Molybdenum Concentration and the Risk of Spontaneous Preterm Birth: A Nested Case-Control Study - Beijing Municipality, China, 2018-2020.

What is already known about this topic?: The level of molybdenum (Mo) in a mother's urine has been linked to the growth rate of the fetus and the blood pressure levels in children. What is added by this report?: We evaluated the variations in maternal plasma Mo concentrations throughout pregnancy and their potential association with the risk of spontaneous preterm birth (SPB). What are the implications for public health practice?: Future research must determine the Mo levels in pregnant women across various regions in China. Moreover, particular attention needs to be given to the potential increase in Mo concentration throughout pregnancy and its possible adverse impacts on the health of both the mother and the fetus.

High Sensitivity and Wide Linear Range Flexible Piezoresistive Pressure Sensor with Microspheres as Spacers for Pronunciation Recognition.

Flexible piezoresistive pressure sensors have received great popularity in flexible electronics due to their simple structure and promising applications in health monitoring and artificial intelligence. However, the contradiction between sensitivity and detection range limits the application of the sensors in the medium-pressure regime. Here, a flexible piezoresistive pressure sensor is fabricated by combining a hierarchical spinous microstructure sensitive layer and a periodic microsphere array spacer. The sensor achieves high sensitivity (39.1 kPa-1) and outstanding linearity (0.99, R2 coefficient) in a medium-pressure regime, as well as a wide range of detection (100 Pa-160.0 kPa), high detection precision (<0.63‰ full scale), and excellent durability (>5000 cycles). The mechanism of the microsphere array spacer in improving sensitivity and detection range was revealed through finite element analysis. Furthermore, the sensors have been utilized to detect muscle and joint movements, spatial pressure distributions, and throat movements during pronouncing words. By means of a full-connect artificial neural network for machine learning, the sensor's output of different pronounced words can be precisely distinguished and classified with an overall accuracy of 96.0%. Overall, the high-performance flexible pressure sensor based on a microsphere array spacer has great potential in health monitoring, human-machine interface, and artificial intelligence of medium-pressure regime.

Stretchable, Transparent, and Ultra-Broadband Terahertz Shielding Thin Films Based on Wrinkled MXene Architectures.

With the increasing demand for terahertz (THz) technology in security inspection, medical imaging, and flexible electronics, there is a significant need for stretchable and transparent THz electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials. Existing EMI shielding materials, like opaque metals and carbon-based films, face challenges in achieving both high transparency and high shielding efficiency (SE). Here, a wrinkled structure strategy was proposed to construct ultra-thin, stretchable, and transparent terahertz shielding MXene films, which possesses both isotropous wrinkles (height about 50 nm) and periodic wrinkles (height about 500 nm). Compared to flat film, the wrinkled MXene film (8 nm) demonstrates a remarkable 36.5% increase in SE within the THz band. The wrinkled MXene film exhibits an EMI SE of 21.1 dB at the thickness of 100 nm, and an average EMI SE/t of 700 dB µm-1 over the 0.1-10 THz. Theoretical calculations suggest that the wrinkled structure enhances the film's conductivity and surface plasmon resonances, resulting in an improved THz wave absorption. Additionally, the wrinkled structure enhances the MXene films' stretchability and stability. After bending and stretching (at 30% strain) cycles, the average THz transmittance of the wrinkled film is only 0.5% and 2.4%, respectively. The outstanding performances of the wrinkled MXene film make it a promising THz electromagnetic shielding materials for future smart windows and wearable electronics.

Semaphorin 7A promotes endothelial permeability and inflammation via plexin C1 and integrin ß1 in Kawasaki disease.

