Filipinos are now into investing and there are so many ways that can make our life worthy and better. Health is wealth, yes, indeed. Health is our top priority and we should really invest in our health.
In line with this, Cordlife, now introduces here in the Philippines the PlumCare DNA Advisor. Here are some important details to consider and know about it.

Disease can adversely impact one's ability to live a full, productive and meaningful life. While no one is immune from infirmity, some families carry a stronger predilection for certain diseases - ones that are passed down the family tree.
Some of these conditions are relatively common - hypertension, diabetes, cancer - and we see them manifested in our forebears. However, some may actually be lurking in our genetic makeup without any manifestation in the family. Unknown to most people at risk, these silent diseases can show up and rear their ugly heads at a time they are least expected to. Sadly, for generations, there has been no way of getting this information before disease strikes...until now.

Cordlife, the first and only DOH-registered, ISO-certified and AABB-accredited cord blood banking facility in the Philippines, has been serving Filipino families for the last 8 years.

"Our commitment to the highest quality standards is our assurance to our clients. They can be confident that their children's precious stem cells are secure for potentially life-saving use in the future," said Michael Arnonobal, CEO of Cordlife Medical Philippine. "It its also this dedication to the Filipino family's future health that is the driving force behind our bringing Genscreen, Corlife's genetic testing service arm, into our country."
Cordlife Genscreen introduces PlumCare DNA Advisor, developed by Dr. Petros Tsipouras, a specialist in clinical genetics and an adjunct professor at the Yale University School of Medicine, and Dr. Paul Billings, a specialist in Genomic Medicine. All testing is performed at US-based facilities accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) , the global "gold standard" for laboratory quality assurance.

PlumCare DNA Advisor can help Filipino families detect potentially disease-causing genetic variant, made possible through a thorough analysis of the DNA of each family member. Designed for families of 3 or more, the test relies on cutting-edge sequencing technology and on a wealth of big data to provide meaningful and actionable insights into a family's genetic make-up. Many hereditary disease can be prevented or managed if detected early enough.

Testing Now, Peace of Mind for the future

Advances in the field of genetics are accelerating at an unprecedented rate, and so is the level of public awareness. In fact, more than 80% of Filipino parents surveyed welcome the idea of genetic screening.

"Awareness of specific genetic variants can enable families to make more informed health choices and even take proactive preventive measure, when and where applicable," said Michael Weiss, Group CEO of Cordlife Group Limited. "We believe this new service will empower families to better manage health risks for conditions they may be predisposed to . We wanted to specifically ensure the wonderful people of the Philippines could share in the benefits Cordlife's diagnostic business is delivering to other countries in the regios."

Througn PlumCare DNA Advisor, families can now be armed with the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions about health and lifestyle choices as a family. This knowledge can help in the prevention, monitoring and treatment of potentials conditions.

How is DNA Sequencing Done?
PlumCare DNA Advisor uses Whole Exome Sequencing (WES, which effectively maps out the exact composition or sequence of approximately 20,000 genes where nearly 85% of disease-causing DNA variations are found.

This is done by collecting DNA from adults and children above the age of 6 years old using a saliva tube which is included in the collection kit. Collection from children younger than 6 years old will be done using a swab sponge.
The test specimens are then sent to the high-quality and reliable genetic testing laboratory in the US, where PlumCare is based, with results available withing 60 days after receipts of sample by the US Lab. Genetic counselors are then available to give advice to help you make the necessary lifestyle adjustment or preventive care.

Take charge of your family's health with PlumCare DNA Advisor.

Find out more about PlumCare DNA Advisor at http://www.genscreen.asis/ph/DNAadvisor or schedule a consultation with us by calling our landlines at (020 470 1735 and (02) 332 1888 or +63 998 848 6064 on mobile.

One of the leading causes of death in the Philippines is leukemia. Around 3,977 were diagnosed with the disease in 2012 alone. The mortality rate is at an alarming 5.3%. It is a silent killer among us that needs to be addressed.

