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Written By: Agencies | Updated : March 12, 2014 8:26 PM IST
More than 5,000 patients have received stem cell treatment in Cuba since its procedure was introduced in 2004, a medical expert said. Porfirio Hernandez, researcher and vice director at the Hematology and Immunology Institute in Cuba, said the stem cell treatment method has been implemented in 13 of the 15 provinces in Cuba.
As a widely acknowledged pioneer of this practice, Hernandez said that more than 60 percent of patients receiving the treatment had suffered from severe ischemia at lower limbs and other blood vessel related ailments, reported Xinhua. The therapy has also been used to reduce the sufferings of patients with severe orthopedic and cardiac problems, Hernandez added.(Read: How stem cell therapy can help patients with deadly MDR-TB)
Stem cells are capable of self-renewing, regenerating tissues damaged by diverse disease, traumas, and ageing, and stimulating the creation of new blood vessels. (Read: Can stem cell therapy replace hip joint replacement surgery?)
What are stem cells?
Stem cells are derived from human umbilical cord or bone marrow. Also called the 'basic cells' of our body they have the power to mature into any type of tissue cell in the body. Stem cell therapy is based on the principle that stem cells migrate to the site of the injury and transform themselves to form new tissue cells that can replace the damaged ones. They have the capacity to multiply and renew themselves almost indefinitely and can form mature nerve cells, muscle cells and blood cells. In this therapy they are taken out of the body, and kept under artificial conditions (also called as induction of the stem cells) where they mature into the type of cells that are required to heal a particular part of the body. (Read: Stem cell therapy for various diseases all your queries answered)
With inputs from IANS
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