Newborn cord blood banking can help in curing debilitating diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Multiple sclerosis is a progressive autoimmune disease, which means the condition of the patient gets worse with time.

In multiple sclerosis, the immune system attacks the central nervous system and damages the nerve fibres. Due to the damaged nerve fibres, the brain becomes incapable of communicating with the rest of the body. As a result, the patients start experiencing symptoms such as pain, fatigue, tingling or numbness in the limbs, troubled or slurred speech, blurred vision, drop foot, muscle weakness, muscle spasms, trouble walking, and depression.

Usually, a combination of strong medicines is used to treat MS, which, over a while stop working. However, treatment involving umbilical cord blood stem cells has been found effective in treating MS without any major side effects. Stem cells can convert themselves into different kinds of cells and help in repairing and regenerating the damaged tissues that disrupt the connection between the brain and the body. Umbilical cord blood stem cells can also help in controlling inflammation experienced by MS patients.

Umbilical cord blood extracted during the baby stem cell collection procedure can provide a huge number of mesenchymal cells that can regulate and control the immune system and stop them from attacking the nerve fibres in MS patients. Stem cell therapy is proving to be the most effective treatment against MS, and newborn stem cell banking is the best way to get stem cells without a donor.

How Stem Cell Therapy Can Help Patients Suffering from Multiple Sclerosis

• Umbilical cord blood stem cells have strong anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties.
• The intravenous injection of stem cells can heal MS or provide a long period of remission.
• Stem cell therapy prevents relapses.
• The non-invasive nature of stem cell therapy makes it easier for patients to repeat the treatment without painful side effects.
• Stem cell therapy promotes natural healing by seeking the inflammation in the body and repairing the damaged cells.
• Umbilical cord blood stem cells are not rejected by the body, making it a more effective treatment.
• As no blood products are needed, therefore, there is no need for a donor match.

Stem cell preservation benefits go beyond meeting the needs of the child for life and extend to all immediate family members. Baby stem cell collection is a simple procedure and now umbilical cord blood banking is found to be useful in treating diseases such as MS that was believed to be incurable until some years ago. The benefits of stem cell banking are far-reaching. Newborn stem cell storage is a good investment that can save spending on expensive treatment for MS in the future. If your family has a history of MS, then do not hesitate and go for newborn stem cell banking.

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Over the years, stem cell transplantation has been considered promising in treating problems related to several life-threatening diseases and disorders. Diseases like cancer, Parkinson’s and other blood and genetic disorders and immunological deficiencies have seen some hope since the advent of stem cell therapy.

But, do you know what exactly are these stem cells and where do they come from?

Umbilical cord blood stem therapy, has also emerged as a contender against the other stem cell treatments in treating lethal diseases.

But, how are umbilical cord blood stem cells different?

To find out the answers to all your questions… Go through this article.  

What Are Stem Cells?

Stem cells are the roots or the master or the mother cells in the body. They are unique because they perform the two key functions of pluripotency and self-renewal in the human body.

As far as the pluripotency of the stem cells are concerned, the stem cells divide into several daughter cells and go into the “differentiation” process, thus giving rise to various organs in the body like heart, brain, eyes, liver, etc. Additionally, they have this unique potential to regenerate and repair the diseased or damaged tissues in the body.

Everything doesn’t end there.

Researchers continue to go deeper looking for some more knowledge on stem cells banking. In fact, their studies have indicated several sources of stem cells.

So, What Are the Sources of Stem Cells?

So, the stem cells, which are the earliest types of cells in the cell lineage is being derived from:

The Embryonic Stem Cells

Basically, three days after the fertilisation, a normally developing embryo will have 6 to 10 cells. But, by the fifth or sixth day, when the egg gets fertilised, it known as blastocyst. Blastocyst is an entire ball of inner stem cells, which eventually takes the shape of an embryo. The other group of cells, however, is active in protecting and nourishing the inner cells.  

Due to their pluripotent nature, the embryonic stem cells are being studied to be used as clinical therapies, genetic disorders and cellular or DNA repair. Additionally, the embryonic pluripotent stem cells, have shown the promise in treating wide-ranging conditions, which may not just be limited to: spinal cord injuries, age-related muscular degeneration, diabetes, AIDs, etc. But some ethical controversies are arising surrounding the embryonic stem cell therapy. 

The Adult Stem Cells

These stem cells, also known as niches, are found in the adipose tissues, bone marrow, peripheral blood and the umbilical cord blood. Unlike embryonic stem cells, these are a few undifferentiated stem cells. In this type of cellular differentiation, the stem cell either differentiates into a few cell types or only one cell type.  For instance, while haemopoietic stem cells (HSC) can divide into blood cells only, there are neural cells, which form cells only in the nervous system. Several bone or blood cancer has been successfully treated through bone marrow transplantation. In fact, till date bone marrow transplantation has been considered as a preferential treatment option for a very long time. But, due to the limited lifespan of the bone marrow stem cells (the phenomenon whereby normal non-malignant cells stop dividing in vitro, after approximately fifty divisions, which has been termed the Hayflick limit), painfully invasive procedure and with a serious complication after the transplant, the effectiveness and safety of it’s is still being tested.  

The Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells

Going by the basics, during pregnancy, the umbilical cord acts as a “String of Life” between the mother and the baby. However, earlier when babies were delivered, it was prevalent to treat the umbilical cord (with the cord blood) as a medical waste. However, with the advent of cord blood stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine, the whole scenario has changed.

How Cord Blood Stem Cells Different?

Research has it that, cord blood is largely driven by haematopoietic stem cells, which can be used to regenerate the immune system. Their regenerative powers can also come in handy when treating life-threatening diseases. After conducting intensive research, it has been concluded that they can be used to successfully treat leukaemia and other blood disorders, as Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs), can transform into various blood cell types. In fact, due to its younger, purer, more adaptable and active nature, risks and complications of graft-versus-host diseases is not observed after the transplantation. Rather, it becomes easy to find a match, especially within family and siblings.

Through new-born cord blood banking, the cord blood stem cells can be preserved after a painless collection, for 21 to 75 years of a baby’s life so that, it can be used for medical use, even after two decades.  

To Sum Up

Unlike embryonic stem cells, umbilical cord blood stem cells may not be pluripotent, but it, along with Wharton’s jelly and cord lining are being studied in vitro for neurological defects, immune deficiency and other organ disorders.

Umbilical cord blood banking would surely allow parents to gain access to cutting-edge treatments for themselves and their family’s healthy future.

In fact, looking at the benefits of cord blood banking, more and more parents-to-be are thinking about including  cord blood banking in their birth plan.

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Unlike other organs in the body, the skin is the most visible part. As we grow older, blemishes, white lines, wrinkles, etc., become more common and prominent due to the wear and tear of the body. Let’s face it, we all have tried to cover up these marks with make-up or tried home remedies like sandalwood paste, rose water and whatnot to get rid of them. Other than these skin problems, stretch marks are also a common complaint, especially amongst pregnant women. Most new moms seek the help of topical ointments and creams to reduce the marks. However, they seldom go away completely. 

Why Do These Spots, Marks, and Lines Appear on the Skin?

Well, it is the role of adult stem cells to maintain healthy skin by self-regenerating regularly. However, as we age, the number of stem cells in our body reduces, and so does their effectiveness. Add to that external factors like UV damage, environmental toxins, pollution, etc., that speed up the skin’s natural ageing process. Skin loses elastin, collagen, and keratin, which is necessary to maintain its youthfulness. The stem cells are unable to repair these damages as rapidly as they occur. Hence, the signs of ageing start appearing on our faces sooner rather than later.

What Treatment is Most Effective?

Several treatments promise to restore your skin’s youth magically. These range from non-invasive to invasive procedures. Here are a few that experts widely speak about:

Skin Creams

There is a range of beauty products, especially skin creams, that promise to repair skin damage caused by environmental factors.

Botulinum Toxin Therapy

You might have heard of Botox treatment. In this treatment, the muscles near your eyebrows, crow’s feet, etc., are tightened using an injection.

Chemical Peels

In this treatment, the dermatologist peels away the topmost layer of your skin using an acid. It removes the wrinkles and fine lines but, the new skin may appear red and inflamed for a week or two. 

Dermal Fillers

This is a popular treatment where the doctor injects collagen into your face to fill out the wrinkles and lines. Although they don’t last for very long, they are quite popular among the rich and famous. 

Stem Cell Treatment

Still being reviewed in several countries, stem cell treatment for skin rejuvenation holds a lot of promise. In this treatment, the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are used in combination with blood platelets and amino acids to repair and regenerate the skin. Since the stem cells used in this treatment are unspecialized, they can morph into the type of cell needed to repair the damaged skin tissue. The newly formed cells restart collagen production in the skin and increase the elasticity and hydration of the skin. They also assist in inhibiting melanin production, which helps in lightening an existing scar on the face or other parts of the skin.

The chances of yielding a greater number of MSCs is more with cord blood or Wharton’s jelly – contributing to one of the many umbilical cord preservation benefits. Stem cell therapy is believed to aid younger appearance, supple and fuller skin, reduced spots and blemishes, and fewer lines and wrinkles. Not only is it being studied for its anti-ageing properties, but also for the treatment of burn marks, trauma scars, etc.

These things considered, it is sensible to bank your baby’s stem cells so that they can naturally treat their skin-related issues in the future. If these treatments are not for you, worry not. Wear your wrinkles and scars with pride, and it only makes you that much more beautiful.

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Stem cell banking has opened up a world of possibilities. Now, we can ensure the health of our child by using biological resources. Think of it as a self-repair kit. However, before opting for cord blood banking, you must know about the options available to you.

What is Cord Blood Banking?

Cord blood is present in the umbilical cord and placenta after delivery. Cord blood is a rich source of stem cells. Through, cord blood banking, we can collect the cord blood and freeze the stem cells. These can be later used for future medical use.

Before the 1990s, however, the umbilical cord and its blood were considered medical waste. Today, parents know the importance of the regenerative powers of the stem cells contained in the blood. This is why they choose to store it so it can be used to treat life-threatening diseases.

Cord blood stem cells are mainly Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs), which means that they can transform into various blood cell types.

What is Cord Lining Banking?

Cord lining banking, on the other hand, involves storing different types of stem cells. The cord lining membrane contains Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and Epithelial stem cells (ESCs). 

