Archive for the ‘Health’ Category

The Benefits of Cord Blood Banking

Friday, December 12th, 2008
banking
Greg Roy asked:


The primary benefit to cord blood banking is that it provides a type of medical insurance. This insurance is not from a financial prospective, but rather takes the form of having the necessary medical building blocks available should they be needed in the event of certain illnesses and diseases. Those medical building blocks are the stem cells found in umbilical cord blood.

In the past 5 or 6 years, there have been dramatic medical advances in the arena of stem cell research, and more discoveries are announced practically every month. Many doctors and researchers see great potential in the use of stem cells to reverse or cure many severe, life-threatening diseases. With these facts in mind, many parents are choosing to preserve the stems cells found in umbilical cord blood after birth. There are no health risks in doing so. The primary risk is that the yearly $100 fee for storage will be wasted in the event that the stem cells are never needed.

More and more parents are taking notice of the advances in stem cell research. Here are some highlights:

Transplant science is constantly improving. Several companies are bringing to market methods of



Dennis

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Cord Blood Banks - Choose the Right One

Saturday, December 6th, 2008
banking
Apurva Shree asked:


With the discovery of the stem cells in the umbilical cord, the task of fighting against malignant diseases has been made somewhat easier. The Lifesaving potential found in cord blood has shown to reduce usual risks associated with transplant treatments. Being the most primitive cells in a body, these stem calls can regenerate different types of cells. In the past two decades, scientists have made major breakthroughs with every passing year. Today, a well-preserved unit of cord blood can save a person from more than 75 diseases! After finding a host of healing potentials in umbilical cord blood cells, scientists are still in the process and hopeful about discovery of more latent potential in cord blood cells. From professionals to parents of babies, the enthusiasm is widespread and evident – whether for donation or for cord blood preservation for future use.

Private Vs Public Cord Blood Banks

Your baby’s cord blood can be preserved in either a private cord blood bank or a public bank. The main purpose of these banks is the processing and cord blood storage. If the storage center is public, then the blood cells cannot be permanently entitled to the donor. Here the donors can be ensured units of cord blood, but not necessarily that his own. The donor is mostly likely to be a stranger. The cost of preservation in such banks is comparatively lower than the private banks offering cord blood banking facility.

Nevertheless, private blood banks do have their own share of obstacles. The cost of cord blood storage in private banks is quite high and is likely to discourage many. The biggest attraction towards private cord blood banks is the guarantee that the cord blood a patient preserves, will not be used by anyone else, unless the donor himself permits. Compared to the lower chances of cord blood cells transplants in a child, storage prices charged by these banks are relatively quite high.

How Much Worth Is It?

The capability of these enterprises, credentials of these private banks play as strong determining factors in the U.S. Banks accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks are entertained mostly by the hospitals. After cord blood collection, the samples are sent to these blood banks for processing and cyropreservation. Donors must check out the records related to the number of cases in which blood banks have used their stored samples in transplants. Recent estimation concludes that there is only 1% chance for autologous use of cord blood cells.

There are both non-profit and for-profit private banks operating in the industry for cord blood preservation. Cord blood storage for about 15 years may require you to pay around $3,000 in total. However, the donors can curtail price or can receive discounts by paying certain amount of upfront payments. Some banks enable donors to save around $500 for receiving a stipulated upfront payment.

If you and your partner are expecting a child soon, consider cord blood registry now as it can contribute in treating over 75 severe diseases. Not only will your child have a secure future, his siblings will benefit too. Diseases that can only be treated by drugs, rays such as chemotherapy or risk prone bone marrow transplants, are being treated with cord blood, with little or no side effects.



Elsie

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How to Choose a Proper Cord Blood Bank

Saturday, December 6th, 2008
banking
Apurva Shree asked:


With continuous advancements in cord blood researches, expectant parents should give a serious thought to storing blood cells in a cord blood bank. Choose an appropriate and accredited storage center to preserve the valuable stem cells found in the umbilical cord of your baby. Previously what was being thrown away after clamping and cutting off the cord has now become an inevitable resource to combat life-threatening ailments. However, inefficiency of cord blood banking companies often confuses families and distracts from cord blood banking. Therefore, an authentic storage center with large storage capacity and other facilities is the need of the hour in the accumulation and supply of stem cells.

