Abstract: Provided herein are methods of treating a kidney injury in a patient, comprising administering to the patient hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in an amount effective to treat the kidney injury. In some embodiments, administration of the HSCs is delayed, such that the HSCs are not administered immediately after the kidney injury. In certain aspects, the HSCs are administered to the patient during the beginning of the repair phase of the kidney. Further embodiments and aspects of the invention, including related methods and compositions for use therein, are described herein.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of efficiently obtaining large numbers of viable, freshly isolated cells from small amounts of adipose tissue, as well as methods of enriching or selecting for target cell populations found therein. In certain embodiments, the method of obtaining a population of cells from adipose tissue comprises incubating the adipose tissue in a solution comprising an enzyme at a concentration which is at least 200 U/ml solution and not more than about 319 U/ml solution. In some embodiments, the method is devoid of any steps which expand the population of cells obtained. In certain aspects, the method further comprises positive or negative selection steps for obtaining an enriched population of target cells from adipose tissue. Related methods of preparing a pharmaceutical composition comprising cells for administration to a patient and methods of treating a disease or medical condition in a patient are further provided herein.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of treating a kidney injury in a patient, comprising administering to the patient hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in an amount effective to treat the kidney injury. In some embodiments, administration of the HSCs is delayed, such that the HSCs are not administered immediately after the kidney injury. In certain aspects, the HSCs are administered to the patient during the beginning of the repair phase of the kidney. Further embodiments and aspects of the invention, including related methods and compositions for use therein, are described herein.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to the field of delivery of cells to desired tissue sites, prolonged retention of the cells at the sites, and integration of cells into an area of interest for increased therapeutic effect. The invention provides, in part, compositions and methods for treating ischemia in a subject in need thereof. In some aspects, the methods of treatment comprise the administration of a fibrin scaffold or fibrin clot comprising stem cells.

Abstract: An in vitro tissue testing system especially useful for testing blood/tissue interactions. The system includes a tissue holding frame which forms a chamber between two flat pieces of tissue with a spacer plate therebetween. The spacer plate includes a reservoir aperture bordered on both sides by the opposed tissue pieces, and a mechanism for depressing portions of the tissue pieces inwardly into the chamber to propel blood from one side of the chamber to the other. The flow created simulates actual blood flow in a host system. The reservoir aperture may be hourglass shaped with circular end portions and a middle blood passageway. The actuating mechanism may include pistons for alternating contact with the tissue within the confines of the opposite reservoir end portions, thus propelling blood from one end portion to the other. The pistons may be driven by a plurality of eccentric cams on shafts coupled to a common drive motor.

Abstract: A method for determining the activation level of platelets and other types of blood cells that undergo activation by ELISA and other immunoassay techniques includes the step of reacting a sample containing the blood cells in a liquid phase with an excess quantity of an activation-specific primary antibody prior to allowing the cells in the sample to bind to a solid surface. This differs from typical ELISA procedures, wherein the cells are bound to the surface of a plastic test tube or microtiter plate prior to addition of the primary antibody. It has been discovered according to the invention that binding the cells to a surface prior to reaction with the primary antibody changes the activation level of the cells, making the assay less accurate.