By: Sandra Kim Leong


Caught a virus and starting to experience severe headaches? If you start to have severe viral infection headaches, then you should check them out. It will be a good idea to ensure that your symptoms do not point to a case of meningitis. There are serious consequences from having meningitis.

So what is meningitis all about? This is an infection in the membrane that surrounds your brain. Brain and spinal cord infections can be very dangerous because they cause inflammation, which places pressure on your nerves. This will cause you to have a viral infection headache.

Inflammation can also cause the following symptoms:
* Fever
* Severe headache
* Feeling confused

Severe inflammation can cause these symptoms:
* Brain damage
* Stroke
* Seizures
* Death

A bacterial infection or virus causes meningitis. The body can usually fight and beat an infection. However, when the infection travels into the blood stream, it can then go into your brain and spinal cord fluid. It can then affect your nerves and move into the brain causing inflammation and swelling. This can damage or kill nerve cells and cause bleeding in the brain. It can also cause you to have a viral infection headache.

Brain swelling is very dangerous because the brain is a soft organ in a hard box (the skull). If the brain swells, there is nowhere for it to go, except against the walls of the skull. This is what causes the most damage.

There are several causes of meningitis. These include
* Bacterial infection
* Viral infection
* Fungal infection
* A reaction to medications
* A reaction to medical treatments
* Lupus
* Some forms of cancer
* A trauma to the head or back

Bacterial meningitis is the worst type because it can kill you. It often begins as an upper respiratory tract infection. From there it travels through your blood vessels to your brain. Then it can block up your blood vessels inside your brain triggering a stroke and brain damage.

Viral meningitis is the most common form. Usually viruses that enter your body through your mouth before going to your brain and multiplying cause it. You can find these viruses in the mucus, saliva and feces.
Other viruses that may cause meningitis include:
* Chicken pox
* Flu
* Mumps
* HIV
* Genital herpes

Anyone can catch meningitis. This is especially true if your immune system is weak.

Meningitis often begins like the flu does. You may get a rash. The major symptoms include:
* Running a sudden fever
* A severe headache
* Stiff neck
* Dislike of light

Bacterial meningitis must be treated quickly. Severe bacterial meningitis will require intravenous antibiotics. On the other hand, antibiotics cannot be used to treat viral meningitis because they do not kill viruses.

Whether you are having bacterial or viral meningitis, what would be best for yourself is to get plenty of rest and give your body a break. In the meantime, drink plenty of water to flush out the toxins and go easy on your diet. Do follow the recommendations by your doctor during this period. Your viral infection headache and other symptoms will start to subside as your body recovers.

By: Apurva Shree


For years, doctors have discarded the umbilical cord and the placenta after delivery without realizing the immense potential these organs have! Things are changing now, people today are more aware of the latest developments in science and technology and more and more people are taking cord blood banking seriously.

Regardless of what some people say, extracting cord blood from the umbilical cord for your baby and storing it in a cord blood bank is not harmful for you and your baby. The cord blood is drained after your baby is delivered and the umbilical cord is disconnected from your baby. But, why umbilical cord blood? The reason is though bone marrow can supply stem cells, the quality and quantity is a lot better in the umbilical cord. Besides, if a person has his own stem cells, he does not have to depend on others for donation. He is his own donor in cases of emergency. It is not necessary that his siblings with the similar genetic set up will be near him all the time. The cord blood you had preserved for him will be his savior. Speaking of siblings, have you ever thought that the cord blood that you have saved and stored in a cord blood bank could actually be of great use to the older siblings your baby may already have.

Incase you are worrying about the expenses of saving your baby’s cord blood, a suggestion is that you can look at it as insurance for your family. And finally after a few years, if you see that your child is growing up with no health concern, you can choose to sell the cord blood to a needy family. Not interested in selling your baby’s cord blood? Ok, you can donate it too. Public cord blood donation banks take cord blood for donations. Your baby’s cord blood will bring smiles to many faces!

Ok, you have decided in favor of cord blood banking. But which are the diseases which can be treated. Stem cells are being used to treat numerous diseases. The specialty of stem cells is that it can adjust anywhere. Here are some diseases which can be cured by cord blood stem cells.

Acute Leukemia

Chronic Leukemia

Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Stem Cell Disorders

Myeloproliferative Disorders

Lymphoproliferative Disorders

Phagocyte Disorders

Liposomal Storage Diseases

Histiocytic Disorders

Inherited Erythrocyte Abnormalities

Congenital (Inherited) Immune System

Disorders

Other Inherited Disorders

Inherited Platelet Abnormalities,

Plasma Cell Disorders

Autoimmune Diseases

Brain Tumors

Ewing Sarcoma

Neuroblastoma

Ovarian Cancer

Renal Cell Carcinoma

Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Testicular Cancer.

Cord blood banking is a relatively new concept. Research is being made on how to utilize it effectively for the benefit of mankind. If you are not interested in preserving your umbilical cord blood for your family in a private cord blood bank, you can donate it for research. Cord blood banking is picking up with every passing day. Would you like to be a part of the revolution?

By: peterhutch


Meningitis is a rare disease, our brains have what is called a blood brain barrier that protects are brain for contamination by the blood. However, some infections can trick the barrier, which then decreases its ability to work properly.

Meningitis is a viral. It’s means the cause is infection with a virus. Bacterial meningitis is quite rare but it can be very serious and needs urgent treatment with antibiotics. It is a inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord called the meninges. It is rarely occurs when an infection in the body spreads through the blood and into the cerebrospinal fluid. This fluid that cover the outside of the brain and spinal cord.

Meningitis is a serious medical problem because it is difficult to treat. Blood flows into the brain from the neck through a network of blood vessels. This network contains special cells that prevent many chemicals from passing into the brain. This system is known as the blood-brain barrier. The blood-brain barrier prevents harmful substances from getting into the brain. The blood-brain barrier “knows” which substances the brain needs and which will damage brain cells.

Although bacterial and fungal meningitis require extended hospitalization, meningitis caused by viruses can often be treated at home and has a much better outcome.

Bacterial meningitis

The most serious form of meningitis, bacterial meningitis, occurs in about 3,000-5,000 people in the United States every year.

