Several transvaginal extractions of diseased (cancerous or nonfunctioning) kidneys have been conducted successfully in the past. Now, for the first-time in the US, surgeons at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Maryland, have extirpated a healthy donor kidney through the vagina. The procedure is based on NOTES (Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery) approach, a minimally invasive technique, in which surgery is conducted through natural orifices of the body. Continue Reading

Spinal cord injuries, resulting in permanent disability or paralysis in most cases, account for around eleven thousand new cases in the US, annually. Due to the lack of effective treatment strategies, it is considered as the most devastating of all traumatic conditions. Now, a recent study published in the journal Stem Cells reports that activation of ependymal stem/progenitor cells from injured spinal cord (epSPCi), using endogenous stem cell-associated mechanisms, may aid in rescuing neurological function, thereby reversing paralysis associated with spinal cord injuries. Continue Reading

The use of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in regenerative medicine has always been controversial due to their derivation from human embryos. Now, a team of researchers from the Columbia University has suggested that non-viable embryos obtained during IVF procedure could be used as a good source for obtaining viable stem cells. Findings of the study are published in the recent issue of the journal Reproductive BioMedicine Online. Continue Reading

BK polyomavirus nephropathy is an increasingly common complication of renal transplantation, affecting 1-10% patients worldwide and resulting in graft failure in around 90% of the cases. In spite of this, there is a lack of non-invasive and accurate tests to diagnose the renal disease. Now, researchers from the University of North Carolina, USA have discovered a novel non-invasive test that measures urinary Haufen, a cast-like three-dimensional viral aggregate, which is formed in the kidneys of polyomavirus nephropathy patients. The findings of the study, published in the recent online issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), may facilitate in the early diagnosis of the complication and prompt quicker treatment initiation. Continue Reading

Scientists from the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI), Canada, have developed a new compound comprising of collagen and a tetrasaccharide carbohydrate called sialyl Lewis^x (sLe^x), which induces angiogenesis in damaged tissues through the formation of a scaffold. The biomaterial attracts progenitor cells and supports blood vessel regeneration, thereby using the body’s own cells for repairing cardiac damage and restoring its function. Continue Reading

Bortezomib (Velcade® | Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.), a proteasome inhibitor, has been previously approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma. Now, a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Cincinnati, has shown that the drug is also effective for the treatment of transplant rejection. The results of study are published in the recent issue of the journal Transplantation. Continue Reading

Plerixafor (Mozobilâ„¢ | Genzyme Corporation), a hematopoietic stem cell mobilizer, has gained marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The drug, in combination with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is indicated for the treatment of multiple myeloma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Continue Reading

Pancreatic islet transplants have been found to be potentially advantageous than whole-gland transplant for the treatment of type I diabetes. However, its clinical use is limited due to post-transplantation challenges such as poor revascularization, host immune rejection, and nonspecific inflammatory response. Now, a recent study published in the December issue of the journal Molecular Pharmaceutics has reported that genetic modification of islet cells through gene silencing may aid in improving its effectiveness as well as extending its clinical use. Continue Reading

Researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, have observed that immature fat cells reside in the adipose vasculature, and make use of excess calories to grow into adult cells, resulting in fat accumulation. The discovery of the exact location of these progenitor cells may facilitate the development of methods that can potentially prevent, or even treat, obesity and its related ailments. Further, this may also facilitate the utilization of these cells for reconstructive purposes, such as in breast restoration following lumpectomy. Continue Reading

Scientists at the Harvard University, Massachusetts, US, have achieved a revolutionary goal in regenerative medicine, by transforming pancreatic cells from adult mice into insulin-producing β-cells without reversion to the pluripotent stem cell phase. The technique, called “direct reprogramming’, marks a significant step towards the development of novel treatment strategies for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Continue Reading