MG132-mediated Suppression of the Ubiquitin-proteasome Pathway Enhances the Sensitivity of Endometrial Cancer Cells to Cisplatin.

BACKGROUND: Tumor cell resistance to cisplatin is a common challenge in endometrial cancer chemotherapy, stemming from various mechanisms. Targeted therapies using proteasome inhibitors, such as MG132, have been investigated to enhance cisplatin sensitivity, potentially offering a novel treatment approach. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of MG132 on cisplatin sensitivity in the human endometrial cancer (EC) cell line RL95-2, focusing on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell signaling. METHODS: Human endometrial cancer RL95-2 cells were exposed to MG132, and cell viability was assessed in a dose-dependent manner. The study evaluated the effect of MG132 on cisplatin-induced proliferation inhibition and apoptosis, correlating with caspase-3 activation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) upregulation. Additionally, we examined the inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteasome system and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-13 during MG132 and cisplatin co-administration. RESULTS: MG132 exposure significantly reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. It augmented cisplatin- induced proliferation inhibition and enhanced apoptosis, correlating with caspase-3 activation and ROS upregulation. Molecular analysis revealed a profound inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteasome system. MG132 also significantly increased the expression of cisplatin-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, suggesting a transition from chronic to acute inflammation. CONCLUSION: MG132 enhances the therapeutic efficacy of cisplatin in human EC cells by suppressing the ubiquitin- proteasome pathway, reducing cell viability, enhancing apoptosis, and shifting the inflammatory response. These findings highlighted the potential of MG132 as an adjuvant in endometrial cancer chemotherapy. Further research is needed to explore detailed mechanisms and clinical applications of this combination therapy.

Clinical value of transperineal ultrasound in evaluating the effects of different delivery methods on the primipara pelvic floor structure and function.

To evaluate the effects of different delivery methods on the pelvic floor structure and function among primiparas by transperineal ultrasound, with a view to providing guidance for early postpartum intervention. Primiparas who underwent postpartum examination with transperineal ultrasound were recruited. Subjects were divided according to mode of delivery (vaginal and cesarean delivery). General information (including age, pre-pregnancy BMI and neonatal weight) were collected, and transperineal ultrasound was performed to measure such indicators as the levator hiatus areas in resting, constrictive anal and maximum Valsalva states, the posterior vesicourethral angles and distances between vesical neck and posterior inferior margin of pubic symphysis in resting and maximum Valsalva states, as well as the vesical neck mobility and urethral rotation angle in maximum Valsalva state. The inter-group differences in ultrasound indicators between the resting and Valsalva states were compared to analyze the postpartum incidences of pelvic floor dysfunctions like stress urinary incontinence, urethral funnel formation, bladder prolapse and uterine prolapse in primiparas. The levator hiatus areas in resting, constrictive anal and maximum Valsalva states were all larger in the vaginal delivery group than in the cesarean delivery group (P < 0.05). Compared to the cesarean delivery group, the vaginal delivery group exhibited larger posterior vesicourethral angles in resting and maximum Valsalva states (P < 0.05). The distances between vesical neck and posterior inferior margin of pubic symphysis were greater in the cesarean delivery group than in the vaginal delivery group at both resting and maximum Valsalva, with that at maximum Valsalva showing significant inter-group difference (P < 0.05). The vaginal delivery group exhibited greater vesical neck mobility and urethral rotation angle at maximum Valsalva compared to the cesarean delivery group (P < 0.05). The incidences of stress urinary incontinence, urethral funnel formation, bladder prolapse and uterine prolapse were all higher in the vaginal delivery group than in the cesarean delivery group, with the stress urinary incontinence and bladder prolapse incidences showing significant inter-group differences (P < 0.05). With transperineal ultrasound, various pelvic floor indicators of primiparas can be clearly measured and, through these ultrasound indicators, the effects of different delivery methods on the pelvic floor function can be evaluated, which is conducive to early clinical detection and intervention of postpartum pelvic floor dysfunctions, thus facilitating the early postpartum treatment.