Mesenchymal Stem Cells give rise to various other cells that make up the structural framework of our organs. These include skin fibroblasts, ligament fibroblasts, chondrocytes, osteoblasts, smooth muscle cells, skeletal muscle cells, tenocytes, cardiomyocytes,  neuronal cells, and adipocytes.

Epithelial stem cells (ESCs) produce cells that line the body. They can be diversified into skin keratinocytes, epithelial cells of the cornea and conjunctiva, mucosal epithelial cells of the oesophagus, small and large intestines, airways and lungs, bladder and uterus, as well as liver cells.

What Are The Different Healing Properties Of Stem cells?

Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs), found in cord blood, can be used to regenerate the immune system. Their regenerative powers can also come in handy when treating life-threatening diseases. After conducting intensive research, it has been concluded that they can be used to successfully treat leukemia and other blood disorders.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and Epithelial stem cells (ESCs), found in cord lining membrane, repair and heal the body differently when compared to cord blood. Over the years, they have shown immense healing capabilities. They not only aid the repair of injured tissues and organs but can also treat a number of diseases. MSCs on the other hand, are building blocks of structural tissues of our body, such as the bone, cartilage, and muscle. In fact, Mesenchymal Stem Cell therapy has evolved as a strong contender in the fight against the deadly effects of the Covid-19 virus. Cells derived from ESCs form many parts of our body, including skin, hair, cornea, sweat glands, and other secretor cells, sensing cells, and cells that cover vital parts of our body such as the liver. Given their various cell types, these stem cells show a lot of promise for cellular therapies and regenerative medicine.

They are also undergoing evaluation in more than 300 trials. If all goes well, they will be used to treat heart diseases, stroke, spinal cord injury, cornea repair, and healing burns and diabetic ulcers.

Which Is The Best For You?

Both cord lining banking and cord blood banking offer your child and your family members a range of treatment options. You can opt for both to ensure your child’s safety.

Once considered medical waste, stem cells are now hailed for their life-saving properties. So, don’t listen to the naysayers and give your baby and your family the power of regenerative healing.

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After a baby is born, the blood left in the umbilical cord and placenta has unique cells in it which can treat and cure certain serious diseases. The blood can be collected and stored — and  many private cord blood banking companies are encouraging parents to do the preservation in case that their child or any family member may develop  any life-threatening disease in their life.

Many parents are considering whether to save the cord blood of their baby as a future investment. Cord blood may be beneficial in dealing with any problems that arise later.

Choosing to save the cord blood of your baby can be a hard choice. It can be quite expensive to store the blood for many years, and there is very little chance which your child will need. Also the use of cord blood is too much easy and less painful than the process of bone marrow transplant.

Stem cell transplants, also commonly known as transfusions, are always an integral part of blood and immune disease treatment, such as lymphoma, leukemia, immune deficiency syndrome and other forms of anemia. Healthy stem cells from a genetically compatible donor’s blood or bone marrow are used to “regenerate” the diseased person’s blood and immune system. A sibling has the best opportunity to match, but an unrelated donor must be found in most cases.

Blood that is saved and stored at birth for these stem cells is a potential new source for umbilical cord blood. Even more parents had to face the decision to “bank” their newborn baby’s cord blood since the first successful cord blood cell transplant was performed 15 years ago. When your baby or any other member if ever need a stem cell transplant, then the stem cells taken from the cord blood can be used. It reduces the difficulty of finding a donor from the national registry. In addition to this, cord blood stem cells have other uses which will be discovered in near future by the researchers.

Moreover, some parents choose to save the baby’s cord blood, reason is that they do not want to lose any chances to take this preventive step and safeguard the life of family.

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Jandy Nelson of ‘I’ll Give You the Sun’ said, “You have to see the miracles for there to be miracles.” And that is exactly what I witnessed.

My next door neighbor in Jowitt Road, Hartlepool (UK) Eric Thomson had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) almost four years ago. A father of five, his condition deteriorated extremely quickly to the stage where he lost the use of his right hand and leg. He feared that he would never ever walk or play with his children again. Confined to a wheelchair, he was unable to carry out even basic day to day tasks like washing himself, making a cup of tea and cutting up his own food.

NHS in the UK informed Eric and his family that there was no further treatment available that could help Eric get better. After tons of research online, they heard of the Riaz Clinic in Mexico where he could receive a Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation. The NHS in the UK does not offer HSCT as a therapeutic option for MS patients. However, it is currently under trials, according to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

At this point, all Eric hoped was to stop this rapid progression of the condition further and restore some form of mobility in the affected area of the body. He was even willing to try stem cell therapy to be able to do that.

Different from most cells in the body, stem cells are often claimed to be ‘building blocks in the body that carries with it the potential to develop and multiply into various cell types. The tissue additionally acts as an intramural reparation system that proliferates and replaces cells as they die out.

Eric’s family and friends raised GBP 40,000 which was the full cost of the operation. A very close family friend, Angela Crowe led this campaign and organized various events including a Calendar Girls style calendar, a Ben Nevis Trek and numerous fundraising nights.

Eric with his wife Joanna traveled to the clinic on June 19^th. Arriving at the clinic, he went through a series of fitness assessments and rounds of chemotherapy before progressing towards stem cell transplantation.

