Category Archives: Maryland Stem Cells

Both Prothena Corporation plc (NASDAQ:PRTA) and Neuralstem Inc. (NASDAQ:CUR) are Biotechnology companies, competing one another. We will compare their risk, analyst recommendations, profitability, dividends, earnings and valuation, institutional ownership.

Valuation & Earnings

Table 1 demonstrates Prothena Corporation plc and Neuralstem Inc.s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Profitability

Table 2 provides Prothena Corporation plc and Neuralstem Inc.s net margins, return on assets and return on equity.

Volatility and Risk

A 2.24 beta indicates that Prothena Corporation plc is 124.00% more volatile compared to Standard and Poors 500. Neuralstem Inc. on the other hand, has 1.94 beta which makes it 94.00% more volatile compared to Standard and Poors 500.

Liquidity

Prothena Corporation plcs Current Ratio is 27.9 while its Quick Ratio is 27.9. On the competitive side is, Neuralstem Inc. which has a 3.8 Current Ratio and a 3.8 Quick Ratio. Prothena Corporation plc is better positioned to pay off short and long-term obligations compared to Neuralstem Inc.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

Roughly 92.7% of Prothena Corporation plc shares are held by institutional investors while 4.9% of Neuralstem Inc. are owned by institutional investors. Prothena Corporation plcs share held by insiders are 90.1%. Competitively, Neuralstem Inc. has 1% of its share held by insiders.

Performance

In this table we provide the Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Half Yearly, Yearly and YTD Performance of both pretenders.

For the past year Prothena Corporation plc has stronger performance than Neuralstem Inc.

Summary

Prothena Corporation plc beats Neuralstem Inc. on 7 of the 7 factors.

Prothena Corporation plc, a late-stage clinical biotechnology company, focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel immunotherapies for the treatment of diseases that involve protein misfolding or cell adhesion. It is developing antibody-based product candidates that include NEOD001, a monoclonal antibody that is in Phase III and Phase IIb clinical trials for the treatment of AL amyloidosis; PRX002 that has completed Phase Ib clinical trial for treating Parkinsons disease and other related synucleinopathies; PRX003, a monoclonal antibody that is in Phase Ib for the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory diseases; and PRX004, a monoclonal antibody that is under preclinical development. The company has a license, development, and commercialization agreement with F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd and Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. to develop and commercialize antibodies that target alpha-synuclein. Prothena Corporation plc was incorporated in 2012 and is headquartered in Dn Laoghaire, Ireland.

Neuralstem, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the research and development of nervous system therapies based on its proprietary human neuronal stem cells and small molecule compounds. The companys stem cell based technology enables the isolation and expansion of human neural stem cells from various areas of the developing human brain and spinal cord enabling the generation of physiologically relevant human neurons of various types. It is developing products include NSI-189, a chemical entity, which is in Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of major depressive disorder, as well as is in preclinical programs for the MCAO stroke, type 1 and 2 diabetes related neuropathy, irradiation-induced cognition, long-term potentiation enhancement, and angelman syndrome. The company is also developing NSI-566, which has completed Phase II clinical trial for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease, as well as is in Phase I clinical trials for the treatment of chronic spinal cord injury and motor deficits due to ischemic stroke. Neuralstem, Inc. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Germantown, Maryland.

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Prothena Corporation plc (PRTA)'s Financial Results Comparing With Neuralstem Inc. (NASDAQ:CUR) - The EN Herald

-Short bowel syndrome is a debilitating condition with few treatment options, and these treatments have limited efficacy. The ability to grow artificial intestine is a coveted goal with the potential to profoundly improve this outlook. Working toward this target, researchers have created an artificial scaffold that mimics the native small intestinal architecture, complete with villi; this scaffold can incorporate intestinal epithelial cells and be successfully implanted in mice while retaining structural integrity. The work is reported in Tissue Engineering, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. Click here to read the article for free through October 17, 2019.

David J. Hackam, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, and colleagues present their results in an article titled Development of Intestinal Scaffolds that Mimic Native Mammalian Intestinal Tissue.The authors used polyglycerol sebacate to fabricate scaffolds and showed that they have mechanical properties similar to native intestine, are stable in control and digestive media, and can be infiltrated with intestinal epithelial cells for functional intestinal recreation attempts. An additional feature of the scaffold material is its amenability to the future integration of drug and growth factor delivery mechanisms.

Dr. Hackam and his team at Johns Hopkins, Cornell, and Walter Reed, have beautifully mimicked the microarchitecture of native small intestine using a degradable, poly(glycerol sebacate) scaffold, showing that their approach supports functional intestinal epithelial cells for weeks after implantation, says Tissue Engineering Co-Editor-in-Chief John P. Fisher, PhD, Fischell Family Distinguished Professor & Department Chair, and Director of the NIH Center for Engineering Complex Tissues at the University of Maryland. The work has tremendous translational potential.

