The application of plasma circRAD18 in the prediction of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and its adverse effects.

BACKGROUND: In cancer biology, circRAD18 promotes glucose metabolism, potentially indicating its involvement in glucose metabolism-related disorders, such as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The present study investigated the predictive role of circRAD18 in GDM and its potential adverse effects. METHODS: A total of 482 women who intended to get pregnant in short-term were enrolled. For those who successfully conceived, plasma samples were collected and followed up until delivery to monitor the occurrence of GDM and its associated adverse events. The accumulation of circRAD18 in plasma was analyzed using RT-qPCR. GDM-free curves and ROC curves were plotted to assess the predictive value of plasma circRAD18 for GDM. RESULTS: After admitting 482 female patients, 388 of them achieved pregnancy within half a year. During the follow-up period, 52 cases were diagnosed with GDM. Compared to non-GDM group (n = 336), the GDM group (n = 52) had a lower accumulation level of circRAD18 on the day of pregnancy confirmation. In addition, low levels of circRAD18 accumulation on that day distinguished potential GDM patients from non-GDM cases. The 388 cases were divided into high and low circRAD18 level groups (n = 194). GDM-free curve analysis showed that patients in the low circRAD18 level group had a higher incidence of GDM compared to the high level group (43/194 vs. 9/194). A close association was found between low levels of plasma circRAD18 and hypertension, but not premature delivery, intrauterine death, malformation, intrauterine infection, miscarriage, macrosomia or intrauterine distress. CONCLUSION: The reduction in the accumulation of plasma circRAD18 is predictive of GDM and hypertension in pregnant women.

Volatile Organic Compounds Adsorption Capacities of Zeolite/Activated Carbon Composites Formed by Electrostatic Self-Assembly.

Activated carbon (AC) is a broad-spectrum adsorbent but is flammable and has low adsorption capacities for polar and/or high-boiling volatile organic compounds (VOCs), while zeolites exhibit high thermal stability but poor adsorption of macromolecular and nonpolar VOCs. In this study, zeolite/AC composites were synthesized with the aim of obtaining broad-spectrum, efficient, and safe adsorbents for VOCs. Dimethyldiallylammonium chloride (DDA)-modified AC was used as a carrier for an in situ hydrothermal reaction enabling assembly with zeolites due to electrostatic attraction. Interface models were constructed for their phases, which revealed the binding force and simulated the binding process. The adsorption and flame resistance of the composites were evaluated. The results showed that DDA effectively modified AC to give it a long-lasting positive charge in solutions. High-silicon and pure-silicon zeolites exhibited low negative charges or were even neutral; it was difficult to combine with the modified AC via electrostatic attractions. Instead, LTA zeolites with high aluminum contents and negative charges were used, and the seed-induction method was used. Ethanol and ultrasonic dispersion were used to prevent agglomeration of the seeds and modified AC powder, so they were self-assembled electrostatically. Moreover, the crystallization time was extended and composites with high zeolite loadings were successfully prepared. According to the model calculation, the binding energy between the zeolite and AC before and after the DDA modification were 324.97 and 1076.46 kcal mol-1, respectively, and the distance between them was shortened by 2.7 Å after DDA treatment. As a result, AC and zeolite combined more closely and exhibited a stronger binding energy. The adsorption capacity for highly polar dichloromethane was improved by zeolite loading on the AC, and the bed penetration time was doubled. However, impregnation with inorganic sodium enhanced the reactivities of the organic components in the composite, and the ignition point was slightly reduced. Furthermore, the electrostatic self-assembly method can expand to prepare the LTA zeolite/columnar AC composite from shaped AC, greatly improving its application prospects.

Quaternary ammonium salts targeted regulate the surface charge distribution of activated carbon: A study of their binding modes and modification effects.

Activated carbon (AC) is negatively charged in aqueous solution, which seriously restricts its application range. Quaternary ammonium salt as a common cationic surfactant was utilized to modify the surface charge distribution of materials. The evolution of the surface charge distribution of AC modified by benzalkonium chloride (BAC), diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDA) and 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl tri-methyl ammonium chloride (CTA) was investigated. Results showed that the surface charge of AC modified by CTA does not change significantly. BAC has a high molecular weight, low surface electrostatic potential and large steric hindrance due to its hydrophobic long-chain alkyl. The diffusion of BAC molecules from solution to AC changed its charge distribution. But these molecules were difficult to combine with AC surface, and most of them were adsorbed into the pores of AC to form aggregates, resulting in a significant reduction in the surface area. BAC modified AC could enhance the adsorption capacity of F- in aqueous solution through electrostatic attraction, but the improvement effect was limited due to the reduction of surface area, and the maximum adsorption capacity was only increased from 1.18 to 3.31 mg/g. DDA has a small molecular weight and high surface electrostatic potential and easily binds to the surface of AC. Some CC bonds in DDA combined with the ionized hydrogen ions derived from phenolic hydroxyl groups in AC to form carbonium-ions. Then, they could react with AC to form ether bonds, causing DDA to be closely bonded with the surface of AC. DDA realizes the targeted regulation of the surface charge distribution of AC, it has little effect on the porous structure of AC. The modified AC still maintained strong adsorption capacity, and the maximum adsorption capacity for F- was 54.98 mg/g. Meanwhile, a large number of zeolites were loaded on the modified AC and formed coating structures.

