Current sources of mesenchymal cells, including bone marrow, fat and muscle, all require invasive procurement procedures, and provide relatively low frequencies of progenitors. Here, we describe the non-invasive isolation, and characterization, of a rich source of mesenchymal progenitor cells, which we call human umbilical cord perivascular cells (HUCPVCs). HUCPVCs show a similar immunological phenotype to bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs), since they are non-alloreactive, exhibit immunosuppression, and significantly reduce lymphocyte activation, in vitro. They present a non-hematopoietic myofibroblastic mesenchymal phenotype (CD45-, CD34-, CD105+, CD73+, CD90+, CD44+, CD106+, 3G5+, CD146+); with a 1:300 frequency at harvest, a short-doubling time, and a clonogenic frequency of >1:3 in culture. Furthermore, in addition to robust quinti-potential differentiation capacity in vitro, HUCPVCs have been shown to contribute to both musculo-skeletal and dermal wound healing in vivo.

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. Renal damage from industrial arsine poisoning. An incident is reported in which three men were accidentally poisoned by arsine (As H3) in an industrial chemical plant. Two mildly affected individuals recovered quickly-without treatment but the third, who was severely poisoned, developed oliguric renal failure. Though this patient recovered after repeated peritoneal dialysis he was left with a legacy of chronic renal insufficiency and hypertension. This severe case drew attention to a previous incident in the same factory involving three other men, the cause of which had not hitherto been suspected.The previous reports of arsine-induced renal failure treated by dialysis have been reviewed and certain common features are apparent. Dangerous uraemia may persist long after the onset of the diuretic phase. Dialysis provides a high chance for recovery in what was previously a universally fatal condition, but permanent renal interstitial damage is a likely sequel. There are strong reasons for the prompt use of exchange transfusion in the severely affected patient with oliguria.

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