Recycling Apparent Waste Into Biologicals: The Case of Umbilical Cord Blood in Italy and Spain

Most public cord blood banking programs are currently facing financial difficulties due to a progressive decline in the number of cord blood transplants performed worldwide and to a high discard rate of the donated units caused by progressively increasing thresholds of the stem cell dose required to perform safe and effective hemopoietic cord blood transplants. Recycling a proportion of unused cord blood units to prepare novel cord blood components obtained with minimal manipulation (platelets, plasma, red blood cells) and to develop more technologically complex products regulated in the US as Cellular and Gene Therapy Products and in Europe as Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products [e.g. virus-specific T cells (VST), natural killer (NK) cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is a promising strategy to increase the therapeutic value and reduce the financial deficits of public cord blood banking. Based on encouraging preliminary evidences reported in the literature, additional laboratory studies, large multicenter clinical trials and international regulatory harmonization are necessary to achieve these important goals. This article describes organizational, methodological and regulatory advancements developed in Italy and Spain to promote the clinical use of cord blood platelets, plasma and red blood cells.

Marketing and Survey Analysis of Stem Cell Banking in Western Maharashtra

Purpose to check the knowledge of general population and doctors from western Maharashtra about the basics, purpose, utility and capability of stem cells banking and future scopes in medical field. Data was collected from three hospitals from Sangali district. For given study one thousand and two hundred individual from different background and different age group participated between 28th October to 4th January. Among these people 64% of general population heard about stem cell and cord blood banking, only 20% people have detailed information of stem cell banking and 70% medical staff have positive approach toward stem cell banking. Majority of people don’t know importance of cells on deadly disease. Lot of people unaware about technical terms and preservation techniques. Doctors have different opinion on use of stem cells on genetic disorder. 30% doctors though still it need more research and development for use of medical purpose. Hospitals, Institute and young generation need to take action on awareness of stem cell banking. obstetricians and the pediatricians should take a central role in providing the correct information to would be parents to help them in taking a correct decision.

Umbilical Cord Blood banking and its Therapeutic uses: A Review

The Cord blood is the blood from the baby that is left in the umbilical cord and placenta postpartum. Cord blood contains all the normal elements of blood-red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma. But it is also rich in haematopoietic stem cells, similar to those found in the bone marrow. Haematopoietic stem cell cells that can be used to treat some types of diseases. The first successful transplantation using haematopoietic stem cells from cord blood was performed in 1988 by a team lead by Dr E. Gluckman to treat a five-year-old boy suffering from Fanconi’s anaemia. It has been estimated that more than 35,500 transplants have been performed in children and adults for the correction of inborn errors of metabolism, hematopoietic malignancies, and genetic disorders of the blood and immune system. The umbilical cord is a narrow tube-like structure that connects the growing baby to the placenta. The cord is sometimes called the baby's “supply line” because it carries the baby's blood back and forth, between the baby and the placenta. It delivers nutrients and oxygen to the baby and excretes the baby's waste products. Three cord blood banking options are available public, private and direct donation banks. The protocols and standards for screening collections and storage of cord blood have now been established worldwide for both public and private cord blood banks. The use of cord blood provides viable options for paediatric patients with malignant conditions, hemoglobinopathies, metabolic disorders, immune deficiencies and regenerative applications.