One of the coolest things about working in the beauty industry is being in the know and having the ability to tell readers, friends and family about a new product or brand that really works the way it claims. When Beauty Pie, the self-professed Buyers Club for Beauty Addicts came onto the scene and the cosmetic line was just as good as it promised, it was an exciting discovery. Most luxury beauty products retail for about 10x what they actually cost to make, is one of Beauty Pies mantras, and now the "Netflix of Beauty" is out to revolutionize the skin carebuying process the same way it did with makeup when it launched six months ago.

You May Also Like: I Tried the Netflix of Beauty and the $2$4 Products Are Totally Legit

The digital-only, UK-based brand was started by Marcia Kilgore, founder of other notable brands like Bliss Spa and Soap & Glory, so its no wonder that the membership club has now ventured into skin care, too. Now, a monthly membership of just $10 allows you to not only buy high-quality $7 foundations, $3 mascaras and $5 lipsticks, but you can also get all of your skin care needs meet for less than $13.

For the launch of its new skin care line, Beauty Pie has tapped the best Swiss suppliers and leading cosmetic chemists to create a line with ingredients and formulations that rival high-end luxury brands. The 11 newly released products range from the hydrating Swiss-Korean Jeju Daily Antioxidant Superinfusion Essence Serum ($8 for members/ $80 for nonmembers) and the creamy Double-Phase Daily Deep Rinse-Off Cleanser ($5 for members/ $32 for nonmembers) to a Fruitzyme Five Minute Facial ($6 for members/ $60 for nonmembers).

With ingredients like kiwiberry stem cells, meadowfoam seed oils, pomegranate enzymes and oil-absorbing kaolin clay, were excited to try the serums, masks, moisturizer, cleanser and eye cream and judge for ourselves whether the products stand up to their makeup counterparts. Beauty Pie's concept of luxury products at factory prices is a concept that will never get old and one worthy of throuougly exploring.

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$5 High-Quality Skin Care ExistsHere's the Proof - NewBeauty Magazine (blog)

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on $5 High-Quality Skin Care ExistsHere’s the Proof – NewBeauty Magazine (blog) | June 26th, 2017

Hot air: Triona McCarthy on how to smeel good

Independent.ie

Want to smell good, look good, and feel fantastic? The scentsational Triona McCarthy shows us her weekly round-up of lotions and potions to keep you looking hawt!

http://www.independent.ie/life/hot-air-triona-mccarthy-on-how-to-smeel-good-35845624.html

http://www.independent.ie/incoming/article35592585.ece/c3491/AUTOCROP/h342/mg%20Trionna.jpg

Want to smell good, look good, and feel fantastic? The scentsational Triona McCarthy shows us her weekly round-up of lotions and potions to keep you looking hawt!

Created by an Irish female natural beauty entrepreneur, YourBeautyTonic has everything your skin needs to boost beauty. Its key ingredients, collagen and hyaluronic acid, are the building blocks of youthful skin, and it also contains vitamins and minerals.

YourBeautyTonic, above, costs 59.95 for 30 days' supply, and is available from independent health stores, selected pharmacies and online at yourtonic.com

WAX ON, WAX OFF...

I'm off to Inchydoney, in west Cork this weekend, so I'm waxed.

The gals at Brazilia are so profesh, and they make the waxing experience so easy, painless, and, actually, almost pleasurable.

I don't know if I'm quite ready to rock a teeny-weny little bikini like Emily Ratajkowski, above, but you never know!

Brazilia, 50 South William St, D2, tel: (01) 675-0000; 4 Sandyford Office Park, D18, tel: (01) 293-4858, or see brazilia.ie

LET US SPRAY

Image PREVENTION + Pure Mineral Sunscreen Spray 30+ SPF, below, 47.50, is so quick and effective. Before walking Maxi and Mini to Montessori in the morning, I cleanse and moisturise my face, and spray on this ultra-lightweight, anti-pollution, anti-aging, pure mineral sunscreen spray with superior UVA/UVB and infrared protection.

Infused with antioxidants and plant stem cells, it nourishes and hydrates my skin with organic ingredients, including jojoba and sweet almond oil - and, best of all, it's free of parabens and chemicals.

TRIONA'S TRICK

We have my kiddies, Maxi and Mini, to thank for this week's beauty trick. If, like me, you don't like your Beauty Blender sponge getting all grubby in the bottom of your make-up bag, simply pop it into an empty Kinder Egg container to protect it!

CULT PRODUCT

Inspired by Poppy Delevingne's wedding make-up, this Charlotte Tilbury Instant Look In A Palette, above, 69, in Beauty Glow, is perfect for popping in your purse for on the go - goof-proof glam, as it has everything a gal needs to get gorgeous.

This is the fourth versh released, and definitely my fave, as the rose-gold and bronze tones are darker and more dramatic. I found the previous versions a bit too wishy-washy colour-wise, whereas this slays.

TRIONA'S TOP TIP

'Summer lovin' had me a blast,

Summer lovin' happened so fast'

I love a bit of Grease, but not on my head!

However, if like me, you have long hair and it's leaving you hot and bothered this summer, why not try a chic model-off-duty topknot.

Kate Moss pulls this look off so well, making it look stylish and hot, yet so nice and cool, as the hair's up and off your neck.

Best of all, a high bun has a cheekbone-lifting effect, so it's a win-win.

Slick your hair back with Shockwaves Ultra Strong Power Hold Gel, above, 2.50, which also helps fight frizzy fine hairs around your forehead, making you look hot in a good way!

If you're hitting the beach, make sure to layer this Philip Kingsley Sun Shield, below, 30, marksandspencer.ie, as hair can burn just like the skin when it's left unprotected.

This super-lightweight nourishing mist provides an invisible shield of protection over the hair. I always make sure I have it in my beach bag for myself and Will and the kids.

Best of all, it guards against colour fade from sun exposure, and diminishes damage and dryness caused by UV rays, chlorine and salt water.

'Summer days driftin' away, to uh-oh those summer nights'

Sunday Independent

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Hot air: Triona McCarthy on how to smeel good - Independent.ie

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Hot air: Triona McCarthy on how to smeel good – Independent.ie | June 25th, 2017

When Shannon DeAndrea saw a knot on her 18-month-old sons head last July, she thought he had just fallen.

But more popped up and wouldnt go away. He also began feeling sick.

I finally decided he needed to see a pediatrician, said DeAndrea, who lives in Blairs.

She was told he had ear infections and her son, Nathan, was put on rounds of antibiotics. The knots were normal, she was told.

Another medical provider said he looked anemic. Blood work revealed his hemoglobin was dangerously low.

We ended up in the ER, DeAndrea said. They couldnt figure out why he was anemic.

Shannon and Nathan were sent to Roanoke, where he was diagnosed with a stage 4 neuroblastoma on Aug. 23. He had a tumor in his abdomen that spread to his bone marrow. He had spots on his skull, ribs and spine.

Neuroblastomas are cancers that begin in early nerve cells of the sympathetic nervous system, according to the American Cancer Society.

Since his diagnosis, her son now 2 has had several rounds of chemotherapy and two stem cell transplants and is doing well.

Now hes just like a normal 2-year-old, DeAndrea said. Hes running around with his sister. Hes eating well.

Dr. William Clark is associate professor of medicine and attending physician at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center Stem Cell Transplantation Program. Clark said the procedure is used for conditions including multiple myeloma, lymphoma, sickle cell anemia and leukemia.

Stem cell transplants are used to replace bone marrow that has been destroyed by cancer or destroyed by the chemo and/or radiation used to treat the cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.

High doses of chemo (sometimes along with radiation), work better than standard doses to kill cancer cells. However, high doses can also kill the stem cells and cause the bone marrow to stop making blood cells, which are needed for life. The transplanted stem cells replace the bodys stem cells after the bone marrow and its stem cells have been destroyed by treatment, according to the American Cancer Society.

Two types of stem cell transplants include autologous, which uses stem cells from the patients own body, and allogeneic using stem cells from another person, Clark said.

For leukemia patients, most of the time, we give them stem cells from someone else, Clark said. Chemotherapy helps lower the leukemia disease burden, but the new immune system provided by the new stem cells can fight against the cancer cells and get rid of them, he said.

Virginia Commonwealth Universitys cancer center performs an average of about 160-195 stem cell transplants per year, Clark said. Slightly more than half are autologous procedures, and the rest are allogeneic, he said.

Whitt Clement, former delegate who represented the Danville area in the General Assembly, underwent a stem cell transplant for acute myeloid leukemia in September 2015.

The most important aspect for patients is being self-aware and their own best advocates, Clement said.

My experience was that the patient has to ask a lot of questions throughout the process, he said.

He suspected something was wrong when he noticed his platelet count declining over seven years. He went to a hematologist and had a bone marrow biopsy that revealed his condition.

If I had not taken the initiative myself and gone to see a hematologist, matters would have progressed to the point where I would have been symptomatic, Clement said.

Finding the perfect match in a donor is also important, Clement said. Fortunately, he had a sibling who met all the criteria and donated stem cells.

A person can get great matches from unrelated donors, but its preferable for a donor to be a sibling, said Clement, partner at Hunton & Williams law firm in Richmond.

Your body has an easier time tolerating the new stem cells, he said.

Clement served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1988-2002, and as Virginias secretary of transportation from 2002-2005 under Gov. Mark Warner.

For someone with multiple myeloma, the transplant does not cure the disease but delays the time it returns by up to seven and a half years, Clark said.

Lymphoma, leukemia and sickle cell anemia can be cured with the procedure, Clark said. Lymphoma can be cured in about 50 to 80 percent of cases, depending on the lymphoma, Clark said.

