2011年1月28日 星期五
2011年1月25日 星期二
香港健康網絡 : 22-01-2011「孕媽媽全方位分娩準備」免費講座
為使寶寶能健康快樂地成長，每位準父母都盡力為自己的寶寶提供最佳保障。懷孕期間，孕婦經常因身理及心理上的變化而影響情緒，顧慮的事數之不盡。有見及 此，由《Baby親子雜誌》主辦，CordLife康盛人生臍帶血庫的全力支持下，早前舉辦了「孕媽媽全方位分娩準備」免費講座，吸引超過二百名準父母出 席，場面相當熱鬧，座無虛席，一眾準父母都獲益良多。
講座不但詳細講解臍帶血對BB的保障及其用處之外，還邀請到資深註冊護士主講產前檢查、分娩過程及飲食須知等有關資訊，提醒準媽媽們要多加留意日常生活及起居飲食的注意事項，釋除大部份參加者的疑慮。
講座後，參加者都紛紛向CordLife康盛人生臍帶血庫顧問查詢有關臍血貯存服務的安排，在產前加深了解臍血對人生所提供的保障。
為使準父母們作好迎接寶寶的心理準備，講座提供了不同的產前分娩資訊，吸引超過二百名準父母出席，場面熱鬧非常。
香港健康網絡
講座不但詳細講解臍帶血對BB的保障及其用處之外，還邀請到資深註冊護士主講產前檢查、分娩過程及飲食須知等有關資訊，提醒準媽媽們要多加留意日常生活及起居飲食的注意事項，釋除大部份參加者的疑慮。
講座後，參加者都紛紛向CordLife康盛人生臍帶血庫顧問查詢有關臍血貯存服務的安排，在產前加深了解臍血對人生所提供的保障。
為使準父母們作好迎接寶寶的心理準備，講座提供了不同的產前分娩資訊，吸引超過二百名準父母出席，場面熱鬧非常。
香港健康網絡
2011年1月24日 星期一
Stem-cell research gives hope
Stem-cell research gives hope
Saving lives is more important than saving cells.
by Brittany Schmidt
The ethics of stem-cell collection and stem-cell research have been debated for some time now. While many consider the process of obtaining stem cells to be immoral and expensive, the outcome of using them can be incredible and life changing. For Charlie Knuth, stem cells could save his life.
Charlie Knuth is a four-year-old boy from the Fox Valley with Epidermolysis bullosa, a rare genetic condition. His disease is caused by a mutation in his keratin or collagen gene, which affects the connective tissue within his skin. Without collagen or keratin, the layers of skin on his body are not connected properly to one another; therefore, any trauma or pressure causes friction between the layers and makes them rip open and blister.
Because this genetic condition is incurable, Knuth's doctor's only option is to make the boy's condition more manageable and comfortable. The best possible solution was to do a stem-cell transplant. Although it is a very expensive procedure, it was the only one capable of saving Knuth's life. Stem cells have the ability to develop into a multitude of different types of cells to help repair or replace damaged cells. The doctors hoped that Knuth's stem cells would help bind his skin together, making it stronger and more resistant, eventually saving his life.
Because they are easily transformed into skin cells, Knuth's doctors decided to use adult stem cells extracted from his own bone marrow. Although the doctors used Knuth's adult stem cells, there are two other ways to get them. One way is to collect umbilical cord cells when a child is born and then store them away until they are required. Many mothers are starting to collect and save umbilical cord blood at birth in case this type of stem cell is ever needed.
The second method is through the collection of embryonic cells. These are extracted from an embryo before the cells start to duplicate. Many anti-abortion advocates have argued that stem-cell research is unethical and should not be practiced because it destroys embryonic cells, something they argue is equivalent to killing a human being. Therefore, they don't believe this method should be funded for research.
I am pro-choice. There is no comprehensible logic behind the restriction of funds for stem-cell research through embryonic extraction. There is no justification behind saving a group of cells over saving a child's life.
While I realize there are other ways to extract stem cells, I think we need to do as much research into embryonic cells as possible. They are easily turned into any kind of cell needed, while adult stem cells typically turn into the cell they were derived from. Embryonic cells grow from the beginning and double in number every two to three days, giving the patient more cells and thus an increased chance of survival.
