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Protecting the Future

Written by Dr. Lana du Plessis on . Posted in Client Articles.

Mothers-to-be that have anxiety and depression are also more likely to have babies with lower birth weights, poorer health, and emotional and behavioural difficulties.

If a mother experiences stress during pregnancy, the child is at risk of attention‐deficit disorder, conduct disorder, autistic spectrum disorder, anxiety, depression and/or asthma. The mother is also at risk of preterm labour. The most severe effect is schizophrenia, which is linked to extreme stress in the first trimester (1).

What are the mechanisms for these symptoms?

Early abuse of the mother during pregnancy,  is associated with changed brain structure and less cortical grey matter in the newborn. This early trauma may affect the mother’s natural biology and alter the development of her baby’s brain and may lead to depression and other problems for the child later in life.

It has been suggested that prenatal anxiety or depression alters the function of the placenta and allows more cortisol to pass through to the baby. Higher maternal cortisol is linked to altered brain function in the child, including heightened symptoms of sadness, anxiety, and loneliness, especially in girls.

In recent studies to understand the effect of stress during embryonic neural stem cell development, it was discovered that specific genes historically associated with psychiatric disorders, nerve signalling, and brain and nerve development all displayed over-methylation during stress (2-4).

Medication and Psychotherapy are helpful, and mothers experiencing symptoms of stress, anxiety or depression should get help when they feel overwhelmed. There is no shame in speaking about what they are experiencing.

During pregnancy and after, mothers must take care of themselves by eating healthy, doing something they enjoy with friends, doing yoga or exercise and going for a walk. During pregnancy, mothers are encouraged to frequently visit their healthcare provider for prenatal care, and they should also discuss their mental health status and feelings with their provider. There are excellent screening tools for depression, and these should form routine diagnoses in pregnancy.

If we can get mothers to monitor and speak up about their mental health during pregnancy, healthcare professionals can assist more effectively and help reduce stress, and even prevent childhood neuro-development problems.

Good mental health is important for moms-to-be as well as for their developing baby’s future health.

Be safe and reach out to your loved ones or a professional if you need help.

What are the costs of cord blood banking?

Written by Dr. Lana du Plessis on . Posted in Client Articles.

Processing the collected samples

Once the samples (collection kit) are received by the CryoSave laboratory, the samples need to be processed. This means that the cord blood cells are separated. The cord blood and tissue are processed according to international standards. CryoSave is an internationally AABB (Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies) accredited facility. All cord blood samples are processed using internationally validated processing and cryopreservation protocols. The cord blood and tissue stem cells will be kept in a liquid nitrogen storage tank (between -196 and -150°C) at our secured facility for long-term storage.

In addition to the above, blood is also drawn from the mother at birth. The vials for these tests are also included in the kit. These samples will then be analysed by pathologists for infectious markers.

Stem cell banks must do quality checks on all samples and before freezing a representative sample is taken for quality testing. The number of blood-forming stem cells and the % viability of the cells present in each sample is measured. Other checks are done to determine the recovery of stem cells after processing. Stem cell banks must also test for microbiological infection in each sample. After successful storage, the parents are notified of the success of the cord blood and cord tissue processing and negative microbiology. Parents will also receive a certificate for both the cord blood and cord tissue for their records.

If difficulties are encountered during delivery that might have affected the collection of the cord blood or tissue, the Laboratory Director or Medical Director will call the gynaecologist to ascertain the reason for the problematic delivery. They will also contact the parents to inform them and discuss the collection with them.

If the sample is needed for an approved transplant, CryoSave offers parents free shipment of the samples to anywhere in the world where the transplant will take place. A sample will only be released if approval is provided by an approved transplant centre and after discussions and approval documentation has been signed by the transplant physician, the parents, and the cord blood bank.

Storage

After processing is complete the cord blood and tissue stem cells are cryopreserved and cryogenically stored in the vapour phase of cryogenic nitrogen freezing tanks at -196° C and maintained there until needed.

When you consider all these costs; running any cord blood bank is rather expensive. This includes the cost of running the liquid nitrogen facility, maintenance of equipment, regulatory-, compliance- and operational costs (including staff salary expenses). The storage fees paid over 20-30 years, is a critical element of cost as this is to ensure that the stem cell bank you banked your baby’s stem cells with, can safely and securely store your samples for the required time to come. Storage fees should therefore be a non-negotiable cost when it comes to this process.

Conclusion

In addition, the search for donor stem cells can take months for a life-threatening disease and can cost anything between R600k – R1m. If you bank with a private cord blood bank, the stem cells are immediately available.

