Articles for Parents

As parents, this week takes on a deeply personal meaning. We are the primary guardians of our children’s safety and well-being, not just in the present, but also for their future health. While Child Protection Week focuses on immediate threats, it’s also an opportunity to consider the long-term health of our children. One way to do this is by banking their stem cells at birth with a reputable cord blood bank like CryoSave South Africa.

Every parent worries about their child’s safety, and the kitchen can be a minefield of potential hazards – especially for curious little ones. Burns are a common concern, with thousands of scalding incidents happening every year. But fear not, new parents! By following a few simple precautions, you can create a safe and enjoyable environment..

Stem cells fight viruses and MS! They calm inflammation and promote repair, potentially aiding long-term COVID-19 effects. In MS, they might regulate the immune system by activating Tregs. Research suggests umbilical cord stem cells could be even more effective. They offer a promising new approach for treating various diseases.

Stem cells offer promise for knee osteoarthritis pain relief, but FDA approval is pending. Explore current treatment options & the exciting potential of stem cell therapy!

Explore the future of health with CryoSave’s streamlined guide to safeguarding your child’s well-being. From easy online registration to painless collection and long-term cryo-preservation, each step prioritizes safety. Seamlessly blending technology and compassionate care, CryoSave stands as a reliable partner in unlocking the potential health benefits within your baby’s stem cells. Prioritize safety, embrace the future – journey with CryoSave.

In the rapidly evolving field of medical science, the importance of stem cells in treating various diseases and conditions cannot be overstated. For expecting parents, the decision to bank their baby’s stem cells is a significant step towards securing the health and well-being of their child. CryoSave South Africa emerges as a distinguished choice for this crucial responsibility, and here are three compelling reasons why.

Over three decades, cord blood stem cell therapy has notched 40,000+ successful transplants, transforming treatments for blood disorders and metabolic conditions. With 80+ approved therapies, it offers hope for diverse diseases like neuroblastoma. Ongoing trials explore applications from Alzheimer’s to spinal cord injury. For a detailed exploration, read the full article and discover the evolving frontiers of this groundbreaking therapy.

In this article, discover why banking your baby’s cord blood is crucial. With a 100% self-match for your baby and vital sibling compatibility, cord blood storage becomes a strategic choice for long-term family well-being, offering a lifeline for potential treatments.

We highlight how stem cells have saved lives over the festive season. A time when everybody is joyous and filled with merriment; some people face devastating news that could have life-threatening outcomes. The motivational tales of these four stem cell success stories highlight individuals who have benefited from stem cell-based treatments.

Stem cell therapy offers groundbreaking possibilities in medicine, with applications spanning tissue repair, drug testing, disease modeling, gene therapy, immunotherapy, and personalized medicine. While still in early stages, ongoing research promises to transform treatment options and quality of life for patients with diverse medical conditions.

Cancer is one of the main causes of illness and death worldwide and accounts for about 20% of all deaths in the modern world. Cancer research has resulted in the development of several novel ways to detect and treat cancer patients. An element that contributes to the failure of treating cancer in the original development […]

Depression, impacting millions globally, often eludes effective treatment. Scientists are investigating the potential of stem cell therapy to tackle its root causes. Stem cells in the brain’s hippocampus may offer hope by regenerating neurons and reducing inflammation, potentially revolutionizing depression treatment.

David Vetter, born with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) in 1971, faced a dire prognosis. His sister’s bone marrow transplant attempt ended tragically due to an undetected virus. Today, medical advances allow early SCID diagnosis and successful blood-forming stem cell transplants in infancy. Gene therapy offers potential cures, albeit pending FDA approval. Inherited genetic diseases like Hemoglobinopathies and Immunodeficiency Diseases can now be treated in utero or post-birth. David’s legacy shines through newborn screenings, offering hope for treating hundreds of immunodeficiency conditions—a profound scientific breakthrough.