The first 30 days after the transplant are the most critical, Clement said. During that time, different organs can have varying reactions to the new cells. It can affect the kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal tract, skin, and cause other side effects.

The idea is that the closer the match, the less likely youll have those adverse reactions, he said.

The process includes being put on an immunosuppressant to prevent the immune system from attacking the new cells, Clement said.

He credits the quality of his recovery to asking lots of questions and being his own advocate tape recording conversations with medical providers, coming in with written questions.

Ive been able to recover better because of that, he said.

Its a long journey and so a person confronted with the transplant situation has got to prepare himself for a long journey that requires a lot of questions along the way, Clement said.

There are about 20 million potential stem cell/bone marrow donors in the BeTheMatch Registry in the United States, Clark said.

Stem cell transplants began in the late 50s/early 60s with the first successful procedure done in an identical twin, Clark said. However, stem cell transplants were limited until medicines that prevent rejections became available.

The number of procedures increased in the 1980s, Clark said.

Danville resident Susan Mathena, cancer patient navigator at Danville Regional Medical Center, became a donor about 20 years ago because she wanted to help people. Mathena has also been an organ donor since she got her drivers license.

I see patients all the time that need stem cell transplants, Mathena said. We always need a source of bone marrow donation.

Though she will age out of the stem cell donor list soon, she could still be contacted if she is the only match for someone in need, she said.

Clark will speak next month on stem cell/bone marrow transplants at Ballou Recreation Center at an event held by the Cancer Research and Resource Center of Southern Virginia in Danville.

Thousands of patients with blood cancers like leukemia or other diseases like sickle cell anemia need a bone marrow/stem cell transplant to survive, including some of our own community members, said Kate Stokely Powell, coordinator at the center.

Clarks presentation offers an opportunity in Southside for people battling illness, medical students and professionals and the public to learn from an expert in the field of stem cell transplants, Powell said.

Doctors, hospitals and families affected by a blood cancer disease have done a great job of building a massive database of blood types for potential donor matches, Clement said.

For DeAndrea and her son, Nathan, the first transplant included four or five days of chemo. The new stem cells following the chemo that killed off his old stem cells from the transplant were like a rescue, she said.

Its wiping you out and then giving you your cells back to restart your immune system, DeAndrea said.

A second round of heavy chemo was to try to kill what was left of the cancer and replenish cells, she said.

It was rough, it was a nightmare, DeAndrea said. It was by far the worst phase of his treatment, but I believe, in the long run, its worth it.

She said the procedures should increase Nathans chances for survival and prevent a relapse.

Nathan just finished radiation Tuesday and will go in for a biopsy of his bone marrow this week, DeAndrea said.

Well find out next week where we stand as far as the cancer goes, she said.

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After two stem cell transplants and several rounds of chemo, 'now he's just like a normal 2-year-old' - GoDanRiver.com

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on After two stem cell transplants and several rounds of chemo, ‘now he’s just like a normal 2-year-old’ – GoDanRiver.com | June 25th, 2017

June 23, 2017

Imagine being able to take cells from your skin, transform them into other types of cells, such as lung, brain, heart or muscle cells, and use those to cure your ailments, from diabetes to heart disease or macular degeneration. To realise this, however, challenges still remain, Professor Janet Rossant, a pioneer in the field, says.

All across the world, scientists have begun clinical trials to try and do just that, by making use of the incredible power and versatility of stem cells, which are special cells that can make endless copies of themselves and transform into every other type of cell.

While human embryos contain embryonic stem cells, which help them to develop, the use of those cells has been controversial. The scientists are using induced pluripotent stem cells instead, which are other cells that have been reprogrammed to behave like stem cells.

"There are still significant challenges that we need to overcome, but in the long run we might even be able to create organs from stem cells taken from patients. That would enable rejection-free transplants," said Professor Janet Rossant, a pioneer in the field.

The mouse that changed everything

A speaker at the recent Commonwealth Science Conference 2017 held in Singapore and organised by Britain's Royal Society and Singapore's National Research Foundation, Prof Rossant gave an overview of stem cells' origins, history, uses and potential.

Now a senior scientist at The Hospital for Sick Children (also known as Sick Kids) in Toronto, Canada, after a decade as its chief of research, she was the first scientist to demonstrate the full power of stem cells in mice.

In the early 1990s, scientists believed that stem cells could only become certain types of cells and carry out limited functions. Based on her own research and that of others, however, Prof Rossant believed that they were capable of far more.

Working with other scientists, she created an entire mouse out of stem cells in 1992, upending the conventional wisdom. "We went on to create many baby mice that were completely normal, and completely derived from stem cells grown in a petri dish," she said.

"That was an amazing experiment, and it was instrumental in making people believe that human embryonic stem cells could have the full potential to make every cell type in the body," she added.

When scientists learned how to remove stem cells from human embryos in 1998, however, controversy ensued. Many lobbied against the cells' use in medical research and treatment due to the moral implications of destroying even unwanted embryos to gain the cells.

In Canada, Prof Rossant chaired the working group of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research on Stem Cell Research, establishing guidelines for the field. These guidelines helped to keep the field alive in Canada, and were influential well beyond the country's borders.

In 2006, Japanese researchers succeeded in taking skin cells from adult mice and reprogramming them to behave like embryonic stem cells. These revolutionary, induced pluripotent stem (IPS) cells allowed scientists to sidestep the ongoing controversy.

The challenges in the way

While stem cells have been used for medical treatment in some cases bone marrow transplants, for example, are a form of stem cell therapy there are several challenges that need to be overcome before they can be used more widely to treat diseases and injuries.

"We need to get better at turning stem cells into the fully mature cells that you need for therapy. That's going to take more work. Another issue is that of scale-up. If you're going to treat a patient, you need to be able to grow millions of cells," said Prof Rossant.

She added: "Safety is another concern. One of the most exciting things about pluripotent stem cells is that they can divide indefinitely in the culture dish. But that's also one of the most scary things about them, because that's also how cancer works.

"Furthermore, because we need to genetically manipulate cells to get IPS cells, it's very hard to know whether we've got completely normal cells at the end of the day. These are all issues that need to be resolved."

She noted that some scientists are working on making "failsafe" IPS cells, which have a built-in self-destruct option if they become dangerous. "Bringing stem cells into regenerative medicine is going to require interdisciplinary, international collaboration," she said.

In the meantime, stem cells have been a boon to medical research, as scientists can use them to create an endless supply of different cells to study diseases and injuries, and test drugs. "That's the biggest use of IPS cells right now," Prof Rossant said.

Sick kids and how to help them

At SickKids, which is Canada's largest paediatric research hospital, she has been using stem cells to study cystic fibrosis, a frequently fatal genetic disorder that causes mucus to build up and clog some organs such as the lungs. It affects primarily children and young adults.

SickKids discovered the CFTR gene that, when mutated, causes the disease. It was also the first to produce mature lung cells, from stem cells, that can be used to study the disease and test drugs against it.

Even better, Prof Rossant and her team were able to turn skin cells from cystic fibrosis patients into IPS cells and then into lung cells with the genetic mutation specific to each of them. This is critical to personalising treatment for each patient.

"Drugs for cystic fibrosis are extraordinarily expensive, and patients can have the same mutation and yet respond differently to the same drug," Prof Rossant explained. "With our work, we can make sure that each patient gets the right drug at the right time."

In 1998, Prof Rossant also discovered a new type of stem cell in mice, now called the trophoblast stem cell. These surround an embryo and attach it to the uterine wall, eventually becoming the placenta. She is using such cells to study placenta defects and pregnancy problems.

By using IPS cells to create heart cells and other cells, pharmaceutical companies can also test their new drugs' effectiveness and uncover potential side effects, as well as develop personalised medicines.

"There are still huge amounts of opportunities in pluripotent stem cells," said Prof Rossant, who has won numerous awards for her research, including the Companion of the Order of Canada and the 2016 Friesen International Prize in Health Research.

She is also president and scientific director of the Toronto-based Gairdner Foundation, which recognises outstanding biomedical research worldwide, and a professor at the University of Toronto's molecular genetics, obstetrics and gynaecology departments.

"Meetings like the Commonwealth Science Conference are a fantastic opportunity for scientists to come together, learn about each other's work and establish new relationships, which will help to push science forward, including in stem cell research," she said.

She noted: "The world of science is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary, so this kind of meeting of minds across nations, cultures and scientific fields is really the way of the future."

Explore further: Cardiac stem cells from heart disease patients may be harmful

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Paracetamol is popular for relieving pain. But if you are pregnant, you should think twice before popping these pills according to the researchers in a new study. In an animal model, Paracetamol, which is the pain-relieving ...

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Stem cells: the future of medicine - Medical Xpress

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Stem cells: the future of medicine – Medical Xpress | June 23rd, 2017

When Will We Clone a Human?

Human cloning may endure as one of the go-to science fiction tropes, but in reality we may be much closer to achieving it than our fictional heroes might imply. At least in terms of the science required. On of the most prominent hurdles facing us may have less to do with the process and more to do with its potential consequences, and our collective struggle to reconcile the ethics involved.That being said, while science has come a long way in the last century when it comes to cloning a menagerie of animals, cloning humans and other primates has actually proven to be incredibly difficult. While we might not be on the brink ofcloning entire human beings, were already capable of cloning human cells the question is,should we be?Click to View Full Infographic

The astoundingly complex concept of cloning boils down to a fairly simple (in theory, at least) practice:you need two cells from the same animal one of which is an egg cell from which youve removed the DNA. You take the DNA from the othersomatic cell and put it inside the devoid-of-DNA egg cell. Whatever that egg cell goes on to produce for offspring will be genetically identical to the parent cell.While human reproduction is the result of the joining of two cells (one from each parent, each with their own DNA) the cellular photocopy technique does occur in nature.Bacteria reproduce through binary fission: each time it divides, its DNA is divided too so that each new bacterium is genetically identical to its predecessor. Except sometimes mutations occur in this process and in fact, that can be by design and function as a survival mechanism. Such mutations allow bacteria to, for example, become resistant to antibiotics bent on destroying them. On the other hand,some mutations are fatal to an organism or preclude them coming into existence at all. And while it might seem like the picking-and-choosing thats inherent to cloning could sidestep these potential genetic hiccups, scientists have found thats not necessarily the case.

