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Stem Cell Treatment 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 from the spinal column protect the soft tissues from the spinal cord, vertebrae can still 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 lead to various forms of compromised functionality since the spinal cord is in effect the key pathway for information to visit around the human body. Precisely what body functions are impaired by 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 car accidents account for many spinal cord injuries, tumors growing near to the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and possess the same effects.

Knee Stem Cell Injections - 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, lately 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 methods are the use of stem cells.

Exactly what are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?

Knee Stem Cell Injections - Stem cells are found in all multi cellular organisms and therefore are characterized by their ability to tell apart into a diverse selection of specialized cells when they divide and renew themselves. They're remarkable for their ability to regenerate themselves into any human cell. Their use within the treatment of various diseases and scenarios, from Leukemia to Multiple Sclerosis, is now becoming more common. With respect to 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 has become being applied to the management of spinal cord injuries using stem cells, as well as in instances where the patient has not yet experienced a complete spinal cord injury, i.e. a whole 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 both to and from the brain) has occurred. These 'myelinated fibre tracts' would be the focus of stem cell treatment, and therefore are the nerve cells that the treatment helps to regenerate. The process usually follows three phases and often requires no longer than a period of around five weeks in health care for monitoring:

Phase one requires the harvesting of stem cells. The cells are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They're then put through an activity 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 achieved in one of 3 ways:

1) Lumbar puncture - an operation used where stem cells may 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 necessitates 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 simply 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 it is now a major centre for that stem cell treatment of many diseases and types of conditions. The Chinese government has poured millions of dollars into research on regenerative medicine, understanding that investment has really borne fruit within 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 has also aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad in search 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 in the field." The authors were "amazed that the majority the top Chinese researchers inside the regenerative medicine field had been educated in the US as well as the UK and gained extensive working experience there in leading edge research."

Although before treatment in China might 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, proof of safety and efficacy through clinical trials 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 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 in to the immature ovum cell of a rabbit, researchers from the 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 at that time 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 help aid patients through regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy. Here are several projects underway within Chinese institutions:

ChinaSCINet, a consortium of 27 medical facilities, start phase 2 clinical trials to test the efficacy and safety of using cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to take care of about 40 patients with spinal cord injuries.
Clinical trials are underway around the use of stem cell therapies to take care of patients of cardiac arrest, 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, also to combat aging.
Success Stories from the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries in China

Lots of 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 as well as others, and that the age of the individual 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 underneath the injury site, and it was unable to control her going number 2. Within 8 months of the treatment she regained movement both in her legs, could bend her knees (even though 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 several bouts of stem cell treatment following an accident while diving right into a river that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that doesn't only could he now use 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 can control my urine for Ten minutes and the sensation for urine and stool is more preferable. Generally, my system is more powerful than before."

Donald Maricelli, a 54 year old US citizen, suffered a spinal cord injury following a fall in 2002. He underwent an operation to correct his lack of sensation in his lower body, however there have been 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. Pursuing the treatment, which commenced in November 2007, Donald makes significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout nearly all of his abdomen, as well as the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly significant, the sensation on the bottom of his feet returned, helping him to walk without tripping. Most critical to Donald was he regained control and strength in the left leg, allowing him to walk significant distances and are a symbol of prolonged periods of time.

There are lots of more success stories from patients who have received this pioneering treatment to aid correct varying degrees of spinal cord injury. However, it will always be important to remember that not all patients recover the identical functions in the same period of time. A lot of hard work goes into the post treatment rehabilitation, plus 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 an essential 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 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 longer feel theirs is a lost cause. There is a very real chance that 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 spinal-cord injuries is the way forward.