Stem Cells and the Future of Regenerative Medicine


Book Description

Recent scientific breakthroughs, celebrity patient advocates, and conflicting religious beliefs have come together to bring the state of stem cell researchâ€"specifically embryonic stem cell researchâ€"into the political crosshairs. President Bush's watershed policy statement allows federal funding for embryonic stem cell research but only on a limited number of stem cell lines. Millions of Americans could be affected by the continuing political debate among policymakers and the public. Stem Cells and the Future of Regenerative Medicine provides a deeper exploration of the biological, ethical, and funding questions prompted by the therapeutic potential of undifferentiated human cells. In terms accessible to lay readers, the book summarizes what we know about adult and embryonic stem cells and discusses how to go about the transition from mouse studies to research that has therapeutic implications for people. Perhaps most important, Stem Cells and the Future of Regenerative Medicine also provides an overview of the moral and ethical problems that arise from the use of embryonic stem cells. This timely book compares the impact of public and private research funding and discusses approaches to appropriate research oversight. Based on the insights of leading scientists, ethicists, and other authorities, the book offers authoritative recommendations regarding the use of existing stem cell lines versus new lines in research, the important role of the federal government in this field of research, and other fundamental issues.




The Neural Crest


Book Description

This 1999 edition of The Neural Crest contains comprehensive information about the neural crest, a structure unique to the vertebrate embryo, which has only a transient existence in early embryonic life. The ontogeny of the neural crest embodies the most important issues in developmental biology, as the neural crest is considered to have played a crucial role in evolution of the vertebrate phylum. Data that analyse neural crest ontogeny in murine and zebrafish embryos have been included in this revision. This revised edition also takes advantage of recent advances in our understanding of markers of neural crest cell subpopulations, and a full chapter is now devoted to cell lineage analysis. The major research breakthrough since the first edition has been the introduction of molecular biology to neural crest research, enabling an elucidation of many molecular mechanisms of neural crest development. This book is essential reading for students and researchers in developmental biology, cell biology, and neuroscience.




Textbook on Scar Management


Book Description

This text book is open access under a CC BY 4.0 license. Written by a group of international experts in the field and the result of over ten years of collaboration, it allows students and readers to gain to gain a detailed understanding of scar and wound treatment – a topic still dispersed among various disciplines. The content is divided into three parts for easy reference. The first part focuses on the fundamentals of scar management, including assessment and evaluation procedures, classification, tools for accurate measurement of all scar-related elements (volume density, color, vascularization), descriptions of the different evaluation scales. It also features chapters on the best practices in electronic-file storage for clinical reevaluation and telemedicine procedures for safe remote evaluation. The second section offers a comprehensive review of treatment and evidence-based technologies, presenting a consensus of the various available guidelines (silicone, surgery, chemical injections, mechanical tools for scar stabilization, lasers). The third part evaluates the full range of emerging technologies offered to physicians as alternative or complementary solutions for wound healing (mechanical, chemical, anti-proliferation). Textbook on Scar Management will appeal to trainees, fellows, residents and physicians dealing with scar management in plastic surgery, dermatology, surgery and oncology, as well as to nurses and general practitioners




Epigenetic Regulation of Skin Development and Regeneration


Book Description

This indispensable volume highlights recent studies identifying epigenetic mechanisms as essential regulators of skin development, stem cell activity and regeneration. Chapters are contributed by leading experts and promote the skin as an accessible model system for studying mechanisms that control organ development and regeneration. The timely discussions contained throughout are of broad relevance to other areas of biology and medicine and can help inform the development of novel therapeutics for skin disorders as well as new approaches to skin regeneration that target the epigenome. Part of the highly successful Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine series, Epigenetic Regulation of Skin Development and Regeneration uncovers the fundamental significance of epigenetic mechanisms in skin development and regeneration, and emphasizes the development of new therapies for a number of skin disorders, such as pathological conditions of epidermal differentiation, pigmentation and carcinogenesis. At least six categories of researchers will find this book essential, including stem cell, developmental, hair follicle or molecular biologists, and gerontologists or clinical dermatologists.




