Source: Vancouver Sun
Date: August 16, 2007
Summary:
The Vancouver Sun reports scientists have discovered subtypes of blood stem cells, potentially enabling tailored leukemia treatments:
"B.C. Cancer Agency scientists have found there are multiple subtypes of blood stem cells, a discovery that could eventually lead to customized bone marrow transplants for leukemia patients. It was previously thought that blood stem cells -- master cells that generate other types of cells that make up blood, such as immune system cells, platelet-producing cells, infection-fighting white cells and red blood cells -- were virtually the same."
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Blood stem-cell discovery hailed
Source: Vancouver Province
Date: August 16, 2007
Summary:
A breakthrough discovery by B.C. Cancer Agency scientists that not all blood stem cells are created equal may lead to improved treatment of leukemia patients. The findings, published yesterday in the Cell Stem Cell scientific journal, identify four subtypes of blood stem cells in adult mice.
Date: August 16, 2007
Summary:
A breakthrough discovery by B.C. Cancer Agency scientists that not all blood stem cells are created equal may lead to improved treatment of leukemia patients. The findings, published yesterday in the Cell Stem Cell scientific journal, identify four subtypes of blood stem cells in adult mice.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Can the Ravages of Dementia in HIV/AIDS Be Arrested?
Source: Scientific American
Date: August 15, 2007
Summary:
Researchers at the Burnham Institute for Medical Research's Del E. Webb Center for Neuroscience and Aging Research report in the journal Cell Stem Cell that HIV-associated dementia is triggered by the death of adult neurons in patients' brains as well as by the arrested development of neural stem cells, which normally would mature and replace the disabled nerve cells. Perhaps more compelling, he says, is that the deadly virus uses a protein on its surface to attack the same molecular pathway in both the nascent and fully developed cells.
Date: August 15, 2007
Summary:
Researchers at the Burnham Institute for Medical Research's Del E. Webb Center for Neuroscience and Aging Research report in the journal Cell Stem Cell that HIV-associated dementia is triggered by the death of adult neurons in patients' brains as well as by the arrested development of neural stem cells, which normally would mature and replace the disabled nerve cells. Perhaps more compelling, he says, is that the deadly virus uses a protein on its surface to attack the same molecular pathway in both the nascent and fully developed cells.
HIV's double hit on brain cells
Source: BBC News
Posted: 15 August 2007, 23:57 GMT 00:57 UK
Summary:
HIV can trigger learning and memory deficits by launching a double attack on the brain, research shows. It was already known that a protein on the surface of the virus could kill off mature brain cells. But the latest study shows it also prevents the production of replacements by crippling cells with the potential to step in and take their place. The University of California at San Diego study appears in the journal Cell Stem Cell. The researchers hope their work, which was carried out on mice, will aid efforts to find new ways to combat HIV-associated dementia.
Posted: 15 August 2007, 23:57 GMT 00:57 UK
Summary:
HIV can trigger learning and memory deficits by launching a double attack on the brain, research shows. It was already known that a protein on the surface of the virus could kill off mature brain cells. But the latest study shows it also prevents the production of replacements by crippling cells with the potential to step in and take their place. The University of California at San Diego study appears in the journal Cell Stem Cell. The researchers hope their work, which was carried out on mice, will aid efforts to find new ways to combat HIV-associated dementia.
BC researchers say stem cell discovery may help treat leukemia patients
Source: Canadian Press
Posted: August 15, 2007 | 5:49 PM ET
Summary:
Researchers at the B.C. Cancer Agency say they've discovered that not all stem cells in mice are created equal and different cells behave in different ways, which could explain why some kinds of leukemia are harder to treat. If the discovery holds true for humans, the agency says researchers may be able to use different subtypes of stem cells to produce more effective bone marrow transplants in leukemia patients.
Posted: August 15, 2007 | 5:49 PM ET
Summary:
Researchers at the B.C. Cancer Agency say they've discovered that not all stem cells in mice are created equal and different cells behave in different ways, which could explain why some kinds of leukemia are harder to treat. If the discovery holds true for humans, the agency says researchers may be able to use different subtypes of stem cells to produce more effective bone marrow transplants in leukemia patients.
Stem cell subtypes discovered by BC Cancer Agency: Could Lead To Improved Leukemia Treatments
Source: BC Cancer Agency
Date: August 15, 2007
Summary:
In a landmark study, researchers at the BC Cancer Agency have discovered that all blood stem cells are not created equal. The discovery adds another layer of understanding about the basic biology of blood stem cells, which may lead to improved treatments for leukemia patients. Published in the August edition of the new scientific journal Cell Stem Cell, the study by Dr. Connie Eaves and her team at the BC Cancer Agency’s Terry Fox Laboratory identified distinct subtypes of blood stem cells in the adult mouse. Each stem cell subtype behaves uniquely and produces different types of mature blood cells in a transplant setting.
Date: August 15, 2007
Summary:
In a landmark study, researchers at the BC Cancer Agency have discovered that all blood stem cells are not created equal. The discovery adds another layer of understanding about the basic biology of blood stem cells, which may lead to improved treatments for leukemia patients. Published in the August edition of the new scientific journal Cell Stem Cell, the study by Dr. Connie Eaves and her team at the BC Cancer Agency’s Terry Fox Laboratory identified distinct subtypes of blood stem cells in the adult mouse. Each stem cell subtype behaves uniquely and produces different types of mature blood cells in a transplant setting.
AIDS virus is a ‘double hit’ on the brain
Source: Reuters
Posted: August 15, 2007 11:25 a.m. PT
Summary:
Reuters reports on new findings showing that HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, effects brain cells in two ways:
"The AIDS virus damages the brain in two ways, by not only killing brain cells but by preventing the birth of new cells, U.S. researchers reported... The study, published in the journal Cell Stem Cell, helps shed light on a condition known as HIV-associated dementia, which can cause confusion, sleep disturbances and memory loss in people infected with the virus."
Posted: August 15, 2007 11:25 a.m. PT
Summary:
Reuters reports on new findings showing that HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, effects brain cells in two ways:
"The AIDS virus damages the brain in two ways, by not only killing brain cells but by preventing the birth of new cells, U.S. researchers reported... The study, published in the journal Cell Stem Cell, helps shed light on a condition known as HIV-associated dementia, which can cause confusion, sleep disturbances and memory loss in people infected with the virus."
HIV Delivers 'Double Whammy' to Brain
Source: HealthDay News
Date: August 15, 2007
Summary:
HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, often infiltrates the brains of infected patients, causing everything from cognitive decline to death. Now, new research in mice suggests the virus doesn't just kill brain cells but also prevents replacement cells from developing.
Date: August 15, 2007
Summary:
HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, often infiltrates the brains of infected patients, causing everything from cognitive decline to death. Now, new research in mice suggests the virus doesn't just kill brain cells but also prevents replacement cells from developing.
HIV triggers the 'opposite of cancer' in the brain: Study unpicks how AIDS causes dementia.
Source: Nature
Date: 15 August 2007
Summary:
A study showing how HIV could prevent the brain from making new neurons offers an explanation for why some AIDS patients get dementia — and suggests a possible treatment.
Date: 15 August 2007
Summary:
A study showing how HIV could prevent the brain from making new neurons offers an explanation for why some AIDS patients get dementia — and suggests a possible treatment.
AIDS Interferes with Stem Cells in the Brain
Source: Burnham Institute
Date: August 15, 2007
Summary:
A prominent problem in AIDS is a form of dementia that robs one's ability to concentrate and perform normal movements. Scientists at the Burnham Institute for Medical Research (Burnham) have discovered how HIV/AIDS disrupts the normal replication of stem cells in the adult brain, preventing new nerve cells from forming. Drs. Stuart Lipton, Marcus Kaul, Shu-ichi Okamoto and their colleagues uncovered a novel molecular mechanism that inhibits stem cell proliferation and that could possibly be triggered in other neurodegenerative diseases as well. These findings were made available to medical researchers today through priority publication online by the journal Cell Stem Cell.
Date: August 15, 2007
Summary:
A prominent problem in AIDS is a form of dementia that robs one's ability to concentrate and perform normal movements. Scientists at the Burnham Institute for Medical Research (Burnham) have discovered how HIV/AIDS disrupts the normal replication of stem cells in the adult brain, preventing new nerve cells from forming. Drs. Stuart Lipton, Marcus Kaul, Shu-ichi Okamoto and their colleagues uncovered a novel molecular mechanism that inhibits stem cell proliferation and that could possibly be triggered in other neurodegenerative diseases as well. These findings were made available to medical researchers today through priority publication online by the journal Cell Stem Cell.
HIV is a 'double hit' to the brain
Source: Cell Press
Date: August 15, 2007
Summary:
New evidence reported in the August issue of Cell Stem Cell, a publication of Cell Press, offers a novel perspective on how the HIV/AIDS virus leads to learning and memory deficits, a condition known as HIV-associated dementia. A protein found on the surface of the virus not only kills some mature brain cells, as earlier studies had shown, but it also prevents the birth of new brain cells by crippling “adult neural progenitors,” the new study finds. Those progenitor cells are the closest thing to stem cells that have been found in the adult brain.
Date: August 15, 2007
Summary:
New evidence reported in the August issue of Cell Stem Cell, a publication of Cell Press, offers a novel perspective on how the HIV/AIDS virus leads to learning and memory deficits, a condition known as HIV-associated dementia. A protein found on the surface of the virus not only kills some mature brain cells, as earlier studies had shown, but it also prevents the birth of new brain cells by crippling “adult neural progenitors,” the new study finds. Those progenitor cells are the closest thing to stem cells that have been found in the adult brain.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Team finds way to create cancer stem cells: MIT achievement could aid cancer research
Source: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date: August 14, 2007
Summary:
MIT scientists and colleagues have found a way to create in the lab large amounts of cancer stem cells, or cells that can initiate tumors. The work, reported in the August 13 issue of Cancer Cell, could be a boon to researchers who study these elusive cells. Labs could easily grow them for use in experiments.
Date: August 14, 2007
Summary:
MIT scientists and colleagues have found a way to create in the lab large amounts of cancer stem cells, or cells that can initiate tumors. The work, reported in the August 13 issue of Cancer Cell, could be a boon to researchers who study these elusive cells. Labs could easily grow them for use in experiments.
Fingering the Neural Perp in Parkinson's
Source: Scientific American
Date: August 14, 2007
Summary:
Scientific American reports researchers have gained new insights into possible causes of Parkinson's Disease:
Neuroscientists have long believed that the tremors, stiffness and sluggish gait characteristic of Parkinson's disease resulted from the death of neurons in a section of the midbrain that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine, which helps to maintain proper motion control. A new study in mice, however, suggests that the disorder may actually be caused not only by hobbled dopamine-producing cells but also by neurons in the locus coeruleus region of the brain stem that produce norepinephrine, a chemical related to dopamine and associated with everything from anxiety to attention to blood pressure regulation. The new finding could lead to new therapies for combating the debilitating condition.
Date: August 14, 2007
Summary:
Scientific American reports researchers have gained new insights into possible causes of Parkinson's Disease:
Neuroscientists have long believed that the tremors, stiffness and sluggish gait characteristic of Parkinson's disease resulted from the death of neurons in a section of the midbrain that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine, which helps to maintain proper motion control. A new study in mice, however, suggests that the disorder may actually be caused not only by hobbled dopamine-producing cells but also by neurons in the locus coeruleus region of the brain stem that produce norepinephrine, a chemical related to dopamine and associated with everything from anxiety to attention to blood pressure regulation. The new finding could lead to new therapies for combating the debilitating condition.
