Archive for the ‘Bone Marrow Stem Cells’ Category

Jack Chieh and Yinnie Wong with their baby boy, born last Friday (Chinese New Year). The couple donate her baby's cord blood to the cord blood bank at B.C. Womens Hospital & Health Centre.Handout

Yinnie Wong and Jack Chiehs six-pound, 13-ounce baby boy as yet unnamed was born on an auspicious day, Jan. 24, Chinese New Year, and hes already doing good in the world.

Everyone was really happy, it is supposed to be a lucky day, said Wong.

Although the birth was a planned C-section, Wong had no control over the date hospital administrators chose for the birth. What she did have control over was the choice to donate her babys cord blood to the cord blood bank at B.C. Womens Hospital & Health Centre, which has just celebrated its fifth anniversary.

Cord blood is blood that is taken from the umbilical cord and placenta immediately after the birth of a healthy infant. Cord blood is rich in stem cells, and can be used to treat over 80 diseases, including leukemia.

According to Canadian Blood Services, ethnically diverse donors are especially needed because although Stats Canada data shows 67.7 per cent of Canadians consider their ethnic origin to be diverse, only 31 per cent of Canadians with blood in Canadas stem-cell registry are from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Crystal Nguyen, 20, is a former B.C. Childrens Hospital patient whose life was saved by a stem-cell transplant from donated cord blood. Nguyen was first diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at age 12. After chemo, she went into remission for almost three years. Then the cancer returned. She was told she needed a bone-marrow transplant.

Crystal Nguyen, now 20, was first diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at age 12. She found a stem-cell match for a needed bone-marrow transplant through the international cord blood bank.Handout

When I relapsed I was very confused, it was kind of surreal. The main thing about being told I needed the bone-marrow stem-cell transplant was confusion, fear and anxiety.

Nguyen is of Vietnamese descent and needed a match to survive. No one in her family was a match, nor was there a stem-cell match in the Canadian cord blood bank, but a match was found thanks to the Canadian Blood Services partnerships with 47 international blood banks.

I was told it came through the international cord blood bank from somewhere very far away, said Nguyen, who has been in remission since the transplant.

When she learned the stem-cell transplant had been successful, Nguyen, who is now studying to become a pediatric oncology nurse, said it felt too good to be true.

There was a lot of happiness, joy, excitement. Donating cord blood is such a simple way to save a life.

Although cord blood can be collected and stored for a fee by private companies and reserved for the donor familys use, cord blood donated through Canadian Blood Services is available free to the public whoever needs the match.

Wong didnt hesitate when her son was born. I felt like I wanted to do it if it helps someone in the public, and if it could save lives I would have been very happy to help another child, said Wong, who is a nurse at B.C. Womens hospital.

dryan@postmedia.com

CLICK HERE to report a typo.

Is there more to this story? Wed like to hear from you about this or any other stories you think we should know about. Email vantips@postmedia.com.

Continued here:
Chinese New Year babys B.C. family gives gift of life in cord-blood donation - The Province

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Stem Cell Banking - Market Analysis, Trends, and Forecasts" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global market for Stem Cell Banking is projected to reach US$9.9 billion by 2025, driven by their growing importance in medicine given their potential to regenerate and repair damaged tissue.

Stem cells are defined as cells with the potential to differentiate and develop into different types of cells. Different accessible sources of stem cells include embryonic stem cells, fetal stem cells, peripheral blood stem cells, umbilical cord stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells (bmMSCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells. Benefits of stem cells include ability to reverse diseases like Parkinsons by growing new, healthy and functioning brain cells; heal and regenerate tissues and muscles damaged by heart attack; address genetic defects by introducing normal cells; reduce mortality among patients awaiting donor organs for transplant by regenerating healthy cells and tissues as an alternative to donated organs. While currently valuable in bone marrow transplantation, stem cell therapy holds huge potential in treating a host of common chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease (myocardial infarction), Parkinsons disease, spinal cord injury, arthritis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The technology has the potential to revolutionize public health.

The growing interest in regenerative medicine which involves replacing, engineering or regenerating human cells, tissues or organs, will push up the role of stem cells. Developments in stem cells bioprocessing are important and will be key factor that will influence and help regenerative medicine research move into real-world clinical use. The impact of regenerative medicine on healthcare will be comparable to the impact of antibiotics, vaccines, and monoclonal antibodies in current clinical care. With global regenerative medicine market poised to reach over US$45 billion 2025, demand for stem cells will witness robust growth.

Another emerging application area for stem cells is in drug testing in the pharmaceutical field. New drugs in development can be safely, accurately, and effectively be tested on stem cells before commencing tests on animal and human models. Among the various types of stem cells, umbilical cord stem cells are growing in popularity as they are easy and safe to extract. After birth blood from the umbilical cord is extracted without posing risk either to the mother or the child. As compared to embryonic and fetal stem cells which are saddled with safety and ethical issues, umbilical cord is recovered postnatally and is today an inexpensive and valuable source of multipotent stem cells. Until now discarded as waste material, umbilical cord blood is today acknowledged as a valuable source of blood stem cells. The huge gap between newborns and available cord blood banks reveals huge untapped opportunity for developing and establishing a more effective banking system for making this type of stem cells viable for commercial scale production and supply. Umbilical cord and placenta contain haematopoietic blood stem cells (HSCs). These are the only cells capable of producing immune system cells (red cells, white cells and platelet).

HSCs are valuable in the treatment of blood diseases and successful bone marrow transplants. Also, unlike bone marrow stem cells, umbilical cord blood has the advantage of having 'off-the-shelf' uses as it requires no human leukocyte antigen (HLA) tissue matching. Developments in stem cell preservation will remain crucial for successful stem cell banking. Among the preservation technologies, cryopreservation remains popular. Development of additives for protecting cells from the stresses of freezing and thawing will also be important for the future of the market. The United States and Europe represent large markets worldwide with a combined share of 60.5% of the market. China ranks as the fastest growing market with a CAGR of 10.8% over the analysis period supported by the large and growing network of umbilical cord blood banks in the country. The Chinese government has, over the years, systematically nurtured the growth of umbilical cord blood (UCB) banks under the 'Developmental and Reproductive Research Initiation' program launched in 2008. Several hybrid public-private partnerships and favorable governmental licensing policies today are responsible for the current growth in this market.

Companies Mentioned

Key Topics Covered:

I. METHODOLOGY

II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. MARKET OVERVIEW

2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS

3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE

III. MARKET ANALYSIS

GEOGRAPHIC MARKET ANALYSIS

UNITED STATES

CANADA

JAPAN

CHINA

EUROPE

FRANCE

GERMANY

ITALY

UNITED KINGDOM

REST OF EUROPE

ASIA-PACIFIC

REST OF WORLD

IV. COMPETITION

V. CURATED RESEARCH

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/9b2ra3

Read more:
Global Stem Cell Banking Market Analysis, Trends, and Forecasts 2019-2025 - ResearchAndMarkets.com - Business Wire

At left, image shows white blood cells (red) from one of the X-CGD clinical trial participants before gene therapy. At right, after gene therapy, white blood cells from the same patient show the presence of the chemicals (blue) needed to attack and destroy bacteria and fungus.

UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center/Nature Medicine

University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA) researchers are part of an international team that reported the use of a stem cell gene therapy to treat nine people with the rare, inherited blood disease known as X-linked chronic granulomatous disease, or X-CGD. Six of those patients are now in remission and have stopped other treatments. Before now, people with X-CGDwhich causes recurrent infections, prolonged hospitalizations for treatment, and a shortened lifespanhad to rely on bone marrow donations for a chance at remission.

"With this gene therapy, you can use a patient's own stem cells instead of donor cells for a transplant," said Dr. Donald Kohn, a member of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA and a senior author of the new paper, published Jan. 28 in the journal Nature Medicine. "This means the cells are perfectly matched to the patient and it should be a much safer transplant, without the risks of rejection."

People with chronic granulomatous disease, or CGD, have a genetic mutation in one of five genes that help white blood cells attack and destroy bacteria and fungus using a burst of chemicals. Without this defensive chemical burst, patients with the disease are much more susceptible to infections than most people. The infections can be severe to life-threatening, including infections of the skin or bone and abscesses in organs such as lungs, liver or brain. The most common form of CGD is a subtype called X-CGD, which affects only males and is caused by a mutation in a gene found on the X-chromosome.

Other than treating infections as they occur and taking rotating courses of preventive antibiotics, the only treatment option for people with CGD is to receive a bone marrow transplant from a healthy matched donor. Bone marrow contains stem cells called hematopoietic, or blood-forming, stem cells, which produce white blood cells. Bone marrow from a healthy donor can produce functioning white blood cells that effectively ward off infection. But it can be difficult to identify a healthy matched bone marrow donor and the recovery from the transplant can have complications such as graft versus host disease, and risks of infection and transplant rejection.

"Patients can certainly get better with these bone marrow transplants, but it requires finding a matched donor and even with a match, there are risks," Kohn said. Patients must take anti-rejection drugs for six to 12 months so that their bodies don't attack the foreign bone marrow.

In the new approach, Kohn teamed up with collaborators at the United Kingdom's National Health Service, France-based Genethon, the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, and Boston Children's Hospital. The researchers removed hematopoietic stem cells from X-CGD patients and modified the cells in the laboratory to correct the genetic mutation. Then, the patients' own genetically modified stem cellsnow healthy and able to produce white blood cells that can make the immune-boosting burst of chemicalswere transplanted back into their own bodies. While the approach is new in X-CGD, Kohn previously pioneered a similar stem cell gene therapy to effectively cure a form of severe combined immune deficiency (also known as bubble baby disease) in more than 50 babies.

The viral delivery system for the X-CGD gene therapy was developed and fine-tuned by professor Adrian Thrasher's team at Great Ormond Street Hospital, or GOSH, in London, who collaborated with Kohn. The patients ranged in age from 2 to 27 years old; four were treated at GOSH and five were treated in the US, including one patient at UCLA Health.

Two people in the new study died within three months of receiving the treatment due to severe infections that they had already been battling before gene therapy. The seven surviving patients were followed for 12 to 36 months after receiving the stem cell gene therapy. All remained free of new CGD-related infections, and six of the seven have been able to discontinue their usual preventive antibiotics.

"None of the patients had complications that you might normally see from donor cells and the results were as good as you'd get from a donor transplantor better," Kohn said.

An additional four patients have been treated since the new paper was written; all are currently free of new CGD-related infections and no complications have arisen.

Orchard Therapeutics, a biotechnology company of which Kohn is a scientific co-founder, acquired the rights to the X-CGD investigational gene therapy from Genethon. Orchard will work with regulators in the US and Europe to carry out a larger clinical trial to further study this innovative treatment. The aim is to apply for regulatory approval to make the treatment commercially available, Kohn said.

Kohn and his colleagues plan to develop similar treatments for the other forms of CGDcaused by four other genetic mutations that affect the same immune function as X-CGD.

"Beyond CGD, there are also other diseases caused by proteins missing in white blood cells that could be treated in similar ways," Kohn said.