The transplant took place on July 3^rd. During the procedure, the medical team extracted the stem cells from the blood. Chemotherapy was then used to wipe out the diseased cells in the system. The stem cells were then injected into Eric’s body to restart the system.

Just days after the surgery, Eric felt a difference and was able to regain some mobility in his right hand.  He was so happy and this is what he said, “I am not joking when I say I have seen some superb improvements already. I am 6ft tall again and getting feeling in my right hand, so the guitar might be making a comeback. It’s amazing what 377 million stem cells do. I knew it could take up to two years before there may be any results, so to get that result so quickly has been amazing”.

Eric felt that the team at the Riaz clinic was fantastic, who motivated him towards a speedy recovery. “My treatment has finished and I am now just undergoing regular blood and neutropenia,” said Eric.

He landed in the UK on July 17^th, just a month after the surgery. Ever since the day Eric was diagnosed with MS four years ago, his family had been compelled to witness this devastating deterioration and how his entire life had undergone this change. This dramatic progress in his state not just uplifted his health and morale but was liberating for his family too.

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Recently, close friends Jayesh and Simran delivered a second baby boy, Kiann. Like responsible parents, they believed in their child’s healthy future and went for private cord blood banking in spite of having preserved the umbilical cord for their firstborn a few years ago. In just 3 months’ time, their newborn was diagnosed with osteoporosis. This is possibly a condition where Kiann’s bone formation could be at risk and may lead to a fatality. The couple were optimistic because they were told that stem cell transplantation could actually save their newborn’s life.

In the rarest of cases, when Kiann’s stem cells were taken for testing, the parents found out that Kiann’s cord blood cells contained the same genetic deficiency that caused his disorder. Jayesh and Simran were distraught. But there was light at the end of the tunnel.  Precedence suggested that doctors could explore using donor cells from a close match. In order to treat a genetic disorder known as Fanconi’s anaemia, the first successful sibling-to-sibling cord-blood stem-cell transplant was performed in 1988.

There was hope yet for Kiann. Since Jayesh and Simran had opted to invest in storing their firstborn’s cord blood cells a few years ago, the doctors on testing that sample were able to get a reasonably compatible match. The doctors chose to go ahead with the stem cell transplantation and Kiann is now well on his way to recovery.

So the question that most parents spend a lot of time on is whether there is a need to store the cord blood and tissue for each individual child? In Jayesh and Simran’s case, the fact that they preserved the cord blood cells for both their children actually helped to save the life of their second born child.

According to the Parent’s Guide to Cord Blood Foundation, “Two full siblings have a 25% chance of being a perfect match, a 50% chance of being a half match, and a 25% chance of not matching at all.” However, Dr. Joanne Kurtzberg, MD, Program Director of the division of Paediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation at Duke University Medical Center and one of the earliest to perform an unrelated cord-blood transplant in the U.S says, “One of the wonderful things about cord blood banking is that unlike bone marrow, you don’t always need a perfect match in order for it to work.”

Apart from the medical point of view of why one must consider storing the cord blood and tissue for both children, there is an additional take from a parenting perspective. By opting to bank the cord blood and tissue of a single child, most parents forget that it may lead to a regrettable situation where they may realize that they had made an unequal key medical decision.

Storing the stem cells of each child individually will allow you and your children access to a greater number of stem cells through which their future disorders and diseases can be cured. Dr. Jordan Perlow, MD, a maternal-foetal specialist in Phoenix, post attending medical conferences and having examined and analyzed findings about advances in stem-cell treatments now urges his patients to privately cord blood bank if they can meet the expense of it because he’s confident that it might save their child’s life or the life of another family member.

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Over the years scientific development in neonatal medical care has been revolutionary. One of the best advances in this domain has been in the form of cord blood and umbilical cord tissue banking. Between the baby and the mother, the umbilical cord acts as the lifeline as it comprises of many blood vessels, through which the umbilical cord blood pulses. The umbilical cord tissue, on the other hand, enables the blood vessels to weather the stress and the presence of the cord protects and supports them from bending.

The umbilical cord tissue comes with a high concentration of mesenchymal stem cells or MSCs. A research article states that “MSCs derived from the umbilical cord tissue, termed UCX, were investigated for their immunomodulatory properties and compared to bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs), the gold-standard in immunotherapy.”[1]

According to available proprietary technology, UCX is being sequestered from the umbilical cord tissue; the methodology has proven to be quite strong, reproducible and will work adequately for stem cell banking. [2] It has been seen to produce a greater number of cells along with approximately 100% success rate with limited bacterial impurities.

In the present scenario, stem cells found in the cord blood are being used in the treatment of a number of blood-related diseases. However, there is a major hindrance as the volume of blood collected from the umbilical cord is low and can pose a drawback in terms of transplants. Studies and researches are currently underway to understand possible methods to increase the efficiency of cord blood transplants. Some investigations have delved into “ex vivo expansion of the hematopoietic stem cells before transplant, intensifying the homing of hematopoietic stem cells to the patient’s bone marrow, direct injections into the patient’s femoral bone, and transplants with multiple cord blood units” as stated in Banking Stem Cells From Umbilical Cord Tissue For Future Regenerative Medicine Applications. [3] A more direct technique is to make use of another stem cell population – MSCs found in the umbilical cord tissue – for co-transplantation with a cord blood unit, could well be the solution.