National Stem Cell Holding, Inc. Discovers Non-Embryonic Biomaterials that Promote Tissue Repair
Source: National Stem Cell Holding, Inc.
Date: August 14, 2007
Summary:
National Stem Cell Holding, Inc. announced that Michael Cohen, CEO of the Company, and Jacob Cohen, have discovered biomaterial derived from non- embryonic stem cells, which appears to promote tissue repair in various wound care applications.
Date: August 14, 2007
Summary:
National Stem Cell Holding, Inc. announced that Michael Cohen, CEO of the Company, and Jacob Cohen, have discovered biomaterial derived from non- embryonic stem cells, which appears to promote tissue repair in various wound care applications.
BrainStorm Cell Therapeutic on the road to Clinical Studies in Parkinson's Disease
Source: BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.
Posted: August 14, 2007 8:30 am ET
Summary:
BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. (OTCBB: BCLI), a leading developer of adult stem cell technologies and therapeutics, is pleased to announce preliminary results from its first safety supporting experiment. On February 8, 2007 in laboratories at the University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain, Prof. Jose Obeso transplanted the subject, a healthy monkey, with BrainStorm`s human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells. The stem cells had been induced to differentiate into neurotrophic factor-producing cells, according to the protocol developed at the Company`s laboratories in Israel.
Posted: August 14, 2007 8:30 am ET
Summary:
BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. (OTCBB: BCLI), a leading developer of adult stem cell technologies and therapeutics, is pleased to announce preliminary results from its first safety supporting experiment. On February 8, 2007 in laboratories at the University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain, Prof. Jose Obeso transplanted the subject, a healthy monkey, with BrainStorm`s human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells. The stem cells had been induced to differentiate into neurotrophic factor-producing cells, according to the protocol developed at the Company`s laboratories in Israel.
Monday, August 13, 2007
DNA Vaccine May Stop MS
Source: WebMD
Date: August 13, 2007
Summary:
A new kind of vaccine promises to halt the destructive immune responses behind multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, and other autoimmune diseases. In MS patients, T cells attack the myelin sheath that protects nerve fibers. One of the T cells targets is a specific myelin protein -- an antigen -- called myelin basic protein or MBP. The new vaccine is made of genetically engineered DNA that encodes MBP. Normal vaccines provoke immune responses against the antigens in the vaccine. But the Bayhill vaccine attaches the MBP DNA to a "backbone" cleverly designed to turn off immune responses instead of turning them on.
Date: August 13, 2007
Summary:
A new kind of vaccine promises to halt the destructive immune responses behind multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, and other autoimmune diseases. In MS patients, T cells attack the myelin sheath that protects nerve fibers. One of the T cells targets is a specific myelin protein -- an antigen -- called myelin basic protein or MBP. The new vaccine is made of genetically engineered DNA that encodes MBP. Normal vaccines provoke immune responses against the antigens in the vaccine. But the Bayhill vaccine attaches the MBP DNA to a "backbone" cleverly designed to turn off immune responses instead of turning them on.
Scientists Create Breast Tumor Stem Cells
Source: HealthDay News
Date: August 13, 2007
Summary:
U.S. scientists say they've succeeded in growing breast cancer stem cells from normal tissue. Since it is suspected that these types of cells give rise to cancer's spread, isolating them could prove invaluable in the fight against the disease, experts say.
Date: August 13, 2007
Summary:
U.S. scientists say they've succeeded in growing breast cancer stem cells from normal tissue. Since it is suspected that these types of cells give rise to cancer's spread, isolating them could prove invaluable in the fight against the disease, experts say.
Newly created cancer stem cells could aid breast cancer research
Source: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
Date: August 13, 2007
Summary:
In some ways, certain tumors resemble bee colonies, says pathologist Tan Ince. Each cancer cell in the tumor plays a specific role, and just a fraction of the cells serve as “queens,” possessing the unique ability to maintain themselves in an unspecialized state and seed new tumors. These cells can also divide and produce the “worker” cells that form the bulk of the tumor. Now an independent investigator at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and an instructor at Harvard Medical School, Ince developed a recipe for a new chemically defined culture medium and managed to grow a different type of human breast cell that ordinarily dies in culture. He transformed it into a cancer cell by inserting specific genes through a standard procedure.
Date: August 13, 2007
Summary:
In some ways, certain tumors resemble bee colonies, says pathologist Tan Ince. Each cancer cell in the tumor plays a specific role, and just a fraction of the cells serve as “queens,” possessing the unique ability to maintain themselves in an unspecialized state and seed new tumors. These cells can also divide and produce the “worker” cells that form the bulk of the tumor. Now an independent investigator at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and an instructor at Harvard Medical School, Ince developed a recipe for a new chemically defined culture medium and managed to grow a different type of human breast cell that ordinarily dies in culture. He transformed it into a cancer cell by inserting specific genes through a standard procedure.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
COMMENTARY: CIRM Spotlight on Cerebral Palsy
On Wednesday August 8, I attended the meeting of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Independent Citizens Oversight Committee's "Spotlight on Cerebral Palsy." I was invited to speak and share my experience as a patient and person living with cerebral palsy. Dr. David Rowitch, Professor of Pediatrics and Neurological Surgery of the Children’s Hospital at UCSF Medical Center, gave an overview of medical and health aspects of cerebral palsy and explained how stem cells could potentially be applied to treat or reduce symptoms of the condition.
As someone who has left hemiplegia cerebral palsy, paralysis and weakness on the left side of my body, I gave a short talk about my experience living with cerebral palsy. I began by giving an overview of what cerebral palsy (CP) is: paralysis resulting from brain injury during birth and childhood, and the specific type of cerebral palsy I have, called left hemiplegia. I mentioned how it makes it hard for me to do things that most people don't worry about: opening cans, cutting food, and tying my shoes.
In addition, I talked about how having CP and hemiplegia has created significant barriers for me to obtaining long-term, gainful employment. Weakness in my left hand has reduced my employment opportunities by limiting the types of jobs I can pursue and do, and makes it hard for me to compete in the “fast-paced, multi-tasking” labor market. Because the visual field in my left eye is limited, driving long distances is difficult. This means I can only work at companies that are accessible by public transportation, limiting my employment opportunities. Getting dressed is also challenging. In order to join the workforce,it is important to dress appropriately. It's hard for me to dress myself in business attire find pants and put on dress socks, which is important in order to effectively present myself as a strong candidate to prospective employers.
In conclusion, I emphasized how stem cell research could dramatically reduce, or even eliminate, my symptoms of cerebral palsy based on current evidence from recently published scientific studies. Scientists from Stanford and Johns Hopkins Universities found that neural stem cells injected in rats with a condition similar to CP automatically traveled to the damaged part of the brain and repaired it. Researchers at Johns Hopkins and UC Irvine demonstrated that paralyzed rats injected with stem cells regained mobility. I find these results very encouraging, as they could enable me to have real improvement in my physical condition that will enable me to do things that are presently very difficult, if not impossible, and dramatically improve my overall health and quality of life.
As someone who has left hemiplegia cerebral palsy, paralysis and weakness on the left side of my body, I gave a short talk about my experience living with cerebral palsy. I began by giving an overview of what cerebral palsy (CP) is: paralysis resulting from brain injury during birth and childhood, and the specific type of cerebral palsy I have, called left hemiplegia. I mentioned how it makes it hard for me to do things that most people don't worry about: opening cans, cutting food, and tying my shoes.
In addition, I talked about how having CP and hemiplegia has created significant barriers for me to obtaining long-term, gainful employment. Weakness in my left hand has reduced my employment opportunities by limiting the types of jobs I can pursue and do, and makes it hard for me to compete in the “fast-paced, multi-tasking” labor market. Because the visual field in my left eye is limited, driving long distances is difficult. This means I can only work at companies that are accessible by public transportation, limiting my employment opportunities. Getting dressed is also challenging. In order to join the workforce,it is important to dress appropriately. It's hard for me to dress myself in business attire find pants and put on dress socks, which is important in order to effectively present myself as a strong candidate to prospective employers.
In conclusion, I emphasized how stem cell research could dramatically reduce, or even eliminate, my symptoms of cerebral palsy based on current evidence from recently published scientific studies. Scientists from Stanford and Johns Hopkins Universities found that neural stem cells injected in rats with a condition similar to CP automatically traveled to the damaged part of the brain and repaired it. Researchers at Johns Hopkins and UC Irvine demonstrated that paralyzed rats injected with stem cells regained mobility. I find these results very encouraging, as they could enable me to have real improvement in my physical condition that will enable me to do things that are presently very difficult, if not impossible, and dramatically improve my overall health and quality of life.
Friday, August 10, 2007
SUCCESSFUL CLINICAL OUTCOMES IN STEM CELL HEART TRIAL: Heart Muscle Recovery Shown In All Patients
Source: Mesoblast Limited
Date: August 10, 2007
Summary:
Mesoblast Limited has announced the successful conclusion of the Australian Cardiac Pilot Trial it had been conducting together with its United States-based sister company Angioblast Systems Inc. at John Hunter Hospital in New South Wales. All patients injected with their own, or autologous, stem cells showed improvement in either symptoms of heart failure or function.
Date: August 10, 2007
Summary:
Mesoblast Limited has announced the successful conclusion of the Australian Cardiac Pilot Trial it had been conducting together with its United States-based sister company Angioblast Systems Inc. at John Hunter Hospital in New South Wales. All patients injected with their own, or autologous, stem cells showed improvement in either symptoms of heart failure or function.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Stem cell transplantation boosts survival of amyloidosis patients
Source: Pharmaceutical Business Review
Date: 9 August 2007
Summary:
High-dose chemotherapy and blood stem cell transplantation can result in better long-term survival for patients diagnosed with primary systemic light chain amyloidosis, according to researchers.
Date: 9 August 2007
Summary:
High-dose chemotherapy and blood stem cell transplantation can result in better long-term survival for patients diagnosed with primary systemic light chain amyloidosis, according to researchers.
OHSU Turns Mouse into Factory for Human Liver Cells
Source: Oregon Health & Science University
Date: August 9, 2007
Summary:
Oregon Health & Science University researchers have figured out how to turn a mouse into a factory for human liver cells that can be used to test how pharmaceuticals are metabolized. The technique, published in the journal Nature Biotechnology, could soon become the gold standard not only for examining drug metabolism in the liver, which helps scientists determine a drug's toxicity. But it also can be used as a platform for testing new therapies against infectious diseases that attack the liver, such as hepatitis C and malaria.
Date: August 9, 2007
Summary:
Oregon Health & Science University researchers have figured out how to turn a mouse into a factory for human liver cells that can be used to test how pharmaceuticals are metabolized. The technique, published in the journal Nature Biotechnology, could soon become the gold standard not only for examining drug metabolism in the liver, which helps scientists determine a drug's toxicity. But it also can be used as a platform for testing new therapies against infectious diseases that attack the liver, such as hepatitis C and malaria.
