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Stem Cell Strategy for Spinal Cord Injuries: The brand 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 nevertheless be broken or dislocated in a number of ways and cause traumatic injury to the spinal cord. Vertebrae injuries vary within their severity, but almost inevitably lead to various forms of compromised functionality as the spinal cord is in effect the key pathway for information to visit around the human body. Precisely what body functions are impaired by the injury will depend on the location of the spine which has been damaged and the extent this agreement the spine may be affected. Although serious impacts including falls and motor vehicle accidents account for many spinal cord injuries, tumors growing near to the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and also have the same effects.
Knee Stem Cell Treatment - For years scientists have been trying to try and find a way to remedy the various ailments that spinal-cord injuries can bring, though limited success. However, lately a pioneering new technology has 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.
Exactly what are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?
Knee Stem Cell Treatment - Stem cells are simply in all multi cellular organisms and are characterized by their ability to distinguish into a diverse array of specialized cells after they divide and renew themselves. They may be remarkable for their capability to regenerate themselves into almost any other 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 can be transplanted into the patient to assist renew and regenerate previously damaged cells, giving patients renewed hope when, before, no reliable treatment existed.
This principle is currently being applied to the management of spinal cord injuries using stem cells, plus instances where the patient has not yet experienced a complete spinal-cord injury, i.e. a whole severing of the spinal cord leading to a loss of function beneath the 'neurological' level. There has been great success in helping patients recover greater sensory and physiological ability.
Spinal Cord Injury: How Stem Cell Treatment Works
When there is trauma to the spinal-cord, myelopathy (damage to the fibres that carry messages back and forth from the brain) has occurred. These 'myelinated fibre tracts' are the focus of stem cell treatment, and so are the nerve cells the treatment helps to regenerate. The process usually follows three phases in most cases requires no longer than the usual 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 are then put through a process whereby they are isolated and purified before they are finally cultured to be suitable for clinical use.
Phase two is the transplantation of the stem cells. This is accomplished in one of three 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 sure there are no adverse negative effects. The only side effects reported up to now were caused by the lumbar puncture, and not the stem cell treatment itself, just 15% of patients reporting mild headaches. At that time under medical supervision, patients undergo various physiotherapy activities as well as other treatments as necessary.
Stem Cell Research and Treatment in China
China is fast becoming a world leader in stem cell research, and is now a major centre for that stem cell treating many diseases and 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 2000 to 1,116 in 2008, exceeded only through the contributions of experts in the united states, Germany, Japan and also the UK.
The government has also aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad in search of its ambition to become 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 to China has contributed significantly towards the country's success in the field." The authors were "amazed that most the top Chinese researchers within the regenerative medicine field had been educated in the US and also the UK and gained extensive experiences there in innovative research."
Although previously treatment in China might have been considered risky as a result of lax health and safety laws, recent years have seen an increase in legislation protecting the patient, and improving the functionality of clinics. Since 2009, evidence of safety and efficacy through numerous studies 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 botox cosmetic injections 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 a human skin cell in 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 that are of a specialized type that during those times only two other groups worldwide had managed to create.
Harboured several human tissue types, created artificially, including circulatory, tendon, bone, cartilage, skin, cornea and muscle fibre.
Furthermore, Chinese researchers are 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, start phase 2 clinical trials to test the efficacy and safety of employing cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to take care of about 40 patients with vertebrae 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 use of stem cells to take care of 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 levels 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 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 going number 2. 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 in a position to walk with crutches.
Razvan Iordache, a Romanian citizen aged 30, travelled to China for several bouts of stem cell treatment following a major accident while diving into a river that left him paralyzed from your 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 many of his fingers, he could "even feel warm and cold" sensations. He continued to add the following: "Now I can control my urine for 10 minutes and the sensation for both urine and stool is much better. Generally, my physique is more powerful than ever before."
Donald Maricelli, a 54 yr old US citizen, suffered a spinal cord injury following a fall in 2002. He underwent surgery to correct his not enough sensation in his lower body, however there was complications and Donald remained 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 makes significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout most of his abdomen, and also 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 which he regained control and strength in the left leg, allowing him just 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 aid correct varying degrees 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 make it possible for 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 an essential key to the future of helping people with spinal cord injuries recover their lost functions. On a monthly basis, more and more people are going to various cities round the country that offer different packages of treatment depending on precisely what injury continues to be inflicted. The level of service has improved greatly lately, and continues to improve every month, meaning that those unfortunate enough to get suffered spinal cord injuries need no longer feel theirs is really a lost cause. There exists a very real chance the standard of living of any patient can be improved with little pain, little hospital time, plus a little motivation. The existing evidence shows that stem cell therapy for spinal-cord injuries is the answer.
