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Stem Cell Strategy for Spinal Cord Injuries: The newest Frontier
Knee Stem Cell Injections - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that eventually any level of the vertebrae. Although the hard bones of the spinal column protect the soft tissues from the spinal cord, vertebrae can nonetheless be broken or dislocated in many different ways and cause traumatic injury to the spinal cord. Spinal cord injuries vary in their severity, but almost inevitably lead to various forms of compromised functionality because the spinal cord is in effect the key pathway for information traveling around the human body. Precisely what body functions are impaired by the injury will depend on the region of the spine which has been damaged and the extent that the spine may be affected. Although serious impacts such as falls and car accidents account for many vertebrae injuries, tumors growing near to the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and also have the same effects.
Knee Stem Cells - 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, in recent years a pioneering new technology has emerged that is helping many people around the world regain part, if not all, 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 Treatment - Stem cells are found in all multi cellular organisms and therefore are characterized by their ability to tell apart into a diverse selection of specialized cells when they divide and renew themselves. They may be remarkable for their capability to regenerate themselves into any human cell. Their use within the treatment of various diseases and scenarios, from Leukemia to Ms, is now becoming more common. Depending on the condition, stem cells may 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 now being applied to the management of spinal cord injuries using stem cells, as well as in instances where the patient hasn't experienced a complete spinal cord injury, i.e. an entire severing of the spinal-cord leading to a loss of function underneath 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 have 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' will be the focus of stem cell treatment, and therefore are the nerve cells how the treatment helps to regenerate. The process usually follows three phases and often requires no longer than a period of around five weeks in medical treatment for monitoring:
Phase one necessitates the harvesting of stem cells. The cells are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They are then put through an activity whereby they are isolated and purified prior to being 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 may be injected directly into the spinal column.
2) Intravenous injection- stem cells are injected 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 to date were caused by the lumbar puncture, and never the stem cell treatment itself, with only 15% of patients reporting mild headaches. At that 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 also now a major centre for that stem cell management of many diseases and types of conditions. The Chinese government has poured many millions of dollars into research on regenerative medicine, which 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 2000 to 1,116 in 2008, exceeded only from the contributions of experts in america, Germany, Japan and the UK.
The government has also aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad looking for 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 returning to China has contributed significantly for the country's success inside the field." The authors were "amazed that almost all the top Chinese researchers in the regenerative medicine field ended up educated in the US and the UK and gained extensive practical knowledge there in innovative research."
Although before 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 individual, and improving the functionality of clinics. Since 2009, proof of safety and efficacy through numerous studies is required by China's Ministry of Health for all stem cell and gene therapies, making certain Chinese clinics meet international standards in their qualifications and methodology. By January 2010, about 1,500 patients had received laser hair removal 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 take care of 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 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 which are of a specialized type that in those days 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 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, are beginning phase 2 clinical trials to test the efficacy and safety of employing cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to deal with about 40 patients with spinal cord injuries.
Clinical trials are underway about the use of stem cell therapies to treat patients of strokes, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.
Research is underway on the potential utilization of stem cells to treat heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, also to combat aging.
Success Stories from the Treatment of Vertebrae Injuries in China
Lots of people of all ages and with varying levels of injury have received stem cell treatment in China throughout the last few years. It is important to remember that not every patient will react and more, and that the age of the patient and the severity of the injury greatly affect the likelihood 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 below the injury site, and it was unable to control her bowel movements. Within 8 months with the treatment she regained movement in both her legs, could bend her knees (even though toes of one foot remained paralyzed) and was even capable of walk with crutches.
Razvan Iordache, a Romanian citizen aged 30, travelled to China for several bouts of stem cell treatment following any sort of 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 are now using 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 10 mins and the sensation for both urine and stool is way better. Generally, my physique is more powerful than ever before."
Donald Maricelli, a 54 yr 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 stayed 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 the majority of his abdomen, and also the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly crucial, the sensation on the bottom of his feet came back, helping him to walk without tripping. Most critical to Donald was he regained control and strength in the left leg, allowing him simply to walk significant distances and stand for prolonged periods of time.
There are numerous more success stories from patients who have received this pioneering treatment to assist correct varying examples of spinal cord injury. However, it is usually important to remember that not all patients recover exactly the same functions in the same period of time. A lot of hard work adopts 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 job 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 individuals with spinal cord injuries recover their lost functions. On a monthly basis, more and more people are travelling to various cities round the country that offer different packages of treatment according to 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 have suffered spinal cord injuries need will no longer feel theirs is a lost cause. There exists a very real chance the standard of living of any patient may be improved with little pain, little hospital time, and a little motivation. The existing evidence shows that stem cell therapy for vertebrae injuries is the solution.
