Tag Archives: Stem

New Type of Stem Cell Preparation Could Bring Pain Relief to Diabetics

July 21, 2012     No comments


Durham, NC (PRWEB) July 09, 2012

A new study released today in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine shows the potential of a new approach in preparing stem cells that provide relief to people suffering from a common, yet painful diabetes complication.

About 70 percent of diabetics have neuropathy, or nerve damage, resulting from the disease, according to the National Institutes of Health. The most common type is peripheral neuropathy (DPN), which causes pain or loss of feeling in the toes, feet, legs, hands and arms. Up to a quarter of DPN sufferers endure an extremely painful version (pDPN) in which even a tiny amount of external pressure can be excruciating.

While there are many contributors to DPN, inflammation is considered a major culprit. Treatments are generally restricted to controlling the diabetes itself and to alleviating pain with topical ointments such as capsaicin cream or with oral medications including antidepressants and anticonvulsants.

?However, none of these therapies directly targets the inflammation, most have negative side effects and less than 30 percent of patients experience adequate pain relief. Clearly, new therapies are needed,? said Dr. Ruth Waterman of the Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans.

Dr. Waterman collaborated with Dr. Aline Betancourt from Tulane University?s Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine to develop a new treatment for pDPN using modified stem cells to control inflammation. Numerous studies have already proven mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are safe and effective in treating inflammatory diseases. MSCs, which are taken from adults, can give rise to a large number of tissue types such as bone, fat and cartilage.

?The problem,? Dr. Betancourt explained, ?is that the current methods for preparing these cells yield a mixed pool of undefined cells that aren?t consistently effective in the clinic. Our laboratory developed a new method that results in a consistent, uniform MSC population and optimizes their anti-inflammatory effects. We call these cells MSC2s.?

When the team tested its MSC2 cells on mice with pDNP, they saw a significant improvement in inflammation and other symptoms ? as much as 40 percent for the MSC2 group over the mice that received no treatment, vs. a 14 percent improvement at best in those administered conventional MSCs.

?Moreover the responses did not differ from what we saw in the healthy control group of mice,? Dr. Waterman said. ?These findings suggest that the use of anti-inflammatory MSC2 is a promising new therapeutic strategy for diabetic peripheral neuropathy that should be further investigated.?

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The full article, ?Anti-Inflammatory Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC2) Attenuate Symptoms of Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy,? can be accessed at http://www.StemCellsTM.com.







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Discovery of Stem Cell Illuminates Human Brain Evolution, Points To Therapies

July 17, 2012     No comments


San Francisco, CA (Vocus) May 26, 2010

UCSF scientists have discovered a new stem cell in the developing human brain. The cell produces nerve cells that help form the neocortex ? the site of higher cognitive function — and likely accounts for the dramatic expansion of the region in the lineages that lead to man, the researchers say.

Future studies of these cells are expected to shed light on developmental diseases such as autism and schizophrenia and malformations of brain development, including microcephaly, lissencephaly and neuronal migration disorders, they say, as well as age-related illnesses, such as Alzheimer?s disease.

Studies also will allow scientists to track the molecular steps that the cell goes through as it evolves into the nerve cell, or neuron, it produces. This information could then be used to prompt embryonic stem cells to differentiate in the culture dish into neurons for potential use in cell-replacement therapy.

The study is reported in a recent issue of the journal Nature, (vol. no. 464, 554-561; issue 7288).

?This discovery has the potential to transform our understanding of the development and evolution of the human neocortex, the most uniquely human part of the central nervous system,? says the senior author of the study, neurologist Arnold Kriegstein, MD, PhD, director of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCSF.

?It also should inform our understanding of developmental diseases and advance the creation of cell-based therapies. Many neurological diseases develop in neurons or the neural circuits between them. If we?re going to understand how these disorders develop, we have to better understand how the human and primate cerebral cortex develops.?

In rodents and humans, the developing cortex contains a layer of neural stem cells called radial glial cells that resides near the fluid-filled ventricles and produces cells that are precursors to neurons. These precursor neurons further proliferate in a region known as the subventricular zone (SVZ), to increase their numbers, and then differentiate into newborn neurons. The neurons then migrate along radial glial fibers up to the neocortex, where they help form the tissue that is the site of sensory perception, motor commands, spatial reasoning, conscious thought and language.

In human and nonhuman primates, however, the SVZ has a massively expanded outer region, known as the outer subventricular zone (OSVZ). About 20 years ago, scientists presumed that the OSVZ also contained stem cells, but until now they have lacked evidence.

In the current study, lead authors David V. Hansen, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow, and Jan H. Lui, a graduate student in the Kriegstein lab, examined the OSVZ, using new labeling and tracking techniques to follow individual cells and their progeny over time in cultured tissue slices from fetal cortex tissue that had been donated for research.

They characterized two kinds of cells within the region — both the novel neural stem cell and its daughter cell, known as the transit amplifying cell. The stem cell closely resembles the radial glial cell in structure and behavior and, like the radial glia, has radial fibers which newborn neurons migrate along up to the neocortex.