Stem cell transplant using cord blood is one of the treatments for leukemia.
Cord blood is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord after birth. It contains the healthiest stem cells that can replenish blood, regenerate damaged bone marrow, treat blood cancers and correct genetic defects. It is also a potential source for cellular therapy and regenerative medicine.



Through cord blood banking, families now have a chance to survive fatal genetic diseases like leukemia and other blood-related diseases.

Cordlife Group Limited is an international provider of umbilical cord blood and cord lining services. It is also among the first to offer this service and technology in Asia. In February 2010, Cordlife Philippines was officially launched. It is the country’s first and only private cord blood processing and cryopreservation facility aimed to give the Filipino the chance to benefit from the advantages of having a readily available supply of cord blood.
To create awareness on cord blood banking’s importance as an available standard option for families who may need stem cell transplant, Cordlife recently launched One Blood.

This national advocacy is in partnership with the Philippine Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine (PSMFM).
Under One Blood, free cord blood banking will be given to chosen pregnant mothers with family history of diseases or with family members with disease/s that can be treated by cord blood and who might be a candidate for stem cell transplantation.
Other services that will be extended to the beneficiaries include: Transplant Care, Cord Blood Network, and Cordlife Quality Guarantee.

To know more about One Blood, call Cordlife at (02) 3321888 or log on to www.cordlife.ph #

SIDS is the unexplained death of babies usually occurring during sleep and striking under unexpected circumstances. Even a healthy one-year old baby may be a victim of the condition which is often simply attributed to physical and environmental factors.

Studies have shown that babies with physical conditions including brain abnormalities, low birth weight and respiratory infection have higher risk of dying an unexplained death. Still some studies indicated that an infant’s sleeping position may also be a cause. Babies sleeping on their stomach side are more prone as they may suffer more difficulty in breathing. Those sleeping on soft surfaces and with their parents are also at risk.

To address the problem, various newborn screening tests are being employed as a means of identifying inborn disorders. For instance, dried blood spot screening, usually available in hospitals, can effectively screen the newborn of many metabolic disorders.

This type of screening, however, can only detect less than 50 metabolic disorders. Given that there are far more metabolic disorders that place an infant in danger of SIDS, a new process called Metascreen, an expanded,advanced and non-invasive metabolic screening service, was developed.

Metascreen can detect up to more than 100 inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) through a painless method that uses the child’s urine sample collected after 48 hours of birth. IEM is a rare genetic disorder characterized by the lack of enzymes needed in the body to maintain the normal body metabolic temperature.

This condition eventually causes the build-up of toxic substances and a deficiency of the critical ones. And because this may remain undetected during the infant stages of the baby, it poses as a silent threat to every newborn.

Aside from causing sudden death, the disease may also trigger serious developmental issues and lifelong disease, if left untreated. Research showed that 10% of the SIDS cases can significantly be attributed to these inherited metabolic defects.

In the Philippines, this comprehensive newborn screening is offered by Cordlife Medical Philippines, the country’s most chosen cord blood and cord liningbanking institution.  Metascreen is offered free to all mothers who bank their baby’s cord blood and cord lining at Cordlife.

“Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is a serious and unseen condition that contributes to infant mortality,”said Dr. Arvin Faundo, Medical Director, CordlifeMedical Philippines. “Metascreen offers mothers the chance to reduce this incidence to secure the future and the wellbeing of their newborn.”

The screening test is performed by the Hong Kong Screening Centre Limited, a company that provides early and accurate detection of metabolic disorders in newborn babies. “Here in the Philippines, we take pride in providing our clients with the best facilities to ensure that Cordlife is something they can depend on especially when it comes to securing the health of their newborn,” Faundo added.