Considering the above, the cost of R25 000 for the collection kit and processing fees, and storage fees less than R50 p/m should not seem expensive. Only the collection fee is paid upfront. Repayment terms are available.

At CryoSave we understand that becoming a parent comes with financial strain. That is why we offer flexible pricing options, structured to your needs.

Contact us today to get a personalized quote.

Vitiligo

Written by Dr. Lana du Plessis on . Posted in Client Articles.

There are no current approved medical treatments that offer a permanent solution to vitiligo. If surgical solutions are chosen, often skin grafts leave scars and do not provide assurance of an even skin tone. In this respect, mesenchymal stem cells are considered an ideal type of cell for the treatment of vitiligo owing to their low immunogenicity, lower rates of transplant rejection, and ability to secrete numerous growth factors, exosomes, and cytokines in vivo. Therefore, a potential treatment for vitiligo is using mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to help restore melanocytes in the affected areas by turning off an existing immune response against involved areas in the skin. Various MSCs from bone marrow, fat, amniotic fluid, and umbilical cord blood, have been studied. In the USA there are currently 3 ongoing trials studying the effect of MSC treatment in vitiligo. It has been shown that MSCs can not only regulate immunity but induce anti-inflammatory effects, treatment with MSCs can both prevent a patient’s immune system from attacking melanocytes, halt the progression of the condition and allow regeneration of the patient’s damaged skin (1, 2).

Why is World Vitiligo Day on June 25th?

The inaugural World Vitiligo Day was first celebrated in 2011 in Lagos, Nigeria. Micheal Jackson was one of the most well-known celebrities who suffered from this condition. He passed away on June 25, 2009, thus World Vitiligo Day is observed on June 25 in his honor.

This extraordinary day commemorates the lives and community of individuals living with vitiligo while casting light on the challenges they face.

Facts about Vitiligo:

  • Vitiligo is not a “cosmetic” problem but an autoimmune disorder.
  • Vitiligo affects the immune system and thereby affects the skin, ensuing in white patches on the skin.
  • 70 million people across the world have vitiligo.
  • There are no boundaries of race, ethnicity or gender.

Choosing the Right Stem Cell Bank

Written by Dr. Lana du Plessis on . Posted in Client Articles.

There are three types and options for stem cell banks. These are:

Public Stem Cell Banks

In South Africa, there is no public cord blood bank available, as the government does not provide a facility for collecting and storing cord blood samples. At public stem cell banks, families can choose to donate the cord blood, but in doing so, they relinquish ownership of the sample, making it unavailable for their own or their family’s use.

This absence of a public cord blood bank poses challenges for families in South Africa who may require cord blood stem cells for potentially life-saving treatments in the future. To address this limitation, families may need to explore private cord blood banking options, which come with associated costs and ongoing maintenance fees. Private banks allow individuals to store their baby’s cord blood exclusively for their own use, providing a potential source of compatible stem cells if needed. However, the availability of private cord blood banking ensures that families have an alternative for preserving cord blood in South Africa, despite the lack of a public option.

Community Stem Cell Banks

If individuals decide to bank their baby’s stem cells with a community bank, they will incur lower costs for registration, processing, and storage. However, the trade-off is that they do not have exclusive rights to the sample for their own family’s use. Typically, the initial banking period in such cases is limited to 10 years.

Community banking of cord blood is open to everyone, meaning there is no guarantee that the donating family will be able to access these cells if they ever require them. Public and community banking operates on the principle of donation, allowing anyone in need to potentially utilize the donated stem cells if they are a compatible match.

Unfortunately, if a family needs the stem cells in the future but they are no longer available to them, obtaining donor stem cells becomes a significant financial challenge. The cost of acquiring donor cells can range from R600 000 to R1 million. Additionally, the search for a suitable donor can be a time-consuming process, taking months. In cases of life-threatening diseases, this delay can be a critical obstacle for individuals and their families, leaving them with limited options.

Private Stem Cell Banks

Private cord blood banking offers individuals a means to ensure the future health of their family. The process involves an initial cost for the collection kit, processing of the sample, and subsequent storage fees. However, flexible payment plans are often available to accommodate varying financial circumstances. Typically, the storage period spans 20 years, and the associated fees can be paid on a monthly, annual, or upfront basis. Moreover, it is possible to extend the storage term beyond the initial 20 years.

The cost of private cord blood banking should be viewed as a form of lifetime insurance for one’s family, rendering it highly affordable. By opting for this option, the stored samples remain exclusively accessible to the donor and their immediate family, ensuring immediate availability in the event of a medical treatment requirement. Additionally, there is a 25% chance that the stored samples will be an exact match for siblings with the same parents, and a 50% chance of being a match for the parents themselves. This significantly enhances the potential benefits of private cord blood banking for family members who may require stem cell treatments in the future.

