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Stem Cell Strategy to Spinal Cord Injuries: The newest Frontier

Knee Stem Cell Injections - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that occur to any level of the spinal cord. Although the hard bones with the spinal column protect the soft tissues of 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 inside their severity, but almost inevitably lead to various forms of compromised functionality since the spinal cord is in effect the primary pathway for information to visit around the human body. Just what body functions are impaired from the injury will depend on the region of the spine that has been damaged and the extent to which the spine may be affected. Although serious impacts including falls and automobile accidents account for many spinal-cord injuries, tumors growing near the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and also have the same effects.

Knee Stem Cells - For years 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, recently a pioneering new technologies have emerged that is helping lots of people around the world regain part, if not all, of their previously lost mobility. That treatment is the use of stem cells.

What are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?

Knee Stem Cells - Stem cells are found in all multi cellular organisms and are characterized by their ability to differentiate into a diverse range of specialized cells after they divide and renew themselves. They may be remarkable for their ability to regenerate themselves into just about any 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 yet experienced a complete spinal-cord injury, i.e. an entire severing of the spinal-cord leading to a loss of function beneath 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 find trauma to the vertebrae, 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 are the nerve cells that the treatment helps to regenerate. The process usually follows three phases in most cases requires no longer than the usual period of around five weeks in health care for monitoring:

Phase one necessitates the harvesting of stem cells. The cells are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They may be then put through an activity 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 done in one of three ways:

1) Lumbar puncture - an operation used where stem cells may 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 ensure 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. 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 also now a major centre for that stem cell management 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 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 through the contributions of experts in america, Germany, Japan and the UK.

The government has also aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad looking for its ambition to turn into a world leader within the field. Indeed, the McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health commented that, "the government's policy of attracting highly educated Chinese nationals back to China has contributed significantly to the country's success inside the field." The authors were "amazed that the majority the top Chinese researchers in the regenerative medicine field ended up educated in the US and also the UK and gained extensive practical knowledge there in cutting edge research."

Although previously treatment in China might have been considered risky due to lax health and safety laws, recent years have seen an increase in legislation protecting the individual, and improving the functionality of clinics. Since 2009, evidence of safety and efficacy through many studies is required by China's Secretary of state for Health for all stem cell and gene therapies, making certain 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.

Furthermore, China has long held a spot at the forefront of stem cell research to take care of all manner of conditions. A number 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 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 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, are beginning phase 2 many studies to test the efficacy and safety of utilizing cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to deal with about 40 patients with vertebrae injuries.
Clinical trials are underway around the use of stem cell therapies to treat patients of heart attacks, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.
Studies are underway on the potential usage of stem cells to take care of heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, also to combat aging.
Successes from the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries in China

Many individuals 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 individual and the severity of the injury greatly affect the odds 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 beneath the injury site, and it was unable to control her bowel motions. Within 8 months from the treatment she regained movement in both her legs, could bend her knees (although the 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 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 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 Ten minutes and the sensation for both urine and stool is much better. Generally, my entire body is more powerful than ever before."

Donald Maricelli, a 54 year old US citizen, suffered a spinal cord injury carrying out a fall in 2002. He underwent a surgical procedure to correct his insufficient sensation in his lower body, however there have been complications and Donald stayed in a worse state than 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 nearly all of his abdomen, and also the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly significant, the sensation on the bottom of his feet went back, helping him to walk without tripping. Most critical to Donald was that he regained control and strength as part of his left leg, allowing him simply to walk significant distances and stand for prolonged periods of time.

There are numerous more success stories from patients that have 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 identical functions in the same time period. A lot of hard work switches into the post treatment rehabilitation, also 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 shows time and again that stem cells hold an essential 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 across the country that offer different packages of treatment according to precisely what injury continues to be inflicted. The level of service has improved greatly in recent years, and continues to improve every month, meaning that those unfortunate enough to possess suffered spinal cord injuries need will no longer feel theirs is a lost cause. There is a very real chance the standard of living of any patient can be improved with little pain, little hospital time, and a little motivation. The present evidence shows that stem cell therapy for vertebrae injuries is the way forward.