The region is a busy hub of cell proliferation. The stem cell undergoes asymmetrical cell division, giving rise to two distinct daughter cells — one a copy of the original stem cell, the other a transit amplifying cell. The transit amplifying cell undergoes multiple rounds of symmetrical divisions before all of its daughter cells begin the process of differentiating into neurons.

?We are very interested in understanding how these modes of division are regulated,? says Kriegstein. ?We suspect that faults in cell-cycle regulation account for a variety of developmental brain diseases.?

More broadly, he says the team wants to understand how the new stem cells compare to radial glial cells and how the two sets of neurons they produce integrate in the neocortex. ?Neurons are probably being generated in both the SVZ and OSVZ at once,? he says. ?They likely end up in the same layer of the neocortex as they migrate into position and start forming circuits.

?This suggests to us that there may be a mosaic of cell types in the human neocortex, in which there are cells that originate in the traditional zone and cells produced in the newer zone that intermix in the cortex. The complexity of primate neocortex may be significantly increased by the interaction of the evolutionarily-speaking ?younger? neurons with those originating in the more primitive zone.?

The massive number of cells within the OSVZ of humans ?tells us we have to be careful when modeling human brain diseases in mice,? says Kriegstein. ?Especially in the neocortex — the most highly developed part of the brain in primates and humans ? there are going to be important differences between rodents and humans.?

The other co-author of the study was Philip R. L. Parker, a graduate student in the Kriegstein lab.

The study was funded by grants from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine and the Bernard Osher Foundation.

UCSF is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care.

Related links:

Nature paper:

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v464/n7288/full/nature08845.html

Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCSF

http://stemcell.ucsf.edu/

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Stemedica International And Academic Partner Awarded Swiss Alzheimer?s And Stem Cell Research Grant

July 08, 2012     No comments


Epalinges, Switzerland (PRWEB) May 24, 2012

Stemedica International, Epalinges, Switzerland, a wholly owned subsidiary of Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc. (San Diego, CA) announced today that it was awarded a grant by the Swiss Commission for Technology and Innovation along with its academic partner, The ?cole Polytechnique F?d?rale de Lausanne (EPFL). The 584,522 CHF (approx. 620,000 USD) grant is focused on the use of EPFL?s advanced imaging capabilities along with Stemedica?s ischemic tolerant stem cells and stem cell factors in transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer?s disease. The basic research supports Stemedica?s clinical trial advancement for Alzheimer?s disease for both Switzerland and the United States.

?We are pleased that we will be collaborating with one of the world?s leading technical academic institutions,? said Nikolai Tankovich, MD, PhD, Executive Chairman of Stemedica International. ?We will be able to see the therapeutic potential of our ischemia tolerant neural and mesenchymal cells, as well as the impact of our stem cell factors on the amyloid plaque pathology and brain vascularization associated with Alzheimer?s disease. ?

EPFL has developed sophisticated imaging methods that allow for the visualization of amyloid plaques without the need of injecting amyloid-binding dyes / contrast agents. In addition to visualizing amyloid plaques, the precise, femtosecond laser system allows imaging of quantitative blood flow and other critical functional parameters.

Professor Theo Lasser, Head of Laboratoire d?Optique Biomedicale (LOB), EPFL, commented, ?We are excited to collaborate with the world?s leading manufacturer of allogeneic stem cells and apply our methods of Optical Coherent Microscopy developed at LOB, EPFL to potentially find a cure for Alzheimer?s disease. ?

Tristan Bolmont, PhD, of EPFL will lead the research project, along with Alexei Lukashev, PhD., Director of the Laser Stem Cell Division, Stemedica. Dr. Bolmont commented on the scope of the project, ?The scale of this project, treating and imaging more than 140 subjects, will allow us to make the correlations that are critical to understanding the pathophysiology of this disease. Furthermore, we will better understand the biodistribution and the mechanism of action of Stemedica?s ischemia tolerant neural and mesenchymal stem cells and how they affect the Alzheimer?s altered brain.?

According to Roger Howe, PhD, President of Stemedica International, ?The Swiss government is being remarkably progressive in bridging the gap between bench top research and translational medicine. We greatly appreciate their support in documenting stem cell effectiveness in neurological diseases.?

For more information please contact Dave McGuigan at dmcguigan (at) stemedica.com

About Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc.

Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc. is a specialty bio-pharmaceutical company committed to the manufacturing and development of best-in-class allogeneic adult stem cells and stem cell factors for use by approved research institutions and hospitals for pre-clinical and clinical (human) trials. The company is a government licensed manufacturer of clinical grade stem cells and is approved by the FDA for its clinical trials for ischemic stroke. Stemedica is currently developing regulatory pathways for a number of medical indications using adult allogeneic stem cells. The Company is headquartered in San Diego, California.

About The ?cole Polytechnique F?d?rale de Lausanne (EPFL)

The EPFL is one of the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology is located in Lausanne, Switzerland. The school was founded by the Swiss Federal Government with the stated mission to (a) educate engineers and scientists, (b) be a national center of excellence in science and technology, (c) provide a hub for interaction between the scientific community and industry. The sister institution in the German-speaking part of Switzerland is the Eidgen?ssische Technische Hochschule Z?rich (ETH Z?rich or ETHZ). Associated with several specialized research institutes, the two sister institutes form the ETH Domain. EPFL is ranked among the top academic institutions in the world.