With the stem-cell transplant, Knuth is doing a lot better. Some of the blisters on his head and face are healing and he no longer requires a ventilator. This is just one case in which stem-cell research has enhanced the life of an individual, and is ultimately reason enough to continue research. The more we know about stem cells, the more we will be able to grow new organs for transplant patients. If we could use a patient's own stem cells to regenerate or improve the function of an organ, there would be less of a chance of an immune rejection along with a decrease in demand for tissue and organ donation.
According to the National Institute of Health, the need for transplantable tissues and organs far outweighs the available supply. Stem cells offer the possibility of a renewable source of replacement cells and tissues to treat diseases like Alzheimer's disease, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease and diabetes.
UW-Madison played an important role in the isolation of the world's first embryonic stem cells in 1998 and has been a leader in stem-cell and regenerative research ever since. Stem-cell research is important and should be supported and funded for a multitude of reasons. It has endless possibilities and could make life-threatening diseases a fear of the past. If the potential of stem-cell research isn't a good enough reason for support and funding, then there is always proof in a little boy named Charlie.
Source: The Daily Cardinal
Saving lives is more important than saving cells.
by Brittany Schmidt
The ethics of stem-cell collection and stem-cell research have been debated for some time now. While many consider the process of obtaining stem cells to be immoral and expensive, the outcome of using them can be incredible and life changing. For Charlie Knuth, stem cells could save his life.
Charlie Knuth is a four-year-old boy from the Fox Valley with Epidermolysis bullosa, a rare genetic condition. His disease is caused by a mutation in his keratin or collagen gene, which affects the connective tissue within his skin. Without collagen or keratin, the layers of skin on his body are not connected properly to one another; therefore, any trauma or pressure causes friction between the layers and makes them rip open and blister.
Because this genetic condition is incurable, Knuth's doctor's only option is to make the boy's condition more manageable and comfortable. The best possible solution was to do a stem-cell transplant. Although it is a very expensive procedure, it was the only one capable of saving Knuth's life. Stem cells have the ability to develop into a multitude of different types of cells to help repair or replace damaged cells. The doctors hoped that Knuth's stem cells would help bind his skin together, making it stronger and more resistant, eventually saving his life.
Because they are easily transformed into skin cells, Knuth's doctors decided to use adult stem cells extracted from his own bone marrow. Although the doctors used Knuth's adult stem cells, there are two other ways to get them. One way is to collect umbilical cord cells when a child is born and then store them away until they are required. Many mothers are starting to collect and save umbilical cord blood at birth in case this type of stem cell is ever needed.
The second method is through the collection of embryonic cells. These are extracted from an embryo before the cells start to duplicate. Many anti-abortion advocates have argued that stem-cell research is unethical and should not be practiced because it destroys embryonic cells, something they argue is equivalent to killing a human being. Therefore, they don't believe this method should be funded for research.
I am pro-choice. There is no comprehensible logic behind the restriction of funds for stem-cell research through embryonic extraction. There is no justification behind saving a group of cells over saving a child's life.
While I realize there are other ways to extract stem cells, I think we need to do as much research into embryonic cells as possible. They are easily turned into any kind of cell needed, while adult stem cells typically turn into the cell they were derived from. Embryonic cells grow from the beginning and double in number every two to three days, giving the patient more cells and thus an increased chance of survival.
With the stem-cell transplant, Knuth is doing a lot better. Some of the blisters on his head and face are healing and he no longer requires a ventilator. This is just one case in which stem-cell research has enhanced the life of an individual, and is ultimately reason enough to continue research. The more we know about stem cells, the more we will be able to grow new organs for transplant patients. If we could use a patient's own stem cells to regenerate or improve the function of an organ, there would be less of a chance of an immune rejection along with a decrease in demand for tissue and organ donation.
According to the National Institute of Health, the need for transplantable tissues and organs far outweighs the available supply. Stem cells offer the possibility of a renewable source of replacement cells and tissues to treat diseases like Alzheimer's disease, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease and diabetes.
