We are hearing more and more about the experimental uses of cord blood stem cells to treat kids who’ve suffered from neonatal stroke resulting in cerebral palsy. In fact, our own Baby John met these circumstances at birth, and had a transfusion of his own cord blood through a program at Duke University. We’re reading …
Continue ReadingStem Cells Being Explored to Treat Eye Disease
New research has discovered that mesenchymal stem cells from cord blood might be beneficial for patients with severe eye and corneal disease. The study transplanted the stem cells in an attempt to restore transparency to the cloudy corneas of laboratory mice. Corneal disease is currently treated through cornea transplants. Unfortunately, there is only a limited …
Continue ReadingBPA Found in Umbilical Cord Blood
An organization called the Environmental Working Group (EWG) commissioned a study to examine toxic chemicals that are found in the umbilical cord blood of babies. The study found up to 232 different chemicals, including Bisphenol-A (BPA), a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to disruptions in the endocrine system which can cause reproductive, neurological, and …
Continue ReadingCord Blood Banking Across the Country
The state of Oklahoma is looking at developing a public cord blood bank. Unfortunately for residents of the state, there are not enough births in Oklahoma to justify a state public bank. Right now, for Oklahoma and other smaller states, the only option for cord blood banking is going through a private bank. While public …
Continue ReadingUmbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells Treat Heart and Lung Disorders
The scientific journal Cell Transplantation has 2 studies that have explored umbilical cord blood stem cell treatments for lung and heart disorders. Both studies were conducted using animals so they are very preliminary, but they offer great potential for future treatments. In one study, researchers investigated the therapeutic benefits of transplanting human umbilical cord blood …
Continue ReadingTwo Units of Cord Blood Reduces Likelihood of Recurrence of Leukemia
A recent study conducted at the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota discovered that transplantation of 2 units of cord blood significantly reduces the likelihood of recurrence of leukemia. This finding may change treatment protocol for patients who are at high risk for recurrence of leukemia and other cancers of the blood and bone marrow. …
Continue ReadingCord Blood Used in Treatment
Last year, we worked closely with a family that had banked their baby’s cord blood with M.A.Z.E. The cord blood was needed for a transplant in a clinical trial to potentially treat cerebral palsy. Read about the family and the results of the cord blood transplant for cerebral palsy treatment.
Continue ReadingCord Blood Banking Information
Choosing a cord blood bank is a difficult decision. There are so many different cord blood banks and many of them make different claims. How do you differentiate between those claims that are important for your cord blood processing and storage and those claims that sound good in marketing materials? While we, of course, believe …
Continue ReadingWho Owns Your Baby’s Cord Blood?
Banking your baby’s cord blood is a way to save it for your baby’s future. Some people wonder if the cord blood will be available if it is needed. If you bank it with a private cord blood bank, it will definitely be available. A private cord blood bank stores the cord blood for you, …
Continue ReadingCord Blood Treatments In Utero
Researchers at Duke University are looking at the possibility of treating children. using cord blood, before they are born. The scientists are exploring the treatment of metabolic diseases including Krabbe disease, metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), Pelizaeus-Maerzbacher Disease (PMD), Tay-Sachs disease, or Sandoff disease. The babies will be treated, while in utero, using stem cells from banked …
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