Stem Cell Research & Therapy | Full text | Aromatic …

Abstract Introduction

Aromatic (ar-) turmerone is a major bioactive compound of the herb Curcuma longa. It has been suggested that ar-turmerone inhibits microglia activation, a property that may be useful in treating neurodegenerative disease. Furthermore, the effects of ar-turmerone on neural stem cells (NSCs) remain to be investigated.

We exposed primary fetal rat NSCs to various concentrations of ar-turmerone. Thereafter, cell proliferation and differentiation potential were assessed. In vivo, nave rats were treated with a single intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of ar-turmerone. Proliferative activity of endogenous NSCs was assessed in vivo, by using noninvasive positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and the tracer [18F]-fluoro-L-thymidine ([18F]FLT), as well as ex vivo.

In vitro, ar-turmerone increased dose-dependently the number of cultured NSCs, because of an increase in NSC proliferation (P<0.01). Proliferation data were supported by qPCR-data for Ki-67 mRNA. In vitro as well as in vivo, ar-turmerone promoted neuronal differentiation of NSCs. In vivo, after i.c.v. injection of ar-turmerone, proliferating NSCs were mobilized from the subventricular zone (SVZ) and the hippocampus of adult rats, as demonstrated by both [18F]FLT-PET and histology (P<0.05).

Both in vitro and in vivo data suggest that ar-turmerone induces NSC proliferation. Ar-turmerone thus constitutes a promising candidate to support regeneration in neurologic disease.

Curcumin and ar-turmerone are the major bioactive compounds of the herb Curcuma longa. Although many studies have demonstrated curcumin to possess antiinflammatory and neuroprotective properties (reviewed by [1]), to date, the effects of ar-turmerone remain to be elucidated. For example, antitumor properties, exerted via the induction of apoptosis [2] and inhibition of tumor cell invasion [3], have been attributed to ar-turmerone. Park et al. [4,5] recently suggested that ar-turmerone also possesses antiinflammatory properties resulting from the blockade of key signaling pathways in microglia. Because microglia activation is a hallmark of neuroinflammation and is associated with various neurologic disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases [6,7] and stroke [8,9], ar-turmerone constitutes a promising therapeutic agent for various neurologic disorders.

The regenerative potential of endogenous neural stem cells (NSCs) plays an important role in neurodegenerative disease and stroke. Endogenous NSCs are mobilized by cerebral ischemia [10] as well as by various neurodegenerative diseases [11,12], although their intrinsic regenerative response is insufficient to enable functional recovery. The targeted (that is, pharmacologic) activation of endogenous NSCs has been shown to enhance self-repair and recovery of function in the adult brain in both stroke [13,14] and neurodegeneration [15]. Importantly, NSCs and microglia relevantly interact with each other, thereby affecting their respective functions [16,17].

Thus, with the perspective of ar-turmerone as a therapeutic option in mind, we investigated the effects of ar-turmerone on NSCs in vitro and in vivo.

NSCs were cultured from fetal rat cortex at embryonic day 14.5, as described previously [18]. Cells were expanded as monolayer cultures in serum-free DMEM/F12 medium (Life Technologies, Darmstadt, Germany) with N2 supplement (Gibco, Karlsruhe, Germany) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF2; 10ng/ml; Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany) for 5days and were replated in a 24-well plate at 10,000 cells per cm2. FGF2 was included throughout the experiments.

Ar-turmerone (Fluka, Munich, Germany) was added to cultures at replating at concentrations of 0, 1.56, 3.125, 6.25, 12.5, and 25g/ml. All experiments were performed in triplicate. After 72hours, representative pictures were taken by using an inverted fluorescence phase-contrast microscope (Keyence BZ-9000E). Three images were taken per well, and cells were counted by using the software ImageJ with a threshold of 20 px (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA, Version 1.47k).

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Brave gran set to take on 10,000ft skydive to help pay for life-saving medical treatment for daughter

A GRAN who is afraid of heights is set to skydive from 10,000ft to help pay for life-saving medical treatment for her daughter.

Margaret Clarke, 70, aims to overcome her lifelong fear so Lucy, 38, can travel to Moscow for a pioneering stem cell transplant to stop the progression of Multiple Sclerosis.

The skydive over St Andrews, Fife is one of several fundraising initiatives Lucy's family are undertaking to raise the 40,000 needed for the treatment.

If the mum-of-one can secure funding she will be the first Scot to fly to Russia for the cutting edge procedure.

Margaret, of Rosehall, Sutherland, said: Which mother wouldnt jump out of a plane at 10,000 feet if they thought it would save their daughter?

I dont think Im any different from any other caring mother.

Lucy has suffered terribly with her illness.

Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that gets progressively worse over time.

If we dont act now, I dont want to think about where we will be in a few years time.

The jump on March 29 is one of a number of charity events planned to raise money for mum-of-one Lucy's treatment.

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Brave gran set to take on 10,000ft skydive to help pay for life-saving medical treatment for daughter

You could be the match and save someone's life

To what length would you go to save someone's life, a stranger's life at that?

