Senin, 09 November 2015

Umbilical Cord Blood Companies in Asia



Umbilical Cord Blood Companies in Asia


This week, announcements of deals to bank and use umbilical cord blood in China, India, Vietnam and South Korea point to an industry that is both promising and prone to overpromising. Companies trying to attract self-paying patients often conflate established therapies with highly experimental and unproven procedures.
Cord blood banking is already an established business. Today, BioSpectrumAsia reported a joint venture between Apollo Therapeutics and Cadila Pharmaceuticals in India and the well-known cord blood company StemCyte.
Established uses cord blood include blood disorders, bone-marrow failure, and genetic metabolism disorders. Many researchers are trying to figure out just what these cells are capable of. Saudi Arabia is heavily investing in blood-derived stem cells and banks geared at treating the population in the Middle East. ( See our article ). The Chinese government has also announced plans to open two more umbilical cord blood banks for non-kin transplants.
In a policy statement that’s full of information, the American Academy of Pediatrics discourages private cord blood banking and warns against unsubstantiated claims. “Cord blood donation should be discouraged when cord blood stored in a bank is to be directed for later personal or family use, because most conditions that might be helped by cord blood stem cells already exist in the infant’s cord blood (ie, premalignant changes in stem cells).”
This is the kind of private cord blood service that will soon be offered in Vietnam. Vietnamnet reports that a Singapore company, CordLabs, agreed to transfer technology to a Vietnamese company, Mekophar. Beginning some time next quarter, parents can, for $2000, deposit umbilical cords and umbilical membranes of their children for 25 years. According to an earlier article, the company intends to establish four stem cell banks in Vietnam. The articles indicate that the project also includes public banking and charity services, plus Vietnam’s desire to foster this kind of research. The articles did not specify what promises were being made to parents.
A merger of an umbilical cord stem-cell company with a stem-cell company reveals the broadest and most unsubstantiated claims. South Korea-based Histostem plans to merge with the Florida company, Stem Cell Therapy International.
Though StemCyte can be accused of overstating, the only disease that StemCyte mentions specifically on its homepage is the blood disorder thalassemia. Stem Cell Therapy’s website, in contrast, is full of promises. It boasts videos and personal accounts of patients receiving stem cell therapies for multiple sclerosis and stroke. Two “solutions” are the “rejuvenation of women during menopause” and “complex therapy of cosmetics problems.” Its website states, “A documented 5 millions of patients have been so treated worldwide to-date, evidenced by over 120,000 publications in MEDLINE amongst others.” It does not say that the vast majority of current stem-cell treatments are for blood disorders or to supply functioning bone marrow. Nor does it say that stem-cell treatments for neurodegenerative disorders are, to say the least, far from established. A review on blood- and marrow-derived stem cell treatments in JAMA published Feb 27, 2008 by Burt and others found only 69 reports to assess, including several on multiple sclerosis. The editors’ summary was “Their analysis suggests that stem cells harvested from blood or bone marrow may provide modest disease-ameliorating effects in selected patients with some autoimmune diseases and some cardiovascular disorders.”
At the bottom of Stem Cell Therapy’s home page, are glowing adjectives: “approved” among them, but clicking on that word does not tell me what entity approved the therapies. Here’s how the head of the Korean Histostem, Han Hoon, describes the strategy in a press release issued by the two companies. “We intend to take the research data that the Korean FDA already approved and submit it to the U.S. FDA, with the objective of getting the U.S. FDA approval in advance of other companies now researching umbilical stem cell treatments for a variety of different diseases." My understanding is that while the Korean FDA is supervising some trials with these cells, it has not approved any therapies.
There are organizations that are trying to ensure that promising results for potential therapeutic applications don’t transform into unsubstantiated claims. The Stem Cell Network of the Asian-Pacific Region ( SNAP ) has taken on the ambitious goal of helping people know where the science stands because, in the words of one of the founders, “There’s a lot of bad information out there.”

Efficacy Umbilical Cord Blood


Magically, Efficacy Umbilical Cord Blood



            There are still many mothers, especially those who have just given birth do not know the efficacy of cord blood at the birth of their baby. Normally the blood in the umbilical cord will be immediately cleared and the umbilical cord will soon be buried. Whereas according to the results of the study, blood in the umbilical cord (not the cord) to have various properties to cure diseases, especially diseases associated with blood.



