Expert says early genetic test tritical to managing inherited diseases

The medical representative and director, Bentoluene International Health Concept, Ogunleye Toluwalope has advised Nigerians to make to prioritise safe and effective genetics test, as it is critical to diagnose inherited diseases with more confidence, allowing for more informed management plans and connecting patients to the appropriate network of support.

He said this, yesterday, in at a Live Chat on Placenta Banking; all You Need to Know organised by Bentoluene International Health Concept.

He noted that investigating the hereditary roots of some cardiovascular diseases could help patients and their doctors make decisions, identify risks and manage treatment.

Toluwalope stated that genetic information is key to making some of the most important decisions in lives. “There are diseases that we can prevent, and our DNA can help us to identify them.

“Prevention and early diagnosis can multiply success ratios by 5 to 10 times. Your genomics will tell you where you should focus. By analyzing your genetic map, we obtain essential information so that you can make the best decisions regarding your health and wellbeing,” he said.

Stating there is a lot of useful information in genetic test, he said it allows a patient to prevent the transmission of several monogenic diseases to future children.

“Some of these diseases may be present in your genes and, even if you do not suffer them, they may develop in your children or grandchildren.”

He added that with the genetic map, it would be easy to identify some of these diseases so that it could be prevented.

“Your genetic map will also help your doctor to prescribe the most suitable drugs, because you will know which ones are best for you, based on your genetic predisposition.”

He further said every human being is made up of genes that are his or her genetic code, made up of the sperm cell from the father and the egg cell from the mother.

“We are a product of all the information present in the father sperm cell and mother’s egg cell. Diseases like diabetes, cancer, and hypertension among others. Knowing your gene is crucial because your gene can’t change. The slightest negligence may lead to a severe genetic disorder in us. The problem of genetic disorders is increasing due to lack of awareness regarding genetic disorder, preventative and genetic test.

Toluwalope went further to advised pregnant mothers to save their little one’s umbilical cord to a blood bank – and potentially save a life.

He said that umbilical cord tissue was once discarded as waste material, but is now known to be useful and one of the richest sources of stem cells.

“Cord blood and cord tissue has been used to treat children with certain blood, regenerative and developmental diseases since 1989.”

He said that Stem cells are the next frontier in medicine, as Stem cells are thought to have great therapeutic and biotechnological potential.

“This will not only replace damaged or dysfunctional cells, but also rescue them and or deliver therapeutic proteins after they have been engineered to do so.

“Your baby’s umbilical cord is made of tissue that protects and insulates the veins responsible for carrying blood to and from mom and baby during pregnancy,” he said.

He continued: “In addition to playing the role of protector, your baby’s umbilical cord tissue is packed with several types of stem cells, including Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), which are different than the Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs) found in abundance in cord blood.

“Cord tissue is the insulating material, i.e the Wharton’s jelly, surrounding the vessels of the umbilical cord. Upon delivery, the umbilical cord will be clamped and cut, and a section of the cord, usually a piece measuring four inches in length can then be saved.”

He explained that Bentoluene International Health Concept is representing four International health companies that provides effective and safe facilities for the storage of biblical cord for 20 to 25 years, adding that cords are not stored in Nigeria.

He said the cord tissue contains millions of a different types of stem cell that go on to form a person’s nervous system, sensory organs, circulatory tissues, skin, bone, cartilage and more. “It is these stem cells that we collect and preserve for their potential future or immediate use in the treatment of disease or other medical conditions like Autism, Stroke, Cerebral Palsy, among others.”

He added that the company is not requesting for blood donation, but only providing regenerating medicine in a cheaper rate for Nigerians.