In the new treatment, specialists use a high dose of chemotherapy to knock out the immune system before rebuilding it with stem cells taken from the patients own blood.

Stem cells are so effective because they can become any cell in the body based on their environment.

"Since we started treating patients three years ago, some of the results we have seen have been miraculous," Professor Basil Sharrack, a consultant neurologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, told The Sunday Times.

"This is not a word I would use lightly, but we have seen profound neurological improvements."

During the treatment, the patient's stem cells are harvested and stored. Then doctors use aggressive drugs which are usually given to cancer patients to completely destroy the immune system.

The harvested stem cells are then infused back into the body where they start to grow new red and white blood cells within just two weeks.

Within a month the immune system is back up and running fully and that is when patients begin to notice that they are recovering.

Holly Drewry, 25, of Sheffield, was wheelchair bound after the birth of her daughter Isla, now two.

But she claims the new treatment has transformed her life.

It worked wonders, she said. I remember being in the hospital... after three weeks, I called my mum and said: 'I can stand'. We were all crying.

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'Miracle' stem cell therapy reverses multiple sclerosis

Published: Sunday, 3/1/2015 - Updated: 9 hours ago

BY MARLENEHARRIS-TAYLOR BLADE STAFF WRITER

Hockey legend Gordie Howes star power is raising awareness in the United States and Canada about advances in stem-cell therapies as he continues what is being called a miraculous recovery from a massive stroke.

Those closest to him, including his son, Toledo radiologist Dr. Murray Howe, are convinced the former Detroit Red Wings player would have died if he had not traveled to a medical clinic in Tijuana, Mexico, for an experimental stem-cell treatment not yet available in the United States.

After a debilitating stroke on Oct. 26, Mr. Howe, 86, had a few weeks of slight recovery, but then his health went downhill quickly, said Dr. Howe, director of sports medicine imaging for ProMedica Toledo Hospital. The family had started preparing for his funeral. But that all turned around after he had the adult stem-cell treatment on Dec. 8.

If you saw him now, you wouldnt know he had a stroke, Dr. Howe said.

Its been wonderful. Every day I would say hes a little bit better, and there are little hints of improvement. Certainly in the first month, every day his strength, coordination, and balance were better. He has been eating like a horse. He had lost 20 pounds, and now he has gained back 25 pounds, so he is pretty close to his playing weight now, Dr. Howe said.

Amazing results

In describing his fathers treatment and recovery in the last three months, Dr. Howe does not hesitate to use words such as unbelievable, astonishing, and amazing.

Eight hours after Mr. Howe received what is called a lumbar puncture, where stem cells were injected in the spinal fluid of his lower back by an anesthesiologist, he went from being bedridden and only mumbling short sentences to speaking clearly and walking with assistance, Dr. Howe said.

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Howe's recovery shows stem-cell advances

Stem Cell Treatment at Your Fingertips Stem cell therapy has come a long way over the last ten years, despite repeated interventions by some western governments to restrict its research. One place which has not suffered from these setbacks is China.

At our facilities in Beijing, we have been administering treatments using fetal stem cells for nearly ten years with ever improving results. Our sophisticated stem cell treatment techniques and experience ensure patients receive the highest quality therapy in the world and an alternative to existing treatments that they cannot find in their own country.

We use the strictest protocols to ensure that all our stem cells are disease-free and healthy. Most of our doctors were educated in the West and have a strong understanding of the demands of western patients.

We believe people should not have to put up with their illness when an alternative already exists. Our mission is to improve the quality of life of all our patients and enable you to gain control over your life.

View our Current Treatments section to find out more about the stem cell treatment and therapy we can provide you with.

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Stem Cell Treatment and Stem Cell Therapy | Vista Stem Cell

THE contemporary age brings a lot of new things that leave people in awe, amazement, and sometimes, in disbelief and disagreement. One thing that the more advanced technology gave birth to is the controversial Stem Cell Therapy (SCT).

According to mayoclinic.org, SCT is the replacement of damaged or diseased stem cells by injecting or infusing healthy stems into your body.

An article from philstar.com also says that SCT replaces or supports ones degenerating tissues and organs. The stem cells used in this technology are capable of developing into different kinds of cells, thus, are also called master cells.

