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Stem Cell Strategy for Spinal Cord Injuries: The newest Frontier
Knee Stem Cells - 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 of the spinal cord, vertebrae can nonetheless be broken or dislocated in many different ways and cause traumatic injury to the spinal cord. Spinal-cord injuries vary within their severity, but almost inevitably lead to various forms of compromised functionality since the spinal cord is in effect the main pathway for information to travel around the human body. Exactly what body functions are impaired by the injury will depend on the region of the spine that's been damaged and the extent to which the spine has been affected. Although serious impacts such as falls and car accidents account for many vertebrae injuries, tumors growing near to the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and also have the same effects.
Knee Stem Cells - For years scientists have been trying to try and find a way to remedy the various ailments that spinal cord injuries can bring, but with limited success. However, lately 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 are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?
Knee Stem Cells - Stem cells are found in all multi cellular organisms and are characterized by their ability to differentiate into a diverse array of specialized cells when they divide and renew themselves. They may be remarkable for their capacity to regenerate themselves into just about any human cell. Their use within the treatment of various diseases and scenarios, from Leukemia to Multiple Sclerosis, is now becoming more common. With respect to the condition, stem cells may 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 is now being applied to the management of spinal cord injuries using stem cells, as well as in instances where the patient has not experienced a complete vertebrae injury, i.e. an entire severing of the vertebrae leading to a loss of function beneath the 'neurological' level. There has been positive results 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 so are the nerve cells that the treatment helps to regenerate. The procedure usually follows three phases and usually requires no longer than a period of around five weeks in health care for monitoring:
Phase one requires the harvesting of stem cells. The cells are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They may be then put through a process whereby they are isolated and purified prior to being finally cultured being suitable for clinical use.
Phase two may be the transplantation of the stem cells. This is done in one of 3 ways:
1) Lumbar puncture - a process 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 necessitates the monitoring of the patient to make certain there are no adverse side effects. The only side effects reported thus far were caused by the lumbar puncture, and never the stem cell treatment itself, with simply 15% of patients reporting mild headaches. At that time 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 also now a major centre for your stem cell treating many diseases and types of conditions. The Chinese government has poured millions of dollars into research on regenerative medicine, which 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 2000 to 1,116 in 2008, exceeded only by the contributions of experts in the USA, Germany, Japan and also the UK.
The government has additionally aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad looking for its ambition to turn into a world leader inside 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 within the regenerative medicine field had been educated in the US and the UK and gained extensive practical knowledge there in cutting edge research."
Although in the past treatment in China may have been considered risky because of 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 safety and efficacy through many studies is required by China's Ministry of Health for all stem cell and gene therapies, ensuring that 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.
In addition to this, China has long held a spot at the forefront of stem cell research to treat all manner of conditions. A few of China's notable contributions to stem cell research are:
By transferring the nucleus of your human skin cell into the immature ovum cell of a rabbit, researchers from your 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 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 presently 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 many studies to test the efficacy and safety of using cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to take care of about 40 patients with spinal cord injuries.
Clinical trials are underway about 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 usage of stem cells to treat heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, and also to combat aging.
Testimonials 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 understand that not every patient will react as well as others, and that the age of the individual 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 below the injury site, and it was unable to control her going number 2. Within 8 months with the treatment she regained movement in both her legs, could bend her knees (even though the 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 a number of bouts of stem cell treatment following a major accident while diving into a river that left him paralyzed in the neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that not only could he moved to his arms almost normally, and might feel pain in several of his fingers, he could "even feel warm and cold" sensations. He continued 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 year old US citizen, suffered a spinal cord injury carrying out a fall in 2002. He underwent surgery to correct his lack of sensation in his lower body, however there have been complications and Donald was left in a worse state than before. Before arriving for treatment in China, he had been unable to walk unaided. Following a treatment, which commenced in November 2007, Donald has created significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout most of his abdomen, as well as the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly important, the sensation on the bottom of his feet went back, helping him just to walk without tripping. Most critical to Donald was that he regained control and strength in his left leg, allowing him to walk significant distances and indicate prolonged periods of time.
There are many 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 to allow 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 a very important key to the future of helping individuals with spinal cord injuries recover their lost functions. Each 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 recently, and continues to improve each month, meaning that those unfortunate enough to possess suffered spinal cord injuries need will no longer feel theirs is a lost cause. There's a very real chance how 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 answer.
