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Stem Cell Strategy for Spinal Cord Injuries: The New Frontier

Knee Stem Cell Treatment - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that eventually any level of the spinal-cord. Although the hard bones with the spinal column protect the soft tissues of the spinal cord, vertebrae can nevertheless be broken or dislocated in many different ways and cause traumatic trouble for the spinal cord. Spinal cord injuries vary inside their severity, but almost inevitably result in various forms of compromised functionality as the spinal cord is in effect the primary pathway for information traveling around the human body. Exactly what body functions are impaired by the injury will depend on the region of the spine that's been damaged and the extent to which the spine continues to be affected. Although serious impacts including falls and car 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 Cells - For many years scientists have been working to try and find a way to remedy the various ailments that spinal-cord injuries can bring, however with limited success. However, in recent years a pioneering new technology has emerged that is helping many people around the world regain part, if not completely, of their previously lost mobility. That treatment is the use of stem cells.

What are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?

Knee Stem Cell Injections - Stem cells are found in all multi cellular organisms and are characterized by their ability to tell apart into a diverse range of specialized cells once they divide and renew themselves. They may be remarkable for their capacity to regenerate themselves into just about any human cell. Their used in the treatment of various diseases and conditions, from Leukemia to Ms, is now becoming more common. Depending on the condition, stem cells can be transplanted into the patient to help renew and regenerate previously damaged cells, giving patients renewed hope when, before, no reliable treatment existed.

This principle has become being applied to treating spinal cord injuries using stem cells, as well as in instances where the patient has not yet experienced a complete spinal-cord injury, i.e. a whole 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.

Vertebrae Injury: How Stem Cell Treatment Works

If you find trauma to the spinal-cord, myelopathy (damage to the fibres that carry messages back and forth from the brain) has occurred. These 'myelinated fibre tracts' would be the focus of stem cell treatment, and are the nerve cells 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 medical care for monitoring:

Phase one involves the harvesting of stem cells. Cellular structure are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They're then put through an activity whereby they are isolated and purified before they are finally cultured to become suitable for clinical use.

Phase two will be the transplantation of the stem cells. This is done 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 in 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, rather than the stem cell treatment itself, with simply 15% of patients reporting mild headaches. In the period 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 management of many diseases and types of conditions. The Chinese government has poured millions of dollars into research on regenerative medicine, which 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 from the contributions of experts in america, Germany, Japan and also the UK.

The government in addition has aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad looking for its ambition to become 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 most the top Chinese researchers in the regenerative medicine field have been educated in the US as well as the UK and gained extensive practical knowledge there in leading edge research."

Although in the past treatment in China might 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 sufferer, and improving the functionality of clinics. Since 2009, evidence of safety and efficacy through many 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. 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.

In addition to this, China has long held a location at the forefront of stem cell research to take care of all manner of conditions. Some of China's notable contributions to stem cell research are:

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

ChinaSCINet, a consortium of 27 medical facilities, are beginning phase 2 many studies to test the efficacy and safety of employing 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 take care of patients of heart attacks, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.
Research is underway on the potential usage of stem cells to deal with heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, and to combat aging.
Success Stories from the Treatment of Vertebrae Injuries in China

Many individuals of all ages and with varying levels of injury have received stem cell treatment in China throughout 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 sufferer and the severity of the injury greatly affect the odds 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 going number 2. Within 8 months with the treatment she regained movement both in her legs, could bend her knees (although the toes of one foot were still 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 an accident while diving right into a river that left him paralyzed from your neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that does not only could he now use his arms almost normally, and might feel pain in many of his fingers, he could "even feel warm and cold" sensations. He went on to add the following: "Now I'm able to control my urine for 10 mins and the sensation for urine and stool is more preferable. Generally, my entire body is more powerful than before."

Donald Maricelli, a 54 years old US citizen, a break down spinal cord injury carrying out a fall in 2002. He underwent an operation to correct his lack of 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 being unable to walk unaided. Pursuing the treatment, which commenced in November 2007, Donald has made significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout most of his abdomen, as well as the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly significant, the sensation on the bottom of his feet returned, helping him to walk without tripping. Most critical to Donald was he regained control and strength in his left leg, allowing him simply to walk significant distances and stand for prolonged periods of time.

There are lots of more success stories from patients who have received this pioneering treatment to assist correct varying levels 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 enable the body to get back to more regular functionality. However, the task 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. On a monthly basis, more and more people are travelling to various cities around the country that offer different packages of treatment according to precisely what injury continues to be inflicted. The level of service has improved greatly in recent years, and continues to improve every month, meaning that those unfortunate enough to get suffered spinal cord injuries need will no longer feel theirs is a lost cause. There exists a very real chance how the standard of living of any patient can be improved with little pain, little hospital time, along with a little motivation. The present evidence shows that stem cell therapy for vertebrae injuries is the solution.