BACKGROUND: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a pediatric systemic vasculitis characterized by endothelial cell dysfunction. Semaphorin 7A (Sema7A) has been reported to regulate endothelial phenotypes associated with cardiovascular diseases, while its role in KD remains unknown. This study aims to investigate the effect of Sema7A on endothelial permeability and inflammatory response in KD conditions. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 68 KD patients and 25 healthy children (HC). The levels of Sema7A and A Disintegrin and Metalloprotease 17 (ADAM17) in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Sema7A expression in blood cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. Ex vivo monocytes were used for Sema7A shedding assays. In vitro human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) were cultured in KD sera and stimulated with Sema7A, and TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-18 of HCAECs were measured by ELISA and qRT-PCR. HCAECs monolayer permeability was measured by FITC-dextran. RESULTS: The serum level of Sema7A was significantly higher in KD patients than in HC and correlated with disease severity. Monocytes were identified as one of the source of elevated serum Sema7A, which implicates a process of ADAM17-dependent shedding. Sera from KD patients induced upregulation of plexin C1 and integrin ß1 in HCAECs compared to sera from HC. Sema7A mediated the proinflammatory cytokine production of HCAECs in an integrin ß1-dependent manner, while both plexin C1 and integrin ß1 contributed to Sema7A-induced HCAEC hyperpermeability. CONCLUSIONS: Sema7A is involved in the progression of KD vasculitis by promoting endothelial permeability and inflammation through a plexin C1 and integrin ß1-dependent pathway. Sema7A may serve as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in the prognosis and treatment of KD.

Butyrate and iso-butyrate: a new perspective on nutrition prevention of gestational diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Dietary imbalance, such as a lower proportion of complex carbohydrates and a higher protein diet, may contribute to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risks through their metabolisms. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the association between butyrate, iso-butyrate, and GDM, which are metabolisms of the two primary nutrients above. This study aimed to clarify the association of butyrate and iso-butyrate with GDM. METHODS: A nested case-control study was conducted based on the Beijing Birth Cohort Study (BBCS) from 2017 to 2018. Totally, 99 singleton women were involved (GDM: n = 49, control: n = 50). All participants provided blood samples twice (in their first and second trimesters). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for butyrate and iso-butyrate detection. Unconditional logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that butyrate in the first trimester was negatively correlated with GDM (odds ratio (OR): 0.00, 95% confidential interval (CI): 0.00-0.21, P = 0.008), and iso-butyrate in the second trimester was positively related to GDM (OR: 627.68, 95% CI: 40.51-9724.56, P < 0.001). The ratio (butyrate/iso-butyrate) was negatively associated with GDM, both in the first trimester (OR: 0.00, 95%CI: 0.00-0.05, P < 0.001) and in the second trimester (OR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.34-0.80, P = 0.003). The area under the curve (AUC) using the ratio in the first trimester combined with clinical risk factors achieved 0.89 (95% CI: 0.83-0.95). Iso-butyrate in the second trimester combined with clinical risk factors achieved an AUC of 0.97 (95% CI: 0.92-1.00). CONCLUSIONS: High iso-butyrate and low butyrate levels may be associated with an increased risk of GDM. As they are produced through dietary nutrient formation by gut microbiota, further studies on the association of dietary intake and butyrate or iso-butyrate concentration in plasma may help find a novel approach to nutritional intervention for GDM.

The safety and effectiveness of prophylactic hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in patients with pathological T3-4 locally advanced colon cancer.

