http://www.intechopen.com/books/stem-cells-in-clinic-and-research
Edited by Ali Gholamrezanezhad, ISBN 978-953-307-797-0, Hard cover, 804 pages, Publisher: InTech, Chapters published August 23, 2011 under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 license
DOI: 10.5772/740
Based on our current understanding of cell biology and strong supporting evidence from previous experiences, different types of human stem cell populations are capable of undergoing differentiation or trans-differentiation into functionally and biologically active cells for use in therapeutic purposes. So far, progress regarding the use of both in vitro and in vivo regenerative medicine models already offers hope for the application of different types of stem cells as a powerful new therapeutic option to treat different diseases that were previously considered to be untreatable. Remarkable achievements in cell biology resulting in the isolation and characterization of various stem cells and progenitor cells has increased the expectation for the development of a new approach to the treatment of genetic and developmental human diseases. Due to the fact that currently stem cells and umbilical cord banks are so strictly defined and available, it seems that this mission is investigationally more practical than in the past. On the other hand, studies performed on stem cells, targeting their conversion into functionally mature tissue, are not necessarily seeking to result in the clinical application of the differentiated cells; In fact, still one of the important goals of these studies is to get acquainted with the natural process of development of mature cells from their immature progenitors during the embryonic period onwards, which can produce valuable results as knowledge of the developmental processes during embryogenesis. For example, the cellular and molecular mechanisms leading to mature and adult cells developmental abnormalities are relatively unknown. This lack of understanding stems from the lack of a good model system to study cell development and differentiation. Hence, the knowledge reached through these studies can prove to be a breakthrough in preventing developmental disorders. Meanwhile, many researchers conduct these studies to understand the molecular and cellular basis of cancer development. The fact that cancer is one of the leading causes of death throughout the world, highlights the importance of these researches in the fields of biology and medicine.
Chapter 1 Stem Cells: General Features and Characteristicsby Hongxiang Hui, Yongming Tang, Min Hu and Xiaoning Zhao
Stem cells are undifferentiated biological cells, that can differentiate into specialized cells and can divide (through mitosis) to produce more stem cells. They are found in multicellular organisms. In mammals, there are two broad types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells, which are isolated from the inner cell mass of blastocysts, and adult stem cells, which are found in various tissues. In adult organisms, stem cells and progenitor cells act as a repair system for the body, replenishing adult tissues. In a developing embryo, stem cells can differentiate into all the specialized cells—ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm (see induced pluripotent stem cells)—but also maintain the normal turnover of regenerative organs, such as blood, skin, or intestinal tissues.
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]]>Vitamin B12 plays a key role in many metabolic processes occurring in all mammals. Over the years its biological role has been extensively studied generating a lot of interest in the chemistry of this vital molecule. This established a variety of new methodologies for the synthesis and analysis of new cobalamin derivatives as well as creative purification techniques. This tutorial review summarizes all the advancements made in this area, providing a deeper insight into vitamin B12 chemistry.
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Mouse embryonic stem cells with fluorescent markerphot0-wiki |
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