According to bethematch.org, the diseases that are treatable by SCT are leukemia, bone marrow diseases, inherited immune system disorders, and diseases with poorly functioning red blood cells.

SCT is also used as an anti-aging treatment. Some of the prominent Filipinos have used this therapy to maintain their youthful glow and energy.

In the Philippines, clinics offering SCT have sprouted like mushrooms due to its perceived benefits to the patients. In fact, Makati Medical Center has its Cellular Therapeutics Center, equipped with facilities from Germany, USA, and Japan.

In an article from makatimed.net, it was said that the center has an extensive range of services that boast the remarkable efficacy of stem cells.

Dr. Florencio Q. Lucero who started the use of adult SCT in the Philippines in 2006, was quoted in an article from inquirer.net saying that in the Philippines, most of the customers rich businessmen and public officials who are mostly males.

One of them is Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada. He had his SCT at a clinic in Germany called Villa Medica on April 2012. Another article from inquirer.net said that Estrada had 14 shots of blood from the donor animal, the unborn sheep, on his buttocks.

In the same article, Estrada was quoted saying he could sleep better, his knees are working better, and that his skin has shown its glow.

More here:

Animal cells for a younger you

Researchers and physicians are increasingly acknowledging the positive role stem cell therapy plays in managing a host of complicated ailments that were once very difficult to handle.

Among such health conditions is autism, the neuro-developmental disorder that impacts the brain of children and severely hinders development of communication and social interaction skills.

Showing results

There is a positive impact of stem cell therapy and conventional rehabilitation for autistic children. Over a period of time, hyperactivity among children is reduced, they are calmer and their eye contact has improved. Attention span and the ability to sit at one place have improved. This allows rehabilitation specialists to work more efficiently with children, claims Nandini Gokulchandran of Neurogen Brain and Spine Institute, Mumbai.

For the past four years, the researcher has been working with 250 children from across the world on stem-cell therapy and autism.

In fact, results from a study of stem cells impact on 32 autistic children by researchers led by Alok Sharma and Dr. Gokulchandran were published in the journal Stem Cells International .

Correcting

the imbalance

Dr. Gokulchandran, who was in the city recently to deliver a talk on autism organised by Durgabai Deshmukh Vocational Training and Rehabilitation Centre, says that through stem cells, vital organs inside the brain are targeted for rejuvenation.

It is widely known that inside the brain, three vital parts cerebellum, hippocampus and amygdala function lesser among autistic children. Other parts in the brain are hyperactive, creating an imbalance.

Originally posted here:

Stem cell therapy inches towards an autism cure

About 10 percent of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) discontinued therapy with the Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor drug ibrutinib because of disease progression during clinical trials, according to a study published online in JAMA Oncology.

CLL is the most prevalent leukemia in adults and it is not considered curable without an allogeneic (donor) stem cell transplant. However, advances in therapy have been made, notably the emergence of kinase inhibitors for patients whose disease relapsed, according to the study background.

The drug ibrutinib (marketed as Imbruvica) is the first drug designed to target Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), a protein essential for CLL-cell survival and proliferation. The drug is approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and mantle cell lymphoma. Much of the clinical and basic-science research that led to the approval of ibrutinib for CLL was performed by scientists at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center -- Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC -- James).

Hematologists Kami Maddocks, MD, Jennifer Woyach, MD, and colleagues have now described the characteristics of patients who discontinued ibrutinib therapy and their outcomes in a group of 308 patients participating in four trials at The OSUCCC -- James.

The study results show that with a median (midpoint) follow-up of 20 months, 232 patients (75 percent) remained on therapy, 31 (10 percent) discontinued because of disease progression and 45 discontinued for other reasons (including 28 because of infection, eight for other adverse events and nine due to other medical events).

Disease progression included Richter's transformation (when the cancer becomes an aggressive lymphoma) or progressive CLL. Richter's transformation appeared to occur early and CLL progression later. Median survival after Richter's transformation was 3.5 months and 17.6 months following CLL progression, the results indicate.

"These data enhance our understanding of how patients do on ibrutinib long-term and who is likely to relapse. We know that many patients will have very durable remissions with ibrutinib, and understanding which patients are at higher risk helps us select who might benefit from clinical trials investigating other new agents and combination therapies rather than starting ibrutinib treatment by itself," says Woyach, senior author of the study. "We have confirmed that specific gene mutations are seen in patients who relapse, which gives us an idea of other drugs that might be effective in these circumstances."