About the Journal

Tissue Engineering is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published monthly online and in print in three parts: Part A, the flagship journal published 24 times per year; Part B: Reviews, published bimonthly, and Part C: Methods, published 12 times per year. Led by Co-Editors-in-Chief Antonios G. Mikos, PhD, Louis Calder Professor at Rice University, Houston, TX, and John P. Fisher, PhD, Fischell Family Distinguished Professor & Department Chair, and Director of the NIH Center for Engineering Complex Tissues at the University of Maryland, the Journal brings together scientific and medical experts in the fields of biomedical engineering, material science, molecular and cellular biology, and genetic engineering. Leadership of Tissue Engineering Parts B (Reviews) and Part C (Methods) is provided by Katja Schenke-Layland, PhD, Eberhard Karls University, Tbingen, Heungsoo Shin, PhD, Hanyang University; and John A. Jansen, DDS, PhD, Radboud University, and Xiumei Wang, PhD, Tsinghua University respectively. Tissue Engineering is the official journal of the Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS). Complete tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the Tissue Engineering website.

About the Publisher

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including Stem Cells and Development, Human Gene Therapy, and Advances in Wound Care. Its biotechnology trade magazine, GEN (Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News), was the first in its field and is today the industrys most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firms 80 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available on the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers website.

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Artificially Engineering Intestine - Mirage News

In 2006, Health General Article 19-308.7, Annotated Code was enacted, this law required the Maryland Department of Health, in collaboration with key stakeholders, to develop educational materials concerning the values, uses, and donation of umbilical cord blood for obstetricians and hospitals with obstetrical services to distribute to their pregnant patients. A brochure was developed for this purpose and is available at no cost to obstetricians and obstetrical hospitals.The Departments umbilical cord blood brochure may be obtained in .pdf format on the MCH Publications webpage or by downloading it from here:Information for Parents to Be About Cord Blood Banking

Questions and Answers about Umbilical Cord Blood

What is Umbilical Cord Blood?How is Cord Blood Collected?What is Cord Blood Banking?How Do I Bank My Babys Cord Blood? What are the Costs? What are the Benefits of Cord Blood Donation?Are There Public Cord Blood Banks in Maryland? Where Can I Find More Information?

Umbilical cord blood or cord blood is the blood left in the umbilical cord and placenta after a baby is born. This blood is usually thrown away. It can be saved and stored in a cord blood bank for use in the future. Cord blood contains stem cells. Stem cells are special cells that can be used to treat certain diseases in children and adults. These diseases include some cancers (leukemia and lymphoma), blood disorders (sickle cell and thalassemia major), and other life-threatening diseases. When stem cells are used to treat a disease, it is called a stem cell transplant.

Cord blood banking means storing cord blood for future use. You may decide to donate your babys cord blood to a public cord blood bank. This means the cord blood will be available to anyone who needs a stem cell transplant. Donated cord blood becomes the property of the public cord blood bank. Sometimes, stored cord blood does not contain enough stem cells for transplant. When this happens, the cord blood may be used for research or it may be discarded.

You may decide to bank your babys cord blood for your own familys use. This is called private cord blood banking. The cord blood will be saved for your baby or a close family member to use in the future. Private cord blood banking may be a good idea if you have a family member with certain medical conditions and a stem cell transplant would be a treatment option. In this case, some private cord blood banks may store the cord blood at no cost to the donor.

Cord blood should not be stored as insurance for your baby to treat a genetic disease the baby may develop. In this case it may not be possible to use the cells to treat a disease that the baby gets later in life because the same disease may already be present in the stored stem cells.

If you decide to store your babys cord blood, you should contact a cord blood bank as early as possible. Cord blood banks should be contacted before your 34 th week of pregnancy (six weeks before your due date). The cord blood bank will explain how the cord blood is to be collected, transported, stored, and what else you will need to do to prepare.

The cord blood bank will send you a medical history form, which includes questions about your health and your family health history. You will also receive a consent form that explains what tests will be done on the cord blood. This form should also tell you how you will be notified if any of the test results are abnormal. Be sure to read the consent form carefully before signing.

If you are approved by the cord blood bank, a cord blood collection kit will be sent to you. You must bring the kit with you at the time of delivery.

It is not a requirement that families donate or store their babys umbilical cord blood. The decision to donate or store cord blood is a choice that only parents to be can make. Expectant parents should talk with their health care provider about their decision to donate or store their babys cord blood.

By Maryland law, a mother who donates her babys cord blood for public use may not be charged any fees for collecting, transporting, or storing the umbilical cord blood.

The cost for private cord blood banking may vary. Private cord blood banks may charge for collection, transportation and annual storage if it is done for personal use. The private bank should be contacted directly for information about fees.

Donation to a public cord blood bank may help others. Your babys cord blood may be used to provide a stem cell transplant for someone with cancer or another serious medical problem. Also, some donated cord blood is used in research to study stem cell transplants. Through research, more patients can be helped in the future.

Cord Blood Banking FAQ maintains a list of hospitals in Maryland that are working with public cord blood banks.

