Abstract: Described herein are tissue grafts derived from the placenta with improved physical and biological properties. In one aspect, the tissue graft includes a first membrane comprising Wharton's jelly laminated with amnion, chorion, or a combination thereof. The presence of Wharton's jelly in the grafts enhances the performance of allograft amniotic-derived, caderivic allograft, xenograft, or alloplast soft tissue substitutes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for removing antigens from tissues by sequentially destabilizing and/or depolymerizing cytoskeletal components and removing and/or reducing water-soluble antigens and lipid-soluble antigens. The invention further relates to tissue scaffolding and decellularized extracellular matrix produced by such methods.

Abstract: Microvesicles produced by stem cells grown on a silk scaffold for enhancing stem cell self-renewal/proliferation and promoting tenogenesis in damaged tendons, and their use in tendon wound repair and tendinopathy treatment. Also provided are compositions containing the microvesicles and devices for obtaining them.

Abstract: Novel isolated stem cells derived from pre-term placental tissue and compositions comprising the stem cells are provided as well as use of the compositions for therapy, research and diagnosis. The cells and compositions are useful in treating Myelomeningocele (MCC), spina bifida (SB) or spinal cord injury or paralysis.

Abstract: The invention discloses the use of the Schizochytrium limacinum and its preparation in improving the quality and yield of animal product. The deposit number of Schizochytrium limacinum in the present invention is CGMCC No. 13746 in the China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center. The Schizochytrium limacinum powder produced by the Schizochytrium limacinum may increase the DHA content in an animal product, reduce the cholesterol content in an animal product, and also improve the egg production performance of poultry. This animal product with high DHA content from natural sources is organic, safe, stable, and easy to be absorbed. It may be used as a safer and effective way for people to ingest natural DHA, and it may also cater to and meet consumer needs. Thus, Schizochytrium limacinum and Schizochytrium limacinum powder of the present application have a wide range of application in the field of general food and livestock breeding.

Abstract: Provided is a method of inducing oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) through direct reprogramming from human somatic cells into which a nucleic acid molecule encoding an Oct4 protein or Oct4 protein-treated human somatic cells. The method of inducing OPCs by treating Oct4-overexpressing human somatic cells with a low molecular weight substance may establish OPCs with high efficiency in a short period of time through direct reprogramming without via neural stem cells, and thus the OPCs are useful as a cell therapeutic agent for an intractable demyelinating disease.

Abstract: Methods of generating and expanding human hemangio-colony forming cells in vitro and methods of expanding and using such cells are disclosed. The methods permit the production of large numbers of hemangio-colony forming cells as well as derivative cells, such as hematopoietic and endothelial cells. The cells obtained by the methods disclosed may be used for a variety of research, clinical, and therapeutic applications.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for modulating the level of proteins in a subject or in target cells by priming red blood cells with various agents or conditions that modulate the levels of proteins associated with red blood cells and administering the primed red blood cells to a subject. The disclosed methods represent a novel use of red blood cells primed to express a number of proteins, as cell therapies for numerous diseases or disorders.

Abstract: A process for producing a solid material comprising isomaltulose crystals and trehalulose, including: A) contacting an enzyme complex with a sucrose-containing solution; B) isomerizing at least a part of the sucrose to isomaltulose and trehalulose; C) separating off the enzyme complex to obatin a solution including isomaltulose, trehalulose and water; D) partially removing the water by evaporation to obtain a concentrated solution; E) bringing the concentrated solution to a temperature range of 30° C. to 63° C. and subsequently inducing isomaltulose crystallization in this temperature range followed by cooling, thereby obtaining a solid material including isomaltulose crystals and trehalulose.

Abstract: Provided are methods to destabilize emulsion feedstocks. In the methods, a moderate temperature is applied to the feedstock to create a first mixture. The moderate temperature may be between 120 and 220 degrees Celsius. The first mixture is mixed at the moderate temperature, such as by staged mixing in some embodiments. Moreover, the first mixture is retained at the moderate temperature for up to six hours. The first mixture is separated into an oil phase, convoluted phase, and a water phase. In some embodiments, the moderate temperature may be 125 to 150 degrees Celsius, such as between 125 and 130 degrees Celsius. Moreover, the first mixture may be retained at the moderate temperature for between forty-five minutes and four hours, such as from two to four hours. The separation may occur at the moderate temperature.