Here is the original post:
6 Patients with Rare Blood Disease Doing Well after Gene Therapy Clinical Trial - Lab Manager Magazine

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a common disease with high incidence, disability rate and treatment cost. microRNA (miR)-200a is reported to inhibit Keap1 to activate Nrf2 signaling. This study aimed to explore the effects of lentivirus-mediated miR-200a gene-modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transplantation on the repair of SCI in a rat model. BMSCs were isolated from the bone marrow of Sprague-Dawley rats. miR-200a targeting to Keap1 was identified by luciferase-reporter gene assay. The expressions of Keap1, Nrf2, NQO-1, HO-1 and GCLC were detected by Western blotting in SCI rats. The locomotor capacity of the rats was evaluated using the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan scale. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were measured. miR-200a inhibited Keap-1 3 UTR activity in BMSCs. Transplantation of BMSCs with overexpression of miR-200a or si-Keap1increased locomotor function recovery of rats after SCI, while decreased MDA level, increased SOD, CAT activities and Nrf2 expression together with its downstream HO-1, NQO1, GCLC protein expressions in SCI rat. These results indicated that overexpressed miR-200a in BMSCs promoted SCI repair, which may be through regulating anti-oxidative signaling pathway. 2020 International Center for Artificial Organs and Transplantation and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Read the rest here:
Upregulation of microRNA-200a in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells enhances the repair of spinal cord injury in rats by reducing oxidative stress and...

Photo Courtesy of Michael MankowichAbove, Michael Mankowich and his wife, Kathleen, in Patagonia

NUTLEY, NJ When Nutley resident Michael Mankowichs lower back started to bother him, he figured it was a souvenir from his earlier athletic days. Mike, 58, had been a top-notch wrestler at 132 pounds at Long Islands Commack North High School. Hed been an all-American, in fact, as well as a two-time all-Ivy, three-time New York state champ and three-time EIWA tournament placer as a wrestler at Cornell University. An old wrestlers injury was all it was, he figured, a physical reminder of a quick takedown of an opponent 40 years long forgotten.

But the pain did not go away.

Mike began to see a doctor and a chiropractor, and eventually he got an MRI. The news he received at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in February 2017 was not good. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer that attacks the blood plasma cells responsible for creating disease-fighting antibodies.

They figured it out quickly at Sloan, he said recently, seated with his wife, Kathleen, in their Rutgers Place home. I kept it from Kathleen.

With this news, he became withdrawn, and his wife realized something was wrong. Mike told her what he had learned, and, as so often happens when a couple puts their heads together, they found some reason for hope: multiple myeloma is a blood disease in the bone marrow and, as such, does not metastasize.

Thats where all the action takes place, in the bone marrow, Mike said. You have to keep your chin up.

For treatment, he became part of a six-month chemotherapy clinical study. Mike was glad to be in the study, because most multiple myeloma patients go on chemotherapy for three months and then undergo a stem-cell transplant. He, however, would not.

A stem-cell transplant blows out the immune system, he said.

Kathleen, an administrative coordinator at Felician University School of Nursing, said her husband, a real estate management employee, did not break stride and never missed the commute to New York City during the clinical study.

A member of Nutley High Schools Class of 1976, Kathleen got on the computer.

When your spouse is diagnosed with an incurable cancer, you do a bit of research, she said.

She discovered the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation website and learned it was founded 30 years earlier by a woman named Kathy Giusti, who was living with the disease.

That gave me hope, Kathleen said.

She also learned about a collaboration between MMRF and CURE Media Group called Moving Mountains for Multiple Myeloma, or MM4MM.

This collaboration promotes endurance events, undertaken by multiple myeloma patients, to places like Mount Fuji, Mount Kilimanjaro and Iceland. The treks raise money for research, as well as public awareness about the disease. A patient selected to participate in one of these exotic treks had to raise funds, but the trip itself was underwritten by Celgene, a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Summit.

Mike was interested and applied in November 2018 for a spot on a team going to Patagonia. He was interviewed and accepted on condition of raising $10,000 for MMRF research. He suggested that Kathleen accompany him, and they eventually raised $30,000 through social media and by asking friends, family and neighbors.

The online MMRF page devoted to Mikes fundraising shows a photograph of him with his arms around Kathleen and their daughter, Mary, a Class of 2020 NHS student.

In a letter featured on the page, Mike informs the reader that MMRF is one of the worlds leading private funders of myeloma research, with 10 new treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

In August 2019, Mike and Kathleen were flown to Oregon to meet their teammates and to get a taste of what was in store for them in Patagonia. According to the MM4MM website: Each team is carefully selected, representing a microcosm of the myeloma community patients, caregivers, health care professionals and clinical trials managers, as well as representatives from our pharma partners, from CURE Magazine and the MMRF to emphasize the collaboration necessary to drive toward cures.

The foundation sent the group to Mount Hood, Mike said. It was the first time we met. What a great group of people. There were around 15 from all over the country, and there was one other couple, but no one else from New Jersey.

Four other multiple myeloma patients were in the group, he said. he team climbed for nine hours and then headed home.

To prepare for the trip to Patagonia, a region containing part of the Andes mountain range, Mike and Kathleen began a regime of long walks. For instance, theyd walk from Nutley to South Orange and went hiking in New Yorks Harriman State Park.

The MMRF website described the journey as one of arduous adventure: This team will traverse Patagonia crossing over glaciers, through deep valleys, and ascending challenging peaks. This is a powerful and life-changing experience, as the team overcomes challenges, pushes beyond perceived limits and honors loved ones and friends living with multiple myeloma.

For the trek, the team flew to El Calafate, Argentina. As the team embarked on different climbs, documentary filmmakers accompanied them.

The hiking was physically difficult, Mike said. We hiked in rain and incredible winds. In one particular hike, as soon as you felt the winds, you hit the ground. I was surprised nobody got hurt. Some of those slopes were pretty steep. But the scenery was unworldly, and there were condors.

Both Mike and Kathleen agreed that the most memorable sight was La Condorera, which their itinerary described as a nearly vertical massif, offering a home to one of the greatest concentrations of endangered condors in the world. A massif is a group of mountains standing apart from other mountains.

It was a difficult hike, Kathleen said. Youre ready to pass out getting to the top. But its so worth it. The panorama is a view of glaciers and condors. It was spectacular.

Mike and Kathleen returned home on Nov. 16, but there were no goodbyes at the airport. The team had grown so incredibly close that everyone felt they would be seeing each other again, a feeling grounded in the knowledge that multiple myeloma can be challenged and hopefully, one day, defeated.

Our goal in all of this is that you can have multiple myeloma and still do incredible things, Kathleen said.

Its an incentive to other patients to get out there and enjoy their lives, Mike said. And find a cure for multiple myeloma. I have a little bias. I have it.

FEATURED, MOBILE

Read more from the original source:
Fighting cancer with every step to Patagonia - Essex News Daily

When David Wilsons spine snapped, leading to a cancer diagnosis, there were fears he would be left paralysed.

But the cyclist and mountaineer had his back rebuilt and went through gruelling chemotherapy and now, just a year later, he is planning a very physical challenge to raise funds for charity,

The Fort William man, who is 60, has journeyed across the globe to the far reaches of the Himalayas, Greenland, Norway and New Zealand. And now he is cycling from London to Paris.

In the summer of 2018, he was cycling the Great Divide Mountain Bike Trail a 3,083-mile off-road ride from Canada to Mexico when his back began to hurt.

He cut the trip short, putting his injury down to old age and wear and tear.

And in February last year his spine suddenly snapped due to a form of blood cancer called Multiple Myeloma.

Following his devastating diagnosis, Mr Wilson owner of the Limetree Hotel, restaurant and art gallery in Fort William was transferred to hospital in Glasgow where he underwent surgery to rebuild his spine.

He explained: I was taken from the Belford Hospital to Inverness, then transferred from Inverness to Glasgow to the surgeons there and they were able to rebuild my spine by putting in a scaffolding in my back with titanium and screws. That stage was touch and go on whether I would be paraplegic now and being an outdoors geezer I was pretty fed up about that.

Following a successful surgery, the visual artist began to slowly walk again before enduring a rigorous six month cycle of chemotherapy to attack the disease.

On September 20, he then received a stem cell transplant, giving him a new lease of life.

The father-of-two said: I had a very adventurous life.

I have been in situations where death has been very close to me, people have been killed right next to me but I have always felt there was a way in those situations that you could get out of them but with cancer like this particular cancer there is no escape. Youre in the hands of the disease and you have to take your chances when you get them.

Now in remission, Mr Wilson is aiming to defy the odds by cycling 500km from London to Paris in September, arriving in Paris exactly a year following his stem cell treatment.

He has now launched a Just Giving page in the hopes of raising 1,500 for Myeloma UK towards finding a cure for the crippling disease.

Multiple myeloma, also known simply as Myeloma, is a form of blood cancer arising from plasma cells causing problems to various areas of the body such as the spine, skill, pelvis and ribs.

It develops in abnormal plasma cells, which release a large amount of a single type of antibody known as paraprotein which has no useful function.

Myeloma affects where bone marrow is normally active in an adult, such as in the bones of the spine, skull, pelvis, the rib cage, long bones of the arms and legs and the areas around the shoulders and hips.

Each year in the UK, approximately 5,700 people are diagnosed with myeloma.

Myeloma mainly affects those over the age of 65, however it has been diagnosed in people much younger.

In the early stages of developing the disease, patients rarely experience side effects and is only diagnosed through routine blood or urine tests.

As the disease progresses, the cancer can cause a range of problems including aches and tender areas in your bones, causes bones to break and fracture easily, kidney problems and repeated infections.

Patients can also become lethargic, weak and short of breath caused as a result of anaemia.

In most diagnosed cases of myeloma it cannot be cured, however, treatment can be given to control the condition and minimise its effects for several years.

Treatment includes anti-myeloma medicines to destroy the cancer cells or control the cancer if patients suffer a relapse as well as a range of medicines to prevent or treat side effects of myeloma.

View post:
Lochaber cyclist pledges to cycle from London to Paris in aid of charity - Press and Journal

ANN ARBORConventional thinking is that bone regeneration is left to a small number of mighty cells called skeletal stem cells, which reside within larger groups of bone marrow stromal cells.

But new findings from the University of Michigan recasts that thinking.

In a recent study, Noriaki Ono, assistant professor at the U-M School of Dentistry, and colleagues report that mature bone marrow stromal cells metamorphosed to perform in ways similar to their bone-healing stem cell cousinsbut only after an injury.

Bone fracture is an emergency for humans and all vertebrates, so the sooner cells start the business of healing damaged boneand the more cells there are to do itthe better.

Our study shows that other cells besides skeletal stem cells can do this job as well, Ono said.

In the mouse study, inert Cxcl12 cells in bone marrow responded to post-injury cellular cues by converting into regenerative cells, much like skeletal stem cells. Normally, the main job of these Cxcl12-expressing cells, widely known as CAR cells, is to secrete cytokines, which help regulate neighboring blood cells. They were recruited for healing only after an injury.

The surprise in our study is that these cells essentially did nothing in terms of making bones, when bones grow longer, Ono said. Its only when bones are injured that these cells start rushing to repair the defect.

This is important because the remarkable regenerative potential of bones is generally attributed to rare skeletal stem cells, Ono says. These new findings raise the possibility that these mighty skeletal stem cells could be generated through the transformation of the more available mature stromal cells.

These mature stromal cells are malleable and readily available throughout life, and could potentially provide an excellent cellular source for bone and tissue regeneration, Ono says.

The study appears in the journal Nature Communications.

More information:

Originally posted here:
After a bone injury, shape-shifting cells rush to the rescue - University of Michigan News

What are progenitor cells?

