New Bone-Marrow-Cell Therapy Aids Spine Repair
Injecting a patient’s own bone-marrow stem cells into the spine using multiple routes helps to restore some function and quality of life to victims of spinal cord injury with no objectionable side effects, a recent study revealed. The findings, published in the journal Cell Transplantation , were the result of a joint investigation by researchers at DaVinci Biosciences of Costa Mesa, Calif., and Hospital Luis Vernaza in Ecuador.
The scientists carried out their study on eight patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) – four with acute SCI and four with chronic. Each patient received his or her own bone-marrow stem cells (BMCs) by injection into the spinal column, the spinal canal and the bloodstream. The participants were followed for two years, being regularly checked using MRI imaging to observe spinal cord changes.
“Our objective in this study was to demonstrate that multiple-route administration of BMCs for SCI is safe and feasible,” said corresponding author Francisco Silva. “To date, we have administered BMCs into 52 patients with SCI and have had no tumor formations, no cases of infection or increased pain, and few instances of minor adverse events. We also found that patient quality of life improved.”
At present, there is no cure or real therapy for spinal cord injury, which affects millions of people around the world. It’s generally agreed that a successful treatment would improve patient quality of life and lead to increases in function.
In the eight patients who received BMC transplants through multiple routes, the researchers noted several functional improvements, the most significant of which was better bladder control.
The researchers theorized that the results produced by the BMC injections came about because they stimulated the growth of blood vessels in the spine.
“BMCs are well known for their ability to grow blood vessels,” explained Silva. “This angiogenesis [blood vessel growth] is necessary for wound healing and establishing a growth-permissive environment. We hypothesized that improved blood flow and oxygen supply could contribute to functional improvements for SCI transplanted with [the patients’ own] BMCs.”
Disclaimer
Featured Doctors
Orthopedic Specialist Westchester, NY
Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Lawrence Hospital Center | Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
55 Palmer Avenue
Westchester, NY 10708
Call: (888) 729-2857
Orthopedic Reconstruction Westchester, New York
Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Lawrence Hospital Center | Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 729-2857
Knee Surgeon Westchester, New York
Lawrence Hospital Center | Orthopediacs & Sports Medicine
Lawrence Hospital Center | Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 729-2857
Meniscal Repair Westchester, New York
Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Lawrence Hospital Center | Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 729-2857
Orthopedic Reconstruction Surgery Manhattan, NYC
Columbia Center for Shoulder, Elbow and Sports Medicine
622 West 168 Street, PH11-Center
Manhattan North, NY 10032
Call: 888-687-9022
Hip Replacement Westchester, NY
Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Lawrence Hospital Center | Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 729-2857
Colon Cancer Westchester, NY
Tauseef Ahmed, M.D.
Westchester Oncology & Hematology
19 Bradhurst Avenue
Hawthorne, NY 10532
Call: 888-370-4284
Eastchester Center for Cancer Care Bronx, NY
Eastchester Center for Cancer Care
Eastchester Center for Cancer Care
2330 Eastchester Road
Bronx, NY 10649
Call: (888) 860-7136
Orthopedic Surgery Sleepy Hollow, Mount Pleasant
Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Lawrence Hospital Center | Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 729-2857
Meniscus Repair/Meniscal Tear New Rochelle, New York
Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Lawrence Hospital Center | Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 729-2857
Meniscus Repair/Meniscal Tear New Rochelle, New York
Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Lawrence Hospital Center | Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 729-2857
Orthopedic Reconstruction Westchester, New York
Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Lawrence Hospital Center | Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 729-2857
Breast Cancer Surgery Westchester, New York
The Columbia University Comprehensive Breast Center at Lawrence Hospital
Center for Advanced Surgery
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: 888-468-9351
Orthopedic Specialist Westchester, NY
Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Lawrence Hospital Center | Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
55 Palmer Avenue
Westchester, NY 10708
Call: (888) 729-2857
Knee Pain Westchester, NY
Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Lawrence Hospital Center | Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 729-2857
Knee Pain Westchester, NY
Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Lawrence Hospital Center | Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 729-2857
Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Westchester, NY
Lawrence Hospital Center | Orthopediacs & Sports Medicine
Lawrence Hospital Center | Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 729-2857
Cancer Treatment Center Tulsa, Oklahoma
Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Cancer Treatment Centers of America
10109 E. 79th Street (81st Street & Highway 169)
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133
Call: 800-655-1253
Orthopedic Trauma Westchester, New York
Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Lawrence Hospital Center | Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 729-2857
Orthopedic Trauma Westchester, New York
Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Lawrence Hospital Center | Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 729-2857
Labral Repair Westchester, New York
Lawrence Hospital Center | Orthopediacs & Sports Medicine
Lawrence Hospital Center | Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 729-2857
Cancer Treatment Center Jacksonville, Florida
Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Cancer Treatment Centers of America
1331 East Wyoming Avenue
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19124
Call: 800-310-4403
Hip Replacement Westchester, NY
Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Lawrence Hospital Center | Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 729-2857
Hip Replacement Westchester, NY
Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Lawrence Hospital Center | Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 729-2857
Rotator Cuff Surgery New Jersey
Roger Pollock
Dr. Roger Pollock, M.D.
suite 202 One West Ridgewood Avenue
Paramus, New jersey 07652
Call: (888) 631-1911
Meniscal Repair Westchester, New York
Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Lawrence Hospital Center | Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 729-2857
Sports, Athletic & Adolescent Injuries Manhattan, NYC
Columbia Center for Shoulder, Elbow and Sports Medicine
622 West 168 Street, PH11-Center
Manhattan North, NY 10032
Call: 888-687-9022
Hip Replacement Westchester, NY
Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Lawrence Hospital Center | Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 729-2857
Specialities
- Acupuncture
- Alternative Medicine
- Bariatric Surgery
- Breast Surgery
- Cancer Treatment
- Cardiology
- Chiropractic
- Cosmetic Dentistry
- Cosmetic Surgery
- Dentistry
- Dermatology
- Endocrinology
- Facial Enhancement
- Fertility Treatment
- Foot Specialist
- Foot Surgery
- Gastroenterology
- General Surgery
- Geriatrics
- Hair Replacement
- Hematology
- Infectious Diseases
- Infertility Treatment
- Integrative Medicine
- Internal Medicine
- LASIK
- Laser Hair Removal
- Medical Editorial Board
- Medical Spa
- Medical Testing
- Neurology
- Nursing Home Services
- Nutrition and Diet
- Obstetrician & Gynecology
- Oncology & Cancer
- Oncology Center
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Orthopedics
- Pain Management
- Physical Therapy
- Plastic Surgery
- Podiatry
- Spinal Decompression
- Spine Surgery
- Sports Medicine
- Stem Cell Therapy
- Thoracic Surgery
- Vascular Surgery
- Vein Surgery
- Weight Loss







