Cord Blood America (OTC BB: CBAI) is the stem cell preservation company focused on bringing the life saving potential of stem cells to families nationwide and internationally. This clipping service will keep you up-to-date on accomplishments in this important health arena. Researchers to study baby blindness Tuesday, 17 May 2011 Belfast Telegraph New research in Northern Ireland could help tackle an illness causing blindness in premature babies.
Scientists at Queen's University Belfast are teaming up to develop a cure for the condition thanks to funding from children's charity Action Medical Research.
Two teams from the Centre for Vision and Vascular Science are taking different approaches to a condition called retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
ROP is caused by blood vessels in the eye growing abnormally and causing damage to the retina - the light-sensitive inner lining of the eye.The condition can lead to blindness in premature babies, putting the youngest, sickest and smallest babies most at risk.
Derek Brazil is to lead a team investigating whether stem cells from babies' own umbilical cords might have the power to repair their damaged eyes.
He said: "We hope our laboratory work will reveal whether vascular stem cells have the potential to repair damage to babies' eyes and save their sight. If so, it is possible that in the future vascular stem cells could be taken from a baby's own umbilical cord just after birth and then grown in the laboratory in case treatment is needed."
Taking a different approach, a team led by Denise McDonald is exploring a key step in the early stages of the disease process.
While laser treatment tackles stage two of the disease process, by stopping abnormal blood vessels from growing, by this stage the disease can already be quite severe.
Dr McDonald and her team are looking for possible new treatments which will protect the retinal blood vessels from the effect of high oxygen which occurs in stage one.
Alexandra Dedman of Action Medical Research said: "We are delighted to be funding these two expert research teams in Belfast who both have long-standing track records, recognised internationally. Their work in this area has the potential to change the lives of babies around the world suffering from this condition." ***** GIRL WITH CEREBRAL PALSY TREATED WITH OWN CORD BLOOD STEM CELLS Reuters July 28, 2011
Ground breaking medical treatment Medical doctors at Duke University are treating cerebral palsy patients who have their own cord blood stored, in a clinical trial. In a simple and safe procedure, the stem cells from umbilical cord blood that were stored at birth are transfused back into the children, in what is called an autologous stem cell transfusion (using one's own stem cells). Parents have noticed significant improvements in their children who suffer from cerebral palsy after receiving their own cord blood transfusion and this and other similar trials around the world hope to show conclusive evidence.
****** Study: Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Infusion in Cirrhosis Patients Clinical Trials Govt. July 26, 2011 Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Infusion Via Hepatic Artery in Cirrhosis Patients. The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) infusion via hepatic artery in the treatment of liver cirrhosis.
To investigate the efficacy of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) infusion via hepatic artery in the treatment of liver cirrhosis. Patients with liver cirrhosis were randomly separated into two groups. Umbilical cord MSCs were infused to patients using interventional method via hepatic artery for One group. After the catheter placed at proper hepatic artery was confirmed by angiography, umbilical cord MSCs were infused slowly for 15-20minutes. The control group accepted conserved therapy.
Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells: Experimental:
Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells were infused to patients using interventional method via hepatic artery. After the catheter placed at proper hepatic artery was confirmed by angiography,umbilical cord MSCs were infused slowly for 15-20minutes. Intervention: Biological: umbilical cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells ClinicalTrials.gov
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