Human derived umbilical cord blood stem cell therapy: New therapeutic weapon for cardiomyopathy

Posted on March 25, 2016April 7, 2016 by admin

What is Cardiomyopathy?

Cardiomyopathy is disease of the heart muscle in which the heart muscle becomes infected, enlarged, thick, or rigid.

Current Treatment

Treatment options can only manage cardiomyopathy or reduce risks and they depend on the type of cardiomyopathy the patient has, the severity of the symptoms and complications, age and overall health. Current treatment options cannot completely cure the disease. Treatments may include:

Heart-healthy lifestyle changes
Medicines
Surgery and implanted devices

The main goals of current treatments cardiomyopathy include:

Controlling signs and managing symptoms so that patient can live as normally as possible
Managing any conditions that cause or contribute to the disease
Reducing complications and the risk of sudden cardiac arrest
Stopping the disease from getting worse

Cardiomyopathy incidences in India

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have emerged as the leading cause of mortality worldwide. In India, 1.7-2.0 million deaths are attributed to CVDs annually. The South Indian region, which is home to one‑fifth of the total population of India, accounts for ~25% of total CVD-related deaths in the country. It is estimated that by 2030, death linked to cardiovascular complications will rise to 17.9 million in India alone, which is approximately 10 times the CVD-related mortality in the US. Prevalence of cardiomyopathy is reported to be higher in the South Asian population as compared to Western population. In India cardiomyopathy accounts for about 15-20% of sudden cardiac deaths.

Umbilical cord blood stem cell therapy to treat Cardiomyopathy

With a focus on recent advances that highlight the vascular potential exhibited by umbilical cord blood stem cells, new found study proves the efficacy of umbilical cord stem cells in the cure of cardiomyopathy. Umbilical cord blood stem cells have a significant potential to regenerate into cardiac muscle cells. Potential mechanisms of umbilical cord blood stem cells and amelioration of IDCM myocardium, consideration of these issues show that umbilical cord blood stem cells are conceivably new therapeutic agents for this complex and elusive human disorder. Indeed umbilical cord blood banking can create a healthier society.

Cord blood stem cell therapy for dilated cardiomyopathy: Preclinical studies have demonstrated that cord blood stem cells:
(i) Inhibit myocardial inflammation
(ii) Inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis
(iii) Stimulate angiogenesis
(iv) Display therapeutic activity in models of dilated cardiomyopathy

Clinical studies have demonstrated the ability of mesenchymal stem cells to inhibit post-infarct remodelling, as well as potently block inflammatory processes in graft versus host and Crohn disease. Case report of a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy treated with intravenous allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells and expanded umbilical cord blood CD34 cells who underwent a profound clinical improvement.

Reference:
· http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21641354
· http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18549704

Cord blood for transplants is collected from the umbilical cord after a newborn baby is delivered. The stem cells from this cord blood are extracted in a Cell Processing Centre and preserved in -196ᵒ C liquid nitrogen tanks for future use.

Umbilical Cord Blood Banking Process

Considering the incidences of cardiac diseases, life threatening complications of cardiomyopathy and high potential of umbilical cord blood stem cells; make the need for umbilical cord blood banking in India evident. Babycell is a service provider of umbilical cord blood banking in India. Babycell achieved its ISO certification in the first year itself; by the second year of operations they received GMP, GLP and GCP certifications. Babycell also provides value added services like new born screening (NBS), CFU assay- to test the ability of stem cells to differentiate, HLA testing, Father’s wellness program and more.

Pregnancy Exercise Tips

Posted on March 22, 2016November 2, 2016 by admin

It is essential to have a fit, flexible and strong body when you’re pregnant!

Exercise during pregnancy helps you improve your metabolism, aids digestion, and helps in dealing with pregnancy woes such as back aches and muscle cramps.

Here’s an exercise chart especially for pregnant women that will guide you through an exercise regime.

5 DIY Ideas To Decorate Your Baby’s Room

Posted on March 21, 2016April 7, 2016 by admin

Looking for DIY craft ideas to personalize your baby’s room? Look no further, we have a pool of ideas to help you!

Graphic Wall Decals

Make your own wall decals with fabric, a pair of scissors and spray starch. Cut the fabric into whatever shapes you want, and attach them to the walls using the spray as an adhesive — don’t freak out about that fresh paint job; they’re easy to remove! From Positively Splendid

Photo courtesy: Positively Splendid

Picture Frames

This one’s easy and the most personalized idea, we swear. Pick up some picture frames at a craft store and put your favorite artwork, drawings or family photos inside them. Arrange them in a big cluster on one of your baby room walls — they’ll create a sophisticated yet cute look you can switch up as baby’s tastes change and add new photos.

