Although the use of embryonic stem cells to treat disease has caused much controversy, one type of stem cell treatment has slowly and steadily shown promise but has not engendered negative ethical media attention: the use of umbilical stem cells. Umbilical cord blood (UCB) contains stem cells that have already successfully treated a variety of diseases, including leukemias, lymphomas, hemoglobinopathies, immunodeficiencies, and disorders of metabolism; ongoing research continues to explore additional diseases for potential treatment. Cord blood can be stored in private banks or public banks. Private cord blood banks save cord blood for use by the family only, at a cost. Public cord blood banks accept donations and the cord blood is then used for the general public and/or research. A review of the literature finds that public banking is the preferred recommendation over private unless there is a known family member with a disease that can currently be treated with cord blood. This article discusses cord blood banking options as well as the ethical issues and barriers facing both healthcare providers and patients when dealing with cord blood banking.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/NMC.0b013e31822db253 | DOI Listing |
BMC Neurol
January 2025
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Background: Vanishing white matter disease (VWMD) is a rare autosomal recessive leukoencephalopathy. It is typified by a gradual loss of white matter in the brain and spinal cord, which results in impairments in vision and hearing, cerebellar ataxia, muscular weakness, stiffness, seizures, and dysarthria cogitative decline. Many reports involve minors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Pediatr Urol
January 2025
Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course Sciences, Kings College London, London, UK; Children's Bladder Service, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7EH, UK.
Introduction: The Mirabegron-anticholinergic (MAC) combination has proven effective as a step-up strategy in managing paediatric neurogenic bladder following anticholinergic medication and botulinum toxin (BTX) therapy. This study assesses the long-term efficacy of MAC in children with neurogenic bladder.
Patients And Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted from 2015 to 2023, including consecutive paediatric patients receiving Mirabegron (25/50 mg) with an anticholinergic agent (solifenacin 16, tolterodine 7, oxybutynin 7, trospium 1).
Exp Cell Res
January 2025
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang, China. Electronic address:
Insufficient trophoblast cell infiltration is implicated in the progression of preeclampsia (PE). The immunoglobulin superfamily member 8 (IGSF8) has been shown to promote cell migration, invasion, and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, the specific impact of IGSF8 on trophoblast cells in PE has not been definitively demonstrated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Physiol
January 2025
Center for Developmental Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
Robust preclinical models of asymmetric ventricular loading in late gestation reflecting conditions such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome are lacking. We characterized the morphometry and microvascular function of the hypoplastic left ventricle (LV) and remaining right ventricle (RV) in a sham-controlled late gestation fetal lamb model of impaired left ventricular inflow (ILVI). Singleton fetuses were instrumented at ∼120 days gestational age (dGA; term is ∼147 days) with vascular catheters, an aortic flow probe and a deflated left atrial balloon.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEndocrinol Diabetes Metab
January 2025
Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Objective: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common complications during pregnancy. There is inconsistency between previous studies regarding the blood and inflammatory parameters levels among pregnant women and its association with GDM. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between blood parameters in relation to GDM.
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