stem cell clinical trial project approved by the National Health Commission "Clinical Research on the Safety and Preliminary Effectiveness Evaluation of Human Neural Stem Cell Transplantation in the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury" has welcomed two subjects, Mr. Zhao and Ms. Liu. Recently, they conducted systematic rehabilitation training and stem cell transplantation treatment in the orthopedic research ward of Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University, and experienced the advantages of the new system of "surgery-rehabilitation integration" spinal cord injury reconstruction and repair. After completing the strictly standardized rehabilitation training plan for the past two months, the two subjects improved to varying degrees in terms of limb sensation, movement, autonomic nervous control, etc. In order to strengthen communication and exchanges between doctors, patients, researchers and subjects, find questions in clinical work, and answer the doubts hidden in the hearts of patients and their families, the "Heart Protection and Marrow" project was linked with the Batlin group and had a face-to-face conversation with the two subjects and their families at the ward rehabilitation training center.
Professor Cheng Liming's team has determined spinal cord injury as the main research direction since 2009, and has carried out a large number of clinical and basic research, gradually forming a new system of "surgery-rehabilitation integration" spinal cord injury reconstruction and repair, and stem cell transplantation is an important means to realize this diagnosis and treatment concept. With the unremitting efforts of the entire team, the National Health Commission successfully approved the implementation of the clinical research project for the safety and preliminary effectiveness evaluation of human neural stem cell transplantation in the treatment of spinal cord injury in December 2021. As of today, the National Health Commission has only approved the only clinical research on human neural stem cell transplantation in the treatment of spinal cord injury.
Mr. Zhao and Ms. Liu contacted the project team as soon as possible after learning about the recruitment information of this project. After experiencing strict entry standards, they were the first to receive clinical research on this new therapy from hundreds of applicants nationwide. Professor Cheng Liming, head of the clinical research project (PI), first introduced the medical staff, researchers and behind-the-scenes scientific researchers to the two patients who participated in the "Heart Protection and Marrow Protection" Balint group discussion, and then introduced and commented on the stem cell transplant treatment they performed.
Mr. Zhao, as the first subject, talked about the injury experience and the process of post-injury treatment. When he was young, he loved outdoor sports before he was injured. This time he suddenly lost his direction in his life. Although the surgical treatment is very timely, he still has severe limb disability . Unwilling to spend the best time in his life in a wheelchair, he began to look around the Internet for ways to treat spinal cord injuries. By chance, I heard that Tongji Hospital recruited subjects for spinal cord injury with neural stem cell transplantation. I contacted the project team with a try-through attitude, but I didn't expect to become the first subject in this project.
He said that he did not expect to recover so well before coming to Tongji Hospital. He even had the idea of giving up rehabilitation treatment for a while. It was Tongji Hospital's rigorous medical attitude, perfect rehabilitation plans, innovative stem cell treatment plans, strict management norms, and careful nursing care that allowed him to gradually gain trust and confidence in the treatment here. The recovery of neurological function occurred at a speed visible to the naked eye: when he was admitted to the hospital in mid-August, he could only sit in a wheelchair, and after 2 months of rehabilitation and stem cell treatment, he could walk independently on crutches for 5 minutes. Perhaps it was God's favor that he had no abnormal safety indicators during the entire process of stem cell transplantation, and key validity indicators such as ASIA total score and FIM score have been significantly improved, and the lower limb muscle tone decreased significantly. The treatment effect also appears as Mr. Zhao's relaxed and smile unique to his age.
"I haven't figured out what to do in the future, so I'll go home first after being discharged from the hospital." I hope that the shy Mr. Zhao will regain the joy of life and pass on his different "luck" to more patients with spinal cord injury.
Ms. Liu, who was once a middle school Chinese teacher, talked endlessly about this trip to Shanghai, and she still remembers every fight against illness after being injured. After being admitted to the hospital, she also received systematic evaluation and combined stem cell rehabilitation treatment. Due to the worse injuries, her nerve recovery speed seemed much slower, but her belief and perseverance were very strong, and she also worked harder in rehabilitation training. Ms. Liu joked that "I always need a hug after crying, and then wiped my tears and continued to do rehabilitation training."Ms. Liu has a happy and fulfilling family, and her meticulous care for her husband and cute children are her biggest motivation for her to return to the center of the podium.
The pain and efforts endured by spinal cord injury patients are beyond ordinary people's imagination. Ms. Liu tossed and turned by neuropathic pain every night and needed to use powerful analgesics to fall asleep. The next day, I have to cheer myself up and carry out rehabilitation training for various projects with full energy. Since the transplant of neural stem cells, Ms. Liu can feel that the pain in the lower limbs has been much relieved than when she was first admitted to the hospital, and her urination control has also improved to a certain extent. The husband, who had been sitting behind Ms. Liu, was also invited to the front row this time, and he explained his feelings and opinions from the perspective of the patient's family. Silently enduring his wife's willfulness and temper, and taking into account the inside and out of the family is his way of expressing love. We often say that spinal cord injury is a serious neurological injury disease that puts a heavy burden on society and families. Ms. Liu and her husband are typical representatives of many families of spinal cord injury patients. In addition to paying attention to the recovery of patients' own neurological function, we should also have an in-depth understanding of their psychological needs and family situations, and guide patients and their families to face their future lives more actively.
Member of the Balint Studio and Deputy Director Huang Lei of the Education Department asked and guided the two subjects and their families from the aspects of doctor-patient communication , psychological counseling, etc., "If you encounter a new patient with similar experience as you, how will you enlighten him?" This open-ended question allows patients to understand and interpret their own treatment process and their understanding of disease diagnosis and treatment from another perspective. Nursing Department of the Ward, Dr. Wu Zhourui of Sub-PI, and Dr. Zhao Lijuan of the Rehabilitation Group also exchanged views on Mr. Zhao and Ms. Liu's treatment experience during the two-month hospitalization from different angles.
Finally, Professor Cheng Liming summarized the exchange and discussion of the "Heart Protection and Marrow" Balint group and said that there are millions of spinal cord injuries in China, and less than one in ten thousand subjects can finally obtain regular stem cell therapy or clinical research. The orthopedic department of Tongji Hospital will be supported by the key disciplines of Shanghai, key clinical specialties in Shanghai, key specialties in spinal and spinal cord injury regeneration and repair Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education , the National Joint Research Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, the Clinical Research Center of Bone and Sports Rehabilitation of Tongji University, the Clinical Research Center of Brain and Spinal Cord Cell of Tongji University, the Orthopedic Research Ward of Tongji Hospital, and the National Clinical Drug Trial Institution (Orthopedics Major) and other platforms. It will continue to promote the theoretical practice and application of the new integrated surgical-rehabilitation system, and carry out a larger-scale clinical research on stem cell treatment of spinal cord injury, gradually targeting patients with old injuries, patients with complete injuries, and patients with cervical cord injury. It hopes that more patients with spinal cord injury can benefit from it in the future.
pictures and texts | Spine Surgery Wu Zhourui
edited | Zhao Sisi Wang Beimo
proofreading | Xie Zhuangli
