Association of maternal infection of SARS-CoV-2 and neonatal susceptibility: A retrospective cohort study.

Objective: This study aims to assess the risk of neonatal susceptibility to COVID-19 among pregnant women. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 1089 pregnant women ≥28 weeks of gestational age, who were categorized into infected and uninfected groups. Data for all participants were collected through a comprehensive review of electronic medical records and follow-up phone calls. The primary outcome was neonatal infection with SARS-CoV-2, while secondary outcomes included delivery patterns and gestational age at delivery. Results: Maternal vaccination (OR 95%CI:0.63[0.46, 0.85]) and maternal infection with SARS-CoV-2 (OR 95%CI: 0.45[0.34, 0.60]) were found to be associated with a decreased risk of neonatal infection. The infected group exhibited a lower neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infection rate (25.93%) compared to the uninfected group (45.15%). Logistic regression analysis identified several risk factors associated with an increased risk of neonatal infection, including pregnancy BMI (OR 95%CI: 1.04[1.01, 1.08]), age at first pregnancy (OR 95%CI: 1.05[1.01, 1.10]), age at menarche (OR 95%CI: 1.13[1.02, 1.26]), and parturition (Yes vs. No) (OR 95%CI:1.4 [1.04,1.88]). Conclusion: Maternal vaccination and perinatal infection with SARS-CoV-2 play a protective role in preventing neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infection.

[Effects of Social Interaction on Self-Rated Health of Older Adults: The Mediating Effect of Psychological Capital].

Objective: To analyze the effect of social interaction on the self-rated health of older adults and the mediating effect played by psychological capital in the process. Methods: The ordered probit regression model was used to analyze the impact of factors concerning social interaction on the self-rated health of the older adults, and the Bootstrap method was used to analyze the mediating effect of psychological capital. Results: After controlling for variables of individual characteristics, active social interaction ( ß=0.094, P<0.01), social contact with relatives ( ß=0.075, P<0.1), and social contact with friends ( ß=0.049, P<0.01) have significant positive effects on the self-rated health of older adults, while social contact with neighbors ( ß=-0.019, P>0.1) did no display significant effect. Psychological capital plays a partial mediating effect on the influence of active social interaction, social contact with relatives, and social contact with friends on the self-rated health of older adults, with the mediating effect of psychological impact accounting for 15.84%, 19.40% and 11.23%, respectively, of the influence. Conclusion: Social interaction promotes the self-rated health of older adults, and psychological capital plays a partial mediating effect in the process. Encouraging older adults to participate in social interaction and giving positive informational feedbacks can help increase the psychological capital of the elderly, thereby improving their health.

Role of relaxin in diastasis of the pubic symphysis peripartum.

BACKGROUND: Separation of the pubic symphysis can occur during the peripartum period. Relaxin (RLX) is a hormone primarily secreted by the corpus luteum that can mediate hemodynamic changes during pregnancy as well as loosen the pelvic ligaments. However, it is unknown whether RLX is associated with peripartum pubic symphysis separation and if the association is affected by other factors. AIM: To study the association between RLX and peripartum pubic symphysis separation and evaluate other factors that might affect this association. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study of pregnant women between April 2019 and January 2020. Baseline demographic characteristics, including gestational age, weight, neonatal weight, delivery mode and duration of the first and second stages of labor, were recorded. The clinical symptoms were used as a screening index during pregnancy, and the patients with pubic symphysis and inguinal pain were examined by color Doppler ultrasonography to determine whether there was pubic symphysis separation. Serum RLX concentrations were evaluated 1 d after delivery using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and pubic symphysis separation was diagnosed based on postpartum X-ray examination. We used an independent-sample t test to analyze the association between serum RLX levels and peripartum pubic symphysis separation. Multivariate regression analysis was used to evaluate whether the association between RLX and peripartum pubic symphysis separation was confounded by other factors, and the association between RLX and the severity of pubic symphysis separation was also assessed. We used Pearson correlation analysis to determine the factors related to RLX levels as well as the correlation between the degree of pubic symphysis separation and activities of daily living (ADL) and pain. RESULTS: A total of 54 women were enrolled in the study, with 15 exhibiting (observational group) and 39 not exhibiting (control group) peripartum pubic symphysis separation. There were no statistically significant differences in terms of maternal age, gestational age, pre-pregnancy weight, weight gain during pregnancy, delivery modes, or duration of the first or second stages of labor between the 2 groups. We did, however, note a statistically significant difference in serum RLX concentrations and neonatal weight between the observational and control groups (122.3 ± 0.7 µg/mL vs 170.4 ± 42.3 µg/mL, P < 0.05; 3676.000 ± 521.725 g vs 3379.487 ± 402.420 g, P < 0.05, respectively). Multivariate regression analyses showed that serum RLX level [odds ratio (OR): 1.022) and neonatal weight (OR: 1.002) were associated with pubic symphysis separation peripartum. The degree of separation of the pubic symphysis was negatively correlated with ADL and positively correlated with pain. There was no statistically significant association between serum RLX levels and the severity of pubic symphysis separation after adjusting for confounding factors. CONCLUSION: Serum RLX levels and neonatal weight were associated with the occurrence, but not the severity, of peripartum pubic symphysis separation.

lncRNA 430945 promotes the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells via the ROR2/RhoA signaling pathway in atherosclerosis.

The proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are major cellular events in hypertension­induced vascular remodeling, which is closely involved in the progression of atherosclerosis (AS). Although long non­coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are gaining recognition as novel regulators of VSMCs, their functioning and role in AS remain to be elucidated. In the present study, the role of lncRNA ENST00000430945 (lncRNA 430945) in AS was investigated. VSMCs transfected with a small interfering RNA (siRNA; si­430945) and a negative control (si­NC) were used. Cell Counting Kit­8, wound­healing and Transwell migration arrays were performed to determine whether lncRNA 430945 influenced VSMC proliferation and migration. Furthermore, the study examined whether a correlation exists between lncRNA 430945 and the receptor tyrosine kinase­like orphan receptor 2 (ROR2) signaling pathway. It was found that the expression of lncRNA 430945 was high in human AS tissues, which in turn promoted angiotensin II (AngII)­induced VSMC proliferation. Reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT­qPCR) and western blot analyses showed that lncRNA 430945 mediated the AngII­induced upregulation of ROR2. In addition, the microarray and RT­qPCR results showed that the expression of lncRNA 430945 was increased considerably in AS tissues. The downregulation of lncRNA 430945 significantly suppressed AngII­induced VSMC proliferation and migration. In addition, ROR2 levels in VSMCs transfected with si­430945 were markedly lower than those cells transfected with si­NC. Additionally, western blotting showed that lncRNA 430945 activated the signaling pathways associated with ROR2 and Ras homolog gene family member A (RhoA). The upregulation of lncRNA 430945 in AS promoted the proliferation and migration of VSMCs via activation of the ROR2/RhoA signaling pathway. Therefore, targeting ROR2 or RhoA may be a promising technique in developing therapeutic strategies for treating AS.

The relationship between inflammatory factor expression and blood pressure and urinary protein in the placenta of gestational hypertension rats.

The association between inflammatory factor expression and blood pressure with urinary protein in the placenta of pregnant women with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) was investigated to provide a new vision for the clinical prevention and treatment of PIH. Rats were used as animal models and were randomly divided into three groups (control, hypertension and treatment groups) on day 15 of pregnancy with 20 rats in each group. The 10% hypoxia-induced PIH group was induced with administration of an anti-hypertensive drug, and the treatment group was giventreprostinil for one week after the 10% hypoxia-induced PIH. On the 21st day, the experiment was terminated and the placenta was taken to measure the mRNA and protein expression levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, respectively. Pearson's correlation analysis demonstrated the correlation between IL-6 and TNF-α with blood pressure and urinary protein. The blood pressure and urinary protein concentrations in the hypertension group were significantly higher than that in the control group, and the expression levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in the hypertension group were significantly higher (P<0.05). The treatment group significantly reduced inflammatory cytokines and blood pressure and urinary protein levels (P<0.05). Pearson's correlation analysis showed that IL-6 and TNF-α were positively correlated with blood pressure and urinary protein concentration. The blood pressure and urinary protein concentration in PIH rats and the expression levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly higher, and IL-6 and TNF-α were positively correlated with blood pressure and urine protein concentration.

[Spatio-temporal change of sand-fixing function and its driving forces in desertification control ecological function area of Hunshandake, China].

Soil erosion is an important ecological and environmental problem in Hunshandake Desert, and the sand-fixing function determines the degree of ecological security in the entire region. In order to clarify the situation of windbreak and sand fixation in Hunshandake area, and to guide the prevention and treatment of desertification on regional scale, based on the meteorological and remote sensing data, this paper quantitatively analyzed the temporal and spatial pattern of windbreak and sand fixation ability between 2000-2010 by the revised wind erosion equation (RWEQ) model, meanwhile, the driving forces for each county ( or banner) in the functional zone were analyzed with the method of principal component analysis. The results showed that there was a fluctuation of the sand fixing capacity in Hunshandake over time, generally rendering a decline trend. The coniferous forest and grassland had strong windbreak and sand fixation capacity in unit area among the various land categories. In terms of spatial distribution, the windbreak and sand fixation function in western and southeastern region was weak and needed to be strengthened with ecological restoration efforts. Through the study of the social driving forces of each administrative region in the function zone, there were 3 main social driving forces of soil erosion in the administrative functions: the intensity of input-output, the level of economic development and the level of agriculture-husbandry development.

