Analysis of Furan and Its Derivatives in Food Matrices Using Solid Phase Extraction Coupled with Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

The objective of this study was to develop a simultaneous analysis method of furan and its 10 derivatives in different food commodities. The results indicated that furan and its 10 derivatives could be separated within 9.5 min by using a HP-5MS column and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) with multiple reaction monitoring mode for detection. Furthermore, this method could resolve several furan isomers, such as 2-methyl furan and 3-methyl furan, as well as 2,3-dimethyl furan and 2,5-dimethyl furan. The most optimal extraction conditions were: 5 g of the fruit or juice sample mixed with 5 mL of the saturated NaCl solution, separately, or 1 g of the canned oily fish sample mixed with 9 mL of the saturated NaCl solution, followed by the equilibration of each sample at 35 °C for 15 min, using a carboxen-polydimethylsiloxane SPME arrow to adsorb the analytes for 15 min at 35 °C for subsequent analysis by GC-MS/MS. For method validation of all the analytes in the different food matrices, the recovery was 76-117% and the limit of the quantitation was 0.003-0.675 ng/g, while the relative standard deviation (RSD%) of the intra-day variability range from 1-16%, and that of the inter-day variability was from 4-20%. The method validation data further demonstrated that a reliable method was established for the analysis of furan and its 10 derivatives in commercial foods.

Assessing the effect of probiotics on tilapia lake virus-infected tilapia: Transmission and immune response.

Probiotics have been used to alleviate disease transmission in aquaculture. However, there are limited studies on probiotic use in modulating tilapia lake virus (TiLV). We assessed commercially available probiotic supplements used in TiLV-infected tilapia and performed mortality and cohabitation assays. We developed a mechanistic approach to predict dose-response interactions of probiotic effects on mortality and immune gene response. We used a susceptible-infected-mortality disease model to assess key epidemiological parameters such as transmission rate and basic reproduction number (R0 ) based on our viral load dynamic data. We found that the most marked benefits of probiotics are significantly associated with immune system enhancements (~30%) and reductions in disease transmission (~80%) and R0 (~70%) in tilapia populations, resulting in a higher tolerance of farming densities (~400 fold) in aquaculture. These findings provide early insights as to how probiotic use-related factors may influence TiLV transmission and the immune responses in TiLV-infected tilapia. Our study facilitates understanding the mode of action of probiotics in disease containment and predicting better probiotic dosages in diet and supplements to achieve the optimal culturing conditions. Overall, our analysis assures that further study of rationally designed and targeted probiotics, or mechanistic modelling is warranted on the basis of promising early data of this approach.

Acute exacerbation of hepatitis B with hepatic failure during the first trimester of pregnancy: Delivery of a healthy term baby after liver transplantation.

The severe form of acute exacerbation of hepatitis B during pregnancy is a rare but life-threatening condition for both the mother and the fetus. A 32-year-old pregnant woman at 10 weeks of gestation was diagnosed with acute decompensated liver failure due to acute exacerbation of hepatitis B. The Model for End-stage Liver Disease score was up to 37. The patient was managed carefully with antiviral treatment, fluid resuscitation, correction of coagulopathy, close monitoring of hepatic function, and regular assessment of the fetus. She was transplanted with a deceased liver at 14 weeks and 1 day of gestation. With careful post-transplant care and avoidance of medication with risk of miscarriage and teratogenicity, a healthy baby was delivered at 39 weeks and 1 day of gestation. Herein, we report this critical condition of pregnancy that was complicated with liver failure due to acute exacerbation of hepatitis B, but had favorable outcomes for both the mother and the baby after liver transplantation.

Population-based trends and risk factors of early- and late-onset preeclampsia in Taiwan 2001-2014.