Every cell in the human body, and that of other mammals, originates from stem cell precursors. Progenitor cells are descendants of stem cells that then further differentiate to create specialized cell types.There are many types of progenitor cells throughout the human body. Each progenitor cell is only capable of differentiating into cells that belong to the same tissue or organ. Some progenitor cells have one final target cell that they differentiate to, while others have the potential to terminate in more than one cell type.

Stem cells share two qualifying characteristics. Firstly, all stem cells have the potential to differentiate into multiple types of cells. Secondly, stem cells are capable of unlimited self-replication via asymmetric cell division, a process known as self-renewal.There are two broad categories of stem cells found in all mammals. The first are embryonic stem cells. These cells arise from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst in an early-stage embryo. Embryonic stem cells are the blueprint used to create every cell in the body. Because they can be used to create any type of cell, they are known as pluripotent.

The second type of stem cells found in mammals are adult stem cells (or somatic stem cells). Unlike pluripotent embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells are more limited in relation to the type of cells that they become. Unlike embryonic stem cells that could be used to create any cell, adult stem cells are limited to generating cell types within a specific lineage, such as blood cells or cells of the central nervous system. This level of differentiation potential is termed multipotent.

Stem cells create two types of progeny: more stem cells or progenitor cells. All progenitor cells are descendants of stem cells. When it comes to cell differentiation, they fall on the spectrum between stem cells and fully differentiated (mature) cells.

Whilst stem cells have indefinite replication (left) progenitor cells can at most differentiate into multiple types of specialized cell (right).

Function:

Cellular repair or maintenance

Cell Potency:

Multipotent, oligopotent, or unipotent

Self-renewal:

Limited

Origin:

Stem cells

Creates:

Further differentiated cells (either progenitor cells of mature/fully differentiated cells)

Progenitor cells are an intermediary step involved in the creation of mature cells in human tissues and organs, the blood, and the central nervous system.

The human central nervous system (CNS) contains three types of fully differentiated cells: neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. The latter two are collectively known as glial cells.Every neuron, oligodendrocyte and astrocyte in the CNS evolves from the differentiation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs). NPCs themselves are produced by multipotent neural stem cells (NSCs). Both NPCs and NSCs are termed neural precursor cells.Before the 1990s, it was believed that neurogenesis terminated early in life. More recent studies demonstrate that the brain contains stem cells that are capable of regenerating neurons and glial cells throughout the human lifecycle. These stem cells have only been found in certain brain regions, including the striatum and lateral ventricle.

Hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) are an intermediate cell type in blood cell development. HPCs are immature cells that develop from hematopoietic stem cells, cells that can both self-renew and differentiate into hematopoietic progenitor cells. HPCs eventually differentiate into one of more than ten different types of mature blood cells.Hematopoietic progenitor cells are categorized based upon their cell potency, or their differentiation potential. As blood cells develop, their potency decreases.

First, hematopoietic stem cells differentiate into multipotent progenitor cells. Multipotent progenitor cells are those with the potential to differentiate into a subset of cell types. These cells then differentiate into either the common myeloid progenitor (CMP) or common lymphoid progenitor (CLP). Both CMPs and CLPs are types of oligopotent progenitor cells (progenitor cells that differentiate into only a few cell types).

CMPs and CLPs continue to differentiate along cell lines into lineage-restricted progenitor cells that become final, mature blood cells.Myeloid progenitor cells are precursors to the following types of blood cells:

Lymphoid progenitor cells (also known as lymphoblasts) are precursors to other mature blood cell types, including:

The primary role of progenitor cells is to replace dead or damaged cells. In this way, progenitor cells are necessary for repair after injury and as part of ongoing tissue maintenance. Progenitor cells also replenish blood cells and play a role in embryonic development.

Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) are being explored alongside neural stem cells for their potential to treat diseases of or injury to the central nervous system. A deeper understanding of how these cells function on a cellular and molecular basis is needed to progress from early experimental research to therapeutic use.NPCs are currently utilized in research conducted on CNS disorders, development, cell regeneration and degeneration, neuronal excitability, and therapy screening. When compared to induced pluripotent stem cells, which are cells reprogrammed into a pluripotent state, NPCs can cut down on time in some experiments.Hematopoietic progenitor cells and stem cells are being researched for their capacity to treat blood cell disorders. They are also currently used to help treat patients with a variety of malignant and non-malignant diseases via bone marrow transplants that deliver bone marrow and peripheral blood progenitor cells to patients. These procedures can assist patients in recovering from the damage caused by chemotherapy.Additionally, researchers are examining the potential of using progenitor cells to create a variety of tissues, such as blood vessels, heart valves, and electrically conductive tissue for the cardiovascular system.

See original here:
What are Progenitor Cells? Exploring Neural, Myeloid and Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells - Technology Networks

Chronic pain cost an estimated $139.3 billion in 2018. Image: iStock, Top image: Pexels

Researchers at the University of Sydney have used human stem cells to make pain-killing neurons that provide lasting relief in mice, without side effects, in a single treatment. The next step is to perform extensive safety tests in rodents and pigs, and then move to human patients suffering chronic pain within the next five years.

If the tests are successful in humans, it could be a major breakthrough in the development of new non-opioid, non-addictive pain management strategies for patients, the researchers said.

Thanks to funding from the NSW Ministry of Health, we are already moving towards testing in humans, said Professor Greg Neely, a leader in pain research at the Charles Perkins Centre and the School of Life and Environmental Sciences.

Nerve injury can lead to devastating neuropathic pain and for the majority of patients there are no effective therapies. This breakthrough means for some of these patients, we could make pain-killing transplants from their own cells, and the cells can then reverse the underlying cause of pain.

Link:
Pain treatment using human stem cells a success - News - The University of Sydney

The blood collected from the umbilical cord of the newborn is a rich source of stem cells. This blood is collected and sent to a cord blood bank, where the stem cells are separated, tested, processed, and preserved in liquid nitrogen. Technically, there is no expiry date and these stem cells can be preserved for a lifetime. Scientifically, evidence exists that they can be stored for about 20 years. The stem cells can treat around 70 blood related disorders and genetic disorders including thalassemia, sickle cell anaemia, leukaemia, and immune related disorders.

Stem cells taken from umbilical cord blood are like those taken from bone marrow, capable of producing all blood cells: red cells, platelets and immune system cells. When used, stem cells are first concentrated, then injected into the patient. Once transfused, they produce new cells of every kind.

They're capable of producing all types of blood cells: red cells, platelets and immune system cells. The stem cells can treat around 80 blood related illnesses like leukaemia, lymphomas, several genetic conditions and immune related disorders. But given the present state of medicine, they are effective only for around a dozen of them

See the original post:
Watch | Stem cell banking and its benefits - The Hindu

A dad who saved the life of a cancer patient 6,600 miles away was flown around the world on a trip of a lifetime by his grateful recipient - who tracked him down.

Milton Becker, 69, was close to death and in desperate need of a bone marrow donor when a two-and-a-half year global search linked him with an anonymous Welsh man.

Emyr Williams, 54, was a near-perfect match, and his bone marrow was flown to Canada and given to Milton, who was declared cancer free.

The pair were linked up by the donation database and grew close via phone calls and Facebook messages.

And last year he invited retired carpenter Emyr to Canada for a two week body">

A dad who saved the life of a cancer patient 6,600 miles away was flown around the world on a trip of a lifetime by his grateful recipient - who tracked him down.

Milton Becker, 69, was close to death and in desperate need of a bone marrow donor when a two-and-a-half year global search linked him with an anonymous Welsh man.

Emyr Williams, 54, was a near-perfect match, and his bone marrow was flown to Canada and given to Milton, who was declared cancer free.

The pair were linked up by the donation database and grew close via phone calls and Facebook messages.

And last year he invited retired carpenter Emyr to Canada for a two week $15,000 (8,835) trip around Alberta and the Rocky Mountains.

Meeting him for the first time at the airport, wearing a Welsh dragon T-shirt and a Wales flag, they formed an instant bond.

Milton said he's "indebted" to his hero - and is planning a UK trip.

Dad-of-three Emyr, from Lampeter, Wales, said: "It was surreal to be out there.

"There's this bond between us like no other.

"It was only when we went out there that we really understood how close to death Milton was.

"One of his friends said he had been finalising plans to be at his funeral.

"He was literally on death's door.

"For something that required no real effort at all saved that great man's life.

"And to have the pleasure of meeting him in the flesh and to be introduced to his family was just an honour."

Granddad-of-two Milton, from Alberta, Canada, added: "We got on so well and I just thought I've got to thank this guy.

"I didn't want him to spend a penny. It was my treat.

"It's not about the money. What he did was priceless.

"I'm forever indebted to the guy."

Milton was diagnosed with stage 4 leukaemia in 2010 but after unsuccessful chemotherapy he was told a bone marrow transplant was the only means of survival.

Doctors searched across Canada but were unsuccessful and begun their two-and-a-half year worldwide search for a donor.

In early 2013, Emyr - who had been registered on the blood transfusion register for several years - was found to be a near-perfect match.

Emyr said: "A lady called me one day to say 'would you be interested in donating your stem cells?

"She went on to say there was a guy in Canada with leukaemia and that I was a 99.9999 per cent match with him.

"I just thought why not.

"It doesn't cost me anything and it can really change somebody's life."

The bone marrow was flown from Wales - with Milton receiving his long-awaited transfusion on his 63rd birthday, on 1st February 2013.

Former oil company lorry driver Milton said: "What he did was completely priceless.

"There's no better gift than the gift of life.

"And to get that on my birthday, well, it was a great feeling!"

A year after the transfusion Milton was told he was on the road to recovery but was kept in remission and monitored by doctors for the next two years.

In 2016, three years after the blood transfusion, Milton was deemed cancer-free.

It led nurses to ask Milton if he would like to know who his donor was - which he accepted straight away.

They got in touch with Emyr - who'd been given bi-annual anonymous updates - who agreed his details could be passed on.

Emyr said: "A few days later I had this call from an international number.

"I remember it as clear as day.

"He phoned me up and said; 'Emyr, my name is Milton and I just want to say how thankful I am'.

"From then on we just hit it off.

"What makes me laugh is he always forgets his Facebook password so he's a complete technophobe.

"We speak through his children on Facebook.

"We mostly speak about our family."

Milton said: "I couldn't turn up the chance to thank the guy who gave me life!

"I started off by thanking him and we had a great chat.

"I told him I would be forever grateful and wanted to keep in touch."

The two then added each other on Facebook and soon became good friends with weekly messages and monthly phone calls.

Then two years later Milton phoned Emyr to ask if he and his family would be interested in flying out to Canada for a two-week holiday.

Emyr said: "He asked me during one of our phone calls.

"I had never been to Canada and thought it would just be great to meet each other face-to-face."

Emyr flew out with his wife and teenage daughter last September 2019 to start the two-week itinerary around Alberta and the Rocky Mountains.

Emyr said: "He was there at the airport with a Welsh dragon on his T-shirt and a Welsh flag.

"You couldn't miss them.

"We have beautiful mountains here in Wales but Canada was just something else.

"It was an absolutely incredible trip.

"He paid for it all.

"We stayed in cabins, had a party with his extended family, we drank, sat by the open fire, and toasted marshmallows."

Milton added: "One Sunday I took him to my church.

"People knew he was coming and the service and to my surprise Emyr got up and told the church about the successful operation.

"There were tears but it was just beautiful."

Now seven years on from the transfusion, the pair say they are thankful to have one another in each other's lives.

The pair still keep regular contact with one another, with Facebook messages, fortnightly phone calls and even FaceTimed each other on Christmas Day.

