Cord Blood News Volume 2.01 | Jan 14 2010

May 12, 2022

105

Cord Blood News 2.01, January 14, 2010.

In this issue: Science News | Current Publications | Industry News | Policy News | Events

Pluristem Therapeutics Announces Interim Results from PLX-PAD Clinical Trials
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. recently announced interim results from their Phase I clinical trials utilizing their placenta derived cell therapy product, PLX-PAD, suggesting that PLX-PAD is safe and potentially efficacious. [Pluristem Therapeutics Inc., Haifa]

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SCIENCE NEWS

Blood Test Could Improve Graft-Vs.-Host Disease Treatment
Researchers have identified the first biomarker of graft-versus-host disease of the skin. The discovery makes possible a simple blood test that should solve a treatment dilemma facing doctors with patients who frequently develop rashes after bone marrow transplants. [University of Michigan, Ann Arbor]

Vitamin C is Key to Creating Stem Cells
Adding vitamin C to the cell cultures was found to hold back senescence and make reprogramming much more efficient. Experiments with both mouse and human cells showed that the vitamin accelerated genetic changes and boosted the transition to a reprogrammed state. [Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou]

Wild East or Scientific Feast?
In the field of stem cells, China is showing that it can do world-class science. It is a shame, then, that so many fraudsters operate and that officialdom turns a blind eye.

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CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

Failure is Not Fatal: Long-Term Remission in Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia After Graft Failure of Cord Blood Stem Cells
Researchers report the first documented case of long-term remission in a patient with refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) after graft failure of allogeneic cord blood stem cells, and subsequent remission of AML, along with an expansion of autologous CD8|[plus]| cytotoxic T cells. [Leukemia]

Reconstitution of Self-Tolerance After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
The present review summarizes the researchers’ studies in autologous graft-versus-host disease characterizing the underlying immune mechanisms and their potential impact in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. [Immunol Res]

Human Umbilical Cord Blood Cell Grafts for Brain Ischemia
Rather than the conventional human umbilical cord blood cell replacement mechanism for stroke and other neurological disorders, the researchers advance alternative pathways of graft-mediated brain repair involving neurotrophic effects resulting from release of various growth factors that afford cell survival, angiogenesis, and anti-inflammation. [Cell Transplant]

Allotransplantation for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Researchers suggest that allogeneic stem cell transplantation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a reasonable treatment option only for eligible patients who fulfill accepted criteria for poor-risk disease. [Hematology]

Gender Differences in Serum Leptin Concentrations from Umbilical Cord Blood of Newborn Infants Born to Nondiabetic, Gestational Diabetic and Type-2 Diabetic Mothers
To investigate gender differences, if any, in leptin concentrations from umbilical cord blood of new born infants of mothers with type 2 diabetes mellitus, gestational diabetes mellitus, and Non diabetic at delivery were examined. [Int J Diabetes Dev Ctries]

INDUSTRY NEWS

Cutting Edge Expansion: BloodCenter Funds to Boost Research
Armed with a $4 million recruiting budget, the BloodCenter of
Wisconsin has created a new Medical Sciences Institute that is expected to increase the center’s revenue by more than $1 million annually once it is operational.

Cord Blood America Signs Letter of Intent with BioCell
The deal between Cord Blood America and Biocell is pending due diligence, and if it is completed successfully, anticipates the contract closing in the first quarter of 2010.

Cord Blood America Completes Financings for 2010 Acquisition, Growth Strategy
Cord Blood America, Inc. (CBAI) announced that it has completed capital raises over the last 18 months totaling $16.8 million, including a new $3 million financing focused on avoiding dilution and being investor-friendly as CBAI puts in place its business strategy for success in 2010.

China Cord Blood Corporation Announces Full Exercise of Over-Allotment Option
China Cord Blood Corporation announced that the underwriters of its recent public offering of common stock have exercised the remaining portion of their over-allotment option, which will result in the issuance of an additional 181,000 ordinary shares.

Novartis, BloodSource Kick-Off Effort to Increase Blood Donations by African-Americans
BloodSource and Novartis Diagnostics announced a partnership recently to encourage African-Americans to donate blood and register as bone-marrow donors.

Father Turns Tragedy into Hope through Cord Blood Bank
Natasha, a medical student at Yale University when she died in August, was of mixed race, and that put her on the most unlevel of playing fields in the search for a bone marrow match.

Virgin Begins Stem Cell Training for Qatar’s Hamad Medical Corporation Staff
Bringing in experts from United Kingdom, Virgin Health Bank launched a comprehensive cord blood training initiative for Hamad Medical Corporation staff, recently.

BIO-key^® Launches TruDonor ID™, the First SaaS (Software as a Service) Biometric Identification Solution
BIO-key International, Inc. recently announced the launch of TruDonor ID, a fully hosted identity solution tailored to address the needs of the blood collection industry.

POLICY NEWS

Effort to Get Doctors to Tell Moms About Banking Umbilical Cord-Blood Locked in Partisan Stalemate
Ohio could be on the verge of being the 18th state to pass legislation requiring physicians to give expectant mothers information on banking umbilical-cord blood. But it looks as if politics might get in the way. [Ohio Democratic Party, United States]

Post-Election Budget Squeeze May Bring About Cuts in Health Research
Entire fields of health research are likely to be shut down if the next government cuts spending on medical science to reduce Britain’s £178 billion budget deficit. [Labour Party, United Kingdom]

FDA Unveils First Phase of Transparency Initiative [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Advisory Committees; Tentative Schedule of Meetings for 2010 [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

NIH Broadens Eligibility for NIH Diversity and Re-Entry Supplements (NOT-OD-10-045) [National Institute of Health, United States]

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Stipends, Tuition/Fees and Other Budgetary Levels Effective for Fiscal Year 2010 (NOT-OD-10-047) [National Institute of Health, United States]

Salary Limitation on FY2010 AHRQ Grants, Cooperative Agreements, and Contracts (NOT-HS-10-012) [National Institute of Health, United States]

Change in Application Receipt Date for AHRQ ARRA PROSPECT Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA): RFA-HS-10-005 (NOT-HS-10-011) [National Institute of Health, United States]

Shared Instrumentation Grant Program (S10) (PAR-10-082) [National Institute of Health, United States]

EVENTS

2010 BMT Tandem Meetings
February 24-28, 2010
Orlando, United States

AABB’s Cord Blood Licensure Workshop
March 8-10, 2010
Rockville, United States

36th Annual Meeting of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation
March 21-24, 2010
Vienna, Austria

12th Biennial CBMTG Conference
April 7-10, 2010
Vancouver, Canada