Abstract: The use of a neutral protease (NP) together with a collagenase consists in that a neutral protease which is not contained in a collagenase enzyme preparation and which is not produced by a recombinant production is mixed before the beginning of a tissue dissociation with a collagenase or a collagenase enzyme preparation with an individual dosage of the quantitative proportions of neutral protease and collagenase for improving the isolation results with respect to yield, viability and integrity of the cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a large-scale propagation and maintenance method of embryoid bodies generated from stem cells. More particularly, the present invention relates to a large-scale propagation and maintenance method of embryoid bodies retaining their intrinsic characteristics for a long period of time, comprising the step of continuously subculturing embryoid bodies that are primarily produced from embryonic stem cells or from induced pluripotent stem cells. According to the method of the present invention, after preparation of embryoid bodies from a limited number of stem cells, large-scale production and maintenance of embryoid bodies can be realized by a simple mechanical subculturing method without the continuous supply of stem cells.

Abstract: An enzyme solution for separating cell(s) which can lessen damage in separating a single cell or a mass of cells from a tissue or an organ, a method for separating cell(s) using the enzyme solution, and a method for separating pancreatic islet(s) using the enzyme solution. The enzyme solution for separating cell(s) is an enzyme solution containing a chloride ion channel inhibitor or having a chloride ion concentration of 10 mM or lower. By an enzymatic treatment using the enzyme solution for separating cell(s), a single cell or a mass of cells can be separated from a tissue or an organ. To separate pancreatic islet(s) from the pancreas, the enzyme is injected through the pancreatic duct to digest the pancreas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the production and culture of undifferentiated spermatogonial stem cells that can be maintained long term and are feeder free. The resultant feeder-free populations can be used in any of a number of protocols including the generation of progeny bulls. The present invention includes novel methods required for the successful enrichment of bovine spermatogonial stem cells, novel cell lines and other components used for the same, as well as the resultant stem cell compositions.

Abstract: Methods of generating embryoid bodies (EBs) by culturing embryonic stem cells (ESCs) under static conditions followed by culturing the cells under dynamic conditions using e.g., a Glass Bulb-shaped Impeller (GBI) or shaking a culture vessel are provided. Also provided are methods of generating expanded and/or differentiated cells from the EBs of the invention and methods of using same for treating disorders requiring cell replacement therapy.

Abstract: The process in general is based on taking a sample of skin and a sample of blood from the patient and based on these two elements skin is cultured, being placed on a collagen patch to produce a dressing which is subsequently placed on the patient requiring same.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In particular, the invention provides for methods of treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis by administering umbilical cord tissue-derived cells, an effective amount of a substantially homogenous population of umbilical cord tissue-derived cells or a pharmaceutical composition comprising umbilical cord tissue-derived cells to a patient.

Abstract: An isolated mammalian internal mammary artery-derived cell is disclosed. Furthermore, methods of isolating the mammalian internal mammary artery-derived cell are disclosed. The cell is useful in tissue engineering technologies, specifically in vascular tissue engineering.

Abstract: Noncultured Wharton's Jelly stem cells and methods of their purification, storage and use are provided.

Abstract: The disclosed islet isolation method comprises: an injection step of injecting a preservation solution into the pancreatic duct of an excised pancreas; a preservation step of immersing the pancreas into an immersion fluid for preservation; a digestion step of breaking down the pancreas to provide pancreatic tissue; and a purification step of immersing the pancreatic tissue in a purification solution to provide islets. The digestion step consists of: an enzyme injection step of injecting an enzyme solution containing a digestion enzyme into the pancreas; a digestion initiation step of activating the digestion enzyme; a digestion termination step of inactivating the digestion enzyme; and a collection step of collecting the broken-down pancreatic tissue.

Abstract: Human progenitor cells are extracted from perivascular tissue of human umbilical cord. The progenitor cell population proliferates rapidly, and harbors osteogenic progenitor cells and MHC?/? progenitor cells, and is useful to grow and repair human tissues including bone.

Abstract: A bone implant comprising cancellous bone that is essentially free of blood cells, and which has been treated with at least a loosening agent, such as collagenase and/or a digestive enzyme, for a time and at a concentration to loosen the osteogenic cells in the cancellous bone matrix. The osteogenic cells in the matrix are viable cells. The treatment of the cancellous bone with at least one loosening agent enables the osteogenic cells to be more available for carrying our their osteogenic function and to provide for an increased rate of bone formation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of disinfected single-cell preparations from mammalian tissues and to the preparations thus prepared.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a technique for obtaining stromal progenitor cells (SPC) from adipose tissue (AT) using incubation of very small volumes of AT with an enzyme solution, that can obtain SPC for autologous SPC-based medical applications to a greater number of individuals, possibly having a lower Body Mass Index (B.M.I), i.e. lower than 18.5.

