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Stem Cell Strategy to Spinal Cord Injuries: The newest Frontier

Knee Stem Cell Treatment - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that happen 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 number of ways and cause traumatic injury to the spinal cord. Spinal-cord injuries vary within their severity, but almost inevitably cause various forms of compromised functionality as the spinal cord is in effect the primary pathway for information to travel around the human body. Precisely what body functions are impaired by the injury will depend on the location of the spine that's been damaged and the extent that the spine continues to be affected. Although serious impacts including 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 Cells - For many years scientists have been trying to try and find a way to remedy the many ailments that spinal-cord injuries can bring, but with limited success. However, recently a pioneering new technology has emerged that is helping lots of people around the world regain part, if not all, of their previously lost mobility. That treatment solutions are the use of stem cells.

Exactly what are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?

Knee Stem Cells - Stem cells are located in all multi cellular organisms and so are characterized by their ability to tell apart into a diverse array of specialized cells after they divide and renew themselves. They're remarkable for their capacity to regenerate themselves into just about any human cell. Their used in the treatment of various diseases and scenarios, from Leukemia to Multiple Sclerosis, is now becoming more common. Depending on the condition, stem cells may be transplanted into the patient to assist renew and regenerate previously damaged cells, giving patients renewed hope when, before, no reliable treatment existed.

This principle has become being applied to the treatment of spinal cord injuries using stem cells, and in instances where the patient has not experienced a complete vertebrae injury, i.e. an entire severing of the spinal-cord leading to a loss of function underneath the 'neurological' level. There has been good success in helping patients recover greater sensory and physiological ability.

Spinal Cord 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 so are the nerve cells how the treatment helps to regenerate. The procedure usually follows three phases and usually requires no longer than a period of around five weeks in medical treatment for monitoring:

Phase one necessitates the harvesting of stem cells. Cells 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 be 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 procedure used where stem cells can be injected directly into the spine.

2) Intravenous injection- stem cells are injected in to the patient's vein.

3) Tissue injection - direct injection into target tissues.

Phase three requires the monitoring of the patient to make certain 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 only 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 fast becoming a world leader in stem cell research, and is now a major centre for your stem cell management of many diseases and types of conditions. The Chinese government has poured many millions of dollars into research on regenerative medicine, which 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 2000 to 1,116 in 2008, exceeded only by the contributions of experts in america, Germany, Japan as well as the UK.

The government has also aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad looking for its ambition to turn into a 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 back to China has contributed significantly for the country's success within the field." The authors were "amazed that most the top Chinese researchers in the regenerative medicine field ended up educated in the US as well as the UK and gained extensive experiences there in innovative research."

Although before treatment in China might have been considered risky because of lax health and safety laws, the past few years have seen an increase in legislation protecting the individual, 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, ensuring that Chinese clinics meet international standards within their qualifications and methodology. By 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.

Furthermore, China has long held a spot at the forefront of stem cell research to treat 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 to the immature ovum cell of your rabbit, researchers from a 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 in those days only two other groups worldwide had managed 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 aid 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 numerous studies to test the efficacy and safety of utilizing cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to deal with about 40 patients with vertebrae injuries.
Clinical trials are underway about the use of stem cell therapies to take care of patients of strokes, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.
Research is underway on the potential utilization of stem cells to deal with heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, also to combat aging.
Testimonials from the Treatment of Vertebrae Injuries in China

Many individuals of all ages and with varying degrees 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 and more, and that the age of the patient and the severity of the injury greatly affect the chances 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 below the injury site, and it was unable to control her bowel motions. Within 8 months of the treatment she regained movement both in her legs, could bend her knees (even though the toes of one foot remained as paralyzed) and was even in a position to 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 in to 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 could feel pain in many of his fingers, he could "even feel warm and cold" sensations. He continued to add the following: "Now I will control my urine for 10 minutes and the sensation both for urine and stool is much better. Generally, my entire body 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 a surgical procedure to correct his lack of sensation in his lower body, however there were complications and Donald was left in a worse state than ever before. Before arriving for treatment in China, he was still unable to walk unaided. Following 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 important, the sensation on the bottom of his feet went back, helping him just to walk without tripping. Most significant to Donald was he regained control and strength as part of his left leg, allowing him to walk significant distances and are a symbol of 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 the same functions in the same period of time. A lot of hard work adopts the post treatment rehabilitation, and 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 shows time and again that stem cells hold a critical key to the future of helping people who have spinal cord injuries recover their lost functions. Every month, more and more people are visiting various cities around the country that offer different packages of treatment depending on precisely what injury continues to be inflicted. The level of service has improved greatly lately, and continues to improve every month, meaning that those unfortunate enough to possess suffered spinal cord injuries need no more feel theirs is really a lost cause. There exists a very real chance the standard of living of any patient could be improved with little pain, little hospital time, plus a little motivation. The current evidence shows that stem cell therapy for vertebrae injuries is the answer.