CryoSave is your dedicated premier private family stem cell bank.

Our stem cell products are stored exclusively for your family’s use. Our ultimate focus is to ensure the highest quality service delivery and maintenance of your child’s precious stem cells.

Men’s Health

Written by Dr. Lana du Plessis on . Posted in Client Articles.

Heart disease and stroke

Heart disease comes in many forms. All its forms can lead to serious, fatal complications if undetected. It is estimated that heart disease is the leading cause of death for U.S. men, responsible for one in every four male deaths. Between 70 percent and 89 percent of sudden cardiac events occur in men. Stroke targets more than three million men. High blood pressure is common in males under the age of forty-five.

Stem cell therapy has been investigated as a potential treatment for congestive and heart failure patients. Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) can differentiate into various types of cells, including heart cells. Studies have shown that stem cells can improve heart function in patients with congestive heart failure. Stem cells have been shown to stimulate the growth of new blood vessels and heart muscle cells, and improve the function of existing cardiac cells, thereby improving cardiac function and blood flow and reducing inflammation in the heart.

A few studies have shown good outcomes whereby injecting patients with allogeneic umbilical cord MSCs significantly reduces the rate of heart attacks or strokes in patients with chronic heart failure.

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death for U.S. men; it kills about the same number each year as prostate cancer and Alzheimer’s disease combined. Men have strokes at younger ages than women. After a stroke, the brain stem can suffer damage, and stem cells have the potential to help heal this damage. Research has shown that stem cell therapy can promote functional recovery in stroke patients by replacing damaged neurons and promoting the growth of new brain tissue.

Cord blood is emerging as a serious competitor in cell therapy for stroke. The main reason is that MNC from cord blood triggers less graft-versus–host reaction than adult sources of MNC.

If clinical trials of allogeneic cord blood therapy for stroke continue to meet their endpoints, this could be an exciting new application for donated cord blood.  In the United States, about 795,000 people suffer a stroke each year, and 140,000 are fatal1-3. If only 1% of these patients received cell therapy, that would be comparable to the total number of allogeneic stem cell transplants per year in the United States10. Ultimately, a successful cord blood therapy will find itself in competition against cell therapy products for stroke that are already near approval.  The possibility to utilize cord blood cells as an “off-the-shelf” product (actually out of the cryogenic freezer) with no HLA matching would make cord blood more competitive against other cell therapies that are based on MSC and operate as universal donor products (1-3).

Skin Cancer

This cancer joins heart disease as the top two leading causes of death for men of all races—and it is largely preventable with proper skin care and regular check-ups.

Melanoma, the most serious skin cancer, affects the sexes differently. Men are more likely to die of melanoma than women. This is true at any age. White adolescent males and young adult men are about twice as likely to die of melanoma as white females of the same age.

Recent experimental studies in melanoma cell lines confirmed that umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) exert antitumor effects on melanoma by inhibiting proliferation, inducing apoptosis, and suppressing the metastatic potential of these melanoma cell lines (4).

High blood pressure

Several studies have shown that men younger than sixty-five consistently have higher levels of hypertension compared to women of the same age group. While common, it is not inevitable and can be prevented, delayed, and treated. If ignored, it can lead to heart and kidney failure, vision problems, and even blindness. Stress, lack of physical activity, and being overweight or obese increase the odds, as do genetics.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive illness characterized by chronically elevated blood pressure in pulmonary circulation that can lead to right-sided heart enlargement and failure. In advanced stages, PAH is considered non-curable (5). Clinical researchers in Germany recently reported the first successful treatment of (PAH) using a human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (HUCMSC)-derived therapy.

Depression and suicide

The suicide rate for men is 3.5 times higher than it is for women, with males accounting for seven out of ten suicides in 2015. With depression comes a much higher risk of suicide, which is why it is so important for men to seek help for persistent depression. Stem cell therapies have emerged as a standard for the treatment of both subacute and chronic inflammatory processes and neurological disorders. Investigations have suggested the potential use of adult stem cell therapy to treat several neurological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, autoimmune encephalomyelitis, Alzheimer’s disease, other dementia conditions, Parkinson’s disease, and epilepsy.

Most studies emphasize the immunomodulatory nature of adult stem cells, with their therapeutic efficiency related to neurological diseases, particularly triggering anti-inflammatory states. Recently, various studies have focused on treating depression with MSCs from various sources and the results from different experimental studies strongly support the potential therapeutic use of stem cells in treating depression (6).