It's a question Be The Match group representatives are asking you as every ten minutes someone who has blood cancer dies.

We're talking about people diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma and sickle cell anemia.

For hundreds of patients each year, their only hope for survival is a bone marrow or stem cell transplant.

"My doctors told me, you can go through a transplant or you can die," said John Philpott, Be The Match community engagement representative. "Those were my only choices."

Fortunately, for John Philpott who was diagnosed with leukemia in 2012, he eventually heard the words "We found a match."

Philpott, like many others, 70 percent, to be exact, do not find a matched donor within their family.

After beating cancer, he nabbed a job working for the group that saved his life.

"The number one thing that Be The Match does is provide hope patients who have no other choice than to receive a transplant," Philpott said.

Friday, Feb. 20 and Saturday, Feb. 21, people can sign up to be a part of the registry. You have to be between the ages of 18-44 years old.

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Stem Cell Therapy Using Fat Cells – Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Queens NY – Dr. Benjamin Bieber, MD – Video


Stem Cell Therapy Using Fat Cells - Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Queens NY - Dr. Benjamin Bieber, MD
Regenerative Medicine - Dr. Benjamin Bieber, MD - Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Queens NY http://www.crossbaypmr.com Phone: (718) 835-0100 Stem Cell Therapy Using Fat Cells Dr. Benjamin...

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What is Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) in Stem Cell Therapy? – Video


What is Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) in Stem Cell Therapy?
Dr. McKenna explains bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC). BMAC contains stem cells and growth factors that can build blood supply and heal tissue. For more information: http://www.rmiclinic.com...

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Ryan Benton Discusses Stem Cell Therapy for Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy – Video


Ryan Benton Discusses Stem Cell Therapy for Duchenne #39;s Muscular Dystrophy
Ryan Benton is the first patient in the United States to receive human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy for Duchenne #39;s muscular dystrophy. The US FDA granted Ryan this...

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Stem Cell Therapy for Liver Failure Cirrhosis Kidney Damage – 6 Months After Stemcell Transplant – Video


Stem Cell Therapy for Liver Failure Cirrhosis Kidney Damage - 6 Months After Stemcell Transplant
Bruce from Perth Australia give us an update 6 Months After his cord Mesenchymal stem cell treatment for Iiver cirrhosis, kidney complications in Thailand: More here: http://stemcellthailand.org/th...

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Defending the First Amendment since 1911 | The independent student newspaper of Texas State University

Since the inception of stem cell research, controversy has unfortunately dominated much of the debate without properly considering the potential benefit it may bring to humanity.

Stem cell research involves the manipulation and transfer of undesignated cells in hopes of regenerating other body cells that have been affected by general degeneration. This includes organ failure, tissue damage and even specific ailments like cancer, diabetes and Parkinsons disease. A stem cell may be used to create additional cells for skin, bone, liver, muscle, fat and even nerves. They are all crucial to the development and maintenance of the human bodys immune system.

This research also occasionally utilizes cells from human embryoswhich is where most of the moral debate stems from. Critics of stem cell research typically condemn the practice for ethical reasons. Opponents claim it destroys life and physicians play God in terms of deciding the fate of a lab-grown human embryo.

Without truly lending credence to the wonders of advanced medicine, anti-stem cell critics arent realizing that this research could potentially be Gods work. After all, such procedures unequivocally lead to the extension and increased protection of human life.

Moral obligations aside, the arguments against stem cell research on the basis of embryonic origins have more to do with a misunderstanding of science and less to do with the substantiated concern of saving unborn lives.

Embryonic cells used in stem cell research are typically three to five days old. They are fertilized in vitro within a clinical setting and are provided with consent by the donors.

So say, for instance, a mother with fertility issues utilized eggs from a donor and was over-fertilized. Instead of terminating the remaining pregnancies, the mother could donate the additional eggs to stem cell researchthus saving herself from a difficult and otherwise harmful pregnancyand allow other people who are combating illness to seek a potentially life-saving alternative.

Concerns about how sensitive the embryos may be are also irrelevant, seeing as how those used in stem cell research are only a couple of days old. Fetuses do not fully contain the neurological pathways necessary to feel pain until they are 24 weeks old.

Much like the anti-vaccination movement, many critics against stem cell research are unfortunately misguided on the subject. While the concern is noble, resistance to advances in modern medicine that may ultimately be the deciding factor in how we treat potentially catastrophic diseases isnt a step back from the right direction but an unnecessary fear of moving forward.

Follow Greg Arellano on Twitter @GregGonewild.

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Defending the First Amendment since 1911 | The independent student newspaper of Texas State University

Seattle Genetics (SGEN) Filed Supplemental BLA for Adcetris – Analyst Blog

Seattle Genetics, Inc. ( SGEN ) announced the submission of a supplemental biologics license application (BLA) to the FDA for Adcetris as consolidation therapy immediately following an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) in patients suffering from Hodgkin lymphoma, who are at a high risk of relapse.

The company submitted the BLA on the basis of positive data from the phase III AETHERA study.

