[The Efficacy and Safety of Venetoclax Combined with Azacitidine in the Treatment of Adult Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia Who Are Unfit for Intensive Chemotherapy].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of venetoclax (VEN) combined with azacitidine (AZA) in the treatment of adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients who are unfit for intensive chemotherapy. METHODS: The clinical data of 21 adult patients with unfit AML who were treated with VEN combined with AZA in the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2021 to May 2022 were collected, and the efficacy and safety were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: After one course of treatment with VEN and AZA, 16 out of 21 unfit AML patients reached complete remission (CR)/CR with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi), 2 patients reached partial remission (PR), the overall response rate (ORR) was 85.7%. Among the 16 patients with CR/CRi, 13 achieved minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity. Among the 11 patients with adverse prognosis, 8 achieved CR/CRi. By the deadline of follow-up, the median overall suivival (OS) of the entire cohort was not reached, with 1-year OS rate of 61.7%. The main adverse events of VEN combined with AZA were myelosuppression, gastrointestinal reactions and infections. There were 13 cases of leukopenia, 7 cases of neutropenia, 7 cases of anemia, 4 cases of thrombocytopenia, and these hematologic adverse events were all grade 3-4. There were 11 cases with gastrointestinal reactions and 7 cases with infections. The above adverse events were controllable and tolerable. No tumor lysis syndrome or infection related death occurred. CONCLUSION: VEN combined with AZA can quickly achieve deep remission in adult patients with unfit AML, and it shows a good safety profile.

Iron-mediated DAMO-anammox process: Revealing the mechanism of electron transfer.

The nitrate denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation-anaerobic ammonia oxidation (DAMO-anammox) can accomplish nitrogen removal and methane (CH4) reduction. This process greatly contributes to carbon emission mitigation and carbon neutrality. In this study, we investigated the electron transfer process of functional microorganisms in the iron-mediated DAMO-anammox system. Fe3+ could be bound to several functional groups (-CH3, COO-, -CH) in extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), and the functional groups bound were different at different iron concentration. Fe3+ underwent reduction reactions to produce Fe2+. Most Fe3+ and Fe2+ react with microorganisms and formed chelates with EPS. Three-dimensional fluorescence spectra showed that Fe3+ affected the secretion of tyrosine and tryptophan, which were essential for cytochrome synthesis. The presence of Fe3+ accelerated c-type cytochrome-mediated extracellular electron transfer (EET), and when more Fe3+ existed, the more cytochrome C expressed. DAMO archaea (M. nitroreducens) in the system exhibited a high positive correlation with the functional genes (resa and ccda) for cytochrome c synthesis. Some denitrifying microorganisms showed positive correlations with the abundance of riboflavin. This finding showed that riboflavin secreted by functional microorganisms acted as an electron shuttle. In addition, DAMO archaea were positively correlated with the hair synthesis gene pily1, which indicated that direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) may exist in the iron-mediated DAMO-anammox system.

Gluten-starch microstructure analysis revealed the improvement mechanism of Triticeae on broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.).

Understanding the mechanism by which Triticeae improves the quality of broomcorn millet (BM) is key to expanding the use of this crop to address food crises and food security. This study aimed to explore the effects of Triticeae on the disulfide bonds, secondary structures, microstructure, and rheological properties of BM dough, and to investigate the potential food applications of BM. Gluten protein, intermolecular SS, and ß-Sheets content of the reconstituted doughs were significantly improved compared with BM dough, which improved disorderly accumulation of starch and gluten-starch interaction in BM dough. CLSM analysis showed that broomcorn millet-common wheat (BM-CW) and broomcorn millet-durum wheat (BM-DW) also possessed larger protein areas, smaller lacunarities, and better gluten-starch interactions in the reconstituted doughs. Disulfide bonds were positively correlated with the gluten network structure, and more disulfide bonds were formed in BM-CW (3.86 µmol/g), which promoted stronger mechanical resistance in BM-CW. Therefore, the combination of BM flour with CW and DW flours had better dough elasticity and stability. Finally, a potential evaluation and optimization scheme for BM as a cooked wheaten food is proposed to improve the reference for future food security and dietary structure adjustment of residents.

Relating the prosody of infant-directed speech to children's vocabulary size.