Diabetes

Untreated diabetes in men can lead to erectile dysfunction and other urological problems, nerve damage (neuropathy), dehydration, and damage to the eyes, kidneys, and hearing. Men, after putting on weight, are more at risk for diabetes than women. Additionally, men typically store fat differently than women, which increases their risk.

In a recent meta-analysis, clear evidence was provided for the superior efficacy of Wharton’s Jelly MSCs (WJ-MSCs) over UCB in Diabetes type 1 (7). Even in Diabetes type 2 experimental models, preclinical observations, and clinical studies have provided promising results using umbilical cord MSCs to treat and manage the disease (8).

High cholesterol

Highly determined by genetics, cholesterol levels can also be influenced by things like diet, activity, and body weight. Testosterone, the male sex hormone, may have an impact on cholesterol levels in men. Although the effects of testosterone on cholesterol are not completely clear, the risk of cardiovascular disease increases in men as their testosterone levels decrease with age. For many men, the risk of high cholesterol starts in their twenties and goes up with age.

In a recent study the effect of UCMSCs treatment on atherosclerotic plaque formation and the progression of lesions in a high-fat diet rabbit model, the. UCSCs treatment alleviated atherosclerotic plaque burden by reducing inflammation, regulating the intestinal flora and metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) levels, and repairing the damaged endothelium. Indicating these stem cells’ ability to treat even high cholesterol in animal models and the potential for future treatment in humans (9).

Kidney disease

Diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and smoking are just a few factors that increase the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), which can lead to complications including anaemia, cardiovascular disease, decreased sex drive or erectile dysfunction, decreased immune response, and kidney damage. Viewing the etiology of CKD, it follows that stem cell therapy will also prove beneficial for the treatment of CKD in the future.

Prostate cancer

The most common cancer found in men and the second leading type of cancer death in men (following lung cancer). The good news is that it is treatable if found in its early stages, but the bad news is that often it shows no symptoms until it has spread to other parts of the body. Although older age increases the risk, younger men can get it, too.

Cell Immunotherapy for Prostate cancer is a promising new approach for the treatment of cancers that otherwise did not respond well to traditional treatments, surgeries, or chemotherapy. The basic goal of all immunotherapies, checkpoint inhibitors, and cancer vaccines are to program the body’s own immune system to recognize and destroy only cancer cells as the enemy.

In other studies, on prostate cancer cell lines an anti-tumor effect of cord blood serum as well as UCMSCs showed inhibition of viability, proliferation, and migration of prostate cancer cell lines. All the above evidence indicates new treatment directions in the oncology field; however, further studies are needed to clarify the underlying viability- and proliferation-related signalling pathways (10).

Erectile dysfunction and low testosterone

Erectile dysfunction is common in men, especially those older than seventy-five, but that does not mean it should impact your sex life. Treatments such as medications can help, and actions like quitting smoking or limiting alcohol can have a preventive effect too. In any case, it is good to get any symptoms checked out by your provider, as this condition could be a sign of a more severe issue, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

In time, erectile dysfunction (ED) and Peyronie’s disease might also be treated with stem cells. The effect of stromal vascular faction (SVF) from adipose-derived stem cells. SVF is “ideal” for the formation of new blood vessels and for the regeneration of damaged tissue, making them particularly interesting for ED therapies. Stem cells or stem cell-derived products have been used in several clinical studies in the treatment of erectile dysfunction with a good efficacy and safety profile. Therefore, further advancement of the research of stem cell therapy for ED might prove the preferred treatment of ED in the future. (11).

All the above-mentioned health risks for men show that following healthy habits in the average daily life can reduce the risk of these factors. It also further highlights the benefits of simply storing stem cells from your baby or any other source of your adult stem cells – today- might be used to treat these diseases in the future.

Start improving your health today by following healthy habits and protect your future.

10 Reasons to choose cord stem cell banking for your baby

Written by Dr. Lana du Plessis on . Posted in Client Articles, Uncategorized.

Reason #2: Potential Future Medical Treatments

Umbilical cord blood-derived (UCB) stem cells can be used in the treatment of blood-related diseases. As for UCB stem cells, using the patient’s own stem cells called “autologous transplants”, are readily available when needed. Currently, several blood diseases are believed to be critical diseases and are immediately needed (unlike matching with a donor which can take months), every minute counts. Therefore, cord-blood banking is very important to be done and prepared for any future emergencies.

One of the primary reasons to store your baby’s stem cells is the potential for them to be used in medical treatments. Stem cells might be used in the future to treat a range of diseases and conditions, should the need arise, such as cancer, diabetes, cerebral palsy, and more. By storing your baby’s stem cells now, you may be able to provide them access to life-saving treatments in the future.

