Abstract: The invention provides for a method for aggregating dermal papilla cells or dermal sheath cells or a combination thereof, the method comprising: growing dermal papilla cells or dermal sheath cells or a combination thereof in suspension culture; and contacting the culture with an effective amount of an enzyme, wherein a substrate of the enzyme is an extracellular matrix molecule in the suspension culture, so as to aggregate dermal papilla cells or dermal sheath cells. The culture may be a hanging drop culture and the enzyme may be a hyaluronidase.

Abstract: A method is described for generating a novel cancer stem cell line that possesses characteristics associated with stem cells, by co-culturing a human immortalized cell line and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, and the novel cancer stem cell line established thereby. This method is able to readily generate cancer stem cells that are low in the level of structural chromosomal aberrations and are excellent in oncogenicity, and is effectively applicable to the development of anti-cancer drugs and personalized drugs.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for suppressing surgical site infections (SSI) that have occurred at extremely high incidence rates at the time of surgical operations and particularly surgical operations on digestive system organs, and to provide a column to be used for the method. According to the present invention, a method is provided for suppressing surgical site infections, which comprises the steps of: (a) administering a chemotherapeutic drug for treating and/or preventing a surgical site infection; and (b) collecting blood from a surgical subject and removing leukocytes that comprise neutrophils from the blood during or within 24 hours after surgical operation, and then returning the blood from which the leukocytes have been removed to the surgical subject.

Abstract: Provided is a means suitable for mass culture of adherent cells and which allows easy and safe collection of the cultured adherent cells. A cell culture kit has a culture bag having flexibility, such a level of hydrophilicity that the culture of adherent cells can be achieved, and permeability into a bag shape and which is filled with a culture medium; a dissociation solution bag filled with a dissociation solution containing a metal chelating agent or ornithine or a derivative thereof, and a solution sending circuit or a derivative thereof, and a solution sending circuit which connects the culture bag and the dissociation solution bag to each other and can send the dissociation solution from the dissociation solution bag to the culture bag.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention is directed to methods of expanding hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) comprising culturing the HSCs with Wharton's Jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJSCs), a cell culture medium that has been conditioned with WJSCs, or a combination thereof, thereby producing a HSC culture; and maintaining the HSC culture under conditions in which the HSCs expand in the culture, thereby expanding the HSCs. In another aspect, the invention is directed to a method of transplanting the expanded HSCs in an individual in need thereof. In yet another aspect, the invention is directed to compositions comprising HSCs and Wharton's Jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJSCs). The composition can further comprise a cell culture medium that has been conditioned with WJSCs.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing 3-hydroxybutyric acid or a salt thereof. The process includes (1) culturing one or more halophilic bacteria belonging to the genus Halomonas under aerobic conditions in a medium containing an inorganic salt and one or more organic carbon sources; (2) changing the culture conditions from aerobic culture to microaerobic culture, and culturing bacterial cells of the halophilic bacteria to produce 3-hydroxybutyric acid or a salt thereof in a culture medium; and (3) collecting the 3-hydroxybutyric acid or the salt thereof from the culture medium.

Abstract: This invention relates to a composition suitable for use in the prevention of opportunistic infections in immune-compromised individuals comprising a probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium breve or Bifidobacterium longum and a fucosylated oligosaccharide selected from the group comprising 2?-fucosyllactose, 3?fucosyllactose, difucosyllactose, lacto-N-fucopentaose, lacto-N-fucohexaose, fucosyllacto-N-hexaose and fucosyllacto-N-neohexaose. The invention further extends to the use of such a composition in the prevention of opportunistic infections in immune-compromised individuals.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of combining mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with a bone substrate. In an embodiment, the method includes obtaining tissue having MSCs together with unwanted cells. The tissue is digested to form a cell suspension having MSCs and unwanted cells. The cell suspension is added to the substrate and the MSCs are allowed to adhere. The substrate is rinsed to remove unwanted cells. In an embodiment, there is disclosed an allograft product including a combination of MSCs with a bone substrate made according to the described method. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: Flowable matrix compositions and methods of their use and manufacture are provided. Exemplary compositions may include a flowable, syringeable, putty-like form of acellular human dermal matrix. In some cases, compositions may include a moldable acellular collagen extracellular matrix. In use, the matrix compositions can be used to fill or treat skin voids, channel wounds, and other soft tissue deficiencies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition for suppressing the death of stem cells during suspension culturing, a composition for mass culturing of stem cells, and a method for suppressing cell death of stem cells during suspension culturing. The composition of the present invention can be usefully used for effective single suspension culturing of stem cells, particularly, mesenchymal stem cells, or used for mass suspension culturing under the circumstances in which cell aggregation does not occur.

