Conditioned media from human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells stimulate rejuvenation function in human skin.

Developing treatments that inhibit skin aging is an important research project. Rejuvenation, which focuses on prevention of skin aging, is one of the major issues. Recent studies suggested that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) secrete many cytokines, which are important in wound healing. In this study, we investigated the effect of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells conditioned media (USC-CM) in cutaneous wound healing and collagen synthesis. We found that USC-CM has many useful growth factors associated with skin rejuvenation, such as Epithelial Growth Factor (EGF), basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF), Platelet Derived Growth Factor (PDGF), Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF), Collagen type 1, and especially, one of the rejuvenation factors, the growth differentiation factor-11 (GDF-11). Our in vitro results showed that USC-CM stimulate growth and extracellular matrix (ECM) production of Human Dermal Fibroblasts (HDFs) compared to those of other MSCs conditioned media (CM) from different origins. Moreover, we evaluated the roles of GDF-11. The results showed that GDF-11 accelerates growth, migration and ECM production of HDFs. Our In vivo results showed that topical treatment of USC-CM showed anti-wrinkle effect and significantly increased dermal density in women. In conclusion, USC-CM has various useful growth factors including GDF-11 that can stimulate skin rejuvenation by increasing growth and ECM production of HDFs.

Quantification of Transfusion Recipients at Risk of Receiving Hepatitis B Virus-Contaminated Blood Components: A Korean Study.

Although there are lots of studies about the risk for the hepatitis B virus infection such as the residual risk for donated blood, there is no research on the risk of HBV infection, from the viewpoint of recipients in Korea. Using the data about HBsAg status of donated blood in 2008 and 2009, the distribution of blood components from the claim data of health insurance in 2009, the distribution of HBsAg and HBsAb of recipients, and some assumptions, we quantified the number of recipients in Korea that might be expected to receive HBV-contaminated blood components, as a proxy index for HBV infection by transfusion in 2009. Of the 376,211 recipients, the number who might be expected to receive blood components with HBV in 2009 was 23.2 (95 % CI 13.6, 36.8) in the basic model, 43.2 (95 % CI 25.4, 68.7) in extended model I, 55.2 (95 % CI 32.5, 87.7) in extended model II and 101.6 (95 % CI 59.8, 161.4) in extended model III. The number of HBV-positive samples per 100,000 transfused units was 0.6 in the basic model (95 % CI 0.3, 0.9), 1.1 in extended model I (95 % CI 0.6, 1.8), 1.4 in extended model II (95 % CI 0.8, 2.2), and 2.6 in extended model III (95 % CI 1.5, 4.1). This study showed that a few recipients might receive HBV-contaminated blood component by transfusion. These results could be used as a scientific evidence for health policy on HBV transfusion infection.

Triplex tandem mass spectrometry assays for the screening of 3 lysosomal storage disorders in a Korean population.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the performance of triplex tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) assays using dried blood spots (DBSs) to screen for 3 lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs): Pompe, Fabry, and Gaucher diseases. METHODS: An Acquity UPLC CSH C18 column (Waters) and a TQD triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (Waters) in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode were used to evaluate the precision, carryover, and ion suppression of 3 enzyme assays (acid alpha glucosidase, acid α-galactosidase, and acid ß-glucocerebrosidase) and were used to screen 1606 anonymous newborn DBSs. RESULTS: Intra- and inter-run CVs were between 0 and 14.1% and, between 0 and 18.9%. The carryover was 0%, -0.14%, and 0.39% for the 3 enzyme activities, respectively. No ion suppression was observed. The data from the 1606 anonymous newborn DBSs exhibited approximately bell-shaped distributions of 3 enzymatic activities (the median values were 16.46 µmol/h/l, 7.25 µmol/h/l, and 25.63 µmol/h/l, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The performance of the triplex tandem mass spectrometry assays for the screening of 3 lysosomal storage disorders in a Korean population using DBSs was acceptable.