            Stem Cells. The blood in the umbilical cord of newborn babies is not just any blood. Since the 1970s, medical research found that umbilical cord blood contains many stem cells (stem cells).
Then, what's that stem cells? Stem cells are the parent of all the cells in the body. These cells are undifferentiated and have a very high potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. Stem cells can be triggered to grow into blood-forming cells, heart muscle cells, nerve cells, immune system, skin tissue, bone, endocrine organs and so on.


            Source of Stem Cells. There are two types of stem cells. First, embryonic stem cells (embryonic stem cell) taken from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst (embryo consisting of 50-150 cells, approximately day 5 post-fertilization), which is usually obtained from leftover embryos that are not used in IVF (in vitro fertilization). And Second namely adult stem cells (adult stem cells) which is a set of cells that are in tissue, blood, bone marrow, brain, liver, and pancreas.

            Well, one source of stem cells is umbilical cord blood. Blood in the umbilical cord blood are derived as much as 40-120 mL of blood vessels (veins). Furthermore, the umbilical cord blood were isolated and further processed to produce a type of adult stem cells

Terms Intake Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells. There are several requirements that must be met in order to pick up the cord blood stem cells. Among others, pregnancy is enough months, do not have certain diseases (especially HIV and AIDS), is also not a difficult childbirth.

            Making way. To get the cord blood stem cells, there are two ways that can be taken:
Placenta Stem Cells

- In Utero. Namely the umbilical cord blood collection to the circumstances in which the placenta (placenta) is still in the womb. That is after the baby is born, the umbilical cord is cut. Then, the umbilical cord is still attached to the placenta is extended out of the uterus and its blood is passed through a sterile needle. Once the process is completed, the placenta is delivered.

- Ex. Utero. Namely the decision made in the placenta that have been removed from the uterus. That is, after the baby is born, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut. For then, the placenta is expelled from the uterus and placed on a special table. Then the umbilical cord blood flowed into a sterile bag through a sterile needle. The collection process is generally short-lived and highly recommended for umbilical cord blood to be taken must first be cleaned with antiseptic. For later, the umbilical cord with sterile needles are inserted to drain blood into a blood bag.

            Noteworthy by mothers who will give birth that the blood sampling process is fairly safe and avoid pain. And the capacity of the range of blood taken two bags of blood.
Storage manner. Once the cord blood collected, the amount of blood around 40-120 mL is first brought to the laboratory for isolation process is carried out so as to produce a number of 2 mL of stem cells alone. This then results are stored in a cord blood bank.

            Umbilical cord blood stem cells for storage in liquid nitrogen temperatures can survive indefinitely in.

            How to use. How to use? If the umbilical cord blood stem cells at any time required, it must be subjected to liquefaction process (thawing). Before doing thawing, begins the process of request of the doctor who will perform the transplant. The doctor will first match between donor and recipient stem cells, which must also conducted tests on the content of the stored stem cells.

            Efficacy. Until now, blood stem cells have been used to restore blood diseases such as hematology-oncology (blood cancer), cancer of the white blood cells (leukemia), aplastic anemia. In addition there are many types of diseases that can be treated with stem cells umbilical cord is, among others, acute leukemia, chronic leukemia, the syndrome Myelodysplastic, Stem Cell Disorders, Congenital (Inherited) Immune System Disorders, Other Inherited Disorders, Inherited Platelet Abnormalities, Plasma Cell Disorders, and autoimmune diseases.

            Researchers will apply even stem cells to cope with other disorders such as Alzheimer's, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's, stroke and autoimmune diseases such as lupus, of course, in the future, after going through several stages of testing.

Conclusions: We recommend that all pregnant women who will soon give birth can utilize these stem cells because who knows our family any time there is a need. For the storage of stem cells we can save time and can save the cost of purchasing stem cells.

Cord Blood Bank Indonesia Has Officially Opened!


Cord Blood Bank Indonesia Has Officially Opened!




After a long awaited, finally Indonesia have their own umbilical cord blood bank. The presence of the cord blood bank in Indonesia met the expectations of many people who are concerned about the future health of their children.

