Tag Archives: Regenerative medicine

New stem cell therapy could be used to halt Huntington’s advance

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A team of researchers at the UC Davis Institute for Regenerative Cures has developed a technique for using stem cells to deliver therapy that specifically targets the genetic abnormality found in Huntington’s disease, a hereditary brain disorder that causes progressive uncontrolled movements, dementia and death. The findings, now available online in the journal Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, suggest a promising approach that might block the disease from advancing.

“For the first time, we have been able to successfully deliver inhibitory RNA sequences from stem cells directly into neurons, significantly decreasing the synthesis of the abnormal huntingtin protein,” said Jan A.
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Patient with Knee Stem Cells Doing Great after treatment

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A patient who underwent therapy with knee stem cells one year ago, returned for followup with Dr. Dennis Lox, a Sports and Regenerative Medicine expert who practices in the Tampa Bay, Florida area.

Dr. Lox noted the patient had marked reduction in pain, self reported improvement in functional level (daily tasks that he could perform), and repeat x-rays showed signs of cartilage regrowth. In the academic world, metrics is important. Metrics refers to readily definable measurable improvements. Not self reports of improvements.

X-rays or MRI evidence of repair is a metric. Interestingly, in veterinary medicine the placebo response is not a
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USC offers a summer of stem cells for local high school students

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Twenty-three local high school students spent their summer vacations in a very unusual place: the Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC.

The students celebrated their graduations this month from the USC Early Investigator High School (EiHS) and the USC CIRM Science, Technology and Research (STAR) programs. These are the only programs that offer comprehensive training in stem cell research to high school students.

“The goal of these unique programs is to educate bright young minds at the stage where they’re still formulating ideas and still open and receptive to new discoveries, and
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Fresh, purified fat stem cells grow bone faster, better

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UCLA stem cell scientists who purified a subset of stem cells from fat tissue and used the stem cells to grow bone discovered that the bone formed faster and was of higher quality than bone grown using traditional methods.

The finding may one day eliminate the need for painful bone grafts that use material taken from patients during invasive procedures.

Adipose, or fat, tissue is thought to be an ideal source of mesenchymal stem cells — cells capable of developing into bone, cartilage, muscle and other tissues — because such cells are plentiful in the tissue and easily obtained through procedures
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Reprogrammed stem cells hit a roadblock

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Is there a future for stem cell therapies that don’t use embryonic stem cells? An international study involving EPFL has raised doubts, by showing that “reprogramming” adult stem cells leads to genetic aberrations.

It’s a discordant note in the symphony of good news that usually accompanies stem cell research announcements. Stem cells hold enormous promise in regenerative medicine, thanks to their ability to regenerate diseased or damaged tissues. They have made it possible to markedly improve the effectiveness of many medical treatments – muscle regeneration in cases of dystrophy, skin grafts for treating burn victims, and the
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