UW-Madison played an important role in the isolation of the world's first embryonic stem cells in 1998 and has been a leader in stem-cell and regenerative research ever since. Stem-cell research is important and should be supported and funded for a multitude of reasons. It has endless possibilities and could make life-threatening diseases a fear of the past. If the potential of stem-cell research isn't a good enough reason for support and funding, then there is always proof in a little boy named Charlie.
Source: The Daily Cardinal
2011年1月19日 星期三
Should I bank my baby's cord blood?
Should I bank my baby's cord blood?
By Amanda Genge, Staff Writer, myOptumHealth
Expectant parents are bombarded with decisions to make during pregnancy. Will they have their baby screened for birth defects? Do they want to find out the sex of the baby before the birth? Does the mother want to have a natural birth or opt for pain relief? These days, moms- and dads-to-be can add yet another decision to the list: Will they store their baby's umbilical cord blood? Here is some information that can help parents make an educated choice before their baby is born.
Why would we want to store or donate our baby's cord blood?
Blood in your baby's umbilical cord after birth contains special cells that can be used in transplants to treat certain types of leukemia or other blood diseases. Donating cord blood is a lot like regular blood donation. If you donate it to a public bank, your baby's cord blood can help to save the life of someone who needs a stem cell transplant. Or it might be used for vital medical research.
How is cord blood collected?
After your baby is born and the umbilical cord is clamped, blood from it and the placenta are collected into a special kit. The process is painless and takes just a few minutes, and parents may not even be aware of it. Parents have to submit a form with the family medical history as well as a consent form. The blood is then sent for processing and storage at a public blood bank or private storage facility.
Should we bank privately or donate to a public bank?
Many parents choose to pay for private cord blood banking "just in case" someone in the family might need it for medical treatment one day. Cord blood from another family member might be an ideal match.
But the American Academy of Pediatrics discourages private cord blood banking unless the baby's full sibling already has a condition that might benefit from a cord blood transplant.
Why? The baby can't use the cord blood for his or her own transplant, if he or she develops a condition that could be helped by one. That's because the condition would already be present in the cord blood, making it useless. And if no one else in the baby's family ever needs it, the cord blood at a private bank will go to waste. At a public bank, though, the baby's cord blood can be matched to any person who might need a transplant. If a family member does need a stem-cell transplant later, he or she may be matched with a donor from the public bank.
What is the cost?
Donation to public cord-blood banks is free to parents, just like regular blood donation. Private banking of cord blood, though, can be very expensive. The initial fee, including some storage time, may be thousands of dollars. Annual storage fees after that first year or two may cost hundreds of dollars a year. Parents should be aware that scientists and doctors don't yet know how long cord blood can be stored, whether it is banked publicly or privately, before it "expires."
Making the decision
If you're not sure what you want to do, talk to your doctor about the options. He or she will best be able to answer your questions based on your family medical history. Some doctors also have information about private storage banks.
If you decide to donate cord blood, find out if your hospital collects public donations or if you'll need to make arrangements on your own. The National Marrow Donor Program (http://www.marrow.org/) keeps a list of participating hospitals, as well as instructions for arranging donation yourself.
Source: KWQC TV6 News
By Amanda Genge, Staff Writer, myOptumHealth
Expectant parents are bombarded with decisions to make during pregnancy. Will they have their baby screened for birth defects? Do they want to find out the sex of the baby before the birth? Does the mother want to have a natural birth or opt for pain relief? These days, moms- and dads-to-be can add yet another decision to the list: Will they store their baby's umbilical cord blood? Here is some information that can help parents make an educated choice before their baby is born.
Why would we want to store or donate our baby's cord blood?
Blood in your baby's umbilical cord after birth contains special cells that can be used in transplants to treat certain types of leukemia or other blood diseases. Donating cord blood is a lot like regular blood donation. If you donate it to a public bank, your baby's cord blood can help to save the life of someone who needs a stem cell transplant. Or it might be used for vital medical research.
How is cord blood collected?
After your baby is born and the umbilical cord is clamped, blood from it and the placenta are collected into a special kit. The process is painless and takes just a few minutes, and parents may not even be aware of it. Parents have to submit a form with the family medical history as well as a consent form. The blood is then sent for processing and storage at a public blood bank or private storage facility.
Should we bank privately or donate to a public bank?
Many parents choose to pay for private cord blood banking "just in case" someone in the family might need it for medical treatment one day. Cord blood from another family member might be an ideal match.