Approximately 20%-25% of the time, even with treatment, bacterial meningitis can be fatal. If bacterial meningitis progresses rapidly, in 24 hours or less, death may occur in more than half of those who develop it, even with proper medical treatment.

Symptoms

Symptoms of meningitis, which may appear suddenly, often include high fever, severe and persistent headache, stiff neck, nausea, and vomiting. Changes in behavior, such as confusion, sleepiness, and difficulty waking up, are important symptoms. In infants, symptoms of meningitis are often much less specific and may include irritability or tiredness, poor feeding, and fever.

High fever, headache, and stiff neck are common symptoms of meningitis in anyone over the age of 2 years. These symptoms can develop over several hours, or they may take 1 to 2 days. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, discomfort looking into bright lights, confusion, and sleepiness. In newborns and small infants, the classic symptoms of fever, headache, and neck stiffness may be absent or difficult to detect, and the infant may only appear slow or inactive, or be irritable, have vomiting, or be feeding poorly. As the disease progresses, patients of any age may have seizures.

Treatment

If meningitis is suspected, medical advice should be sought immediately. Because some of the early symptoms might be similar to other conditions, a high level of suspicion is required, especially with children. Prevention is better than cure! Effective vaccines are now available against some types of meningitis.

Individuals with bacterial meningitis are hospitalised and treated with antibiotics given directly into a vein, in order to achieve the rapid high blood and tissue levels of antibiotic that this life-threatening condition requires.

By: Groshan Fabiola


Leukemia has two major types: acute and chronic. In what concerns acute leukemia, there are two forms: if leukemia involves lymphocytes, we are dealing with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and if it involves myeloid cells, is called acute myelogenous leukemia. Depending on the particular cell that has become malignant, there can be many different types of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute myelogenous leukemia.It was seen that chronic leukemia affects primarily the myeloid cells in the bone marrow. This is called chronic myelogenous leukemia, and is found mostly in adults, but children and teenagers can develop it too.We must mention that there exists a disorder of the bone marrow known as myelodysplastic syndrome. Often called a pre-leukemia syndrome because patients with it have a significantly increased risk of developing leukemia, this syndrome is often associated with low blood cell counts and increased requirements for transfusions.

Allogeneic bone marrow stem cell transplantation is used to treat a variety of childhood leukemias or cancers and myelodysplastic syndrome that involve the cells within the bone marrow. In this transplant, there are used another person’s bone marrow cells to restore bone marrow after high dose chemotherapy and radiation therapy.As an advantage of an allogeneic transplant over an autologous transplant we can mention the “graft-versus-leukemia effect”. The donor’s healthy bone marrow kills residual leukemia cells, and in this way decreases the patient’s chance of relapse.As a disadvantage of an allogeneic bone marrow stem cell transplant we can mention the risk of graft-versus-host disease. This happens when the other person’s bone marrow attacks the recipient’s body. In this way, there appears a disease that affects the skin, liver and many other organs. In this case, therapy with immunosuppressive drugs is needed.

When a matched donor is available, there can be performed transplantation for high-risk leukemia patients in first remission. In very high-risk patients, like those with leukemia who fail to achieve first remission with chemotherapy, there can be done an unrelated donor transplant as soon as remission is achieved. As eligible we can mention infants with leukemia, children with high-risk lymphoblastic leukemia and children with acute myelogenous leukemia. Also, children with myelodysplastic syndrome are eligible for transplant as soon as the diagnosis is established.

Many children with acute leukemias whose leukemia has relapsed can have bone marrow stem cell transplantation. Transplantation can be from related donors like brothers, sisters, parents, and occasionally more distant relatives such as cousins and grandparents.Also, transplantation can be from matched unrelated donors, including umbilical cord blood.In what concerns children with chronic myelogenous leukemia who cannot be put into complete remission with drugs, they should undergo a transplant as early as possible in the course of the disease.

For more resources on different leukemia related issues like leukemia symptoms, leukemia causes and many more visit http://www.leukemia-guide.com .

By: Larry Mitchell


Once you have made the decision to invest in your family’s future by banking your baby’s umbilical cord blood, begin the search for the right cord blood bank. There are numerous cord blood banks all over the country that serve as storage facilities for this crucial item, so make your decision carefully. Many parents find this search daunting, simply due to the sheer number of facilities available.
To avoid picking a cord blood bank that may not meet your wants and needs, the informative Web site Should You Bank Cord Blood recommends that you consider the following factors when making your decision.
Price: This is a main concern to most parents, since it is not cheap to bank cord blood. However, many cord blood banks have specials depending on the need of the child or the family, so be sure to do your homework before you decide. Most cord blood banks offer dramatically reduced rates—or even free storage—if your new baby or another child is thought to need a transplant immediately. Otherwise, the best way to determine price is to contact private cord blood banks to determine if their rates are within your budget. Keep in mind that cord blood storage acts as an insurance policy for your family, so consider any other factors before immediately determining not to store your child’s cord blood simply because of price. Some company’s, such as Viacord, regularly offer coupons both online and at doctors’ offices, and many cord blood banks can provide payment plans as well.
Location: There are private cord blood banks all over the country, so you are sure to find one near your home. Furthermore, many hospitals work in cooperation with private cord blood banks, especially those that specialize in birthing babies, so ask your doctor, nurse, or midwife about this option. Once you have identified a private cord blood bank in your area, make an appointment to visit and discuss your options with the bank’s professional staff. These trained and knowledgeable individuals will be able to answer any and all questions regarding cord blood storage and the fees and tasks associated with the storage. Furthermore, the facility will identify a method for collecting the cord blood, as private cord blood banks often work in cooperation with a hospital on this issue.
Reputability: In many instances, this search will provide you with numerous options, but how can you ensure the facility is reputable and working in your best interest? The answer rests in the hands of the American Association of Blood Banks, the AABB. This association regularly inspects blood banks all over the country, providing an accredited status much like that provided in the college and university system. Before you decide on a specific cord blood bank, contact the AABB to determine if the private blood bank is accredited or if it has any complaints lodged against the facility by other patrons. Think of the AABB as the final word that you can trust in whether or not the cord blood bank in your location is reputable and worthy of your child’s precious cord blood.
After you have considered these three main aspects regarding the storage of your child’s cord blood, the final decision should be less imposing than attacking the decision blindly. Be sure to keep an open mind during your search to find a facility that works well with your situation. The internet is a perfect research tool, as a quick and simple web search will provide you with countless options for private cord blood banks all over the country—and all over the world. Before you decide against this option, make the time to speak with a professional at one of these banks in order to make the most informed decision about the medical promises that cord blood can offer to your baby or another child in your family. Finally, if you decide against banking your baby’s cord blood, consider donating the blood to a public cord blood bank for research purposes and public use.