Photo: Baby Room Ideas

Homemade Mobile

Yep, you can even DIY baby’s mobile. All you need is a wooden hoop, wooden stars or cardboard stars (you can pick these up at the craft store), paint, some ribbon and a key ring. Paint the stars, attach strips of ribbon to the key ring and glue them to the wooden hoop, glue the stars to the ribbon, and hang. From LoveLifeBaby.Blogspot.com

Photo: lovebabylife.blogspot.com

Alphabet Wall Art

Make a cute ABC display. Head to the craft store (again) for some assorted sizes of wooden letters and paint them in different colors and designs. Then put them up on baby’s wall in lines. From Jessica-Kindergartenteacher.blogspot.com

Photo: Jessica-kindergartenteacher.blogspot.com

Swatch Portraits

To make these fabric circles, you need embroidery hoops, fabric, scissors and Elmer’s glue. Place the fabric in the embroidery hoop and glue it along the edge. Then hang the hoops on the wall. Super easy! From Aedriel’s Originals

Photo: Aedriel Originals

5 Questions to Ask Before Choosing the Best Stem Cell Bank

Posted on March 21, 2016October 20, 2016 by admin

While you are pregnant, one of the most important tasks for you and your family is to plan and safeguard your baby’s future! This requires a lot of groundwork and planning for the baby-on-the-way. Health conscious and aware parents are considering cord blood stem cell preservation to be an integral part of their baby plan.

What is Umbilical Cord?

The term “cord blood” is used to describe the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and the placenta after the birth of a baby. Up until recently this afterbirth umbilical cord was discarded as medical waste. Cord blood contains stem cells that may be cryopreserved for later use in medical therapies, such as stem cell transplants or clinical trials of new stem cell therapies.

What are cord blood stem cells?

The blood in the umbilical cord and placenta is rich in stem cells. The stem cells in cord blood can grow into the blood and immune system cells, as well as other types of cells.

One of the most important decisions to be taken is – Which is the best umbilical cord blood bank for my baby?

Here are a few questions that you must ask the cord blood bank and choose the best cord blood bank for your baby.

Let’s take it step by step based on the following parameters –

Are there any specific accreditations I should look for when selecting a cord blood bank?

To decide on a cord blood bank, you’ll want to look at a number of factors which will define cell processing and lab practices: Cord blood banks should comply with national accreditation standards developed by national regulatory bodies such as ISO, FDA, GMP, GCP and GLP. Cord blood banks who have attained these gold standards have a systematic, hygienic, temperature controlled and regulated lab for extraction and preservation.

When and how is cord blood collected?

Umbilical cord blood is harvested quickly and painlessly just a few minutes after the birth of the baby— after the cord has been clamped, on both sides, and cut (either before or after the delivery of the placenta). The blood is collected either by drawing the blood from the umbilical cord with a needle and a “gravity bag” to drain and collect the blood.

What questions should parents ask about Collection?

It is necessary to know if the cord blood bank takes care of the collection of cord blood at the time of birth and the cost of shipping the cord blood to the preservation facility is included in the contract/agreement. It is also important to ask about paramedic or collection experts’ availability on weekends and wee hours.

How does the cord blood bank manage shipping at the time of preservation and retrieval?

Most cord blood banks assure free global shipment at the time of retrieval, but it also important to understand the shipping criteria during transportation of the specimen from birthing centre to the cryopreservation facility. You may also want to ask the cord blood bank to guarantee to transport the specimen to the lab and processed within a certain time window. It is mandatory that the cryo-shipping container has a temperature logger.

Is CFU really important, should we as parents care about it?

The answer is simple, it’s a big Yes. At present Colony Forming Units or CFU are considered to be the only and the best measure of whether stem cells are “viable”, or quite frankly if the cells are alive. The Total Nucleated Cell count includes both living and dead cells. In the CFU test, a small portion is watched under controlled conditions to see if cord blood stem cells divide and form colonies. It is a standardized technology to image the cells and count colonies in the image. It is advised by experts to take the CFU test before preservation as the test takes a lot of days for colonies to grow rather than wasting time at that time of retrieval or transplant to perform the test.

We hope this helps you to ask the right questions and thereby make your decisions about preserving your baby’s stem cells with the right bank!