With technology to extract MSCs from cord tissue, the first step is to mince the tissue. This is further supported by an enzymatic breakdown process to “melt” away the cord tissue that in turn releases the native MSCs. An alternative way to preserve MSCs is to process the tissue and extract the cells thus securing them in a “treatment ready” form.

The clinical tests conducted on these cells have revealed affinity towards treating auto-immune diseases (diabetes, Crohn’s disease, graft-vs-host-disease), neurodegenerative disorders (Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s) and cardiovascular diseases (acute myocardial infractions, ischemia).[4]

Deciding to store the umbilical cord tissue will give you the opportunity to take advantage of the therapeutic potential of stem cells in regenerative medicine. Umbilical cord tissue stored in cord blood banks represents an additional source of stem cells that may have both immediate and future applications. However, the choice to store your child’s umbilical cord tissue is only available to you once, therefore, think carefully while making your decision.

Sources used:

• http://www.bloodjournal.org/content/111/1/430.short?sso-checked=true
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23755729
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23998751
• https://stemcellres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/scrt394
• http://www.assembly.wales/NAfW%20Documents/hhs74_-_anthony_nolan.pdf%20-%2024012011/hhs74_-_anthony_nolan-English.pdf
• http://www.hindawi.com/journals/sci/2015/583984/#B30
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23895058

[1] What Makes Umbilical Cord Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Superior Immunomodulators When Compared to Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells? – R. N. Bárcia,1 J. M. Santos,1 M. Filipe,1 M. Teixeira,1 J. P. Martins,1 J. Almeida,1 A. Água-Doce,2 S. C. P. Almeida,2 A. Varela,2 S. Pohl,3 K. E. J. Dittmar,3 S. Calado,4 S. I. Simões,4 M. M. Gaspar,4 M. E. M. Cruz,4 W. Lindenmaier,3 L. Graça,2 H. Cruz,1 and P. E. Cruz1

[2] R. I. Ganchas Soares, M. C. Baptista Coelho, J. M. Silva Santos, et al., Isolation Method of Precursor Cells from Human Umbilical Cord, edited by INPI, Medinfar, ECBio, Lisbon, Portugal, 2008.

[3] Banking Stem Cells From Umbilical Cord Tissue For Future Regenerative Medicine Applications – Rouzbeh R. Taghizadeh, PhD, & Kyle J. Cetrulo

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All around the world, despite huge technological advances and development of scientific methods to combat hunger, poverty and even disease, the indelible fact of life is that people still continue to be sick and they require treatment when they are ill. This means that hospitals, doctors and nurses will be a part of every person’s life at some point of time in their life cycle. Whether for a severe fever or for getting a hip replacement, one must necessarily be admitted to hospital for treatment and post-operative care.

Of the entities mentioned in healthcare above, nurses constitute a vital cog in the treatment process. They are the closest that the patient comes to receiving care at various stages of treatment, with doctors appearing only periodically for consultations or operations. Hence, the nurse influences the patient’s perception about healthcare, whether positively or adversely, since he or she spends the most time tackling daily caregiving tasks. It naturally follows that for medicine and healthcare to enter into the next frontier with highly developed drugs, systemic processes and patient-focussed treatment plans, the role of nursing will have a deep impact on successful culmination of these processes.

This is especially true in such areas as maternity patient care. Expectant mothers are often tense and afraid of the birthing process, and the nurse’s abilities, knowledge and alertness to specific warning signs can go a long way in ensuring that the baby is born healthy and without risk to itself and its mother. Once the mother is admitted to hospital, her first relationship with the hospital personnel often comes via her interaction with the nurses attending to her. Hence, if the nurses are professional and cordial, the mother is able to relax and follow the treatment plan better.

Nurses can often influence the way patients look at post-treatment care, and motivate them to stay on course with daily medication and therapy. They are often the determining factor in patients deciding to continue with their treatment and report any anomalies as they occur. A well trained nurse is often alert to signs of distress, errors in treatment and preventable hospital admissions by being well versed with the patient’s health profile at all times. They can also form a vital link between the patients and doctors by facilitating a better dialogue, effective treatment implementation and reducing trial-and-error medical interventions by taking patient problems and reactions on board for the doctors’ perusal.

In recent times, a growing interest in umbilical cord blood and its implications for children’s future health has also focussed the spotlight on the role of nursing. Nurses can be a valuable resource in the process of cord blood collection and stem cell banking, provided they have been equipped with the knowledge and practice to do so. As per a study conducted in two premier hospitals in Egypt in 2014, nurses played a vital role in performing a variety of functions in stem cell banking, right from understanding the structure of the umbilical cord to defining the sites of procuring stem cells. However, the study found that most nurses were unaware of how to collect cord blood, or even the uses of stem cells in medicine.

As such, nurses can be the most important cog in the entire machinery that deals with stem cell banking, may it be collecting cord blood or assisting doctors in stem cell infusion procedures. Another study conducted in Egypt concluded that nurses must be aware of every step of the stem cell collection process, from understanding that the source of blood is venous to following strict protocol when collecting umbilical cord blood into special closed collection kits provided by private and public blood banks.

