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MSCs Show Great Potential
Tuesday, April 19th, 2011
Imagine having a medical resource at your fingertips that could potentially help fight cancer, halt Parkinson’s disease, and neutralize juvenile diabetes.
Recent advances with a particular group of stem cells, called mesenchymal stem cells or MSCs, suggest they could be this resource within our lifetimes, potentially adding to other stem cell treatments already in use. This news is particularly exciting for expectant parents, because MSCs are abundant in umbilical cord tissue—the tissue that makes up the umbilical cord itself—and can be extracted and stored long-term.
Cord blood banking stores stem cells found in the umbilical cord blood, which is rich in hemapatopoietic stem cells (HSCs). These cells, responsible for producing blood and immune cells are immensely valuable—they’re used today in the treatment of dozens of diseases and are also being explored as a potential treatment for many others, including type 1 diabetes and cerebral palsy. HSCs are different from MSCs, however, so cord tissue stem cell banking goes a step further by capturing MSCs from the umbilical cord tissue, and cryogenically freezing them in case they are ever needed.
Categories: Emerging Treatments
Mesenchymal Stem Cells Arrive at the Forefront of Research
Tuesday, April 5th, 2011
Stem cells are the building blocks of life. So it’s no surprise that a major source of these cells is in the life-giving connection between mother and baby—the umbilical cord. When parents choose to bank their baby’s cord blood, the physician collects the blood remaining in the umbilical cord after birth and discards the umbilical cord tissue. New research is showing, however, that valuable stem cells are not only found in cord blood; they’re also found in the umbilical cord tissue.
Stem cell overview: hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells
Cord blood contains a variety of stem cells, including hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). These newborn stem cells can do an array of things, including create and repair the blood and immune systems. Hematopoietic stem cells can be the unsung heroes in transplants for patients with leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening diseases. HSCs and other stem cells found in cord blood are also being explored as a treatment option in some regenerative therapies, including treatment for Type I diabetes and cerebral palsy.
Categories: Did You Hear?, Emerging Treatments
2010 Recap: Cord Blood Research, Viacord and More
Friday, January 21st, 2011
2011 is here; can you believe it? Many positive things happened for cord blood research, ViaCord families and ViaCord in 2010. Let’s take a moment to look back at some of the highlights.
Important cord blood stem cell research paves the way for treatment possibilities
Here is just some of what went on this year:
Progress continued in trials using cord blood stem cells in regenerative medicine. Regenerative medicine applications require a patient to use his or her own cord blood stem cells in treatment. As a result a number of ViaCord families have been able to participate in these trials.
Categories: Emerging Treatments, Trends in Healthcare
Reinforcement from a ViaCord Mom
Thursday, January 6th, 2011
When Julie and Jason heard about a research study re-infusing children with their own cord blood stem cells to help treat cerebral palsy, they were thankful they’d saved their daughter’s just years before. Rebecca was born with a neurological impairment that causes difficulty speaking and using her limbs. Despite having the physical ability to do so, Rebecca’s brain prevents her from executing familiar and learned movements. Although verbal communication may be a challenge for this bright five year old girl, her constant smile, big hugs and love of playing with other kids says it all – Rebecca is one of the happiest, healthiest, and friendliest little girls you could ever meet.
In July 2009 Rebecca received a re-infusion of her own cord blood stem cells in the hopes of improving her condition. Though Julie and Jason have not seen much progress in Rebecca since the re-infusion of her cord blood
Categories: Emerging Treatments, Family Matters, Stories of Hope
Cord Blood Stem Cells Show Promise for Alzheimer’s Patients
Tuesday, December 21st, 2010
It’s estimated Alzheimer’s disease affects over 5 million people in the United States1— with one person developing the disease every 70 seconds.2 Named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer who first reported the condition in 1906, it is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that affects memory and thinking skills. 3 While there is no cure, treatment progress is being made. Recent scientific developments include the exciting potential therapeutic use of cord blood stem cells. To understand how cord blood might be used to treat Alzheimer’s, it’s helpful to know how the disease changes the brain.
Plaques, tangles and inflammation
As we age, most of us will experience changes in the brain called plaques and tangles. Plaques are protein deposits that build up between nerve cells. Tangles are fibers that form within dying brain cells. Though the exact role they play in the disease is unclear, plaques and tangles seem to cause an inflammatory response that prevents neurons from communicating properly, and kills brain cells. More tangles and plaques are found in patients with Alzheimer’s and start in the learning and memory centers of the brain.
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Categories: Emerging Treatments
Clinical Trials Offer Hope for Families Affected by Cerebral Palsy and Diabetes
Thursday, September 23rd, 2010
Today, cord blood stem cells can be used to treat nearly 80 life-threatening diseases and are offering new hope to families affected by conditions that only years ago had no stem cell treatment options. A couple of the most exciting possibilities of cord blood stem cells lies in clinical trials now being conducted to determine whether a child’s own cord blood stem cells may be used to treat cerebral palsy and Type 1 Diabetes.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a general term used to describe a group of neurological disorders that appear in early childhood and permanently affect muscle coordination and body movement. It is most often caused by brain injury or
Categories: Emerging Treatments, Transplants and Infusions, Trends in Healthcare