Even mismatched cord blood can help kids

Fri, Feb 13, 2009 (HealthDay News) — An umbilical cord blood transplant from an unrelated or unmatched donor can still help children with deadly conditions such as cancer and sickle cell anemia, Duke University Medical Center researchers report.

They noted that unrelated cord blood may be easier to obtain than adult bone marrow, which means more patients would be able to receive treatment.

"Our study found that using cord blood can be effective, without increased complications, and can provide more matches for patients, including ethnic minorities," lead investigator Dr. Vinod Prasad, a pediatric oncologist in the Duke Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program, said in a university news release. "Based on the findings of our study, we believe that unrelated cord blood transplant should be considered as an option for many of our young patients in need of a transplant."

Prasad and colleagues analyzed data on 314 patients treated at Duke between 1993 and 2007. The patients, ages 6 months to 21 years, had malignant and non-malignant conditions.

"In order to match a donor to a recipient, doctors compare HLA typing, a test usually performed on a blood sample," Prasad explained. "In every individual, HLA typing includes the specific genetic make-up at three locations -- within those locations, you are looking at one set from the mother and one from the father, so it ends up to be a six-point comparison."

"In this analysis of children whose donor units were matched at four of six points, the transplant was successful in many patients, with low incidence of complications. Results were similar to those seen in patients receiving closer matched transplants. Thus the use of the 4/6 matched donors improved access to transplant for patients, especially those of ethnic and racial minorities," Prasad said.

The study was expected to be presented Friday at an American Society of Bone Marrow Transplantation meeting in Tampa, Fla.

"We have done a terrific job in this country of increasing the number of volunteer donors listed in the National Marrow Donor Program registry over the past several years," Prasad said. "But the fact remains that, for many patients, finding a matched donor can be difficult. Ethnic and racial minorities have the hardest time finding a fully matched donor."

-- Robert Preidt
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What To Buy Before Baby Arrives

There is a whole full list of items you need to get ready before the arrival of your baby. What are they?

For Your Newborn:

• Baby clothes for newborn (preferably cotton)


• Mittens & booties


• Cap


• Bibs (Recommendation: cotton for comfort, plastic for durability)


• Baby towels (Recommendation: not too thick for quick dry)


• Baby face towels / hankies (Recommendation: small piece where you can squeeze dry single-handedly)


• Diapers (Recommendation: Mamy Poko / Huggies Ultra)


• Nappy (Choose one that is soft as it can be used as blanket too!)


• Nappy pin


• Nappy liners


• Nappy rash cream (Recommendation: Drapolene)


• Wet wipes with no alcohol (preferably no fragrance)


• Cotton balls


• Feeding bottles (4 ounces & 8 ounces)


• Storage bottles (to store breast milk)


• Pacifier (Recommendation: orthodontic silicone; FYI: some babies do not like it.)


• Sterilizer (Note: not recommended to use pills as I personally find that sometimes the sterilized items may fade in color.)


• Flask / bottle warmer


• Bottle cooler


• Bathtub with slip mat


• Baby shampoo & shower foam


• Baby lotion & baby oil


• Baby brush


• Changing mat


• Baby cot


• Cot & crib mattress


• Cot & crib sheets (Note: choose one that is soft with good air flows.)


• Waterproof mattress protector


• Cot mobile (Good to have)


• Blankets (At least 2. One for hot days and one for cold nights.)


• Baby car seat


• Baby stroller (Recommended: Combi for light weight)


• Thermometer


• Baby laundry cleaner


• Baby bouncy chair (Recommended type: net)


• Diaper bag (Optional)


• Play mat (Optional: for stimulation)


• Baby monitor (Optional)


• Nursery rhymes

For Mommy:

• Breast pump for breastfeeding moms (Recommended: Medela)


• Feeding cup (for nursing moms)


• Nursing bras


• Nursing pads (Disposable / washable)


• Palmers' stretch mark lotion


• Nipple cream (Recommended: Medela - small size; usually only need to use it in the first few weeks)

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What To Pack For Hospital?

What do you have to pack for hospital before you deliver?
Here is a complete checklist of what you should bring, ignore those that are irrelevant to you.

• Letter from obstetrician / gynae
• Contact number of hospital
• Light snacks for yourself and partner (milo / biscuits / instant noodles etc.)
• Camera / Camcorder
• Comb
• Lip balm
• Moisturizer / lotion
• Glasses / contact lens
• Slippers / Sandals
• Socks
• Homecoming clothes (be sure to bring something loose and comfortable)
• Disposable brief
• Sanitary napkins / maternity loops
• Nursing bra and pads
• Shower cap
• Toiletries
• Hair clip
• Journal for event recording
• Mobile phone and relatives numbers
• Cord-blood toolkit
• Contact number of cord-blood bank
• Forms for insurance submission

Items to kill time:
• Books / Magazines
• Laptop
• Games (Eg. Sudoku, board games, Nintendo, cards, etc)

Things to bring for you baby:
• Baby clothes,
• Mittens and booties
• Cap
• Baby blanket

Most hospital provides these
(you may want to check with the hospital before your labour):
• Water
• Thermos
• Tissues
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Diapers
• Button night gown
• Button shirts
• Towel
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