Male and female birth attendance and assistance in a species of non-human primate (Rhinopithecus bieti).

Birth attendance, or midwifery service, is an important characteristic in human evolution, and has been argued to separate our lineage from other taxa in the animal kingdom. Recent studies, however, indicate that similar or analogous behaviors also may occur in a small number of nonhuman primate species. Here, we report the first case of both male and female attendance and female birth assistance in a wild species of nonhuman primate, the black-and-white snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus bieti). At our field site in Yunnan, China we observed a diurnal birth event in which the leader male of a one-male unit (OMU) remained in close- proximity (0-2 m) to the parturient, groomed her, and remained vigilant over a five hour pre- and postpartum period. In addition, a multiparous female member of the OMU also remained in close proximity to the soon-to-be mother, helped to pull the neonate from the birth canal, took the neonate from the new mother within 15 s of the birth, held the infant for 20 min, and then severed the umbilical cord. For the next several days the leader male traveled in close-proximity to the new mother and four days after the birth event, we observed him to share food with her. Given that diurnal births are extremely rare in this primate species; it remains unclear the degree to which the events we observed commonly occur during nighttime births. We argue that adult male and female black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys are highly attracted to young infants, and birth attendance and birth assistance in this, and certain other primate species, may play a critical role in maternal and infant survivorship.

A randomized controlled trial protocol comparing the feeds of fresh versus frozen mother's own milk for preterm infants in the NICU.

BACKGROUND: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the leading cause of death among preterm infants born at < 30 weeks' gestation. The incidence of NEC is reduced when infants are fed human milk. However, in many neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), it is standard practice to freeze and/or pasteurize human milk, which deactivates bioactive components that may offer additional protective benefits. Indeed, our pilot study showed that one feed of fresh mother's own milk per day was safe, feasible, and can reduce morbidity in preterm infants. To further evaluate the benefits of fresh human milk in the NICU, a randomized controlled trial is needed. METHODS: Our prospective multicenter, double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial will include infants born at < 30 weeks' gestation and admitted to one of 29 tertiary NICUs in China. Infants in the intervention (fresh human milk) group (n = 1549) will receive at least two feeds of fresh human milk (i.e., within 4 h of expression) per day from the time of enrollment until 32 weeks' corrected age or discharge to home. Infants in the control group (n = 1549) will receive previously frozen human milk following the current standard protocols. Following informed consent, enrolled infants will be randomly allocated to the control or fresh human milk groups. The primary outcome is the composite outcome mortality or NEC ≥ stage 2 at 32 weeks' corrected age, and the secondary outcomes are mortality, NEC ≥ stage 2, NEC needing surgery, late-onset sepsis, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), weight gain, change in weight, increase in length, increase in head circumference, time to full enteral feeds, and finally, the number and type of critical incident reports, including feeding errors. DISCUSSION: Our double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial aims to examine whether fresh human milk can improve infant outcomes. The results of this study will impact both Chinese and international medical practice and feeding policy for preterm infants. In addition, data from our study will inform changes in health policy in NICUs across China, such that mothers are encouraged to enter the NICU and express fresh milk for their infants. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry; #ChiCTR1900020577; registered January 1, 2019; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=34276.

Recovery of Fe and Al from red mud by a novel fractional precipitation process.

The development of cheap and effective approach for utilizing red mud (RM) waste is a long and arduous task. This work provided a technically and economically feasible route to utilize RM waste for the production of high valuable chemicals by use of the industrial wastes as cheap raw materials. The Fe and Al elements were first leached from RM through hydrothermal reaction and then were separated by precipitation after the Fe(III) in leachate was reduced to Fe(II) by iron powder. Above 90% Fe and Al were extracted from RM with the Fe and Al purity of about 95% and 45%, respectively. The control test revealed that the main impurity of Al product was caused by the adsorbed SO42- during the precipitation of the Al3+. The structural characterization demonstrated that the obtained Fe products were in nanoscale, and the Ti-Si residue has high BET area of 203.7 m2/g. Four products of nano-Fe3O4/nano-Fe, aluminum oxide, Ti-Si residue, and (NH4)2SO4 were obtained as valuable chemical materials for industry. This demonstrated utilization of industrial waste to produce high added-value products with high efficiency and low cost will possess promising application prospect for the resource utilization of RM in industry.