By: Apurva Shree



What do cord blood banks do? Well, they collect the umbilical cord blood from the donors, process it, test it, and save the cord blood donated by individuals. Blood drawn from each umbilical cord is cryopreserved (by freezing it) as an independent cord blood unit, which is now available for transplant. This entire process is known as cord blood banking.

Cord Blood Stem Cells – Some Benefits

Cord blood was first utilized in transplantation in 1988. Baby cord blood stem cells possess the capacity to treat diseases just like bone marrow – with very low rejection rate. Cord blood preservation has provided immense hope to the patients suffering from life-threatening diseases like leukemia, blood and immunity problems, and many cancers. Cord blood is rich in stem cells, which serve as the building blocks of blood and immune system of the body. The last few years have seen a large number of critically ill patients been treated with this amazing medical discovery.

About 25 per cent of the transplants come from siblings and the remaining from samples collected through cord blood donations. There has been a tremendous increase in the number of families willing to go for cord blood preservation. The Journal of the American Medical Association states that, every year, 10,000-15,000 people in the Unites States are in need of bone marrow transplant, but are unable to get a suitable donor. Looking at this statistic, we can say that umbilical cord blood transplant is the best alternative that medical science can ever have. According to the reports, September 1997 had about 1,500 cord blood transplants throughout the world.

Blood Bags – How Effective Are They

The cord blood bank uses either vials or blood bags for storing the cord blood. Both of them have their own advantage and disadvantage and there is no scientific evidence that states that one of them is better than the other.

The chief advantage of blood bags is that the doctors use the same bag for collecting and storing the umbilical cord blood. Thus, there is restricted handling of the bag, which in turn, reduces the probability of contamination. However, some medical experts are of the view that blood bags can rupture during prolonged storage whereas vials are less prone to breakage. Moreover, the latter seal the cord blood in double protective layers, thus, alleviating the virus contamination risks.

By: Manoj Gursahani


Tummy tucks and a visit to the Taj Mahal is not unusual, what with the escalating medical costs the world over, patients are flocking Eastwards to countries like India, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. The quality of medical services is often found better than some of the care centre in the United States and the UK. Many countries have now developed official partnerships for speedy treatments in India for their residents most of whom have to wait for extended periods of time to undergo operations. In India, medical treatment is not only fast but would also costs a fraction of what it would costs in USA or Europe.

So, scale or whiten your tooth at $ 300 in the US, or do so at $75 in India. A smile designed at US$ 8000 can be yours at one eighth the cost in India. Forget, cosmetic surgery, a dialysis in the US will shortchange you for $ 300 as against $50 for the same procedure in Chennai. Bone marrow transplant, surgical oncology, cord blood transplants, transplants of the heart, lung, liver are all possible at lower costs in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and India than most developed countries where health insurance continues to shoot up in a heavily taxed public health-care system.

A chance to visit India and the Far East while healing and treating ailments at affordable costs has led patients from the developed nations to utilize health services in India at a fraction of the costs in the West. Five to seven per cent of Escorts’ patients are understood to be from abroad. Most patient traffic is from West Asia, South East Asia and Africa. International health insurance companies abroad are looking to forge partnerships with renowned specialty hospitals for Non Resident Indians (NRIs) to combine their treatment in India with their annual family visits.

Most Indian states have either established themselves as destinations for health care and tourism or are building medical brand images. Add to this, Yogic healing, Transcendental Meditation (TM) along with alternate therapies of ayurveda in India has been repackaged and redefined and goes hand in hand with India’s rise in ‘Health Tourism “also called Medical Tourism. Further, impetus has come from corporate such as the Tatas, Fortis, Max, Wockhardt, Piramal, and the Escorts group who are investing in setting up of modern hospitals in major cities. Many have in fact built health packages designed for patients, including airport pickups, visa assistance, boarding and lodging. With advanced medical and biotechnological progress, India along with Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand are leaders in selling healthcare the world over.

With India’s infrastructure and technology quite at par with those in the USA, UK and Europe, also boasts of some of the best hospitals and treatment centers in the world. A favourite world getaway, India as a health and tourism destination is here to stay.

A joint report by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) -McKinsey study on Health tourism says that at its current pace of growth, healthcare tourism alone can rake over US$ 1.7 billion additional revenues by 2012. Medical tourism is now a US$ 299 million industry, as about 100,000 patients come each year.

The biggest driver for healthcare tourism is the disparity in costs, nearly one fifth of the cost in the developed world. India is definitely capitalizing on its low medical costs and the expertise of its highly skilled medical fraternity.

· A heart surgery in the US costs US$ 30,000 as compared to US$ 6,000 in India.

· A bone marrow transplant in the US costs US$ 250,000 and US$ 26,000 in India

Lately, the Indian Government launched the six month medical Visa in 2005. The Visa allows a foreigner to stay for a year for medical treatment in India. In addition, the Government has also introduced policy measures such as the National Health Policy which recognizes the treatment of international patients as an export, allowing private hospitals treating international patients to enjoy the benefits of lower import duties, an increase in the rate of depreciation (from 25 per cent to 40 per cent) for life-saving medical equipment and several tax sops.

The ease in international travel, the improvement of technology and standards of care in many of the Far Eastern countries and in India score a point with patients in Britain or Canada who have to rely on the heavily taxed public health-care system for routine heart surgery, a hip resurfacing or a hip replacement which sometimes take years to be treated.

