The seemingly miraculous recovery of little Hannah Day who rebounded earlier this month after a rare bone marrow transplant cancer free for 60 days has suffered a major setback.

Mother Brooke Ervin said her stem cells, which were transplanted into her daughter on March 19, are attacking her four-year-old daughters body from the inside out, manifesting in a rash and third-degree-like burns.

She has burns to 90 per cent of her body and is now admitted back to [B.C. Childrens] hospital in hopes they can stop it.

Hannah is in immeasurable pain as her family watches, terrified and helpless, Ervin said Wednesday.

Hannah is not responding to oral antibiotics, and steroids being pumped into her body to stop the burning are suppressing her immune system, which is needed to fight off the cancer.

This is such a horrible life she got, a distraught Ervin said.

She has spent most of her life suffering just to stay alive. No one should have to fight so hard, especially an innocent child.

She wants to live so bad and she shows us every day with her fight and will to live, Ervin said. She wont give up and we cant either. We have to hold strong in the hopes one day this will end.

On May 6, Hannah was discharged from hospital in Vancouver after receiving stem cells from her mother in a haploidentical transplant.

Although only a half match, doctors hope Hannahs cells will recognize her moms cells which once protected her in the womb and allow them to kill off cancer cells in Hannahs body.

Link:
After cancer rebound, Victoria's little Hannah Day back into life of pain as transplanted stem cells attack her body

San Francisco, California (PRWEB) May 22, 2014

The global market for stem cells is expected to reach USD 170.15 billion by 2020, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. Growing prevalence of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular and liver disease, diabetes and cancer coupled with the presence of high unmet medical needs in these disease segments is expected to drive market growth during the forecast period. Moreover, increasing government support pertaining to funding R&D initiatives and the growing demand for medical tourism and stem cell banking services is expected to boost the demand for stem cells over the next six years. The future of this market is expected to be driven by opportunities such as the growing global prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases, increasing demand for contract research outsourcing services and the substitution of animal tissues by stem cells in the

The stem cells technology market was valued at USD 12.88 billion in 2013 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 12.0% during the forecast period. This market was dominated by the cell acquisitions technology segment in terms of share in 2013 owing to the fact that this technology serves as the foremost step to process involving stem cells culture. The global stem cell acquisition technology market is expected to reach USD 10.88 billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of over 14.0% over the next six years.

The report Stem Cells Market Analysis By Product (Adult Stem Cells, Human Embryonic Cells, Pluripotent Stem Cells), By Application (Regenerative Medicine, Drug Discovery and Development) And Segment Forecasts To 2020, is available now to Grand View Research customers at http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/stem-cells-market

Request Free Sample of this Report @ http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/stem-cells-market/request

Further key findings from the study suggest:

Browse All Biotechnology Market Reports @ http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry/biotechnology

For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global stem cells market on the basis of product, application, technology and region:

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Stem Cells Market By Application (Regenerative Medicine), By Technology (Acquisition, Sub-Culture), By Product (Adult ...

18 hours ago

The world has great expectations that stem cell research one day will revolutionize medicine. But in order to exploit the potential of stem cells, we need to understand how their development is regulated. Now researchers from University of Southern Denmark offer new insight.

Stem cells are cells that are able to develop into different specialized cell types with specific functions in the body. In adult humans these cells play an important role in tissue regeneration. The potential to act as repair cells can be exploited for disease control of e.g. Parkinson's or diabetes, which are diseases caused by the death of specialized cells. By manipulating the stem cells, they can be directed to develop into various specialized cell types. This however, requires knowledge of the processes that regulate their development.

Now Danish researchers from University of Southern Denmark report a new discovery that provides valuable insight into basic mechanisms of stem cell differentiation. The discovery could lead to new ways of making stem cells develop into exactly the type of cells that a physician may need for treating a disease.

"We have discovered that proteins called transcription factors work together in a new and complex way to reprogram the DNA strand when a stem cell develops into a specific cell type. Until now we thought that only a few transcription factors were responsible for this reprogramming, but that is not the case", explain postdoc Rasmus Siersbaek, Professor Susanne Mandrup and ph.d. Atefeh Rabiee from Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Southern Denmark.