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cord_blood - Maryland

By Nick Argento on November 15, 2018 / Diabetes Research, Stem Cells, Type 1

A pancreas transplant has always stood out as a possible cure for type 1 diabetes (T1D), but one problem has been obvious: there just are not enough organ donorson the order of 10,000 a yearwhile there are between 1 and 2 million people with T1D in the U.S. In a kidney transplant, a healthy donor can donate one of two functioning kidneys with a generally low risk surgery, and still have normal kidney function. A similar approach with part of the pancreas would be unsafe. In addition, pancreas transplant is generally less successful than kidney transplant, and there are higher risks of serious side effects after pancreatic transplant surgery. The math is even worse when trying to transplant insulin-producing islets, because more than one donor is needed per recipient, which has stopped islet cell transplant from taking hold outside of a few centers. Furthermore, transplants of any sort require lifelong use of powerful and expensive medications that suppress immune function and can also cause serious side effects.

But what if we could transplant insulin-producing cells made in the lab? Wouldnt that solve the donor dilemma? Yes, but the recipient with by far the most common form of T1D would still require immune suppression. Their immune system already destroyed, and is continuing to destroy, their insulin- producing beta cells. This would be true even if the insulin producing cells were derived from their own tissue. But what if we could protect new insulin-producing cells from the recipients immune system another way?

It is now possible to manufacture insulin-producing cells in the lab, using multiple different techniques developed by a multitude of researchers (Type 1 Diabetes Treatments Based on Stem Cells, Arana et al., Current Diabetes Reviews, 2018, 14, 14-23). That is a huge step forward, and a tribute to the benefit of supporting basic and applied research. Researchers are working on ways to hide the new cells from the recipients immune system by altering the cells immune appearance, or more selectively suppressing the immune attack by the host. Hopefully those efforts will pay off some day. But how about putting the new cells behind a barrier that the immune system cannot get through?

ViaCyte, a privately-held bioresearch company, reported some intriguing results at this years American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions: the two-year data from the ongoingSafety,Tolerability, andEfficacy of PEC-EncapProduct Candidate in TypeOneDiabetes (STEP ONE) clinical trial (https://viacyte.com/archives/press-releases/two-year-data-from-viacytes-step-one-clinical-trial-presented-at-ada-2018 ).The PEC-Encap consists of stem cell-derived cells that can develop into insulin-producing cells, encapsulated in a delivery device that is surgically implanted under the skin, called the Encaptra Cell Delivery System. This system is designed to block immune access to the new cells but allow insulin, glucagon, glucose and other nutrients to pass through the membrane. The results indicate that the PEC-Encap product did not trigger a specific immune response against the new cells or the device itself, and it appeared to be safe.Thats the good news. Unfortunately, few of the implanted devices allowed enough new blood vessel growth from the host to sufficiently nourish the new cells, so in most cases, the new insulin-producing cells did not last. This appeared to result primarily from a foreign body reaction, a non-specific response of the recipients immune system that is similar to what one might find develop around a splinter. ViaCyte is now working on modifying the system to improve the potential for long-term survival of the manufactured insulin-producing cells.

If these or other similar efforts are successful, a large percent of those with T1D could ultimately receive a functional cure. In addition, those with long-term type 2 diabetes (T2D) who can no longer produce much insulin, a common state that makes blood sugar management very difficult, might also benefit from this promising new therapy.

A second, perhaps less ambitious device is also under development, PEC-Direct, one which would still require the use of immunosuppression medication. However, since the cells can be generated in a lab in potentially unlimited numbers, there is no need for organ donors. Thus, a much larger group of people might be able to benefit from transplanted insulin-producing cells, albeit with the need for immunosuppression. The current plan is to consider such a transplant for those with T1D who suffer from recurrent severe hypoglycemia episodes or have hypoglycemia unawareness, conditions which are life-threatening. Those who are unable to manage T1D effectively due to highly variable blood glucose levels, so called brittle diabetes, could also benefit. Together, such groups are thought to represent about 10% of all people with T1D.

In summary, there is great news in the stem cell arena; insulin-producing cells can be made in unlimited numbers. While not yet ready for clinical use in people with diabetes, rapid progress is being made. We waited for fingersticks to become available, so we could finally see what we so desperately needed to see- where is my blood glucose, right now. We waited for insulin pumps and better insulins, so we could do what we so desperately needed to do, right now tameT1Ds wild blood glucose fluctuations. We waited for continuous glucose monitoring, so we could know what we so desperately needed to know- where is my blood sugar going, right now. Stems cells have the potential to deliver what we all still so desperately want- relief from the 24/7/365 burden of thinking and acting like a beta cell. Stay tuned, T1D nation!

Nicholas B. Argento, MD, Diabetes Technology Director, Maryland Endocrine and Diabetes

Person with T1D since 1968

Thanks to Elizabeth M. Argento for her expert editorial assistance

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Stem Cells and Type 1 Diabetes: What the Future Has in ...

From extreme knee pain to the constant pain in your shoulder, constant joint pain can be extremely crippling. Joint pain and arthritis are extremely common all over the globe. Maryland is no exception.

Until recently the only relief that patients have found from these common aches and pains have been surgery or painkillers.

The problem is that these methods are invasive, expensive, risky and with surgery there is some serious downtime.

With stem cell therapy there is no invasive surgery, the recovery time is days and the treatment is completely safe and ethical.

