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Stem Cell Treatment for Spinal Cord Injuries: The brand new Frontier
Knee Stem Cell Injections - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that eventually 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 trouble for the spinal cord. Spinal cord injuries vary in their severity, but almost inevitably result in various forms of compromised functionality as the spinal cord is in effect the key pathway for information traveling around the human body. Precisely what body functions are impaired through the injury will depend on the region of the spine that's been damaged and the extent to which the spine has been affected. Although serious impacts for example falls and automobile 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 years scientists have been working to try and find a way to remedy the different ailments that vertebrae injuries can bring, however with limited success. However, in recent years a pioneering new technologies have emerged that is helping thousands of people around the world regain part, if not completely, of their previously lost mobility. That treatment solutions are the use of stem cells.
What exactly are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?
Knee Stem Cell Treatment - Stem cells are located in all multi cellular organisms and therefore are characterized by their ability to differentiate into a diverse selection of specialized cells once they divide and renew themselves. They may be remarkable for their ability to regenerate themselves into almost any other human cell. Their used in the treatment of various diseases and scenarios, 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 treatment of spinal cord injuries using stem cells, plus instances where the patient has not yet experienced a complete spinal-cord injury, i.e. a whole severing of the vertebrae 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
When there is 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' are the focus of stem cell treatment, and therefore are the nerve cells the treatment helps to regenerate. The process usually follows three phases and usually requires no longer than a period of around five weeks in medical treatment for monitoring:
Phase one involves the harvesting of stem cells. Cells are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They may be then put through an activity whereby they are isolated and purified before they are finally cultured to become suitable for clinical use.
Phase two may be the transplantation of the stem cells. This is done in one of three ways:
1) Lumbar puncture - a procedure used where stem cells could be injected directly into the backbone.
2) Intravenous injection- stem cells are injected 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 unwanted 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. At that time under medical supervision, patients undergo various physiotherapy activities as well as other treatments as necessary.
Stem Cell Research and Treatment in China
China is quickly becoming a world leader in stem cell research, and it is now a major centre for that stem cell treatment of many diseases and conditions. The Chinese government has poured 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 year 2000 to 1,116 in 2008, exceeded only from the contributions of experts in the united states, Germany, Japan as well as the UK.
The government has additionally aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad in pursuit of its ambition to become a world leader in the field. Indeed, the McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health commented that, "the government's policy of attracting highly educated Chinese nationals returning to China has contributed significantly towards the country's success inside the field." The authors were "amazed that almost all the top Chinese researchers inside the regenerative medicine field ended up educated in the US as well as the UK and gained extensive working experience there in leading edge research."
Although previously treatment in China may have been considered risky due to 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, proof 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 within their qualifications and methodology. As of January 2010, about 1,500 patients had received this treatment for spinal cord injury at one Beijing clinic alone, including roughly 1,000 foreigners.
Additionally, China has long held a place at the forefront of stem cell research to deal with all manner of conditions. A number 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 thus far 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 was able to create.
Harboured several human tissue types, created artificially, including circulation system, tendon, bone, cartilage, skin, cornea and muscle fibre.
Furthermore, Chinese researchers are presently involved with a myriad of projects to help 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 deal with about 40 patients with spinal-cord injuries.
Clinical trials are underway about the use of stem cell therapies to deal with patients of cardiac arrest, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.
Research is underway on the potential utilization of stem cells to treat heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, and to combat aging.
Successes from the Treatment of Spinal-cord Injuries in China
Lots of 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 understand that not every patient will react as well as others, and that the age of the patient and the severity of the injury 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 beneath the injury site, and was unable to control her bowel movements. Within 8 months from the treatment she regained movement in both 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 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 are now using his arms almost normally, and may feel pain in many of his fingers, he could "even feel warm and cold" sensations. He proceeded to add the following: "Now I will control my urine for 10 minutes and the sensation both for urine and stool is more preferable. Generally, my physique is more powerful than before."
Donald Maricelli, a 54 yr old US citizen, a break down spinal cord injury using a fall in 2002. He underwent surgery to correct his not enough sensation in his lower body, however there was complications and Donald was left in a worse state than before. Before arriving for treatment in China, he was still unable to walk unaided. Following the treatment, which commenced in November 2007, Donald makes significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout most of his abdomen, and the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly significant, the sensation on the bottom of his feet returned, helping him just to walk without tripping. Most significant to Donald was he regained control and strength in the left leg, allowing him to walk significant distances and indicate prolonged periods of time.
There are lots of more success stories from patients that have received this pioneering treatment to assist correct varying degrees of spinal cord injury. However, it is usually important to remember that not all patients recover the same functions in the same time period. A lot of hard work adopts the post treatment rehabilitation, and 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 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. On a monthly basis, more and more people are travelling to various cities round the country that offer different packages of treatment based on precisely what injury has been 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 will no longer feel theirs is really a lost cause. There's a very real chance the standard of living of any patient can be improved with little pain, little hospital time, along with a little motivation. The current evidence shows that stem cell therapy for vertebrae injuries is the way forward.
