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New Technology Investment in Age-Old Question Regenerative Medicine

Posted: October 22, 2013 at 3:43 pm

New Technology Investment in Age-Old Question: Regenerative Medicine

October 1, 2013 (www.investorideas.com newswire) Regenerative medicine is a field involving the study of stem cells to regenerate or regrow cells and even entire body parts in humans, reestablishing normal function. Successes in regenerative medicine could help the entire medical field advance as previously chronic and incurable conditions may be reversible. Some estimates claim that as many as 1 in 3 Americans would be helped by regenerative medicine therapies.

Stem cells function as "master cells," which have the ability to become any other type of cell. Natural stem cells can be found in human cord blood and embryos. Stem cells can also be created through a "reprogramming" process, using blood and skin cells to create induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS). Recently, scientists at the Spanish National Cancer Research Center in Madrid were able to replicate human stem cells in mice, opening a new avenue for regenerative medicine. These cells may possess more plasticity and may be better able to differentiate into many more types of adult human cells than traditional iPS cells.

According to a recent article in Forbes, regenerative medicine could take 20 to 25 years to truly come to fruition. However, some regenerative medicine therapies are being used today, such as implementing stem cell therapies to repair knee joint damage. Many small cap companies operate in the field, helping to fuel progress in regenerative medicine.

Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:OSIR), based in Columbia, MD, manufactures mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are typically created from bone marrow donations. The rapidly-grown MSCs can then be frozen for future patient use. Because MSCs are "attracted" to the damaged or diseased area, the cells can be introduced into a patient? body through injection or intravenous methods. Osiris markets Prochymal, which was approved in Canada in May 2012. It is currently undergoing Phase III clinical trials in the US for acute graft versus host disease and Crohn? disease. OSIR closed September 30th at 16.64, up 0.15, with a market cap of 550.31 million. Its 52-week trading range is 6.55 - 27.40.

Rockville, MD-based Neuralstem, Inc. (NYSE:CUR) uses their patented technology to produce neural stem cells based on the human brain and spinal cord. They currently have three FDA-approved trials: a Phase II trial on their NSI-566 therapy for treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a Phase I trial for the same therapy for chronic spinal cord injury and a Phase Ib trial of their NSI-189 therapy to treat major depressive disorder (MDD). By using stem cells derived from site-specific areas of the body, these cells may already be suited for the type of treatment they are expected to provide. CUR closed September 30th at 2.71, down 0.10, with a market cap of 192.74 million. Its 52-week trading range is 0.88 - 3.02.

One important element of stem cell research is the ability to preserve and store the cells until needed. BioLife Solutions, Inc. (OTCMKTS:BLFS), based in Bothell, WA, creates cGMP-grade bio-preservation media for blood, organs and cells, including stem cells. BioLife recently signed an agreement with SAVSU Technologies, Inc to market SAVSU? thermal packaging products. Temperature stability is a significant piece of the biologistics - the logistics of transporting cells and tissues - puzzle. BLFS closed September 30th at 0.795, no change for the day, with a market cap of 58.13 million. Its 52-week trading range is 0.13 - 0.88.

Health care investors interested in new opportunities in interesting sectors may wish to seek out small caps in the regenerative medicine arena. Although it may be some time before comprehensive regenerative medicine therapies are available on a widespread scale, these cutting-edge companies are making scientific advances that could become quite important. With breakthroughs in stem cell research and creation occurring frequently, investment in these new health technologies may well provide future growth.

The About Small Cap blog covers breaking news on small cap stocks from around the world, delving deep into pressing issues both large and small that affect small caps. For example, we recently covered groundbreaking news about artificial heart technology in the small cap world. We write about things like natural gas drilling and interviews with notable personalities across a wide variety of industries, like Elemer Piros in the biotech sector.

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New Technology Investment in Age-Old Question Regenerative Medicine

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ACT’s Dr. Robert Lanza to Deliver Keynote Lecture at the World Conference on Regenerative Medicine

Posted: October 22, 2013 at 3:43 pm

MARLBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (ACT; OTCBB:ACTC), a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today that its chief scientific officer, Robert Lanza, M.D., will be delivering a Keynote lecture at the World Conference on Regenerative Medicine being held in Leipzig, Germany October 23-25th. The Conference is considered one of the world's largest and most influential events in stem cells and regenerative medicine, and provides a platform that brings scientists with an academic, clinical and industrial background together. Dr. Lanzas Lecture, entitled ES and iPS Cells Moving into the Clinic, will take place at 9:00 a.m. at the Congress Center Leipzig.

