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Stem Cell Strategy to 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 of the spinal column protect the soft tissues with 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 in their severity, but almost inevitably cause various forms of compromised functionality because the spinal cord is in effect the primary pathway for information to travel around the human body. Precisely what body functions are impaired through the injury will depend on the region of the spine that's been damaged and the extent this agreement the spine continues to be affected. Although serious impacts such as 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 trying to try and find a way to remedy the various ailments that spinal cord injuries can bring, however with limited success. However, in recent years 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 is the use of stem cells.

What exactly are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?

Knee Stem Cell Treatment - Stem cells are located in all multi cellular organisms and so are characterized by their ability to tell apart into a diverse range of specialized cells when they divide and renew themselves. They may be remarkable for their ability to regenerate themselves into almost any other human cell. Their use in 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 can 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 currently being applied to the treatment of spinal cord injuries using stem cells, plus instances where the patient has not experienced a complete spinal cord injury, i.e. a whole 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.

Vertebrae Injury: How Stem Cell Treatment Works

If you have trauma to the vertebrae, 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 are the nerve cells how the treatment helps to regenerate. The process usually follows three phases and usually requires no longer than a period of around five weeks in medical treatment for monitoring:

Phase one necessitates the harvesting of stem cells. Cellular structure are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They're 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 done in one of 3 ways:

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

2) Intravenous injection- stem cells are injected into 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, just 15% of patients reporting mild headaches. In the period 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 conditions. The Chinese government has poured 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 the UK.

The government has also aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad in search 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 returning to China has contributed significantly towards the country's success inside the field." The authors were "amazed that the majority the top Chinese researchers within the regenerative medicine field have been educated in the US and the UK and gained extensive practical knowledge there in leading edge research."

Although before treatment in China may have been considered risky as a result 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, evidence of safety and efficacy through numerous 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 in 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.

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 a human skin cell into the immature ovum cell of your rabbit, researchers from your 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 that are of a specialized type that during those times 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. Listed here are several projects underway within Chinese institutions:

ChinaSCINet, a consortium of 27 medical facilities, start phase 2 numerous studies 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 about the use of stem cell therapies to treat patients of cardiac arrest, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.
Research is underway on the potential use of stem cells to deal with heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, also to combat aging.
Successes 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 remember that not every patient will react as well as others, and that the age of the patient and the severity of damages greatly affect the odds 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 from 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 able to walk with crutches.

Razvan Iordache, a Romanian citizen aged 30, travelled to China for a number of 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 now use his arms almost normally, and might feel pain in many of his fingers, he could "even feel warm and cold" sensations. He continued to add the following: "Now I can control my urine for 10 mins and the sensation for both urine and stool is much better. Generally, my system is more powerful than ever before."

Donald Maricelli, a 54 year old US citizen, a break down spinal cord injury using a fall in 2002. He underwent surgery to correct his not enough sensation in his lower body, however there was complications and Donald stayed in a worse state than before. Before arriving for treatment in China, he was still being unable to walk unaided. Following the treatment, which commenced in November 2007, Donald has made significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout nearly all of his abdomen, and also the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly crucial, the sensation on the bottom of his feet returned, helping him to walk without tripping. Most important to Donald was he regained control and strength as part of his left leg, allowing him simply to walk significant distances and are a symbol of prolonged periods of time.

There are many more success stories from patients who've received this pioneering treatment to aid correct varying degrees 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 goes into the post treatment rehabilitation, plus 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 an essential key to the future of helping individuals with spinal cord injuries recover their lost functions. On a monthly basis, more and more people are going to various cities round the country that offer different packages of treatment based on precisely what injury continues to be inflicted. The level of service has improved greatly lately, and continues to improve each month, meaning that those unfortunate enough to have suffered spinal cord injuries need will no longer feel theirs is really a lost cause. There's a very real chance the standard of living of any patient may be improved with little pain, little hospital time, and a little motivation. The current evidence shows that stem cell therapy for spinal-cord injuries is the answer.