[Feasibility study of expectant management of different degrees of vaginal fluid in pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes in the second trimester].

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of expectant management of different degrees of vaginal fluid in pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes in the second trimester. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to collect 103 pregnant women who were diagnosed with premature rupture of membranes in the second trimester of pregnancy and insisted on continuing the pregnancy in Shanxi Bethune Hospital from July 2012 to July 2022. According to the degree of vaginal fluid, pregnant women were divided into rupture group (with typical vaginal fluid, 48 cases) and leakage group (without typical vaginal fluid, 55 cases). The rupture latency (the time from rupture of membranes to termination of pregnancy), gestational weeks of termination, indications and methods of termination of pregnancy, maternal infection related indicators and perinatal outcomes were compared between the two groups. Univariate regression model was used to analyze the correlation between different degrees of vaginal fluid in pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes and maternal and neonatal outcomes. Results: (1) Obstetric indicators: there was no significant difference in the gestational age of rupture of membranes between the two groups (P>0.05). However, the proportion of rupture latency >28 days in the leakage group was significantly higher than that in the rupture group [42% (23/55) vs 13% (6/48); χ2=33.673, P<0.001], and the incidence of pregnancy termination ≥28 weeks was significantly higher [47% (26/55) vs 19% (9/48); χ2=9.295, P=0.002]. (2) Indications and methods of termination: the incidence of progressive reduction of amniotic fluid as the indication for termination in the leakage group was significantly lower than that in the rupture group [22% (12/55) vs 42% (20/48); χ2=4.715, P=0.030], and the incidence of full-term termination in the leakage group was significantly higher than that in the rupture group [31% (17/55) vs 12% (6/48); χ2=5.008, P=0.025], while there were no significant differences in the indications of termination of pregnancy, including amniotic cavity infection, uterine contraction failure and fetal distress between the two groups (all P>0.05). The incidence of induced labor or spontaneous contraction in the leakage group was significantly lower than that in the rupture group [53% (29/55) vs 81% (39/48); χ2=9.295, P=0.002], while the cesarean section rate and vaginal delivery rate were similar between the two groups (both P>0.05). (3) Infection related indicators: the incidence of amniotic cavity infection in the leakage group was significantly higher than that in the rupture group [31% (17/55) vs 13% (6/48); χ2=4.003, P=0.045]. However, there were no significant differences in the elevation of inflammatory indicators, the positive rate of cervical secretion bacterial culture and the incidence of tissue chorioamnionitis between the two groups (all P>0.05). (4) Perinatal outcomes: the live birth rate in the leakage group was significantly higher than that in the rupture group [51% (28/55) vs 27% (13/48); χ2=5.119, P=0.024]. The proportion of live births with 1-minute Apgar score >7 in the leakage group was significantly higher than that in the rupture group [38% (21/55) vs 17% (8/48); χ2=4.850, P=0.028]. However, there were no significant differences in the birth weight of live births and the incidence of neonatal complications between the two groups (all P>0.05). (5) Univariate regression analysis showed that compared with the rupture group, the leakage group had a higher risk of pregnancy termination at ≥28 gestational weeks (RR=2.521, 95%CI: 1.314-4.838; P=0.002), amniotic infection (RR=2.473, 95%CI: 1.061-5.764; P=0.025), perinatal survival (RR=1.880, 95%CI: 1.104-3.199; P=0.014). Conclusion: Compared with pregnant women with typical vaginal fluid in the second trimester of premature rupture of membranes, expectant treatment for pregnant women with atypical vaginal fluid is more feasible, which could effectively prolong the gestational weeks and improve the perinatal live birth rate.

Cytokine storm syndrome in coronavirus disease 2019: A narrative review.

Cytokine storm syndrome (CSS) is a critical clinical condition induced by a cascade of cytokine activation, characterized by overwhelming systemic inflammation, hyperferritinaemia, haemodynamic instability and multiple organ failure (MOF). At the end of 2019, the disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan, China, and rapidly developed into a global pandemic. More and more evidence shows that there is a dramatic increase of inflammatory cytokines in patients with COVID-19, suggesting the existence of cytokine storm in some critical illness patients. Here, we summarize the pathogenesis, clinical manifestation of CSS, and highlight the current understanding about the recognition and potential therapeutic options of CSS in COVID-19.