Reason #3: Low Risk

There really isn’t much risk involved at all! The collection process is completely safe for both mother and child and involves only a few minutes shortly after birth for collection. Even delayed cord clamping can be done.  Additionally, cryogenic storage is entirely secure and totally reliable; even in the event of a disaster, your baby’s stem cells will remain safe with us until needed.

Reason #4: Inexpensive Options

Although it may sound like an expensive option initially for many parents, having the ability to treat many life-threatening diseases in the future is truly priceless. As the number one cord blood bank in South Africa, our mission is to make stem cell storage more affordable for families and offer different plans and flexible payment options to suit your needs.

Reason #5: Ensuring Your Child’s Future

Cryopreserving and storing your baby’s stem cells is an asset for use in their future health and well-being. Nobody knows what might happen in the future, and should your child develop a life-threatening illness, then having access to their stem cells could save their life. In the past decades, the technology has advanced substantially and will continue to do so in the years ahead. By banking your baby’s stem cells now, you can ensure they have access to any new treatments or therapies that arise from further scientific research.

Reason #6: Peace of Mind

Knowing that your child’s stem cells are stored safely away can give parents peace of mind about their long-term health expectations. The stress associated with trying to find a suitable donor if needed down the line, as well as removing any concerns about matching or rejection issues for transplants from unrelated donors.

Reason #7: Beneficial for the entire family 

Umbilical cord blood stem cells not only are used for the children themselves but also potentially used by the immediate family members. Parents have a 50% chance of a match and siblings have a 25% chance. Besides treating blood-related diseases, these stem cells from cord blood and cord tissue can also be used to treat the family member’s other degenerative diseases. Therefore, collecting and banking UCB-derived stem cells can provide peace of mind for you and your family in the future.

Reson #8: The demand is growing

Stem cells isolated from umbilical cord blood have been used to treat different kinds of diseases apart from blood-related diseases, including diabetes, strokes, nerve damage, muscular diseases, etc.

It is believed that the stem cell umbilical cord blood market is growing by 16,% due to the increased awareness of cord blood stem cells’ potential in treating various medical conditions and also by the rising incidence of chronic diseases in the population.

Reason #9: High processing standards in a state-of-the-art facility

Safety is considered an important aspect of the umbilical cord blood and tissue stem cell banking process. At present, UCB- and UCT-derived stem cell collection and banking is of the highest standard with international accreditations and certifications. Therefore, you and your family can rest assured that once frozen, your stem cells can be stored for decades.

Reason #10: Revolutionary innovations of umbilical cord blood transplantation

The innovation of umbilical cord blood stem cells for therapeutic use has made significant progress since the 1980’s and more than 40,000 UCB transplants have been performed. Umbilical cord blood and tissue stem cells are now being studied as an alternative treatment for many diseases such as type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and heart failure, to name but a few. 

Storing your baby’s stem cells poses many advantages for parents that wish to protect their child’s health long-term without breaking the bank. It offers potential medical treatments which could save lives down the line, but also offers peace of mind knowing that you have taken steps towards safeguarding your children’s health — no matter what happens in life. Our promise is that we will do our best to take good care of your future and provide you with the highest quality and most reliable service.

Vaccines and Stem Cells

Written by Dr. Lana du Plessis on . Posted in Client Articles.

Since the late 1800s, animals have been used in the industrialised production of human vaccines since vaccine farms were established to harvest cowpox virus from calves. Most vaccines are either produced by growing pathogens in live animals or by using animal cells. Researchers know that these methods are not ideal, due to the fact that research animals are costly and require extensive monitoring, both to maintain their health and to ensure the continued viability of the research. Animals may be carrying other bacteria or viruses that could contaminate the eventual vaccine. This was the case with the polio vaccines that were made with monkey cells and eventually found to contain a monkey virus called SV40, or Simian Virus 40, which is believed harmless to humans. Moreover, some pathogens, such as the chickenpox virus, simply do not grow well in animal cells. 

Therefore, using cell culture techniques to produce vaccines in human cell strains is a significant advance in vaccine development. Cell cultures involve growing cells in a culture vessel.

A primary cell culture is usually taken directly from living tissue and never sub-cultivated, and may contain multiple types of cells such as fibroblasts, epithelial, and endothelial cells. A cell strain is a cell culture that contains only one type of cell in which the cells are normal and have a finite capacity to replicate. Cell strains can be made by taking subcultures from an original, primary culture until only one type remains. Human pathogens for example, viruses can be grown in cell strains to attenuate them – that is, to weaken them. Later, when it’s used in a vaccine and injected into a living human body at normal temperature, it still provokes an immune response but can’t replicate enough to cause illness.

