The umbilical cord has a vital role in keeping babies alive in the womb but could help cure a range of diseases and injuries (2010, Weaver). The umbilical cord contains a rich souse of stem cells, which are valuable because they can regenerate and fix human tissue. Some cells also have the ability to turn into different types of cells. Scientist believes with these ‘master’ cells they will be able to treat a wide range of disorders such as cancer, auto-immune diseases and arthritis. Storing the cord blood of new born babies could be a lifesaver to children’s that may become sick in their young age or it may just be a waste of money in the end, with currently only 1 in 41,000 (1% ) Australian mothers have chosen to bank their child’s cord blood.
Cord blood is found in the blood that is remaining in a new born baby’s umbilical cord and placenta once the umbilical cord has been cut. In cord blood there is a variety of different cells found. But mainly contains an excessive amount of stem cells. Cells are found in all organisms, they function your body. Stem cells are a different type of cells that have the ability to function healing and growth. Stem cells separate and form in a way that changes single fertilised eggs into living organisms. Stem cells have two main features, they have the ability to self-replicate (form more stem cells). Stem cells can also develop into different types of cells such as muscle, nerve, immune or blood cells. Stem cells main role in the body is to heal the human body from any injuries or diseases. As stem cells can heal the body’s injuries and many more features, the stem cells found in the cord blood are been used for transplants or in bone marrow (stem cells are also found in bone marrow) and also to...
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... family history or genetics that show a higher percentage rate that your child is going to get sick and be in need of stem cells found in the cord blood of babies. Scientist are discovering more ways everyday how stem cells from the cord blood can save peoples life from many common diseases in the future, but in this current decade in Australia there is not a lot of uses for cord blood available (due to restrictions) yet but in the near future it will be a valuable source that will save many young children’s life and help them live a longer healthier life. So the important thing is for current near to be parents to make an informed choice. You need to know the benefits and disadvantages plus costs of cord blood banking before you make any decisions as it may not be complete necessary in this current decade if your child is not prone to genetic disease.
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Stem cell research has always been a widely debated topic in 'social and political forums' ever since the case of Roe vs. Wade in 1973. In that case the Supreme Court gave women the right to have an abortion whether or not they have a medical reason to. Whereas beforehand 'they needed a medical reason'. This "sparked controversy" over stem cell research with aborted fetuses. For many of those in favor of using fetal tissue for research it has too much "potential" in the future of medicine in terms of providing cures for diseases and "". Those against fetal tissue research believe it unethical to take one human life in order to preserve another.
Stem cells are the building blocks of the human body. Embryos consist of unspecialized stem cells that transform into the various specialized cells in the body such as cardiac, muscle or bone cells. Fetuses also have stem cells. However, the stem cells are divided into types like muscle, bone or nerves and don't perform a specialized function. Surprisingly, adult bodies also contain stem cells. In adults, stem cells are undifferentiated but limited to specific tissue type. When needed, the stem cells transform into the cells needed for repair and maintenance. The most common source of adult stem cells is bone marrow. Researchers also acquire stem cells from umbilical cords. Without stem cells, embryos could not develop into fetuses and adult
The body is composed of cells, which form the basic unit of life. Unique cells found in the body are the stem cells. These cells are biological cells that are not specialized for particular functioning in organisms. They can be distinguished since they have the ability to differentiate or divide into multiple body cells, and their ability to replicate self. They are unique in the way they can renew themselves by undergoing cell division when inactive for a long period. It is also possible to induce stem cells to organs or tissue cells under some conditions. When the cells divide, they replenish the cells in a living organism. They serve as an internal system that repairs and replaces the tissues that are worn out.1 Dividing cells may remain as stem cells or become specialized in their functions, for instance red blood cells, brain or muscle cells.
In most hospital delivery rooms, the doctors will routinely clamp and sever the umbilical cord with in fifteen to thirty seconds of the mother giving birth. When clamping the cord, the doctors will clamp the cord in two places, one close to the infant and then again in the middle of the cord another clamp. By delaying the clamping, fetal blood in the placental transfusion can provide the infant with an additional thirty percent more blood volume and up to sixty percent more blood cells (McDonald, S., & Middleton, P., 2009). This reduces the risk of the hemorrhaging that could occur after birth. But with new ongoing studies, it is said that by delaying the clamping of the cor...
The argument for fetal research is fairly straightforward. Because of the unique characteristics of cells from human beings in early stages of development, research on embryos and fetuses may provide key weapons in the fight against disease. Fetal tissue holds promise in treating Parkinson’s disease, in ending certain kinds of paralysis, in helping those with diabetes, MS, as well as in treating patients with Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s disease. Others have argued that fetal tissue holds promise for treatment of sickle cell anemia, leukemia, and AIDS. Fetal retinal transplants may be a promising treatment for some 100,000 Americans suffering from old age blindness.
‘Is it ethical to have a child for the purpose of saving another child’s life?’