Drug resistance profile and serotype of streptococcus of pneumoniae infected pediatric patients.

To investigate the surveillance of drug resistance and serotype monitoring of steptococcus pneumoniae in hospitalized children. the pathogenic bacteria isolation and identification methods were employed to do the bacteria isolation identification and drug sensitive test on the specimens from Women & Infants Hospital of Zhengzhou. From the specimens, there were 134 detected strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, and the drug resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin were respectively 97.7% and 89.9%, and the drug resistance to tetracycline, azithromycin and paediatric compound sulfamethoxazole were respectively 86. 3%, 58. 3%, 51. 2%. The vancomycin resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae were often not found. the Streptococcus pneumoniae in children were generally with drug resistant in Zhengzhou area. It shall strengthen drug resistance surveillance, and reasonably choose antibacterial agents.

Clinical practice of procalcitonin and hypersensitive c-reactive protein test in neonatal infection.

To study the clinical practice of procalcitonin and hypersensitive c-reactive protein test in neonatal infection. Two hundred cases of our hospital treatment confirmed infection early newborn children were selected from February 2014 to March 2015. According to the condition, the children were divided into four groups as follows: severe infection group, local infection group, non-infection group and healthy newborns group. At the same time, the new healthy newborns were chosen as control group. The levels of serum procalcitonin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were detected in all children and the levels in severe infection group children before and after treatment were also quantitatively detected and the test results were analyzed. There was significant difference in procalcitonin among the four groups (pS<0.05). The positive rate of the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in local infection group has no significant difference compared with the non-infection group (p>0.05). But there was significant difference between the local infection group and healthy newborn group. As for the severe infection group, both the levels of procalcitonin and positive rate of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein had significant difference compared with the other groups. The detection of procalcitonin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein could contribute to the diagnose of the early infection neonatal children and has important values in diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases in the newborns.

Diagnosis and clinical observation of lactose-free milk powder on treatment of neonatal diarrhea.

Neonatal lactose intolerance syndrome is a series of digestive system symptoms caused by the lack of lactase, and could not fully digest the lactose in breast milk or cow milk. Lactose is one of the disaccharides mainly existed in mammalian milk. Lactose content in breast milk is 7.2g/100ml, cow milk is 4.7g/100ml. Dairy products are the main energy sources for the newborn, and lactose provides 20% energy for infants. During the growth of the newborn, lactose not only play a significant role in energy supply, but also involve in the development of the brain growing. This study mainly studied the lactose development features, the reasons for lactose intolerance, and the measures to treat lactose deficiency.

The incidence of infants with rotavirus enteritis combined with lactose intolerance.

UNLABELLED: This study was to research the incidence of infants with rotavirus enteritis combined with lactose intolerance and the clinical effect of low lactose milk powder for infantile rotavirus enteritis with lactose intolerance. The control groups were 126 cases of infants with diarrhea randomly collected from our hospital at the same period, which their rotavirus detection was negative. The observation group was 185 cases of infants with rotavirus, which was tested to be positive. Through the urine galactose determination, 62 cases of the control group were positive and 124 cases of the observation group were positive. Then 124 cases of infants with rotavirus combined with lactose intolerance were randomly divided into two groups. 60 cases in the control group were given rehydration, correction of acidosis, oral smecta, Intestinal probiotics and other conventional treatment, then continued to the original feeding method. While, 64 cases in the treatment group, on the basis of routine treatment, applied the low lactose milk feeding. To observe the total effective rate for the two groups. The incidence of lactose intolerance in children with rotavirus enteritis (67.03%) was significantly higher than that of children with diarrhea (49.2%), which was tested to be negative. And the difference was statistically significant (p<0.5). In the aspect of reducing the frequency of diarrhea, and diarrhea stool forming time, the treatment group has the obvious superiority. The total effective rate was 95.4% for treatment group, which was higher than that in the control group (76.7%), the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Infants with rotavirus enteritis was easier to merge with lactose intolerance. The low lactose milk powder could improve the therapeutic effectively and could reduce the duration of disease, and restored to normal diet for 2 weeks feeding time.

Report: Prevention infection of newborn nosocomial and distribution of multiple drug resistant organism of the medicinal.