The role of iron transporters and regulators in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease: Pathophysiological insights and therapeutic prospects.

Brain iron homeostasis plays a vital role in maintaining brain development and controlling neuronal function under physiological conditions. Many studies have shown that the imbalance of brain iron homeostasis is closely related to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Recent advances have revealed the importance of iron transporters and regulatory molecules in the pathogenesis and treatment of NDs. This review summarizes the research progress on brain iron overload and the aberrant expression of several key iron transporters and regulators in AD and PD, emphasizes the pathological roles of these molecules in the pathogenesis of AD and PD, and highlights the therapeutic prospects of targeting these iron transporters and regulators to restore brain iron homeostasis in the treatment of AD and PD. A comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiological roles of iron, iron transporters and regulators, and their regulations in NDs may provide new therapeutic avenues for more targeted neurotherapeutic strategies for treating these diseases.

Genetic and epigenetic reprogramming in response to internal and external cues by induced transposon mobilization in Moso bamboo.

Long terminal repeat retroelements (LTR-REs) have profound effects on DNA methylation and gene regulation. Despite the vast abundance of LTR-REs in the genome of Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), an industrial crop in underdeveloped countries, their precise implication of the LTR-RE mobility in stress response and development remains unknown. We investigated the RNA and DNA products of LTR-REs in Moso bamboo under various developmental stages and stressful conditions. Surprisingly, our analyses identified thousands of active LTR-REs, particularly those located near genes involved in stress response and developmental regulation. These genes adjacent to active LTR-REs exhibited an increased expression under stress and are associated with reduced DNA methylation that is likely affected by the induced LTR-REs. Moreover, the analyses of simultaneous mapping of insertions and DNA methylation showed that the LTR-REs effectively alter the epigenetic status of the genomic regions where they inserted, and concomitantly their transcriptional competence which might impact the stress resilience and growth of the host. Our work unveils the unusually strong LTR-RE mobility in Moso bamboo and its close association with (epi)genetic changes, which supports the co-evolution of the parasitic DNAs and host genome in attaining stress tolerance and developmental robustness.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the short nutritional literacy scale for young adults (18-35years) and analysis of the influencing factors.

OBJECTIVES: This study translated the short nutrition literacy scale for young adults (18-35 years) into Chinese, examined its reliability and validity, and analyzed its influencing factors. METHODS: The scale was translated using a modified Brislin translation model. A convenience sample of 508 cases was selected for the survey. Content validity, structural validity, Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and test-retest reliability were used to evaluate the scale's reliability and validity. To screen the factors influencing nutrition literacy in young people. RESULTS: The Chinese version of the Item-Level Content Validity Index (I-CVI) was 0.833 ~ 1, and the Scale-Level Content Validity Index/Average (S-CVI/Ave) was 0.908. The cumulative variance contribution of the scale was 51.029%, and the model was generally well-fitted. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient and retest reliability of the scale were 0.826 and 0.818. The results showed that the level of education, mother's education, nutrition-related courses, and frequency of attention to nutritional health information were the factors influencing the nutritional literacy of young people. CONCLUSION: The Chinese version of the S-NutLit Scale can effectively assess the nutrients of young Chinese people. Low levels of education, low levels of education of mothers, lack of exposure to nutrition-related courses, and low frequency of attention to nutritional health information can lead to lower levels of nutritional literacy among young people.

