Cord Blood News Volume 3.24 | Jun 23 2011

In Vitro Modelling of Cortical Neurogenesis by Sequential Induction of Human Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells
Researchers used purified human umbilical cord blood stem cells, expressing pluripotency marker genes (OCT4, SOX2 and NANOG), to model human neocortical neurogenesis in vitro. [Stem Cell Rev]

Seeking a Better Way to Collect Stem Cells from Cord Blood
Graduate researchers have invented a system to significantly boost the number of stem cells collected from a newborn’s umbilical cord and placenta, so that many more patients with leukemia, lymphoma and other blood disorders can be treated with these valuable cells. [John Hopkins University Press Release]

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. [CMAJ]

Defective Neuromuscular Transmission in the SOD1^G93A Transgenic Mouse Improves After Administration of Human Umbilical Cord Blood Cells
To assess the effect of human umbilical cord blood (hUCB) transplantation on neuromuscular transmission in SOD1^G93A transgenic mice, researchers studied the probability of neuromuscular transmission (PNMT) in 3 SOD1^G93A mice transplanted with hUCB and compared to PNMT in 4 SOD1^G93A mice without cell transplantation and 3 non-mutant SOD1 transgenic mice. [Stem Cell Rev]

New Simple and Rapid Method for Purification of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from the Human Umbilical Cord Wharton Jelly
Researchers have developed a simple and rapid method for isolation of human umbilical cord matrix stem cells. [Tissue Eng Part A]

Mycophenolate and Tacrolimus for Graft-Versus-Host Disease Prophylaxis for Elderly After Cord Blood Transplantation: A Matched Pair Comparison With Tacrolimus Alone
Researchers conducted a single institute pilot study assessing the safety and effectiveness of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and tacrolimus (FK) combination as a graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis for 29 patients (FK+MMF), and the results were compared with matched-pairs extracted from a historical database who received FK alone as GVHD prophylaxis (control). [Transplantation]

Biomechanical Effects of Flow and Coculture on Human Aortic and Cord Blood-Derived Endothelial Cells
The objective of this study was to quantify the elastic modulus of human endothelial cells derived from umbilical cord blood cocultured with smooth muscle cells under static and flow conditions using atomic force microscopy. [J Biomech]

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Transplantation Using Haploidentical Donor vs. Unrelated Cord Blood Donor in Pediatric Patients: A Single-Center Retrospective Study
Researchers retrospectively analyzed outcomes in 67 children with acute leukemia who received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from alternative allogeneic donors: 29 received a haploidentical family donor and 38, an unrelated cord blood donor. [Eur J Haematol]

Osteogenic Differentiation of GFP-Labeled Human Umbilical Cord Blood Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells After Cryopreservation
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of cryopreservation on the osteogenic differentiation of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-marked umbilical cord blood derived mesenchymal stem cells in vitro. [Cryobiology]

Cord Blood America Acquires Assets of NeoCells, an Illinois Stem Cell Storage Company
Cord Blood America, Inc., is pleased to announce that it has acquired the assets of NeoCells, a subsidiary of ViviCells International, Inc., Evanston, Illinois, through a foreclosure procedure at a purchase price of $320,000. [Cord Blood America Inc. Press Release]

Cryo-Cell Announces Global Expansion in Latin America
Cryo-Cell International, Inc., announced that they have executed an exclusive agreement to license Cryo-Cell’s signature U-Cord™ and proprietary CélleSM stem cell services in Costa Rica beginning this summer. [GlobeNewswire Inc. Press Release]

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

Research and Development Technologist, hPSC Media (STEMCELL Technologies) 

Scientist (iPSC) (STEMCELL Technologies)

Chemist (STEMCELL Technologies) 

Research and Development Senior Technologist (STEMCELL Technologies)

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)

Lab Technician (Tissue Regeneration Therapeutics, Inc.)

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