Image Credit: Pixabay

While Dolly the sheep might be the most famous mammal science has ever cloned, shes by no means the only one: scientists have cloned mice, cats, and several types of livestock in addition to sheep. The cloning of cows has, in recent years, provided a great deal of knowledge to scientists about why the processdoesnt work: everything from implantation failure to those aforementioned mutations that render offspring unable to survive.Harris Lewin, professor in the UC Davis Department of Evolution and Ecology, and his team published their findings on the impact cloning has ongene expression in the journalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciencesback in 2016. In the studys press release Lewin noted that the findings were certainly invaluable to refining cloning techniques in mammals, but that their discoveries also reinforce the need for a strict ban on human cloning for any purposes.

The creation ofentiremammals via reproductive cloning has proven a difficult process both practically and ethnically, as legal scholar and ethicist Hank Greely of Stanford University explained toBusiness Insiderin 2016:

The cloning of human cells,however, may be a far more immediate application for humans.Researchers call it therapeutic cloning, and differentiate it from traditional cloning that has reproductive intent. In 2014, researchers created human stem cells through the same cloning technique that generated Dolly the sheep. Because stem cells can differentiate to become any kind of cell in the body, they could be utilized for a wide variety of purposes when it comes to treating diseases particularly genetic diseases, or diseases where a patient would require a transplant from an often elusive perfect match donor.This potential application is already well underway: earlier this year a woman in Japansuffering from age-related macular degeneration was treated with induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells created from her own skin cells, which were then implanted into her retinas andstopped her vision from degenerating further.

We asked the Futurism community to predict when they think well be able to successfully clone a full human, and the majority of those who responded agree that it feels like were getting close: nearly 30 percent predicted well clone our first human by the 2020s. We have replaced, and replicated almost every biology on earth, said reader Alicja Laskowska, [the] next step is for cures and to do that you need clean DNA, and theres your start.

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How Close Are We to Successfully Cloning the First Human? - Futurism

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on How Close Are We to Successfully Cloning the First Human? – Futurism | June 22nd, 2017

Start eating grapes daily, as a research has revealed that the compounds, found in the skin and seeds of grapes, may help in killing colon cancer stem cells. The compounds, resveratrol, which are found in grape skins and seeds, could also eventually lead to treatments to help prevent colon cancer, said Jairam K.P. Vanamala from Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute.

The combination of resveratrol and grape seed extract is very effective at killing colon cancer cells, Vanamala added. The researchers suggest that the findings could pave the way for clinical testing of the compounds on human colon cancer, which is the second most common cancer in women and the third in men.

If successful, the compounds could then be used in a pill to help prevent colon cancer and lessen the recurrence of the disease in colon cancer survivors.

Vanamala noted that according to cancer stem-cell theory, cancerous tumors are driven by cancer stem cells. Cancer stem cells are capable of self-renewal, cellular differentiation and maintain their stem cell-like characteristics even after invasion and metastasis.

When taken separately in low doses, resveratrol and grape seed extract are not as effective against cancer stem-cell suppression as when they are combined together, according to the researchers.

Grape compounds could now be used in a pill to help prevent colon cancer and lessen the recurrence of the disease in survivors. (HTFile photo )

This also connects well with a plant-based diet that is structured so that the person is getting a little bit of different types of plants, of different parts of the plant and different colors of the plant, said Vanamala.

For the animal study, they separated 52 mice with colon cancer tumors into three groups, including a control group and groups that were fed either the grape compounds or sulindac, an anti-inflammatory drug, which was chosen because a previous study showed it significantly reduced the number of tumors in humans.

The incidence of tumors was suppressed in the mice consuming the grape compounds alone by 50 percent, similar to the rate in the group consuming the diet with sulindac.

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Grape skin and seeds may help fight against colon cancer, says study - Hindustan Times

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Grape skin and seeds may help fight against colon cancer, says study – Hindustan Times | June 21st, 2017

The Hindu

Hyderabad team grows miniature eyes using stem cells The Hindu The iPS cells are produced by genetically manipulating human skin cells to produce embryonic-like stem cells that are capable of forming any cell types of the body. Small portions of the corneal tissue were separated from the miniature eyes and used ...

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Hyderabad team grows miniature eyes using stem cells - The Hindu

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Hyderabad team grows miniature eyes using stem cells – The Hindu | June 19th, 2017

BURR RIDGE, Ill., June 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Win L. Chiou, a world-renowned authority in pharmacokinetics, an expert in dermatology and a former FDA consultant, has recently published a commentary questioning some widely accepted aging and anti-aging theories in the last century and postulated his new aging theories and anti-aging strategies in The Scientific Pages of Dermatology (TSPD). Chiou said this may have many very important implications and applications in future aging and anti-aging research. This and his other recent breakthroughs are disclosed.

Classical Cumulative Oxidative Stress/Accelerated Aging Theories QuestionedSurprisingly, these important classical theories were not supported by results from his critical analyses of reported aging data of human hearts and skin from a large number of normal subjects over many decades of lifespan. Some implications are: Generally, our skin and heart actually don't age faster as we get older as predicted from these accelerated aging theories. Also, we may have over-emphasized the use of purified anti-oxidants in dietary supplements to combat aging. This is because oxidative stress has been traditionally regarded as the culprit of our aging.

Classical Photoaging Theory Questioned: Intrinsic Aging as Root CauseThe photoaging theory claims that exposure to sunlight contributes about 80% of our skin aging. Chiou astoundingly found that sun exposure had no noticeable effects on the aging of skin collagen and superficial capillaries in their lifetime. Furthermore, age spots, commonly assumed to result from photoaging, were frequently found to occur on thighs, forearms and backs in seniors that were rarely exposed to sunlight. Chiou asked: Do we need to re-evaluate general recommendations that we should wear sunscreens as a daily ritual when we go outdoors? How much SPF number do we really need? This is especially significant because exposure to sunlight has many important health benefits such as reducing blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes, and increasing the immune system and vitamin D synthesis. These benefits are known to far outweigh the risks such as skin cancer.

New Cardiac-Output-Reduction Aging Theory: Utmost Importance of Cellular Nutrients in Determining Cellular/Tissue Aging

Chiou postulated a new theory that since our heart pumps nutrient-carrying blood to various organs/tissues to sustain their vitality, therefore, cardiac output should be closely related to our life expectancy and general health. Chiou said that we age mainly because our cardiac output decreases and cellular levels of nutrients in peripheral tissues also decrease with age. Cardiac output peaks at about age 12. By age 40 and 80, it can decrease very significantly by 30% and 49% respectively. Hence, Chiou postulated that one effective approach to combat body aging and to increase longevity is to increase cardiac output through stem-cell rejuvenation and to increase tissue nutrients. In other words, aging is reversible!!

New Theories for Formation of Wrinkles and Age Spots: Intrinsic Aging as Root CausesFor the first time, Chiou theorized that formation of wrinkles in aged adults results from body's defense mechanism in order to reduce effective surface area for minimizing environmental assaults. And the formation of age spots mainly results from birth defects and later acquired injuries in superficial capillaries that nourish the skin. Hence these disorders are generally first initiated by intrinsic aging. Sunlight may hasten the above problems. Chiou noted that young children and youths with healthy skin may stay outdoors unprotected daily for months or years without developing age spots or wrinkles.

New Strategy to Combat and Reverse Skin Aging: Stem-Cell RejuvenationJust as water can revitalize a dry wilted flower, an aging-reversing phenomenon, Chiou has developed a unique proprietary body-natural (ingredients being natural in our body) nutritional serum, Eternal Spring Serum (ESS), to be topically applied daily to rejuvenate our skin. Surprisingly, the firming and tightening effects are almost universally observed in all users. A stunning example is shown in his wife, Linda Chiou, who has used the product for more than 10 years and rarely used sunscreens. At age 75, her skin seems much better than many others 25 to 35 years younger (Figure 1). Many friends noticed her skin-age-reversing phenomenon. It is reasoned that the ESS must work via rejuvenation of stem or progenitor cells in the skin. Currently, skin reversal is considered by dermatologists as impossible to achieve. Therefore, the ESS represents a historical breakthrough in combating skin aging.

Growth Acceleration and Regeneration of Human Nails: Stem-Cell RejuvenationLiquid preparations containing body-natural nutrients have been shown to quickly accelerate nail growth or to regenerate new nails after nail injury in numerous subjects. This may be the first of its kind ever reported (patent pending). Such effects are also postulated to be due to stem-cell/progenitor cell rejuvenation. Interestingly, this approach also helps grow new hair on Dr. Chiou's decades-old baldhead.

Dr. Chiou is an editor for TSPD, and is organizing a Special Issue on "Aging and Anti-Aging". He was a former university professor for 36 years. Dr. Chiou is currently President of Winlind Skincare LLC and Chiou Consulting Inc. His detailed biography is available at the TSPD website. For inquiries or licensing, Dr. Chiou can be reached at 163879@email4pr.com.

