Press Releases from AlphaMed Press

Durham, NC (January 2020) - A new study reported in STEM CELLS reveals a unique population of skeletal stem cells (SSCs) that function during the transitional period between rapid bone growth and bone maintenance. This discovery provides an opportunity to determine whether alterations in the SSCs' pattern might affect bone formation, as well as helps us understand the physiological factors that regulate its timing.

Durham, NC December 15, 2020 - Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) - or bleeding in the brain - is a devastating condition common to premature babies, especially those born more than 10 weeks early. Injuries to the brain induced by severe IVH and the ensuing pressure caused by fluid buildup (known as post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus, or PHH) can result in seizures, cerebral palsy, developmental retardation and an increased mortality rate. There is currently no effective treatment for IVH, but a study released today in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine provides information that might change that.

Durham, NC (November 24, 2020) - A new treatment for atherosclerosis, commonly known as hardening of the arteries, may be on the horizon, according to a study released today in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine (SCTM). The study demonstrates how injecting mice with early outgrowth cells (EOCs), after first treating the cells with chemicals to activate a type of protein called liver x receptor (LXR), slows the development of this disease.

Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of heart attack, stroke and other cardiopulmonary disorders. It results when plaque buildup in the arteries causes them to narrow and blocks blood flow. Many researchers believe this plaque begins when an artery's inner lining, called the endothelium, is damaged. Since EOCs are a type of endothelial progenitor cell that contributes to vascular repair, this makes them a promising candidate for treating atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases, too.

Durham, NC (November 03, 2020) -Each year ligament injuries sideline thousands of athletes and regular citizens. Recovery is long and painful, and sometimes a return to full function is never realized due to scar formation - a factor that makes ligament injuries prone to further damage. A new exosomes study released today in STEM CELLS may lead to a welcomed solution in the future.

This study demonstrates how exosomes, sacs of cell membrane in the body that shuttle proteins and genetic information between cells, and exosome-educated macrophages (EEMs), a type of white blood cell that typically kills microorganisms and removes dead cells, but also could stimulate the action of other immune system cells, can promote ligament healing and reduce scarring.