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Cord Blood Stem Cells

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Stem cells, in general terms, represent the buds of all of the organ cells in the body. If the body had its own tool shed, it would have racks of these minute particles for all organs. In such a tool shed, you would only need to have one specimen of stem cell, because any time the cell divides, it creates more that have the equal power as the original cell, to remain a stem cell or become specialized for a particular organ. This is true for all stem cells except for blood, muscle, and nerve, which do not normally replicate themselves. To understand this point, it is important to learn about the types of these cells by purpose.

Types

The chief types are:

Pluripotent

Stromal

Hematopoietic

Pluripotent are capable of turning into any kind of cell making up the body. They are chiefly derived from human embryonic stem cells. In comparison, adult cells are capable of replicating themselves into more cells for the same purpose as the original cells in order to repair the organ tissue where they reside.

Stromal are a kind of cells that form bone, cartilage, fat, and fibrous connective tissue.

Hematopoietic create red and white blood cells and platelets. The latest research has shown some promise of hemapoietic capability to form other cells in the body in addition to blood cells. This type is found in baby cord blood and adult bone marrow.

Cord blood Stem cells

So what role does umbilical blood play. It is a rich repository of blood stem cells that can differentiate to create red and white blood cells and platelets, which are crucial in treating genetic diseases, cancers, and disorders of blood and immune system.

Compared to bone marrow, cord blood stem cells are easier to harvest because they are easily obtainable from placenta after delivery and so do not involve a surgical procedure. They can be put in a cord blood bank and easily prepared for use either for the donor or another recipient regardless of relationship.

Cord blood has already proven successful in treating leukemia, anemia, neuroblastoma, lymphoma, and many other blood and immune system diseases, cancers, and disorders. Scientists had been skeptical about using this blood on the sickened donors because of the bloods established genetic predisposition to become diseased, but recently Illinois doctors successfully treated leukemia through this route, proving the much anticipated fruitfulness of the banking cord blood.

Cord Blood Stem Cells

Umbilical cord blood stem cells and Parkinson's disease

Umbilical cord blood stem cells have been successfully used to treat Parkinson's disease. Although stem cells have been used to treat Parkinson's disease abroad for some time, it is still considered experimental and controversial in America. The first American to undergo cord blood stem cell treatment was Penny Thomas. She was in the advanced stages of Parkinson and was looking for treatment options. After attempting to contact many treatment centers, she emailed one in China. She underwent a surgery where 3 million cord blood stem cells were injected into the putamen part of her brain. After the surgery, her symptoms reduced significantly and doctors are now weaning her off of her medication.

Umbilical cord blood stem cells and leukemia

Cord blood stem cells are commonly used to treat childhood leukemia. In recent years, adults with leukemia have been successfully treated with transplantation of cord blood stem cells from unrelated donors. One case is that of Stephen Sprague who was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) in 1995. Although a normally slow moving cancer in his case, chemotherapy only kept it in check for 17 months. The only hope was a stem cell transplant. A matching bone marrow donor could not be found so he turned to a new clinical trial being conducted on final stage adult leukemia patients, using umbilical cord blood stem cells to treat cancer. Mr. Sprague underwent the treatment in November 1997, and has now been cancer free for over nine years.

Umbilical cord blood stem cells and multiple sclerosis (MS)

Cord blood stem cell transplantation has given hope to multiple sclerosis sufferers like Patricia Frost. Mrs. Frost has suffered from MS for 14 years and has been confined to a wheelchair for the last 10 years. She also lost the use of her arms. Stem cell treatment was her only hope but is not licensed in the UK and only a few private clinics offer the treatment anywhere in the world. She sought umbilical cord blood stem cell therapy from the private Preventative Medicine Clinic in the Netherlands. Within an hour of receiving the stem cell treatment, she was able to turn her head and partially lift her arms. These are functions that she said were previously lost. Clinical trials are being conducted and the UK is planning to invest 100 million pounds into this research.

In recent years, cord blood has emerged as a source for stem cell transplantation as it contains hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that can develop into red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The ongoing stem cell research for treatment of diseases is promising. Patients who suffer from previously fatal diseases and debilitating conditions have found hope in cord blood stem cell therapy.

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Both Saurabh Jain & Alvin Toh are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Saurabh Jain has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pregnancy Problems, Pregnancy Problems and Debt Consolidation. is much talked about because of magical healing power of stem cells. Umbilical cord blood can be stored in a. Saurabh Jain's top article generates over 246000 views. to your Favourites.

Alvin Toh has sinced written about articles on various topics from Bull Terrier Dogs, Fitness and ADHD. is becoming increasingly important for treatment of life-threatening blood diseases. It is an alternative option to marrow transpla. Alvin Toh's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.

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