Abstract: The use of a neutral protease (NP) together with a collagenase consists in that a neutral protease which is not contained in a collagenase enzyme preparation and which is not produced by a recombinant production ia mixed before the beginning of a tissue dissociation with a collagenase or a collagenase enzyme preparation with an individual dosage of the quantitative proportions of neutral protease and collagenase for improving the isolation results with respect to yield, viability and integrity of the cells.

Abstract: An isolated mammalian internal mammary artery-derived cell is disclosed. Furthermore, methods of isolating the mammalian internal mammary artery-derived cell are disclosed. The cell is useful in tissue engineering technologies, specifically in vascular tissue engineering.

Abstract: An organ perfusion apparatus and method monitor, sustain and/or restore viability of organs and preserve organs for storage and/or transport. Other apparatus include an organ transporter, an organ cassette and an organ diagnostic device. The method includes perfusing the organ at hypothermic and/or normothermic temperatures. The methods further include perfusing the organ at hypothermic and/or normothermic temperatures with a second perfusate containing a substance for reacting with the organ. Condition of the organ may be automatically monitored, and the perfusion process can be automatically controlled using a control program.

Abstract: A method for growing adult cells includes harvesting a tissue sample from a subject and breaking the tissue sample into fragments. The fragments are placed into a culture vessel, and at least some of the fragments are induced to adhere to the culture vessel. The fragments are supplied with nutrients so that adult cells contained therein divide and grow.

Abstract: Cells derived from postpartum tissue such as the umbilical cord and placenta, and methods for their use to regenerate, repair, and improve neural tissue, and to improve behavior and neurological function in stroke patients are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a human stem cell isolated from the full depth of human cartilage tissue and/or isolated from aged human cartilage; and uses thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides enzymatic methods for direct determination of percentage of glycated hemoglobin in blood samples without the need of a separated measurement of total hemoglobin content in blood samples. The methods utilizes one or two different types of oxidizing agents which selectively oxidize low-molecular weight reducing substances and high-molecular weight (mainly hemoglobin) reducing substances in blood samples, coupled with enzymatic reactions catalyzed by proteases, fructosyl amino acid oxidase. The amount of hydrogen peroxide generated in the reaction is measured for determination of percentage of glycated hemoglobin in blood samples. The invention provides kits for performing the methods of the invention.

Abstract: Methods of isolating cellular products, such as pancreatic islets, may be used in diabetes research and therapeutic transplantation. The methods may involve providing a tissue having desired cells that are less prone to destructive freezing and undesired cells that are more prone to destructive freezing, or pre-treating a tissue to have such characteristics. The methods may involve freezing the tissue, disrupting the tissue, warming the tissue, and separating the desired cells from undesired cellular material to obtain the cellular product. The methods may thereby provide an enzyme-free or reduced-enzyme method of isolating a cellular product that is more consistent, reliable and less toxic than conventional methods. The methods may also yield an optimum quantity of cellular product that retain sufficient functional integrity to be useful as a transplantation resource.

Abstract: An isolated mammalian internal mammary artery-derived cell is disclosed. Furthermore, methods of isolating the mammalian internal mammary artery-derived cell are disclosed. The cell is useful in tissue engineering technologies, specifically in vascular tissue engineering.

Abstract: The invention provides enzymatic methods for direct determination of percentage of glycated hemoglobin in blood samples without the need of a separated measurement of total hemoglobin content in blood samples. The methods utilizes one or two different types of oxidizing agents which selectively oxidize low-molecular weight reducing substances and high-molecular weight (mainly hemoglobin) reducing substances in blood samples, coupled with enzymatic reactions catalyzed by proteases, fructosyl amino acid oxidase, and peroxidase. The invention provides kits for performing the methods of the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for isolating stem cells. The method uses a specially designed apparatus including: a container containing an aspirate; a piston having an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the container and having at least one through-hole; and a connection tube adapted to feed an enzyme or a washing solution into the container through the through-hole, having a tip connected to the through-hole, and connected to an external tube or another container containing the enzyme or washing solution at the other end thereof. The method includes pulling the piston backward to form a negative pressure in the container containing the aspirate and to allow the enzyme or washing solution to enter the container containing the aspirate through the connection tube and the through-hole of the piston.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pluripotent stem cells obtained from the dental pulp of patients of different ages, the invention furthermore comprises cultures of said cells, means for obtaining them and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, as well as their application in tissue regeneration.