2124 neonates were monitored from February 2013 to August 2014, among which 1119 were admitted from outpatient department (outpatient group), 782 were transferred from other departments (other department group), and 223 were from other hospitals (other hospital group). Through it we explore the distribution of multidrug resistant organism in neonates, which were admitted to the hospital through various ways, and therefore analyze the risk factors of nosocomial infection to avoid cross infection of multi drug resistant organism in neonatology department. The results showed that 105 strains of multi drug resistant bacteria were detected in the neonatal department. Among them, there were 57 strains from the outpatient group, 27 from the other department group, and 21 from the other hospital group. Neonates with the hospitalization time of more than 14 days and low birth weight infants (1500 g) were the high-risk groups of drug-resistant strains in nosocomial infection. So the infection in neonates from other departments or hospitals should be strengthen, especially the prevention and control in neonates with the hospitalization time than 14 days and low birth weight infants (1500 g) in order to reduce the occurrence of multiple drug-resistant strains cross infection.

The study on clinical value of the detection about serum and Unconjugated Bilirubin in diagnosis of neonatal jaundice.

In this paper, the clinical value of the detection about serum and unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) in neonatal jaundice was studied to found an effective and rapid method for diagnose of neonatal jaundice. ALB (Serum Albumin), total serum bilirubin (TSB) and UCB were detected by ELISA method among the 100 cases with neonatal jaundice selected for the study. The values of ALB, UCB and TSB in moderate jaundice patients were (42.83±3.87) g/L, (287.35±44.38) µm/L, (304.16±43.40) µm/L, respectively; as for the severe jaundice patients, the values were (38.41±4.82) g/L, (354.38±48.75) µm/L, (375.20±47.51) µm/L. The results showed significant differences with the p< 0.05 between moderate and severe jaundice patients. The level of ALB, UCB, TSB in hemolytic jaundice, obstructive jaundice and jaundice caused by other infections also had significant differences, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). The detection of ALB and UCB provides a useful method for the diagnosis and assessment of neonatal jaundice.

Morbidity and mortality of neonatal respiratory failure in China: surfactant treatment in very immature infants.

OBJECTIVES: We retrospectively investigated incidence, morbidity, and mortality of neonatal respiratory failure (NRF) in China, with special emphasis on surfactant treated very immature infants. METHODS: NRF was defined as respiratory hypoxemia requiring mechanical ventilation and/or nasal continuous positive airway pressure for at least 24 hours. RESULTS: There were 6864 cases of NRF, composing 19.7% of total admissions to 55 NICUs in 2008. Of these cases, 62.8% were preterm, and 16.4% of very low birth weight (VLBW, <1500 g). The primary diseases were respiratory distress syndrome (RDS, 43.9%), pneumonia/sepsis (21.7%), transient respiratory insufficiency (14.7%), transient tachypnea (8.1%), and meconium aspiration syndrome (7.0%). Surfactant was given to 26.8% of infants with NRF and 54.8% infants with RDS. The survival rate of surfactant-treated RDS was 79.9% compared to 71.8% in those not receiving surfactant (P < .001). This was also true in those of VLBW, 59.8% vs 52.2% (P = .035), respectively. The overall survival rate in NRF cases was 75.3%, but it was 58.1% among VLBW infants; for those infants of 25, 26, and 27 to 28 weeks' gestational age, the survival rates were ∼6%, 30%, and 50%, respectively; and the survival rates for infants with meconium aspiration syndrome and pneumonia/sepsis were 70.3% and 71.4%, respectively. The care burden was associated with high treatment withdrawal and death rate. CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of NRF, especially in extremely premature infants, reflect both progress and persistent limitations in providing respiratory support in the emerging NICUs of China, but overall survival for sick newborns had improved steadily.

[Effect mechanism of Hcy on damage of BBB and the intervention of the compounded vitamin in rat].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of homocysteine (Hcy) on the damage of blood-brain barrier, and the intervention of the compounded vitamin in rat. METHODS: 54 normal male SD rats were randomly distributed into three groups: (1) Control group; (2) Model group; and (3) Intervention group. The level of plasma Hcy was detected with high performance liquid chromatography. The content of Evans Blue leaked out brain tissue was measured by colorimetry. The transcription of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) mRNA was evaluated by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The level of plasma Hcy, and the content of Evans Blue leaked out brain tissue and the expression of MMP-2 mRNA of model group were 32.2 +/- 1.3, 6.67 +/- 0.54, 0.372 +/- 0.088 respectively,all significantly higher than those of the control group (12. 4 +/- 0. 9, 3.32 +/- 0.56, 0.035 +/- 0. 21, all P < 0.01). The level of plasma Hcy, and the content of Evans Blue leaked out brain tissue and the expression of MMP-2 mRNA of the intervention group was significantly lower than those of the model group (12.5 +/- 1.4 vs 32.2 +/- 1.3, 3.42 +/- 0.45 vs 6.67 +/- 0.54, 0.118 +/- 0.052 vs 0.372 +/- 0.088, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate Hcy could increase the permeability of blood-brain barrier, the mechanism may be activating the transcription of MMP-2 in rats. The compounded vitamin has a protective effect on blood-brain barrier via lowering the level of plasma Hcy.