The World Conference will, as in past years, encompass a broad range of topics in regenerative medicine from biomaterials to biomarkers as well as regulation and stem cell technologies. The organizers expect more than 1,000 attendees and hundreds of papers with ground-breaking scientific insights and new results. Furthermore, the conference will host a large exhibition where international researchers and biotechnology companies can demonstrate the reach of current technologys translation and the implementation of research in products. In addition to Dr. Lanzas Keynote Lecture, the Conference will include presentations on cell and immunotherapy, stem cells, cell and tissue engineering, biomaterials and tissue interaction, models of regeneration, molecular mechanisms of regeneration, diagnostic and imaging of regeneration, and regulatory affairs.

About Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. is a biotechnology company applying cellular technology in the field of regenerative medicine. For more information, visit http://www.advancedcell.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this news release regarding future financial and operating results, the relevance and applicability of clinical trials in animals to studying the effect of products in humans, future growth in animal and human research and development programs, potential new applications of and expanded indications covering our technology, the effects of donorless sources of stem cells on potency and the risk of communicable diseases in the manufacturing context, the existence and size of potential or existing market opportunities for the company, the effect of the companys products on the medical needs and quality of life of pets, and any other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words will, believes, plans, anticipates, expects, estimates, and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including: limited operating history, need for and limited sources of future capital, failures or delays in obtaining regulatory approval of products, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, reliance on new and unproven technology in the development of products, protection of our intellectual property, and economic conditions generally. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in the companys periodic reports, including the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2013. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions, and expectations of the companys management at the time they are made, and the company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions, expectations, or other circumstances should change. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions, and expectations of the companys management at the time they are made, and the company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions, expectations, or other circumstances should change. There can be no assurance that the Companys clinical trials will be successful.

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International Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Community Convenes in Banff, Alberta

Posted: October 22, 2013 at 3:43 pm

OTTAWA, ONTARIO and TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Oct 21, 2013) - Stem cell and regenerative medicine experts from around the world will physically and virtually come together in Banff, Alberta, when Canada's premier stem cell research event - the Till & McCulloch Meetings (T&MM) - takes place October 23-25, 2013.

"Canada and Europe chose the same dates to host their most significant regenerative medicine events and we're utilizing technology to bring the two conferences together," explains Drew Lyall, Executive Director of the Stem Cell Network. "While our European colleagues won't get to enjoy the beauty of Alberta, they will benefit from hearing some thrilling science, produced in Canada."

A novel technology discovered in Dr. Peter Zandstra's lab, which has the potential to improve the viability and success of cord blood stem cell transplantation, will be featured during a live broadcast to the World Conference on Regenerative Medicine in Leipzig, Germany, on October 24 at 8:45 a.m. Dr. Zandstra (University of Toronto and CSO with the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine) has received the 2013 Till & McCulloch Award for having published the year's most influential peer-reviewed article by a stem cell researcher in Canada.

Other highlights include the following:

October 23 at 12:20 p.m.

The conference will premiere and showcase a series of short, animated videos about basic concepts in stem cell research narrated by world-renowned stem cell scientists. The videos are produced by Ben Paylor, a PhD candidate in experimental medicine at the University of British Columbia, and Mike Long, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Toronto, who engaged award-winning animator David Murowsky and Emmy-nominated composer James Wallace to create the signature animations and music featured in the videos. The three videos are targeted at youth of high school age or older. More details about the videos and the award can be found here: http://bit.ly/15GBOsw.

October 23 at 2:10 p.m.

An afternoon plenary session will focus on current research in cell therapy. The session will include presentations by Dr. Duncan Stewart (Ottawa Hospital Research Institute) on lessons learned in bringing cell therapies to the clinic. He will focus on his recently launched stem cell clinical trial for the treatment of acute heart attack, as well as offer overviews of Canada's strategy for stem cell research going forward and the emerging regenerative medicine technologies market.