The relationship between perceived social support, coping style, and the quality of life and psychological state of lung cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer has always a cancer that threatens human health. Quality of life also has been an important research topic. psychological state in patients can influence their quality of life, and perceived social support and coping styles are relevant facilitators of Quality of life, but this specific relationship has not been adequately studied. The purpose of this study is focus on discussing the correlation of these four and understanding their potential mediating pathways. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 300 Lung Cancer patients from a cancer hospital in Suzhou were surveyed. The Data was collected using the scales. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS and AMOS software. RESULTS: The study revealed a significant serial mediation model between perceived social support and coping style: Psychological state regulates patients' coping styles by influencing their perceived social support which ultimately has comprehensive impacts on their quality of life. CONCLUSION: Based on the empirical results discussed, this study proposes the following suggestion: Provide good online support to form a related social media intervention matrix. meanwhile, expand the patients' social network offline, provide channels for patients to express their troubles outwardly, and regularly assess the patients' psychological status to improve their level of psychosocial adaptation. This will in turn enhance their negative coping strategies towards the disease and strengthen their ability to buffer against it, ultimately promoting a better quality of life for the patients.

Iron overload suppresses hippocampal neurogenesis in adult mice: Implication for iron dysregulation-linked neurological diseases.

AIMS: Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is an important player in brain homeostasis and its impairment participates in neurological diseases. Iron overload has emerged as an irreversible factor of brain aging, and is also closely related to degenerative disorders, including cognitive dysfunction. However, whether brain iron overload alters hippocampal neurogenesis has not been reported. We investigated the effect of elevated iron content on adult hippocampal neurogenesis and explored the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Mouse models with hippocampal iron overload were generated. Neurogenesis in hippocampus and expression levels of related molecules were assessed. RESULTS: Iron accumulation in hippocampus remarkably impaired the differentiation of neural stem cells, resulting in a significant decrease in newborn neurons. The damage was possibly attributed to iron-induced downregulation of proprotein convertase furin and subsequently decreased maturation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), thus contributing to memory decline and anxiety-like behavior of mice. Supportively, knockdown of furin indeed suppressed hippocampal neurogenesis, while furin overexpression restored the impairment. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrated that iron overload damaged hippocampal neurogenesis likely via iron-furin-BDNF pathway. This study provides new insights into potential mechanisms on iron-induced neurotoxicity and the causes of neurogenesis injury and renders modulating iron homeostasis and furin expression as novel therapeutic strategies for treatment of neurological diseases.

The associations between social support, self-regulatory fatigue, and health-promoting behaviors among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: The prevalence of diabetes in China is increasing annually, posing a serious public health challenge. Health-promoting behaviors are crucial for enhancing the quality of life in individuals with type 2 diabetes. However, the relationship between self-regulatory fatigue in type 2 diabetes, social support, and health-promoting behaviors remains unclear. Objective: This study aimed to explore the interconnections among social support, self-regulatory fatigue, and health-promoting behaviors, as well as to examine the mediating role of self-regulatory fatigue in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed using the Self-Regulatory Fatigue Scale (SRF-S), the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), and the Health Promotion Scale for People with Diabetes Mellitus (T2DHPS). These scales assessed social support, self-regulatory fatigue, and health-promoting behaviors in 316 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, exploring the relationships among these variables. SPSS and AMOS were used for statistical analysis to investigate the mediating effects. Results: Social support in type 2 diabetes mellitus positively predicted health-promoting behaviors (ß = 0.401, p < 0.001). The regression coefficients of self-regulatory fatigue in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus social support (ß = -0.502, p < 0.001), and health-promoting behaviors (ß = -0.331, p < 0.001), both exhibiting significant differences. Self-regulatory fatigue mediated the relationship between social support and health-promoting behaviors in these patients, with a mediation effect of 0.166, consisting of 29.28% of the total effect. Conclusion: A significant interplay exists among social support, self-regulatory fatigue, and health-promoting behaviors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The findings suggest that self-regulatory fatigue mediates the relationship between social support and health-promoting behaviors. Healthcare professionals should focus on enhancing patients' social support to mitigate self-regulatory fatigue and improve health behaviors.

A long non-coding RNA PelncRNA1 is involved in Phyllostachys edulis response to UV-B stress.

