[Research on the spreading of Jing Xiao Chan Bao].

Jing Xiao Chan Bao(, Tested Treasures in Obstetrics) written by Zan Yin is the earliest extant book of obstetrics and gynecology in China. It was dispersed after written and reappeard by the late Qing Dynasty. Although widely quoted in later medical books, its spread process is not clear yet. In this paper, we reviewed the process of the book's written and the catalogue of historical records, and analyze the type and scope of articles quoted from this book by the Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties. It can be speculated that the book was lost in the late Song Dynasty and doctors in Yuan and Ming Dynasties have not seen the handed-down masterpiece.

Physical Health and Well-being: Updates and the Way Ahead.

INTRODUCTION: The Women in Combat Summit 2021 "Forging the Future: How Women Enhance the Fighting Force" took place during February 9-11, 2021, via a virtual conference platform. The third and final day of the Summit regarded the physical health and well-being of military women and included the topics of urogenital health, nutrition and iron-deficiency anemia, unintended pregnancy and contraception, and traumatic brain injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After presentations on the topics earlier, interested conference attendees were invited to participate in focus groups to discuss and review policy recommendations for physical health and well-being in military women. Discussions centered around the topics discussed during the presentations, and suggestions for future Women in Combat Summits were noted. Specifics of the methods of the Summit are presented elsewhere in this supplement. RESULTS: We formulated research and policy recommendations for urogenital health, nutrition and iron-deficiency anemia, contraception and unintended pregnancy, and traumatic brain injury. CONCLUSIONS: In order to continue to develop the future health of military women, health care providers, researchers, and policymakers should consider the recommendations made in this supplement as they continue to build on the state of the science and forge the future.

Regulatory role of phosphoproteins in the development of bovine small intestine during early life.

The small intestine is the primary site of nutrient digestion and absorption, which plays a key role in the survival of neonatal calves. A comprehensive assessment of the phosphoproteomic changes in the small intestine of neonatal calves is unavailable; therefore, we used phosphopeptide enrichment coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to investigate the changes in the phosphoproteome profile in the bovine small intestine during the first 36 h of life. Twelve neonatal male calves were assigned to one of the following groups: (1) calves not fed colostrum and slaughtered approximately 2 h postpartum (n = 3), (2) calves fed colostrum at 1 to 2 h and slaughtered 8 h postpartum (n = 3), (3) calves fed 2 colostrum meals (at 1-2 and 10-12 h) and slaughtered 24 h postpartum (n = 3), (4) calves fed 3 colostrum meals (at 1-2, 10-12, and 22-24 h) and slaughtered 36 h postpartum (n = 3). Mid-duodenal, jejunal, and ileal samples of the calves were collected after slaughter. We identified 1,678 phosphoproteins with approximately 3,080 phosphosites, which were mainly Ser (89.9%), Thr (9.8%), and Tyr (0.3%) residues; they belonged to the prodirected (52.9%), basic (20.4%), acidic (16.6%), and Tyr-directed (1.7%) motif categories. The regional differentially expressed phosphoproteins included zonula occludens 2, sorting nexin 12, and protein kinase C, which are mainly associated with developmental processes, intracellular transport, vesicle-mediated transport, and immune system process. They are enriched in the endocytosis, tight junction, insulin signaling, and focal adhesion pathways. The temporal differentially expressed phosphoproteins included occludin, epsin 1, and bridging integrator 1, which were mainly associated with macromolecule metabolic process, cell adhesion, and growth. They were enriched in the spliceosomes, adherens junctions, and tight junctions. The observed changes in the phosphoproteins in the tissues of small intestine suggest the protein phosphorylation plays an important role in nutrient transport and immune response of calves during early life, which needs to be confirmed in a larger study.

Effect of arginine supplementation on the production of milk fat in dairy cows.

