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Stem Cell Treatment for Spinal Cord Injuries: The brand new Frontier
Knee Stem Cell Treatment - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that happen to any level of the spinal-cord. Although the hard bones with the spinal column protect the soft tissues of 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 in their severity, but almost inevitably cause various forms of compromised functionality since the spinal cord is in effect the main pathway for information traveling around the human body. Exactly what body functions are impaired from the injury will depend on the location of the spine which has been damaged and the extent that the spine continues to be affected. Although serious impacts including falls and car accidents account for many spinal-cord injuries, tumors growing near to the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and possess the same effects.
Knee Stem Cells - For years scientists have been working to try and find a way to remedy the various ailments that spinal-cord injuries can bring, but with limited success. However, recently a pioneering new technology has emerged that is helping thousands of people around the world regain part, if not completely, of their previously lost mobility. That treatment solutions are the use of stem cells.
What exactly are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?
Knee Stem Cells - Stem cells are found in all multi cellular organisms and so are characterized by their ability to distinguish into a diverse array of specialized cells after 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 scenarios, from Leukemia to Ms, is now becoming more common. With respect to the condition, stem cells could 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 treating spinal cord injuries using stem cells, as well as in instances where the patient has not experienced a complete vertebrae injury, i.e. a whole severing of the vertebrae leading to a loss of function beneath the 'neurological' level. There has been great success in helping patients recover greater sensory and physiological ability.
Vertebrae Injury: How Stem Cell Treatment Works
When there is 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 how the treatment helps to regenerate. The process usually follows three phases and often 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 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 may be the transplantation of the stem cells. This is done in one of three ways:
1) Lumbar puncture - a procedure used where stem cells can 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 requires the monitoring of the patient to make sure there are no adverse unwanted effects. The only side effects reported thus far were caused by the lumbar puncture, and never the stem cell treatment itself, just 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 fast 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 many millions of dollars into research on regenerative medicine, which 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 the USA, Germany, Japan as well as the UK.
The government has additionally aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad looking for its ambition to turn into 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 within the field." The authors were "amazed that the majority the top Chinese researchers within the regenerative medicine field have 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 due to lax health and safety laws, recent times 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.
In addition to this, China has long held a place at the forefront of stem cell research to treat all manner of conditions. Some of China's notable contributions to stem cell research are:
By transferring the nucleus of a human skin cell into the immature ovum cell of your rabbit, researchers from a Shanghai hospital successfully produced embryonic human cells.
China to date 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 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 presently 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 starting phase 2 many studies to test the efficacy and safety of employing 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 cardiac arrest, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.
Studies are underway on the potential utilization of stem cells to treat heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, and also to combat aging.
Success Stories from the Treatment of Spinal-cord 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 injury 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 underneath the injury site, and was unable to control her bowel motions. Within 8 months of the treatment she regained movement both in her legs, could bend her knees (although the toes of one foot remained paralyzed) and was even able 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 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 several 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 10 mins 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, suffered a spinal cord injury using a fall in 2002. He underwent an operation to correct his lack of 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 being unable to walk unaided. Pursuing the treatment, which commenced in November 2007, Donald has made significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout the majority 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 to walk without tripping. Most significant to Donald was he regained control and strength in his left leg, allowing him just to walk significant distances and stand for prolonged periods of time.
There are numerous more success stories from patients who've received this pioneering treatment to aid correct varying examples of spinal cord injury. However, it is usually important to remember that not all patients recover the same functions in the same time frame. A lot of hard work goes into 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 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 who have spinal cord injuries recover their lost functions. Each month, more and more people are going to various cities across the country that offer different packages of treatment according to precisely what injury has been inflicted. The level of service has improved greatly recently, and continues to improve monthly, meaning that those unfortunate enough to get suffered spinal cord injuries need no more feel theirs is really a lost cause. There's a very real chance that the standard of living of any patient could be improved with little pain, little hospital time, plus a little motivation. The current evidence shows that stem cell therapy for spinal-cord injuries is the way forward.