This study examines correlations between the prosody of infant-directed speech (IDS) and children's vocabulary size. We collected longitudinal speech data and vocabulary information from Dutch mother-child dyads with children aged 18 (N = 49) and 24 (N = 27) months old. We took speech context into consideration and distinguished between prosody when mothers introduce familiar vs. unfamiliar words to their children. The results show that IDS mean pitch predicts children's vocabulary growth between 18 and 24 months. In addition, the degree of prosodic modification when mothers introduce unfamiliar words to their children correlates with children's vocabulary growth during this period. These findings suggest that the prosody of IDS, especially in word-learning contexts, may serve linguistic purposes.

SlbHLH152, a bHLH transcription factor positively regulates iron homeostasis in tomato.

The maintain of iron (Fe) homeostasis is essential for plant survival. In tomato, few transcription factors have been identified as regulators of Fe homeostasis, among which SlbHLH068 induced by iron deficiency, plays an important role. However, the upstream regulator(s) responsible for activating the expression of SlbHLH068 remain(s) unknown. In this study, the bHLH (basic helix-loop-helix) transcription factor SlbHLH152 was identified as an upstream regulator of SlbHLH068 using yeast one-hybrid screening. Deletion of SlbHLH152 led to a significant decline in Fe concentration, which was accompanied by reduced expression of Fe-deficiency-responsive genes. In contrast, SlbHLH152 overexpression plants displayed tolerance to iron deficiency, increased Fe accumulation, and elevated expression of Fe-deficiency-responsive genes. Further analysis indicated that SlbHLH152 directly activates the transcription of SlbHLH068. Taken together, our results suggest that SlbHLH152 may be involved in the regulation of iron homeostasis by directly activating the transcription of SlbHLH068 in tomato.

Effect of environment and variety on the physicochemical properties of Tartary buckwheat starch.

BACKGROUND: Starch is a major nutrient in the human diet and has been widely used as an ingredient in many food and non-food applications. However, the research on the quality characteristics of Tartary buckwheat is lagging behind, and there is a lack of high-quality special varieties, which makes it difficult to become a popular food. The physicochemical properties of Tartary buckwheat starch may be affected by different environments and varieties, and the stability of planted varieties in different regions is also an important issue in current research. RESULTS: The average amylose content and pasting properties of Dingxi Tartary buckwheat were lower, while the solubility, transparency, relative crystallinity and gelatinization enthalpy were higher compared with the other two regions, and there were significant differences between different varieties. All samples showed typical A-type structure, and the starch short-range order structure changed slightly. Amylose content, solubility, transparency, granule size distribution, pasting properties and thermal properties were significantly affected by environment and variety. CONCLUSION: When choosing high-quality special varieties and products for processing, it contributes to select different buckwheat varieties and planting areas based on various objectives by understanding the effects of environment and varieties on the physicochemical properties of Tartary buckwheat starch. In this study, the four varieties planted in Dingxi and the two varieties in Zhaojue were easy to digest, and the differences of pasting properties and thermal properties are helpful to improve the application of Tartary buckwheat starch in the food industry. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Transcriptome analysis reveals new insights in the starch biosynthesis of non-waxy and waxy broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.).

Broomcorn millet is a popular cereal with health benefits, and its grains are rich in starch. However, the differences in the pathway and key genes involved in starch biosynthesis of waxy and non-waxy broomcorn millet grain remain unclear. Therefore, the grain and starch physicochemical index and transcriptomic analyses of two genotypes of broomcorn millet were conducted at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21 days after pollination. The phenotypic and physiological results indicated that the starch synthetic process of non-waxy and waxy broomcorn millet was significantly different. The amylose, amylopectin, and total starch contents of non-waxy broomcorn millet were 1.99, 4.74, and 6.73 mg/grain, while those of waxy broomcorn millet were 0.34, 5.94, and 6.28 mg/grain, respectively. The transcriptomic analysis revealed that 106 differentially expressed genes were identified, which were mainly enriched in the "amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism", "pyruvate metabolism", "galactose metabolism", and "starch and sucrose metabolism" pathways. The WGCNA suggested that a total of 31 hub genes were correlated with starch biosynthesis. These findings provide a new approach to studying the starch synthesis in broomcorn millet.

SERPINA5 may promote the development of preeclampsia by disruption of the uPA/uPAR pathway.

