http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. A study published this month by researchers at the University of Toronto and Toronto's Princess Margaret Hospital has shown that cells derived from the umbilical cord, "Human Umbilical Cord PeriVascular Cells" (HUCPVCs), are more effective in restoring heart function after an acute myocardial infarction (in common parlance, a heart attack) in a pre-clinical model than a similar cell population derived from bone marrow. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-umbilical-cord-cells-outperform-bone.html Medical research Thu, 15 Nov 2012 12:29:11 EST news272204941 In a study to determine the best cryopreservation (freezing) solution to maintain induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, a team of researchers from Japan compared 12 kinds of commercially prepared and readily available cryopreservation solutions and found that "Cell Banker 3" out-performed the other 11 solutions by allowing iPS cells to be preserved for a year at −80°C degrees C in an undifferentiated state. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-cryopreservation-pluripotent-stem-cells-product.html Medical research Tue, 25 Sep 2012 17:02:05 EST news267811301 Aplastic anaemia is characterised by a reduction in the number of the bone marrow cells that go on to form the different cell types present in blood (essentially red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets). In most cases, the causes of the disorder are hard to determine, but some patients have been found to have genetic alterations leading to a shortening of their telomeres (the end regions of chromosomes that protect and stabilise DNA). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-team-unique-mouse-aplastic-anaemia.html Medical research Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:55:55 EST news265456549 Scientists from the University of Southampton have received a grant from the blood cancer charity Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research to explore ways of preventing life-threatening side effects in patients receiving bone marrow transplants. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-southampton-scientists-ways-life-threatening-complications.html Medical research Tue, 21 Aug 2012 09:21:45 EST news264759692 Leukemia and lymphoma patients who receive life-saving stem cell or bone marrow transplants often experience chronic side effects that significantly decrease quality of life, can last a lifetime, and ultimately affect their long-term survival. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-cell-survival-key-chronic-graft.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 16 Aug 2012 10:04:25 EST news264330235 Researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have opened a clinical trial to test the theory that giving a patient a new immune system can cure severe cases of Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-clinical-trial-advanced-crohn-disease.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 23 Jul 2012 12:41:46 EST news262266094 Acute myeloid leukemia, a common leukemia in adults, is characterized by aberrant proliferation of cancerous bone marrow cells. Activating mutations in a protein receptor known as FLT3 receptor are among the most prevalent mutations observed in acute myeloid leukemias. FLT3 mutants are thought to activate several signaling pathways that contribute to cancer development. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-acute-myeloid-leukemia.html Cancer Mon, 16 Jul 2012 12:00:01 EST news261655555 Researchers from the University of Maryland School of Maryland report promising results from using adult stem cells from bone marrow in mice to help create tissue cells of other organs, such as the heart, brain and pancreas - a scientific step they hope may lead to potential new ways to replace cells lost in diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson's or Alzheimer's. The research in collaboration with the University of Paris Descartes is published online in the July 2, 2012 edition of Comptes Rendus Biologies, a publication of the French Academy of Sciences. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-results-adult-stem-cells-bone.html Medical research Tue, 03 Jul 2012 11:15:55 EST news260532947 Severe combined immunodeficiency is defect in the immune system that results in a loss of the adaptive immune cells known as B cells and T cells. Mutations in several different genes can lead to the development of severe combined immunodeficiency, including mutation of the adenosine deaminase (ADA) gene. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-gene-therapy-severe-combined-immunodeficiency.html Immunology Thu, 24 May 2012 12:00:56 EST news257078057 (HealthDay) -- For patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, treatment with an autologous bone marrow-derived, expanded multi-cell product, ixmyelocel-T, is well tolerated and associated with improved symptoms at one year, according to a study presented at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions 2012 Scientific Sessions, held from May 9 to 12 in Las Vegas. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-scai-ixmyelocel-t-dilated-cardiomyopathy.html Cardiology Tue, 15 May 2012 05:50:01 EST news256276097 Researchers found that administering a common chemotherapy drug before bone tumors took root actually fertilized the bone marrow, enabling cancer cells, once introduced, to seed and grow more easily. