April 14, 2014

Image Caption: University of Michigan researchers have found that mechanical forces in the environment of human embryonic stem cells influences how they differentiate, or morph into the body's different cell types. To arrive at the findings, they cultured the stem cells on ultrafine carpets made of microscopic posts of a key ingredient in Silly Putty. Credit: Ye Tao, Rose Anderson, Yubing Sun, and Jianping Fu

redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports Your Universe Online

An ingredient found in Silly Putty could help scientists more efficiently turn human embryonic stem cells into fully functional specialized cells, according to research published online Sunday in the journal Nature Materials.

In the study, researchers from the University of Michigan report how they were able to coax stem cells to turn into working spinal cord cells by growing them on a soft, extremely fine carpet in which the threads were created from polydimethylsiloxane, one component of the popular childrens toy.

According to the authors, the paper is the first to directly link physical signals to human embryonic stem cell differentiation, which is the process by which source cells morph into one of the bodys 200-plus other types of cells that go on to become muscles, bones, nerves or organs.

Furthermore, their research increases the possibility that scientists will be able to uncover a more efficient way to guide differentiation in stem cells, potentially resulting in new treatment options for Alzheimers disease, ALS, Huntingtons disease or similar conditions, assistant professor of mechanical engineering Jianping Fu and his colleagues explained in a statement.

This is extremely exciting, said Fu. To realize promising clinical applications of human embryonic stem cells, we need a better culture system that can reliably produce more target cells that function well. Our approach is a big step in that direction, by using synthetic microengineered surfaces to control mechanical environmental signals.

He and his University of Michigan colleagues designed a specially engineered growth system in which polydimethylsiloxane served as the threads, and they discovered that by varying the height of the posts, they were able to alter the stiffness of the surface upon which the cells were grown.

Shorter posts were more rigid, while the taller ones were softer. On the taller ones, the stem cells that were grown morphed into nerve cells more often and more quickly than they did on the shorter ones. After a period of three weeks and two days, colonies of spinal cord cells that grew on the softer micropost carpets were four times more pure and 10 times larger than those growing on rigid ones, the study authors noted.

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Silly Putty Ingredient Could Help Stem Cells Become Motor Neurons

A key element of the popular children's toy Silly Putty could help scientists develop stem cell treatments for nerve and brain disorders such as motor neurone disease and Alzheimer's, a study suggests.

Researchers used the molecule that gives Silly Putty its unusual properties to grow working spinal cord cells on a soft, ultra-fine carpet.

They found that motor nerves grew faster and more often on the material than they did on a normal rigid surface.

The neurones also showed electrical activity comparable with that of motor nerves in the body.

The study is the first to show that physical, as well as chemical, signals directly affect the development of human embryonic stem cells.

Silly Putty, created by accident during Second World War research into potential rubber substitutes, bounces but also flows like a liquid and breaks when hit sharply.

A silicone polymer molecule called polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is mainly responsible for the odd properties that have made Silly Putty a hit with children around the world.

The new research involved coaxing embryonic stem cells to grow and develop on a soft "carpet" made from PDMS threads.

After 23 days, colonies of spinal cord motor neurones appeared that were four times purer and 10 times larger than those grown on traditional plates.

Lead scientist Dr Jianping Fu, from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, said: "This is extremely exciting. To realise promising clinical applications of human embryonic stem cells, we need a better culture system that can reliably produce more target cells that function well.

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Weird Life

The first volunteers are expected to be treated by late 2016. If successful, the trial could pave the way to the wide-scale use of artificial blood derived from stem cells.

Blood cells freshly made in the laboratory are likely to have a longer life span than those taken from donors, which typically last no more than 120 days.

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They would also be free from infectious agents such as viruses or the rogue prion proteins that cause Creuzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD).

Professor Marc Turner, medical director at the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS), who is leading the 5 million project at the University of Edinburgh, said: "Producing a cellular therapy which is of the scale, quality and safety required for human clinical trials is a very significant challenge.

"But if we can achieve success with this first-in-man clinical study it will be an important step forward to enable populations all over the world to benefit from blood transfusions.

"These developments will also provide information of value to other researchers working on the development of cellular therapies."

The pilot study will involve no more than about three patients, who may be healthy volunteers or individuals suffering from a red blood cell disorder such as thalassaemia.

They will receive a small, five millilitre dose of laboratory-made blood to see how it behaves and survives in their bodies.

