Stem Cells: February 2006 Archives
Today they insert a needle to a vein of the umbilical cord and let gravity do the job, blood flows through a small tube to a plastic bag. The problem is that only a small amount of blood (and stem cells) are collected. If they take long blood starts thickening or cuagulating and there's also the risk of contamination from the mother's blood or bacteria from the outside.
The amount we gathered from Sofia's umbilical cord was not enough to treat Andy and he was 17 kg. at that time and believe me we were very carefull about extracting all the blood from the umbilical cord and placenta.
According to this article, Israelis have came up with a device that is supposed to collect more blood (and stem cells) from the umbilical cord and with no needles.
The half-millimeter needle that is inserted into the vein, which is several millimeters wide, simply can't quickly and freely enough extract all the thickening blood.
Made mainly of polypropylene and latex, the SituGen comprises a holder which clamps around the umbilical cord, holding the cord in place as the placenta is delivered and absorbing the maternal blood so it doesn't contaminate the baby's cord blood. Attached to the holder through a sophisticated synchronization and sealing mechanism is a sterilization chamber into which the blood flows. A syringe is connected to the other end of the chamber which can be removed when full, emptied and then refilled.
The device:
Read the article here.
French researchers will be able to work with stem cell lines derived from embryos. They can use unused embryos from in vitro fertilization if the couples dont plan to use them, or if the embryos have been diagnosed with a disease or malformation.
Here is the Government announcement via Agence de la Biomédicine (in french).
Down to earth explanation of stem cells and stem cell research.
Here are some of their charts:
Read the article via How Stuff Works here.
I received this interesting note from Spain,
Spanish Parliament Lifts Some Restrictions on IVF Treatment, Allows Varying Usage of Excess Embryos [Feb 21, 2006]
Spain's Parliament on Thursday approved a measure that would lift restrictions on the number of embryos that can be implanted into a woman undergoing in vitro fertilization and would allow couples to determine the future use of remaining embryos, the Associated Press reports (Associated Press, 2/16). The current law says that up to three embryos can be implanted during each IVF cycle, Reuters reports (Pinedo, Reuters, 2/16). According to the Associated Press, the legislation would remove the limits on the number of embryos that can be implanted because IVF is "costly and both physically and emotionally draining for couples." It also would allow couples to prepare extra embryos for implantation in case the first cycle is not successful (Associated Press, 2/16). Under the legislation, the embryos could "be reserved for (the couple's) own use in the future, given to other couples, authorized to be used in research, or (the couple) [could] ask for them to stop being preserved," Health Minister Elena Salgado said. The measure "in limited and exceptional cases" also would allow a third party to use embryos to help couples conceive a healthy infant to help save the life of a sibling, according to Reuters. The legislation would maintain the previous ban on surrogate motherhood and would oversee sperm and egg donations to prohibit their use for commercial purposes (Reuters, 2/16) . The measure now moves to the Senate for consideration, but a vote on the legislation likely will not be held for several months (Associated Press, 2/16).
From one of the few parents who decided to use them...
Top ten reasons why NOT to preserve your baby's cord blood at a private umbilical cord stem cell bank.
10. It's expensive. You have to pay a subscription fee of about $1,500 and then a yearly maintenance rate of around $100.
9. It sounds strange... Do you preserve other cells from your body (sperm, eggs, white cells) at a private bank (laboratory)?
8. DMSO causes a rash. The substance used to preserve the cord blood stem cells known as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) may cause a rash after infusion to the bloodstream.
7. The bank stem cell deposit process is well known... They even send you flowers. The stem cell extraction process from the bank is not well rehearsed... They don't send any flowers.
6. As far as I know there are less than twenty cases world wide (ww) of parents who preserved the umbilical cord blood and then had to use it. And there are hundreds of thousands of people paying to preserve cord blood world wide (ww).
5. Smells strange. The substance they use to preserve the cells known as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) smells like black olives.
4. You could preserve your own bone marrow stem cells today.... have you?
3. The amount of stem cells obtained from the umbilical cord are rarely sufficient for a stem cell transplant.
2. If you have a mutation, umbilical cord stem cells will also carry that same mutation.
1. Its better to donate. If everyone donates the umbilical cord blood to a public registry then it would be easier for the people who need to use them to find compatible cells.
And a bonus:
Umbilical cord blood private banks have strange marketing techniques. Don't believe everything they say.
Coming soon: Top ten reasons why you SHOULD preserve your baby's cord blood.
This is a great program by Terry Gross and Author Christopher Thomas Scott who is the head of Stanford University's Program on Stem Cells and Society. The title of his book is "Stem Cell Now".
He talks about pre implantation genetic diagnosis, Molly & Adam Nash, etc.
The stem cell has become a common denominator of hoe. Behind the sobering facts, patients and their families ask, "Will there be a cure? And will it be in time for us?"
Read and listen via NPR here.
