Friday, June 20, 2008

Guidance for the Safest Way on How to maintain The Cord

What will be the best idea to maintaining the cord? These are some tips on how you can put the attention on the cords. There are some tips which you can learn on how to keep the cords after it has been used. Sometimes with the mistreatment while storing the cords, they become damaged.
CORDS. A proper regard for your servant, electricity, demands also that attention be paid to cords. Repair shops often find that their major job is the repair or replacement of cords that have been damaged, though it is really easy to keep them in good condition. Jerking on a cord to disconnect it invites trouble, because such treatment loosens the wires from the plug. The proper way to disconnect a cord equipped with a switch is to cut off the switch first and then reach down and pull out the plug. If there is no switch, pull the plug from the wall outlet first, then from the appliance. Take hold of the plug firmly (not the cord) and pull straight. If it sticks, rock it gently back and forth as you pull, to loosen one connection at a time. Even if a cord has a switch it is a good idea to disconnect the cord from the outlet too, when you have finished using a heating appliance.

CORDS COVERED WITH RUBBER INSULATION should be kept clean of accumulations of grease that sometimes collect on them in the kitchen. Grease permanently damages rubber. Disconnect the cords now and then and clean them with a soapy cloth, then rinse and dry them. Other cords should be kept clean too, and free of dust.

WATER IS A CONDUCTOR OF ELECTRICITY. Do not replace electric cords that have been washed until they are thoroughly dry; you are likely to get a shock if you handle live cords when they are damp, or with wet hands. Guard also against water spilled around electric appliances.

CORDS SHOULD BE KEPT FREE OF KNOTS, bends, and kinks which might break the fine wires inside or damage their insulation.

STORE YOUR CORDS, when not in use, coiled loosely in a drawer or on a shelf, or hang them round wooden pegs or on two or more hooks, in a cool dry place. Cords permanently attached to appliances can be wrapped loosely around them after the appliances have cooled. Heat is damaging to cords too.

DON'T SWITCH CORDS indiscriminately from one appliance to another; they may not be designed to carry the same load.

DEFECTIVE OR DAMAGED CORDS should be repaired immediately or else replaced. EXTENSION CORDS SHOULD BE USED WITH CAUTION. Do not run them underneath rugs, or around radiators, pipes, or nails.

CORDS IN OUT-OF-THE-WAY PLACES can accumulate a heavy coating of dust which is sometimes touched off by a stray spark to a minor explosion. This is frightening, so try to keep the dust from collecting behind your electric washer or refrigerator.

FAULTY PLUGS, as well as cords, are a source of trouble. If the prongs are broken you will have to get a new plug. If they are merely loose, make sure that the wires have not been pulled out of place, then tighten the two small screws that secure them.

THE PROPER VOLTAGE and type of current (usually indicated on the appliance) and its own cord, must be used on all electrical equipment. For safety in buying equipment look for the UL stamp, the Underwriters Laboratories seal of approval. File all instruction tags, leaflets, and booklets in a safe place for consultation when needed; don't just read them and throw them away.

We must not forget to disconnect cord equipment using the switch first before pulling out the plug not the cord. Disconnect the cords before cleaning them with soapy cloth to remove the grease. Avoid replacing electric cords after washed until they are fully dry. Keep the cord free of knots and keep them in a cool dry place. Most people like to keep the extension cord under the rugs; it has to be used with caution. Replace defective cords immediately or replace them. Make sure the wires are tightened.

Cord Blood Banking: Myths Busted

Although, cord blood banking is fast gaining acceptability among the common masses, there are certain misconceptions lurking in the minds of people. Here are certain common myths that have been busted to bring out the real picture to you.
Myth 1: Doctors dont treat a patient with his or her own sample of cord blood, as it would contain some disease.

Fact : A large number of autologous stem cell transplants that use patients own cells are carried out every year to treat disease like leukemia, myeloma, lymphoma, and other solid tumors. A research published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology states that a patients own stem cells are the best choice for transplantation, even if there is an early-onset disease.

Study has proved that autologous transplants on infants suffering from severe leukemia were as successful as allogenic ones. The former has an advantage that there is no risk of graft vs. host disease, which is the major cause of death among transplant patients; is readily available; and there is low risk of contamination of cells. In April, 2001, doctors in Canada performed the first ever autologous transplant on a 10-month-old baby for treating retinoblastoma, a kind of eye cancer, which had reached his spinal cord.

Myth 2 : if your family doesnt have a record of cancer, your baby or sibling wont ever require stem cells.

Fact : Families go for cord blood preservation as a sort of insurance for future need for their child or family member. Most of the cancers are still a mystery and the bad news is that they are spreading at an alarming rate. The latest study reveals the horrifying fact that one in every 630 children is prone to cancer by the age of 15. Hence, it is always a good idea to opt for cord blood banking. You never know when you need it to save the life of your child.

Myth 3 : Cord blood collection draws essential blood from the baby.

Fact: Not at all. Stem cell cord blood is present in umbilical cord, which is anyways thrown out after delivery. The umbilical cord is clamped and cut, and thereafter, the blood is drawn out from it.

Myth 4: You can offer donation to a public cord blood bank and regain the stem cells in the future, if needed.