Arginine, one of the conditionally essential AA, has been reported to affect fat synthesis and metabolism in nonruminant animals by influencing adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK) in some organs. In dairy cows, the effect of Arg on milk fat production is not clear, and any potential mechanism that underlies the effect is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that Arg infusion would improve the production of milk fat, and explored possible mechanism that might underlie any effect. We used 6 healthy lactating cows at 20 ± 2 d in milk, in fourth parity, with a body weight of 508 ± 14 kg, body condition score of 3.0 ± 0, and a milk yield of 30.6 ± 1.8 kg/d (mean ± standard deviation). The cows were blocked by days in milk and milk yield and each cow received 3 treatments in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design, with each of the experimental periods lasting 7 d with a 14-d washout between each period. The treatments, delivered in random order, were (1) infusion of saline (control); (2) infusion of 0.216 mol/d of l-Arg in saline (Arg); (3) infusion of 0.868 mol/d of l-Ala in saline (the Arg and Ala treatments were iso-nitrogenous) through a jugular vein. On the last day of each experimental period, blood was sampled to measure insulin, nitric oxide, glucose, and nonesterified fatty acid, and the liver and mammary gland were biopsied to measure the expression of genes. Milk yield was recorded, and milk fat percentage was measured daily during each of the experimental periods. The yield and composition of fatty acid (FA) in milk was measured daily on the last 3 d during each of the experimental periods. The data were analyzed using a mixed model with treatment as a fixed factor, and cow, period, and block as random factors. The daily milk yield and milk fat yield when the cows were infused with Arg were 2.2 kg and 76 g, respectively, higher than that in control, and 1.8 kg and 111 g, respectively, higher than that in Ala. When the cows were infused with Arg they had higher concentration and yield of de novo synthesized FA, than when they received the control or Ala infusions, although milk fat percentage, daily feed intake, and the digestibility of nutrients were not affected by treatment. The serum concentration of nitric oxide and insulin were higher during Arg than during control or Ala, with no difference between control and Ala. In the liver, the expression of the genes coding for AMPK (PRKAA1, PRKAB1, and PRKAG1) and genes related to the oxidation of FA were higher during Arg than during control or Ala, whereas in the mammary gland the expression PRKAB1 was lowest, and the expression of genes involved in the synthesis of milk fat were highest, during Arg infusion. The results suggest the intravenous infusion of Arg enhanced the production of milk fat by promoting the de novo synthesis of FA and increasing milk yield.

RNA-sequencing of AVPV and ARH reveals vastly different temporal and transcriptomic responses to estradiol in the female rat hypothalamus.

In females, estrogens have two main modes of action relating to gonadotropin secretion: positive feedback and negative feedback. Estrogen positive and negative feedback are controlled by different regions of the hypothalamus: the preoptic area/anterior portion (mainly the anteroventral periventricular nucleus, AVPV) of the hypothalamus is associated with estrogen positive feedback while the mediobasal hypothalamus (mainly the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, ARH), is associated with estrogen negative feedback. In this study, we examined the temporal pattern of gene transcription in these two regions following estrogen treatment. Adult, ovariectomized, Long Evans rats received doses of estradiol benzoate (EB) or oil every 4 days for 3 cycles. On the last EB priming cycle, hypothalamic tissues were dissected into the AVPV+ and ARH+ at 0 hrs (baseline/oil control), 6 hrs, or 24 hrs after EB treatment. RNA was extracted and sequenced using bulk RNA sequencing. Differential gene analysis, gene ontology, and weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was performed. Overall, we found that the AVPV+ and ARH+ respond differently to estradiol stimulation. In both regions, estradiol treatment resulted in more gene up-regulation than down-regulation. S100g was very strongly up-regulated by estradiol in both regions at 6 and 24 hrs after EB treatment. In the AVPV+ the highest number of differentially expressed genes occurred 24 hrs after EB. In the ARH+, the highest number of genes differentially expressed by EB occurred between 6 and 24 hrs after EB, while in the AVPV+, the fewest genes changed their expression between these time points, demonstrating a temporal difference in the way that EB regulates transcription these two areas. Several genes strongly implicated in gonadotropin release were differentially affected by estradiol including Esr1, encoding estrogen receptor-α and Kiss1, encoding kisspeptin. As an internal validation, Kiss1 was up-regulated in the AVPV+ and down-regulated in the ARH+. Gene network analysis revealed the vastly different clustering of genes modulated by estradiol in the AVPV+ compared with the ARH+. These results indicate that gene expression in these two hypothalamic regions have specific responses to estradiol in timing and direction.

Quantitative comparative phosphoproteomic analysis of the effects of colostrum and milk feeding on liver tissue of neonatal calves.