Stem Cell Trouble Slows Healing of Aging Muscle
Source: HealthDay News
Date: August 9, 2007
Summary:
Poor stem cell communication causes the slow, incomplete muscle healing associated with aging, a new study suggests. Publishing in the Aug. 10 issue of the journal Science, researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine found an age-related decline in the lines of communication to the stem cells of muscles. The stem cells receive garbled messages about muscle repair, which leads to slower and poorer quality healing.
Date: August 9, 2007
Summary:
Poor stem cell communication causes the slow, incomplete muscle healing associated with aging, a new study suggests. Publishing in the Aug. 10 issue of the journal Science, researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine found an age-related decline in the lines of communication to the stem cells of muscles. The stem cells receive garbled messages about muscle repair, which leads to slower and poorer quality healing.
Stem cell therapy good for amyloidosis
Source: United Press International
Posted: August 9, 2007 at 2:15 PM EDT
Summary:
BOSTON, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists have found high-dose chemotherapy and blood stem cell transplantation can result in long-term survival for light chain amyloidosis patients.
Posted: August 9, 2007 at 2:15 PM EDT
Summary:
BOSTON, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists have found high-dose chemotherapy and blood stem cell transplantation can result in long-term survival for light chain amyloidosis patients.
Stanford researchers find culprit in aging muscles that heal poorly
Source: Stanford University Medical Center
Date: August 9, 2007
Summary:
Communication is critical. Garbled in, garbled out, so to (mis-)speak. Workers who get incomplete instructions produce an incomplete product, and that's exactly what happens with the stem cells in our aging muscles, according to researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine.
Date: August 9, 2007
Summary:
Communication is critical. Garbled in, garbled out, so to (mis-)speak. Workers who get incomplete instructions produce an incomplete product, and that's exactly what happens with the stem cells in our aging muscles, according to researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Publisher of Ben's Stem Cell News To Address California Stem Cell Institute
Ben Kaplan, publisher of Ben's Stem Cell News and an advocate for stem cell research who has cerebral palsy, will be speaking at the upcoming Spotlight on Cerebral Palsy hosted by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the state stem cell agency created by the passage of Proposition 71 in 2004, and sponsored by the Children's Neurobiological Solutions Foundation and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) on Wednesday, August 8, 2007. Ben and his family were involved in the campaign for Proposition 71. He and his twin brother Oliver starred in a successful TV spot for the campaign entitled “Twins.” Ben and Oliver are presently featured in a video on stem cell research airing on the Current TV cable network. He will talk about his experience living with cerebral palsy and the potential application of stem cell therapy to treat the condition, which could improve his health and quality of life. A flyer and official news release for the event follow below:
CLICK ON THE NEWS RELEASE FOR A LARGER IMAGE:
CLICK ON THE FLYER FOR A LARGER IMAGE:
CLICK ON THE NEWS RELEASE FOR A LARGER IMAGE:
CLICK ON THE FLYER FOR A LARGER IMAGE:
STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION PROCEDURE RESULTS IN LONG-TERM SURVIVAL FOR AMYLOIDOSIS PATIENTS
Source: Boston University
Date: August 7, 2007
Summary:
(Boston) – Researchers from the Stem Cell Transplant Program and the Amyloid Treatment and Research Program at Boston University Medical Center (BUMC) have found that high-dose chemotherapy and blood stem cell transplantation can result in long-term survival for patients diagnosed with primary systemic light chain (AL) Amyloidosis, a condition that occurs when plasma cells in bone marrow produce proteins that misfold and deposit in tissues, leading to organ failure and death.
Date: August 7, 2007
Summary:
(Boston) – Researchers from the Stem Cell Transplant Program and the Amyloid Treatment and Research Program at Boston University Medical Center (BUMC) have found that high-dose chemotherapy and blood stem cell transplantation can result in long-term survival for patients diagnosed with primary systemic light chain (AL) Amyloidosis, a condition that occurs when plasma cells in bone marrow produce proteins that misfold and deposit in tissues, leading to organ failure and death.
Monday, August 06, 2007
Alternative brain disease treatment found
Source: United Press International
Posted: August 6, 2007 5:00 PM EDT
Summary:
South Korean scientists have developed an alternative to the use of stem cells for treating chronic brain diseases. With ethical issues concerning use of discarded embryos and technical problems hindering development of stem cell therapies, the Korean scientists reported the first successful use of a drug-like molecule to transform human muscle cells into nerve cells.
Posted: August 6, 2007 5:00 PM EDT
Summary:
South Korean scientists have developed an alternative to the use of stem cells for treating chronic brain diseases. With ethical issues concerning use of discarded embryos and technical problems hindering development of stem cell therapies, the Korean scientists reported the first successful use of a drug-like molecule to transform human muscle cells into nerve cells.
Teamwork between two key proteins necessary for normal development and regulation of red blood cells
Source: Virginia Commonwealth University
Date: August 6, 2007
Summary:
Virginia Commonwealth University researchers studying hemoglobin genes, mutations of which play a role in genetic blood disorders like sickle cell anemia and beta-thalassemia, have identified two proteins that are responsible for regulating overlapping groups of genes during the development of red blood cells. The findings may point researchers to future gene therapies for patients with sickle cell anemia and beta-thalassemia.
Date: August 6, 2007
Summary:
Virginia Commonwealth University researchers studying hemoglobin genes, mutations of which play a role in genetic blood disorders like sickle cell anemia and beta-thalassemia, have identified two proteins that are responsible for regulating overlapping groups of genes during the development of red blood cells. The findings may point researchers to future gene therapies for patients with sickle cell anemia and beta-thalassemia.
Disputed Korean Stem Cell Line Comes From An Unfertilized Egg And Not Cloning, Scientists Find
Source: Cell Press
Date: August 6, 2007 - 13:00 PDT
Summary:
Can a genetic signature identify the origin of a human stem cell line? Scientists report that a widely available method for comprehensive genetic analysis can help distinguish the type of human embryo that stem cells come from. The research, published online by the journal Cell Stem Cell, published by Cell Press, also provides an intriguing new insight into the largest scandal in the history of human stem cell research.
Date: August 6, 2007 - 13:00 PDT
Summary:
Can a genetic signature identify the origin of a human stem cell line? Scientists report that a widely available method for comprehensive genetic analysis can help distinguish the type of human embryo that stem cells come from. The research, published online by the journal Cell Stem Cell, published by Cell Press, also provides an intriguing new insight into the largest scandal in the history of human stem cell research.
Not All Embryonic Stem Cell Lines Are Created Equal
Source: Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Date: August 6, 2007
Summary:
When it comes to generating neurons, researchers have found that not all embryonic stem (ES) cell lines are equal. In comparing neurons generated from two NIH-approved embryonic stem cell lines, scientists have uncovered significant differences in the mature, functioning neurons generated from each line. The discovery implies that culture conditions during ES cell generation -- which have yet to be identified -- can influence the developmental properties of human ES cells.
Date: August 6, 2007
Summary:
When it comes to generating neurons, researchers have found that not all embryonic stem (ES) cell lines are equal. In comparing neurons generated from two NIH-approved embryonic stem cell lines, scientists have uncovered significant differences in the mature, functioning neurons generated from each line. The discovery implies that culture conditions during ES cell generation -- which have yet to be identified -- can influence the developmental properties of human ES cells.
New research links proteins, stem cells and potential Alzheimer's treatment
Source: University of Central Florida
Date: August 6, 2007
Summary:
A team of scientists led by professor Kiminobu Sugaya at the University of Central Florida may have found a new way to treat Alzheimer’s disease. The team, which also included researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and the National Institutes of Health, combined a technique for transplanting stem cells into rats and a newly discovered compound, phenserine. It reduces the amount of a plaque that is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. The combination triggered the regeneration of neurons that are destroyed by Alzheimer’s and are necessary for healthy brain functions.
Date: August 6, 2007
Summary:
A team of scientists led by professor Kiminobu Sugaya at the University of Central Florida may have found a new way to treat Alzheimer’s disease. The team, which also included researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and the National Institutes of Health, combined a technique for transplanting stem cells into rats and a newly discovered compound, phenserine. It reduces the amount of a plaque that is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. The combination triggered the regeneration of neurons that are destroyed by Alzheimer’s and are necessary for healthy brain functions.
Scientists produce functioning neurons from human embryonic stem cells
Source: University of California - Los Angeles
Date: August 6, 2007
Summary:
Scientists with the Institute of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine at UCLA were able to produce from human embryonic stem cells a highly pure, large quantity of functioning neurons that will allow them to create models of and study diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, prefrontal dementia and schizophrenia.
Date: August 6, 2007
Summary:
Scientists with the Institute of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine at UCLA were able to produce from human embryonic stem cells a highly pure, large quantity of functioning neurons that will allow them to create models of and study diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, prefrontal dementia and schizophrenia.
Friday, August 03, 2007
Shamed scientist's 'breakthrough'
Source: BBC News
Posted: 3 August 2007, 09:58 GMT 10:58 UK
Summary:
"A scientist who faked his research may have actually made a groundbreaking advance - without even realising it.
South Korean Woo Suk Hwang became famous after claiming to have extracted the world's first stem cells from a cloned embryo. It emerged he had lied about his work, and the source of the cells. But analysis in the journal Cell Stem Cell reveals he may have produced stem cells from human eggs alone - potentially even more useful."
Posted: 3 August 2007, 09:58 GMT 10:58 UK
Summary:
"A scientist who faked his research may have actually made a groundbreaking advance - without even realising it.
South Korean Woo Suk Hwang became famous after claiming to have extracted the world's first stem cells from a cloned embryo. It emerged he had lied about his work, and the source of the cells. But analysis in the journal Cell Stem Cell reveals he may have produced stem cells from human eggs alone - potentially even more useful."
Fraud scientist made unwitting discovery, say researchers
Source: Guardian Unlimited
Date: August 3, 2007
Summary:
"Scientists at the heart of one of the greatest scandals in modern scienc made a dramatic leap forward in stem cell research without realising it, a investigation into their work revealed yesterday. Hwang Woo-suk, leading stem cell scientist, from South Korea, fell from grace last year when a official inquest found he had faked data on human cloning. The fraud severel dented hopes for treatments based on embryonic stem cells, which in principl can grow into any tissue in the body. But it appears he has inadvertently achieve a world first, according to researchers who studied his work."
"Dr Hwang's team had succeeded in extracting stem cells from human eggs forced to undergo parthenogenesis, where eggs develop into early-stage embryos despite not being fertilised by sperm. The feat has been a much sought goal for stem cell scientists, since it paves the way for the creation of human tissues that are genetically identical to those of the egg donor. Replacement organ tissues or nerve fibres grown from a woman's stem cells could be used to treat serious diseases or injuries without fear of rejection from the immunity system of the recipient."
Date: August 3, 2007
Summary:
"Scientists at the heart of one of the greatest scandals in modern scienc made a dramatic leap forward in stem cell research without realising it, a investigation into their work revealed yesterday. Hwang Woo-suk, leading stem cell scientist, from South Korea, fell from grace last year when a official inquest found he had faked data on human cloning. The fraud severel dented hopes for treatments based on embryonic stem cells, which in principl can grow into any tissue in the body. But it appears he has inadvertently achieve a world first, according to researchers who studied his work."
"Dr Hwang's team had succeeded in extracting stem cells from human eggs forced to undergo parthenogenesis, where eggs develop into early-stage embryos despite not being fertilised by sperm. The feat has been a much sought goal for stem cell scientists, since it paves the way for the creation of human tissues that are genetically identical to those of the egg donor. Replacement organ tissues or nerve fibres grown from a woman's stem cells could be used to treat serious diseases or injuries without fear of rejection from the immunity system of the recipient."