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia, a multisystem disorder in pregnancies complicates with maternal and fetal morbidity. Early- and late-onset preeclampsia, defined as preeclampsia developed before and after 34 weeks of gestation, respectively. The early-onset disease was less prevalent but associated with poorer outcomes. Moreover, the risk factors between early -and late- onset preeclampsia could be differed owing to the varied pathophysiology. In the study, we evaluated the incidences, trends, and risk factors of early- and late- onset preeclampsia in Taiwan. METHODS: This retrospective population-based cohort study included all ≧20 weeks singleton pregnancies resulting in live-born babies or stillbirths in Taiwan between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2014 (n = 2,884,347). The data was collected electronically in Taiwanese Birth Register and National Health Insurance Research Database. The incidences and trends of early- and late-onset preeclampsia were assessed through Joinpoint analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of both diseases. RESULTS: The age-adjusted overall preeclampsia rate was slightly increased from 1.1%(95%confidence interval [CI], 1.1-1.2) in 2001 to 1.3% (95%CI, 1.2-1.3) in 2012 with average annual percentage change (AAPC) 0.1%/year (95%CI, 0-0.2%). However, the incidence was remarkably increased from 1.3% (95%CI, 1.3-1.4) in 2012 to 1.7% (95%CI, 1.6-1.8) in 2014 with AAPC 1.3%/year (95%CI,0.3-2.5). Over the study period, the incidence trend in late-onset preeclampsia was steadily increasing from 0.7% (95%CI, 0.6-0.7) in 2001 to 0.9% (95%CI, 0.8-0.9) in 2014 with AAPC 0.2%/year (95%CI, 0.2-0.3) but in early-onset preeclampsia was predominantly increase from 0.5% (95%CI, 0.4-0.5) in 2012 to 0.8% (95%CI, 0.8-0.9) in 2014 with AAPC 2.3%/year (95%CI, 0.8-4.0). Advanced maternal age, primiparity, stroke, diabetes mellitus, chronic hypertension, and hyperthyroidism were risk factors of preeclampsia. Comparing early- and late-onset diseases, chronic hypertension (ratio of relative risk [RRR], 1.71; 95%CI, 1.55-1.88) and older age (RRR, 1.41; 95%CI 1.29-1.54) were more strongly associated with early-onset disease, whereas primiparity (RRR 0.71, 95%CI, 0.68-0.75) had stronger association with late-onset preeclampsia. CONCLUSIONS: The incidences of overall, and early- and late-onset preeclampsia were increasing in Taiwan from 2001 to 2014, predominantly for early-onset disease. Pregnant women with older age and chronic hypertension had significantly higher risk of early-onset preeclampsia.

The Power Law of Learning in Transumbilical Single-Port Laparoscopic Subtotal Hysterectomy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To analyze the surgical outcomes and learning curve of transumbilical single-port laparoscopic subtotal hysterectomy, which requires sutures of the cervical stump. DESIGN: A prospective observational study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: A university-affiliated center. PATIENTS: From the first (July 2012) and consecutive patients of benign uterine disease scheduled for subtotal hysterectomy until October 2013. INTERVENTIONS: All single-port laparoscopies were performed using straight instruments by 1 gynecologist. An ancillary port was added whenever technical difficulties could endanger surgical quality. MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS: Seventy-five patients were recruited for intention-to-treat analysis with a mean (±SD) age of 44.7 ± 3.8 years and a body mass index of 24.2 ± 3.7 kg/m2. No major complication was noted. The mean uterine weight was 432.5 ± 344.0 g with 24 (32%) uteri ≧500 g. The patients' sequential order, or gradually increasing experience, was the determining factor in progressively decreasing operative time. Furthermore, most cases that required an additional ancillary port (67%) were clustered in the first 20 cases, whereas 4 were scattered after the 47th patient because of severe pelvic adhesion. The mean operative time decreased in the power law function of the patients' sequential order with a plateau achieved at the 20th patient. CONCLUSION: The patients' sequential order was identified as an independent factor of achieving purely single-port access, and the trend of decreasing operative time delineated the existence of a learning curve. Approximately 20 patients were needed for an experienced multiport laparoscopist to reach technical competency in the current series.