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The Business and Industry STEM Education Coalition (BISEC) and Entertainment Industries Council, Inc. (EIC) Team to Announce a Jobs Social Network: SETforJOBS.org

July 07, 2012     No comments


Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) June 22, 2012

SETforJOBS.org is a multimedia site, created by leading industries and key associations of the Business and Industry STEM Education Coalition (BISEC). This unique site features video segments, including Real People, Real Stories, photos, articles, interactive activities, contests, educational tools and more. This site is unlike any other ever created for science, engineering, technology and mathematics because it is a free-form, social networking community that allows members to discuss topics and events, share ideas and even engage in mentoring with national, local and state participants.

?Together, we can foster growth in the workplace and further the cultural shift to inspire Americans, especially young people, to better understand science, engineering, technology and all that creative problem solvers have to offer,? said Ed Swallow, Northrop Grumman Corporation VP, Business Development. ?BISEC and EIC encourage all those who have an interest in science, engineering and technology to take a pledge to support these industries to ensure and enhance our nation?s global economic and workforce status,? Swallow continued.

?The aerospace industry is a leader in innovation and game-changing technology,? said Rick Stephens, Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Administration for The Boeing Company. ?Future competitiveness relies on access to a highly skilled and educated workforce. Our goal is to enhance and elevate interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics to best prepare students for high-tech jobs of today and tomorrow.?

?One of the best ways to reach young people is through entertainment media, that?s why

EIC became a part of BISEC and is proud to help create this opportunity for community-building and workforce inspiration. The creative community must rally around this national imperative to encourage the pursuit of science, engineering, technology and mathematics careers by making these topics accessible, entertaining and engaging to audiences plus frequently reporting progress in the news. SETforJOBS.org is a paramount tool in our quest to engage and further this attitude and behavior shift,? said Brian Dyak, President and CEO, Entertainment Industries Council, Inc.

The social network is designed to bring professionals, educators, students and others together to share thoughts, ideas, opportunities and STEM advancement that support workforce development and jobs. Currently, members can nominate their favorite show for the Science, Engineering and Technology Awards and enter a contest that could win them a trip to LA for the ceremony! This is just one example of the great discussions ongoing RIGHT NOW!

?SETforJOBS.org and leadership of Entertainment Industries Council are awesome! STEMconnector.org is proud of our partnership. We commend you for the launch of the SETforJobs.org and the massive potential for a special resource based social network. You inspire and give clear messages and resources. STEMconnector with its 4000 plus organization profiles, STEMdaily, STEM Town Halls, 100 Women Leaders in STEM and our mutual desire for network for results, driving communications and metrics to show STEM education progress. Our team is so supportive and proud of the partnership,? commented Edie Fraser, CEO, STEMconnector.

About BISEC

The Business and Industry Stem Education Coalition?s purpose is to enhance and elevate the U.S. commitment to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and to facilitate STEM Education through private and public partnerships. BISEC?s purpose is also to align efforts to improve STEM education to develop the future workforce in order to build our nation?s economic competiveness, sustain national security, and develop future jobs and employment specialties that engage a dynamic STEM workforce.

About Entertainment Industries Council

EIC, a non-profit organization, was founded in 1983 by leaders of the entertainment industry to bring the power and influence of the industry to bear on communication about health and social issues. The organization is considered to be the chief pioneer of entertainment outreach and one of the premiere success stories in the field of entertainment education. EIC provides information resources for entertainment creators through innovative and time-proven services and methods of “encouraging the art of making a difference” from within the entertainment industry. EIC produces the simulcast national television special PRISM Awards Showcase which addresses accurate portrayals of prevention, treatment and recovery from drug, alcohol and tobacco use, and mental health concerns. The organization also produces the S.E.T Awards, honoring positive and non-stereotypical portrayals of science, engineering and technology. EIC?s web site is http://www.eiconline.org.







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Eye Patients get New Stem Cell Treatment by American Retinal Surgeon

July 07, 2012     1 Comment

Margate, FL (PRWEB) June 05, 2012

An American Retinal Surgeon from Florida has just finished treating 7 patients with a new technique he developed for administrating adult stem cells for eye disease. MD Stem Cells, a consultancy helping patients access leading stem cell providers in both the US and Europe – http://www.mdstemcells.com – made the announcement. “Our affiliate retinal surgeon traveled to Vienna, Austria to provide the new treatment to an international group of patients”, explained Dr Levy, Senior Consultant at MD Stem Cells. ” We are extremely pleased that this new procedure is now available and being provided on a routine basis”. Patients came from the United States, Austria and Romania to obtain the adult stem cell treatment. They ranged in age from 2 years to 87 years old and suffered from a variety of eye diseases including AMD or Age Related Macular Degeneration, Myopic Macular Degeneration, Bulls Eye Retinopathy- a type of hereditary retinal disease , Retinitis Pigmentosa, and Optic Nerve Disease. All the patients did well and were very pleased with the treatment.