The blood cells will be created from ordinary donated skin cells called fibroblasts which are genetically reprogrammed into a stem cell-like state.

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In the blood: Scottish scientists pioneer lab-grown cells

14/04/2014 - 13:40:33Back to World Home

Red blood cells grown in a laboratory are to be tested in patients for the first time by pioneering scientists.

The first volunteers are expected to be treated by late 2016. If successful, the trial could pave the way to the wide-scale use of artificial blood derived from stem cells.

Blood cells freshly made in the laboratory are likely to have a longer life span than those taken from donors, which typically last no more than 120 days.

They would also be free from infectious agents such as viruses or the rogue prion proteins that cause Creuzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD).

Professor Marc Turner, medical director at the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS), who is leading the 5m project at the University of Edinburgh, said: Producing a cellular therapy which is of the scale, quality and safety required for human clinical trials is a very significant challenge. But if we can achieve success with this first-in-man clinical study it will be an important step forward to enable populations all over the world to benefit from blood transfusions.

These developments will also provide information of value to other researchers working on the development of cellular therapies.

The pilot study will involve no more than about three patients, who may be healthy volunteers or individuals suffering from a red blood cell disorder such as thalassaemia.

They will receive a small, five millilitre dose of laboratory-made blood to see how it behaves and survives in their bodies.

The blood cells will be created from ordinary donated skin cells called fibroblasts which are genetically reprogrammed into a stem cell-like state.

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Scientists to test artificial blood in humans

Beverly Hills, CA (PRWEB) April 14, 2014

Top Los Angeles and Beverly Hills orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Raj, is now working with R3 Stem Cell at his Beverly Hills Orthopedic Institute to offer comprehensive regenerative medicine treatment. The stem cell procedures for shoulder, knee, and hip conditions typically work great for degenerative arthritis, tendonitis, and ligament injuries. For more information and scheduling with the top stem cell clinic in LA and Beverly Hills, call (310) 438-5343.

Dr. Raj treats athletes, celebrities, executives, grandparents, and everything in between. Oftentimes, the stem cell procedures are able to help athletes heal tendon and ligament injuries quickly, without surgery and get back to competition quickly. In addition, the stem cell procedures work well the majority of the time for degenerative arthritis of the hip, knee, and shoulder.

The stem cell material is either bone marrow derived from the patient or comes from amniotic fluid. The bone marrow derived stem cell injections are performed as an outpatient procedure. The bone marrow is harvested from the patient, immediately processed, and then injected into the problem area. The processing concentrates the stem cells and growth factors to increase the potential for repair and regeneration.

The amniotic fluid derived stem cells have been used tens of thousands of times around the world with no adverse events being reported, with the fluid being processed at an FDA regulated lab. The fluid contains stem cells, hyaluronic acid and growth factors to help repair damaged cartilage and injured tendons and ligaments. This can help patients avoid surgery for rotator cuff tendonitis and tears, elbow tendonitis, achilles tears, knee injuries and joint arthritis.

Dr. Raj is Double Board Certified and sees patients from the greater Los Angeles and Beverly Hills area. Numerous times, he has been named one of Los Angeles top orthopedic doctors, while also acting as an ABC News Medical Correspondent.

To schedule appointments for regenerative medicine stem cell procedures in Los Angeles for arthritis, tendon, or ligament injuries in Los Angeles, call Beverly Hills Orthopedic Institute at (310) 438-5343.

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Beverly Hills Orthopedic Institute Now Working With R3 Stem Cell to Offer Bone Marrow and Amniotic Stem Cell ...

Lumbar Disc Pain 10 months after stem cell treatment by Dr Harry Adelson
Bill discusses his outcome 10 months after having his L4/5, L5/S1 discs injected with bone marrow stem cells by Dr Harry Adelson http://www.docereclinics.com.

By: Harry Adelson, N.D.

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Lumbar Disc Pain 10 months after stem cell treatment by Dr Harry Adelson - Video

Cancer survivor to run London Marathon with his life-saver

11:00am Saturday 12th April 2014 in News

A BONE marrow donor will run Sundays London Marathon with the man whose life he saved.

Sean Hagan, 23, donated his stem cells after being inspired by Ulverston teenager Alice Pyne, who put it at the top of her bucket list before her tragic death from cancer in 2013.

The Askam-in-Furness mans donation saved the life of father-of-two Johnny Pearson, 44, from North Yorkshire, after he was diagnosed with leukaemia for the second time in just 18 months.

