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Stem Cell Strategy for Spinal Cord Injuries: The brand new Frontier
Knee Stem Cells - 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 with the spinal cord, vertebrae can still be broken or dislocated in a variety of ways and cause traumatic trouble for the spinal cord. Spinal cord injuries vary within their severity, but almost inevitably cause various forms of compromised functionality because the spinal cord is in effect the primary pathway for information to visit around the human body. Just what body functions are impaired from the injury will depend on the area of the spine that has been damaged and the extent that the spine has been affected. Although serious impacts for example falls and car accidents account for many spinal-cord injuries, tumors growing close to the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and also have the same effects.
Knee Stem Cells - For decades scientists have been working 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 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.
Exactly what are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?
Knee Stem Cell Injections - Stem cells are simply in all multi cellular organisms and therefore are characterized by their ability to differentiate into a diverse selection of specialized cells when they divide and renew themselves. They are remarkable for their capacity to regenerate themselves into any human cell. Their used in the treatment of various diseases and scenarios, from Leukemia to Ms, is now becoming more common. Based on the condition, stem cells can 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 currently being applied to treating spinal cord injuries using stem cells, plus instances where the patient hasn't experienced a complete vertebrae injury, i.e. a whole severing of the spinal cord leading to a loss of function underneath 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
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' 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 a period of around five weeks in health care for monitoring:
Phase one involves the harvesting of stem cells. Cellular structure 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 achieved in one of three ways:
1) Lumbar puncture - an operation 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 necessitates the monitoring of the patient to make certain there are no adverse negative 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 quickly becoming a world leader in stem cell research, and is also now a major centre for the stem cell management of 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 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 through the contributions of experts in the united states, Germany, Japan as well as the UK.
The government in addition has aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad in search of its ambition to become a world leader in the field. Indeed, the McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health commented that, "the government's policy of attracting highly educated Chinese nationals returning to China has contributed significantly towards the country's success within the field." The authors were "amazed that the majority the top Chinese researchers in the regenerative medicine field had been educated in the US and the UK and gained extensive experiences there in cutting edge research."
Although in the past treatment in China might have been considered risky because of lax health and safety laws, recent times have seen an increase in legislation protecting the sufferer, and improving the functionality of clinics. Since 2009, proof of 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. As of January 2010, about 1,500 patients had received this treatment for spinal cord injury at one Beijing clinic alone, including roughly 1,000 foreigners.
Furthermore, China has long held a place 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 the human skin cell to 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 which are of a specialized type that at that time only two other groups worldwide had was able to create.
Harboured several human tissue types, created artificially, including blood vessel, 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. Below are several projects underway within Chinese institutions:
ChinaSCINet, a consortium of 27 medical facilities, are beginning phase 2 clinical trials 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 around the use of stem cell therapies to deal with patients of heart attacks, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.
Studies are underway on the potential usage of stem cells to deal with heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, and also to combat aging.
Testimonials from the Treatment of Vertebrae Injuries in China
Many individuals of all ages and with varying levels 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 individual and the severity of damages greatly affect the odds 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 of the treatment she regained movement in the her legs, could bend her knees (although 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 in to a river that left him paralyzed in the neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that doesn't only could he moved to his arms almost normally, and may feel pain in several of his fingers, he could "even feel warm and cold" sensations. He went on to add the following: "Now I will control my urine for 10 minutes and the sensation for urine and stool is more preferable. Generally, my system is more powerful than ever before."
Donald Maricelli, a 54 year old US citizen, suffered a spinal cord injury using a fall in 2002. He underwent a surgical procedure to correct his insufficient sensation in his lower body, however there were complications and Donald stayed 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 makes significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout nearly all of his abdomen, as well as the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly important, 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 simply 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 aid correct varying levels of spinal cord injury. However, it will always be important to remember that not all patients recover the same functions in the same time frame. A lot of hard work adopts the post treatment rehabilitation, also it takes great drive, determination and ambition to enable the body to get back to more regular functionality. However, the work being done by scientists and clinics in China shows 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 depending on precisely what injury has been inflicted. The level of service has improved greatly lately, and continues to improve monthly, meaning that those unfortunate enough to have suffered spinal cord injuries need no more feel theirs is really a lost cause. There is a very real chance the standard of living of any patient may be improved with little pain, little hospital time, and a little motivation. The current evidence shows that stem cell therapy for vertebrae injuries is the solution.
