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Stem Cell Strategy for Spinal Cord Injuries: The newest Frontier

Knee Stem Cell Treatment - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that occur to any level of the spinal cord. Although the hard bones with the spinal column protect the soft tissues of 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 inside their severity, but almost inevitably lead to various forms of compromised functionality since the spinal cord is in effect the primary pathway for information traveling around the human body. Exactly what body functions are impaired by the injury will depend on the region of the spine which has been damaged and the extent that the spine may be affected. Although serious impacts including falls and automobile accidents account for many spinal-cord injuries, tumors growing near to the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and also have the same effects.

Knee Stem Cell Treatment - For decades scientists have been attempting to try and find a way to remedy the many ailments that spinal cord injuries can bring, however with limited success. However, recently a pioneering new technology has emerged that is helping lots of 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 are characterized by their ability to tell apart into a diverse array of specialized cells once they divide and renew themselves. They're remarkable for their ability to regenerate themselves into almost any other human cell. Their use in the treatment of various diseases and scenarios, from Leukemia to Ms, is now becoming more common. Based on the condition, stem cells can 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, and in instances where the patient has not experienced a complete vertebrae injury, i.e. a whole 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

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' will be the focus of stem cell treatment, and are the nerve cells that the treatment helps to regenerate. The procedure usually follows three phases and usually requires no longer than a period of around five weeks in health care for monitoring:

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

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

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

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

3) Tissue injection - direct injection into target tissues.

Phase three involves the monitoring of the patient to make certain there are no adverse negative effects. The only side effects reported to date were caused by the lumbar puncture, and never 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 quickly becoming a world leader in stem cell research, and is now a major centre for the stem cell management of many diseases and scenarios. The Chinese government has poured many millions of dollars into research on regenerative medicine, and 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 also the UK.

The government has additionally aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad in search 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 back to China has contributed significantly towards the country's success in the field." The authors were "amazed that the majority the top Chinese researchers inside the regenerative medicine field ended up educated in the US and also the UK and gained extensive working experience there in cutting edge research."

Although before treatment in China might have been considered risky as a result of 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, evidence of safety and efficacy through many studies is required by China's Ministry of Health for all stem cell and gene therapies, making certain Chinese clinics meet international standards within 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.

Furthermore, China has long held a place at the forefront of stem cell research to deal with all manner of conditions. A few of China's notable contributions to stem cell research are:

By transferring the nucleus of the human skin cell in to the immature ovum cell of your rabbit, researchers from a Shanghai hospital successfully produced embryonic human cells.
China up to now 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 was able 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 many studies to test the efficacy and safety of employing cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to deal with about 40 patients with spinal cord injuries.
Clinical trials are underway on the use of stem cell therapies to take care of patients of heart attacks, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.
Studies are underway on the potential use of stem cells to treat heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, also to combat aging.
Testimonials from the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries in China

Many people of all ages and with varying degrees 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 patient and the severity of damages greatly affect the likelihood 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 going number 2. Within 8 months with the treatment she regained movement in both her legs, could bend her knees (even though the toes of one foot were still paralyzed) and was even capable of walk with crutches.

Razvan Iordache, a Romanian citizen aged 30, travelled to China for a number of bouts of stem cell treatment following a major accident while diving right into a river that left him paralyzed from your neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that doesn't only could he are now using 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'm able to control my urine for Ten minutes and the sensation for urine and stool is much better. Generally, my entire body is more powerful than ever before."

Donald Maricelli, a 54 yr old US citizen, suffered a spinal cord injury carrying out a fall in 2002. He underwent a surgical procedure to correct his not enough 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 had been unable to walk unaided. Pursuing the treatment, which commenced in November 2007, Donald has made 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 returned, helping him just to walk without tripping. Most significant to Donald was that he regained control and strength in the left leg, allowing him just to walk significant distances and stand for prolonged periods of time.

There are many more success stories from patients who have received this pioneering treatment to help correct varying examples of spinal cord injury. However, it is usually 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 make it possible for the body to get back to more regular functionality. However, the work being done by scientists and clinics in China shows time and again that stem cells hold an essential key to the future of helping people with spinal cord injuries recover their lost functions. Each month, more and more people are visiting various cities across the country that offer different packages of treatment depending on 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 the standard of living of any patient may be improved with little pain, little hospital time, along with a little motivation. The existing evidence shows that stem cell therapy for vertebrae injuries is the answer.