Sean, whose stem cell donation was undertaken by the Anthony Nolan charity, said: I remember being amazed at how simple it was. I hope Alice Pynes parents will see this and know what a special daughter they had. She was the reason I joined the Anthony Nolan register in the first place.

"Saving Johnnys life is the best thing Ive ever done and its the best thing Ill ever do.

The two men were allowed to write to each other anonymously and shared a series of emotional letters in which Johnny told Sean he wanted to shake his hand and show him what his donation means to his wife, children and friends.

They subsequently arranged to run the London Marathon together on Sunday.

Anthony Nolan, a charity that has been matching donors to recipients for 40 years, arranged for the pair to meet up for a training session before they undertake the 26.2 mile slog through the capital.

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Cancer survivor to run London Marathon with his life-saver

Stem Cell Therapy After Spinal Cord Injury
3D animation showing cell-replacement therapy after spinal cord injury. Animation done for Dr. Fehlings, Krembil Neuroscience Research Centre, Toronto, Ontario.

By: Synapse Medical Animation

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Stem Cell Therapy After Spinal Cord Injury - Video

When researchers and, especially, the general public became aware of the potential medical uses of stem cells the possibilities seemed endless. The National Institutes of Health said this: ... a renewable source of replacement cells and tissues to treat a myriad of diseases, conditions, and disabilities, including Parkinsons disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal cord injury, burns, heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis.

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EDITORIAL: London researchers illustrate potential of stem cell therapies

Miami (PRWEB) April 11, 2014

GlobalStemCellsGroup.com and Revita Life Sciences have announced plans to present the adipose and bone marrow stem cells course hosted by Himanshu Bansal, M.D., May 22-23 in Delhi.

Revita Life Sciences is a biotech company based in Dehli that specializes in stem cell research, training and clinical applications protocol development in regenerative medicine. Stem Cell specialists from both Global Stem Cells Group and Revita will participate in the two-day training program designed to help medical professionals bring stem cell therapies to the physicians office.

The adipose-derived harvesting, isolation and re-integration training course for the advancement of stem cell procedures is a two-day, hands-on intensive training course developed for physicians and high-level practitioners to learn techniques in harvesting and reintegrating stem cells derived from adipose (fat) tissue and bone marrow. The objective of the training is to bridge the gap between bench science in the laboratory and the doctors office by teaching effective in office regenerative medicine techniques.

For more information, visit the Global Stem Cells Group website, email bnovas(at)regenestem(dot)com, or call 305-224-1858.

About the Global Stem Cell Group: Global Stem Cells Group, Inc. is the parent company of six wholly owned operating companies dedicated entirely to stem cell research, training, products and solutions. Founded in 2012, the company combines dedicated researchers, physician and patient educators and solution providers with the shared goal of meeting the growing worldwide need for leading edge stem cell treatments and solutions. With a singular focus on this exciting new area of medical research, Global Stem Cells Group and its subsidiaries are uniquely positioned to become global leaders in cellular medicine.

Global Stem Cells Groups corporate mission is to make the promise of stem cell medicine a reality for patients around the world. With each of GSCGs six operating companies focused on a separate research-based mission, the result is a global network of state-of-the-art stem cell treatments.

About Revita Life Science:

Revita Life Sciences is a biotechnology company that provides complete support to patients from their first inquiry through stem cell therapy performed by a Revita Life Science specialized physician.

Revitas primary objective is the development of stem cell therapies that target areas of significant unmet or poorly met medical need. Years of research and experience have resulted in substantial improvements in the health and condition of patients suffering from a variety of illnesses through stem cell therapy, even where other treatments have failed.

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Global Stem Cells Group and Revita Life Sciences Announce Joint Venture to Establish a Stem Cell Training Course in ...

Tampa, Florida (PRWEB) April 10, 2014

One year ago, Gary Oberschlake was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a deadly lung disease with no known cause characterized by the permanent scarring of lung tissue. Gary wasnt alone approximately 48,000 others received the same diagnosis last year. Claiming the lives of nearly 40,000 individuals annually, IPF is as deadly as breast cancer.

Doctors told Gary, a family man with a wife, four children, and four grandchildren, his only treatment option was a double lung transplant. Knowing the inherent risks associated with this procedure, including his bodys rejection of the new lungs, Gary refused to accept it as his only chance for survival.