Media Contact: Win Chiou163879@email4pr.com 630-861-0433

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/major-breakthroughs-in-aging-theories-and-anti-aging-strategies-via-stem-cell-rejuvenation-in-humans-300472905.html

SOURCE Dr. Win L. Chiou

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Major Breakthroughs in Aging Theories and Anti-Aging Strategies via Stem-Cell Rejuvenation in Humans - PR Newswire (press release)

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Major Breakthroughs in Aging Theories and Anti-Aging Strategies via Stem-Cell Rejuvenation in Humans – PR Newswire (press release) | June 13th, 2017

Oper Technology, a Hong Kong biotechnology start-up, has pioneered what it claims is a world first in stem cell treatment that it says could potentially help millions of patients suffering from Alzheimers and Parkinsons diseases.

The business was co-founded by Hong Kong Baptist Universitys Professor Ken Yung, who specialises in neurobiology and neurological diseases in the universitys biology department.

He and his team has now developed a method of harvesting neural stem cells from the brains of live subjects using specially developed nanoparticles.

The exploration of using stem cells to repair damaged neural cells is not a new concept. Scientists in the US and elsewhere have experimented using stem cells from fat and skin, developing them into neural cells.

But Yung claims his team is the first to successfully harvest stem cells directly from the brain and re-inject the developed neural cells back into a live subject, thereby artificially regenerating any cells which have died off, due to neurological diseases from neural stem cells themselves.

Stem cells have the potential to develop into different types of cells with specialised functions.

The nanoparticles which are made of a type of iron oxide work like magnets to attract the stem cells within the brain.

Yung said these can then be developed into more specific neural cells and re-injected into the brain to replace damaged cells caused by diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons, where neurons in the patients brains progressively die off with time.

He suggests the treatment could benefit almost 100 million patients around the world, who suffer from neurodegenerative diseases, including strokes.

China alone has the largest population of people with dementia, with an estimated 23.3 million now projected to suffer from the condition by 2030, according to the World Health Organisation.

Yung co-founded Oper Technology and serves as its chairman.

The company is being developed under Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Incu-Bio programme, which provides select biotechnology start-ups with laboratory and support services, and ultimately it aims to commercialise its medical technology.

If you put the [developed] cells in a different environment from where the [stem cells are harvested], there might be [misdirected] growth in an uncontrolled environment, said Yung.

We want to use neural cells to repair neural cells, and since the stem cells and re-injected neural cells are from the same micro-environment, there will not be uncontrollable growth.

The method has proven to be very successful when tested on rats, especially in cases of Parkinsons, according to Yung, who suggested the method could eventually become an ultimate treatment for the disease.

Furthermore, the risks of this treatment are similar to what is currently on the market today, he added.

The treatment could also help to treat early-stage Alzheimers patients, slowing down or even halting the degeneration process, although Yung acknowledged that its effectiveness in treating terminal stage patients may be limited since it would be difficult to regenerate enough neural cells when patients brains have shrunk due to the condition.

While animals subjected to the treatment displayed an improvement in neural function following the re-injection, the team has yet to start on clinical trials as such cell therapy is still nascent and largely unregulated in Hong Kong.

Oper Technology is currently seeking investment and often sets up booths at conferences such as last weeks EmTech Hong Kong conference, which focuses on innovation and emerging technologies.

Yung hopes to raise enough funds to begin clinical trials in Australia in the near future, where autologous cell therapies are legal and thus provides an ideal environment for clinical trials.

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Hong Kong biotech start-up claims world first in stem cell treatment of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases - South China Morning Post

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Hong Kong biotech start-up claims world first in stem cell treatment of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases – South China Morning Post | June 13th, 2017

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Like I have consistently mentioned on many of my previous articles, the unlimited capacities of autologous stem cells and platelets never ceases to amaze me.

While at our StemCell Miami Institute (one of the few in the world) we specialize in treating orthopedic related illnesses like: osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, shoulder and issues related to the spine, there are times when we also try to help patients in need of treatments that are outside of the true realm of our medical specialty. Such is the case with Denisse, a close family friend and owner of a busy Nicaraguan restaurant in the city of Doral, where she unfortunately poured (by accident) a pot of hot oil all over the back of her legs, causing her a painful second degree type burn.

Two weeks ago, Denisse called us to see if we could do something to help her with her burn, since she had heard about the tremendous success of many of our stem cell procedures. While she was well aware that we specialized in orthopedic related problems, she hoped that we could help her to expedite the healing process, since the treatment that she initially received at the hospital emergency room (with sulfadiazine), had done little to improve her serious burn and she was also suffering from a severe pain in the affected area.

While this was theoretically in no way our specialty, we knew that cells have a great capacity to heal skin related issues. In addition, platelets have shown tremendous success in accelerating the scarring/curative process in healing wounds, ulcers and also burns. As a matter of fact, I treated a paralytic patient several years ago who was living in a nursing home in order to try and help with an ulcer she had developed in her leg and amazingly, her ulcer/wound completely healed in only one month after the treatment we conducted on her!

So after we discussed the recommended treatment with Denisse and she agreed to move forward with our procedure we created a gelatin like substance from her own plasma and combined it with growth factors (also from her same blood). We then covered the wounded skin area (about the size of a basketball behind her knees) and we initially planned to cover her wound with this gelatin substance every 72 hours.

On the second treatment, we were truly astonished on how well the wound/burn had healed (almost 50 percent improvement) and Denisse mentioned that ever since the first application her pain had subsided tremendously. By the third treatment, we were stunned by how her wound had healed almost 100 percent and we consequently decided to stop the treatment altogether, since her burn had basically already disappeared.

This is another classic example of the unlimited power of Regenerative Medicine. In this particular case, being successful at healing a severe second degree type burn by using the patients own PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma). Consequently, this type of treatment should be considered/implemented at hospital ERs and burn centers around the globe. Note that we would love the opportunity to teach doctors and nurses, hopefully in the future, this innovative treatment/technique, so they can in turn help other patients, just like we helped our friend Denisse. Furthermore, we are very happy to report that Denisse has been able to return to work at her busy restaurant and her burn has almost completely diminished!

So if you, a friend or any family members are interested in receiving one of these innovative stem cell or PRP procedures, please call us at 305-598-7777. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.stemcellmia.com(available in both English & Spanish) and you can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and on our YouTube channel. Dr. Castellanos would be happy to address any of your specific questions or concerns via his email: stemdoc305@gmail.com.

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Using Stem Cells to Heal Burns - Miami's Community Newspapers

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Using Stem Cells to Heal Burns – Miami’s Community Newspapers | June 11th, 2017

PRP Skin Regeneration Therapy, a type of regenerative medicine with the patients own blood, uses components called platelets in the blood to rejuvenate the skin.

Based on an innate wound-healing ability, the therapy is performed by injecting components collected from the blood and is associated with no risk of allergy or infections. The safe therapy has been studied and applied in a variety of fields. It is indicated for a wide variety of conditions; it is used for the treatment of trauma and burn in the department of plastic surgery and also used as an adjunct to implant therapy in the department of dentistry.

Our clinics have introduced a new technology for extraction of platelet-rich plasma containing autologous white blood cells that has a PRP enrichment rate of about 6- to 10-fold (about three to five times higher than that for conventional one). It also contains white blood cells, which are not contained in conventional PRP. The therapy is found to have much greater efficacy in rejuvenating the skin, eliminating wrinkles, and reducing irregularities from acne marks compared with conventional therapy.

Indications: Expected Effects in Cosmetic Medicine

PRP is particularly effective for crepy skin under the eyes (fine wrinkles) that are difficult to treat by conventional Rejuvenation Therapy. Inducing skin regeneration, the therapy is also effective in treating wrinkles, acne marks, sags and wrinkles on the neck.

Features of the Process Include:

1. Allowing the extraction of White Blood Cells not found in conventional PRP

2. The interaction between PRP and white blood cells results in the release of growth factors that potentiate the natural healing power and tissue reorganization potential at injection sites and subsequent regeneration of the skin.

3. In conventional therapy, it takes about two months for any benefit to be seen, although the time varies among individuals. New-PRP Skin Regeneration Therapy produces noticeable symptomatic improvement in a short period of about two weeks.

Comparison with Conventional Procedures

The PRP enrichment rate is three to five times higher than that for conventional procedures, and the time to benefit is reduced to one-fourth.

Mechanism of New-PRP Skin Regeneration Therapy

PRP Skin Regeneration Therapy uses components called platelets contained in the blood. Platelets play a role in stopping bleeding and repairing damaged blood vessels and cells in the body. Platelets contain substances called growth factors that activate and rejuvenate cells in the body. The growth factors, when released, induce the production of collagen and generation of new capillaries to rejuvenate the skin.

Precautions on How to Choose PRP Therapy

Many clinics now use what they call autologous platelets to eliminate wrinkles and treat acne marks. All those clinics claim skin regeneration therapy with autologous platelets. However, the efficacy of therapy differs substantially.

Important factors for greater efficacy include the concentration and component of platelets for injection. As described previously, skin regeneration with PRP is based on the mechanism that platelets release a variety of growth factors to promote tissue repair, angiogenesis, and collagen production for skin rejuvenation.

The efficacy is enhanced by improving the quality of platelets. Our clinics use a method of injecting platelet-rich plasma containing autologous white blood cells that is prepared by mixing enriched platelets (6 to 10 fold) collected from blood and an appropriate amount of white blood cells, which are rarely contained in common PRP. Our method is found to be highly effective in a range of symptoms.

Skin Rejuvenation with PRP

1. Injection of Platelet Component (PRP):The aged skin has less collagen, low elasticity, reduced amount of hyaluronic acid, and low ability to retain moisture.

