Prognosis prediction with two calculations of Palliative Prognostic Index: further prospective validation in hospice cancer patients with multicentre study.

Objectives: In palliative care settings, predicting prognosis is important for patients and clinicians. The Palliative Prognostic Index (PPI), a prognostic tool calculated using clinical indices alone has been validated within cancer population. This study was to further test the discriminatory ability of the PPI (ie, its ability to determine whether a subject will live more or less than a certain amount of time) in a larger sample but with a palliative care context and to compare predictions at two different points in time.

Development and production of good manufacturing practice grade human embryonic stem cell lines as source material for clinical application.

From 2006 to 2011, Roslin Cells Ltd derived 17 human embryonic stem cells (hESC) while developing (RCM1, RC-2 to -8, -10) and implementing (RC-9, -11 to -17) quality assured standards of operation in a facility operating in compliance with European Union (EU) directives and United Kingdom (UK) licensure for procurement, processing and storage of human cells as source material for clinical application, and targeted to comply with an EU Good Manufacturing Practice specification. Here we describe the evolution and specification of the facility, its operation and outputs, complementing hESC resource details communicated in Stem Cell Research Lab Resources.

Derivation of the clinical grade human embryonic stem cell line RCe015-A (RC-11).

The human embryonic stem cell line RCe015-A (RC-11) was derived under quality assured compliance with UK regulation, European Union Directives and International guidance for tissue procurement, processing and storage according to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. The cell line was derived from a fragmented cleavage stage embryo voluntarily donated as unsuitable or surplus to fertility requirements following informed consent. RCe015-A (RC-11) shows normal pluripotency marker expression and differentiation to the three germ layers in vitro and in vivo.

Derivation of the clinical grade human embryonic stem cell line RCe013-A (RC-9).

The human embryonic stem cell line RCe013-A (RC-9) was derived under quality assured compliance with UK regulation, European Union Directives and International guidance for tissue procurement, processing and storage according to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. The cell line was derived from a failed to fertilise oocyte voluntarily donated as unsuitable and surplus to fertility requirements following informed consent. RCe013-A (RC-9) shows normal pluripotency marker expression and differentiation to the three germ layers in vitro and in vivo.

Derivation of the clinical grade human embryonic stem cell line RCe021-A (RC-17).

The human embryonic stem cell line RCe021-A (RC-17) was derived under quality assured compliance with UK regulation, European Union Directives and International guidance for tissue procurement, processing and storage according to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. The cell line was derived from a day 3 embryo voluntarily donated as unsuitable or surplus to fertility requirements following informed consent. RCe021-A (RC-17) shows normal pluripotency marker expression and differentiation to the three germ layers in vitro.