California Cryobank Champions the Importance of Sickle Cell Awareness Month - 2.5 Million Americans Carry the Trait.Business & Lifestyle Editors/Health & Medical Writers SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 10, 2002 One Million Babies Born in America Each Year With Inherited Disease California Cryobank cryobank /cryo·bank/ (kri´o-bank?) a facility for freezing and preserving semen at low temperatures (usually -196.5° C.) for future use. cry·o·bank n. , Inc. (CCB CCB Calcium channel blocker, see there ), a nationally respected cord blood cord blood n. Blood present in the umbilical vessels at the time of delivery. processing and storage company, joins with the Sickle Cell Disease sickle cell disease or sickle cell anemia, inherited disorder of the blood in which the oxygen-carrying hemoglobin pigment in erythrocytes (red blood cells) is abnormal. Association of America, Inc. (SCDAA SCDAA Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc. ) in celebrating National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. This annual September event is designed to increase awareness of the genetic disease, which continues to affect more than 70,000 men, women and children in this country. CCB will offer families with a history of sickle cell anemia sickle cell anemia n. A chronic, usually fatal inherited form of anemia marked by crescent-shaped red blood cells, occurring almost exclusively in Blacks, and characterized by fever, leg ulcers, jaundice, and episodic pain in the joints. one additional year of storage free when they sign-up to store their child's cord blood during the month of September. When deciding to store the stem cells stem cells, unspecialized human or animal cells that can produce mature specialized body cells and at the same time replicate themselves. Embryonic stem cells are derived from a blastocyst (the blastula typical of placental mammals; see embryo), which is very young found in their baby's umbilical cord blood umbilical cord blood Transplantation A source of primitive and stem cells that can be used to reconstitute BM destroyed by aplastic anemia or by RT or chemotherapy for CA, lymphoproliferative malignancies. See Bone marrow transplantation, Stem cell therapy. , parents are providing their newborn with a chance to take advantage of today's life-saving medical breakthroughs and tomorrow's discoveries. Says Kaj Rydman, Vice President and General Manager of California Cryobank, "Sickle cell anemia is a global healthcare problem that is being dramatically impacted by the use of umbilical cord blood stem cells. After all, cord blood is currently being used to fight sickle cell, leukemia and immune deficiencies. And unlike bone marrow, cord blood is collected painlessly and easily moments after a child's birth and stored for the child's future use. While the cord blood stem cells cord blood stem cells Umbilical cord blood Hematology A therapeutic 'agent' containing concentrated hematopoietic stem cells for Pts with BM depleted–'wiped out' by disease; they are transfused into HLA-identical siblings and used to reconstitute the BM of cannot be used by the child itself in the case of sickle cell disease, by storing the child's cord blood stem cells, the parents provide a life-saving chance to treat the disease for the child's siblings." According to the SCDAA, an estimated 2.5 million Americans carry the trait. Sickle cell disease is an inherited disease caused by the presence of hemoglobin S hemoglobin S n. Abbr. Hb S An abnormal hemoglobin in which valine has replaced glutamic acid causing the hemoglobin to become less soluble under decreasing oxygen concentrations and to polymerize into crystals that distort the red blood in red blood cells Red blood cells Cells that carry hemoglobin (the molecule that transports oxygen) and help remove wastes from tissues throughout the body. Mentioned in: Bone Marrow Transplantation red blood cells . While better treatment and program services have improved the quality of life for individuals with the disease, there is still no universal cure. The use of cord blood to fight it is simply the beginning. Describing the promising link between cord blood transplants and sickle cell disease, a recent issue of the SCDAA's Viewpoints, explained, "A recent experimental transplant of stem cells over a year ago cured a teenager from sickle cell anemia. We are excited and encouraged by the successful results of stem cell transplantation Stem Cell Transplantation Definition Stem cells are basic human cells that reproduce (replicate) easily, providing a continuous source of new, sometimes different types of cells. ...to a person with sickle cell disease." Adds Michael Lill, MD, California Cryobank's Medical Director, "The ability to store the vital stem cells from the newborn's umbilical cord umbilical cord (ŭmbĭl`ĭkəl), cordlike structure about 22 in. (56 cm) long in the pregnant human female, extending from the abdominal wall of the fetus to the placenta. for a possible future use is not just a novel approach to leveraging the future health of your baby and your family. It is the wave of the future today and prepares families for future medical advances that perhaps have yet to be imagined. The medical research field is moving at an impressive rate to identify new and better applications for stem cell stem cell In living organisms, an undifferentiated cell that can produce other cells that eventually make up specialized tissues and organs. There are two major types of stem cells, embryonic and adult. transplants, and we are confident that more diseases will soon be helped by cord blood stem cell transplantation. We are already using cord blood to fight sickle cell. It is only the beginning to the possibilities." This relatively simple process involves the physician collecting the cord blood, enriched with life-enhancing stem cells, at birth. Approximately three to five ounces of blood is collected, then transported to California Cryobank packaged in a collection kit provided by the organization, where it remains as "insurance" for possible later use. Stem cell transplantation from umbilical cord blood is a well respected and rapidly growing field of medical research and treatment with many recognized uses already successfully documented. There are more than 45 malignant and non-malignant diseases that have been treated with stem cells from umbilical cord blood, including leukemia and immune deficiencies and some of the innovative research currently underway by global experts include: muscular dystrophy, stroke, neurological disorders, AIDS, certain autoimmune disorders (diabetes, lupus, multiple sclerosis), and muscular/cartilage diseases. About California Cryobank, Inc. (CCB) California Cryobank, Inc. has a rich foundation in the early adoption of reproductive tissue preservation, andrology, and cord blood banking, and has earned the distinction of being the largest reproductive tissue bank in the world. Established for more than 25 years, its reputation for quality and caring has made California Cryobank a globally respected and foremost expert in tissue storage, serving all 50 states and more than 30 countries worldwide. Spearheaded by a veteran team of physician visionaries, California Cryobank is committed to the highest standards of excellence in cord blood banking as well as client service. Adhering to the highest standards, California Cryobank takes pride in being one of the first private cord blood banks in the United States to be issued a biologics license by the State of California. Further solidifying its credibility and commitment to quality, California Cryobank holds a tissue bank license from the State of New York, is registered with the Food and Drug Administration and accredited accredited recognition by an appropriate authority that the performance of a particular institution has satisfied a prestated set of criteria. accredited herds cattle herds which have achieved a low level of reactors to, e.g. by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB AABB American Association of Blood Banks. AABB American Association of Blood Banks A professional, non-profit organization established in 1947 and dedicated to the education, formulation of standards, policy and other facets of ). California Cryobank is the only private cord blood processing and storage facility that is both owned and operated by its management team employing only licensed clinical laboratory scientists and medical technologists with extensive blood banking experience to oversee the processing and storage services on-site. Knowledgeable and caring staff are available round-the-clock, seven-days a week, 365 days a year, to ensure that whenever a need or question arises, California Cryobank is available to help. For more information, call 800.400.3430, or visit our web site at http://www.cryobank.com About The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc. (SCDAA) The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc. (SCDAA), formerly known as the National Association for Sickle Cell Disease, (NASCD) was founded in 1971 to provide an effective coordinated community-based approach to developing and implementing strategies to resolve issues surrounding sickle cell disease. Through three decades, SCDAA and its Member Organizations have demonstrated how community-based organizations can work with local, state and federal government agencies in furtherance of national health care objectives. http://www.sicklecelldisease.org |
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