Stem cells are inside us as we speak. We all obtain stem cells. Stem cells are cells that are undifferentiated meaning they are premature cells that have the ability to turn into other cells. You have joint pain because you have worn away cartilage or injured ligaments or joints. An injection of stem cells into the affected area will actually regrow the cartilage or ligament causing pain relief.

Where do the stem cells come from? When a woman has a scheduled c-section birth the stem cells are donated to the hospital, processed at an FDA approved lab and then sent to us for stem cell therapy. This process is completely harmless to everyone and 100% ethical.

Herere some common joint pains we treat with stem cells.

Knee pain is mentioned here because its probably the most common type of joint pain of all. Osteoarthritis and joint degeneration occur when you wear away your joint over time or injure the joint in an accident.

Stem cell therapy can help alleviate the pain with a simple injection. We obtain stem cells and inject them into the affected knee. The stem cells begin to regrow the joint and within a few months, youll be feeling much better.

Stem Cell Therapy Can help alleviate some of these conditions:

Shoulder pain is also mentioned here because its another extremely common area to experience pain. Until recently almost all shoulder pain was treated with surgery, but many times the problem wasnt corrected.

Stem Cell Therapy can help reduce pain and keep you out of surgery.

Stem Cell Therapy can help relieve these common shoulder conditions:

Hip Pain is extremely common because although the hip is a very large joint, its extremely overused. When you overuse a joint you increase your odds of wearing away the cartilage in the joint and pain may occur.

Weve all heard of someone who had to go through hip surgery and for many people its ineffective. Not to mention, hip surgery is a large undertaking and very invasive. The recovery time is very lengthily too.

Stem Cell Therapy can help relieve these common hip conditions:

We treat almost every type of joint pain that a person can experience. However, the last type of joint pain that well mention here is wrist pain.

Wrist pain and arthritis in the wrist isnt as common as knee pain, but when a person has wrist pain its extremely life altering.

You use your hands and wrists for almost everything.

Thanks to stem cell therapy you can now heal your wrists without complex surgeries and with proper functionality.

Stem Cell Therapy can help relieve these common wrist conditions:

Proudly Serving the Entire Maryland Area Including:

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Stem Cell Therapy in Maryland | Stem Cell Professionals

A meristem is the tissue in most plants containing undifferentiated cells (meristematic cells), found in zones of the plant where growth can take place. Meristematic cells give rise to various organs of a plant and are responsible for growth.

Differentiated plant cells generally cannot divide or produce cells of a different type. Meristematic cells are incompletely or not at all differentiated, and are capable of continued cellular division. Therefore, cell division in the meristem is required to provide new cells for expansion and differentiation of tissues and initiation of new organs, providing the basic structure of the plant body. Furthermore, the cells are small and protoplasm fills the cell completely. The vacuoles are extremely small. The cytoplasm does not contain differentiated plastids (chloroplasts or chromoplasts), although they are present in rudimentary form (proplastids). Meristematic cells are packed closely together without intercellular cavities. The cell wall is a very thin primary cell wall as well as some are thick in some plants.[citation needed] Maintenance of the cells requires a balance between two antagonistic processes: organ initiation and stem cell population renewal.[citation needed]

There are three types of meristematic tissues: apical (at the tips), intercalary (in the middle) and lateral (at the sides). At the meristem summit, there is a small group of slowly dividing cells, which is commonly called the central zone. Cells of this zone have a stem cell function and are essential for meristem maintenance. The proliferation and growth rates at the meristem summit usually differ considerably from those at the periphery.

The term meristem was first used in 1858 by Carl Wilhelm von Ngeli (18171891) in his book Beitrge zur Wissenschaftlichen Botanik ("Contributions to Scientific Botany").[1] It is derived from the Greek word merizein (), meaning to divide, in recognition of its inherent function.

Apical meristems are the completely undifferentiated (indeterminate) meristems in a plant. These differentiate into three kinds of primary meristems. The primary meristems in turn produce the two secondary meristem types. These secondary meristems are also known as lateral meristems because they are involved in lateral growth.

There are two types of apical meristem tissue: shoot apical meristem (SAM), which gives rise to organs like the leaves and flowers, and root apical meristem (RAM), which provides the meristematic cells for future root growth. SAM and RAM cells divide rapidly and are considered indeterminate, in that they do not possess any defined end status. In that sense, the meristematic cells are frequently compared to the stem cells in animals, which have an analogous behavior and function.

The number of layers varies according to plant type. In general the outermost layer is called the tunica while the innermost layers are the corpus. In monocots, the tunica determine the physical characteristics of the leaf edge and margin. In dicots, layer two of the corpus determine the characteristics of the edge of the leaf. The corpus and tunica play a critical part of the plant physical appearance as all plant cells are formed from the meristems. Apical meristems are found in two locations: the root and the stem. Some Arctic plants have an apical meristem in the lower/middle parts of the plant. It is thought that this kind of meristem evolved because it is advantageous in Arctic conditions[citation needed].

Shoot apical meristems are the source of all above-ground organs, such as leaves and flowers. Cells at the shoot apical meristem summit serve as stem cells to the surrounding peripheral region, where they proliferate rapidly and are incorporated into differentiating leaf or flower primordia.

