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Stem Cell Strategy for Spinal Cord Injuries: The newest Frontier

Knee Stem Cell Injections - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that happen to any level of the spinal-cord. Although the hard bones from the spinal column protect the soft tissues of the spinal cord, vertebrae can nonetheless be broken or dislocated in a variety of ways and cause traumatic injury to the spinal cord. Spinal-cord injuries vary inside their severity, but almost inevitably result in various forms of compromised functionality as the spinal cord is in effect the main pathway for information traveling around the human body. Precisely what body functions are impaired from the injury will depend on the region of the spine which has been damaged and the extent that the spine has been affected. Although serious impacts for example falls and automobile 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 many years scientists have been attempting to try and find a way to remedy the different ailments that spinal cord injuries can bring, though limited success. However, recently a pioneering new technology has 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 Injections - Stem cells are located in all multi cellular organisms and therefore are characterized by their ability to tell apart into a diverse range of specialized cells after they divide and renew themselves. They may be remarkable for their capability to regenerate themselves into any human cell. Their used in the treatment of various diseases and conditions, from Leukemia to Ms, is now becoming more common. With respect to the condition, stem cells can 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, and in instances where the patient has not experienced a complete spinal-cord injury, i.e. a whole severing of the vertebrae 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 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 therefore are the nerve cells the treatment helps to regenerate. The process usually follows three phases and often requires no longer than the usual period of around five weeks in medical care 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 accomplished in one of 3 ways:

1) Lumbar puncture - a procedure used where stem cells can be injected directly into the spinal column.

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

3) Tissue injection - direct injection into target tissues.

Phase three necessitates the monitoring of the patient to ensure there are no adverse unwanted effects. The only side effects reported up to now were caused by the lumbar puncture, and not the stem cell treatment itself, with only 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 quickly becoming a world leader in stem cell research, and is now a major centre for that stem cell management of many diseases and conditions. The Chinese government has poured 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 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 to the country's success in the field." The authors were "amazed that most 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 leading edge research."

Although before treatment in China might have been considered risky because of lax health and safety laws, the past few years have seen an increase in legislation protecting the sufferer, 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 inside 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.

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 the human skin cell into the immature ovum cell of the 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 during those times only two other groups worldwide had were 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 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, start phase 2 clinical trials to test the efficacy and safety of utilizing cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to treat about 40 patients with spinal cord injuries.
Clinical trials are underway on 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 utilization of stem cells to deal with 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 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 as well as others, and that the age of the sufferer and the severity of damages greatly affect the chances 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 beneath the injury site, and was unable to control her going number 2. Within 8 months from the treatment she regained movement both in her legs, could bend her knees (even though 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 many bouts of stem cell treatment following a major 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 are now using his arms almost normally, and may feel pain in many of his fingers, he could "even feel warm and cold" sensations. He proceeded to add the following: "Now I will control my urine for 10 minutes and the sensation both for urine and stool is more preferable. Generally, my physique is more powerful than ever before."

Donald Maricelli, a 54 years old US citizen, a break down spinal cord injury using a fall in 2002. He underwent surgery to correct his lack of sensation in his lower body, however there was complications and Donald was left in a worse state than ever before. Before arriving for treatment in China, he was still being unable to walk unaided. Following a treatment, which commenced in November 2007, Donald has made significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout nearly all of his abdomen, as well as the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly significant, the sensation on the bottom of his feet returned, helping him to walk without tripping. Most important to Donald was which he regained control and strength as part of his left leg, allowing him simply to walk significant distances and indicate prolonged periods of time.

There are many more success stories from patients who have received this pioneering treatment to help correct varying levels of spinal cord injury. However, it will always be important to remember that not all patients recover exactly the same functions in the same time period. A lot of hard work switches into the post treatment rehabilitation, and 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 has shown time and again that stem cells hold a critical key to the future of helping individuals with spinal cord injuries recover their lost functions. Each month, more and more people are going to various cities round the country that offer different packages of treatment depending on precisely what injury has been inflicted. The level of service has improved greatly in recent years, and continues to improve each month, meaning that those unfortunate enough to have suffered spinal cord injuries need no more 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 solution.