Cord blood storage bank in Indonesia was inaugurated by the Minister of Health 2004-2009 period, Supari on 14 October 2006. The Bank operates in Indonesia in cooperation PT. Kalbe Farma and PT. CordLife, Singapore company engaged in the storage of cord blood. This Bank Indonesia stands out because of public demand to store umbilical cord blood the baby more.

            High public interest that is due to store umbilical cord blood bank, the owner can use at any time to treat various diseases to his family. Umbilical cord blood is used to treat a variety of diseases such as cancer of the blood, bone marrow failure syndrome, blood disorders such as thalassemia, metabolic derivative, immune deficiencies, heart and nerves. However, the level of match cord blood will be different for each family member. A baby's umbilical cord blood, have a match rate of 50% -75% if used by siblings. While the level of compatibility is only 25% -50% if used by parents.

            Prior to the cord blood bank is present in Indonesia, most Indonesian people storing cord blood in Singapore and Malaysia. In 2006, there were already about 100 people in Indonesia who keep the cord in Cordlife Singapore. With the storage of umbilical cord banks in the country, the Indonesian people no longer need to send abroad. Costs becomes cheaper.

            Costs for blood collection, processing, and storage of the first year in the cord blood bank Indonesia Rp. 9,000,000.00. As for the storage of the next year, a set tariff is Rp.1.250.000,00 per year. According to the CEO Group CordLife, Steven Fang, the price is cheaper than the store abroad for not including shipping funds. In Singapore, for example, for the initial process accrues 2,000 Singapore dollars and 250 Singapore dollars per year for storage next year. (information singapore dollar exchange rate of 1 per 13 April 2010 = Rp.6.500,00). Storage capacity is limited only to bank 30,000 cord blood units each with a capacity of 22.5 milliliters per unit.

            For those of you who are interested to save her baby's cord blood, the first procedure is to enroll to become a member at the time of pregnancy in the cord blood bank Indonesia, Jalan Ahmad Yani No. 2, Pulomas, Central Jakarta. Then tell your doctor or midwife where you will give birth. At the time of delivery. obstetrician will be ready to assist retrieval of umbilical cord blood to be processed and stored in a cord blood bank. [primz]

Benefits Storing Cord Blood


Benefits Storing Cord Blood



Recent times, more and more known to the ability of stem cells in cord blood. Since 2000, scientists have demonstrated that cord blood stem cells can develop into many other cell types in the body.

This amazing invention has direct application of clinical applications in many diseases, including heart attack, spinal cord injury, and is expected in the next few years, we can look at the clinical trial phase of disease diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis, a disease Al zhaimers, to Diabetes.

The benefits of cord blood banking:

    Warranty suitability for transplantation as Autologous (donor and recipient are the same person).
    Is an autologous transplant means the stem cell donor and recipient are the same person. The umbilical cord blood you save now for your baby, is a medical resource potential in the future. You no longer require tight matching bone marrow transplant method than conventional ones where 70% of transplant patients is difficult to find a match within keluarganya1.

    Storage of stem cells that direct the available Hematopetic

    In certain circumstances where the stem cells needed abruptly for the benefit of transplantation, have cord blood of your child is already saved a lot better than if you have to look for stem cells for transplant are national or international, both of which would be very expensive and take a long time. Procurement costs cord blood samples in Singapore estimated at approximately $ 75,000 SD, and even then when stem cells are a match.

    Gravt risk vs. Host Disease (GVHD) are Low for transplantation Autologous

    Gravt versus host disease (GVHD) is a common complication arises where immune cells from the donor attack the recipient's own tissue. This situation typically arises when the donor transplant and transplant recipients are different people.
    Sampling is easy, painless and risk free for the mother and baby.
    Umbilical cord blood sampling is relatively easy and is done by an obstetrician anda.Proses this decision does not affect the birth process itself and can be done on the basis of normal delivery or a Caesarean section.

    Cord blood cells are younger and more primitive

    When compared with a source of stem cells other, for example, stem cells from the bone marrow and stem cells from peripheral blood, cord blood stem cells centers have engraftment higher (engrafment: is the process of stem cells transplanted find their way to the target organ and began to regenerate / re-produce blood cells) In this case the umbilical cord blood stem cells is faster growing and production of healthy blood cells, is also more tolerant of tissue mismatches.