Adult Stem Cells are stem cells taken directly from the patients own body avoiding the problems associated with embryonic or fetal stem cells. They are typically obtained from the bone marrow where there is a high concentration of specific types of stem cells found to be useful for many diseases. At times they are obtained from the blood directly. Adult Stem Cells are now used to treat a number of different medical conditions including diabetes, renal failure, strokes, cerebral palsy, autism, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, COPD, heart disease and liver disease- in addition to ophthalmology problems.

Previously the stem cells were injected behind the eye to treat ophthalmic problems but the exact location and how far they might be from the targeted retinal or optic nerve tissue was not always known. In part, the variability in visual response to stem cell treatments has been thought to be from the difference in positioning of the stem cells and how far they were from the diseased area of the eye itself.

“Now with the new technique the stem cells can be placed precisely adjacent to the eye in a very safe manner,” relayed Dr Levy. As an analogy, if your hand was the eye and a glove the surrounding tissue, the new technique allows the stem cells to be injected at the top of the glove and directed down to the exact fingertips the surgeon chooses. The doctor has performed retinal surgery previously to inject stem cells, but believes the risk-benefit for many patients now favors his new non-surgical technique. ” Our surgeon notes that his approach avoids the risks of surgery yet allows him to precisely place the stem cells adjacent to the diseased part of the eye or the optic nerve for best effect”, relayed Dr Levy.

The operating room at the Vienna International Medical Clinic Hospital was crowded with other physicians and health professionals from Vienna, Austria observing and recording the procedures. All the patients did well and were very pleased with the treatment.

“We’re fortunate to be working with such an experienced retinal ophthalmologist,” remarked Dr Levy. “He completed two retinal fellowships at Harvard, MIT and New England Deaconess Hospitals. His strong training and prior experience with stem cell treatments inspires confidence in patients and reassures physicians who may be referring or supporting their patients.”

MD Stem Cells is a stem cell consultancy working directly with leading physicians and surgeons as providing stem cell treatments both in the United States and Europe. Many conditions can be treated and MD Stem Cells is available to discuss options with patients and interested or referring physicians. Their website is http://www.mdstemcells.com and they may be reached at 203-423-9494.







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Provia Labs Expands Its Store-A-Tooth? Dental Stem Cell Banking Program to Encourage Dentist and Patient Participation

May 30, 2012     No comments


Lexington, MA (PRWEB) March 31, 2012

Provia Laboratories, LLC recently expanded its Store-A-Tooth? offering to dental professionals by making it easier for dentists to provide patients the opportunity to preserve their family?s stem cells.

Specifically, the company?s Store-A-Tooth service enables families to save their own adult stem cells ? from baby teeth ready to fall out; teeth pulled for orthodontic reasons, and extracted wisdom teeth.

Dental professionals play a role in making patients aware of the dental stem cell banking option, giving families the choice to safely and securely store their stem cells today ? in a convenient and affordable way ? so that they can take advantage of future therapies in regenerative medicine and dentistry, including those being studied for type 1 diabetes, stroke, cardiovascular disease, spinal cord injuries and Parkinson?s disease, to name a few.

?We have made dental stem cell banking more accessible for consumers by offering multiple options for financing, prepayment and family plans,? said Provia Labs CEO Howard Greenman. ?Our intent is to become true partners with the dental community in educating the public about the potential of dental stem cells and in providing a viable option to interested consumers. We realized that the best way to forge this partnership was to eliminate any extra steps for the dentist.?

Provia Labs provides authorized Store-A-Tooth dental professionals with a turnkey program to launch the service in their practices ? dedicated phone support plus free patient education, practice building tools, CE and training for the team ? all available for free via an easy-to-access online provider portal. ?We want to ensure that our authorized providers can help their patients make an informed decision for their families,? said Greenman.

The company is also developing a new Stem Cell Educator program designed for hygienists and other team members, recognizing their crucial role in talking to patients about dental stem cells. In addition, for clinicians who access the course through the Store-A-Tooth website, the company offers 2 free CE credits for its recently published CE course, Dental Stem Cells: A Guide for the Dental Professional.

Participating dental teams and their families receive professional courtesy pricing on tooth processing, as well as an optional consideration per case for in-office tooth collection. ?The most credible recommendations come from those who actually use a product or service,? explained Greenman. ?We?re making it easy for dental professionals to experience and advocate the Store-A-Tooth Service.?

Provia Labs partners with dental offices to make it easy to educate and inform patients about the option to preserve their family?s dental stem cells. For those interested in the service, Provia works with the dental team to provide high-quality tooth collection and arranges for the sample to be sent overnight to the lab, where the stem cells are harvested, tested, and cryopreserved for future potential use.

The Store-A-Tooth service is currently available to dental offices throughout the United States and internationally. To become a provider, call 877-867-5753, or visit http://www.store-a-tooth.com .

About Provia Laboratories, LLC

Headquartered in Lexington, MA, Provia Laboratories, LLC (http://www.provialabs.com) is a healthcare services company specializing in high-quality biobanking (preservation of biological specimens). The company?s Store-A-Tooth? service platform enables the collection, transport, processing, and storage of dental stem cells for potential use in future stem-cell therapies. The company advises industrial, academic, and governmental clients on matters related to the preservation of biological specimens for research and clinical use. In addition, Provia offers a variety of products for use in complex biobanking environments to improve sample logistics, security, and quality.





