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Isolation and Characterization of a Stem Cell Population from Menstrual Blood

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Isolation and Characterization of a Stem Cell Population from Menstrual Blood
ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A STEM CELL POPULATION FROM MENSTRUAL BLOOD

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Thesis submitted to The American University of Athens, to the Faculty of Science, in fulfillment of the requirements for Doctorate degree in Biomedical Science

June 2011

Acknowledgements:

This dissertation would not have been possible without the guidance and the help of several individuals who in one way or another contributed and extended their valuable assistance in the preparation and completion of this research.

First and foremost, my utmost gratitude to Dr. Achilles C. Kanellopoulos, Dean/President of the American University of Athens, Europe, whose sincerity and encouragement I will never forget. Dr. Kanellopoulos has been my inspiration as I hurdle all the obstacles in the completion of this research work. For providing the students the facilities in the AUA Research Laboratory, excellent research environments, and assistance for this research to be performed in and outside the premises of the AUA lab, by allowing us to access some government hospital and laboratory.

It is with immense gratitude that I acknowledge the support and help of my Professor Dr. Anastasia Tsigkou who has supported me throughout my thesis with her patience and knowledge whilst allowing me the room to work in my own way.

Furthermore, I would like to thank the AUA staff, particularly the librarian, for the extended assistance in finding references.
Last but not the least, my family and the one above all of us, the omnipresent God, for answering my prayers for giving me the strength to plod on despite my constitution wanting to give up and throw in the towel, thank you so much Dear Lord

Abstract
Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function. Stem



References: 19. Choi SC, Yoon J, Shim WJ, Ro YM, Lim DS. 5-azacytidine induces cardiac differentiation of P19 embryonic stem cells. Exp Mol Med. 2004;36:515–523. [PubMed] 20 28. Eiges, R., Schuldiner, M., Drukker, M., Yanuka, O., Itskovitz-Eldor, J., and Benvenisty, N. (2001). Establishment of human embryonic sten cell-transduced clones carrying a marker of undifferentiated cells. Curr. Biol. 11, 514–518. 54. Herzenberg, L.A. and De Rosa, S.C. (2000). Monoclonal antibodies and the FACS: complementary tools for immunobiology and medicine. Immunol. Today. 21, 383–390.

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