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Stem Cell Strategy for 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 with the spinal column protect the soft tissues with the spinal cord, vertebrae can nonetheless be broken or dislocated in a number of ways and cause traumatic problems for the spinal cord. Vertebrae injuries vary within their severity, but almost inevitably result in various forms of compromised functionality as the spinal cord is in effect the primary pathway for information traveling around the human body. Exactly what body functions are impaired through the injury will depend on the location of the spine which has been damaged and the extent that the spine has been affected. Although serious impacts including falls and automobile accidents account for many spinal-cord injuries, tumors growing near the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and possess the same effects.
Knee Stem Cell Treatment - For decades 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, recently a pioneering new technologies have emerged that is helping thousands of people around the world regain part, it not exclusively, 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 Cells - Stem cells are simply in all multi cellular organisms and are characterized by their ability to tell apart into a diverse array of specialized cells once they divide and renew themselves. They are remarkable for their capacity to regenerate themselves into any human cell. Their use in the treatment of various diseases and types of conditions, from Leukemia to Multiple Sclerosis, 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 management of spinal cord injuries using stem cells, and in instances where the patient has not experienced a complete spinal cord injury, i.e. a complete severing of the spinal cord leading to a loss of function below 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 back and forth from the brain) has occurred. These 'myelinated fibre tracts' will be the focus of stem cell treatment, and therefore are the nerve cells that the treatment helps to regenerate. The task usually follows three phases and usually requires no longer when compared to a period of around five weeks in health care for monitoring:
Phase one necessitates the harvesting of stem cells. The cells are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They are then put through a process whereby they are isolated and purified prior to being finally cultured to become suitable for clinical use.
Phase two is the transplantation of the stem cells. This is achieved in one of three ways:
1) Lumbar puncture - a process used where stem cells could be injected directly into the backbone.
2) Intravenous injection- stem cells are injected in to the patient's vein.
3) Tissue injection - direct injection into target tissues.
Phase three involves the monitoring of the patient to ensure 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 simply 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 also now a major centre for your stem cell treatment of many diseases and conditions. The Chinese government has poured millions of dollars into research on regenerative medicine, understanding that 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 by the contributions of experts in america, Germany, Japan and the UK.
The government has also aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad in search of 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 back to China has contributed significantly towards the country's success inside the field." The authors were "amazed that almost all the top Chinese researchers in the regenerative medicine field ended up educated in the US as well as the UK and gained extensive practical knowledge there in innovative research."
Although in the past treatment in China might have been considered risky due to lax health and safety laws, the past few years have seen an increase in legislation protecting the patient, 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.
Additionally, China has long held a location 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 the human skin cell into the immature ovum cell of a 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 in those days only two other groups worldwide had managed 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. Here are several projects underway within Chinese institutions:
ChinaSCINet, a consortium of 27 medical facilities, are beginning 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 on the use of stem cell therapies to treat patients of heart attacks, 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.
Successes from the Treatment of Vertebrae Injuries in China
Many individuals of all ages and with varying degrees of injury have received stem cell treatment in China over 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 the damage greatly affect the odds 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 underneath the injury site, and it was unable to control her going number 2. Within 8 months of the treatment she regained movement in the her legs, could bend her knees (even though 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 a number of 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 does 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 Ten minutes and the sensation both for urine and stool is more preferable. Generally, my entire body is more powerful than before."
Donald Maricelli, a 54 yr old US citizen, a break down spinal cord injury carrying out a fall in 2002. He underwent an operation to correct his not enough sensation in his lower body, however there were complications and Donald stayed in a worse state than 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 the majority of his abdomen, and also 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 to walk significant distances and are a symbol of prolonged periods of time.
There are lots of more success stories from patients who have received this pioneering treatment to assist correct varying levels of spinal cord injury. However, it is always important to remember that not all patients recover exactly the same 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 enable the body to get back to more regular functionality. However, the task being done by scientists and clinics in China has shown time and again that stem cells hold an essential key to the future of helping people 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 based on precisely what injury continues to be inflicted. The level of service has improved greatly lately, and continues to improve each month, meaning that those unfortunate enough to possess suffered spinal cord injuries need no longer feel theirs is a lost cause. There exists 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 current evidence shows that stem cell therapy for spinal cord injuries is the answer.