"An incredibly complex and previously unknown interplay between transcription factors takes place at specific locations in the cell's DNA, which we call 'hotspots'. This interplay at 'hotspots' appears to be of great importance for the development of stem cells. In the future it will therefore be very important to explore these 'hotspots' and the interplay between transcription factors in these regions in order to better understand the mechanisms that control the development of stem cells", explains Rasmus Siersbaek.

"When we understand these mechanisms, we have much better tools to make a stem cell develop in the direction we wish", he says.

Siersbaek, Mandrup and their colleagues made the discovery while studying how stem cells develop into fat cells. The Mandrup research group is interested in this differentiation process, because fundamental understanding of this will allow researchers to manipulate fat cell formation.

"We know that there are two types of fat cells; brown and white. The white fat cells store fat, while brown fat cells actually increase combustion of fat. Brown fat cells are found in especially infants, but adults also have varying amounts of these cells.

"If we manage to find ways to make stem cells develop into brown rather than white fat cells, it may be possible to reduce the development of obesity. Our findings open new possibilities to do this by focusing on the specific sites on the DNA where proteins work together", the researchers explain.

More here:
New insight into stem cell development

Whiplash headaches 11 months after stem cell therapy by Dr Harry Adelson
Neil discusses his outcome 11 months after his stem cell therapy by Dr Harry Adelson for the treatment of his post-whiplash headache syndrome http://www.docereclini...

By: Harry Adelson, N.D.

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Whiplash headaches 11 months after stem cell therapy by Dr Harry Adelson - Video

Poway, California (PRWEB) May 22, 2014

Zeke was in pain from arthritis caused by an old injury and was facing possible surgery on both knees. Christine Ponsness-Wetzel, DVM, at Pend Oreille Veterinary Service determined that Zeke was a good candidate for stem cell therapy by Vet-Stem, Inc. as an alternative, and just a few months later, he now has a bounce back in his step.

Zeke is a 125-pound Leonberger who lives in Idaho and enjoys going on back country ski trips. Zekes hobbies came to a halt two years ago when he was diagnosed with a partial cruciate ligament tear. He had gone lame and two weeks of rest was recommended, but his owners did not see improvement. After a month of rest, x-rays revealed arthritis had developed in one of Zekes knees.

After a year of pain medications to control the discomfort and pain, Zeke started having more difficulties. He had a delayed ability to comfortably bend his leg, often needed help getting up from a laying position, and would whimper in pain. This time, x-rays would reveal arthritis in both knees. After a few months of increased pain medications and only mild improvement, Zekes owners opted for stem cell therapy with Dr. Ponsness-Wetzel.

Zeke was still quite active and happy, so the thought of double knee surgery and the long recovery time was not in my books, so we opted for stem cell therapy, Zekes owner explains. It has been four months since the stem cell injections (both knees and an IV dose) and Zeke has definitely improved. He no longer needs help getting up. He does not whimper in pain. His delay in bending his knee is non-existent, and his pain medication has been reduced by about 80%. Hikes are no longer sheer drudgery and he has a bounce in his step that I forgot existed.

Pend Oreille Veterinary Services celebrates its 50th anniversary in the Bonner County, providing basic health care services to small animals and reptiles, as well as cutting edge therapies such as acupuncture, laser, and stem cells. Pend Oreille Veterinary Services also offers boarding and grooming to the cities around their two locations in Ponderay and Bonners Ferry. To find out more about Pend Oreille Veterinary Service and Vet-Stem Cell Therapy with Dr. Ponsness-Wetzel, visit http://www.sandpointvets.com.

About Vet-Stem, Inc. Vet-Stem, Inc. was formed in 2002 to bring regenerative medicine to the veterinary profession. The privately held company is working to develop therapies in veterinary medicine that apply regenerative technologies while utilizing the natural healing properties inherent in all animals. As the first company in the United States to provide an adipose-derived stem cell service to veterinarians for their patients, Vet-Stem, Inc. pioneered the use of regenerative stem cells in veterinary medicine. The company holds exclusive licenses to over 50 patents including world-wide veterinary rights for use of adipose derived stem cells. In the last decade over 10,000 animals have been treated using Vet-Stem, Inc.s services, and Vet-Stem is actively investigating stem cell therapy for immune-mediated and inflammatory disease, as well as organ disease and failure. For more on Vet-Stem, Inc. and Veterinary Regenerative Medicine visit http://www.vet-stem.com or call 858-748-2004.