Emyr said: "They're planning on coming to Wales next year in June or July.

"We'll definitely go back out there again in a few years.

"Even though we're thousands of miles away, we're such great friends."

Milton said: "We still have our chit-chats and I'd love to go over to the UK.

5,000 (8,835) trip around Alberta and the Rocky Mountains.

Meeting him for the first time at the airport, wearing a Welsh dragon T-shirt and a Wales flag, they formed an instant bond.

Milton said he's "indebted" to his hero - and is planning a UK trip.

Dad-of-three Emyr, from Lampeter, Wales, said: "It was surreal to be out there.

"There's this bond between us like no other.

"It was only when we went out there that we really understood how close to death Milton was.

"One of his friends said he had been finalising plans to be at his funeral.

"He was literally on death's door.

"For something that required no real effort at all saved that great man's life.

"And to have the pleasure of meeting him in the flesh and to be introduced to his family was just an honour."

Granddad-of-two Milton, from Alberta, Canada, added: "We got on so well and I just thought I've got to thank this guy.

"I didn't want him to spend a penny. It was my treat.

"It's not about the money. What he did was priceless.

"I'm forever indebted to the guy."

Milton was diagnosed with stage 4 leukaemia in 2010 but after unsuccessful chemotherapy he was told a bone marrow transplant was the only means of survival.

Doctors searched across Canada but were unsuccessful and begun their two-and-a-half year worldwide search for a donor.

In early 2013, Emyr - who had been registered on the blood transfusion register for several years - was found to be a near-perfect match.

Emyr said: "A lady called me one day to say 'would you be interested in donating your stem cells?

"She went on to say there was a guy in Canada with leukaemia and that I was a 99.9999 per cent match with him.

"I just thought why not.

"It doesn't cost me anything and it can really change somebody's life."

The bone marrow was flown from Wales - with Milton receiving his long-awaited transfusion on his 63rd birthday, on 1st February 2013.

Former oil company lorry driver Milton said: "What he did was completely priceless.

"There's no better gift than the gift of life.

"And to get that on my birthday, well, it was a great feeling!"

A year after the transfusion Milton was told he was on the road to recovery but was kept in remission and monitored by doctors for the next two years.

In 2016, three years after the blood transfusion, Milton was deemed cancer-free.

It led nurses to ask Milton if he would like to know who his donor was - which he accepted straight away.

They got in touch with Emyr - who'd been given bi-annual anonymous updates - who agreed his details could be passed on.

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

Play now

See the article here:
Cancer patient flies dad who saved his life 6600 miles away around the world - Birmingham Live

Umbilical cord blood banking or cord blood banking is the practice of preserving blood from the umbilical cord for future use. Such preserved cord blood is used in medical therapies in the similar approach as that of stem cells derived from bone marrow. Umbilical cord blood is collected from the umbilical cord of a newborn baby and also retrieved from the placenta after delivery. It is enriched with adult stem cells and these stem cells play a vital role in regulating all biological activities and in developing tissues in the human body.

The market of umbilical cord blood banking is anticipated to grow with a significant rate in the coming years, owing to factors such as, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases is the key driver of the umbilical cord blood banking market. Globally, umbilical cord blood banking market is growing rapidly due to, various government associations and initiatives are also supporting the growth of the market. Asia Pacific region are expected to offer growth opportunities for the players operating in the market owing to increasing prevalence of chronic diseases.

Download a sample report Explore further @https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPHE100001334

Top Dominating Key Players:

The global umbilical cord blood banking market is segmented on the basis of product, application, and end users. The product segment includes, public cord blood banks, and private cord blood banks. The umbilical cord blood banking market based on the application is segmented as, cancer, blood disorders, metabolic disorders, immune disorders, osteoporosis and, others application. Based on the end users, the umbilical cord blood banking market is segmented as, hospitals, pharmaceutical research and, research institutes.

The report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global umbilical cord blood banking market based on product, application, and end users. It also provides market size and forecast till 2027 for overall Umbilical cord blood banking market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South & Central America. The market by each region is later sub-segmented by respective countries and segments. The report covers analysis and forecast of 13 counties globally along with current trend and opportunities prevailing in the region.

North America holds the largest share for umbilical cord blood banking market. This largest share of the region can be attributed to increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and rising awareness about importance of cord blood. However, Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region in the umbilical cord blood banking market over the forecast period. Although the region currently holds a nominal share in the global market, it offers enormous growth potential owing to vast improvement in health care reforms and increasing awareness of stem cell banking in selected countries of Asia Pacific, such as India, China, and Japan.

Purchase for Report @ https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPHE100001334

Reasons to Buy the Report:

About Us:

The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Automotive and Defense.

Contact Us:

The Insight partners,

Phone: +1-646-491-9876Email:sales@theinsightpartners.com

Visit link:
Umbilical Cord Blood Banking Market By Classifications, Applications and Market Overview 2019-2027 - NY Telecast 99

Daratumumab: A Promising Option

Due to promising new data from several big clinical trials, its now believed that daratumumab can benefit patients with multiple myeloma regardless ofwhether theyre eligible to receive a stem cell transplant.

Daratumumab (also known by its brand name, Darzalex), is a type of drug called a targeted monoclonal antibody. It works by binding to a specific protein called CD38, which is found on the surface of multiple myeloma cells. Once the daratumumab attaches to these proteins on the surface of the cells, the bodys immune system identifies the need to attack and kill the multiple myeloma cells.

As Dr. Nina Shah,a hematologist at the University of California San Francisco, explains, patients receiving a stem cell transplant can benefit from the addition of daratumumab to a combination of the drugs Velcade, Revlimid and dexamethasone (a combination that doctors often abbreviate as Dara VRD).

If, on the other hand, a transplant isnt the right course of treatment for you, you may still be able to benefit from daratumumab when its used in whats called the upfront or first-line treatment setting (meaning as the first part of your treatment, before you receive other drugs) when combined withRevlimid and dexamethasone (a combination that doctors often abbreviate as DRD).

If youre not interested in a transplant, or maybe thats not in the works for you at the moment, you may consider daratumumab, Revlimid and dexamethasone, or DRD,' Dr. Shah explains.

One thing thats really gotten a lot of attention is not just three drugs, but four drugs, Dr. Shah says. She explains that a recent clinical trial called GRIFFIN showed that before a stem cell transplant, treatment with daratumumab in combination with Velcade, Revlimid and dexamethasone was more beneficial than treatment with Velcade, Revlimid and dexamethasone alone.

And when patients who received this combination before their transplant, then went on to receive additional daratumumab after their transplant, the benefit was even greater.

Preliminarily, at least, the data seems to indicate that the patients who got four drugs, then went on to a transplant and then got more daratumumab actually did better than the three drugs, Dr. Shah says.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

Dr. Nina Shah is a hematologist who specializes in the treatment of multiple myeloma, a type of cancer affecting the blood marrow. She treats patients at the Hematology and Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinic. Read More

Daratumumab (also known by its brand name, Darzalex), is a type of drug called a targeted monoclonal antibody. It works by binding to a specific protein called CD38, which is found on the surface of multiple myeloma cells. Once the daratumumab attaches to these proteins on the surface of the cells, the bodys immune system identifies the need to attack and kill the multiple myeloma cells.

If, on the other hand, a transplant isnt the right course of treatment for you, you may still be able to benefit from daratumumab when its used in whats called the upfront or first-line treatment setting (meaning as the first part of your treatment, before you receive other drugs) when combined withRevlimid and dexamethasone (a combination that doctors often abbreviate as DRD).

If youre not interested in a transplant, or maybe thats not in the works for you at the moment, you may consider daratumumab, Revlimid and dexamethasone, or DRD,' Dr. Shah explains.

One thing thats really gotten a lot of attention is not just three drugs, but four drugs, Dr. Shah says. She explains that a recent clinical trial called GRIFFIN showed that before a stem cell transplant, treatment with daratumumab in combination with Velcade, Revlimid and dexamethasone was more beneficial than treatment with Velcade, Revlimid and dexamethasone alone.

And when patients who received this combination before their transplant, then went on to receive additional daratumumab after their transplant, the benefit was even greater.

Preliminarily, at least, the data seems to indicate that the patients who got four drugs, then went on to a transplant and then got more daratumumab actually did better than the three drugs, Dr. Shah says.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

Dr. Nina Shah is a hematologist who specializes in the treatment of multiple myeloma, a type of cancer affecting the blood marrow. She treats patients at the Hematology and Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinic. Read More

Excerpt from:
The Benefit of Adding Daratumumab to Multiple Myeloma Drug Combinations - SurvivorNet

Stem cell banking or preservation is a combined process of extraction, processing and storage of stem cells, so that they may be used for treatment of various medical conditions in the future, when required. Stem cells have the amazing power to get transformed into any tissue or organ in the body. In recent days, stem cells are used to treat variety of life-threatening diseases such as blood and bone marrow diseases, blood cancers, and immune disorders among others.

The market of stem cell banking is anticipated to grow with a significant rate in the coming years, owing to factors such as, development of novel technologies for stem cell preservation and processing, and storage; growing awareness on the potential of stem cells for various therapeutic conditions. Moreover, increasing investments in stem cell research is also expected to propel the growth of the stem cell banking market across the globe. On other hand rising burden of major diseases and emerging economies are expected to offer significant growth opportunities for the players operating in stem cell banking market.

Get sample PDF copy at: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPBT00002082/

The key players influencing the market are:

Cordlife, ViaCord (A Subsidiary of PerkinElmer), Cryo-Save AG, StemCyte India Therapeutics Pvt. Ltd., Cryo-Cell International, Inc., SMART CELLS PLUS, Vita 34, LifeCell, Global Cord Blood Corporation, CBR Systems, Inc.

This report contains:

The global stem cell banking market is segmented on the basis of source, service type, and application. The source segment includes, placental stem cells (PSCS), dental pulp-derived stem cells (DPSCS), bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCS), adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCS), human embryo-derived stem cells (HESCS), and other stem cell sources. Based on service type the market is segmented into, sample processing, sample analysis, sample preservation and storage, sample collection and transportation. Based on application, the market is segmented as, clinical applications, research applications, and personalized banking applications.

Stem Cell Banking Market Global Analysis to 2027 is an expert compiled study which provides a holistic view of the market covering current trends and future scope with respect to product/service, the report also covers competitive analysis to understand the presence of key vendors in the companies by analyzing their product/services, key financial facts, details SWOT analysis and key development in last three years. Further chapter such as industry landscape and competitive landscape provides the reader with recent company level insights covering mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, collaborations, new product developments/strategies taking place across the ecosystem. The chapters also evaluate the key vendors by mapping all the relevant products and services to exhibit the ranking/ position of top 5 key vendors.

Stem Cell Banking Market is a combination of qualitative as well as quantitative analysis which can be broken down into 40% and 60% respectively. Market estimation and forecasts are presented in the report for the overall global market from 2018 2027, considering 2018 as the base year and 2018 2027 forecast period. Global estimation is further broken down by segments and geographies such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa and South America covering major 16 countries across the mentioned regions. The qualitative contents for geographical analysis will cover market trends in each region and country which includes highlights of the key players operating in the respective region/country, PEST analysis of each region which includes political, economic, social and technological factors influencing the growth of the market.

Report Spotlights

Purchase This Report @ https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPBT00002082/

About Us:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Semiconductors, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Automotive and Defense.

Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: [emailprotected]

Go here to see the original:
Stem Cell Banking Market smart Strategies of the Research and Development Process Dagoretti News - Dagoretti News

Eric Stegers heart is full, although his liver is smaller by 60%.

