Risks and Benefits of Sex-Mismatched Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Differ by Conditioning Strategies Researchers evaluated outcomes of 1041 adult recipients at two centers between 2006 and 2013 and investigated how the effect of sex-mismatch differed in myeloablative, reduced-intensity, and non-myeloablative total lymphoid irradiation with anti-thymocyte globulin conditioning. [Haematologica] Abstract | Full Article Protein O-Mannosylation Is Crucial for Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Fate Scientists showed that O-mannosylation genes, many of which are putative or verified glycosyltransferases, are expressed in a similar pattern in mesenchymal stem cells from adipose tissue, bone marrow, and umbilical cord blood and that their expression levels are retained constant during mesengenic differentiation. [Cell Mol Life Sci] Abstract Treosulfan-Based Conditioning Regimens for Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Children with Non-Malignant Diseases A retrospective analysis was performed of children registered in the EBMT database, who received treosulfan before hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, to identify possible dose-related toxicity and determine the incidence of engraftment, treatment-related mortality and overall survival. [Bone Marrow Transplant] Abstract Cellular Activity of Wharton’s Jelly-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Electrospun Fibrous and Solvent-Cast Film Scaffolds Scientists investigated the effects of chemistry and topography of scaffold surface on adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal stem cells into motor neurons. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Are Genetically Stable Under a Hostile In Vivo-Like Scenario as Revealed by In Vitro Micronucleus Test The authors exposed umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and placenta-derived MSCs to diverse conditions simulating an in vivo scenario and studied their genetic stability by use of an in vitro micronucleus test. [Cytotherapy] Abstract Efficient Episomal Reprogramming of Blood Mononuclear Cells and Differentiation to Hepatocytes with Functional Drug Metabolism Researchers developed an efficient non-integration method for reprogramming fresh or frozen blood mononuclear cells, maintained in an optimized cytokine cocktail, to generate induced pluripotent cells. Applying the same cytokine cocktail and reprogramming methods to cord blood or fetal liver-derived CD34+ cells, they obtained 148 iPS colonies from 105 seeding cells [Exp Cell Res] Abstract Sustained Release of Bioactive Protein from a Lyophilized Tissue-Engineered Construct Promotes the Osteogenic Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Tissue-engineered constructs (TECs) were prepared using demineralized bone matrix seeded with human umbilical cord Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells, and the cells seeded in TECs were devitalized by lyophilizing the TECs. [J Orthop Res] Abstract Monosialoteterahexosyl Ganglioside Induces the Differentiation of Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Neuron-Like Cells Researchers investigated human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells for their potential to be induced to differentiate in vitro into neuron-like cells by monosialoteterahexosyl ganglioside [Int J Mol Med] Abstract | Download Full Article Agitation Increases Expansion of Cord Blood Hematopoietic Cells and Promotes Their Differentiation into Myeloid Lineage The authors investigated the effects of agitation on umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem cell (UCB-HSC) growth and differentiation. They determined that an agitation rate at 40 rpm promoted UCB-HSC expansion and their colony forming potential. [Cytotechnology] Abstract |