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Stem Cell Therapy Provided by Pend Oreille Veterinary Service Helps Local Leonberger Get the Bounce Back in His Step ...

15 hours ago These are mature nerve cells generated from human cells using enhanced transcription factors. Credit: Fahad Ali

A new method of generating mature nerve cells from skin cells could greatly enhance understanding of neurodegenerative diseases, and could accelerate the development of new drugs and stem cell-based regenerative medicine.

The nerve cells generated by this new method show the same functional characteristics as the mature cells found in the body, making them much better models for the study of age-related diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, and for the testing of new drugs.

Eventually, the technique could also be used to generate mature nerve cells for transplantation into patients with a range of neurodegenerative diseases.

By studying how nerves form in developing tadpoles, researchers from the University of Cambridge were able to identify ways to speed up the cellular processes by which human nerve cells mature. The findings are reported in the May 27th edition of the journal Development.

Stem cells are our master cells, which can develop into almost any cell type within the body. Within a stem cell, there are mechanisms that tell it when to divide, and when to stop dividing and transform into another cell type, a process known as cell differentiation. Several years ago, researchers determined that a group of proteins known as transcription factors, which are found in many tissues throughout the body, regulate both mechanisms.

More recently, it was found that by adding these proteins to skin cells, they can be reprogrammed to form other cell types, including nerve cells. These cells are known as induced neurons, or iN cells. However, this method generates a low number of cells, and those that are produced are not fully functional, which is a requirement in order to be useful models of disease: for example, cortical neurons for stroke, or motor neurons for motor neuron disease.

In addition, for age-related diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, both of which affect millions worldwide, mature nerve cells which show the same characteristics as those found in the body are crucial in order to enhance understanding of the disease and ultimately determine the best way to treat it.

"When you reprogramme cells, you're essentially converting them from one form to another but often the cells you end up with look like they come from embryos rather than looking and acting like more mature adult cells," said Dr Anna Philpott of the Department of Oncology, who led the research. "In order to increase our understanding of diseases like Alzheimer's, we need to be able to work with cells that look and behave like those you would see in older individuals who have developed the disease, so producing more 'adult' cells after reprogramming is really important."

By manipulating the signals which transcription factors send to the cells, Dr Philpott and her collaborators were able to promote cell differentiation and maturation, even in the presence of conflicting signals that were directing the cell to continue dividing.

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Functional nerve cells from skin cells

BEIRUT: Fat removal and a non-surgical facelift at the same time might sound like a two-for-one offer too good to be true. But that is a pretty common combination at the Innovi Stem Cell Therapy Clinic, where doctors extract stem cells from the bodys fat to do any number of cosmetic cleanups, from scar removal to diminishing fine lines and wrinkles.

The clinic opened five months ago in the Beirut neighborhood of Sodeco, bringing Lebanon its first specialized center in stem cell research.

Around the world at any given medical conference, from fields as diverse as orthopedics to dentistry, stem cells have become one of the main events, as researchers believe these undifferentiated cells hold the cure to some of the gravest human diseases: cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, to name a few.

In a country like Lebanon, stem cell specialists figured the best way to support their research was to offer one of the most in-demand medical procedures: cosmetic surgery.

Walking through the halls of the elegant, albeit quaint, clinic, one will see top-of-the-line fat freezing technology, equipment for laser hair removal and facilities where doctors carry out medical face peels and stretch mark treatment.

They also offer Ozone therapy, which uses pure oxygen that can supposedly alleviate a range of maladies from skin disorders and premature aging to chronic pain.

But we are not a beauty clinic, said one of the doctors, who asked not to be identified due to Lebanons strict medical advertising laws.

These cosmetic procedures complement their work in stem cells, a far less understood and rapidly evolving area of medicine. Innovi, for example, has built the Middle Easts only stem cell bank, where up to 19,000 vials can be frozen and preserved with liquid nitrogen. The closet housing the bank, which looks like an enormous washing machine, now holds the stem cells of a modest 10 clients.

The clinic has become a hub for various stem cells research. Doctors have visited from Europe and a Syrian doctor is now working with a couple to try and grow sperm from the stem cells of a man with aspermia.

But cosmetic treatments and stem cells go well together as doctors have been using fat-derived cells, also called adipose stem cells, as a Botox-like filler for almost a decade.

