Differentiation of human epidermal neural crest stem cells (hEPI-NCSC) into virtually homogenous populations of dopaminergic neurons.

Here we provide a protocol for the directed differentiation of hEPI-NCSC into midbrain dopaminergic neurons, which degenerate in Parkinson's disease. hEPI-NCSC are neural crest-derived multipotent stem cells that persist into adulthood in the bulge of hair follicles. The experimental design is distinctly different from conventional protocols for embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.

Pregnancy-associated venous thrombosis.

Pregnant women are at an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and the consequences of an acute event in pregnancy can be debilitating, long-lasting or fatal. Screening for risk factors early in pregnancy and the provision of thromboprophylaxis are useful ways of preventing VTE in some women, but even when performed diligently, acute events are likely to remain common for the foreseeable future. It is therefore important for obstetric and non-obstetric clinicians to recognize the symptoms and signs of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in pregnancy, to understand how a diagnosis can be reached in an effective yet safe manner and to be aware of the available treatment modalities.

The use of a scoring system to guide thromboprophylaxis in a high-risk pregnant population.

Guidelines for thromboprophylaxis in pregnancy are usually based upon clinical observations and expert opinion. For optimal impact, their use must be attended by consistency in the advice given to women. In this observational study, we evaluated the performance of a scoring system, used as a guide for clinicians administering dalteparin to pregnant women at increased risk of venous thromboembolism.

Emergency caesarean section: influences on the decision-to-delivery interval.

RCOG/NICE guidelines recommend that, for fetal compromise in labour, delivery should be accomplished ideally within 30 minutes. In this study, we investigated the factors which affect the decision-to-delivery (DD) intervals for emergency caesareans. To achieve this, prospective data were collected for all grade 1 and 2 caesareans performed on a busy labour ward over 12 months.

Human epidermal neural crest stem cells (hEPI-NCSC)--characterization and directed differentiation into osteocytes and melanocytes.

Here we describe the isolation, characterisation and ex-vivo expansion of human epidermal neural crest stem cells (hEPI-NCSC) and we provide protocols for their directed differentiation into osteocytes and melanocytes. hEPI-NCSC are neural crest-derived multipotent stem cells that persist into adulthood in the bulge of hair follicles. Multipotency and self-renewal were determined by in vitro clonal analyses.