Durham, NC (February 17, 2021) - Can stem cells alleviate lymphedema, a chronic debilitating condition affecting up to one in three women treated for breast cancer? Results of a phase I clinical trial released today in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine (SCTM) show there is a strong possibility that the answer is yes.
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Press Releases from AlphaMed Press
February 17, 2021
January 28, 2021
Durham, NC (January 28, 2021)- Senquan Liu, Ph.D., is STEM CELLS's Young Investigator of 2020 for his work on human stem-cell derived extracellular vesicles (EVs). This award fosters advancements in the field of stem cell research by honoring a young researcher who is the principal author of an article published in STEM CELLS that is deemed to have the most impact and to push the boundaries of novel and insightful research.
Dr. Liu and his team at Johns Hopkins University focused on optimizing an approach to produce and purify human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) EVs, then they investigated the properties and therapeutic potential of stem cell derived EVs.
January 21, 2021
Durham, NC (January 21, 2021) - Karīna Narbute, Ph.D. is the latest recipient of STEM CELLS Translational Medicine's Young Investigator Award. The award fosters advancements in the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine by honoring a young researcher who is the principal author of an article published in SCTM that, over the course of a year, is deemed to have the most impact.
Dr. Narbute, a research assistant in Prof. Kluša's lab in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Latvia in Riga, was awarded the prize for her work demonstrating, for the first time, the therapeutic efficacy of extracellular vesicles derived from stem cells harvested from dental pulp in pre-clinical Parkinson's disease model animals.
January 13, 2021
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.
January 5, 2021
Durham, NC ( January 5, 2021 ) - Mid-term results of the first clinical trial designed specifically to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of two cell therapies that are showing early promise in treating angiitis-induced critical limb ischemia were released today in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine. The study, by researchers at Zhongshan Hospital/Fudan University in Shanghai, compared how transplantation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells fared versus transplantation of purified CD34+ cells in treating this condition.
It revealed both therapies yielded satisfactory results and provided evidence for more precise application of cell therapy under different conditions, the researchers say.
December 15, 2020
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.
November 30, 2020
Durham, NC (November 30, 2020) - Cellular reprogramming can reverse the aging that leads to a decline in the activities and functions of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs). This is something that scientists have known for a while. But what they had not figured out is which molecular mechanisms are responsible for this reversal. A study released today in STEM CELLS appears to have solved this mystery. It not only enhances the knowledge of MSC aging and associated diseases, but also provides insight into developing pharmacological strategies to reduce or reverse the aging process.
November 24, 2020
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.
November 9, 2020
Durham, NC (November 09, 2020) - A new study released today in STEM CELLS might just have solved the mystery behind why mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) continue to suppress inflammation in the body long after the MSCs are cleared from the system. The findings, by researchers at Duke University (Durham, N.C.), could help overcome a critical barrier to MSCs being considered a reliable option when developing treatments for inflammatory diseases ranging from COVID-19 and cancer, to allergies, arthritis and more.
MSCs are stem cells that can be isolated from bone marrow, adipose and other tissue sources. Their ability to differentiate into a variety of cell types, along with their capability to self-renew, repair and heal, make them attractive candidates for therapeutic use.
However, there's a drawback, researchers say.
November 3, 2020
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.
