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

Knee Stem Cells - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that occur 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. Vertebrae injuries vary inside their severity, but almost inevitably result in various forms of compromised functionality since the spinal cord is in effect the key pathway for information to travel around the human body. Just what body functions are impaired from the injury will depend on the area of the spine which has been damaged and the extent that the spine has been affected. Although serious impacts such as falls and motor vehicle accidents account for many spinal-cord injuries, tumors growing near the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and have the same effects.

Knee Stem Cells - For many years scientists have been attempting to try and find a way to remedy the many ailments that spinal cord injuries can bring, though limited success. However, in recent years a pioneering new technologies have emerged that is helping lots 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 exactly are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?

Knee Stem Cell Treatment - Stem cells are simply in all multi cellular organisms and are characterized by their ability to tell apart into a diverse array of specialized cells when they divide and renew themselves. They may be remarkable for their capacity to regenerate themselves into any human cell. Their use in the treatment of various diseases and types of conditions, from Leukemia to Ms, is now becoming more common. With respect to 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 is now being applied to the treatment of spinal cord injuries using stem cells, and in instances where the patient has not yet experienced a complete vertebrae injury, i.e. a whole severing of the spinal cord leading to a loss of function below 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 to and from the brain) has occurred. These 'myelinated fibre tracts' are the focus of stem cell treatment, and are the nerve cells the treatment helps to regenerate. The procedure usually follows three phases and often requires no longer than a period of around five weeks in health care for monitoring:

Phase one involves 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 being suitable for clinical use.

Phase two is the transplantation of the stem cells. This is done in one of 3 ways:

1) Lumbar puncture - a process used where stem cells can be injected directly into the spinal column.

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 negative effects. The only side effects reported to date were caused by the lumbar puncture, and not the stem cell treatment itself, with only 15% of patients reporting mild headaches. At that time under medical supervision, patients undergo various physiotherapy activities along with other treatments as necessary.

Stem Cell Research and Treatment in China

China is fast-becoming a world leader in stem cell research, and it is now a major centre for the stem cell management of many diseases and scenarios. The Chinese government has poured 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 from the contributions of experts in america, Germany, Japan and the UK.

The government has additionally aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad in search of its ambition to turn into 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 back to China has contributed significantly for the country's success inside the field." The authors were "amazed that the majority the top Chinese researchers in the regenerative medicine field had been educated in the US and the UK and gained extensive practical knowledge there in cutting edge research."

Although previously treatment in China may have been considered risky as a result of lax health and safety laws, recent times have seen an increase in legislation protecting the individual, and improving the functionality of clinics. Since 2009, proof of safety and efficacy through numerous studies is required by China's Secretary of state for Health for all stem cell and gene therapies, making sure Chinese clinics meet international standards in their qualifications and methodology. At the time 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 location 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 into 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 during those times 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 assist aid patients through regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy. Below 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 utilizing cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to treat about 40 patients with vertebrae injuries.
Clinical trials are underway around 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 use 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 as well as others, and that the age of the individual and the severity of the damage greatly affect the odds 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 motions. Within 8 months of the treatment she regained movement in both her legs, could bend her knees (even though 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 right into a river that left him paralyzed in the neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that does not only could he are now using his arms almost normally, and might feel pain in a number of of his fingers, he could "even feel warm and cold" sensations. He continued to add the following: "Now I can control my urine for 10 mins and the sensation both for urine and stool is way better. Generally, my physique is more powerful than before."

Donald Maricelli, a 54 yr old US citizen, suffered a 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 stayed 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 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 which he regained control and strength in his left leg, allowing him to walk significant distances and stand for prolonged periods of time.

There are numerous more success stories from patients who have received this pioneering treatment to assist correct varying levels of spinal cord injury. However, it is always important to remember that not all patients recover exactly the same functions in the same time frame. A lot of hard work goes into the post treatment rehabilitation, plus it takes great drive, determination and ambition to enable the body to get back to more regular functionality. However, the task being done by scientists and clinics in China has shown time and again that stem cells hold a very important key to the future of helping people who have spinal cord injuries recover their lost functions. On a monthly basis, more and more people are going to various cities around the country that offer different packages of treatment according to precisely what injury has been inflicted. The level of service has improved greatly recently, and continues to improve monthly, meaning that those unfortunate enough to possess suffered spinal cord injuries need no longer feel theirs is really a lost cause. There exists a very real chance how the standard of living of any patient can be improved with little pain, little hospital time, and a little motivation. The current evidence shows that stem cell therapy for spinal-cord injuries is the solution.