Assessing exposure risks for freshwater tilapia species posed by mercury and methylmercury.

Waterborne and dietborne exposures of freshwater fish to mercury (Hg) in the forms of inorganic (Hg(II)) and organic (methylmercury or MeHg) affect their growth, development, and reproduction. However, an integrated mechanistic risk model framework to predict the impact of Hg(II)/MeHg on freshwater fish is lacking. Here, we integrated biokinetic, physiological and biogeographic data to calibrate and then establish key risk indices-hazardous quotient and exceedance risk-for freshwater tilapia species across geographic ranges of several major rivers in Taiwan. We found that Hg(II) burden was highest in kidney followed by gill, intestine, liver, blood, and muscle. Our results showed that Hg was less likely to pose mortality risk (mortality rate less than 5 %) for freshwater tilapia species. However, Hg is likely to pose the potential hazard to aquatic environments constrained by safety levels for aquatic organisms. Sensitivity analysis showed that amount of Hg accumulated in tilapia was most influenced by sediment uptake rate. Our approach opens up new possibilities for predicting future fish population health with the impacts of continued Hg exposure to provide information on which fish are deemed safe for human consumption.

Linking contact behavior and droplet patterns to dynamically model indoor respiratory infections among schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: We used the results of a contact behavior survey in conjunction with droplet pattern measurement to investigate the indoor population transmission dynamics of respiratory infections. METHODS: A total of 404 questionnaires on all contact behaviors were distributed to junior high school students. Droplet number concentration and size distribution generated by coughing and talking were measured by droplet experimentation. A deterministic susceptible-exposed-infected-recovery (SEIR) model was used to simulate the indoor transmission dynamics of influenza infection among schoolchildren. RESULTS: Results indicated that the average contact rates ranged from 9.44 to 11.18 person(-1) day(-1) for grades 7 to 9. We showed that total median droplet number concentrations were 9.01 × 10(7) and 8.23 × 10(7) droplets per cubic meter for coughing and talking, respectively. Population dynamic simulations indicated that the size-dependent median number of droplets per person resulted in a maximum of 8 and 10 infected persons on day 4, respectively, for talking and coughing activities. CONCLUSIONS: Human contact behavior and airborne droplet characteristics may substantially change predicted indoor population transmission dynamics of influenza infection.

Dietary Exposure and Risk Assessment of Beta-Agonist Residues in Commercial Beef and Pork in Taiwan.

Beta-agonists (ß-agonists) in meat products in one's diet raise concerns about the possibility of foodborne illness. It may also lead to discomfort, such as headaches and occasional irregular heartbeats, which might be linked to a heightened concern for cardiovascular issues. Taiwan's high demand for meat and reliance on imported meat products from certain countries where ß-agonists are permitted has raised concerns. Recent import border checks and monitoring of meat products in the market have revealed the concentration of non-compliance with ß-agonist residue regulations, which is ten ppb. This study aims to analyze the concentration of ß-agonist residues in meat products sold in Taiwan and assess the current levels of exposure and dietary risk for consumers. The study analyzed 1415 samples of domestically produced and imported livestock products from supermarkets, traditional markets, and bulk stores in New Taipei City between 2019 and 2023. The samples were analyzed using the method for detecting 21 ß-agonists based on the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration's specifications. Estimated daily intake (EDI) of ß-agonists for different age groups and the target hazard quotient (THQ) were used to assess dietary exposure and risk. The results showed that all 1415 samples were compliant with regulations. Among them, 43 beef samples showed residues of ractopamine originating from the United States, with residue concentrations ranging from 1 to 10 µg/kg and an average residue concentration of 3.3 ± 1.9 µg/kg. Under average consumption, the highest EDI for the exposed population was observed in the 6-12 age group, with values of 0.1469 µg/kg/day, 0.0734 µg/kg/day, and 0.0242 µg/kg/day for the three residue concentrations (maximum detected residue, maximum allowable residue, and average detected residue, respectively). The THQs for ractopamine in imported beef samples were all less than 1, indicating no health hazards at the current intake levels of each age group and the residue concentrations in commercially available beef. Despite the findings, traders need to acknowledge regulatory variations between Taiwan and exporting countries when importing meat products. Traders should provide inspection reports to monitor ß-agonist residue levels in imports or explore sourcing beef from countries with ß-agonist bans.

