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

Knee Stem Cell Treatment - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that occur to any level of the spinal cord. Although the hard bones of the spinal column protect the soft tissues with the spinal cord, vertebrae can still be broken or dislocated in a variety of ways and cause traumatic trouble 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 key pathway for information to travel around the human body. Precisely what body functions are impaired through the injury will depend on the region of the spine that's been damaged and the extent that the spine has been affected. Although serious impacts such as falls and car accidents account for many spinal cord injuries, tumors growing near to the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and have the same effects.

Knee Stem Cell Treatment - For decades 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, in recent years a pioneering new technology has emerged that is helping many people around the world regain part, it not exclusively, 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 Cells - Stem cells are found in all multi cellular organisms and so are characterized by their ability to tell apart 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 within 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 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 management 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 spinal cord leading to a loss of function below the 'neurological' level. There has been good success in helping patients recover greater sensory and physiological ability.

Spinal-cord 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 are the nerve cells that the treatment helps to regenerate. The process usually follows three phases in most cases requires no longer than a period of around five weeks in health care for monitoring:

Phase one involves the harvesting of stem cells. Cells are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They are then put through an activity whereby they are isolated and purified before they are finally cultured to be suitable for clinical use.

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

1) Lumbar puncture - a process 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 involves the monitoring of the patient to ensure there are no adverse unwanted effects. The only side effects reported thus far were caused by the lumbar puncture, and not the stem cell treatment itself, just 15% of patients reporting mild headaches. During the time under medical supervision, patients undergo various physiotherapy activities and 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 treating many diseases and conditions. The Chinese government has poured many millions of dollars into research on regenerative medicine, understanding 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 through the contributions of experts in the USA, Germany, Japan and the UK.

The government has also aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad in pursuit of its ambition to become 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 for the country's success within the field." The authors were "amazed that the majority the top Chinese researchers inside the regenerative medicine field had been educated in the US and the UK and gained extensive experiences there in leading edge research."

Although before treatment in China may have been considered risky as a result of lax health and safety laws, the past few years have seen an increase in legislation protecting the individual, and improving the functionality of clinics. Since 2009, proof of safety and efficacy through many studies is required by China's Ministry of Health for all stem cell and gene therapies, making sure Chinese clinics meet international standards inside their qualifications and methodology. By 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 take care of all manner of conditions. Some 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 your rabbit, researchers from a Shanghai hospital successfully produced embryonic human cells.
China to date 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 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 presently 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 beginning phase 2 numerous studies to test the efficacy and safety of utilizing 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 deal with patients of strokes, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.
Research is underway on the potential use of stem cells to take care of heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, and also 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 during the last few years. It is important to keep in mind that not every patient will react as well as others, and that the age of the sufferer and the severity of damages greatly affect the likelihood 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 underneath 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 were still 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 any sort of accident while diving right into a river that left him paralyzed in the neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that not only could he now use 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 will control my urine for 10 minutes and the sensation for both urine and stool is more preferable. Generally, my entire body is more powerful than ever before."

Donald Maricelli, a 54 year old US citizen, a break down spinal cord injury carrying out a fall in 2002. He underwent an operation to correct his insufficient sensation in his lower body, however there was complications and Donald was left in a worse state than before. Before arriving for treatment in China, he was still unable to walk unaided. Pursuing the treatment, which commenced in November 2007, Donald has made significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout most of his abdomen, and also the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly crucial, the sensation on the bottom of his feet went back, helping him just to walk without tripping. Most important to Donald was which he regained control and strength as part of his left leg, allowing him just to walk significant distances and stand for prolonged periods of time.

There are lots of more success stories from patients who've received this pioneering treatment to help correct varying levels of spinal cord injury. However, it is usually 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, 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 has shown time and again that stem cells hold a critical 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 recently, and continues to improve monthly, meaning that those unfortunate enough to have suffered spinal cord injuries need will no longer feel theirs is a lost cause. There exists a very real chance the standard of living of any patient could be improved with little pain, little hospital time, along with a little motivation. The present evidence shows that stem cell therapy for spinal cord injuries is the answer.