After spending considerable time researching possible alternative options, Gary became fascinated by recent developments in stem cell medicine, and its potential for treating sufferers of chronic lung disease like IPF. His excitement regarding this option was met with doubt expressed by his pulmonologist, who didnt see the clinical viability of stem cells for lung conditions at the time. Despite his doctors reluctance, Gary decided to give stem cell therapy a chance.

According to his wife Debra, when he found Lung Institute in Tampa, FL, it was like it was meant to be. And, feeling as though it was a sign he couldnt ignore, Gary made the decision to pursue autologous stem cell treatment at Lung Institute in Tampa.

Today, nine months after receiving his first treatment at Lung Institute, Gary has seen results that have far exceeded his expectations, leaving his pulmonologist and cardiologist in disbelief. In fact, all the doctors he saw after his treatments have been shocked by his positive progression, which has completely changed their perspective on his prognosis and the viability of stem cells for lung disease in general.

Their astonishment at the treatments overwhelming success is not unusual many doctors like them are skeptical of the clinical application of stem cells for lung disease, simply because advancements in the field have been so recent. But skeptics need only witness the success of these treatments, as Garys doctors did, to have their position turned upside down.

Gary says prior to his stem cell treatment, his cardiologist said the next time hed see me would be in a hospital bed. Quite to the contrary, Gary is now able to enjoy many aspects of life that were previously limited by his condition. In his words, Ive been able to do things with [my grandchildren]. Before I was only able to sit down and watch them.

As a result of his refusal to accept his original prognosis, Gary and his wife are now looking into the future and planning ahead. Lung Institute continues to produce positive results, much like those experienced by Gary, and in doing so, is changing the lives of many suffering from chronic and debilitating pulmonary conditions.

About Lung Institute At Lung Institute (LI), we are changing the lives of hundreds of people across the nation through the innovative technology of regenerative medicine. We are committed to providing patients a more effective way to address pulmonary conditions and improve quality of life. Our physicians, through their designated practices, have gained worldwide recognition for the successful application of revolutionary minimally invasive stem cell therapies. With over a century of combined medical experience, our doctors have established a patient experience designed with the highest concern for patient safety and quality of care. For more information, visit our website at LungInstitute.com, like us on Facebook or call us today at 1-855-469-5864.

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Lung Institute's Innovative Stem Cell Procedure is Giving End Stage Lung Disease Patients a New Option

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For more than 40 years government officials have grappled with how to regulate and fund the controversial research

Despite its promise, stem cell research in the U.S. has been stymied, time and again, by bioethical landmines. The explosive debate revolves around the fact that, until recently, the only way to get pluripotent stem cells was to extract them from human embryos left over from in-vitro fertilizationa process that destroyed the five-day-old embryo. The ongoing debate about when life begins has led many to oppose stem cell research on the grounds that it is immoral to destroy something that could eventually grow into a person. On the other hand, promoters argue that the potential to help millions of people with stem cell therapies outweighs the sanctity of cells that are not viable outside the womb and that often go unused. Arguments on both sides are based on personal beliefs that may never be reconciled, so the debate hinges on whether the federal government should fund research that many citizens find morally objectionable. The following box chronicles stem cell research regulation in the U.S.

1970s

The Supreme Court legalizes abortion in 1973. The ensuing debate on the ethics of experimenting on fetal tissue prompts Congress to issue a moratorium on federal funding for research on human embryos the following year.

1990s

In 1995 President Clinton lifts the ban on funding for study of stem cells left over from in-vitro fertilization, but leaves other restrictions in place. In response, Congress passes the Dickey-Wicker Amendment, prohibiting funding for all research in which a human embryo or embryos are destroyed, discarded, or knowingly subjected to risk of injury or death, regardless of the source of the embryo.

2000s

President George W. Bush announces that federal funding will be made available for research on the approximately 60 existing embryonic stem cell lines, but not new ones. Congress twice votes to loosen the restrictions on funding for research using embryonic stem cells left over from in-vitro fertilization but President Bush vetoes the legislation both times.

In 2009, early in his first term, President Barack Obama removes the ban on federal funding for new stem cell lines but signs an omnibus bill preserving the Dickey-Wicker Amendment. The move retains restrictions against federal funding for the direct creation of new stem cell lines, but opens up funding for research on newly created lines developed with private or state money.

