Stem cells have long attracted attention in experimental researchers and practitioners. This is due to their unique ability to breed, self-reproduction and differentiation. Irreversible damage of the nerve, muscle and other tissues it is possible to “restore”, replacing them with tissues “patches”, which consist of appropriately trained stem cells. Every year millions of people are suffer fnd die from the degenerative diseases of the brain, heart, liver, kidney, pancreas, retina, muscle dystrophy et al., in the treatment of which can help to stem cells.
Currently, there are several sources of stem cells: bone marrow, umbilical cord blood, skin, gonads. Preparation of stem cells from sources such as umbilical cord blood, bone marrow or skin, does not require any special ethical constraints. The umbilical cord blood – the best source of hematopoietic stem cells c very high ability to reproduce and multidirectional differentiation, when introduced into the body does not cause rejection, so transplantation of umbilical cord blood can be carried out and part of tissue incompatibility. The use of cord blood stem cells does not cause any ethical objections. The umbilical cord and placenta, with previously considered as biowaste, are a source of valuable biological material today. The procedure for obtaining of the cord blood stem cells is simple and safe for mother and child. During labor, the umbilical cord is clamped with special clamps, and the remaining blood inside (its volume is approximately 60–80 ml) flows into the syringe. The blood in sterile containers are delivered to a specialized laboratory, where the sample is prepared (remove ballast elements) to freeze. There are more than three thousand cases of transplant umbilical stem cells instead of embryonic and bone marrow cells in the world clinical practice today. The modern technologies allow to maintain cryogenic cells at low temperature almost indefinitely. The Institute of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine, Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Ministry of Health of Ukraine (Kharkiv) developed a unique product based by the cryopreserved cord blood – drug “Gemokord, which assigned to the group of biogenic stimulators. This is a suspension of hematopoietic, immune, and other dendritic cells, frozen in autologous plasma at a temperature of –196 °C and stored in sterile plastic containers at 0,5; 1,0; 1,5; 1,8; 4,5 or 10,0 ml. Shelf life in the annealed form – up to 2 hours at +4 °C.
In addition, the Ukrainian company “Hemafund” one of the first established family cord blood bank, whose ultimate goal is the preservation of cells and the ability to transplant. Thus, Ukraine can take its rightful place in the hierarchy of the modern world of medical science, and the inhabitants of the country – to get a new level of health care.
The work is submitted to the International Scientific Conference “Modern problems of experimental and clinical medicine”, Thailand, February, 19–27, 2015, came to the editorial office оn 22.12.2014.