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Stem Cell Treatment for Spinal Cord Injuries: The New Frontier
Knee Stem Cell Treatment - Spinal cord injuries are injuries that happen to any level of the spinal-cord. Although the hard bones from the spinal column protect the soft tissues with the spinal cord, vertebrae can nevertheless be broken or dislocated in many different ways and cause traumatic trouble for the spinal cord. Vertebrae injuries vary in their severity, but almost inevitably result in various forms of compromised functionality because the spinal cord is in effect the main 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 that has been damaged and the extent to which the spine continues to be affected. Although serious impacts for example falls and car accidents account for many spinal cord injuries, tumors growing near to the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and have the same effects.
Knee Stem Cells - For many years scientists have been working to try and find a way to remedy the various ailments that spinal cord injuries can bring, though limited success. However, in recent years a pioneering new technologies have emerged that is helping many people around the world regain part, it not exclusively, of their previously lost mobility. That treatment is the use of stem cells.
Exactly 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 differentiate into a diverse range of specialized cells when they divide and renew themselves. They may be remarkable for their ability to regenerate themselves into just about any human cell. Their used in the treatment of various diseases and types of conditions, from Leukemia to Multiple Sclerosis, is now becoming more common. With respect to 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 is now being applied to the management of spinal cord injuries using stem cells, as well as in instances where the patient has not experienced a complete spinal cord injury, i.e. a complete severing of the spinal cord leading to a loss of function underneath the 'neurological' level. There has been great success in helping patients recover greater sensory and physiological ability.
Vertebrae Injury: How Stem Cell Treatment Works
If you find trauma to the spinal-cord, myelopathy (damage to the fibres that carry messages to and from the brain) has occurred. These 'myelinated fibre tracts' are the focus of stem cell treatment, and so are the nerve cells the treatment helps to regenerate. The procedure usually follows three phases and usually requires no longer than the usual period of around five weeks in medical treatment for monitoring:
Phase one involves the harvesting of stem cells. Cellular structure are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They're then put through a procedure 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 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 sure 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. In the period under medical supervision, patients undergo various physiotherapy activities as well as other treatments as necessary.
Stem Cell Research and Treatment in China
China is fast-becoming a world leader in stem cell research, and it is now a major centre for the stem cell treating many diseases and types of conditions. The Chinese government has poured millions of dollars into research on regenerative medicine, understanding that 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 year 2000 to 1,116 in 2008, exceeded only from the contributions of experts in the USA, Germany, Japan and the UK.
The government has additionally aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad in search of its ambition to become 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 inside the field." The authors were "amazed that most the top Chinese researchers in the regenerative medicine field had been educated in the US and also the UK and gained extensive experiences there in innovative research."
Although previously treatment in China could have been considered risky due to lax health and safety laws, recent times have seen an increase in legislation protecting the patient, and improving the functionality of clinics. Since 2009, evidence of safety and efficacy through clinical trials 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. As of January 2010, about 1,500 patients had received this treatment for spinal cord injury at one Beijing clinic alone, including roughly 1,000 foreigners.
Additionally, China has long held a spot at the forefront of stem cell research to deal with all manner of conditions. A number 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 your rabbit, researchers from your 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 that 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 circulation system, tendon, bone, cartilage, skin, cornea and muscle fibre.
Furthermore, Chinese researchers are currently 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 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 treat patients of heart attacks, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.
Research is underway on the potential usage of stem cells to treat heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, and also to combat aging.
Success Stories from the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries in China
Lots of 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 individual and the severity of damages 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 beneath the injury site, and it was unable to control her bowel movements. Within 8 months of the treatment she regained movement both in her legs, could bend her knees (even though the toes of one foot remained 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 an accident while diving in to a river that left him paralyzed in the neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that does not only could he moved to his arms almost normally, and may 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 Ten minutes and the sensation for urine and stool is much better. Generally, my entire body is more powerful than ever before."
Donald Maricelli, a 54 years old US citizen, a break down spinal cord injury carrying out a fall in 2002. He underwent an operation to correct his lack of sensation in his lower body, however there were complications and Donald stayed in a worse state than ever before. Before arriving for treatment in China, he had been unable to walk unaided. Following the treatment, which commenced in November 2007, Donald has made significant improvements. He regained sensation throughout nearly all of his abdomen, and the sensation in his legs also improved. Particularly important, the sensation on the bottom of his feet went back, helping him just to walk without tripping. Most significant to Donald was that he regained control and strength in the left leg, allowing him to walk significant distances and stand for prolonged periods of time.
There are many more success stories from patients who've received this pioneering treatment to aid correct varying examples of spinal cord injury. However, it will always be important to remember that not all patients recover the identical 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 shows 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. Every month, more and more people are travelling to 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 have suffered spinal cord injuries need no longer feel theirs is really a lost cause. There exists a very real chance the standard of living of any patient can 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 answer.