Preeclampsia (PE) is the leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity or mortality but lacks reliable methods for early diagnosis. In a previous study, serum SERPINA5 levels were higher in women with PE before the clinical manifestation of the disease. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of SERPINA5 in predicting PE and investigate its role in trophoblast cell biology. A multicenter, 2-stage observational case-control study was performed to develop and validate an early predictive PE model based on SERPINA5, maternal characteristics, and inflammatory factors. To further understand the relationship between SERPINA5 and PE, SERPINA5 was overexpressed or knocked down in extravillous trophoblast cells (EVT) and a pregnant rat model. After development and initial validation, a model that combined SERPINA5 and inflammatory factors had a high predictive ability for PE before 20 weeks gestation with an AUC of 0.90 (95% CI 0.83-0.96). It also demonstrated that SERPINA5 inhibited primary EVT cell invasion by disrupting the urokinase-type plasminogen activator/urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPA/uPAR) pathway, in turn, is involved in the development of PE. In vivo experiments also proved that overexpression of SERPINA5 induced a PE-like syndrome (hypertension and proteinuria) in pregnant rats. Therefore, serum SERPINA5 is a promising early biomarker of PE, suggesting that it may be involved in placental development through its action on the uPA/uPAR system prior to the clinical manifestation of PE.

Effects of selenium solution on the crystalline structure, pasting and rheological properties of common buckwheat starch.

Selenium is an important element that affects human growth and development, and also affects the yield and quality of common buckwheat. In our study, two common buckwheat varieties were sprayed with different concentrations (0 g/hm2, 5 g/hm2, 20 g/hm2) of sodium selenite solution at the initial flowering period and the full flowering period, respectively, to determine the effects of selenium solution on the physicochemical properties of common buckwheat starch. With increasing selenium levels, the amylose content, peak viscosity, breakdown, relative crystallinity, pasting temperature and gelatinization enthalpy first decreased and then increased, while the transparency showed a trend of increasing and then decreasing. All samples exhibited a typical A-type pattern, while at high selenium level, the degree of short-range order of common buckwheat starches changed. From the rheological properties, it can be seen that the starch paste is dominated by elastic properties, while the low selenium treatment decreases the viscosity of the starch paste. These results showed that spraying different concentrations of selenium solutions at different periods significantly affected the physicochemical properties of common buckwheat starch.

Prosodic input and children's word learning in infant- and adult-directed speech.

This study examines (1) whether infant-directed speech (IDS) facilitates children's word learning compared to adult-directed speech (ADS); and (2) the link between the prosody of IDS in word-learning contexts and children's word learning from ADS and IDS. Twenty-four Dutch mother-child dyads participated when children were 18 and 24 months old. We collect mothers' ADS and IDS at both ages and test children's word learning from ADS and IDS at 24 months. We find that Dutch 24-month-old children could reliably learn novel words from both ADS and IDS, and IDS had a facilitative effect. In addition, children's word learning from IDS (but not ADS) is predicted by IDS pitch range when mothers introduce unfamiliar words to children at 18 months. Our findings contribute to an understanding of the role of IDS prosody in language development, highlighting both individual differences and contextual differences in IDS prosody.

A Deep Learning Model for the Automatic Recognition of Aplastic Anemia, Myelodysplastic Syndromes, and Acute Myeloid Leukemia Based on Bone Marrow Smear.

Aim: Bone marrow biopsy is essential and necessary for the diagnosis of patients with aplastic anemia (AA), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the convolutional neural networks (CNN) model that automatically distinguished AA, MDS, and AML based on bone marrow smears has not been reported. Methods: Image-net pretrained model of CNN was used to construct the recognition model. Data extracted from the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Image Bank were utilized to develop the model and data extracted from the clinic were used for external validation. The model had two output layers: whether the patient was MDS (two-classification) and which of AA, MDS, and AML the patient was (three-classification). Different outcome weights (two-classification/three-classification = 5:5, 2:8, 1:9) and epochs (30, 50, 200) were used to select the optimal model. The model performance was evaluated by the Accuracy-Loss curves and calculating the area under the curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV). Results: A total of 115 bone marrow smears from the ASH Image Bank and 432 bone marrow smears from the clinic were included in this study. The results of Accuracy-Loss curves showed that the best model training effect was observed in the model with the outcome weight and epoch of 1:9 and 200. Similarly, this model also performed well performances in the two-classification of MDS and the three-classification of AA, MDS, AML. The AUC, accuracy and sensitivity of the MDS two-classification model in the testing set were 0.985 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.979-0.991], 0.914 (95%CI, 0.895-0.934), and 0.992 (95%CI, 0.980-1.000), respectively. The AUC, accuracy and sensitivity of the AA, MDS, AML three-classification model in the testing set were 0.968 (95%CI, 0.960-0.976), 0.929 (95%CI, 0.916-0.941), and 0.857 (95%CI, 0.828-0.886), respectively. Conclusion: The image-net pretrained model was able to obtain high accuracy AA, MDS, AML distinction, and may provide clinicians with a convenient tool to distinguish AA, MDS, and AML.