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Traveling 4 Health and Retirement Spotlights Stem Cell Therapy in China

May 26, 2012     No comments


Seattle, WA (PRWEB) April 05, 2012

Traveling4Health&Retirement spotlights Stem Cell Therapy in China on the Know Before You Go Radio Show airing Sunday, April 8, 4PM to 5PM Eastern Time. Listen online at Overseasradio.com or on any smart device without having to download an app.

Select ?Click Here to Listen Live? to hear Ilene Little, CEO of Traveling 4 Health And Retirement, interview an American risk-management consultant who gives China top billing for Stem Cell Therapy.

Featured guest, David Mair, is CEO of Soter Healthcare, and a subject expert on Stem Cell Therapy.

Mair?s qualifications as a subject expert in global medical resources reach as far back as 1987 when, up until 2002, he was the Director of Risk Management for the U.S. Olympic Committee.

With over 25 years as a risk management consultant and several years’ experience working with Medex Global Group and China Connection Global Healthcare, Mair brings unique and credentialed expertise to the field of medical travel.

Fast-forward to 2012. Mair is founder of Soter Healthcare, a pioneer in delivery of destination medical services for people seeking improved medical outcomes, prompt access to specialty physicians and hospitals, and affordable care.

What Mair brings to the table for the benefit of employers and individual patients is his long-standing connections in the insurance industry and his unique medical contacts throughout the world.

?One of the things we do here at Soter is try to coordinate benefits to the greatest degree that we can with our client?s insurance company,? said Mair, ?We?ve actually created our own insurance plan that businesses can purchase as part of their group benefits structure.?

On several occasions Mair successfully negotiated with a client?s insurance company to cover the cost of care in medical travel destinations like China. ?When you talk about cost,? he says, ?It?s a good point to talk about both insured and un-insured payments for care in China.?

Cost of Stem Cell Therapy in China:

Mair quotes ball-park figures in the interview. For example, ?for Cerebral Palsy, a typical treatment plan with the hospitals we use in China is going to be in the mid $ 30,000. Some of that may be insured, depending on the nature of care. For diabetes, it?s in the range of $ 17,000 depending upon the condition of the patient,? he said.

Mair is passionate about the advantages of stem cell therapy for certain conditions, and he lists several of those conditions in the interview.

The first patient he sent to China for stem cell therapy was in 2009; his 10-year old niece who suffered from cerebral palsy. Read ?Sending My Niece to China for Stem Cell Surgery?. ?The results were amazing,? said Mair, and we were able to get two-thirds of the cost of her care in China covered by insurance,? reports Mair.

By electing to have stem cell therapy the niece avoided having an orthopedic procedure with a long and painful recovery. ?Before Stem Cell Therapy, she was mostly wheelchair-bound,? said Mair.

He reports, ?Today she walks with a single crutch. She now can use her left-hand independently for major motor skill range of motions. She walks extended distances, her stamina and walking gait are far better, her vision and voice modulate is much better, and she is reading at her grade-level.?

Listen as Mair lists several conditions that are effectively treated with stem cell therapy, including cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, Stoke, MS, heart disease and diabetes. He also talks about conditions for which stem cell therapy is still in the investigative stage and not yet proven to be worthwhile.

Stem Cell Therapy is a hot topic on the Traveling4health&Retirement Community. And yet, we caution members that there is no magic ?stem cell? bullet.

No magic bullet ? procedures for which stem cells are not yet proven to work:

Mair is passionate about the advantages of stem cell therapy for certain conditions, and he lists several of those conditions in the interview.

?While stem cell therapy is a very promising field of medicine it certainly is not for everyone or for everything,? said Mair. He named ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and spinal cord injury as being two conditions where stem cell therapies don?t currently rise to the level of being worth the expense today.

?The use of stem cells for spinal cord, even internationally, is in the investigative stage, and I wouldn?t want to leave the impression with your listening audience that it is well-defined or it is distinctly showing positive results,? said Mair.

?There are some folks that have experienced some things that are positive. We?re still watching that,? he said, ?but we?re not convinced that for ALS or spinal cord injuries that stem cell therapy is anything other than a hope.?

Restrictions on Stem Cell Therapy in China:

According to Mair, the Chinese placed a restriction on stem cell treatment early this year so that the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Science could effectively evaluate each of these stem cell centers that were purporting to provide care.

?What the Chinese want to do is to rein in those folks that are advertising and marketing to patients? senses of desperation, rather than being able to offer legitimate care,? said Mair.

?The hospitals we use continue to be accredited and certified for stem cell treatment. And, in fact, none of the top centers have experienced any significant restrictions,? Mair said, ?We have seen a few hospitals, however, where their stem cell treatment centers have been completely shut down.?

?As is the case in the U.S.,? says Mair, ?It is also true internationally that there are some outstanding hospitals that are doing very good work, and there are some that are not so good.?

Tips on Researching Stem Cell Therapy:

It?s going to be exceedingly difficult for someone who is casually researching or not a specialist in stem cell therapy in China to be able to follow all of the developments regarding China regulations on stem cell procedures.

Says, Ilene Little, “I would caution listeners to look for and seek help from people who specialize in the type of medical procedure you require to guide your choice of a medical destination and a high-quality hospital for the medical treatment.”