The shoot apical meristem is the site of most of the embryogenesis in flowering plants.[citation needed] Primordia of leaves, sepals, petals, stamens, and ovaries are initiated here at the rate of one every time interval, called a plastochron. It is where the first indications that flower development has been evoked are manifested. One of these indications might be the loss of apical dominance and the release of otherwise dormant cells to develop as auxiliary shoot meristems, in some species in axils of primordia as close as two or three away from the apical dome. The shoot apical meristem consists of 4 distinct cell groups:

The four distinct zones mentioned above are maintained by a complex signalling pathway. In Arabidopsis thaliana, 3 interacting CLAVATA genes are required to regulate the size of the stem cell reservoir in the shoot apical meristem by controlling the rate of cell division.[2] CLV1 and CLV2 are predicted to form a receptor complex (of the LRR receptor-like kinase family) to which CLV3 is a ligand.[3][4][5] CLV3 shares some homology with the ESR proteins of maize, with a short 14 amino acid region being conserved between the proteins.[6][7] Proteins that contain these conserved regions have been grouped into the CLE family of proteins.[6][7]

CLV1 has been shown to interact with several cytoplasmic proteins that are most likely involved in downstream signalling. For example, the CLV complex has been found to be associated with Rho/Rac small GTPase-related proteins.[2] These proteins may act as an intermediate between the CLV complex and a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), which is often involved in signalling cascades.[8] KAPP is a kinase-associated protein phosphatase that has been shown to interact with CLV1.[9] KAPP is thought to act as a negative regulator of CLV1 by dephosphorylating it.[9]

Another important gene in plant meristem maintenance is WUSCHEL (shortened to WUS), which is a target of CLV signaling in addition to positively regulating CLV, thus forming a feedback loop.[10] WUS is expressed in the cells below the stem cells of the meristem and its presence prevents the differentiation of the stem cells.[10] CLV1 acts to promote cellular differentiation by repressing WUS activity outside of the central zone containing the stem cells.[10] SHOOT MERISTEMLESS (STM) also acts to prevent the differentiation of stem cells by repressing the expression of MYB genes that are involved in cellular differentiation.[2]

Unlike the shoot apical meristem, the root apical meristem produces cells in two dimensions. It harbors two pools of stem cells around an organizing center called the quiescent center (QC) cells and together produces most of the cells in an adult root.[11][12] At its apex, the root meristem is covered by the root cap, which protects and guides its growth trajectory. Cells are continuously sloughed off the outer surface of the root cap. The QC cells are characterized by their low mitotic activity. Evidence suggests that the QC maintains the surrounding stem cells by preventing their differentiation, via signal(s) that are yet to be discovered. This allows a constant supply of new cells in the meristem required for continuous root growth. Recent findings indicate that QC can also act as a reservoir of stem cells to replenish whatever is lost or damaged.[13] Root apical meristem and tissue patterns become established in the embryo in the case of the primary root, and in the new lateral root primordium in the case of secondary roots.

In angiosperms, intercalary meristems occur only in monocot (in particular, grass) stems at the base of nodes and leaf blades. Horsetails also exhibit intercalary growth. Intercalary meristems are capable of cell division, and they allow for rapid growth and regrowth of many monocots. Intercalary meristems at the nodes of bamboo allow for rapid stem elongation, while those at the base of most grass leaf blades allow damaged leaves to rapidly regrow. This leaf regrowth in grasses evolved in response to damage by grazing herbivores.

When plants begin developmental process known as flowering, the shoot apical meristem is transformed into an inflorescence meristem, which goes on to produce the floral meristem, which produces the sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels of the flower.

In contrast to vegetative apical meristems and some efflorescence meristems, floral meristems cannot continue to grow indefinitely. Their future growth is limited to the flower with a particular size and form. The transition from shoot meristem to floral meristem requires floral meristem identity genes, that both specify the floral organs and cause the termination of the production of stem cells. AGAMOUS (AG) is a floral homeotic gene required for floral meristem termination and necessary for proper development of the stamens and carpels.[2] AG is necessary to prevent the conversion of floral meristems to inflorescence shoot meristems, but is identity gene LEAFY (LFY) and WUS and is restricted to the centre of the floral meristem or the inner two whorls.[14] This way floral identity and region specificity is achieved. WUS activates AG by binding to a consensus sequence in the AGs second intron and LFY binds to adjacent recognition sites.[14] Once AG is activated it represses expression of WUS leading to the termination of the meristem.[14]

Through the years, scientists have manipulated floral meristems for economic reasons. An example is the mutant tobacco plant "Maryland Mammoth." In 1936, the department of agriculture of Switzerland performed several scientific tests with this plant. "Maryland Mammoth" is peculiar in that it grows much faster than other tobacco plants.

Apical dominance is the phenomenon where one meristem prevents or inhibits the growth of other meristems. As a result, the plant will have one clearly defined main trunk. For example, in trees, the tip of the main trunk bears the dominant shoot meristem. Therefore, the tip of the trunk grows rapidly and is not shadowed by branches. If the dominant meristem is cut off, one or more branch tips will assume dominance. The branch will start growing faster and the new growth will be vertical. Over the years, the branch may begin to look more and more like an extension of the main trunk. Often several branches will exhibit this behavior after the removal of apical meristem, leading to a bushy growth.