Health Risk Exposure Assessment of Migration of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate and Perfluorooctanoic Acid from Paper and Cardboard in Contact with Food under Temperature Variations.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are extensively used in food-contact paper and cardboard. However, they may migrate from food-contact materials to food, and the migration rate may be increased at elevated temperatures. In addition, there is a positive association of PFOS/PFOA levels with total cholesterol. Therefore, this study aims to assess the human health risk of increased total cholesterol associated with long-term exposure to PFOS and PFOA migration from food-contact paper and cardboard under temperature variation scenarios in adults. An exposure assessment was performed using an uptake dose model to estimate the uptake doses of PFOS and PFOA for the high-, intermediate-, and low-exposure scenarios. Benchmark dose (BMD) modeling was conducted to describe the dose-response relationships between PFOS/PFOA and total cholesterol levels. Finally, a margin of exposure (MOE) approach was used to characterize the risk. The results of the exposure assessment showed that PFOS and PFOA uptake doses in the high-exposure scenarios were around one and two orders of magnitude greater than those in the intermediate- and low-exposure scenarios, respectively. Under high-exposure scenarios, the uptake levels of hundredth-percentile PFOS and PFOA at high temperatures may raise health concerns (MOE < 1). This study provides a methodology to assess the health risks associated with exposure to migration of food contaminants from various types of paper and cardboard that come into contact with food.

Control measure implications of COVID-19 infection in healthcare facilities reconsidered from human physiological and engineering aspects.

The Wells-Riley model invokes human physiological and engineering parameters to successfully treat airborne transmission of infectious diseases. Applications of this model would have high potentiality on evaluating policy actions and interventions intended to improve public safety efforts on preventing the spread of COVID-19 in an enclosed space. Here, we constructed the interaction relationships among basic reproduction number (R0) - exposure time - indoor population number by using the Wells-Riley model to provide a robust means to assist in planning containment efforts. We quantified SARS-CoV-2 changes in a case study of two Wuhan (Fangcang and Renmin) hospitals. We conducted similar approach to develop control measures in various hospital functional units by taking all accountable factors. We showed that inhalation rates of individuals proved crucial for influencing the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2, followed by air supply rate and exposure time. We suggest a minimum air change per hour (ACH) of 7 h-1 would be at least appropriate with current room volume requirements in healthcare buildings when indoor population number is < 10 and exposure time is < 1 h with one infector and low activity levels being considered. However, higher ACH (> 16 h-1) with optimal arranged-exposure time/people and high-efficiency air filters would be suggested if more infectors or higher activity levels are presented. Our models lay out a practical metric for evaluating the efficacy of control measures on COVID-19 infection in built environments. Our case studies further indicate that the Wells-Riley model provides a predictive and mechanistic basis for empirical COVID-19 impact reduction planning and gives a framework to treat highly transmissible but mechanically heterogeneous airborne SARS-CoV-2.

Use of seasonal influenza virus titer and respiratory symptom score to estimate effective human contact rates.

BACKGROUND: We linked viral titers and respiratory symptom scores for seasonal influenza to estimate the effective contact rate among schoolchildren. METHODS: We analyzed 274 diary-based questionnaires. In addition, 2 sets of influenza data from published studies were used to investigate the relationship between viral titer, total symptom score, and normalized contact rate in children. RESULTS: The mean number (SD) of contacts for children in grades 7 to 9 ranged from 9.44 ± 8.68 to 11.18 ± 7.98 person⁻¹ day⁻¹; contact behavior was similar across school grades. The mean number of contacts was 5.66 ± 6.23 person⁻¹ day⁻¹ (range, 0 to 44 person⁻¹ day⁻¹) for the age group of 13 to 19 years. Estimated contact age, household size, contact duration, and contact frequency were the variables most strongly associated with total number of contacts. We also found that a reduction in total respiratory symptom scores among infected individuals had a positive correlation with an increase in the normalized contact rate. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between daily virus titer and respiratory symptom score can be used to estimate the effective contact rate in explaining the spread of an airborne transmissible disease. The present findings can be incorporated into population-dynamic models of influenza transmission among schoolchildren.

