Cord could be a lifeline.A MOTHER who has frozen her newborn baby'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. as a health precaution heralded the move as a ''potential life-saver''. Paula Aspinall, 34, of Northwich, Cheshire, and her partner, Peter, paid up to pounds 2,000 for the unique insurance s policy for themselves, baby Daniel and his three-year-old sister Megan. Samples of tissue and blood from the cord will be stored cryogenically for 20 years with the potential to use the cord's 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 if any of the family fall seriously ill over the period. Stored 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 already help treat more than 85 different medical conditions of the blood and immune system immune system Cells, cell products, organs, and structures of the body involved in the detection and destruction of foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Immunity is based on the system's ability to launch a defense against such invaders. but experts are hopeful umbilical tissue has far greater potential. The Aspinalls are thought to be the first family in the UK to freeze and store the cord in this way. CAPTION(S): FAMILY: Peter and Paula Aspinall with Megan, three, and baby Daniel |
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