Labelling and Tracking of Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Preclinical Studies and Large Animal Models of Degenerative Diseases

Author(s): Martin Vaegler, Jan K. Maerz, Bastian Amend, Luis Arenas da Silva, Julia G. Mannheim, Kerstin Fuchs, Susanne Will, Karl D. Sievert, Arnulf Stenzl, Melanie L. Hart and Wilhelm K. AicherPages 444-450 (7) Abstract: Success of stem cell therapies were reported in different medical disciplines, including haematology, rheumatology, orthopaedic surgery, traumatology, and others. Currently, more than 4000 clinical trials using stem cells have been completed or are underway, among which 378 investigated or are at present investigating mesenchymal...

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Beta Cell Regeneration in Adult Mice: Controversy over the Involvement of Stem Cells

Author(s): Ke Yu, Shane Fischbach and Xiangwei XiaoPages 1-5 (5) Abstract: Islet transplantation is an effective therapy for severe diabetes. Nevertheless, the short supply of donor pancreases constitutes a formidable obstacle to its extensive clinical application. This shortage heightens the need for alternative sources of insulin-producing beta cells. Since mature beta cells have a very slow proliferation rate, which further declines with age, great efforts have been made to identify beta cell progenitors in the adult pancreas. However, the...

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Non-Viral Methods For Generating Integration-Free, Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Author(s): Xiao-Yue Deng, Hu Wang, Tao Wang, Xian-Tao Fang, Li-Li Zou, Zhi-Ying Li and Chang-Bai LiuPages 153-158 (6) Abstract: Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells were created from mouse fibroblasts by induced expression of Yamanaka factors, Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc. This technique has quickly resulted in an exponential increase in the amount of pluripotency studies, and has provided a valuable tool in regenerative medicine. At the same time, many methodologies to generate iPS cells have been reported, and are comprised mainly of viral...

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Hospital Exemption for Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products: Issue in Application in the European Union Member States

Author(s): Tatjana Ivaskiene, Mykolas Mauricas and Justinas IvaskaPages 1-7 (7) Abstract: Regulation (EC) 1394/2007 of the European Parliament and the Council on advanced therapy medicinal products and amending Directive 2001/83/EC and Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 allowed the use of non - authorized advanced therapy medicinal products under the certain circumstances. This socalled hospital exemption rule needs to be applied in the each Member State of the European Union individually and for this purpose Member States should provide national procedures...

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Research Advancements in Porcine Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Author(s): Dinesh Bharti, Sharath Belame Shivakumar, Raghavendra Baregundi Subbarao and Gyu-Jin RhoPages 78-93 (16) Abstract: In the present era of stem cell biology, various animals such as Mouse, Bovine, Rabbit and Porcine have been tested for the efficiency of their mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) before their actual use for stem cell based application in humans. Among them pigs have many similarities to humans in the form of organ size, physiology and their functioning, therefore they have been considered as a valuable model system for in...

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