Clinical outcomes and maternal associated conditions between antepartum and postpartum-onset of peripartum cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVE: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) developed from late pregnancy to five months after delivery. Women with PPCM have the risk of mortality or non-recovered cardiac function. We aimed to investigate women with PPCM in Taiwan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The retrospective study recruited patients with PPCM from January 2002 to October 2018 in a tertiary center. We evaluated the presentations, onset, associated conditions, maternal and fetal outcomes, follow-up cardiac function, and subsequent pregnancies. The clinical data were compared between antepartum and postpartum-onset of PPCM. RESULTS: Thirty women were identified and seventeen (56.6%) patients were antepartum-onset. The delivery time, ranged from 26 to 40 weeks, was mostly at 35 weeks. Twenty-one patients had cardiac function follow-up and seven (33.3%) were non-recovered in six months. The associated conditions of PPCM included age >30, primiparity, preeclampsia or hypertension, obesity, twin pregnancy, and tocolysis. The maternal characteristics and associated conditions were not significant different, but early preterm (32.8 ± 3.6 vs. 35.5 ± 2.4 weeks, p = 0.042) and lower Apgar scores in one (7 vs. 9, p = 0.002) and 5 min (9 vs. 10, p = 0.005) were observed in the antepartum-onset group. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, PPCM commonly occurred around 35 weeks of gestation, ranged from 26 to 40 weeks. Additionally, there were risks of early preterm and low Apgar scores in women with antepartum-onset of PPCM.

Prenatal diagnosis of ALPL gene mutations in recurrent fetal skeletal dysplasia.

OBJECTIVE: One multiparity women had recurrent pregnancies of skeletal dysplasia. The karyotype and array-comparative genomic hybridization were unremarkable. Thus, trio whole exome sequencings were suggested. CASE REPORT: The ALPL gene mutations were identified. Maternal heterozygous deletion on Chr1: 21880592 (GRCh37) TA->T, paternal heterozygous insertion on Chr1 21894597, 21894598 (GRCh37) G->GC, T->TAA, and the compound heterozygous mutation were noted on her third pregnancy. The prenatal ultrasound findings and ALPL variants were compatible with the diagnosis of hypophosphatasia. Sanger sequencings were performed and found their normal phenotype daughter carried the same heterozygous mutation with her mother. The mother was then incidentally found her fourth pregnancy; unfortunately, the fetus was prenatally diagnosed of hypophosphatasia with the compound heterozygous mutations. CONCLUSION: The whole exome sequencing could assist to find the disease-causing variants, which may not be identified through routine prenatal diagnosis. With the precise diagnosis, we could provide the counseling for prenatal or pre-implantation diagnosis.

Dengue Meteorological Determinants during Epidemic and Non-Epidemic Periods in Taiwan.

The identification of the key factors influencing dengue occurrence is critical for a successful response to the outbreak. It was interesting to consider possible differences in meteorological factors affecting dengue incidence during epidemic and non-epidemic periods. In this study, the overall correlation between weekly dengue incidence rates and meteorological variables were conducted in southern Taiwan (Tainan and Kaohsiung cities) from 2007 to 2017. The lagged-time Poisson regression analysis based on generalized estimating equation (GEE) was also performed. This study found that the best-fitting Poisson models with the smallest QICu values to characterize the relationships between dengue fever cases and meteorological factors in Tainan (QICu = −8.49 × 10−3) and Kaohsiung (−3116.30) for epidemic periods, respectively. During dengue epidemics, the maximum temperature with 2-month lag (ß = 0.8400, p < 0.001) and minimum temperature with 5-month lag (0.3832, p < 0.001). During non-epidemic periods, the minimum temperature with 3-month lag (0.1737, p < 0.001) and mean temperature with 2-month lag (2.6743, p < 0.001) had a positive effect on dengue incidence in Tainan and Kaohsiung, respectively.