Posttranslational modifications, mostly phosphorylation, are critical for protein structure and function. However, the association between liver phosphoproteins in neonatal calves and colostrum intake is not well understood. In this study, we examined the liver phosphoproteome profile in neonatal calves after receiving colostrum or milk. Liver tissue samples were collected from control calves (CON, n = 3) 2 h after birth and from calves that received colostrum (CG, n = 3) or milk (MG, n = 3) 24 h after birth. Hepatic phosphoprotein expression profiles were analyzed using quantitative proteomics based on the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. In total, 1,587 phosphorylated sites were identified in 1,011 liver proteins. The most abundant phosphorylation site AA was serine (87.5%), followed by threonine (11.9%) and tyrosine (0.5%). Among the 1,011 phosphoproteins, 219, 453, and 26 displayed differential expression in the CG versus MG, CG versus CON, and MG versus CON comparisons, respectively. Differentially expressed phosphoproteins in the CG-MG comparison included 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1, glucose transporter member 4, protein kinase N2, and vinculin, which were mainly involved in the glycogen metabolic process, transport, growth and development, and cell adhesion process, according to Gene Ontology analysis. Pathway analysis indicated their enrichment in the insulin signaling pathway, spliceosome, and adherens junction. The CG-CON comparison identified differentially expressed phosphoproteins and their target genes that were largely involved in the cellular process, macromolecule metabolic process, developmental process, and transport. Pathway analysis indicated their association with endocytosis, mechanistic target of rapamycin, AMP-activated protein kinase, and insulin signaling pathways. These data demonstrate that changes in the phosphoproteins of liver tissues may play an important role in energy metabolism and immune response in the calves that received colostrum. These results provide novel insights into the crucial roles of protein phosphorylation during the early life of newborn calves.

Label-free quantitative proteomics analysis reveals the fate of colostrum proteins in the intestine of neonatal calves.

The contribution of intestinally absorbed colostral immunoglobulins to the transmission of passive immunity is widely reported in neonatal calves. However, changes in the colostral proteome in the gastrointestinal digesta remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate changes in colostral proteome affected by gastrointestinal proteases in neonatal calves. Twenty-one neonatal Holstein calves were used in this study, including 18 colostrum-fed calves slaughtered at 8 (CI, n = 6), 24 (CII, n = 6), and 36 h (CIII, n = 6) postpartum and 3 milk-fed calves slaughtered 24 h postpartum (MI, n = 3). The ingested colostrum and milk samples were collected from the mid-jejunum segment, following the sacrifice. The undigested colostrum or milk along with their ingested colostrum or milk samples were investigated using a label-free proteomics approach. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis of the quantified proteins revealed that the ingested colostrum from the CII and CIII groups and the ingested mature milk from the MI group appeared to share similar patterns. Analysis of the intestinal digesta revealed a time-dependent decrease in caseins, lactoferrin, and osteopontin protein levels, and an increase in cationic trypsin, chymotrypsin, and carboxypeptidase. Several protease inhibitors, such as α-1-antiproteinase, α-2-antiplasmin, and early lactation protein, were identified in the colostrum and intestinal digesta. In addition, we detected identical levels in the intestinal digesta and colostrum for albumin, α-1-acid glycoprotein, and plasminogen. Pathway analysis indicated that proteins increased in the intestinal digesta belonged to the following categories: biosynthesis of antibiotics, carbon metabolism, and biosynthesis of amino acids. These results indicated that selected colostral proteins were digested by gastrointestinal proteases, contributing to their intestinal absorption in calves. These findings provide new insights into the fate of the colostral proteome in the gastrointestinal tract and may aid in the identification of factors contributing to health management in neonatal calves.

Apple rootstocks with different phosphorus efficiency exhibit alterations in rhizosphere bacterial structure.

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to select phosphorus-efficient apple rootstocks under phosphorus deficiency and to reveal the effects of different apple rootstocks on the rhizosphere bacterial community. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used 83 hybrid lines of Malus robusta Rehd. × Malling 9 (M.9) to investigate their physiological traits and the phosphorus deficiency phenotypes of leaves in response to phosphorus deficiency (0·1 mmol l-1 PO4 3- ). All the plants were cultivated in pots in the greenhouse and watered using drip irrigation. In accordance with the results of investigation, we selected the phosphorus-efficient hybrid lines (PE) and the phosphorus-inefficient hybrid lines (PI) to research their root morphology and root hairs (RH). In addition, we used Illumina MiSeq sequencing to determine the bacterial community of the rhizosphere from different rootstocks. The results showed that the PE plants had better growth characteristics and stronger root plasticity than that of the PI plants, and phosphorus deficiency can stimulate the RH growth of PE plants. There was no significant difference in the rhizosphere bacterial diversity, but we found that the bacterial community structure was significantly different at the genus levels; in addition, 89 genera were found to have significant differences between PE and PI plants, especially Bacillus. The PE rhizosphere had more abundant Bacillus compared to the PI. High positive Pearson correlations with the phosphorus concentration in the plantlets of apple rootstocks were detected for the bacterial genera Bacillus (r: 0·776). CONCLUSIONS: The phosphorus-efficient apple rootstocks adapted to phosphorus deficiency by shaping the root morphology. Notably, different apple rootstocks showed alteration of the microbes in rhizosphere. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study can provide the materials for exploring the mechanism of apple rootstock phosphorus absorption. In accordance with the different bacterial community compositions, we can develop the inoculants to promote nutrient uptake.