Within Discredited Stem Cell Research, a True Scientific First
Source: New York Times
Date: August 3, 2007
Summary:
The New York Times reports on a potentially ground-breaking advance in creating embryonic-like stem cells without using embryos:
"The world of stem cell research was set reeling two years ago when its most successful practitioner, the Korean scientist Hwang Woo Suk, was found to have fabricated much of his work. But according to a new post-mortem of his research, he did achieve a scientific first, though not the one he claimed."
"Dr. Hwang said he had derived embryonic stem cells from the adult cells of a patient, but the claim was discredited after parts of his research were found to have been faked. A team of Boston scientists has now re-examined stocks of Dr. Hwang’s purported embryonic stem cells and arrived at a surprising conclusion: His embryonic stem cells were the product of parthenogenesis, or virgin birth, meaning they were derived from an unfertilized egg."
"A team led by Kitai Kim and George Q. Daley of Children’s Hospital Boston reports this conclusion today in the journal Cell Stem Cell."
Date: August 3, 2007
Summary:
The New York Times reports on a potentially ground-breaking advance in creating embryonic-like stem cells without using embryos:
"The world of stem cell research was set reeling two years ago when its most successful practitioner, the Korean scientist Hwang Woo Suk, was found to have fabricated much of his work. But according to a new post-mortem of his research, he did achieve a scientific first, though not the one he claimed."
"Dr. Hwang said he had derived embryonic stem cells from the adult cells of a patient, but the claim was discredited after parts of his research were found to have been faked. A team of Boston scientists has now re-examined stocks of Dr. Hwang’s purported embryonic stem cells and arrived at a surprising conclusion: His embryonic stem cells were the product of parthenogenesis, or virgin birth, meaning they were derived from an unfertilized egg."
"A team led by Kitai Kim and George Q. Daley of Children’s Hospital Boston reports this conclusion today in the journal Cell Stem Cell."
Thursday, August 02, 2007
S. Korean stem cells derived from eggs alone: study
Source: Reuters
Posted: August 2, 2007 12:28PM EDT
Summary:
Reuters reports scientists have potentially created first human embryonic stem cells from human eggs alone, without using embryos:
"An analysis of a now-discredited South Korean stem cell line suggests the scientists may have inadvertently created the first human embryonic stem cells derived from human eggs alone, U.S. researchers said. But researchers at the Harvard University Stem Cell Institute and Children's Hospital Boston Stem Cell Program believe the South Korean scientists unwittingly may have made a significant discovery. Using a new genetic sleuthing method derived by Daley and colleagues, he said they have determined that the South Korean cell line was derived from parthenogenesis, a type of asexual reproduction in which an egg develops into an embryo without sperm."
Posted: August 2, 2007 12:28PM EDT
Summary:
Reuters reports scientists have potentially created first human embryonic stem cells from human eggs alone, without using embryos:
"An analysis of a now-discredited South Korean stem cell line suggests the scientists may have inadvertently created the first human embryonic stem cells derived from human eggs alone, U.S. researchers said. But researchers at the Harvard University Stem Cell Institute and Children's Hospital Boston Stem Cell Program believe the South Korean scientists unwittingly may have made a significant discovery. Using a new genetic sleuthing method derived by Daley and colleagues, he said they have determined that the South Korean cell line was derived from parthenogenesis, a type of asexual reproduction in which an egg develops into an embryo without sperm."
Unlocking proteins from their cellular shell
Source: University of Pennsylvania
Date: August 2, 2007
Summary:
Applying physical stress to cells, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have demonstrated that everyday forces can alter the structure of proteins tucked within cells, unfold them and expose new targets in the fight against disease.
Date: August 2, 2007
Summary:
Applying physical stress to cells, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have demonstrated that everyday forces can alter the structure of proteins tucked within cells, unfold them and expose new targets in the fight against disease.
Initial trigger is not enough to determine a stem cell’s fate
Source: Rockefeller University
Date: August 2, 2007
Summary:
Disturbing a stem cell from its initial quiescent state was once thought to taint its gold-standard properties. However, research uncovering how a signaling pathway regulates stem cell behavior reveals that stem cells, once activated, enter a window of time during which they respond to their environment and retain their ability to alter their developmental path.
Date: August 2, 2007
Summary:
Disturbing a stem cell from its initial quiescent state was once thought to taint its gold-standard properties. However, research uncovering how a signaling pathway regulates stem cell behavior reveals that stem cells, once activated, enter a window of time during which they respond to their environment and retain their ability to alter their developmental path.
Stem cell case may have missed advance
Source: Associated Press
Date: August 2, 2007
Summary:
Remember the spectacular South Korean stem cell fraud of a few years ago? A new analysis says the disgraced scientist actually did reach a long-sought scientific goal. It's just not the one he claimed. The new study suggests Hwang Woo-suk and his team produced stem cells -- not through cloning as they contended -- but through a different process called parthenogenesis.
Date: August 2, 2007
Summary:
Remember the spectacular South Korean stem cell fraud of a few years ago? A new analysis says the disgraced scientist actually did reach a long-sought scientific goal. It's just not the one he claimed. The new study suggests Hwang Woo-suk and his team produced stem cells -- not through cloning as they contended -- but through a different process called parthenogenesis.
Discredited Korean embryonic stem cells' true origins revealed
Source: Children's Hospital Boston
Date: August 2, 2007
Summary:
A report from researchers at Children's Hospital Boston and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute sheds new light on a now-discredited Korean embryonic stem cell line, setting the historical record straight and also establishing a much-needed set of standards for characterizing human embryonic stem cells. The report was published online August 2 by the journal Cell Stem Cell.
Date: August 2, 2007
Summary:
A report from researchers at Children's Hospital Boston and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute sheds new light on a now-discredited Korean embryonic stem cell line, setting the historical record straight and also establishing a much-needed set of standards for characterizing human embryonic stem cells. The report was published online August 2 by the journal Cell Stem Cell.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Fetal tissue shows promise for ALS in study
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Posted: August 1, 2007
Summary:
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports on a new study that could hasten treatments for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease:
"A University of Wisconsin-Madison study could be an important development in finding new treatments for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease. The study, published in the journal Public Library of Science (PloS) One, found that genetically engineered fetal stem cells implanted in rats with ALS provided substantial protection for motor neurons, the nerve cells that die in ALS."
Posted: August 1, 2007
Summary:
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports on a new study that could hasten treatments for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease:
"A University of Wisconsin-Madison study could be an important development in finding new treatments for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease. The study, published in the journal Public Library of Science (PloS) One, found that genetically engineered fetal stem cells implanted in rats with ALS provided substantial protection for motor neurons, the nerve cells that die in ALS."
New Treatment For Glaucoma Shows Promise In Laboratory, Say Researchers
Source: Iowa State University
Date: August 1, 2007
Summary:
Iowa State University researchers have developed a new technique that successfully treated rats for blindness caused by glaucoma. Their experimental treatment will be used on canine patients in the next year. If successful, it is expected to move to human trials. The researchers previously determined that animals with glaucoma increase production of proteins with neuron-protective capabilities (neurotrophins) in an attempt to shield against blindness. So, they imitated that process in the laboratory, modifying bone marrow-derived stem cells. Then they transplanted the cells into the eyes.
Date: August 1, 2007
Summary:
Iowa State University researchers have developed a new technique that successfully treated rats for blindness caused by glaucoma. Their experimental treatment will be used on canine patients in the next year. If successful, it is expected to move to human trials. The researchers previously determined that animals with glaucoma increase production of proteins with neuron-protective capabilities (neurotrophins) in an attempt to shield against blindness. So, they imitated that process in the laboratory, modifying bone marrow-derived stem cells. Then they transplanted the cells into the eyes.
Eye cells could be harnessed to fight blindness: study
Source: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Posted: August 1, 2007 | 1:30 PM ET
Summary:
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reports researchers have discovered a type of cell in the eye that could be used to re-grow and repair damaged retinas:
"A type of cell found in the eye has stem cell properties and could be used within the next decade to regrow damaged retinas and restore vision, British researchers say. Certain Muller glial cells can migrate to the retina and morph into different retinal cells, potentially rebuilding damaged tissue, according to the study, published in the journal Stem Cells. Retinal disease is one of the primary causes of blindness. Researchers were able to extract the cells from deceased adult donors and develop them in vitro into all the types of neurons found in the retina. In studies on rats with diseased retinas, the grafted cells travelled to the retina and took on the characteristics of surrounding neurons."
Posted: August 1, 2007 | 1:30 PM ET
Summary:
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reports researchers have discovered a type of cell in the eye that could be used to re-grow and repair damaged retinas:
"A type of cell found in the eye has stem cell properties and could be used within the next decade to regrow damaged retinas and restore vision, British researchers say. Certain Muller glial cells can migrate to the retina and morph into different retinal cells, potentially rebuilding damaged tissue, according to the study, published in the journal Stem Cells. Retinal disease is one of the primary causes of blindness. Researchers were able to extract the cells from deceased adult donors and develop them in vitro into all the types of neurons found in the retina. In studies on rats with diseased retinas, the grafted cells travelled to the retina and took on the characteristics of surrounding neurons."
Scientists move closer to bio-engineered bladders
Source: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Date: August 1, 2007
Summary:
Researchers at the University of York are using an understanding of the special cells that line the bladder to develop ways of restoring continence to patients with serious bladder conditions, including cancer.
Date: August 1, 2007
Summary:
Researchers at the University of York are using an understanding of the special cells that line the bladder to develop ways of restoring continence to patients with serious bladder conditions, including cancer.
Mechanism Discovered In Adult Stem Cell Regulation
Source: Forsyth Institute
Date: August 1, 2007
Summary:
Forsyth Institute scientists have discovered an important mechanism for controlling the behavior of adult stem cells. Research with the flatworm, planaria, found a novel role for the proteins involved in cell-to-cell communication. This work has the potential to help scientists understand the nature of the messages that control stem cell regulation - such as the message that maintain and tells a stem cell to specialize and to become part of an organ e.g.: liver or skin.
Date: August 1, 2007
Summary:
Forsyth Institute scientists have discovered an important mechanism for controlling the behavior of adult stem cells. Research with the flatworm, planaria, found a novel role for the proteins involved in cell-to-cell communication. This work has the potential to help scientists understand the nature of the messages that control stem cell regulation - such as the message that maintain and tells a stem cell to specialize and to become part of an organ e.g.: liver or skin.
Zebrafish study may point way to blindness cure
Source: Reuters
Posted: August 1, 2007 3:03AM EDT
Summary:
The ability of zebrafish to regenerate damaged retinas has given scientists a clue about restoring human vision and could lead to an experimental treatment for blindness within five years. British researchers reported they had successfully grown a type of adult stem cell found in the eyes of both fish and mammals that develops into neurons in the retina in the laboratory. In the future, these cells could be injected into the eye as a treatment for diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetes-related blindness, according to Astrid Limb of University College London's (UCL) Institute of Ophthalmology.