[A retrospective analysis of 12 cases of primary thyroid lymphoma].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the clinical characteristics and diagnostic and therapeutic considerations of primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) by reviewing PTL cases. METHODS: In the study, 12 cases of PTL diagnosed and treated in Peking University First Hospital between January 1995 and September 2015 were identified. The clinical characteristics, management experiences and prognosis of these cases were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 12 PTL patients (four males and eight females) were collected, with an average age of 63 years (42 to 81 years) at the time of diagnosis. The average time to clarify diagnosis was 5 months (0.5 to 24 months). Eleven patients presented with a rapidly growing neck mass and visited surgical department, except one complained of coughing and suffocated. Seven patients were hypothyroid, and four were euthyroid at the time of diagnosis. In sonography of 11 cases, nine showed bilateral nodules, with an average diameter of 3.87 cm. Pathologic diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was confirmed in all the 12 cases by means of partial thyroidectomy (four) or core needle biopsy (eight). The pathological subtypes were diffuse large B cell lymphoma in nine patients, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (MALToma) in two, and small B cell lymphoma in the other one patient. Five patients were concomitant with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Eleven patients received chemotherapy. Only one patient did not have any further treatment after operation due to an inertia type of tumor. The median overall survival time was 24 months (1-117 months), three patients died. Among the patients who survived, seven completed chemotherapy without disease progression, one MALToma case did not receive chemotherapy after thyroidectomy but was still alive with PTL, and one patient just finished his second course of chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of PTL should be considered when dealing with rapidly growing goiters in elder female Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients whose B ultrasound indicates hypoechogenicity in thyroid nodules or parenchyma, especially with lymphadenopathy and tracheal compressions. Timely use of coreneedle biopsy on suspicious cases can avoid unnecessary surgical trauma, and chemotherapy is the main treatment.

Effect of domestication on microorganism diversity and anaerobic digestion of food waste.

To accomplish the rapid start-up and stable operation of biogas digesters, an efficient inoculum is required. To obtain such an inoculum for food waste anaerobic digestion, we domesticated dairy manure anaerobic digestion residue by adding food waste every day. After 36 days, the pH and biogas yield stabilized signifying the completion of domestication. During domestication, the microbial communities in the inocula were investigated by constructing 16S rDNA clone libraries. We evaluated the effect of the domesticated inoculum by testing batch food waste anaerobic digestion with a non-domesticated inoculum as a control. The pH and methane yield of the digestion systems were determined as measurement indices. Domestication changed the composition and proportion of bacteria and archaea in the inocula. Of the bacteria, Clostridia (49.3%), Bacteroidales (19.5%), and Anaerolinaceae (8.1%) species were dominant in the seed sludge; Anaerolinaceae (49.0%), Clostridia (28.4%), and Bacteroidales (9.1%), in domestication sludge. Methanosaeta was the dominant genus in both of the seed (94.3%) and domestication (74.3%) sludge. However, the diversity of methanogenic archaea was higher in the domestication than in seed sludge. Methanoculleus, which was absent from the seed sludge, appeared in the domestication sludge (21.7%). When the domesticated inoculum was used, the digestion system worked stably (organic loading rate: 20 gVS/L; methane yield: 292.2 ± 9.8 mL/gVS; VS = volatile solids), whereas the digestion system inoculated with seed sludge failed to generate biogas. The results indicate that inoculum domestication ensures efficient and stable anaerobic digestion by enriching the methanogenic strains.

Crucial role of Notch signaling in osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells in osteoporotic rats.

Estrogen deficiency-induced osteoporosis typically occurs in postmenopausal women and has been strongly associated with periodontal diseases. Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) isolated from the periodontal ligament can differentiate into many types of specialized cells, including osteoblast-like cells that contribute to periodontal tissue repair. The Notch signaling pathway is highly conserved and associated with self-renewal potential and cell-fate determination. Recently, several studies have focused on the relationship between Notch signaling and osteogenic differentiation. However, the precise mechanisms underlying this relationship are largely unknown. We have successfully isolated PDLSCs from both ovariectomized (OVX) and sham-operated rats. Both the mRNA and protein levels of Notch1 and Jagged1 were upregulated when PDLSCs were cultured in osteogenic induction media. Mineralization assays showed decreased calcium deposits in OVX-PDLSCs treated with a γ-secretase inhibitor compared with control cells. Thus Notch signaling is important in maintaining the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs in osteoporotic rats, which help in the development of a potential therapeutic strategy for periodontal disease in postmenopausal women.

Ephrinb3 induces mesostriatal dopaminergic projection to the striatum.

