The clinical value of combining shear wave elastography, VOCAL technique, and T2* MRI of early gestation placenta to predict pre-eclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical value of combining shear wave elastography (SWE) with the Volumetric Organ Computer-Aided AnaLysis (VOCAL) technique and T2* magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to predict pre-eclampsia (PE). METHODS: From December 2022 to March 2023, we recruited 31 pregnant women diagnosed with PE at our hospital as the observation group and 85 normal pregnant women as the control group. Differences in placental elasticity, vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI), vascularization flow index (VFI), and T2* MRI perfusion fraction (f) were compared between the two groups. Received operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic value of placental elasticity, VI, FI, VFI, f, and their combination for predicting PE. RESULTS: Placental elasticity was higher in the observation group than in the control group, while VI, FI, VFI, and f were lower in the observation group (all p < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) for placental elasticity, VI, FI, VFI, f, and their combination for predicting PE were 0.85, 0.77, 0.78, 0.84, 0.65, and 0.94, respectively. The sensitivity was 71%, 55%, 94%, 65%, 55%, and 81%. The specificity was 92%, 91%, 60%, 92%, 79%, and 98%. The combined prediction model had a higher AUC than the individual predictors (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: SWE combined with VOCAL technique and T2* MRI has high value for predicting PE and can provide reference information for clinical diagnosis.

[Level of circulating Alarin in obese children and its association with insulin resistance].

OBJECTIVE: To study the level of circulating Alarin in obese children and its association with various metabolic parameters. METHODS: A total of 86 obese children with a body mass index (BMI) above the 95th percentile were enrolled as the obesity group, and 82 healthy children, matched for age and sex, with a BMI below the 85th percentile were enrolled as the healthy control group. According to the presence or absence of insulin resistance (IR), the obesity group was further divided into an IR group with 27 children and a non-IR group with 59 children. Related anthropometric parameters, including body height, body weight, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), were measured, and BMI was calculated. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), uric acid (UA), fasting insulin (FINS), and fasting blood glucose (FBG) were measured. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for glucose and insulin, Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), and whole-body insulin sensitivity index (WBISI) were calculated. ELISA was used to measure the level of circulating Alarin. RESULTS: The obesity group had a significantly higher level of circulating Alarin than the healthy control group (P<0.01). The IR group had a significantly higher level of circulating Alarin than the non-IR group (P<0.01). Circulating Alarin was positively correlated with BMI, TG, FBG, AUC-glucose, AUC-FINS, and HOMA-IR (P<0.05) and was negatively correlated with WBISI (P<0.05). The circulating Alarin level had a linear regression relationship with BMI, FBG, and HOMA-IR, among which HOMA-IR had the greatest influence on the circulating Alarin level (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant increase in the circulating Alarin level in obese children, which may be associated with the development of obesity and IR.

Atomistic Removal Mechanisms of SiC in Hydrogen Peroxide Solution.

To elucidate the atomic mechanisms of the chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) of silicon carbide (SiC), molecular dynamics simulations based on a reactive force field were used to study the sliding process of silica (SiO2) abrasive particles on SiC substrates in an aqueous H2O2 solution. During the CMP process, the formation of Si-O-Si interfacial bridge bonds and the insertion of O atoms at the surface can lead to the breakage of Si-C bonds and even the complete removal of SiC atoms. Furthermore, the removal of C atoms is more difficult than the removal of Si atoms. It is found that the removal of Si atoms largely influences the removal of C atoms. The removal of Si atoms can destroy the lattice structure of the substrate surface, leading the neighboring C atoms to be bumped or even completely removed. Our research shows that the material removal during SiC CMP is a comprehensive result of different atomic-level removal mechanisms, where the formation of Si-O-Si interfacial bridge bonds is widespread throughout the SiC polishing process. The Si-O-Si interfacial bridge bonds are the main removal mechanisms for SiC atoms. This study provides a new idea for improving the SiC removal process and studying the mechanism during CMP.

