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Stem Cell Treatment for Spinal Cord Injuries: The brand new Frontier
Knee Stem Cell Injections - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that happen to any level of the vertebrae. Although the hard bones of the spinal column protect the soft tissues with the spinal cord, vertebrae can nonetheless be broken or dislocated in a variety of ways and cause traumatic trouble for the spinal cord. Vertebrae injuries vary in their severity, but almost inevitably cause various forms of compromised functionality because the spinal cord is in effect the key pathway for information to travel around the human body. Exactly what body functions are impaired through the injury will depend on the area of the spine that 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 near the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and also have the same effects.
Knee Stem Cell Treatment - For many years scientists have been trying to try and find a way to remedy the different ailments that spinal cord injuries can bring, though limited success. However, lately a pioneering new technology has emerged that is helping lots of people around the world regain part, it not exclusively, of their previously lost mobility. That treatment methods are the use of stem cells.
What are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?
Knee Stem Cell Injections - 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 after they divide and renew themselves. They may be remarkable for their ability to regenerate themselves into almost any other human cell. Their use within the treatment of various diseases and conditions, from Leukemia to Ms, is now becoming more common. Based on the condition, stem cells could 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 the management of spinal cord injuries using stem cells, and in 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 below 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 vertebrae, myelopathy (damage to the fibres that carry messages back and forth from the brain) has occurred. These 'myelinated fibre tracts' will be the focus of stem cell treatment, and so are the nerve cells that 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 necessitates the harvesting of stem cells. Cells 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 may be the transplantation of the stem cells. This is done in one of three ways:
1) Lumbar puncture - a procedure used where stem cells can 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 ensure 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. 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 fast becoming a world leader in stem cell research, and is now a major centre for the stem cell treatment of many diseases and types of conditions. The Chinese government has poured many millions of dollars into research on regenerative medicine, and that 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 from 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 pursuit of its ambition to turn into a 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 back 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 ended up educated in the US as well as the UK and gained extensive practical knowledge there in cutting edge research."
Although in the past treatment in China could have been considered risky because 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 Ministry of Health for all stem cell and gene therapies, making certain Chinese clinics meet international standards within 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.
Additionally, China has long held a place at the forefront of stem cell research to take care of 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 the Shanghai hospital successfully produced embryonic human cells.
China up to now 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 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 assist aid patients through regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy. Below are several projects underway within Chinese institutions:
ChinaSCINet, a consortium of 27 medical facilities, start phase 2 many studies to test the efficacy and safety of utilizing cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to treat about 40 patients with vertebrae injuries.
Clinical trials are underway about the use of stem cell therapies to take care of patients of cardiac arrest, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.
Research is underway on the potential usage of stem cells to deal with heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, and to combat aging.
Success Stories from the Treatment of Spinal-cord Injuries in China
Many individuals of all ages and with varying examples 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 as well as others, and that the age of the individual and the severity of the damage greatly affect the chances 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 with 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 many bouts of stem cell treatment following an accident while diving in to a river that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that doesn't only could he now use his arms almost normally, and may feel pain in several of his fingers, he could "even feel warm and cold" sensations. He proceeded to add the following: "Now I can control my urine for 10 minutes and the sensation for urine and stool is way better. Generally, my system is more powerful than before."
Donald Maricelli, a 54 years 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 have been 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 makes significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout the majority 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 to walk without tripping. Most important to Donald was that he regained control and strength in his left leg, allowing him simply to walk significant distances and indicate prolonged periods of time.
There are lots of more success stories from patients who have received this pioneering treatment to aid correct varying examples of spinal cord injury. However, it is always important to remember that not all patients recover exactly the same functions in the same time period. A lot of hard work goes into the post treatment rehabilitation, plus it takes great drive, determination and ambition make it possible for the body to get back to more regular functionality. However, the task being done by scientists and clinics in China indicates time and again that stem cells hold an essential key to the future of helping individuals with 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 according to precisely what injury has been 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 more feel theirs is a lost cause. There's a very real chance how 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 way forward.
