Guest blogger Alan Trounson — June’s stem cell research highlights

Each month CIRM President Alan Trounson gives his perspective on recently published papers he thinks will be valuable in moving the field of stem cell research forward. This month’s report, along with an archive of past reports, is available on the CIRM website.

The first section of my report this month focuses on trends spotted at this year’s annual meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research in Yokohama, Japan, June 13-16. The meeting showed a field that is clearly maturing both as a basic discipline helping us understand the underpinnings of life, but also as a field revealing ways to move stem cell science toward therapies.

At least three teams presented work in which they matured stem cells into complex tissues, not just various end stage cell types. One group showed they could grow gastric units they called organoids that could be transplanted into mice and integrated into the animal’s intestine. Another’s project resulted in what they called the first functional organ with networks of blood vessels, in this case a small piece of liver that was able to metabolize some drugs like a normal liver. The third team presented work that replicated in human tissue their work of a year ago in mouse cells. They coaxed stem cells into forming the multiple cells layers that make up the optic cup. Our full report here goes into each study in more detail, and our report from last April discussed the earlier optic cup work.

The remainder of this month’s report highlights four significant papers from research journals this month, but I want to discuss just one in some detail here. It could be a major advance in producing the types of cells needed for therapy in sufficient quantities and without fear of causing tumors. Traditionally researchers create a desired adult cell either by maturing pluripotent, embryonic or iPS, cells into that cell type, or by isolating adult stem cells from that lineage and maturing them into the desired cell. More recently, teams have been perfecting the art of direct reprogramming that turns one adult tissue directly into a different type of functional adult tissue. All three methods have obstacles in using them for clinical therapy. Starting with pluripotent cells results in lingering concern of a stray starter cell causing a tumor. With adult stem cells, most are difficult to isolate in usable quantities, and with direct reprogramming the end stage adult tissue produced generally is insufficient for therapy.

A UCSF team at the Gladstone Institutes seems to have gotten around all three issues by reprogramming skin cells to become neural stem cells instead of fully mature adult cells. This allows them to produce large quantities of their starting material, the neural stem cells, which can then be matured into various types of brain cells. They showed their neural stem cells could indeed produce multiple types of neurons as well as other types of brain cells and over time form neural networks in culture.

The other papers in this month’s report describe how a Swedish team used tissue engineering to give a young girl a new portal vein, and detail a potentially game changing theory on the origins of blood vessel disease, suggesting a newly found stem cell may be the culprit. My colleague blogged about this work earlier this month here.

My full report is available online, along with links to my reports from previous months.

A.T.

First human cell model for Huntington’s shows value of consortium science

Image of striatal neuron (yellow) which is damaged in
Huntington's disease (credit: Dr. Steven Finkbeiner)

We have written often, most recently last week, about the power of using stem cells reprogrammed from a patient’s skin to recreate the patient’s disease in a dish. You simply take a skin sample, or other tissue sample, and use one of many proven techniques to trick that adult tissue into thinking it is like embryonic stem cells. After that you use various chemicals and other tools to tell those stem cells to mature into the tissue impacted by the disease.

But the real trick is verifying that those nerve cells, or what ever you have in the dish, really are behaving like those same cells in the patient.

Now, a ten-institution international consortium says they have verified the validity of model cell lines made from several Huntington’s disease patients. A team led by Clive Svendsen at Cedars-Sinai, with the help of a CIRM-funded post doctoral fellow, made the cell lines. They then shared those cells with all the consortium members. They were able to mature them into the types of nerve cells that control movement and cognition—the ones impacted by Huntington’s. More important, they consistently found the same difference in those cells compared to normal nerve cells. In particular, the model cells were much more susceptible to the researchers creating “stressful” condition in the petri dish. The model cells were much more likely to die, as happens in the disease.

A press release from Cedars-Sinai quotes Svendsen, who is director of their Regenerative Medicine Institute.

This Huntington’s ‘disease in a dish’ will enable us for the first time to test therapies on human Huntington’s disease neurons. In addition to increasing our understanding of this disorder and offering a new pathway to identifying treatments, this study is remarkable because of the extensive interactions between a large group of scientists focused on developing this model. It’s a new way of doing trailblazing science.

The cell lines have been made available via a National Institutes of Health-funded repository at Coriell Institue in New Jersey.

CIRM funds $9.7 million in grants for projects in California trying to solve the Huntington’s dilemma, including one to Leslie Thompson at UC Irvine to participate in this consortium. The full list is here.

D.G.

Texas makes the case for why science should take time

A few weeks ago, David Lesher wrote in the Sacramento Bee that science takes time if you want to make sure the new therapies being developed are safe. He was writing in particular about a CIRM-funded approach to treating HIV/AIDS.

None of the research under way will reach patients until long after the 10 years of funding by the ballot measure runs out. With the HIV project, researchers hope to be in human trials by 2014, but it is likely to be at least 10 years before they can show it might work in humans. And in the case of a stem cell cure for AIDS, it would be many years after that before a treatment is widely available.