Performance Evaluation of Noninvasive Prenatal Testing in Screening Chromosome Disorders: A Single-Center Observational Study of 15,304 Consecutive Cases in China.

Objective: This study was to evaluate the performance of noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in detecting fetal chromosome disorders in pregnant women. Methods: From October 1st, 2017, to December 31th, 2022, a total of 15,304 plasma cell free DNA-NIPT samples were collected for fetal chromosome disorders screening. The results of NIPT were validated by confirmatory invasive testing or clinical outcome follow-up. Further, NIPT performance between low-risk and high-risk groups, as well as singleton pregnancy and twin pregnancy groups was compared. Besides, analysis of 111 false-positive cases was performed. Results: Totally, NIPT was performed on 15,086 eligible venous blood samples, of which 179 (1.19%) showed positive NIPT results and 68 were further validated to be true positive samples via confirmatory invasive testing or follow-up of clinical outcomes. For common chromosome aneuploidies, sex chromosome abnormalities (SCA) and other chromosomal aneuploidies, the detection sensitivities of NIPT were all 100%, the specificities were 99.87%, 99.70%, and 99.68% and the positive predictive values (PPVs) were 65.45%, 31.82%, and 10.91%, respectively. No statistically significant variance in detection performance was observed among 2987 high-risk and 12,099 low-risk subjects, as well as singleton and twin pregnancy subjects. The concentration of cell-free fetal DNA of 111 false-positive cases ranged from 5.5% to 33.7%, which was higher than the minimum requirement of NIPT. Conclusion: With stringent protocol, NIPT shows high sensitivity and specificity for detecting fetal chromosome disorders in a large-scale clinical service, helping improving overall pregnancy management.

Serum MOTS-C Levels are Decreased in Obese Children and Associated with Vascular Endothelial Function.

Purpose: The increasing prevalence of obesity in children and its associated risk with cardiovascular diseases demand more discovery of the novel biomarkers for developing new treatment options for this complex disease. This study aimed to investigate the association of serum MOTS-C (a peptide encoded in the mitochondrial genome) levels and vascular endothelial function in obese children. Patients and Methods: A total of 225 obese children (aged 8.1 ± 2.6 years) and 218 healthy children (aged 7.9 ± 2.2 years) were enrolled. Related anthropometric assessment and biochemical evaluation were done in all subjects. Reactive hyperemia index (RHI), as assessed by the peripheral arterial tonometry, was used for evaluation of peripheral endothelial function. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the level of serum MOTS-C. Results: Levels of serum MOTS-C and RHI were lower in the obese children compared with the healthy children (P < 0.01). The RHI level was independently associated with body mass index, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and MOTS-C in linear regression analysis. Further analysis showed a significant mediating effect of MOTS-C on the correlation between body mass index and RHI in children, with the ratio of mediating effect value of 9.12%. Conclusion: These data identify that MOTS-C is a previously unknown regulator in the development process of obesity-induced vascular changes.

The effects of pulsed electric fields treatment on the structure and physicochemical properties of dialdehyde starch.

The structural and physicochemical properties changes of corn starch oxidized by sodium periodate under the assistance of pulsed electric fields (PEF) were studied. It was found that dialdehyde starch (DAS) particles produced by PEF-assisted oxidation exhibited shrinkage and pits, and had a larger particle size when compared to the control without PEF. The solubility of the DAS (12 kV/cm PEF- assisted oxidation) improved by 70.2% when compared to the native starch. Increment in the strength of the PEF, led to a decrease in the viscosity of the DAS. In addition, the aldehyde group content of the DAS produced by PEF-assisted oxidation exhibited shrinkage and pits, and had a larger particle size when compared to the control increased by 11.6% when compared with the traditional oxidation method. PEF is an effective method to promote oxidation reaction of starch.