2. Release of Growth Factors From Platelet Component (PRP) cell growth is activated, and collagen is produced.

3. Regeneration and Rejuvenation of Skin Tissue:Here Collagen is produced, and skin elasticity is improved. The ability to retain moisture is restored.

For separation of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a dedicated kit called Fibrinet AGF is used. The use of a specific filter and a centrifuge achieves a high platelet recovery rate of 97% or more and allows preparation of plasma containing six to ten times as many platelets as the common one. This is a three step process:

Step 1: Collection of Blood

Step 2:Separation of Platelet Component A specific filter and a centrifuge are used to prepare platelet-rich plasma (PRP) containing autologous white blood cells.

Step 3. Injection of Platelet Component The platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with autologous white blood cells is injected into the area of concern. It takes about 30 to 40 minutes from blood collection to injection.

Platelets and white blood cells exert a synergistic effect, resulting in the release of a variety of growth factors at the injection sites. This promotes the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid and wound healing, leading to improvement of symptoms such as wrinkles and irregularities from acne marks.

Comparison of Conventional Anti-Aging Therapy

PRP Skin Regeneration Therapy is expected to provide great benefit for crepy skin under the eyes, which are difficult to treat with conventional rejuvenating injections and laser therapy. The therapy uses the patients own blood for rejuvenation and thus poses no risk of infection or allergy. It has the advantage of a longer duration of efficacy compared with injection of hyaluronic acid and collagen that are absorbed into the body. Other features such as no need for skin incision and short downtime (swelling usually resolves in two to three hours) make this therapy a safe treatment.

NOTE: When injection is performed under the eyes, redness may persist for two to three days but resolve over time.

Consult a physician about the best procedure, depending on the sites and conditions of your wrinkles and others symptoms.

Before and After

Another feature of the therapy is that the patient will experience a natural change in the operative site, as well as minimal discomfort as the beneficial effects gradually occur after about two weeks of therapy.

As simple as giving a tube of blood, this nonsurgical treatment utilises patients own platelets and stem cells to promote wound healing. PRP can effectively improve the bodys natural collagen production, resulting in a more youthful appearance.

Neocel PRP kits are the only FDA approved stem cells harvesting kit in the world. The Wembley MediSpa in Cape Town is amongst the few clinics in South Africa to offer this world class treatment with a world class Doctor (90 120 mins).

Excerpt from:
Stem Cells PRP, Acne & Skin Rejuvenation Cape Town

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Stem Cells PRP, Acne & Skin Rejuvenation Cape Town | June 9th, 2017

While the search for possible cures for cancer continue in laboratories around the world, exciting new research turns our attention to a commonly available, inexpensive vitamin. Thats because a humble vitamin has been found to seek out and destroy cancer stem cells, which are cells that are believed to drive the creation of new cancer cells and cancer tumors.

The study, published in the medical journal Oncotarget, found that vitamin C can actually seek out and destroy cancer stem cells, thereby preventing the spread of the disease. Vitamin C was found by researchers to be up to 10 times more effective at killing cancer stem cells than experimental drugs. Thats good news considering the toll that cancer is currently taking. Cancer is currently the second leading cause of death and killed almost 9 million people in 2015 alone.

Lead study author Dr. Michael P. Lisanti, professor of translational medicine at the University of Salford said in an interview with Medical News Today: We have been looking at how to target cancer stem cells with a range of natural substancesbut by far the most exciting are the results with vitamin C. Vitamin C is cheap, natural, nontoxic and readily available, so to have it as a potential weapon in the fight against cancer would be a significant step.

Vitamin C is found in most fruits and vegetables, but especially in red bell peppers, strawberries, oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes, pomegranates, black currants, spinach, beet greens, tomatoes and sprouts. Eating a plant-based or largely plant-based diet high in vitamin C-rich foods may be helpful in preventing or treating cancer, but supplementation may be necessary to achieve the study results. Vitamin C is available in a variety of forms, with ascorbic acid being the primary one, along with other buffered options such as calcium ascorbate. The Oncotarget study found that ascorbic acid effectively sought out and destroyed cancer stem cells.

It is not clear how much vitamin C is necessary to create the anti-cancer results. More research may help to determine the ideal dosage. The recommended dietary intake is 90 milligrams of vitamin C, but many natural health experts believe that this amount is extremely low and doesnt take stress or diseases like cancer into account. Stress causes the rapid depletion of vitamin C. Our stress glands, the adrenal glands, which are two small, triangular-shaped glands that sit atop the kidneys in the abdominal region, use high amounts of vitamin C, particularly when they are dealing with acute or chronic stress. Many natural health experts recommend 2000 milligrams of vitamin C daily, and sometimes even more than that if it is part of a therapeutic protocol.

Nobel Prize winner Dr. Linus Pauling first discovered vitamin C and its role in fighting cancer. This new Oncotarget study builds on Dr. Paulings research, showing that vitamin C also targets cancer stem cells, an important advancement in our knowledge of cancer and vitamin C. Other research published in the medical journal Science found that high doses of vitamin C may help in the treatment of colorectal cancer. It is a good idea to work with a naturally-minded health professional if you intend to take high doses of vitamin C, divided throughout the day.

Because vitamin C is water soluble, it is not stored in our body and must therefore be ingested on a daily basis to avoid a deficiency. Some of the symptoms of a vitamin C deficiency include: excessive hair loss, becoming exhausted easily, fragile bones, frequent nosebleeds, gums that bleed easily, skin that bruises easily, and sores or wounds that heal slowly.

Vitamin C is also crucial to the formation of bones and teeth, digestion, blood cell formation, wound healing and the production of collagen, which is involved in maintaining the skins youthful elasticity.

Related:Dont Believe in Herbal Medicine? 10 Things to Change Your MindThe 5 Best Herbs to Soothe Your NervesShould You Actually Starve a Fever?

Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD, DNM is the publisher of the free e-news Worlds Healthiest News, president of PureFood BC, and an international best-selling and 20-time published book author whose works include: The Life Force Diet: 3 Weeks to Supercharge Your Health and Get Slim with Enzyme-Rich Foods.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

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The Vitamin That Targets and Kills Cancer Stem Cells - Care2.com

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on The Vitamin That Targets and Kills Cancer Stem Cells – Care2.com | June 9th, 2017

The researchers constructed mouse models for WNT10A-associated HED by deleting the Wnt10a gene. The mutant mice displayed the same symptoms as HED patients with severe loss-of-function mutations in the WNT10A gene. Long-term absence of WNT10A leads to miniaturization of hair follicle structures and enlargement of the associated sebaceous glands, a phenomenon that is also observed in male pattern baldness.

We showed "that -catenin pathway activity and adult epithelial progenitor proliferation are reduced in the absence of WNT10A, and identify Wnt-active self-renewing stem cells in affected tissues including hair follicles, sebaceous glands, taste buds, nails, and sweat ducts, the authors wrote. Human and mouse WNT10A mutant palmoplantar and tongue epithelia also display specific differentiation defects that are mimicked by the loss of the transcription factor KLF4. We found that -catenin interacts directly with region-specific LEF/TCF [lymphoid enhancer factor/T-cell factor] factors, and with KLF4 in differentiating, but not proliferating, cells to promote expression of specialized keratins required for normal tissue structure and integrity.

Interestingly, the UPenn team also discovered that cracking and scaling of palm and foot sole skin in WNT10A patients is due to decreased expression of a structural protein called keratin 9, which is specifically expressed in these regions of skin and contributes to its mechanical integrity.

"Our studies took us back and forth between human patients and our mouse model," said Dr. Millar. "Our goal was to find what happened to cellular components affected by the WNT10A mutation to make better treatments."

Dr. Millar and her colleagues showed that decreased proliferation and keratin 9 expression in the absence of WNT10A resulted from the failure of signaling through a well-characterized pathway that stabilizes -catenin, allowing it to enter the cell nucleus and activate gene transcription. These findings indicate that small-molecule drugs that activate the -catenin pathway downstream of WNT10A could potentially be used to treat hair thinning and palm and sole skin defects in WNT10A patients. These agents may also be useful for preventing hair loss in a subgroup of people with male-pattern baldness.

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Potential Baldness Pathway Uncovered while Studying Rare Skin Disease - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Potential Baldness Pathway Uncovered while Studying Rare Skin Disease – Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News | June 9th, 2017

Whats trending in cosmeceuticals? Niacinamide, heparan sulfate, defensins, novel retinoids and sodium copper chlorophyllin complex, according to Vivian W. Bucay, M.D., a dermatologist in San Antonio, Texas, who presented on the topic this week at the 2017 Vegas Cosmetic Surgery and Aesthetic Dermatology meeting, in Las Vegas.

Niacinamide

Cosmeceuticals contain three primary forms of vitamin B3, including niacinamide, nicotinic acid and nicotinate esters, according to Dr. Bucay.

[The] most studied and efficacious form is niacinamide. Nicotinic acid [is] not generally used because it causes vasodilation, redness and irritation, according to Dr. Bucays presentation. Niacinamide readily penetrates the stratum corneum, [with] little potential for irritation.

Niacinamides effects on the skin include improving the skin barrier function, pigmentation and appearance of lines and wrinkles associated with photoaging. The water-soluble vitamin has been shown in studies to have immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects, and more. Niacinamide has also been shown to improve acne, by, among other things, decreasing facial sebum production. It also has been shown to reduce pigmentation and decrease UV-induced immunosuppression.

Heparan Sulfate

Heparan sulfate is a key glycosaminoglycan, which surrounds cells and is required for cell growth, according to Dr. Bucay.

Heparan sulfate is well documented in dermatology, with studies in wound repair, skin infections, atopic dermatitis, rosacea and psoriasis. As a facilitator of growth factor function, heparan sulfate is essential for collagen synthesis, she writes.