Posted: August 1, 2007 3:03AM EDT
Summary:
The ability of zebrafish to regenerate damaged retinas has given scientists a clue about restoring human vision and could lead to an experimental treatment for blindness within five years. British researchers reported they had successfully grown a type of adult stem cell found in the eyes of both fish and mammals that develops into neurons in the retina in the laboratory. In the future, these cells could be injected into the eye as a treatment for diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetes-related blindness, according to Astrid Limb of University College London's (UCL) Institute of Ophthalmology.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
New UD tissue-engineering research focuses on vocal cords
Source: University of Delaware
Date: July 31, 2007
Summary:
Engineering pliable, new vocal cord tissue to replace scarred, rigid tissue in these petite, yet powerful organs is the goal of a new University of Delaware research project. It is funded by a five-year, $1.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Xinqiao Jia, UD assistant professor of materials science and engineering, is leading the project. Jia's research focuses on developing intelligent biomaterials that closely mimic the molecular composition, mechanical responsiveness and nanoscale organization of natural extracellular matrices--the structural materials that serve as scaffolding for cells. These novel biomaterials, combined with defined biophysical cues and biological factors, are being used for functional tissue regeneration.
Date: July 31, 2007
Summary:
Engineering pliable, new vocal cord tissue to replace scarred, rigid tissue in these petite, yet powerful organs is the goal of a new University of Delaware research project. It is funded by a five-year, $1.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Xinqiao Jia, UD assistant professor of materials science and engineering, is leading the project. Jia's research focuses on developing intelligent biomaterials that closely mimic the molecular composition, mechanical responsiveness and nanoscale organization of natural extracellular matrices--the structural materials that serve as scaffolding for cells. These novel biomaterials, combined with defined biophysical cues and biological factors, are being used for functional tissue regeneration.
Stem cell therapy rescues motor neurons in ALS model
Source: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Date: July 31, 2007
Summary:
MADISON -- In a study that demonstrates the promise of cell-based therapies for diseases that have proved intractable to modern medicine, a team of scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison has shown it is possible to rescue the dying neurons characteristic of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neuromuscular disorder also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The new work, conducted in a rat model and reported July 31 in the online, open-access journal from the Public Library of Science, PLoS ONE, shows that stem cells engineered to secrete a key growth factor can protect the motor neurons that waste away as a result of ALS. An important caveat, however, is that while the motor neurons within the spinal cord are protected by the growth factor, their ability to maintain connections with the muscles they control was not observed.
Date: July 31, 2007
Summary:
MADISON -- In a study that demonstrates the promise of cell-based therapies for diseases that have proved intractable to modern medicine, a team of scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison has shown it is possible to rescue the dying neurons characteristic of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neuromuscular disorder also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The new work, conducted in a rat model and reported July 31 in the online, open-access journal from the Public Library of Science, PLoS ONE, shows that stem cells engineered to secrete a key growth factor can protect the motor neurons that waste away as a result of ALS. An important caveat, however, is that while the motor neurons within the spinal cord are protected by the growth factor, their ability to maintain connections with the muscles they control was not observed.
Fish Eyes Could Hold Clue To Repairing Damaged Retinas In Humans
Source: Wellcome Trust
Date: July 31, 2007
Summary:
A special type of cell found in the eye has been found to be very important in regenerating the retina in zebrafish and restoring vision even after extensive damage. Now, a UK team of scientists believe they may be able to use these cells -- known as Müller glial cells -- to regenerate damaged retina in humans, according to a study published this month in the journal Stem Cells.
Date: July 31, 2007
Summary:
A special type of cell found in the eye has been found to be very important in regenerating the retina in zebrafish and restoring vision even after extensive damage. Now, a UK team of scientists believe they may be able to use these cells -- known as Müller glial cells -- to regenerate damaged retina in humans, according to a study published this month in the journal Stem Cells.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Toward An Alternative To Stem Cells For Treating Chronic Brain Diseases
Source: American Chemical Society
Date: July 30, 2007
Summary:
With ethical issues concerning use of discarded embryos and technical problems hindering development of stem cell therapies, scientists in Korea are reporting the first successful use of a drug-like molecule to transform human muscle cells into nerve cells. This advance could lead to new treatments for stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders.
Date: July 30, 2007
Summary:
With ethical issues concerning use of discarded embryos and technical problems hindering development of stem cell therapies, scientists in Korea are reporting the first successful use of a drug-like molecule to transform human muscle cells into nerve cells. This advance could lead to new treatments for stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders.
A Step Forward In Understanding Tissue Damage After Spinal Cord Injury
Source: Journal of Clinical Investigation
Date: July 30, 2007
Summary:
New research shows that calcium-activated cation channels in capillaries surrounding spinal cord tissue are critical to the process that causes spinal cord tissue loss after acute cord injury, and as such are a potential target in the therapy of spinal cord injuries.
Date: July 30, 2007
Summary:
New research shows that calcium-activated cation channels in capillaries surrounding spinal cord tissue are critical to the process that causes spinal cord tissue loss after acute cord injury, and as such are a potential target in the therapy of spinal cord injuries.
Using stem cells to help heart attack victims
Source: University of Nottingham
Date: July 30, 2007
Summary:
New research at The University of Nottingham is paving the way for techniques that use stem cells to repair the damage caused by heart attacks. The research, funded with a grant of £95,000 the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), is looking at the process that turns a stem cell into a cardiomyocyte — the beating cell that makes up the heart. The Nottingham researchers are developing a new system to monitor cardiomyocytes in real time as they differentiate from stem cells into beating heart cells.
Date: July 30, 2007
Summary:
New research at The University of Nottingham is paving the way for techniques that use stem cells to repair the damage caused by heart attacks. The research, funded with a grant of £95,000 the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), is looking at the process that turns a stem cell into a cardiomyocyte — the beating cell that makes up the heart. The Nottingham researchers are developing a new system to monitor cardiomyocytes in real time as they differentiate from stem cells into beating heart cells.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Can Nose Cells Help Spinal Cord Injuries?
Source: WRTV - Indianapolis, IN
Posted: July 26, 2007 4:49 pm EDT
Summary;
A doctor in Portugal is recruiting people through an Indiana hospital for a study on whether cells in nasal tissue can help repair damaged spinal cords. Dr. Carlos Lima, a neuropathologist, says harvesting olfactory mucosa -- naval-cavity tissue with mucus-secreting glands -- and from a patient and putting it into his or her damaged spinal cord may be able to help regenerate spinal cells.
Posted: July 26, 2007 4:49 pm EDT
Summary;
A doctor in Portugal is recruiting people through an Indiana hospital for a study on whether cells in nasal tissue can help repair damaged spinal cords. Dr. Carlos Lima, a neuropathologist, says harvesting olfactory mucosa -- naval-cavity tissue with mucus-secreting glands -- and from a patient and putting it into his or her damaged spinal cord may be able to help regenerate spinal cells.
Scientists find stem cell switch
Source: Norwich BioScience Institutes
Date: July 26, 2007
Summary:
Scientists have discovered how plant stem cells in roots detect soil structure and whether it is favourable for growth. The research team determined that the hormone ethylene regulates cell division in root stem cells. Ethylene is known to play a role in perceiving and communicating environmental cues. As in humans, plant stem cells are the source of all growth. The defining characteristics of stem cells are that they are able to either regenerate themselves or produce other types of cells. The ultimate source of cells in the root is the 'quiescent center', a group of four stem cells that divides infrequently and can produce any type of cell in the root. This study proved that ethylene is the cue needed to promote cell division.
Date: July 26, 2007
Summary:
Scientists have discovered how plant stem cells in roots detect soil structure and whether it is favourable for growth. The research team determined that the hormone ethylene regulates cell division in root stem cells. Ethylene is known to play a role in perceiving and communicating environmental cues. As in humans, plant stem cells are the source of all growth. The defining characteristics of stem cells are that they are able to either regenerate themselves or produce other types of cells. The ultimate source of cells in the root is the 'quiescent center', a group of four stem cells that divides infrequently and can produce any type of cell in the root. This study proved that ethylene is the cue needed to promote cell division.
Protein Distinguishes Fetal and Adult Stem Cells
Source: Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Date: July 26, 2007
Summary:
In a discovery that fills a critical gap in the understanding of stem cells, researchers have discovered a protein that fetal, but not adult, blood-forming stem cells need to replenish themselves. Finding regulatory pathways specific to fetal blood-forming cells could help scientists understand childhood leukemias and generate blood-forming cells for bone marrow transplants, said the researchers.
Date: July 26, 2007
Summary:
In a discovery that fills a critical gap in the understanding of stem cells, researchers have discovered a protein that fetal, but not adult, blood-forming stem cells need to replenish themselves. Finding regulatory pathways specific to fetal blood-forming cells could help scientists understand childhood leukemias and generate blood-forming cells for bone marrow transplants, said the researchers.
U-M team identifies gene that regulates blood-forming fetal stem cells
Source: University of Michigan
Date: July 26, 2007
Summary:
In the rancorous public debate over federal research funding, stem cells are generally assigned to one of two categories: embryonic or adult. But that's a false dichotomy and an oversimplification. A new University of Michigan study adds to mounting evidence that stem cells in the developing fetus are distinct from both embryonic and adult stem cells.
Date: July 26, 2007
Summary:
In the rancorous public debate over federal research funding, stem cells are generally assigned to one of two categories: embryonic or adult. But that's a false dichotomy and an oversimplification. A new University of Michigan study adds to mounting evidence that stem cells in the developing fetus are distinct from both embryonic and adult stem cells.
Gene Holds Key to Blood Stem Cells
Source: HealthDay News
Posted: July 26, 2007; 12:00 AM
Summary:
A gene named Sox17 appears to regulate the development of blood-forming stem cells in fetal mice, new research shows.
Posted: July 26, 2007; 12:00 AM
Summary:
A gene named Sox17 appears to regulate the development of blood-forming stem cells in fetal mice, new research shows.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Back fractures common after stem cell transplant
Source: Reuters
Posted: July 24, 2007 6:41pm ET
Summary:
More than one third of children and adolescents who undergo allogenic stem cell transplantation have thinning of their bones, and one in five had crushed vertebrae in their backs, Finnish researchers report.
Posted: July 24, 2007 6:41pm ET
Summary:
More than one third of children and adolescents who undergo allogenic stem cell transplantation have thinning of their bones, and one in five had crushed vertebrae in their backs, Finnish researchers report.
MicroRNA works with Ago2 protein to regulate blood cell development
Source: Rockefeller University
Posted: July 24, 2007
Summary:
MicroRNAs became the stars of the RNA universe when, in 2001, scientists found that these short RNAs can control whether or not genes are expressed. This month, scientists at Rockefeller University and the Wellcome Trust cast new light on the genesis of these key biological regulators and how they carry out their function. These provocative new findings were reported online July 12 in the journal Genes & Development.
Posted: July 24, 2007
Summary:
MicroRNAs became the stars of the RNA universe when, in 2001, scientists found that these short RNAs can control whether or not genes are expressed. This month, scientists at Rockefeller University and the Wellcome Trust cast new light on the genesis of these key biological regulators and how they carry out their function. These provocative new findings were reported online July 12 in the journal Genes & Development.
Radiation therapy combined with microsurgery shows promise for curing injured spinal cord
Source: Public Library of Science
Date: July 24, 2007
Summary:
Research on rats with crushed spinal cords, similar to human injury, reveals that treatment soon after injury combining radiation therapy to destroy harmful cells and microsurgery to drain excess fluids significantly increases the body's ability to repair the injured cord leading to permanent recovery from injury, according to the study published in PLoS One. Since repair of damaged cord directly correlates with prevention of paralysis, this research demonstrates that conventional clinical procedures hold promise for preventing paralysis from spinal cord injuries.
