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Stem Cell Strategy to 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 of the spinal cord, vertebrae can nevertheless be broken or dislocated in a variety of ways and cause traumatic problems for the spinal cord. Spinal-cord injuries vary inside their severity, but almost inevitably result in various forms of compromised functionality because the spinal cord is in effect the primary pathway for information to travel around the human body. Just what body functions are impaired by the injury will depend on the region of the spine that has been damaged and the extent this agreement the spine continues to be affected. Although serious impacts such as falls and motor vehicle accidents account for many vertebrae injuries, tumors growing near to the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and have the same effects.

Knee Stem Cells - For decades scientists have been working to try and find a way to remedy the various ailments that spinal cord 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 methods are the use of stem cells.

What exactly are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?

Knee Stem Cell Treatment - Stem cells are found in all multi cellular organisms and therefore are characterized by their ability to distinguish into a diverse selection of specialized cells when they divide and renew themselves. They're remarkable for their capacity to regenerate themselves into almost any other human cell. Their used in the treatment of various diseases and types of conditions, from Leukemia to Ms, 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 has become being applied to the treatment of spinal cord injuries using stem cells, and in instances where the patient has not yet experienced a complete spinal cord injury, i.e. a complete severing of the spinal-cord leading to a loss of function underneath the 'neurological' level. There has been great success in helping patients recover greater sensory and physiological ability.

Spinal-cord Injury: How Stem Cell Treatment Works

If you have trauma to the spinal cord, myelopathy (damage to the fibres that carry messages 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 how the treatment helps to regenerate. The task usually follows three phases and often requires no longer than the usual period of around five weeks in health care for monitoring:

Phase one involves the harvesting of stem cells. Cellular structure are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They're then put through a procedure whereby they are isolated and purified prior to being finally cultured being 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 backbone.

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 make certain there are no adverse side effects. The only side effects reported up to now were caused by the lumbar puncture, and not the stem cell treatment itself, with simply 15% of patients reporting mild headaches. During the 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 fast becoming a world leader in stem cell research, and is also now a major centre for the stem cell treating many diseases and conditions. The Chinese government has poured many millions of dollars into research on regenerative medicine, and that investment has really borne fruit within 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 from the contributions of experts in the united states, Germany, Japan and also the UK.

The government has also aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad looking for its ambition to become 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 returning 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 had been educated in the US as well as the UK and gained extensive working experience there in cutting edge research."

Although in the past treatment in China might have been considered risky because of 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 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 this treatment for spinal cord injury at one Beijing clinic alone, including roughly 1,000 foreigners.

Additionally, China has long held a spot at the forefront of stem cell research to deal with 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 into 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 which are of a specialized type that in those days only two other groups worldwide had was able to create.
Harboured several human tissue types, created artificially, including circulation system, tendon, bone, cartilage, skin, cornea and muscle fibre.
Furthermore, Chinese researchers are presently 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, are beginning phase 2 many studies 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 around the use of stem cell therapies to take care of patients of cardiac arrest, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.
Studies are underway on the potential utilization of stem cells to take care of heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, and also to combat aging.
Testimonials from the Treatment of Vertebrae Injuries in China

Many people of all ages and with varying degrees of injury have received stem cell treatment in China during the last few years. It is important to understand that not every patient will react and more, 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 it was unable to control her going number 2. Within 8 months of the treatment she regained movement both in her legs, could bend her knees (although the toes of one foot remained as paralyzed) and was even capable of 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 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 might feel pain in many of his fingers, he could "even feel warm and cold" sensations. He went on to add the following: "Now I will control my urine for 10 mins and the sensation for urine and stool is much better. Generally, my system 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 an operation to correct his not enough sensation in his lower body, however there have been complications and Donald remained 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 created significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout the majority of his abdomen, as well as the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly important, the sensation on the bottom of his feet came back, helping him simply to walk without tripping. Most important to Donald was he regained control and strength in the left leg, allowing him just to walk significant distances and stand for prolonged periods of time.

There are many more success stories from patients who have received this pioneering treatment to help correct varying examples of spinal cord injury. However, it is usually important to remember that not all patients recover the identical functions in the same period of time. A lot of hard work adopts 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 work being done by scientists and clinics in China shows time and again that stem cells hold a very important key to the future of helping people with spinal cord injuries recover their lost functions. Every month, more and more people are going to various cities around the country that offer different packages of treatment based on precisely what injury continues to be inflicted. The level of service has improved greatly in recent years, and continues to improve each month, meaning that those unfortunate enough to get suffered spinal cord injuries need no longer feel theirs is a lost cause. There is a very real chance that the standard of living of any patient could 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 way forward.