"The regenerative medicine market is poised to experience explosive growth in the near future, based on the increasing number of clinical trials, deals, IPOs [initial public offerings] and partnerships happening globally," says Michael May, CEO of the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM). "Canada's leadership in the field of regenerative medicine is already well known, and it is with events and collaborations like the Till & McCulloch Meetings that we will continue to build a strong infrastructure for future growth in Canada. The fact that this year's conference has engaged 39 industry sponsors - more than twice the number that participated last time - is an indication of just how far we've progressed in a short time."

The Till & McCulloch Meetings, formerly the Stem Cell Network's Annual Scientific Meeting, was renamed in 2012 to acknowledge its expanded focus to include the broader field of regenerative medicine and the business focus of commercializing stem cell- and biomaterials-based products and therapies. In addition to excellent science originating from Canada, Japan, China, Israel, Europe and the United States, the conference will feature industry networking meetings and international efforts to share resources to accelerate progress in commercializing new discoveries.

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International Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Community Convenes in Banff, Alberta

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No evidence to support stem cell therapy for pediatric optic nerve hypoplasia

Posted: October 22, 2013 at 3:40 pm

Oct. 22, 2013 A study performed at Children's Hospital Los Angeles found no evidence that stem cell therapy improves vision for children with optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH). Their results are reported in the Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS).

ONH, an underdevelopment of optic nerves that occurs during fetal development, may appear either as an isolated abnormality or as part of a group of disorders characterized by brain anomalies, developmental delay, and endocrine abnormalities. ONH is a leading cause of blindness in children in North America and Europe and is the only cause of childhood blindness that shows increasing prevalence. No treatments have been shown to improve vision in these children.

With no viable treatment options available to improve vision, ophthalmologists are becoming aware that families with children affected by ONH are travelling to China seeking stem cell therapy, despite lack of approval in the United States and Europe or evidence from controlled trials. The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus has also expressed its concern about these procedures. In response to this situation, pediatric neuro-ophthalmologist Mark Borchert, MD, Director of both the Eye Birth Defects and Eye Technology Institutes in The Vision Center at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, realized that a controlled trial of sufficient size was needed to evaluate whether stem cell therapy is effective at improving optic nerve function in children with ONH. He agreed to conduct an independent study when asked by Beike Biotech, a company based in Shenzhen, China, that offers treatment for ONH using donor umbilical cord stem cells injected into the cerebral spinal fluid.

Beike Biotech agreed to identify 10 children with bilateral ONH (ages 7-17 years) who had volunteered to travel to China for stem cell therapy and who agreed to participate in the study; Children's Hospital was to find case matched controls from their clinic. However, only two case-controlled pairs were evaluated because Beike Biotech was only able to recruit two patients. Treatments consisted of six infusions over a 16-day period of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells and daily infusions of growth factors. Visual acuity, optic nerve size, and sensitivity to light were to be evaluated one month before stem cell therapy and three and nine months after treatment.

No therapeutic effect was found in the two case-control pairs that were enrolled. "The results of this study show that children greater than 7 years of age with ONH may have spontaneous improvement in vision from one examination to the next. This improvement occurs equally in children regardless of whether or not they received treatment. Other aspects of the eye examination included pupil responses to light and optic nerve size; these did not change following treatment. The results of this research do not support the use of stem cells in the treatment of ONH at this time," says lead author Cassandra Fink, MPH, program administrator at The Vision Center, Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Confounding the trial was that subjects received additional alternative therapies (acupuncture, functional electrical stimulation, and exercise) while receiving stem cell treatments, which was contrary to the trial protocol. The investigators could not determine the effect of these additional therapies.

"This study underscores the importance of scientifically testing these procedures to validate them and also to ensure their safety. Parents of afflicted children should be aware that the science behind the use of stem cell technology is unclear. This study takes a step toward testing this technology and finds no beneficial effect," says William V. Good, MD, Senior Associate Editor, Journal of AAPOS and Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology and Senior Scientist at the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute.

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Physical cues help mature cells revert into embryonic-like stem cells

Posted: October 21, 2013 at 3:45 am

BERKELEY

Bioengineers at the University of California, Berkeley, have shown that physical cues can replace certain chemicals when nudging mature cells back to a pluripotent stage, capable of becoming any cell type in the body.

