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Stem Cell Strategy for Spinal Cord Injuries: The newest Frontier<br /><br />[http://www.kneestemcells.com Knee Stem Cells] - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that happen to any level of the vertebrae. Although the hard bones from the spinal column protect the soft tissues of 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 inside 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 through the injury will depend on the location of the spine which has been damaged and the extent that the spine continues to be affected. Although serious impacts such as falls and automobile accidents account for many spinal-cord injuries, tumors growing close to the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and have the same effects.<br /><br />[http://www.kneestemcells.com Knee Stem Cell Treatment] - For many years scientists have been trying to try and find a way to remedy the different ailments that spinal-cord injuries can bring, though limited success. However, lately a pioneering new technology has emerged that is helping lots of people around the world regain part, if not completely, of their previously lost mobility. That treatment methods are the use of stem cells.<br /><br />What exactly are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?<br /><br />[http://www.kneestemcells.com Knee Stem Cell Injections] - Stem cells are found in all multi cellular organisms and are characterized by their ability to differentiate into a diverse array of specialized cells when they divide and renew themselves. They're remarkable for their ability to regenerate themselves into almost any other human cell. Their use within the treatment of various diseases and conditions, from Leukemia to Ms, is now becoming more common. Based on 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.<br /><br />This principle has become being applied to the treatment of spinal cord injuries using stem cells, as well as in instances where the patient hasn't experienced a complete spinal cord injury, i.e. a whole severing of the spinal-cord leading to a loss of function below the 'neurological' level. There has been great success in helping patients recover greater sensory and physiological ability.<br /><br />Vertebrae Injury: How Stem Cell Treatment Works<br /><br />If you find 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' would be the focus of stem cell treatment, and so are the nerve cells how the treatment helps to regenerate. The task usually follows three phases in most cases requires no longer than a period of around five weeks in health care for monitoring:<br /><br />Phase one necessitates the harvesting of stem cells. The cells 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 to be suitable for clinical use.<br /><br />Phase two will be the transplantation of the stem cells. This is achieved in one of three ways:<br /><br />1) Lumbar puncture - a process used where stem cells may be injected directly into the spine.<br /><br />2) Intravenous injection- stem cells are injected into the patient's vein.<br /><br />3) Tissue injection - direct injection into target tissues.<br /><br />Phase three involves the monitoring of the patient to ensure there are no adverse side effects. The only side effects reported thus far 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 as well as other treatments as necessary.<br /><br />Stem Cell Research and Treatment in China<br /><br />China is fast-becoming a world leader in stem cell research, and is now a major centre for that stem cell management of many diseases and conditions. The Chinese government has poured many millions of dollars into research on regenerative medicine, understanding 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 by the contributions of experts in the USA, Germany, Japan as well as the UK.<br /><br />The government in addition has aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad in pursuit of 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 to the country's success inside the field." The authors were "amazed that most 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 innovative research."<br /><br />Although in the past treatment in China could 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 of safety and efficacy through clinical trials is required by China's Secretary of state for Health for all stem cell and gene therapies, making certain Chinese clinics meet international standards inside their qualifications and methodology. At the time of 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.<br /><br />Additionally, China has long held a place at the forefront of stem cell research to deal with all manner of conditions. Some of China's notable contributions to stem cell research are: <br /><br />By transferring the nucleus of the human skin cell to the immature ovum cell of a rabbit, researchers from your Shanghai hospital successfully produced embryonic human cells.<br />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 during those times only two other groups worldwide had was able to create.<br />Harboured several human tissue types, created artificially, including circulation system, tendon, bone, cartilage, skin, cornea and muscle fibre.<br />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: <br /><br />ChinaSCINet, a consortium of 27 medical facilities, are beginning phase 2 clinical trials to test the efficacy and safety of using cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to treat about 40 patients with spinal-cord injuries.<br />Clinical trials are underway around the use of stem cell therapies to treat patients of cardiac arrest, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.<br />Research is underway on the potential usage of stem cells to deal with heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, and to combat aging.<br />Success Stories from the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries in China<br /><br />Many people 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 and more, and that the age of the sufferer and the severity of the injury greatly affect the odds of recovery. However, there have been many success stories from both Chinese citizens and foreigners.<br /><br />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 of the treatment she regained movement both in her legs, could bend her knees (even though toes of one foot were still paralyzed) and was even able to walk with crutches.<br /><br />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 right into a river that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that does not only could he moved to 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 can control my urine for 10 minutes and the sensation for urine and stool is more preferable. Generally, my system is more powerful than ever before."<br /><br />Donald Maricelli, a 54 yr old US citizen, a break down spinal cord injury following a fall in 2002. He underwent surgery to correct his insufficient sensation in his lower body, however there have been 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 most of his abdomen, and also the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly important, the sensation on the bottom of his feet came back, helping him just to walk without tripping. Most significant to Donald was he regained control and strength in the left leg, allowing him just to walk significant distances and indicate prolonged periods of time.<br /><br />There are lots of more success stories from patients that have received this pioneering treatment to aid correct varying degrees of spinal cord injury. However, it will always be important to remember that not all patients recover exactly the same functions in the same time period. A lot of hard work switches 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 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 based on precisely what injury continues to be inflicted. The level of service has improved greatly recently, and continues to improve monthly, meaning that those unfortunate enough to have suffered spinal cord injuries need no more feel theirs is really a lost cause. There exists 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 existing evidence shows that stem cell therapy for spinal-cord injuries is the solution.