The first licensed vaccine using a human cell strain was the adenovirus vaccine made by the US military in the late 1960s. The next one was the rubella vaccine developed in human cell strains. At the height of a rubella epidemic that began in Europe and spread to the United States in the mid-1960s, women who were infected with rubella while pregnant terminated their pregnancies due to the serious risks from CRS.

Following one such abortion, Leonard Hayflick (working at the Wistar Institute at that time) developed a cell strain called WI-38 using metal lung stem cells from an aborted fetus. He found that many viruses, including rubella, grew well in the WI-38, and showed that it proved to be free of contaminants and safe to use for human vaccines. Plotkin grew the rubella virus in WI-38 cells and the vaccine developed is still used throughout much of the world today as part of the combined MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine.

According to Hayflick, however, the main reason for using WI-38 was the fact that it could be stored in liquid nitrogen, reconstituted, and tested thoroughly before use for contaminating viruses.

After testing, Plotkin’s vaccine was first licensed in Europe in 1970 and was widely used there, offering a strong safety profile and high efficacy. In light of that data, and of larger side effect profiles with the other two rubella vaccines, it was licensed in the United States in 1979 and replaced the rubella vaccine component that had previously been used for Merck’s MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) combination vaccine. Another human fetal stem cell strain, the MRC-5 cell strain (also started with fetal lung stem cells) 1970 at the Medical Research Center in the United Kingdom. Together these two stem cell lines WI-38 and MRC-5 cells that, while not capable of infinitely replicating like immortal cell lines, will serve vaccine production needs for several decades in the future.

The vaccines below were developed using either the WI-38 or the MRC-5 cell strains.

  • Hepatitis A vaccines [VAQTA/Merck, Havrix/GlaxoSmithKline, and part of Twinrix/GlaxoSmithKline]
  • Rubella vaccine [MERUVAX II/Merck, part of MMR II/Merck, and ProQuad/Merck]
  • Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine [Varivax/Merck, and part of ProQuad/Merck]
  • Zoster (shingles) vaccine [Zostavax/Merck]
  • Adenovirus Type 4 and Type 7 oral vaccine [Barr Labs]
  • Rabies vaccine [IMOVAX/Sanofi Pasteur]

It is believed that vaccines made in WI-38 and its derivatives have prevented nearly 11 million deaths and prevented (or treated, in the example of rabies) 4.5 billion cases of disease. Various other vaccines made in the US were developed using animal cell strains, primarily using cells from African green monkeys. These include vaccines against Japanese encephalitis, rotavirus, polio, and smallpox. Of these, only rotavirus and polio vaccines are routinely given. 

Cell lines developed from past abortions are used in the testing or development of certain COVID-19 vaccines. The HEK 293 cell line was developed in Holland in the early 1970s from embryonal kidney tissue from a supposedly therapeutic abortion that was transformed by adenovirus type 5. The PER.C6 cell line was developed in 1995 from retinal tissue from an abortion in 1985 that was transformed by adenovirus type 5. The University of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine ChAdOX1 nCoV-19 is developed in the HEK 293 cell line and the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine Adenovirus 26 vaccine Ad26.COV2.S is developed in the PER.C6 cell line; however, the final products do not contain fetal cells. The mRNA vaccines are not manufactured in cell lines, although testing of mRNA vaccines reportedly uses cell lines.

COVID-19 and even before that, a small but growing number of parents object to vaccinating their children on religious grounds is based on the fact that vaccines are the product of cells that once belonged to aborted foetuses and that vaccines may contain fetal DNA.

These abortions, which occurred decades ago, were not undertaken with the intent of producing vaccines. The original cells were obtained more than 50 years ago and have been maintained under strict FDA guidelines by the American Type Culture Collection.

Therefore the reasoning of anti-vaccine statement: “there is fetal DNA in vaccines” is unfounded on scientifically and religious grounds; because DNA is not stable when mixed with certain chemicals, much of it is destroyed in the preparation in the final vaccine. The amount if present will be trillionths of a gram and highly fragmented. Because it is fragmented it cannot create a whole protein and cannot incorporate itself into cellular DNA. If this was the case; gene therapy would be much easier than it has been in the past 4 decades. Therefore the value of vaccines in irradicating infectious disease in humans throughout the centuries, it far outweighs the harmless fetal DNA that might be present in these vaccines.

When we further evaluate the contribution of stem cells to vaccine development; the versatile mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have again proven to be irreplaceable to the scientific community.

