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Stem Cell Treatment for Spinal Cord Injuries: The New Frontier
Knee Stem Cells - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that occur to 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. Spinal cord injuries vary inside their severity, but almost inevitably result in various forms of compromised functionality since the spinal cord is in effect the main pathway for information to visit around the human body. Precisely what body functions are impaired by the injury will depend on the area of the spine which has been damaged and the extent this agreement the spine has been affected. Although serious impacts for example falls and car accidents account for many vertebrae injuries, tumors growing close to the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and possess the same effects.
Knee Stem Cell Injections - For years scientists have been trying 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 technology has emerged that is helping thousands of people around the world regain part, it not exclusively, of their previously lost mobility. That treatment is 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 differentiate into a diverse selection of specialized cells after they divide and renew themselves. They're remarkable for their capacity to regenerate themselves into any human cell. Their use within the treatment of various diseases and types of conditions, from Leukemia to Ms, is now becoming more common. Depending 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 has become being applied to the management of spinal cord injuries using stem cells, plus instances where the patient hasn't experienced a complete spinal cord injury, i.e. a complete severing of the vertebrae leading to a loss of function beneath 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 find trauma to the vertebrae, myelopathy (damage to the fibres that carry messages 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 that the treatment helps to regenerate. The process usually follows three phases and usually requires no longer when compared to a period of around five weeks in medical care for monitoring:
Phase one requires the harvesting of stem cells. Cellular structure are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They may be then put through a process whereby they are isolated and purified prior to being finally cultured to become suitable for clinical use.
Phase two is the transplantation of the stem cells. This is done in one of three ways:
1) Lumbar puncture - a procedure 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 requires the monitoring of the patient to ensure there are no adverse side effects. The only side effects reported to date were caused by the lumbar puncture, and never the stem cell treatment itself, just 15% of patients reporting mild headaches. During the time 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 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, 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 year 2000 to 1,116 in 2008, exceeded only by the contributions of experts in america, Germany, Japan and also the UK.
The government has also aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad in search of its ambition to become 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 inside the field." The authors were "amazed that most the top Chinese researchers inside the regenerative medicine field ended up educated in the US and also the UK and gained extensive practical knowledge there in cutting edge research."
Although previously treatment in China could 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, proof safety and efficacy through clinical trials is required by China's Secretary of state for Health for all stem cell and gene therapies, making sure Chinese clinics meet international standards in 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.
In addition to this, 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 to the immature ovum cell of your 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 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 presently involved with a myriad of projects to aid 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 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 spinal-cord 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 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 people of all ages and with varying degrees 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 sufferer and the severity of damages greatly affect the odds of recovery. However, there have 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 it was unable to control her going number 2. Within 8 months of the treatment she regained movement in both her legs, could bend her knees (even though 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 a major accident while diving into a river that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that does not only could he now use his arms almost normally, and might 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 10 mins and the sensation for urine and stool is more preferable. Generally, my entire body is more powerful than before."
Donald Maricelli, a 54 year 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 were 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. Pursuing the treatment, which commenced in November 2007, Donald makes significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout nearly all of his abdomen, and the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly significant, the sensation on the bottom of his feet returned, helping him just to walk without tripping. Most significant to Donald was that 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 assist correct varying degrees of spinal cord injury. However, it is always important to remember that not all patients recover exactly the same functions in the same period of time. A lot of hard work switches into the post treatment rehabilitation, plus 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. On a monthly basis, more and more people are visiting various cities around the country that offer different packages of treatment based 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 possess suffered spinal cord injuries need no more feel theirs is a lost cause. There's a very real chance how the standard of living of any patient can be improved with little pain, little hospital time, plus a little motivation. The present evidence shows that stem cell therapy for spinal-cord injuries is the way forward.
