[Association between postpartum depression and concentrations of transforming growth factor-ß in human colostrum: a nested cohort study].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between postpartum depression (PPD) and transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) concentrations in human colostrum. METHODS: Participants were recruited from a maternal and infant cohort established in a tertiary general hospital in Guangdong Province between December, 2020 and September, 2021. In the afternoon of the second postpartum day, the women were evaluated with Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) for screening PPD (defined as a score of 10 or higher). The women with PPD were matched at a 1:1 ratio with women without PPD with maternal age difference within 5 years and the same mode of delivery. Colostrum samples were collected in morning on the third postpartum day for measurement of TGF-ß concentrations using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the association between EPDS scores and TGF-ß concentrations was analyzed in the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 90 women were included in the final analysis. The mean concentrations of TGF-ß1, TGF-ß2 and TGF-ß3 in the colostrum were 684.03 (321.22-859.25) pg/mL, 5116.50±1747.04 pg/mL and 147.84±48.68 pg/mL in women with PPD, respectively, as compared with 745.67 (596.00-964.22) pg/mL, 4912.40±1516.80 pg/mL, and 168.21±48.15 pg/mL in women without PPD, respectively. Compared with women without PPD, the women with PPD had significantly lower concentrations of TGF-ß1 (P=0.026) and TGF-ß3 (P=0.049) in the colostrum. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that the EPDS scores were negatively associated with the concentrations of TGF-ß1 (r=-0.23, P=0.03) and TGF-ß3 (r=-0.25, P=0.02) in the colostrum. CONCLUSION: PPD is associated with decreased concentrations of TGF-ß1 and TGF-ß3 in human colostrum, suggesting the need of early PPD screening and interventions during pregnancy and the perinatal period to minimize the impact of PPD on human milk compositions.

Study on the effects of blueberry treatment on histone acetylation modification of CCl4-induced liver disease in rats.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of blueberry treatment on histone acetylation modification of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver disease in rats. Laboratory rats were randomly divided into control, hepatic fibrosis, blueberry treatment, blueberry intervention, and natural recovery groups. Rats in the model groups were treated with CCl4 administered subcutaneously at 4- and 8-week intervals, and then executed. Both the 4- and 8-week treatment groups were treated with blueberry juice for 8 weeks, and then executed after 12 and 16 weeks, respectively. Following the experiment, four liver function and hepatic fibrosis indices were measured. Liver index was calculated, hematoxylin-eosin staining was conducted, and H3K9, H3K14, and H3K18 expressions were evaluated among the nuclear proteins of the liver tissues. No differences in alanine transaminase were noted between the control and intervention groups, but significant differences were detected among the model, treatment, and natural recovery groups (P < 0.01). Significant differences were also observed in aspartate transaminase, hyaluronic acid, and collagen IV among the model, treatment, intervention, and natural recovery groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.01). Liver index, and H3K9 and H3K14 expression were significantly different among the model groups (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01), whereas H3K18 expression was dramatically different among model, treatment, intervention, and natural recovery groups (P < 0.01). Following blueberry treatment, rat liver function and hepatic fibrosis improved, potentially indicating that blueberry components could regulate histone acetylation and improve liver pathologic changes in rats with CCl4-induced disease.

Maternal folate status and obesity/insulin resistance in the offspring: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Prenatal folic acid supplementation or maternal folate sufficiency may protect the offspring from obesity and insulin resistance. This study aims to summarize the findings of association between prenatal folic acid supplementation/maternal folate sufficiency and obesity/insulin resistance in the offspring. METHODS: Twelve databases were searched for both published and unpublished work of prenatal folic acid supplementation/maternal folate status up to 1 July 2014. Experimental and observational studies on animals and human beings were included based on the eligibility criteria. There were no limits to the time period and language of publication. The study quality was assessed with a 10-Point Scale for Scientific Methodology. RESULTS: The search identified 2548 records. Nine animal studies and five human studies satisfied search criteria were included. Five of these nine animal studies showed a protective effect of folic acid. Of the five human studies, one showed a protective effect of folic acid, two showed a harmful effect and two showed uncertain results. CONCLUSIONS: Data from both animal studies and human studies are inconsistent. Future researches with sophisticated designs are needed to demonstrate the potential protective effect of maternal folate on obesity/insulin resistance in the offspring in animal models and human pregnancies.

Predictors of relapse in chronic hepatitis B after discontinuation of anti-viral therapy.