Original post:
A brave new world: Stem cell therapy in Lebanon

Freeport, The Bahamas (PRWEB) May 20, 2014

Okyanos Heart Institute has announced the addition of Dr. Todd Malan to their executive medical team as Chief Cell Therapy Officer and General Surgeon. He will perform and oversee the liposuction step of Okyanos treatment, removing a small amount of fat from patients from which their own stem cells are isolated. Cardiac cell therapy is intended for no-option heart patients who have exhausted the currently available standards of care for their condition, of which there are about 2 million in the United States alone.

Dr. Malan is founder of the Innovative Cosmetic Surgery Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, specializing in advanced liposuction and fat transfer procedures. A pioneer in adipose- (fat) derived stem cell research and fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Malan became the first physician in the United States to utilize adult stem cells from fat tissue for soft tissue reconstruction. He has co-authored two medical textbooks on fat-derived stem cell therapies and has served as principal investigator on two Institutional Review Board- (IRB) approved adult stem cell trials.

As an active member of the adipose stem cell research community, Dr. Malan is very familiar with the therapeutic benefits of adult stem cells for cardiac, as demonstrated in clinical trials, said Dr. Howard Walpole, chief medical officer at Okyanos. He lends his experience and integrated knowledge of both innovative cosmetic surgery and stem cell therapy to our medical leadership team, he added.

"It is truly gratifying to see the gathering of like-minded researchers, clinicians, and administrators who see the remarkable value of developing evidence-based protocols for effective stem cell therapies, said Dr. Malan. He added, This project is a culmination of years of experience between industry leaders who are dedicated to making Okyanos a premier cell therapy center in the world. The work we do today will define the future of medicine for years to come."

Okyanos cardiac cell therapy is the first stem cell-based procedure for heart failure available to patients outside of clinical trials, wherein the patients own adipose-derived stem cells are infused directly into the damaged part of the heart via catheter. Okyanos will begin treating advanced heart disease patients in Freeport, The Bahamas, in the summer of 2014.

ABOUT OKYANOS HEART INSTITUTE: [Oh key AH nos] Based in Freeport, The Bahamas, Okyanos Heart Institutes mission is to bring a new standard of care and a better quality of life to patients with coronary artery disease using cardiac stem cell therapy. Okyanos adheres to U.S. surgical center standards and is led by founder and CEO Matt Feshbach, as well as Chief Medical Officer Howard T. Walpole Jr., M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.C., F.S.C.A.I. Okyanos Treatment utilizes a unique blend of stem and regenerative cells derived from ones own adipose (fat) tissue. The cells, when placed into the heart via a minimally-invasive procedure, can stimulate the growth of new blood vessels, a process known as angiogenesis. Angiogenesis facilitates blood flow in the heart, which supports intake and use of oxygen (as demonstrated in rigorous clinical trials such as the PRECISE trial). The literary name Okyanos, the Greek god of rivers, symbolizes restoration of blood flow.

For more information, please visit http://www.okyanos.com/.

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Dr. Todd Malan Named Chief Cell Therapy Officer at Okyanos Heart Institute

19 May 2014

Hip surgery conducted with a 3D printed titanium implant and bone stem cell graft has been conducted in Southampton.

The 3D printed hip was designed using the patients CT scan and CAD CAM file, thereby matching the patients exact specifications and measurements.

According to Southampton University, the implant will provide a new socket for the ball of the femur bone to enter. Doctors have also inserted a graft containing bone stem cells behind the implant and between the pelvis .

The graft is said to acts as a filler for the loss of bone, with the patients own bone marrow cells added to the graft to provide a source of bone stem cells to encourage bone regeneration behind and around the implant.

The benefits to the patient through this pioneering procedure are numerous, said Douglas Dunlop, consultant orthopaedic surgeon who conducted the operation at Southampton General Hospital. The titanium used to make the hip is more durable and has been printed to match the patients exact measurements this should improve fit and could recue the risk of having to have another surgery. The bone graft material that has been used has excellent biocompatibility and strength and will fill the defect behind the bone well, fusing it all together.

Over the past decade Dunlop and Prof Richard Oreffo, at Southampton University, have developed a translational research programme to drive bone formation using patient skeletal stem cells in orthopaedics.