CryoSave offers Placental Banking in addition to Cord Blood and Cord Tissue Banking to provide our parents with the extra advantage of placental tissue and amniotic membrane banking. Thanks to this extra tissue in addition to cord blood and cord tissue, other illnesses can now be addressed.

In a world of medical progress, the DKMS Sunflower Day shines as a symbol of hope against blood cancers. Beyond raising awareness, it offers life-changing prospects to countless patients. This annual initiative by DKMS, once known as the German Bone Marrow Donor Center, urges people to register as stem cell donors. As blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma persist, Sunflower Day’s bright emblem serves as a beacon of light. Learn how this initiative saves lives by expanding the donor pool and offering hope in the battle against these life-threatening diseases.

Did you know your birth season could influence your life? Spring babies tend to be happier and imaginative, but face unique health risks. Explore the surprising connections between birth season and personality traits, health outcomes, and career paths in this eye-opening article.

Recent DNA research illuminates the epigenome’s pivotal role, dispelling gene immutability. Chemical marks from environmental factors sculpt gene expression through DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling, and noncoding RNA. Epigenetics steers development, health, aging, and disease, unearthing connections between nature and nurture. Maternal nutrition influences offspring’s epigenome, impacting long-term health. Stem cell biology hinges on epigenetic cues, guiding differentiation. This dynamic framework opens novel avenues in medicine and reshapes gene-environment discourse.

In the battle against “cancer of the blood,” a groundbreaking leukemia treatment has emerged as a beacon of hope. Conventional approaches like surgery and chemotherapy often fell short, leaving patients with limited survival rates. However, the emergence of immunotherapy, particularly CAR-T cell therapy, has ignited a new era.

Explore the diverse potential of umbilical cord blood (UCB) beyond oncology. Discover how UCBs are making strides in treating nerve and heart disorders, offering promising avenues for future transplants. Learn about the exciting prospects of UCB applications in groundbreaking medical advancements.

Recent developments in genetics and neuroscience have opened new doors in the classification and treatment of mental illnesses. Stem cells, particularly induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), offer promising avenues for regenerating neurons, influencing brain functions, and aiding cognitive and emotional recovery. Discover the groundbreaking potential of stem cell therapy in transforming psychiatric treatments.

What is cord blood and tissue stem cell banking? Find out how stem cells collected directly after birth could safeguard your baby’s future health. In this article we delve into what it is and what it could mean for your family in the future.

Explore the incredible strides in blood cancer treatment with cord blood transplants. Discover how this groundbreaking alternative is providing hope for patients worldwide.

Joy and excitement are part of the experience of having a new baby, but unfortunately so are anxiety and depression. It is believed that 50% of new mothers have at least minor depressive symptoms during pregnancy that go untreated.

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. Below is a breakdown and explanation of the costs of stem cell banking.

Vitiligo is a chronic skin condition caused by the death of melanocytes leading to patches of discolored skin. Vitiligo affects all races across the globe and sometimes leads to social aversion as in some communities.

Discover the various options for stem cell banks and their implications for your family’s future health. In South Africa, the absence of a public cord blood bank presents challenges, but private and community banks provide alternatives. Learn about costs, storage periods, and the benefits of private cord blood banking.

Following healthy habits in your average daily life can reduce the risk of many illnesses, disorders and diseases. In this article we’ll address the health risks associated with men’s health and how stem cells may be used in future to treat some of them.

Stem cell storage can provide a variety of advantages for families, including potential medical treatments and peace of mind. Here are ten reasons why you should consider storing your child’s stem cells.

Vaccines are the most efficient and cost-effective means of preventing infectious disease on a global scale. However, traditional vaccine approaches have thus far failed to provide protection against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), tuberculosis, malaria, and many other diseases. New approaches to vaccine development are needed to address some of these intractable problems. The first vaccine […]

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) therapy has the potential to improve poor movement skills and cognitive behaviour (thought processes, reasoning, memory recall) in children with cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the brain during early brain development. This usually happens before a child is born, but it can occur at birth or during early infancy.