BACKGROUND: Optimal duration of anti-viral therapy in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains unclear. AIM: To investigate factors that could predict relapse after stopping anti-viral agents. METHODS: Chronic hepatitis B patients who were treated with anti-viral agents (lamivudine, adefovir, entecavir) and have stopped the treatment were recruited. Anti-viral agents were stopped according to the recommendations of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver. Virological relapse was defined as an increase in serum HBV DNA to >1000 copies/mL after discontinuation of treatment. RESULTS: Eighty-four (69 treatment naïve and 15 lamivudine resistant) patients were eligible for this study. Thirty-seven patients developed virological relapse at 4.3 ± 2.9 (range 1-11) months after discontinuation of therapy. The 1-year cumulative probability of virological relapse was 42% and 47% in HBeAg (hepatitis B e antigen)-positive (n = 41) and HBeAg (hepatitis B e antigen)-negative (n = 43) patients, respectively. On multivariate analysis by Cox proportional hazard model, pre-existing lamivudine resistance, delayed suppression of HBV DNA to undetectable level during anti-viral therapy and to a higher HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen) level at the end of treatment were associated with virological relapse. Twelve of the 15 (80%) lamivudine resistant patients developed virological relapse. Among the 11 treatment naïve patients who had HBsAg ≤ 2 log IU/mL at the end of treatment, 1 (9%) of them had virological relapse. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment cessation among lamivudine resistant patients is associated with high risk of virological relapse. Serum HBsAg level at the end of treatment and rate of HBV DNA suppression can provide supplementary information to guide the timing of stopping anti-viral drugs.

[Effects of yi qi tong mai oral liquid on acute myocardial ischemia in dogs].

The objective of this study was to assess the prophylactic and therapeutic effects of Yi Qi Tong Mai Oral Liquid (YQTMOL) on acute myocardial ischemia. The models of ischemia were made, in which the anterior coronary arteries of anesthetized dogs were ligated. Four groups of dogs were examined and compared. We determined the extent of their myocardial ischemia and infarction by means of epicardial mapping and N-BT staining. The results showed that in the treatment groups, the increase of sigma-ST was inhibited 30-180 minutes after the oral administration of YQTMOL(compared with control group, P < 0.01), and the sigma-ST was decreased (P < 0.05). Furthermore, in the group dosed with YQTMOL (10 g/kg), the ratios of "area of infarction/heart weight" and "area of infarction/ventricle weight" both decreased (compared with control group, P < 0.05). These findings indicated that YQTMOL reduced the area of myocardial ischemia and the degree of myocardial infarction in dogs, so it could be effective for the prevention and treatment of acute myocardial ischemia.

[Extraction, purification and ascertainment of anti-hepatoma active principles for targeted preparation of radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii].

The extraction, purification, pharmacological experiments and chemical analysis of anti-hepatoma active principles of Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii have been studied. The results show that the medicinal material Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii is efficacious in inhibiting hepatoma, and the active principles are mainly made up of poisonous ester alkaloids. The liver targeting delivery system will be the first choice for its anti-hepatoma preparation, and the effective component AY3a is fit for the preparation of targeted microspheres.

An activated mutant of the alpha subunit of G(o) increases neurite outgrowth via protein kinase C.

The GTP-binding protein, G(o), is present at very high concentration in the neuronal growth cone membrane. The expression of activated mutants of the a subunit of G(o) increases neurite outgrowth. To determine the intracellular mechanism for this outgrowth, we have examined activated alpha o-dependent outgrowth in the presence of agents which modulate different signal transduction cascades. Activation of protein kinase C with phorbol esters or with diacylglycerol prevents the alpha o-dependent increase in neurite extension. Inhibition of protein kinase C with staurosporine, with H7, or with long-term, high dose phorbol ester treatment resulted in greater neurite elongation, and no further increase after activated alpha o transfection. The protein phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid, also blocked the effect of activated alpha o. In contrast, tyrosine kinase inhibitors and agents which alter cAMP levels did not alter activated alpha o-dependent neurite extension. We tested a number of compounds which alter intracellular calcium levels. TMB-8 and thapsigargin prevented an increase in outgrowth by activated alpha o, but diltiazem, Bay K8644 and dantrolene had no effect on activated alpha o-dependent outgrowth. These studies suggest that activated alpha o increases neurite outgrowth by inhibiting protein kinase C and by modulating intracellular calcium release.

Early treatment with artemether and praziquantel in rabbits repeatedly infected with Schistosoma japonicum cercariae.

When rabbits infected with 48-52 Schistosoma japonicum cercariae once every wk for 6 times or every other day for 5 times were treated ig with artemether (Art) 10 or 15 mg.kg-1 on d7 after the first infection, followed by the repeated administration of the same dose once every 1-2 wk, a promising effect was seen in the groups treated with Art at higher dose. In another group of rabbits with the same drug administration regimens of praziquantel (Pra) were also used in early treatment, but the initial dose was given on d21 after the first infection. The results showed that Pra given at 40 mg.kg-1 in each administration was more promising than the lower dose of 30 mg.kg-1 especially in group treated at 2 wk intervals. Further study indicated that the presence of adult schistosomes in rabbits increased the effect of Pra not only on 21-day-old schistosomule, but also on 14-day-old schistosomules. The results suggest that Art and Pra could be used in field trial for controlling acute schistosomiasis and decreasing the intensity of schistosomal infection.