By: G M Wani

Abstract

 
Un-differentiates cells are called blank cells. Grown in cell culture for few generations, they remain un-differentiated. How to know they are un-differentiated has been discussed in this paper. The embryonic stem cells have been used to recover many diseases by direct differentiation. Various mechanisms and methods described. The planning and policy situation of Stem Cell Technology in its country of origin has been reviewed. The pituitary hypoplasia diagnosis to be a stem cell defect. Foreign gene expression in embryos, transgenic and animal modeling for disease cure has been postulated, on the basis of research results reported. Various embryo manipulation, transfer of gene, nuclear injection, gene mapping, isolation and analysis of gene in future have been reported and discussed. Embryonic Stem Cell Therapeutics, Gene targeting, cell death, cell differentiation, programming molecules research has been reviewed. Mutation defects in mice have been related to stem cell defects. A 2 step process of gene targeting mechanism has been developed which help a lot in gene therapy and animal genetic manipulations.
Gene trap strategies and mechanism of its use for human and animal good has been briefly hinted at for future researchers to initiate new research mechanism.

 

 
 

 
 
5. Embryonic stem cell:
Foetal tissues- a source of embryonic stem cell can too differentiate into various cell types through three germ layers.
Embryonic stem cells (ESC) can be had from inner cell mass of pre implantation embryo and cultured in mouse embryonic feeder cells. Embryonic development after fertilization has been detailed ( Wani, 1996). After fertilization within 30 hrs zygote divides and becomes a morula in 3-4 days post coitus. A blastocyst is seen within 5-6 days, p.c. The 150µ blastocyst (1/7 th of a mm) has already differentiated into outer trophoblast (70 cells and inner cell mass, cluster of 30 cells). They are multipotent and rise to germ layers ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm. Maintenance of ICM cell lines, culture feeder layers under undifferentiated state in now possible by Leukemia Inhibitory Factors (LIF) addition to growth culture. Some of the figures 1-5 show schematic development of fertilized eggs. The research has entered an advance phase and we have many tests which can differentiate stem cell from differentiated cells. Various details are shown in table 1 and this phenomenon briefly represented in Figure 2. The Embryoid bodies are graphically represented in Figure 3.
Differentiation
ICM cell proliferate and undergo differentiation. The activity of lineage specific genes is the evidence of differentiation. Lineage commitment is infact the beginning of the differentiation. Thus totipotencey is infact multilineage expression now. The trancriptosome activity is thus a signal. Its minimal activity maintains the cell in open state. The levels are low but in detectable levels, so its standardization could help to maintain them?

Programming Molecules
 
A broad review of about 100 research publications in presented in these pages, under various heads.
Stem -Cell –Technology
Stem- cells are undifferentiated cells. The embryo at morulla stages has undifferentiated blastomers. These cells can transform themselves into 200 or more cell type, which could be used to repair or regenerate new desired cells. This advanced cell research may help diseased people like those suffering from cancer, Alzheimer’s disease syndrome, Parkinson’s disease and even paralysis.
The stem cells are derived from 4-5 days old embryos or fertilized cells. The stem-cell- technology has a new role to play in animal reproduction.
Firstly, the stem cell source could be pooled out of slaughter house oocytes or from the vast pool of embryos hatching out in many animal species.
Secondly, the cell source could be obtained from foetal culture and if new-grown-–immunoprotectant cell of foetus could help or provide germ-cell specific to any particular organ, the repair of organs could be a new revolution.
The Demethylases- reprogramming molecules present in blastocyst cytoplasm may be a positive factor for maintenance of open transcriptosome activity. Similarly, heterochromatin modeling and regulation could be negative mechanism. The inadequate knowledge of regulatory gene today hamper our understanding but tomorrow we could know switch off and on of these regulators & various interfering mechanism like methylation effects and SIRNA (Small Interfering RNA). In future, we dream for Genome shuffling i.e. shape of the genome profile. The gene profile like October 4 embryos & BMP4 etc. has already been identified. More identification is on; solutions are expected, through research.
 

U.K Cabinet decisions in 1990
 
Biotechnology in general and stem-cell-nanotechnology in particular is still not in its applied stage even in U.K. A balanced information system, inter-research council is suggested. Cabinet office (1990) U.K Govt. has started supporting embryonal stem cell technology. Manpower shortage in Embryo manipulation in cattle, protein engineering, animal trans genesis, stem cell biology is felt. Thus these fields are future emerging technologies to enhance livestock and agri-productivity. More and more researchers shall be attracted to this area, as more jobs securities are evident in industry related to stem cell technologies.
 

