Cord Blood News Volume 10.34 | Aug 30 2018

TOP STORY

SCID Genotype and 6-Month Post-Transplant CD4 Count Predict Survival and Immune Recovery: A PIDTC Retrospective Study

The Primary Immune Deficiency Treatment Consortium performed a retrospective analysis of 662 patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) who received a hematopoietic cell transplantation as first-line treatment between 1982 and 2012 in 33 North American institutions. [Blood] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Comparative Analysis of Calcineurin-Inhibitor-Based Methotrexate and Mycophenolate Mofetil-Containing Regimens for Prevention of Graft-versus-Host Disease after Reduced Intensity Conditioning Allogeneic Transplantation

In an unrelated donor (URD) group, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)-cyclosporine was associated with an increased risk of grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and grade III-IV acute GVHD compared to methotrexate-tacrolimus (TAC). In the URD group, use of MMF-TAC led to higher non-relapse mortality. [Biol Blood Marrow Transplant] Abstract

Human Umbilical Cord Tissue Stem Cells and Neuronal Lineages in an Injectable Caffeic Acid-Bioconjugated Gelatin Hydrogel for Transplantation

Molecular-level analysis substantiated that human umbilical cord tissue-derived MSCs cultured in a caffeic acid-bioconjugated gelatin hydrogel scaffold expressed significantly greater upregulation of stemness, neuronal genes, and protein expression compared with the adherent culture. [J Cell Physiol] Full Article

HMGA2 Is Regulated by LIN28 and BRCA1 in Human Placental Cells

ACH-3P cells with LIN28A and LIN28B knockdown demonstrated deficiencies in cell differentiation, seemingly differentiating solely towards the syncytiotrophoblast sublineage, secreting higher amounts of hCG and displaying upregulated ERVW-1. The knockout caused a significant increase of miR-182 and a decrease in BRCA1 allowing HMGA2 mRNA levels to increase and protein levels to remain the same. [Biol Reprod] Abstract

Evaluation of Percutaneous Intradiscal Amniotic Suspension Allograft in a Rabbit Model of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Investigators assessed whether an amniotic suspension allograft (ASA) containing particulated human amnion and amniotic fluid-derived cells regained intervertebral disc height and morphology and improved histologic scoring in a rabbit model of intervertebral disc degeneration. At week 12, ASA-treated rabbits exhibited significantly greater disc height indexes and MRI T2 relaxation times compared to vehicle and untreated control groups. [Spine (Phila Pa 1976)] Abstract

miR-429 Improved the Hypoxia Tolerance of Human Amniotic Cells by Targeting HIF-1α

While overexpression of HIF-1α increased the survival rate and exhibited anti-apoptosis effects in human amniotic MSCs under hypoxia, co-expression of miR-429 reduced survival and increased apoptosis. However, miR-429 silencing with HIF-1α overexpression stimulated cell survival and reduced apoptosis. [Biotechnol Lett] Abstract

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Cheating Death for a Better Transplant

The authors discuss the role of BCL-2 proteins in the context of factors that negatively impact donor stem and progenitor cell fitness and viability. They suggest approaches to improve graft quality and transplantation procedures with an emphasis on the inhibition of BCL-2 regulated apoptosis. [Stem Cells] Abstract | Full Article

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the cord blood research field.

Cynata CYP-001 Stem Cell Therapy Meets All Safety and Efficacy Endpoints in Phase I Trial in GvHD

Cynata Therapeutics Limited is pleased to announce that CYP-001, its lead Cymerus^™ MSC product candidate, met all clinical endpoints in a Phase I trial for the treatment of steroid-resistant acute graft-versus-host disease. [Cynata Therapeutics Limited (GlobeNewswire, Inc.)] Press Release

European Commission Designates OMS721 as an Orphan Medicinal Product for Treatment in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Omeros Corporation announced that the European Commission has adopted a decision designating OMS721 as an Orphan Medicinal Product in the European Union for treatment in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. [Omeros Corporation] Press Release

Top UK Genomics Institute Investigates Bullying Allegations

An investigation into allegations of bullying is under way at one of the world’s top genomics centers — the Wellcome Sanger Institute in Hinxton, UK. According to The Guardian, which first reported on the investigation at Sanger, the complaints come from current and former staff members and include allegations against the institute’s director, geneticist Michael Stratton, who has been at the helm since 2010. [Nature News] Editorial

New Research: Financial Disclosure Lacking in Publication of Clinical Trials

A substantial proportion of pharmaceutical industry payments to authors of oncology clinical trials published in major scientific journals are not disclosed, new research shows. The publications focused on clinical trials that tested new cancer drugs. The new findings were published as a research letter in the journal JAMA Oncology. [OHSU] Editorial

India Targets Universities in Predatory-Journal Crackdown

Most academics regard predatory journals as an irritant – if not a threat – to science. But in India, some universities have recommended the inclusion of such publications in the country’s ‘white list’ of approved journals. Now the government is cracking down on this practice, which scientists say came about as a result of perverse government incentives. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW International Heart Congress
June 17-19, 2019
Paris, France

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.

NEW Adjunct Principal Investigator Positions – Molecular Medicine (CeMM and LBI-RUD)

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Interdisciplinary (Oregon Health & Science University)

Institute Sr Research Scientist – Flow Cytometry (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Post-Doctoral Fellow or Research Scientist – Transplant Immunology (Medical College of Wisconsin)

Postdoctorial Research Fellow – Transplantation and Tumor Immunology (Medical University of South Carolina)

Faculty Investigator – Cancer (University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Postdoctoral Associate – Gene Regulation and/or Cancer Biology (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

Assistant or Associate Professor – Stem Cell Transplantation (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute)

Scientific Research Positions – Various Subjects (Shanghai General Hospital)

Tier 1 Canada Research Chair – Precision & Molecular Oncology (University of Calgary – Cumming School of Medicine)

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