.: Using stem cells.
By:Hope Ocampo
Stem cells are one of the most fascinating aspects of modern medical research and the link between cord blood and medical research into stem cells is potentially very beneficial. It has proven to hold the answer to many potentially life threatening diseases such as leukemia and anemia, but with further research this list could grow and easily reach the hundreds.
Tests are showing that there is a potential cure for Congenital Heart Failure through the transplant of stem cells so it is important that we do not lose focus concerning the donation and testing of cord blood and the stem cells this blood contains.
Medical advances.
Developing new techniques to store the blood as well as developing new ways in which they can be used is foremost in the mind of researchers. Cord blood can already be extracted easily from newborn babies and can currently be stored for up to 15 years while retaining its potency.
For stem cell transplants to be a viable solution to more diseases it will be necessary to find ways to store cord blood for longer periods of time. The most effective form of cord blood transplant is with your own cord blood. This guarantees that the cells and your body are a perfect match and that the operation has a much greater chance of success.
Current uses for stem cell transplants.
There is a list of over 40 potentially life threatening diseases that can be treated through the use of cord blood and the stem cells contained therein and recent studies and laboratory testing has shown that this number will increase significantly with the opportunity to conduct further research. Stem cells can also be found in resources other than blood cords but there are disadvantages and strong arguments against the use of these other methods. There are a number of adult stem cells disadvantages but possibly the biggest is that the stem cells have already lost a great deal of their plasticity and can only be used to treat diseases that require new specialist blood cells.
The pros of stem cell transplants.
Upon looking at all of the arguments pro stem cells it is difficult to ignore the potential effectiveness that the transfusion procedure will generate. Patients will be able to effectively be treated for all manner of cancers and blood disorders including leukemia, anemia and man more. True, there are difficulties at present that mean cord blood storage is not an option that everyone is willing to consider but the more research that goes into the subject the better because there is already strong evidence to suggest that stem cells can help the fight against Congenital Heart Failure and there have also been strong links between diabetes and islet transplants and stem cells.
Other sources of stem cells.
The moral issues that arise when discussing the extraction of stem cells & ovaries is such that research is unlikely to continue in this area, at least for the foreseeable future but that isn't the case with umbilical cord blood. There are few arguments that can be sincerely raise against this issue because the blood is only removed from the cord once it has been clamped and cut. There is no effect on the baby or the mother and the birth is completely unaffected as well. The extraction takes place when the cord would normally be disposed of using either a needle to draw the blood out or by suspending the cord and letting gravity doc the work.
The future for cord blood and medical research.
Baby teeth and the placenta have already been proven to contain stem cells that may turn out to be useful as well, so there are potentially a number of safe sources of a cell that can potentially treat any disease that involves cell, organ or tissue wastage.
The potential already shown is likely to be the tip of the iceberg because many diseases have barely even been considered. With picks disease stem cells are likely to hold some kind of answer, for instance and there are many more diseases to consider too.
Article keywords: blood cord banking, cord blood, blood cord, umbilical cord banking, umbilical cord bank, cord blood stem cell, cord blood donation, cord blood registry
Article Source: http://www.articles32.com
For more information on cord blood banking, please visit Blood Cord Bank.
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