Nurses can also play a large role in counselling patients who wish to receive more information about cord blood banking and how to undergo the process, especially if they are admitted to a birthing facility where their gynaecologist or obstetrician may not be present to oversee the cord blood collection. More significantly, they can help save precious time right after the birth by conducting the cord blood collection process by themselves in the absence of a doctor.

On International Nurses Day, May 12, we salute the noble practice of nursing and the dedicated nurses working in healthcare all over the world.

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As India completes 68 years of independence, we take a look at the current state of Indian stem cell banking.

India soon completes 68 years of independence, and the country has made notable strides in several fields. Prominent among these is the field of medicine and medical research. Indian medical expertise is considered to be among the best in the world, and the country is an important destination for medical tourism.

In the last five years, the awareness of such medical processes as stem cell banking has also risen. Hitherto an unknown option, stem cell banking is today slowly growing in both awareness and reach, with doctors playing a major role in getting expectant parents on board. When gynaecologists and obstetricians inform parents about the benefits of cord blood banking and how it is a safe way to safeguard their child’s future health, parents are generally likely to consider the option.

However, the awareness about stem cell banking and its vast plethora of benefits is still quite small.

The rising cases of thalassemia and several cancers, especially, are good reasons to invest in one’s child’s future wellbeing. This is unfortunate, especially given the rise in diseases such as multiple sclerosis, multiple myeloma, sickle cell anaemia and leukaemia in India, and which can be treated with stem cells. Currently, stem cells can treat as many as 80 serious diseases. “The clinical trials carried out by Dukes University and Sutter Institute for autologous stem cells derived from cord blood cells seem to suggest a treatment for autism. In India, 1 out of every 250 babies is diagnosed with autism. It is difficult to negate the concept of stem cell banking if such is the possibility [of treatment],” says noted obstetrician Dr Kiran Coelho[1].

Another area of work that India needs to consider is that of public cord blood banking. Since the concept of stem cell banking is taking root in the country only in the last few years, earlier parents did not have the opportunity to store their child’s cord blood. Public cord blood banking is a good source of finding matching stem cells for children and adults looking for stem cell transplantation.

As India gears up for its 68^th year of independence, it is time to lay greater emphasis on the benefits of stem cell banking and how it can be used to rid the country of several serious diseases.

[1] Dr Kiran Coelho, https://www.cordlife.com/news/pdf_cordlifeNews/india/12August2015.pdf

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Many parents today choose to bank their child’s stem cells immediately after delivery. This decision might help save your child’s life in the future.

Today, with people being increasingly afflicted by blood and immune system disorders, it is time to take a serious look at stem cell banking and how stem cells may change outcomes in disease prevention and treatment.

The world’s first stem cell bank facility opened in 1989 in Florida[1], and though initial awareness about the process was low, today, stem cell banking, transplant and technology is growing by leaps and bounds every year.

Stem cells are found in blood in the umbilical cord and placenta after the birth of the baby. Since the umbilical cord is the direct connection between mother and baby during pregnancy, the blood present in it is rich in stem cells that can be harvested for future use. Stem cells are used to treat over 80 diseases, and they may be taken from donors in the immediate family or a suitable anonymous match. Stem blood is a rich repository of haematopoietic stem cells which are the primary agents responsible for regenerating the immune system.

Today, stem cell treatments are applicable for diseases of the blood and immune system, as well to treat specific cancers. In the US, skin stem cells have been used to grow skin grafts for burn patients since the 1970s, while trials are being conducted to study whether stem cells can be used to regenerate damaged tissues of the heart, bone, liver, cornea and pancreas.[2]

Why stem cell banking?

Banking stem cells provides a reliable backup solution for future health issues that your baby may face. Cord blood cells are viable for use even after years have elapsed after collection, and by their very nature, they are less likely to cause a rejection during transplants because they seldom attack foreign substances, the way stem cells from bone marrow may.[3]

The costs of stem cell banking

The total costs of collecting and storing the cord blood for a period of 21 years is as low as Rs 50,000, though premium cord blood banks are sweetening the deal for customers by offering flexible payment options. Apart from a one-time enrolment fee, customers can choose to pay a specific sum of money every month in the form of EMIs[4]. The EMI calculation is based on the payment plan the customer chooses.

[1] Cryocell International Stem Cell Bank statistics, 1989

[2] Barrandon, Yann, ‘What diseases and conditions can be treated with stem cells?’, http://www.eurostemcell.org/faq/what-diseases-and-conditions-can-be-treated-stem-cells

[3] ‘Cord blood banking: What is it, why consider it?’, http://www.babycenter.com/0_cord-blood-banking-what-it-is-why-consider-it_1362261.bc#articlesection3

[4] Cordlife India, https://www.cordlifeindia.com/price-and-enrolment

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There was a time when people faced a lot of issues when diagnosed with life threatening diseases like cancer, blood disorders, where the body’s defense mechanism could not generate cells to fight the disease. However this scenario has been changing for the better, what with the introduction of cord blood banking in India too.  If you are new to this term then it makes sense to understand it first. To do so here are a few details about this life saving revolutionary technique.

What is Cord Blood?

The blood that remains in the placenta and the umbilical cord after childbirth is known as cord blood. This blood is a rich and easiest source of harvesting stem cells that help in treating genetic and hematopoietic disorders. In other words it is a life saver that needs to be saved today for a better tomorrow.