Activity of Potential Alternative Treatment Agents for Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Isolates Nonsusceptible to Levofloxacin and/or Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is difficult to treat due to the production of multiple intrinsic and acquired mechanisms of resistance. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) and the fluoroquinolones have traditionally been considered the drugs of choice but are plagued by increasing resistance and adverse drug effects. The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro activities of 12 clinically relevant antimicrobials against clinical S. maltophilia isolates nonsusceptible to levofloxacin and/or TMP-SMZ. A diverse panel of 41 clinical S. maltophilia isolates collected through the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program from 2008 to 2018 was evaluated against ceftazidime, ceftazidime-avibactam, chloramphenicol, delafloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, eravacycline, minocycline, omadacycline, polymyxin B, and tigecycline. MICs were determined in triplicate via reference broth microdilution and interpreted according to CLSI guidelines where available. MIC distributions and susceptibilities were also compared across infection type, acquisition setting, and geographic origin. Susceptibilities to levofloxacin and TMP-SMZ were 29.3% and 36.6%, respectively. Minocycline displayed the highest susceptibility rate overall (92.7%) and the lowest MIC90 value (4 mg/liter) of any of the 12 agents tested. Only 3 isolates were resistant to levofloxacin, TMP-SMZ, and minocycline. Polymyxin B and tigecycline were the second most active agents. No significant differences were observed in MIC distributions across the 3 strata evaluated. These data demonstrate that few antimicrobials, old or new, maintain reliable activity against resistant S. maltophilia The role of minocycline in the treatment of infections due to S. maltophilia warrants further clinical investigation given its potent in vitro activity and favorable adverse effect profile.

Effects of intravenous arginine infusion on inflammation and metabolic indices of dairy cows in early lactation.

Enhancing the supply of arginine (Arg), a semi-essential amino acid, has positive effects on immune function in dairy cattle experiencing metabolic stress during early lactation. Our objective was to determine the effects of Arg supplementation on biomarkers of liver damage and inflammation in cows during early lactation. Six Chinese Holstein lactating cows with similar BW (508 ± 14 kg), body condition score (3.0), parity (4.0 ± 0), milk yield (30.6 ± 1.8 kg) and days in milk (20 ± days) were randomly assigned to three treatments in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design balanced for carryover effects. Each period was 21 days with 7 days for infusion and 14 days for washout. Treatments were (1) Control: saline; (2) Arg group: saline + 0.216 mol/day l-Arg; and (3) Alanine (Ala) group: saline + 0.868 mol/day l-Ala (iso-nitrogenous to the Arg group). Blood and milk samples from the experimental cows were collected on the last day of each infusion period and analyzed for indices of liver damage and inflammation, and the count and composition of somatic cells in milk. Compared with the Control, the infusion of Arg led to greater concentrations of total protein, immunoglobulin M and high density lipoprotein cholesterol coupled with lower concentrations of haptoglobin and tumor necrosis factor-α, and activity of aspartate aminotransferase in serum. Infusion of Ala had no effect on those biomarkers compared with the Control. Although milk somatic cell count was not affected, the concentration of granulocytes was lower in response to Arg infusion compared with the Control or Ala group. Overall, the biomarker analyses indicated that the supplementation of Arg via the jugular vein during early lactation alleviated inflammation and metabolic stress.