Factors To Watch Out For In Choosing A Cord Blood Cell Storage Center

Growing number of storage centers in America are catering to the need for storing umbilical cord blood stem cells. People may expect to pay around $1,500 as initial payments and thereafter, $100 as annual payment. Some organizations enable donors to save as much as $500 on their total expenses of cord blood stem cell banking. Though the cost of cord blood registry seems to be unaffordable by most of the donors, this expensive investment can help you give your family a safeguard in the face of major ailments.

Some companies have their own infrastructure to support storage facility, while other companies may use third parties’ support to store your samples. Using the second type to bank blood cord cells is not prohibited, but, be certain that you have sufficient details of the bank that preserves your samples.

Before you decide to use a company’s storage services, check out their records to ensure incidences of transplants where their stored cord blood samples have been used. The ultimate goal of cord blood registry is to be used in the transplants. Hence, donors must check the records to find how frequently and efficiently the storage center has used their samples. Different methods of storage bring different levels of success in transplants. Therefore, enquire about the methods followed by the company in storing and processing of cord blood cells.

It is necessary to get your samples approved by the hospitals for transfusing. Hospitals will not find cord blood samples viable if the storage center is not an accredited company.

Opt for an umbilical cord blood bank that is certified by the AABB. Blood banks certified by the American Association of Blood Banks [AABB] display relevant information on the homepage of their sites in support of their certification received by AABB. Therefore, finding an AABB approved blood cord storage center is not that challenging. Since most of the hospitals prefer samples stored by unaccredited storage center, so you must also prefer an AABB accredited bank to donate your sample.

Researches on cord blood cells are advancing. Increasing numbers of healing benefits have spurred greater requirements for cord blood cells to treat numerous ailments. Hence, a cord blood bank can elevate its standard of quality and genuineness to supply greater quantities of these cells to save your family from more than 70 deadly diseases.



Loretta

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Cord Blood Banking: Should you Bank your Baby

Friday, December 5th, 2008
banking
Alvin Toh asked:


Cord blood banking is a relatively new concept. It is only in the last ten years that parents have seriously begun to bank their baby’s cord blood. While the practice of banking cord blood is still not common it is becoming more popular as people begin to learn about its benefits.

Cord blood is the blood that remains in umbilical cord after a live birth. Currently the umbilical cord along with the placenta and associated blood are all discarded after birth. Cord blood stem cells have more extensive uses than bone marrow stem cells and do not face the controversy that is associated with embryonic stem cell research.

Cord blood stem cells can develop into various types of cells such as muscle, nerve or blood cells. Since these cells can regenerate immune system and repair damaged cells, they have the potential to treat heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, stroke, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson disease.

Cord blood may indeed be the way of the future. Currently, it can treat more than 75 diseases, immune deficiencies and other conditions. It is effective for treatment of certain types of cancer, blood disorders and auto-immune diseases. The cord blood can be used not only by your child, but also other family members.

In recent stem cell breakthroughs, researchers were able to develop bone and cartilage, and grow mini liver and lung cells from cord blood stem cells. These cells can potentially be transplanted into the body to repair damaged organs, thus overcoming the severe shortages of organ donors. Researches are hopeful that cord blood stem cell transplant can regenerate into organs inside or outside the body and saves many lives. There is less chance of the body rejecting the new organ regenerated from your own cord blood.

There are 2 types of cord blood banks: private and public. If you want to bank your baby’s cord blood for use by your child or other family members, then you should choose a private cord blood bank. However, private cord blood banking can be costly as you have to pay for the cord blood collection process and annual storage fees. There are cases you should consider storing cord blood privately. Parents of children of ethnic minorities are encouraged to bank their baby’s cord blood as it is difficult to find bone marrow match. Private cord blood banking is also recommended where there’s a family history to diseases only treatable with cord blood.

Cord blood stored in a public bank can be used by anyone who needs it.

