Stem Cell Clinic

DAP-funded stem cell research a wrong priority

By Stem Cell Treatment

From the perspective of a community physician, the stem cell research, at this point, is not a priority. Given the daunting task of not only curing the present crop of diseases but also preventing them, and of course, building the human resource as the backbone of the health care system these should be the priority. Joseph Carabeo, convenor, Rx Abolish Pork Barrel Movement

By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL Bulatlat.com

MANILA Eleazar Sobinsky, president of the Lung Center of the Philippines Employees Association-Alliance of Health Workers cannot decipher how the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) has helped the poor. Of the P115 million ($263,822) DAP funds received by LCP, P70 million ($160,587) was spent for the stem cell research project and the rest was spent for the procurement of equipment.

He said if the DAP has helped the poor, why are there more indigent patients waiting in line at the LCPs out-patient department?

Joseph Carabeo, convenor of the Rx Abolish Pork Barrel Movement and a community doctor for the past 28 years, said that the stem cell research project does not even help solve the longtime health problems of Filipinos.

The stem cell research in LCP is a mispriority, said Carabeo in an interview with Bulatlat.com. There are many problems in the health sector that has to be addressed. We think, the DOH is merely riding the bandwagon on the stem cell research intervention in health care, wellness and primarily rejuvenation, Carabeo said.

Eleazar Sobinsky, union president of the Lung Center Employees Union said if the DAP has helped the poor, why are there more indigent patients waiting in line at the LCPs out-patient department? (Photo by A. Umil/ Bulatlat.com)

Stem cells according to http://www.stemcellnetwork.ca are the precursors of all cells in the human body.

Stem cells are very special, powerful cells found in both humans and non-human animals. They have been called the centerpiece of regenerative medicine medicine that involves growing new cells, tissues and organs to replace or repair those damaged by injury, disease or aging, the website said.

In the Philippines, Carabeo said, the medical community is not even united in the use of stem cell therapy in curing diseases. He said it is still under research in the Philippines. The Philippine Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (PSEM) for one has even warned the public on the use of stem cell therapy as treatment for diabetes.

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DAP-funded stem cell research a wrong priority

Stem Cells Star in Marriage of Art and Science

By Stem Cell Medical Center

By Daniella Walsh on September 04th, 2014

By Daniella Walsh | LB Indy

Leslies stem cell

Janet Dreyer earned a doctorate in molecular biology, but in her 50s enrolled at the Pasadena College of Art and Design and became hooked on art. After a hiatus from both science and art for travel, shes back to art, creating a work that combines her training in both fields, The Stem Cell Scientist.

Dreyers computer generated work came to life at the request of Laguna Beach glass and multi-media artist Leslie Davis, who organized The Art of Stem Cells. The show features conceptual works by 29 artists. Their themes address debilitating diseases and injuries and the work of scientists trying to find cures. The month-long exhibition opens Saturday, Sept. 6, at the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art in Santa Ana.

Dreyer delved into history when she built a mosaic for the show. The work includes references to the regenerating powers of the Egyptian scarab god Khepri, showing him rolling a cell instead of the sun, among other images. I chose the mosaic format because the tiles create a sense of motion reminding me of developing cells, Dreyer said.

The exhibitions opening and closing receptions will not only showcase what results when artists interact with 23 scientists, but also introduce art patrons to researchers and examples of their state-of-the art stem cell pursuits. Half of all proceeds will benefit research at the center, led for the past eight years by Dr. Peter Donovan, to whom the show is dedicated.

With a keen interest in science and particularly stem cell therapy, Davis has forged a connection to UC Irvines Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center. But since 2005, Davis twin interests have yielded three other medical related art exhibitions, including one for Mission Hospital.

It was her brainpower that led to pairing center researchers with artists selected on the strength and nature of their work.

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Stem Cells Star in Marriage of Art and Science

UT Southwestern Scientists Identify Rare Stem Cells in Testis That Hold Potential for Infertility Treatments

By Stem Cell Medical Center

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Newswise DALLAS Sept. 4, 2014 Rare stem cells in testis that produce a biomarker protein called PAX7 help give rise to new sperm cells and may hold a key to restoring fertility, research by scientists at UT Southwestern Medical Center suggests.