Steger, a 50-year-old man from Sunnydale, California, affiliated with Chabad, was in Pittsburgh earlier this month fulfilling his dream of donating an entire lobe of his liver to help save the life of another.

The liver recipient, Conservative Rabbi Jeffrey Kurtz-Lendner, 53, said he feels like he has been given a second chance at life.

Get The Jewish Chronicle Weekly Edition by email and never miss our top storiesFree Sign Up

Kurtz-Lendner, who relocated to Pittsburgh from Iowa for the purpose of obtaining a transplant at UPMC, had been diagnosed with fatty liver cirrhosis, but the doctors did not know how serious it was until they were in the midst of the transplant.

I could have died before I got put onto a list, said Kurtz-Lendner, who, after the Jan. 7 surgery, is still recuperating but has been discharged from the hospital.

Steger, a math tutor at Foothill College in Northern California, has donated stem cells for a bone marrow transplant and platelets many times, and has been wanting to help save a life with one of his organs for years. He even traveled to Israel to donate a kidney, but was ultimately turned down because he had hypertension.

About a year ago, though, he saw a UPMC commercial airing in California that advertised the fact that it was now performing altruistic liver donations.

I decided to give it a try, said Steger.

He then got in touch with Chaya Lipschutz, an Orthodox woman from Brooklyn who donated a kidney to a stranger in 2005, and since then has made it her work to help others find kidney matches. She receives no money for her services.

Lipschutz had made the shidduch with the kidney patient in Israel for Steger that did not work out, he said.

As fate would have it, Lipschutz did know people who needed a live liver transplant. Steger was medically cleared for the procedure, but the first few people with whom he matched found other donors. Lipschutz then turned to message boards to post that she had an able and willing donor.

Now I was a solution in search of a problem, said Steger.

When Kurtz-Lendners sister in Teaneck, New Jersey, happened to see Lipschutzs post, the match was made.

Post-surgery, both donor and recipient are doing well.

Im feeling very positive, said Kurtz-Lendner, noting that full recovery from the procedure will take about a year. Two weeks ago, I was dying. Now, I have another 30 years.

He, his wife Robin, and his oldest daughter will remain in Pittsburgh for at least six months.

Kurtz-Lendner did not meet Steger until after the surgery, and sees him as an inspiration of a human being. I appreciate what he has done. He just saved my life.

Steger returned to California this week. During his time in Pittsburgh, he received warm hospitality from the citys Jewish community, particularly the Bikur Cholim of Pittsburgh, run by Nina Butler, he said.

Patients and families who come here from out of town always remind us of how special our community is, said Butler. As the Bikur Cholim of Pittsburgh, Im simply organizing the generosity of volunteers to provide the specific support that each patient wants. That started before Jeff or Eric arrived, answering their questions about housing, Shabbat observance and kosher food.

Eric is observant and came unaccompanied, so his housing was complicated because the Family House does not allow patients to stay completely alone, Butler explained. We provided home hospitality, and we also organized volunteers to drop off meals for Eric while his hosts were at work. Most of all, we formed relationships with both patients and Jeffs family so they knew there were Pittsburghers who had their backs.

Robin Kurtz-Lendner said that she and her husband felt so supported, even before we got here. Its been incredible. The whole community has been rallying around us and its really been appreciated.

Donating part of his liver was not easy, Steger acknowledged. Still, he wants to encourage others to consider organ donation.

Im not going to sugarcoat it, he said. It was the hardest thing Ive ever done. It was a year out of my life, one full year when I was thinking about this all the time.

There was a battery of tests, the surgery itself, and now the recovery phase, he said, which all carry physical and emotional risks.

But he is hoping what he did will help generate continued interest in organ donation.

I hope my experience will inspire other people to investigate it for themselves, he said.pjc

Toby Tabachnick can be reached atttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

View post:
California man donates part of his liver to Conservative rabbi in Pittsburgh - The Australian Jewish News

New Delhi: On Saturday, January 18th, 2020, the Advancells Group & the International Fertility Center together ended their first workshop Sub-Specialty Training in Application of Regenerative Medicine (S.T.A.R. 2020). The three-day workshop had specialized doctors, medical practitioners, learned scientists of Advancells, the leaders in cell manufacturing & processes and IFC, one of Indias most prestigious Fertility institute who were joined by candidates with MBBS/BAMS/BHMS/BPharma & Masters degree in Life Sciences.

The key-note speaker of the workshop was Dr. Rita Bakshi, founder and chairperson of International Fertility Centre, the oldest fertility clinic and one of the most renowned IVF clinics in India, one of the organizers of the event. Participants also had a privilege to listen to Dr. Sachin Kadam, CTO, Advancells and gain hands-on experience in the preparation of PRP; Liposuction method; and Bone Marrow aspiration. All these techniques were talked about at length and demonstrated in the form of manual & kit-based models to help the candidates gain exposure.

Dr. Punit Prabha, Head of Clinical Research and Dr. Shradha Singh Gautam, Head of Lab Operations at Advancells successfully set the base of stem cell biology for the participants who were experts in gynecology field, stem cell research and pain specialist. With the help of detailed analysis of Application of PRP for Skin rejuvenation; Preparation of Micro-fragmented Adipose Tissue and Nano Fat & SVF (Stromal Vascular Fraction) from Adipose Tissue; and Cell Culturing and Expansion in a Laboratory, applicants understood the application of stem cells in aesthetics, cosmetology, and anti-aging.

Vipul Jain, Founder & CEO of Advancells Group said, Educating young scientists about stem cells is important for us. With this workshop we wanted to discuss and share the challenges and lessons we have learned in our journey of curing our customers. We wanted to establish more concrete knowledge base in the presence of subject matter experts and help our attendees in more possible ways. We are hopeful to have successfully achieved what we claimed with this workshop.

Given the resounding success of the Sub-Specialty Training in Application of Regenerative Medicine (S.T.A.R. 2020), its hoped that the future events shall offer even greater wisdom to the participants by helping them improve and the lead the community into the age of greater awareness.

Advancells Group Advancells is leading the field of stem cell therapies in India and abroad, with representative offices in Bangladesh and Australia. The company provides arrangements for stem cell banking and protocols for partner doctors and hospitals which they can use for treating the patients using regenerative medicine. With a GMP compliant research and processing center that works on different cell lines from various sources such as Bone Marrow, Adipose Tissue, Dental Pulp, Blood, Cord Tissue etc. Advancells also intends to file a patent for this processing technology soon.

For more information, visit https://www.advancells.com/

International Fertility Centre IFC is Indias leading fertility center under the leadership and guidance of Dr. Rita Bakshi. She along with her solid team of experienced doctors have create a network of 10+ IVF clinics located in India and Nepal. Their services include In-vitro Fertilization (IVF), Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), Intracytoplasmic Injection (ICSI), Egg Donation, Surrogacy, Blastocyst, Assisted Hatching, Hysteroscopy, Laparoscopy and much more.

Original post:
Advancells Group & IFC Concluded their 3-Day Workshop on Regenerative Medicine - India Education Diary

New cell treatment could help maintain healthy blood sugar levels

A new cell treatment to enhance islet transplantation could help maintain healthy blood sugar levels in Type 1 diabetes without the need for multiple transplants of insulin producing cells or regular insulin injections, research suggests.

In Type 1 diabetes the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas are destroyed. Insulin injections maintain health but blood glucose levels can be difficult to control. Currently in the UK it is estimated that approximately 400,000 people in the UK have type 1 diabetes.

The current recommendation for people with type 1 diabetes who have lost awareness of low blood glucose levels is the transplantation of islets the insulin producing part of the pancreas.

A study in mice found that transplanting a combination of islets with connective tissue cells found in umbilical cords known as stromal cells - could potentially reduce the number of pancreases required for the procedure.

Mice that received the islet-stromal cell combination were found to have better control of blood glucose and less evidence of rejection of islets after seven weeks, compared to those that received islets alone.

In humans, more than two donor pancreases, which are scarce, are often needed because islets can be rejected and are slow to form new blood supplies.

Therefore, multiple islet transplantations and anti-rejection medication are required to control blood sugar levels in people with Type 1 diabetes. Scientists at the University of Edinburgh hope their findings could be a way of overcoming these issues.

The researchers found that islets combined with stromal cells successfully returned normal blood glucose levels just three days after transplantation.

Other studies have used cells sourced from bone marrow and fat. This is the first to use stem cells from umbilical cords and has produced superior results.

The research is published in the journal Science Translational Medicine and funded by Chief Scientist Office in Scotland and Diabetes UK.

Shareen Forbes, Professor of Diabetic Medicine at the University of Edinburgh and Lead Physician for the Islet Transplant Program in Scotland, said: Should this research prove successful in humans, we could reduce the number of islets needed to control blood sugar levels using this co-transplantation approach. This would mean more people with Type 1 diabetes could be treated using islet transplantation while significantly reducing the waiting time on the transplant list.

John Campbell, Professor and Associate Director Tissues, Cells & Advanced Therapeutics at the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service has said that further work is needed to establish the long-term safety of using this type of stromal cell in this setting before proceeding to clinical trials in humans.

Dr. Elizabeth Robertson, Director of Research at Diabetes UK, said: Islet transplants have been life changing for some people with Type 1 diabetes, treating dangerous hypo unawareness. But there currently arent enough donated pancreases to go around, and the procedure itself isnt yet as effective as it could be.

This new research from the University of Edinburgh is a promising step forward, and one we hope will lead to islet transplants becoming both more effective and more widely available in the future.

Register for your free SelectScience membership today to receive the latest editorial articles and technology news direct to your inbox>>

View original post here:
Cell therapy trialed in mice offers diabetes treatment hope - SelectScience

Debuts at the NY20 Foundation for Podiatric Medicine Meeting

HACKENSACK, N.J., Jan. 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Royal Biologics, an ortho-biologics company specializing in the research and advancement of novel ortho-biologics solutions, today announced the launch of Cryo-Cord, the first DMSO-free viable umbilical cord graft. The company will be showcasing Cryo-Cord along with its new portfolio of Autologous Live Cellular (ALC) technologies at the NY20 Foundation for Podiatric Medicine meeting, held January 24-26 in New York, NY for more than 1500 clinical attendees.

The company will feature its full suite of surgical biologic offerings at exhibit booth #322, and on the podium for Innovation Theater presentations at 10:30am on Friday 1/24/20 and 12pm on Saturday 1/25/20. These scientific presentations will feature several products within the Royal Biologics portfolio. At its booth, Royal Biologics will showcase its comprehensive ALC portfolio designed to personalize live regenerative healing for a wide variety of wound types across the orthopedics continuum.

The launch of Cryo-Cord enables providers with the first DMSO-free viable umbilical cord tissue. Cryo-Cord has been obtained with consent from healthy mothers during cesarean section delivery and is intended for use as a soft tissue barrier or wound dressing. Cryo-Cord is processed using aseptic techniques and frozen with a proprietary cryoprotectant.

Cryo-Cord offers a new enhancement to traditional wound care therapies and we are excited to pave the way with the first DMSO-free cryoprotectant graft on the market, said Salvatore Leo, Chief Executive Officer of Royal Biologics.

