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Stem cells are a soft touch for nano-engineered biomaterials

By adminJune 13, 2014Stem Cell Medicine

Scientists from Queen Mary University of London have shown that stem cell behaviour can be modified by manipulating the nanoscale properties of the material they are grown on - improving the potential of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering as a result.

Stem cells are special because they are essential to the normal function of our organs and tissues. Previous research shows stem cells grown on hard substrates go on to multiply but do not differentiate: a process by which the cells specialise to perform specific functions in the body. In contrast, stem cells grown on softer surfaces do go on to differentiate.

In this new study, published in the journal Nano Letters, the researchers used tiny material patches known as nanopatches to alter the surface of the substrate and mimic the properties of a softer material.

"By changing the surface properties like the shape of the substrate at the nanoscale level, we tricked the stem cells to behave differently," explains co-author Dr Julien Gautrot, from QMUL's School of Engineering and Materials Science and the Institute of Bioengineering.

The team tested different sizes of nanopatches - from 3 microns to 100 nanometres (about one thousandth of the diameter of a hair). The stem cells behaved as if they were on a soft surface when in contact with the smallest patches because they can't firmly grip them.

Dr Gautrot added: "This development will be useful when there's a need to create a rigid implant to be inserted into the body. Potentially, such nanopatches could provide a soft touch to the surface of the implant so that cells from the neighbouring tissues are not perturbed by such a hard material."

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Stem cells are a soft touch for nano-engineered biomaterials

Stemcell doctor facing possible disciplinary action

By adminJune 13, 2014Stem Cell Treatment

Suspicions of fraud for offering Stamina, a 'dangerous drug'

(ANSA) - Rome, June 12 - A Brescia-area physician helming a controversial stem-cell treatment faces possible disciplinary action for suspicions of fraud, the supreme Cassation Court said Thursday. Prosecutors in Turin are investigating Mario Andolina, vice-president of the Stamina Foundation, for fraud and issuing a dangerous drug, following a complaint by Lombardy region Health chief Mario Mantovani. The action taken Thursday by Cassation prosecutor Gianfranco Ciani should verify whether or not disciplinary action is warranted. Andolina and the Stamina Foundation have long been front and center in Italian news for their alternative medical therapy for neurodegenerative diseases. Stamina's credibility is considered suspect, and last fall the health ministry ruled that the Stamina Foundation would no longer be allowed to test the treatment on humans. The foundation was also stripped of its non-profit status after a study found its treatment was "ignorant of stem-cell biology". Recent investigations have shown risks of the treatment range from nausea to cancer, and as many as one quarter of all patients treated have experienced "adverse effects". Foundation head Davide Vannoni, may also face indictment. But support from some patients who have used or requested the treatment remains strong. As recently as last week, a court in the central Marche region gave the green light to Andolina to administer Stamina treatment to a toddler with Krabbe disease.

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Eye in a Dish: Researchers Make Retina From Stem Cells

By adminJune 11, 2014Stem Cell Medicine

NBC News -- Researchers have grown part of an eye in a lab dish, using a type of stem cell made from a piece of skin.

They said the little retina started growing and developing on its own an important step towards creating custom-tailored organs in the lab.

We have basically created a miniature human retina in a dish that not only has the architectural organization of the retina but also has the ability to sense light," said M. Valeria Canto-Soler, an assistant professor of ophthalmology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

The team used cells called induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells, which are immature stem cells whose powers resemble those of embryonic stem cells they can morph into any cell type in the body.

Theyre made by tricking an ordinary cell, like a skin cell, into reverting back into embryonic mode. Then the researchers activate genes to get the cell to redirect itself into forming the desired cells in this case cells of the retina.

To the surprise of the researchers, the cells started developing as if they were in a growing human embryo.

"We knew that a 3-D cellular structure was necessary if we wanted to reproduce functional characteristics of the retina, but when we began this work, we didn't think stem cells would be able to build up a retina almost on their own. In our system, somehow the cells knew what to do, Canto-Soler said in a statement.

The experiment may ultimately lead to technologies that restore vision in people with retinal diseases, she added.

