Human umbilical cord stromal cells derived from Wharton's jelly bear the potential of stem cells. They share the common surface markers with mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow. They have a relatively higher proliferation rate and self-renewal capacity and can be successfully differentiated into mature neurons, cardiomyocytes, endothelial, adipocytes, chondrocytes and skeletal cells. Researches have shown their promising foregrounds in regenerative therapeutic applications. This article will give a review about the separation and cultivation methods, in vitro differentiation, and in vitro and in vivo transplantation experiments of the aforementioned stromal cells.

Objective To evaluate the accuracy of 64-slice spiral CT(64 SCT)in assessing the mild and severe stenosis of coronary artery.Methods A total of 72 patients suspected to suffer from coronary artery disease underwent orderly both 64 SCT and selective coronary angiography(SCAG).Volume rendering (VR),multi-planar reconstruction(MPR),maximum intensity projection(MIP)and transverse section wasused to analyze the 64 SCT data.The results were compared with those of SCAG to investigate the accuracy of the 64 SCT in assessing the≥50% stenosis of coronary artery.Results In the 720 SCAG segments of 72 patients.684 of them could be evaluated by 64 SCT.The evaluated rate Was 95.0%.Compared with SCAG,the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value and accuracy rate was 67.4%,92.9%,69.5%,92.3% and 88.0% respectively.Conclusion The accuracy of 64 SCT in assessing mild and severe stenosis is relatively high and it can be used for screening patients with suspected coronary artery diseases as a non-invasive method.

ObjectiveTo validate a modified HEART [History, Electrocardiograph (ECG), Age, Risk factors and Troponin] risk score in chest pain patients with suspected non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) in the emergency department (ED).Methods This retrospective cohort study used a prospectively acquired database and chest pain patients admitted to the emergency department with suspected NSTE-ACS were enrolled. Data recorded on arrival at the ED were used. The serum sample of high-sensitivity cardiac Troponin I other than conventional cardiac Troponin I used in the HEART risk score was tested. The modified HEART risk score was calculated. The end point was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) defined as a composite of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), percu-taneous intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), or all-cause death, within three months after initial presentation.Results A total of 1,300 patients were enrolled. A total of 606 patients (46.6%) had a MACE within three months: 205 patients (15.8%) were diag-nosed with AMI, 465 patients (35.8%) underwent PCI, and 119 patients (9.2%) underwent CABG. There were 10 (0.8%) deaths. A progres-sive, significant pattern of increasing event rate was observed as the score increased (P < 0.001 byχ2 for trend). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.84. All patients were classified into three groups: low risk (score 0–2), intermediate risk (score 3–4), and high risk (score 5–10). Event rates were 1.1%, 18.5%, and 67.0%, respectively (P < 0.001).ConclusionsThe modified HEART risk score was validated in chest pain patients with suspected NSTE-ACS and may complement MACE risk assessment and patients triage in the ED. A prospective study of the score is warranted.

Background: Disruption of tight junctions between intestinal epithelial cells followed by loss of barrier function is crucial for the pathogenesis and progression of a variety of gastrointestinal disorders.Aims: To investigate the protective effect of ulinastatin on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced intestinal epithelial barrier disruption.Methods: Model of intestinal epithelial monolayer barrier was established with Caco-2 cells in vitro,and then divided into four groups: blank control group (without any intervention),H2O2 group (500 μmol/L H2O2),low-dose (500 U/mL) and high-dose (3 000 U/mL) ulinastatin groups (ulinastatin + H2O2).Level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were detected;transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and flux of sodium fluorescein were measured to assess the barrier function;expression and localization of two tight junction proteins,ZO-1 and occludin were evaluated by Western blotting and immunofluorescence;ultrastructure of tight junctions was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).Results: Compared with the blank control group,treatment of Caco-2 cell monolayers with H2O2 resulted in increase in level of MDA,flux of sodium fluorescein and decrease in activity of SOD,TEER and expressions of ZO-1 and occludin (P all ＜0.05).TEM and immunofluorescence showed that the brusher border of Caco-2 cells in H2O2 group was destroyed,the cell-cell junction was vague and the localization of ZO-1 and occludin was discontinuous and the fluorescence intensity was extremely low.While in ulinastatin groups,especially the high-dose group,all the indices above-mentioned were significantly improved (P all ＜0.05).Conclusions: Ulinastatin protects intestinal epithelial monolayer barrier against H2O2-induced disruption at least partially by its antioxidant activity and modulating expression and localization of tight junction proteins.

Objective: To develop and prospectively validate a risk score for acute chest pain patients with normal high-sensitivity troponin I (hs-TnI) levels and without obvious ST-segment deviation in China. Methods: Chest pain patients admitted to the emergency department of Beijing Anzhen Hospital from September 2014 to July 2015 were enrolled. Baseline characteristics of patients met inclusion criteria including normal hs-TnI levels and without obvious ST-segment deviation were included. The endpoint (major adverse cardiovascular events) was a composite of acute myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass graft, and all-cause death within 3 months after initial presentation. Predictors were screened and used to develop the risk score model by logistic regression analysis in a retrospective cohort. Then, the risk score model was evaluated in a prospective validation cohort. Results: The study population of derivation cohort included 1 735 consecutive chest pain patients. Finally, 1 030 eligible patients were enrolled. Multivariate regression analysis defined five independent predictors: male gender (β=0.88); history of chest pain (β value of moderate and high suspicion of coronary heart artery was 2.70 and 3.51 respectively); electrocardiogram (β=0.84); ≥60 years old (β=0.51) and ≥3 risk factors (β=0.85).The range of weighted score was set as 0-13. The area under a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.75 (95%CI 0.72-0.78) in the final model. Major adverse cardiovascular events rates increased in proportion to score increase (P<0.01). The internal validity used bootstrap technique showed the same predictor factors as the final model, and its area under a ROC curve was 0.75(95%CI 0.72-0.78).MACE rates in the low risk group (score 0-3), intermediate risk group (score 4-7), and high risk group (score 8-13) were 1.3% (1/77) ,19.0% (22/116) ,and 42.2% (122/289) in the prospective validation cohort, respectively (P<0.01). Conclusion The developed ischemic risk score is feasible for risk stratification of acute chest pain patients with normal hs-TnI and without obvious ST-segment deviation, this score might be helpful to the decision making of treatment and management strategies for these patients.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein and carotid intima-media thickness.Methods:A total of 5 136 health examination subjects, aged ≥40 years old, who met the inclusion criteria and had complete data, were selected as the research objects.A unified questionnaire survey, blood biochemistry and carotid artery color doppler ultrasound examination were performed.According to the diagnostic criteria of hs-CRP published by American Heart Association (AHA), the subjects were divided into three groups: 0.05 mg/L0.84 mm group.The results showed that when the concentration of hs-CRP was high, CIMT increased with the increase of hs-CRP( OR(95% CI) 1.24 (1.01~1.52), P<0.05). Conclusion:There was a positive correlation between hs-CRP and CIMT.Patients with higher levels of hs-CRP are more likely to develop CIMT thickening and increase the risk of arteriosclerotic disease.