3 Facts Everyone Should Know About Stem Cells
Cord Blood
Cord Blood is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta following birth. Cord Blood is routinely discarded with the placenta and umbilical cord. The blood in the cord is a rich source of stem cells. Stem cells are the building blocks of your blood and immune system. Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into other types of cells in the body, and thus give rise to all the tissues, organs and systems in the body. The stems cells in a child's cord blood are genetically unique to the baby and its biological family.
Due to stem cells ability to differentiate into other types of cell tissue in the body, treatments can be developed for diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Diabetes to name a few. Stem cells found in the cord blood are a valuable biological resource that researchers can use to investigate the potential of future applications for cord blood stem cells.
Cord Blood Banking
Cord Blood Banking is the process whereby umbilical cord blood stem cells are saved for potential medical uses. Cord blood banking includes the processes of collection, processing and storing of the umbilical cord blood. Collection involves drawing the cord blood from the umbilical cord, using either the syringe or bag collection method, after the umbilical cord has been clamped and cut. Processing involves the testing of the cord blood to determine whether it meets eligibility standards and removing and red blood cells or plasma that will not be needed in transplantation. Storage involves storing the cord blood unit in a vinyl or plastic bag in which it is frozen in liquid nitrogen.
There are two types of cord blood banks. Firstly there are the family banks, which store the umbilical cord for one's own family use. Secondly, there are the public donor banks, which store the umbilical cord blood for unrelated or non-family use - which is public use. Every parent has the option of saving their baby's cord blood for their family use, while only a small number of people may be able to donate their baby's cord blood stem cells.
Cord Blood Stem Cells
There are three sources of stem cells: bone marrow, peripheral blood (that is the blood that circulates through the body) and umbilical cord blood. Cord blood stem cells, however, are different from other types of stem cells. By freezing these cells, any aging or damage to these cells is prevented, that usually occurs later in life. Umbilical cord blood stem cells are also more proliferate than adult stem cells, such as those found in bone marrow.
The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.
Emily Clark is editor at Lifestyle Health News and Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on topical health matters.
Latest News
![]() Javno.hr | 34 Nigerian Children Dead From Tainted Medicine Voice of America - By VOA News Nigerian health officials say they are flying in doses of an antidote for a poisoned teething medicine that has now killed 34 infants. ... Teething mixture kills more Nigerian babies Nigeria infant drug toll hits 34, antidote flown in Nigerian death toll rises in tainted formula case |
Dr. Craig van Roekens Appointed as Chief Medical Officer at ... MarketWatch - Dr. van Roekens has 20 years experience as a clinician in emergency medicine and as a physician executive in academic and community based medical groups. ... Norman C. Payson, MD Named Chief Executive Officer of Apria ... |
Family Medicine Cabinet: Free, New On-Line Tool Helps Track Your ... MarketWatch - With the many different medicines out there, it is hard to keep track of who in the family is taking what and the dangers of drug reactions, ... UPDATE 2-No more pig virus tests for Solvay drug-US FDA panel |
Board of Medicine to Decide Discipline for 2 Local Doctors The Ledger, FL - By Robin Williams Adams LAKELAND | On Friday, the Florida Board of Medicine is scheduled to consider discipline for local doctors whose actions brought them ... |
InjuryBoard.com | Report urges more sleep for medical residents Los Angeles Times, CA - Doctors in training should work no longer than 16 hours in a row without a five-hour nap to reduce risk to patients, according to the Institute of Medicine. ... Medical Residents Must Sleep After 16 Hours, Experts Urge Expert Panel Seeks Changes in Training of Medical Residents Health Buzz: Sleep Breaks for Medical Residents and Other Health News |
New York Times | The Six Habits of Highly Respectful Physicians New York Times, United States - But as I noted last May in an article in The New England Journal of Medicine, medical schools may be underemphasizing a much simpler virtue: good manners. ... Cardiologists Debate Study Comparing CT Scans, Angiograms |
Right medicine for Rocket Girls Roxboro Courier Times, NC - ... the Person girls’ basketball team got a dose of much-needed positive medicine by earning a convincing 55-37 win over the Southern Vance Raiders last ... |
First Graduates of FSU College of Medicine Now Practicing Physicians WCTV, FL - Fourteen members of the first class of students to graduate from The Florida State University College of Medicine recently completed the journey to becoming ... |
![]() The Star-Ledger - NJ.com | House, "Let Them Eat Cake": The internet is for diagnostic medicine The Star-Ledger - NJ.com, NJ - by Alan Sepinwall/The Star-Ledger Spoilers for last night's "House" coming up just as soon as I find out if two single doctors can share the same office ... |
Pozen reports positive results on arthritis medicine News & Observer, NC - By John Murawski, Staff Writer Comment on this story Chapel Hill drug maker Pozen announced this morning that patients taking an experimental arthritis ... AstraZeneca, Pozen pain drug produced fewer ulcers |
Resources
-
Sorry Currently Unavailable