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Dispute over Stem Cells: A Timeline

Carlsbad, CA (PRWEB) April 10, 2014

Most baby boomers grew up not knowing about the importance of sun protection. The term SPF wasnt even invented until 1962. So lets blame those lines and wrinkles, age spots and skin laxity on the sun! According to the Environmental Protection Agency, as much as 90 percent of skin aging is caused by sun exposure. New ingredients are emerging that are changing the long-held belief that UV skin damage is irreversible. In fact, studies show when the skin is exposed to extracts from human stem cells it helps repair and rejuvenate itself. Lifeline Skin Care, the only line of skin care products in the world based on growth factors from human stem cells, will launch its new Daily Defense Complex in April in spas and physician offices nationwide. The super-potent formula will firm, tone and defend skin and also integrates easily into post-procedure protocols and homecare regimens.

Lifeline Skin Care uses growth factors that have been extracted from human stem cells, said Simon Craw, Ph.D., of International Stem Cell Corporation, the parent company of Lifeline Skin Care. Stem cells have the natural ability to identify and repair damaged cells. In the laboratory, we discovered how stem cells can rejuvenate many different types of cells, including skin cells. The proteins and growth factors that are extracted from these stem cells can reduce the appearance of the signs of aging--lines, wrinkles and loss of radiance.

Dermatologists believe that women dont get serious about anti-aging skin care until theyre in their 30s, when fine lines and wrinkles begin to appear. But the 40th birthday is the real game changer, said Dr. Elizabeth Hale of Complete Skin MD in New York City. After age 40, fine lines deepen into full fledged wrinkles, and dark spots and age spots begin to surface. Its at this point that women start to look for more advanced and results-oriented skin care ingredients.

Key ingredients in the new Daily Defense Complex help to repair previous photoaging and protect against future UV damage. Collagen and elastin production have been proven in vitro to increase by 46-55%. Collagen and elastin are two key proteins that make skin appear firmer and younger-looking.

Daily Defense Complex is designed for all skin types but it is particularly recommended for mature or photodamaged skin. It retails for $160.00 and is available from physicians, spas and lifelineskincare.com. For more information, please visit http://www.lifelineskincare.com

About Lifeline Skin Care Lifeline Skin Care develops, markets and sells advanced topical anti-aging skin care products based on technology developed and patented by International Stem Cell Corporation. The technology uses ingredients that have been extracted from ISCOs human, parthenogenetic stem cells and are known to reduce the visible signs of skin aging. Lifeline is distributed in the USA and internationally through physicians and spas. For more information visit http://www.lifelineskincare.com

About International Stem Cell Corporation International Stem Cell Corporation is focused on the therapeutic applications of human parthenogenetic stem cells (hpSCs) and the development and commercialization of cell-based research and cosmetic products. ISCO's core technology, parthenogenesis, results in the creation of pluripotent human stem cells from unfertilized oocytes (eggs) hence avoiding ethical issues associated with the use or destruction of viable human embryos. ISCO scientists have created the first parthenogenetic, homozygous stem cell line that can be a source of therapeutic cells for hundreds of millions of individuals of differing genders, ages and racial background with minimal immune rejection after transplantation. hpSCs offer the potential to create the first true stem cell bank, UniStemCell. ISCO also produces and markets specialized cells and growth media for therapeutic research worldwide through its subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology (http://www.lifelinecelltech.com), and stem cell-based skin care products through its subsidiary Lifeline Skin Care (http://www.lifelineskincare.com). More information is available at http://www.internationalstemcell.com.

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Lifeline Skin Care Launches Daily Defense Anti-Aging Skincare Complex Using Groundbreaking Technology and Science to ...

13 hours ago Isolated planarian pharynx: two tissue types in this digestive organ are shown. In red, cilia of the epithelial layer ensheathing the organ are labeled with an antibody against acetylated tubulin. In green, the complex longitudinal and circular muscle fibers are shown as labeled by the anti-myosin heavy chain antibody Tmus-13. Credit: Carrie Adler, Ph.D., Stowers Institute for Medical Research

As multicellular creatures go, planaria worms are hardly glamorous. To say they appear rudimentary is more like it. These tiny aquatic flatworms that troll ponds and standing water resemble brown tubes equipped with just the basics: a pair of beady light-sensing "eyespots" on their head and a feeding tube called the pharynx (which doubles as the excretory tract) that protrudes from a belly sac to suck up food. It's hard to feel kinship with them.

But admiration is another thing, because many planaria species regenerate in wondrous waysnamely, when quartered they reconstruct themselves from the pieces. Sliced through the "waist", they regenerate the missing tail or head; bisected lengthwise, worms duplicate their mirror image. This capacity is not what's surprising, as biologists know that 30% of their body cells are stem cells. The question is, how do stem cells in a planaria fragment know how to generate what's missing?

