Proteoglycans (PGs) were dissociatively extracted from human umbilical cord arteries (UCAs) with 4 M guanidine hydrochloride containing Triton X-100 and protease inhibitors, purified by Q-Sepharose anion exchange chromatography and lyophilized. They were analysed by gel filtration, SDS/PAGE and agarose gel electrophoresis before and after treatment with chondroitinase ABC. It was found that the...

Umbilical cord blood is the baby's blood left over in the umbilical cord and placenta after a baby is delivered and the cord is cut. Cord blood has all of the features of regular blood, but it is also a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells. Hematopoietic stem cells are unspecialized cells that produce all blood cells. These include: • Platelets, which are needed for blood clotting • Red...

This study demonstrates the engineering of biologically active heart valve leaflets using prenatally available human umbilical cord-derived progenitor cells as the only cell source. Wharton's Jelly-derived cells and umbilical cord blood-derived endothelial progenitor cells were subsequently seeded on biodegradable scaffolds and cultured in a biomimetic system under biochemical or mechanical sti...

Fifty umbilical cords were prepared and examined and their venous perfusion pressures measured with and without a true knot in the cord. Contrary to information in the literature, a loose umbilical cord knot did not affect the venous perfusion pressure. With a tightened knot, the smaller the umbilical cord diameter, the greater was the pressure required to perfuse past the knot. The umbilical v...

INTRODUCTION Many abnormalities are observed in the morphology and pathology of the umbilical cord. The aim of the study was to assess the role of 3D sonography in pathology of true umbilical cord knots. MATERIAL AND METHODS In our materials we observed 10 cases of true umbilical cord knots in a population of 2,864 deliveries. The 2-dimensional transverse scan of the umbilical cord was shown ...

Umbilical cord was shown to contain chondroitin sulfate B and a small amount of glucosamine-containing sulfated mucopolysaccharide, in addition to hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate C. All of the hyaluronic acid and part of the chondroitin sulfate C could be extracted directly with dilute sodium chloride; the rest of the chondroitin sulfate C and the chondroitin sulfate B were released onl...

Limiting-dilution analysis of long-term culture-initiating cells (LTCIC) is a quantitative method of estimating hematopoietic stem cell activity in clinical samples. We compared the numbers of LTCIC in bone marrow (BM), umbilical cord blood, and blood progenitor cells (obtained from patients with solid tumors at leukapheresis after mobilization with induction chemotherapy and filgrastim adminis...

OBJECTIVE To compare selected umbilical cord parameters, especially cord coiling, between breech and vertex presentations. METHODS We prospectively collected umbilical cords from uncomplicated breech and vertex obtained during elective term cesarean deliveries. We compared various cord parameters between the two groups as well as data regarding obstetric history and pregnancy outcome. RESUL...

BACKGROUND There are no definitive markers to aid in diagnosis of neonatal encephalopathy (NE). The purpose of our study was (1) to identify and evaluate the utility of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS1) in umbilical cord blood as a NE biomarker and (2) to identify the source of NOS1 in umbilical cord blood. METHODS This was a nested case-control study of neonates >35 weeks of gestation. E...

New blood forming vessels are produced by differentiation of mesodermal precursor cells to angioblasts that become endothelial cells (ECs) which in turn give rise to primitive capillary network. Human cord blood (HCB) contains large subsets of mononuclear cells (MNCs) that can be differentiated into endothelial-like cells in vitro. Human mononuclear progenitor cells were purified from fresh umb...