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Stem Cell Strategy for Spinal Cord Injuries: The New Frontier

Knee Stem Cell Treatment - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that happen to any level of the spinal cord. Although the hard bones from the spinal column protect the soft tissues from the spinal cord, vertebrae can nevertheless be broken or dislocated in a variety of ways and cause traumatic injury to the spinal cord. Spinal-cord injuries vary in their severity, but almost inevitably cause various forms of compromised functionality as the spinal cord is in effect the key pathway for information to visit 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 continues to be affected. Although serious impacts for example falls and motor vehicle accidents account for many spinal cord injuries, tumors growing near the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and possess the same effects.

Knee Stem Cell Injections - For decades scientists have been attempting to try and find a way to remedy the many ailments that vertebrae injuries can bring, however with limited success. However, recently a pioneering new technology has emerged that is helping many people around the world regain part, it not exclusively, of their previously lost mobility. That treatment methods are the use of stem cells.

Exactly what are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?

Knee Stem Cells - Stem cells are simply in all multi cellular organisms and so are characterized by their ability to tell apart into a diverse array of specialized cells when they divide and renew themselves. They're remarkable for their capacity 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. Depending on the condition, stem cells may be transplanted into the patient to help 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, as well as in instances where the patient hasn't experienced a complete spinal-cord injury, i.e. a complete severing of the vertebrae 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

When there is 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' are the focus of stem cell treatment, and so are the nerve cells that 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 treatment for monitoring:

Phase one necessitates the harvesting of stem cells. Cells are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They may be then put through an activity 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 done in one of 3 ways:

1) Lumbar puncture - a procedure used where stem cells could be injected directly into the spine.

2) Intravenous injection- stem cells are injected to 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 never the stem cell treatment itself, just 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 is now a major centre for your stem cell treating many diseases and scenarios. The Chinese government has poured millions of dollars into research on regenerative medicine, understanding that 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 year 2000 to 1,116 in 2008, exceeded only through the contributions of experts in the USA, Germany, Japan and the UK.

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

Although previously treatment in China might have been considered risky due to lax health and safety laws, the past few years have seen an increase in legislation protecting the sufferer, and improving the functionality of clinics. Since 2009, proof of safety and efficacy through numerous studies is required by China's Ministry of Health for all stem cell and gene therapies, making certain Chinese clinics meet international standards in 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.

In addition to this, China has long held a spot at the forefront of stem cell research to take care of all manner of conditions. Some of China's notable contributions to stem cell research are:

By transferring the nucleus of a human skin cell in to the immature ovum cell of your rabbit, researchers from the 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 of which are of a specialized type that in those days only two other groups worldwide had were 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 presently involved with a myriad of projects to help 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 beginning phase 2 many studies to test the efficacy and safety of employing cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to take care of 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.
Research is underway on the potential utilization of stem cells to deal with heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, and 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 over the last few years. It is important to understand that not every patient will react and more, and that the age of the individual and the severity of the damage 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 beneath the injury site, and was unable to control her bowel movements. Within 8 months from 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 capable of walk with crutches.

Razvan Iordache, a Romanian citizen aged 30, travelled to China for many bouts of stem cell treatment following an accident while diving right into a river that left him paralyzed from your 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 went on to add the following: "Now I will control my urine for 10 minutes and the sensation for urine and stool is more preferable. Generally, my physique is more powerful than ever before."

Donald Maricelli, a 54 years old US citizen, suffered a spinal cord injury using a fall in 2002. He underwent a surgical procedure to correct his insufficient 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 makes significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout nearly all of his abdomen, and 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 important to Donald was that he regained control and strength in the left leg, allowing him to walk significant distances and stand for prolonged periods of time.

There are lots of more success stories from patients who have received this pioneering treatment to aid correct varying examples 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 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 shows time and again that stem cells hold a critical key to the future of helping individuals with spinal cord injuries recover their lost functions. Every month, more and more people are going to various cities across the country that offer different packages of treatment depending on precisely what injury may be inflicted. The level of service has improved greatly lately, and continues to improve every month, meaning that those unfortunate enough to have suffered spinal cord injuries need no more feel theirs can be 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, along with a little motivation. The present evidence shows that stem cell therapy for spinal cord injuries is the answer.