Cord Blood News Volume 2.40 | Oct 21 2010

Infusion of Ex Vivo Expanded T Regulatory Cells in Adults Transplanted with Umbilical Cord Blood: Safety Profile and Detection Kinetics
Acute graft-versus-host disease is associated with high risk of morbidity and mortality and is a common complication after double umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplantation. To reduce these risks, researchers established a method of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ T regulatory cell enrichment from cryopreserved UCB followed by an 18 + 1 day expansion culture including anti-CD3/anti-CD28 antibody coated beads and recombinant human interleukin-2. [Blood]

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Clonal Analysis Reveals a Common Progenitor for Endothelial, Myeloid, and Lymphoid Precursors in Umbilical Cord Blood
Findings indicate that the CD34+CD45+CD133+CD38+ cell fraction contains a common progenitor for the hematopoietic and vascular lineages and may represent a valuable cell source for therapeutic applications. [Circ Res]

Novel RBPJ Transcripts Identified in Human Amniotic Fluid Cells
To date, four human RBPJ isoforms have been described in Entrez Gene, varying in the first 5′ coding exons. Using an improved protocol, researchers were able to further identify all four known and five novel RBPJ transcript variants in human amniotic fluid cells. [Stem Cell Rev]
 
NRSF Silencing Induces Human Amniotic Fluid-Derived Stem Cell Differentiation into Insulin-Producing Cells
Researchers report that human amniotic fluid-derived stem cells can be induced to differentiate into functional insulin-producing cells by knocking down neuronal restrictive silencing factor (NRSF). [Stem Cells Dev]

Outcomes of Patients with Myeloid Malignancies Treated with Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation from Matched Unrelated Donors Compared with One-Human Leukocyte Antigen Mismatched Related Donors Using HLA Typing at 10 Locis
Results indicate that transplant outcomes are better with a matched unrelated donor than with a one antigen/allele-mismatched related donor. [Biol Blood Bone Marrow Transplant]

Allogeneic Haematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation with Reduced Intensity Conditioning for Advanced Stage Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in Sweden: High Incidence of Post Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder
The study confirmed that allogeneic transplantation after reduced intensity conditioning is feasible, but associated with a substantial relapse rate: only 20% of the patients were still alive 7 years after the transplant. [Bone Marrow Transplant]
 
A Novel Method to Derive Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells for Therapeutic Purposes
Researchers have created a novel human amniotic fluid stem cell derivation method that can produce a vast amount of high quality stem cells within a short period of time. [BMC Cell Biol]
 
Generation of an Osteogenic Graft from Human Placenta and Placenta-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells
The study shows for the first time that generation of an osteogenic composite graft using placental tissue is feasible. [Reprod Sci]

Unrestricted Somatic Stem Cells: Interaction with CD34+ Cells In Vitro and In Vivo, Expression of Homing Genes and Exclusion of Tumorigenic Potential
Recently, a new multipotent mesenchymal stem cell line from umbilical cord blood, unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSC), has been described. This pre-clinical study clearly shows that USSC have an enhancing effect on engraftment of human CD34+ cells. [Cytotherapy]
 
Second Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Treatment for Graft Failure
Researchers concluded that re-transplantation using reduced intensity conditioning is a valid option for graft failure, especially in patients with non-malignant disorders. [Clin Transplant]
 
Generation of Mesenchymal Stem Cell from Human Umbilical Cord Tissue Using Combination of Enzymatic and Mechanical Disassociation Method
Researchers compared the two conventional methods, classic enzymatic digestion and explant method, with their newly tailored enzymatic-mechanical disassociation method to generate umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells. [Cell Biol Int]

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Cryo-Cell International Confirms Rejection of Additional Unsolicited Proposals
Cryo-Cell International, Inc. confirmed that it has recently received additional inquiries from third parties interested in acquiring the Company. [Cryo-Cell International, Inc. Press Release]
 
ThermoGenesis Announces Platelet Rich Plasma Res-Q Cardiovascular Licensing Agreement
ThermoGenesis Corporation said it has entered into a license and distribution agreement for its Res-Q™ 60 BMC (Res-Q) System with BioParadox, Inc. [ThermoGenesis Corporation Press Release]
 
Sanofi-aventis Announces Expiration of Hart-Scott-Rodino Waiting Period for Acquisition of Genzyme
Sanofi-aventis announced that the waiting period under the Hart-Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, applicable to Sanofi-aventis’ proposed acquisition of Genzyme Corporation has expired. [Sanofi-aventis Press Release]
 
Sanofi-aventis Establishes Research Collaboration with Harvard University
Sanofi-aventis announced a research collaboration with Harvard University. The goal of the collaboration is to advance knowledge in the area of human health through basic and applied research and to promote scientific exchange between Harvard University and Sanofi-aventis. [Sanofi-aventis Press Release]
 
GSK, Fondazione Telethon and Fondazione San Raffaele to Collaborate on Gene Therapy for Rare Diseases
GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK), Fondazione Telethon and Fondazione San Raffaele announced a new strategic alliance to research and develop novel treatments to address rare genetic disorders, using gene therapy carried out on stem cells taken from the patient’s bone marrow (ex vivo). [GlaxoSmithKline Press Release]
 
Americord Registry Becomes First Cord Blood Bank to Offer Placenta Preservation, Advancing Cord Blood Stem Cell Therapy Options
Americord Registry announced its breakthrough placenta stem cell preservation process, the first of its kind, as a new and significantly more effective alternative to private cord blood stem cell banking. The new process, called Cord Plus, preserves up to ten times more stem cells from the placenta than is found on average in a unit of cord blood, which contains only enough stem cells to treat a patient weighing less than 65 pounds. [PR Newswire]

Just a Flesh Wound? U.K. Science Budget Spared Deep Cuts
The U.K. government’s long-awaited Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) was released, and it calls for a flat science budget over the next 4 years. While inflationary costs mean that the budget will likely see a cut of about 10% in real terms over that period, this scenario is far less dramatic than rumored cuts of 20% to 30% in real cash. [HM Treasury, United Kingdom]
 
Cancer Chief Varmus Draws Up a List of Unsolved Mysteries
Harold Varmus has made a start on one of his first priorities as chief of the U.S. National Cancer Institute: coming up with a set of key unanswered questions. [National Cancer Institute, United States]
 
FDA Writes Prescription for IT Innovation
The Food and Drug Administration is prioritizing IT as part of its five-year strategic plan, including accelerating a program to build innovative devices to improve field and laboratory analysis. [Food and Drug Administration, United States]
 
Partnerships To Advance the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) (FR Doc. 2010-25973) [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States]
 
Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26497) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26499) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26362) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26363) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26317) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26028) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26033) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
National Cancer Institute; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-26390) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
National Cancer Institute; Notice of Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-26032) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
National Cancer Institute; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26035) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
National Institute of General Medical Sciences; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-26037) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
National Institute of General Medical Sciences; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-26075) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health; Notice of Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-26036) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

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