Researchers studying infertility in mouse models found that, unlike similar types of cells that develop into sperm, the stem cells that express PAX7 can survive treatment with toxic drugs and radiation. If the findings hold true in people, they eventually could lead to new strategies to restore or protect fertility in men undergoing cancer treatment.

Unfortunately, many cancer treatments negatively impact fertility, and men who receive such treatments are at high risk of losing their fertility. This is of great concern among cancer patients, said Dr. Diego H. Castrillon, Associate Professor of Pathology and Director of Investigative Pathology. The PAX7 stem cells we identified proved highly resistant to cancer treatments, suggesting that they may be the cells responsible for the recovery of fertility following such treatments.

Infertility, which the Centers for Disease Control estimates affects as many as 4.7 million men in the United States, is a key complication of cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

The new findings, presented in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, provide valuable insight into the process of sperm development. Known as spermatogenesis, sperm development is driven by a population of immature stem cells called progenitors in the testes. These cells gradually mature into fully differentiated sperm cells. Dr. Castrillon and his team tracked progenitor cells that express the protein PAX7 in mouse testes, and found that these cells gradually give rise to mature sperm.

We have long known that male fertility is driven by rare stem cells within the testes, but the precise identity of these stem cells has been disputed, said Dr. Castrillon, who holds the John H. Childers, M.D. Professorship in Pathology. Our findings suggest that these rare PAX7 cells are the key cells within the testes that are ultimately responsible for male fertility.

Importantly, even after exposure to toxic chemotherapy or radiation treatments, the PAX7-expressing cells continued to divide and thus could contribute to restoring sperm development.

First author Gina Aloisio, a student in UT Southwesterns Medical Scientist Training Program, is the recipient of a Fellowship Award from the UT Southwestern Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences. Other UT Southwestern researchers involved in the work include Dr. Kent Hamra, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology; Dr. James Amatruda, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, and Molecular Biology, the Horchow Family Scholar in Pediatrics and holder of the Nearburg Family Professorship in Pediatric Oncology Research; Dr. Anita Sengupta, Assistant Professor of Pathology; Dr. Ileana Cuevas, Instructor of Pathology; Dr. Yuji Nakada, Instructor of Pathology; Abhijit Bugde, Department of Cell Biology; graduate student researchers Hatice Saatcioglu, Christopher Pea, and Hema Manjunath; and former UT Southwestern researchers Dr. Michael Baker, Dr. Edward Tarnawa, and Jishnu Mukherjee.

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UT Southwestern Scientists Identify Rare Stem Cells in Testis That Hold Potential for Infertility Treatments

Caribbean International Holdings (CIHN) Announces Change in Control; Seasoned Veteran in Stem Cell Industry Appointed …

By Stem Cell Medical Center

SOURCE: Caribbean International Holdings, Inc.

Mark Farber MD, PhD, MS Received Degrees From Brown University and SUNY; During His Time at Harvard Medical School He Developed Bioreactor Designs for Stem Cell Based Tissue Engineered Heart Valves

SARASOTA, FL--(Marketwired - September 04, 2014) - Caribbean International Holdings (PINKSHEETS: CIHN) through its subsidiary, Regenerative BioScience, Inc. ("RBS"), announced today that on August 27, 2014, a private investment group, J3 Financial, has acquired a controlling interest in the Company. Former CEO and former controlling shareholder, Steven Swank has resigned as of that same date; and effective as of August 28, 2014, the Company has appointed Mark Farber MD, PhD, MS as the new CEO of CIHN.

A spokesperson for J3 stated that: "We had been tracking CIHN for some time and found its business model very attractive. We feel that this is a company that is ready to emerge and being able to acquire the talents and services of someone like Dr. Farber, will help us establish a sound foundation for future growth. We feel very lucky to have him onboard."

The Company also said that it intends to identify, recruit and hire additional industry professionals within the emerging stem cell industry as it builds the infrastructure to support a solid but steady growth. It will also be adding administrative and other veteran executives in key positions.