Pluripotent stem cells, created from human skin or mouse ear tissue, are shown here developing into neurons. Cell nuclei are shown in blue, and the red highlights a type of filament protein expressed in nerve cells. (Image courtesy of Song Lis Lab)

The researchers grew fibroblasts cells taken from human skin and mouse ears on surfaces with parallel grooves measuring 10 micrometers wide and 3 micrometers high. After two weeks of culture in a special cocktail used to reprogram mature cells, the researchers found a four-fold increase in the number of cells that reverted back to an embryonic-like state compared with cells grown on a flat surface. Growing cells in scaffolds of nanofibers aligned in parallel had similar effects.

The study, published online today (Sunday, Oct. 20) in the journal Nature Materials, could significantly enhance the process of reprogramming adult cells into embryonic-like stem cells that can differentiate, or develop, into any type of tissue that makes up our bodies.

The 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to scientists who discovered that it was possible to reprogram cells using biochemical compounds and proteins that regulate gene expression. These induced pluripotent stem cells have since become a research mainstay in regenerative medicine, disease modeling and drug screening.

Our study demonstrates for the first time that the physical features of biomaterials can replace some of these biochemical factors and regulate the memory of a cells identity, said study principal investigator Song Li, UC Berkeley professor of bioengineering. We show that biophysical signals can be converted into intracellular chemical signals that coax cells to change.

The current process for reprogramming cells relies on a formula that uses a virus to introduce gene-altering proteins into mature cells. Certain chemical compounds, including valproic acid, that can dramatically affect global DNA structure and expression are also used to boost the efficiency of the reprogramming process.

Stem cells created by UC Berkeley researchers are shown here developing into muscle tissue. Smooth muscle actin protein is highlighted in green, and cell nuclei are shown in blue. (Image courtesy of Song Lis Lab)

The concern with current methods is the low efficiency at which cells actually reprogram and the unpredictable long-term effects of certain imposed genetic or chemical manipulations, said study lead author Timothy Downing, who did this research as a graduate student in the UC Berkeley-UC San Francisco Joint Graduate Program in Bioengineering. For instance, valproic acid is a potent chemical that drastically alters the cells epigenetic state and can cause unintended changes inside the cell. Given this, many people have been looking at different ways to improve various aspects of the reprogramming process.

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Physical cues help mature cells revert into embryonic-like stem cells

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Blood stem cells age at the unexpected flip of a molecular switch

Posted: October 21, 2013 at 3:45 am

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

20-Oct-2013

Contact: Jim Feuer jim.feuer@cchmc.org 513-636-4656 Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Scientists report in Nature they have found a novel and unexpected molecular switch that could become a key to slowing some of the ravages of getting older as it prompts blood stem cells to age.

The study is expected to help in the search for therapeutic strategies to slow or reverse the aging process, and possibly rejuvenate these critically important stem cells (called hematopoietic stem cells, or HSCs), said scientists from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Ulm in Germany who conducted study.

Published online Oct. 20, the study builds on earlier research from the same scientific team, who in 2012 reported they could make aging HSCs from laboratory mice functionally younger.

Properly functioning HSCs which form in the bone marrow are vital to the ongoing production of different types of blood cells that allow the immune system to fight infections. The cells are also important for the regeneration of other important cells in the body.

"Although there is a large amount of data showing that blood stem cell function declines during aging, the molecular processes that cause this remain largely unknown. This prevents rational approaches to attenuate stem cell aging," said Hartmut Geiger, PhD, senior investigator and a scientist at Cincinnati Children's and the University of Ulm. "This study puts us significantly closer to that goal through novel findings that show a distinct switch in a molecular pathway is very critical to the aging process."

The pathway is called the Wnt signaling pathway, a very important part of basic cell biology that regulates communications and interactions between cells in animals and people. Disruptions in the pathway have been linked to problems in tissue generation, development and a variety of diseases.

Analyzing mouse models and HSCs in laboratory cultures, the scientists observed in aging cells that a normal pattern of Wnt signaling (referred to in science as canonical) switched over to an atypical mode of activity (called non-canonical). They also noticed that the shift from canonical to non-canonical signaling was triggered by a dramatic increase in the expression of a protein in aged HSCs called Wnt5a.