OSUCCC -- James researchers conclude that this data confirms ibrutinib as an effective therapy and identifies, for the first time, baseline factors associated with ibrutinib therapy discontinuation.

"Outcomes data show poor prognosis after discontinuation, especially for those patients with Richter's transformation. Patients with either progressive CLL or Richter's tend to require therapy quickly after ibrutinib is stopped, so having a plan in place for alternative therapy is necessary. This sub-segment of patients who relapse on ibrutinib remains a high research priority to identify new targets and new therapies, and we have multiple studies ongoing at the James to try to help these patients," adds Maddocks.

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Reasons for ibrutinib therapy discontinuation in CLL

Bengaluru:Feb 27, 2015, DHNS

Two courses of stem cell therapy have helped Ashok Kumar, 59, who suffered from tremors and rigidity due to Parkinsons disease, recover completely, much to the joy of his family. The man was brought inside my cabin in a wheelchair. He was unable to even sit on the chair without support. Today, he walks independently. Stem cell therapy has made it possible for him, said Dr Naseem Sadiq, Director, Plexus Neuro and Stem Cell Research Centre, who began treating Kumar in October, last year.

Previously, medication and surgical procedure were the only treatment option for Parkinsons disease. Medication in the long-term often lacks effectiveness and may cause side effects, while surgery is not always feasible. Lately, stem cell therapy has turned out to be a boon for patients with Parkinsons, Dr Sadiq said.

Kumar is among the few who have benefited from stem cell therapy. However, though the State has been reporting an increase in the number of registered stem cell donors, it is far behind sufficient as the genetic match between donor and recipient could be anywhere between one in 10,000 and one in two million, according to experts.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Raghu Rajgopal, co-founder, Datri, a registry for stem cell donation, said, The response we get from Karnataka when we conduct stem cell camps is great. We see a lot of people and registering with us.

As many as 6,000 people have registered from the State under the Datri registry. A total of 72,000 people have registered across the country. In Kerala, 11,000 have signed up, the highest so far, he said.

Among the common myths are that by donating stem cells one turns infertile and weak, have increased chances of cancer and also that there would be excess loss of blood, he said.

According to studies, over one lakh people are diagnosed with Leukemia (blood cancer) and other blood disorders every year in India. The Indian Council of Medical Research has predicted that by the end of 2015, Leukemia cases will reach an estimated 1,17,649 and 1,32,574 by 2020. Stem cell therapy is a widely used treatment mechanism for Leukemia.

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Stem cell therapy a boon to Parkinson's patients

An industry-academic research collaboration yields a new strategy for delivering stem cells to the right location

IMAGE:Researchers identified a small molecule that can be used to program mesenchymal stem cells (blue and green) to home in on sites of damage. view more

Credit: Oren Levy, Brigham and Women's Hospital

Bioengineers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) with collaborators at the pharmaceutical company Sanofi have identified small molecules that can be used to program stem cells to home in on sites of damage, disease and inflammation. The techniques used to find and test these small molecules may represent important tools in advancing cell-based therapy, offering a new strategy for delivering cells to the right locations in the body. The results of their work appear online this week in Cell Reports.

Through a collaborative research project, the research team tested more than 9,000 compounds, and used a multi-step approach - including a sophisticated microfluidics set up and novel imaging technique - to narrow in on and test the most promising compounds.

"There are all kinds of techniques and tools that can be used to manipulate cells outside of the body and get them to do almost anything we want, but once we transplant cells we lose complete control over them," said co-senior author Jeff Karp, PhD, an associate professor at BWH, Harvard Medical School, and principal faculty at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. "Through this collaboration, we've been able to identify small molecules that can be used to treat cells outside of the body, programming them to target blood vessels in diseased or damaged tissue."

Small molecules offered the team several advantages including the ability to use a safe and relatively simple procedure to pre-treat the cells before injecting them intravenously.

"There's a great need to develop strategies that improve the clinical impact of cell-based therapies," said co-first author Oren Levy, PhD, an instructor in medicine at BWH. "If you can create an engineering strategy that is safe, cost effective and simple to apply, that's exactly what we need to achieve the promise of cell-based therapy."