The mechanism of apical dominance is based on auxins, types of plant growth regulators. These are produced in the apical meristem and transported towards the roots in the cambium. If apical dominance is complete, they prevent any branches from forming as long as the apical meristem is active. If the dominance is incomplete, side branches will develop.[citation needed]

Recent investigations into apical dominance and the control of branching have revealed a new plant hormone family termed strigolactones. These compounds were previously known to be involved in seed germination and communication with mycorrhizal fungi and are now shown to be involved in inhibition of branching.[15]

The SAM contains a population of stem cells that also produce the lateral meristems while the stem elongates. It turns out that the mechanism of regulation of the stem cell number might be evolutionarily conserved. The CLAVATA gene CLV2 responsible for maintaining the stem cell population in Arabidopsis thaliana is very closely related to the Maize gene FASCIATED EAR 2(FEA2) also involved in the same function.[16] Similarly, in Rice, the FON1-FON2 system seems to bear a close relationship with the CLV signaling system in Arabidopsis thaliana.[17] These studies suggest that the regulation of stem cell number, identity and differentiation might be an evolutionarily conserved mechanism in monocots, if not in angiosperms. Rice also contains another genetic system distinct from FON1-FON2, that is involved in regulating stem cell number.[17] This example underlines the innovation that goes about in the living world all the time.

Genetic screens have identified genes belonging to the KNOX family in this function. These genes essentially maintain the stem cells in an undifferentiated state. The KNOX family has undergone quite a bit of evolutionary diversification while keeping the overall mechanism more or less similar. Members of the KNOX family have been found in plants as diverse as Arabidopsis thaliana, rice, barley and tomato. KNOX-like genes are also present in some algae, mosses, ferns and gymnosperms. Misexpression of these genes leads to the formation of interesting morphological features. For example, among members of Antirrhinae, only the species of the genus Antirrhinum lack a structure called spur in the floral region. A spur is considered an evolutionary innovation because it defines pollinator specificity and attraction. Researchers carried out transposon mutagenesis in Antirrhinum majus, and saw that some insertions led to formation of spurs that were very similar to the other members of Antirrhinae,[18] indicating that the loss of spur in wild Antirrhinum majus populations could probably be an evolutionary innovation.

The KNOX family has also been implicated in leaf shape evolution (See below for a more detailed discussion). One study looked at the pattern of KNOX gene expression in A. thaliana, that has simple leaves and Cardamine hirsuta, a plant having complex leaves. In A. thaliana, the KNOX genes are completely turned off in leaves, but in C.hirsuta, the expression continued, generating complex leaves.[19] Also, it has been proposed that the mechanism of KNOX gene action is conserved across all vascular plants, because there is a tight correlation between KNOX expression and a complex leaf morphology.[20]

primary meristems may differentiate into three kinds of primary meristem:

These meristems are responsible for primary growth, or an increase in length or height, which were discovered by scientist Joseph D. Carr of North Carolina in 1943.[citation needed]

There are two types of secondary meristems, these are also called the lateral meristems because they surround the established stem of a plant and cause it to grow laterally (i.e., larger in diameter).

Though each plant grows according to a certain set of rules, each new root and shoot meristem can go on growing for as long as it is alive. In many plants, meristematic growth is potentially indeterminate, making the overall shape of the plant not determinate in advance. This is the primary growth. Primary growth leads to lengthening of the plant body and organ formation. All plant organs arise ultimately from cell divisions in the apical meristems, followed by cell expansion and differentiation. Primary growth gives rise to the apical part of many plants.

The growth of nitrogen-fixing nodules on legume plants such as soybean and pea is either determinate or indeterminate. Thus, soybean (or bean and Lotus japonicus) produce determinate nodules (spherical), with a branched vascular system surrounding the central infected zone. Often, Rhizobium infected cells have only small vacuoles. In contrast, nodules on pea, clovers, and Medicago truncatula are indeterminate, to maintain (at least for some time) an active meristem that yields new cells for Rhizobium infection. Thus zones of maturity exist in the nodule. Infected cells usually possess a large vacuole. The plant vascular system is branched and peripheral.

Under appropriate conditions, each shoot meristem can develop into a complete, new plant or clone. Such new plants can be grown from shoot cuttings that contain an apical meristem. Root apical meristems are not readily cloned, however. This cloning is called asexual reproduction or vegetative reproduction and is widely practiced in horticulture to mass-produce plants of a desirable genotype. This process is also known as mericloning.

