Dr. Joel Aronowitz announces stem cell trial for breast augmention

Dr. Joel Aronowitz, plastic surgeon at Beverly Hills and founder of the University Stem Cell Center, Los Angeles, announced yesterday the approval of a clinical trial with the purpose to assess the safety and efficacy of autologous stem cells, harvested from adipose (fat) tissue for breast augmentation.

Researchers use clay to generate bone from mesenchymal stem cells

Synthetic silicates, which are composed of simple or complex salts of silicic acids, are used in a wide range of industrial and consumer applications, including food additives, glass and ceramic filler materials, and anti-caking agents. Today, researchers at the Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) announced another potential application, generating bone from stem cells. The BWH researchers have discovered that synthetic silicate nanoplatelets, also known as layered clay, can induce mesenchymal stem cells to become bone cells without the need of additional bone-inducing factors.

Alligator stem cell study paves the way for tooth regeneration in humans

Unlike most vertebrates which can replace lost teeth through their entire lives, humans come with only two sets, baby teeth and adult teeth, then they simply lose the ability for tooth renewal.. However, a new study on alligators by researchers at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California (USC) may someday allow doctors to stimulate tooth regeneration in humans as well.

Serotonin is crucial for exercise-induced neurogenesis

It's a well known fact that exercise induces stem cells in the hippocampus, an important brain area for memory and learning, to become neurons, a process known as neurogenesis  However, up until now, little was known about the deeper mechanisms involved in this process. Now, a new study on mice by researchers at the Max Delbrück Centre (MDC), Berlin-Buch reveals that serotonin plays a direct role in exercise-induced neurogenesis.

Arizona Pain Stem Cell Institute to begin stem cell trial

Yesterday, the Arizona Pain Stem Cell Institute announced a new, non-randomised trial involving stem cell injections. The study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of injections containing amniotic stem cells combined with high concentrations of hyaluronic acid and growth factors in patients with "back and neck pain along with pain in the shoulder, knee, hip and sacroiliac joint".

Merged mice point to new heart failure treatment

Heart failure (also known as congestive heart failure) is one of the most common and debilitating conditions associated with ageing. At present, there is no real cure for the condition and treatments focus on improving the symptoms and preventing the progression of the disease. Today, a new study was published by researchers at Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) that sheds new light on the condition and proposes a potential new treatment option.

Scaffold made of silk and cellulose effective for cartilage regeneration

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint disease affecting more than 27 million people in the U. S, globally causing moderate to severe disability in more than 40 million people. In the past decade, stem cells have shown great promise in treating OA. Yesterday, researchers at the University of Bristol announced that they have created a 'smart material', composed of silk and cellulose, that according to them paves the wave for both affordable and effective cell based treatments for cartilage regeneration.

Researchers create disease-in-a-dish model for Ataxia Telangiectasia

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) just announced that they have successfully used induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to create the first disease-in-a-dish model for Ataxia Telangiectasia (A-T), a rare, genetic, neurodegenerative, disease causing severe disability. The researchers consider their discovery to be a major advance for A-T research as now scientists have a reliable model to study the condition and to test new drugs.

Researchers create personalised bone grafts from induced pluripotent stem cells

Yesterday, researchers from the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) reported that they have created personalised bone substitutes which can be used to treat large, bone defects. The grafts come with no risk of rejection and can cover the exact needs of any patient, say the researchers.

Researchers create patch for damaged hearts

Researchers at the Duke University, Durham announced today that they have used human embryonic stem cells to create a "patch" for damaged hearts. The patch may one day be used to treat patients with cardiac damage after a heart attack or as a model for testing new experimental drugs.

Gene thought to only form heart tissue revealed to form blood and muscle tissues as well

A new study by researchers at the Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota reveals that the Mesp1 gene, previously thought to only be involved in the production of heart tissue, can be used to produce blood and muscle forming stem cells if manipulated properly.

Researchers generate cortical interneurons from human embryonic stem cells

In a recent study, researchers from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Sloan-Kettering Institute have presented a new method to derive cortical interneurons from human embruonic stem cells. The study has implications in the treatment of  several neurodevelopmental disorders, like autism.

Researchers announce "fundamental" discovery on how Oct-4 controls embryonic stem cell function

A few days ago, researchers at the University of Edinburgh announced that they have made a "fundamental" discovery on how embryonic stem cells replicate and differentiate.