Enhanced encapsulation of lutein using soy protein isolate nanoparticles prepared by pulsed electric field and pH shifting treatment.

In this study, soy protein isolate (SPI) was modified by a pulsed electric field (PEF) combined with pH shifting treatment (10 kV/cm, pH 11) to prepare SPI nanoparticles (PSPI11) for efficient loading of lutein. The results showed that when the mass ratio of SPI to lutein was 25:1, the encapsulation efficiency of lutein in PSPI11 increased from 54% to 77%, and the loading capacity increased by 41% compared to the original SPI. The formed SPI-lutein composite nanoparticles (PSPI11-LUTNPs) had smaller, more homogeneous sizes and larger negative charges than SPI7-LUTNPs. The combined treatment favored the unfolding of the SPI structure and could expose its interior hydrophobic groups to bind with lutein. Nanocomplexation with SPIs significantly improved the solubility and stability of lutein, with PSPI11 showing the greatest improvement. As a result, PEF combined with pH shifting pretreatment is an effective method for developing SPI nanoparticles loaded and protected with lutein.

[Application of low tension Roux-y sigmoid neobladder in urine diversion].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the therapeutic effects of low tension, anti-reflux Roux-y sigmoid neobladder. METHODS: A total of 21 patients (7 male and 14 female) were included, aged 43-87 years. All cases received radical cystectomy and low tension Roux-y sigmoid neobladder procedure for invasive bladder cancer were included in this study. The period of follow-up was from 8 to 79 months (the average was 36 months). Evaluations included urinary flow rate, post voiding residual and filling cystometry. RESULTS: The mean maximum urinary flow rate, the voiding time and the post voiding residual were 28.1 ml/s (21.4-38.4 ml/s), 17 s(9-28 s) and 0 ml respectively. The cystometric capacity was 480 m1 (350-560 ml). The volume of desire to void was 330 ml (120-410 ml). The bladder pressure was from 14.2 to 18.6 cm H2O (the average bladder pressure was 16.4 cm H2O) at high filling volumes. The maximum voiding pressure was 45.0 cm H2O (23.6-63.4 cm H2O). CONCLUSIONS: The Roux-y sigmoid neobladder has an adequate capacity at low pressure with a satisfactory continence, and it is an effective method for continent urinary diversion.

Novel FAM83H mutations in patients with amelogenesis imperfecta.

Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI), characterized by a deficiency in the quantity and/or quality of dental enamel, is genetically heterogeneous and phenotypically variable. The most severe type, hypocalcified AI, is mostly caused by truncating mutations in the FAM83H gene. This study aimed to identify genetic mutations in four Chinese families with hypocalcified AI. We performed mutation analysis by sequencing the candidate FAM83H gene. Three novel mutations (c.931dupC, p.V311Rfs*13; c.1130_1131delinsAA, p.S377X; and c.1147 G > T, p.E383X) and one previously reported mutation (c.973 C > T, p.R325X) in the last exon of FAM83H gene were identified. Furthermore, constructs expressing Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged wild-type and three novel mutant FAM83Hs were transfected into rat dental epithelial cells (SF2 cells). Wild-type FAM83H-GFP was localized exclusively in the cytoplasm, especially in the area surrounding the nucleus, while the mutant FAM83H-GFPs (p.V311Rfs*13, p.S377X, and p.E383X) were localized predominantly in the nucleus, with lower levels in the cytoplasm.