Demographic Control Measure Implications of Tuberculosis Infection for Migrant Workers across Taiwan Regions.

A sharp increase in migrant workers has raised concerns for TB epidemics, yet optimal TB control strategies remain unclear in Taiwan regions. This study assessed intervention efforts on reducing tuberculosis (TB) infection among migrant workers. We performed large-scale data analyses and used them to develop a control-based migrant worker-associated susceptible-latently infected-infectious-recovered (SLTR) model. We used the SLTR model to assess potential intervention strategies such as social distancing, early screening, and directly observed treatment, short-course (DOTS) for TB transmission among migrant workers and locals in three major hotspot cities from 2018 to 2023. We showed that social distancing was the best single strategy, while the best dual measure was social distancing coupled with early screening. However, the effectiveness of the triple strategy was marginally (1-3%) better than that of the dual measure. Our study provides a mechanistic framework to facilitate understanding of TB transmission dynamics between locals and migrant workers and to recommend better prevention strategies in anticipation of achieving WHO's milestones by the next decade. Our work has implications for migrant worker-associated TB infection prevention on a global scale and provides a knowledge base for exploring how outcomes can be best implemented by alternative control measure approaches.

A probabilistic transmission model to assess infection risk from Mycobacterium tuberculosis in commercial passenger trains.

The objective of this article is to characterize the risk of infection from airborne Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli exposure in commercial passenger trains based on a risk-based probabilistic transmission modeling. We investigated the tuberculosis (TB) infection risks among commercial passengers by inhaled aerosol M. tuberculosis bacilli and quantify the patterns of TB transmission in Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR). A deterministic Wells-Riley mathematical model was used to account for the probability of infection risk from M. tuberculosis bacilli by linking the cough-generated aerosol M. tuberculosis bacilli concentration and particle size distribution. We found that (i) the quantum generation rate of TB was estimated with a lognormal distribution of geometric mean (GM) of 54.29 and geometric standard deviation (GSD) of 3.05 quantum/h at particle size ≤ 5 µm and (ii) the basic reproduction numbers (R(0) ) were estimated to be 0.69 (0.06-6.79), 2.82 (0.32-20.97), and 2.31 (0.25-17.69) for business, standard, and nonreserved cabins, respectively. The results indicate that commercial passengers taking standard and nonreserved cabins had higher transmission risk than those in business cabins based on conservatism. Our results also reveal that even a brief exposure, as in the bronchoscopy cases, can also result in a transmission when the quantum generation rate is high. This study could contribute to a better understanding of the dynamics of TB transmission in commercial passenger trains by assessing the relationship between TB infectiousness, passenger mobility, and key model parameters such as seat occupancy, ventilation rate, and exposure duration.

Probabilistic Risk Analysis to Assess Dietary Exposure to Aluminum in the Taiwanese Population.

Aluminum (Al) exposure at human dietary levels raises health concerns, yet little is known about the Al exposure from the Taiwanese diet. The amount of aluminum (Al)-containing food consumption in the Taiwanese total diet is increasing, which contributes to the total diet consumption., which raises the health concerns. In this study, we aim to assess estimated weekly intake (EWI) and the percentage of provisional tolerable weekly intake (%PTWI) of the dietary exposure to Al in different age-sex groups. We also applied probabilistic risk analyses to quantify the parameters' uncertainty by focusing on the distribution function for the Al concentration in food, consumption rate, and body weight in specific age groups. Results indicated that the EWIs declined with increasing age after 6-years old (7-12 > 13-15 > 16-18 > 19-64 > 65+). Results indicated that the EWIs gradually declined after 6-year of age. The EWIs of Al-rich food in cake + waffle, kelp, snacks, and bread contributed 20%, 17%, 17%, and 11%, respectively, to the total EWIs, corresponding with the much higher consumption rates for these four foods. The 75th percentile of EWIs for the children aged 34-6 years had a %PTWI valued at over 100%, indicating a potential risk of Al intake via dietary exposure. Our findings show that there is a concern about the consumption of Al-rich foods for children in Taiwan.