Phyllostachys edulis (moso bamboo) is China's most widespread bamboo species, with significant economic and ecological values. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is a type of regulatory RNA that is longer than 200 nucleotides and incapable of encoding proteins, and is frequently involved in regulating biotic and abiotic stress and plant development. However, the biological functions of lncRNA in moso bamboo are unknown. In this study, a lncRNA (named PelncRNA1) differentially expressed following UV-B treatment was discovered in the whole transcriptome sequencing database of moso bamboo. The target genes were filtered and defined by correlation analysis of PelncRNA1 and gene expression pattern. The expression levels of PelncRNA1 and its target genes were verified using qRT-PCR. The results demonstrated that the expression levels of PelncRNA1 and its target genes increased during UV-B treatment. In Arabidopsis transgenic seedlings and moso bamboo protoplasts, PelncRNA1 was discovered to influence the expression of its target genes when overexpressed. In addition, transgenic Arabidopsis showed higher tolerance to UV-B stress. These results suggest that PelncRNA1 and its target genes are involved in the response of moso bamboo to UV-B stress. The novel findings would contribute to our understanding of how lncRNAs regulate the response to abiotic stresses in moso bamboo.

Value of 3D ultrasound flow imaging combined with serum AFP, ß-hCG, sFlt-1 and CK in the diagnosis of placenta accreta.

PURPOSE: To analyze the diagnostic value of placenta three-dimensional (3D) energy blood flow parameters combined with maternal serum AFP, ß-hCG, sFlt-1 and CK levels for PA. METHODS: 30 pregnant women with PA and 30 pregnant women with normal placenta were randomly selected in the Affiliated Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Nantong University from January 2021 to December 2021. Thereafter, the 3D energy ultrasound was applied to detect the placenta VI, FI and VFI. Moreover, the diagnostic value of different parameters combined with serum AFP, ß-hCG, sFlt-1 and CK levels for PA was analyzed. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis results indicated that, gravidity > 2 and with/without placenta previa were the independent risk factors for PA (P < 0.05). In PA group, the AFP, ß-hCG, CK, placenta VI, FI and VFI values were higher than those in non-PA group, while sFlt-1 was apparently lower than that in non-PA group. With the increase in PA degree, the serum AFP, ß-hCG and CK levels increased. Meanwhile, serum sFlt-1 level was negatively correlated with PA degree. Serum AFP, ß-hCG, sFlt-1, CK and placenta VFI showed prediction potency for PA, and their combined detection attained the optimal diagnostic value for predicting PA. ROC curve analysis suggested that, serum AFP, ß-hCG, sFlt-1, CK and 3D ultrasound VFI value had the greatest AUC values in predicting PA, which might provide reference for the clinical diagnosis and disease evaluation of PA. Conclusion Serum AFP, ß-hCG, sFlt-1, CK and placental VFI can increase the consistency in the diagnosis of PA. Serum markers combined with 3D ultrasound blood flow imaging can improve the sensitivity and specificity of prenatal diagnosis of PA, which provides an important reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

The pattern of DNA methylation alteration, and its association with the expression changes of non-coding RNAs and mRNAs in Moso bamboo under abiotic stress.

Epigenetic changes play an important role in plant growth and development and in stress response. However, DNA methylation pattern and its relationship with the expression changes of non-coding RNAs and mRNAs of Moso bamboo in response to abiotic stress is still largely unknown. In this work, we used whole-genome bisulfite sequencing in combination with whole-transcriptome sequencing to analyze the DNA methylation and transcription patterns of mRNAs and non-coding RNAs in Moso bamboo under abiotic stresses such as cold, heat, ultraviolet (UV) and salinity. We found that CHH methylation in the promoter region was positively correlated with gene expression, while CHG and CHH methylations in the gene body regions were negatively associated with gene expression. Moreover, CG and CHG methylations in the promoter regions were negatively correlated with the transcript abundance of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs). Similarly, the methylation levels of three contexts in the genic regions were negatively correlated with the transcript abundance of lncRNAs and miRNAs but positively correlated with that of circRNAs. In addition, we suggested that the reduction of 21-nt and 24-nt small interfering RNA (siRNA) expression tended to increase methylation levels in the genic regions. We found that stress-responsive genes such as CRPK1, HSFB2A and CIPK were differentially methylated and expressed. Our results also proposed that DNA methylation may regulate the expression of the transcription factors (TFs) and plant hormone signalling genes such as IAA9, MYC2 and ERF110 in response to abiotic stress. This study firstly reports the abiotic stress-responsive DNA methylation pattern and its involvement of expression of coding RNAs and non-coding RNAs in Moso bamboo. The results expand the knowledge of epigenetic mechanisms in Moso bamboo under abiotic stress and support in-depth deciphering of the function of specific non-coding RNAs in future studies.