The potential risk factors of placenta increta and the role of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to investigate the potential risk factors for the placenta accreta spectrum (PAS), determine the predictive value of a diagnostic model, and evaluate the effects of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (OMCTS) on trophoblast proliferation and migration. METHODS: This case-control study included 244 pregnant women with PAS and 327 normal pregnant women who visited Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Centre, China, from January 2014 to December 2017. Blood was collected from 42 women with PAS and 77 controls, and plasma specimens were analyzed by gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. In addition, the proliferation and migration of trophoblast cells were examined after treatment with OMCTS. RESULTS: We found an association between the risk of PAS and clinical factors related to fasting blood glucose levels (BS0, OR = 5.78), as well as factors related to endometrial injury [history of cesarean section (OR = 179.59), uterine scarring (OR = 68.37), and history of abortion (OR = 5.66)]. Equally important, pregnant women with PAS had significantly higher plasma OMCTS concentrations than controls. In vitro, we found that OMCTS could promote the proliferation and migration of HTR8/SVneo cells. The model of combining clinical factors and OMCTS had a good performance in PAS prediction (AUC = 0.97, 95% CI 0.78-0.93). CONCLUSIONS: The early diagnosis of PAS in pregnant women requires assessing risk factors, metabolic status, and BS0 levels before 20 weeks of gestation. OMCTS may be related to the development of PAS by promoting trophoblast cell proliferation and migration.

Mechanistic analysis of carbon-carbon bond formation by deoxypodophyllotoxin synthase.

Deoxypodophyllotoxin contains a core of four fused rings (A to D) with three consecutive chiral centers, the last being created by the attachment of a peripheral trimethoxyphenyl ring (E) to ring C. Previous studies have suggested that the iron(II)- and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent (Fe/2OG) oxygenase, deoxypodophyllotoxin synthase (DPS), catalyzes the oxidative coupling of ring B and ring E to form ring C and complete the tetracyclic core. Despite recent efforts to deploy DPS in the preparation of deoxypodophyllotoxin analogs, the mechanism underlying the regio- and stereoselectivity of this cyclization event has not been elucidated. Herein, we report 1) two structures of DPS in complex with 2OG and (±)-yatein, 2) in vitro analysis of enzymatic reactivity with substrate analogs, and 3) model reactions addressing DPS's catalytic mechanism. The results disfavor a prior proposal of on-pathway benzylic hydroxylation. Rather, the DPS-catalyzed cyclization likely proceeds by hydrogen atom abstraction from C7', oxidation of the benzylic radical to a carbocation, Friedel-Crafts-like ring closure, and rearomatization of ring B by C6 deprotonation. This mechanism adds to the known pathways for transformation of the carbon-centered radical in Fe/2OG enzymes and suggests what types of substrate modification are likely tolerable in DPS-catalyzed production of deoxypodophyllotoxin analogs.

Cross-Dialectal Novel Word Learning and Borrowing.