Tests showed the cells responded to light, the team reported in the journal Nature Communications. "Is our lab retina capable of producing a visual signal that the brain can interpret into an image? Probably not, but this is a good start," Canto-Soler said.

Other teams have used iPS cells to make a piece of human liver and are using them to study a range of human diseases.

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Eye in a Dish: Researchers Make Retina From Stem Cells

Light-sensitive 3D retina created in lab

By adminJune 11, 2014Stem Cell Medicine

Home > News > technology-news

New York, June 11 : Using a type of human stem cell, researchers have now created a three-dimensional (3D) functional human retinal tissue in the laboratory for the first time.

"We have basically created a miniature human retina in a dish that not only has the architectural organisation of the retina but also has the ability to sense light," claimed M. Valeria Canto-Soler, an assistant professor at John Hopkins University's school of medicine.

The retinal tissue created in the laboratory - using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) - includes functioning photoreceptor cells capable of responding to light, the first step in the process of converting it into visual images.

"The work advances opportunities for vision-saving research and may ultimately lead to technologies that restore vision in people with retinal diseases," she noted.

Using a simple, straightforward technique they developed to foster the growth of the retinal progenitors, the researchers saw retinal cells and then tissues growing in petri dishes.

The growth corresponded in timing and duration to retinal development in a human foetus in the womb.

Moreover, the photoreceptors were mature enough to develop outer segments - a structure essential for photoreceptors to function.

However, Canto-Soler cautioned that photoreceptors are only part of the story in the complex eye-brain process of vision, and her lab has not yet recreated all of the functions of the human eye and its links to the visual cortex of the brain.

The achievement could eventually enable genetically engineered retinal cell transplants that halt or even reverse a patient's march toward blindness.

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Light-sensitive 3D retina created in lab

Colorado Clinic Now Offering Over 25 Treatment Options to Help Patients Avoid Joint Replacement

By adminJune 11, 2014Stem Cell Clinic

Boulder, Colorado (PRWEB) June 09, 2014

The top Northern Colorado pain management centers, Colorado Clinic, are now offering over 25 treatment options to help patients avoid the need for joint replacement. The recently added newest options consist of regenerative medicine stem cell injections along with convention medical and interventional treatments. Call (303) 444-4141 for more information and scheduling.

Over a million joint replacements are performed in the US annually. While joint replacement for the hip, knee and shoulder are generally successful, they are considered a last resort option. All conservative options should be attempted first.

At Colorado Clinic, extensive conservative relief options are offered by Board Certified Boulder pain management doctors with additional pain clinics in Greeley CO and Loveland. Medication management consists of oral and topical NSAIDS along with short term opiates when indicated.

Bracing is offered as well, which can unload the painful areas of the arthritic knee. Interventional treatments consist of steroid, hyaluronic acid injections and regenerative medicine therapies. The regenerative treatments consist of amniotic and bone marrow derived stem cell procedures, which have been shown in initial studies to provide excellent relief for joint arthritis.

With three locations in Northern Colorado, Colorado Clinic serves a broad area and accepts most insurance. Success rates are tremendous for pain relief from arthritis, with the majority of patients being able to avoid or delay the need for surgery.

For more information and scheduling arthritis treatment in Colorado, call (303) 444-4141.

Beverly Hills Orthopedic Institute Now Offering Revolutionary Stem Cell Procedures for Hip Arthritis to Avoid Joint …

By adminJune 11, 2014Uncategorized

Beverly HIlls, California (PRWEB) June 09, 2014

The top stem cell doctor in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles at Beverly Hills Orthopedic Institute are now offering stem cell procedures for hip arthritis. The stem cell therapy typically provides pain relief along with being able to delay or avoid the need for joint replacement. Call (310) 438-5343 for more information and scheduling.

Dr. Raj, Medical Director at Beverly Hills Orthopedic Institute, is a Double Board Certified orthopedic doctor who has been a pioneer in stem cell therapy for musculoskeletal conditions. Several types of stem cell procedures are offered including bone marrow derived along with amniotic derived procedures.

