263 research outputs found
A Showcase of Bench-to-Bedside Regenerative Medicine at the 2010 ASNTR
Insight into the expanding themes of regenerative medicine is
provided by the American Society for Neural Therapy and Repair's
annual meeting. The 17th meeting covered a wide range of
neurodegenerative disorders, exploring methods to elucidate the
currently unknown mechanisms behind the disorders, as well as
possible treatments ranging from the use of growth factors, gene
therapy to cell transplantation. The importance of growth factors,
both as a contributing factor to a disease and as a possible
treatment either solo, or as a consequence of, or in conjunction
with, stem cell therapy, was highlighted. The potential for viral
vectors was also explored either for cells prior to
transplantation or as a direct treatment regime into the brain
itself. Identification of biomarkers that would allow early
detection of a disease is an important factor in our fight against
disease. The ability to now perform whole genome analysis and
biomolecular profiling provides hope that such markers could be
identified which not only could identify this likely to suffer
from a disorder but also could allow its progress to be monitored.
A few preclinical and clinical cell transplantation trials were
also introduced as potential areas of followup in the years to
come
Polymers, Encapsulation, and Artifical Organs (Report on Session 26.0)
Artificial Organs " at the Fourth International Symposium on Neurotransplantation consisted of five presentations examining the possibility that polymer capsules with or without cells could have therapeutic application for various neurological diseases. Dr. Robert Langer of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology provided an introduction to the use of polymers as systems for controlled release, long-term drug delivery/4/. Some of these systems are currently in use for the treatment of ophthalmic diseases, tobacco addiction, and birth control, and can continuously release drugs for over one year. Of interest is the use of these slow releasing polymers for delivering drugs and chemical
Sertoli cells as biochambers
According to the present invention, there is provided a biological chamber system having a biochamber defined by outer walls of Sertoli cells. Also provided is a transplantation facilitator including a biochamber. A method of making biochambers by co-culturing facilitator cells and therapeutic cells and then aggregating the facilitator celes is also provided. Also provided is a method of transplanting cells by incorporating transplant cells into a biochamber and transplanting the biochamber containing the transplant cells
An Evaluation of the Possible Protective Effects of Neonatal Striatal Transplants Against Kainic Acid-Induced Lesions
The present study examined the recent report
that transplantation of neonatal striatal tissue
into kainic acid (KA) lesioned striatum protected
the contralateral striatum from a subsequent KA
lesion. We did not find a significant difference in
the survival rate of animals that received
neonatal striatal transplants into a KA lesioned
striatum followed by a subsequent lesion of the
contralateral striatum compared to those
animals that received bilateral KA-induced
striatal lesions alone. The tissue transplants did
not protect against the degeneration of striatal
neurons induced by KA. Indeed, the survival
rate was very low (25%) in the transplant groups.
A second experiment was also performed to
examine whether a neonatal striatal transplant
might reduce the severe syndrome of aphagia
and adipsia associated with KA lesions of the
striatum. Animals that received the neonatal
striatal transplants showed increased aphagia
and adipsia compared to animals only receiving
the KA lesion. Again, the transplant group had a
very low survival rate (10%). The present study
was unable to confirm that neonatal striatal
transplants protect against KA lesions either by
themselves or in conjunction with a recent KA
lesion
Intraparenchymal Striatal Transplants Required for Maintenance of Behavioral Recovery in an Animal Model of Huntington's Disease
Rats which receive injections of kainic acid (KA) into the striatum show many of the anatomical, biochemical
and behavioral abnormalities seen in patients with Huntington's disease. Recently, it has been reported that
fetal striatal transplants into the lesioned striatum could normalize the neurological and behavioral abnormalities
produced by the KA lesion. The present study examined the issue of transplant integration in producing behavioral
recovery. In one experiment, lesioned animals with transplants located within the lateral ventricle were
compared against parenchymally transplanted rats. It was found that unless the ventricular transplant grew
into the lesioned striatum there was no recovery. The second experiment demonstrated that electrolytic destruction
of a successful fetal striatal transplant could reverse the transplant-induced behavioral recovery. These
results suggest that the integrity of the transplant is important in maintaining behavioral recovery. A continuing
functional interaction between the host brain and transplanted tissue may be a vital element in the
success of the fetal striatal transplant
Multiple Intravenous Administrations of Human Umbilical Cord Blood Cells Benefit in a Mouse Model of ALS
Background: A promising therapeutic strategy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the use of cell-based therapies that can protect motor neurons and thereby retard disease progression. We recently showed that a single large dose (25x10(6) cells) of mononuclear cells from human umbilical cord blood (MNC hUCB) administered intravenously to pre-symptomatic G93A SOD1 mice is optimal in delaying disease progression and increasing lifespan. However, this single high cell dose is impractical for clinical use. The aim of the present pre-clinical translation study was therefore to evaluate the effects of multiple low dose systemic injections of MNC hUCB cell into G93A SOD1 mice at different disease stages. Methodology/Principal Findings: Mice received weekly intravenous injections of MNC hUCB or media. Symptomatic mice received 10(6) or 2.5x10(6) cells from 13 weeks of age. A third, pre-symptomatic, group received 10(6) cells from 9 weeks of age. Control groups were media-injected G93A and mice carrying the normal hSOD1 gene. Motor function tests and various assays determined cell effects. Administered cell distribution, motor neuron counts, and glial cell densities were analyzed in mouse spinal cords. Results showed that mice receiving 10(6) cells pre-symptomatically or 2.5x10(6) cells symptomatically significantly delayed functional deterioration, increased lifespan and had higher motor neuron counts than media mice. Astrocytes and microglia were significantly reduced in all cell-treated groups. Conclusions/Significance: These results demonstrate that multiple injections of MNC hUCB cells, even beginning at the symptomatic disease stage, could benefit disease outcomes by protecting motor neurons from inflammatory effectors. This multiple cell infusion approach may promote future clinical studies
Changing the academic culture: Valuing patents and commercialization toward tenure and career advancement
There is national and international recognition of the importance of innovation, technology transfer, and entrepreneurship for sustained economic revival. With the decline of industrial research laboratories in the United States, research universities are being asked to play a central role in our knowledge-centered economy by the technology transfer of their discoveries, innovations, and inventions. In response to this challenge, innovation ecologies at and around universities are starting to change. However, the change has been slow and limited. The authors believe this can be attributed partially to a lack of change in incentives for the central stakeholder, the faculty member. The authors have taken the position that universities should expand their criteria to treat patents, licensing, and commercialization activity by faculty as an important consideration for merit, tenure, and career advancement, along with publishing, teaching, and service. This position is placed in a historical context with a look at the history of tenure in the United States, patents, and licensing at universities, the current status of university tenure and career advancement processes, and models for the future
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