The graft used in the operation is made up of a bone scaffold that allows blood to flow through it. Stem cells from the bone marrow will attach to the material and grow new bone, which will support the 3D printed hip implant.

In a statement, Prof Oreffo said: The 3D printing of the implant in titanium, from CT scans of the patient and stem cell graft is cutting edge and offers the possibility of improved outcomes for patients.

Fractures and bone loss due to trauma or disease are a significant clinical and socioeconomic problem. Growing bone at the point of injury alongside a hip implant that has been designed to the exact fit of the patient is exciting and offers real opportunities for improved recovery and quality of life.

Read more here:
Patient receives 3D printed titanium hip

St. Petersburg, FL (PRWEB) May 20, 2014

A breakthrough for rejuvenating aging skin today includes topical stem cells rich in Growth Factors. These are non-embryonic stem cells.

Collagen is lost during the aging process as production slows down, a contributing factor in the formation of wrinkles, lines, sagging and thinning of skin.

"A very effective way to reduce wrinkles, improve skin quality and boost collagen levels is through Human Fibroblast Conditioned Media," says Kathy Heshelow, founder of Sublime Beauty. "Human Fibroblast Conditioned Media contains key ingredients for rejuvenation of skinespecially natural Growth Factors and other proteins."

2 reasons why these Growth Factors are key for anti-aging skin care:

1) Growth Factors, when used topically, stimulate skin to create more collagen. Results include smoother, healthier skin with diminished wrinkles. Collagen is the structure holding up skin, essential for smoothness.

2) Growth Factors help to replace and regenerate the nutrients needed by skin for rejuvenation. It promotes skin tissue repair and strengthens the elastic fibers which give the skin its softness and suppleness.

"We added our stem cell serum to the Sublime Beauty line for those that wanted a higher end, scientific formula," says Heshelow. "Our serum is of high purity with no fillers and is made in the U.S under strict conditions."

Expensive to make, Heshelow says the Sublime Beauty serum is less expensive than many similar serums found on the market, which can range from $300 to $500. "Our serum retails under $160," Heshelow says.

Use twice daily and see first results in about 2 weeks.

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2 Reasons Why Growth Factors and Stem Cells are a Breakthough for Aging Skin, Says Sublime Beauty

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Newswise SALT LAKE CITY In the body, a skin cell will always be skin, and a heart cell will always be heart. But in the first hours of life, cells in the nascent embryo become totipotent: they have the incredible flexibility to mature into skin, heart, gut, or any type of cell.

It was long assumed that the joining of egg and sperm launched a dramatic change in how and which genes were expressed. Instead, new research shows that totipotency is a step-wise process, manifesting as early as in precursors to sperm, called adult germline stem cells (AGSCs), which reside in the testes.

The study was co-led by Bradley Cairns, Ph.D., University of Utah professor of oncological sciences, and Huntsman Cancer Institute investigator, and Ernesto Guccione, Ph.D., of the Agency for Science Technology and Research in Singapore. They worked closely with first author and Huntsman Cancer Institute postdoctoral fellow, Saher Sue Hammond, Ph.D. The research was published online in the journal Cell Stem Cell.

Typically, sperm precursors live a mundane life. They divide, making more cells like themselves, until they receive the signal instructing them to mature into sperm.

There is evidence, however, that these cells have the potential to do more. Under the unusual conditions that promote the cells to form dense cancerous masses called testicular teratomas, the young sperm transform into precursors of skin, muscle, and gut.

This realization prompted the investigators to examine the gene program within sperm precursors. They wondered, would it be like that of a cell that is destined to become a single cell type, or like that of a cell with the potential to become anything?

The answer, they found, is that the sperm precursors are somewhere in between. The most telling evidence is the status of a quartet of genes: Lefty, Sox2, Nanog, and Prdm14. When activated, the genes can trigger a cascade of events that give cells stem cell properties. In cells limited to becoming one cell type, the genes are silent.

Yet in sperm precursors, the genes bear a code of chemical tags, called methylation groups, indicating that the four genes are silenced, but poised to become active. In other words, embedded within these cells, is the potential to become totipotent.

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The Young Sperm, Poised for Greatness

SALT LAKE CITY Researchers at the University of Utah are working to help people who suffer from multiple sclerosis, and so far their work has promising results among mice.

Researchers are using stem cells to treat mice with a condition similar to MS, and some of the mice were able to walk just days after they were treated.