Occult hepatitis B virus infection and blood transfusion.

Transfusion-transmitted infections including hepatitis B virus (HBV) have been a major concern in transfusion medicine. Implementation of HBV nucleic acid testing (NAT) has revealed occult HBV infection (OBI) in blood donors. In the mid-1980s, hepatitis B core antibody (HBc) testing was introduced to screen blood donors in HBV non-endemic countries to prevent transmission of non-A and non-B hepatitis. That test remains in use for preventing of potential transmission of HBV from hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative blood donors, even though anti-hepatitis C virus tests have been introduced. Studies of anti-HBc-positive donors have revealed an HBV DNA positivity rate of 0%-15%. As of 2012, 30 countries have implemented HBV NAT. The prevalence of OBI in blood donors was estimated to be 8.55 per 1 million donations, according to a 2008 international survey. OBI is transmissible by blood transfusion. The clinical outcome of occult HBV transmission primarily depends on recipient immune status and the number of HBV DNA copies present in the blood products. The presence of donor anti-HBs reduces the risk of HBV infection by approximately five-fold. The risk of HBV transmission may be lower in endemic areas than in non-endemic areas, because most recipients have already been exposed to HBV. Blood safety for HBV, including OBI, has substantially improved, but the possibility for OBI transmission remains.

Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen and occult hepatitis B virus infections in Korean blood donors.

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to determine the prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) among Korean blood donors and frequencies of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) in anti-HBc-positive donors. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 12,461 consenting blood donors were consecutively enrolled from Korean Red Cross Blood Services from April to October 2008. All of the donors were screened for anti-HBc with an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Repeat-reactive anti-HBc-positive donors were assayed for anti-HBs and for HBV DNA using a multiplex test (Cobas TaqScreen, Roche Molecular Systems) on individual donation. RESULTS: Of the 12,461 donors, 1682 (13.5%) were reactive for anti-HBc. Among different age groups, there was a steady increase in the anti-HBc-positive rate, ranging from 2.0% in the age group of less than 20 years to 80.0% in the age group of 60 years and older (p<0.0001). Of the anti-HBc-positive donors, 1523 (90.5%) were anti-HBs positive. HBV DNA was detected in two donors who were anti-HBc positive and hepatitis B surface antigen negative. The prevalence of occult HBV infection was 0.016%, and the HBV nucleic acid test (NAT) yield was 1 in 838 (0.12%). CONCLUSION: This study helps to determine the current status of hepatitis B infection and the prevalence of occult HBV infection in the blood donor population in Korea. We estimate that in Korea, up to 161 units per million donated units from blood donors may contain HBV DNA. Although the potential infectivity of these units has been debated upon, the HBV NAT assay could prevent certain transfusion-transmitted HBV infections.

Prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection in a general adult population in Korea.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers and occult HBV infection in a general adult population in Korea. METHODS: HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc were analyzed on 1,091 samples of routine medical check-up examinees by chemiluminescence immunoassay. Nucleic acid amplification test (NAT) was performed on 1,047 HBsAg-negative samples by multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) kit for simultaneous detection of HBV, hepatitis C virus, and human immunodeficiency virus (Cobas Taqscreen MPX) in pools of six and reactive pools were resolved to individual samples, and further discriminated by PCR-based assay for HBV (Cobas Ampliscreen HBV). RESULTS: The prevalences of HBsAg, anti-HBc, and anti-HBs were 4.0, 39.3, and 75.4%, respectively. The prevalence of anti-HBc significantly decreased with decreasing age (p< 0.001). Occult HBV infection was found in 7 (0.7%) of 1,047 HBsAg-negative subjects, and 5 of them were anti-HBc-negative. Sequencing of HBV S gene in 3 cases revealed one wild-type and two mutant strains (W74S, F85Y; T63I, W74S, T131N substitutions). CONCLUSIONS: This study helps to understand the current status of hepatitis B infection and the prevalence of occult HBV infection in a general adult population in Korea.