Abstract: A biological toxicity test method for evaluating an ecological safety of an advanced oxidation process comprising the following steps: (1) collecting (preparing) a waste water to be determined; (2) collecting the waste water and a tap water after the advanced oxidation process treatment; (3) subjecting Koi (Cyprinus carpio haematopterus) to the water after treatment for exposure to poison; (4) Determining an anti-oxidation enzyme activity of a liver of the Koi after exposure; (5) Data analyzing. By comparing the changes of liver enzyme activities in different water, the present method evaluates the toxicity changes of micro-pollutant containing water before and after treatment, which fills in the gap of the ecological risk assessment for advanced oxidation technology.

Abstract: A method for preparing placenta membrane tissue grafts for medical use, includes obtaining a placenta from a subject, cleaning the placenta, separating the chorion tissue from the amniotic membrane, mounting a selected layer of either the chorion tissue or the amniotic membrane onto a drying fixture, dehydrating the selected layer on the drying fixture, and cutting the selected layer into a plurality of tissue grafts. Preferably, the drying fixture includes grooves or raised edges that define the outer contours of each desired tissue graft, after they are cut, and further includes raised or indented logos that emboss the middle area of the tissue grafts during dehydration and that enables an end user to distinguish the top from the bottom side of the graft. The grafts are comprised of single layers of amnion or chorion, multiple layers of amnion or chorion, or multiple layers of a combination of amnion and chorion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Podoviridae bacteriophage Pse-AEP-4 (accession number: KCTC 13166BP) isolated from nature, the Podoviridae bacteriophage Pse-AEP-4 having the capability to specifically kill Pseudomonas aeruginosa and having a genome represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, and a method for preventing or treating diseases induced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa by using a composition containing the Podoviridae bacteriophage Pse-AEP-4 as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an ex vivo generated population of educated macrophages specific to LPS and methods of making and using such macrophages.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an encapsulated liver tissue that can be used in vivo to improve liver functions, in vitro to determine the hepatic metabolism and/or hepatotoxicity of an agent and ex vivo to remove toxic compounds from patients' biological fluid. The encapsulated liver tissue comprises at least one liver organoid at least partially covered with a biocompatible cross-linked polymer. Processes for making the encapsulated liver tissue are also provided.

Abstract: A method for producing an epithelial cell sheet, comprising culturing cells derived from oral mucosal epithelial cells on a substrate in a serum-free medium, wherein the serum-free medium comprises (i) EGF protein or KGF protein, (ii) B-27 supplement, and (iii) a ROCK inhibitor.

Abstract: A bone implant comprising cancellous bone that is essentially free of blood cells, and which has been treated with at least a loosening agent, such as collagenase and/or a digestive enzyme, for a time and at a concentration to loosen the osteogenic cells in the cancellous bone matrix. The osteogenic cells in the matrix are viable cells. The treatment of the cancellous bone with at least one loosening agent enables the osteogenic cells to be more available for carrying out their osteogenic function and to provide for an increased rate of bone formation.

Abstract: A tissue construct is provided that comprises a pancreas derived microvessel fragment and a pancreatic islet cell. The pancreas derived microvessel fragment and the pancreatic islet cell can be incorporated into a biocompatible medium. Tissue constructs can be comprised of other cells, such as stem cells, combined with the pancreas derived microvascular fragment. Methods for isolating microvessel fragments from a pancreas are also provided and include enzymatic digestion of pancreatic tissue and separation of microvessel fragments from endocrine and exocrine tissue. Methods for treating diabetes are further provided and include administration of the tissue constructs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Siphoviridae bacteriophage Ent-FAP-4 (accession number KCTC 12854BP), separated from nature, which is capable of specifically killing Enterococcus faecium and has a genome expressed by sequence number 1, a pharmaceutical composition, which comprises same as an active ingredient, and a method for preventing or treating diseases, induced by Enterococcus faecium, by administering the pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Podoviridae bacteriophage Pse-AEP-3 (accession number: KCTC 13165BP) isolated from nature, the Podoviridae bacteriophage Pse-AEP-3 having the capability to specifically kill Pseudomonas aeruginosa and having a genome represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, and a method for preventing or treating diseases induced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa by using a composition containing the Podoviridae bacteriophage Pse-AEP-3 as an active ingredient.