Association between intrauterine growth restriction and patent ductus arteriosus: Use of a dichorionic twin pregnancy model.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and the incidence of fetuses with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and Hemodynamically significant PDA (Hs-PDA) in dichorionic twins (DC) with selective IUGR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an observational cohort study and retrospective case assessment, involved twins born at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan between 2013 and 2018. DC twins with selective IUGR (sIUGR) were defined as the presence of a birth weight discordance of >25% and a smaller twin with a birth weight below the tenth percentile. PDA was diagnosed using echocardiography between postnatal day 3 and 7. Hs-PDA was defined as PDA plus increased pulmonary circulation, poor systemic perfusion, cardiomegaly, pulmonary edema, or hypotension requiring pharmacotherapeutic intervention. RESULT: A total of 1187 twins were delivered during the study period, and 53 DC twins with selective IUGR were included in this study. DC twins with PDA have higher rate of preterm birth, lower gestational age of delivery, and lower mean birth weight of both twins compared with DC twins without PDA. In a comparison of the sIUGR twin with the appropriate for gestational age co-twin, both the incidences of PDA (28.30% vs. 7.55%, respectively; P = 0.003) and Hs-PDA (24.53% vs. 5.66%, respectively; P = 0.002) were higher in sIUGR fetuses than in the appropriate for gestational age co-twins. Small gestational age of delivery was the only variable to predict PDA and Hs-PDA [p = 0.002, Odds ratio = 0.57 (0.39-0.82), p = 0.009, Odds ratio = 0.71 (0.55-0.92), respectively]. CONCLUSION: An analysis of dichorionic twins with sIUGR indicated that IUGR increased the risk of PDA and hemodynamically significant PDA.

Gene expression profiling of amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem cells of monozygotic twins discordant for trisomy 21.

Down syndrome is one of the most common chromosomal disorders and yet our understanding about the dysregulated genes in this disease is limited. Through this case study, we investigated the gene expression profile of primary amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem cells (AFMSCs) isolated from the amniotic sac of monozygotic twins discordant for trisomy 21 with one fetal hydrops at 17 weeks of gestation. AFMSCs were cultured to analyze the gene expression profiles for the human transcriptome array. Gene ontology was used to evaluate dysregulated gene functions. Total 25,799 genes were identified such that 65 were up-regulated (0.25%) and 111 were down-regulated (0.43%) with a log2 fold change trisomy 21/euploidy (log2 [FC]) > 1, p < 0.01). 16 genes were selected and verified by qRT-PCR, which showed compatible result with transcriptome array. At the chromosome level, chromosome 21 was found to carry the highest percentage of up-regulated genes (2.13%, 7/329 genes) with the highest mean log2 [FC] (0.23, p < 10-5), particularly on 21q22.3. There were eight segments with significant mean log2 [FC] on chromosomes 1, 6, 11, and 21 for upregulation, and on chromosomes 16, 17, and 19 for downregulation, indicating a pattern of dysregulated genes clustering in domains along the genome. Gene ontology showed the identified genes associated with extracellular matrix organization (11 genes, p = 5.1 × 10-6) and central nervous system development (8 genes, p = 6.0 × 10-5). Using transcriptome analysis of the AFMSCs of monozygotic twins discordant for trisomy 21, we report the dysregulated genes involved in Down syndrome, their predominance on chromosome 21, and the cluster pattern on the whole genome.