If you decide to bank your newborn’s cord blood, you will need to choose a cord blood bank ahead of the birth, typically at least a month or two before the due date. Once you fill out the paperwork and inform your doctor and hospital about the decision. Many hospitals are not equipped to handle this immediate cord blood collection at the birth and special arrangements may need to be made. The cord blood will be collected and returned to the bank of your choice to be stored for later use if needed.



Carolyn

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Why Store Cord Blood in a Cord Blood Bank?

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008
banking
Apurva Shree asked:


Many people ask this question about the need and benefit of storing cord blood cells in a cord blood bank at such a high cost. The answer is – the umbilical cord blood is rich in stem cells that have the potential to help in the treatment of around 50 serious diseases. Some of them include leukemia, genetic and immune disorders, cardio vascular diseases, muscular dystrophy, diabetes, and several cancers.

There are three kinds of people in this world, who opt for cord blood storage or cord blood banking:

The first ones are the families who crave for comfort and assurance that cord blood banking provides. Should the need arise; they have their baby’s cord blood readily available.

The second ones are the people who are excited with this new discovery and wish to become a part of the stem cell revolution.

The third ones are people who are in need of cord blood to treat their family members who are in grave medical condition.

The umbilical cord blood contains the same hematopoietic stem cells found in bone marrow. These stem cells are elemental constituents of blood and immune system of the body.

Do you know that every year, about 14,000 people in America alone need a bone marrow transplant for treating their diseases? And the scary part is that not everyone is ready to give their bone marrow, therefore, there is a constant dearth of donors. As it’s said, “necessity is the mother of invention”; in a bid to meet the needs of patients, researchers have discovered an alternative source of stem cells - umbilical cord blood.

Save Your Child

Saving cord blood is not simply for donation purposes, but also for your personal use to save your child from some of the fatal diseases. By saving the umbilical cord of your baby, you are sort of securing your child’s life.

Just 50 ml of cord blood harbors millions of stem cells. These cells from your baby’s umbilical blood are compatible with her immune system, hence, can be utilized in combating a large number of big diseases, including Hodgkin’s disease and leukemia, WITHOUT any risk of rejection. THIS IS THE MAJOR ADVANTAGE OF CORD BLOOD TRANSFUSION.

A Unique Treasure

The cord blood stem cells of your baby are unique and are better than other kinds of stem cells. Firstly, they are immature and have a greater probability to be a suitable match for your family members. Research has shown that patients have double chances of survival if their stem cell donor is their own relative. The association of graft vs. host disease (GVHD) is lesser with cord blood stem cell treatment than in other stem cell treatments. It is important to know that the main cause of death of patients in stem cell transplantation cases is due to rejection of cells by the patient’s body.

Therefore, among the wise decisions that you take in life, umbilical cord blood banking should be one of them.

ADVANTAGES OF CORD BLOOD STORAGE

Cord blood collection is a simple and painless process. However, it has to be done at birth.

There is no requirement of general anesthesia in harvesting cord blood, unlike bone marrow.

The stored cord blood is readily available at the time of need.

There is lower procurement cost as compared to that in bone marrow or peripheral blood.

There is 100 per cent compatibility for your baby and 25 per cent probability of turning out to be a perfect match for the sibling. In addition, it has the potential to be used for parents as well as grandparents.

Thus, storing cord blood is like saving a life!



Kenneth

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An Inside View of Cord Blood Banking

Saturday, November 8th, 2008
banking
Apurva Shree asked:


What do cord blood banks do? Well, they collect the umbilical cord blood from the donors, process it, test it, and save the cord blood donated by individuals. Blood drawn from each umbilical cord is cryopreserved (by freezing it) as an independent cord blood unit, which is now available for transplant. This entire process is known as cord blood banking.

Cord Blood Stem Cells – Some Benefits

Cord blood was first utilized in transplantation in 1988. Baby cord blood stem cells possess the capacity to treat diseases just like bone marrow – with very low rejection rate. Cord blood preservation has provided immense hope to the patients suffering from life-threatening diseases like leukemia, blood and immunity problems, and many cancers. Cord blood is rich in stem cells, which serve as the building blocks of blood and immune system of the body. The last few years have seen a large number of critically ill patients been treated with this amazing medical discovery.