The objective of this paper was to study the cognitive processes underlying cross-dialectal novel word borrowing and loanword establishment in a Standard-Chinese-to-Shanghainese (SC-SH) auditory lexical learning and borrowing experiment. To investigate these underlying cognitive processes, SC-SH bi-dialectals were compared with SC monolectals as well as bi-dialectals of SC and other Chinese dialects (OD) to investigate the influence of short-term and long-term linguistic experience. Both comprehension and production borrowings were tested. This study found that early and proficient bi-dialectism, even if it is not directly related to the recipient dialect of lexical borrowing, has a protective effect on the ability of cross-dialectal lexical borrowing in early adulthood. Bi-dialectals tend to add separate lexical representations for incidentally encountered dialectal variants, while monolectals tend to assimilate dialectal variants to standard forms. Bi-dialectals, but not monolectals, use etymologically related morphemes between the source and recipient dialects to create nonce-borrowing compounds. Dialectal variability facilitates lexical borrowing via enriching instead of increasing the short-term lexical experience of learners. The long-term bi-dialectal experience of individuals, as well as their short-term exposure to each specific loanword, may collectively shape the route of lexical evolution of co-evolving linguistic varieties.

New Type of Food Processing Material: The Crystal Structure and Functional Properties of Waxy and Non-Waxy Proso Millet Resistant Starches.

Resistant starch (RS) is widely used in the food industry because of its ability to regulate and protect the small intestine, but their distinct effects on the structural and functional properties of waxy and non-waxy proso millet starches are not completely understood. The crystalline structure and physicochemical properties of waxy and non-waxy proso millets' starch samples were analyzed after heat-moisture treatment (HMT). The analysis revealed significant differences between the RS of waxy and non-waxy proso millets. The crystal type of proso millets' starch changed from type A to type B + V. The relative crystallinity of the RS of waxy proso millet was better than that of non-waxy proso millet. The gelatinization temperature and thermal stability of RS significantly increased, and the pasting temperature (PTM) of the RS of waxy proso millet was the highest. The water solubility and swelling power of the RS in proso millet decreased, and the viscoelasticity improved. The correlation between the short-range ordered structure of RS and ΔH, and gelatinization properties has a stronger correlation. This study provides practical information for improving the nutritional benefits of waxy and non-waxy proso millet in food applications.

Correlation between the positive rate of SAA in children with respiratory tract infection and ambient temperature.

The purpose of this study was to explore the application of serum amyloid A (SAA) in the outcome of upper respiratory tract infection in children by analyzing the correlation between the change of mean air temperature and the positive rate of SAA detection in children. Daily data on upper respiratory tract infection diseases and weather conditions were collected in 2016-2019. A quasi-Poisson regression with a distributed lag non-linear model was used to examine the association between temperature and SAA-positive rate. The positive rate of SAA had a moderate correlation with the temperature and a weak correlation with relative humidity. Low ambient temperature (7 °C, P1) was related to the increase in the positive rate of SAA, with the effect lag for 0-7 days (RR 1.34 (1.19~1.74)). The increase in the SAA-positive case induced by 27 °C (P75) could last for 0-14 days (RR 1.07 (1.01-1.08)), and high temperature (30 °C, P99) could reduce the positive rate of SAA. Our findings add additional evidence to the adverse effects of sub-optimal ambient temperature and provide useful information for public health programs targeting pediatric patients.

Serum complement proteomics reveal biomarkers for hypertension disorder of pregnancy and the potential role of Clusterin.

INTRODUCTION: Hypertension disorder of pregnancy (HDP) is one of the leading causes of maternal and foetal illness. The aim of the current study was to identify and verify novel serum markers for HDP. METHODS: A label-free LC-MS/MS method was used to establish the serum proteomic profiles of 12 pre-HDP (before clinical diagnosis of HDP) pregnancies and verify prioritized candidates in the verification set of 48 pre-HDP pregnancies. These biomarkers were revalidated by ELISA in an independent cohort of 88 pre-HDP pregnancies. Subsequently, the candidate biomarkers were histologically analysed by immunohistochemistry, and function was evaluated in TEV-1 cells. RESULTS: We identified 33 proteins with significantly increased abundance and 14 with decreased abundance (peptide FDR ≤ 1%, P < 0.05). Complement was one of the top enriched components in the pre-HDP group compared with the control group. Three complement factors (CLU, CFHR5, and CRP) were significantly increased in the three sets, of which CLU was a critical factor for the development of HDP (OR = 1.22, P < 0.001). When these three factors and body weight were combined, the AUC was 0.74, with a sensitivity of 0.67 and specificity of 0.68 for HDP prediction compared with normal pregnancy. In addition, inflammation-induced CLU could inhibit the invasion of TEV-1 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Complement proteins may play an essential role in the occurrence of HDP by acting on trophoblast cells. CLU may be a high-risk factor for HDP, and the models combining candidates show reasonable screening efficiency of HDP in the first half of pregnancy.