And topically applied heparan sulfate penetrates the epidermis and dermis in humans, according to Dr. Bucay.

Low molecular weight heparan sulfate is found exclusively in the Sent skincare product line (Sent), she writes.

Defensins

According to a study by Lough et al published November 2013, the immune system releases defensins that activate LGR6+ stem cells. Activated LGR6+ stem cells create new basal stem cells. And the newly-created basal stem cells produce fresh keratinocytes that last a lifetime.

Defensins, which are antimicrobial peptides, are released by neutrophils in wounds. These dermatologic stem cells generate cell lineages of the skin, according to Dr. Bucay.

Defensins have been shown to enhance wound healing and hair growth. Early studies suggest defensins reduce skin aging. Dr. Bucay is among the researchers conducting an ongoing vehicle-controlled study on the use of synthetic defensins in a cosmetic base.

While retinol stimulates old basal stem cells to make old keratinocytes, defensins activate preserved LGR6+ stem cells to make new basal stem cells. And while growth factors switch on good and bad cells, defensins activate specific cells types to do specific jobs, according to Dr. Bucay.

Defensins are found in DefenAge (DefenAge) skincare products.

A novel retinoid

Scientists have developed a bioengineered double conjugate retinoid with lactic acid, which is designed to optimize delivery of beneficial properties of both an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and a retinoid, with less skin irritation. The proprietary AlphaRet technology increases stability, reduces irritation and improves passage through the skin, according to Dr. Bucays presentation.

The product AlphaRet Overnight Cream (SkinBetter Science), includes the AlphaRet molecule, 0.1%, glycolic acid and a potent antioxidant blend.

Sodium copper chlorophyllin complex

Liposomal sodium copper chlorophyllin complex technology is based on chlorophyll, [a] fat soluble green pigment in plants necessary for photosynthesis, according to Dr. Bucay.

Sodium copper chlorophyllin has a long history of use in medicine, including in topical wound healing. Recently, sodium chlorophyllin has been used topically for cosmetic purposes, in the MDRejuvena Rejuvaphyl Rejuvenating complex (MDRejuvena). The product, she writes, has been shown to reduce redness and oiliness and improve signs of photodamage.

Results from a human biopsy study published July 2016 suggest retinoids and sodium copper chlorophyllin complex have beneficial effects on biomarkers of photoaged skin. Together, sodium copper chlorophyllin complex and retinols may provide a dual approach to reversing age-related changes, according to the authors.

Disclosure: Dr. Bucay reports ties to Allergan, Merz Aesthetics, Galderma, Johnson & Johnson/Neutrogena, LOreal/SkinCeuticals, NuGene, Sent Labs, Medicell Technologies, Alastin Skincare, Viviscal, BTL, Sienna Biopharmaceuticals, Syneron Candela and Miramar Labs.

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Trends in cosmeceutical ingredients - ModernMedicine

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Trends in cosmeceutical ingredients – ModernMedicine | June 8th, 2017

June 6, 2017 ISkin (three-dimensional cultured skin) derived from human iPSCs. Immunohistochemical analysis with antibodies to KERATIN 14 (KRT14), p63, cytokeratins (Pan-CK), involucrin, laminin 5, loricrin, KRT10, and filaggrin. The multilayered epidermis expressed KRT14, involucrin, laminin 5, Pan-CK, loricrin, KRT10, and filaggrin in iSkin, indicating that iPSC-keratinocytes terminally differentiate in the skin equivalents. Scale bar is 100 m. Credit: Kazuhiro Kajiwara.

Myelomeningocele is a severe congenital defect in which the backbone and spinal canal do not close before birth, putting those affected at risk of lifelong neurological problems. In a preclinical study published June 6th in Stem Cell Reports, researchers developed a stem cell-based therapy for generating skin grafts to cover myelomeningocele defects before birth. They first generated artificial skin from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and then successfully transplanted the skin grafts into rat fetuses with myelomeningocele.

"We provide preclinical proof of concept for a fetal therapy that could improve outcomes and prevent lifelong complications associated with myelomeningoceleone of the most severe birth defects," says senior study author Akihiro Umezawa of Japan's National Research Institute for Child Health and Development. "Since our fetal cell treatment is minimally invasive, it has the potential to become a much-needed novel treatment for myelomeningocele."

Myelomeningocele, which is the most serious and common form of spina bifida, is a neural tube defect in which the bones of the spine do not completely form. As a result, parts of the spinal cord and nerves come through the open part of the spine. A baby born with this disorder typically has an open area or a fluid-filled sac on the mid to lower back. Most children with this condition are at risk of brain damage because too much fluid builds up in their brains. They also often experience symptoms such as loss of bladder or bowel control, loss of feeling in the legs or feet, and paralysis of the legs.

Babies born with myelomeningocele usually undergo surgery to repair the defect within the first few days of life. Some highly specialized centers also offer intrauterine surgery to close the defect before the baby is born. Although prenatal surgery can improve later neurological outcomes compared with postnatal surgery, it is also associated with higher rates of preterm birth and other serious complications, underscoring the need for safe and effective fetal therapies.

To address this problem, Umezawa and his team set out to develop a minimally invasive approach for generating and transplanting skin grafts that could cover large myelomeningocele defects earlier during pregnancy, potentially improving long-term outcomes while reducing surgical risks. In particular, they were interested in using iPSC technology, which involves genetically reprogramming patients' cells to an embryonic stem cell-like state and then converting these immature cells into specialized cell types found in different parts of the body. This approach avoids ethical concerns while offering the advantages of a potentially unlimited source of various cell types for transplantation, as well as minimal risk of graft rejection by the immune system.

In the new study, the researchers first generated human iPSCs from fetal cells taken from amniotic fluid from two pregnancies with severe fetal disease (Down syndrome and twin-twin3 transfusion syndrome). They then used a chemical cocktail in a novel protocol to turn the iPSCs into skin cells and treated these cells with additional compounds such as epidermal growth factor to promote their growth into multi-layered skin. In total, it took approximately 14 weeks from amniotic fluid preparation to 3D skin generation, which would allow for transplantation to be performed in humans during the therapeutic window of 28-29 weeks of gestation.

Next, the researchers transplanted the 3D skin grafts into 20 rat fetuses through a small incision in the uterine wall. The artificial skin partially covered the myelomeningocele defects in eight of the newborn rats and completely covered the defects in four of the newborn rats, protecting the spinal cord from direct exposure to harmful chemicals in the external environment. Moreover, the engrafted 3D skin regenerated with the growth of the fetus and accelerated skin coverage throughout the pregnancy period. Notably, the transplanted skin cells did not lead to tumor formation, but the treatment significantly decreased birth weight and body length.

"We are encouraged by our results and believe that our fetal stem cell therapy has great potential to become a novel treatment for myelomeningocele," Umezawa says. "However, additional studies in larger animals are needed to demonstrate that our fetal stem cell therapy safely promotes long-term skin regeneration and neurological improvement."

Explore further: Prenatal stem cell treatment improves mobility issues caused by spina bifida

More information: Stem Cell Reports, Kajiwara et al.: "Fetal therapy model of myelomeningocele with three-dimensional skin using amniotic fluid cell-derived induced pluripotent stem cells" http://www.cell.com/stem-cell-reports/fulltext/S2213-6711(17)30220-5 , DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.05.013

Journal reference: Stem Cell Reports

Provided by: Cell Press

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3-D skin made of stem cells treats backbone birth defect in rodents - Medical Xpress

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on 3-D skin made of stem cells treats backbone birth defect in rodents – Medical Xpress | June 7th, 2017

New skin begins to regenerate as soon as 4 days after this has been sprayed on patients, compared to skin grafting surgery which may take weeks of pain and possible infections.

Patients who suffer from burn wounds and scars that cant heal on their own only have 1 option: skin graft surgery. This can be very painful, and usually leads to several other complications, and it takes forever to actually heal.

However, RenovaCare has developed a new breakthrough piece of tech: CellMist, a gun that sprays stem cells into a patients burn wound, effectively allowing healthy skin to grow out of it.

It works literally like we described it as. Within 90 minutes of a patient being brought to the emergency room, they stem cells are isolated, processed, put in a liquid suspension, and then loaded into the CellMist gun. CellMist then gently sprays the stem cells onto the patients burn wound.

Tests conducted in Europe and the US have shown that new skin begins to regenerate as soon as 4 days after its been sprayed on patients, compared to skin grafting surgery which may take weeks of pain and possible infections.

Source: Next Big Future

So far, CellMist has only been used to treat second degree burns. However, evidence has shown that it can be used for other skin wounds and skin disorders. They dont think itll work for third degree burns though, as this kind of burn wound has damaged the entire epidermis and dermis levels. CellMist isnt advanced enough to heal such a deep burn wound, and victims would unfortunately have to stick to more traditional methods of treatment. First degree burn wounds on the other hand only barely touch the epidermis, meaning it can still heal on its own, thus not needing such an expensive piece of technology.

It is good to note that even though there is evidence that it might be able to heal things other than burns, CellMist wasnt built to regenerate skin lost from other kinds of injuries or diseases. Its also pretty limited, because as we stated earlier, it should be used immediately after the burn incident has occurred, or else it wont work.

Its still a pretty handy invention. The reason why skin grafting is so risky is because it involves cutting the skin open and leaving it open for 3-4 weeks. This means that nasty bacteria and fungi can easily get into the open wound within that time, causing several infections and complications.

Source: Next Big Future

With CellMist, however, simply involves extracting a thin layer of the patients healthy skin and stem cells and turning it into a spray, and then distributing the stem cells into the burn wound evenly, without damaging other healthy skin cells. The healing time only takes a few days, so there is little chance for an infection to occur if treated properly. And since the patients own skin cells are used in the process, the regenerated skin looks much more natural, with only little scarring. The stem cells grow into fully functioning layers of skin, from the dermis, to the epidermis, to even blood vessels.