In the April 15, 2014 issue of the online journal eLife, Stowers Institute for Medical Research Investigator Alejandro Snchez Alvarado and colleagues address that issue by identifying genes worms use to rebuild an amputated pharynx. They report that near the top of the pharynx regeneration hierarchy is a master regulator called FoxA. These findings support an evolutionarily conserved role for FoxA proteins in driving construction of endoderm-derived organs and reveal how stem cells sense loss of a particular structure on a molecular level.

Mammals can deploy adult stem cells to replace skin or immune system cells, among others. But when it comes to re-creating entire structures, amphibian, fish and planarian species are the champs. "When mammals are severely injured, they just heal the wound and call it a day," says Snchez Alvarado, who is also a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator. "But if a salamander loses a limb, it will first heal the wound and then start assembling the missing parts. Right now, the mechanisms cells use to realize what structure is missing and then restore it remain completely mysterious."

To unravel the mystery, the team conducted two "screens". First, they amputated the worm pharynx, which prohibits feeding for about a week as planaria rebuild a new one. Around day 3 post-amputation, the team conducted microarray analysis to identify any gene switched on by amputation and amassed about 350 candidates. To test them, they then fed inhibitory RNAs designed to suppress expression of each gene separately to new batches of worms, repeated the amputations and observed whether worms regained feeding ability. That narrowed the list to 20 candidates that when lost hampered feeding and in most cases interfered with pharynx formation.

According to Carrie Adler, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in the Snchez Alvarado lab who led the study, analysis showed most of the 20 factors either had a generic function in stem cells (which was interesting but not what they were after) or were specifically required for pharynx regeneration. Among the latter, one factor showing a particularly robust effect was a DNA-binding protein called FoxA. "Targeting FoxA completely blocked pharynx regeneration but had no effect on the regeneration of other organs," says Adler.

High resolution microscopy analysis showed that stem cells ramped up FoxA expression soon after they converged on the amputation site. "Currently, we think that FoxA triggers a cascade of gene expression that drives stem cells to produce all of the different cells of the pharynx, including muscle, neurons, and epithelial cells," says Adler. "The next question is how FoxA gets stimulated in the first place in only some stem cells."

Researchers knew previously that during embryogenesis FoxA initiates formation of endoderm-derived organs in species as diverse as mouse and roundworms. The new work suggests that regenerating tissues exploit those evolutionarily ancient gene expression pathways. "Engulfing food is one thing that defines an animal," says Snchez Alvarado. "This means that organisms from humans to flatworms use a common toolbox to build a digestive system, one that has been shared since animals became multicellular."

A fortuitous (in hindsight) setback facilitated the work. As a graduate student studying the roundworm C. elegans, Adler decided to test effects of roundworm anesthetics on flatworms. One, a sodium azide bath, put planaria to sleep but made their pharynxes drop off. Aghast, Adler soon realized that the azide solution (which planaria survived) left a uniform, minimally-destructive lesion. Thus was born the "selective chemical amputation method", allowing large-scale analysis and reliable quantification of results and freeing researchers from tedious hours at a dissecting microscope.

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Planaria deploy an ancient gene expression program in the course of organ regeneration

Nature News Blog

10 Apr 2014 | 22:47 BST | Posted by Sara Reardon | Category: stem cells

Stem-cell biologist Mahendra Rao, who resigned last week as director of the US National Institutes of Healths Center for Regenerative Medicine (CRM), has a new job. On April 9, he was appointed vice-president for regenerative medicine at the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF), a non-profit organization that funds embryonic stem cell research.

Rao left the National Institutes of Healthabruptly on 28 March, apparently due to disagreements about the number of clinical trials of stem cell therapies that NIHs intramural CRM programme would conduct. CRM was established in 2010 to shepherd therapies using iPS cells adult cells that have been reprogrammed to an embryonic state into clinical translation. One of CRMs potential therapies, which will use iPS cells to treat macular degeneration of the retina, will continue moving toward clinical trials at the NIH, although several others were not funded. NIH officials say that CRM will not continue in its current direction, but the fate of the centers remaining budget and resources is undecided.

