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Cord Blood Testing and Banking

 

newborn baby

Cord Blood Testing and Banking

Cord blood is the blood left in the umbilical cord after a baby is born. It can be used to test for a variety of substances and check for infections or other disorders. Cord blood may also be banked (saved and stored) for future use in treating diseases. The umbilical cord is full of special cells called stem cells. Unlike other cells, stem cells have the ability to grow into many different types of cells including bone marrow, blood cells, and brain cells. Stem cells in cord blood can be used to treat certain blood disorders, including leukemia, Hodgkin disease, and some types of anemia. Researchers are studying whether stem cells can also treat other types of diseases. Learn more about cord blood testing and banking.

Juvenile Arthritis

Arthritis causes pain, swelling, and stiffness of your joints. It’s most common in adults, but it can also affect children. This is called juvenile arthritis. Some children have just one or two flare-ups while others have symptoms that never go away. Learn more about how juvenile arthritis is diagnosed and treated.

Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Soft tissue sarcoma is a type of cancer that begins in the tissues that connect, support, or surround other tissues. For example, your muscles, tendons, fat, and blood vessels. No one knows what causes these cancers, but exposure to chemicals, radiation therapy, or certain genetic conditions can increase your risk. Treatment and prognosis depend on the type and grade of the cancer.

Chlamydia Infections

Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease caused by bacteria. It can infect both men and women, but it is more common in women. Learn about treatment and prevention.

B Vitamins

B vitamins help with the process your body uses to get or make energy from the food you eat. They also help form red blood cells. You can get B vitamins from many foods that you eat but not getting enough of certain B vitamins can cause diseases.

Vegetarian Cowboy Salad

Try Vegetarian Cowboy Salad as a filling for tacos and burritos, over a baked potato, or as a snack with tortilla chips. Cooking dried beans instead of using canned will lower the sodium content.