Karp's team at the Brigham had previously found that it is possible to use bioengineering techniques to chemically attach molecules to the surface of a cell that act as a GPS, guiding the cell to the site of inflammation. These findings indicated that targeted delivery of cells was possible, but a scalable approach would be needed to impact patients.

"At BWH, we had laid the groundwork. Our collaborators at Sanofi have complementary expertise in screening for small molecules, deep understanding of the biology and unmet needs, and an exceptional ability to bring new therapeutics to the clinic," said Karp. "Defined goals and both teams working seamlessly together created perfect synergy. We learned so much from each other."

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Small molecule helps get stem cells to sites of disease and damage

Bengaluru, Feb 25, 2015, dhns:

Two courses of stem cell therapy have helped Ashok Kumar, 59, who suffered from tremors and rigidity due to Parkinsons disease, recover completely, much to the joy of his family.

The man was brought inside my cabin in a wheelchair. He was unable to even sit on the chair without support. Today, he walks independently. Stem cell therapy has made it possible for him, said Dr Naseem Sadiq, Director, Plexus Neuro and Stem Cell Research Centre, who began treating Kumar in October, last year.

Previously, medication and surgical procedure were the only treatment option for Parkinsons disease. Medication in the long-term often lacks effectiveness and may cause side effects, while surgery is not always feasible. Lately, stem cell therapy has turned out to be a boon for patients with Parkinsons, Dr Sadiq said.

Kumar is among the few who have benefited from stem cell therapy. However, though the State has been reporting an increase in the number of registered stem cell donors, it is far behind sufficient as the genetic match between donor and recipient could be anywhere between one in 10,000 and one in two million, according to experts.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Raghu Rajgopal, co-founder, Datri, a registry for stem cell donation, said, The response we get from Karnataka when we conduct stem cell camps is great. We see a lot of people and registering with us.

As many as 6,000 people have registered from the State under the Datri registry. A total of 72,000 people have registered across the country. In Kerala, 11,000 have signed up, the highest so far, he said.

Among the common myths are that by donating stem cells one turns infertile and weak, have increased chances of cancer and also that there would be excess loss of blood, he said.

According to studies, over one lakh people are diagnosed with Leukemia (blood cancer) and other blood disorders every year in India.

The Indian Council of Medical Research has predicted that by the end of 2015, Leukemia cases will reach an estimated 1,17,649 and 1,32,574 by 2020. Stem cell therapy is a widely used treatment mechanism for Leukemia.

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Stem cell therapy a boon for Parkinson patients

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Newswise STRATFORD Paola Leone, PhD, the director of the Cell and Gene Therapy Center and a professor of Cell Biology at the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine (RowanSOM), has been awarded a three-year, $477,000 grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) to develop a stem cell-based therapy for Canavan disease, a rare but devastating neurological disorder in children that typically takes a childs life by age 10.

Canavan disease is a fatal, inherited disease caused by a mutation in the aspartaocylase gene, Dr. Leone explained. The disease is characterized by progressive and severe brain atrophy that manifests in delayed development, developmental regression, microcephaly, spasticity, seizures, visual impairment and short life expectancy. There, currently, is no treatment or cure for Canavan disease.

Under Dr. Leones direction, a team of RowanSOM researchers and students will examine the potential of stem cells for the treatment of Canavan disease in an animal model. This new study will build on the research teams preliminary data that demonstrated the successful engraftment of stem cells in animal models.

Our project will generate pre-clinical data to support the development of a stem-cell based therapy for Canavan disease, Dr. Leone said. It will also provide an important opportunity for a new generation of clinical researchers. Both undergraduate and graduate students will participate in this project, providing them with valuable experience to work with an extremely promising therapeutic intervention.

The symptoms of Canavan disease usually appear within the first six months of a childs life. The disease is caused by a genetic mutation that stops cells, called oligodendrocytes, from developing myelin, the fatty substance that coats the nerves in the brain. Without the protective myelin covering, the nerves do not form properly, causing the brain to atrophy. The preliminary research that Dr. Leone conducted showed that the engraftment of stem cells promoted significant recovery of the myelin sheath surrounding the nerves.

Our research represents a significant departure from other studies that have focused solely on strategies to augment the loss of the aspartaocylase function that is highly reduced in the brains of these patients, Dr. Leone said. We believe that any strategy seeking to treat Canavan must include a way to restore the myelin development that is disrupted in children with this disease.