About 25 per cent of the transplants come from siblings and the remaining from samples collected through cord blood donations. There has been a tremendous increase in the number of families willing to go for cord blood preservation. The Journal of the American Medical Association states that, every year, 10,000-15,000 people in the Unites States are in need of bone marrow transplant, but are unable to get a suitable donor. Looking at this statistic, we can say that umbilical cord blood transplant is the best alternative that medical science can ever have. According to the reports, September 1997 had about 1,500 cord blood transplants throughout the world.

Blood Bags – How Effective Are They

The cord blood bank uses either vials or blood bags for storing the cord blood. Both of them have their own advantage and disadvantage and there is no scientific evidence that states that one of them is better than the other.

The chief advantage of blood bags is that the doctors use the same bag for collecting and storing the umbilical cord blood. Thus, there is restricted handling of the bag, which in turn, reduces the probability of contamination. However, some medical experts are of the view that blood bags can rupture during prolonged storage whereas vials are less prone to breakage. Moreover, the latter seal the cord blood in double protective layers, thus, alleviating the virus contamination risks.



Darlene

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Benefits Of Cord Blood Banking

Sunday, October 26th, 2008
banking
Greg Roy asked:


The primary benefit to cord blood banking is that it provides a type of medical insurance. This insurance is not from a financial prospective, but rather takes the form of having the necessary medical building blocks available should they be needed in the event of certain illnesses and diseases. Those medical building blocks are the stem cells found in umbilical cord blood.

In the past 5 or 6 years, there have been dramatic medical advances in the arena of stem cell research, and more discoveries are announced practically every month. Many doctors and researchers see great potential in the use of stem cells to reverse or cure many severe, life-threatening diseases. With these facts in mind, many parents are choosing to preserve the stems cells found in umbilical cord blood after birth. There are no health risks in doing so. The primary risk is that the yearly $100 fee for storage will be wasted in the event that the stem cells are never needed.

More and more parents are taking notice of the advances in stem cell research. Here are some highlights:

Transplant science is constantly improving. Several companies are bringing to market methods of “expanding” the stem cell population in the laboratory, and these methods are starting to be applied in clinical trials.

The evolution from pluripotent stem cells down to blood stem cells is currently poorly understood. The latest indication is that, under the right conditions, stem cells in cord blood can be teased to grow into other types of tissue besides blood. This would open up an entire new realm of potential treatment through the use of stem cells.

As a result of these advances, it is not unreasonable to hope that cord blood may eventually be used to treat a wider variety of auto-immune and degenerative diseases than is currently being done. If so, (and there are solid indications by researchers that this indeed is the case), it makes perfect sense to consider private cord blood banking.

The arguments in favor of private banking are several:

1. As today’s children grow up and some of them develop cancer as adults, autologous (self) cord blood transplants will become more common used. Pediatric cancers and adult cancers are completely different diseases at the cellular level (to learn more about cancer visit the website of the National Cancer Institute). While pediatric cancer patients rarely receive autologous transplants, among adult cancer patients the autologous transplants are more common than transplants from donors.

2. Recent news reports constantly announce new medical advances using stem cells. Future applications will probably include tissue repair to various organs of the body.

3. Families should consider is whether the odds given for the “average baby” apply to them. Some families do have a higher predisposition to cancer and immune disorders, and would be far more likely to benefit from cord blood banking than the statistics indicate.

4. If your family, especially your children, are of mixed ethnic background, it may be impossible to find an adult bone marrow donor who is a perfect match. In that event, cord blood from even a partially matched sibling would be invaluable if a stem cell transplant is necessary.



Monica

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Pros and Cons of Cord Blood Storage or Cord Blood Banking

Friday, October 24th, 2008
banking
Apurva Shree asked:


This new medical promise of treating diseases through stem cell cord blood banking has drawn the attention of a large mass. However, there are mixed opinions regarding umbilical stem cell cord blood. There are certain issues like ethics, racial groups, family history of genetic disorders, and others that dominate the decision for cord blood storage.