Rao says that he wants to move more iPS cell therapies toward trials than NIH had been willing to do. He has already joined the advisory boards of several stem cell therapy companies: Q Therapeutics, a Salt Lake City-based neural stem cell company he co-founded, as well as Cesca Therapeutics formerly known as ThermoGenesis of Rancho Cordova, California, and Stemedica of San Diego, both of which are developing cell-based therapies for cardiac and vascular disorders.

Rao says that his initial focus at NYSCF will be developing iPS cell lines for screening, and formulating a process for making clinical grade cell lines from a patients own cells.

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Former NIH stem-cell chief joins New York foundation

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Washington, Apr 9 : In a bold attempt to make body parts using stem cells, scientists in a north London hospital are growing noses, ears and blood vessels in the laboratory.

It is among several labs around the world, including in the US, that are working on the futuristic idea of growing custom-made organs in the lab, Fox News reported.

While only a handful of patients have received the British lab-made organs so far- including tear ducts, blood vessels and windpipes - researchers hope they will soon be able to transplant more types of body parts into patients, including what would be the world's first nose made partly from stem cells.

Alexander Seifalian at University College London, the scientist leading the effort said that it's like making a cake and they just use a different kind of oven.

During a recent visit to his lab, Seifalian showed off a sophisticated machine used to make molds from a polymer material for various organs.

Last year, he and his team made a nose for a British man who lost his to cancer. Scientists added a salt and sugar solution to the mold of the nose to mimic the somewhat sponge-like texture of the real thing. Stem cells were taken from the patient's fat and grown in the lab for two weeks before being used to cover the nose scaffold. Later, the nose was implanted into the man's forearm so that skin would grow to cover it.

--ANI (Posted on 10-04-2014)

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Scientists growing human body parts in lab using stem cells

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Newswise NEW YORK, NY (April 9, 2014) Dr. Mahendra Rao, who has directed the Center for Regenerative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health (NIH CRM) since 2010, will join The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Research Institute as its Vice President for Regenerative Medicine, a newly created position, Susan Solomon, NYSCF Chief Executive Officer, announced today.

Dr. Rao, who holds an MD degree and a PhD in developmental neurobiology, is one of the nations most prominent stem cell scientists. He has over twenty years of experience in all aspects of the stem cell field including government, academia, and business. Before joining the NIH, Dr. Rao spent six years as the vice president of Regenerative Medicine at Life Technologies, Inc. (now Thermo Fisher Scientific) after serving as the chief of Neurosciences at the National Institute on Aging and co-founding Q Therapeutics, a neural stem cell company based in Utah. Dr. Rao is tenured at the University of Utah School of Medicine in both Neurobiology and Anatomy and has over twenty submitted and ten issued patents.

Dr. Raos expertise in translational research, academia, and industry make him a valuable asset in our mission to take stem cell research from the laboratory to the clinic in order to find cures for the diseases that affect those we love, Solomon said. We are delighted to have him on board.

Solomon said that recruiting Dr. Rao is a major coup for NYSCF as it builds on its existing successes and carries out its strategic goals. Dr. Raos expertise and experience in setting up a company and in leading the translational effort at NIH will complement their expertise in automation and high-throughput induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell generation.

I am enthused about NYSCFs efforts to generate high-quality stem cell lines and partner with the pharma and academic communities. I am excited to be joining them to advance their goals, said Dr. Rao.

In addition to his business career, Dr. Rao has served on scientific advisory boards, editorial boards and review panels and on committees including as the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations Cellular, Tissue, and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee chair and as the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine and International Society for Stem Cell Research liaison to the International Society for Cellular Therapy. Currently, he sits on the board of Cesca Therapeutics, Inc. and serves as the Chief Strategy Officer and Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board at Q Therapeutics.

"Mahendra is a widely-recognized and accomplished leader in stem cell research. He will be a major asset for NYSCF as we continue to develop new therapeutics for patients," said Dr. Zach Hall, NYSCF Board Member and former Director of National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

About The New York Stem Cell Foundation

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Mahendra Rao Joins The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute

An internal investigation has found compromised data in a stem cell study led by prominent Brigham and Womens Hospital researchers, and the paper has been retracted. The authors claimed they had found evidence that the heart can regenerate at a rapid rate, contrary to years of belief that heart muscle cells cells turnover very slowly.

The paper, published in 2012 in the journal Circulation, was retracted Tuesday by the journals publisher, the American Heart Association.