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%. Babies who are born early may suffer from long-term health issues that could include e.g. cerebral palsy, mental retardation, visual and hearing impairments, and general poor health and growth problems.

Autism diagnosis rates have tripled in less than two decades. Approximately 1 in 44 children has been identified 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 is not a cure.

Glaucoma causes damage to cells in the optic nerve, the part of the eye that receives light and sends it to the brain.

Obesity is a multifaceted chronic disease whereby changes on a cellular level and overall functioning of the body, can lead to metabolic syndrome, type II diabetes, heart disease, problems with fertility, muscular damage, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, chronic pain, and psychological problems(anxiety among many others).

Acquired sensorineural hearing loss (SHL) happens after birth and is usually permanent. Could stem cells help treat this disease in future?

Although many major discoveries have assisted in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer – new cancer cases have continued to climb worldwide. Authorities believe that many cancer related deaths can be prevented.

When a baby is born too early, before 37 weeks of pregnancy then we classify it as a preterm birth.  Worldwide an estimated 15 million babies are born too early every year. This means that 1 in 10 babies are born premature. Globally the preterm birth rate is on the increase.

Pregnant women with Diabetes will usually have a healthy baby. However, careful planning, monitoring and understanding how pregnancy affects diabetes and vice versa is of vital importance. When a person has diabetes, they have high blood sugar, which can cause major problems with blood vessels and nerves, this in turn can lead to damage to […]

In the past 4 decades the recognition of stem cell treatments has drastically increased, mostly due to its high efficacy and recorded success rates of up to 80%. It is estimated that 1 in 3 people might one day benefit from regenerative cell therapy.

While thousands of scald burns occur annually, increased awareness of the dangers can prevent injuries. Following a few simple precautions will help keep you and your little chef safe from potential burns:

Isabella “Pippie” Kruger was made famous when as a 2 and a half year old burn victim from Limpopo she received a ¬revolutionary skin transplant operation. Pippie was severely burned when a bottle of gel firelighter exploded while her father was lighting a braai on New Year’s Eve. She suffered 80% full thickness third-degree burns.

According to statistics only about one-quarter of the people who need an allogeneic (unrelated donor) transplant have a sibling who is a genetic match and able to donate stem cells. The other three-quarters need to find another donor for their transplant.

Epigenetics explains how early experiences can have permanent effects. The genes children inherit from their biological parents provide information that guides their development. For example, how tall they could eventually become or the kind of temperament they could have.

The subject of delayed cord clamping (DCC) has been researched and discussed in numerous studies. The most important consideration at the time of the delivery is the health of the mother and baby. Delayed cord clamping has been shown to be beneficial to the baby and thus in the setting of cord blood banking, delayed clamping is an acceptable practice and is encouraged.

Two-thirds of women who get COVID in pregnancy will have no symptoms at all, the majority of those who develop symptoms will experience mild flu-like symptoms, and only a very small number will develop severe disease.

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting everyone, some more than others. For many families, it means making changes to daily routines because of financial hardships. For others, it means raised anxiety in children and tension in parenting relationships. It can be difficult to cope with the “new normal”, since everything we are used to has changed, […]

For more than five decades, Haematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cell transplantation has been recognised as potentially curative therapy for certain types of cancer and non-malignant disorders. Umbilical cord blood has emerged as a viable alternative source of blood-forming stem cells which could be made available, without delay, to the child or a sibling. Parents now have […]

Private vs Cord Blood Banking: What you need to know When parents are expecting a new baby, they  have many important and big decisions to make, especially when it involves your precious little person who is about to join your family. It is important to do thorough research to allow you to make informed decisions, […]

Over the years, umbilical cord blood has been found to be a highly effective source of stem cells for transplants to treatvarious diseases.

We at CryoSave South Africa wish to assure all clients that we are structured to be fully operational during the Nationwide COVID-19 lockdown. Together with ourSupport Services, we trust that we will be able to continue to provide you with an excellent service and keep you updated on recent developments in the field of stem […]