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Stem Cell Treatment for Spinal Cord Injuries: The newest Frontier

Knee Stem Cell Treatment - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that eventually any level of the vertebrae. Although the hard bones with the spinal column protect the soft tissues from the spinal cord, vertebrae can nevertheless be broken or dislocated in a number 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 as the spinal cord is in effect the main pathway for information traveling around the human body. Exactly what body functions are impaired through the injury will depend on the area of the spine that 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 vertebrae injuries, tumors growing near the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and possess the same effects.

Knee Stem Cells - For decades scientists have been attempting to try and find a way to remedy the various ailments that vertebrae injuries can bring, but with limited success. However, in recent years a pioneering new technology has emerged that is helping many 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 simply in all multi cellular organisms and are characterized by their ability to tell apart into a diverse selection of specialized cells after they divide and renew themselves. They're remarkable for their capacity to regenerate themselves into any human cell. Their use within the treatment of various diseases and conditions, from Leukemia to Multiple Sclerosis, is now becoming more common. Based on the condition, stem cells may 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 the treatment of spinal cord injuries using stem cells, and in instances where the patient has not yet experienced a complete vertebrae injury, i.e. a whole severing of the spinal cord leading to a loss of function underneath the 'neurological' level. There has been good 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' are the focus of stem cell treatment, and so are the nerve cells the treatment helps to regenerate. The procedure usually follows three phases in most cases requires no longer when compared to a period of around five weeks in medical care for monitoring:

Phase one requires the harvesting of stem cells. Cellular structure are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They are then put through a process whereby they are isolated and purified prior to being finally cultured to become suitable for clinical use.

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

1) Lumbar puncture - an operation used where stem cells could be injected directly into the spinal column.

2) Intravenous injection- stem cells are injected to 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 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 fast becoming a world leader in stem cell research, and is now a major centre for the stem cell treatment 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 from the contributions of experts in america, Germany, Japan as well as the UK.

The government has additionally aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad in pursuit of 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 within the field." The authors were "amazed that most the top Chinese researchers in the regenerative medicine field ended up educated in the US and the UK and gained extensive working experience there in cutting edge research."

Although before treatment in China might 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 Ministry of Health for all stem cell and gene therapies, making certain 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 deal with all manner of conditions. A number of China's notable contributions to stem cell research are:

By transferring the nucleus of your human skin cell in 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 of which are of a specialized type that at that time 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 aid 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 utilizing cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to take care of about 40 patients with vertebrae 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 use of stem cells to deal with heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, and also to combat aging.
Testimonials 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 during the last few years. It is important to remember that not every patient will react and more, and that the age of the sufferer and the severity of the damage 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 below the injury site, and it was unable to control her bowel motions. Within 8 months from the treatment she regained movement both in her legs, could bend her knees (even though toes of one foot remained as paralyzed) and was even in a position to walk with crutches.

Razvan Iordache, a Romanian citizen aged 30, travelled to China for a number of bouts of stem cell treatment following a major accident while diving into a river that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that doesn't only could he are now using his arms almost normally, and may feel pain in many of his fingers, he could "even feel warm and cold" sensations. He went on to add the following: "Now I can control my urine for 10 minutes and the sensation for both urine and stool is way better. Generally, my physique is more powerful than before."

Donald Maricelli, a 54 year old US citizen, a break down spinal cord injury following a fall in 2002. He underwent an operation to correct his not enough 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 had been unable to walk unaided. Following a treatment, which commenced in November 2007, Donald makes significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout most of his abdomen, and also 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 critical to Donald was which he regained control and strength as part of his left leg, allowing him just to walk significant distances and indicate prolonged periods of time.

There are lots of more success stories from patients who've received this pioneering treatment to help correct varying examples of spinal cord injury. However, it will always be important to remember that not all patients recover the same functions in the same time period. 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 task being done by scientists and clinics in China has shown time and again that stem cells hold an essential key to the future of helping people with spinal cord injuries recover their lost functions. On a monthly basis, more and more people are travelling to various cities across the country that offer different packages of treatment according to precisely what injury has been inflicted. The level of service has improved greatly lately, and continues to improve monthly, meaning that those unfortunate enough to have suffered spinal cord injuries need will no longer feel theirs is really 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, plus a little motivation. The current evidence shows that stem cell therapy for spinal cord injuries is the way forward.