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Stem Cell Treatment for Spinal Cord Injuries: The newest Frontier
Knee Stem Cell Treatment - 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 nevertheless be broken or dislocated in many different 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 because the spinal cord is in effect the key pathway for information traveling 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 for example falls and automobile accidents account for many vertebrae injuries, tumors growing close to the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and have the same effects.
Knee Stem Cells - For decades scientists have been trying to try and find a way to remedy the various ailments that spinal cord injuries can bring, however with limited success. However, in recent years a pioneering new technology has emerged that is helping many 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 Cell Treatment - Stem cells are located in all multi cellular organisms and so are characterized by their ability to tell apart into a diverse selection of specialized cells when they divide and renew themselves. They may be remarkable for their ability 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 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 now being applied to the treatment of spinal cord injuries using stem cells, and in instances where the patient hasn't 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 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 spinal-cord, myelopathy (damage to the fibres that carry messages back and forth from the brain) has occurred. These 'myelinated fibre tracts' are the focus of stem cell treatment, and are the nerve cells how the treatment helps to regenerate. The procedure 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. The cells are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They may be then put through an activity 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 spine.
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 side effects. The only side effects reported up to now were caused by the lumbar puncture, and not the stem cell treatment itself, just 15% of patients reporting mild headaches. At that time under medical supervision, patients undergo various physiotherapy activities as well as 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 that stem cell treatment of many diseases and scenarios. The Chinese government has poured many millions of dollars into research on regenerative medicine, and 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 year 2000 to 1,116 in 2008, exceeded only from the contributions of experts in the USA, Germany, Japan and the UK.
The government has also aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad in search of its ambition to become a 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 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 ended up educated in the US as well as the UK and gained extensive practical knowledge there in innovative research."
Although previously treatment in China might have been considered risky due to lax health and safety laws, recent years have seen an increase in legislation protecting the individual, and improving the functionality of clinics. Since 2009, proof of safety and efficacy through numerous studies is required by China's Secretary of state for Health for all stem cell and gene therapies, making sure Chinese clinics meet international standards within their qualifications and methodology. As of January 2010, about 1,500 patients had received laser hair removal for spinal cord injury at one Beijing clinic alone, including roughly 1,000 foreigners.
Furthermore, China has long held a spot 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 your 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 of which are of a specialized type that in those days 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. Here are several projects underway within Chinese institutions:
ChinaSCINet, a consortium of 27 medical facilities, start phase 2 numerous studies 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 around 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 utilization of stem cells to deal with heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, also to combat aging.
Successes 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 throughout the last few years. It is important to remember that not every patient will react and more, and that the age of the patient and the severity of the injury greatly affect the likelihood 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 it was unable to control her going number 2. Within 8 months of the treatment she regained movement both in her legs, could bend her knees (even though toes of one foot remained as paralyzed) and was even in a position to walk with crutches.
Razvan Iordache, a Romanian citizen aged 30, travelled to China for many bouts of stem cell treatment following an accident while diving in to a river that left him paralyzed from your neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that not only could he moved to his arms almost normally, and could feel pain in several 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 entire body is more powerful than ever before."
Donald Maricelli, a 54 yr old US citizen, suffered a 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 have been complications and Donald remained 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 created significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout the majority of his abdomen, and the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly significant, the sensation on the bottom of his feet came back, helping him simply to walk without tripping. Most important to Donald was he regained control and strength in his left leg, allowing him to walk significant distances and indicate prolonged periods of time.
There are numerous more success stories from patients who've received this pioneering treatment to help correct varying examples 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 adopts the post treatment rehabilitation, also it takes great drive, determination and ambition make it possible for 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 a very important key to the future of helping people who have spinal cord injuries recover their lost functions. Every month, more and more people are visiting various cities round the country that offer different packages of treatment based on precisely what injury may be inflicted. The level of service has improved greatly lately, and continues to improve each 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 that the standard of living of any patient may be improved with little pain, little hospital time, plus a little motivation. The existing evidence shows that stem cell therapy for spinal-cord injuries is the solution.