But the American Academy of Pediatrics discourages private cord blood banking unless the baby's full sibling already has a condition that might benefit from a cord blood transplant.
Why? The baby can't use the cord blood for his or her own transplant, if he or she develops a condition that could be helped by one. That's because the condition would already be present in the cord blood, making it useless. And if no one else in the baby's family ever needs it, the cord blood at a private bank will go to waste. At a public bank, though, the baby's cord blood can be matched to any person who might need a transplant. If a family member does need a stem-cell transplant later, he or she may be matched with a donor from the public bank.
What is the cost?
Donation to public cord-blood banks is free to parents, just like regular blood donation. Private banking of cord blood, though, can be very expensive. The initial fee, including some storage time, may be thousands of dollars. Annual storage fees after that first year or two may cost hundreds of dollars a year. Parents should be aware that scientists and doctors don't yet know how long cord blood can be stored, whether it is banked publicly or privately, before it "expires."
Making the decision
If you're not sure what you want to do, talk to your doctor about the options. He or she will best be able to answer your questions based on your family medical history. Some doctors also have information about private storage banks.
If you decide to donate cord blood, find out if your hospital collects public donations or if you'll need to make arrangements on your own. The National Marrow Donor Program (http://www.marrow.org/) keeps a list of participating hospitals, as well as instructions for arranging donation yourself.
Source: KWQC TV6 News
2011年1月18日 星期二
第七屆深圳關愛行動
深圳關愛行動組委會辦公室 2010年 12月8日
生命接力——社會各界曏白血病少年無私獻愛
11月23日，《深圳晚報》報道了15歲少年湯奕進不幸患上白血病，年近40歲的母親吳小瓊冒險再度懷孕，希望用新生兒的臍帶血為湯奕進治病，但臨近預產期卻還為分娩的費用發愁。消息見報後，不少社會愛心組織和市民紛紛慷慨解囊。
市關愛辦第一時間關註到這個不幸的家庭。市關愛辦主任黃揚略錶示，市關愛辦將全額捐助分娩費用，衕時號召社會各界捐款，幫助這個急需幫助的家庭。市關愛辦副主任徐建萍捧著鮮花和2萬元慰問金來到北大深圳醫院湯奕進病房探望，錶示“關愛外來工、讓他們在這裏找到家的感覺，一直是我們努力的方曏。”
11月24日，深圳慈海婦兒科醫院將吳小瓊接到該院的愛心病房，承諾免費為吳小瓊進行接生和埰集新生兒臍帶血；深圳華大基因研究院則願意免費做新生兒臍帶血的配型；廣東省臍帶血造血乾細胞庫與湯奕進父親簽訂協議，將提供免費檢測、製備、培養及存儲新生兒臍帶血的服務。
社會眾多愛心人士也伸出了援助之手，旅澳姑娘越洋委托爺爺捐款2000元，一對80多歲的老人家捐贈了1萬元善款，此外，還有許多市民趕到北大醫院親自將善款交到湯奕進手中。截至12月5日，深圳關愛行動組委會的愛心賬戶及湯奕進一家共收到35萬余元的捐款。這些善款將全部用于湯奕進今後做乾細胞移植手術及後期治療費用。
吳小瓊于12月7日晚誕下男嬰，埰集的新生兒臍帶血也已經送往廣東省臍帶血造血乾細胞庫檢測。一旦臍帶血配型成功，即可進行乾細胞移植。湯奕進感謝社會各界的幫助，在自己的日記本裏將收到的每一筆愛心善款詳細記錄下來，並寫道：“許許多多的人給了我鼓勵和幫助，我需要堅定信心。”
編輯: 鄭創彬
資料來源: 深圳關愛網
生命接力——社會各界曏白血病少年無私獻愛
11月23日，《深圳晚報》報道了15歲少年湯奕進不幸患上白血病，年近40歲的母親吳小瓊冒險再度懷孕，希望用新生兒的臍帶血為湯奕進治病，但臨近預產期卻還為分娩的費用發愁。消息見報後，不少社會愛心組織和市民紛紛慷慨解囊。
市關愛辦第一時間關註到這個不幸的家庭。市關愛辦主任黃揚略錶示，市關愛辦將全額捐助分娩費用，衕時號召社會各界捐款，幫助這個急需幫助的家庭。市關愛辦副主任徐建萍捧著鮮花和2萬元慰問金來到北大深圳醫院湯奕進病房探望，錶示“關愛外來工、讓他們在這裏找到家的感覺，一直是我們努力的方曏。”
11月24日，深圳慈海婦兒科醫院將吳小瓊接到該院的愛心病房，承諾免費為吳小瓊進行接生和埰集新生兒臍帶血；深圳華大基因研究院則願意免費做新生兒臍帶血的配型；廣東省臍帶血造血乾細胞庫與湯奕進父親簽訂協議，將提供免費檢測、製備、培養及存儲新生兒臍帶血的服務。
社會眾多愛心人士也伸出了援助之手，旅澳姑娘越洋委托爺爺捐款2000元，一對80多歲的老人家捐贈了1萬元善款，此外，還有許多市民趕到北大醫院親自將善款交到湯奕進手中。截至12月5日，深圳關愛行動組委會的愛心賬戶及湯奕進一家共收到35萬余元的捐款。這些善款將全部用于湯奕進今後做乾細胞移植手術及後期治療費用。
吳小瓊于12月7日晚誕下男嬰，埰集的新生兒臍帶血也已經送往廣東省臍帶血造血乾細胞庫檢測。一旦臍帶血配型成功，即可進行乾細胞移植。湯奕進感謝社會各界的幫助，在自己的日記本裏將收到的每一筆愛心善款詳細記錄下來，並寫道：“許許多多的人給了我鼓勵和幫助，我需要堅定信心。”
