Cord Blood News Volume 3.19 | May 19 2011

Queen’s Scientists Teaming Up to Cure Premature Baby Blindness
Two teams are taking different approaches to a condition called Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP). The first team has the aim of tackling the disease at a very early stage, which will minimise the damaging effects of ROP. The second team is investigating whether stem cells from babies’ own umbilical cords might have the power to repair their damaged eyes and save their sight. [Queen’s University Belfast Press Release]

Methodological Development of a Clonogenic Assay to Determine Endothelial Progenitor Cell Potential
This assay further enables a proper exploration of possible links between the origin of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) and hematopoietic stem cells, representing a novel and powerful tool to investigate the molecular signaling pathways involved in EPC biology. [Circ Res]

A 3D Aligned Microfibrous Myocardial Tissue Construct Cultured Under Transient Perfusion
The basic 3D construct design involved two biodegradable macroporous tubes, to allow transport of growth media to the cells within the construct, and cell seeded, aligned fiber mats wrapped around them. The microfibrous mat housed mesenchymal stem cells from human umbilical cord matrix (Wharton’s Jelly) aligned in parallel to each other in a similar way to cell organization in native myocardium. [Biomaterials]

Human Umbilical Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promote Recovery After Ischemic Stroke
Here researchers evaluate the therapeutic potential of human umbilical mesenchymal stem cell transplantation for ischemic stroke in rats. [Stroke]

Outcome of Unrelated Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation in 88 Patients with Primary Immunodeficiency in Japan
Researchers report the results of umbilical cord blood transplantation performed in 88 patients with primary immunodeficiency between 1998 and 2008 in Japan; severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID, n = 40), Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome (WAS, n = 23), chronic granulomatous disease (n = 7), severe congenital neutropaenia (SCN, n = 5) and other immunodeficiencies (n = 13). [Br J Haematol]

Human Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Mononuclear Cell Transplantation: Case Series of 30 Subjects with Hereditary Ataxia
This open label treatment study used human umbilical cord blood-derived mononuclear cells combined with rehabilitation training as potential disease modulators. [J Transl Med]

Umbilical Cord Blood as a Replacement Source for Admission Complete Blood Count in Premature Infants
Researchers hypothesized that a complete blood count (CBC) with manual differential from umbilical cord blood is equivalent to a CBC with manual differential obtained from the neonate on admission. [J Perinatol]

Ionized Calcium Levels in Umbilical Cord Blood of Women with Preeclampsia and Normotensive Pregnancies
The objective of the study was to investigate ionized calcium levels in the umbilical cord arterial blood of women with preeclampsia and normotensive pregnancies. [J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med]

Trace Elements’ Concentrations in Maternal and Umbilical Cord Plasma at Term Gestation: A Comparison between Active Labor and Elective Cesarean Delivery
This study was aimed to determine levels of trace elements’ concentration in maternal plasma and umbilical venous and arterial plasma at term during active labor vs elective cesarean delivery. [J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med]

Umbilical sP-Selectin Levels are Different in Preeclamptic Pregnancies with Intrauterine Normal Growth and Growth Restricted Fetus
The aim of this study was the analysis of the umbilical cord serum sP-selectin levels in pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia with and without intrauterine growth restriction and in normotensive pregnancies. [J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med]

Improving the Efficacy of Type 1 Diabetes Therapy by Transplantation of Immunoisolated Insulin-Producing Cells
The results provide further evidence supporting the use of allogeneic or xenogeneic mesenchymal stem cells obtained from bone marrow or umbilical cord blood for treating type 1 diabetes. [Hum Cell] 

National Cord Blood Bank to Recruit Ethnic Donors Aggressively
Canada’s new national cord blood bank plans to aggressively recruit donors who represent the country’s diverse ethnic and multi-ethnic mix so as to increase the odds of ultimately providing stem cell matches to treat cancer patients with conditions such as leukemia and lymphoma. [Canadian Medical Association Journal]

Announcement of Milestone Payment for Storing Umbilical Cord Tissue in Serbia and Launch in Switzerland
Cryo-Save Group N.V., the leading international family stem cell bank, announced the milestone payment of €500,000 as a result of obtaining permission by the competent authorities to start the collection, processing and storing of umbilical cord tissue in Serbia. [Cryo-Save Group N.V. Press Release]

Cryo-Save India Eyes 60% Growth, 10% Market Share in CY11
Cryo-Save India, the largest cord blood stem cell bank in the country, is targeting a 60 per cent growth in revenues and 10 per cent market share in calender year 2011 (CY 11), a top company official has said. [Cryo-Save India Press Release]

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

Implementation Coordinator – Maternity Leave Contract (STEMSOFT Software Inc.)

Quality Assurance Manager – Program in Children’s Regenerative Medicine (The University of Texas Medical School at Houston)

Supervisor Cell Therapy Laboratory – Cord Blood Bank (The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Supervisor Cell Therapy Lab (The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Recruit Top Talent
Reach more than 11,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

Jobs are categorized regionally: United States, Canada, Europe, Asia Pacific

Visit here to post your career opportunities.

Have we missed an important article or publication in Cord Blood News? Click here to submit!

Comments or Suggestions? Email info@connexoncreative.com with your feedback.