    There is one of 217 possible use of stem cells for the treatment of a lifetime

    Statistics show that every one of the 217 inhabitants at least in need of stem cell therapy in mereka2 life. Your baby's cord blood is a rich source of stem cells. Since 1988, doctors have been using cord blood stem cells for menerapi 30,000 pasien3 suffering from leukemia, other cancers, blood disorders and other clinical trials.

Kamis, 22 Oktober 2015

Cord blood banking: What it is, why consider it

 

What is cord blood? 

Cord blood is the blood in your baby's umbilical cord. It contains stem cells that can grow into blood vessels, organs, and tissues.
Cord blood stem cells are the subject of FDA-regulated clinical trials exploring their suitability for helping those with autism, brain injury, and other conditions. These specialized cells are already used to treat dozens of diseases.
Your baby's cord blood can be collected at birth and stored for future use

What is cord blood banking?

Cord blood banking involves collecting blood left in your newborn's umbilical cord and placenta and storing it for future medical use. Cord blood contains potentially lifesaving cells called stem cells. (The stem cells in cord blood are different from embryonic stem cells.)
For cord blood storage, you have two main options:

How is cord blood collected?

Cord blood is collected right after birth. The collection process is painless and safe for you and your baby. In fact, it's so quick and painless that parents – caught up in holding and bonding with their new baby – are often unaware it has even happened.
Here's how it's done:
Clamping and cutting the cord
After you've delivered your baby, whether vaginally or by c-section, the cord is clamped and then cut in the usual way – either by your partner or your medical provider.
You can delay cord clamping, as long as the delay is brief – no more than a minute or two. (If cord clamping is delayed too long, the blood in the cord will clot. And once the blood clots, it's of no benefit to anyone – it doesn't go to your baby and can't be collected for storage.)
Extracting the cord blood
Your medical provider then inserts a needle into the umbilical vein on the part of the cord that's still attached to the placenta. The needle doesn't go anywhere near your baby.
The blood drains into a collection bag. Typically, 1 to 5 ounces are collected. The entire process takes less than 10 minutes.
Off to the bank!
The blood is shipped to a cord blood bank, where it's tested, processed, and cryopreserved (preserved by controlled freezing) for long-term storage if deemed acceptable according to quality standards.
Some family cord blood banks now offer to collect a segment of the umbilical cord in addition to the cord blood. Umbilical cord tissue contains stem cells that are different from cord blood stem cells, and researchers are studying their possible use.

What are the benefits of cord blood banking?

Cord blood is a rich source of blood stem cells. Stem cells are the building blocks of the blood and immune system. They have the ability to develop into other types of cells, so they can help repair tissues, organs, and blood vessels and can be used to treat a host of diseases.
Stem cells are also found in bone marrow, human embryos, fetal tissue, hair follicles, baby teeth, fat, circulating blood, and muscle. Every part of the human body contains some stem cells, but most are not a rich enough source to be harvested for therapeutic applications.
In patients with conditions like leukemia, for instance, chemotherapy is often used to rid their body of diseased cells so that normal blood cell production can be restored. Once that happens, the disease goes into remission.
If the treatment fails or disease recurs, however, doctors often do a stem cell transplant. A transfusion of stem cells from the bone marrow, peripheral blood (blood in the bloodstream), or cord blood from a healthy donor can help create a new blood and immune system, giving the patient a better chance of making a full recovery.
Unlike the stem cells in bone marrow or peripheral blood, stem cells in cord blood are immature and haven't yet learned how to attack foreign substances. It's easier to match transplant patients with cord blood than with other sources of stem cells because the cord blood stem cells are less likely to reject the transfusion. This makes cord blood an even more valuable resource for ethnic minorities, who have a harder time finding stem cell matches.
Cord blood will soon be the dominant transplant source for United States' patients of minority or mixed racial heritage. In 2012, 38 percent of Hispanic patients and 44 percent of African American patients undergoing stem cell transplants received cord blood.
More and more adults are receiving cord blood transplants, too, sometimes involving two cord blood donations if a single one doesn't contain enough cells.
As of the end of 2012, more than 33,900 cord blood units had been shipped for transplants worldwide.