Factors To Be Considered For Cord Blood Donation

Recipient’s compatibility – due to the immaturity of the stem cells present in cord blood, the recipient has a reduced risk of graft vs. host disease, which is a potentially serious immune response.

Convenience – it is easier to regain cord blood than bone marrow. This is because it is stored cryogenically and is readily available for transplant. It is hard to find bone marrow donor and its retrieval process is intricate.

Ethnic or racial groups - Race and ethics come in the way of bone marrow donation. Cord blood banking, in which cord blood is stored during childbirth, comes to the rescue at the time of need.

Free services – for families who are unable to afford the cost of cord blood registry, there are certain private banking companies that have come forward to provide free services.

PROS

The major advantage of saving cord blood is that it is readily available at the time of saving the life of someone. The stem cells are already stored at the cord blood bank, hence, can be readily available in case the need arises for transplant.

There is no pain or other harm involved in cord blood collection to either the mother or baby. It is a very simple process carried out immediately after delivery.

Cord blood cells have the potential to help in the treatment of more than 50 diseases including leukemia, critical sickle cell anemia, aplastic anemia, and others.

Stem cell cord blood has higher probability of becoming the perfect match for family members and relatives and has no risk of rejection by the recipient’s body.

CONS

There are no exact estimates to confirm that an average child without any risk factor will utilize her own saved cord blood.

The commercial cord-blood bank demands about $1,500 for cord blood registry, not mentioning the $100 maintenance fee every year.

Besides this, you may have to shell out a few hundred dollars to obtain the cord blood collection kit, for courier charges, and for initial steps of cord blood banking.

Most of the stem cell transplants are done only on kids or adolescents. Moreover, cord blood stem cells are not sufficient for an adult transplant. A large-sized person needs a larger amount of blood forming stem cells for a successful transplant.

There is no concrete evidence that states that stem cells of a relative provide a greater success rate than those drawn from a stranger. Both the donors have equal success rate because the cord blood stem cells are immature, therefore, it doesn’t matter if there is no perfect match for getting an unbeaten bone marrow transplant.

Doctors have little experience in cord blood stem cell transplantation.

Some medical experts are of the view that an ill child receiving her own cord blood stem cells may become prone to get the same disease again. However, there is no medical evidence proving it true.

Cord blood storage might become a new trend very soon. However, the decision to go for cord blood banking is entirely yours. In addition, you have to decide well in advance of the due date because once you lose the precious blood, you cannot regain it. Anyways, it’s good to have something to fall back upon at times of emergencies, isn’t it?



Audrey

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Are Misconceptions Making you Apprehensive About Cord Blood Banking?

Friday, October 24th, 2008
banking
Apurva Shree asked:


Cord blood banking is a newly emergent technology in medical science to use cord blood cells of placenta for treating multiple diseases. This new technology has sparked apprehensiveness among people due to existing misconceptions about cord blood banking. Even though latest researches in umbilical cord blood cells are pointing to new ways in treating malignant diseases like cancers, few misconceptions are blinding people from the benefits of preserving these cells. Therefore, a clear margin must be drawn to distinguish misconceptions and facts about cord blood preservation.

The arrival of a newborn in a family can help you preserve lifesaving resources for the benefits of both your baby and your family. These stem cells can heal about 75 fatal diseases of blood cells and immune system and recently, have shown effectiveness in curing heart diseases, diabetes, cancers, etc. Prior to discovering benefits, blood cells in babies’ umbilical cords were put to trash. Now these blood cells are collected and stored. Some misleading ideas are putting off parents from considering cord blood banking, causing inadequate storage of resources and unavailability of cells in transplants.

Misconceptions about Cord Blood Storage

Doctors do not treat children with their own stem cells, as they may contain diseases. On the contrary, such autologous stem cell transplants have shown several advantages including low risk of graft vs. host disease, which is a primary cause of death among transplant patients.