Abstract: The present invention is a method, belonging to the field of cell culture, for amplifying a large numbers of hair follicle stem cells in vitro by using microspheres as carriers for cell culture and a revolving bottle as a fermentation tank for cell proliferation.

Abstract: The assays, methods, tools and systems discussed herein represent an improved and unified system for monitoring the progression of an individual patient malignancy. The assays, methods, tools and systems discussed herein represent an improved and unified system for monitoring and for identifying cellular and secreted markers, for screening cells to detect phenotypic and genotypic drift and for predicting chemotherapeutic response of patient tumor cells to at least one therapeutic agent. The assays, methods, tools and systems discussed herein also represent an improved and unified system for monitoring and for screening multiple pharmaceutical agents for efficacy and long term effect as to a specific patient.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel cell mass derived from a cancer tissue, which can reflect the in vivo behavior of a cancer cell correctly. Also disclosed is a process for preparing the cell mass. Specifically disclosed is a cell mass derived from a cancer tissue, which is an separated product that is isolated from a cancer tissue obtained from an individual as a mass containing at least three cancer cells or a cultured product of the separated product and which can retain a proliferation ability in vitro. The cell mass derived from a cancer tissue is produced by, for example, a preparation process comprising the steps of: treating a pulverized product of a cancer tissue removed from a living body with an enzyme; and selecting and collecting a mass containing at least three cancer cells among from an enzymatic treatment product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of enriching fetal nuclei from a sample. Enriched fetal nuclei can be used in a variety of procedures including, detection of a trait of interest such as a disease trait, or a genetic predisposition thereto, gender typing and parentage testing.

Abstract: Methods for the isolation, expansion and storage of a population of stem cells belonging to human dental follicles, called FENC (Follicle-derived Embryonic Neural Crest stem cells,) including: a) Collection of the follicular sack in sterile conditions, digestion and primary culture growth and expansion; b) Optional amplification; c) FACsorting.

Abstract: Co-cultures of heterogeneous cell populations in a diffusion-constrained microenvironment and methods for co-culturing are disclosed.

Abstract: Method for the isolation, expansion and preservation of cardiac stem cells from human or animal tissue biopsy samples to be employed in cell transplantation and functional repair of the myocardium or other organs. Cells may also be used in gene therapy for treating cardiomyopathies, for treating ischemic heart diseases and for setting in vitro models to study drugs.

Abstract: This invention is directed to methods of directly reseeding harvested adherent cells grown in a hollow fiber bioreactor. Also disclosed is a novel harvest media for use in directly reseeding adherent cells into a hollow fiber bioreactor.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of culturing mammalian taste cells, including taste receptor cells. Cells are maintained for a duration of up to three months and longer while maintaining molecular and functional characteristics of mature taste cells. The cells are cultured on coated cell culture vessels and, from first replacement of medium onwards, the medium is replaced in intervals of at least 5 days. The invention further provides isolation and culturing methods of taste cells wherein the time that the cells are exposed to isolation solution and proteolytic enzymes is minimized and the cells are cultured in coated culture vessels with the medium replaced in intervals of at least 5 days from first replacement onwards. The invention further provides cultured taste cells, transfection and assay methods, and taste cell assay buffers with an osmolarity of about 300-320 and pH of about 7.0-7.3.

Abstract: The invention provides enzymatic methods for direct determination of percentage of glycated hemoglobin in blood samples without the need of a separated measurement of total hemoglobin content in blood samples. The methods utilizes one or two different types of oxidizing agents which selectively oxidize low-molecular weight reducing substances and high-molecular weight (mainly hemoglobin) reducing substances in blood samples, coupled with enzymatic reactions catalyzed by proteases, fructosyl amino acid oxidase. The amount of hydrogen peroxide generated in the reaction is measured for determination of percentage of glycated hemoglobin in blood samples. The invention provides kits for performing the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for isolating vascular endothelial cells from embryoid bodies differentiated from embryonic stem cells, which comprises: (a) treating embryoid bodies differentiated from embryonic stem cells with 0.005-0.015% trypsin and 0.05-0.15 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) to obtain vascular endothelial cell clusters; and (b) treating the vascular endothelial cell clusters with 0.1-0.5% trypsin and 0.5-2 mM EDTA so as to separate the vascular endothelial cell clusters into single cells.