Antrodia cinnamomea reduces obesity and modulates the gut microbiota in high-fat diet-fed mice.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis, disrupted intestinal barrier and chronic inflammation. Given the high and increasing prevalence of obesity worldwide, anti-obesity treatments that are safe, effective and widely available would be beneficial. We examined whether the medicinal mushroom Antrodia cinnamomea may reduce obesity in mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). METHODS: Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a HFD for 8 weeks to induce obesity and chronic inflammation. The mice were treated with a water extract of A. cinnamomea (WEAC), and body weight, fat accumulation, inflammation markers, insulin sensitivity and the gut microbiota were monitored. RESULTS: After 8 weeks, the mean body weight of HFD-fed mice was 39.8±1.2 g compared with 35.8±1.3 g for the HFD+1% WEAC group, corresponding to a reduction of 4 g or 10% of body weight (P<0.0001). WEAC supplementation reduced fat accumulation and serum triglycerides in a statistically significant manner in HFD-fed mice. WEAC also reversed the effects of HFD on inflammation markers (interleukin-1ß, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α), insulin resistance and adipokine production (leptin and adiponectin). Notably, WEAC increased the expression of intestinal tight junctions (zonula occludens-1 and occludin) and antimicrobial proteins (Reg3g and lysozyme C) in the small intestine, leading to reduced blood endotoxemia. Finally, WEAC modulated the composition of the gut microbiota, reducing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and increasing the level of Akkermansia muciniphila and other bacterial species associated with anti-inflammatory properties. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with A. cinnamomea produces anti-obesogenic, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic effects in HFD-fed mice by maintaining intestinal integrity and modulating the gut microbiota.

[Effect of NCCN (2015) risk stratification on prognosis of patients with acute myeloid leukemia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation].

Objective: To analyze the effect of NCCN (2015) risk stratification on prognosis of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) . Methods: Retrospective analysis of 258 patients with AML in CR (186 cases in CR(1), 72 cases in CR(2)) who underwent allogeneic HSCT in our hospital between April 2012 and March 2015 according to NCCN (2015) risk stratification. Of them, 63 cases were classified as low risk, 112 cases intermediate risk and 83 cases high risk. Results: ①With the median follow up of 18 (5-41) months, two-year disease free surviva (DFS) in 258 patients was 78.0% (95% CI 60.4%-96.6%) . Two-year DFS in AML after transplantation was 78.6% (95% CI 61.0%-96.2%) in low risk, 76.0% (95% CI 84.0%-93.6%) in intermediate risk and 80.3% (95% CI 62.7%-97.9%) (P=0.886) in high risk groups respectively. ②Univariate analysis showed that DFS has no significant difference in patient age, the median disease course before HSCT, the WBC number at the beginning of the disease, blood routine and chromosomes examination before transplantation, extramedullary disease before transplantation, disease status before transplantation, conditioning regimen, donor type, donor and recipient sex, recipient blood type, transfused MNC number, transfused CD34(+) cell number and transfused CD3(+) cell number. DFS was significant lower in primary AML than that in secondary AML (P=0.006) and also lower in MRD positive than that in MRD negative (P=0.003) . The accumulative relapse was significant higher in CR(2) compared to that in CR(1) (P=0.046) . Accumulative non-relapse mortality (NRM) was significanlyt higher in secondary AML compared to that in primary AML (P=0.004) and also higher in MRD positive compared to that in MRD negative (P=0.010) . ③Multivariate analysis showed that MRD positive was the only significant factor in DFS and NRM. Conclusion: Allo-HSCT treatment of AML CR patients could achieve a high efficacy, which is similar between CR(1) and CR(2) patients. There is no significant correlation between NCCN (2015) risk stratification and the prognosis of AML patients with allo-HSCT treatment. Pre-conditioning MRD status monitored by multiparameter flow cytometry was the only impact factor on DFS and NRM in allo-HSCT for CR-AML patients.

[Effects of both folic acid, p16 protein expression and their interaction on progression of cervical cancerization].

