Umbilical cord blood: Panacea for plethora of diseases A major breakthrough in medical science has been achieved, as panacea for all diseases has been found in the form of umbilical cord blood stem cells. It is the greatest life saving medicine, as it can cure diseases like Leukemia, diabetes, cerebral palsy and the list is endless. If any organ of the body stops functioning then there is no need to perform surgery or make an incision, merely by injecting cord blood stem cells at the site of affected organ the affected organ will regenerate. This technology was developed in USA in 1992 and India is a major nation where stem cell therapy will come in a big-way as there is greatest genetic diversity in India, which makes immune system stronger. India is a nation with greater genetic diversity than USA hence immune system of people will be stronger here and cord blood stem cell therapy will prove to be more effective in India. Cord blood stem cells have no shelf life and they can be preserved life long.
 
Addressing the media Cryobanks International India, Medical Director Dr Mrinalini Chaturvedi said that people of Madhya Pradesh have shown very keen interest in the concept of umbilical cord blood banking and therefore fast growth is expected. She added that cord blood banking is a process of preserving extra blood in the umbilical cord that is attached from the mother'' womb to the baby. After the baby is born the umbilical cord is severed and it was assumed to be of no longer of any use, it was considered as biomedical waste. The blood in the umbilical cord is rich in stem cells that can be restored and replenished for the future use of the baby and his family members and kin. Dr Mrinalini revealed that the cord blood stem cells could be used like bone marrow transplant to save life. She informed that cord blood banking started in USA in 1990. This technology was later developed in USA in 1992. In 2006 first cord blood stem cell bank was established in Gurgaon. Medical Director of Cryobanks International India Dr Mrinalini further said that blood of placenta is rich in stem cells. She informed that cord blood stem cells could be used to regenerate immune system. These cells if injected in blood help in regeneration of tissues. These cells can cure type-1 diabetes, which was earlier considered to be incurable.
 
It can regenerate pancreas, liver and have immense regeneration power. Dr Chaturvedi disclosed that cod blood stem cells have no shelf life they can be preserved life long at a temperature of minus 196 degrees. This technology was developed in USA in 1992 but in India people are not aware of the existence of such a technology, which this is going to prove as the greatest boon to mankind as chord blood stem cells have tremendous regeneration power. When bone marrow is transplanted there is need of matching tissues but cord blood stem cells have very little chance of immune rejection. Cord blood stem cells have 10 times greater potential of regeneration in comparison to adult cells. Brain cells, which were considered as un-repairable but this technique could regenerate brain cells and can cure cerebral palsy in children when the brain cells of the child start dying due to lack of oxygen. It can regenerate every organ of the body. In India children suffer from sickle cell anemia, which was incurable earlier but now it can be cured. Placenta or umbilical chord was earlier treated as bio medical waste but now its importance has been realised. It is surprising to know that in old scriptures it was stressed that placenta should not be thrown.
 
Cryobanks International India marketing head informed that for storage of cord blood stem cells in Cryobanks International India Rs 75000 are charged for 21 years while there is discount for media persons whose cord blood stem cells can be stored for 21 years at a cost of Rs 65000 only. He opined that it is always to store stem cells of the child because if they are purchased from market then they are very expensive. If cord blood cells are purchased from public then chances of matching are 1:20000 while chances of matching within the family are 50 per cent. Cord blood stem cells can be stored for indefinite period if kept in liquid nitrogen at -196 degrees. Low temperature is maintained with the help of nitrogen vapours. List of the diseases that can be cured by injecting cord blood stem cells is endless. Some of them are Sickle Cell Anemia, inherited error of metabolism, Aplastic anemia, spinal cord injury, Parkinson's disease, Cerebral Palsy, Brain Anoxia, Diabetes, heart diseases, Peripheral vascular diseases. It can regenerate heart tissues and cornea of the eye.