Abstract: Vascular scaffolds and methods of fabricating the same are disclosed for tissue engineering of vascular constructs. By combining electrospun matrices with cell sheet technologies, vascular constructs with more mature cell layers can be obtained for reconstruction of blood vessels, heart valves and the like. A engineered smooth muscle cell sheet, wrapped around an electrospun vascular scaffold, is able to provide a mature SMC layer that expresses strong cell-to-cell junction markers and contractile proteins. In addition, preconditioning of the cell sheet covered vascular scaffold maintained cell viability and infiltration into the scaffold.

Abstract: Provided herein is a bee venom composition with effects of protecting and beautifying lips, comprising cosmetic matrix components for use on lips and bee venom. The bee venom is prepared by using the following method: crude bee venom is dissolved with water, before ultrafiltrated using an ultrafiltration membrane with the molecular weight cutoff 10000 Da, and then the resulting filtrate is freeze-dried to obtain the bee venom.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparation of labeled metabolic products, comprising the steps (a) providing a biological sample in vitro, (b) contacting the biological sample with a labeling buffer comprising a labeled substrate, wherein the substrate comprises at least one carbon atom and represents an educt or intermediate of a metabolic process of the biological sample and wherein the label is a stable isotope, (c) washing the biological sample using a wash-buffer, wherein said wash-buffer comprises a carbon resource such that the biological sample is precluded from carbon deficiency during said washing, wherein said carbon resource comprises the substrate according to step b), wherein said substrate in the wash-buffer may be labeled or unlabeled, (d) quenching the biological sample such that metabolic processes within the biological sample are slowed down or stopped and (e) extracting the labeled metabolic product from the biological sample.

Abstract: Provided are methods for treating or preventing vasculopathy in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a prostacyclin and a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) or a MSC-conditioned culture medium or administering to the subject a MSC or a MSC-conditioned culture medium that has treated with prostacyclin. Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for such treatments are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for purifying bacterial minicells that involves subjecting a sample containing minicells to density gradient centrifugation in a biologically compatible medium. The method optionally includes a preliminary differential centrifugation step and one or more filtration steps. The invention also provides a method for purifying bacterial minicells in which a sample containing minicells is subjected to a condition that induces parent bacterial cells to adopt a filamentous form, followed by filtration of the sample to separate minicells from parent bacterial cells. The inventive methods optionally include one or more steps to remove endotoxin from purified minicell preparations, and/or treatment of purified minicell preparations with an antibiotic. Additionally, the invention provides purified minicell preparations, prepared according to the foregoing methods, and containing fewer than about 1 contaminating parent bacterial cell per 107, 108, 109, 1010, or 1011 minicells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for cell transplantation. In particular, the present invention provides a composition comprising procoagulant cells and at least one antithrombin activator, preferably unfractionated heparin, as well as at least one thrombin inhibitor, preferably bivalirudin.

Abstract: In order to ensure consistently good maceration of biological material in an electroporation reactor, it is proposed to monitor the conductivity of the mixture therein and to detect any arcing which occurs therein. The results of such monitoring are used to modify the operating voltage of the electroporation reactor and/or the composition of the mixture located in the reactor channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of medical science, in particular to technology directed at repairing defects in living, preferably human, tissue. The present invention provides a method for inducing differentiation of multipotent cells to a desired cell type, as well as a method for repairing a tissue defect in a human or animal patient using the concept of said method for inducing differentiation of multipotent cells. The invention further relates to a kit for carrying out the method for repairing a tissue defect.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for purifying bacterial minicells that involves subjecting a sample containing minicells to density gradient centrifugation in a biologically compatible medium. The method optionally includes a preliminary differential centrifugation step and one or more filtration steps. The invention also provides a method for purifying bacterial minicells in which a sample containing minicells is subjected to a condition that induces parent bacterial cells to adopt a filamentous form, followed by filtration of the sample to separate minicells from parent bacterial cells. The inventive methods optionally include one or more steps to remove endotoxin from purified minicell preparations, and/or treatment of purified minicell preparations with an antibiotic. Additionally, the invention provides purified minicell preparations, prepared according to the foregoing methods, and containing fewer than about 1 contaminating parent bacterial cell per 107, 108, 109, 1010, or 1011 minicells.

