Heart Attack Typical heart disease symptoms are uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest lasting more than a few minutes and pain spreading to the shoulder, neck or arms.
Fight Cancer Eating your 10 servings a day of fruits and veggies could be the best way to increase antioxidant capacity. Although all fruits and veggies have them, the best foods for antioxidants are cauliflower, peas and oranges.
Gum Disease - the signs Keep your eye out for gum disease in your child's mouth; signs include: bad breath, bleeding gums, swollen and red gums, and diminishing gums that move away from the teeth.
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Spotlight
Stem Cells
Medical research is continuing on this fascinating, experimental and controversial medical procedure.
Today's parents are faced with the dilemma as to whether to throw away the cord blood or to save it for potential use if disaster strikes their child in the future. As the first stem cell transfer was done only 14 years ago the technique is still in the experimental stage.
It is estimated that the chance of the child ever using his/her own stem cells are anywhere between 1in 1000 to 1 in 100000. So why save the stem cells? Because they may be used by the whole family – Father, Mother, Brothers, Sisters and grandparents. Besides it is a simple and harmless procedure. So if the couple can afford it, the price seems worth the peace of mind.
But there are arguments saying that if a child develops leukemia it's own stem cells may not be the ideal transplant, as they may carry the same disease - producing gene. But they may be the only solution to tide over the acute crisis. Hundreds of patients who have benefited from stem cell transfer are willing to pay for their storage forever. As time goes by and the research advances more and more facts will come to light
What are stem cells? Stem cells are basic cells
They can develop into any cells
They form part of the immune system
What makes cord blood stem cells unique? Cord blood has many advantages.
High rate of engraftment
It is more tolerant of tissue mismatches
Lower rate of severe graft v host diseases
Is rarely contaminated with latent viruses
Cord blood is not exposed to most diseases
It is a perfect match to the child
I:4 chances of being a perfect match to the sibling
IMP: - Perfect match does not mean all diseases can be treated.
When is the cord blood collected? It is collected soon after the birth of the baby
It is harmless to both mother and baby
It is painless
Who can use the stored cord blood stem cells? The child from whom they are collected
May be a sibling or parent
It can be donated to someone in need
The decision belongs to the parents
What is the history of cord blood transplantation? First used in France in 1988 to treat Fanconi's Anaemia
Since then many centers have used C.B as a substitute for bone marrow.
How can cord blood be used? C.B stem cells are used in place of bone marrow
Mostly to treat certain leukemias, Hodgekin's disease and other lymphomas
Variety of anaemias, inherited metabolic disorders & immune deficiencies.
Most transplants so far have been done on patients below 18 years
Mostly on siblings and unrelated transplants.
How successful are cord blood transplants? As successful as bone marrow.
Advantages – ease of collection
How long can C.B stem cells can be stored? As of now Cryo care stores it for 20 years
As technology improves it can be stored for longer periods of time.
What is the future of cord blood stem cells? It seems very bright
Extensive research is going on all over the world
Future uses may as well be for
Alzhiemer's disease
Parkinson's
Strokes
Spinal cord injuries
Liver damage
Immune disorders
Skin grafting
Many more
Only time will tell the true story
Is my doctor responsible for procuring the collection bag? No. It is entirely the parent's responsibility
The doctor only collects the blood as per instructions.
What is the cost of the procedure? It costs around 1195 Pounds For more details log on to www.cryocare.biz
Will I have to pay my doctor for collecting the stem cells? You will have to discuss with your doctor and decide on a fee.
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