For the bone marrow stem cell procedures, a short outpatient procedure involves harvesting bone marrow from the patient's iliac crest. The stem cells are immediately processed to concentrate the growth factors and cells, and then they are injected into the hip for pain relief and tissue regeneration.

For the amniotic derived procedures, the fluid is obtained from consenting donors after a scheduled c-section procedure. There is no fetal tissue utilized, and the fluid is processed at an FDA regulated laboratory. An immense amount of stem cells, growth factors and hyaluronic acid are present in the amniotic material.

Dr. Raj has performed a significant amount of stem cell procedures utilizing both methods for hip arthritis, with the results being stellar to date. Being Double Board Certified and a sports medicine expert, Dr. Raj also offers stem cell procedures for sports injuries such as tendonitis and ligament injuries. This includes rotator cuff tendonitis, knee injuries, elbow tendonitis and more.

Beverly Hills Orthopedic Institute is the premier stem cell clinic in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. Dr. Raj is an ABC News Medical Correspondent and a WebMD Medical Expert. For information on how stem cell therapy can help, call Beverly Hills Orthopedic Institute at (310) 438-5343.

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Beverly Hills Orthopedic Institute Now Offering Revolutionary Stem Cell Procedures for Hip Arthritis to Avoid Joint ...

Boy getting a chance for a better life

By adminJune 11, 2014Stem Cell Treatment

An Okotoks boy may not understand his community is helping to give him a better life this weekend, but there is a good chance he will be smiling anyway.

At four years old, Ryker Menzies communicates through a series of sounds, suffers from frequent muscle spasms, is in a wheelchair because hes unable to walk or sit on his own and is constantly on painkillers.

This has been Rykers reality since infancy due to a severe case of cerebral palsy, and his parents Tiffany Boyd and Jamie Menzies are hopeful stem cell therapy treatment in Panama City will improve his muscle movement, vision and speech.

Unfortunately, they havent been able to afford the procedure living on one income while Boyd cares for Ryker.

To help pay for the $15,600 treatment, the couple is organizing a mini-market at the Foothills Centennial Centre on June 14 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and inviting the community to check out an abundance of second-hand items and products from home-based and privately-owned businesses for an entry fee of $2.

Money will also be raised through a food vendor, numerous raffle tickets for prizes including vacations and toys, and items donated by residents. Okotoks singer Emily Gryba will perform at the event.

Ive been getting a lot of calls from people donating stuff to the market to sell there, as well as a few online donations, said Boyd. We will just set up about five tables and have family run them. The proceeds will go to Ryker.

Boyd said she is ecstatic at the amount of community support for Rykers stem cell treatment. An online fund she established called Raise for Rykstar collected $1,300, with another $2,000 donated by family, friends and community members.

The feedback has been fantastic, she said. Were already at $3,500.

As the family gets closer to reaching their financial goal, Boyd is eager to book an appointment to give Ryker the best life possible. She said she was told they will have an appointment within a month or two of making the call.

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Boy getting a chance for a better life

Mice With MS Walk Again After Stem Cell Tx

By adminJune 11, 2014Stem Cell Treatment

Mice severely disabled by a condition similar to multiple sclerosis (MS) could walk less than two weeks following treatment with human stem cells. The study, which uncovers new avenues for treating MS, was don e at the University of Utah and published online on May 15th 2014, in the journal Stem Cell Reports.

The scientists we surprised and encouraged by their finding. When they transplanted human stem cells into MS mice, they expected no benefit from the treatment. They thought the cells would be rejected, much like rejection of an organ transplant. Instead, the experiment yielded spectacular results.

A release from the university quotes co-senior author, Tom Lane, Ph.D., a professor of pathology at the University of Utah, who began the study at the University of California, Irvine, as saying, My postdoctoral fellow Dr. Lu Chen came to me and said, The mice are walking. I didnt believe her.

Within a short period of time, 10 to 14 days, the mice could walk and run. Six months later, they showed no signs of slowing down.

