"I knew I would probably need another kidney at some point. The opportunity to have a transplant that would last for the rest of my life and to avoid all of those drugs was very appealing”, says 47 year old mother and actress, Lindsay Porter.
She was referring to the path breaking kidney transplant that did not require a lifetime of imuno suppressant drugs.
Ideally in most kidney transplants, the donor and recipient have to share a similar blood group, and be HLA (Human Leucocyte Antigen) compatible. While this is not always possible, the recipient has to take a lifetime of immunosuppressant drugs. These drugs enable the body to not fight the new organ as foreign. Nevertheless, they cause plenty of harm to the body’s natural workings.
A new study reveals that kidney transplants can be done without the use of immunosuppressant drugs. By infusing the stem cells of the donor along with the transplant, the body will accept the new organ, thanks to the stem cells that would have integrated with the recipient’s body. How the transplant was done:
- The recipient's body was prepared using radiotherapy and chemotherapy to suppress their own immune system.
- Transplant came from a live donor, who also underwent a procedure to draw stem cells from his bone marrow.
- Then the transplant went ahead, with the stem cells put into the recipient’s body a couple of days later.
“It's almost surreal when I think about it because I feel so healthy and normal”, comments Lindsay Porter. This technique holds a lot of promise to improve the lives of those receiving other organs as well.
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8th of March dawns. It is International Women’s Day.
To the woman who talks on the phone, makes a grocery list, attends to her child’s homework, and sautés the onions all at the same time; to the woman who is bent over the fields, hums a tune, ploughs and harvests, and watches over her sleeping baby under the tree; to the lady who has raised her children to be responsible and sensitive citizens of the world; to the master chef whose curry bears the aroma of her commitment and affection for the family; to the teacher to whose arms a child runs into every single day; to the mom who bears the world’s most excruciating pain to bring forth a new life into this world; to every little girl who nurtures lofty ambitions; to every woman, young or old, who enjoys womanhood with all its joys and sorrows – Happy Women’s Day.
Ask a man how a world without women would feel? Pat will come the reply! “Wow! How I wish”!! Leave him alone for just a few minutes without a single woman – mom, friend, wife or daughter – and watch him collapse.
A world without women is a world sans sustenance. Sustenance doesn’t stop with carrying a baby for nine months and nurturing it after delivery. The umbilical cord that sustains life, contains stem cells, that if preserved can give a new lease of life by treating life threatening conditions.
Visit http://www.facebook.com/LifeCellBabyCord to celebrate the spirit of sustenance, women!
There are more than a million reasons to celebrate womanhood. For starters, log on to our face book page - http://www.facebook.com/Lifecell.Femme. Come, join the party!
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“I have only two hands! How can I possibly get on with my work if I have to carry the baby all the time?”
Problem - Caring for a baby and at the same time getting work done around the house or outside can be overwhelming.
The solution – Baby slings/ carriers.
They have been around for centuries. Millions of moms and dads across the world carry their babies in a snug and cozy way around themselves. And go about their lives with ease. Imagine navigating a flight of steps, or walking through a busy road with a baby in a stroller. Or carrying a baby in your arms while sautéing those onions.
Babies love it because they see the world from another viewpoint, instead of watching a boring ceiling from where they lie. A feeling of security is instilled very early in their lives. Studies show that this makes them confident and composed adults. Cranky, distracted babies, fall asleep easily in tune with the heartbeat and the continuous motion of the wearer.
For the mom, it is hands free mechanism at work! Imagine conversing over the phone, cooking, browsing the internet, etc., with your baby as close to you as possible. Moreover, walking with the baby is a sure shot way of busting the flab faster. For the dad, it facilitates the bonding process with the little one.
Baby carriers come in various styles. Some can be worn around you either in the front or the back. Some come with hooks that can be fastened on to your shoulders. Some even come as an attachment to jackets in cold countries.
Pick one that suits you and wear your baby in style!
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