Cordlife Medical Philippines, is a branch of Cordlife Group Limited which owns and operates processing and cryopreservation storage facilities across Asia including in Singapore, Hong Kong, India and Indonesia. The Group’s processing and storage facilities in Singapore, Hong Kong, and India are also AABB, formerly known as American Association of Blood Banks, accredited, meeting the gold standard of private cord blood banking. Cordlife Group also has a direct investment in China Cord Blood Corporation, one of the top operators in China.

For more information, download Cordlife’s freeinfopack @ www.cordlife.ph or call (02) 3321888 to know how you can invest in your children’s future.  

 

As mothers, you will do anything for your child.  Even way before they are brought into this world, your instincts kick in and you tirelessly worry about your baby.  You want to learn everything there is to learn and more importantly, you want to protect them from anything and everything that can harm them be it the common cold or a fever; and if you had your way, you would gladly get sick for your child. And your anxiety is not without reason, since there are many childhood diseases that can be harmful or even fatal to children.  

 

Leukemia is perhaps the most common type of cancercompromising 47.8% of all childhood cancers1.  Hodgkin’s Disease1 or non-Hodgkin Lymphoma is the third childhood cancer comprising 9% of childhood cancer.  Aside from these types of cancers, certain brain disorders are also common in children. These include cerebral palsy and neuroblastoma.  Cerebral palsy severely impairs the development of the motor functions and afflicts 1-2 percent of the Philippine population2.  Neuroblastoma, on the other hand, causes the sufferer to lose the ability to empty the bladder, experience paralysis of the hips, feet, legs and uncontrolled movement.

 

Research into the use of cord blood and cord lining stem cells have been ongoing since the 1980s and has shown promise of saving lives and treating life-threatening diseases.  More than 30,000 cord blood stem cell transplants3 have already been performed since 1988.  

 

“The strides made in cord blood transplantation has made this manner of treating diseases more widely accepted by people,” said Dr. Arvin Faundo, Cordlife Philippines Medical Director. “Currently, umbilical cord bloodtransplant is considered as one of the standard forms of treatments for leukemia, among others. Also, many clinical trials4, 5 worldwide are ongoing for which the results are encouraging. In fact, Duke Medicine is studying the use of umbilical cord blood stem cells6 to treat autism and related brain disorders. While the trials are still in the initial phases, we are hopeful that these will yield positiveresults.”  

 

Last June, Duke Medicine received USD 15 millionfunding by Atlanta-based Marcus Foundation. Apart from treating patients based in the United States, Duke Medicine has also opened its door for possible participants from outside of the country provided they meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria7 to be considered, patients must be aged between 24 months and 72 months old. The patient would also need to travel at least three times to Duke Medicine in the United States – at the infusion, the six- and 12-month follow up stages. A stipend worth U$1,000 will likewise be provided to the trial participant per trip to help defray travel expenses.

 

When popular reporter, Niña Corpuz, decided to bank with Cordlife, she knew it was an investment in her baby’s and her family’s future.  Like any mom, Niña wants to give her baby the best that life has to offer and her baby’s long-term health and well-being was the primary reason for her to consider banking her baby’s cord blood and cord lining.  

 

“Having my child was the most fulfilling moment of my life.  I never thought I’d be capable of so much love and sacrifice until I gave birth to my wonderful kids.” saidCorpuz.  “Every day is just a joy and as early as now, I think of the many things my child and I will do, experience, and share.  I invested in my baby’s cord blood and cord lining because I want to be sure that my baby is given the best investment I could ever give.”

 

Today, Cordlife has served over 3,000 families in the Philippines alone and is trusted by 100,000 parents8worldwide.

 

“We are definitely seeing a growing acceptance and openness of the Filipino market to the idea of umbilical cord lining and cord blood banking because I believe that the parents are now more proactive in finding better means to complete their family’s health protection plan.” said Michael Arnonobal, Cordlife Philippines Managing Director. “More importantly, today’s mothers see investing in their children and families as paramount to ensuring their legacy and their well-being.”

 

For more information, download Cordlife’s free infopack @www.cordlife.ph or call (02) 3321888 to know how you can invest in your children’s future.