Orval899

De BISAWiki

Stem Cell Treatment for Spinal Cord Injuries: The New 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 with the spinal cord, vertebrae can still be broken or dislocated in a number of ways and cause traumatic trouble for the spinal cord. Vertebrae injuries vary within their severity, but almost inevitably lead to various forms of compromised functionality as the spinal cord is in effect the primary pathway for information traveling around the human body. Precisely what body functions are impaired through the injury will depend on the area of the spine that has been damaged and the extent to which the spine may be affected. Although serious impacts such as falls and car 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 years scientists have been trying to try and find a way to remedy the various ailments that vertebrae injuries can bring, but with limited success. However, recently a pioneering new technologies have emerged that is helping thousands of people around the world regain part, if not completely, of their previously lost mobility. That treatment is the use of stem cells.

Exactly what are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?

Knee Stem Cell Injections - Stem cells are simply in all multi cellular organisms and therefore are characterized by their ability to distinguish into a diverse array of specialized cells after they divide and renew themselves. They're remarkable for their capacity 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. With respect to the condition, stem cells could 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 is currently being applied to treating spinal cord injuries using stem cells, plus instances where the patient has not experienced a complete vertebrae injury, i.e. an entire severing of the vertebrae leading to a loss of function below the 'neurological' level. There has been great success in helping patients recover greater sensory and physiological ability.

Vertebrae Injury: How Stem Cell Treatment Works

If you find trauma to the spinal cord, myelopathy (damage to the fibres that carry messages back and forth from the brain) has occurred. These 'myelinated fibre tracts' would be the focus of stem cell treatment, and therefore are the nerve cells the treatment helps to regenerate. The procedure usually follows three phases and often requires no longer when compared to a period of around five weeks in medical treatment for monitoring:

Phase one involves the harvesting of stem cells. Cells are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They are then put through a procedure 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 accomplished in one of 3 ways:

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

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 make certain there are no adverse side effects. The only side effects reported to date were caused by the lumbar puncture, and never the stem cell treatment itself, with simply 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 fast-becoming a world leader in stem cell research, and it is 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, and that investment has really borne fruit during 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 the united states, Germany, Japan as well as the UK.

The government in addition has aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad in search of its ambition to become world leader in 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 in the regenerative medicine field have been educated in the US and the UK and gained extensive practical knowledge there in innovative research."

Although before treatment in China might have been considered risky as a result of lax health and safety laws, recent years have seen an increase in legislation protecting the individual, and improving the functionality of clinics. Since 2009, proof safety and efficacy through numerous studies is required by China's Ministry of Health for all stem cell and gene therapies, ensuring that Chinese clinics meet international standards within their qualifications and methodology. As 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.

In addition to this, China has long held a spot at the forefront of stem cell research to take care of 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 to the immature ovum cell of your rabbit, researchers from your 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 during those times only two other groups worldwide had managed 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 help 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 starting phase 2 numerous studies to test the efficacy and safety of using cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to deal with about 40 patients with spinal cord injuries.
Clinical trials are underway around the use of stem cell therapies to treat patients of strokes, 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, and also to combat aging.
Successes from the Treatment of Vertebrae Injuries in China

Lots of people 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 remember 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 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 below the injury site, and was unable to control her bowel motions. Within 8 months of the treatment she regained movement in the her legs, could bend her knees (even though 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 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 does not only could he are now using 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'm able to control my urine for 10 minutes and the sensation for both urine and stool is more preferable. Generally, my physique is more powerful than ever before."

Donald Maricelli, a 54 yr old US citizen, suffered a spinal cord injury following a fall in 2002. He underwent surgery to correct his lack of 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 was still unable to walk unaided. Following a 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 just 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've received this pioneering treatment to aid 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 allow the body to get back to more regular functionality. However, the work being done by scientists and clinics in China indicates 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 around the country that offer different packages of treatment depending on precisely what injury has been 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 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, along with a little motivation. The current evidence shows that stem cell therapy for spinal cord injuries is the answer.