Objective: To explore the effects of both folic acid, p16 protein expression and their interaction on progression of cervical cancerization. Methods: Participants were pathologically diagnosed new cases, including 80 women with normal cervical (NC), 55 patients with low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CINⅠ), 55 patients with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CINⅡ/Ⅲ) and 64 patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Serum folate levels were detected by microbiological assay method while p16 protein expression levels were measured by Western-blot. In vitro, cervical cancer cell lines C33A (HPV negative) and Caski (HPV16 positive) were treated with different concentrations of folate. Proliferation and apoptosis of cells and the levels of p16 protein expression were measured in groups with different folic acid concentrations. Results: Results showed that the levels of serum folate were (5.96±3.93) ng/ml, (5.08±3.43) ng/ml, (3.92±2.59) ng/ml and (3.18±2.71) ng/ml, and the levels of p16 protein were 0.80±0.32, 1.33±0.52, 1.91±0.77, and 2.09±0.72 in the group of NC, CINⅠ, CINⅡ/Ⅲ and SCC, respectively. However, the levels of serum folate decreased (trend χ2=32.71, P<0.001) and p16 protein expression increased (trend χ2=56.06, P<0.001) gradually along with the severity of cervix lesions. An additive interaction was seen between serum folate deficiency and high expression of p16 protein in the CINⅠ, CINⅡ/Ⅲ and SCC group. Results in vitro showed that, with the increase of folate concentration, the inhibition rate of cell proliferation (C33A: r=0.928, P=0.003; Caski: r=0.962, P=0.001) and the rate on cell apoptosis (C33A: r=0.984, P<0.001; Caski: r=0.986, P<0.001) all increased but the levels of p16 protein expression (C33A: r=-0.817, P=0.025; Caski: r=-0.871, P=0.011) reduced. The proliferation inhibition rate (C33A: r=-0.935, P=0.002; Caski: r=-0.963, P=0.001) and apoptosis rate of cells (C33A: r=-0.844, P=0.017; Caski: r=-0.898, P=0.006) were negatively correlated with the levels of p16 protein expression. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that both serum folate deficiency and high expression of p16 protein could increase the risk of cervical cancer and cervix precancerous lesion, and there was an additive interaction between them. Our findings suggested that folic acid supplementation could reverse the abnormal expression of p16 protein, and effectively promote apoptosis and inhibit proliferation in cervical carcinoma cells.

Hemodynamic reference for neonates of different age and weight: a pilot study with electrical cardiometry.

OBJECTIVE: Electrical cardiometry (EC) is an impedance-based monitor that provides noninvasive, real-time hemodynamic assessment. However, the reference values for neonates have not been established. STUDY DESIGN: EC (Aesculon) was applied to hemodynamically stable preterm and term infants. Hemodynamic variables included cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), stroke volume (SV) and heart rate (HR). Their gestational age (GA), weight and body surface area (BSA) were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 280 neonates were studied. Their GA ranged from 26(5/7) to 41(4/7) weeks, weight 800 to 4420 g and BSA 0.07 to 0.26 m(2). CO was positively correlated to GA, weight and BSA (r=0.681, 0.822, 0.830, respectively; all P<0.001). Using regression analysis, CO was most significantly correlated to BSA. Mean CI was 2.55±0.37 l min(-1) per m(2). CONCLUSION: Hemodynamic reference by EC is notably distinct among neonates of diverse maturity. CO is most closely correlated to BSA.

Comparison of the Therapeutic Effects and Side Effects of Oral Iron Supplements in Iron Deficiency Anemia.

OBJECTIVE: Iron deficiency anemia is an important public health issue, especially for infants, children, and women with menorrhagia. Oral iron supplements are the cheapest, safest, and most effective treatment. This study compared the therapeutic and side effects of ferrous and ferric in iron deficiency anemia. METHODS: This was a retrospective study on data collected between April 2012 and October 2013 for patients with iron deficiency anemia who continuously took oral ferric for over one month and then switched to oral ferrous due to poor therapeutic effects. The exclusion criteria were the use of other oral or injected iron preparations, erythropoietin, or vitamin B12. RESULTS: A total of 41 participants were recruited. The average participant age was 44.76±16.89 years; most participants were females (95.1%; 39/41); the average daily dose of oral ferric (139.02±49.39 mg) was higher than that of ferrous (96.34±23.43 mg). Repeated measures: mixed model analyses were conducted to examine patients' clinical blood test values. The results showed that the mean blood test values for all patients significantly increased after switching to ferrous (p<0.01, with the exception of mean corpuscular hemoglobin). One patient experienced gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhea after switching to ferrous. CONCLUSION: This study found that blood test values improved after iron deficiency anemia female patients who displayed poor therapeutic effects with oral ferric switched to ferrous. Literature review showed that the risk for gastrointestinal problems with ferrous is higher than that with ferric. However, no significant difference was found in this study.

Nanoparticle-induced intraperitoneal hyperthermia and targeted photoablation in treating ovarian cancer.