Mutation defects investigated
 
Agricultural and food research council of UK has stressed some of the scientific thrust areas like molecular biology, biochemistry, intracellular signaling stem cell biology, global climatic change and agro-based food production & safety. The transgenic animal modeling to develop disease targeting as reviewed (Wani, 2007) has been the main focus of human disease cure models in centre of genomic research university of Edinburgh. The focus has been on use of transgenic in the fields of toxicology, cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary diseases, inflammatory and immunological diseases. Many neuropsychiatries, reproductive, endocrinological, embryological disorders could be evaluated and studied through these animal transgenic models. High priority in funding in suggested for initiating these areas. (Lathe & Mullins, 1993, Wani, 2008).
Animal breeding has entered an era of embryo manipulation, transfer of genes, nuclear injections, gene mapping, isolation and analysis of genes for future genetic gains. (Bul field et. al., 1994). This would have tremendous impact on animal related development. The detailed procedures have been described (Houdebine.1992). Insertional mutagenesis and mouse development have been reported ( Kuelin et. al., (1992). Various mice were generated with disrupted TAPS gene using embryonic stem cell Technology (Kaer-L-Van et al, 1992). Ruminant microbial degradation using stem cells were used to improve ruman feed degradability. (Goto et. al., 1993). Embryonic stem cells were used in embryonic stem therapeutics to generate various modes of Trypanosoma cruzi, parasitaemia, CD4 or CD8 molecules differed in interferon mRNA contents. This mechanism when moduled into theraphy modes may yield resistance, against Trypanosama cruzi or brucei (Rottenberg et. al., 1993). Bone healing was achieved through Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPS). These are differentiative factors whose principal function is to induce transformation of undifferentiated mesenchymal cells into chondroblasts and osteoblasts in dose-dependent manner. (Kirker et. al., 1995). Germ- line chimeras have been produced in mice. (Uchida et al 1995)
Gene Targeting-2 step process
Gene targeting strategy was developed. This was used to develop many mice strains. The so called double replacement gene targeting is a 2-step process in which a region of the gene of interest is first replaced with a selectable marker. An inactivated allele so formed is retargeted with another vector to yield or reconstruct the inactivated allele. (Moore et.al., 1995). Pierre-Robin Syndrome in human signaling skeletal and facial abnormalities is of great importance. Similar abnormalities reminiscent of this disease was generated using activin receptor type II. This Act Rc II was found to signal pituitary gonadotrophins and reproductive performance was defective. All Act Rc II deficient mice did not show the skeletal or facial abnormalities, but showed pituitary release or FSH suppression defects. (Matzuk et al, 1995).
Gene Therapy
Embryonic Stem Cell Technology uses have been discussed in theraphy of human diseases. (Ramirez & Bradley, 1994). Inhibin deficient mice are prone to gonadal cancers. (Mutzuk et. al., 1994). Livestock transgenesis and potentiality of stem-Cell Technology use is reviewed (Seemark, 1994).
Gene transgetting in reproductive studies has been reported as earlier as 1995. (Camper et al, 1995). Experiment on laboratory Animal, has been concern of animal welfare associations. Transgenic technology can reduce animal use in future. (Gordon et al, 1997). Procine Chimeras have been produced using primodial germ cell derived colonies. (Piedrahita et. al., 1998). Introducing mutations using gene targeting technique in mice has been reported. (Torres & Kulin, 1997). A detailed review covering transgenic animal modeling has been reviewed. The technologies like DNA microinjection, embryonic stem cell technology, traits affecting domestic animal.
Productivity, animal bioreactors have been discussed (Pinkert et al, 1996).
Directed differentiation
New concept on FSH , mechanism action using embryonic stem cell technologyhas been studied. FSH is needed for follicle maturation in females. Its role in male fertility, as was not established (Kumar et. al., 1997).
 Stem cell biology has revealed that stem cells have the capacity to renew their self. Some stem cells can been directed to choose a selected pathway. It means they can differentiate into particular cells only. One can use growth factors cell lineage identification mechanism is needed to achieve a break through. Various questions are still not clear like regeneration in response to injury. The system recognition and regeneration manipulative mechanisms are being searched.(Morrison at al, 1997).
Embryonic stem cell lines has been established in many specie besides mice like cattle, rats etc (stranzinger,1996).
Various reviews on reproductive physiological research and future prospects have been reported. (Foote, 1996) more recent reviews have been published (Wani, 2007, 2008). New techniques, describing gene trap strategies or embryonic nervous systems have been in use since last one decade in Japan (Shiraieh et. al., 1996). Yamada et. al. (1994) described gene targeting approaches. His review describes methods of using embryonic stem cells for gene targeting growth and differentiation studies. Hair development is now possible using keratinocyte- growth factors isolates. (Muridae et. al., 1996). Using stem cell factor melanoma in gray horses was investigated. No such association with coat colour was established (Rieder et. al., 1999). Embryonic sex was determined in pre-implantation embryos, using green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene on X chromosome. (Little 1998).
A stem cell defect in mice has been related to mutations that cause pituitary dwarfism. The cause lies in the gene encoding the transcription of growth hormone factor 1. (GHF 1 or pit 1). The dwarf mice were found to be deficient in growth hormone (GH), prolactin synthesis. Thus they exhibit pituitary hypolasia -a- stem cell defect. Tolipotent embryonic stem cells can be identified by the methods described (Reddy et. al. 1992). Foreign gene expression in embryos had been described (Kondoh et. al.,1991)This has resulted in success of transgenesis of mice,fowls and fishes.
 

Stem cells are blanks cells, which can be cultured and give rise to any kind of cells and tissues. They are ploripotent cells, which proliferate and can be differentiated into different cells types. Various other cells have this capacity which is briefly explained (Puri 2003). They have a capacity to revitalize diseased tissue and can replace organ transplantation. Stem cell technology, promise safety against life threatening diseases and organ replacements. This is possible by creating identified cell lines which will give rise to tissue and organs for replacing diseased parts, thus we see a futuristic replacement of blood bank with stem cell bank.
Stem cell line availability may help cloning. The evidence of such miracle was born in February, 1997 named "Dolly the Sheep." Dolly came into existence by fusion of an adult mammary cell nucleus of a pregnant Finn Dorset White Sheep with enucleated Oocyte of Scottish black Face Ewe. The embryo so developed invitro was reared to birth in the uterus of a black faced ewe. Since then cloning of pets and animals is in practice and even human clones are the fantary of HBO film displays. This has brought home many realities of spiritualism like birth of Christ and above all the birth of Isaq. A hope to infertile couple to have babies of their own origin. Here genetic make up is not borrowed but is ones own. Unlike invotro- fertilization the need of sperm cell too is warded off. So a baby to a virgin is a reality. It has many benefits, risks and applications too. A brief is as:-
Advantages
Organ replacement, no illegal sale of organs and exploitations.
Drug sensitivity test- animal friendly- animal welfare approach.
Genomic research possible- many unanswered questions shall be replied.
Risks
Oncogenic potential and ethical conflicts
Applications
Animal with higher yield could be produced.
Gene mapped animals may be possibility with simple means.
Embryonic development solutions could be found.
Aging research may reveal many secrets of longevity. Models for diseases investigations with cells and tissue can save animals and humans. Drug sensitivity tests shall be simpler. Gene targeting will be possible.
Cell Death Warded Off
The Somatic cells have DNA polymerase activity which is unable to replicate the end of a linear molecule, so it is unable to make up for the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes, which shorten at ends so the aging effect. This is why chromosome becomes progressively instable and thus leads to cell death. This formative defect is awarded off in stem cell. These cells are toti potent and hence have no chromosomal abrasion possibilities, nicely passaged germ cells without having clubbing into Embryoid.
2. Stem Cell Technology
The concerns shadowing our livestock improvements are poor zoo- sanitation. Our huge products humps needs export market. Our poor disease safety procedures need to be sharpened. Our milk products at present are imported by Bangladesh and Sri- Lanka alone leaving a huge surplus in our Gowdowns. International zoo sanitary conditions need products from disease- free animals. This is possible by preventing animal disease. Therefore a new thrust on immunological studies like stem cell, primodial Germ Cell, fetal and cord blood cells shall be our endeavor to discuss in these pages.
1. Introduction