Identification of a Gene Signature of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts to Predict Prognosis in Ovarian Cancer.

Ovarian cancer (OvCa) is one of the most widespread malignant tumors, which has the highest morbidity and unsatisfactory clinical outcomes among all gynecological malignancies in the world. Previous studies found that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play significant roles in tumor growth, progression, and chemoresistance. In the current research, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), univariable COX regression, and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis were applied to recognize CAF-specific genes. After multiple bioinformatic analyses, four genes (AXL, GPR176, ITGBL1, and TIMP3) were identified as OvCa-specific CAF markers and used to construct the prognostic signature (CAFRS). Furthermore, the specificity of the four genes' expression was further validated at the single-cell level, which was high-selectively expressed in CAFs. In addition, our results showed that CAFRS is an independent significant risk factor affecting the clinical outcomes of OvCa patients. Meanwhile, patients with higher CAFRS were more likely to establish chemoresistance to platinum. Besides, the CAFRS were notably correlated with well-known signal pathways that were related to tumor progression. In summary, our study identifies four CAF-specific genes and constructs a novel prognostic signature, which may provide more insights into precise prognostic assessment in OvCa.

Effects of vaginal microecology and immunity on the pregnancy outcome of cervical cerclage.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of vaginal microecology and immune status on the pregnancy outcome of cervical cerclage. METHODS: The clinical data of 125 patients with cervical incompetence who underwent transvaginal cervical cerclage in our hospital from January 2018 to January 2021 were collected, based on which the associations of vaginal microecology and related immune cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α) with the cervical cerclage outcome were explored. RESULTS: All of the 125 patients had singleton pregnancies, who were aged 20-43 years, with a mean of (32.34 ± 5.17) years. The surgery was successful in 104 patients (full-term delivery or survival of premature infants), while unsuccessful in 21 patients (late miscarriage or death of premature infants), revealing a success rate of 83.20%. There were 70 full-term deliveries, 34 premature deliveries (28 survived while 6 died), and 15 late miscarriages. Univariate analysis revealed statistically significant differences in the timing of surgery, gestational age of cerclage, preoperative cervical canal length, genital tract infections and preoperative invasive procedures between the successful and unsuccessful groups (P < 0.05). Insignificant differences were found in the pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) (P > 0.05). According to the multivariate analysis results, cerclage timing and genital tract infections were independent risk factors for postoperative pregnancy failure (P < 0.05). The pathogen detection rates in the two groups of pregnant women were analyzed, finding significantly higher incidence of bacterial vaginosis (BV) in the unsuccessful group than in the successful group (P < 0.05). Inter-group comparison revealed that the positive rates for vaginal microenvironmental factors (LE, NAG, SNA, H2O2 and pH) were all significantly higher in the unsuccessful group than in the successful group (P < 0.05). Besides, the immune cytokine levels in the cervicovaginal secretions were also all significantly higher in the unsuccessful group than in the successful group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The pregnancy outcome of patients undergoing cervical cerclage is associated with the imbalance of vaginal microecology and the levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in cervicovaginal secretions.

Differential responses of the rhizosphere microbiome structure and soil metabolites in tea (Camellia sinensis) upon application of cow manure.