“If you know anyone or have a loved one who would benefit from knowing more about stem cell therapy as a treatment option, don?t miss this program,” says Little.

To learn about upcoming shows and sign up to participate in recording sessions, log into http://www.Traveling4Health.com. Click on RADIO SHOW on the top menu.

The definitive resource in global health trekking, Traveling4Health&Retirement presents the newest achievements, advancements, and developments in vacationing, retirement and destination travel. Travelers, medical professionals, and people desiring to learn more about Traveling4Health&Retirement?s growing user community and health providers may visit Traveling4Health&Retirement at http://www.Traveling4Health.com. Persons or care providers interested in becoming a member with Traveling4Health&Retirement?s online community should contact Ilene Little at +1.888.844.1005; Fax: +1.888.844.1005; Skype at Ilene.Little for additional information.





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Cryo-Cell’s Affiliate, Saneron CCEL Therapeutics, Releases Pre-clinical Data Indicating That Cord Blood Stem Cells Slow Progression of ALS

May 18, 2012     No comments

Oldsmar, FL (PRWEB) March 06, 2012

Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (OTC:QB Markets Group Symbol: CCEL) today announced results of a study published last month in PloS ONE from University of South Florida researchers and colleagues from Saneron CCEL Therapeutics, Inc. and the Ribeirao Preto School of Medicine at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The study showed that repeated, low dose injections of mononuclear cells derived from human umbilical cord blood have been found effective in protecting motor neuron cells, delaying disease progression and increasing lifespan for mice modeling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, also referred to as Lou Gehrig?s disease. Additionally, the researchers found that although the number of grafted cells identified in the spinal cord was low, the treatment was effective, suggesting that various factors secreted by the cells accounted for the therapeutic impact.

Dr. Julie G. Allickson, PhD. Vice President of Laboratory Operations and R&D, stated ?This groundbreaking study demonstrates the amazing capacity of cord blood stem cells to potentially treat a devastating neurodegenerative disease through the secretion of trophic factors that resulted in neuroprotection in the ALS mouse model. The data certainly justifies additional pre-clinical investigations using umbilical cord blood stem cells. This source of cells has mainly been used in hematopoietic and immune diseases in more than 25,000 transplants to date.

?Cryo- Cell is excited about the results of the research Saneron CCEL Therapeutics has completed and proud of the progress Saneron has made in the treatment for ALS. The investment community does not appreciate the value of Cryo-Cell?s holdings in Saneron and its world-class research initiatives,? commented David Portnoy, Cryo-Cell?s Chairman and CEO.

?Given the delay between the onset of symptoms and the actual diagnosis of ALS, the data obtained from this study was critically important to show that multiple low-doses of cord blood cells started after the symptomatic disease stage in the ALS mouse model could benefit disease outcomes,? said co-author Nicole Kuzmin-Nichols, President and COO of Saneron CCEL Therapeutics, Inc. ?Our continuing studies are aimed at translating the preclinical data into future clinical studies.?

About Cryo-Cell International, Inc.

Cryo-Cell International, Inc. was founded in 1989 and was the world?s first private cord blood bank to separate and store stem cells in 1992. Today, Cryo-Cell has over 240,000 clients worldwide from 87 countries. Cryo-Cell?s mission is to provide our clients with the premier stem cell cryopreservation service and to support the advancement of regenerative medicine.

Cryo-Cell operates in a state-of-the-art Good Manufacturing Practice and Good Tissue Practice (cGMP/cGTP)-compliant facility, is ISO 9001:2008 certified and accredited by the AABB. Cryo-Cell is a publicly traded company. OTC:QB Markets Group Symbol: CCEL. Expectant parents or healthcare professionals may call 1-800-STOR-CELL (1-800-786-7235) or visit http://www.cryo-cell.com.

About Saneron CCEL Therapeutics, Inc.

Saneron CCEL Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology R&D company, focused on neurological and cardiac cell therapy for the early intervention and treatment of several devastating or deadly diseases, which lack adequate treatment options. Saneron, a University of South Florida spin-out company is located at the Tampa Bay Technology Incubator. An affiliate of Cryo-Cell International, Inc., Saneron is committed to providing readily available, noncontroversial stem cells for cellular therapies and has patented and patent-pending technology relating to our platform technology of umbilical cord blood and Sertoli cells.

Forward-Looking Statement

Statements wherein the terms “believes”, “intends”, “projects”, “anticipates”, “expects”, and similar expressions as used are intended to reflect “forward-looking statements” of the Company. The information contained herein is subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated in such forward-looking statements or paragraphs, many of which are outside the control of the Company. These uncertainties and other factors include the success of the Company’s global expansion initiatives and product diversification, the Company’s actual future ownership stake in future therapies emerging from its collaborative research partnerships, the success related to its IP portfolio, the Company’s future competitive position in stem cell innovation, future success of its core business and the competitive impact of public cord blood banking on the Company’s business, the Company’s ability to minimize future costs to the Company related to R&D initiatives and collaborations and the success of such initiatives and collaborations, the success and enforceability of the Company’s Menstrual Stem Cell technology license agreements and Cord Blood Stem Cell Service license agreements and their ability to provide the Company with royalty fees, the ability of Cryology RTS to generate new revenues for the Company, and those risks and uncertainties contained in risk factors described in documents the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and any Current Reports on Form 8-K filed by the Company. The Company disclaims any obligations to subsequently revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements.





