Apr. 21, 2013 For the first time, human embryonic stem cells have been transformed into nerve cells that helped mice regain the ability to learn and remember. A study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is the first to show that human stem cells can successfully implant themselves in the brain and then heal neurological deficits, says senior author Su-Chun Zhang, a professor of neuroscience and neurology. Once inside the mouse brain, the implanted stem cells formed two common, vital types of neurons, which communicate with the chemicals GABA or acetylcholine. "These two neuron types are involved in many kinds of human behavior, emotions, learning, memory, addiction and many other psychiatric issues," says Zhang. The human embryonic stem cells were cultured in the lab, using chemicals that are known to promote development into nerve cells -- a field that Zhang has helped pioneer for 15 years. The mice were a special strain that do not reject transplants from other species. After the transplant, the mice scored significantly better on common tests of learning and memory in mice. For example, they were more adept in the water maze test, which challenged them to remember the location of a hidden platform in a … Continue reading →

Public release date: 22-Apr-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Shaun Mason smason@mednet.ucla.edu 310-206-2805 University of California - Los Angeles Pluripotent stem cells can turn, or differentiate, into any cell type in the body, such as nerve, muscle or bone, but inevitably some of these stem cells fail to differentiate and end up mixed in with their newly differentiated daughter cells. Because these remaining pluripotent stem cells can subsequently develop into unintended cell types bone cells among blood, for instance or form tumors known as teratomas, identifying and separating them from their differentiated progeny is of utmost importance in keeping stem cellbased therapeutics safe. Now, UCLA scientists have discovered a new agent that may be useful in strategies to remove these cells. Their research was published online April 15 in the journal Developmental Cell and will appear in an upcoming print edition of the journal. The study was led by Carla Koehler, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UCLA, and Dr. Michael Teitell, a UCLA professor of pathology and pediatrics. Both are members of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA and UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. In work using … Continue reading →

Newswise UCLA researchers led by Carla Koehler, professor of chemistry and biochemistry and Dr. Michael Teitell, professor of pathology and pediatrics, both members of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research and the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, have discovered a new agent that may be useful in strategies to remove pluripotent stem cells that fail-to-differentiate from their progeny, tissue-specific cells, potentially resulting in safer therapies for patients. The study was published online ahead of press April 15, 2013 in Developmental Cell. Pluripotent stem cells can become any cell in the body. When stem cells are differentiated into specific daughter cells such as nerve, muscle, or bone cells, not all of the stem cells differentiate, leaving some pluripotent stem cells mixed in with the differentiated cells. Because of the pluripotent stem cells ability to become any cell type in the body, these cells can also become unintended cells such as bone in blood, or form tumors called teratomas. Therefore, identifying and removing pluripotent stem cells from the differentiated cells before using daughter cells is of utmost importance in stem cell-based therapeutics. Current methods for removing pluripotent stem cells are limited. Studies in the model system … Continue reading →

Regulated information April 22, 2013 TiGenix reports positive Phase IIa study results in refractory rheumatoid arthritis with allogeneic stem cell product Cx611 Management will conduct a conference call to discuss the results today at 4pm CET, 10am EST Dial-in numbers are provided at the end of this press release Leuven (BELGIUM) - April 22, 2013 - TiGenix (NYSE Euronext: TIG), the European leader in cell therapy, today announced positive 6-month safety data of its Phase IIa study of Cx611 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as well as a first indication of therapeutic activity on standard outcome measures and biologic markers of inflammation for at least three months after dosing. The multicenter, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled Phase IIa trial enrolled 53 patients with active refractory rheumatoid arthritis (mean time since diagnosis 15 years), who failed to respond to at least two biologics (mean previous treatment with 3 or more disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and 3 or more biologics). The study design was based on a three-cohort dose-escalating protocol. For both the low and medium dose regimens 20 patients received active treatment versus 3 patients on placebo; for the high dose regimen 6 patients received active treatment versus 1 on placebo. Patients were dosed … Continue reading →

Dr. John Cannell - Vitamin D - Prevention Treatment of Autism with Dr. John Cannell, MD, Executive Director, Vitamin D Council Topic: Vitamin D Treatment of Autism By: Dr. John Cannell Event date: 4/16/13 Webinar pres... By: vitaminDaction … Continue reading →

FRANKFORT Tyler Hall's autistic 2-year-old son could speak only a few words in January 2012 when he entered the Highlands Center for Autism in Prestonsburg. More than a year later, the 3-year-old has learned dozens of new words and can dress and feed himself. His parents also can do something new: "We can go out to eat," Tyler Hall said. "None of this would have been possible without the center." But the Halls and a dozen other parents of children attending the Highlands Center are struggling to get their health insurance companies to pay for treatment of their children three years after a state law was passed that requires large insurance plans to pay for autism-related treatments. "The amount of effort used to try to get around what they are supposed to do is mind-boggling," said Hall, who moved from Lexington to Prestonsburg so his son and now his nearly 2-year-old daughter can attend the Highlands Center. "It's an injustice to these families and to the center." When the General Assembly passed House Bill 159 in April 2010, Kentucky became one of 17 states that mandate insurance coverage for treatment of autism, a spectrum disorder that is characterized by impaired … Continue reading →