Comparing bone marrow and cord blood stem cells.

I am asked many times what is the difference between the bone marrow stem cells and cord blood stem cells.   Let me first say they are  both adult stem cells and approved for transplant  by the FDA. The only other source of stem cells currently approved by the FDA is peripheral blood stem cells. However bone marrow and cord blood stem cells are used much more often in stem cell transplants, hence
the focus of my comparison.
The cord blood stem cell is a much younger stem cell than bone marrow. The cord blood stem cell has very limited exposure to the environment and viruses. Because of this we see less graft vs host disease after transplant, as compared to bone marrow which is a older cell and retrieved usually  from an adult. Another major advantage cord blood is that it tolerates mismatch.  If a perfect match cannot be found in bone marrow, a cord blood match can be considered even if there is a one or two mismatch at the HLA. Of course the transplant physician will have to evaluate all the options and decide on the best course of treatment.
 Bone Marrow stem cells most often need to be perfectly matched to the recipient, making it more difficult to find a match to the recepient. Minorities and individual of mixed ethnicities  are the most difficult to match up. If you are considering banking your baby's cord blood for your family,  keep in consideration your  ethnicities.

For more information  visit> www.nationalcordbloodprogram.org/qa/comparison.html

New study showing stem cells for cardiac repair improved cardiac function by 12%

Very exciting new this week. Adult stem cells have shown when used in cardiac repair a 12% improvement in function is  attained.  Adult stem cells including cord blood have been used in heart repair for a few years now. If heart disease runs in your family, you really should carefully consider banking your baby's cord blood stem cells. In regenerative medicine you must use your own  stem cells, and cord blood is one source allowed by the FDA.

GEN | News Highlights:Autologous Cardiac Stem Cell Transplantation Shows 12% Improvement in Left Ven

www.genengnews.com
Visit our website a www.lifelinecryogenics.com

Cord Blood Banks: What you need to know before choosing a cord blood bank

It is very important when choosing a cord blood bank that you choose an accredited cord blood bank. The orgnaizations that accredit cord blood are AABB( formerly know as the American Association of Cord Blood Banks) and FACT-NETCORD.  Most private banks  receive their accreditation by the AABB and the public banks accreditation is typically through the FACT- NETCORD. Lifeline Cryogenics is inspected on site by AABB in which all  protocols are reviewed, equipment inspected and records reviewed.
When a cord blood bank receives it's accreditation  it shows that the cord blood bank  meets or exceeds the highest standards when it comes to patient and laboratory practices.  There are only 27 cord blood banks in the United States accredited by the AABB
For a listing of accredited cord blood banks visit :http://www.aabb.org/sa/facilities/celltherapy/Pages/CordBloodAccrFac.aspx

Cord Blood Education 101 :The Basics

To me cord  blood banking is the most important decision you will make before your baby is born. The more information you know about your health history, ethnicity, and the diseases cord blood stem cells treat, the easier the decision will be.  I recommend the following sites to learn about stem cells in umbilical cord blood and cord blood banking.
1.www.parentsguidecordblood.org- non proprietary website .
2. stemcells.nih.gov - The  National Institute of Health  sponsors this website.  It is  the textbook of stem cell education.  With this site you can also look up any disease and see what research is being conducted  using stem cells.
3. Visit http://www.lifelinecryogenics.com/ . 

New Study on Cord Blood and Traumatic Brain Injury

Very excited to tell you that the University of Texas will be conducting cord blood research using cord blood cells for traumatic brain injury. These transplants will be autologous which means they will be using the childs' own cord blood.

New Research released this week out of England on cord blood stem cells and heart muscle repair

I have always been an advocate of  research using stem cells especially cord blood because there are no ethical issues involved . Stem cells to me need to be investigated on every level, as I believe there is so much promise in curing diseases . I was very pleased to see research stating the stem cells from cord blood are migrating to the heart muscle in victims of heart attacks and repairing muscle tissue.   http://www.medicaldaily.com/news/20111013/7399/umbilical-cord-blood-stem-cell-cardiac-muscle-cells-myocardial-infarction-cord-blood.htm

Welcome To Cord Blood Banking Blog :

Cord Blood Education is mandated in 18 states . That is because you have only one opportunity to collect cord blood, which is a the birth of your baby.  The decision to bank cord  blood could be the singular most important decision you make before your baby is born.  Great sites to learn about stem cells from cord blood are:
www.lifelinecryogenics.com
www.parentsguidecordblood.org
www.stemcells.nih.gov