What is a Cord Blood Bank?

A cord blood bank is the place where the blood collected from the umbilical cord after childbirth is stored. It is much like any other blood bank where the blood is harvested for different cells like red and white blood cells and platelets. In the same way the cord blood is source from which the technicians harvest stem cells that help in regeneration of cells and defence mechanism in our body when required. These stem cells are saved and kept frozen until it is needed by the person for whom it was banked in the first place. Cord blood banking in India is comparatively new, while people all over the world have been banking cord blood for a few years now.

Though new cord blood banking in India, has been gaining popularity and most new couples are planning to save cord blood for their children. This cord blood can help the child in treat nearly 80 different ailments like leukaemia, lymphoma, immune system disorders etc. Cord blood banking is a need today since we are facing a time where anyone can be diagnosed with life threatening disease anytime. The only way to combat these diseases for sure is the stem cells available in the blood collected from the cord at child birth.

The technique involves multiplying these stem cells by different methods to build up tissues. It is the safest of all adopted methods because one can escape the chemical procedures during the treatment. Cord Blood Bank helps in preserving these tissues. There are multiple cord blood banks in India, some are looked after by private companies and several others are managed by the public sector. They preserve it for a course of period and charge a minimal fee to meet their costing needs.

Next, when the person would want to use these stem cells, they multiply it to the double and keep the same amount of cells with them that they pass on to the person. These stem cells have this inherent characteristic of reproducing themselves limitlessly. It is on this principle that the Cord Blood Bank works. They reproduce these stem cells to preserve it for future. In this way, one can also reuse these stem cells so as to remain ensured throughout their life. It is a new mantra to spend an assured healthy life.

Cord Blood Banks help in giving the first healthy gift to the baby child by their parents. These stem cells are present in the umbilical cord that joins the baby to the mother. It is preserved by the Cord Blood Banks in their laboratories. They allot you the specific number of your preserved cells. They are the most reliable treatment one can afford as it helps the person to fight back the life threatening diseases like Cancer.

The choice of Cord Blood Bank should be made wisely. The private companies charge the person who wants to preserve their stem cell with minimal fees while the public companies give this facility for free. However, the determined precautions are more accurately followed by the private companies. Hence, one should be very sure while making a choice. The specified temperature and an extremely hygienic atmosphere is a must needed environment for the preservation of Stem Cells. As this method is only a decade old in India, public firms are not aptly advanced for maintaining the set atmosphere. However, in the near future we can expect them to work on these issues.

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Stem cells are those cells that can regenerate and get divided into three different categories of cells, namely the red blood cells, white blood cells and even platelets at times. These cells are available in different parts of the body the most common being the spinal column. But the procedure done to extract these cells is extremely painful and at times could be life threatening too. When a doctor was required to harvest these cells they would follow a long process to determine the donor so as to match before being transplanted. However, today this process can be phased out slowly with the introduction of umbilical cord blood banking. This process has made it easier to get stem cells required to fight against various diseases.

This newly invented scientific process is where the stem cells gathered from the umbilical cord blood are conserved in the cord blood bank for future use. Umbilical cord blood banking has made it possible for the child to fight against quite a few threatening diseases with the help of cord blood. These stem cells require extremely hygienic atmosphere and a specific temperature for their preservation. Hence various precautions are adopted while preserving this blood.

To understand better, one needs to know what the umbilical cord is. To tell you, the umbilical cord is the cord that links the developing embryo or foetus to the mother’s placenta, which allows the blood to carry oxygen and nourishment to the baby in the womb. Once the baby is delivered, the umbilical cord is severed. This was earlier discarded along with the placenta as medical waste, till scientists became aware of its potential medically.

How Does This Work?

The blood is collected from the umbilical cord after childbirth during the process of umbilical cord blood banking. Once it is collected this blood is frozen and reserved on the name of the child it has been saved for. To begin this process the parents should decide to save the blood and sign up with one of the well known cord blood banks in the country. Once they sign up the blood bank is informed about child birth which is when they send their technicians to pick up the cord lining as well as the cord blood to be preserved and complete any other formalities required. These banks charge a fee to save the blood since they may be required in the future and not immediately. The charges vary depending upon the bank you have decided upon.  These stem cells are made available to the person when required.

Why is Saving Your Cord Blood Important?

It is important today because it’s a rich and easy source of stem cells. Also these cells are relatively pure when compared to cells harvest from your body, since they have not been exposed to pathogens. This makes them free from being carriers of any other diseases. Not only this, but also these cells are the easiest to match and the process is faster than searching for a donor of stem cells. So it makes perfect sense to think of umbilical cord blood banking for your child’s future.

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Stem cells are a precious resource for your child. They are the most vital foundation of the body’s immune and blood systems. Significantly, they can regenerate into other cells to become a DNA match – this is important for the times when your child’s body needs to fight back and heal itself during a serious disease.

Modern medicine has identified more than 80 diseases that stem cells can help fight and eliminate. Thus, it naturally follows that sourcing and banking your child’s cord blood is solid insurance for his or her future health.

But most parents today have not banked their child’s stem cells, and some of them are faced with the horrifying ordeal of watching their children suffering from auto-immune diseases, or serious disorders related to the blood, heart, nervous system, etc. The stem cell banking trend is a relatively new one in India, and thousands of parents have not had the chance to explore the possibility of banking their child’s stem cells to safeguard its future health.