BACKGROUND: The rhizosphere is the narrow zone of soil immediately surrounding the root, and it is a critical hotspot of microbial activity, strongly influencing the physiology and development of plants. For analyzing the relationship between the microbiome and metabolome in the rhizosphere of tea (Camellia sinensis) plants, the bacterial composition and its correlation to soil metabolites were investigated under three different fertilization treatments (unfertilized, urea, cow manure) in different growing seasons (spring, early and late summer). RESULTS: The bacterial phyla Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria dominated the rhizosphere of tea plants regardless of the sampling time. These indicated that the compositional shift was associated with different fertilizer/manure treatments as well as the sampling time. However, the relative abundance of these enriched bacteria varied under the three different fertilizer regimes. Most of the enriched metabolic pathways stimulated by different fertilizer application were all related to sugars, amino acids fatty acids and alkaloids metabolism. Organic acids and fatty acids were potential metabolites mediating the plant-bacteria interaction in the rhizosphere. Bacteria in the genera Proteiniphilum, Fermentimonas and Pseudomonas in spring, Saccharimonadales and Gaiellales in early summer, Acidobacteriales and Gaiellales in late summer regulated relative contents of organic and fatty acids. CONCLUSION: This study documents the profound changes to the rhizosphere microbiome and bacterially derived metabolites under different fertilizer regimes and provides a conceptual framework towards improving the performance of tea plantations.

Naringin attenuates high glucose-induced injuries and inflammation by modulating the leptin-JAK2/STAT3 pathway in H9c2 cardiac cells.

INTRODUCTION: Our previous study showed that naringin (NRG) protects cardiomyocytes against high glucose (HG)-induced injuries by inhibiting p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Leptin induces hypertrophy in rat cardiomyocytes via p38/MAPK activation. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that leptin-Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3), which are responsible for leptin's functions, are involved in HG-induced injuries and cardioprotective effects of NRG in cardiomyocytes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: H9c2 cells were exposed to HG for 24 h to establish a cardiomyocyte injury model. Cells were pretreated with NRG and other drugs before exposure to HG. Protein expression was measured by western blot analysis. Cell viability was detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Apoptotic cells were assessed by Hoechst 33258 staining assay. Intracellular reactive oxygen species levels were determined by dichlorofluorescein diacetate staining. Mitochondrial membrane potential was evaluated using JC-1. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to determine the inflammatory cytokines. RESULTS: NRG significantly attenuated HG-induced increases in leptin and Ob-R expression. Pretreatment with either a leptin antagonist (LA) or NRG markedly ameliorated HG-induced elevation of phosphorylated (p)-JAK2 and p-STAT3, respectively. Pretreatment with NRG, LA, Ob-R antagonist, or AG490 clearly alleviated HG-induced injuries and inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides new evidence of the NRG protective effects of H9c2 cells against HG-induced injuries possibly via modulation of the leptin-JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Comparison of therapeutic efficacy of three methods to prevent re-adhesion after hysteroscopic intrauterine adhesion separation: a parallel, randomized and single-center trial.

BACKGROUND: This research aims to study the efficacy of an integrated approach to prevent and treat the recurrence of intrauterine adhesions (IUA) after hysteroscopic adhesiolysis. METHODS: A total of 96 patients diagnosed with moderate-to-severe intrauterine adhesions (IUA) in Nantong Maternal and Child Health Hospital from January 2016 to December 2019 were included in this parallel, randomized and single-center trial. Moderate (48 cases) and severe (48 cases) patients were randomly divided into three groups by a computer random generator: Group A (IUD, n=16), Group B, (Foley1w+IUD, n=16) and Group C (Foley1m+IUD, n=16). All patients received sequential treatment of estrogen and progesterone on the day of operation. Follow-up was performed at 1 and 3 months after treatment of uterine cavity, endometrial thickness, menstruation and pregnancy. Surgeons who performed the second-look and third-look hysteroscopy and postsurgical assessors were blinded to the randomization. RESULTS: In total, 96 patients (48 cases in each degree) were included in the final analysis, with 16 cases in each group. No cases were lost to follow up. The primary outcome measure was AFS score, which was significantly lower in Group C than that of women in group A and Group B at 1 month (P<0.05). Similar results were observed at 3-month follow up. In patients with moderate adhesions, the pregnancy rate in Group C (Foley1m+IUD) was higher than that in Group A and Group B (P<0.05). However, in patients with severe adhesions, there was no significant difference in the pregnancy rate among the three groups (P>0.05). There was no statistical significance in infection indicators among the three groups of moderate and severe patients (P>0.05). Postoperative complications such as uterine perforation, severe bleeding, water poisoning and intrauterine infection were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of a Foley intrauterine balloon combined with IUD in preventing re-adhesion was better than that of an IUD alone. For patients with moderate adhesion, the prolongation of placement time could prevent intrauterine re-adhesion and significantly improve the pregnancy rate with strong safety. However, for patients with severe adhesions, the prolongation of intrauterine Foley balloon placement did not better prevent intrauterine re-adhesions, improve menstruation, or improve pregnancy rates. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2100046945.