Dopaminergic neurons in midbrain are subdivided into three subsets, forming mesostriatal, mesocortical and mesolimbic projections, respectively. The molecular mechanism specifying mesostriatal projection, which is important for understanding the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease, remains unclear. To probe the role of axon guide molecule Ephrinb3 in inducing mesostriatal projection, we labeled mesostriatal and mesocortical subset DA neurons with fluorescent microspheres, and purified these subpopulation cells with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Moreover, real-time PCR was performed to address the expression of Ephrinb3 in mesostriatal DA neurons, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to further verify the expression of Ephrinb3 in labeled neurons. The results showed that mesostriatal DA neurons were successfully isolated with retrograde labeling and FACS. Real-time PCR showed that the expression of Ephrinb3 was higher in mesostriatal DA neurons than in mesocortical neurons. Also, Ephrinb3 could be detected in labeled neurons with FISH. Our results indicate that Ephrinb3 is directly involved in the specificity of mesostriatal projection.

[Design and application of prevention baffle for foot drop in suspension bed].

Suspension bed are often used to treat and nurse the wounds of burn patients in clinic. Because of the suspension force, the patients' activities are limited, and they stay in bed for a long time, which is very easy to cause foot drop, affecting the recovery of the patients. Aiming at this problem, we designed and made a foot drop prevention baffle made of stainless steel, which could withstand the buoyancy of the suspension bed, adjust the feet forwardly and backwardly, to the left and right according to the height of the patients and the distance of the feet to be separated, and keep the foot in a positive and external rotation position according to the comfort of the patients, which achieved good results in clinical application.

Oncogene miR-934 promotes ovarian cancer cell proliferation and inhibits cell apoptosis through targeting BRMS1L.

OBJECTIVE: Ovarian cancer is a common malignant cancer among women. Increasing studies have demonstrated that microRNAs function as important regulation factors in the progression of ovarian cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human ovarian cancer cell lines HO8910 and OVCAR-3 were transfected with miR-934 inhibitor and corresponding negative control (inhibitor control). Cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and TUNEL assay, respectively. The expression levels of proliferation/apoptosis-related genes and BRMS1L were measured by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting. Furthermore, the association between miR-934 and BRMS1L was investigated through luciferase reporter assays. RESULTS: MiR-934 was significantly increased in ovarian cancer cell lines, whereas BRMS1L was significantly decreased. Downregulated miR-934 remarkably inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis. Meanwhile, miR-934 could influence the expression levels of Ki67, Cyclin D1, Caspase3, and Bcl-2. In addition, BRMS1L was identified as a target gene of miR-934. CONCLUSIONS: Oncogene miR-934 promotes ovarian cancer cell proliferation and inhibits cell apoptosis through targeting BRMS1L. MiR-934 and BRMS1L may be novel biomarkers or therapeutic targets for ovarian cancer in the future.

Neural stem cell transplantation rescues rectum function in the aganglionic rat.

BACKGROUND: Neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation is a promising tool for restoring the nervous system in a variety of neurodegenerative disorders. The aim of this study was to determine the potential of NSC transplantation as a therapeutic strategy for neuronal replacement of the enteric nervous system of the rectum in an aganglionic rat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rat central nervous system-derived NSCs (CNS-NSCs) obtained from the cortex of the fetal brain (E16) were transplanted into the benzalkonium chloride (BAC)-induced rat aganglionic rectum. Survival and differentiation of the implanted cells were assessed at 8 weeks posttransplantation using immunostaining and Western blotting. The rectoanal inhibitory reflex (RAIR) was also be measured. RESULTS: Eight weeks following transplantation, grafted CNS-NSCs differentiated into neurons and glial cells in the aganglionic rectum. The protein expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) were significantly increased and the RAIR restored after cell implantation. CONCLUSIONS: CNS-NSC transplantation may provide a viable therapeutic option for disorders of the enteric nervous system.

Neuroepithelial stem cells differentiate into neuronal phenotypes and improve intestinal motility recovery after transplantation in the aganglionic colon of the rat.

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the possibility and the biological significance of intracolonic grafting of neuroepithelial stem cells (NESCs) as a therapeutic strategy for neuronal replacement in disorders of the enteric nervous system (ENS) such as aganglionosis. The enteric plexus of rat colon were eliminated by serosal application of the cationic surfactant benzalkonium chloride. NESCs were harvested from the neural tube of embryonic rat, labelled with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), and transplanted into the denervated colon. After 2, 4 and 8 weeks, grafted cells were visualized in colon sections by fluorescent double-staining for BrdU and neuronal, astrocytic, neurochemical or stem cell markers. Eight weeks post-transplantation, the intestinal motility was assessed by measuring the changes of intraluminal pressure responding to inflating stimulation and the responses to electrical field stimulation (EFS). Our results indicate that when transplanted into the denervated gut, NESCs survived and could differentiate into neurons and glial cells in vivo. Furthermore, inflation stimulated contraction and EFS-induced response were observed in NESCs grafted group compared with no reaction in denervated group. Therefore, NESCs can survive and function in the denervated rat colon in vivo, which indicates that NESCs provide a promising cellular replacement candidate for ENS.