Dr. Peter Jensen, a professor at the University of Utah and the chairman of the Department of Pathology, spoke about the findings.

Remarkably, animals that were paralyzed, could walk, he said.

Dr. Tom Lane is another professor of pathology involved in the project, and he said the results werent what they expected.

Which was a complete surprise to us because we started the experiment with a completely different idea in mind, so this was really a happy accident, he said of the animals walking again.

Lane made the discovery after injecting human stem cells into the spinal cords of the mice. He said he was hoping to discover why the immune systems of mice often reject human stem cells, but what he found was that the stem cells were repairing the damaged nerves in the disabled mice.

In essence, youre regenerating the function of damaged nerves and gives hope for a potential therapy down the road to actually reverse the symptoms that were permanent or otherwise previously permanent in patients with MS, Jensen said.

The current procedure is invasive, as doctors must operate on the spinal cord in order to get results. But they hope further tests will lead to a less invasive method.

What we hope to do is to find out what these cells are secreting that actually change the environment within the diseased tissue, and if we can identify what factor or factors are being secreted, then we could potentially make this druggable so that it could be injected into people that have MS, or the long term goal would be to make it into a pill form so they could take it orally, Lane said.

Original post:
U of U researchers studying stem cells inadvertently cure mice of paralysis

Meeri N. Kim, For The Inquirer Last updated: Sunday, May 18, 2014, 8:51 AM Posted: Saturday, May 17, 2014, 3:55 PM

Imagine a document 25,000 words long - about 100 pages, double-spaced - with one small error. Within the text of our genetic code, a single change like this can lead to a life-threatening disease such as sickle-cell anemia or cystic fibrosis.

Most of these single-gene disorders have no cure. But using a new technique, doctors may one day be able to correct the genetic typo by replacing a harmful mutation in the genome with healthy DNA.

Introducing CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats), a genetic editing tool that can cut and paste parts of any living animal's DNA. Although in its infancy, the system is generating excitement among scientists for its ease of use, accessibility, and vast potential.

The CRISPR system enables researchers to make a small chain of custom-made molecules, called a guide RNA, and a Cas9 enzyme. The guide RNA is like the search function of a word processor, running along the length of the genome until it finds a match; then, the scissorslike Cas9 cuts the DNA. CRISPR can be used to delete, insert, or replace genes.

"We didn't used to think that we had the tools to correct mutation in humans," said Penn Medicine cardiologist Jonathan Epstein, who just began using the technique in his lab. "The advantage of CRISPR is that we can."

For instance, sickle-cell anemia is caused by a mutation in chromosome 11 that causes red blood cells to be crescent-shaped, sticky, and stiff. They end up stuck in the blood vessels, keeping enough oxygen from reaching the body. While the disease can be treated with bone marrow or stem cell transplants, most patients cannot find well-matched donors.

Here's where CRISPR can help. Biomedical engineer Gang Bao of the Georgia Institute of Technology aims to use the system to repair the DNA of a patient's own stem cells, so no outside donor would be needed. The stem cells would be extracted from the patient's bone marrow, their mutations replaced with normal DNA, and inserted back in. The hope is that the gene-corrected stem cells would then begin making normal red blood cells.

The treatment works in mice, and Bao foresees human trials within a few years.

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Genetic 'typo' corrector

Home > News > health-news

Washington, May 18 : Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital have found a potential solution for how to more effectively kill tumor cells using cancer-killing viruses.

The investigators report that trapping virus-loaded stem cells in a gel and applying them to tumors significantly improved survival in mice with glioblastoma multiforme, the most common brain tumor in human adults and also the most difficult to treat.

The work was led by Khalid Shah, MS, PhD, an HSCI Principal Faculty member. Shah heads the Molecular Neurotherapy and Imaging Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Cancer-killing or oncolytic viruses have been used in numerous phase 1 and 2 clinical trials for brain tumors but with limited success. In preclinical studies, oncolytic herpes simplex viruses seemed especially promising, as they naturally infect dividing brain cells.

However, the therapy hasn't translated as well for human patients. The problem previous researchers couldn't overcome was how to keep the herpes viruses at the tumor site long enough to work.