However, there is a huge likelihood of stem cells matching between blood siblings – hence some parents have taken the chance to have another child to save the life of their firstborn.

Siblings Bonding For Life

Manasi Thakur has an eight-year-old daughter, Anagha. Two years ago, Anagha was diagnosed with juvenile myelomoncytic leukamia. A single parent, Manasi was staggered by the thought of losing her. “I consulted many doctors in the country. Finally, one doctor in Pune suggested that stem cells from a sibling (which could provide a genetic match) could save Anagha if complications arose,” she says. After her divorce, having another child was not an option for Manasi. Luckily, Anagha responded to treatment and her cancer has been in remission for a year now.

However, other women have had no choice but opt for a second baby. Sonali Pradhan’s* (35) six-year-old daughter Priyanka was diagnosed with sickle cell disease four years ago. Her doctor told her about cord blood banking and that siblings could be a match. “We had wanted just one child, but saving Priyanka’s life was in our hands,” Sonali says, adding that she became a mother to a boy two years ago. “Doctors could use my son’s stem cells for Priyanka. We pray that she will be completely cured,” she says.

For Avni and Pushpak Shah, having a second child was a conscious decision. “There is a history of degenerative heart disease in the family, and we didn’t want our son to develop complications later,” Avni says. The couple had always wanted two children, so when Avni was pregnant for the second time, they signed up to have the new baby’s stem cells banked for 21 years. “This was our way of safeguarding both our children,” she explains.

Meghna Moorthy*too opted for another child – at the age of 42. “My son was diagnosed with a plasma cell disorder. It was difficult to conceive, but I now have another son and he helped save his older brother’s life.”

Not Always a Match

However, a second child may not always be the perfect stem cell match for the first. “I talk to parents about the possibility of having a second child, with the caution that it might not always work,” says gynaecologist Dr Prachi Gajaria. Adds counsellor Dr Madhavi Gupte, “Parents are crushed when the second child’s stem cells do not match. I have had to speak to some mothers who are resentful of the second child, and the added expense of raising it. Parents must make this decision only after considering every factor.”

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The Doors Opened by Cord Blood

Cell therapy gives hope to many people around the globe fighting different health conditions and terminal illnesses. Stem cell therapy endeavours to restore and regenerate cells that have been damaged or destroyed by diseases. Although these techniques are still relatively new, their applications and scopes put them at the pinnacle of bio-medical research. Today, researchers are battling conditions like diabetes, cerebral palsy and autism. All this has been possible only through the huge stock of cells made available via stem cell banking.

Treatment for Type 1 Diabetes

The world’s first clinical study to prevent or delay the onset of type 1 diabetes was conducted in Australia, using umbilical cord stem cells. Since then, numerous studies have been conducted all over the world. The hope is that by injecting these unique immune cells into the patient, the disease could be corrected and even prevented entirely.

Hope for Autism

Autistic children are found to have diminished oxygen supply to specific areas of the brain and suffer from immunologically centred inflammatory conditions. A breakthrough in bio-medicine occurred when mesenchymal cells were found to regulate the immune system. This line of research is said to be a ray of hope for many children suffering from autism, who are all now relying on donor matches from public cord blood stem cell banking.

Cerebral Palsy Treatment

This is a condition that relates to permanent physical disability, caused by damage to a developing brain. In their urge to find a viable solution, scientists tested the scope of cord blood in counteracting this condition. Although treatments like controlled hypothermia have shown some success, stem cell research in this field, shows a more promising path. Within a matter of six months, children in the clinical trials have shown a leap of improvement, and this just highlights the need for stem cell banking.

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Donor stem cells are extremely hard to find and match. So, doctors are urging patients to use stem cell banks in India to store one’s own umbilical cord blood before the onset of diseases. With this being the scenario, people still have numerous apprehensions about this procedure. Here are a few facts that might prove useful in helping you make an informed decision.

Four Facts you need to Know

There are various types of stem cells, each having a purpose of their own

For example, the hematopoietic stem cells (blood forming cells) are used to regenerate blood, while neural ones are used to regenerate brain cells.

A single variety of these cells wouldn’t work on a series of unconnected diseases.

With reference to the above example, hematopoietic cells cannot be used to regenerate brain cells. So, it is unlikely that a single string of cells would help with several conditions.

Stem cell banking is a simple and fairly painless procedure

Blood from the umbilical cord of a new born baby is usually collected when the cord is severed after birth and frozen for long-term preservation in specialized labs. However, before using stem cell banks in India, it is important to discuss your decision with your doctor, given that there are varieties of stem cells that you might need to preserve.

For successful treatments, stem cells need to be instructed as to how they should behave

This is proving to be one of the greatest barriers that researchers need to cross to establish successful treatments. For example, neural cells need to be grown into specific types of neurons to treat specific conditions. They also need to know what other neurons they need to make connections with for the treatment to actually work.

Scientists and researchers claim that stem cell therapy is continuously moving forward, building hope for a promising future. Stem cells banks in India are reliable and use only cutting edge technology to ensure the best preservation of your cord blood. So, if you have a family history of terminal illness, it is a good idea to use such a facility at the earliest.

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