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-fertilizing-bone-marrow-cancers-bones.html Cancer Tue, 15 May 2012 00:20:07 EST news256233774 A new study found that using a patient's own bone marrow cells may help repair damaged areas of the heart caused by heart failure, according to research presented today at the American College of Cardiology's 61st Annual Scientific Session. The Scientific Session, the premier cardiovascular medical meeting, brings cardiovascular professionals together to further advances in the field. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-stem-cell-therapy-possibly-heart.html Cardiology Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:13:33 EST news251971999 A research network led by a Mayo Clinic physician found that stem cells derived from heart failure patients' own bone marrow and injected into their hearts improved the function of the left ventricle, the heart's pumping chamber. Researchers also found that certain types of the stem cells were associated with the largest improvement and warrant further study. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-bone-marrow-stem-cells-heart.html Cardiology Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:12:36 EST news251971945 Use of a patient's bone marrow cells for treating chronic ischemic heart failure did not result in improvement on most measures of heart function, according to a study appearing in JAMA. The study is being published early online to coincide with its presentation at the American College of Cardiology's annual scientific sessions. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-treatment-heart-failure-bone-marrow.html Cardiology Sat, 24 Mar 2012 19:10:58 EST news251835048 Cell therapy may present an option for patients with ischemic heart disease to use their own bone marrow cells to repair the damaged areas of their hearts, and may pave the way for future treatment options, according to the FOCUS trial, which will be presented as a late-breaking clinical trial March 24 at the 61st annual American College of Cardiology (ACC) scientific session. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-cell-therapy-patient-bone-marrow.html Cardiology Sat, 24 Mar 2012 19:04:17 EST news251834642 T-cells are the immune system's security force. They seek out pathogens and rogue cells in the body and put them out of action. Their precursors are formed in the bone marrow and migrate from there into the thymus. Here, they mature and differentiate to perform a variety of tasks. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Freiburg have now succeeded for the first time in observing the maturation of immune cells in live zebrafish embryos. During their development, the immune cells migrate into and out of the thymus more than once. The zebrafish is thus an ideal animal model for studying the dynamic processes of immune cell development. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-thymus-t-cells.html Medical research Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:41:46 EST news248704887 A new study has demonstrated that a procedure wherein healthy cartilage is transplanted to fix an area of damaged cartilage (osteoarticular cartilage transplantation or OATS procedure) is superior to the standard of care for repairing cartilage defects. It is thought that fixing such lesions may ultimately help to prevent the onset of osteoarthritis, and get athletic individuals back to sporting activities reliably. The study by Hospital for Special Surgery researchers was reported at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Feb. 7-11. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-procedure-bests-standard-cartilage.html Arthritis & Rheumatism Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:00:01 EST news247895057 Bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMDCs) have been recognized as a source for transplantation because they can contribute to different cell populations in a variety of organs under both normal and pathological conditions. Many BMDC studies have been aimed at repairing damaged brain tissue or helping to restore lost neural function, with much research focused on BMDC transplants to the cerebellum at the back of the brain. In a recent study, a research team from Spain has found that BMDCs, can contribute to a variety of neural cell types in other areas of the brain as well, including the olfactory bulb, because of a mechanism of "plasticity". http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-12-bone-marrow-derived-cells-differentiate-brain.html Medical research Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:06:43 EST news243533185 A "team" of fast-moving, bone marrow stem cells from a research laboratory in Singapore has run away with the first World Cell Race, finishing first with a cellular speed record of 5.2 microns per minute (or 0.000204 inches per minute) in results announced today at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-12-microscopic-cells-victory-world-cell.html Cancer Sat, 03 Dec 2011 02:52:29 EST news242102995 Cartilage, bone, and skin can already be regenerated in vitro, and these tissues are currently available for clinical applications. However, regeneration of more complex tissues such as the liver and pancreas has yet to be fully realized. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-10-possibilities.html Medical research Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:56:30 EST news239280984 Bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) participate in the growth and spread of tumors of the breast, brain, lung, and stomach. To examine the role of BMDCs, researchers developed a mouse model that could be used to track the migration of these cells while tumors formed and expanded. Their results, published in the November issue of The American Journal of Pathology, strongly suggest that more effective cancer treatments may be developed by exploiting the mechanism by which bone marrow cells migrate to tumors and retard their proliferation. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-10-bone-marrow-cells-migrate-tumors.html Cancer Fri, 07 Oct 2011 09:38:51 EST news237199123 A UCSF study holds clues to why an emerging clinical trials option for heart attack patients has not been as successful as anticipated. Treatment of human hearts with bone marrow cells has led to limited to no success in improving their heart function even though a similar method has been much more effective in rodents. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-09-weakness-heart-therapy.html Cardiology Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:04:44 EST news235739068 Bleeding calf syndrome (bovine neonatal pancytopenia or BNP) affects new born calves resulting in low blood cell counts and depletion of the bone marrow. It first emerged in 2007 and a serious number of cases are reported each year. In affected calves, bone marrow cells which produce platelets are also destroyed. Consequently the calves' blood does not clot and they appear to bleed through undamaged skin. There is evidence that BNP is linked to the use of a particular vaccine against "Bovine viral diarrhea virus" (BVDV). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-vaccine-linked-calf-syndrome.html Medical research Tue, 30 Aug 2011 03:33:06 EST news233893965 Hair follicle keratinocytes offer a simple and accessible route to generate patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells, iPSCs, with minimum inconvenience for the patients, shows study presented at the ESC Congress 2011 today. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-hair-cell-derived-patient-specific-heart-cells-disease.html Cardiology Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:14:30 EST news233831654 Bone marrow transplantation with genetically modified cells may prolong the period of cancer-free survival, suggests a study led by Dr. Vivek Rangnekar, associate director of translational research for the Markey Cancer Center at the University of Kentucky. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-bone-marrow-transplantation-cancer-resistance.html Cancer Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:05:13 EST news233420565 In the latest issue of Nature, researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania clarify the role of two proteins key to T-cell development. They found that one well-known protein called Notch passes off much of its role during T-cell maturation to another protein called TCF-1. T cells are required for many aspects of immunity, and understanding how these proteins influence the production of infection-fighting cells could improve treatments for immune-suppressed patients. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-penn-key-molecule-immune-cell.html Medical research Mon, 08 Aug 2011 13:30:06 EST news232025982 Humans produce billions of clot-forming platelets every day, but there are times when there aren't enough of them, such as with certain diseases or during invasive surgery. Now, University of Pennsylvania researchers have demonstrated that a single drug can induce bone marrow cells called megakaryocytes to quadruple the number of platelets they produce. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-07-drug-soft-environment-platelet-production_1.html Medical research Wed, 13 Jul 2011 10:27:43 EST news229771607 (Medical Xpress) -- A new study conducted by a team of researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) sheds light on a possible new approach to treat the bone marrow disease known as myelofibrosis by inhibiting an enzyme that connects extracellular fibers. The study, published online in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, was conducted under the direction of Katya Ravid, PhD, professor of medicine and biochemistry and director of the Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research at BUSM. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-06-potential-approaches-myelofibrosis.html Medical research Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:50:48 EST news228059438 Although chemotherapy is used to kill cancer cells, it can also have a strong toxic effect on normal cells such as bone marrow and blood cells, often limiting the ability to use and manage the chemotherapy treatment. Researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center reported at today's annual meeting of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy in Seattle that one possible approach to reduce this toxic effect on bone marrow cells is to modify the cells with a gene that makes them resistant to chemotherapy. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-05-gene-modified-stem-cells-bone-marrow.html Cancer Sat, 21 May 2011 05:36:52 EST news225174980 If pending clinical trials prove successful, a new discovery published in The FASEB Journal could represent a major scientific leap toward human tissue regeneration and engineering. In a research report appearing online, Yale scientists provide evidence to support a major paradigm shift in this specialty area from the idea that cells added to a graft before implantation are the building blocks of tissue, to a new belief that engineered tissue constructs can actually induce or augment the body's own reparative mechanisms, including complex tissue regeneration. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-05-scientists-method-human-tissue-regeneration.html Medical research Thu, 12 May 2011 16:32:51 EST news224436750