Cord Blood News 10.40 October 11, 2018 | |
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TOP STORYFive patients received umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) after immunosuppressive therapy failure, and one patient received UCBT as a first-line treatment due to a fulminant clinical finding of a neutrophil count of zero, despite granulocyte-colony stimulating factor administration. [Biol Blood Marrow Transplant] Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)Transplantation of human Wharton’s jelly-derived MSCs (hWJ-MSCs) significantly reduced neurological deficits at three and five days after middle cerebral artery occlusion. hWJ-MSC transplants also significantly reduced brain infarction and microglia activation in the penumbra. [Cell Transplant] Full Article TCF4 Promotes Erythroid Development Overexpression of transcription factor 4 (TCF4OE) in umbilical cord blood cells resulted in a 2-fold increase in erythroid colony forming units (CFU-Es), while knock-down of TCF4 (TCF4KD) caused a dramatic decrease in the number of erythroid colonies. In CFU-MKs, both TCF4KD and TCF4OE inhibited megakaryocyte colony formation. [Exp Hematol] Abstract Generation of Clinical-Grade Red Blood Cells from Human Umbilical Cord Blood Mononuclear Cells Unfractionated mononuclear cells isolated from human umbilical cord blood were used hypothesizing that the heterogeneous cell population could effectively contribute to erythroid cell generation. The erythropoietic lineage was well established by day 21, wherein the mean cell count of red blood cells (RBCs) was found to be 21.36±0.9×108 and further confirmed by an upregulated expression of CD235a+ specific to RBCs. [Cell Tissue Res] Abstract Tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (WRS) expression of human umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs increased when cells were treated with interferon-γ. WRS was evaluated and revealed to have a role in inhibiting activated T cells by inducing apoptosis. [BMB Rep] Abstract Researchers investigated brain rejuvenation, particularly olfactory function, that could be achieved by a systemic administration of young blood and its underlying mechanisms. Older than 24-month-old mice were used as an aged group and administered with intravenous injection of human cord blood-derived plasma (hUCP) repetitively, eight times. Anti-aging effect of hUCP on olfactory function was evaluated by buried food finding test. [BMB Rep] Abstract Subscribe to one of our other 19 science newsletters such as Hematopoiesis News & Cell Therapy News. | |
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REVIEWSThe Gut Microbiota and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Challenges and Potentials The authors highlight the impact of the gut microbiota on the host immunity in graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and the potential of microbiota in alleviation or even prevention of GvHD. [J Innate Immun] Full Article Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the cord blood research field. | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSCyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center announced a three-year strategic alliance agreement that will enable clinical evaluation for safety and efficacy of three Cyclacel medicines in patients with hematological malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome and other advanced leukemias. [Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release CRISPR Therapeutics and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced that the U.S. FDA has lifted the clinical hold and accepted the Investigational New Drug application for CTX001 for the treatment of sickle cell disease. [Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated] Press Release LLS Receives Significant Gift to Support Promising Young Scientists The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) announced a $1,175,000 commitment by the Schwartz Ward Family Foundation of Chicago to support two unique research initiatives including a novel therapy for a rare form of lymphoma and an innovative immunotherapy approach for multiple myeloma. [The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society] Press Release ASH Bridge Grant Program Funds Eight Promising Biomedical Research Projects ASH announced the names of eight investigators who have each been awarded $150,000 through the ASH Bridge Grant Program. Designed to support promising hematology research, ASH Bridge Grants will ensure that innovative research continues at institutions across the country. [American Society of Hematology] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSArgentina’s Scientists Struggle amid Slipping Peso and Rising Inflation Researchers have struggled under austerity measures adopted by the government in 2014 and intensified in June by a financing agreement that Argentina signed with the International Monetary Fund. [Nature News] Editorial Surging R&D Spending in China Narrows Gap with United States China’s total spending on R&D rose a robust 12.3% last year to a record 1.76 trillion yuan ($254 billion), according to a government report. Already second in the world in R&D spending behind the United States, China has narrowed the gap. [ScienceInsider] Editorial Ghost Authorship Haunts Industry-Funded Clinical Trials An analysis of industry-funded clinical trials has found that drug companies are often heavily involved in research — but are not always transparent about it. [Nature News] Editorial Questions about Funding and Purpose Loom over a Foundation Congress Created to Help the FDA The Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA is supposed to act as a liaison between the FDA itself and drug companies, researchers, nonprofits, or other businesses with regulated products who might want to support a project to make the agency’s job easier. It has raised just under $15 million during its first decade, according to the foundation. [STAT News] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW 7th International Stem Cell Meeting Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Blood Development & Disease (University of Washington) Senior Research Assistant – Stem Cell Transplantation (MD Anderson Cancer Center) Postdoctoral Associate – Hematopoiesis and Leukemia (The Jackson Laboratory) Postdoctoral Fellowship – Translational Leukemia (Lund University) Postdoctoral Fellow – Myelodysplasia and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (UNSW) Professorship – Somatic Gene Therapy (University of Zurich) Bioinformatician – Single Cell Biology and Reprogramming (Lund University Stem Cell Center) Postdoctoral Researcher – Interdisciplinary (Oregon Health & Science University) Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.
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