By: Leonard Lee


When the time for transition has come to the incarnated soul–the exact moment of which is determined and initiated by the Higher Self–the physical seed-atom which contains the soul-plan of the Higher Self, releases certain information to the endocrine glands via the blood stream to stimulate the death process. The glands then secrete certain substances that Earlyne Chaney calls the “death hormone.” This hormone then circulates around the physical system releasing the immaterial aspect from the physical. The mental, astral and etheric bodies dissociate themselves from the physical body, followed by the seed-atoms. The first to be affected and released is the mental seed-atom. As it leaves the physical body, the mental records of the soul and consciousness goes along with it. This is in fact the commencement of the bardo, of which no soul can avoid experiencing, even in a sudden impact of death.

Once the mental seed-atom escapes from the physical system, the physical body falls into a coma. Although the physical body still reacts to external stimuli, there is no registration in the consciousness of the soul through the brain. Next to be liberated from the physical body is the astral seed-atom. With the absence of the astral seed-atom, the physical body lies inert and senseless. The departure of the physical seed-atom marks the beginning of clinical death. Its disappearance from the physical body causes the dissolution and disintegration of the physical form. In the above process no pain is involved, for the absence of the mental seed-atom prevents any sensation to be noted in the consciousness. Also, the “death hormone” anesthetizes the whole physical system. Any death struggle or spasms to be seen in the dying merely reflects the release of the components of the soul and the physical body’s straining to prevent its departure. As a person is about to leave the physical, the astral body increases in luminosity, even in the case of sudden deaths.

All of the seed-atoms as they leave the physical body, are transferred to the astral form. With the transference of the mental seed-atom, the consciousness of the soul gradually awakens in the astral state and experiences the bardo. Once the bardo is undergone, the soul, the awareness-principle in average cases, is greeted by advance beings and earth-relatives who have prepared beforehand for the arrival of the soul. This we know personally having had psychic contacts when our dad was undergoing the dying process. The dying are often instilled peace with the help of music played by the disembodied spirits.

The departure of every soul from the physical plane is known by spiritual beings, and preparation is always made for their reception in the astral world. Even while journeying in the bardo the soul is often aided by spiritual guides. Divine guides in the higher planes helping the newly dead is a common belief among ancient Egyptians.

When the physical seed-atom leaves the physical form and transfers itself to the astral body, the sutratma, the silver cord, snaps and recoils to the physical form where it infuses itself into the bones of the body. Imbued with the qualities or magnetism of the personality of the soul, the sutratma, as it recoils to the bones, impregnates the skeletal structure with the vibrations of the soul. The bones, therefore, acquire a magical quality, especially if the departed soul was a mystic or saint of a high caliber. This occult principle is well known among shamans of various cultures who often utilize bones of revered men as implements as ceremonial magicians would use their consecrated wands as tools of their will. We personally possess such a magickal object, a very ancient trisula, part of which is made by a human bone.

During the above process of soul-transference, or transition, the awareness-principle undergoes the bardo, as we have said before. Since we will be considering the bardo at some length in a later section of this paper, we will now deal, instead, with the nature of the after-death state.

Once soul-transference has been completed and the bardo experienced, the astral form drifts to the realm or region in the astral or mental world where it will sojourn for a time. The etheric body, is however, still connected with the physical form through a remnant of the sutratma. It dissolves simultaneously with the physical body. With the absence of the higher principles, the etheric body, like the physical form, is but an empty shell, and it may somehow be galvanized into some resemblance of life by astral entities using the life-force borrowed from incarnated beings. Some forms of vampirism is also related to the etheric body. Corpses remaining fresh in their graves is the result of a vital etheric body animated by some intelligence maintaining subsistence through the act of vampirism.

Possessing some psychological traits and memory of its former occupant, the etheric form is often used by malicious entities to deceive and mislead living relatives and persons through channels, psychics and mediums. It is for this reason that cremation, from the occult point of view, is often seen as a spiritual necessity and a psychically sanitary method for disposing physical remains. It prevents the occurrence of negative phenomena such as obsession and possession. In burial grounds, the etheric body may often be seen as bluish lights hovering buried bodies; these are often mistaken for ghosts or human spirits–the correct term for these are phantoms.

In ancient Egypt, the desire for preserving the etheric body may underlie the practice of mummification. Like the bones of a deceased person, the etheric body is also often used for occult and magical purposes–usually necromancy or sciomancy, which are forms of divination. This is usually done with the use of the shedding of blood where it attracts the shades, the etheric forms of the dead used not by its former occupant, but by elemental or elementary spirits. Blood, as a medium of the life-force, is an energy source sought after by malicious or mischievous spirits. With the presence of blood such spirits find it possible to be fully aware of the physical plane and materialize and converse with material beings; and also possible to satisfy certain base desires.

We mentioned before that the soul, the awareness-principle, gravitates to the realm most suited for it in terms of vibration. Mercy does not automatically lead a soul to heaven. A soul’s personality determines where it would go. If the nature of the soul is of a low type, it will find itself in one of the lower astral regions which corresponds to the religious concept of hell. High-natured souls will be drawn to the high astral worlds or to the mental mansions. Swedenborg speaks of this in his book, “Heaven and Hell”:

“It ought to be clearly understood that with the angels [souls] it is their interiors which cause them to be in one heaven or another. For, the more their interiors are open towards the Lord, the more interior is the heaven in which they are.” (1958:16)

Here Swedenborg says that souls enter the type of heaven that corresponds with the quality of the inner heaven within them. This spiritual principle is a known law among occultists. Cornelius Agrippa in the Three Books of Occult Philosophy, has this to say about the reward of lofty souls:

