This document provides methods and materials involved in reducing venous neointimal hyperplasia (VNH) of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or graft. For example, methods and materials for using stem cells (e.g., mesenchymal stem cells), extracellular matrix material, or a combination of stem cells and extracellular matrix material to reduce VNH of AVFs or grafts are provided.

Provided are methods for improving cell-based therapies by co-administration with an agent that increases the production and or levels of epoxygenated fatty acids, as well as kits, stents and patches for co-administering stem cells with an agent that increases the production and/or levels of epoxygenated fatty acids.

A system for deploying an implant cut from a biological tissue into an eye of a patient including a delivery device and a nose cone assembly, a tubular shaft projecting from the distal end region of the nose cone and comprising a lumen. Related devices, systems, and methods are provided.

A medical treatment system for determining administration of medications to a patient is disclosed. The system uses a plurality of sensors to perform a first set of physiologic measurements in a right side of the heart and a second set of physiologic measurements in a left side of the heart. The system also includes a receiver configured to receive measurement data regarding the first and second sets of physiologic measurements and output to a display device the received measurement data.

Provided are methods, devices and compositions for reducing and/or inhibiting postsurgical tissue adhesion using a hydrogel film disposed onto a target tissue, thereby providing an adhesion barrier that remains over said target tissue for a prescribed period of time. In some embodiments, the hydrogel film is formed by the gelation of a pre-gel mixture applied onto the target tissue as a plurality of particles having an average maximum dimension, such as diameter, of at most about 500 μm. In some embodiments, the hydrogel film has a minimum storage modulus of 100 Pa. In some embodiments, the pre-gel mixture comprises an ECM digest having a collagen to carbohydrate ratio (by mass) of at least 70:1.

The invention relates generally to the fields of biology and health sciences. More particularly, the invention relates to compositions and methods for modulating cellular physiology and pathological processing using a combination of compounds that can be found in amniotic membrane tissue and umbilical cord tissue preparations.

A bioartificial device, such as a bioartificial pancreas, for implantation in a patient's vascular system. The bioartificial pancreas includes a scaffold adapted to engage an interior wall of a blood vessel, a cellular complex support by the scaffold and extending longitudinally within the interior cavity of the scaffold so as to be exposed to the blood flow when the scaffold is engaged with the blood vessel, the cellular complex support comprising one or more pockets bordered by thin film; and cellular complex comprising pancreatic islets disposed in the one or more pockets, the thin film being adapted to permit oxygen and glucose to diffuse from flowing blood into the one or more pockets at a rate sufficient to support the viability of the islets. The invention also includes methods of making and using a bioartificial pancreas.

Implantable scaffolds that treat solid tumors and escape variants and that provide effective vaccinations against cancer recurrence are described. The scaffolds include genetically-reprogrammed lymphocytes and a lymphocyte-activating moiety.

A hybrid medical device that can aid in reconstructive or augmentative surgery of the breast is disclosed. The device can utilize a suitable biological collagen tissue matrix combined with a synthetic material, for example, that can impart a high initial strength to the repair site while permitting proper healing and revitalization of the implanted device.

Materials for soft tissue repair, and in particular, material for hernia repair. These materials may be configured as an implant, such as a graft, that may be implanted into a patient in need thereof, such as a patient having a hernia or undergoing a hernia repair surgical procedure. These grafts may include a first layer comprising a substrate (e.g., mesh) and a second layer comprising a sheet of anti-adhesive material. The layers may be attached with a plurality of relatively small attachment sites that are separated by regions in which the two layers are not attached, to provide a highly compliant graft.