INTRODUCTION: The safety and effectiveness of prophylactic hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in pathological T3-4 locally advanced (pT3N + M0 and pT4NxM0) colon cancer (CC) patients with radical resection need further study. METHODS: Clinical and pathological information of pT3-4 locally advanced CC patients who received radical surgery in our hospital from January 2018 to December 2020 were analyzed. The prognosis of patients was estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Among 927 patients, 10.4% (96/927) received prophylactic HIPEC based on 5-FU, 4.6% (43/927) received prophylactic HIPEC based on lobaplatin, 85.0% (788/927) received conventional therapy. The incidence of metachronous peritoneal carcinomatosis (mPC) was 9.4%. Complications occurred in 32 patients (4.1%) in the conventional therapy group, 6 patients (6.3%) in the prophylactic HIPEC group based on 5-FU and 3 patients (7.0%) in the prophylactic HIPEC group based on lobaplatin within 30 days after surgery (5-FU vs. conventional therapy group, p = 0.464; Lobaplatin vs. conventional therapy group, p = 0.591). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that prophylactic HIPEC based on either 5-FU or lobaplatin regimen could not effectively improve mPC-free survival (5-FU: p = 0.020, HR = 1.927, 95% CI, 1.111-3.343; Lobaplatin: p = 0.167, HR = 0.247, 95% CI, 0.034-1.796), overall survival (5-FU: p = 0.361, HR = 1.360, 95% CI, 0.703-2.634; Lobaplatin: p = 0.780, HR = 0.816, 95% CI, 0.195-3.416) and disease-free survival (5-FU: p = 0.525, HR = 1.149, 95% CI, 0.749-1.760; Lobaplatin: p = 0.117, HR = 0.488, 95% CI, 0.199-1.198). CONCLUSION: Early prophylactic HIPEC based on 5-FU or lobaplatin subsequent to radical resection for patients with pT3-4 locally advanced CC is safe, but not effective in reducing the risk for mPC.

Alterations in the white matter structure of major depressive disorder patients and their link to childhood trauma.

Objectives: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is significantly influenced by childhood trauma (CT), affecting brain anatomy and functionality. Despite the unique disease trajectory in MDD patients with CT, the underlying neurobiological mechanisms remain unclear. Our objective is to investigate CT's impact on the white matter structure of the brain in patients with MDD. Methods: This research employed tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) to detect variations between groups in Fractional Anisotropy (FA) throughout the whole brain in 71 medication-free MDD patients and 97 HCs. Participants filled out the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and assessments for depression and anxiety symptoms. The relationship between FA and CTQ scores was explored with partial correlation analysis, adjusting for factors such as age, gender, educational background, and length of illness. Results: Compared to HCs, the MDD group showed decreased FA values in the right posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC), the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF), and bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF). Simple effects analysis revealed that compared to HC-CT, the MDD-CT group demonstrated decreased FA values in right PLIC, IFOF, and bilateral SLF. The MDD-nCT group showed decreased FA values in right PLIC and IFOF compared to HC-nCT. The total scores and subscale scores of CTQ were negatively correlated with the FA in the right SLF. Conclusion: The right SLF may potentially be influenced by CT during the brain development of individuals with MDD. These results enhance our knowledge of the role of the SLF in the pathophysiology of MDD and the neurobiological mechanisms by which CT influences MDD.

Maternal cobalt concentration and risk of spontaneous preterm birth: the role of fasting blood glucose and lipid profiles.

Introduction: Spontaneous preterm birth (SPB) is a significant cause of neonatal mortality, yet its etiology remains unclear. Cobalt, an essential trace element, might be a risk factor for SPB. This study aims to investigate the relationship between maternal serum cobalt concentration and SPB, and to clarify the role of blood lipids and fasting blood glucose (FBG) in this relationship. Methods: We conducted a nested case-control study within the Beijing Birth Cohort Study. Serum samples were obtained from 222 pregnant women with SPB and 224 controls during the first (7-13 weeks of pregnancy) and third trimesters (32-42 weeks of pregnancy). Serum cobalt concentration was determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Fasting blood glucose and lipids levels were detected using a fully automated biochemical immunoassay instrument. Logistic regression models and linear regression models were established to explore the association between serum cobalt concentration and the risk of SPB in pregnant women, and to test the mediating effect of fasting blood glucose (FBG) and lipids. Results: We found that the serum cobalt concentration in mothers with SPB and controls was similar in the first trimester, with values of 0.79 (0.58-1.10) ng/mL and 0.75 (0.51-1.07) ng/mL, respectively. However, in the third trimester, the cobalt concentration increased to 0.88 (0.59-1.14) ng/mL and 0.84 (0.52-1.19) ng/mL, respectively. In the logistic regression model, when considering the third trimester of pregnancy, after adjusting for ethnicity, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), maternal age, education, income, and parity, it was observed that the medium level of cobalt concentration (0.63-1.07 ng/ml) had a negative correlation with the risk of SPB. The odds ratio (OR) was 0.56, with a 95% confidence interval of 0.34-0.90 ng/mL and a p-value of 0.02. This suggests that cobalt in this concentration range played a protective role against SPB. Additionally, it was found that FBG in the third trimester of pregnancy had a partial intermediary role, accounting for 9.12% of the association. However, no relationship between cobalt and SPB risk was found in the first trimester. Conclusion: During the third trimester, intermediate levels of maternal cobalt appear to offer protection against SPB, with FBG playing a partial mediating role. To further clarify the optimal cobalt concentrations during pregnancy for different populations, a multi-center study with a larger sample size is necessary. Additionally, exploring the specific mechanism of FBG's mediating role could provide valuable insights for improving the prevention of SPB.