This result opens up a whole new area of research for us to figure out why it worked, said co-senior author Jeanne Loring, Ph.D., director of the Center for Regenerative Medicine at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California.

More than 2.3 million people worldwide have MS, a disease in which the immune system attacks myelin, an insulation layer surrounding nerve fibers. The resulting damage inhibits transmission of nerve impulses, producing a wide array of symptoms including difficulty walking, impaired vision, fatigue and pain.

Current FDA-approved medications slow early forms of the disease by dampening attacks by the immune system. In recent years, scientists have turned their attention to searching for ways to halt or reverse MS. Such a discovery could help patients with latter, or progressive, stages of the disease, for whom there are no treatments.

Results from the study demonstrate the mice experience at least a partial reversal of symptoms. Immune attacks are blunted, and the damaged myelin is repaired, explaining their dramatic recovery.

The way we made the neural stem cells turns out to be important, said Loring, describing the reason behind the novel outcome.

Prior to transplantation, Lorings graduate student and co-first author on the paper, Ronald Coleman, followed his intuition and grew the cells so they were less crowded on the Petri dish than usual. The change in protocol yielded a human neural stem cell type that turned out to be extremely potent. The experiments have since been successfully repeated with cells produced under the same conditions, but by different laboratories.

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Mice With MS Walk Again After Stem Cell Tx

Cord blood donations a rarity in fertile, charitable Utah

By adminJune 10, 2014Stem Cell Doctors

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Doug Schmid in the lab at Utah Cord Bank, Thursday, May 1, 2014. Utah Cord Bank is pushing to expand operations, giving parents more options for banking their babies' cord blood

In 2007, the University of Utah began collecting umbilical cord blood donations for the National Cord Blood Stem Cell bank.

Two years later, it expanded, adding Utahs major labor wards to its public banking effort giving more women in this most fertile of states the opportunity to save a life or contribute to research.

Treating disease with stem cells

Cell therapy

Cell therapies involve transplanting human cells to replace or repair damaged or diseased blood, tissue or organs. Bone marrow transplants of hematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells are the most common.

How does it work?

Hematopoietic stem cells can form mature blood cells, such as red blood cells (which carry oxygen), platelets (to stop bleeding) and white blood cells (to fight infection). In addition to treating cancer and other blood diseases, they are being tested for use with autoimmune, genetic and a host of other disorders.

Why cord blood?

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Cord blood donations a rarity in fertile, charitable Utah

It takes a Village; local brewery hosts swab-a-thon

By adminJune 9, 2014Stem Cell Treatment

Ryan White, CTV Calgary Published Saturday, June 7, 2014 4:38PM MDT Last Updated Saturday, June 7, 2014 6:30PM MDT

Dozens of men stepped forward to offer their cheek cells for testing in the hope of assisting patients in need of stem cell or bone marrow transplants.

On Saturday, the Village Brewery offered beer tastings and tours to those who took part in the swab-a-thon.

The event was created by Steve Carpenter, the operator of a local micro-brewery, whose brother Al was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia in November. Al, married and the father of two, was in desperate need of stem cell treatment and Canadian Blood Services was unable to locate a suitable match through its stem cell and bone marrow donor program.

Steve and his friends organized a swab-a-thon in the hopes of locating a suitable donor, and Jim Button, a childhood friend of Als and the owner of Village Brewery, offered the use of his brewery.

Miraculously, in the days before the swab-a-thon was to be held, a suitable stem cell match was located for Al and he underwent treatment in an Ottawa hospital. Doctors say Al is responding well to the treatment.

Despite the fact a donor had been located for his brother, Steve made the decision to continue with his plans for Saturdays event.

We are here to tell people it is a very easy program, said Steve. We really appreciate anybody coming out to sign up on registry, be it for my brother or any other people in need.

Mike Carron was the first volunteer to step up to register and offer up a saliva sample. He says he wanted to help the cause after stem cell treatment extended the life of a close family member.

I thought it would be good to pay it forward, explains Carron. I had an uncle who needed stem cell treatment three years ago and it gave him an extra three years.

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It takes a Village; local brewery hosts swab-a-thon