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Increasing Investment in Stem Cell Technology and Promising Research Outcomes Drives the Stem Cell Research Market, According to New Report by Global Industry Analysts

May 12, 2012     No comments

San Jose, California (PRWEB) May 10, 2012

Follow us on LinkedIn ? Stem cell research is a promising area of biotechnology, which holds tremendous potential in rendering a new approach to the treatment of various degenerative diseases. The area deals with employing regenerative stem cells for the replenishment of damaged cells of a particular organ or tissue with new cells. These repair blocks have created a new specialty in the area of medicine called the regenerative medicine. Stem cells hold potential to treat conditions such as Alzheimer?s disease, Parkinson?s disease, stroke, spinal cord injury, heart disease, diabetes, burns, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. In addition to its therapeutic applications, stem cells are also finding use in drug discovery, promising new avenues in the area of drug development. Growth in the research space is attributed to the acceptance of stem cell technology by patients for treating chronic diseases. Moreover advancement in stem cell research can help reduce the escalating healthcare costs associated with conventional methods of treatment.

Stem cell technology is still in a nascent stage. The market still lacks substantial data that could establish its long-term efficacy as well as safety. Certain issues pertaining to its administration have also raised concerns. The regulatory and ethical barriers across the world, particularly in Western countries, are the major challenges ahead of stem cells research. The barriers are particularly more in embryonic stem cell research. On the other hand, countries such as India, with comparatively less opposition, are better positioned to conduct stem cell research. Lack of proper funding is also a matter of concern for stem cell research. Countries, such as Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, China, and India, are engaged in commercial, clinical, and scientific advancements in stem cell research without proper funding.

Over the past few years, the stem cells market has witnessed several breakthroughs that bodes tremendous potential in reshaping the area of medicine. Potential therapeutic applications of stem cells cut across several debilitating and deadly disease areas, including cancer and AIDS. Stem cell research is entering new avenues of medicine, and promises to provide a solution to combat diseases that were hitherto believed to be incurable. There is a growing demand for such therapies, which in turn provokes continued investments in the area, and foretell a remarkable growth in the industry in the coming years. Presently, the field is focused upon the treatment of certain oncological ailments, which include non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and leukaemia. Additionally, non-cancerous diseases, including lupus, immunodeficiency, and aplastic anaemia, are also being investigated for treatment using stem cell technology.

Mesenchymal stem cells and hematopoietic stem cells, extracted from adult bone marrow, are the leading types of adult stem cells currently in demand in the area of medicine. Of these types, hematopoietic stem cells hold major share in disease management. The dominance of hematopoietic stem cells is in part due to the difficulty associated with the isolation of mesenchymal from the bone marrow owing to availability of cells in lower levels. The greatest strength of adult stem cells is the presence of genomic stability of a very high degree. Additionally, stem cell therapy does not necessitate pre-treatment or genetic modification that is required when dealing with embryonic stem cells.

The US represents the largest regional market worldwide, as stated by the new market research report on Stem Cell Research. Despite the 9-year ban, which ended in 2009, over federal funding for research in embryonic stem cells, North America is presently dominating the stem cell market. Key factors that have kept North American market on the top of the charts include advanced stem cell research infrastructure and facilities, and federal support for the research. Asia is emerging as the fastest growing regional market for stem cell research worldwide with countries such as Japan, China, Singapore, Korea, and Australia evolving as major hubs for stem cell research.

Major players profiled in the report include Advanced Cell Technology Inc., Athersys Inc., Cytori Therapeutics Inc., Genzyme Corporation, Geron Corporation, International Stem Cell Corporation, Mesoblast Ltd., Osiris Therapeutics Inc., StemCells Inc., ThermoGenesis Corp., among others.

The research report titled ?Stem Cell Research: A Global Strategic Business Report? announced by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., provides comprehensive market overview, trends & issues, regulatory overview, overview on therapies under development, recent industry activity and profiles of market players worldwide. The report analyzes global adult stem cell research market in terms of annual investments in value for the years 2008 through 2017, for major geographic markets, including the US, Europe and Rest of World.

For more details about this comprehensive market research report, please visit ?

http://www.strategyr.com/Stem_Cell_Research_Market_Report.asp

About Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) is a leading publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company currently employs over 800 people worldwide. Annually, GIA publishes more than 1300 full-scale research reports and analyzes 40,000+ market and technology trends while monitoring more than 126,000 Companies worldwide. Serving over 9500 clients in 27 countries, GIA is recognized today, as one of the world’s largest and reputed market research firms.

