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All parents want their children to be safe from any mishaps and illnesses. But can we guarantee them a 100% health? Of course, we can and the “insurance” here might come from stem cells of umbilical blood. Nowadays, cellular technology is given utmost attention all over the world. And several years ago Russia also became one of the countries to use practical achievements of modern science on stem cells.
Bricks of Health
Nowadays, we are witnessing wide and successful usage of stem cells transplantation technology together with intensive studies on using it for treatment of many illnesses. Therefore, frozen stem cells may become indispensable for the latest methods of therapy in the nearest future. The interest towards cellular technology is constantly growing, and so, where there’s demand, there’s supply. Banks of stem cells are coming to the market with every passing day.
What are stem cells?
Stem cells are “precursor” cells and they have potential to transform to various types of other cells: cells of muscles, nervous cells, blood cells, etc. Such cells are some kind of “building material”, bricks, used by the human body to form all organs and tissues.
The adults also have undifferentiated cells, and they stay mostly in bone marrow. But their number is relatively small, and it steadily decreases with age. Whereas stem cells are the best among others in self-renewal, decrease in their number is believed to be the reason for lowering the recovery potential of human body. Therefore, it is the ageing process, which is the result of such decrease.
Where can we take them?
Stem cells possess their greatest potential during embryo growth, when they are used for «building» a new man. Just at the moment of child birth the source of a great number of stem cells is only umbilical blood and bone marrow.
That means that if an adult needs stem cells, he can receive them in the following way:
1. During paracentesis of bone marrow, but such procedure is too painful and can be made only with anesthesia. The procedure has some contraindications as well and can result in complications.
2. during collection of peripheral blood and other tissues. But the stem cells content there is low and requires long and complex preparation of the patient to such procedure. There are also some side effects for health in this procedure too.
3. By cultivating cells in the laboratory conditions, but such process is linked with a great number of not solved ethical and legal questions.
It is safe and painless way of getting stem cells and such chance is available for everyone only once in your lifetime during birth!
Moreover, stem cells of umbilical blood are younger and potentially more active, as they are the “youngest” ones.
But there is only one chance in your lifetime and it is a very short chance, when cells may be collected by safe and painless way. It is a moment of birth, when one can collect umbilical cord blood and then produce a mass of stem cells from it. And you should not miss such a unique chance.
«Umbilical cord», or umbilical blood, is the best choice because stem cells of umbilical blood are younger and potentially more active, as they are the “youngest” ones. Besides, they have less immunizing power and even unrelated transplantation results in fewer adverse reactions. Cells of “umbilical cord” are 100 % compatible with the child, 75% with his brothers and sisters, 50% with his parents and they help even to grandmothers and grandfathers in 25% of cases. And finally, because of activity of young stem cells of umbilical blood, less of such stem cells are required than stem cells of bone marrow for reaching equal effect.
Bank of Stem Cells of umbilical blood stores cells of newborns
In umbilical cord blood metabolism between inner systems of mother and fetus (whose tissues and organs are only forming) takes place, therefore, umbilical blood contains significant number of precursor cells. Right after the delivery and crosscutting of umbilical cord and transfer of a newborn to Neonatology Physician, a doctor or a midwife collects umbilical cord blood to a sterile container. It is safe and painless, as collection procedure is performed from placenta and umbilical cord, which are no more connected with neither mother, nor child.
At present, various techniques of stem cells concentrate production from umbilical blood are well developed. In 2008 the PMC opened its own “Bank of Stem Cells” (“BSC”), the advantage of which is that cells, received in our maternity hospital are not subject for transportation before their production, therefore they are not damaged. Production and storage of stem cells take place according to NETCORD international standards on collecting, processing, testing and monitoring of bank of stem cells, and using the most modern units of automatic separation of stem cells from umbilical blood.
Thanks to the BSC equipment and the control and safety system, it is not possible to violate stem cells conditions of storage or damage them.
Everything is Under Control
Within 30 days before the delivery or right before the delivery the blood of mother-to-be is studied for infections transmitted with blood. Bacteriologic seeding is also made, as well as blood group and Rh-factor are identified. Processing of umbilical blood takes place in automatic separation units with air proof systems, meeting modern high technology requirements. Preparation for testing and cleaning of stem cells helps to get rid of excessive erythrocytes and plasma, which create problems during storage and usage. As a result, clean suspension of stem cells is produced, which went through not only virus and bacteriologic control, but also through quarantine.
Stem cells in process of automatic production are put into special cryogenic packs 25 mL each. After adding cryogenic preservative, which prevent cells from deformation during freezing, the packs are marked and placed into a sealed Teflon container and metal canister. Then the sample is frozen according to a special program and stored in liquid nitrogen under temperature of -196ºÑ. The samples are stamped with a unique bar code, after which it is impossible to mix them and their identification takes just a few seconds. Under ultra low temperatures the correctly prepared biological material can be kept for indefinite time. After unfreezing most stem cells are vital and actively reproduce.
There is almost zero possibility that an infant will develop a disease, requiring transplantation of stem cells. But still, storage of these cells makes it possible to carry out high technology treatment of serious illnesses in case they happen.
The stem cells’ application in medical treatment is a very young and perspective field of medicine. The scientists all over the world research stem cells for their usage in treatment of various illnesses. Cellular technology is successfully applied for treatment of increasing number of illnesses. In a not that far future umbilical cord blood will be collected from every newborn, the usage of stem cells will become ordinary method of treatment, and “cellular life insurance” will become obligatory. So far, parents themselves need to take care of providing a healthy future for their child...
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