For more information you may check: parentsguidecordblood.org/ and http://www.babycell.in/

Babycell has a panel of cord blood banking and stem cell transplants experts. To address your queries on stem cell banking you may call 1800 209 0309

Eight-year Old receives a Life Saving Stem Cell Treatment

Posted on March 7, 2016April 7, 2016 by admin

This is a story of Veena who was cured of Thalassemia by using umbilical cord stem cells.
Veena was detected with Thalassemia major since her birth. Veena’s parents always wanted her to live a normal life like other children. They visited a lot of doctors and pediatricians. Their lives revolved around appointments, medication and the constant worry of her condition getting worse.

While on the lookout for alternate solutions to her therapy, they came across stem cell banking therapy that had a cure for a myriad of disease, Thalassemia being one of them. This led them to Babycell’s center.

The doctors suggested her family to have another child and bank the new-born child’s cord blood stem cells which will help them cure Veena’s condition. Dr. Vijay Ramanan (Hematologist) was the specialist appointed to take this procedure ahead. The team executed the process smoothly with conscious moves at every step and the operation went as it was anticipated.

Veena’s transplant has been successful and has changed her life forever. She now lives a normal life just like others kids, playful and full of life. The best part about this transplant is that she is now free from all the machines and transfusions she was previously dependent on. She is living a healthy life with no worries, and a future full of surprises and ambitions.

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Posted on March 2, 2016May 23, 2016 by admin

10 Awesome Things about Being Pregnant!

Posted on February 24, 2016April 20, 2016 by admin

Pregnancy is a huge turning point in your life that brings in a rush of mixed emotions! Your body goes through a lot of exciting changes and reactions which will be a nostalgic memory for the rest of your life. You are enjoying the attention and the extra care people are showing towards you but have you considered the other reasons that this journey will be unforgettable?

Here are 10 reasons to cherish pregnancy that every pregnant woman can relate to, we know you will have more to add to this list!

1] You have a secret that only you and your husband know!
Isn’t it exciting when you have to hide the ‘Big News’ from your friends and family until you are sure that you can disclose it? You have this uncontrollable blush when you face your loved ones and try your best to hide the news.
Before you disclose this exciting news to your family and friends, you should tell your spouse first! It’s also exciting to share this joyful news with your family in a creative way.
Here’s a link to try out some exciting ways – http://bit.ly/1XLX8DF

2] You Won’t Have To Do Any Heavy Lifting -
Once your family members find out you’re pregnant, they start making it a habit running around making sure your errands are completed while you sit in the comfort of your home!
Say goodbye to heavy physical work and enjoy your cup of tea while the others work.

3] You will always get a seat!
Leave all your worries behind when it comes to standing in a long queue at a ticket counter or worrying about getting a seat while travelling! Pregnant women will always be treated royally by everyone almost wherever you go.

4] Pregnancy spa and massages become the way of life!
If you are a woman who loves pampering yourself by booking an appointment at the nearest spa, this is the time to make most of it!
It also rejuvenates you and helps you get rid of physical and mental stress. Pregnancy massage is different from regular massage consult your OB/GYN before enrolling for sessions.
You have 9 months of these amazing visits!

5] Everyday day is a ‘Good Hair Day’
Your hair-fall decreases each day while you’re pregnant, which makes it appear thicker and voluminous.
Get rid of all those clips and rubber bands, and enjoy your bouncy tresses and flaunt them along with your adorable bump.

6] Yes, it’s time for a holiday – You get to go on a Maternity Leave!
Pack all the stuff on your office desk and say goodbye to your daily to-do list because now your daily task manager has only one task on it – Relax!
It’s time you enjoy your leaves and tick things off your bucket list!

7] Woohoo! – Did you feel the kick?
We often come across movies, articles and videos that talk about babies kicking inside a mother’s womb. However, it is the mother for whom this is a special moment. These foetal movements are the first steps that mark the beginning of the baby-mother bond.

8] No one is going to stop you from relishing your favourite food items –
During pregnancy, you will have various food cravings like pickles, tamarind, ice creams and candy, the list goes on. The best part about this phase is that no one will stop you from relishing them.

9] That proud moment of carrying “a life inside you!”
During pregnancy, you will know how it feels to carry life inside you; a living soul that beats within your womb. Such moments are a blessing that nothing in the world can replace.

10] You get to watch your beloved husband become a Dad–
Pregnancy not only brings changes into a woman’s life but also a man’s life. You see the to-be-dad transform from a man into a husband and finally into a father. Just like yours, his lifestyle also changes for the better. But more importantly, a baby on the way will be one of the crucial responsibilities you undertake together, helping you get closer and work as a team.