Abstract: The invention features methods of promoting hair growth in a subject. The methods include inducing or mimicking the effects of Wnt promoted signal transduction, e.g., by increasing the level of Wnt protein or administering an agent which mimics an effect of Wnt promoted signal transduction, e.g., by administering lithium chloride. Methods of inhibiting hair growth are also provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and compositions for modulating movement of eukaryotic cells with migratory capacity. More specifically, the invention relates to methods and compositions for modulating movement of CaR receptor expressing cells of hematopoietic, neural, epithelial, endothelial, or mesenchymal origin, in a specific site in a subject. The foregoing are useful, inter alia, in the treatment of conditions characterized by a need to modulate migratory-cell movement associated with specific sites in a subject. Specific sites include sites of inflammation and modulation of migratory-cell movement is movement away from an agent source, or repulsion. The invention also relates to methods for manipulating hematopoeitic progenitor cells and related products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for providing lysosomal enzymes to a subject by administering stem cells, preferably Multipotent Adult Progenitor Cells (MAPCs). The invention further relates to methods for treating lysosomal storage disorders by administering stem cells.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a medium for a serum-free medium capable of culturing ES cells for a long period while maintaining their undifferentiated state without using feeder cells, and a basal medium for producing the medium thus described. The basal medium of the present invention is characterized by that it has composition shown by Table I. Further, the present invention discloses a medium for ES cells produced with the basal medium.

Abstract: Cells present in processed lipoaspirate tissue are used to treat patients. Methods of treating patients include processing adipose tissue to deliver a concentrated amount of stem cells obtained from the adipose tissue to a patient. The methods may be practiced in a closed system so that the stem cells are not exposed to an external environment prior to being administered to a patient. Compositions that are administered to a patient include a mixture of adipose tissue and stem cells so that the composition has a higher concentration of stem cells than when the adipose tissue was removed from the patient.

Abstract: Salt sensitivity is measured as a function of the urinary 25-OHD binding activity, which may be evaluated by measuring 25-hydroxyvitamin D binding activity using radiolabeled 25-hydroxyvitamin D3. High binding activity is indicative of salt sensitivity and is an important predictor for development of salt-sensitivity related hypertension.

Abstract: Cells present in processed lipoaspirate tissue are used to treat patients. Methods of treating patients include processing adipose tissue to deliver a concentrated amount of stem cells obtained from the adipose tissue to a patient. The methods may be practiced in a closed system so that the stem cells are not exposed to an external environment prior to being administered to a patient. Compositions that are administered to a patient include a mixture of adipose tissue and stem cells so that the composition has a higher concentration of stem cells than when the adipose tissue was removed from the patient.

Abstract: Novel strains of Bifidobacterium hifidum capable of producing a novel galactosidase enzyme activity that converts lactose to a novel mixture of galactooligosaccharides. The mixture of oligosaccharidcs may be incorporated into numerous food products or animal feeds for improving gut health by promoting the growth of bifidobacteria in the gut, and repressing the growth of the pathogenic microflora.

Abstract: A method of increasing immunostimulation in animals by administering to the animal a glucan product comprising a branched ?-(1,3) glucan with ?-(1,3)-linked side chains being attached by a ?-(1,6)-linkage and being essentially free of side chains containing more than four ?-(1,6)-bound glucose units.

Abstract: Enhancing the effectiveness of therapeutic ionizing radiation and other treatments of disease in which cells are to be destroyed or modified, by subjecting cells in need thereof to low-dose radiation to increase the sensitivity of the cells to subsequent subjection with a lethal dose of high dose radiation (HDR), a chemotherapeutic agent, or other type of therapeutic treatment.

Abstract: There is provided a method of preparing biodegradable dual pore polymer scaffolds, comprising the steps of: maintaining a polymer solution containing a biodegradable polymer, an effervescent mixture of carbonate and organic acid, and solvent at a temperature range of ?196° C. to ambient temperature so as to evaporate the solvent and produce a polymer sample; and foaming the polymer sample in a mixed solution of water and alcohol. According to the present invention, the pore size of the polymer scaffolds can be easily controlled, and biodegradable polymer scaffolds can be more simply prepared compared to conventional methods such as salt leaching technique, phase separation technique or gas foaming technique.