one of three ways:

1) Lumbar puncture - a process used where stem cells may be injected directly into the spinal column.

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 make certain there are no adverse negative effects. The only side effects reported up to now were caused by the lumbar puncture, rather than the stem cell treatment itself, just 15% of patients reporting mild headaches. At that time under medical supervision, patients undergo various physiotherapy activities and other treatments as necessary.

Stem Cell Research and Treatment in China

China is fast becoming a world leader in stem cell research, and is now a major centre for the stem cell treating many diseases and scenarios. The Chinese government has poured many millions of dollars into research on regenerative medicine, and that 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 looking for its ambition to turn into 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 inside the field." The authors were "amazed that most the top Chinese researchers in the regenerative medicine field had been educated in the US and also the UK and gained extensive practical knowledge there in innovative research."

Although previously treatment in China could have been considered risky as a result of lax health and safety laws, recent years have seen an increase in legislation protecting the sufferer, 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 certain Chinese clinics meet international standards within their qualifications and methodology. By January 2010, about 1,500 patients had received botox cosmetic injections for spinal cord injury at one Beijing clinic alone, including roughly 1,000 foreigners.

In addition to this, China has long held a spot at the forefront of stem cell research to deal with 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 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 help aid patients through regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy. Listed here are several projects underway within Chinese institutions:

ChinaSCINet, a consortium of 27 medical facilities, start phase 2 clinical trials to test the efficacy and safety of employing cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to take care of about 40 patients with vertebrae injuries.
Clinical trials are underway on the use of stem cell therapies to treat patients of cardiac arrest, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.
Studies are underway on the potential utilization of stem cells to take care of heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, and also to combat aging.
Successes 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 sufferer and the severity of damages greatly affect the chances 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 it was unable to control her bowel motions. Within 8 months from the treatment she regained movement both in her legs, could bend her knees (even though the toes of one foot remained paralyzed) and was even in a position to 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 not only could he are now using his arms almost normally, and may feel pain in several 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 much better. Generally, my physique is more powerful than before."

Donald Maricelli, a 54 yr old US citizen, suffered a spinal cord injury following a fall in 2002. He underwent an operation to correct his insufficient 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 makes significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout the majority of his abdomen, and the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly important, the sensation on the bottom of his feet returned, helping him just to walk without tripping. Most important to Donald was he regained control and strength in his left leg, allowing him simply to walk significant distances and are a symbol of prolonged periods of time.

There are many more success stories from patients that have received this pioneering treatment to assist correct varying examples of spinal cord injury. However, it will always be important to remember that not all patients recover exactly the same functions in the same period of time. A lot of hard work switches 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 job being done by scientists and clinics in China indicates 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 travelling to various cities around the country that offer different packages of treatment depending on 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 have suffered spinal cord injuries need no more feel theirs is really a lost cause. There is a very real chance that the standard of living of any patient can be improved with little pain, little hospital time, plus a little motivation. The current evidence shows that stem cell therapy for vertebrae injuries is the solution.