This research is supported by the NINDS of the National Institutes of Health, under grant number 1R15NS088763-01A1.

Journalists wishing to speak with Dr. Leone, should contact Jerry Carey, Rowan University Media and Public Relations at 856-566-6171 or at careyge@rowan.edu.

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Rowan Researcher Targets Stem Cell-Based Therapy for Rare Childhood Disease

Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) on Wednesday announced the launch of department of regenerative medicine, which will offer services based on stem cell therapy.

Some of the services that will be offered in the department include diabetic foot, scleroderma that involves hardening of skin etc.

The regenerative medicine department will focus on development of diagnostic and therapeutic concepts and their implementation in various disease conditions, said head of regenerative department, Kanakabhushanam.

The doctors said all the therapies offered at the new centre are approved by institutional Committee for Stem Cell Research and Therapy (ICSCRT) and registered with Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI).

Already, since September, 2014, the regenerative medicine centre has been treating close to six patients who have diabetic foot. In future, the department will take up research in delayed non-union of fractures and even diabetic neuropathy, a common condition among diabetics wherein nerves get damaged.

MD and CEO, KIMS Hospital, B. Bhaskar Rao, former NIMS Director Kakarla Subba Rao and other top doctors from the hospital were present.

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KIMS offers services based on stem cell therapy

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Newswise LA JOLLA, CA February 25, 2015 A new study led by researchers at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) and the University of California (UC), San Diego School of Medicine shows that certain stem cell culture methods are associated with increased DNA mutations. The study points researchers toward safer and more robust methods of growing stem cells to treat disease and injury.

This is about quality control; were making sure these cells are safe and effective, said Jeanne Loring, a professor of developmental neurobiology at TSRI and senior author of the study with Louise Laurent, assistant professor at UC San Diego.

Laurent added, The processes used to maintain and expand stem cell cultures for cell replacement therapies needs to be improved, and the resulting cells carefully tested before use.

The findings were published February 25 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE.

Growing Stem Cells

Because these human stem cells, called "pluripotent stem cells," can differentiate into many types of cells, they could be key to reversing degenerative diseases, such as Parkinsons disease, or repairing injured tissue, such as cardiac muscle after a heart attack. Stem cells are relatively rare in the body, however, so researchers must culture them in dishes.

While all cells run the risk of mutating when they divide, previous research from Loring and her colleagues suggested that stem cell culturing may select for mutations that favor faster cell growth and are sometimes associated with tumors.

Most changes will not compromise the safety of the cells for therapy, but we need to monitor the cultures so that we know what sorts of changes take place, said the papers first author Ibon Garitaonandia, a postdoctoral researcher working in Lorings lab at the time of the study.

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New Study Shows Safer Methods for Stem Cell Culturing

Jeanne Loring holds a petri dish with induced pluripotent stem cells from a Parkinsons patient.

A nine-year legal challenge to human embryonic stem cell patents ended Tuesday, when the Supreme Court declined to hear the case.

The decision means the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, or WARF, will get to keep its patent rights for the cells, which were discovered in 1998 by University of Wisconsin - Madison scientist James Thompson.

However, the challengers succeeded in preventing WARF from gaining rights over another important type of stem cells called induced pluripotent stem cells, said Jeanne Loring, a stem cell scientist at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla who was part of a coalition contesting the WARF patents.

IPS cells act much like human embryonic stem cells, and are being researched as an alternative for stem cell therapy. Loring is working with a group that seeks to use them to treat Parkinson's disease.

WARF maintains it has the right to license use of human embryonic stem cells, because Thompson developed the methods to isolate them from embryos, which had not been previously done. Loring said the derivation is an obvious extension of methods used to derive non-primate embryonic stem cells, and therefore not patentable.

Loring and two public interest groups, Consumer Watchdog and the Public Patent Foundation, challenged the patents in 2006, and in 2007 succeeded in narrowing WARF's claims to exclude the IPS cells. Loring and the groups continued the challenge on the grounds that as a product of nature, human embryonic stem cells are not patentable.

The U.S. Patent and Trade Office turned down that challenge, and the case reached the Supreme Court last year. By not hearing the case, the Supreme Court let that decision stand.

