SAN BRUNO, Calif., June 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Dads can give themselves a gift
this Father's Day by making the decision to save their newborns' umbilical
cord blood. "Cord blood," the blood remaining in the umbilical cord and
placenta after delivery, has been routinely discarded, but more recently has
been recognized as a rich source of stem cells, the "mother cells" of the
blood and immune system. The stem cells contained in the blood, collected
before the placenta is delivered, can be frozen for future transplantation in
the infant or its family members to renew the immune system and treat many
diseases.
A newborn carries a family's genetic information, which can provide
insight into uncovering the causes and possible cures for a variety of
diseases and common human health conditions. Many cancer treatments, for
instance, use genetically related stem cells to battle the disease.
According to the American Cancer Society, 284,000 men in the United States
are expected to die from cancer this year compared to 268,100 women. The
Men's Health Network, a Washington-based advocacy group, reports that in
1996 153.8 men per 100,000 died of cancer versus 108.8 women.
In addition to cancer, heart disease, the leading cause of death among
men, killed 178.8 men per 100,000 compared to 98.2 women. If medical
technology continues its current pace, fathers in the future may be able to
"grow" their own heart bypasses. Japanese researchers have found that stem
cells taken from umbilical cords can start building blood vessels in the
heart. Scientific advances such as cord blood stem cell transplantation and
blood vessel generation may contribute to a longer life expectancy for men
-- as high as 73.6 years in 1997, says the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
"It's clear that saving a newborn's cord blood -- a noninvasive and
painless procedure -- can serve as an invaluable resource should an infant,
its siblings or other close relatives contract a life-threatening disease,"
says Stephen M. Grant, vice president, corporate communications for Cord Blood
Registry, the largest familial cord blood stem cell bank in the United States.
"What better way to celebrate Men's Health Week and Father's Day then to save
cord blood stem cells and help ensure the future well-being of father and
family."
"Privately banked cord blood stem cells may ultimately be the source of a
readily available, 'self-repair kit' contributing to the health of a family,"
Grant adds.
Cord Blood Registry is the nation's largest family cord blood bank. Over
20,000 babies have their cord blood cells entrusted to the Registry.
Information regarding cord blood cell collection and banking is available on
the Internet at http://www.cordblood.com or through a toll-free number,
888-CORD BLOOD or 888-267-3256.
SOURCE Cord Blood Registry
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.cordblood.com
CONTACT:
Sam Yoo, Communications Coordinator of Cord
Blood Registry, 800-588-6377, ext. 239
|