Correlation Between Hyperhomocysteinemia and Outcomes of Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Overwhelming clinical and epidemiological studies have identified elevated plasma total homocysteine (Hcy) as new important risk factor for atherosclerotic vascular disease. But the relationship between outcome and hyperhomocysteinemia in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been rarely reported. This study aimed to evaluate the association between hyperhomocysteinemia and short-term outcomes of patients with AMI. Eight hundred five patients were divided into high Hcy level group (group H: N = 457) and low Hcy level group (group L: N = 348) according to the plasma Hcy levels of 15 mmol/L. The comparisons were made between 2 groups in the following aspects: sex, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, the time for symptom from onset to percutaneous coronary intervention, homoccyteine, creatine phosphokinase isoenzyme (creatine kinase myocardial band), and the incidence of 30-day adverse events. The incidences of heart failure, cardiac rupture, death, and the total adverse cardiovascular events were statistically significantly higher in group H than in group L. But the incidence of postoperative angina pectoris and reinfarction was similar between groups. The results of logistic regression showed that the incidence of 30-day adverse events was closely related to the age and the level of Hcy. An elevated plasma total Hcy level in patients with AMI experienced pemutaneous coronary intervention may be related to the short-term outcomes. An elevated high plasma Hcy level also seems to be an independent predictor of 30-day cardiovascular events in patients with AMI.

Drug-Induced Acute Liver Injury Within 12 Hours After Fluvastatin Therapy.

Although statins are generally well-tolerated drugs, recent cases of drug-induced liver injury associated with their use have been reported. A 52-year-old Chinese man reported with liver damage, which appeared 12 hours after beginning treatment with fluvastatin. Patient presented with complaints of increasing nausea, anorexia, and upper abdominal pain. His laboratory values showed elevated creatine kinase and transaminases. Testing for autoantibodies was also negative. The liver biochemistries eventually normalized within 3 weeks of stopping the fluvastatin. Therefore, when prescribing statins, the possibility of hepatic damage should be taken into account.

Analysis of factors related to short-term prognosis in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction.

The present study aimed to investigate the factors related to short-term prognosis in patients undergoing direct percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). A total of 805 patients were included and divided into a control group and an adverse cardiovascular events group based on the prognosis, to compare risk factors and coronary angiographic characteristics in the two groups. In the adverse events group, the ages, admission blood glucose, uric acid (UA), homocysteine (HCY), creatine kinase (CK) and peak creatine kinase-MB (CKMB) isozyme levels were clearly higher compared with those in the control group, while the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were lower compared with those in the control group. The incidence of hypertension in females in the adverse events group was markedly higher compared with that in the control group, while the diabetes rate was lower compared with that in the control group. Logistic regression analysis revealed that age, gender, hypertension, diabetes and admission blood glucose, HCY, TC and UA levels were independent risk factors of short-term prognosis in patients undergoing emergency PCI. The majority of the patients in the adverse events group were elderly females with hypertension, a large area of myocardial infarction and increased admission blood glucose, UA and HCY levels, as well as a low diabetes rate and decreased levels of acute-phase TC and LDL.

[Ecosystem service valuation of Ertan Reservoir watershed in mitigating reservoir sand sedimentation].

By using software ArcGIS 9.2, an evaluation model was established to simulate the ecosystem service of Ertan Reservoir watershed in mitigating the sand sedimentation in the reservoir. In the meantime, sediment delivery ratio and universal soil loss equation were used to simulate the spatial patterns of the annual sediment yield and sediment retention in the watershed as well as the value during the service life period. In 2000, the total quantity of soil retention in the watershed was 12. 1 x 10(8) t x a(-1). The region with higher soil retention was near the main and branch streams of Yalong River, and that with higher sediment delivery ratio was near the streams and the Ertan Reservoir. The region with higher sediment yield and sediment retention was around the reservoir. The actual sediment yield in the study area was 629.3 x 10(4) t x a(-1), occupying 12.7% of the actual soil erosion volume. Farmland was the most important source of sediment yield, with its sediment yield occupying 62.9% of the total. The contribution of forestland to the mitigation of reservoir sand sedimentation was higher than that of the other lands on a per unit area basis. For the reservoir's designed operating life (100 a), the total value of the watershed in the service of mitigating Ertan Reservoir sand sedimentation was 2.75 billion yuan.