"They still own human embryonic stem cells," Loring said. "But the way their patents were originally written, they would have also been able to own IPS cells. If there's one success that I would point to, that was worth all the effort, it's that they can't. And the reason they can't is because we challenged the patent."

Calls and an email sent Tuesday to WARF headquarters in Madison, Wis., were not immediately returned.

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Supreme Court rejects stem cell patent case

Figure 1. Stem CellRecruiting Hydrogels Based on Self-Assembling Peptides

The Materials for Biomaterials session Best Contribution Award presented by Steve Zinkle goes to Yongmee Jung, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, for the oral presentation Self-assembling peptide nanofiber coupled with neuropeptide substance P for stem cell recruitment.

As a winner of the above Materials Today Asia Contribution Award, Yongmee Jung and Soo Hyun Kim discuss their work with us.

Stem cellbased therapy in regenerative medicine may be one of the best approaches for wound healing and tissue regeneration. Many studies have shown that the trophic effects of transplanted stem cells enhance the treatment of lung, liver, and skin injuries, as well as myocardial infarction [1]. However, although stem cell transplantationincluding cell isolation and cell culture in vitroresults in a good prognosis, there are some limitations, such as high cost, invasiveness, the shortage of cell sources, and the risk of tumorigenesis [2]. To overcome these limitations, technologies for recruiting endogenous stem cells to the site of injury may provide another promising approach, mimicking in situ tissue regeneration by the bodys own wound healing process. Unlike cell-based therapies, this strategy does not need outside cell sources or in vitro cell manipulation. Host stem cells can be mobilized using granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), or stromal cellderived factor-1 alpha (SDF-1), each of which upregulates adhesion molecules and activates chemokine signaling [3]. It has been reported that substance P (SP), another candidate for recruitment of host stem cells, is an injury-inducible factor that acts early in the wound healing process to mobilize CD29+ stromal-like cells, and thus could be used for tissue regeneration [1].

To achieve effective delivery of SP for an extended period and improve the engraftment of recruited cells at the injured site, scaffolds can be constructed from hydrogels with microenvironments similar to the native tissue. Of particular interest are self-assembling peptide (SAP)based hydrogels, which are typically composed of alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic amino acids organized into 510 nm fibers and assembled into three-dimensional nanofibrous structures under in vivo conditions [4]. The resulting structure resembles nanostructured environments such as collagen hierarchical structures that promote adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of cells. Furthermore, SAP is versatile enough to incorporate specific motifs based on the desired function with chemical coupling by peptide bond [5].

Recently, we designed bioactive peptide hydrogels that are able to recruit mesenchymal stem cells by coupling SAP to SP. The mixture of SAP and SP-coupled SAP can successfully maintain its nanofibrous structure and be assembled into a 3D scaffold at physiological conditions.

We confirmed the ability of this SP-coupled SAP to attract stem cells both by in vitro cell migration assay and by in vivo real-time cell tracking assay. In vitro, many cells migrated through the 8-m membrane pores and settled onto the lower surfaces of Transwell plates under the influence of SP-coupled SAP. In vivo, we injected the hydrogels into the subcutaneous tissue in nude mice and injected labeled human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) into the tail vein. The migration of the injected cells was tracked in real time using a multispectral imaging system, which demonstrated that the labeled hMSCs supplied via intravenous injection were recruited to the hydrogel-injected site (Figure) [6]. We then applied our bioactive peptide hydrogels, SAP coupled with SP, to several disease models to evaluate their stem cell recruitment abilities and treatment effects on injured tissues. We have studied the effects of these hydrogels on animal models of ischemic hind limb, calvarial defect, myocardial infarction, osteoarthritis, and skin wounds. We observed in each case that in the group treated with SP-coupled peptide hydrogels, many MSCs were recruited to the injured sites, and cell apoptosis and fibrosis of injured tissues were both conspicuously decreased. Moreover, the regeneration of site-specific tissues was enhanced with the injection of stem cellrecruiting peptide hydrogels in various defect models, and tissue functions were accordingly improved without cell transplantation [2, 5, 6]. In conclusion, we have developed injectable bioactive peptides that can recruit MSCs and have evaluated their therapeutic potential on animal defect models. By applying these peptide hydrogels, we were able to deliver SP over an extended period and provide 3D microenvironments to injured regions, allowing bioactive peptides to recruit MSCs successfully, prevent cell apoptosis, and promote tissue regeneration leading to a full recovery of defects. We expect that stem cellrecruiting hydrogels based on SAP could be one of the most powerful tools for tissue regeneration without cell transplantation through the recruitment of endogenous stem cells.

