https://www.pagepress.org/journals/jaarm <p>The <strong>Journal of the American Academy of Regenerative Medicine</strong> (JAARM) is the publication of the American Academy of Regenerative Medicine (AARM). JAARM provides an outlet for quality articles, perspectives, critical reviews, and comments that contribute to the scientific understanding of all aspects of regenerative medicine. JAARM is distinguished by its interdisciplinary nature and breadth, and will provide benefit not only to the members of the AARM, but to scientists and clinicians worldwide whose scientific and clinical interests are similar to those of the AARM. JAARM is a broad-spectrum, open-Access, online-only, peer-reviewed journal that considers articles concerned with all aspects of regenerative medicine. Its remit is to publish manuscripts that are regenerative medicine related and that are generally in keeping with the philosophy of American Academy and Board of Regenerative Medicine (AABRM). Such manuscripts may include: diagnosis and treatment; basic and clinical research; epidemiology; molecular, cell, and tissue biology; genetics; pathophysiology; epidemiology; tissue and bioengineering; clinical and translational insights; regenerative medicine policies and regulations; ethical issues; and technical or resource-based innovations. We will consider studies from any model that provides insights into regenerative medicine, whether human or veterinary. JAARM will serve, <em>inter alia,</em> as a foundation for scientific and medical advice across the broad spectrum of regenerative medicine. Integrated studies that bridge gaps between traditional scientific and medical disciplines, and economic, social, and public administration studies directly related to regenerative medicine are of importance. All works to be published in JAARM should demonstrate originality, a non-short-term significance of their underlying message, be of high quality, and present clear indication of their contribution with existing bodies of knowledge. JAARM publishes original articles, brief reports, reviews, and case reports describing novel results of significance in all areas of regenerative medicine. JAARM will strive for timely consideration and publication of quality material and will publish all manuscripts deemed of high standard and broad interest, to high technical standards of content, grammar, and style.</p> PAGEPress Scientific Publications, Pavia, Italy en-US Journal of the American Academy of Regenerative Medicine <p><strong>PAGEPress</strong> has chosen to apply the <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License</strong></a> (CC BY-NC 4.0) to all manuscripts to be published.</p> https://www.pagepress.org/journals/jaarm/article/view/7253 The <em>Journal of the American Academy of Regenerative Medicine</em> (JAARM) is the official publication of the American Academy of Regenerative Medicine (AARM). JAARM provides an outlet for quality articles, perspectives, critical reviews and comments that contribute to the scientific understanding of all aspects of regenerative medicine. JAARM is distinguished by its interdisciplinary nature and breadth, and will provide benefit not only to the members of the AARM, but to scientists and clinicians worldwide whose scientific and clinical interests are similar to those of the AARM... David B. Harrell Copyright (c) 2017 David B. Harrell 2017-06-15 2017-06-15 1 1 10.4081/jaarm.2017.7253 https://www.pagepress.org/journals/jaarm/article/view/7203 The aim of this paper is to review the literature on molecular protein and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) factors involved in intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). These elements were categorized basing on the changes in i) cell viability or number, ii) extracellular matrix (ECM) and iii) inflammation. Factors found to influence cell number and viability in IVDD included Fas/FasL, tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand, death receptor-4/-5, bcl2-like 11, p53 inducible nuclear protein 1, p53/p21 factors, basic fibroblast growth factor and transforming growth factor-β. Factors found to affect IVD ECM included a range of matrix metalloproteinase, metalloproteinases with thrombospondin motifs, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases and disintegrins. Several proinflammatory factors have been identified in IVDD including interleukin-1β and TNF-α. The advent of protein and mRNA detection techniques has increased the understanding of IVDD from a molecular perspective. Further study of molecular protein and mRNA factors has the potential to identify and optimize therapeutic targets in the future. Jessie Zhang Victor M. Lu Andre J. van Wijnen Panagiotis Kerezoudis Isobel Yeap Lin Cong Noelle Larson Wenchun Qu Ahmad Nassr Mohamad Bydon Copyright (c) 2017 Jessie Zhang, Victor M Lu, Andre J van Wijnen, Panagiotis Kerezoudis, Isobel Yeap, Lin Cong, Noelle A Larson, Wenchun Qu, Ahmad Nassr, Mohamad Bydon 2017-06-15 2017-06-15 1 1 10.4081/jaarm.2017.7203 https://www.pagepress.org/journals/jaarm/article/view/7239 A description of a proposed categorization scheme of regenerative stem cell therapies illustrated by review of basic science and clinical studies involving the clinical application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is proposed. The aim of this review is to provide a novel framework for categorizing MSCs according to preparation strategy. Selected basic science studies and clinical trials were used to illustrate the applications in each category of stem cells. A review of the literature regarding stem cell sources and preparation makes apparent that there are five generations of stem cells in various states of study and clinical application, ranging from therapies currently being used in officebased practice to stem cell generations that hold considerable promise but with persistent concerns regarding safety and feasibility. In the last decade, stem cell research has spread to many different branches of regenerative medicine. Basic science and clinical studies examining the use of stem cell transplantation in the treatment of a wide range of human diseases have exponentially increased. The<em> Five Generations Model</em> may be a helpful way to describe stem cells in research and in clinical application. Describing stem cells in terms of cell preparation strategy, rather than source, may facilitate a greater understanding of this therapy by physicians and patients, and provides an opportunity for researchers to incorporate this helpful framework into a description of their background and findings. Christy L. Hunt Yeng F. Her Luke A. Law Mohamad Bydon Ahmad Nassr Jay Smith William D. Mauck Jason S. Eldrige Gerard A. Malanga Wenchun Qu Copyright (c) 2017 Christy Lynn Hunt, Yeng Her, Luke Law, Mohamad Bydon, Ahmad Nassr, Jay Smith, William Mauck, Jason Eldrige, Gerard Malanga, Wenchun Qu 2017-06-15 2017-06-15 1 1 10.4081/jaarm.2017.7239