Good manufacturing practice-grade production of unrestricted somatic stem cell from fresh cord blood.

Background Aims: The discovery of unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSC), a non-hematopoietic stem cell population, brought cord blood (CB) to the attention of regenerative medicine for defining more protocols for non-hematopoietic indications. We demonstrate that a reliable and reproducible method for good manufacturing practice (GMP)-conforming generation of USSC is possible that fulfils safety requirements as well as criteria for clinical applications, such as adherence of strict regulations on cell isolation and expansion.

Methods: In order to maintain GMP conformity, the automated cell processing system Sepax (Biosafe) was implemented for mononucleated cell (MNC) separation from fresh CB.

Stem cells derived from cord blood in transplantation and regenerative medicine.

Background: Physicians of any specialty may be the first persons to whom prospective parents turn for information about the acquisition and storage of stem cells derived from cord blood. Stem cells can potentially be used to treat many diseases, yet they are not a panacea. This article provides an overview of their current and possible future applications.

The SCINEXA: a novel, validated score to simultaneously assess and differentiate between intrinsic and extrinsic skin ageing.

Background: Studies on the pathogenesis of skin ageing as well as efficacy testing of cosmetic and aesthetic measures to prevent or reverse skin ageing require - as an easy to use method - a validated non-invasive clinical score, which allows to simultaneously assess and differentiate between intrinsic (=chronological) and extrinsic (=photo-) skin ageing. Such an ideal score, however, does currently not exist.

Objectives: We developed a novel skin ageing score 'SCINEXA' comprising 5 items indicative of intrinsic and 18 items highly characteristic of extrinsic skin ageing.

Contribution of smoking and air pollution exposure in urban areas to social differences in respiratory health.

Background: Socio-economic status, smoking, and exposure to increased levels of environmental air pollution are associated with adverse effects on respiratory health. We assessed the contribution of occupational exposures, smoking and outdoor air pollution as competing factors for the association between socio-economic status and respiratory health indicators in a cohort of women from the Ruhr area aged 55 at the time of investigation between 1985 and 1990.

Methods: Data of 1251 women with spirometry and complete questionnaire information about respiratory diseases, smoking and potential confounders were used in the analyses.

Sunbed use induces the photoaging-associated mitochondrial common deletion.

Sunbeds have become very popular and, as a result, health effects of their use are of growing concern. In this regard, exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunbeds may cause premature skin aging. Evidence for this assumption, however, has thus far been elusive.