We note that Adcetris is already approved for intravenous injection in the U.S. (accelerated approval) and the EU (conditional marketing authorization) for the treatment of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma after the failure of ASCT or at least two previous multi-agent chemotherapy regimens in patients who have not undergone ASCT.

The drug also received accelerated approval for systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL) after the failure of at least one prior multi-agent chemotherapy regimen in the U.S. and conditional marketing authorization for relapsed or refractory sALCL in the EU.

Adcetris is being developed by Seattle Genetics in partnership with Takeda Pharmaceutical ( TKPYY ). According to the agreement, Seattle Genetics holds the commercialization rights to Adcetris in the U.S. and Canada, while Takeda has the rights in the rest of the world. Both companies share development costs for Adcetris equally, except in Japan where Takeda bears the entire costs of development.

Apart from the AETHERA study, both companies are evaluating Adcetris in three phase III studies - ALCANZA (relapsed cutaneous T-cell lymphoma), ECHELON-1 (front-line advanced classical Hodgkin lymphoma) and ECHELON-2 (front-line mature T-cell lymphoma including sALCL). Data from the ALCANZA study should be out in 2016.

Meanwhile, Seattle Genetics is also working on developing its pipeline beyond Adcetris. The company has several early-stage candidates in its pipeline including six antibody drug conjugates - SGN-CD19A, SGN-CD33A, SGN-LIV1A, SGN-CD70A, ASG-22ME and ASG-15ME. Earlier this week, Seattle Genetics initiated a phase I study on its investigational immuno-oncology agent, SEA-CD40, for multiple types of advanced solid tumors.

Seattle Genetics carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the health care sector are BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. ( BMRN ) and Cytokinetics, Inc ( CYTK ). While Cytokinetics carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), BioMarin holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

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Seattle Genetics (SGEN) Filed Supplemental BLA for Adcetris - Analyst Blog

CardioWise Completes Installation of the First Totally Integrated CardioWise Analysis Software at National Institutes …

Fayetteville, Arkansas (PRWEB) February 19, 2015

CardioWise, Inc. has completed development of the first fully integrated version of its Multiparametric Strain Analysis Software (MPSA) and has installed it at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). MPSA software is being used in clinical research protocol number 12-H-0078, sponsored by the NHLBI entitled, Preliminary Assessment of Direct Intra-Myocardial Injection of Autologous Bone Marrow-derived Stromal Cells on Patients Undergoing Revascularization for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) with Depressed Left Ventricular Function. The Principle Investigator is Dr. Keith A. Horvath, the Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the NHLBI and Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Suburban Hospital, where he leads the NIH Heart Center. Details of the study are available here: http://clinicalstudies.info.nih.gov/cgi/wais/bold032001.pl?A_12-H-0078.html@mesenchymal@@@@.

The recently completed integrated version of CardioWise analysis software has been installed at the NIH; and, Dr. Justin Miller, and Dr. Ming Li, both research fellows in the Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Program of the NHLBI, have been trained on its operation and use. They were assigned to the project by Dr. Horvath and Dr. Andrew Arai, Chief of the Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Research Group in the NHLBIs Division of Intramural Research. CardioWise has completed validation testing of its software and the analyses of the first two patient cardiac MRI (CMR) data sets are in process. The patients who enrolled in the protocol received one baseline CMR scan and three additional follow-up CMR scans. Those CMR scans are being analyzed by CardioWise analysis software and the analyses will be compared to determine whether stem cell injections can improve the contractile function of the heart muscle by repairing damaged tissue.

The installation at the NIH under a Beta site agreement signed in 2014 marks the first clinical test of CardioWise MPSA software outside of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, where it was developed. CardioWise has obtained the exclusive worldwide license for the patent-pending software and accompanying normal hearts database from Washington University in St. Louis. The companys MPSA software is uniquely capable of analyzing the three-dimensional motion of the heart that is acquired from cardiac MRI images and then comparing the analysis at 15,300 points to the motion of a normal heart model. The analysis detects portions of the heart that are moving abnormally and demonstrates to what degree the heart muscle has been affected. Since MRI uses no ionizing radiation or contrast, it is completely non-invasive and poses minimal risk to the patient. This allows the patient to be followed through the course of treatment and to measure outcomes of interventions such as the stem cell therapy currently being evaluated. In the near future, CardioWise MPSA may aid doctors to determine what intervention, such as surgery, stent insertion, or drug is most appropriate for the patient who presents with cardiovascular disease symptoms.

CardioWise is commercializing patent-pending, non-invasive Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CMR) analysis software that produces a quantified 4D image model of the human heart, called Multiparametric Strain Analysis (MPSA). CardioWise heart analysis software combined with cardiac MRI is a single diagnostic test that is able to provide quantitative analysis of the myocardium, arteries and valves with an unprecedented level of detail. It has the opportunity to become the new gold standard of care for heart health analysis. CardioWise is a VIC Technology Venture Development portfolio company.

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CardioWise Completes Installation of the First Totally Integrated CardioWise Analysis Software at National Institutes ...