Glioblastoma is a particularly aggressive type of brain cancer, which is difficult to treat. A new study suggests that stem cells derived from a patient’s fat could form the basis of a new treatment. In laboratory studies, Johns Hopkins researchers say they have found that stem cells from a patient’s own fat may have the… [Continue Reading]
Stem Cells From Fat Could Be Used to Fight Aggressive Brain Tumors
March 13, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Attracting Stem Cells to the Heart After Heart Failure Improves Cardiac Function
February 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Activating a patient’s own stem cells with gene therapy is effective to treat heart failure, a new study has found. Researchers have shown that the treatment improves patients’ symptoms and heart function. In the first human study of its kind, researchers activated heart failure patients’ stem cells with gene therapy to improve their symptoms, heart… [Continue Reading]
Stem Cells Derived From Fat More Effective to Repair Heart in Animal Models
February 14, 2013 By Leave a Comment
As researchers develop ways to use stem cells to treat different diseases, determining the best protocols is essential. A new study compared heart function in rats treated with stem cells derived from either fat or bone marrow, and has found that fat-derived cells more effectively treat heart disease. When a research team from Denmark and… [Continue Reading]
New Cell Type Derived from Stem Cells Could Be Used to Treat Alzheimer’s Disease
November 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Stem cells, which can give rise to different kinds of adult cell types, are a very promising approach to treating diseases in which specific cells are lost or damaged. A major area of research is coaxing the cells into becoming a desired type, and successfully transplanting them into patients. New research has determine how to… [Continue Reading]
Understanding Stem Cell’s Flexibility Key to Future Therapies
November 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Using stem cells for therapy depends on understanding how these cells can become any type of tissue. Researchers have recently made a series of discoveries on how stem cells maintain their flexible identity, published this week in one of the top scientific journals in biology. The ability of embryonic stem cells to differentiate into different… [Continue Reading]
Stem Cells Isolated from Muscle Could Be Used to Treat Brain Diseases
October 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Stem cells have an enormous potential to be used for therapies, but the best source of these cells is a hot area of research. Researchers suggest that stem cells derived from a patient’s muscles could be used to treat disorders of the brain and spinal cord: these cells have now been shown to survive and… [Continue Reading]
Removing Overactive Stem Cells Improves Safety of Transplants
September 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Stem cells can differentiate into multiple tissue types are potentially a major source of future tissues for transplantation. One problem, however, is that cultures can contain individual cells that reproduce too much, and can develop into tumors. Researchers have now reported a treatment that clears stem cell populations of cancer-causing cells, improving their safety. Mayo… [Continue Reading]
Stem Cells Used to Create Facial Bone Tissue for Potential Transplants
August 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Stem cells, if convinced in the laboratory to become certain kinds of adult cells or organs, may be a powerful tool to generate tissues for transplant. Researchers have now performed clinical trials using bone tissue grown from stem cells for transplant into the jaw, with encouraging results. In the first human study of its kind,… [Continue Reading]
Fat Stem Cells Can Be Turned into Bone for Grafts
June 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Scientists have developed new techniques for stem cell purification and culture, convincing a specific population of cells normally found in fat to become bone. The work may one day allow patients to receive bone grafts that have come from their own fat cells, circumventing the need to remove bone from other parts of the body…. [Continue Reading]
New Surface Allows Stem Cells to Be Grown into Bone
May 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Stem cells, if grown under the right conditions, can theoretically become any type of tissue. Determining the optimal conditions for different cell types, therefore, is essential. Tissues could then be used for therapies such as transplants, and avoid issues such as graft rejection. University of Michigan researchers have proven that a special surface, free of… [Continue Reading]