Vasiliki E. Kalodimou MSc, Ph.D is the director of the Flow Cytometry-Research and Regenerative Medicine Department at IASO Hospital in Athens, Greece. She has studied and worked with progenitor cells from placenta, umbilical cord, and adipose tissue along with their applications in regenerative medicine and flow cytometry, with publications in the field, including research fellowships. She has published 2 books about flow cytometry, the Greek edition was published in 2010 and in 2013 the book was published from AABB Press USA. In 2015 she was published her 3rd book, a handbook to mesenchymal stem cells in regenerative medicine by Specg.co She is a Flow Cytometry/Stem Cell Specialist, Leader at AABB CT Subsection: CT Product Manufacturing and Testing-USA, Scientific Consultant in Regenerative Plastic Surgery Institute / Pure Aesthetics, Brazil, AABB Assessor-USA, editor in 12 scientific journals, editor-in-chief in 4 scientific journals, and her biography was included in Who Is Who in the world 2014, 2015 & 2016 edition.

Isolation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of Lung Fibrosis in an Animal Model

Background: Recent reports have shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSC’s) could be used for transplantation in various animal models. Mesenchymal stem cells exhibit remarkable plasticity and harbor potential for use in therapeutic applications, such as lung fibrosis
Study design and method: The aim of this study was to isolate mesenchymal stem cells from rat bone marrow, count the actual MSC’s numbers and their viability, using flow Cytometry, and infuse them on an experimental injured animal model. We used magnetic beads (MACS) as a delivery system for novel mesenchymal stem cells (MSC’s) isolated from rat bone marrow and the total number was counting using a Beckman Coulter FC 500 flow cytometer.
Results: Bone marrow samples from 60 Wistar rats, >250g and six weeks old, were used for the isolation of MSC’s. All samples were stored at room temperature and processed immediately. The total number of MSC’s was isolated and the absolute numbers of MSC’s as well as the viability of each sample was determined using flow cytometry. We used tripan blue to distinguish the viable cells and the mesenchymal cells for microscopic analysis as well.
Conclusion: We succeed to isolate MSC’s from all 60 samples with a mean value of 1.14x106, while the number of unsorted bone marrow cells required for a transplant is 1.05 x 106 by bibliography. We found that the mean viability value of the samples was 77.6% suggesting good sample collection and processing conditions.

Georgia Tsakona had studied at the University of Patras - Greece business administration in economics accounting. She attended continuing educational training programs: 410 hours H/Y, 175 hours Business Administration, 50 hours development of personal skills and 50 hours working time management and stress. From 2004-2008 she was a teacher in charge of administrative economic department of the technical institution of professional Training (IEK). Simultaneously, she worked in civil service center (CSC) at Nafplio-Greece. Since 2008 she works as an office responsible personal presidential secretary, in the fields of social partners' Federation of Professionals, “Craftsmen and Merchants Argolidas ". In the last years she is focusing in the field of hospital economics and research and in the field of blue economy and hospital research. She is married since 1999 and has two children 16 and 11 years old.

Hospital Research & Blue Economy

The field of regenerative medicine is comprised of an estimated 120 public and 600 private companies as well as a plethora of universities. This vital community of major research institutions and companies are succeeding in advancing both the basic science and its translation into clinical testing and commercial products.
In a Blue Economy, the current unsustainable models of production and consumption will be outdated and eliminated. A vicious cycle of over-exploitation of labor and the Earth, with an ever-increasing burden of carbon emissions, will cease. It will become a virtuous cycle of using what is available, increasing social capital incrementally and bringing innovations to the marketplace that help meet the basic needs of all. The Blue Economy can enhance our lifestyles, benefit our planet and use and conserve materials and energy in remarkable ways.

Dr. Efi Roboti has over 28 years of experience in healthcare sector. Her clinical practice in Athens, currently provides gynaecological - obstetrics (with over 3,200 successful child deliveries.) and anti-ageing services to over 15,000 patients from Greece and neighbouring countries.