Propagating through cuttings is another form of vegetative propagation that initiates root or shoot production from secondary meristematic cambial cells. This explains why basal 'wounding' of shoot-borne cuttings often aids root formation.[22]

Meristems may also be induced in the roots of legumes such as soybean, Lotus japonicus, pea, and Medicago truncatula after infection with soil bacteria commonly called Rhizobium.[citation needed] Cells of the inner or outer cortex in the so-called "window of nodulation" just behind the developing root tip are induced to divide. The critical signal substance is the lipo-oligosaccharide Nod-factor, decorated with side groups to allow specificity of interaction. The Nod factor receptor proteins NFR1 and NFR5 were cloned from several legumes including Lotus japonicus, Medicago truncatula and soybean (Glycine max). Regulation of nodule meristems utilizes long-distance regulation commonly called "Autoregulation of Nodulation" (AON). This process involves a leaf-vascular tissue located LRR receptor kinases (LjHAR1, GmNARK and MtSUNN), CLE peptide signalling, and KAPP interaction, similar to that seen in the CLV1,2,3 system. LjKLAVIER also exhibits a nodule regulation phenotype though it is not yet known how this relates to the other AON receptor kinases.

(NOTE:-We have used the word " DIFFERENTIATION " for the process of dividing of tissues which makes them specific to particular shape,size, and function.)[citation needed]

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Meristem - Wikipedia

Across the country joint pain can not only be unbearable but difficult to treat. The Annapolis Maryland area is no exception. Surgery is often the only way to help reduce the pain but often requires an invasive procedure that will require an extended recovery period. With advancementsin stem cell therapy many individuals of choosing this alternative over the complex surgeries with greater success.

Stem cell therapy is the process of injecting stem cells into the painful joints, which promotes a regeneration process where the body begins to heal itself. The stem cell used in this process are amniotic stem cells that are retrieved only from C-section births. Retrieving the stem cells through the C-section birth means no harm is inflicted on the mother or child during the process. Stem cell therapy has been used to help treat a wide range of joint pains in the knee, hip, shoulder, and wrists.

Shoulder pain is often ignored until the pain becomes too unbearable to function properly throughout the day. Often times, the only treatment to help correct the shoulder pain is through a risky and invasive surgery. Many times the surgeries are not successful and will only provide temporary relief to the patients.

Stem cell therapy, however, can be a more successful alternative to shoulder surgery. Stem cell therapy is a non-invasive procedure that is done in just one day. There is no complex surgery or prolonged recovery time.

Stem Cell Therapy can help relieve these common shoulder conditions:

Many times the aches and pains in the knee are caused from overworking the joints, which is typically from just everyday wear and tear. The aches can quickly turn into severe pains that limit the mobility of the knee. At the onset of these aches and pains cortisone shots can be recommended to allow temporary relief of the pain but, over time they become ineffective and the individual is left with no other choice but to have knee surgery.

Stem cell therapy can provide a long lasting relief for individuals who suffer from knee pain. The amniotic stem cell injects can help regenerate the damaged cells in the knee and because they contain hyaluronic acid the joints are well lubricated allow for quick pain relief and restored mobility.

Stem Cell Therapy can help relieve these common knee conditions:

Any hip injury can cause severe pain to the individual and can often require ongoing pain management without surgery. Stem cell therapy can provide a much more effective alternative for individuals suffering from hip pain. The stem cell injection can promote a natural regrowth to cells and tissue causing the pain.

Stem Cell Therapy can help relieve these common hip conditions:

You need your hands and wrist to perform just about any daily activity so having a risky surgery that will have you without the function of one of your hands for months is not an ideal option. Stem cell therapy can allow individuals to have the full use of the hands with a noninvasive and effective injection,

Stem Cell Therapy can help relieve these common wrist conditions:

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Stem Cell Therapy in Annapolis Maryland | Stem Cell ...

Dr. Carle graduated from Duke University School of Medicine in 1986 and did his residency in anesthesiology at the University of Virginia (UVA) in Charlottesville, VA.After finishing his residency in 1990 he stayed on the faculty of UVA, and was instrumental in starting the PAIN MEDICINE FELLOWSHIP program at UVA.In 1994, he decided to enter private practice and was hired by the anesthesiology group at Saint Joseph Medical Center in Towson, MD to start a pain management program at the hospital.

After successfully running the pain program at Saint Joseph Medical Center for many years, he decided to leave the anesthesiology group in 2003 to devote 100% of his time to treating patients in pain.In 2003, he started The Carle Center for Pain Management which is located at 7600 Osler Drive, Suite 205 in Towson, MD.

Always at the leading edge of pain medicine, Dr. Carle introduced and expanded many interventional techniques in the Baltimore area including Spinal Cord Stimulation, Radiofrequency Ablations, MLS laser therapy, and many other Interventional pain medicine techniques.He realized a few years ago that regenerative medicine (i.e. stem cells, PRP, etc.) was going to be a game changer in the treatment of pain in the sense that, after managing patients pain for 30 years, regenerative medicine gives me the ability to actually reverse or cure the cause of pain.

Dr. Carle is very active in the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) and has served as president of ASIPP of Maryland.He is also very active in the Maryland State Medical Society (MedChi), serving on several committees including the legislative committee which helps formulate health policy in Maryland.He is currently on the Board of the Baltimore County Medical Society.

Dr. Carle, his wife and two college aged sons enjoy the Chesapeake Bay, trips to the beach, fishing, hiking, and biking in nearby state and national parks.He supports the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

Peter is the Patient Care Advocate at the Towson, MD clinic. He grew up in the suburbs north of Baltimore, and graduated from The University of Maryland, College Park with a Business and Economics degree.His professional experience includes over 15 years in insurance and healthcare management. Peter is currently pursuing his Masters degree in Healthcare Management.

