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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 happen to 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 a variety of ways and cause traumatic injury to the spinal cord. Spinal-cord injuries vary in their severity, but almost inevitably cause various forms of compromised functionality since the spinal cord is in effect the primary pathway for information traveling around the human body. Just what body functions are impaired from the injury will depend on the area of the spine which has been damaged and the extent to which the spine has been affected. Although serious impacts including falls and automobile accidents account for many vertebrae injuries, tumors growing near the column can also damage sensitive nerve tissue and have the same effects.
Knee Stem Cells - For decades scientists have been attempting to try and find a way to remedy the various ailments that spinal-cord injuries can bring, but with limited success. However, recently 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.
Exactly what are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Treatments?
Knee Stem Cell Treatment - Stem cells are located in all multi cellular organisms and are characterized by their ability to differentiate into a diverse array of specialized cells when they divide and renew themselves. They're remarkable for their capacity to regenerate themselves into just about any human cell. Their used in the treatment of various diseases and scenarios, from Leukemia to Multiple Sclerosis, is now becoming more common. Depending on the condition, stem cells may be transplanted into the patient to help 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, and in instances where the patient has not yet experienced a complete spinal cord injury, i.e. a complete 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 have trauma to the spinal-cord, myelopathy (damage to the fibres that carry messages both to and from the brain) has occurred. These 'myelinated fibre tracts' are the focus of stem cell treatment, and are the nerve cells the treatment helps to regenerate. The procedure usually follows three phases and often requires no longer when compared to a period of around five weeks in medical care for monitoring:
Phase one involves the harvesting of stem cells. Cellular structure are extracted from a fetus's umbilical cord. They may be then put through an activity whereby they are isolated and purified prior to being finally cultured to be suitable for clinical use.
Phase two will be the transplantation of the stem cells. This is done in one of three ways:
1) Lumbar puncture - an operation used where stem cells can be injected directly into the spine.
2) Intravenous injection- stem cells are injected into the patient's vein.
3) Tissue injection - direct injection into target tissues.
Phase three requires 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 never the stem cell treatment itself, just 15% of patients reporting mild headaches. During the time 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 management of many diseases and scenarios. The Chinese government has poured 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 the USA, Germany, Japan as well as the UK.
The government in addition has aggressively recruited high-caliber scientists trained abroad in pursuit of its ambition to turn into 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 back to China has contributed significantly towards the country's success within the field." The authors were "amazed that the majority the top Chinese researchers in the regenerative medicine field had been educated in the US and the UK and gained extensive experiences 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 sufferer, and improving the functionality of clinics. Since 2009, evidence of 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.
In addition to this, China has long held a location 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 the human skin cell in to 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 which 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 blood vessel, tendon, bone, cartilage, skin, cornea and muscle fibre.
Furthermore, Chinese researchers are presently 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, start phase 2 many studies to test the efficacy and safety of using cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to treat about 40 patients with spinal cord injuries.
Clinical trials are underway around the use of stem cell therapies to deal with patients of cardiac arrest, 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, and 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 during the last few years. It is important to understand that not every patient will react and more, and that the age of the patient 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 in the 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 a major accident while diving right into a river that left him paralyzed in the neck down. Following his treatments, Razan reported in 2008 that doesn't only could he moved to 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 can control my urine for 10 minutes and the sensation for both urine and stool is more preferable. Generally, my entire body is more powerful than ever before."
Donald Maricelli, a 54 years old US citizen, a break down 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 remained 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 just 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 stand for 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 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, also it takes great drive, determination and ambition to allow 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 an essential key to the future of helping people with spinal cord injuries recover their lost functions. Every month, more and more people are visiting various cities around the country that offer different packages of treatment depending on precisely what injury continues to be inflicted. The level of service has improved greatly lately, and continues to improve monthly, meaning that those unfortunate enough to get suffered spinal cord injuries need no more feel theirs is a lost cause. There's a very real chance how the standard of living of any patient may be improved with little pain, little hospital time, along with a little motivation. The existing evidence shows that stem cell therapy for vertebrae injuries is the solution.
