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Stem Cell Strategy for Spinal Cord Injuries: The brand new Frontier
Knee Stem Cell Injections - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that eventually any level of the spinal-cord. Although the hard bones from the spinal column protect the soft tissues from 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 within their severity, but almost inevitably lead to various forms of compromised functionality because 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 area of the spine which has been damaged and the extent that the spine continues to be affected. Although serious impacts including falls and automobile accidents account for many spinal-cord injuries, tumors growing near the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and possess the same effects.
Knee Stem Cells - For many years scientists have been working to try and find a way to remedy the different ailments that spinal-cord injuries can bring, but with limited success. However, in recent years a pioneering new technology has emerged that is helping thousands of people around the world regain part, if not all, of their previously lost mobility. That treatment solutions are the use of stem cells.
What are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?
Knee Stem Cells - Stem cells are located in all multi cellular organisms and are characterized by their ability to tell apart into a diverse selection of specialized cells once they divide and renew themselves. They may be 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 now being applied to the treatment 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 vertebrae leading to a loss of function below 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 to and from the brain) has occurred. These 'myelinated fibre tracts' will be the focus of stem cell treatment, and are the nerve cells the treatment helps to regenerate. The procedure usually follows three phases and usually requires no longer than a period of around five weeks in medical 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 procedure whereby they are isolated and purified before they are finally cultured being suitable for clinical use.
Phase two is the transplantation of the stem cells. This is achieved in one of three ways:
1) Lumbar puncture - an operation used where stem cells could be injected directly into the spine.
2) Intravenous injection- stem cells are injected in to the patient's vein.
3) Tissue injection - direct injection into target tissues.
Phase three involves the monitoring of the patient to make sure there are no adverse side effects. The only side effects reported up to now 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 quickly becoming a world leader in stem cell research, and it is now a major centre for the stem cell treating many diseases and conditions. 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 by the contributions of experts in the united states, Germany, Japan as well as the UK.
The government has also aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad looking for its ambition to become 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 in the field." The authors were "amazed that most the top Chinese researchers inside the regenerative medicine field ended up educated in the US as well as the UK and gained extensive working experience there in cutting edge research."
Although before treatment in China could have been considered risky as a result of 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 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 deal with all manner of conditions. Some of China's notable contributions to stem cell research are:
By transferring the nucleus of a human skin cell to the immature ovum cell of the rabbit, researchers from a 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 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 beginning phase 2 numerous studies 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 around the use of stem cell therapies to deal with patients of cardiac arrest, 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.
Successes from the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries in China
Lots of people 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 keep in mind that not every patient will react and more, and that the age of the sufferer and the severity of the damage greatly affect the odds 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 beneath the injury site, and was unable to control her bowel movements. Within 8 months of 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 several 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 not only could he moved to his arms almost normally, and could feel pain in many of his fingers, he could "even feel warm and cold" sensations. He went on to add the following: "Now I'm able to control my urine for 10 mins and the sensation for both urine and stool is way better. Generally, my system is more powerful than before."
Donald Maricelli, a 54 year old US citizen, a break down spinal cord injury using a fall in 2002. He underwent a surgical procedure to correct his lack of sensation in his lower body, however there were complications and Donald remained 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 created significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout nearly all of his abdomen, and also the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly crucial, the sensation on the bottom of his feet returned, 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 are a symbol of prolonged periods of time.
There are numerous more success stories from patients who have received this pioneering treatment to help correct varying examples of spinal cord injury. However, it is always important to remember that not all patients recover the identical functions in the same time period. 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 work being done by scientists and clinics in China indicates 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. Each month, more and more people are going to various cities around the country that offer different packages of treatment depending on precisely what injury may be inflicted. The level of service has improved greatly recently, and continues to improve each month, meaning that those unfortunate enough to possess 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 may be improved with little pain, little hospital time, plus a little motivation. The present evidence shows that stem cell therapy for vertebrae injuries is the answer.
