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Stem Cell Strategy for Spinal Cord Injuries: The brand new Frontier

Knee Stem Cell Injections - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that occur to any level of the spinal cord. Although the hard bones from the spinal column protect the soft tissues with the spinal cord, vertebrae can still be broken or dislocated in a number of ways and cause traumatic trouble for the spinal cord. Spinal cord injuries vary within their severity, but almost inevitably cause various forms of compromised functionality since the spinal cord is in effect the primary pathway for information to travel around the human body. Just what body functions are impaired by the injury will depend on the location of the spine that has been damaged and the extent to which the spine may be affected. Although serious impacts including falls and motor vehicle accidents account for many spinal cord injuries, tumors growing near 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 spinal cord injuries can bring, though limited success. However, recently a pioneering new technologies have emerged that is helping many people around the world regain part, if not completely, of their previously lost mobility. That treatment methods are the use of stem cells.

What exactly are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?

Knee Stem Cell Treatment - Stem cells are found in all multi cellular organisms and so are characterized by their ability to distinguish into a diverse array of specialized cells after they divide and renew themselves. They're remarkable for their capability 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 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 management of spinal cord injuries using stem cells, as well as in instances where the patient hasn't experienced a complete vertebrae injury, i.e. a whole severing of the spinal cord leading to a loss of function beneath 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 vertebrae, 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 the treatment helps to regenerate. The process usually follows three phases and usually requires no longer when compared to a period of around five weeks in medical care for monitoring:

Phase one involves the harvesting of stem cells. The cells are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They're then put through a process whereby they are isolated and purified before they are finally cultured being suitable for clinical use.

Phase two is the transplantation of the stem cells. This is done in one of three ways:

1) Lumbar puncture - an operation used where stem cells could 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 requires the monitoring of the patient to make sure there are no adverse side effects. The only side effects reported to date were caused by the lumbar puncture, and not 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 fast becoming a world leader in stem cell research, and is also now a major centre for the stem cell treatment of 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 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 year 2000 to 1,116 in 2008, exceeded only from the contributions of experts in the united states, Germany, Japan and the UK.

The government in addition has aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad in pursuit of its ambition to become 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 to China has contributed significantly to the country's success inside the field." The authors were "amazed that most the top Chinese researchers in the regenerative medicine field ended up educated in the US and the UK and gained extensive practical knowledge there in cutting edge research."

Although before treatment in China may 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 numerous 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. 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 treat all manner of conditions. A few of China's notable contributions to stem cell research are:

By transferring the nucleus of your human skin cell to the immature ovum cell of your rabbit, researchers from a 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 which are of a specialized type that at that time 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 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 starting phase 2 numerous studies to test the efficacy and safety of using cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to take care of about 40 patients with vertebrae injuries.
Clinical trials are underway on the use of stem cell therapies to treat patients of heart attacks, 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 also to combat aging.
Successes 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 keep in mind that not every patient will react and more, and that the age of the sufferer 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 was unable to control her bowel motions. Within 8 months with the treatment she regained movement in both her legs, could bend her knees (although the toes of one foot remained as 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 in to a river that left him paralyzed from your neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that doesn't 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 proceeded to add the following: "Now I can control my urine for 10 minutes and the sensation for both urine and stool is way better. Generally, my physique is more powerful than before."

Donald Maricelli, a 54 year old US citizen, suffered a spinal cord injury using a fall in 2002. He underwent an operation to correct his not enough 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 had been unable to walk unaided. Following a treatment, which commenced in November 2007, Donald has made significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout the majority 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 simply to walk without tripping. Most important to Donald was that he regained control and strength in his left leg, allowing him simply to walk significant distances and indicate prolonged periods of time.

There are many more success stories from patients who have received this pioneering treatment to aid 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 switches 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 task 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 with spinal cord injuries recover their lost functions. On a monthly basis, more and more people are going to 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 in recent years, and continues to improve monthly, meaning that those unfortunate enough to get suffered spinal cord injuries need no more 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, plus a little motivation. The current evidence shows that stem cell therapy for vertebrae injuries is the solution.