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Stem Cell Strategy for Spinal Cord Injuries: The brand new Frontier
Knee Stem Cells - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that eventually any level of the vertebrae. Although the hard bones of 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 problems for the spinal cord. Vertebrae injuries vary inside their severity, but almost inevitably cause various forms of compromised functionality since the spinal cord is in effect the key pathway for information traveling around the human body. Just what body functions are impaired through the injury will depend on the area of the spine which has been damaged and the extent to which the spine may be affected. Although serious impacts for example falls and automobile accidents account for many vertebrae injuries, tumors growing near the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and possess the same effects.
Knee Stem Cell Treatment - For decades scientists have been trying to try and find a way to remedy the various ailments that spinal cord injuries can bring, though limited success. However, lately a pioneering new technology has emerged that is helping thousands of people around the world regain part, it not exclusively, of their previously lost mobility. That treatment solutions are the use of stem cells.
What are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?
Knee Stem Cells - Stem cells are located in all multi cellular organisms and are characterized by their ability to differentiate into a diverse range of specialized cells when they divide and renew themselves. They are remarkable for their ability to regenerate themselves into just about any human cell. Their use within 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 aid 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, plus instances where the patient hasn't experienced a complete vertebrae injury, i.e. a complete severing of the spinal cord leading to a loss of function below the 'neurological' level. There has been positive results in helping patients recover greater sensory and physiological ability.
Spinal-cord Injury: How Stem Cell Treatment Works
When there is trauma to the vertebrae, 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 are the nerve cells 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 care for monitoring:
Phase one requires the harvesting of stem cells. The cells are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They may be then put through a process whereby they are isolated and purified before they are finally cultured being suitable for clinical use.
Phase two will be the transplantation of the stem cells. This is accomplished 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 into 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, and never the stem cell treatment itself, just 15% of patients reporting mild headaches. During the 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 is also now a major centre for that stem cell treating 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 united states, Germany, Japan and the UK.
The government has also aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad in search of 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 to China has contributed significantly to the country's success in the field." The authors were "amazed that almost all the top Chinese researchers inside the regenerative medicine field have been educated in the US and the UK and gained extensive working experience there in leading edge research."
Although previously treatment in China might have been considered risky due to lax health and safety laws, recent times have seen an increase in legislation protecting the patient, 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. By January 2010, about 1,500 patients had received this treatment 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 take care of all manner of conditions. A number of China's notable contributions to stem cell research are:
By transferring the nucleus of the human skin cell in to the immature ovum cell of the 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 that are of a specialized type that during those times 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. 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 deal with about 40 patients with spinal-cord injuries.
Clinical trials are underway on the use of stem cell therapies to take care of patients of strokes, 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 to combat aging.
Successes from the Treatment of Vertebrae Injuries in China
Many people of all ages and with varying degrees 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 odds 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 it was unable to control her bowel movements. Within 8 months with 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 able to walk with crutches.
Razvan Iordache, a Romanian citizen aged 30, travelled to China for many bouts of stem cell treatment following any sort of accident while diving into a river that left him paralyzed in the neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that doesn't 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 will control my urine for 10 mins and the sensation for both urine and stool is more preferable. Generally, my physique is more powerful than before."
Donald Maricelli, a 54 year old US citizen, a break down spinal cord injury using a fall in 2002. He underwent a surgical procedure to correct his lack of 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 unable to walk unaided. Pursuing the treatment, which commenced in November 2007, Donald has created significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout nearly all of his abdomen, as well as the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly important, the sensation on the bottom of his feet came back, helping him 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 lots of more success stories from patients who have received this pioneering treatment to help 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 time frame. A lot of hard work adopts 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 with spinal cord injuries recover their lost functions. Every month, more and more people are visiting various cities across 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 monthly, meaning that those unfortunate enough to get suffered spinal cord injuries need will no longer feel theirs can be a lost cause. There's a very real chance how the standard of living of any patient may be improved with little pain, little hospital time, plus a little motivation. The present evidence shows that stem cell therapy for spinal-cord injuries is the way forward.