The Company spokesperson also said that the Company feels it is important in today's market to keep its shareholders fully abreast of ongoing events and or news and it plans on keeping the market up to date in order to remain fully transparent with the Company's current and/or potential future shareholders and the market at large. In that light, management of the Company will shortly be releasing a Shareholder Update and other pertinent information as it becomes available.

Below is a brief background and bio on the new CEO of CIHN, Mark Farber, MD, PhD, MS.

Dr. Mark Farber received his undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from Brown University in Providence, RI in 2001, followed by a Masters in Science in Engineering from Brown University in 2003.He received his MD/PhD combined degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY in 2013.His PhD project titled "Simultaneous functional diffuse optical tomography and EEG in freely moving rats" involved developing an emerging non-invasive optical imaging technology to investigate brain blood flow in anesthetized, freely foraging, and sleeping rats.

During the development of the diffuse optical tomography optical imager, Dr. Farber's research generated over $7 million in grants, including $130,000 from the competitive NIH Ruth Kirschstein National Research Service Award for MD/PhD students from the NIH/NINDS.The technology behind his PhD project for rat brain imaging was sold for over $750,000, and with the assistance of Dr. Farber his technology has been adapted for use in macaque research, clinical research, and the development of brain-machine interfaces.

Prior to completing his education in medicine and engineering, Dr. Farber spent three years working in developing stem cell bioreactors for use in research and tissue engineering.After completing his MS in Engineering, Dr. Farber briefly worked at ViaCell Inc. where he developed bioreactors to maximize stem cell yields from umbilical cord blood cultures.He then moved on to Harvard Medical School, where he worked in the Cardiovascular Pathology department and participated in research projects involving atherosclerosis, heart valve disease, embryology, and tissue engineering.During this time he initiated investigations into novel computerized methods of tissue collagen detection and quantification and developed bioreactor designs for stem cell based tissue engineered heart valves.

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Caribbean International Holdings (CIHN) Announces Change in Control; Seasoned Veteran in Stem Cell Industry Appointed ...

How to tell good stem cells from the bad: Yale researchers answer key question

By Stem Cell Clinic

The promise of embryonic stem cell research has been thwarted by an inability to answer a simple question: How do you know a good stem cell from a bad one?

Yale researchers report in the Sept. 4 issue of the journal Cell Stem Cell that they have found a marker that predicts which batch of personalized stem cells will develop into a variety of tissue types and which will develop into unusable placental or tumor-like tissues.

Scientists have been unable to capitalize on revolutionary findings in 2006 that adult cells could be made young again with the simple introduction of four factors. Hopes were raised that doctors would soon have access to unlimited supplies of a patients own iPSCs induced pluripotent stem cells that could be used to repair many types of tissue damage. However, efforts to direct these cells to therapeutic goals have proved difficult. Many attempts to use cells clinically have failed because they form tumors instead of the desired tissue.

The team of Yale Stem Cell Center researchers led by senior author Andrew Xiao identified a variant histone a protein that helps package DNA which can predict the developmental path of iPSC cells in mice. An accompanying paper in the same journal by researchers at the Whitehead Institute at MIT and Hebrew University in Israel also identifies at different marker that also appears to predict stem cell fate.

The trend is to raise the standards and quality very high, so we can think about using these cells in clinic, Xiao said. With our assay, we have a reliable molecular marker that can tell what is a good cell and what is a bad one.

Lead author of the paper is Tao Wu of Yale.

Research is funded by Yale and Connecticut Stem Cell Foundation.

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How to tell good stem cells from the bad: Yale researchers answer key question

New protagonist in cell reprogramming discovered

By Uncategorized

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

4-Sep-2014

Contact: Laia Cendrs laia.cendros@crg.eu 34-933-160-237 Center for Genomic Regulation

This news release is available in Spanish.

The protein Nanog, a transcription factor, is key to maintaining stem cells in a pluripotent state. Researchers from the Centre for Genomic Regulation have been investigating the role of this protein, and have just published an article in the prestigious journal Cell Reports where they reveal the mechanism whereby Nanog acts. The scientists have discovered that Nanog involves other agents and they have been able to detail their dynamics. In particular, by studying another protein that is also involved in cell reprogramming (beta-catenin) they have been able to improve the knowledge of Nanog's functioning.

