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Stem Cell Treatment for Spinal Cord Injuries: The New Frontier

Knee Stem Cells - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that happen 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 number of ways and cause traumatic problems for the spinal cord. Spinal-cord 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. Exactly what body functions are impaired from the injury will depend on the area of the spine that has been damaged and the extent that the spine has been affected. Although serious impacts such as 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 Cell Injections - For decades scientists have been attempting to try and find a way to remedy the many ailments that vertebrae injuries can bring, but with 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 methods are the use of stem cells.

What exactly are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?

Knee Stem Cell Treatment - Stem cells are found in all multi cellular organisms and so are characterized by their ability to tell apart into a diverse selection of specialized cells after they divide and renew themselves. They are remarkable for their capacity to regenerate themselves into just about any human cell. Their use in the treatment of various diseases and conditions, from Leukemia to Ms, is now becoming more common. Based on the condition, stem cells may 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 the treatment of spinal cord injuries using stem cells, plus instances where the patient has not experienced a complete spinal-cord injury, i.e. an entire 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 have trauma to the vertebrae, myelopathy (damage to the fibres that carry messages both to and 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 process usually follows three phases in most cases requires no longer than the usual period of around five weeks in medical care 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 an activity whereby they are isolated and purified before they are finally cultured being suitable for clinical use.

Phase two will be the transplantation of the stem cells. This is accomplished in one of three ways:

1) Lumbar puncture - a procedure used where stem cells can 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 to date were caused by the lumbar puncture, rather than the stem cell treatment itself, with only 15% of patients reporting mild headaches. During the time under medical supervision, patients undergo various physiotherapy activities along with other treatments as necessary.

Stem Cell Research and Treatment in China

China is quickly becoming a world leader in stem cell research, and is also now a major centre for the 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 from the contributions of experts in the united states, Germany, Japan and also the UK.

The government has additionally aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad in search 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 the majority the top Chinese researchers in the regenerative medicine field have been educated in the US as well as the UK and gained extensive experiences there in innovative research."

Although before treatment in China might have been considered risky as a result of lax health and safety laws, recent years have seen an increase in legislation protecting the individual, and improving the functionality of clinics. Since 2009, proof 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 within their qualifications and methodology. At the time of January 2010, about 1,500 patients had received this treatment for spinal cord injury at one Beijing clinic alone, including roughly 1,000 foreigners.

In addition to this, China has long held a spot at the forefront of stem cell research to treat all manner of conditions. A few of China's notable contributions to stem cell research are:

By transferring the nucleus of your human skin cell to the immature ovum cell of a rabbit, researchers from the 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 which are of a specialized type that in those days only two other groups worldwide had managed 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 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, start phase 2 numerous studies to test the efficacy and safety of using cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to take care of about 40 patients with spinal cord 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 take care of heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, and to combat aging.
Success Stories from the Treatment of Spinal-cord Injuries in China

Many people of all ages and with varying levels of injury have received stem cell treatment in China over the last few years. It is important to understand that not every patient will react and more, and that the age of the patient and the severity of the injury greatly affect the likelihood 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 underneath the injury site, and it was unable to control her bowel movements. Within 8 months from the treatment she regained movement in both her legs, could bend her knees (even though toes of one foot remained 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 an accident while diving in to a river that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that not only could he are now using his arms almost normally, and could feel pain in many of his fingers, he could "even feel warm and cold" sensations. He continued to add the following: "Now I'm able to control my urine for 10 mins and the sensation for both urine and stool is way better. Generally, my physique is more powerful than before."

Donald Maricelli, a 54 years old US citizen, a break down spinal cord injury carrying out a fall in 2002. He underwent a surgical procedure to correct his not enough 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. Following the 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 came back, helping him to walk without tripping. Most significant to Donald was that 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 have received this pioneering treatment to aid correct varying examples of spinal cord injury. However, it is always important to remember that not all patients recover the identical functions in the same time period. A lot of hard work adopts 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 job 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 who have spinal cord injuries recover their lost functions. On a monthly basis, more and more people are visiting various cities around 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 can be a lost cause. There exists a very real chance how the standard of living of any patient may be improved with little pain, little hospital time, and a little motivation. The present evidence shows that stem cell therapy for spinal cord injuries is the solution.