Stem Cell Banking

Pregnancy is a difficult phase replete with a lot of uncertainties, both for the mother and the fetus. But increased nuchal translucency thickness between 11-14 weeks of pregnancy has become synonymous with ‘morphological expression’ of fetal chromosomal anomalies and genetic syndromes. Further, it also serves as an indication of cardiovascular abnormalities.   The nuchal scan or ​ nuchal translucency ( NT) scan ​ is a non-invasive sonographic prenatal scan ( ultrasound) that attempts to detect the risk of chromosomal abnormalities like Down’s Syndrome and other major visceral problems of the heart.   The ​ NT scan ​ is carried out between 11-13+6 weeks of gestation since the baby’s neck ceases to be transparent after that due to shifting of fluid out of that area. This screening test checks the amount of fluid or the clear space of tissue at the back of the fetal neck. Babies affected with anomalies typically display the larger quantity of collected fluid in the first tri

Giving birth a to a new life is one of many wonders of nature. Giving their baby the best care, is all the parents ever wish for. They desire to give the baby, the best upbringing and raise it with great values and ethics. Parents start teaching their kids all about these ethics from the very beginning. Studies show, that parents can start these teaching values to their babies, right from the moment they are conceived. Garbha Sanskaar is one such study of teaching a lot of things to the baby, when inside the womb. This is an ancient method of giving the baby, values of the parents by talking to them, and telling them stories. The studies support this theory, which states that a baby starts learning from the moment it is conceived, and undergoes behavioural development and this can be influenced by controlling the state of mind of the mother. This practice of influencing the mind of the baby while in the womb is called Garbha Sanskaar, which if tracked, takes us back to the vedic era

AABB was formed in 1947 as American Association of Blood Banks, as an international non-profit organization for blood banking and transfusion services. Currently known as just AABB, it is based in America and is associated with 80 other countries. The purpose of AABB is to improvise blood banking services, which involve the collection, testing, storage, labelling, maintenance of record, spreading awareness about Stem Cells   and their banking through accreditation and education programmes and development in the field of immunohematology, which is regulated by Food and Drug Administration of US. Now, stem cells are those undifferentiated mother cells, which can develop into multiple forms and can regenerate indefinitely. These are collected from various sources like embryos, placenta, umbilical cord, bone marrow, teeth, blood cells etc. These cells have the potential to cure various diseases, and the process of curing diseases using stem cells is termed   ​ stem cell therap

The transparent outer layer of the eye deceives all with its clear and smooth structure. What is generally not known, is the ability of the Cornea to protect the rest of the eye from the dust and debris of the outer world, and also refine vision. Structure of the Cornea: A cornea is formed of an amalgamation of 5 layers: Corneal epithelium : It is the outermost layer of the cornea and keeps it moist. Bowman’s layer : It is a dense layer that prevents abrasions from affecting the stroma. Corneal stroma : It is the middle layer of the cornea and contributes to its cleanliness. Descemet’s membrane : It separates stroma from the underlying endothelium. It gradually thickens throughout life. Endothelium : It lies to the extreme interior. Although, the cornea is immune to minor abrasions, vehement damage from lacerations, burns and deep abrasions may result in Corneal scarring. Symptoms of Corneal scarring: ●        Blurred vision ●        Inflammati

Stem cells found in the cord blood are believed to be the most adaptable stem cells as they are at their youngest stage. Stem cells are biological cells that can multiply to generate numerous cells of the same type and also differentiate into other cell types. Stem cells available in the cord blood is known to possess the capability to cure an array of health disorders (as many as 80 are identified to date). The stem cells found in cord blood of a child can be stored and preserved in a medical facility termed as Cord blood banking. A great care is taken to select and employ the most advanced methods and types of equipment at such publicly or privately owned medical facilities where stem cell preservation is done. Cryopreservation is one such advanced methods for storing and preserving the umbilical cord stem cells. Cryopreservation Cryopreservation can be described as the process of storing and preserving living cells, tissues, organs and any biological materials at an ext

Who knew that the umbilical cord blood which was once shrugged off as trash could hold life-saving stem cells? Stem cells follow the same analogy in multicellular organisms as seeds do in plants. They are undifferentiated biological cells that form the building blocks for different types of cells and have the ability to produce more of the same type of cells. The ability of these cells to treat around 70 blood-related and genetic disorders has earned it a coveted reputation lately in the biological world. Scientists have devised methods for stem cell preservation to last a lifetime. Scientific evidence otherwise suggests that they can be stored for up to   24 years . Why preserve stem cells? Young cells with regeneration ability : The stem cells from the umbilical cord are juvenile and raw in their exposure to the outside environment, hence the process of baby stem cell preservation is very important. They can differentiate and regenerate into different types