Cell renewal is a natural process that takes place constantly in our body. For this to happen, we have stem cells that are responsible for generating new cells to replenish and renew those that die. Stem cells give rise to undifferentiated pluripotent cells which have the ability to become any cell type. These pluripotent cells follow a differentiation path towards specialisation, which can produce any cell type from neurones to skin.

The scientists want to understand the mechanisms that allow stem cells to either differentiate or remain pluripotent. There are also many studies that seek to reverse this process, to enable already differentiated cells to be reprogrammed and become pluripotent. Knowing all the players in these processes is of vital importance for understanding how stem cells work and allowing progress in regenerative medicine.

"We knew that Nanog was somehow involved in keeping stem cells pluripotent; now we know which mechanism it uses and we understand better how it works", explains Luca Marucci, one of the authors of the work from the cell reprogramming and regeneration laboratory at the CRG, led by researcher Pia Cosma. "Studying this process has allowed us to discover not only Nanog's key role in reprogramming, but also the dynamics of another protein, known as beta-catenin. We now know that beta-catenin, just like Nanog, continuously fluctuates in the cell and does not only appear when reprogramming is activated", adds Elisa Pedone, co-author of the work from the same laboratory.

In order to understand and define parameters for the activity of both proteins, the researchers have developed a mathematical model that could explain this dynamic. The model could be useful for understanding the behaviour of these proteins in the cell both over time and in different situations.

We are talking about a basic discovery on the functioning and dynamics of stem cell reprogramming. An ever-more studied process that holds great hope for the medicine of the future. The laboratory at the Centre for Genomic Regulation led by the ICREA research professor, Pia Cosma, is making a definitive contribution to this knowledge. Her group looks at basic mechanisms that orchestrate cell differentiation and reprogramming, right up to concrete reprogramming methods for repairing damage in certain tissues.

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New protagonist in cell reprogramming discovered

The Newest Precision Medicine Tool: Prostate Cancer Organoids

By Uncategorized

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Newswise NEW YORK, NY, September 4, 2014 Research led by investigators at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has shown for the first time that organoids derived from human prostate cancer tumors can be grown in the laboratory, giving researchers an exciting new tool to test cancer drugs and personalize cancer treatment.

The researchers, whose results were published today in Cell, successfully grew six prostate cancer organoids from biopsies of patients with metastatic prostate cancer and a seventh organoid from a patients circulating tumor cells. Organoids are three-dimensional structures composed of cells that are grouped together and spatially organized like an organ. The histology, or tissue structure, of the prostate cancer organoids is highly similar to the metastasis sample from which they came. Sequencing of the metastasis samples and the matched organoids showed that each organoid is genetically identical to the patients cancer from which it originated.

Identifying the molecular biomarkers that indicate whether a drug will work or why a drug stops working is paramount for the precision treatment of cancer, said Yu Chen, MD, PhD, Assistant Attending Physician in the Genitourinary Oncology Service and Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program at MSK. But we are limited in our capacity to test drugs especially in the prostate cancer setting, where only a handful of prostate cancer cell lines are available to researchers.

With the addition of the seven prostate cancer organoids described in the Cell paper, Dr. Chens team has effectively doubled the number of existing prostate cancer cell lines.

We now have a new resource at our disposal that captures the molecular diversity of prostate cancer. This will be an invaluable tool we can use to test drug sensitivity, he added.

The use of organoids in studying cancer is relatively new, but the field is exploding quickly according to Dr. Chen. In 2009, Hans Clevers, MD, PhD, of the Hubrecht Institute in the Netherlands demonstrated that intestinal stem cells could form organoids. Dr. Clevers is the lead author on a companion piece also published in Cell today that describes how to create healthy prostate organoids. Dr. Chens paper is the first to demonstrate that organoids can be grown from prostate cancer samples.

The prostate cancer organoids can be used to test multiple drugs simultaneously, and Dr. Chens team is already retrospectively comparing the drugs given to each patient against the organoids for clues about why the patient did or didnt respond to therapy. In the future, its possible that drugs could be tested on a patients organoid before being given to the patient to truly personalize treatment.

