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Stem Cell Strategy to 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 of the spinal cord, vertebrae can nonetheless be broken or dislocated in many different 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 primary pathway for information to visit around the human body. Exactly what body functions are impaired from the injury will depend on the region of the spine that's been damaged and the extent that the spine may be affected. Although serious impacts for example falls and car accidents account for many spinal cord injuries, tumors growing near to the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and also have the same effects.

Knee Stem Cell Injections - For decades scientists have been attempting to try and find a way to remedy the many ailments that spinal-cord 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 is the use of stem cells.

Exactly what 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 range of specialized cells once they divide and renew themselves. They are remarkable for their ability to regenerate themselves into just about any human cell. Their use within the treatment of various diseases and conditions, from Leukemia to Ms, is now becoming more common. Based on the condition, stem cells could be transplanted into the patient to assist renew and regenerate previously damaged cells, giving patients renewed hope when, before, no reliable treatment existed.

This principle is now being applied to treating spinal cord injuries using stem cells, as well as in instances where the patient has not yet experienced a complete vertebrae injury, i.e. an entire 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 back and forth from the brain) has occurred. These 'myelinated fibre tracts' are the focus of stem cell treatment, and are the nerve cells how 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 treatment for monitoring:

Phase one requires the harvesting of stem cells. Cellular structure 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 be suitable for clinical use.

Phase two is 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 backbone.

2) Intravenous injection- stem cells are injected into the patient's vein.

3) Tissue injection - direct injection into target tissues.

Phase three necessitates the monitoring of the patient to make sure there are no adverse unwanted effects. The only side effects reported up to now were caused by the lumbar puncture, and never the stem cell treatment itself, with simply 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 management of many diseases and types of conditions. The Chinese government has poured 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 2000 to 1,116 in 2008, exceeded only by the contributions of experts in the USA, Germany, Japan and the UK.

The government in addition has aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad in pursuit of its ambition to become a world leader in 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 towards the country's success within the field." The authors were "amazed that almost all the top Chinese researchers inside the regenerative medicine field have been educated in the US and also the UK and gained extensive working experience there in cutting edge research."

Although previously treatment in China may 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 clinical trials is required by China's Secretary of state for Health for all stem cell and gene therapies, ensuring that Chinese clinics meet international standards within their qualifications and methodology. By 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.

Additionally, 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 your human skin cell in to the immature ovum cell of the rabbit, researchers from your Shanghai hospital successfully produced embryonic human cells.
China thus far 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 during those times only two other groups worldwide had was able to create.
Harboured several human tissue types, created artificially, including circulatory, tendon, bone, cartilage, skin, cornea and muscle fibre.
Furthermore, Chinese researchers are currently 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 starting phase 2 many 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 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 treat heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, also to combat aging.
Success Stories from the Treatment of Spinal-cord Injuries in China

Lots of people of all ages and with varying examples of injury have received stem cell treatment in China throughout 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 individual and the severity of the damage greatly affect the odds of recovery. However, there were 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 of the treatment she regained movement in both 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 many bouts of stem cell treatment following any sort of accident while diving in to a river that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that does not only could he now use his arms almost normally, and may 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 can control my urine for Ten minutes and the sensation for urine and stool is more preferable. Generally, my entire body is more powerful than ever before."

Donald Maricelli, a 54 yr old US citizen, suffered a spinal cord injury using a fall in 2002. He underwent an operation to correct his not enough sensation in his lower body, however there were complications and Donald remained in a worse state than before. Before arriving for treatment in China, he was still 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 significant, the sensation on the bottom of his feet came back, helping him just to walk without tripping. Most important to Donald was that he regained control and strength in the left leg, allowing him simply 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 degrees of spinal cord injury. However, it is always important to remember that not all patients recover the identical functions in the same period of time. A lot of hard work goes into the post treatment rehabilitation, also 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 shows time and again that stem cells hold a very important key to the future of helping people who have 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 continues to be inflicted. The level of service has improved greatly lately, and continues to improve monthly, meaning that those unfortunate enough to get suffered spinal cord injuries need will no longer feel theirs is really a lost cause. There exists a very real chance how the standard of living of any patient can be improved with little pain, little hospital time, and a little motivation. The existing evidence shows that stem cell therapy for spinal-cord injuries is the answer.