Construction and validation of a nomogram for predicting lateral lymph node metastasis in pediatric and adolescent with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Limited research has been conducted to specifically investigate the identification of risk factors and the development of prediction models for lateral lymph node metastasis (LNM) in pediatric and adolescent differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) populations, despite its significant association with unfavorable prognosis. METHODS: This study entails a retrospective analysis of the clinical characteristics exhibited by pediatric and adolescent patients who have been diagnosed with DTC. The data utilized for this analysis was sourced from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, spanning the time frame from 2000 to 2020. Furthermore, the study incorporates patients who were treated at the Departments of Breast and Thyroid Surgery in the Second Clinical Medical College, Affiliated Fifth People's Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, as well as The General Hospital of Western Theater Command, during the period from 2010 to 2020. RESULTS: A cohort of 2631 patients from the SEER database, along with an additional 339 patients from our departments who met the specified inclusion criteria, were included in this study. Subsequently, four clinical variables, namely age, tumor size, multifocality, and extrathyroidal invasion, were identified as being significantly associated with lateral LNM in pediatric and adolescent DTC patients. These variables were then utilized to construct a nomogram, which demonstrated effective discrimination with a concordance index (C-index) of 0.731. Furthermore, the performance of this model was validated through both internal and external assessments, yielding C-index values of 0.721 and 0.712, respectively. Afterward, a decision curve analysis was conducted to assess the viability of this nomogram in predicting lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSION: The current investigation has effectively constructed a nomogram model utilizing visualized multipopulationsal data. Our findings demonstrate a significant association between various clinical characteristics and lateral LNM in pediatric and adolescent DTC patients. These outcomes hold substantial significance for healthcare practitioners, as they can employ this model to inform individualized clinical judgments for the pediatric and adolescent cohorts.

Ileum intussusception secondary to submucosal liposarcoma in adult：A case report.

Intussusception in adults is a rare surgical emergency. Unlike in children, most adult intussusceptions arise from a pathological lead point. Ileal intussusception caused by a submucosal liposarcoma is a particularly rare phenomenon. This report describes the diagnosis and management of adult ileal intussusception secondary to submucosal liposarcoma in adult to provide a reference for future clinical work. A 64-year-old female presented to the emergency department with worsening abdominal pain associated with an 8 h history of intermittent vomiting. Based on physical examination, laboratory investigations, and computed tomography, the most likely diagnosis was ileal intussusception secondary to liposarcoma. Thus, emergency laparotomy was performed. During exploration, an ileal invagination was visualised approximately 30 cm from the ileocecal valve, and a flexible polypoid mass was palpable at the lead point of the intussusception. Subsequently, the patient underwent radical resection of pathological tissues with a primary end-to-end ileal anastomosis. Histopathological examination revealed a well-differentiated submucosal liposarcoma. Postoperatively, the patient recovered uneventfully and was doing well at the 6-month follow-up in the outpatient clinic. Thus, clinicians should consider the origin of submucosal liposarcomas in adult with intussusception. Once ileal intussusception secondary to submucosal liposarcoma is diagnosed, timely radical resection is recommended.

Flexible, Transparent and Conductive Metal Mesh Films with Ultra-High FoM for Stretchable Heating and Electromagnetic Interference Shielding.

