Stem Cell Banking

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...

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 t...

Despite advances in medicines, cancer remains one of the most frightening diagnosis patients can receive. What makes it so difficult to cure, is that it is not just one illness, but a family of more than one hundred diseases occurring through various part of the body. One type of cancer has the unfortunate distinction of afflicting children more than any other type. It is leukaemia, the cancer that begins in the stem cells found in the bone marrow. What are stem cells? Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the remarkable potential to develop into specialized cell types in the body during early life and growth. In simple terms, unlike other cells in our body, a stem cell is like an infant, underdeveloped but has great potential. They either divide and increase their numbers or they specialize and become cells of organs like the brain, kidney, liver, etc. Stem cell transplant for leukaemia treatment is one of the major gifts of stem cells. Causes of l...

Stem cells have proved to be a revolutionary development in the field of medical science. These stem cells, which are the building blocks of our body, possess regenerative and repairing characteristics. These stem cells have the potential to repair and cure diseases, injuries and dysfunctions. This regenerating process involves exchanging the damaged and beyond repair cells of a specific damaged organ of the body by transplanting stem cells, which multiply themselves to create more reparative stem cells. This process of transplantation of stem cells is termed as stem cell therapy. This process is very efficient and accurate. Researchers have further acknowledged its abilities to cure cancer. Stem cell therapy for cancer healing has been found to give impressive results. Transplantation of stem cells restore the damaged stem cells of the body that are destroyed by chemotherapy and other processes that are used for curing of cancer.  Normally, cancer stem cell transplants...