This retraction is highly significant. In my 30 years in cardiovascular science I cannot recall a paper of similar prominence being retracted from Circulation, Dr. Charles Murry, co-director of the Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Washington, wrote in an e-mail. This appears to settle the controversy about the rate of cell replacement in the human heart, i.e. it turns over every 60 years, not every 6 months.

The retraction comes in the wake of a major scandal that has unfolded over the last few months as a Japanese research institution found evidence of fabrication in a major stem cell paper led by a different Brigham scientist.

The journals retraction notice, first reported by the blog Retraction Watch, does not specify which researchers are at fault, but the paper involved several high-profile scientists including Dr. Piero Anversa, a cardiologist whose research has often raised questions from other scientists, and Dr. Joseph Loscalzo, chief of medicine at the Brigham.

According to the retraction notice, an ongoing institutional review by Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Womens Hospital has determined that the data are sufficiently compromised that a retraction is warranted.

A Brigham and Womens Hospital spokeswoman said a statement was forthcoming. Anversa and Loscalzo did not immediately reply to e-mails.

Dr. Jonas Frisn, a professor of stem cell research at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, published a study in 2009 showing a very low rate of renewal of human heart muscle cellsaround 1 percent of cells turned over per year. That low rate was replicated in other laboratories.

But in 2012, Anversas laboratory used the same techniquemeasuring an isotope of carbon found in the nucleus of cellsto detect a much higher rate of heart muscle cell renewal, as much as 23 percent per year. The laboratory also found that the rate of renewal increased with age, contrary to what other scientists expected and found. Frisen said he and his colleagues read the paper extremely carefully, but could not make sense of it.

It wasnt possible from what they had written to understand exactly what they had done and how they had treated the data, Frisen said. He began corresponding with the authors, asking detailed questions about their methodology. He said there were some minor mistakes that appeared accidental, such as using the wrong units, and some things that may have stemmed from their unfamiliarity with using the technique. For example, he said the Brigham team didnt appear to have controlled for contamination.

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Study by prominent Brigham scientists retracted due to compromised data

PRP and Stem Cell Therapy for Osteoarthritis

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PRP and Stem Cell Therapy for Osteoarthritis - Video

NEW YORK: Four men who had each been paralysed from the chest down for more than two years and been told their situation was hopeless regained the ability to voluntarily move their legs and feet though not to walk after an electrical device was implanted in their spines, researchers reportedyesterday.

The success, albeit in a small number of patients, offers hope that a fundamentally new treatment can help many of the 6 million paralyzed Americans, including the 1.3 million with spinal cord injuries. Even those whose cases are deemed so hopeless they are not offered further rehabilitation might benefit, scientists say.

The results also cast doubt on a key assumption about spinal cord injury: that treatment requires damaged neurons to regrow or be replaced with, for instance, stem cells. Both approaches have proved fiendishly difficult and, in the case of stem cells, controversial.

The big message here is that people with spinal cord injury of the type these men had no longer need to think they have a lifelong sentence of paralysis, Dr Roderic Pettigrew, director of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, part of the National Institutes of Health, said in an interview. They can achieve some level of voluntary function, which he called a milestone in spinal cord injury research. His institute partly funded the study, which was published in the journal Brain.

The partial recovery achieved by hopeless patients suggests that physicians and rehabilitation therapists may be giving up on millions of paralyzed people. Thats because physical therapy can mimic some aspects of the electrical stimulation that the device provided, said Susan Harkema, a specialist in neurological rehab at the University of Louisvilles Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center (KSCIRC), who led the new study.

One of the things this research shows is that there is more potential for spinal cord injury patients to recover even without this electrical stimulation, she said in an interview. Today, patients are not given rehab because they are not considered good investments. We should rethink what theyre offered, because rehabilitation can drive recovery for many more than are receiving it.

Baseball star

The research built on the case of a single paralyzed patient that Harkemas team reported in 2011. College baseball star Rob Summers had been injured in a hit-and-run accident in 2006, paralyzing him below the neck.

In late 2009, Summers received the epidural implant just below the damaged area. The 2.5-ounce (72-gram) device began emitting electrical current at varying frequencies and intensities, stimulating dense bundles of neurons in the spinal cord. Three days later he stood on his own. In 2010 he took his first tentative steps.

His partial recovery became a media sensation, but even the Louisville team thought that epidural stimulation could benefit only spinal cord patients who had some sensation in their paralyzed limbs, as Summers did. We assumed that the surviving sensory pathways were crucial for this recovery, Harkema said.

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Paralysed patients regain movement after spinal implant