Despite the growing demand for transparent conductive films in smart and wearable electronics for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, achieving a flexible EMI shielding film, while maintaining a high transmittance remains a significant challenge. Herein, a flexible, transparent, and conductive copper (Cu) metal mesh film for EMI shielding is fabricated by self-forming crackle template method and electroplating technique. The Cu mesh film shows an ultra-low sheet resistance (0.18 Ω â–¡-1), high transmittance (85.8%@550 nm), and ultra-high figure of merit (> 13,000). It also has satisfactory stretchability and mechanical stability, with a resistance increases of only 1.3% after 1,000 bending cycles. As a stretchable heater (ε > 30%), the saturation temperature of the film can reach over 110 °C within 60 s at 1.00 V applied voltage. Moreover, the metal mesh film exhibits outstanding average EMI shielding effectiveness of 40.4 dB in the X-band at the thickness of 2.5 µm. As a demonstration, it is used as a transparent window for shielding the wireless communication electromagnetic waves. Therefore, the flexible and transparent conductive Cu mesh film proposed in this work provides a promising candidate for the next-generation EMI shielding applications.

Isthmusectomy for papillarythyroid carcinoma in the isthmus: The less the better.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate surgical treatments of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) located in the isthmus (PTCI) remains controversial. This study evaluated the outcomes from isthmusectomy in single PTCI and compared it with those for patients who underwent total thyroidectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study enrolled 89 PTCI patients who underwent total thyroidectomy or isthmusectomy plus bilateral central lymph node dissection (BCLND). Patients were divided into Group A (n = 48) with total thyroidectomy plus BCLND and Group B (n = 41) with isthmusectomy plus BCLND. We compared the effects of different surgical modalities and clinicopathological characteristics on the prognosis of PTCI, and conducted a multivariate analysis to assess risk factors for bilateral central node metastasis for PTCI. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in postoperative recurrence-free survival (RFS) between Group A and Group B (P = 0.574). Temporary hypocalcemia occurred more in Group A than Group B (χ2 = 4.608, P = 0.032). There was no significant difference in metastatic lymph nodes between the 2 groups. However, there are 8 patients occurred bilateral central node metastasis in group A, and 6 in Group B (16.7% vs. 14.6%, respectively, P = 0.793). Multiple logistic analysis suggested that tumor size greater than 1.0 cm (OR = 9.72, 95% CI: 2.06-56.59, P < 0.001), and tumor located in the center of isthmus (OR = 5.19, 95% CI: 1.04-2.58,P < 0.001) were risk factors for bilateral central node metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results reveal that isthmusectomy plus BCLND may be a simple but feasible approach for selected PTCI patients, resulting in a better quality of life than total thyroidectomy plus BCLND.

Associations of gestational weight gain with birth weight outcomes in early pregnancy weight loss women: Findings from the Beijing Birth Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between gestational weight gain (GWG) and birth weight outcomes and establish suggested GWG patterns in early pregnancy weight loss women. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted based on the Beijing Birth Cohort Study from 2014 to 2021 and included 20 688 women. Weight change in early pregnancy was calculated using weight measurements within 16 weeks of gestation. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the relationships of different GWG categories, based on the Chinese standard, and birth weight outcomes. The statistical-based approach was used to determine the optimal GWG ranges and weekly weight gain. RESULTS: Compared to 3313 women who gained appropriate weight in early pregnancy, 2614 women who lost weight in the same period increased the risk of small for gestational age (SGA) (OR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.14-1.80, P = 0.002). However, the relationship disappeared after adjusting for total GWG. Among the early pregnancy weight loss women, both excessive GWG and inadequate GWG were associated with adverse birth weight outcomes after adjusting for confounders. The suggested GWG range and rate were 11.0 ~ 16.0 kg and 0.46 to 0.67 kg/week from 16 weeks to delivery for women with normal body mass index (BMI) and weight loss in early pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Weight loss in early pregnancy was not the independent risk factor of birth weight outcomes. GWG may offset the expected effects. To achieve optimal outcomes, women with normal BMI and weight loss in early pregnancy need to have a higher weight gain rate in mid-late pregnancy but similar total GWG ranges with the Chinese standard for general women.

