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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 spinal cord. Although the hard bones of the spinal column protect the soft tissues from the spinal cord, vertebrae can still be broken or dislocated in a variety of ways and cause traumatic problems for the spinal cord. Spinal-cord injuries vary inside their severity, but almost inevitably result in various forms of compromised functionality because the spinal cord is in effect the key pathway for information to visit around the human body. Just what body functions are impaired by the injury will depend on the region of the spine that has been damaged and the extent that the spine may be affected. Although serious impacts including falls and car accidents account for many spinal-cord injuries, tumors growing near to the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and also have the same effects.

Knee Stem Cell Treatment - For years scientists have been working to try and find a way to remedy the many ailments that spinal-cord injuries can bring, however with limited success. However, lately 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 is the use of stem cells.

Exactly what are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?

Knee Stem Cell Treatment - Stem cells are located in all multi cellular organisms and so 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 almost any other human cell. Their use in the treatment of various diseases and conditions, from Leukemia to Multiple Sclerosis, 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 has become being applied to treating 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 beneath 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 have trauma to the vertebrae, 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 how the treatment helps to regenerate. The procedure usually follows three phases in most cases requires no longer than a period of around five weeks in health care for monitoring:

Phase one requires the harvesting of stem cells. Cellular structure are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They may be then put through a procedure whereby they are isolated and purified prior to being finally cultured to become suitable for clinical use.

Phase two will be the transplantation of the stem cells. This is accomplished in one of 3 ways:

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

2) Intravenous injection- stem cells are injected in 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 unwanted effects. The only side effects reported up to now were caused by the lumbar puncture, rather than 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 quickly becoming a world leader in stem cell research, and is also now a major centre for your stem cell treatment of many diseases and conditions. 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 2000 to 1,116 in 2008, exceeded only from the contributions of experts in the united states, Germany, Japan and the UK.

The government in addition has aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad looking for its ambition to become 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 towards the country's success inside the field." The authors were "amazed that most the top Chinese researchers in the regenerative medicine field have been educated in the US and the UK and gained extensive practical knowledge there in leading edge research."

Although previously 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 sufferer, and improving the functionality of clinics. Since 2009, proof safety and efficacy through many studies is required by China's Ministry of Health for all stem cell and gene therapies, making sure Chinese clinics meet international standards in their qualifications and methodology. As of 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.

Additionally, China has long held a place 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 the human skin cell to the immature ovum cell of your 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 of which are of a specialized type that during those times 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 involved with a myriad of projects to help 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 beginning phase 2 many studies to test the efficacy and safety of using cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to take care of about 40 patients with spinal cord injuries.
Clinical trials are underway around the use of stem cell therapies to take care of patients of heart attacks, 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 Vertebrae 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 remember 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 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 going number 2. Within 8 months of the treatment she regained movement both in her legs, could bend her knees (although the 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 a number of 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 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 went on to add the following: "Now I'm able to 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 year old US citizen, suffered a spinal cord injury using a fall in 2002. He underwent an operation to correct his lack of sensation in his lower body, however there have been 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 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 important, the sensation on the bottom of his feet returned, helping him to walk without tripping. Most critical to Donald was he regained control and strength in his left leg, allowing him to walk significant distances and are a symbol of prolonged periods of time.

There are many 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 the identical functions in the same time frame. 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 indicates time and again that stem cells hold a very important 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 going to various cities around the country that offer different packages of treatment according to 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 possess suffered spinal cord injuries need will no longer feel theirs can be 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, along with a little motivation. The present evidence shows that stem cell therapy for spinal cord injuries is the solution.