Hopefully, this cool new invention will make way for other forms of stem cell treatments for the reconstruction of other organs, like ones heart and kidneys.

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This Stem Cell Gun Helps Burn Victims Grow New Skin Faster - GineersNow (press release) (registration) (blog)

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on This Stem Cell Gun Helps Burn Victims Grow New Skin Faster – GineersNow (press release) (registration) (blog) | June 6th, 2017

RenovaCare is developing breakthrough technologies to address Americas $45 billion wound and burn treatment market. Our flagship CellMist System makes use of a patients own stem cells, which are sprayed onto wounds using our novel SkinGun device.

For patients suffering severe burns and other wounds, the prospect of a quick-healing, gentle spray containing their own stem cells will be a promising alternative to conventional skin graft surgery, which can be painful, prone to complications, and slow-to-heal. Based on preliminary case studies, CellMist System patients can be treated within 90 minutes of arriving in an emergency room; a patients stem cells are isolated, processed, and sprayed on to wound sites for rapid healing.

Preliminary investigational use in Europe and the United States indicate the potential efficacy and safety of RenovaCares technologies. Clinical observations point to the potential for regeneration of new skin in as little as four days, rather than the many weeks of painful and risky recovery required by traditional skin graft techniques. These technologies are the result of nearly a decade of ongoing research and development dedicated to finding the most effective way to access the regenerative properties of a patients own skin stem cells, and the most efficient way to deliver these potent cells to heal moderate to severe skin wounds. We believe that RenovaCares CellMist System and SkinGun spray device are the worlds most advanced technologies of their kind.

This device system requires further clinical evaluation and data collection prior to submission of a premarketing application to the US FDA. At this time it is an investigational system and is not available for general use or sales in the United States.

The CellMist System RenovaCares CellMist System is comprised of two components:

Wikipedia indicates that so far the skin gun treatment has been used exclusively with second degree burns, though there is strong evidence that the treatment will be successful in treating a variety of skin wounds and skin disorders. Patients with infected wounds or with delay in wound healing are suitable for cell grafting treatment. Third-degree burns, however, completely deprive victims of both their epidermis and dermis skin levels, which exposes the tissue surrounding the muscles. The skin gun has not progressed to the point where it can be used for such advanced wounds, and these patients must seek more traditional treatment methods. The skin gun is generally not used for burn victims with anything less than a second-degree burn either. First degree-burns still maintain portions of the epidermis and can readily heal on their own, thus they do not need this expensive technology.

Currently, the skin guns applications have not been extended to include the regeneration of skin lost due to other injuries or skin diseases. It is also limited in that it is only effective immediately following the burn incident.

The average healing time for patients with second degree burns is three to four weeks. This is reduced to a matter of days with skin gun treatment

Traditional skin grafting can be risky, in that chances for infection are relatively high. The skin gun alleviates this concern because the increased speed in which the wound heals directly correlates to the decreased time the wound can be vulnerable to infection. Because of the rapid re-epithelialization associated with skin gun treatment, harmful side effects that can result from an open wound are significantly reduced. Applying the skin cells is quick and doesnt harm the patient because only a thin layer of the patients healthy skin is extracted from the body into the aqueous spray. The electronic spray distributes the skin cells uniformly without damaging the skin cells, and patients feel as if they are sprayed with salt water.

Because the skin cells are actually the patients own cells, the skin that is regenerated looks more natural than skin grown from traditional methods. During recovery, the skin cells grow into fully functional layers of the skin, including the dermis, epidermis, and blood vessels.[17] The regenerated skin leaves little scarring. The basic idea of optimizing regenerative healing techniques to damaged biological structures demonstrated by the skin gun in the future may also be applied to engineering reconstruction of vital organs, such as the heart and kidneys.

There are major limitations: the method will not work on deep burns that go through bone and muscle, specifically below the dermis. As of 2011, only several dozen patients have been treated; it remains an experimental, not a proven, method. As of 2011, the skin gun was still in its prototyping stage, since it has only treated a dozen patients in Germany and the US, compared to over 50,000 treated with Dermagraft bioengineered skin substitute. There is thus a lack of published peer reviewed clinical evidence, and no knowledge of long-term stability of the newly generated skin

Skingun Procedure

There is a seven page review of the skingun at the International Journal of Pharmacometrics and Integrated Biosciences (IJPIB)

Skingun Procedure Initially stamp-sized healthy skin of the injured patient is taken and stem cells were collected from it. Then they are harvested by using suitable enzymes. The prepared cell suspension is injected into sterile syringe and inserted into the gun. This gun helps in uniform spreading of the cells on wound. These cells will migrate, multiple, and differentiate forming a new tissue. The complete process occurs with in 2 hr. Full regeneration of skin occurs in 2 weeks and complete formation of texture tools 2-3 months

Stage 1

The CellMist Solution is a liquid suspension containing a patients own regenerative skin stem cells. A small sample (as little as a square inch) of the patients skin is quickly processed to liberate the stem cells from surrounding tissue. The resulting product is referred to as the CellMist Solution. The CellMist Solution is placed in the SkinGun for spray application onto the patients wound.

The CellMist Solution, containing the patients stem cells, is transferred to the SkinGun. The SkinGun sprays the cells onto wound sites to begin healing. Unlike conventional aerosol and pump systems, our next-generation fluid sprayer does not expose fragile cells to strong forces that can tear them apart. Instead our SkinGun gently delivers the CellMist Solution directly to the wound site using a positive-pressure air stream.

SOURCES RenovaCare, Wikipedia, International Journal of Pharmacometrics and Integrated Biosciences (IJPIB)

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Stem cells delivered via Skin gun can reduce second degree ...

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Stem cells delivered via Skin gun can reduce second degree … | June 6th, 2017

In experiments in mice, UC San Francisco researchers have discovered that regulatory T cells (Tregs; pronounced tee-regs), a type of immune cell generally associated with controlling inflammation,directly trigger stem cells in the skin to promote healthy hair growth. Without these immune cells as partners, the researchers found, the stem cells cannot regenerate hair follicles, leading to baldness.

Our hair follicles are constantly recycling: when a hair falls out, a portion of the hair follicle has to grow back, saidMichael Rosenblum, M.D., an assistant professor of dermatology at UCSF and senior author on the new paper. This has been thought to be an entirely stem cell-dependent process, but it turns out Tregs are essential. If you knock out this one immune cell type, hair just doesnt grow.

The new study published online May 26 inCell suggests that defects in Tregs could be responsible for alopecia areata, a common autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss, and could potentially play a role in other forms of baldness, including male pattern baldness, Rosenblum said. Since the same stem cells are responsible for helping heal the skin after injury, the study raises the possibility that Tregs may play a key role in wound repair as well.

Normally Tregs act as peacekeepers and diplomats, informing the rest of the immune system of the difference between friend and foe. When Tregs dont function properly, we may develop allergies to harmless substances like peanut protein or cat dander, or suffer from autoimmune disorders in which the immune system turns on the bodys own tissues.

Like other immune cells, most Tregs reside in the bodys lymph nodes, but some live permanently in other tissues, where they seem to have evolved to assist with local metabolic functions as well as playing their normal anti-inflammatory role. In the skin, for example, Rosenblum and colleagues have previously shown that Tregs help establish immune tolerance to healthy skin microbes in newborn mice, and these cells also secrete molecules that help with wound healing into adulthood.

Rosenblum, who is both an immunologist and a dermatologist, wanted to better understand the role of these resident immune cells in skin health. To do this, he and his team developed a technique for temporarily removing Tregs from the skin. But when they shaved patches of hair from these mice to make observations of the affected skin, they made a surprising discovery. We quickly noticed that the shaved patches of hair never grew back, and we thought, Hmm, now thats interesting, Rosenblum said. We realized we had to delve into this further.

In the new research, led by UCSF postdoctoral fellow and first authorNiwa Ali,several lines of evidence suggested that Tregs play a role in triggering hair follicle regeneration.

First, imaging experiments revealed that Tregs have a close relationship with the stem cells that reside within hair follicles and allow them to regenerate: the number of active Tregs clustering around follicle stem cells typically swells by three-fold as follicles enter the growth phase of their regular cycle of rest and regeneration. Also, removing Tregs from the skin blocked hair regrowth only if this was done within the first three days after shaving a patch of skin, when follicle regeneration would normally be activated. Getting rid of Tregs later on, once the regeneration had already begun, had no effect on hair regrowth.

Tregs role in triggering hair growth did not appear related to their normal ability to tamp down tissue inflammation, the researchers found. Instead, they discovered that Tregs trigger stem cell activation directly through a common cell-cell communication system known as the Notch pathway. First, the team demonstrated that Tregs in the skin express unusually high levels of a Notch signaling protein called Jagged 1 (Jag1), compared to Tregs elsewhere in the body. They then showed that removing Tregs from the skin significantly reduced Notch signaling in follicle stem cells, and that replacing Tregs with microscopic beads covered in Jag1 protein restored Notch signaling in the stem cells and successfully activated follicle regeneration.

Its as if the skin stem cells and Tregs have co-evolved, so that the Tregs not only guard the stem cells against inflammation but also take part in their regenerative work, Rosenblum said. Now the stem cells rely on the Tregs completely to know when its time to start regenerating.

Rosenblum said the findings may have implications for alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that interferes with hair follicle regeneration and causes patients to lose hair in patches from their scalp, eyebrows, and faces. Alopecia is among the most common human autoimmune diseases its as common as rheumatoid arthritis, and more common than type 1 diabetes but scientists have little idea what causes it.

