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Stem Cell Strategy to Spinal Cord Injuries: The newest Frontier

Knee Stem Cell Treatment - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that eventually 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 a variety of ways and cause traumatic injury to the spinal cord. Vertebrae 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 traveling around the human body. Precisely what body functions are impaired by the injury will depend on the area of the spine that's been damaged and the extent this agreement the spine may be affected. Although serious impacts for example falls and automobile 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 Cell Injections - For decades scientists have been working 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 lots of people around the world regain part, if not completely, of their previously lost mobility. That treatment is the use of stem cells.

What exactly are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?

Knee Stem Cells - Stem cells are located in all multi cellular organisms and therefore are characterized by their ability to differentiate into a diverse range of specialized cells when they divide and renew themselves. They're remarkable for their ability to regenerate themselves into almost any other human cell. Their use in the treatment of various diseases and types of conditions, from Leukemia to Multiple Sclerosis, is now becoming more common. Depending on the condition, stem cells could 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 the management of spinal cord injuries using stem cells, as well as in instances where the patient hasn't experienced a complete spinal cord injury, i.e. a complete severing of the vertebrae leading to a loss of function underneath the 'neurological' level. There has been great success 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' would be the focus of stem cell treatment, and therefore are the nerve cells how the treatment helps to regenerate. The process usually follows three phases and usually requires no longer than the usual period of around five weeks in medical treatment for monitoring:

Phase one necessitates the harvesting of stem cells. Cells are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They're 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 achieved in one of three ways:

1) Lumbar puncture - a process used where stem cells may 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 requires 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, and not the stem cell treatment itself, just 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 fast becoming a world leader in stem cell research, and is 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 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 year 2000 to 1,116 in 2008, exceeded only through the contributions of experts in the USA, Germany, Japan as well as the UK.

The government in addition has aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad in search of its ambition to turn into 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 almost all the top Chinese researchers inside the regenerative medicine field had been educated in the US as well as the UK and gained extensive working experience there in innovative research."

Although before treatment in China could have been considered risky due to lax health and safety laws, recent times have seen an increase in legislation protecting the individual, and improving the functionality of clinics. Since 2009, proof of 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 inside their qualifications and methodology. As 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 location at the forefront of stem cell research to deal with all manner of conditions. Some of China's notable contributions to stem cell research are:

By transferring the nucleus of a human skin cell to the immature ovum cell of your rabbit, researchers from the 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 during those times only two other groups worldwide had were 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 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, are starting phase 2 many studies to test the efficacy and safety of employing cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to treat about 40 patients with spinal cord injuries.
Clinical trials are underway about 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 to combat aging.
Success Stories from the Treatment of Spinal-cord Injuries in China

Many people of all ages and with varying examples of injury have received stem cell treatment in China throughout 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 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 motions. Within 8 months of the treatment she regained movement in the 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 several bouts of stem cell treatment following any sort of accident while diving right into 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 might feel pain in many of his fingers, he could "even feel warm and cold" sensations. He went on to add the following: "Now I'm able to control my urine for 10 mins and the sensation for urine and stool is much better. Generally, my physique 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 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 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 returned, helping him simply to walk without tripping. Most critical to Donald was which he regained control and strength in the left leg, allowing him simply to walk significant distances and are a symbol of prolonged periods of time.

There are numerous more success stories from patients who have received this pioneering treatment to assist correct varying examples of spinal cord injury. However, it will always be important to remember that not all patients recover exactly the same functions in the same period of time. A lot of hard work adopts the post treatment rehabilitation, plus 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 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. Every month, more and more people are travelling 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 every month, meaning that those unfortunate enough to have suffered spinal cord injuries need no longer feel theirs is really a lost cause. There is a very real chance the standard of living of any patient can be improved with little pain, little hospital time, along with a little motivation. The present evidence shows that stem cell therapy for vertebrae injuries is the solution.