Shah and his team turned to mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-a type of stem cell that gives rise to bone marrow tissue-which have been very attractive drug delivery vehicles because they trigger a minimal immune response and can be utilized to carry oncolytic viruses.

Shah and his team loaded the herpes virus into human MSCs and injected the cells into glioblastoma tumors developed in mice.

Using multiple imaging markers, it was possible to watch the virus as it passed from the stem cells to the first layer of brain tumor cells and subsequently into all of the tumor cells.

Using imaging proteins to watch in real time how the virus combated the cancer, Shah's team noticed that the gel kept the stem cells alive longer, which allowed the virus to replicate and kill any residual cancer cells that were not cut out during the debulking surgery. This translated into a higher survival rate for mice that received the gel-encapsulated stem cells.

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Herpes-loaded stem cells help kill brain tumor in mice

Stem Cell Therapy using Bone Marrow Derived Mononuclear Cells in Treatment of Lower Limb Lymphedema

By: osama ashmawy

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Stem Cell Therapy using Bone Marrow Derived Mononuclear Cells in Treatment of Lower Limb Lymphedema - Video

On his journey from Birmingham boy to Hollywood star David Harewood has shared the silver screen with Leonardo Di Caprio and earned an MBE for services to drama.

But the Homeland actor says his finest moment came away from the cameras and the red carpet.

Seven years ago David received a telephone call from the Anthony Nolan Trust. Someone somewhere had the blood cancer leukaemia and was in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant to help them beat the disease.

David was the closest match.

David, 48, says: The call came completely out of the blue, I felt like I had won the lottery. It was like a giant finger in the sky pointing me out and saying, its you. I immediately wanted to do whatever I could to help.

The transplant was initially scheduled for a few months later, but those plans had to be hastily revised while RADA-trained actor David was in Romania filming The Last Enemy for BBC One.

I had another call to say my recipient had taken a turn for the worse, says David, who is best known for playing CIA counter-terrorism chief David Este in the hit US spy drama Homeland.

They couldnt wait until I finished filming as they might not make it. They needed my stem cells urgently, it was horrifying.

Thankfully David was due a break in filming, which he used to flew straight home to the UK. A nurse then visited him at home every morning for four days, giving him injections to boost his stem cell production.

On the fifth day David went to Harley Street in London to have his stem cells harvested. He was hooked up to a machine that took blood from one arm, filtered out the vital stems cells that would replace his recipients bone marrow and fed the blood back into his body through a needle in the other arm.

Read the rest here:
Homeland star David Harewood on donating bone marrow: 'They needed my stem cells urgently - it was horrifying'

Doctors and scientists in Southampton have completed their first hip surgery with a 3D printed implant and bone stem cell graft.

The 3D printed hip, made from titanium, was designed using the patient's CT scan and CAD CAM (computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing) technology, meaning it was designed to the patient's exact specifications and measurements.

The implant will provide a new socket for the ball of the femur bone to enter. Behind the implant and between the pelvis, doctors have inserted a graft containing bone stem cells.

The graft acts as a filler for the loss of bone. The patient's own bone marrow cells have been added to the graft to provide a source of bone stem cells to encourage bone regeneration behind and around the implant.

Southampton doctors believe this is a game changer. Douglas Dunlop, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, conducted the operation at Southampton General Hospital. He says: "The benefits to the patient through this pioneering procedure are numerous. The titanium used to make the hip is more durable and has been printed to match the patient's exact measurements -- this should improve fit and could recue the risk of having to have another surgery.

"The bone graft material that has been used has excellent biocompatibility and strength and will fill the defect behind the bone well, fusing it all together."

Over the past decade Mr Dunlop and Professor Richard Oreffo, at the University of Southampton, have developed a translational research programme to drive bone formation using patient skeletal stem cells in orthopaedics.

The graft used in this operation is made up of a bone scaffold that allows blood to flow through it. Stem cells from the bone marrow will attach to the material and grow new bone. This will support the 3D printed hip implant.

Professor Oreffo comments: "The 3D printing of the implant in titanium, from CT scans of the patient and stem cell graft is cutting edge and offers the possibility of improved outcomes for patients.

"Fractures and bone loss due to trauma or disease are a significant clinical and socioeconomic problem. Growing bone at the point of injury alongside a hip implant that has been designed to the exact fit of the patient is exciting and offers real opportunities for improved recovery and quality of life."