After his team first observed hair loss in Treg-deficient mice, Rosenblum learned that the genes associated with alopecia in previous studies are almost all related to Tregs, and treatments that boost Treg function have been shown to be an effective treatment for the disease. Rosenblum speculates that better understanding Tregs critical role in hair growth could lead to improved treatments for hair loss more generally.

The study also adds to a growing sense that immune cells play much broader roles in tissue biology than had previously been appreciated, said Rosenblum, who plans to explore whether Tregs in the skin also play a role in wound healing, since the same follicle stem cells are involved in regenerating skin following injury.

We think of immune cells as coming into a tissue to fight infection, while stem cells are there to regenerate the tissue after its damaged, he said. But what we found here is that stem cells and immune cells have to work together to make regeneration possible.

Niwa Aliof UCSF was the lead author on the new study. Additional authors were Bahar Zirak,Robert Sanchez Rodriguez, Mariela L. Pauli,Hong-An Truong, Kevin Lai,Richard Ahn, Kaitlin Corbin, Margaret M. Lowe, PharmD,Tiffany C. Scharschmidt, M.D., Keyon Taravati, Madeleine R. Tan,Roberto R. Ricardo-Gonzalez, M.D., Audrey Nosbaum, M.D.,Wilson Liao, M.D., andAbul K. Abbas, MBBS, of UCSF; Frank O. Nestle, M.D., of Kings College London; Marta Bertoliniand Ralf Paus, M.D., of the University of Mnster in Germany; and George Cotsarelis, M.D., of the University of Pennsylvanias Perelman School of Medicine.

The work was primarily supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (K08-AR062064, DP2-AR068130, R21-AR066821), the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, a Scleroderma Research Foundation grant, the National Psoriasis Foundation and the Dermatology Foundation.

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A new baldness treatment? | University of California - University of California

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on A new baldness treatment? | University of California – University of California | June 2nd, 2017

Physicist Stephen Hawking is perhaps the most famous sufferer of motor neuron disease, a crippling degenerative condition that affects an estimated 150,00 people around the world.

Karwai Tang / Getty

In news that may bring hope to Stephen Hawking and hundreds of thousands of others around the world, British scientists have used reprogrammed skin cells to study the development of motor neuron disease.

Its like changing the postcode of a house without actually moving it, explains neuroscientist Rickie Patani, referring to research offering startling new insights into the progress and treatment of the crippling degenerative condition, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Patani, together with colleague Sonia Gandhi, both from the Francis Crick Institute and University College London, in the UK, led a team of researchers investigating how the disease destroys the nerve cells that govern muscle movement.

The results, published in the journal Cell Reports, comprise the most fine-grained work to date on how ALS operates on a molecular level and suggest powerful new treatment methods based on stem cells.

Indeed, so exciting are the implications of the research that Ghandi and Patani are already working with pharmaceutical companies to develop their discoveries.

The neurologists uncovered two key interlinked interactions in the development of motor neuron disease, the first concerning a particular protein, and the second concerning an auxiliary nerve cell type called astrocytes.

To make their findings, the team developed stem cells from the skin of healthy volunteers and a cohort carrying a genetic mutation that leads to ALS. The stem cells were then guided into becoming motor neurons and astrocytes.

We manipulated the cells using insights from developmental biology, so that they closely resembled a specific part of the spinal cord from which motor neurons arise, says Patani.

We were able to create pure, high-quality samples of motor neurons and astrocytes which accurately represent the cells affected in patients with ALS."

The scientists then closely monitored the two sets of cells healthy and mutated to see how their functioning differed over time.

The first thing they noted was that a particular protein TDP-43 behaved differently. In the patient-derived samples TDP-43 leaked out of the cell nucleus, catalysing a damaging chain of events inside the cell and causing it to die.

The observation provided a powerful insight into the molecular mechanics of motor neuron disease.

Knowing when things go wrong inside a cell, and in what sequence, is a useful approach to define the critical molecular event in disease, says Ghandi.

One therapeutic approach to stop sick motor neurons from dying could be to prevent proteins like TDP-43 from leaving the nucleus, or try to move them back.

The second critical insight was derived from the behaviour of astrocytes, which turned out to function as a kind of nursemaid, supporting motor neuron cells when they began to lose function because of protein leakage.

During the progression of motor neuron disease, however, the astrocytes like nurses during an Ebola outbreak eventually fell ill themselves and died, hastening the death of the neurons.

To test this, the team did a type of mix and match exercise, concocting various combinations of neurons and astrocytes from healthy and diseased tissue.

They discovered that healthy astrocytes could prolong the functional life of ALS-affected motor neurons, but damaged astrocytes struggled to keep even healthy motor neurons functioning.

The research reveals both TDP-43 and astrocytes as key therapeutic targets, raising the possibility that the progress of ALS might be significantly slowed, or perhaps even halted.

Our work, along with other studies of ageing and neurodegeneration, would suggest that the cross-talk between neurons and their supporting cells is crucial in the development and progression of ALS, says Patani.

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Patients' stem cells point to potential treatments for motor | Cosmos - Cosmos

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Patients’ stem cells point to potential treatments for motor | Cosmos – Cosmos | May 31st, 2017

Friday November 20 2009

Human embryonic stem cells

Stem cells could create new skin to help burn victims, BBC News reported. It said that French researchers have duplicated the biological steps that occur during skin formation in embryos. This could potentially provide an unlimited source of temporary skin replacements for burn victims while they wait for grafts from their own skin.

The study in mice behind this report used human embryonic stem cells to make keratinocytes (the most common cell types in the skin). These cultured cells were used to create skin equivalents, which grew successfully when they were grafted onto the backs of mice.

This well-conducted research has potentially developed a successful method of culturing tissue in the laboratory that resembles human skin. Only human trials of the technology will show whether such grafts will be accepted (i.e. not rejected by human patients) as permanent transplants or can provide a temporary skin replacement before grafting.

The research was carried out by Dr Hind Guenou and colleagues from the Institute for Stem Cell Therapy and Exploration of Monogenic disease, and BIOalternatives SAS in France along with colleagues in Madrid. The research was funded by the Institut National de la Sant et de la Recherche Mdicale, University Evry Val dEssonne, Association Franaise contre les Myopathies, Fondation Ren Touraine, and Genopole. The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest and say that the funders had no role in the studys design, analysis or write-up.

The research was published in thepeer-reviewed medical journal the Lancet.

BBC News has covered this research in a balanced way, pointing out that thiswas animal research and that human studies will follow.

This well-conducted research involved laboratory and animal research which investigated whether epidermal stem cells could be cultured in the laboratory and used in skin grafts.

Burn patients are often treated using autologous skin grafts. These involve a section of healthy skin being removed from another part of the body to harvest the patients own skin cells for culture. A graft for the burn site is produced from this culture. There is a delay of about three weeks between the harvesting of the skin and the graft to allow the cells to grow. During this time, the patient is at risk of dehydration and infection.

Having a ready source of skin cells for temporary grafts while patients are waiting for their autologous grafts would improve the outcome of treatment. With this in mind, the researchers investigated whether keratinocytes (the major cell constituent of the outer layer of the skin, or epidermis) could be derived from human embryonic stem cells.

The researchers began by culturing embryonic stem cells in a specialised medium that encourages cell differentiation (the process whereby cells become specialised). Embryonic stem cells can renew themselves and also have the potential to develop into any type of specialised cell.

Cultures of human embryonic stem cells were then grown on a framework made of fibroblast cells and collagen (a fibrous protein that can form a mesh-like structure) made by fibroblasts. Fibroblasts are the cells that form the underlying structure of tissues and are involved in healing.

The stem cells were manipulated so that they developed into epidermal cells, and monitored throughout their specialisation process to make sure the cells were developing into skin cells. The researchers named the cells keratinocytes derived from human embryonic stem cells (K-hESCs).

After several rounds of subculturing and replication, the cells could be frozen and used in further experiments. Bioengineered skin equivalents were then created by growing the K-hESCs on an artificial matrix. These were then grafted onto the backs of five six-week-old immunodeficient female mice. After 10 to 12 weeks, samples were taken from the implants for analysis.

The researchers confirmed thatthe embryonic stem cells differentiated into keratinocytes, which could be grown in culture medium and which replicated well. These derived skin cells were structurally and functionally similar to normal skin cells in that they could be grown on an artificial matrix using classic techniques.

After 12 weeks of growth on immunodeficient mice, the grafted epidermis had developed into a structure that was consistent with mature human skin.

The researchers concluded that their findings build on previous research and show that K-hESCs can develop into a multi-layer epithelium. This epithelium resembles normal human skin both in cell cultures (in vitro) and following grafting onto live animals (in vivo).

They say that growing human skin from human embryonic stem cells could provide an unlimited resource for temporary skin replacement in patients with large burns who are waiting for autologous skin grafts.

If it can be demonstrated that it works in humans, this technology could improve outcomes for burns patients. The researchers report that the first human trial is currently underway.

At present, skin from deceased donors is used to treat burns patients while they wait for their own skin transplant, but there are often problems with rejection. The researchers highlight several potential benefits of an epidermis reconstructed using K-hESCs, including:

It is important to note that, at present, the researchers are only investigating this technology for providing temporary grafts. They say that whether it can be used for permanent grafts for patients who cant use their own cells needs further investigation. They say that for temporary use, the grafts would only be used for the three-week period while the patients permanent graft is grown.

This is a good study and the findings are exciting in this field, but only human research will tell whether it will have a wider application in the treatment of burns patients.

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Skin grafts from stem cells - NHS

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Skin grafts from stem cells – NHS | May 31st, 2017