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Stem Cell Treatment for Spinal Cord Injuries: The New Frontier
Knee Stem Cells - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that happen to any level of the spinal cord. Although the hard bones of 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 problems for the spinal cord. Spinal cord injuries vary inside their severity, but almost inevitably result in various forms of compromised functionality as the spinal cord is in effect the primary pathway for information to visit around the human body. Exactly what body functions are impaired by the injury will depend on the region of the spine which has been damaged and the extent to which the spine continues to be affected. Although serious impacts such as falls and automobile 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 Cells - For years scientists have been attempting to try and find a way to remedy the different ailments that spinal cord injuries can bring, however with limited success. However, lately a pioneering new technologies have emerged that is helping lots of people around the world regain part, it not exclusively, 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 therefore are characterized by their ability to tell apart into a diverse array of specialized cells once they divide and renew themselves. They are remarkable for their ability to regenerate themselves into just about any human cell. Their use within the treatment of various diseases and conditions, from Leukemia to Multiple Sclerosis, is now becoming more common. Based on 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 has become being applied to treating spinal cord injuries using stem cells, and in instances where the patient hasn't experienced a complete spinal cord injury, i.e. a complete severing of the spinal cord leading to a loss of function beneath the 'neurological' level. There has been good success in helping patients recover greater sensory and physiological ability.
Vertebrae Injury: How Stem Cell Treatment Works
If you have trauma to the vertebrae, myelopathy (damage to the fibres that carry messages to and from the brain) has occurred. These 'myelinated fibre tracts' will be the focus of stem cell treatment, and are the nerve cells that the treatment helps to regenerate. The task usually follows three phases in most cases requires no longer when compared to a period of around five weeks in health care for monitoring:
Phase one involves the harvesting of stem cells. Cells are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They may be then put through a process whereby they are isolated and purified before they are finally cultured being 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 backbone.
2) Intravenous injection- stem cells are injected in to 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 negative effects. The only side effects reported to date were caused by the lumbar puncture, and not the stem cell treatment itself, with only 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 is also now a major centre for your 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 by the contributions of experts in america, Germany, Japan as well as the UK.
The government has also aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad in pursuit of 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 within the field." The authors were "amazed that almost all the top Chinese researchers inside the regenerative medicine field ended up educated in the US and the UK and gained extensive working experience there in innovative research."
Although previously treatment in China could 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 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. At the time of January 2010, about 1,500 patients had received botox cosmetic injections 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 take care of all manner of conditions. A few of China's notable contributions to stem cell research are:
By transferring the nucleus of a human skin cell in to the immature ovum cell of the rabbit, researchers from your 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 circulatory, tendon, bone, cartilage, skin, cornea and muscle fibre.
Furthermore, Chinese researchers are currently involved with a myriad of projects to aid 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 around the use of stem cell therapies to take care of 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, and also to combat aging.
Testimonials from the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries in China
Many people of all ages and with varying examples of injury have received stem cell treatment in China over 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 sufferer 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 underneath the injury site, and it was unable to control her bowel motions. Within 8 months from the treatment she regained movement both in her legs, could bend her knees (even though the toes of one foot were still 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 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 not only could he moved to his arms almost normally, and could feel pain in a number of of his fingers, he could "even feel warm and cold" sensations. He continued to add the following: "Now I will control my urine for Ten minutes and the sensation for both urine and stool is way better. Generally, my physique is more powerful than ever before."
Donald Maricelli, a 54 year old US citizen, a break down spinal cord injury using a fall in 2002. He underwent surgery to correct his lack of 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 unable to walk unaided. Pursuing the treatment, which commenced in November 2007, Donald has made significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout most of his abdomen, as well as the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly crucial, the sensation on the bottom of his feet went back, helping him just to walk without tripping. Most critical to Donald was he regained control and strength in the left leg, allowing him to walk significant distances and are a symbol of prolonged periods of time.
There are numerous more success stories from patients that have received this pioneering treatment to help correct varying levels of spinal cord injury. However, it is always important to remember that not all patients recover the same functions in the same time period. A lot of hard work switches into the post treatment rehabilitation, and 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 indicates time and again that stem cells hold a critical key to the future of helping individuals with spinal cord injuries recover their lost functions. Each month, more and more people are going to 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 in recent years, and continues to improve monthly, meaning that those unfortunate enough to get suffered spinal cord injuries need no more feel theirs can be 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 vertebrae injuries is the answer.