After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men about 233,000 new cases will be diagnosed in 2014. It is also the second leading cause of cancer death in men; 1 in 36 men will die of the disease.

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FDA on alternative regenerative med

By Uncategorized

This has reference to the article titled Regenerative medicinean alternative to facelifts and surgery by Alex Y. Vergara (Lifestyle Wellness section, 6/17/14).

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has noted that the procedureautologous platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections and cell therapy injections that involve cell extracts taken from sheep and rabbit fetuses featured in the article, i.e., getting the patients blood, processing it, and once the blood is processed, injecting its growth factors back to the patients anesthetized faceare analogous to stem cell procedure.

PRP and cell therapy injections are outside the initial three standard healthcare procedures recognized by the FDA, namely: hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, corneal resurfacing with limbal stem cells, and skin regeneration with epidermal stem cells.

The article also featured Swiss-made cellular products (known as MFIII Nano Cell Extracts and

Myopep Peptide Therapy) which are claimed to decrease fat buildup and to contour the body.

It must be stressed that the recognized skin regeneration procedure applies only to skin grafting for burn patients and not for any antiaging indications or aesthetic reason as featured in the subject news item.

To date, no human cells, tissues and cellular- and tissue-based products (HCT/Ps) are currently registered with the FDA; hence, any information on products and treatments which claims to use stem cells and the likewhether the information is in the form of an advertisement or information materialsis illegal as this could mislead the public on the standard of safety, efficacy and quality of the FDA-recognized HCT/P.

FDA highly recognizes the role of the media in promoting the consumers basic right to information. But it is our responsibility to give the consumers accurate facts and correct information to enable them to make an informed choice and be free from exploitation.

KENNETH Y.

HARTIGAN-GO, MD,

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FDA on alternative regenerative med

Lung Institute Holds Inaugural Stem Cell Social

By Stem Cell Treatment

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) September 04, 2014

On Tuesday, September 9, the Lung Institute will hold an inaugural Stem Cell Social at its Tampa location. The Lung Institute created this event to address how stem cell treatment can help lung disease sufferers. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn how stem cell therapy can help, as well as set up a free consultation. In addition, a number of recent patients will be present to share how stem cell therapy has personally impacted their lives by repairing damaged lung tissue and improving function.

As a leader in regenerative medicine, the Lung Institute has provided almost 300 stem cell treatments to lung disease patients who previously had no hope for better breathing and regaining quality of life. The Lung Institute treats lung diseases including pulmonary fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a progressive disease that causes difficulty breathing, and is the third leading cause of death in the United States.

Led by Dr. Burton Feinerman, a world-renowned physician in the field of regenerative medicine, the Lung Institute offers minimally invasive, and outpatient stem cell treatments for patients with a variety of debilitating lung diseases. Stem cells are taken from the patients own blood or fat tissue. The treatments cue healing processes in the lungs, allowing patients to get back to normal, everyday activities and breathe easier.

Patients from the United States and around the world have traveled to Tampa to receive treatment. We provide hope to our patients, and an improved quality of life, said Dr. Feinerman. Our inaugural stem cell social is the perfect opportunity to learn about this innovative treatment option that can literally change a persons life.

Join the Lung Institute for its inaugural Stem Cell Social:

When: Tuesday, September 9, 4 p.m.7 p.m. Where: Lung Institute, 201 E. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 425, Tampa, FL 33602 What: A presentation by Dr. Feinerman and feedback from his patients about stem cell therapy. In addition, there will be refreshments and three grand-prize winners will receive $3,000 gift cards toward the purchase of treatment at the Lung Institute*! RSVP: Space is limited with only 30 spots available. Please RSVP to (855) 469-5864.

About the Lung Institute At the Lung Institute, we are changing the lives of hundreds of people across the nation through the innovative technology of regenerative medicine. We are committed to providing patients a more effective way to address pulmonary conditions and improve quality of life. Our physicians, through their designated practices, have gained worldwide recognition for the successful application of revolutionary minimally invasive stem cell therapies. With over a century of combined medical experience, our doctors have established a patient experience designed with the highest concern for patient safety and quality of care. For more information, visit our website at LungInstitute.com, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or call us today at (855) 469-5864.

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