Although MSCs are unique multipotent progenitor cells that are presently being exploited as gene therapy vectors for a variety of conditions, including cancer and autoimmune diseases. Although MSC are predominantly known for anti-inflammatory properties during allogeneic MSC transplants, there is evidence that MSC can actually promote adaptive immunity under certain settings. Recently, however, MSC has also demonstrated some success in anti-cancer therapeutic vaccines and anti-microbial prophylactic vaccines. MSC can express and secrete a viral antigen that stimulates antigen-specific antibody production in vivo. This unique property of modified MSC may enable MSC to serve as an unconventional but innovative, vaccine platform. Such a platform would be capable of expressing hundreds of proteins, thereby generating a broad array of epitopes with correct post-translational processing, mimicking a natural infection. By stimulating immunity to a combination of epitopes, it may be possible to develop prophylactic and even therapeutic vaccines to tackle major health problems including those of non-microbial and microbial origin, including cancer, or an infectious disease like HIV and COVID-19, where traditional vaccination approaches have failed.

Mesenchymal stem cells are a new-found platform for designing genetically engineered cellular vaccines that hold the promise to produce efficient and safe vehicles for enhancing the host immune response.

Treating cerebral palsy and brain injury with cord blood-derived stem cells

Written by Dr. Lana du Plessis on . Posted in Client Articles.

The effectiveness of UCB in the treatment of brain injuries was first reported in 2010 by Dr Kurtzberg. The headlines that followed “Umbilical Cord Blood takes medical strides forward in treatment of cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), drowning and autism spectrum disorder.”

Some of these injuries can often occur in preterm babies.

Due to the encouraging and compelling results achieved in the 2014 phase 1 trial, her group was awarded $15 million to further explore the use of umbilical cord blood stem cells to treat autism, stroke, cerebral palsy and related brain disorders. The next phase 2 study of autologous UCB infusions in sixty-three children between the ages of one year and six years who had cerebral palsy caused by brain damage incurred before or at birth, had similar positive results to those generated during the first trial. Positive results were obtained with a minimum dose of twenty-five million cells per kilogram of body weight. In her own words: Dr Joanne Kurtzberg said: “Some children, who were not speaking very much, had big increases in their vocabulary and their functional speech. Many children were able to play and have meaningful communication in a way that they weren’t able to before. Some children had less repetitive behaviours than they did when they came onto the study.

Therefore, to highlight the wonder of UCB stem cell treatment, we wish to highlight a few case studies involving brain injury. The first involves a 13-year-old girl, Sofia from Ukraine. Her parents were expecting their next baby and whilst enjoying an outing Sofia fell through the ice and was not breathing for more than half an hour. She went into a coma and resulting convulsions. She was diagnosed with HIE and central nervous system injury. She was given a UCB transplant and her conditioned improved. Her convulsions disappeared and after rehabilitation treatment Sofia now leads an ordinary life, thanks to cord blood from her baby sister.

The second case involves a near-drowning accident, when Samantha was found face-down in a pool as a toddler. She was in a coma, she could not walk, talk, or feed herself. She then became part of the Kurtzberg trial, using her sister Allison’s stem cells that her parents had saved previously. She has shown significant improvement. There are various other testimonials available on the internet showing the value of cord stem cells in the treatment of similar injuries.

In 2017 the United States had approved an expanded access protocol for banked autologous (a person’s own) or sibling umbilical cord blood (CB) for children with various brain disorders.

Banking cord blood for later use in a child or a sibling, is redefining clinical recovery that was previously thought impossible, thanks to Kurtzberg’s work. Patients with brain injury will directly feel the positive effect of what a “bag of cord blood stem cells” could provide for, in the future. The potential is overwhelming.

Fast track to 2020; further studies in this field are showing even better results. A research group in Australia showed that multiple doses of umbilical cord blood, rather than a single treatment, could help improve brain injury in babies starved of oxygen during pregnancy or birth. They compared long term outcomes of a single dose versus multiple doses of UCB stem cell therapy and the multiple doses significantly improved behaviour and long-term injury to the brain. The main researcher stated: “In this case, it is a bit like eating one apple a day – it is not going to keep the doctor away. While a single dose of umbilical cord blood stem cells may not be effective in the long-term, multiple doses over time could protect the brain from long-term damage.”

Providing families with cord blood derived options that can improve and save lives is having a worldwide impact.

Preterm Birth Awareness

Written by Dr. Lana du Plessis on . Posted in Client Articles.