Female Genital and Vaginal Rejuvenation by Infusion of Adipose Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Women today live almost half their lives in menopause.
Postmenopausal women but also those who had breast cancer, cervical and uterine cancer, ovarian cancer have intense symptoms of atrophy after chemotherapy, radiotherapy or pharmaceutically induced early menstruation cessation, i.e.:dryness, a burning feeling, irritation, painful intercource, frequent urinary tract infections.
The rejuvenation of their genitalia and the vagina will help to dramatically improve the quality of their lives.
Our aim is to prove that the infusion of mesenchymal stem cells contained in adipose tissue has an important contribution and long-term results:
1. In appearance and function of the skin and mucosa of the external female genitals and the vagina.
2.To reduce pain in women with dyspareunia
3. At the entrance of the vagina showing thinning of the epithelium and adhesions of granulation tissue.
4. To reduce urinary incontinence (from stress incontinence)
5. The improvement or treatment of lichen sclerosus of the vulva to restore the quality of life and sexual function in the affected women.

Isavella Mitrou has studied International & European Studies (Politics) at the University of Piraeus and continued with an MA in International Studies – Diplomacy at the University of Birmingham and an Executive MSc in European Studies at the Economics and Business University of Athens. Between the Masters she attended a summer school on Human Rights at the University of Birmingham. After an internship at the Greek MFA in the Directorate for International Organizations, she started working at the Marketing and Sales Department of a leading Medical Group in Athens. After deciding a change on her career, she focused on the field of Medical Tourism and she has been certified on the field. She speaks Greek, English, French, Spanish and Turkish.

Stem Tourism and Economic Potentials

Research on stem cells has greatly progressed over the past few years. At the beginning it seemed as something unreachable but the breakthroughs achieved, such as the first transplant of stem cells origin, have proven us wrong. Although this innovative field expands throughout the globe, there are still difficulties on its further expansion. On the other hand, Medical Tourism although it exists for many years, it has lately been considered as a field where a substantial profit can be achieved. Patients from all over the world, seek treatment in other countries taking into consideration different aspects such as expenses and the quality of the services provided. Traditionally advanced countries in Medicine, such as the US, have received enormous numbers of international patients for consecutive years, but lately these figures have spread out across many smaller countries due to the changes in legislation and the advances they have achieved. Combining the innovations in stem cells’ research and the promising future they hold, extremely successful companies focusing on research have been created, raising the expectations into a higher level.

Dr Nikolaos G.Tsamopoulos completed his Medical Studies at the University of Rome, Universita Degli Studi di Roma «La Sapienza» Facolta di Medicina e Chirurgia, where he was awarded his MD degree. He completed his fellowship in Interventional Neuroradiology at Ospedale Niguarda Granda di Milano at the Interventional & Therapeutic Neuroradiology Department. In 1999 he graduated from the Hellenic Naval Reserve Officers Academy. In 2005 he accomplish stage in Neurosciences at the Centre Hospitalier Sainte Anne in Paris. In 2008 he completed the full cycle of The International Diploma in Neurovascular Diseases, sponsored by the Paris Sud University. In 2011, he was awarded Doctor of Philosophy (Phd) at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School. He was lecturing from 2008 - 2013 at the Master in Interventional Radiology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School. Since 2010, he is Director of the Interventional Neuroradiology Department and Istitutor of the Acute Stroke Unit at Mediteranneo Hospital in Athens and Scientific collaborator at Hygeia Hospital. At 2014 he become Project Coordinator of Health Care Research and Technical Development Projects at The National Technical University of Athens (NTU).

Venous Neurovascular pathways to Neuroinflammation in Glaucoma

We propose a new model of optic nerve damage in glaucoma, the model of the Venous Neurovascular Pathways to Neuroinflammation in Glaucoma, based on the theory that glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disorder and optic nerve is amenable to damage imposed by factors affecting the Central Nervous System. Percutaneous Venous Transluminal Angioplasty appears to be effective and feasible with a high degree of procedural success. PVTA seems to positive influence clinical status improving the mean deviation (MD).The results are encouraging and bring promise of a safe and effective approach to adjustive therapeutic approach for patients with Chronic Open Angle Glaucoma and moderate to severe visual field defects, with intraocular pressure controled in the low teens. However, randomized controlled trials will be needed to provide true efficacy and safety data, to convince the clinicians and to become a more high level, evidence-based guideline recommendation.