Stem Cells A Cellular Fountain Of Youth

The developmental capabilities and therapeutic potential of stem cells are being revealed in studies of cellular signaling mechanisms that regulate their proliferation, differentiation and survival. "Stem Cells: A Cellular Fountain of Youth" reviews the current state of understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate embryonic and adult stem cells with an emphasis on how aging and age-related disease impact on these mechanisms. Leading authorities detail the properties and therapeutic potential of embryonic stem cells, and stem cell precursors of blood, nervous and muscle and bone cells. Recent advances in deciphering the environmental signals and intrinsic signal transduction pathways that regulate embryonic stem cells are described, and the potential therapeutic uses of these totipotent cells is considered. Analyses of hematopoietic stem cells during aging suggest an important genetic component to the control of their self-renewing capability which may contribute to determination of lifespan. The contribution of lymphocyte depletion to impaired immune function during aging is considered, as is the potential of hematopoietic cells to form other types of cells including neurons. Several chapters cover the remarkable and rapidly advancing field of neural stem cells. The adult brain contains populations of stem cells capable of forming new neurons and glial cells; the signals that regulate these neural stem cells and the involvement of neurogenesis in normal brain function is described. Because of their potential to replace lost or damaged neurons, there has been intense interest in determining the therapeutic potential of stem cells for the treatment of patients with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, stroke and traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. Heart and skeletal muscle contain stem cells and the impact of aging and disease on these stem cell populations and the potential of stem cell therapy to recover function of these organs is reviewed. A final example of the fascinating world of stem cells is a review of the roles of stem cells in bone formation and remodeling. Collectively, this book provides a comprehensive, yet concise, view of stem cell molecular biology in the context of aging and age-related disease. This book will be a valuable reference for graduate students and senior scientists interested in the fascinating world of stem cells and their potential use in the clinic.

Stem Cells have fascinated scientists, doctors, and now the public. Stem cells are blank or undifferentiated cells that turn in to specialized cells and tissues in the area of the body that they are introduced.

The promise of a regenerative medicine -- the regrowth of lost limbs and organs, new hope for patients with Alzheimer's or multiple sclerosis, the "cellular fountain of youth" -- sounds like science fiction, but it's real and on the cutting edge of medicine. Veteran medical journalist Karen van Kamped looks at this new technology through the stories of the scientists who are creating it and the ethical and legal questions with which they must deal. Many companies and universities in Canada are at the forefront of cellular research, and this fascinating book shows that the next frontier of medicine is unfolding around us.

Since the beginning of time, we have been looking for the fountain of youth. This has opened the doors for charlatans and con men, thought out the centuries, to separate us from our gold and silver, with promises of eternal youth. The prime example in the eighteen hundreds was the medicine wagons traveling across the parries, offering entertainment, and curing for everything from gout to baldness.

Accompanying CD-ROM (in v. 2) has image collections which can be saved in PowerPoint or HTML.

New discoveries in the field of stem cell research have frequently appeared in the news and in scientific literature. Research in this area promises to lead to new therapies for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and a wide variety of other diseases. This two-volume reference integrates this exciting area of biology, combining the prerequisites for a general understanding of adult and embryonic stem cells, the tools, methods, and experimental protocols needed to study and characterize stem cells and progenitor populations, as well as a presentation by the world's experts of what is currently known about each specific organ system. The editors of the Handbook of Stem Cells include: Robert Lanza, Helen Blau, John Gearhart, Brigid Hogan, Douglas Melton, Malcolm Moore, Roger Pedersen, E. Donnall Thomas, James Thomson, Catherine Verfaillie, Irving Weissman, and Michael West. The Editorial Board includes: W. French Anderson, Peter Andrews, Anthony Atala, Jose Cibelli, Giulio Cossu, Robert Edwards, Martin Evans, Elaine Fuchs, Margaret Fuller, Fred Gage, Richard Gardner, Margaret Goodell, Ronald Green, William Haseltine, Joseph Itskovitz-Eldor, Rudolf Jaenisch, Ihor Lemischka, Dame Anne McLaren, Richard Mulligan, Stuart Orkin, Martin Pera, Benjamin Reubinoff, Janet Rossant, Hans Scholer, Austin Smith, Evan Snyder, Davor Solter, Alan Trounson, and Leonard Zon. This comprehensive set should be a much-needed addition to the library of students and researchers alike. * Provides comprehensive coverage on this highly topical subject * Contains contributions by the foremost authorities and premiere names in the field of stem cell research * The accompanying CD-ROM includes over 250 color figures

Among the many applications of stem cell research are nervous system diseases, diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune diseases as well as Parkinson's disease, end-stage kidney disease, liver failure, cancer, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Stem cells are self-renewing, unspecialised cells that can give rise to multiple types all of specialised cells of the body. Stem cell research also involves complex ethical and legal considerations since they involve adult, foetal tissue and embryonic sources. This new book presents the latest research from around the globe.

In the last few decades, significant advancements in the biology and engineering of stem cells have enabled progress in their clinical application to revascularization therapies. Some strategies involve the mobilization of endogenous stem cell populations, and others employ cell transplantation. However, both techniques have benefited from multidis