Fact : Only if the cord blood sample is banked and not been used for research purpose or for some other patient, a family might regain their donated blood sample. It is important to know that not all donated cord blood samples are banked. Numerous study reports reveal that more than 50 per cent of the potential donors are not eligible to donate cord blood. Around 71 per cent of donations are prone to rejection by the banks based on factors like family medical record, volume of collection, and blood sample analysis of the mother.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Cord Blood Banking: Invest For The Next Generation

Cord Blood Banking is one of the hottest trends that have come up in the past decade. Why is cord blood banking so popular.
What Is So Special About The Umbilical Cords Blood
Your babys umbilical cord blood is rich in stem cells. These stem cells work like a factory. They manufacture fresh blood cells wherever they are transplanted. They have the power to create red blood cells and the platelets that can ward off the diseases, which the patients current blood cells have been unable to do. You are injecting the patient with those same cells that created him
This Can Be Done With The Bone Marrow Transplants Too
Yes, stem cells are found in bone marrows too. However, many hurdles can affect the chances of the patient being cured considerably. The bone marrow of a leukemia patient needs to be transplanted so that new fresh blood cells are created. For this, the patient needs a donor whose tissues and cells match his own. This is at times quite hard to find. Besides, bone marrow has lesser concentration of stem cells compared to cord blood which usually 10 times more If the patients stem cell cord blood was preserved, he need not have worried about a perfect donor. He himself would have been his savior
How Do I Collect My Babys Umbilical Cord Blood
Collecting your babys stem cells is quite easy. All you need to do is decide that you want to do it while you are pregnant. Yes, cord blood-banking needs planning. Register yourself at a good cord blood bank. A few tests might be done, if the doctors suspect something is not right. Collecting the umbilical cord blood does not hurt your baby. Neither does it hurt you. The blood is taken from your umbilical cord after your baby is delivered and is disconnected from the umbilical cord. The specialist drains the placenta and the umbilical cord and stores the blood in vials or special bags. The entire process usually takes 10 to 15 minutes. Please note that if there is any complication during the delivery, the doctors can choose not to go ahead with the process.
Is Cord Blood Banking Free
Unfortunately, you cannot save your babys blood free of cost. You have to be mentally prepared to pay considerable amount on a regular basis. However, looking at the benefit your child or may be his siblings may get 20 years down the line, you can definitely think of it as an insurance premium. After all, nothing is more precious than your childs health. You however, have the option of donating or giving for some consideration the blood to a needy patient a few years down the line when you are sure of your babys health. Nevertheless, do not feel guilty if you are unable to save your babys stem cells through cord blood banking due to financial or other reasons. Enjoy your baby and remember that she is one of the greatest gifts you have and for you she is prefect.
Article Source: http://www.ArticleStreet.com/

How Is Cord blood Collected From The Umbilical Cord

Usually the cord blood is collected after the placenta is delivered and the umbilical cord is clamped and cut. The surface of the umbilical cord is disinfected and a vein is punctured. It is collected in special collection bags that prevent contamination. Alternatively, 60 cc syringes can be used too by some banks. However, this needs to contain an anticoagulant for the blood. The entire process usually 5 to 10 minutes. Any delay beyond 15 minutes can drastically reduce the quantity and the stem cells.

What Is Cord blood

Cord blood can be defined as the blood taken from the umbilical cord at the time of birth. This is rich in stem cells. Stem cells are those cells that created the various organs and other parts of the babys body. These cells have a unique capability of adjusting in any environment inside the body. They can easily be called the cells that created your baby.

Types Of Cord Blood Banks: Understand The Difference To Select The Right Bank

Are you planning for cord blood donation? Then, it is important that you know about the types of these banks.

Private Vs. Public Cord Blood Banks

Cord blood banks are mainly of two types, i.e. public banks and Private Banks. Normally, public banks are set up to facilitate umbilical stem cell research for disease treatment and for utilization in transplants of non-relatives. If you decide to save your baby's cord blood at a public bank, they would not provide you the link between your baby and her blood unit. Therefore, in time of need, there is no guarantee that you will be able to access your babys blood unit. On the contrary, if you donate your baby's cord blood to a private bank, no one else is authorized to access and use that particular unit without your permission.

Public banks have been further categorized according to profit and non-profit objectives.

The Non Profit Public Bank

An estimate says that about 75 per cent of these banks across the globe are either public or private non-profit ones, which work for public interest. They save samples for transplant or research, and for family use, if a family has a known risk with a rare HLA group. Remember, if you donate this blood to a non-profit bank, then the bank, and NOT YOU, are the owner of it. These banks store the blood for free and add them in the donor registry, which is accessed by doctors and researchers.

For Profit Public Bank

These banks save your samples for free, but make profit by selling the cord blood units for research. The selling of freely stored blood is legal in US, but illegal in several Asian and European nations.

Private Cord Blood Bank

A private bank is an independent unit and not owned by the state. As mentioned earlier, only you are entitled to access and use your cord blood sample. Such banks charge around $500 to $2,000 to store the sample. The charges vary with different private banks. Besides this, there is a maintenance fee or handling fee, which comes to around $100 annually.

Research Public Banks (RPBs)These are another kind of banks, which were set up in the early 2000. The cord blood samples stored in such banks are not used for transplants, but only for research. The banks take your samples for free and use them in their own research or sell them to other researchers. So, now that you are aware of the types of these banks, you can go for donations depending on whether you want to donate the sample for family use or simply help in research. Remember, if you do not like the idea of someone else using your babys stem cells, forget using public banks.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleStreet.com/