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Stem Cell Treatment for Spinal Cord Injuries: The brand new Frontier

Knee Stem Cell Treatment - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that happen to any level of the spinal-cord. Although the hard bones of the spinal column protect the soft tissues of the spinal cord, vertebrae can nonetheless be broken or dislocated in a variety of ways and cause traumatic problems for the spinal cord. Vertebrae 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 to travel around the human body. Precisely what body functions are impaired from the injury will depend on the location of the spine which has been damaged and the extent this agreement the spine has been affected. Although serious impacts including falls and motor vehicle 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 Cells - For decades scientists have been attempting to try and find a way to remedy the many ailments that spinal cord injuries can bring, however with limited success. However, in recent years a pioneering new technologies have emerged that is helping many people around the world regain part, it not exclusively, of their previously lost mobility. That treatment solutions 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 distinguish into a diverse array of specialized cells once they divide and renew themselves. They are 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 may 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, as well as in instances where the patient has not yet experienced a complete vertebrae injury, i.e. a whole severing of the vertebrae leading to a loss of function beneath 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 vertebrae, myelopathy (damage to the fibres that carry messages both to and from the brain) has occurred. These 'myelinated fibre tracts' will be the focus of stem cell treatment, and therefore are the nerve cells that 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. The cells are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They're then put through a process whereby they are isolated and purified prior to being 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 could be injected directly into the spine.

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 make sure there are no adverse negative effects. The only side effects reported to date were caused by the lumbar puncture, rather than the stem cell treatment itself, with only 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 now a major centre for the stem cell treatment of many diseases and types of conditions. The Chinese government has poured many millions of dollars into research on regenerative medicine, which 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 year 2000 to 1,116 in 2008, exceeded only through the contributions of experts in the USA, Germany, Japan as well as the UK.

The government has additionally aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad looking for its ambition to turn into a world leader inside 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 within the field." The authors were "amazed that almost all 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 in the past 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 clinical trials is required by China's Secretary of state for Health for all stem cell and gene therapies, making sure Chinese clinics meet international standards inside their qualifications and methodology. At the time of January 2010, about 1,500 patients had received this treatment 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 deal with all manner of conditions. Some 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 the rabbit, researchers from a 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 of which are of a specialized type that during those times only two other groups worldwide had were able 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 beginning phase 2 many studies to test the efficacy and safety of employing 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 deal with patients of cardiac arrest, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.
Research is underway on the potential usage of stem cells to treat heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, and to combat aging.
Successes from the Treatment of Vertebrae Injuries in China

Lots of 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 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 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 below the injury site, and it was unable to control her bowel motions. Within 8 months with the treatment she regained movement in both her legs, could bend her knees (even though 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 right into a river that left him paralyzed in the neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that doesn't only could he moved to his arms almost normally, and could 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'm able to control my urine for 10 mins and the sensation for urine and stool is way better. Generally, my system is more powerful than before."

Donald Maricelli, a 54 year old US citizen, a break down spinal cord injury carrying out a fall in 2002. He underwent surgery to correct his not enough sensation in his lower body, however there were complications and Donald remained in a worse state than ever before. Before arriving for treatment in China, he had been unable to walk unaided. Pursuing the treatment, which commenced in November 2007, Donald makes significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout the majority of his abdomen, and the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly crucial, the sensation on the bottom of his feet went back, helping him to walk without tripping. Most critical to Donald was he regained control and strength as part of his 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 degrees of spinal cord injury. However, it will always be 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, plus it takes great drive, determination and ambition to enable 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 visiting 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 lately, and continues to improve each month, meaning that those unfortunate enough to get suffered spinal cord injuries need no more feel theirs is really a lost cause. There is a very real chance how the standard of living of any patient may be improved with little pain, little hospital time, along with a little motivation. The present evidence shows that stem cell therapy for vertebrae injuries is the way forward.