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Stem Cell Strategy to Spinal Cord Injuries: The New Frontier

Knee Stem Cells - 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 from the spinal cord, vertebrae can still 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 since the spinal cord is in effect the primary pathway for information to visit around the human body. Precisely what body functions are impaired through the injury will depend on the region of the spine that has been damaged and the extent this agreement the spine has been affected. Although serious impacts such as falls and motor vehicle accidents account for many spinal-cord injuries, tumors growing close to the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and possess the same effects.

Knee Stem Cell Treatment - For many years scientists have been working to try and find a way to remedy the many ailments that vertebrae 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 all, of their previously lost mobility. That treatment methods are the use of stem cells.

Exactly what are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?

Knee Stem Cell Injections - Stem cells are located in all multi cellular organisms and so are characterized by their ability to distinguish into a diverse selection of specialized cells once they divide and renew themselves. They are remarkable for their capability to regenerate themselves into almost any other human cell. Their use in the treatment of various diseases and conditions, from Leukemia to Ms, is now becoming more common. Based on 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 is now being applied to the treatment of spinal cord injuries using stem cells, plus instances where the patient has not experienced a complete spinal cord injury, i.e. a whole severing of the vertebrae leading to a loss of function underneath 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 both 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 the treatment helps to regenerate. The process usually follows three phases in most cases requires no longer when compared to a period of around five weeks in medical treatment for monitoring:

Phase one necessitates the harvesting of stem cells. Cellular structure are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They may be then put through a procedure whereby they are isolated and purified before they are finally cultured to become suitable for clinical use.

Phase two will be the transplantation of the stem cells. This is accomplished in one of 3 ways:

1) Lumbar puncture - a process used where stem cells could be injected directly into the spinal column.

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 certain there are no adverse side effects. The only side effects reported thus far were caused by the lumbar puncture, rather than the stem cell treatment itself, with simply 15% of patients reporting mild headaches. During the time 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 it is now a major centre for the stem cell treating many diseases and scenarios. 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 from the contributions of experts in the USA, Germany, Japan and the UK.

The government in addition has aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad in pursuit 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 for the country's success within the field." The authors were "amazed that almost all the top Chinese researchers within the regenerative medicine field ended up educated in the US and the UK and gained extensive practical knowledge there in innovative research."

Although in the past treatment in China might have been considered risky as a result of lax health and safety laws, the past few years have seen an increase in legislation protecting the sufferer, and improving the functionality of clinics. Since 2009, evidence of safety and efficacy through clinical trials is required by China's Secretary of state for 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 laser hair removal for spinal cord injury at one Beijing clinic alone, including roughly 1,000 foreigners.

Additionally, 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 the rabbit, researchers from the 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 of which are of a specialized type that in those days 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 presently involved with a myriad of projects to help 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, start phase 2 clinical trials to test the efficacy and safety of employing cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to treat about 40 patients with vertebrae injuries.
Clinical trials are underway on the use of stem cell therapies to deal with patients of strokes, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.
Studies are underway on the potential use of stem cells to deal with heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, and to combat aging.
Successes 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 during the last few years. It is important to understand that not every patient will react and more, and that the age of the sufferer and the severity of damages greatly affect the likelihood 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 bowel movements. Within 8 months with 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 several bouts of stem cell treatment following any sort of accident while diving right into a river that left him paralyzed from your neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that doesn't only could he now use his arms almost normally, and may feel pain in many of his fingers, he could "even feel warm and cold" sensations. He proceeded 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 system is more powerful than before."

Donald Maricelli, a 54 years 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 was complications and Donald was left 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 created significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout most of his abdomen, and also 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 which he regained control and strength in the left leg, allowing him just to walk significant distances and indicate prolonged periods of time.

There are lots of more success stories from patients who've received this pioneering treatment to aid correct varying degrees of spinal cord injury. However, it is always important to remember that not all patients recover the identical 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 a very important key to the future of helping individuals 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 may be inflicted. The level of service has improved greatly in recent years, and continues to improve each month, meaning that those unfortunate enough to get suffered spinal cord injuries need no longer feel theirs is a lost cause. There is a very real chance how the standard of living of any patient can be improved with little pain, little hospital time, along with a little motivation. The existing evidence shows that stem cell therapy for spinal cord injuries is the solution.