That's partly due to the caution of dealing with new and powerful techniques, and the reality that each scientific step takes time to assess. Even with rapid scientific advance, it also shows how much is still unknown.

 A great example of that concern is being reported in the Houston Chronicle, which gained access to a Food and Drug Administration review of the Texas stem cell company Celltex Therapeutics Corp. This is the company that treated Texas Gov. Rick Perry last year. The Chronicle reported:

The Sugar Land company involved in Gov. Rick Perry's unlicensed adult stem-cell procedure is rife with basic manufacturing problems, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

In a report one expert called a blow to the entire adult stem-cell industry, the FDA found that Celltex Therapeutics Corp. cannot guarantee the sterility, uniformity and integrity of stem cells it takes from people and then stores and grows for eventual therapeutic reinjection.

A former FDA official who asked not to be identified, however, said the deficiencies - 79 in all, from incorrectly labeled products to failed sterility tests - are so serious that Celltex risks being shut down if it does not remedy the problems quickly.

Adult stem cells are cells in the body that multiply to replenish dying cells. Long used to treat leukemia and other cancers, they have shown promise for tissue repair in many other diseases in the last decade, although most scientists in the field consider them not ready for mainstream use.

 They also quote from the report itself:

"You have not performed a validation of your banking and thawing process to assure viability" of the stem cells, reads the April 27 report, meaning that the company cannot verify the cells are alive.

 This story makes clear why it’s so important for CIRM to work closely with grantees and with regulators like the FDA. It’s true that therapies take time to develop, in part because we want to be sure each step of the way that the therapy being developed will be safe as well as effective. Once therapies reach patients we want to be absolutely sure those patients will be helped instead of harmed.

Here’s more information about our efforts to work with regulatory agencies, from our 2011 annual report.

A.A.

4 Best Places to Find a Hot Summer Guy

Summer is prime time for a fun, flirty fling. If you’re craving some summer lovin’, look no any than the few tried and true places that cute guys appear to congregate.
A music pageant
Probably your best spot for locating a summer hookup, music festivals are stuffed with fling-potential. Laid-back music-loving dudes, nice tunes and hot days are the proper formula for locating somebody to pay a trifle quality time with this summer.

Pool party or backyard BBQ
You’ll seemingly get invited to countless events this summer and they’re sometimes an excellent place to fulfill guys. Not solely can you be having an excellent time with friends, it’s a summer party therefore everybody desires to mingle and have pretty much as good a time as potential. The positive energy, specialize in fun and often-eclectic mixture of folks create any seasonal get-together a perfect place to attach with somebody cool.

At the beach
Lots of skin, buff bods and fabulous weather equal the proper combination for locating the final word summer hookup. Grab your best girlfriend, scope out a major spot of sand and see if the lovable guys beside you wish to play an impromptu game of beach volleyball or toss a Frisbee around within the water. Don’t forget to raise one in every of them to place sunscreen on your back.

On a road trip
Road journeys are one in every of those quintessential summer activities that each cluster of friends ought to undertake. Not solely can or not it's an excellent bonding expertise, however you never recognize who you may meet on the road. Cute guys abound -- at state fairs, off-the-beaten-path bars and even campgrounds. Be open to meeting new folks and you may create a summer love affiliation (at least for the period of your trip).

Summer Beauty Selection Trends

Summer suggests that moving faraway from serious makeup and instead choosing product that provide a a lot of fresh-faced look. we have a tendency toek|in the week|on} on Pretty very little things (where we bring you our prettiest on-line picks), we’re sharing some complexion perfecting product for beautiful summer skin.
BB cream
Steadily gaining popularity for a few of years, BB cream (or beauty balm) could be a nice possibility for summer as a result of it combines many product you’re most likely already using. BB creams are essentially a primer, moisturizer, SPF and tint all in one (depending on the whole you may additionally get blemish-busting or anti-aging ingredients, too). we tend to a bit like it as a result of when it’s hot out, less is a lot of when it involves what we would like on our face.

Try it: Boscia B.B. Cream ($27) boasts SPF twenty seven, hydrates and tones skin whereas additionally providing lightweight, skin-evening coverage.

Bronzing powder
Obviously we’ll be slathering on the SPF instead of baking on the beach, however that doesn’t mean we tend to don’t desire a healthy sun-kissed glow. For that we’ll be looking forward to bronzing powder, that is that the simplest way to urge a pretend glow. Apply a lightweight dusting solely where the sun would naturally hit your face.

Try it: Bobbi Brown Shimmer Cheek Glow ($39) could be a distinctive skin-illuminating powder and gel hybrid that provides skin a natural beach-side glow.


Shimmer eye shadow
Light reflecting shadows are excellent for summer as a result of they provide lighter coverage with a touch of shimmer that works for hotter months and brightens up your eyes. opt for pink, peach and champagne-hued shadows for optimum summer-ready eyes.

Try it: we tend to like Nars Shimmer Shadow in female descendant, a soft, summery pink ($24).



Lip & cheek stain
We love cheek and lip stains as a result of you don’t ought to use a lot of to feature refined color, and therefore the product is straightforward to layer counting on what quantity coverage you wish. Stains simply appear to feel lighter than their powder or cream-based counterparts, that are some things we glance for within the summer months.