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Physician First Choice Now Offering IV Stem Cell Therapy for Numerous Medical Conditions with US Board Certified Stem …

Posted: October 21, 2013 at 3:42 am

Orange County, CA (PRWEB) October 21, 2013

The premier stem cell therapy clinic on the West Coast, Physician First Choice, is now offering IV stem cell treatment for numerous medical conditions. This includes stem cell treatment for Alzheimer's disease, Diabetes, Parkinson's, Liver Disease, Cardiac Disease, COPD and much more. The treatments are provided by US Board Certified Stem Cell Doctors and for more information call (888) 988-0515.

Stem cell therapy has become available for numerous medical conditions and can dramatically improve the patient's baseline. Increasing amounts of research are showing the benefits of IV stem cell therapy for conditions such as diabetes and COPD. Prior to stem cell therapy, these conditions could be managed with traditional medications, but the disease itself could not be altered. With stem cell therapy, that possibility exists.

The Board Certified stem cell doctors at Physician First Choice have over 20 combined years of experience working with patients for both stem cell injection treatment and IV therapy. The clinic treats patients at multiple Southern California locations along with an international location in Mexico. Patient treatment is performed by the same US Board Certified doctors before, during and after therapy to ensure continuity of care.

The program in Mexico involves four days worth of treatment at a first rate clinic, and patients stay at a beautiful hotel with transportation included. IV stem cell therapy is performed along with growth factor treatments to enhance the effect of the bone marrow stem cells.

For conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, watching a loved one deteriorate can be disheartening even when the best care is received. Physician First Choice has been having excellent results with IV stem cell treatment for diabetes and these conditions, and the program has been growing exponentially as a result.

The 4 Day Stem Cell Therapy IV Program is offered as a package. Transportation to and from San Diego is included along with the Hotel Stay, All Medical Treatment, Breakfast Each Day, and Transportation between the Gorgeous Hotel and the Stem Cell Treatment Facility. Patients must be approved for program inclusion with a full medical record review and evaluation by the Southern California doctors.

To inquire about program inclusion for IV stem cell therapy, call Physician First Choice at (888) 988-0515.

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Blood Stem Cells – foot pathologies – Video

Posted: October 20, 2013 at 4:43 pm


Blood Stem Cells - foot pathologies
CASE 1 This horse used to be Gran Prix, but degenerative arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint made movement difficult. I cannot say if the cause was the frequent joint injections...

By: Marco Polettini

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Blood Stem Cells - foot pathologies - Video

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Dr. K. Krishnaiah talks about Stem Cell therapy to TV7 – Video

Posted: October 19, 2013 at 3:40 pm


Dr. K. Krishnaiah talks about Stem Cell therapy to TV7
Mediciti Hospitals is bringing to India a novel stem-cell based technique for "cartilage regeneration" which can replace knee replacement procedures. Our chi...

By: Mediciti Hospitals

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Inhaled Stem Cells Might Replace Lost Neurons

Posted: October 19, 2013 at 1:42 pm

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Intranasal stem cell therapy may one day treat brain disorders

By Caitlin Shure

Image: Jim Kopp

Many diseases of the central nervous system involve the death of neuronsso, theoretically, the replacement of dead cells should improve symptoms of degenerative disorders such as Parkinson's, Huntington's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer's, as well as stroke and brain tumors. Stem cell therapy may do just that even though evidence of its effectiveness is mixed.

In any cell transplant procedure, the host organin this case, the brainmay reject its new additions. Further, it is unclear whether grafted cells can truly integrate into complex neural circuitry. Finally, current procedures require invasive surgical implantation, which can be expensive and risky. The surgery can cause neural inflammation, and the implanted cells may quickly die.

Intranasal administration may address at least some of these issues. Most important, it eliminates the need for surgery. Further, some research suggests that stem cells delivered intranasally are smartthey do not spread through the brain indiscriminately but instead target damaged cells.

Although it is difficult to predict when medical practice will adopt stem cell therapy for the brain, animal studies have produced some promising results. In a rat model of Parkinson's, for example, treatment with intranasal stem cells appeared to improve motor function and slow the neurological deterioration associated with the disease.

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