Umbilical cord blood was formerly believed of as a waste product. Now it is known that cord blood has two types of stem cells which offer multiple treatment possibilities (Waller-Wise, 2011). Cord blood contains hematopoietic stem cells and pluripotent stem cells. Hematopoietic stem cell can be utilized for regeneration of blood and immune system. Pluripotent stem cells have the capability to produce multiple tissue types of the ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm (Einstein & Merkatz, 2008). Both types of stem cells show the ability to be adapted into the treatment of a substantial range of diseases including neurologic, cardiovascular, endocrine, orthopedic, and ophthalmic conditions (Einstein & Merkatz, 2008). Stem cells can be utilized by transplant. Four principal types of physical disease that can be treated with stem cell transplants including blood disorders, congenital metabolic disorders, immunodeficiencies, and certain cancers (Waller-Wise, 2011). Some examples of diseases are Sickle-cell anemia, Tay-Sachs’ disease, Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, certain leukemias, and many more (Waller-Wise, 2011). It is recommended that persons with family history of any of the known diseases that can be helped with stem cell transplant consider cord blood banking.
However, I believe the choice is up to the individual receiving treatment to decide the method of their treatment in accordance with their beliefs. I suppose my stance with this is strongly rooted in my acceptance of stem cell research, despite which method is used. While the use of adult cells is less controversial, I do not think they have the capacity to completely replace the use of embryonic stem cells without more testing. Although, I personally am indifferent to where the cells come from, I do not condone effecting an abortion for the sole purpose of stem cell therapy or cloning one child to have the clone just as a lifetime organ donor. I would prefer that the stem cells used for testing be taken from medical waste or otherwise discarded materials. Perhaps one day the stem cells received from adults or the umbilical cord will satisfy all needs and possibly put an end to controversy (NIH,
These cells exist throughout the body after embryonic development, they are found inside different types of tissue (organs) of the body such as the brain, bone marrow, blood, blood vessels, skeletal muscles, skin and the liver. They remain in a non-dividing state for years until activated by a disease or tissue injury. Adult stem cells, which are also called somatic stem cells, these cells can only produce specialized cells for that particular tissue type. Somatic stem cells are used as treatment for blood related diseases such as leukemia. Most types of somatic cells are present in low abundance and are difficult to isolate and grow in culture.
This paper focuses on the benefits of stem cell research in the medical and nursing field. New technology is always being created to help us understand the way the human body works, as well as ways to help us improve diseased states in the body. Our bodies have the ability to proliferate or regrow cells when damage is done to the cells. Take for example the skin, when an abrasion or puncture to the skin causes loss of our skin cells, the body has its own way of causing those cells to regrow. The liver, bone marrow, heart, brain, and muscle all have cells that are capable of differentiating into cells of that same type. These are called stem cells, and are a new medical tool that is helping regrow vital organs in our body to help us survive. Stem cells can come from adult cells, or the blastocyst of the embryo. The cells that come from these are undifferentiated, and can be specialized into certain cell types, making them available for many damaged tissues in the body. While using stem cells in the body is a main use, they are also being used to help doctors understand how disease processes start. By culturing these cells in the lab and watching them develop into muscles, nerve cells, or other tissues, researchers are able to see how diseases affect these cells and possibly discover ways to correct these diseases. While researchers have come very far in using stem cells, there are still many controversies to overcome when using these cells.
Should anencephalic newborns be used as organ donors? This has been a debatable topic within the medical field and anencephalic families. There has been many pros and cons whether it is right for anencephalic babies to donate their organs. With regards to using anencephalic newborns as organ donors, I believe that doctors should be able to use anencephalic babies organs to save another baby live.
For decades, biologists have been using stem cells to figure out possible cures for different diseases and even prevent them. Stem cells are cells that can become useable in certain tissues in the body (according to an infant), or tissue cells that are already found in blood, bones, the brain, and skin (in adults or children). Stem cells are being used for patients with lymphoma (begins in the immune system), leukemia (cancer of white blood cells), and other types of blood disorders.
Stem cell research is not necessarily bad and this research can lead to a positive breakthrough in the medical field. Researchers and consumers have a mutual interest in distinguishing the good research from the bad.
The only way to ensure that sterilization has occurred is to use the biological monitoring methods. This is because these are the only tests done which show whether or not actual microbial life has been killed. Biological methods are the only ones which are recommended by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the AAMI (Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation), the AMA (American Medical Association), OSHA, and OSAP (Office Safety and Asepsis Procedures Foundation)
The most important indicators of a community’s overall health are maternal, infant and child health. It deals with the health of women of childbearing age from pre-pregnancy, labor, delivery and the postpartum period and the health of the child prior to birth up the adolescence (McKenzie & Pinger, 2015, p.192). The health data that is collected towards maternal, infant and child health are used to see the effectiveness of disease prevention and health promotion services in a community. Prenatal health care is one of the fundamentals of a safe pregnancy. An infant’s health mostly depends on the mother. A child’s during the ages of one to nine are very important to the child’s development and the future (McKenzie & Pinger, 2015, p.217). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccinating children against most vaccine-preventable diseases early in life. One of the community programs for Women, Infants and Children are maternal and child health bureau, which is in charge with the responsibility for promoting and improving the health of our nations mothers and children. Another is woman, infants and children program, which is a clinic-based program designed to provide a variety of nutritional health related goods and services to pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants up to