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Stem Cell Treatment for Spinal Cord Injuries: The newest Frontier

Knee Stem Cells - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that happen to any level of the spinal-cord. 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 number of ways and cause traumatic problems 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 key pathway for information to visit around the human body. Exactly what body functions are impaired through the injury will depend on the location of the spine that has been damaged and the extent to which the spine may be affected. Although serious impacts for example falls and motor vehicle accidents account for many spinal cord injuries, tumors growing close to the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and possess the same effects.

Knee Stem Cell Treatment - For many years scientists have been attempting to try and find a way to remedy the various ailments that spinal cord injuries can bring, but with limited success. However, in recent years a pioneering new technologies have emerged that is helping thousands of people around the world regain part, if not all, of their previously lost mobility. That treatment methods are the use of stem cells.

What are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?

Knee Stem Cell Injections - Stem cells are located 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 may be remarkable for their capacity to regenerate themselves into almost any other human cell. Their used in the treatment of various diseases and conditions, from Leukemia to Ms, is now becoming more common. Based on the condition, stem cells may be transplanted into the patient to aid renew and regenerate previously damaged cells, giving patients renewed hope when, before, no reliable treatment existed.

This principle has become being applied to the treatment of spinal cord injuries using stem cells, as well as in instances where the patient has not experienced a complete spinal-cord injury, i.e. an entire 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 both 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 process usually follows three phases and usually requires no longer than the usual period of around five weeks in medical care for monitoring:

Phase one requires 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 to become suitable for clinical use.

Phase two may be the transplantation of the stem cells. This is accomplished in one of three ways:

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

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

3) Tissue injection - direct injection into target tissues.

Phase three requires the monitoring of the patient to ensure there are no adverse side effects. The only side effects reported thus far were caused by the lumbar puncture, rather than 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 treatment of many diseases and scenarios. The Chinese government has poured many millions of dollars into research on regenerative medicine, which 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 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 pursuit of its ambition to turn into 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 to the country's success in the field." The authors were "amazed that almost all the top Chinese researchers within the regenerative medicine field have been educated in the US and also the UK and gained extensive working experience there in innovative research."

Although in the past 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 sufferer, and improving the functionality of clinics. Since 2009, proof safety and efficacy through many 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 within their qualifications and methodology. At the time of January 2010, about 1,500 patients had received laser hair removal 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 few of China's notable contributions to stem cell research are:

By transferring the nucleus of a human skin cell to 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 that 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 presently 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 beginning phase 2 many 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 on the use of stem cell therapies to deal with patients of cardiac arrest, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.
Studies are underway on the potential utilization 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 individuals of all ages and with varying examples 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 sufferer and the severity of the damage greatly affect the likelihood 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 underneath 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 remained 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 in to 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 many of his fingers, he could "even feel warm and cold" sensations. He proceeded to add the following: "Now I will control my urine for 10 mins 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 following a fall in 2002. He underwent a surgical procedure to correct his insufficient sensation in his lower body, however there were complications and Donald stayed in a worse state than ever before. Before arriving for treatment in China, he was still being 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 also the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly significant, the sensation on the bottom of his feet came back, helping him just to walk without tripping. Most significant to Donald was he regained control and strength in the left leg, allowing him simply to walk significant distances and are a symbol of prolonged periods of time.

There are lots of more success stories from patients who've received this pioneering treatment to aid correct varying examples of spinal cord injury. However, it is always important to remember that not all patients recover the same functions in the same time frame. 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 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. On a monthly basis, more and more people are visiting 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 recently, and continues to improve every month, meaning that those unfortunate enough to possess suffered spinal cord injuries need no longer feel theirs is really 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 way forward.