Flot2 promotes tumor growth and metastasis through modulating cell cycle and inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Flotillin-2 (Flot2) is a highly conserved and ubiquitously expressed protein that resides on the cytoplasmic side of the cell membrane within specific cholesterol rich microdomains. Some studies have reported that overexpression of Flot2 is related to cancer progression. However, the role of Flot2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclarified. In this study, we aim to explore the correlation between Flot2 expression and HCC progression and the underlying mechanism. In the present study, overexpression of Flot2 in HCC tissues and cell lines was detected, and forced overexpression of Flot2 significantly promoted the proliferation, migration, invasion and metastasis of HCC in vitro and in vivo by modulating cell cycle and inducing EMT, which was mediated via up-regulation of Twist as a result of Raf/MEK/ERK1/2 pathway activation. In contrast, silencing Flot2 expression inhibited these biological processes. Furthermore, high expression of Flot2 was significantly correlated with poor prognosis of HCC patients after curative resection and is an independent risk factor. In conclusion, Flot2 promoted tumor growth and metastasis of HCC through modulating cell cycle and inducing EMT. The expression of Flot2 may play a key role in HCC progression and may be regarded as a potential poor prognostic marker for HCC.

[Effects of mineral trioxide aggregate on the proliferation and differentiation of human pulp cells from primary and permanent teeth].

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the effects of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and calcium hydroxide on proliferation and differentiation of human pulp cells from primary and permanent teeth. METHODS: Cell proliferation was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The mRNA expression levels of dentinogenesis-related factors, including alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP), and odontoclastogenesis-related factors, such as osteo- protegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL), were determined by real time polymerase chain reac- tion (PCR). RESULTS: Primary and permanent pulp cells treated with calcium hydroxide exhibited significantly lower proli- feration rates than the control cells (P<0.01). By contrast, the MTA-treated group showed significantly higher proliferation rates than the control group (P<0.01). Real time PCR results showed that calcium hydroxide-treated primary pulp cells exhi- bited significantly decreased ALP, DSPP, and OPG expression compared with the control group (P<0.01). Conversely, the MTA-treated group displayed significantly increased ALP, DSPP, and OPG expression (P<0.01). Calcium hydroxide-treated primary pulp cells also exhibited significantly upregulated RANKL expression (P < 0.01); by contrast, MTA-treated cells did not show any change in RANKL expression (P>0.05). Likewise, MTA-treated permanent pulp cells showed significantly upregulated ALP and DSPP expression (P < 0.01). However, the calcium hydroxide-treated group remained almost the same as the control group (P > 0.05). Neither MTA nor calcium hydroxide affected OPG and RANKL expression in per- manent pulp cells (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: MTA is more suitable as a pulp-capping agent, particularly in primary teeth, than calcium hydroxide.

[Determination of the hemoglobin in poisoned blood by spectrophotometery].

OBJECTIVE: In order to establish a objective method of analysis in the case of sulfured hydrogen poison. METHODS: The sulfured hemoglobin of the biomaterials(blood) were investigated by the spectrophotometry. RESULTS: Results showed that sulfured hemoglobin had a specific absorbance peak at 612 nm, it is a linear relationship about the absorbancity to the concentration of sulfured hemoglobin. CONCLUSION: It is possible to mark the poison degree by the spectrophotometery.

[Anti-oxidative responses of Agrocybe aegerita mycelia to cadmium stress].

This paper studied the effects of different concentration Cd on the anti-oxidative enzyme activities and glutathione content in Agrocybe aegerita cultivated in liquid medium. The results indicated that at low concentrations of Cd, the test enzyme activities increased with increasing Cd concentration, being the maximum at 0.1 mmol x L(-1) for CAT, at 0.2 mmol x L(-1) for POD, GR and LOX, and at 0.4 mmol x L(-1) for SOD. At 1.6 mmol x L(-1) of Cd, the activities of POD, CAT and SOD were inhibited markedly. 0.4-1.6 mmol x L(-1) of Cd resulted in an increase of glutathione content, but glutathione disulfide content was less affected. The ascorbate acid content and APX activity were too low to be detectable. The PAGE analysis revealed that 0.1-0.8 mmol x L(-1) of Cd induced the additional isozyme bands of POD, EST and LOX, and increased the intensity of the constitutive isozymes of CAT and SOD. 1.6 mmol x L(-1) of Cd decreased the intensity of the isozymes of POD, CAT and SOD significantly.