Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of diagnosing glomerulonephritis (GN) in a patient, as well as methods of monitoring the progression of GN and/or methods of monitoring a treatment protocol of a therapeutic agent or a therapeutic regimen. The invention also relates to assay methods used in connection with the diagnostic methods described herein.

Abstract: A method of altering cells comprising culturing them in a growth factor gradient, wherein said gradient is provided by a polyhedra delivery system (PODS) that releases the growth factor to set up the gradient.

Abstract: A method of making a flowable, dried agglomerated nutrient medium is provided. The method comprises introducing a nutrient component comprising a powdered nutrient, and an agglomeration liquid, into an agglomerator comprising a flow-through-type agglomeration chamber, wet-massing the nutrient component with the agglomeration liquid in the agglomeration chamber for a predetermined period of time to form agglomerated nutrient medium particles, and exposing the agglomerated nutrient medium particles to drying conditions for a period of time to form the dried, agglomerated nutrient medium. The nutrient component facilitates the growth of a microorganism. Compositions, articles, and kits comprising the flowable, dried agglomerated nutrient medium are also provided.

Abstract: Stromal stem cells are prospectively isolated from human bone marrow then expanded into clonal populations and cultured and used, the isolation being on the basis of expression of a cell surface marker, wherein the cell surface marker binds an antibody and wherein said antibody cross reacts with a cell surface marker found on mouse stromal stem cells or rat stromal stem cells, and optionally also on a cell of at least one other mammalian species selected from mouse, rat, horse, rabbit and pig cells. Useful stromal stem cell populations are positive for SDC2.

Abstract: Stromal stem cells are prospectively isolated from human bone marrow then expanded into clonal populations and cultured and used, the isolation being on the basis of expression of a cell surface marker, wherein the cell surface marker binds an antibody and wherein said antibody cross reacts with a cell surface marker found on mouse stromal stem cells or rat stromal stem cells, and optionally also on a cell of at least one other mammalian species selected from mouse, rat, horse, rabbit and pig cells. Useful stromal stem cell populations are positive for SDC2.

Abstract: Methods are provided for generating multiple cellular products via differentiation of cells from single clinically compliant pluripotent cells into multiple cellular products selected from retinal epithelium, retinal progenitors, neural stem cells, dopaminergic neurons, astrocytes, hepatocytes, endothelial cells and mesenchymal cells using standard differentiation protocols for the multiple cellular products.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing an implant including a culture of cells on a membrane, the method including steps that consist of: securing the membrane to a mounting; placing the membrane in a recess of a housing providing two spaces having adjusted heights, above and below the membrane; injecting, into the spaces, a liquid capable of transforming into gel at a transport temperature lower than an injection temperature of the liquid; and bringing the housing to the transport temperature, so as to form an implant including the membrane and two layers of gel having adjusted thicknesses, on two opposite faces of the membrane, respectively.

Abstract: A method of stimulating and controlling stem cell activity and differentiation on a modified material substrate and a device including the modified material substrate are provided. The method includes providing a material substrate configured for medical use. The material substrate includes at least one surface or interior area available for modification, and the at least one surface or interior area is treated with a plurality of pulsed light beams to obtain a modified material substrate with at least one modified surface or interior area. The at least one modified surface or interior area has a biomimetic architecture with surface and bulk (interior) features, properties, and textures configured to accelerate and control stem cell differentiation when the modified material substrate is contacted with stem cells.

Abstract: Stromal stem cells are prospectively isolated from human bone marrow then expanded into clonal populations and cultured and used, the isolation being on the basis of expression of a cell surface marker, wherein the cell surface marker binds an antibody and wherein said antibody cross reacts with a cell surface marker found on mouse stromal stem cells or rat stromal stem cells, and optionally also on a cell of at least one other mammalian species selected from mouse, rat, horse, rabbit and pig cells. Useful stromal stem cell populations are positive for SDC2.

Abstract: Fibrous structures containing a surface care composition, and more particularly dry fibrous structures containing a surface care composition comprising one or more bacteriophage, methods of making same, and methods for treating surfaces using same are provided.