Abstract: A method of sex sorting sperm is disclosed. The sperm may be stained with a DNA selective fluorescent dye, which fluoresces when excited, a dead quenching dye, which selectively quenches fluorescence emitted by the DNA selective fluorescent dye within the membrane of compromised sperm, and a split enhancing dye. The stained sperm may then sorted into one or more gender enriched subpopulations of viable sperm.

Abstract: This application relates to a serum-free culture medium that enables the proliferation of cell of the myogenic lineage while maintaining their ability to differentiate into functional muscle cells. Also contemplated herewith are method of culturing cells of the myogenic lineages and uses of the cultured cells for the treatment or the alleviation of symptoms of a muscular deficiencies.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for manufacturing heat treated products involving the use of probiotic bacteria, e.g. lactic acid bacteria and/or Bifidobacteria, cultures of such bacteria, supernatant from such cultures, and/or concentrates of such supernatant and/or fractions of such supernatant. The invention further provides heat treated products of such processes and their use for regulation of cellular uptake of fat and/or triglycerides and/or body weight management or weight reduction and/or redistribution of fat and/or reduction in visceral and/or abdominal fat deposition in a subject.

Abstract: A demineralized bone matrix is produced by a process in which a bone body is placed in a first processing solution comprising an acid to demineralize the bone body. The bone body is periodically removed from the first solution at specific time intervals to perform at least one test, such as a compression test, on a mechanical property of the bone body. When the test yields a desired result, the bone body is exposed to a second processing solution that is less acidic than the first, thus minimizing the exposure of the bone body to the harsh acidic conditions of the demineralization phase of the process.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method for aggregating dermal papilla cells or dermal sheath cells or a combination thereof, the method comprising: growing dermal papilla cells or dermal sheath cells or a combination thereof in suspension culture; and contacting the culture with an effective amount of an enzyme, wherein a substrate of the enzyme is an extracellular matrix molecule in the suspension culture, so as to aggregate dermal papilla cells or dermal sheath cells. The culture may be a hanging drop culture and the enzyme may be a hyaluronidase.

Abstract: The present application discloses methods and apparatus for preparing blood film or smear samples on a fiber surface, staining the test sample, and generating digital cell images of the films or samples for classification and review. The techniques disclosed herein replace conventional microscope slides with fibers when preparing blood film test samples. Using fibers to prepare blood test samples facilitates automation and integration of the various processes involved in hematology analysis. The techniques disclosed herein can be used to improve the accuracy and efficiency of hematology analysis.

Abstract: The present invention discloses multi-purpose metering fluid/rinse reagents for use in automated cellular analyzers that use liquid volumetric metering. The compositions contain a chelating agent, an ionizing salt, optionally a stabilizing ion, a buffer, a non-hemolytic surfactant, and optionally an antimicrobial agent. Advantageously, the compositions produce less than one part-per-million of formaldehyde over the course of one year. Methods for using the compositions are also described.

Abstract: White blood cell products and storage media for white blood cells are disclosed. The storage medium includes sodium chloride, sodium acetate, sodium citrate, sodium phosphate, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, and glucose. White blood cells stored in such medium remain viable for at least up to 72 hours.

Abstract: Methods of growing and harvesting multiple species of phytoplankton are disclosed herein. The method generally includes four steps, namely: (1) collecting phytoplankton seawater containing multiple species of naturally-occurring phytoplankton directly from a source of seawater; (2) adding nutrients to the phytoplankton seawater to proliferate the multiple species of naturally-occurring phytoplankton to a predetermined density; (3) separating the multiple species of naturally-occurring phytoplankton from the phytoplankton seawater to form a phytoplankton concentrate; and (4) collecting the phytoplankton concentrate such that the collected phytoplankton of the phytoplankton concentrate remain in a substantially intact cellular state.

Abstract: The atmosphere control composition according to the present invention is an atmosphere control composition for use in the culture of cells, which comprises (a) an ascorbic acid component, (b) water, (c) a porous carrier, (d) an aldehyde-removing agent, (e) a transition metal catalyst and/or an alkaline earth metal hydroxide, wherein the aldehyde-removing agent comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of ethylene urea, urea, arginine, lysine hydrochloride and a polyallylamine. According to the present invention, the atmosphere control composition feasible for preventing the generation of aldehyde can be provided without affecting the oxygen absorption ability and the carbon dioxide generation ability thereof.