Abstract: Platelet lysate compositions and cell culture media compositions for maintaining and/or growing mammalian cells, such as mammalian endothelial cells (ECs) and mammalian endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), in particular human ECs (huECs) and human EPCs (huEPCs), such as primary huECs and primary huEPCs, are provided. The cell culture media compositions contain a basal medium, a platelet lysate and, optionally, one or more exogenously added growth factors. Also provided are methods for making and using such cell culture media compositions to grow and/or maintain ECs and EPCs, including huECs and huEPCs, as well as cell culture vessels, dishes, plates, and/or flasks pretreated with the cell culture media compositions.

Abstract: A treatment system includes an insert that is resiliently deflectable. The tip portion of the insert can be configured to be coupled to the trailing portion of an implant. A guide tube having an internal lumen is configured to permit passage of the tip portion and the body portion of the insert through a guide tube. The guide tube can have a length that is less than that of the insert. Treatment systems include a plurality of inserts, each insert differing from in at least one of length, diameter, and curvature. Treating a patient can include sizing a fistula using an insert.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials involved in reducing venous neointimal hyperplasia (VNH) of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or graft. For example, methods and materials for using stem cells (e.g., mesenchymal stem cells), extracellular matrix material, or a combination of stem cells and extracellular matrix material to reduce VNH of AVFs or grafts are provided.

Abstract: A treatment system includes an insert that is resiliently deflectable. The tip portion of the insert can be configured to be coupled to the trailing portion of an implant. A guide tube having an internal lumen is configured to permit passage of the tip portion and the body portion of the insert through a guide tube. The guide tube can have a length that is less than that of the insert. Treatment systems include a plurality of inserts, each insert differing from in at least one of length, diameter, and curvature. Treating a patient can include sizing a fistula using an insert.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials involved in reducing venous neointimal hyperplasia (VNH) of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or graft. For example, methods and materials for using stem cells (e.g., mesenchymal stem cells), extracellular matrix material, or a combination of stem cells and extracellular matrix material to reduce VNH of AVFs or grafts are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for treating fistulas (e.g., refractory fistulas such as refractory anal fistulas). For example, methods and materials for implanting a synthetic scaffold (e.g., fistula plug) comprising randomly arranged fibers comprising polymers of PGA and TMC and seeded with mesenchymal stem cells (e.g., adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells) located in the spaces between the randomly arranged fibers into a fistula (e.g., refractory anal fistula) of a mammal (e.g., a human) are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials involved in assessing immune system profiles. For example, methods and materials for performing flow cytometry to determine the number of CD4+ lymphocytes, CD8+ lymphocytes, regulatory T cells, B cells, NK cells, granulocytes, CD14+HLA-DRlo/neg monocytes, and/or CD86+ monocytes per unit volume (e.g., cells per ?L or mL) of whole blood (e.g., fresh, un-manipulated whole blood) obtained from a mammal (e.g., a human) are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials involved in assessing immune system profiles. For example, methods and materials for performing flow cytometry to determine the number of CD4+ lymphocytes, CD8+ lymphocytes, regulatory T cells, B cells, NK cells, granulocytes, CD14+HLA-DRlo/neg g monocytes, and/or CD86+ monocytes per unit volume (e.g., cells per ?L or mL) of whole blood (e.g., fresh, un-manipulated whole blood) obtained from a mammal (e.g., a human) are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials relating to platelet lysates. For example, methods and materials for using platelet lysate compositions to grow adult stem cells, to differentiate adult stem cells, to grow primary cell cultures, to grow tumor stem cells, and to identify effective growth factors are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials relating to platelet lysates. For example, methods and materials for using platelet lysate compositions to grow adult stem cells, to differentiate adult stem cells, to grow primary cell cultures, to grow tumor stem cells, and to identify effective growth factors are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials involved in reducing venous neointimal hyperplasia (VNH) of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or graft. For example, methods and materials for using stem cells (e.g., mesenchymal stem cells), extracellular matrix material, or a combination of stem cells and extracellular matrix material to reduce VNH of AVFs or grafts are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials involved in reducing venous neointimal hyperplasia (VNH) of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or graft. For example, methods and materials for using stem cells (e.g., mesenchymal stem cells), extracellular matrix material, or a combination of stem cells and extracellular matrix material to reduce VNH of AVFs or grafts are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials related to treating renal cell carcinoma. For example, methods and materials for assessing a cancer patient (e.g., a renal cell carcinoma patient) for tumor or peritumoral tissue containing CD14+ cells and proceeding with a cancer treatment option (e.g., a renal cell carcinoma treatment option) based on the presence, absence, or level of CD14+ cells present within the tumor or peritumoral tissue are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for treating fistulas (e.g., refractory fistulas such as refractory anal fistulas). For example, methods and materials for implanting a synthetic scaffold (e.g., fistula plug) comprising randomly arranged fibers comprising polymers of PGA and TMC and seeded with mesenchymal stem cells (e.g., adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells) located in the spaces between the randomly arranged fibers into a fistula (e.g., refractory anal fistula) of a mammal (e.g., a human) are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials involved in reducing venous neointimal hyperplasia (VNH) of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or graft. For example, methods and materials for using stem cells (e.g., mesenchymal stem cells), extracellular matrix material, or a combination of stem cells and extracellular matrix material to reduce VNH of AVFs or grafts are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials involved in reducing suppression of immune function in mammals. For example, methods and materials for (a) identifying a mammal as having an elevated level of CD14+/DR? cells (e.g., CD14+/DR? monocytes) and (b) administering RU486 (mifepristone; or drugs with a similar functional profile) to the identified mammal under conditions that change the ratio of CD14+/HLA-DR? cells to CD14+/HLA-DR? cells as well as methods and materials for (a) identifying a mammal as being likely to experience an elevated level of CD14+/DR? cells (e.g., CD14+/DR? monocytes) and (b) administering RU486 (mifepristone; or drugs with a similar functional profile) to the identified mammal under conditions that reduce the degree to which the mammal develops CD14+/DR? cells are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials relating to platelet lysates. For example, methods and materials for using platelet lysate compositions to grow adult stem cells, to differentiate adult stem cells, to grow primary cell cultures, to grow tumor stem cells, and to identify effective growth factors are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials related to treating renal cell carcinoma. For example, methods and materials for assessing a cancer patient (e.g., a renal cell carcinoma patient) for tumor or peritumoral tissue containing CD14+ cells and proceeding with a cancer treatment option (e.g., a renal cell carcinoma treatment option) based on the presence, absence, or level of CD14+ cells present within the tumor or peritumoral tissue are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials involved in reducing venous neointimal hyperplasia (VNH) of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or graft. For example, methods and materials for using stem cells (e.g., mesenchymal stem cells), extracellular matrix material, or a combination of stem cells and extracellular matrix material to reduce VNH of AVFs or grafts are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for treating patients following an assessment of immune subtypes such as an assessment of peripheral blood phenotypes. For example, methods and materials for treating a mammal having a medical condition after assessing a mammal's level of CD14+/DR? cells (e.g., CD14+/DR? monocytes) and level of CD4+ cells (e.g., CD4+ T cells) and classifying the mammal has being likely to experience a favorable or unfavorable medical outcome based at least in part on the mammal's level of CD14+/DR? cells and level of CD4+ cells are provided.