Other featured products at NY20 will include Maxx-Cell, which was launched as the world's most advanced bone marrow aspiration device. Maxx-Cell offers a new technique to a gold standard approach of aspirating a patients autologous bone marrow cells. Maxx-Cell however does not require centrifugation to deliver a final end product. The Maxx-Cell system maximizes stem and progenitor cell yields by giving the surgeon the ability to efficiently harvest bone marrow from multiple levels within the medullary space, while restricting dilution of peripheral blood. As a result, Maxx-Cell delivers a high, most pure enriched form of bone marrow aspirate without the need for centrifugation.

This month, the company has also announced the launch of MAGNUS, which is a DMSO-free viable cellular bone allograft and demos will be available during the conference. MAGNUS presents a unique solution to traditional viable cellular allograft technology as it utilizes a DMSO-free cryoprotectant. This novel approach to the viable cellular allograft market differentiates MAGNUS from other technologies currently available.

Leo added, We are excited to participate in NY20 and share how our Autologous Live Cellular based therapies give the surgeons an efficient and effective way to enhance surgical outcomes by providing alternatives to conventional therapies for bone and soft tissue related injuries. We also believe that in a cost-conscious industry, we can provide novel viable cellular products that provide value at the point of care.

To watch the latest ALC product videos and learn more about the range of regenerative medical products offered by Royal Biologics, along with a schedule of 2020 conferences, visit http://www.RoyalBiologics.com.

About Royal Biologics

Royal Biologics is an ortho-biologics company specializing in the research and advancement of Regenerative Cellular Therapy. Its primary focus is on using autologous bioactive cells to help promote healing in a wide range of clinical settings, with its portfolio of FDA-approved medical devices. For more information on its line of products, visit http://www.royalbiologics.com.

For more media information, contact:Lisa Hendrickson, LCH Communicationslisa@lchcommunications.com516-767-8390

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ee412ed7-d46b-40b7-9322-a65f5cb26430

Go here to see the original:
Royal Biologics Announces the Launch of Cryo-Cord, the First Non-DMSO Viable Umbilical Cord Graft - Yahoo Finance

NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES, Jan. 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. (BCLI), a leading developer of adult stem cell therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases, announced today that Ralph Kern, MD, MHSc, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Medical Officer, will present at the 10th Annual California ALS Research Summit, January 24-25 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California.

Dr. Kern will provide an update on BrainStorms Phase 3 ALS Clinical Trial on Friday, January 24, 10:30 -11:10 AM PT, during the session: CIRM funded Stem Cell Clinical Trials in California Updates.

Dr. Kern stated, This prestigious Summit works to increase, expedite and promote the amount and level of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research done in California that has been reinforced and amplified by the international ALS scientific and medical community. I am pleased to have the opportunity to share all that BrainStorm has accomplished in our fully enrolled Phase 3 clinical trial of NurOwn(NCT03280056).

Chaim Lebovits, President and CEO of BrainStorm, stated, California continues to be a global leader in stem cell research and scientific funding. Due to Californias commitment to stem cell scientific investigation, BrainStorm is at an inflection point as we bring our investigational therapy, NurOwn, toward the submission of a biological license application. In July 2017, BrainStorm was awarded a grant of $15.9 million from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) and three of Californias most prestigious medical centers: University of California, Irvine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and California Pacific Medical Center have contributed immensely to advancement of NurOwn. Everyone at BrainStorm is proud Dr. Kern will have the opportunity to present to the ALS community of California all that has been accomplished due to their ongoing support and encouragement.

About The California ALS Research Summit:

The California ALS Research Summit is the tenth annual gathering of researchers, investigators, clinicians, biotech companies, government representatives, partner organizations, and advocates in ALS and related fields in the State of California.

The purpose of the Summit is to help increase, expedite and promote the amount and level of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease) and related research done in California; and to foster networking, collaboration and cooperation among investigators, their peers and their colleagues to identify, develop and deliver new and effective treatments, ideas and, ultimately, cures for ALS.

The result of our efforts is an ongoing roadmap for ALS research in California, which will provide the basis for partnering within the state and other supporters to further studies to find new treatments and ultimately a cure for the disease.

About NurOwn

NurOwn (autologous MSC-NTF cells) represent a promising investigational approach to targeting disease pathways important in neurodegenerative disorders. MSC-NTF cells are produced from autologous, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that have been expanded and differentiated ex vivo. MSCs are converted into MSC-NTF cells by growing them under patented conditions that induce the cells to secrete high levels of neurotrophic factors. Autologous MSC-NTF cells can effectively deliver multiple NTFs and immunomodulatory cytokines directly to the site of damage to elicit a desired biological effect and ultimately slow or stabilize disease progression. NurOwn is currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 ALS randomized placebo-controlled trial and in a Phase 2 open-label multicenter trial in Progressive MS.

About BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. is a leading developer of innovative autologous adult stem cell therapeutics for debilitating neurodegenerative diseases. The Company holds the rights to clinical development and commercialization of the NurOwn technology platform used to produce autologous MSC-NTF cells through an exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement. Autologous MSC-NTF cells have received Orphan Drug status designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in ALS. BrainStorm has fully enrolled a Phase 3 pivotal trial in ALS (NCT03280056), investigating repeat-administration of autologous MSC-NTF cells at six sites in the U.S., supported by a grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM CLIN2-0989). The pivotal study is intended to support a filing for U.S. FDA approval of autologous MSC-NTF cells in ALS. For more information, visit BrainStorm's website at http://www.brainstorm-cell.com.

Story continues

Safe-Harbor Statement

Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information, including statements regarding future clinical trial enrollment and data, constitute "forward-looking statements" and involve risks and uncertainties that could causeBrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.'sactual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. Terms and phrases such as "may", "should", "would", "could", "will", "expect", "likely", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "predict", "potential", and similar terms and phrases are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, BrainStorms need to raise additional capital, BrainStorms ability to continue as a going concern, regulatory approval of BrainStorms NurOwn treatment candidate, the success of BrainStorms product development programs and research, regulatory and personnel issues, development of a global market for our services, the ability to secure and maintain research institutions to conduct our clinical trials, the ability to generate significant revenue, the ability of BrainStorms NurOwn treatment candidate to achieve broad acceptance as a treatment option for ALS or other neurodegenerative diseases, BrainStorms ability to manufacture and commercialize the NurOwn treatment candidate, obtaining patents that provide meaningful protection, competition and market developments, BrainStorms ability to protect our intellectual property from infringement by third parties, heath reform legislation, demand for our services, currency exchange rates and product liability claims and litigation,; and other factors detailed in BrainStorm's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q available athttp://www.sec.gov. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on BrainStorm's forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this press release. We do not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or assumptions if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, unless otherwise required by law. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.

CONTACTS

Corporate:Uri YablonkaChief Business OfficerBrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.Phone: 646-666-3188uri@brainstorm-cell.com

Media:Sean LeousWestwicke/ICR PRPhone: +1.646.677.1839sean.leous@icrinc.com

Or:Katie GallagherLaVoieHealthSciencesPhone: + 1 617-374-8800 x109kgallagher@lavoiehealthscience.com

Original post:
BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics COO and CMO, Dr. Ralph Kern, to Present at the 10th Annual California ALS Research Summit - Yahoo Finance

Janssen has announced that the European Commission (EC) has grantedmarketing authorisationfora new Darzalex (daratumumab) combo, for newly diagnosed, transplant eligible patients with multiple myeloma (MM).

On the news, the combination, which consists of the biologic combined with bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone(VTd) is now the first regimen approved in over six years for newly diagnosed patients who are eligible for a stem cell transplant. It also means that the patient population now has their first opportunity to be treated with a monoclonal antibody.

The company says that the approval was based on results from part one of the Phase III CASSIOPEIA (MMY3006) study, which showed that after consolidation, the stringent complete response (sCR) rate was 9% higher in the Darzalex-VTd arm than the VTd alone arm.

Further, at a median follow-up of 18.8 months, PFS was significantly improved in the Darzalex-VTd group, with the addition of the drug resulting in an 18-month PFS rate of 93%, compared to 85% for VTd alone.

The effectiveness of first line treatment is critical to maximise time until relapse, explained Philippe Moreau, principal investigator and Head of the Haematology Department at the University Hospital of Nantes.

He continued, The CASSIOPEIA study answered that question definitively, demonstrating that the addition of Darzalex in combination with VTd can lead to very deep remissions and also prolong PFS. Im pleased to see the European Commission have recognised this as well.

MM is an incurable blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow and is characterised by an excessive proliferation of plasma cells. In Europe, more than 48,200 people were diagnosed with MM in 2018, with more than 30,800 deaths related to the disease.

Visit link:
Darzalex EU nod marks first newly diagnosed MM treatment in six years - PharmaTimes

In November 2018, Chinese biophysics researcher He Jiankuimade a historic announcement.

Two twin girls nicknamed Lulu and Nana had become the worlds first genetically modified human beings.

Using a gene-editing technology known as CRISPR, He had manipulated the DNA of the embryos that would become the girls in an effort to make them immune to the HIV virus.

What first seemed like a historic triumph of science, however, quickly became one of the most infamous scandals in medical history.

The researcher was swiftly fired from his university, put under police investigation, and denounced by experts around the world who said he jumped the gun and carried out an experiment that was unsafe and unethical.

In December, He was sentenced to three years in prison for illegally carrying out human embryo gene-editing intended for reproduction. Its unclear whether the experiment caused any genetic damage to Lulu and Nana or if they are even resistant to the HIV virus.

Kiran Musunuru, one of the worlds foremost genetics researchers, was the first expert to publically condemn Hes experiment.

Nonetheless, Musunuru says the birth of the Chinese twins marks the beginning of a new human era, the possibilities of which are boundless.

Potential future implications of gene-editing technology range from preventing genetic diseases to producing designer babies with custom traits to creating superhumans and controlling our own evolution.

With the release of his new book, The CRISPR Generation: The story of the Worls First Gene-Edited Babies, The Globe Posts Bryan Bowmanspoke to Musunuru about where this technology could go from here and what it could mean for the future of humanity.

The following interview is lightly condensed and edited for length and clarity.

Bowman: Could you explain what CRISPR is broadly and how that technology evolved to where it is today?

Musunuru: CRISPR is one type of gene-editing tool. Gene editing is a technology that allows us to make changes to genes in the DNA and in the cells in the body. If were talking about human beings, typically were talking about changes that are related to health or disease.

There are several types of gene editing tools, but CRISPR is by far the most popular one. CRISPR is interesting because it wasnt invented. It actually exists naturally in all sorts of bacteria. It evolved as a sort of an immune system that can fight off viral infections. Just like we can get viral infections, it turns out bacteria can get viral infections as well. And so bacteria created a system by which they can fight off viruses. So thats where CRISPR came from.

Over the past couple of decades, a variety of very talented scientists identified it, discovered it in bacteria, and then were able to adapt it into a gene-editing tool that can now be used in human cells.

What we can do with CRISPR is either turn off genes and thats easier to do or we can make more precise changes to genes such as correcting a mutation that causes disease.

Bowman: Last year, there was the famous or infamous case where Dr. He Jiankui in China covertly created the first gene-edited babies. And I understand that you were the first expert to publicly condemn the experiment. What exactly did Dr. He do and why did you feel it was so unethical?

Musunuru: What he was trying to do was use CRISPR to turn off a gene called CCR5. By turning off this gene, he was hoping to make the babies that were born resistant to HIV infection, HIV being the virus that causes AIDS.

There are many people who are naturally born with this chain turned off and theyre resistant to HIV. So the rationale was, well, Im going to try to create babies who have the same trait.