Date: July 24, 2007
Summary:
Research on rats with crushed spinal cords, similar to human injury, reveals that treatment soon after injury combining radiation therapy to destroy harmful cells and microsurgery to drain excess fluids significantly increases the body's ability to repair the injured cord leading to permanent recovery from injury, according to the study published in PLoS One. Since repair of damaged cord directly correlates with prevention of paralysis, this research demonstrates that conventional clinical procedures hold promise for preventing paralysis from spinal cord injuries.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Effects of aging in stem cells
Source: Public Library of Science
Date: July 23, 2007
Summary:
Age-related defects in stem cells can limit proper tissue maintenance and hence contribute to a shortened lifespan. There is little disagreement that the body’s maintenance and repair systems deteriorate with age, even as there is plenty of disagreement as to why. Stem cells combat the aging process by replenishing old or damaged cells—particularly in the skin, gut, and blood—with a fresh supply to maintain and repair tissue. Unfortunately, new evidence from the open-access journalPLoS Biology and also published by EurekaAlert and Medical News Today, suggests that this regenerative capacity also declines with age as stem cells acquire functional defects.
Date: July 23, 2007
Summary:
Age-related defects in stem cells can limit proper tissue maintenance and hence contribute to a shortened lifespan. There is little disagreement that the body’s maintenance and repair systems deteriorate with age, even as there is plenty of disagreement as to why. Stem cells combat the aging process by replenishing old or damaged cells—particularly in the skin, gut, and blood—with a fresh supply to maintain and repair tissue. Unfortunately, new evidence from the open-access journal
Pluristem's PLX Cells Show Promise in Treating Limb Ischemia
Source: Pluristem Life Systems, Inc.
Posted: July 23, 2007 8:00 am ET
Summary:
Pluristem Life Systems, Inc., a bio-therapeutics Company dedicated to the commercialization of products for a variety of malignant, degenerative and auto-immune indications, announced today that favorable results have been obtained in pre-clinical testing using the Company's proprietary PLX cells (placenta derived mesenchymal stem cells) to treat limb ischemia..."
Posted: July 23, 2007 8:00 am ET
Summary:
Pluristem Life Systems, Inc., a bio-therapeutics Company dedicated to the commercialization of products for a variety of malignant, degenerative and auto-immune indications, announced today that favorable results have been obtained in pre-clinical testing using the Company's proprietary PLX cells (placenta derived mesenchymal stem cells) to treat limb ischemia..."
Thursday, July 19, 2007
A New Method Of Adult Stem Cell Growth Efficacious In Treatment Of Disorders Of The Cornea
Source: Basque Research
Date: July 19, 2007
Summary:
A new method of adult stem cell growth, designed in the Area of Cellular Therapy of the University Clinic (University of Navarra), has demonstrated its efficacy for its capacity to grow cornea stem cells. So Ana Fernández Hortelano, ophthalmologist at the Hospital demonstrated applying the growth technique in treating diseases of the cornea, using stem cells, in 70 test animals (rabbits). The aim of the procedure was to regain the damaged epithelium and thus restore transparency to the cornea.
Date: July 19, 2007
Summary:
A new method of adult stem cell growth, designed in the Area of Cellular Therapy of the University Clinic (University of Navarra), has demonstrated its efficacy for its capacity to grow cornea stem cells. So Ana Fernández Hortelano, ophthalmologist at the Hospital demonstrated applying the growth technique in treating diseases of the cornea, using stem cells, in 70 test animals (rabbits). The aim of the procedure was to regain the damaged epithelium and thus restore transparency to the cornea.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Enzyme Eliminated by Cancer Cells Holds Promise for Cancer Treatment
Source: Medical College of Georgia
Date: July 18, 2007
Summary:
An enzyme that cancer cells eliminate, apparently so they can keep proliferating, may hold clues to more targeted, effective cancer treatment, scientists say.
Date: July 18, 2007
Summary:
An enzyme that cancer cells eliminate, apparently so they can keep proliferating, may hold clues to more targeted, effective cancer treatment, scientists say.
6 Heart Disease Genes Found
Source: WebMD
Date: July 18, 2007
Summary:
The odds of getting heart disease may lie, in part, in six genes identified today by European researchers. Variations in those six genes appear to be more common in people who have heart attacks or heart disease before age 66, according to the scientists.
Date: July 18, 2007
Summary:
The odds of getting heart disease may lie, in part, in six genes identified today by European researchers. Variations in those six genes appear to be more common in people who have heart attacks or heart disease before age 66, according to the scientists.
Immune cells in the brains of aging mice prove more functional than expected
Source: Rockefeller University
Posted: July 18, 2007
Summary:
As people age past 50, their brains begin to decrease in mass. But even as neurons shrink, other brain cells appear to become more active. Microglia — the small immune cells that sense injury and the presence of pathogens in the nervous system — have shown increased activity, producing higher amounts of signaling molecules called cytokines and leading researchers to suggest that these cells may become dysfunctional as our brains get older. Because higher levels of cytokines have been associated with neurodegenerative diseases, scientists are paying close attention to the role of microglia in these disorders.
Posted: July 18, 2007
Summary:
As people age past 50, their brains begin to decrease in mass. But even as neurons shrink, other brain cells appear to become more active. Microglia — the small immune cells that sense injury and the presence of pathogens in the nervous system — have shown increased activity, producing higher amounts of signaling molecules called cytokines and leading researchers to suggest that these cells may become dysfunctional as our brains get older. Because higher levels of cytokines have been associated with neurodegenerative diseases, scientists are paying close attention to the role of microglia in these disorders.
Monday, July 16, 2007
A New Path To Facial Reconstruction
Source: University of Southern California
Date: July 16, 2007
Summary:
University of Southern California researchers are experimenting with stem cells that can regenerate bone and skin tissue. A researcher at USC’s Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, and colleagues at dental schools in Korea and China have discovered that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are capable of regenerating facial bone and skin tissue in mouse and swine models.
Date: July 16, 2007
Summary:
University of Southern California researchers are experimenting with stem cells that can regenerate bone and skin tissue. A researcher at USC’s Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, and colleagues at dental schools in Korea and China have discovered that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are capable of regenerating facial bone and skin tissue in mouse and swine models.
Patch Helps Heart Grow New Cells
Source: HealthDay News
Date: July 16, 2007
Summary:
HealthDay News reports on the development of a special patch to regenerate damaged heart tissue after a heart attack:
"A special patch placed on a damaged area of the heart regenerates cardiac cells after heart attack and improves heart function, a new study finds. Success with the patch in rats may lead the way to new methods of repairing damaged human hearts and possibly spare some patients the need for a heart transplant, according to researchers reporting in the July 15 online edition of Nature Medicine."
Date: July 16, 2007
Summary:
HealthDay News reports on the development of a special patch to regenerate damaged heart tissue after a heart attack:
"A special patch placed on a damaged area of the heart regenerates cardiac cells after heart attack and improves heart function, a new study finds. Success with the patch in rats may lead the way to new methods of repairing damaged human hearts and possibly spare some patients the need for a heart transplant, according to researchers reporting in the July 15 online edition of Nature Medicine."
Human stem cells may be produced without embryos ‘within months’
Source: The Times
Date: July 16, 2007
Summary:
The Times reports that a Japanese scientist has successfully reprogrammed adult mouse skin cells into an embryonic state, a finding that could end the ethical controversy over embryonic stem cell research:
"Japan's leading genetics researcher could be "a matter of months" from reaching the Holy Grail of biotechnology producing an 'ethical' human stem cell without using a human embryo, he has said. The potential of Professor Yamanaka’s breakthrough work – in which the skin cells of laboratory mice were genetically manipulated back to their embryonic state – has been hailed as the equivalent of “transforming lead into gold”. If the research develops in the way he hopes, runs the excited logic, the ethical problems that have swirled around embryonic stem-cell research would disappear."
Date: July 16, 2007
Summary:
The Times reports that a Japanese scientist has successfully reprogrammed adult mouse skin cells into an embryonic state, a finding that could end the ethical controversy over embryonic stem cell research:
"Japan's leading genetics researcher could be "a matter of months" from reaching the Holy Grail of biotechnology producing an 'ethical' human stem cell without using a human embryo, he has said. The potential of Professor Yamanaka’s breakthrough work – in which the skin cells of laboratory mice were genetically manipulated back to their embryonic state – has been hailed as the equivalent of “transforming lead into gold”. If the research develops in the way he hopes, runs the excited logic, the ethical problems that have swirled around embryonic stem-cell research would disappear."
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Gene discovered for type 1 diabetes in children
Source: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Date: July 15, 2007
Summary:
Pediatrics researchers at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and McGill University in Montreal have identified a gene variant that raises a child’s risk for type 1 diabetes, formerly called juvenile diabetes. As investigators continue to pinpoint genes contributing to diabetes, they have their eyes on providing a scientific basis for designing better treatments and preventive measures for the disease.
Date: July 15, 2007
Summary:
Pediatrics researchers at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and McGill University in Montreal have identified a gene variant that raises a child’s risk for type 1 diabetes, formerly called juvenile diabetes. As investigators continue to pinpoint genes contributing to diabetes, they have their eyes on providing a scientific basis for designing better treatments and preventive measures for the disease.
Can heart tissue be regenerated? Mature heart cells, given the right environment, can replicate
Source: Children's Hospital Boston
Date: July 15, 2007
Summary:
When human hearts are injured, as during a heart attack, healthy tissue normally can’t regrow. Researchers now demonstrate in rats that a sponge-like patch, soaked in a compound called periostin and placed over the injury, can not only get heart cells to begin dividing and making copies of themselves again, but also improves heart function. Their findings appear in the July 15 online edition of Nature Medicine.
Date: July 15, 2007
Summary:
When human hearts are injured, as during a heart attack, healthy tissue normally can’t regrow. Researchers now demonstrate in rats that a sponge-like patch, soaked in a compound called periostin and placed over the injury, can not only get heart cells to begin dividing and making copies of themselves again, but also improves heart function. Their findings appear in the July 15 online edition of Nature Medicine.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Researchers create embryonic stem cells from unfertilized eggs
Source: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Posted: July 13, 2007 | 10:19 AM ET
Summary:
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reports on the creation of embryonic stetm cells from unfertilized eggs:
"American and Russian doctors have created embryonic stem cells from unfertilized eggs, sidestepping the need to use viable embryos, according to a report published in Thursday's edition of the journal Nature. Lead researchers Elena Revazova and Jeffrey Janus, of Maryland biotech company Lifeline Cell Technology, created embryos by using chemicals to activate unfertilized eggs donated by five Russian women undergoing in vitro fertilization. The technique avoids the need for sperm. While the method described by the Russian and American team is not ready for clinical applications, the doctors did manage to get the embryos to mature enough to create stem cells."
Posted: July 13, 2007 | 10:19 AM ET
Summary:
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reports on the creation of embryonic stetm cells from unfertilized eggs:
"American and Russian doctors have created embryonic stem cells from unfertilized eggs, sidestepping the need to use viable embryos, according to a report published in Thursday's edition of the journal Nature. Lead researchers Elena Revazova and Jeffrey Janus, of Maryland biotech company Lifeline Cell Technology, created embryos by using chemicals to activate unfertilized eggs donated by five Russian women undergoing in vitro fertilization. The technique avoids the need for sperm. While the method described by the Russian and American team is not ready for clinical applications, the doctors did manage to get the embryos to mature enough to create stem cells."
