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Stem Cell Strategy for Spinal Cord Injuries: The newest Frontier
Knee Stem Cells - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that eventually any level of the vertebrae. Although the hard bones from the spinal column protect the soft tissues with 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 main pathway for information to travel 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 to which the spine continues to be affected. Although serious impacts including 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 Treatment - For decades scientists have been attempting to try and find a way to remedy the different ailments that vertebrae injuries can bring, however with limited success. However, in recent years a pioneering new technology has emerged that is helping lots of people around the world regain part, if not all, 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 therefore are characterized by their ability to tell apart into a diverse range of specialized cells once they divide and renew themselves. They are remarkable for their capability 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. Based on the condition, stem cells may 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 currently being applied to the treatment of spinal cord injuries using stem cells, plus instances where the patient has not 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 find trauma to the vertebrae, myelopathy (damage to the fibres that carry messages back and forth from the brain) has occurred. These 'myelinated fibre tracts' are the focus of stem cell treatment, and are the nerve cells how the treatment helps to regenerate. The task usually follows three phases and often requires no longer when compared to a period of around five weeks in medical treatment for monitoring:
Phase one involves the harvesting of stem cells. Cells are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They're then put through an activity whereby they are isolated and purified before they are finally cultured to become 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 may be injected directly into the backbone.
2) Intravenous injection- stem cells are injected to the patient's vein.
3) Tissue injection - direct injection into target tissues.
Phase three necessitates the monitoring of the patient to ensure there are no adverse side effects. The only side effects reported thus far were caused by the lumbar puncture, and not the stem cell treatment itself, with only 15% of patients reporting mild headaches. During the time under medical supervision, patients undergo various physiotherapy activities along with 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 millions of dollars into research on regenerative medicine, which 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 2000 to 1,116 in 2008, exceeded only from the contributions of experts in america, Germany, Japan as well as the UK.
The government in addition has aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad in search of 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 to the country's success within the field." The authors were "amazed that almost all the top Chinese researchers inside the regenerative medicine field ended up educated in the US and the UK and gained extensive working experience there in innovative research."
Although before treatment in China could have been considered risky because of lax health and safety laws, recent times have seen an increase in legislation protecting the sufferer, and improving the functionality of clinics. Since 2009, proof safety and efficacy through many studies is required by China's Secretary of state for Health for all stem cell and gene therapies, making certain Chinese clinics meet international standards inside 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.
Furthermore, China has long held a location 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 into the immature ovum cell of a rabbit, researchers from a 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 managed to create.
Harboured several human tissue types, created artificially, including circulation system, 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 starting phase 2 numerous studies to test the efficacy and safety of utilizing 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 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 take care of heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, and to combat aging.
Success Stories 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 during the last few years. It is important to understand 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 chances 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 underneath the injury site, and was unable to control her bowel movements. Within 8 months from the treatment she regained movement in the 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 a number of bouts of stem cell treatment following a major accident while diving into a river that left him paralyzed in the 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 a number of of his fingers, he could "even feel warm and cold" sensations. He proceeded to add the following: "Now I'm able to control my urine for 10 minutes and the sensation for both urine and stool is much 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 surgery to correct his not enough sensation in his lower body, however there was complications and Donald stayed in a worse state than before. Before arriving for treatment in China, he had been unable to walk unaided. Pursuing the treatment, which commenced in November 2007, Donald has made significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout nearly all of his abdomen, and also the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly important, the sensation on the bottom of his feet came back, helping him to walk without tripping. Most critical to Donald was which he regained control and strength in the left leg, allowing him simply to walk significant distances and are a symbol of prolonged periods of time.
There are numerous more success stories from patients who've received this pioneering treatment to assist correct varying degrees of spinal cord injury. However, it is usually important to remember that not all patients recover the same functions in the same period of time. A lot of hard work goes 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 a critical key to the future of helping people with 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 based on precisely what injury continues to be inflicted. The level of service has improved greatly in recent years, and continues to improve every month, meaning that those unfortunate enough to have suffered spinal cord injuries need will no longer feel theirs can be a lost cause. There is a very real chance 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.