Association between light rare earth elements in maternal plasma and the risk of spontaneous preterm birth: a nested case-control study from the Beijing birth cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Parental exposure to rare earth elements (REEs) could increase the risk of premature rupture of membranes, a major cause of spontaneous preterm birth (SPB). In addition, different subtypes of SPB, such as spontaneous preterm labor (SPL) and preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), may have different susceptibility to environmental exposure. Therefore, we investigated the potential associations between REE exposure in different trimesters and SPB and its subtypes. METHODS: A nested case-control study was performed. We included 244 women with SPB as cases and 244 women with full-term delivery as controls. The plasma concentrations of light REEs were measured in the first and third trimesters. Logistic regression was used to analyze the associations between single REE levels and SPB, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) was used to analyze the mixed-exposure effect. RESULTS: Exposure to light REEs was associated with SPB and its subtypes only in the third trimester. Specifically, the intermediate- and highest-tertile concentration groups of La and the highest-tertile concentration group of Sm were associated with an increased risk of SPL, with adjusted odds ratios (AORs) of 2.00 (95% CIs: 1.07-3.75), 1.87 (95% CIs: 1.01-3.44), and 1.82 (95% CIs: 1.00-3.30), respectively. The highest-tertile concentration group of Pr was associated with an increased risk of PPROM, with an AOR of 1.69 (95% CIs: 1.00-2.85). Similar results were also found in BKMR models. CONCLUSIONS: La and Sm levels in plasma may be associated with the risk of SPL, and Pr levels in plasma may be associated with the risk of PPROM.

Early changes of platelet­lymphocyte ratio correlate with neoadjuvant chemotherapy response and predict pathological complete response in breast cancer.

Markers with inflammatory properties, such as the ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes and the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), have been documented as potential indicators for predicting pathologic complete response (pCR) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in cases of breast cancer. However, whether early changes of PLR (ΔPLR) during NACT can predict pCR has not been reported. A total of 257 breast cancer patients who underwent NACT were retrospectively analyzed. PLR was calculated by evaluating the complete blood cell counts prior to NACT and following two cycles of NACT. The analysis focused on the association between changes in PLR and the response to chemotherapy, as well as the association with pCR. Patients who stayed in or changed to the low PLR level subgroup after two cycles of NACT exhibited a superior response to chemotherapy, in contrast to those who stayed in or changed to the high PLR level subgroup. Of the 257 patients, 75 (29.1%) achieved a pCR after NACT. In the multivariate analysis, there was a significant association between ΔPLR and pCR, whereas pre-treatment and post-treatment PLR did not show any significant association. In multivariate analysis, patients who had a ΔPLR <0 had a notably higher rate of pCR compared with patients with a ΔPLR ≥0. It was concluded that ΔPLR, rather than pre-treatment or post-treatment PLR, is associated with pCR. This suggested that the early changes of PLR after two cycles of NACT might serve as a more accurate predictor for chemotherapy response and pCR in breast cancer.