Try it: Get reintroduced to 1 of the classic multitasking stains, Benefit’s Benetint, a rose-tinted sheer color for lips and cheeks ($29).

Oil blotting papers
Summer shine are some things that can’t be avoided, however instead of regularly pat on powder (which will produce a mask-like effect), we propose keeping oil blotting papers in your purse. These won’t mess together with your makeup or leave from now on product behind.

Try it: Sephora Oil Blotting Papers quickly absorb excess oil and scale back pesky shine ($8).

Best Time to Attract a Guy

Trying to create a love association when you’re crampy and bloated isn’t our plan of a decent time, however did you recognize you'll be able to truly double your possibilities of scoring a hottie if you wait till you ovulate?

Scientists studied a notoriously un-romantic institution (a strip club) and located that a woman’s refined fertility signs aren’t such a secret – and even a kid-phobic bachelor is additional possible to reply when your baby maker is yearning for a mate.

The best study ever"Even a kid-phobic bachelor is additional possible to reply when your baby maker is yearning for a mate."
Geniuses at the University of latest Mexico wished to search out out if a women’s menstrual cycle had any money consequences, so that they diligently studied the books at a strip club to urge the facts. What they found was that a dancer was possible to average a whopping $70 an hour throughout her peak fertile time of the month – a so much cry from the dismal $35 an hour she’ll build throughout her amount.

The findings proved that even refined or unconscious fertility signals will extremely add up to increased male attention. Changes in body odor, skin tone and waist-to-hip ratio are simply a number of of the microscopic shifts that men will unwittingly detect. most ladies additionally admit their sex drive will increase throughout ovulation, which suggests you'll be additional possible to decorate provocatively and have the courage to create the primary move.

A tough pill to swallow


What will this mean for the estimated sixty three % of girls on the pill? The news isn't sensible. Since the pill by style produces early pregnancy hormones, bachelors wanting to unfold their seed can suspect you’re already spoken for and move on. consistent with the study, dancers on the pill averaged $37 an hour with no peak versus $53 an hour for dancers who use non-hormonal styles of contraception.

Learning from our cavewoman roots
How will we tend to place this scientifically sensible information to use? though you’re not wanting to start out a family, you'll be able to still watch your cycle closely and use it to your advantage. If you’re within the adult service business, chart your periods or take over-the-counter ovulation tests and double up your shifts throughout peak fertility times. If you’re simply a woman standing in front of a boy asking him to like you, perhaps don’t raise whereas Aunt Flow’s in city.

About Using Autoresponders to Maximise Sales and Profits From Your Email List

If you are not tuned in to the autoresponders and also the manner it'll assist you to increase the sales and profit, then scan this text. this text discusses exhaustive on variety of the advantages of the essential autoresponders.

First of all you want to perceive what an autoresponder is! – The autoresponder could also be a tool that will gather the most points of your customers yet as e-mail ID and send them automated messages {that you|that you merely|that you just} simply have already pre-written and stored at intervals the list.

An autoresponder could be a important tool that will campaign to push your product. This tool is that the nice thanks to speak in conjunction with your shopper. Your valuable time is saved by fixing autoresponders as you'd like not send e-mail messages individually to every shopper. This tools acts as your personal assistant and send the messages related to your business yet as offers, launch of recent product, events etc. automatically. All you'd wish to attempt to do is manufacture the message and set the time the message has to be delivered. The autoresponder sends the message to any or all the purchasers that it's in its list or the purchasers {that you|that you merely|that you just} simply like better to send.

Autoresponders are normally used to thank your shopper once they signup in conjunction with your program. Most of the best internet marketers use this tool and many nethosting corporations additionally give this tool free with their internet hosting package. The autoresponders are additional used to campaign your product or service. Through these autoresponders you may convert a minimum of 1/2 the users in your listing into potential customers. For this you'd wish to send frequent e-mail messages to your customers. The message have to be compelled to be send to the subscribers whenever you launch a replacement product or whenever you give discount. you may additionally send greeting messages to your shopper throughout festivals through autoresponders and this will additional strengthen the link between you and your shopper.

Autoresponders are profit makers and hence you want to be really careful whereas creating the message. Your target should not be merely to push your product, but additionally facilitate your customers to unravel their problems. Send them mails in frequent intervals and supply them some freebies or any informative product. generally informative product like e-books are offered to the purchasers. do not send messages every week as customers won't show interest once you send frequent messages. the best time gap to send autoresponded messages is a pair of weeks once or the time once you've got special news like seasonal discounts. Since, you've advanced autoresponders with that you're going to ascertain what proportion of your shoppers are gap it, you may compute the potential shoppers and non-potential shoppers. give preference to the purchasers who shows plenty of interest in reading your message and target them with regular updates.

Try to minimize the words in your message and maximize the information. this suggests you may invite them to any of your blog or webpage providing useful data. this fashion you may corresponding to your customers. additionally get your customers feedback on your product and lift them what they expect from you through your automated message. of those things increase the name of your company and product.