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Stem Cell Strategy to 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 of the spinal column protect the soft tissues of the spinal cord, vertebrae can nonetheless be broken or dislocated in a variety of ways and cause traumatic injury to the spinal cord. Spinal-cord injuries vary within their severity, but almost inevitably result in various forms of compromised functionality since the spinal cord is in effect the key pathway for information traveling around the human body. Just what body functions are impaired by the injury will depend on the area of the spine which has been damaged and the extent to which the spine may be affected. Although serious impacts including falls and motor vehicle accidents account for many spinal cord injuries, tumors growing near the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and have the same effects.

Knee Stem Cell Injections - For decades scientists have been attempting 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 technologies have emerged that is helping many 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 Cell Treatment - Stem cells are found in all multi cellular organisms and so are characterized by their ability to distinguish 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 in the treatment of various diseases and scenarios, from Leukemia to Ms, is now becoming more common. With respect to 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. a complete severing of the vertebrae leading to a loss of function underneath 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

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' would be the focus of stem cell treatment, and are the nerve cells that the treatment helps to regenerate. The task usually follows three phases and often requires no longer than a period of around five weeks in health care 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 a procedure whereby they are isolated and purified before they are finally cultured to become suitable for clinical use.

Phase two will be the transplantation of the stem cells. This is achieved in one of three ways:

1) Lumbar puncture - an operation used where stem cells may be injected directly into the backbone.

2) Intravenous injection- stem cells are injected into the patient's vein.

3) Tissue injection - direct injection into target tissues.

Phase three involves the monitoring of the patient to make certain there are no adverse unwanted 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 the stem cell management of many diseases and scenarios. The Chinese government has poured many millions of dollars into research on regenerative medicine, understanding 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 through the contributions of experts in the USA, Germany, Japan and also the UK.

The government has additionally aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad looking for 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 to the country's success in the field." The authors were "amazed that the majority the top Chinese researchers inside the regenerative medicine field had been educated in the US and also the UK and gained extensive practical knowledge there in cutting edge research."

Although in the past treatment in China might have been considered risky because 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, proof of safety and efficacy through many studies is required by China's Ministry of Health for all stem cell and gene therapies, ensuring that 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.

In addition to this, 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 your human skin cell in to the immature ovum cell of a 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 that 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 involved with a myriad of projects to help 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 using cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to treat about 40 patients with vertebrae injuries.
Clinical trials are underway on the use of stem cell therapies to treat patients of strokes, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.
Studies are underway on the potential usage of stem cells to treat heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, and to combat aging.
Testimonials from the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries in China

Many people of all ages and with varying examples of injury have received stem cell treatment in China over 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 damages 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 was unable to control her bowel motions. Within 8 months with the treatment she regained movement both in her legs, could bend her knees (even though toes of one foot remained as 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 right into a river that left him paralyzed from your neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that doesn't only could he now use his arms almost normally, and could feel pain in many of his fingers, he could "even feel warm and cold" sensations. He proceeded to add the following: "Now I will control my urine for Ten minutes and the sensation for both urine and stool is more preferable. Generally, my system is more powerful than ever before."

Donald Maricelli, a 54 years old US citizen, suffered a spinal cord injury carrying out a fall in 2002. He underwent surgery to correct his insufficient sensation in his lower body, however there was complications and Donald stayed in a worse state than ever before. Before arriving for treatment in China, he was still being unable to walk unaided. Following a treatment, which commenced in November 2007, Donald has made significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout the majority of his abdomen, as well as the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly significant, the sensation on the bottom of his feet came back, helping him simply to walk without tripping. Most critical to Donald was he regained control and strength as part of his 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 help 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 period of time. A lot of hard work switches into 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 work being done by scientists and clinics in China has shown time and again that stem cells hold an essential 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 across the country that offer different packages of treatment according to precisely what injury continues to 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 no more feel theirs can be a lost cause. There's a very real chance that 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 spinal-cord injuries is the answer.