This work was supported by the KIST Institutional Program

1. H. S. Hong, et al., Nat. Med., 15 (2009), pp. 425435 2. J. H. Kim, et al., Biomaterials, 34 (2013), pp. 16571668 3. T. Lapidot, I. Petit, Exp. Hematol., 30 (2002), pp. 973981 4. S. Zhang, et al., Semin. Cancer Biol., 15 (5) (2005), pp. 413420 5. J. E. Kim, et al., Int. J. Nanomedicine, 9 (Suppl 1) (2014), pp. 141157 6. S. H. Kim, et al., Tissue Eng. Part A, E-Pub (2014)

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Stem cellrecruiting hydrogels based on self-assembling peptides for tissue regeneration

Kyoto University Hospital says it will open a center to conduct clinical studies on induced pluripotent stem cell therapies in 2019 year.

Officials said the 30-bed ward will test the efficacy and safety of the therapies on volunteer patients.

The hospital aims to break ground at the site next February and complete construction by September 2019.

As an iPS cell research hub, we hope to apply (the cells) to groundbreaking therapies and make developments in the field of drug discovery, the hospital said in a statement Monday.

Ongoing research on iPS cells at Kyoto University includes turning the cells into dopamine-releasing neurons for transplant into patients with Parkinsons disease, and creating a formulation of platelets that helps blood to clot.

Professor Shinya Yamanaka, who shared the 2012 Nobel Prize in medicine, leads the existing iPS cell research center at Kyoto University.

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Kyoto University Hospital to open iPS cell therapy center in 2019

Parma And Modena, Italy (ots/PRNewswire) -

The collaboration between a public excellent research center and a solid private pharmaceutical company allowed to achieve an extraordinary result, entirely "made in Italy": the first medicinal product containing stem cells approved in the Western world

The European Commission has granted a conditional marketing authorization, under Regulation (EC) No 726/2004, to Holoclar(R), an advanced therapy based on autologous stem cells and capable to restore the eyesight of patients with severe cornea damage. Holoclar(R) is manufactured by Holostem Terapie Avanzate (Holostem Advanced Therapies) - a spin-off of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia - at the Centre for Regenerative Medicine "Stefano Ferrari" (CMR) of the same University.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150223/731609-a )

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150223/731609-b )

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150223/731609-c )

"Holoclar is the very first medicinal product based on stem cells to be approved and formally registered in the Western world," states Andrea Chiesi, Director of R&D Portfolio Management of Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A. and CEO of Holostem Terapie Avanzate. "This record," continues Andrea Chiesi, "shows that the partnership between the public and private sectors is not only possible, but is probably the best strategy for the development of stem cell-based regenerative medicine, particularly when autologous cells are used. Holostem is now considered as a business model to translate into clinics the results obtained by scientific research in this field."

Underlying Holoclar(R) are more than 20 years of excellence in research, conducted by a team of internationally renowned scientists in the field of epithelial stem cell biology aimed at clinical translation. European Directive 1394/2007 substantially equalizes advanced cell therapies to medicines and imposes, among other things, that cell cultures has to be manufactured only in GMP-certified facilities (GMP: Good Manufacturing Practice). Thanks to the investments of Chiesi Farmaceutici, the Centre for Regenerative Medicine in Modena - where Holostem operates - was certified as GMP compliant and continue to follow the path towards the registration of this newly developed advanced therapy.

"The authorization process has been long and complex, but the result achieved today shows that cells can be cultured according to pharmaceutical standards appropriate to guarantee safety and efficacy," adds Professor Michele De Luca, Scientific Director and co-founder of Holostem, as well as Director of the CMR of the University of Modena. "In addition, in a period of great confusion about the real therapeutic possibilities of stem cells, such as the one we are living in, being able to demonstrate that stem cells can be definitely safe and successful in a controlled clinical setting is more important than ever."