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy is effective in treating various intra-abdominal malignancies. However, this therapeutic modality can only be performed during surgical operations and cannot be used repeatedly. We propose repeatedly noninvasive hyperthermia mediated by pegylated silica-core gold nanoshells (pSGNs) in vivo with external near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation. This study demonstrated that repeated photothermal treatment can effectively eliminate intraperitoneal tumors in mouse ovarian cancer models without damage of normal tissues. By conjugating pSGNs with anti-human CD47 monoclonal antibody, a significant photoablative effect can be achieved using lower amount of pSGNs and shorter NIR laser irradiation. Conjugated pSGNs specifically targeted and bound to cancer cells inside the peritoneal cavity. Our results indicate the possibility of a noninvasive method of repeated hyperthermia and photoablative therapies using nanoparticles. This has substantial clinical potential in treating ovarian and other intraperitoneal cancers.

Autoshortloop feedback regulation of pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion by its metabolite, GnRH-(1-5).

Given the central role of the decapeptide gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in reproductive function, our long-term objective is to delineate the underlying mechanism regulating these reproductive processes. The outcome of GnRH secretion is in part dependent on the proteolytic metabolism of this decapeptide. In contrast to the belief that the metabolism of GnRH serves only as a degradative process that removes excess GnRH, we have shown that a metabolite of the decapeptide, GnRH-(1-5), can directly regulate GnRH gene expression and reproductive behavior. To further characterize the effect of GnRH-(1-5) on GnRH neuronal function, we determined whether GnRH-(1-5) can directly regulate GnRH secretion and pulsatility using an in vitro perifusion system. We compared the effect of GnRH-(1-5) on GnRH secretion in the immortalized GnRH neuron (GT1-7 cell line), whole rat hypothalamic explant, and enzymatically dispersed rat hypothalamic cells. Tissue preparations were perifused continuously for 9 h during which a 3-h challenge with GnRH-(1-5) was administered (4-6 h). The results show that treatment with GnRH-(1-5) increased (p < 0.05) the mean GnRH secretion and the amplitude of the pulses but not the pulse frequency. The present study supports the notion that GnRH-(1-5) is functionally capable of regulating the reproductive neuroendocrine system.

Sequential therapy for non-thalamus supratentorial hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhages.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess the effectiveness of sequential therapy for non-thalamus supratentorial hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (NTS-HICH). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 110 patients with HICH. The patients were admitted 72 hours after disease onset, and 43 patients received sequential therapy. The length of hospital stay, treatment costs, incidence of pulmonary infections, mortality rates and Modified Rankin Score (mRS) 1 and 3 months after NTS-HICH were compared between patients who received sequential or non-sequential therapies. RESULTS: The length of hospital stay, treatment costs, and 1-month mortality rates were not significantly different between both groups. However, mortality rates at 3 months, incidence of pulmonary infection, and mRS at both 1 and 3 months were significantly better in patients who received sequential therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Sequential therapy significantly improves the prognosis for patients with NTS-HICH.

Acarbose monotherapy and weight loss in Eastern and Western populations with hyperglycaemia: an ethnicity-specific meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate if weight loss achieved with acarbose in individuals with hyperglycaemia differs between Eastern and Western populations. METHODS: Databases and reference lists of clinical trials on acarbose were searched. Eligible studies were randomised controlled trials of acarbose monotherapy in populations with hyperglycaemia of more than 12-week duration that provided data on body weight (BW) or body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: A total of 34 trials (6082 participants) were included. The effect of acarbose on BW was superior to that of placebo [weighted mean difference (WMD) = -0.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.78 to -0.25], nateglinide (WMD = -1.33, 95% CI -1.51 to -0.75) and metformin (WMD = -0.67, 95% CI -1.14 to -0.20). Compared with placebo, there was a significantly greater weight loss of 0.92 kg (p < 0.05, I(2)  = 88.8%) with acarbose in Eastern populations (WMD = -1.20, 95% CI -1.51 to -0.75) than that in Western populations (WMD = -0.28, 95% CI -0.59 to 0.03). Across all studies, the acarbose group achieved a significantly larger absolute weight loss of (change from baseline) 1.35 kg (p < 0.05, I(2)  = 94.3%) in Eastern populations (WMD = -2.26, 95% CI -2.70 to -1.81) than in Western populations (WMD = -0.91, 95% CI -1.36 to -0.47). Nevertheless, the possible risk of bias in Eastern studies may influence the results. CONCLUSION: The effect of acarbose on weight loss seems to be more pronounced in Eastern than in Western populations with hyperglycaemia, and is superior to that of placebo, nateglinide and metformin across both ethnicities.