Stem cells are cells found in most, if not all, multi-cellular organisms. They are characterized by the ability to renew themselves through mitotic cell division and differentiating into a diverse range of specialized cell types. They thus possess tremendous potential especially in the field of regenerative medicine. The many stories of stem cell related cures and therapies engender so much hope, it seems almost as if they will eventually be the cure-all for all disease, despite the ethical controversies surrounding embryonic stem cells and their applications. Indeed research in the field has much to celebrate.

In this special issue, three feature articles shed light on the state-of-the-art in stem cell science. The authors are world-renowned experts and are at the cutting-edge in the field. The articles will give readers a grand overview of stem cell science development, as well as in-depth understanding of stem cells in liver failure and the latest breakthrough in iPS cells.

Treating Chronic Low Back Pain with Accupuncture
"Acupuncture is a therapeutic intervention characterized by the insertion of fine, solid metallic needles into or through the skin at specific sites... The technique is believed to have originated in China, where it has remained a fundamental component of a system of [medicine that] espouses an ancient physiological system (not based on Western scientific empiricism) in which health is seen as the result of harmony among bodily functions and between body and nature..."

Arsenic Nanoparticle Blocks Aggressive Breast Cancer
Northwestern University researchers have taken a drug therapy proven for blood cancers but ineffective against solid tumors, packaged it with nanotechnology and got it to combat an aggressive type of breast cancer prevalent in young women, particularly young African-American women.