To explain how Holoclar(R) works is Professor Graziella Pellegrini, Coordinator of cell therapy at CMR, as well as director of R&D and co-founder of Holostem, who authored, together with Professor De Luca, the research and designed the product development: "After developing cell cultures based on epithelial stem cells for the treatment of various disorders of the stratified epithelia - from the skin for full-thickness burns to the reconstruction of the urethra - we discovered that the stem cells that allow the regeneration of the cornea reside in a small area at the border between the cornea (the transparent part at the center of the eye) and the conjunctiva (the contiguous white part), which is called 'the limbus'. When thermal or chemical burns of the ocular surface damage irreversibly this stem cell reserve, the corneal surface - which in a healthy eye completely renews itself approximately every six/nine months - stops regenerating and the conjunctiva gradually begins to cover the cornea with a white coating, that prevents vision and causes chronic pain and inflammation. If in at least one of the eyes of the patient even a small residue of undamaged limbus is left, we areable to reconstruct in a laboratory the epithelium that covers the corneal surface, thanks to the stem cells harvested through a 1-2mmsquared biopsy. This graft of epithelium - Holoclar(R), precisely - that looks like a kind of contact lens, is then transplanted into the patient and allows to obtain a long-term transparent cornea and a full recovery of visual acuity, without causing any rejection reaction, because it consists of cells of the patient him/herself."

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Europe Approves Holoclar, the First Stem Cell-Based Medicinal Product

The Facebook post late Thursday night landed like a punch to the gut to everyone who knows Jeff Dienhart.

The beloved Central Catholic girls assistant basketball coach, who has been waging a fierce struggle against the suffocating ravages of cystic fibrosis, abruptly announced that the end is now near.

"I was sent home today from the hospital on hospice care. I received the sacrament of confession and the anointing of the sick last night from father Daniel garland. I am at home under medication. Could have days could have weeks could have months no one knows. Just know I am at peace. I am scared and dont want to leave this place on earth.. I have fought so hard for so long. I am so tired and have suffered so much this year .please pray for my wife Valerie my daughter Alicia and my son drew during this tough time."

My husband and I came to the conclusion that he is a fighter. Odds don't mean anything to him.

It was not supposed to end this way. Dienhart was, in fact, just days away from an experimental stem cell treatment that he hoped would extend his life. Friends, family and the community had raised more than $70,000 to cover the costs.

And Dienhart, 44, had beaten so many odds before.

The statistics suggest, for example, that many men with cystic fibrosis are infertile, yet Dienhart fathered two children.

Central Catholic assistant girls basketball coaches Jeff Dienhart, foreground, and Dave Crandall watch the action as the Knights host Guerin Catholic on Jan. 30. It was the first game for Dienhart in quite a while, as he had spent the better part of the month of January in the hospital. Dienhart is set to receive stem cell treatment in the Dominican Republic to hopefully assist in his battle with cystic fibrosis. (Photo: John Terhune/Journal & Courier)

Nor were CF sufferers supposed to be able to play marathon rounds of golf.

"I would tell the doctor he played 36 holes of golf in 90-degree heat," said Dienhart's mother, Kathy Dienhart. "The doctor would tell me I made that up. My husband and I came to the conclusion that he is a fighter. Odds don't mean anything to him."

See more here:

Can stem cell therapy save a beloved coach?

Why Stem Cell Therapy?
Dr. Bryn J. Henderson (DO, JD, FACPE, CIME) is visionary physician executive leading RMG. In this amazing education video, he is explaning clearly why patients should choose Stem Cell Therapy...

By: iManifestart

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Why Stem Cell Therapy? - Video

What is Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) in Stem Cell Therapy?
Dr. McKenna explains bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC). BMAC contains stem cells and growth factors that can build blood supply and heal tissue. For more information: http://www.rmiclinic.com...

By: Riordan-McKenna Institute

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What is Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) in Stem Cell Therapy? - Video

Stem Cell Therapy for Liver Failure Cirrhosis Kidney Damage - 6 Months After Stemcell Transplant
Bruce from Perth Australia give us an update 6 Months After his cord Mesenchymal stem cell treatment for Iiver cirrhosis, kidney complications in Thailand: More here: http://stemcellthailand.org/th...

By: Regeneration Center of Thailand

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Stem Cell Therapy for Liver Failure Cirrhosis Kidney Damage - 6 Months After Stemcell Transplant - Video