編輯: 鄭創彬
資料來源: 深圳關愛網
2011年1月17日 星期一
2011年1月16日 星期日
2011年1月13日 星期四
Cord blood storage a No-Brainer
By David John Walker Jan 13th, 2011
Conservative MP Colin Carrie for Oshawa, Ontario, is paying a private company $100 a year to store blood harvested from his daughter’s umbilical cord. Carrie said more people are becoming aware of this valuable service. “ For me $100 a year for an insurance policy on me daughter, it was a No-brainer”
Stem cells are used to treat an expanding list of diseases including Leukemias and immune and blood disorders, and cord blood has been replacing bone marrow as the source of preference. Carrie explains that collecting cord blood from his daughter’s umbilical cord when she was born nine years ago, and paying a private cord blood bank to store is like having an insurance policy for her.
If the donor becomes sick in the future, or a relation of the donor gets sick, the cord blood will be available to use for stem cell treatment. However, critics say the value of a private blood bank is not clear, and it would better if cord blood were donated to a public bank so it would be available for anyone who needs it.
Carrie, a parliamentary secretary to Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said his daughter is healthy, and the cord blood may never be needed, but it’s a worth while investment. Asked whether Canada should have a national public bank, Carrie said Canadians should have access to a cord blood bank, and suggested there could be both public and blood bank. “At the end of the day, what choices Canadians want to make, I think Canadians would like to have as many choices as possible”, he said.
Source: Seer Press News
Conservative MP Colin Carrie for Oshawa, Ontario, is paying a private company $100 a year to store blood harvested from his daughter’s umbilical cord. Carrie said more people are becoming aware of this valuable service. “ For me $100 a year for an insurance policy on me daughter, it was a No-brainer”
Stem cells are used to treat an expanding list of diseases including Leukemias and immune and blood disorders, and cord blood has been replacing bone marrow as the source of preference. Carrie explains that collecting cord blood from his daughter’s umbilical cord when she was born nine years ago, and paying a private cord blood bank to store is like having an insurance policy for her.
If the donor becomes sick in the future, or a relation of the donor gets sick, the cord blood will be available to use for stem cell treatment. However, critics say the value of a private blood bank is not clear, and it would better if cord blood were donated to a public bank so it would be available for anyone who needs it.
Carrie, a parliamentary secretary to Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said his daughter is healthy, and the cord blood may never be needed, but it’s a worth while investment. Asked whether Canada should have a national public bank, Carrie said Canadians should have access to a cord blood bank, and suggested there could be both public and blood bank. “At the end of the day, what choices Canadians want to make, I think Canadians would like to have as many choices as possible”, he said.
