An Efficient Non-Viral Method to Generate Integration-Free Human iPS Cells from Cord Blood and Peripheral Blood Cells The authors recently reported the efficient generation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from adult fibroblasts using a combination of plasmids encoding OCT3/4, SOX2, KLF4, L-MYC, LIN28 and shRNA for TP53. They herein report a modified protocol enabling efficient iPSC induction from CD34+ cord blood cells and from peripheral blood isolated from healthy donors using these plasmid vectors. [Stem Cells] Abstract fsuoAge-Related Impairment of Endothelial Progenitor Cell Migration Correlates with Structural Alterations of Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans Researchers demonstrated that OECs isolated from cord blood or peripheral blood samples from young and old individuals exhibit different characteristics in terms of their migratory capacity. [Aging Cell] Abstract Is the Presence of Six or Fewer Crypt Apoptotic Bodies Sufficient for Diagnosis of Graft versus Host Disease? A Decade of Experience at a Single Institution To better determine whether the presence of six or fewer apoptotic bodies is sufficient for the diagnosis of graft versus host disease, the authors retrospectively reviewed 78 colon biopsies from 66 patients who received either hematopoietic stem cell or cord blood cell transplantation and whose colon biopsies exhibited apoptotic bodies. [Am J Surg Pathol] Abstract Unrelated SCT Induces Long-Term Remission in Patients with Blastic Plasmacytoid DC Neoplasm Blastic plasmacytoid DC neoplasm is a rare hematopoietic malignancy with an aggressive behavior. Researchers evaluated five patients allografted as consolidative treatment with an unrelated donor in first or subsequent remission. Four patients received a reduced intensity-conditioning regimen because of age or co-morbidities. As the stem cell sources, two umbilical cord blood-, two PBSC- and one BM graft were used. [Bone Marrow Transplant] Abstract Spray- and Laser-Assisted Biomaterial Processing for Fast and Efficient Autologous Cell-Plus-Matrix Tissue Engineering Investigators introduced and tested the applicability and functionality of two advanced cell-plus-matrix seeding technologies, spray-assisted bioprocessing (SaBP) and laser-assisted bioprocessing, for autologous tissue engineering of bioresorbable artificial grafts. For SaBP, human mesenchymal stem cells, umbilical cord vein endothelial cells and fibrin were simultaneously spray-administered on poly(ε-caprolactone) substrates. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med] Abstract IL-15 and Macrophage Secretory Factors Facilitate Immune Activation of Neonatal Natural Killer Cells by Lipoteichoic Acid Scientists investigated the in vitro stimulation of cord blood and adult natural killer cells upon challenge with lipoteichoic acid (LTA), interleukin (IL)-15 and LTA-primed autologous macrophage-conditioned medium, using CD107a and CD69 phenotypes as indicators of activation. [Cytokine] Abstract DNA Damage Response in CD133+ Stem/Progenitor Cells from Umbilical Cord Blood: Low Level of Endogenous Foci and High Recruitment of 53BP1 Investigators examined repair of radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks in CD133+ umbilical cord blood cells. [Int J Radiat Biol] Abstract Differential Distribution of Cathepsin B in Human Umbilical Cord Tissues Cathepsin B is a major cysteine protease involved in collagen degradation, as well as in the activation of precursor forms of other collagenolytic enzymes and growth factors. Researchers assessed the activity and expression of cathepsin B in the umbilical cord arteries, veins and Wharton’s jelly. [Acta Biochim Pol] Abstract | Full Article |