What he did was problematic for two reasons. One, it was, to put it lightly, a scientific disaster. Everything you worry about going badly with CRISPR actually did happen. Any technology has a potential for a lot of good with the potential for bad. I compare it to fire. It can be very useful. But if youre not careful, it can cause wildfires and a lot of damage and hurt a lot of people. Its the same with CRISPR. It can do a lot of good. It can help patients who have bad diseases. But if youre irresponsible with it, it could actually cause unintended genetic damage.

Its not clear whether these kids that were born they were twin girls nicknamed Lulu and Nana its not clear whether theyre actually protected against HIV infection. Its not clear whether they might have suffered some genetic damage that might have health consequences for them. Its not clear whether the genetic damage if it did occur could get passed down to their children and affect future generations.

So scientifically, there are a lot of problems with it. The work was very premature. I would say that if we were ever going to do this in a reasonable, rational, safe way, were years away from doing it. But he went ahead and just did it anyway. You can call him a rogue scientist, as clich as it is. And he did it in conditions of secrecy. There was essentially no oversight. And potentially these twins and future generations might suffer the consequences.

The other problem is a problem of ethics. The way in which he did it basically violated every principle of ethical medical research in the textbook. Basically, everything that you could do wrong, he did it wrong.

Whenever we do an experimental procedure, we hope that the benefits greatly outweigh the risks. What he was trying to do was protect these kids from HIV. But the truth is, they were in no particular danger of getting HIV compared to the average person. In China, the prevalence of HIV is about 0.1 percent. So there wasnt really much for them to gain. Even if they did somehow during their lifetime get the HIV infection, we have good treatments to prevent it from proceeding to full-blown AIDS.

So what was the benefit of doing this procedure? You have to balance that against the harms. And the genetic damage thats possible that raises risks of things like cancer and heart disease and other diseases. When you have those risks and very little benefit, then its just not a favorable ratio. And thats intrinsically unethical.

Bowman: Seeing as you said that were years away from doing something like this in a more responsible and ethical way, what are the greatest challenges to getting to a point where parents will have the option to go forth with a gene-editing procedure that might prevent their children from suffering from some kind of genetic disease?

Musunuru: There are really two aspects to this. One is a scientific or medical aspect. Can we get to a place where gene-editing of embryos is well-controlled? Where we know that what were doing is truly safe and appropriate from that perspective?

The second issue is really a decision more for broader society. Is this something that we should be doing, something we want to be doing? This is less about the science and more about ethics and morality and legality and religious values and all sorts of other things. Reasonable people can disagree on whats appropriate and whats not appropriate.What complicates things here is that its not really an all or nothing decision. There are different scenarios where you could see parents using gene-editing on behalf of their unborn children.

I like to break it down is three scenarios. The first scenario is with parents who have medical issues that make it so that theres no way they can have natural biological children or healthy babies if they both have a bad disease and theyre going to pass it on to all of their kids unless you do something like editing. These are unusual situations, but they do exist.

The second scenario is one where parents might want to quite understandably reduce the risk of their child having some serious illness at some point in their lifetime. Im talking about things that are fairly common, like Alzheimers disease or breast cancer or heart disease or whatnot. Theres no guarantee that the editing will eliminate that risk. But you can see how parents might want to stack the odds in their kids favor. Its still medical, but its not perhaps as severe a situation with a kid whos definitely going to get the disease unless you do something.

The third scenario would be cases in which parents want to make changes that are not really medical but are more of what we would think of as enhancements. These could be cosmetic changes like hair color, eye color, things like that.

But it could potentially be much more serious things like intelligence or athletic ability or musical talent. Now, to be fair, thats theoretical. I dont think we are anywhere near knowing enough about how genes influence these things to be able to do it anytime soon. You might actually have to change hundreds of genes in order to make those changes. But you can imagine how certain parents might want to do that, might want to advance their children in the ways that they feel personally are desirable.

Bowman: Can gene editing only be performed on embryos or is it possible to edit genes in later stages of pregnancy or even post-birth?

Musunuru: Theres actually a lot of exciting work going on using gene editing to help patients, whether its adults or children. Right now its been focused mostly on adults who have terrible diseases and its really being used as a treatment to alleviate their suffering or potentially cure the diseases.

Just recently, we got the exciting news that two patients one in the U.S. and one in Europe were participating in a clinical trial. They each had a severe blood disorder. One of them had sickle cell disease. The other had a disease called beta-thalassemia. Earlier this year, they got a CRISPR-based treatment. And whats very exciting is that it looks like not only have their conditions improved significantly, it looks like they might actually be cured.

If that bears out, it would really be historic because these are diseases that affect millions of people around the world and were previously incurable. This treatment is also being explored for things ranging from cancer to liver disease to heart disease.

So theres enormous potential for benefit for living people who have serious diseases. But its a very different situation than editing embryos because youre talking about a person who is in front of you. We are trying to alleviate their suffering. That patient has the ability to freely give consent to the procedure, to weigh the benefits and risks and come up with a decision.

Bowman: How does that work? Is it some kind of cell transplant where the new cells then replicate throughout the rest of the body?

Musunuru: Yeah. It depends on the situation. I mentioned those two patients with the blood disorders. The way it worked there was the medical team used bone marrow stem cells. They basically took bone marrow as if they were going to do a transplant and then edited blood stem cells in a dish outside of the body to fix the genetic problem. And then they took those edited stem cells and put them back into the same patient. Those cells start making the blood cells that are now corrected or repaired. And by doing that, to cure the disease.

Another potential implementation is I work on heart disease. And what wed like to be able to do is turn off cholesterol genes in the liver. So what I envision is that a patient with heart disease would get a single treatment and it would deliver CRISPR into the liver and just the liver. It would turn off genes that produce cholesterol in the liver. The effect of that is permanent reduction of cholesterol levels and lifelong protection against heart disease.

This actually works really well in mice. Ive been working on this in my own laboratory for six, almost seven years now experimenting with it in monkeys. And if looks like it works and Im pretty confident that it will work we could be looking at clinical trials in a few years where were taking patients who have really bad heart disease or a very high risk for heart disease and actually giving them the single treatment within their own bodies that would turn off these cholesterol genes.

Bowman: In terms of more cosmetic applications, theres this popular idea that designer babies will be a reality at some point in the future. But how feasible would it be to use gene-editing for something very basic like choosing eye color or hair color? Are there many genes involved in determining traits like that? Are we close to being able to do that if we choose to?

Musunuru: Well, eye color, hair color, those actually turned out to be fairly simple. Theres only a small number of genes that control those. So in theory, if you wanted to do it, it wouldnt be that difficult.

Personally, my point of view is thats a trivial thing. Like why would you go through all that trouble? Do I care if your kid has blue eyes versus green eyes versus brown eyes? Maybe some parents feel that thats very important. So I think simple things like hair color, like eye color, it could be done fairly readily. I just dont see it as serious enough to warrant doing it.

The more complex things like intelligence, gosh, thats going to be so challenging. I mean, intelligence is just such a complex phenomenon. Theres some genetics involved in it, but there are so many other factors that come into that like upbringing and environment. Were not even getting close to an understanding of how someones intelligence comes about, to be perfectly honest about it.

I will point out that even though some of these things are simpler, in general, the vast majority of people are very, very uncomfortable with the idea of using gene editing of embryos for enhancements.

And I think this reflects a couple of things. I think this reflects the fact that people are more sympathetic if something like this is being used for medical purposes and much less comfortable if its being done to give a child an advantage in a way thats not medical.

It brings to mind the recent scandal where wealthy parents were trying to get their kids into good colleges by actively bribing admissions officers, faking test scores, fabricating resums. That kind of thing makes people very uncomfortable that certain people, particularly wealthy people, might try to use this technology to an extreme to advantage their children.

Theres an economic aspect to that. Wealthy parents might have better access to this technology than those who are not as wealthy. And what does that mean? If wealthy parents are somehow able to make designer babies who somehow are advantaged and other people are not, does that exacerbate socio-economic inequalities in our society?

So I think there are a few reasons why people are uncomfortable with the idea of enhancement, whereas on the whole, the majority seem to be at least somewhat open to the idea that there might be good medical uses.

Bowman: Im really happy that you brought up that socio-economic inequality aspect because I was going to ask you about that. But if we table those concerns for a moment and go way out there, theres this notion you write about that we could ultimately, theoretically, control our own evolution.

Ive heard it suggested that it could be theoretically possible to incorporate traits from other organisms that could be advantageous into our own DNA and essentially enter a new post-human stage of evolution. Is that total science fiction or do you think were entering a period where that is increasingly possible?

Musunuru:Well, with the way things are going with this technology. I mean, weve taken a step towards that. But there are many, many, many, many steps that would need to be taken to actually get to that point. But I think youre right. You see the path. We have the technology. Then its a question of perfecting the technology. A question of learning more about what genes from other species might be advantageous.

The cats out of the bag. The technology is here. Whether its five years from now or 10 years from now or 50 years from now or 100 years from now, these sorts of things will inevitably start to happen. And Im not sure theres much that those who would like to not see that happen will be able to do to stop it in the long run.

China Jails Scientist Who Gene-Edited Babies

See the original post here:
Controlling Our Own Evolution: What is the Future of Gene-Editing? - The Globe Post

Stafford Township, NJ Stem cell therapy is an incredible process for healing damaged tissue, so it seems remarkable that it is availablefor petsright here in Manahawkin. Stafford Veterinary Hospital, at 211 North Main St., began offering the advanced treatment in 2019, under the direction of Michael Pride, medical director at the facility.

There, stem cell therapy is most commonly applied to osteoarthritis, but can also be used in dogs suffering from hip dysplasia and ligament and cartilage injuries, as well as mobility ailments and some chronic inflammatory issues such as inflammatory bowel disease and chronic kidney disease, which is common in cats.

Stem cell therapy is actually the only thing that can help to reverse the process of arthritis, Pride said. Everything else is a Band-Aid.

This process can actually help to rebuild cartilage and really reduce inflammation without the need of using aspirin-type medications, Pride said. Its a newer technology that we can use to avoid chronic use of medications, which might actually be detrimental in the long term for the liver or kidneys.

Stem cell therapy treats the source of the problem by offering the ability to replace damaged cells with new ones, instructs the website staffordvet.com.

Stem cells are powerful healing cells in the pets body that can become other types of cells. For example, in the case of arthritis, stem cells can become new cartilage cells and have natural anti-inflammatory properties, thus reducing pain and increasing mobility.

The stem cells are your primary structural cell for all other cells in the body; they can differentiate into almost any other cell, explained Pride. Were processing it down into that primordial stem cell; were activating it, and were injecting it into where it needs to be, and it just starts taking on the characteristics of the cells around it.

Table-top machines from MediVet Biologics are the first Adipose Stem Cell therapy kits for in-clinic use, a major advancement. Stem cell therapy for animals has been commercially available since 2004. MediVet pioneered in-clinic treatment options around 2010.

Pride believes Stafford Veterinary Hospital offers the only such treatment in the immediate area; another is in Egg Harbor Township, Atlantic County.

Were always trying to figure out different ways to help the patient without hurting them, he said while petting a kitten that had been a patient for another type of treatment.

As stem cell therapy is more in the news regarding humans, a pet owners first question might be where the stem cells come from that are used in the process. The answer: from fat tissue of the pet itself, extracted and processed the same day.

As the therapy has been refined in the last decade, it has actually started to become a lot easier, more cost-effective more recently, said Pride, since weve been able to process fat tissue instead of actually getting bone marrow.

