TOP STORIES

Gene Mismatch Influences Success of Bone Marrow Transplants
A commonly inherited gene deletion can increase the likelihood of immune complications following bone marrow transplantation, an international team of researchers report. [Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge]

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SCIENCE NEWS

New Technique Could Revolutionize Stem Cell Transplants
Montreal researchers have developed a new approach that preserves the cells that fight infection and leukemia while eliminating the cells that reject donor cells. [Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, Montreal]

Study Suggests Adult Stem Cells May Help Repair Hearts Damaged by Heart Attack
Results from a Phase I study show that stem cells from donor bone marrow appear to help heart attack patients recover better by growing new blood vessels to bring more oxygen to the heart. [Rush University Medical Center, Chicago]

First BPA Detection in U.S. Infant Cord Blood
Laboratory tests have detected bisphenol A for the first time in the umbilical cord blood of U.S. newborns. The tests identified the plastics chemical in 9 of 10 cord blood samples from babies of African American, Asian and Hispanic descent. [Environmental Working Group, Washington]

New Frontiers - and Limitations - in Testing People's Bodies for Chemicals
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is preparing to release extensive data and expand its reach by testing 500 umbilical cords, which will allow scientists to determine which chemicals babies are exposed to in the womb. [The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta]

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

Identification of Novel Regulators of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Development through Refinement of Stem Cell Localization and Expression Profiling
Very little is currently known about the regulators that control hematopoietic stem cell emergence in the aorta-gonads-mesonephros (AGM) region of the mouse embryo. In this study, researchers have further defined the location of hematopoietic stem cells in the AGM and incorporated this information into a spatial and temporal comparative gene expression analysis. [Blood]

Human Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Attenuate Hyperoxia-Induced Lung Injury in Neonatal Rats
Researchers examined whether intratracheal or intraperitoneal transplantation of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells can attenuate hyperoxia-induced lung injury in immunocompetent newborn rats. [Cell Transplant]

Autologous Umbilical Cord Blood Mononuclear Cell Transplantation Preserves Right Ventricular Function in a Novel Model of Chronic Right Ventricular Volume Overload
The feasibility and efficacy of autologous umbilical cord blood mononuclear cell transplantation on right ventricular function in a novel model of chronic right ventricular volume overload was examined. [Cell Transplant]

A "No-wash" Albumin-Dextran Dilution Strategy for Cord Blood Unit Thaw: High Rate of Engraftment and a Low Incidence of Serious Infusion Reactions
This report studied cord blood unit preparation for infusion by albumin-dextran dilution without centrifugation.  Results suggest that cord blood thaw with albumin-dextran dilution may be advantageous for adult patients to minimize cell loss and reduce unit manipulation. [Biol Blood Marrow Transplant]

Clinical Expansion of Cord Blood-derived T Cells for Use as Donor Lymphocyte Infusion After Cord Blood Transplantation
To remedy the ethical and logistical restrictions limiting the possibility of donor lymphocyte infusion in the setting of cord blood stem cell transplantation, the researchers performed expansion of donor T cells in vitro from CB grafts in a clinical setting for use as future DLI and characterized the expanded cells in comparison to T cells from CB acquired ex vivo and adult peripheral blood. [J Immunother]

Cord Blood Banking for Clinical Transplantation
This brief look at public cord blood banking highlights aspects of its current status to suggest that accomplishing the currently required tasks, though no small undertaking, is not enough and much remains to be contributed. [Bone Marrow Transplant]

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Apollo Signs Memorandum of Understanding with StemCyte for Cord Blood Bank Facility
Private healthcare chain Apollo Hospitals has signed a memorandum of understanding with US-based life sciences company StemCyte, Inc. for setting up a cord blood bank facility in Ahmadabad.

StemCyte Licenses Promising Intellectual Property for Stem Cell Therapy to Treat Stroke
StemCyte, Inc. concluded an exclusive license and commercialization agreement with Academia Sinica, the National Laboratory of Taiwan, for certain proprietary methods and Intellectual Property related to the treatment of Chronic Stroke with stem cells.

POLICY NEWS

Bill Would Educate Parents About Umbilical Cord Blood
Ohio state lawmakers are pushing for the Informed Choice Bill, which would require doctors to give expectant parents information about collecting and banking cord blood.

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (United States)

2009 Meeting Materials, Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee

EVENTS

51st ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition
December 5-8, 2009
New Orleans, Louisiana

2010 BMT Tandem Meetings
February 24-28, 2010
Orlando, Florida

European Group for Blood & Marrow Transplantation Annual Meeting
March 21-24, 2010
Vienna, Austria

12th Biennial CBMTG Conference
April 7-10, 2010
Vancouver, British Columbia

16th Annual ISCT Meeting
May 23-26, 2010
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

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