“But the spirit of man, which is of a sacred nature, and divine offspring, because it is always faultless, becomes incapable of any punishment; but the soul of it hath done well, rejoiceth together with the spirit, and going forth with its aerial chariot [astral body], passeth freely to the graves of the heroes, or reacheth heaven, where it enjoys all its senses, and powers, a perpetual blessed felicity, a perfect knowledge of all things, as also the divine vision, and possession of the kingdom of heaven, and being made partaker of the divine power bestows freely divers gifts upon these inferiors, as if it were an immortal god . . .” (1995:594)

He goes on to say that the soul of a negative nature is left to the pleasure of the “devil”:

“Wherefore then this soul being void of an intelligible essence and being left to the power of a furious planetary, is ever subjected by the torment of corporeal qualities.” (1995:594)

Agrippa alludes here to hell or purgatory. Should there be coarse material in the astral form as a result of negative habits, negative patterns of thoughts and desires, the soul sojourns temporarily in purgatory before transmigrating to its rightful place in the heavenly regions. Purgatory is a transitional plane of human souls of various natures and types; for instance, there are those bound there because of their unrealistic religious concepts, and they linger in purgatory until they accept the truth concerning the spiritual laws governing the higher spheres. There are those also stuck in purgatory until certain habits or desires are overcome. Atheists and intellectuals likewise find themselves in purgatory for a time. Attachment to earthly wealth, position, and power may also be a cause of bondage to purgatory.

In purgatory the soul strives to rid itself of its moral, mental and emotional defects; and also the effects of its physical and sensual indulgences, as well as those sensual desires itself. In Hindu and Buddhist mythology, these souls in purgatory are called Pretas, or “hungry ghosts.” Until the astral form has reached the required degree of purification, the soul would find it uncomfortable to live anywhere else in the astral plane. Purgatory is said to resemble the earth plane’s slums and ghetto areas.

The author of this paper once had an interesting experience in one of the lower astral regions in which he was directed to counsel souls who were kleptomaniacs. Although not informed as to the nature of the inhabitants of the realm, certain events such as personal objects carried on our astral person at that time which was suddenly amiss made us realize the common problem of those souls living there. Those souls were stuck in purgatory because of their thieving tendencies, and we were there to help them realize and give up their negative habit. Bad habits and desires follow us in the afterlife and they cause us intense suffering–the result of being unable to completely satiate, gratify, or fulfill them. It is for this reason that negative habits and desires should be extinguished, or at least transmuted in the here and now, in the physical plane. Before entering purgatory, a soul may be given a glimpse of the astral heavens so as to awaken its aspirations, its desires to improve its condition and soul-estate. When the soul is dissatisfied with mundane and carnal things in the lower astral and when it aspires for something better, it commences to purify its astral body of the lower particles, and suddenly it finds itself within a higher sphere.

Souls that are psychologically unsound or mentally and emotionally disturbed are brought to healing centers in purgatory for the restoration of harmony among their soul-vehicles. Souls with crystallized minds and are mentally imprisoned by preconceived ideas concerning life after death are likewise brought to healing centers for de-hypnotization, or rehabilitation. Souls that led violent lives fall into suspended animation for a lengthy period of time. This enforced unconsciousness is therapeutic in nature, it is a period of soul-healing. These souls are awakened from time to time to determine its attitude–whether it feels guilt or repents of its negative deeds. If not, it is once again tranquilized.

When ignorant of the existence of the higher spheres, souls in purgatory and in the hell regions are often shown, by guiding souls, of the splendour and glory of the upper regions of the astral and mental worlds. Souls are no more intelligent or knowledgeable in the astral as they were in the physical. Ignorance in the physical concerning Truth and Reality are brought along with them in the discarnate state. Opinions are maintained. Souls, therefore, see and experience what they have learnt to believe. Such “lost souls” are shown the way of ascension to the higher worlds.

The astral body is plastic-like in nature and it normally reflects the nature of the soul within. Souls with negative tendencies and evil traits assume forms with facial features reflective of its nature. They may take on the appearance of misshapen, grotesque, and monstrous forms. Conversely, souls with positive, clean, and pure natures take on angelic forms. The higher the quality and nature of the soul, the more beautiful and scintillating its appearance. Even the clothings worn by souls reflects the inner state. Referring to this principle Swedenborg declares:

“. . . all the interior affections appear and shine forth from the face.” (1958:22)

He also relates the mystery of soul-appearance of evil persons:

“. . . and wonderful to tell, those in hell appear to one another as men, but in the light of heaven they appear as monsters, horrid in face and body, the exact form of their own evil.” (1958:66)

Among Chinese and Tibetan beliefs is that souls could reincarnate as animals. Considering the principle mentioned above, we can come to appreciate some truth in this concept. Men with animal characteristics do reflect their animal nature in their astral-forms.

Through death the mind retains the same personality, habits, traits, character and inclinations, and this is known through one’s appearance. It is through the facial appearance, the quality of the clothings worn, and the luminosity and colours of the aura of the soul that the degree of evolution of the soul may be determined. Some beings are so radiant, that it hurts to look at them. We would probably shield our eyes with our hands to protect our sight from the glare–this gesture could almost be interpreted as a salute–a sign of honor and respect to those beings. These souls are bearers of Light, Life and Love. Their presence heals and vitalizes the younger souls. Overthere, in the astral and mental worlds, everyone sees us for what we really are, including ourselves. Though we may be “somebody” in the physical world, in the astral worlds we may be just another “person.” In the higher worlds, our true character stands revealed. There is nothing of our private thoughts, feelings and character that we can hide. We are an opened book that reveals our inner selves to others around us. Again quoting Swedenborg:

“. . . an angel who excels in wisdom instantly sees the quality of another from his face.” (1958:22)

Only virtues, good thoughts, deeds, and a search for Truth confers beauty of appearance. In the higher worlds we will discover the fact that thoughts are things. What we think manifests and affects us almost immediately without any time interval.

