| Now the miracle of medical science can save more | | | | from the blastocyst fertilized in an 'in-vitro' fertilization |
| lives. A new born baby's cord blood stem cell can be | | | | clinic. These are not extracted from the womb of a |
| used as a resource to treat life threatening diseases. | | | | pregnant woman. These cells are not considered |
| Since the discovery of the medical potential of cord | | | | effective in treatment all the time. |
| blood stem cells, the umbilical cord and the placenta | | | | In spite of the moral issues, these cells when |
| which were once discarded as 'trash' of delivery | | | | acquired from aborted fetuses or cell culture contain |
| room are now being valued as 'treasure'. Yes, | | | | deficiencies like infection of blood and other tissue |
| versatile benefits of blood stem cells in babies' | | | | cells that develop ABO or HLA antigens. Development |
| umbilical cords have shown new hope in the world of | | | | of HLA antigen accumulates greater risk of graft |
| medicine. To treat life threatening diseases doctors | | | | versus host diseases in patients on whom these are |
| have developed a new technique that involves | | | | transplanted. In most cases, these embryos are |
| matching genetic stem cells of patients with the | | | | donated by the parents for scientific research. |
| stem cells found in umbilical cord of new born babies. | | | | Bone Marrow Transplanting Vs Cord Blood |
| Instead of disposing of these umbilical cords, the | | | | Transplanting |
| blood cells are now being extracted and preserved | | | | The following advantages of cord blood transplants |
| for future medical treatment. Researchers continue | | | | make cord blood stem cell treatment a better |
| to develop more life saving procedures from these | | | | alternative to bone marrow transplants - |
| blood cells by transplanting them to treat several | | | | A donor must be anesthetized in order to donate |
| blood disorders and immune disorders. | | | | bone marrow stem cells, whereas cord blood cells are |
| What Medical Resources Are Latent In Your Baby's | | | | acquired from the clamped and cut off part of the |
| Umbilical Cord | | | | umbilical cord of a newborn baby. Both mother and |
| Cord blood stem cell implants have become an | | | | the child bear no risk of injury or infection, while a |
| effective option to reduce or even eliminate | | | | bone marrow donor is be exposed to the risk of |
| symptoms of malignant and non-malignant diseases. | | | | infection. |
| Cord blood cell transplants have been performed | | | | Stem cells retrieved from babies' umbilical cords are |
| successfully in treating diseases such as Fanconi's | | | | the most primitive cells, hence, no HLA antigens |
| anemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, sickle cell, leukemia, | | | | surface on the blood, unlike stem cells in bone |
| brain disorders like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, heart | | | | marrow or peripheral blood. This is the reason cord |
| attacks, strokes, spinal cord injuries, osteoporosis, | | | | blood stem cell treatments are exposed to lesser risk |
| diabetes etc. The umbilical cord blood stem cell is a | | | | of graft versus host disease. |
| type of cell which can transform into a number of | | | | In spite of these plus points, the expensive |
| cells. Hence, these types of cells are the building | | | | procedure of blood cord cell donation and its |
| blocks of the human body, repairing what ever is | | | | preservation is dissuading parents from donating. |
| deficient in the human body. | | | | Most parents have now started to look at it as |
| Embryonic Stem Cells Or Umbilical Stem Cells | | | | insurance for the family. Cord blood preservation |
| Debates regarding embryonic stem cell research have | | | | gives a sense of security that if the need arises in |
| also stirred up a rage among people. Many are | | | | the face of a medical calamity, the child and his |
| considering it as unethical and unprincipled. Embryonic | | | | siblings will not have to struggle for matching donors |
| stem cells are those stem cells which are derived | | | | in future. |