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Stem Cell Strategy for Spinal Cord Injuries: The newest Frontier

Knee Stem Cells - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that happen 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 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 cause various forms of compromised functionality as the spinal cord is in effect the key pathway for information traveling around the human body. Exactly what body functions are impaired by the injury will depend on the location of the spine which has been damaged and the extent that the spine has been affected. Although serious impacts for example falls and motor vehicle accidents account for many spinal-cord injuries, tumors growing near the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and have the same effects.

Knee Stem Cells - For years scientists have been working to try and find a way to remedy the many ailments that spinal cord injuries can bring, though limited success. However, lately a pioneering new technologies have emerged that is helping many people around the world regain part, if not all, of their previously lost mobility. That treatment solutions are the use of stem cells.

What are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?

Knee Stem Cells - Stem cells are located in all multi cellular organisms and so are characterized by their ability to differentiate into a diverse selection of specialized cells when 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 scenarios, from Leukemia to Multiple Sclerosis, is now becoming more common. Depending on the condition, stem cells can 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 currently being applied to treating spinal cord injuries using stem cells, and in instances where the patient has not experienced a complete spinal cord injury, i.e. an entire severing of the vertebrae leading to a loss of function beneath the 'neurological' level. There has been positive results in helping patients recover greater sensory and physiological ability.

Vertebrae 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' are the focus of stem cell treatment, and so are the nerve cells how the treatment helps to regenerate. The task usually follows three phases and usually requires no longer when compared to a period of around five weeks in medical treatment for monitoring:

Phase one involves 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 being suitable for clinical use.

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

1) Lumbar puncture - a procedure 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 involves the monitoring of the patient to make sure 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 and 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 scenarios. The Chinese government has poured many millions of dollars into research on regenerative medicine, understanding that 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 2000 to 1,116 in 2008, exceeded only from the contributions of experts in the USA, Germany, Japan and also the UK.

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

Although previously treatment in China could have been considered risky due to lax health and safety laws, the past few years have seen an increase in legislation protecting the patient, and improving the functionality of clinics. Since 2009, proof safety and efficacy through numerous studies is required by China's Ministry of Health for all stem cell and gene therapies, making sure Chinese clinics meet international standards within 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.

Additionally, China has long held a location 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 into the immature ovum cell of the 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 that are of a specialized type that at that time 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 presently involved with a myriad of projects to assist aid patients through regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy. Here 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 take care of about 40 patients with spinal cord injuries.
Clinical trials are underway on the use of stem cell therapies to treat patients of heart attacks, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.
Research is underway on the potential utilization of stem cells to deal with heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, also to combat aging.
Testimonials 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 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 odds 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 below the injury site, and it was unable to control her bowel movements. Within 8 months with 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 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 may 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 can control my urine for Ten minutes and the sensation both for urine and stool is way better. Generally, my system 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 a surgical procedure to correct his insufficient 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 has made significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout the majority of his abdomen, and the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly crucial, the sensation on the bottom of his feet returned, helping him simply to walk without tripping. Most significant to Donald was he regained control and strength in the left leg, allowing him just to walk significant distances and are a symbol of prolonged periods of time.

There are many more success stories from patients that have received this pioneering treatment to assist correct varying examples of spinal cord injury. However, it is always important to remember that not all patients recover the same functions in the same time frame. 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 indicates 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. On a monthly basis, more and more people are travelling to various cities round the country that offer different packages of treatment according to precisely what injury may be 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 no longer feel theirs is a lost cause. There's 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.