[Current aspects of labor induction].

Induction of labor is one of the most important means for therapeutic intervention in modern obstetrics. The aim of labor induction is to achieve a better perinatal result for mother and baby as compared to expectative management. Different methods for induction include administration of oxytocin or prostaglandins, amniotomy, and mechanical means of cervical dilatation.

[Prenatal stem cell transplantation: from bench to bedside].

Prenatal stem cell transplantation is a novel, promising therapeutic option for genetic disorders, which is now at the edge of moving from preclinical research into clinical application. The first clinical experience shows that inborn diseases, which lead to a severe immunodeficiency, can be treated successfully inutero. No therapeutic success has been achieved in genetic disorders which do not severely affect the immune system.

[Stem cells from cord blood: current status and future potential].

Umbilical cord blood is rich in hematopoietic stem cells. At birth, it can be collected, HLA-typed and stored. Cord blood is successfully used since over 10 years as source of transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells, in addition to bone marrow and mobilized peripheral blood stem cells.