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Stem Cell Strategy to Spinal Cord Injuries: The brand 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 nevertheless be broken or dislocated in a number of ways and cause traumatic problems for the spinal cord. Spinal cord injuries vary in their severity, but almost inevitably lead to various forms of compromised functionality as the spinal cord is in effect the key pathway for information to visit around the human body. Exactly what body functions are impaired through the injury will depend on the location of the spine that has been damaged and the extent that the spine may be affected. Although serious impacts such as falls and car 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 Cell Treatment - For years scientists have been attempting to try and find a way to remedy the different ailments that spinal cord injuries can bring, however with limited success. However, in recent years a pioneering new technology has emerged that is helping thousands of people around the world regain part, if not all, 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 simply in all multi cellular organisms and so are characterized by their ability to differentiate 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 used in the treatment of various diseases and types of conditions, from Leukemia to Ms, is now becoming more common. Based on the condition, stem cells can be transplanted into the patient to help renew and regenerate previously damaged cells, giving patients renewed hope when, before, no reliable treatment existed.

This principle has become being applied to treating spinal cord injuries using stem cells, as well as in instances where the patient hasn't 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 good success in helping patients recover greater sensory and physiological ability.

Spinal-cord Injury: How Stem Cell Treatment Works

When there is trauma to the vertebrae, myelopathy (damage to the fibres that carry messages both to and from the brain) has occurred. These 'myelinated fibre tracts' will be the focus of stem cell treatment, and 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 treatment for monitoring:

Phase one involves the harvesting of stem cells. Cells are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They may be then put through a procedure 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 achieved in one of 3 ways:

1) Lumbar puncture - an operation 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 involves the monitoring of the patient to make certain there are no adverse negative effects. The only side effects reported thus far were caused by the lumbar puncture, and never the stem cell treatment itself, just 15% of patients reporting mild headaches. In the period 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 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, 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 through the contributions of experts in the USA, Germany, Japan and the UK.

The government has additionally aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad looking for its ambition to turn into 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 towards the country's success inside the field." The authors were "amazed that the majority the top Chinese researchers within the regenerative medicine field had been educated in the US as well as the UK and gained extensive working experience there in leading edge research."

Although before treatment in China may have been considered risky due to 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 safety and efficacy through many studies 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. 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.

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

By transferring the nucleus of the 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 circulation system, 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, start 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 spinal-cord injuries.
Clinical trials are underway on the use of stem cell therapies to take care of patients of strokes, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.
Research is underway on the potential usage of stem cells to treat heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, and also to combat aging.
Testimonials from the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries in China

Many individuals 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 and more, and that the age of the patient 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 was unable to control her bowel motions. Within 8 months with the treatment she regained movement in both her legs, could bend her knees (although the toes of one foot remained as paralyzed) and was even able 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 doesn't only could he moved to his arms almost normally, and may feel pain in many 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 10 mins and the sensation for both urine and stool is way better. Generally, my entire body is more powerful than ever before."

Donald Maricelli, a 54 years old US citizen, suffered a spinal cord injury using a fall in 2002. He underwent surgery to correct his lack of 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 had been unable to walk unaided. Following the treatment, which commenced in November 2007, Donald makes significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout the majority of his abdomen, and also the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly important, the sensation on the bottom of his feet came back, helping him simply to walk without tripping. Most significant 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 who have received this pioneering treatment to aid correct varying levels 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 task 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 travelling to various cities round the country that offer different packages of treatment based on precisely what injury has been inflicted. The level of service has improved greatly lately, and continues to improve every month, meaning that those unfortunate enough to get suffered spinal cord injuries need will no longer feel theirs is really a lost cause. There is a very real chance how the standard of living of any patient may be improved with little pain, little hospital time, plus a little motivation. The present evidence shows that stem cell therapy for spinal cord injuries is the way forward.