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Stem Cell Strategy to Spinal Cord Injuries: The New Frontier

Knee Stem Cell Injections - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that happen to any level of the vertebrae. Although the hard bones with the spinal column protect the soft tissues from the spinal cord, vertebrae can nonetheless be broken or dislocated in a variety 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 as the spinal cord is in effect the key pathway for information traveling around the human body. Exactly what body functions are impaired from the injury will depend on the region of the spine which has been damaged and the extent that the spine has been affected. Although serious impacts including falls and car 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 Cell Injections - For years scientists have been attempting to try and find a way to remedy the various ailments that spinal-cord injuries can bring, though limited success. However, lately a pioneering new technologies have emerged that is helping lots of people around the world regain part, if not all, of their previously lost mobility. That treatment solutions are the use of stem cells.

Exactly what are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?

Knee Stem Cells - Stem cells are located in all multi cellular organisms and therefore are characterized by their ability to distinguish into a diverse range of specialized cells once they divide and renew themselves. They may be remarkable for their capacity to regenerate themselves into just about any human cell. Their use in the treatment of various diseases and conditions, from Leukemia to Multiple Sclerosis, 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 spinal cord injury, i.e. a complete severing of the vertebrae leading to a loss of function below the 'neurological' level. There has been positive results in helping patients recover greater sensory and physiological ability.

Spinal-cord Injury: How Stem Cell Treatment Works

If you have 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' are the focus of stem cell treatment, and therefore are the nerve cells that the treatment helps to regenerate. The task usually follows three phases and usually requires no longer when compared to a period of around five weeks in health care for monitoring:

Phase one requires the harvesting of stem cells. Cellular structure 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 achieved in one of three ways:

1) Lumbar puncture - a process 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 involves the monitoring of the patient to ensure 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, just 15% of patients reporting mild headaches. In the period 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 also now a major centre for your stem cell management of many diseases and types of conditions. The Chinese government has poured many millions of dollars into research on regenerative medicine, understanding 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 2000 to 1,116 in 2008, exceeded only through the contributions of experts in america, Germany, Japan and also the UK.

The government has additionally 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 towards the country's success within 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 the UK and gained extensive experiences there in cutting edge research."

Although previously treatment in China may have been considered risky because of 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 clinical trials is required by China's Ministry of 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.

In addition to this, China has long held a location 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 your human skin cell into the immature ovum cell of a rabbit, researchers from the 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 at that time 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 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 utilizing cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to take care of about 40 patients with vertebrae injuries.
Clinical trials are underway around the use of stem cell therapies to deal with patients of strokes, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.
Studies are underway on the potential use of stem cells to take care of heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, 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 during 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 patient and the severity of the damage 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 it was unable to control her bowel movements. Within 8 months of the treatment she regained movement in both her legs, could bend her knees (although 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 several bouts of stem cell treatment following a major accident while diving in to a river that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that not only could he are now using his arms almost normally, and could feel pain in several of his fingers, he could "even feel warm and cold" sensations. He continued to add the following: "Now I will control my urine for 10 mins and the sensation for urine and stool is way better. Generally, my entire body is more powerful than before."

Donald Maricelli, a 54 yr old US citizen, a break down 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 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 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 simply 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 assist correct varying degrees of spinal cord injury. However, it is usually important to remember that not all patients recover the identical 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 job being done by scientists and clinics in China indicates time and again that stem cells hold a critical key to the future of helping individuals with spinal cord injuries recover their lost functions. Each month, more and more people are travelling to various cities across the country that offer different packages of treatment based on precisely what injury may be inflicted. The level of service has improved greatly in recent years, and continues to improve each month, meaning that those unfortunate enough to have suffered spinal cord injuries need will no longer feel theirs can be a lost cause. There exists a very real chance that the standard of living of any patient could be improved with little pain, little hospital time, and a little motivation. The existing evidence shows that stem cell therapy for spinal cord injuries is the answer.