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Baxter, Mytogen Test Stem Cells to Repair Hearts
Source: Bloomberg News
Posted: July 12, 2007 16:59 EDT
Summary:
Bloomberg News reports on several new human clinical trials attempting to determine if a patient's own bone marrow stem cells can heal damaged heart muscle:
"Baxter International Inc. is conducting a study, to be completed in 2009, testing if stem cells taken from his bone marrow can strengthen damaged heart muscle. The trial is one of 50 involving 3,200 patients worldwide conducted by academic researchers and a dozen companies racing to market new treatments for heart disease, the No. 1 U.S. killer."
Posted: July 12, 2007 16:59 EDT
Summary:
Bloomberg News reports on several new human clinical trials attempting to determine if a patient's own bone marrow stem cells can heal damaged heart muscle:
"Baxter International Inc. is conducting a study, to be completed in 2009, testing if stem cells taken from his bone marrow can strengthen damaged heart muscle. The trial is one of 50 involving 3,200 patients worldwide conducted by academic researchers and a dozen companies racing to market new treatments for heart disease, the No. 1 U.S. killer."
Embryonic stem cells create own support system, study finds
Source: The Globe and Mail
Posted: July 12, 2007 at 1:20 PM EDT
Summary:
Canadian researchers have discovered that embryonic stem cells produce a posse of supporting cells that keeps them immortal. The work, led by Mick Bhatia at McMaster University in Hamilton, offers researchers a new way to control stem cells, and perhaps put them to work to repair the damage caused by diseases such as muscular dystrophy or Parkinson's. One day, they may be used to fix damaged hearts, kidneys or livers, or even to grow new organs for transplant. But before researchers can harness their regenerative powers, they have to understand how stem cells work.
Posted: July 12, 2007 at 1:20 PM EDT
Summary:
Canadian researchers have discovered that embryonic stem cells produce a posse of supporting cells that keeps them immortal. The work, led by Mick Bhatia at McMaster University in Hamilton, offers researchers a new way to control stem cells, and perhaps put them to work to repair the damage caused by diseases such as muscular dystrophy or Parkinson's. One day, they may be used to fix damaged hearts, kidneys or livers, or even to grow new organs for transplant. But before researchers can harness their regenerative powers, they have to understand how stem cells work.
Penn Researchers Find a New Target for Muscular Dystrophy Drug Therapy
Source: University of Pennsylvania Health System
Date: July 12, 2007
Summary:
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine report how the gene for utrophin, which codes for a protein very similar to dystrophin, the defective protein in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), puts the brakes on its own expression in muscle cells, thereby suggesting a new target for treatment. The findings were published online in Molecular Biology Cell, in advance of print publication.
Date: July 12, 2007
Summary:
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine report how the gene for utrophin, which codes for a protein very similar to dystrophin, the defective protein in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), puts the brakes on its own expression in muscle cells, thereby suggesting a new target for treatment. The findings were published online in Molecular Biology Cell, in advance of print publication.
Cells take risks with their identities
Source: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
Date: July 12, 2007
Summary:
Biologists have long thought that a simple on/off switch controls most genes in human cells. Flip the switch and a cell starts or stops producing a particular protein. But new evidence suggests that this model is too simple and that our genes are more ready for action than previously thought.
Date: July 12, 2007
Summary:
Biologists have long thought that a simple on/off switch controls most genes in human cells. Flip the switch and a cell starts or stops producing a particular protein. But new evidence suggests that this model is too simple and that our genes are more ready for action than previously thought.
McMaster claims stem-cell breakthrough
Source: Toronto Star
Posted: July 12, 2007 04:30 AM EDT
Summary:
The Toronto Star reports researchers at McMaster University have revealed how embryonic stem cells turn into different types of human tissues:
"A landmark discovery by researchers at McMaster University could radically alter the way scientists can use embryonic stem cells to grow replacement tissues and treat cancer. In a surprise revelation, a McMaster study found that human embryonic stem cells – “the great grandmothers” of all the other cells in our bodies – build themselves a nurturing cocoon that feeds them and directs their ability to transform into other types of tissues."
The researchers also discovered a way to manipulate embryonic stem cells to become organs and tissues, and stop tumor growth in cancers:
"And by manipulating the products of this tiny, cellular placenta, it may be possible for scientists to prompt the stem cells to grow into desired tissues and organs, or to switch off tumour growth in cancers, says Mickie Bhatia, the lead study author. The study will appear in an upcoming issue of the leading scientific journal Nature."
Posted: July 12, 2007 04:30 AM EDT
Summary:
The Toronto Star reports researchers at McMaster University have revealed how embryonic stem cells turn into different types of human tissues:
"A landmark discovery by researchers at McMaster University could radically alter the way scientists can use embryonic stem cells to grow replacement tissues and treat cancer. In a surprise revelation, a McMaster study found that human embryonic stem cells – “the great grandmothers” of all the other cells in our bodies – build themselves a nurturing cocoon that feeds them and directs their ability to transform into other types of tissues."
The researchers also discovered a way to manipulate embryonic stem cells to become organs and tissues, and stop tumor growth in cancers:
"And by manipulating the products of this tiny, cellular placenta, it may be possible for scientists to prompt the stem cells to grow into desired tissues and organs, or to switch off tumour growth in cancers, says Mickie Bhatia, the lead study author. The study will appear in an upcoming issue of the leading scientific journal Nature."
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Canadian team makes stem cell breakthrough
Source: Canadian Press
Posted: July 11, 2007 at 8:25 PM EDT
Summary:
The Canadian Press reports researchers have made new discoveries into embryonic stem cell development that could have implications for cancer detection and treatment:
"A team of Canadian scientists has made a discovery about how human embryonic stem cells develop that could change the direction of research into what has been dubbed the Holy Grail of regenerative medicine. In a paper published online Wednesday in the journal Nature, researchers at McMaster University say they have discovered that stem cells have a far more complex relationship with the cells around them — and that knowledge could open up entirely new avenues of research."
Posted: July 11, 2007 at 8:25 PM EDT
Summary:
The Canadian Press reports researchers have made new discoveries into embryonic stem cell development that could have implications for cancer detection and treatment:
"A team of Canadian scientists has made a discovery about how human embryonic stem cells develop that could change the direction of research into what has been dubbed the Holy Grail of regenerative medicine. In a paper published online Wednesday in the journal Nature, researchers at McMaster University say they have discovered that stem cells have a far more complex relationship with the cells around them — and that knowledge could open up entirely new avenues of research."
Doc: Stem cell promising for Parkinson's
Source: United Press International
Date: July 11, 2007
Summary:
A new primate study suggests stem cells have potential to relieve the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, says a Florida scientist. The groundbreaking primate study, meant to bridge the gap between testing the stem cell technique in rats and humans, found that only a small number of neural stem cells inserted into the brains of apes with Parkinson's disease turned into dopamine-producing cells that could replace similar cells destroyed by the disease.
Date: July 11, 2007
Summary:
A new primate study suggests stem cells have potential to relieve the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, says a Florida scientist. The groundbreaking primate study, meant to bridge the gap between testing the stem cell technique in rats and humans, found that only a small number of neural stem cells inserted into the brains of apes with Parkinson's disease turned into dopamine-producing cells that could replace similar cells destroyed by the disease.
Breakthrough leads to better understanding of human stem cell growth
Source: McMaster University
Date: July 11, 2007
Summary:
A startling discovery on the development of human embryonic stem cells by scientists at McMaster University will change how future research in the area is done. An article published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature this week reports on a new understanding of the growth of human stem cells. It had been thought previously that stem cells are directly influenced by cells in the local environment or ‘niche’, but the situation may be more complex. Human embryonic stem cells are perpetual machines that generate fuel for life.
Date: July 11, 2007
Summary:
A startling discovery on the development of human embryonic stem cells by scientists at McMaster University will change how future research in the area is done. An article published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature this week reports on a new understanding of the growth of human stem cells. It had been thought previously that stem cells are directly influenced by cells in the local environment or ‘niche’, but the situation may be more complex. Human embryonic stem cells are perpetual machines that generate fuel for life.
Columbia Scientists Peer Into Stem Cells in Live Brain
Source: Columbia University
Date: July 11, 2007
Summary:
Columbia University Medical Center scientists report they have observed the detailed sub-cellular behavior of neuronal precursor cells in living rat brain tissue.
Date: July 11, 2007
Summary:
Columbia University Medical Center scientists report they have observed the detailed sub-cellular behavior of neuronal precursor cells in living rat brain tissue.
Study provides new data about the laws governing embryo development in organisms
Source: Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB)
Date: July 11, 2007
Summary:
Research aimed at understanding the mechanisms underlying embryo development has taken a step forward thanks to collaborative work between biologists specialized in the study of the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) and scientists specialized in the design of mathematical models that simulate the functioning of biological systems.
Date: July 11, 2007
Summary:
Research aimed at understanding the mechanisms underlying embryo development has taken a step forward thanks to collaborative work between biologists specialized in the study of the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) and scientists specialized in the design of mathematical models that simulate the functioning of biological systems.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Neuroscientist comments on stem cell study's success in helping primates with Parkinson's
Source: University of South Florida Health
Date: July 10, 2007
Summary:
A University of South Florida neuroscientist reports that the cutting-edge research study of human stem cells in primates with Parkinson’s disease is compelling on several fronts – particularly how the transplanted cells did their job of easing disease symptoms.
Date: July 10, 2007
Summary:
A University of South Florida neuroscientist reports that the cutting-edge research study of human stem cells in primates with Parkinson’s disease is compelling on several fronts – particularly how the transplanted cells did their job of easing disease symptoms.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Specialized Cells: A Question Of Identity
Source: University of Virginia
Date: July 9, 2007
Summary:
Human development has long been seen as a one-way street. During gestation, stem cells were thought to develop into a succession of ever more specialized cells. As Dr. R. Ariel Gomez has discovered, the final identity of these cells is not as definite as once thought.
Date: July 9, 2007
Summary:
Human development has long been seen as a one-way street. During gestation, stem cells were thought to develop into a succession of ever more specialized cells. As Dr. R. Ariel Gomez has discovered, the final identity of these cells is not as definite as once thought.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Skin cells 'fight child cancer'
Source: BBC News
Posted: 7 July 2007, 23:51 GMT 00:51 UK
Summary:
BBC News reports on new research in which mouse skin cells were use to treat cancerous brain tumors in mice that could eventually be used to treat tumors in humans:
"Genetically modified skin cells could be used to fight a cancer which strikes the very young, a UK study suggests. Scientists at UCL said they were able to stimulate the immune system of mice by injecting the animals' skin cells into a neuroblastoma tumour. But the authors, writing in the British Journal of Cancer, said clinical trials in humans were at least five years off."
Posted: 7 July 2007, 23:51 GMT 00:51 UK
Summary:
BBC News reports on new research in which mouse skin cells were use to treat cancerous brain tumors in mice that could eventually be used to treat tumors in humans:
"Genetically modified skin cells could be used to fight a cancer which strikes the very young, a UK study suggests. Scientists at UCL said they were able to stimulate the immune system of mice by injecting the animals' skin cells into a neuroblastoma tumour. But the authors, writing in the British Journal of Cancer, said clinical trials in humans were at least five years off."