Association between serum lipid profile during the first and second trimester of pregnancy as well as their dynamic changes and gestational diabetes mellitus in twin pregnancies: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal lipid metabolism is associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in singleton pregnancies. Data were lacking on twin pregnancies with GDM. We explored the association between serum lipid profiles in the first and second trimesters as well as their dynamic changes and GDM in twin pregnancies. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of 2739 twin pregnancies that underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and were selected from the Beijing Birth Cohort Study from June 2013 to May 2021. Cholesterol (CHO), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were measured at mean 9 and 25 weeks of gestation. We described maternal lipid levels in different tertiles that were associated with the risk of GDM stratified for age, pre-BMI, and fertilization type. GDM patients were divided into two groups according to OGTT: elevated fasting plasma glucose only (FPG group) and the rest of the GDM (non-FPG group). We estimated the relative risk of GDM with multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS: In this study, we found that 599 (21.9%, 599/2739) twin pregnancies developed GDM. They had increased CHO, TG, LDL, and LDL/HDL, decreased HDL levels in the first trimester, and increased TG as well as decreased HDL in the second trimester in univariate analyses, each P < 0.05. In multivariate analysis, when TG > 1.67 mmol/l (upper tertile) in elderly individuals, nonoverweight and ART groups increased the risk of GDM by 2.7-fold, 2.3-fold and 2.2-fold, respectively, compared with TG < 0.96 mmol/l (lower tertile). This effect remained in the abovementioned groups in the second trimester. Moreover, high TGs increased the risk of GDM in the FPG group (OR = 2.076, 95% CI 1.130-3.815) and non-FPG group (OR = 2.526, 95% CI 1.739-3.67) in the first trimester when TG > 1.67 mmol/l, and the rising risk in the non-FPG group as the TG tertile increased remained in the second trimester. HDL predominantly showed a negative association with elevated FPG in the second trimester (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Twin pregnancies with GDM have higher lipid levels. Increased TGs in the first and second trimesters are strongly associated with GDM, especially in elderly individuals, nonoverweight and ART groups. Lipid profiles varied among different GDM subtypes.

Flexible, Transparent, and Wafer-Scale Artificial Synapse Array Based on TiOx /Ti3 C2 Tx Film for Neuromorphic Computing.

A high-density neuromorphic computing memristor array based on 2D materials paves the way for next-generation information-processing components and in-memory computing systems. However, the traditional 2D-materials-based memristor devices suffer from poor flexibility and opacity, which hinders the application of memristors in flexible electronics. Here, a flexible artificial synapse array based on TiOx /Ti3 C2 Tx film is fabricated by a convenient and energy-efficient solution-processing technique, which realizes high transmittance (≈90%) and oxidation resistance (>30 days). The TiOx /Ti3 C2 Tx memristor shows low device-to-device variability, long memory retention and endurance, a high ON/OFF ratio, and fundamental synaptic behavior. Furthermore, satisfactory flexibility (R = 1.0 mm) and mechanical endurance (104 bending cycles) of the TiOx /Ti3 C2 Tx memristor are achieved, which is superior to other film memristors prepared by chemical vapor deposition. In addition, high-precision (>96.44%) MNIST handwritten digits recognition classification simulation indicates that the TiOx /Ti3 C2 Tx artificial synapse array holds promise for future neuromorphic computing applications, and provides excellent high-density neuron circuits for new flexible intelligent electronic equipment.

Preliminary findings on the effect of childhood trauma on the functional connectivity of the anterior cingulate cortex subregions in major depressive disorder.

Objectives: Childhood trauma (CT) is a known risk factor for major depressive disorder (MDD), but the mechanisms linking CT and MDD remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of CT and depression diagnosis on the subregions of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in MDD patients. Methods: The functional connectivity (FC) of ACC subregions was evaluated in 60 first-episode, drug-naïve MDD patients (40 with moderate-to-severe and 20 with no or low CT), and 78 healthy controls (HC) (19 with moderate-to-severe and 59 with no or low CT). The correlations between the anomalous FC of ACC subregions and the severity of depressive symptoms and CT were investigated. Results: Individuals with moderate-to severe CT exhibited increased FC between the caudal ACC and the middle frontal gyrus (MFG) than individuals with no or low CT, regardless of MDD diagnosis. MDD patients showed lower FC between the dorsal ACC and the superior frontal gyrus (SFG) and MFG. They also showed lower FC between the subgenual/perigenual ACC and the middle temporal gyrus (MTG) and angular gyrus (ANG) than the HCs, regardless of CT severity. The FC between the left caudal ACC and the left MFG mediated the correlation between the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) total score and HAMD-cognitive factor score in MDD patients. Conclusion: Functional changes of caudal ACC mediated the correlation between CT and MDD. These findings contribute to our understanding of the neuroimaging mechanisms of CT in MDD.