If the family has not had any history of cancer illness, then the babies or the siblings may not require stem cell. Facts claim certain types of cancers that growing at an alarming pace and have been found to infect about many children by around fifteen years regardless of family history. Therefore, cord blood banking acts as an additional safeguard for the babies in your family.

If public cord blood bank provides the cells in need, there is no need for cord blood banking of the cells taken from your babies. It is not just about availability. During transplants, the genetic make up of the patient is also considered. Donating your baby’s cord blood ensures that the chances of genetic mismatch in times of emergency are greatly reduced. Moreover, umbilical cord blood cells are less mature and have fifty per cent more chances of HLA matches between siblings; this is why, privately stored cord blood cells can provide immense quantity of lifesaving cells for your family in need.

Umbilical Cord blood collection can hurt the newborn baby and can even cause a blood deficiency. This is wrong. Umbilical cord blood collection cannot harm your baby in any way. It is collected from the placenta only after your baby is detached from the mother. Neither the mother nor the baby can feel the blood being drained from the placenta and the umbilical cord.

Cord blood banks accept any type of blood from the donors. If the blood units are mixed, the patient runs a risk of infection. Here again, it is important to say that not all the blood cells are considered eligible due to the medical history, maternal history, collection volume of the samples etc. When the parents agree for a cord blood registry, they undergo a series of tests to ensure that the blood is fit for storage. Even if there are any complications during pregnancy, the plan for cord blood collection is immediately abandoned. Studies state that around 71 per cent of samples are rejected.

No one can plan a foolproof safeguard for deadly diseases, but cord blood banking can still give us the security to save our dear family members.



Frank

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Cord Blood Banking: A Medical Safety Net

Saturday, October 11th, 2008
banking
Greg Roy asked:


The primary benefit to cord blood banking is that it provides a type of medical insurance. This insurance is not from a financial prospective, but rather takes the form of having the necessary medical building blocks available should they be needed in the event of certain illnesses and diseases. Those medical building blocks are the stem cells found in umbilical cord blood.

In the past 5 or 6 years, there have been dramatic medical advances in the arena of stem cell research, and more discoveries are announced practically every month. Many doctors and researchers see great potential in the use of stem cells to reverse or cure many severe, life-threatening diseases. With these facts in mind, many parents are choosing to preserve the stems cells found in umbilical cord blood after birth. There are no health risks in doing so. The primary risk is that the yearly $100 fee for storage will be wasted in the event that the stem cells are never needed.

More and more parents are taking notice of the advances in stem cell research. Here are some highlights:

Transplant science is constantly improving. Several companies are bringing to market methods of “expanding” the stem cell population in the laboratory, and these methods are starting to be applied in clinical trials.

The evolution from pluripotent stem cells down to blood stem cells is currently poorly understood. The latest indication is that, under the right conditions, stem cells in cord blood can be teased to grow into other types of tissue besides blood. This would open up an entire new realm of potential treatment through the use of stem cells.

As a result of these advances, it is not unreasonable to hope that cord blood may eventually be used to treat a wider variety of auto-immune and degenerative diseases than is currently being done. If so, (and there are solid indications by researchers that this indeed is the case), it makes perfect sense to consider private cord blood banking.

The arguments in favor of private banking are several:

1. As today’s children grow up and some of them develop cancer as adults, autologous (self) cord blood transplants will become more common used. Pediatric cancers and adult cancers are completely different diseases at the cellular level (to learn more about cancer visit the website of the National Cancer Institute). While pediatric cancer patients rarely receive autologous transplants, among adult cancer patients the autologous transplants are more common than transplants from donors.

2. Recent news reports constantly announce new medical advances using stem cells. Future applications will probably include tissue repair to various organs of the body.

3. Families should consider is whether the odds given for the “average baby” apply to them. Some families do have a higher predisposition to cancer and immune disorders, and would be far more likely to benefit from cord blood banking than the statistics indicate.

4. If your family, especially your children, are of mixed ethnic background, it may be impossible to find an adult bone marrow donor who is a perfect match. In that event, cord blood from even a partially matched sibling would be invaluable if a stem cell transplant is necessary.



Nicole

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