Those with pre-conceptions regarding heaven, such as religious devotees, will experience the type of heaven of their expectations. These various heavenly conditions, however, are illusions. They exist temporarily as dramas played on the behalf of the newly-arrived soul for the purpose of teaching spiritual lessons, such as the errors of pre-conceived ideas. The dramas are sometimes played by negative beings with non-benevolent motive. These dramas last until the soul awakens to the fact that its concept of heaven as experienced, hardly reflects the true reality, state, and nature of the mansions of the Cosmos; or conversely, it could entrap him even further. The former condition is brought home when certain events occur in their personal “heaven” which indicates the artificiality of their paradise. For instance, a soul conceiving heaven to be one where its inhabitants wear wings and halos, and play on the harp and sing hymns for all eternity will experience just that . . . until ennui sets in, and voices begin to get hoarse, and harp strings begins to burst, and halos begin to fall, and wings begin to molt . . . In reference to these dramas in the astral dimensions, Torkom Saraydarian comments in The Science of Meditation:

“Once you enter into it, you see that many colorful events are rapidly forming and dissolving according to your unnamed urges, aspirations, thoughts, and volitions, which are in continuous change and motion and in various intensities. All you see is the response of your astral substance, which mirrors your desires, urges, dreams, and mental modifications. The comic part of this is that you do not realize that whatever you see or experience is your creation, your own expression, which sometimes becomes the vehicle of astral entities who perform an illusive play or comedy to englamour and trap you even more.” (1993:208)

In the various astral and higher planes, the soul occupies some of its time analyzing its past life and the assimilation of its experience. This introspection is often done with the assistance of spiritual guides and group discussions. In the heavenly worlds the soul finds time to do and to learn the things that it always wanted to without being bothered by the necessities of earning a daily living. There are Halls of Wisdom and Temples of Learning in all branches of the arts and sciences, including the science of creation. In these schools the soul learns the purpose of life, the laws of the spiritual planes and how it may function effectively therein in its higher vehicles. The potential and expressions of one’s creativity are also taught. Generally, the average soul will spend its time studying and serving others, with intervals of relaxation and play.

In the astral state one discovers that it is unnecessary to eat or to drink to nourish the astral form. Nourishment occurs through spiritual osmosis. The astral form automatically absorbs the life-giving energy-fluid flowing through the astral ethers. This could be done physically as well, but it requires intense spiritual training to reach this level. Streams and fountains of energy are to be found in the higher heavens. Muslims call them Salsabil. A dip in them also vitalizes the whole spiritual constitution.

There are several modes of locomotion available to the inhabitants of the heavenly worlds. There are vehicles to convey one from place to place. One may also choose to walk or to use the astral body’s innate capability to fly. This latter mode of travel requires some mastery though, however, once mastered, it offers one of the most convenient methods of mobilization. Once settled in the higher astral, the soul does not possess the ability to view or manifest in the earth plane unless it has acquired the occult ability to do so. Generally speaking, it is not possible for the soul to visit the higher worlds beyond its soul-level because of the intense fiery vibrations emanating from those worlds. Journeying to lower worlds, however, is much more easily accomplished.

Communication in the subtle worlds is done mainly through telepathy, although sometimes normal speech is used. The utilization of telepathy means that every soul understands every other soul eventhough in physical terms there may be a language barrier. For instance, through the means of telepathy it is possible for an Englishman to understand an Italian, and vice versa. One also eventually learns to communicate through colours and sounds, these being universal languages. There is, however, a phenomenon that should be noted and expressed clearly by Swedenborg:

“. . . the angels of a lower heaven cannot speak with those of a higher heaven. In fact when they look towards them, they do not see them, the higher heavens appearing like a mist over their heads. Angels of a higher heaven, however, can see those in a lower heaven . . .” (1958:100)

Copyright © 2006 Luxamore

By: Apurva Shree


Cord blood stem cell collection is a necessary act, but not routine in delivery rooms. Expectant parents are recommended to plan for cord blood donation early since nearly 50% of the vaginal child deliveries take place before the scheduled date. In such cases, even the most enthusiast parents seem to lose the opportunity to preserve their child’s umbilical cord cells that contain life saving potential for their newborn baby or other members of families. Therefore, plan and contact an umbilical cord blood bank for storing the miraculous stem cells. It is suggested that the interested parents do some research themselves about the various options available for preserving their baby’s stem cells in a cord blood bank.

When To Contact A Cord Blood Bank

Medical practitioners advise yet-to-be parents to plan for cord blood stem cell banking as early as the fourth month of the pregnancy. Most of the parents decide to bank cord blood cells if they have a family history of a particular disease that is treatable by bone marrow transplant or have a family member who is ailing with one of the disease that suggest bone marrow transplant treatment. The mother has to undergo special medical tests to ensure that she is eligible for the donation. In addition, she has to sign a consent form.

Cord Blood Stem Cells – Why?

Though bone marrow transplants have been successful in a number of diseases, rare availability of stem cells leave patients yearning for the cells for a prolonged period of time. One of the major reasons why parents, today opt for cord blood preservation, is that if the need arises, the patient does not have to wait for a matching donor. This is more true for the patients who belong to an ethic minority group. With approvals granted by FDA two decades ago, cord blood cell industry is booming with huge developments of public and private banks. Families, who have not stored their own babies’ stem cells in a private cord blood bank, still are likely to find a genetically matched stem cell sample from a public cord blood bank. Besides, research has proved that umbilical cord stem cells are more versatile compared to the ones extracted from bone marrow.

Costs Of Banking Cord Blood Stem Cells

There are different types of cord blood banks. There are public banks and also private banks which are classified as non-profit private banks and profit oriented banks respectively. The payment schemes devised by the cord blood banks vary. Usually, cord blood stem cell banking comes with a payment package that sum up fees for enrollment information, collection kits, courier charges, banks laboratory, sample typing, processiong, storing and maintenance of the cord blood units.

Private banks charge nearly $1,500 to $2,000 to make the samples available to the families to counter illnesses that require re-growth of the cells. Some banks do not charge until and unless the donated samples are tested and proved to be worth of being stored. The charges are comparively less if you decide to donate the umbilical cord blood for research purposes. If the umbilical cord blood storage is provided for 15 to 20 years of period, several banks offer pre-paying plan that entails a one-time payment with discounts, which are more economical than annual payment schemes. Cord blood banks also entertain credit card payments. Non-profit cord blood banks offer free cord blood banking programs. Though economical payment plans are alluring, however, it is the efficiency of the banks that should be taken into account before choosing a bank for cord blood stem cell banking.