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Stem Cell Strategy for Spinal Cord Injuries: The New Frontier
Knee Stem Cells - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that occur to any level of the spinal-cord. Although the hard bones of the spinal column protect the soft tissues with the spinal cord, vertebrae can nonetheless be broken or dislocated in a variety of ways and cause traumatic injury to the spinal cord. Spinal-cord injuries vary in their severity, but almost inevitably cause various forms of compromised functionality because the spinal cord is in effect the key pathway for information to visit around the human body. Exactly what body functions are impaired from the injury will depend on the region of the spine that's been damaged and the extent this agreement the spine may be affected. Although serious impacts for example falls and motor vehicle accidents account for many spinal cord injuries, tumors growing close to the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and have the same effects.
Knee Stem Cell Treatment - For decades scientists have been working to try and find a way to remedy the different ailments that vertebrae injuries can bring, but with limited success. However, lately a pioneering new technology has emerged that is helping thousands of 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 simply in all multi cellular organisms and so are characterized by their ability to differentiate into a diverse selection of specialized cells once they divide and renew themselves. They're remarkable for their capacity to regenerate themselves into almost any other human cell. Their use within the treatment of various diseases and types of conditions, from Leukemia to Ms, is now becoming more common. Based 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 is currently 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 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' will be the focus of stem cell treatment, and therefore are the nerve cells how the treatment helps to regenerate. The task usually follows three phases in most cases requires no longer than the usual period of around five weeks in medical treatment for monitoring:
Phase one requires the harvesting of stem cells. The cells are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They're then put through an activity whereby they are isolated and purified prior to being finally cultured to become suitable for clinical use.
Phase two may be the transplantation of the stem cells. This is achieved in one of 3 ways:
1) Lumbar puncture - a process used where stem cells can be injected directly into the spine.
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 make sure there are no adverse side effects. The only side effects reported up to now were caused by the lumbar puncture, and never the stem cell treatment itself, with only 15% of patients reporting mild headaches. During the 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 it is now a major centre for the stem cell treating 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 2000 to 1,116 in 2008, exceeded only from the contributions of experts in the USA, Germany, Japan and also the UK.
The government has also aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad in search of its ambition to become 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 to China has contributed significantly to the country's success within the field." The authors were "amazed that most the top Chinese researchers within the regenerative medicine field have been educated in the US as well as the UK and gained extensive experiences there in cutting 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 patient, and improving the functionality of clinics. Since 2009, evidence of safety and efficacy through clinical trials 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 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 spot 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 a human skin cell to 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 were 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 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, are beginning phase 2 numerous studies to test the efficacy and safety of utilizing cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to take care of about 40 patients with spinal cord injuries.
Clinical trials are underway about the use of stem cell therapies to deal with patients of strokes, 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.
Success Stories from the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries in China
Lots of people 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 understand that not every patient will react as well as others, and that the age of the individual and the severity of damages 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 going number 2. Within 8 months with the treatment she regained movement in the 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 several 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 not only could he moved to his arms almost normally, and might feel pain in several of his fingers, he could "even feel warm and cold" sensations. He continued to add the following: "Now I'm able to control my urine for 10 minutes and the sensation both for urine and stool is more preferable. Generally, my entire body is more powerful than before."
Donald Maricelli, a 54 yr old US citizen, a break down spinal cord injury following a fall in 2002. He underwent a surgical procedure to correct his insufficient sensation in his lower body, however there was 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 made significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout most of his abdomen, and also the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly significant, the sensation on the bottom of his feet went back, helping him just to walk without tripping. Most significant to Donald was that he regained control and strength in the left leg, allowing him just to walk significant distances and indicate 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 exactly the same functions in the same time frame. A lot of hard work goes into the post treatment rehabilitation, also it takes great drive, determination and ambition to allow the body to get back to more regular functionality. However, the job 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 who have spinal cord injuries recover their lost functions. On a monthly basis, more and more people are going to various cities round the country that offer different packages of treatment based on precisely what injury may be inflicted. The level of service has improved greatly recently, and continues to improve each month, meaning that those unfortunate enough to have suffered spinal cord injuries need will no longer feel theirs can be a lost cause. There exists a very real chance that 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 spinal-cord injuries is the solution.