Regenerative Medicine and Plastic Surgery


Book Description

This book presents the latest advances in the field of regenerative medicine in plastic surgery. It is the first authoritative reference documenting all the ways that plastic surgical practice and regenerative medicine science overlap or provide a road map for the future of both specialties. The Editors have provided a valuable service by gathering in one place the leading voices in these two fields in clear and concise manner.The first part introduces readers to essential principles of skin and soft tissue regeneration, e.g. the possibility of using mesenchymal stem cells for wound healing. Since bone serves as a supportive tissue in most of the body, bone regeneration is an important aspect of regenerative medicine; accordingly, the second part discusses the novel bone implants, activated bone grafts and bone tissue engineering. The book’s third part, focusing on cartilage regeneration, includes chapters on e.g. stem cells and ear regeneration. In turn, part four addresses muscle and tendon regeneration: from tendon to bone and tendon to muscle, as well as aging in the realm of muscle regeneration. Lastly, part five highlights nerve regeneration, deepening surgeons’ knowledge to help them successfully treat injuries to the peripheral neural system. Written by leading experts this book is an invaluable resource for researchers, students, beginners and experienced clinicians in a range of specialties. "With beautiful clinical images and artwork, this book will be a central companion to both practicing plastic surgeons who wish to remain abreast of oncoming technologic advances and regenerative medicine researchers who wish to understand the current state of the art of surgical reconstruction." - Geoffrey C. Gurtner, MD, FACS Johnson and Johnson Distinguished Professor of Surgery Professor (by courtesy) of Bioengineering and Materials Science Inaugural Vice Chairman of Surgery for Innovation Stanford University School of Medicine




Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering


Book Description

Tissue engineering integrates knowledge and tools from biological sciences and engineering for tissue regeneration. A challenge for tissue engineering is to identify appropriate cell sources. The recent advancement of stem cell biology provides enormous opportunities to engineer stem cells for tissue engineering. The impact of stem cell technology on tissue engineering will be revolutionary. This book covers state-of-the-art knowledge on the potential of stem cells for the regeneration of a wide range of tissues and organs and the technologies for studying and engineering stem cells. It serves as a valuable reference book for researchers and students.




Epidermal Stem Cell Niche


Book Description

Advances in Stem Cells and Their Niches, Volume Three, comprises a compilation of the latest findings on our understanding of skin biology. It extends the current knowledge on skin stem cells and provides in-depth discussions on their unique settings, niches and properties. Chapters in this new release include The biophysical regulation of epidermal fate and function, Epidermal stem cell lineages, Hair shaft progenitors that create a niche for hair pigmentation, Dermal papilla cells control of hair follicle growth and pigmentation, Molecular mechanisms regulating the hair follicle niche, Dermal fibroblasts and their niches and interactions with epidermal stem cells. - Contains chapters written by international leaders in skin biology - Provides a unique compilation of the latest findings and technologies in basic and translational skin biology - Expands current knowledge on the regulation of skin stem cells as isolated entities, focusing on how skin stem cells and lineages of stem cells function in a coordinated manner - Provides illustrations and comprehensive analyses of each subject




Stem Cells


Book Description

Since different types of stem cells for therapeutic applications have recently been proposed, this timely volume explores various sources of stem cells for tissue and organ regeneration and discusses their advantages and limitations. Also discussed are pros and cons for using embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, and adult stem cells isolated from postnatal tissues. Different types of adult stem cells for therapeutic applications are also reviewed, including hematopoietic stem cells, epidermal stem cells, endothelial progenitors, neural stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and very small embryonic-like stem cells. This book also addresses paracrine effects of stem cells in regenerative medicine that are mediated by extracellular microvesicles and soluble secretome. Finally, potential applications of stem cells in cardiology, gastroenterology, neurology, immunotherapy, and aging are presented. This is an ideal book for students and researchers working in the stem cell research field.




Skin Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine


Book Description

The skin is the largest human organ system. Loss of skin integrity due to injury or illness results in a substantial physiologic imbalance and ultimately in severe disability or death. From burn victims to surgical scars and plastic surgery, the therapies resulting from skin tissue engineering and regenerative medicine are important to a broad spectrum of patients. Skin Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine provides a translational link for biomedical researchers across fields to understand the inter-disciplinary approaches which expanded available therapies for patients and additional research collaboration. This work expands on the primary literature on the state of the art of cell therapies and biomaterials to review the most widely used surgical therapies for the specific clinical scenarios. - Explores cellular and molecular processes of wound healing, scar formation, and dermal repair - Includes examples of animal models for wound healing and translation to the clinical world - Presents the current state of, and clinical opportunities for, extracellular matrices, natural biomaterials, synthetic biomaterials, biologic skin substitutes, and adult and fetal stem and skin cells for skin regenerative therapies and wound management - Discusses new innovative approaches for wound healing including skin bioprinting and directed cellular therapies