Mesenchymal stem cells for restoring endometrial function: An infertility perspective.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be derived from several tissues such as bone marrow, placenta, adipose tissue, or endometrial tissue. MSCs gain a lot of attention for cell-based therapy due to their characteristics including differentiation ability and immunomodulatory effect. Preclinical and clinical studies demonstrated that MSCs can be applied to treat female infertility by improving of the functions of ovary and uterus.

Human Caesarean scar-derived feeder cells: a novel feeder cell type for culturing human pluripotent stem cells without exogenous basic fibroblast growth factor supplementation.

In a feeder-dependent culture system of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), coculture with mouse embryonic fibroblasts may limit the clinical use of hPSCs. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of using human Caesarean scar fibroblasts (HSFs) as feeder cells for the culture of hPSCs. HSFs were isolated and characterised and cocultured with hPSCs, and the pluripotency, differentiation ability and karyotypic stability of hPSCs were determined.

Transgene-free human induced pluripotent stem cell line (HS5-SV.hiPS) generated from cesarean scar-derived fibroblasts.

Transgene-free human HS5-SV.hiPS line was generated from human cesarean scar-derived fibroblasts using temperature-sensitive Sendai virus vectors carrying Oct4, Sox2, cMyc and Klf4 exogenous transcriptional factors. The viral constructs were eliminated from HS5-SV.

Human Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Serum for Culturing the Supportive Feeder Cells of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines.

Although human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) can proliferate robustly on the feeder-free culture system, genetic instability of hPSCs has been reported in such environment. Alternatively, feeder cells enable hPSCs to maintain their pluripotency. The feeder cells are usually grown in a culture medium containing fetal bovine serum (FBS) prior to coculture with hPSCs.

Triploid human embryonic stem cells derived from tripronuclear zygotes displayed pluripotency and trophoblast differentiation ability similar to the diploid human embryonic stem cells.

Because the diploid human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can be successfully derived from tripronuclear zygotes thus, they can serve as an alternative source of derivation of normal karyotype hESC lines. The aim of the present study was to compare the pluripotency and trophoblast differentiation ability of hESCs derived from tripronuclear zygotes and diploid hESCs. In the present study, a total of 20 tripronuclear zygotes were cultured; 8 zygotes developed to the blastocyst stage and 1 hESC line was generated.

The ROCK inhibitor Y-26732 enhances the survival and proliferation of human embryonic stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells upon dissociation.

Human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) are the starting material required for neuronal subtype differentiation. Proliferation of hNPCs allows researchers to study the mechanistic complexities and microenvironments present during neural differentiation and to explore potential applications for hNPCs in cell therapies. The use of enzymatic dissociation during hNPC proliferation causes dissociation-induced apoptosis; therefore, in the present study, we examined the effect of the p-160-Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase (ROCK) inhibitor Y-26732 on dissociation-induced apoptosis of hNPCs.

Eighteen-year cryopreservation does not negatively affect the pluripotency of human embryos: evidence from embryonic stem cell derivation.

Human embryonic stem (hES) cells are considered to be a potential source for the therapy of human diseases, drug screening, and the study of developmental biology. In the present study, we successfully derived hES cell lines from blastocysts developed from frozen and fresh embryos. Seventeen- to eighteen-year-old frozen embryos were thawed, cultured to the blastocyst stage, and induced to form hES cells using human foreskin fibroblasts.

Generation of mouse embryonic stem cell lines from zona-free nuclear transfer embryos.

Pluripotent stem cells would have great potential in cell therapies and drug development when genetically matched with the patient; thus, histocompatible cells could be used in transplantation therapy or as a source of patient-specific cells for drug testing. Pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ESCs)-generated via somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) or parthenogenesis (pESC)-are potential sources of histocompatible cells and tissues for transplantation. Earlier studies used the piezoelectric microinjection (PEM) technique for nuclear transfer (NT) in mouse.

Development of human embryonic stem cell derivation.

Objective: To establish human embryonic stem (hES) cells from human embryos.

Design: Experimental study.

Setting: Reproductive Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University.

Effect of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) on the quality of in vitro produced mouse blastocysts and subsequent derivation of embryonic stem (ES) cells.

Objective: To determine the effect of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) on the quality of in vitro produced mouse blastocyst and the efficiency of embryonic stem (ES) cell derivation.

Design: Experimental study

Setting: Reproductive Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University

Material And Method: In vivo fertilized zygotes were collected and subjected to in vitro culture in potassium simplex optimized medium (KSOM) containing 1,000 unit/ml LIF. The developmental ability of the zygote to blastocyst-stage and the cell numbers in blastocysts were evaluated Expanded blastocysts developed in different culture media were subsequently subjected to ES cell derivation.

Introduction to stem cell medicine.

Embryonic stem cell is the promising novel therapeutic tool for various degenerative diseases and tissue injuries. With the concept of cell and tissue therapy, many chronic disorders will be curable. The present article provides basic knowledge of stem cell in areas of definition, classification and future clinical applications.

International stem cell research; networking and collaboration.

Stem cell research has obtained more attention during the last decade because of its strong potential as a new tool to cure many chronic diseases. In addition, stem cell knowledge is an important basis for understanding pathophysiology at the cellular level and developing disease models for experimental research. There are different limitations on resources, budget, policy and regulation among countries.

Comparison of two different fixed doses of follitropin-beta in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation: A prospective randomized, double blind clinical trial.

A prospective randomized, double blind, single centre study was conducted to compare the efficacy, efficiency and clinical side effects of daily fixed dose regimen of either 100 IU or 200 IU of recombinant follicle stimulating hormone(rFSH) Follitropin beta in down-regulated women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation(COH) for either conventional in vitro fertilization(IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI). A total of sixty women were randomly allocated according to the criteria for the treatment by either 100 IU(n = 30) or 200 IU (n = 30) of FSH. Although more cycle cancellations due to low response were observed in the 100 IU group (n = 9 vs n = 2), two cases of mild and moderate ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome were noted in the higher dose group.

The determinant factors and the anxiety level of infertile couples during the treatment of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer at Chulalongkorn Hospital.

The determinant factors and the anxiety level of infertile couples during the treatment of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer were studied in 60 infertile couples between 1 January to 31 May 2000. The instruments employed in the study were Personal and Health Data Questionnaire, the Cornell Medical Index, and the Determinant Factors of Anxiety. The average age was between 36-40 years old, holding a Bachelor's degree and working in private companies earning a monthly income between 10,000-20,000 Baht.

Preliminary study on somatic cell nuclear transfer in rabbits in Thailand.

The objective of the study was to develop the somatic nuclear transfer technique by using rabbits as the model. The oocyte recipients aged 16 h post coitus were collected surgically from 20 superovulated rabbit doe with 28 and 40 mg Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) after mating with a vasectomized male. The metaphase II plate and 1st polar body of oocyte was later aspirated by enucleated micropipette under an inverted microscope.

The effect of growth hormone on the development of in vitro matured unstimulated human oocytes.

Objective: To investigate the effect of growth hormone on the development of in vitro matured unstimulated human oocytes.

Design: Randomized controlled study.

Setting: Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn university.

Predictive value of human chorionic gonadotropin in the outcome of early pregnancy achieved by assisted reproductive technology.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the predictive value of the serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in pregnancies achieved by assisted reproductive techonology (ART). Two hundred and eighty-six pregnancies were studied retrospectively from September 1989 to June 1998. The serum hCG samples at 2-6 weeks after embryo transfer (ET) were analysed by fluoroimmunoassay.