Abstract: An isolated mammalian internal mammary artery-derived cell is disclosed. Furthermore, methods of isolating the mammalian internal mammary artery-derived cell are disclosed. The cell is useful in tissue engineering technologies, specifically in vascular tissue engineering.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of processing and/or enriching cells from a pregnant female. More particularly the invention provides methods for processing and/or enriching fetal cells from a pregnant female. The enriched fetal cells can be used in a variety of procedures including, detection of a trait of interest such as a disease trait, or a genetic predisposition thereto, gender typing and parentage testing.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for repairing damaged myocardium using human cardiac tissue-derived cells. In particular, the present invention provides methods and compositions for repairing damaged myocardium using expanded human cardiac tissue-derived cells that do not express telomerase.

Abstract: The invention provides enzymatic methods for direct determination of percentage of glycated hemoglobin in blood samples without the need of a separated measurement of total hemoglobin content in blood samples. The methods utilizes one or two different types of oxidizing agents which selectively oxidize low-molecular weight reducing substances and high-molecular weight (mainly hemoglobin) reducing substances in blood samples, coupled with enzymatic reactions catalyzed by proteases, fructosyl amino acid oxidase, and peroxidase. The invention provides kits for performing the methods of the invention.

Abstract: An isolated mammalian progenitor cell or its progeny, isolated from articular cartilage, is disclosed. Further is disclosed an equine progenitor cell isolated from the surface zone of equine articular cartilage tissue and uses thereof. Also disclosed are a method of tissue repair, a medicament, and a method of treating mammalian cartilage damage using such progenitor cells or progeny.

Abstract: The invention is directed to novel cells that are derived from human embryoid bodies. Such embryoid body-derived (EBD) cells are relatively uncommitted or progenitor (e.g., pluripotent) cells. EBD cells, while not immortal, display long-term proliferation in culture with a normal karyotype and can be cryopreserved and cloned. They can be efficiently transfected with retroviruses and lentivirus and genetically manipulated. Although they have a developmentally broad multilineage expression profile, they do not form tumors when injected into severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. As a result, EBD cells have a variety of uses, for example, in transplantation therapies.

Abstract: A bone implant derived from natural bone tissue material, wherein the bone implant is substantially free of non-fibrous tissue proteins, cells and cellular elements and lipids or lipid residues and comprises collagen displaying original collagen fibre architecture and molecular ultrastructure of the natural bone tissue material from which it is derived.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for generating fibroblasts, more particularly, to the culturing of fibroblasts in large numbers and of the heterogenic type. The invention is also directed to the use of fibroblasts in the preparation of heterotypic spheroids and a process for the preparation of such heterotypic spheroids.

Abstract: The identification of the most sensitive sites of Clostridium histolyticum collagenase Class 1 to proteolysis by proteases present during the fermentation and purification of the enzyme is described. Culture supernatant obtained after fermentation of C. histolyticum is used as the starting material for further purification of the enzyme. Native collagenase Class 1 and its proteolytic fragments are partially purified by a combination of hydrophobic interaction and strong anion exchange chromatographies. The pools containing enriched levels of the proteolytic fragments are further purified by high performance anion exchange chromatography. These polypeptides are then characterized by Q-TOF mass spectroscopy. A total of three sensitive bonds are identified along with substitution and deletion strategies that will result in resistance of the enzyme to proteolytic degradation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for isolating cells from a tissue sample. In preferred embodiments, chondrocytes are isolated from cartilage tissue in a shorter time than hitherto considered possible.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for isolating vascular endothelial cells from embryoid bodies differentiated from embryonic stem cells, which comprises: (a) treating embryoid bodies differentiated from embryonic stem cells with 0.005-0.015% trypsin and 0.05-0.15 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) to obtain vascular endothelial cell clusters; and (b) treating the vascular endothelial cell clusters with 0.1-0.5% trypsin and 0.5-2 mM EDTA so as to separate the vascular endothelial cell clusters into single cells.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for preparing soft tissue such as tendons, ligaments, cartilage, fascia, dermis, human valves and human veins for implant in a human and removes cellular components and forms an decellular matrix having as major components collagens and elastins while sterilizing the tissue. The process comprises the following steps: (1) isolating from a suitable donor a desired soft tissue sample of the biological material; (2) processing and decellularizing the soft tissue including inspection for visual defects, trimming and soaking the tissue in a detergent depending on whether the tissue is fascia or dermis and rinsing same with sterile water; (3) sterilizing the soft tissue in a vacuum and soaking the tissue in an antibiotic composition or peracetic acid depending on whether the soft tissue is fascia or dermis and rinsing same; (4) processing the tissue by cutting the tissue to size and perforating the tissue; and (5) dipping the tissue in 70% ethanol and packaging the tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for processing tissue to release biological material including cells are disclosed.