Gut Microbiota Signatures in Gestational Anemia.

Gestational diseases are associated with altered intestinal microbiota in pregnant women. Characterizing the gut microbiota of gestational anemia (GA) may describe a novel role of gut microbial abnormality in GA. In this study, we investigated differences in gut microbiota between GA patients and healthy pregnant women from the first trimester (n = 24 vs. 54) and the third trimester (n = 30 vs. 56) based on the 16S rRNA gene sequencing method. No statistically significant differences in α-diversity were identified between GA patients and controls in the first trimester of pregnancy, whereas the Shannon index and observed OTUs were significantly lower in GA patients than in healthy controls in the third trimester. Distance-based redundancy analysis revealed striking differences in microbial communities in the third trimester between GA patients and controls. Four genera were significantly different in relative abundance between GA patients and healthy controls, while 12 genera differentiated significantly between GA patients and healthy controls in the third trimester. At the operational taxonomic unit (OTU) level, 17 OTUs and 30 OTUs were identified to be different between GA patients and healthy controls in the first and third trimesters, respectively. Changes in gut microbial composition of GA patients suggest a potential relation with GA, and provide insights into the prediction and intervention of gestational anemia.

Differential expression of serum proteins before 20 weeks gestation in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: A potential role for SH3BGRL3.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to explore serum levels of differentially abundant proteins between women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and women with normal-term pregnancy, and to explore the contribution of SH3BGRL3 to the pathogenesis of HDP. METHODS: At 6-20 weeks gestation 48 pregnant women who later developed HDP (HDP group) and 48 women with normal-term pregnancy (normal group) were recruited based on maternal age and gestational age at a 1:1 ratio. Total serum protein was extracted, denatured, deoxidized, and subjected to enzymolysis. The sample was labeled with Tandem Mass Tags and analyzed via mass spectroscopy to identify differentially abundant proteins. The role of SH3BGRL3 in trophoblast invasion, proliferation and apoptosis was examined using the HTR-8/SVneo cell line and primary isolates of extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cells. RESULTS: In the proteomic profiling analysis, there were 19 proteins that showed significant differential abundance (P < 0.05). Among them, 13 proteins were more abundant and 6 proteins were less abundant in the serum from the HDP group compared with the normal group. The function of one of the more abundant proteins, SH3BGRL3, in trophoblast cell invasion, proliferation and apoptosis was investigated. Treatment of the EVT cells or the HTR-8/SVneo cell line with anti-SH3BGRL3 inhibited proliferation, but stimulated both apoptosis and invasion. MMP2 and p-ERK levels were also decreased in EVT after anti-SH3BGRL3 treatment. DISCUSSION: The SH3BGRL3 protein can regulate various aspects of trophoblast biology, and may be useful in the clinical diagnosis of HDP.

Systematic analysis of gut microbiota in pregnant women and its correlations with individual heterogeneity.

The woman's gut microbiota during pregnancy may support nutrient acquisition, is associated with diseases, and has been linked to infant health. However, there is limited information on gut microbial characteristics and dependence in pregnant women. In this study, we provide a comprehensive overview of the gut microbial characteristics of 1479 pregnant women using 16S rRNA gene sequencing of fecal samples. We identify a core microbiota of pregnant women, which displays a similar overall structure to that of age-matched nonpregnant women. Our data show that the gestational age-associated variation in the gut microbiota, from the ninth week of gestation to antepartum, is relatively limited. Building upon rich metadata, we reveal a set of exogenous and intrinsic host factors that are highly correlated with the variation in gut microbial community composition and function. These microbiota covariates are concentrated in basic host properties (e.g., age and residency status) and blood clinical parameters, suggesting that individual heterogeneity is the major force shaping the gut microbiome during pregnancy. Moreover, we identify microbial and functional markers that are associated with age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, residency status, and pre-pregnancy and gestational diseases. The gut microbiota during pregnancy is also different between women with high or low gestational weight gain. Our study demonstrates the structure, gestational age-associated variation, and associations with host factors of the gut microbiota during pregnancy and strengthens the understanding of microbe-host interactions. The results from this study offer new materials and prospects for gut microbiome research in clinical and diagnostic fields.