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Stem Cell Strategy to Spinal Cord Injuries: The New Frontier
Knee Stem Cell Injections - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that happen to any level of the vertebrae. Although the hard bones from the spinal column protect the soft tissues from 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 in their severity, but almost inevitably result in various forms of compromised functionality because the spinal cord is in effect the key pathway for information to travel around the human body. Just what body functions are impaired from the injury will depend on the region of the spine that has been damaged and the extent this agreement the spine may be affected. Although serious impacts such as falls and automobile 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 Treatment - For many years scientists have been trying to try and find a way to remedy the many ailments that spinal cord injuries can bring, though limited success. However, in recent years a pioneering new technology has emerged that is helping lots of people around the world regain part, it not exclusively, of their previously lost mobility. That treatment solutions are the use of stem cells.
Exactly what are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?
Knee Stem Cell Injections - Stem cells are found in all multi cellular organisms and so are characterized by their ability to distinguish into a diverse range of specialized cells once they divide and renew themselves. They're remarkable for their ability to regenerate themselves into almost any other human cell. Their use within the treatment of various diseases and scenarios, from Leukemia to Ms, is now becoming more common. Depending on the condition, stem cells may 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 has become being applied to the management of spinal cord injuries using stem cells, plus instances where the patient has not yet experienced a complete vertebrae injury, i.e. a complete 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.
Spinal-cord 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 therefore are the nerve cells 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 necessitates 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 before they are finally cultured to be 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 - 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 involves the monitoring of the patient to make certain there are no adverse negative 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 and 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 the stem cell treatment of 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 during 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 also aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad looking for its ambition to become 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 returning 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 as well as the UK and gained extensive practical knowledge there in cutting edge research."
Although in the past treatment in China might have been considered risky because of lax health and safety laws, recent 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 in 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.
Additionally, China has long held a place at the forefront of stem cell research to take care of 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 of which are of a specialized type that at that time 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 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 clinical trials to test the efficacy and safety of using 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 take care of patients of heart attacks, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.
Studies are underway on the potential utilization of stem cells to take care of heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, and also to combat aging.
Testimonials from the Treatment of Vertebrae Injuries in China
Many people of all ages and with varying levels 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 individual and the severity of the damage 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 below the injury site, and was unable to control her going number 2. Within 8 months of the treatment she regained movement in both her legs, could bend her knees (although the toes of one foot were still paralyzed) and was even able to walk with crutches.
Razvan Iordache, a Romanian citizen aged 30, travelled to China for several bouts of stem cell treatment following any sort of accident while diving into a river that left him paralyzed from your neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that doesn't only could he moved to his arms almost normally, and might 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 years old US citizen, suffered a spinal cord injury following a fall in 2002. He underwent a surgical procedure to correct his not enough sensation in his lower body, however there have been complications and Donald stayed in a worse state than ever before. Before arriving for treatment in China, he had been unable to walk unaided. Following the treatment, which commenced in November 2007, Donald has made significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout most of his abdomen, as well as the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly significant, the sensation on the bottom of his feet went back, helping him simply to walk without tripping. Most critical to Donald was which he regained control and strength in the left leg, allowing him just to walk significant distances and stand for prolonged periods of time.
There are many more success stories from patients that have received this pioneering treatment to assist correct varying levels of spinal cord injury. However, it is usually 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, and 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 indicates time and again that stem cells hold an essential key to the future of helping individuals with spinal cord injuries recover their lost functions. Every month, more and more people are travelling to various cities across the country that offer different packages of treatment based on precisely what injury may be inflicted. The level of service has improved greatly recently, and continues to improve every month, meaning that those unfortunate enough to possess suffered spinal cord injuries need will no longer feel theirs is really a lost cause. There exists a very real chance that the standard of living of any patient may be improved with little pain, little hospital time, along with a little motivation. The present evidence shows that stem cell therapy for spinal-cord injuries is the solution.