What To Pack For Delivery

Posted on February 19, 2016April 7, 2016 by admin

On the day of your delivery, you have no time to think about what to carry along & the pre-requisites to be packed in the middle of all the excited hustle bustle!

Here’s a compact checklist to your rescue! Keep these items in your bag and you are sorted for your big day!

10 clever ideas on gifting your pregnant wife on Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 13, 2016April 7, 2016 by admin

Valentine’s is the season of love, care and affection! It’s also the gifting season, which gets some men worried! We’re here to help you out!

Here are some clever ideas on what to gift your pregnant wife this Valentine’s Day –

1] Chocolate, Of Course!

Not only is dark chocolate insanely delicious, but it also has some amazing health benefits! The generous amount of Theo bromine in dark chocolate will help relax her stressed muscles and dilate blood vessels. This chemical stimulates the heart and will give her an extra boost during that overtime her body is putting in.

Get some home-made delicacies for her in a heart shaped box with a cute ribbon and a personalized message to show her how much she means to you!

2] Play a round or two of Mini-Golf –

Your sweetheart is going through a lot of changes in her body, and she could definitely use her husband’s emotional support. She would enjoy a day out with you that will remind her she is still entitled to go out and have some fun! To not make it a more stressful or tiring event, take her somewhere nice and quiet for a fun activity like miniature golf. It will be romantic and will help you bond with her on the -day!

3) Gift her a Heart Necklace –

Women have always been crazy about jewellry. Gifting your lady luck a heart necklace will just bring an irresistible blush on her face. The simplicity of a heart necklace will only lift her mood up and will add the flavour of love this Valentine’s season.

4] A tranquil massage –

Prenatal massage therapy is one of the best methods for relieving aches and pains, reducing stress and anxiety, and even making the process of labour easier. Make her feel special this valentines by gifting her a soothing spa kit.

You can also book a couple’s massage to accompany her to make your bond stronger!

5] Cupid Maternity T- Shirt –

A cute T- shirt with a heart or cupid over the belly will make your darling go gaga over it! It will also give her another reason to flaunt her baby bump in style! After all, who doesn’t like to dress up and spend a few romantic moments with their partner on this day?

6] Get her some drinks!

Your wife needs to stay hydrated all the time. What better way to make her feel special by taking her out for non-alcoholic drinks that are safe for her?

Try your hand at making some simple and fresh Mocktails at home or surprise her by taking her out to a nice restaurant and get her some cranberry mixes to make it a perfect night-out. She will surely relish these moments as they will make her feel young and lively again!

7] Dinner for Cravings!
Food is not just the way into a man’s heart, but a pregnant woman’s heart as well!

Make a list of the cravings she has mentioned to you, and make sure you set the table for her with all of these favourite things, there is nothing more special than a husband who remembers what his pregnant wife was craving for! Give her a special Valentine’s Day that she will never forget!

8] Maternity Photo-shoot –

There is no woman who has said ‘no’ to a photo-shoot!

During this memorable time of her life, it becomes important to capture these special moments. Making her feel pampered by surprising her with photo-shoot planned is a great way to do this! Create some amazing themes that cover her interests, for e.g. if she likes scenic backdrops, take her to a beautiful place and compliment her pregnancy glow in those pictures. We are sure this will steal her heart and make you her dream man!

9) Momma needs some Ice-cream!

Take your sweetheart on an Ice-cream date or maybe those yogurt joints where she can choose her favourite toppings that she loves!

When she is pregnant she will definitely be craving sweets and ice-creams and taking her out on a simple ice-cream date will just help you brighten up her mood.

10] Gift your wife an Umbilical Cord Blood Bank Gift Jar.–

The best gift a husband can give his pregnant wife is something that safeguards their baby’s future! Gifting your expecting lady a gift as unique as an Umbilical Cord Blood Bank Gift Jar will just make her feel overwhelmed with your love and care towards her and the baby. Also, those antenatal and postnatal programs that are clubbed with the package will just be the cherry on top of the cake. This would be a gift that speaks the language of love and clearly shows her that you care!

Go ahead and register yourself this Valentines for a lifelong healthcare investment and let your family benefit from it in future.

World Cancer Day

Posted on February 4, 2016April 7, 2016 by admin

On an average 2 people in India are diagnosed with cancer every minute!

On this World Cancer Day let’s all come together and strive to spread awareness about the disease.

Let’s educate people on how umbilical cord blood cells can help curing 70+ blood disorders causing cancer. Here are some stats on the prevalence of the disease and how Stem Cells give us new hope to fight it!

Author: admin