What excites Peter the most about being in this wonderful field of Regenerative Medicine, is getting to see first-hand howpatients get significantly betterafter all other conventional methods have not succeeded.

In his spare time Peter enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing sports, and playing guitar.Peter is also a passionate skier and enjoys taking a trip or two out west each winter. Peter also enjoys staying active outside, and loves being on the water or at abeach.

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Stem Cell Centers - Towson > Stem Cell Centers

Orthopedic and Wellnessis proud to introduce a new Regenerative Medicine Therapy offering: Autologous Stem Cell Treatment.

Regenerative Medicine is an exciting and revolutionary field of orthopedics and sports medicine. It involves the application of biological therapies that enhance the bodys ability to heal itself.

What is Stem Cell Therapy?

Stem Cell Therapy involves the therapeutic use of special cells derived from the adult patients own tissues. These stem cells, more specifically referred to as Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), have the capacity to differentiate into a variety of cell types, including bone, cartilage and muscle. MSCs are therefore responsible for the regeneration (replacement) and healing of the old injured tissue.

How Are Stem Cells Obtained?

We harvest MSCs for injection therapy in our state-of-the-art surgical center. MSCs are usually obtained from the bone marrow or fat tissue.

We stringently follow FDA guidelines for the clinical use of stem cells. We do not expand, reproduce, or grow stem cells in a culture.

What Conditions Are Indicated for Stem Cell Treatment?

What is the Protocol of Stem Cell Treatment?

The treatment plan is tailored to meet the needs of each individual patient. Orthopedic and Wellness offers Stem Cell Treatment in conjunction with PRP Therapy Treatment. PRP provides cell signals and nourishment to help the stem cells flourish and to develop into new cartilage, ligaments and tendons. The relationship is akin to fertilizer and seeds used in gardening.The injection of stem cells may need to be repeated between 1-5 years in order to maintain and improve the result from the first treatment.

We provide a free consultation for new patients who are considering these treatments.The individual patients protocol will be formulated during the consultation.

When Can I expect to See Improvement?

On average, most patients start to see signs of improvement approximately 6-8 weeks after treatment. The most striking results can present in the form of less overall pain, an increased ability to do more activity, or a faster than normal recovery from pain.

Are There Risks Related to Stem Cell Treatment?

Because the Stem Cells are obtained from the patient undergoing treatment (ie the patient is both the stem cell donor and the recipient), there is no risk of tissue rejection or infection from other donors. No report of significant risk related to Stem Cell Treatment has been found. The potential complications associated with Stem Cell Treatment are similar to that from regular joint injections.

Is Stem Cell Treatment Covered by Insurance?

Currently, Stem Cell Treatment is still considered experimental. Most insurance plans, including Medicare, do not pay for this treatment.

What is the cost of Stem Cell Treatment?

We are offering an introductory price to make this regenerative treatment affordable to most patients. The price may be subject to change in the future. Please call our offices to request additional information regarding pricing for this revolutionary therapy.

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STEM CELL THERAPY - Orthopedic and Wellness Maryland

There are many online sources that provide information on stem cells. Each question below has a few links with the most relevant information. The sources are from government agencies, the University of Maryland, and the International Society for Stem Cell Research.

Stem Cells: The Future of Medicine

Stem cell research is transforming the future of medicine. Indeed, as we all begin life as a stem cell, it is through a highly complex series of events that those few stem cells, which are capable of self-renewal and differentiation, develop into all of the specialized cells found in our adult bodies. By studying these events we gain rare insights into how the human body is made. Stem cell research also holds amazing potential for restructuring the way we practice medicine: One day, stem cells may be used to replace or repair damaged tissues and organs and to dramatically alter how we treat diseases like cancer.

There are many areas in medicine in which stem cell research could have a significant impact. For example, there are a variety of diseases and injuries in which a patient's cells or tissues are destroyed and must be replaced by tissue or organ transplants. Stem cells may be able to generate brand new tissue in these cases, and even cure diseases for which there currently is no adequate therapy. Diseases that could see revolutionary advances include Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, diabetes, spinal cord injury, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, cancer, and burns.

Stem cells could also be used to gain a better understanding of how genetics work in the early stages of cell development. This can help scientists understand why some cells develop abnormally and lead to medical problems such as birth defects and cancer. By understanding the genetic basis for cell development, scientists may learn how to prevent some of these diseases.

Finally, stem cells may be useful in the testing and development of drugs. Because stem cells can be used to create unlimited amounts of specialized tissue, such as heart tissue, it may be possible to test how drugs react on these specialized tissues before trying the drugs on animals and human subjects. Drugs could be tested for effectiveness and side effects more rapidly.

The University of Maryland School of Medicine is at the forefront of research and development of stem cells for these purposes. Through its University of Maryland Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, led by Dr. Curt Civin, the School is exploring how to manipulate stem cells to allow for much better transplantation and transfusion therapies. Its scientists are also working to understand how stem cells contribute to diseases in order to develop ways to improve conventional treatment and prevention of these disorders.

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Patient Resources | University of Maryland School of Medicine