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Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Telephone: 408-528-9966

Fax: 408-528-9977

Email: press(at)StrategyR(dot)com

Web Site: http://www.StrategyR.com/

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Stem Cells from Teeth Produce Insulin in Diabetes Study

May 05, 2012     No comments


Lexington, MA (PRWEB) March 9, 2011

Store-A-Tooth (TM) commends the scientists who report in the Journal of Dental Research (JDR) that stem cells from teeth can be transformed into cells that produce insulin in a glucose-dependent manner?a significant step toward developing stem-cell therapies for diabetes.(1)

The finding is particularly important for type 1 diabetes, which results from a failure of the pancreas to produce enough insulin, the hormone that plays a vital role in the body?s use of glucose (blood sugar). In the United States alone, the CDC estimates that nearly one million people have type 1 diabetes, with more than 15,000 children and teenagers newly diagnosed each year.(2) Intensive research is under way to determine whether insulin-producing cells derived from stem cells might one day be used as part of a cure for type 1 diabetes.

?This work is further evidence that research into medical as well as dental applications of stem cells from teeth, though early, is steadily progressing toward what we believe will be a new generation of therapies for conditions that impact millions of Americans. We are pleased to see dental stem cell research aimed at one of the most serious diseases affecting young people: type 1 diabetes,? said Peter Verlander, Ph.D., chief scientific officer of Provia Laboratories, LLC.

Provia is the provider of Store-A-Tooth, a service that enables parents to preserve stem cells from their children?s teeth, allowing families to take advantage of future medical breakthroughs from stem cell research.????

In 2000, scientists from the National Institutes of Health first reported isolating stem cells from dental pulp.(3) In 2009, it was shown that stem cells from periodontal ligament could produce insulin.(4) The new research takes the next step: showing that stem cells from teeth can be used to generate cells that secrete insulin in a glucose-dependent manner; that is, when exposed to more glucose, the cells produced more insulin.

According to the paper in the JDR, scientists at Stempeutics Research Malaysia and the University of Malaya isolated stem cells from deciduous molars (baby teeth). These teeth were extracted as part of routine dental care, for the management of occlusion (crowded teeth). The scientists then cultured these dental stem cells under conditions that led the cells to turn into islet-like cell aggregates like those in the pancreas that secrete insulin.

The authors of the paper comment, ?(We) anticipate that our finding will create a benchmark toward cell replacement for type 1 diabetes? by autologous transplantation of islet-like cell aggregates (ICAs) differentiated from a patient?s own teeth.?

Today, standard treatment for type 1 diabetes (also called insulin-dependent or juvenile-onset diabetes) includes frequent blood glucose monitoring and daily insulin injections or use of insulin pumps. Looking forward, doctors are focusing on ways to cure the disease, such as by transplantation of pancreatic islet cells from a donor, but this approach is often hindered by a shortage of donor organs and by potential side effects caused by immunosuppressive drugs needed to prevent transplant rejection. If a patient?s own dental stem cells had been preserved, both of these problems might be resolved: the patient?s own cells could be used to generate islets for autologous transplantation (meaning tissues are used from the same individual, not a donor, eliminating the need for immunosuppressive drugs).

As the authors of the paper in the JDR note, limitations with donor transplants have led to a search for alternative cell-replacement therapies. They comment that dental stem cells ?are considered to be an appealing source? because ?they are non-controversial, readily accessible, have a large donor pool, and pose no risk of discomfort for the donor.? Every person typically loses 20 baby teeth, each of which can provide a source of stem cells.

Store-A-Tooth, a dental stem cell banking company based in Massachusetts, works with families and their dentists to collect teeth removed during normal dental procedures, such as baby teeth that come loose during childhood, wisdom teeth extracted from teens or young adults, and teeth that need to be pulled for orthodontic reasons ? like the teeth reported in this study. Store-A-Tooth then preserves the tissue at very low temperatures, until the day when new stem cell therapies become routinely available.

?We applaud these researchers for demonstrating that stem cells from one?s own teeth may play a critical role in enabling new therapies for type 1 diabetes. The pace of dental stem cell research around the world is accelerating, and we look forward to seeing a growing number of potential applications in the future,? Dr. Verlander said. ?We encourage families living with type 1 diabetes to learn more about options for preserving dental stem cells, so that they can make an informed decision while their children are losing teeth.?

About Provia Laboratories LLC

Provia Laboratories, LLC is a healthcare services company specializing in high quality biobanking (preservation of biological specimens). The company?s Store-A-Tooth (TM) service platform enables the collection, transport, processing, and storage of dental stem cells for potential use in future stem-cell therapies. The company advises industrial, academic, and governmental clients on matters related to the preservation of biological specimens for research and clinical use. In addition, Provia offers a variety of products for use in complex biobanking environments to improve sample logistics, security, and quality. Provia Labs is a member of ISBER, the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories.

For more information about Store-A-Tooth, call 1-877-867-5753 or visit http://www.store-a-tooth.com.

Footnotes:

1 Govindasamy V, et al. (2011) Differentiation of Dental Pulp Stem Cells into Islet Like Aggregates. J Dent Res. published online 18 February 2011. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21335539

2 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet, Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/pdf/ndfs_2011.pdf

3 Gronthos S, Mankani M, Brahim J, Robey PG, Shi S. Postnatal human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in vitro and in vivo. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2000 Dec 5;97(25):13625-30.

4 Huang CY, Pelaez D, Dominguez-Bendala J, Garcia-Godoy F, Cheung HS. Plasticity of stem cells derived from adult periodontal ligament. Regen Med. 2009 Nov;4(6):809-21.

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