Friday, July 06, 2007
Analysis: Stem cells create blood vessels
Source: United Press International
Posted: July 6, 2007 4:56 PM EDT
Summary:
Doctors have succeeded in growing new blood vessels from a person's own bone marrow cells, but researchers said Friday they are still some years away from being able to use these test-tube grown vessels to replace diseased arteries.
Posted: July 6, 2007 4:56 PM EDT
Summary:
Doctors have succeeded in growing new blood vessels from a person's own bone marrow cells, but researchers said Friday they are still some years away from being able to use these test-tube grown vessels to replace diseased arteries.
Spinal injury 'repairs' on trial
Source: BBC News
Posted: 6 July 2007, 05:44 GMT 06:44 UK
Summary:
Trials are to begin on the first patients as part of cell research which could help thousands of people paralysed in accidents.
Posted: 6 July 2007, 05:44 GMT 06:44 UK
Summary:
Trials are to begin on the first patients as part of cell research which could help thousands of people paralysed in accidents.
Injecting Autologous Cells Could Relieve Urinary Incontinence
Source: The Lancet
Date: July 6, 2007
Summary:
Transurethral injections of autologous myoblasts and fibroblasts could relieve stress urinary incontinence in women, conclude authors of an Article published in The Lancet. And an accompanying comment hails the development as the beginning of a new era in urogynaecology.
Date: July 6, 2007
Summary:
Transurethral injections of autologous myoblasts and fibroblasts could relieve stress urinary incontinence in women, conclude authors of an Article published in The Lancet. And an accompanying comment hails the development as the beginning of a new era in urogynaecology.
Landmark Research Details World First In Skin Repair Using Laboratory-Manufactured Human Skin
Source: Regenerative Medicine
Date: 06 July 2007 - 1:00 PDT
Summary:
Details of the first artificial living skin graft to demonstrate full, consistent wound integration and persistence were today published in the July issue of the journal Regenerative Medicine. Publication of the research, carried out by Intercytex Group plc, followed the conclusion of a clinical trial in which laboratory-made living human skin has been fully and consistently integrated into the human body for the first time.
Date: 06 July 2007 - 1:00 PDT
Summary:
Details of the first artificial living skin graft to demonstrate full, consistent wound integration and persistence were today published in the July issue of the journal Regenerative Medicine. Publication of the research, carried out by Intercytex Group plc, followed the conclusion of a clinical trial in which laboratory-made living human skin has been fully and consistently integrated into the human body for the first time.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Insight into neural stem cells has implications for designing therapies
Source: University of California - San Francisco
Date: July 5, 2007
Summary:
Scientists have discovered that adult neural stem cells, which exist in the brain throughout life, are not a single, homogeneous group. Instead, they are a diverse group of cells, each capable of giving rise to specific types of neurons. The finding, the team says, significantly shifts the perspective on how these cells could be used to develop cell-based brain therapies.
Date: July 5, 2007
Summary:
Scientists have discovered that adult neural stem cells, which exist in the brain throughout life, are not a single, homogeneous group. Instead, they are a diverse group of cells, each capable of giving rise to specific types of neurons. The finding, the team says, significantly shifts the perspective on how these cells could be used to develop cell-based brain therapies.
Engineered Blood Vessels Function like Native Tissue
Source: University at Buffalo
Date: July 5, 2007
Summary:
Blood vessels that have been tissue-engineered from bone marrow adult stem cells may in the future serve as a patient's own source of new blood vessels following a coronary bypass or other procedures that require vessel replacement, according to new research from the University at Buffalo Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering.
Date: July 5, 2007
Summary:
Blood vessels that have been tissue-engineered from bone marrow adult stem cells may in the future serve as a patient's own source of new blood vessels following a coronary bypass or other procedures that require vessel replacement, according to new research from the University at Buffalo Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering.
Tracing Parkinson's lethal mechanism
Source: Cell Press
Date: July 5, 2007
Summary:
In the vast majority of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, the disorder arises not because of a genetic defect, but because some external insult triggers the death of dopamine-producing neurons. Now, researchers have reported progress in understanding the mechanism underlying that death, which they say suggests a new treatment pathway.
Date: July 5, 2007
Summary:
In the vast majority of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, the disorder arises not because of a genetic defect, but because some external insult triggers the death of dopamine-producing neurons. Now, researchers have reported progress in understanding the mechanism underlying that death, which they say suggests a new treatment pathway.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Blood Clotting Protein May Inhibit Spinal Cord Regeneration
Source: University of California - San Diego
Date: July 3, 2007
Summary:
Fibrinogen, a blood-clotting protein found in circulating blood, has been found to inhibit the growth of central nervous system neuronal cells, a process that is necessary for the regeneration of the spinal cord after traumatic injury. The findings by researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine, may explain why the human body is unable to repair itself after most spinal cord injuries.
Date: July 3, 2007
Summary:
Fibrinogen, a blood-clotting protein found in circulating blood, has been found to inhibit the growth of central nervous system neuronal cells, a process that is necessary for the regeneration of the spinal cord after traumatic injury. The findings by researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine, may explain why the human body is unable to repair itself after most spinal cord injuries.
Stem cell procedure successfully treats amyloidosis patients
Source: Boston University
Date: July 3, 2007
Summary:
Researchers from the Stem Cell Transplant Program and the Amyloid Treatment and Research Program at Boston University Medical Center (BUMC) have found that tandem cycles of high-dose chemotherapy and blood stem cell transplantation can help treat patients with immunoglobulin-light chain (AL) Amyloidosis who did not respond to initial treatment with this method. These findings were published on-line in the June 25th issue of Bone Marrow Transplantation.
Date: July 3, 2007
Summary:
Researchers from the Stem Cell Transplant Program and the Amyloid Treatment and Research Program at Boston University Medical Center (BUMC) have found that tandem cycles of high-dose chemotherapy and blood stem cell transplantation can help treat patients with immunoglobulin-light chain (AL) Amyloidosis who did not respond to initial treatment with this method. These findings were published on-line in the June 25th issue of Bone Marrow Transplantation.
Fat Kills Cancer: Turning Stem Cells Taken from Fat Tissue into Personalized, Cancer-Targeted Therapeutics
Source: American Association for Cancer Research
Date: July 3. 2007
Summary:
Researchers in Slovakia have been able to derive mesenchymal stem cells from human adipose, or fat, tissue and engineer them into “suicide genes” that seek out and destroy tumors like tiny homing missiles. This gene therapy approach is a novel way to attack small tumor metastases that evade current detection techniques and treatments, the researchers conclude in the July 1 issue of Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Date: July 3. 2007
Summary:
Researchers in Slovakia have been able to derive mesenchymal stem cells from human adipose, or fat, tissue and engineer them into “suicide genes” that seek out and destroy tumors like tiny homing missiles. This gene therapy approach is a novel way to attack small tumor metastases that evade current detection techniques and treatments, the researchers conclude in the July 1 issue of Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Researchers Discover Method for Identifying How Cancer Evades the Immune System
Source: American Association for Cancer Research
Date: July 2, 2007
Summary:
One of the fundamental traits of a tumor – how it avoids the immune system – might become its greatest vulnerability, according to researchers from the University of Southern California. Their findings, demonstrated in human breast and colorectal cancers, indicate that a technique for determining a tumor’s “immune signature,” could be useful for diagnosing and treating specific cancers.
Date: July 2, 2007
Summary:
One of the fundamental traits of a tumor – how it avoids the immune system – might become its greatest vulnerability, according to researchers from the University of Southern California. Their findings, demonstrated in human breast and colorectal cancers, indicate that a technique for determining a tumor’s “immune signature,” could be useful for diagnosing and treating specific cancers.
Mighty Mouse’s musk makes females smarter
Source: LiveScience
Posted: July 2, 2007 10:45 a.m. PT
Summary:
Animals often attract the opposite sex using chemicals in their scents known as pheromones. The areas of the brain that scientists think pheromones target are also where new cells most often grow in the adult brain — the olfactory bulb, which helps perceive odors, and the hippocampus, which helps store memories. Now researchers have discovered pheromones from dominant male mice stimulated the production of new neurons in female brains.
Posted: July 2, 2007 10:45 a.m. PT
Summary:
Animals often attract the opposite sex using chemicals in their scents known as pheromones. The areas of the brain that scientists think pheromones target are also where new cells most often grow in the adult brain — the olfactory bulb, which helps perceive odors, and the hippocampus, which helps store memories. Now researchers have discovered pheromones from dominant male mice stimulated the production of new neurons in female brains.
Advances in telomere therapy outstrip stem cell therapy without raising ethical concerns
Source: Telomolecular Corporation
Date: July 2, 2007
Summary:
In an official news release, Telomolecular Corporation explains its telomere regenerative medicine therapy and how it might achieve some of the potential healing outcomes promised by stem cell therapy without ethical controversy:
"Nanotechnologies involving chromosomal telomeres, such as those acquired and developed by Rancho Cordova, Calif.-based Telomolecular, can achieve everything that stem cell therapies achieve but without many of the drawbacks. Telomeres are protein compounds that act like caps on the ends of chromosomes and make sure that the DNA replication process ends the way it's supposed two when a cell divides. But every time a cell divides the telomeres shorten and eventually they become exhausted. Telomere exhaustion has been linked with numerous age-related diseases and with cancer. Stem cell therapy attempts to address this problem by growing new tissue with renewed telomeres in place of the tissue with exhausted telomeres. But stem cell therapy can lead to development of cancerous or abnormal tissues."
Date: July 2, 2007
Summary:
In an official news release, Telomolecular Corporation explains its telomere regenerative medicine therapy and how it might achieve some of the potential healing outcomes promised by stem cell therapy without ethical controversy:
"Nanotechnologies involving chromosomal telomeres, such as those acquired and developed by Rancho Cordova, Calif.-based Telomolecular, can achieve everything that stem cell therapies achieve but without many of the drawbacks. Telomeres are protein compounds that act like caps on the ends of chromosomes and make sure that the DNA replication process ends the way it's supposed two when a cell divides. But every time a cell divides the telomeres shorten and eventually they become exhausted. Telomere exhaustion has been linked with numerous age-related diseases and with cancer. Stem cell therapy attempts to address this problem by growing new tissue with renewed telomeres in place of the tissue with exhausted telomeres. But stem cell therapy can lead to development of cancerous or abnormal tissues."
Pheromones trigger brain cell growth, say researchers
Source: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Posted: July 2, 2007 9:01 AM MDT
Summary:
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reports that pheromones could enable the growth of new brain cells:
"Pheromone signals from dominant males spark new brain cells in their female partners and could help repair injured brains, suggests a new study by a University of Calgary neuroscientist. Sam Weiss's findings, in the July issue of the journal Nature Neuroscience, provide evidence that pheromones — subtle chemical signatures that influence mating behaviour — can control stem cells in the brain."
Posted: July 2, 2007 9:01 AM MDT
Summary:
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reports that pheromones could enable the growth of new brain cells:
"Pheromone signals from dominant males spark new brain cells in their female partners and could help repair injured brains, suggests a new study by a University of Calgary neuroscientist. Sam Weiss's findings, in the July issue of the journal Nature Neuroscience, provide evidence that pheromones — subtle chemical signatures that influence mating behaviour — can control stem cells in the brain."
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