Causes of premature birth

There are factors that may increase the risk of premature birth, such as an infection or placental problems, but the exact causes remain unknown. Some risk factors for preterm birth include being pregnant with multiple babies, clinical uterus or cervix problems (whether current or historical), tobacco or substance abuse, and closely spaced pregnancies (less than 18 months). However, most premature births occur with a natural frequency and doctors have little idea as to the reason why.

Is it possible for preterm labor to stop by its own accord?

For about 3 in 10 women, preterm labour stops on its own. If it doesn’t stop, then medication or treatment may be given to try delaying the birth.

Current data suggest that in the United States, the preterm birth rate has increased to more than 10.5%.  This rate is higher than in any other developed country where this rate compares to 7.4% in England and Wales, 6% in France, and 5.8% in Sweden. There is a general global increase in the rate of preterm births.

What are the signs of preterm birth?

Mild cramps (period cramps), pressure in the belly or pelvis, low and dull backache, contractions where the muscles in the belly tighten every 10 minutes or less, vaginal spotting or bleeding, changes in vaginal discharge, water breaks.

We cannot always prevent preterm birth’s. However, you can lower the risk by following this advice.

  • See your doctor early and regularly in your pregnancy for prenatal care.
  • Take care of any health problems, including diabetes, high blood pressure, or depression.
  • Don’t smoke, drink, or use illegal drugs.
  • Eat a diet that includes a variety of healthy foods especially foods rich in iron and folic acid.
  • Gain a healthy amount of weight (not too much or too little).
  • Protect yourself from infections (wash your hands well; don’t eat raw meat, fish, or unpasteurized cheese; use condoms when having sex; limit domestic pet chores such as changing cat litter).
  • Reduce stress in your life, try yoga, meditation, being active, joining support groups.
  • Be active every day. Try to get 30 minutes of exercise daily

South Africa has experienced an increase in early delivery of baby’s post COVID-19. This is confirmed by a preterm birth rate of 11%.

CryoSave South Africa urges mothers-to-be to take good care of yourself and your baby during pregnancy. If you are determined to bank your baby’s cord blood to ensure future stem cell health insurance possibilities, talk to your healthcare provider early in your pregnancy. This will enable you to prepare and review your stem cell storage options. Preterm babies need extra oxygen and help from machines to help them breathe which can damage their lungs. A life-saving treatment using stem cell from the umbilical cord should soon be available.

Cord Blood- and Tissue-Derived Stem Cells

Written by Dr. Lana du Plessis on . Posted in Client Articles.

There is no cure for Autism, however, various treatments and therapies assist with the day-to-day lives of people with ASD. Currently, several clinical trials are investigating the use of stem cells derived from cord blood and/or cord tissue. These trials are designed to ease or decrease the symptoms of ASD and are not cures.

In future, there remains a strong need to generate supporting scientific data on stem cell therapy for use in ASD. The studies that have been conducted thus far, showing proof of clinical improvement, have not been standardised, there is therefore a need to collect further data. Various stem cell types have been used, and different routes of administration (intravenous/intrathecal), dosage levels, and duration of treatment were used. Additionally, the time to follow-up needs to be more standardised, and only then will it allow for the accurate assessment of long-term outcomes and comparisons of different choices and procedures of transplantations with respect to ASD treatment.

Clinical studies have been undertaken using different sources of stem cells, i.e. bone-marrow, umbilical cord blood-derived stem cells, and cord tissue-derived stem cells. These studies focused on alleviating ASD symptoms by modulating inflammatory processes in the brain. In most of these studies, significant improvements were reported in the first few months post-infusion. These, were also sustained and measurable after 12 months.  Children with higher baseline nonverbal intelligence percentages showed greater improvement. The clinical studies mentioned above reported no severe adverse events after cell transplantation and encountered only minor adverse events, such as nausea, vomiting, and pain at the site of injection.

These preliminary clinical trials provide us with an encouraging opportunity for the application of stem cell therapy in the treatment of ASD. However, only with additional neuro-rehabilitation such as behavioral and speech therapy, sensory integration, or psychological intervention, etc., which will support the efficacy of stem cell therapy, will the full potential of this type of treatment of ASD be realised.

Breaking news (2022): Rutgers scientists studied neural precursor cells (NPCs) – of patients with ASD. They discovered the NPCs – that create the three main kinds of brain cells: neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes – either overproduced or underproduced the number of permanent brain cells. These NPCs are formed prenatally during a period that stretches from the end of the first trimester through the second, about weeks eight to 24 of the 40-week gestation period of a human fetus.

The scientists say this data might in the future assist in identifying a  “biomarker, which could signal when to introduce therapy or to identify signaling pathways for drug targeting in future.”