Fat tissue actually has a much higher concentration of adult stem cells than bone marrow does, so its less painful for the patient, they heal a lot easier, and we dont have to process it in a different facility.

Everything comes from the animal, and we give it back to the animal. Nothing comes from another animal. We dont have to worry about them rejecting the sample; its their own tissue, and were giving it back to them.

The pet typically goes home the same day after about eight hours. First, X-rays and a consultation with the veterinarian can determine whether the pet is a candidate for the treatment.

A pet owner may not even know that their animal has arthritis.

Cats have a lot of inflammatory issues that they tend to be very good at hiding, said Pride. A lot of people dont realize that they have arthritis. They think, oh, my cats just getting older; hes not jumping as much; hes not as strong; hes just sleeping most of the day, but actually he has arthritis. Its very difficult to diagnose in cats. A lot of times you end up having to do X-rays to find where the arthritic joints happen to be.

An inch-and-a-half incision is the minor surgery that harvests the fat tissue from the belly while the pet is anesthetized. For a cat, about 20 gramsare extracted. For a large dog, about 40 gramsare needed. While the pet is recovering from the incision surgery, the veterinary hospital is processing the sample. When the sample is ready, the pet is sedated because we then have to give them the joint injections. Then we can reverse the sedation, and they go home.

We asked the doctor if the process always works. He gave the example that on average, a dog such as a boxer that was hobbled is now able to walk without seeming like its painful. In an extreme positive case, a dog that had been barely walking might be bouncing all over the place in two months.

It doesnt always work to the extent that we would love it to, but we usually notice that there is a positive effect from it, Pride remarked. Every patient will be different in what they experience.

For the same reason that everyones situation is going to be different, cost of treatment was not given for this story.

It generally takes about 30 to 60 days for relief to show, the veterinarian said, and the animals progress will be monitored.

On average, results last about 18 months to two years before more stem cells might have to be injected. The procedure takes about an hour.

The nice thing is once we collect those stem cells (from the first procedure), we can bank the leftovers they are cryogenically stored at MediVet corporate headquarters in Kentucky and we dont have to go through the initial anesthetic surgery, said Pride.

Stem cell therapy is one of several innovative modalities available at Stafford Veterinary Hospital. Laser therapy, acupuncture and holistic medicine are others. Care for exotic pets is available, as is emergency pet care.

Visit the website staffordvet.com or call 609-597-7571 for more information on general and specialized services, including: vaccinations, microchipping, spayingand neutering, dental care, wellness exams, dermatology, gastrology, oncology, opthalmology, cardiology, soft-tissue surgery, ultrasound, radiography, nutrition, parasite control, boarding, laborand delivery, end-of-life care, and cremation.

Stafford Veterinary Hospital has been in business since 1965, founded by Dr. John Hauge. Today, five highly skilled veterinarians are on staff, and a satellite, Tuckerton Veterinary Clinic, is at 500 North Green St. in Tuckerton.

Pride has been medical director at Stafford Veterinary Hospital since 2008. He attended Rutgers University, then earned his Veterinary of Medicine degree at Oklahoma State University.

The mild-mannered doctor feels a great rewardfrom treating animals that cant speak for themselves when they feel bad.

These guys, theyre always thankful; you can see what they think, he said of treated pets. The turnaround in their attitude, the turnaround in their ability to be more comfortable, you can see it in their faces; you can see it in their actions. You learn to read animals over time.

Its knowing that were helping those who cant help themselves, he added, and you can see it in them; thats the most gratifying.

mariascandale@thesandpaper.net

See the original post here:
Stem Cell Therapy for Dogs and Cats Is Innovative at Stafford Veterinary Hospital - By MARIA SCANDALE - The SandPaper

Researchers have developed cytochalasin B-induced membrane vesicles which they suggest could be a new form of cell-free therapy in regenerative medicine.

Work on extracellular microvesicles (ECMVs) derived from human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has revealed a potential new form of cell-free therapy.

ECMVs are microstructures surrounded by a cytoplasm membrane; they have proven to be a prospective therapeutic tool in regenerative medicine due to their biocompatibility, miniature size, safety and regenerative properties. These can be used to circumvent the limitations of existing cell therapies without losing any effectiveness.

Cell therapies are grafts or implants of living tissue, such as bone marrow transplants, used to replace and regenerate damaged organ tissue. They currently have limited applications, as they work differently dependent on conditions and the environment they are placed into. They can also be rejected by the immune system.

A study at Kazan Federal University, Russia, has investigated cytochalasin B-induced membrane vesicles (CIMVs) which are also derived from MSCs and are very similar to natural ECMVs.

Proteome analysis of human MSCs and CIMVs-MSCs. Venn diagram of identified proteins MSCs and CIMVs-MSCs (A). Distribution of the identified proteins in organelles, percent of unique identified proteins (B) (credit: Kazan Federal University).

The scientists studied and characterised the biological activity of MSC-derived CIMVs. A number of biologically active molecules were found in CIMVs, such as growth factors, cytokines and chemokines; their immunophenotype was also classified.They also found that CIMVs could stimulate angiogenesis in the same way as stem cells.

The team came to the conclusion that human CIMVs-MSCs can be used for cell-free therapy of degenerative diseases. Induction of therapeutic angiogenesis is necessary for the treatment of ischemic tissue damage (eg, ischemic heart disease, hind limb ischemia, diabetic angiopathies and trophic ulcers) and neurodegenerative diseases (eg, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimers disease), as well as therapies for damage of peripheral nerves and spinal cord injury.

The group say they are continuing to research the therapeutic potential for artificial microvesicles for autoimmune diseases.

The study was published in Cells.

Follow this link:
Novel form of cell-free therapy revealed by researchers - Drug Target Review

Autologous stem cell and non-stem cell based therapies involve an individuals cell to be cultured and then re-introduced to the donors body. These therapies do not use foreign organism cells and are therefore free from HLA incompatibility, disease transmission, and immune reactions.Increasing demand for the new therapies in the field of regenerative medicine is directly facilitating the growth of autologous stem cell and non-stem cell based therapies market. Furthermore, since the risk to transplantation surgeries is significantly reduced in these therapies, they are increasingly being preferred for treatment of bone marrow diseases, aplastic anemia, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, Hodgkins lymphoma, Parkinsons disease, thalassemia, and diabetes.

Request For Report Sample:https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/3065

Moreover, rising incidents of cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases along with growing geriatric population is another factor attributed for its high growth. However, side-effects of autologous stem cell and non-stem cell based therapies such as nausea, infection, hair loss, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. are expected to affect the market to an extent. High cost is another factor that can act as challenge to autologous stem cell and non-stem cell based therapies market. In spite of this, less risk post transplantation surgeries and favorable tax reimbursement policies are anticipated to reduce the impact of these limitation during the forecast period.Autologous stem cell and non-stem cell based therapies market can be segmented on the basis of application, end-user, and region.

In terms of application, the autologous stem cell and non-stem cell based therapies market can be segmented into blood pressure (BP) monitoring devices, intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring devices, and pulmonary pressure monitoring devices. In terms of end-user, the market can be segmented into ambulatory surgical center and hospitals. By region, the market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and South America. Amongst all, Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the most attractive market owing to favorable reimbursement policies in the region.The players operating in autologous stem cell and non-stem cell based therapies market are limited.

Get Complete TOC with Tables and Figures at :https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/requesttoc/3065

They are consistently involved in research and development activities for product development to keep up with the growing competition, thereby aiding the growth of autologous stem cell and non-stem cell based therapies market across the world.

The major players operating in autologous stem cell and non-stem cell based therapies market are Regennex, Antria(Cro), Bioheart, Orgenesis Inc., Virxys corporation , Dendreon Corporation, Tigenix, Georgia Health Sciences University, Neostem Inc, Genesis Biopharma, Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics, Tengion Inc., Fibrocell Science Inc., Opexa Therapeutics Inc, Regeneus Ltd, and Cytori Inc., among others.

See the article here:
Autologous Stem Cell And Non Stem Cell Based Therapies Market Extracts Market, 2018-2026 by Segmentation Based on Product, Application and Region ...

Adult bone repair relies on the activation of bone stem cells, which still remain poorly characterized. Bone stem cells have been found both in the bone marrow and in the outer layer of tissue, called periosteum, that envelopes the bone. Of the two, periosteal stem cells are the least understood.

Having a better understanding of how adult bones heal could reveal new ways of repair fractures faster and help find novel treatments for osteoporosis. Dr. Dongsu Park and his colleagues at Baylor College of Medicine investigate adult bone healing and recently uncovered a new mechanism that has potential therapeutic applications.

Previous studies have shown that bone marrow and periosteal stem cells, although they share many characteristics, also have unique functions and specific regulatory mechanisms, said Park, who is assistant professor of molecular and human genetics and of pathology and immunology at Baylor.

It is known that these two types of bone stem cells comprise a heterogeneous population that can contribute to bone thickness, shaping and fracture repair, but scientists had not been able to distinguish between different subtypes of bone stem cells and study how their different functions are regulated.

In the current study, Park and his colleagues developed a method to identify different subpopulations of periosteal stem cells, define their contribution to bone fracture repair in live mouse models and identify specific factors that regulate their migration and proliferation under physiological conditions.

The researchers discovered specific markers for periosteal stem cells in mice. The markers identified a distinct subset of stem cells that showed to be a part of life-long adult bone regeneration.

We also found that periosteal stem cells respond to mechanical injury by engaging in bone healing, Park said. They are important for healing bone fractures in the adult mice and, interestingly, they contribute more to bone regeneration than bone marrow stem cells do.

In addition, the researchers found that periosteal stem cells also respond to inflammatory molecules called chemokines, which are usually produced during bone injury. In particular, they responded to chemokine CCL5.

Periosteal stem cells have receptors molecules on their cell surface called CCR5 that bind to CCL5, which sends a signal to the cells to migrate toward the injured bone and repair it. Deleting the CCL5 or the CCR5 gene in mouse models resulted in marked defects or delayed healing. When the researchers supplied CCL5 to CCL5-deficient mice, bone healing was accelerated.

The findings suggested potential therapeutic applications. For instance, in individuals with diabetes or osteoporosis in which bone healing is slow and may lead to other complications resulting from limited mobility, accelerating bone healing may reduce hospital stay and improve prognosis.

Our findings contribute to a better understanding of how adult bones heal. We think this is one of the first studies to show that bone stem cells are heterogeneous, and that different subtypes have unique properties regulated by specific mechanisms, Park said. We have identified markers that enable us to tell bone stem cell subtypes apart and study what each subtype contributes to bone health. Understanding how bone stem cell functions are regulated offers the possibility to develop novel therapeutic strategies to treat adult bone injuries.

Find all the details of this study in the journal journal Cell Stem Cell.

Other contributors to this work include Laura C. Ortinau, Hamilton Wang, Kevin Lei, Lorenzo Deveza, Youngjae Jeong, Yannis Hara, Ingo Grafe, Scott Rosenfeld, Dongjun Lee, Brendan Lee and David T. Scadden. The authors are affiliated with one of the following institutions: Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Childrens Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Harvard University.

This study was supported by the Bone Disease Program of Texas Award and The CarolineWiess Law Fund Award, the NIAMS of the National Institutes of Health under award numbers 1K01AR061434 and 1R01AR072018 and U54 AR068069 and the NIDDK of the NIH.

By Ana Mara Rodrguez, Ph.D.

See the rest here:
There is a new player in adult bone healing - Baylor College of Medicine News