Link:
Ground breaking hip and stem cell surgery completed using 3D printed implant

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Washington, May 17 : Researchers have completed their first hip surgery with a 3D printed implant and bone stem cell graft.

The 3D printed hip, made from titanium, was designed using the patient's CT scan and CAD CAM (computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing) technology, meaning it was designed to the patient's exact specifications and measurements.

The implant will provide a new socket for the ball of the femur bone to enter. Behind the implant and between the pelvis, doctors have inserted a graft containing bone stem cells.

The graft acts as a filler for the loss of bone. The patient's own bone marrow cells have been added to the graft to provide a source of bone stem cells to encourage bone regeneration behind and around the implant.

Southampton doctors believe this is a game changer. Douglas Dunlop, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, conducted the operation at Southampton General Hospital. He says: "The benefits to the patient through this pioneering procedure are numerous. The titanium used to make the hip is more durable and has been printed to match the patient's exact measurements - this should improve fit and could recue the risk of having to have another surgery.

"The bone graft material that has been used has excellent biocompatibility and strength and will fill the defect behind the bone well, fusing it all together."

--ANI (Posted on 17-05-2014)

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First ever hip surgery with 3D printed implant and bone stem cell graft conducted

Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital have a potential solution for how to more effectively kill tumor cells using cancer-killing viruses. The investigators report that trapping virus-loaded stem cells in a gel and applying them to tumors significantly improved survival in mice with glioblastoma multiforme, the most common brain tumor in human adults and also the most difficult to treat.

The work, led by Khalid Shah, MS, PhD, an HSCI Principal Faculty member, is published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Shah heads the Molecular Neurotherapy and Imaging Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Cancer-killing or oncolytic viruses have been used in numerous phase 1 and 2 clinical trials for brain tumors but with limited success. In preclinical studies, oncolytic herpes simplex viruses seemed especially promising, as they naturally infect dividing brain cells. However, the therapy hasn't translated as well for human patients. The problem previous researchers couldn't overcome was how to keep the herpes viruses at the tumor site long enough to work.

Shah and his team turned to mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) -- a type of stem cell that gives rise to bone marrow tissue -- which have been very attractive drug delivery vehicles because they trigger a minimal immune response and can be utilized to carry oncolytic viruses. Shah and his team loaded the herpes virus into human MSCs and injected the cells into glioblastoma tumors developed in mice. Using multiple imaging markers, it was possible to watch the virus as it passed from the stem cells to the first layer of brain tumor cells and subsequently into all of the tumor cells.

"So, how do you translate this into the clinic?" asked Shah, who also is an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School.

"We know that 70-75 percent of glioblastoma patients undergo surgery for tumor debulking, and we have previously shown that MSCs encapsulated in biocompatible gels can be used as therapeutic agents in a mouse model that mimics this debulking," he continued. "So, we loaded MSCs with oncolytic herpes virus and encapsulated these cells in biocompatible gels and applied the gels directly onto the adjacent tissue after debulking. We then compared the efficacy of virus-loaded, encapsulated MSCs versus direct injection of the virus into the cavity of the debulked tumors."

Using imaging proteins to watch in real time how the virus combated the cancer, Shah's team noticed that the gel kept the stem cells alive longer, which allowed the virus to replicate and kill any residual cancer cells that were not cut out during the debulking surgery. This translated into a higher survival rate for mice that received the gel-encapsulated stem cells.

"They survived because the virus doesn't get washed out by the cerebrospinal fluid that fills the cavity," Shah said. "Previous studies that have injected the virus directly into the resection cavity did not follow the fate of the virus in the cavity. However, our imaging and side-by-side comparison studies showed that the naked virus rarely infects the residual tumor cells. This could give us insight into why the results from clinical trials with oncolytic viruses alone were modest."

The study also addressed another weakness of cancer-killing viruses, which is that not all brain tumors are susceptible to the therapy. The researchers' solution was to engineer oncolytic herpes viruses to express an additional tumor-killing agent, called TRAIL. Again, using mouse models of glioblastoma -- this time created from brain tumor cells that were resistant to the herpes virus -- the therapy led to increased animal survival.

"Our approach can overcome problems associated with current clinical procedures," Shah said. "The work will have direct implications for designing clinical trials using oncolytic viruses, not only for brain tumors, but for other solid tumors."

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