Abstract: Applications of butylidenephthalide (BP), comprising the use of BP in providing a kit for promoting differentiation of stem cells into brown adipose cells, and the use of BP in preparing a medicament, wherein the medicament is used for inhibiting the accumulation of white adipose cells, promoting the conversion of white adipose cells into brown adipose cells, inhibiting weight gain and/or reducing the content of triglycerides, glucose, and total cholesterol in blood.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter provides systems and methods for producing a three-dimensional model of a human cervix. A microdevice is provided for culturing human cervical cells. The microdevice can include an upper microchannel including live ectocervical epithelial cells. The microdevice can include a lower microchannel including a first parallel lane and a second parallel lane including stromal media. The first and the second parallel lanes can be lined with live vascular endothelial cells. The lower microchannel can include a third parallel lane including uterine fibroblasts and live smooth muscle cells embedded in hydrogel. The first, second, and third lanes of the lower microchannel can be separated by protrusion structures. The third parallel lane can be positioned in the lower microchannel in between the first and the second parallel lanes. The microdevice can further include a porous membrane positioned in between the upper microchannel and the lower microchannel.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to, at least, a vacuum-assisted method for infiltrating cadaver bone with a cryoprotectant and a method for rapidly warming the cryopreserved cadaver bone for bone marrow processing.

Abstract: Engineered tissue compositions for supporting cell growth, maintenance, and/or differentiation featuring a scaffold, extracellular matrix (ECM) material, and optionally a population of ECM-generating cells such as fibroblasts. The tissue compositions may be used for supporting seeded cells of a particular cell type of interest such as cells related to skeletal muscle, smooth muscle, cardiac tissue, gastrointestinal tissue, etc. The tissue compositions with seeded cells may develop into functional tissues, which may have the potential to provide a tissue graft for therapeutic purposes or a valuable model for in vitro assays.

Abstract: Stromal stem cells are prospectively isolated from human bone marrow then expanded into clonal populations and cultured and used, the isolation being on the basis of expression of a cell surface marker, wherein the cell surface marker binds an antibody and wherein said antibody cross reacts with a cell surface marker found on mouse stromal stem cells or rat stromal stem cells, and optionally also on a cell of at least one other mammalian species selected from mouse, rat, horse, rabbit and pig cells. Useful stromal stem cell populations are positive for SDC2.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for determining the undifferentiated state of pluripotent stem cells, comprising: irradiating a test culture medium in which pluripotent stem cells are cultured with wavelength light having a wavelength in the range of 190 nm to 2,500 nm or a partial range thereof; detecting the reflected light, transmitted light or transmitted reflected light thereof to obtain absorbance spectrum data; and analyzing the absorbance at all or part of the measurement wavelengths in the absorbance spectrum data to determine the undifferentiated state of the pluripotent stem cells.

Abstract: An organ-on-a-chip microfluidic device is disclosed that mimics a human lymph node and/or human lymphoid tissue. The device can include cells from human blood and lymphatic tissue, include an extracellular matrix for the development of immune system components, and provide for the perfusion of fluids and solids resembling blood and lymphatic fluid within micrometer sized channels.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for inducing osteogenic differentiation, the method comprising the following steps of: (1) culturing pluripotent stem cells under feeder-free conditions, (2) culturing the cells in a mixed culture medium of an osteogenic induction medium and a pluripotent stem cell medium, the mixed culture medium containing a ROCK inhibitor and a retinoic acid receptor ? or ? agonist, and (3) culturing the cells in an osteogenic induction medium containing the retinoic acid receptor ? or ? agonist. The method for inducing osteogenic differentiation according to the present invention is a simple, short-term, highly efficient and highly reproducible one-procedure method for inducing osteogenic differentiation, wherein the method is suitable for bone regeneration therapies, the development of bone metabolic drugs and the development of novel therapies for bone diseases.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of culturing a microorganism. The method includes providing a container comprising one or more microorganisms and medium, wherein the microorganisms and medium form a start volume. The microorganisms and medium are cultured until the culture reaches a threshold indicator, wherein culturing comprises feeding one or more carbon sources to the culture and wherein the culture is at a threshold volume when the threshold indicator is reached. The method also includes harvesting a portion of the threshold volume to leave a residual volume that is 40% or less of the start volume and adding fresh medium to the container in an amount to return the volume of the culture to the start volume.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for the identification of viability enhancing cell features and substrate features as they relate to post-cryopreservation survival of substrate seeded cells. Embodiments of the present invention further involve identification of cell features to manufacture a supernatant that is useful for cell culturing and treatment of various diseases.