Which diseases can be treated with cord blood?

Cord blood stem cells have been used successfully to treat more than 70 different diseases, including some cancers, blood disorders, and immune deficiencies. Among these are leukemia, aplastic anemia, thalassemia, Hodgkin's disease, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. (Cord blood stem cells have also been used to treat sickle cell anemia, but that procedure is not yet on the FDA-approved list.)
Cord blood transplants are also used to treat rare metabolic disorders that would otherwise be fatal for infants (Krabbe disease and Sanfilippo syndrome, for example).

Is it best to be treated with your own stem cells?

Not necessarily. It depends on the illness or condition being treated.
When doctors use stem cells to help the body repair itself, the patient's own cells are ideal. There's no concern that his body will reject his own stem cells or react against them.
But when the body is making the wrong cells – for example, if the illness is cancer or a genetic blood disorder – then the transplant must come from a donor, not the patient's own cells. That's because the patient's stem cells probably carry the same defect that caused the cancer or the genetic disease, and you'd be transplanting the seeds of the disease back into the patient.

What else is cord blood used for?

Studies are under way around the world to explore new ways of using cord blood.
Cerebral palsy and autism
Children in clinical trials are being treated with their own cord blood for cerebral palsy, a condition that afflicts about 1 in 300 children in the United States. Children in clinical trials are also being treated with their own cord blood for autism, a condition that affects 1 in 88 children.
Hydrocephalus, type 1 diabetes, and more
Babies and young children in the United States are also being reinfused with their own cord blood stem cells in clinical trials to develop therapies for hydrocephalus (fluid in the brain), oxygen deprivation at birth, traumatic brain injury, type 1 (juvenile) diabetes, and congenital heart defects that require surgery. If the clinical trials are successful, these therapies may become commonly available within a few years.
Treatments for adults
Researchers believe that adult cancer patients may one day benefit from treatment from their own cord blood stem cells that were collected at birth. The hope is that stem cells will be useful for treating cancers that aren't genetically based.
Much of the promising stem cell research in adults that uses stem cells from bone marrow may one day use stem cells from cord blood. Current studies registered with the U.S. federal database are treating people with conditions as varied as diabetes, spinal cord injuries, heart failure, stroke, and neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis.
Animal studies
Scientists at the University of South Florida's Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair found that cord blood stem cells helped rats with stroke and spinal cord injuries recover some motor function and helped mice programmed to develop Lou Gehrig's disease develop symptoms more slowly and survive longer. The center is looking at cord blood treatments for diseases like Alzheimer's and cerebral palsy as well.
"Most of these studies have been performed on animals, but the results have been very encouraging," says Paul Sanberg, executive director of the Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair and vice-chair of the Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair at the University of South Florida.
But many experts urge parents to view such studies (especially those conducted on animals) cautiously. It's difficult to predict when, if ever, these treatments will become available for people.
Cautious optimism
Researchers "Breakthroughs occur daily," says Laura Riley, an obstetrician at Massachusetts General Hospital, "but most people are overly optimistic about the amount of progress thus far." Still, scientists are hopeful that someday adult patients will routinely be able to receive cell therapies based on cord blood stem cells.
A full list of the current clinical trials with cord blood is available on the Diseases Treated page of the Parent's Guide to Cord Blood Foundation website.

What parents need to know

The field of medical research with stem cells is exploding, and the topic can be confusing.
The most important thing for parents to understand about the stem cells in cord blood, says Frances Verter, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Parent's Guide to Cord Blood Foundation, is that you can either 1) donate your baby's cord blood to help patients seeking transplants now or 2) save your baby's cord blood for your family in case you need it later, most likely for a therapy that's still being studied.

How much cord blood is stored in the United States, and where is it stored?

More than 1 million units of cord blood are stored in family banks in the United States. And the national Be the Match Registry provides nearly 185,000 donated cord blood units in the United States, with additional access to more than 425,000 cord blood units through partnerships with international registries.
Verter estimates that about 5 percent of parents now bank their baby's cord blood. Ninety percent of that cord blood goes to family banks and 10 percent goes to public banks.