Source: Seer Press News
2011年1月6日 星期四
研究：修復幹細胞可治脫髮
美國最新研究發現，幹細胞缺陷可能是導致脫髮的一個主要原因。
因此修復幹細胞能促使頭髮生長。
 |
| credit by rofi @ flickr |
研究人員分析了54名40歲至65歲男子的頭髮和頭皮組織，結果發現，無論是脫髮還是沒有脫髮的頭皮組織中，毛囊幹細胞的數量都是相同的，所不同的是，脫髮頭皮組織中的毛囊幹細胞沒有產生讓頭髮生長的源細胞，這表明毛囊幹細胞產生了缺陷，使頭皮無法長出頭髮。
領導這一研究的科斯薩利斯說，此前研究以為導致脫髮的原因是毛囊幹細胞已經不存在了，但最新的研究發現，毛囊幹細胞還在，只是出現了缺陷。這為治療脫髮提供了新思路，比如醫生可以通過修復幹細胞讓其產生源細胞，促使頭髮生長。
（新華社）
資料來源: 明報即時新聞網 (2011年1月5日)
2011年1月5日 星期三
Stem cell transplant saves man's life
By: Rochelle Ritchie
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - It's music that may never have been heard again. And fingers that may never have played again.
But Florida Atlantic University Professor Joe Scott is back playing a piano and doing what he loves. "It was just the most incredible thing."
For two years Scott has been cancer free. All thanks to a donor thousands of miles away.
"She might as well have pulled me out of a river. I was drowning and she literally saved me life, " says Scott.
She, is 50-year-old Jo Pillon, a Canadian who donated stem cells 10 years ago.
"It's hard to put into words how it makes you feel when you could potentially save a life," says Pillon.
Scott was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2005. His chances of survival slim to none.
"They gave me a 20% chance of just getting into remission," he said.
For three years he survived on experimental drugs that were approved by the FDA.
It wasn't until stem cell transplants became more advanced that he found the key to life.
For years it remained a mystery who his donor was. Thinking it was a male he was surprised to find out it was a woman.
"I have all of her cells my blood type changes and I have female chromosomes," Scott said.
Dr. Shachar Peles, an oncologist with the Palm Beach Cancer Institute, says stories like Scott's are why so many people need to donate. "I think it's critical."
"I know just from being in the hospital that many people can't get a match and it's really important that we have as many donors as we can," said Scott.
Source: New Channel 5, 04,Jan 2011
CordLife康盛人生參加第三屆香港國際燒傷及傷口癒合研討會促進科學交流
康盛人生參加第三屆香港國際燒傷及傷口癒合研討會促進科學交流
康盛人生參加2010年11月27日至28日期間於威爾斯親王醫院舉行的第三屆香港國際燒傷及傷口癒合研討會。該研討會針對時下流行的話題包括被酸灼傷、先進的傷口護理技術、處理由輻射引起的併發症、幹細胞及組織工程。康盛人生菲律賓的醫務總監Dr. Arvin C. Faundo, M.D. FPSP應邀成為講者之一及以臍帶血庫的代表身份分享利用臍帶血治療燒傷和創傷。此外，他還與臨床醫生、醫療暨研究人員，及來自香港和亞洲的學生討論有關道德和臨床測試的問題，這個科學交流對業界獲益不少。
CordLife encourages scientific exchange by participating in the 3rd Hong Kong International Burns & Wound Healing Symposium
| CordLife has participated in the 3rd Hong Kong International Burns & Wound Healing Symposium held during 27- 28 November 2010 at Prince of Wales Hospital. The symposium focused on some very topical and current concerns including acid assault burns, advanced wound care technologies, dealing with the challenges of radiation induced complications, stem cells and tissue engineering. Dr. Arvin C. Faundo, M.D. FPSP, Medical Director, CordLife Medical Philippines, Inc. was invited as one of the speakers and a representative of cord blood banking industry to share how cord blood stem cells help burns and wounds treatment. He also discussed with the clinicians, allied health and research workers and students from Hong Kong and Asia about ethical issues and clinical trials. The scientific exchange was fruitful for the industry. |
訂閱：
文章 (Atom)