Birth
signifies the beginning of new life. Many years back, nobody would
have thought that the beginning of a single life can lead to the end
of the sufferings of many.
It could
even open new vistas in the field of medical science and can help
in the treatment of numerous fatal disorders. Cord blood present in
the umbilical cord and placenta of the pregnant mother has a large
pool of stem cells which help in many ways for the combating various
transplantable aliments, immune disorders and other diseases especially
at the cellular level. For the
research purpose, the cord blood is collected, processed and stored
at the cord blood banks under the cryogenic conditions. People can
even donate the cord blood directly to the research centres within
their locality. Studies have also found out that the umbilical cord
or the placenta cord blood is the purest pool of the stem cells and
thus there is not risk of any kind of refusal or infectivity during
the transplantation process. Cord
blood stem cells have a better vivacity and know how concentrated
aging because of the perpetuation techniques. Thus the cord blood
stem cell can last for long as compared to the bone marrow stem cells.
The cord blood is collected just after few minutes of the birth of
the baby and thus has no adverse effect over its life. Now throughout
the world, there are many institutions and hospitals which have setup
the cord blood cell research units within their premises so that best
and quick service could be provided to the public.
|
Perpetuating
your babys future: umbilical cord blood, a boon |Preserving
your childs health: saving cord blood | Privatization
of cord blood banking |RESEARCH
TRANSFORMS A MEDICAL WASTE INTO A LIFE SAVER |The
important role of a CORD BLOOD |The
real value/price of Cord blood storage |Whats
best for your baby: private or public cord blood banking |Why
cord blood and its importance |Working
over the cord blood: research continues |Work
on cord blood: The research continues
Stem cells of the umbilical cord blood are of great interest for the
medical researchers. Various cancers, leukaemia, Parkinsons
disease, sickle cell anaemia, spinal injuries and even diabetes and
heart related problems are some of the fields where the research of
the cord blood cells has left its marks.
The cord blood stem cell transplant has been proved as a more worthy
option for the transplant purpose as compared to the bone marrow transplant
therapy. Research has found out that the stem cells are present in
large concentration in the cord blood as compared to any other part
of the body.
These cells can even form a complete organ or a tissue which could
replace the damaged one as these cells have a great tendency to multiply
and replicate themselves. Umbilical cord blood stem cell can also
be utilised for the treatment of the diseases related to lungs and
pancreas.
If we compare the two cord blood banks, private or public, for the
research work, public cord blood banking bags the better position
than the private cord blood banks as in the private blood banks cord
blood is only used by the donor. In public cord blood banks, the study
is done for the service in the public interest. Thus the cord blood
stem cell research remains uncontroversial, making the best use of
the yield of the stem cell therapy.