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Stem Cell Treatment for Spinal Cord Injuries: The newest Frontier

Knee Stem Cell Injections - 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 with the spinal cord, vertebrae can nevertheless be broken or dislocated in a number of ways and cause traumatic injury to the spinal cord. Spinal cord injuries vary inside their severity, but almost inevitably cause various forms of compromised functionality since the spinal cord is in effect the primary 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 has been affected. Although serious impacts such as 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 many years scientists have been attempting to try and find a way to remedy the many ailments that vertebrae injuries can bring, though limited success. However, recently a pioneering new technologies have emerged that is helping thousands of people around the world regain part, it not exclusively, of their previously lost mobility. That treatment is the use of stem cells.

What 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 differentiate into a diverse range of specialized cells when they divide and renew themselves. They are remarkable for their ability to regenerate themselves into just about any human cell. Their use within the treatment of various diseases and types of conditions, from Leukemia to Ms, is now becoming more common. Based on the condition, stem cells could 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 currently being applied to the management of spinal cord injuries using stem cells, plus instances where the patient has not yet experienced a complete spinal-cord injury, i.e. an entire 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

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 are the nerve cells the treatment helps to regenerate. The task usually follows three phases and often requires no longer than a 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 are then put through a process whereby they are isolated and purified before they are finally cultured to be suitable for clinical use.

Phase two will be the transplantation of the stem cells. This is achieved in one of 3 ways:

1) Lumbar puncture - a process 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 involves the monitoring of the patient to ensure there are no adverse unwanted effects. The only side effects reported up to now were caused by the lumbar puncture, rather than 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 that stem cell treating many diseases and conditions. 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 by the contributions of experts in america, Germany, Japan and also the UK.

The government has additionally aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad looking for 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 returning 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 had been educated in the US as well as the UK and gained extensive working experience there in innovative research."

Although before treatment in China could have been considered risky due to 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, proof safety and efficacy through clinical trials is required by China's Ministry of Health for all stem cell and gene therapies, ensuring that Chinese clinics meet international standards in their qualifications and methodology. By 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 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 to the immature ovum cell of the 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 that are of a specialized type that at that time only two other groups worldwide had were able to create.
Harboured several human tissue types, created artificially, including blood vessel, tendon, bone, cartilage, skin, cornea and muscle fibre.
Furthermore, Chinese researchers are 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 clinical trials to test the efficacy and safety of using cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to treat about 40 patients with spinal cord injuries.
Clinical trials are underway about the use of stem cell therapies to treat patients of heart attacks, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.
Studies are underway on the potential usage of stem cells to deal with heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, and to combat aging.
Testimonials 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 throughout the last few years. It is important to understand that not every patient will react and more, and that the age of the patient and the severity of the injury greatly affect the chances 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 was unable to control her bowel motions. Within 8 months from the treatment she regained movement in both 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 any sort of accident while diving into a river that left him paralyzed from your neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that doesn't only could he moved to his arms almost normally, and may feel pain in a number of 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 both 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 a surgical procedure to correct his not enough sensation in his lower body, however there were complications and Donald was left in a worse state than before. Before arriving for treatment in China, he was still unable to walk unaided. Following the treatment, which commenced in November 2007, Donald has created 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 simply to walk without tripping. Most significant to Donald was which 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 many more success stories from patients who've received this pioneering treatment to assist correct varying levels of spinal cord injury. However, it is always important to remember that not all patients recover exactly the same functions in the same period of time. A lot of hard work switches into the post treatment rehabilitation, and 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 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. Every month, more and more people are visiting various cities round the country that offer different packages of treatment according to precisely what injury may 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 no more feel theirs is 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, plus a little motivation. The present evidence shows that stem cell therapy for spinal cord injuries is the way forward.