Fulvic acid enhances drought resistance in tea plants by regulating the starch and sucrose metabolism and certain secondary metabolism.

The aim of this work was to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of fulvic acid on drought-exposed tea plants. We performed proteomic analysis of fulvic acid-treated tea leaves from the target plants using tandem mass tag quantitative labeling technology and compared the results with those of a previous transcriptomic analysis. We identified 48 and 611 differentially abundant proteins in the leaves of tea plants treated with fulvic acid compared with the control under mild and severe drought, respectively. Comparative analysis showed that, under severe drought, 55 genes had similar expression patterns at the transcriptome and proteome levels, such as PAL, GBE, GBSS and bAS. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that those genes were mainly related to the starch and sucrose metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and triterpenoid biosynthesis. SIGNIFICANCE: This study broadens the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the improved drought resistance seen in tea plants in the presence of fulvic acid and provides a basis for further research on the genomics of drought tolerance in these plants. In addition, these findings could be used to develop new guidance strategies for improved drought management systems in tea plantation.

A Chromosomal Inversion of 46XX, inv (6) (p21.3p23) Connects to Congenital Heart Defects.

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) represent the most common human birth defects. Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is the most common subtype of CHDs. It has been shown that about 20-40% of VSDs are closely related to chromosomal aneuploidies or Mendelian diseases. In this study, we report a pedigree with VSD associated with a balanced paracentric inversion of chromosome 6, inv (6)(p21.3p23), a rarely reported CHD-associated chromosomal abnormality related to the fragile site at 6p23. We have found that the major clinical features of the proband include CHDs (ventricular septal defect, severe pulmonary hypertension, tricuspid regurgitation, and patent foramen ovale), severe pneumonia, and growth retardation. Our study reports a rare chromosomal abnormality connected to CHDs, which may represent a new genetic etiology for VSD.

Exogenous abscisic acid induces the lipid and flavonoid metabolism of tea plants under drought stress.

Abscisic acid (ABA) is an important phytohormone responsible for activating drought resistance, but the regulation mechanism of exogenous ABA on tea plants under drought stress was rarely reported. Here, we analyzed the effects of exogenous ABA on genes and metabolites of tea leaves under drought stress using transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis. The results showed that the exogenous ABA significantly induced the metabolic pathways of tea leaves under drought stress, including energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism and flavonoids biosynthesis. In which, the exogenous ABA could clearly affect the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism and flavonoid biosynthesis. Meanwhile, it also increased the contents of flavone, anthocyanins, flavonol, isoflavone of tea leaves under drought stress, including, kaempferitrin, sakuranetin, kaempferol, and decreased the contents of glycerophospholipids, glycerolipids and fatty acids of tea leaves under drought stress. The results suggested that the exogenous ABA could alleviate the damages of tea leaves under drought stress through inducing the expression of the genes and altering the contents of metabolites in response to drought stress. This study will be helpful to understand the mechanism of resilience to abiotic stress in tea plant and provide novel insights into enhancing drought tolerance in the future.