Increase in plasma thrombomodulin and decrease in plasma von Willebrand factor after regular radiotherapy of patients with cancer.

In this study, we investigated plasma levels of thrombomodulin (TM) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) in 51 patients suffering from cancer or tumor undergoing 60 cobalt radiotherapy. Plasma TM and vWF antigen were measured by immunoradiometric assay and ELISA, respectively. During radiotherapy, an increase in plasma TM in patients was observed, which was radiation-dose dependent and there was a positive correlation between plasma TM level and radiation doses. However, the level of plasma vWF in the patients was decreased during radiotherapy and there was an inverse correlation between the amount of plasma vWF and radiation doses. Our data indicate that plasma TM is an useful molecular marker for early detection of radiation injury to endothelial cells in patients undergoing radiotherapy.

[Induction of polyploid in the Pacific abalone by caffeine-heat shock treatments].

Polyploid of Pacific abalone, Haliotis discus hannai Ino, was induced by blocking Polar body I with caffeine-heat shock treatments. Fertilized eggs were treated with caffeine concentrations at: 2.5 mmol/L, 5 mmol/L and 10 mmol/L; heat shock temperatures at 24 degrees C, 26 degrees C, 28 degrees C, lasting for 10 min to 30 min, total 5 periods of time, beginning at 10 min post-fertilization. Both fertilizing and incubating at 21 degrees C sea water. The results of studies showed that the effective procedure for inducing triploid appeared to be 5 mmol/L and 10 mmol/L Caffeine concentration, heat shock temperature 26 degrees C, duration 10 min to 15 min, all beginning at 10 min after insemination. The percentage of triploid was 64.6%-77.8%, Comprehensive efficiency index of polyploid induction was 0.57-0.61. Under the condition of 5 mmol/L caffeine concentration and the temperature 26 degrees C for 30 min duration at 10 min post-fertilization, 2.8%-3.6% tetraploid embryos could be produced.

[QTL analysis for epistatic effects and QTL x environment interaction effects on final height of rice (Oryza sativa L.)].

QTLs with epistatic effects and environmental interaction effects for final height of rice were studied by mixed-model based QTL mapping with a doubled haploid population from IR64/Azucena in four environments. The results demonstrated the importance of epistasis as a genetic basis of the quantitative traits and also revealed several important features of this phenomenon. In the results, 100 per cent of QTLs were involved in epistasis, of which 64 per cent were found with significant additive effects. This might mean that the usual estimates of the QTL additive effects could be confounded by epistatic interactions and result in biased estimation unless epistatic effect is separated. The other 36 per cent did not have any significant additive effects of their own but were involved in 48 per cent of the identified epistatic interactions. Such loci might play the role of modifying agents that tend to activate other loci or modify the action of other loci. The other features of epistasis include as follows: it was fairly common for the same locus to get involved in interactions with more than one locus; the QTLs with relatively high magnitude of effects might also be involved in epistasis; and epistasis was sensitive to environmental interactions for their expression. QTL x environment (QE) interaction effects were detected more often than QTL main effects for plant height behavior, as might indicate that gene expression could be greatly affected by environments.

[The changes of urine protein and serum beta 2-microglobulin in autoimmune thyroid disease].

Because of the different observed results about the microproteinuria in autoimmune thyroid disease, serum B2-MG, urine B2-MG, albumin and immunoglobin by RIA in 39 untreated autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) (28 with Graves disease and 11 with Hashimoto disease) had been observed. Micro-proteinuria was found in 28.6% of patients with Graves disease and in 45.5% with Hashimoto disease; Serum B2-GM concentrations were significantly increased in Graves disease compared with that of controls. Our results suggest that the lesions present in both glomerulus and tubulus in AITD. The mechanism of them had been discussed in this paper.

[Ultrastructural observation of intratumoral neutrophils and macrophages induced by garlic oil].

After injection of garlic oil in tumor focus a large amount of neutrophils, macrophages and lymphocytes appeared. Some neutrophils and macrophages located adjacent to the tumor cells, some processes of neutrophils and macrophages penetrated into intracellular body of tumor cells. This result showed that garlic oil could induce neutrophils and macrophages against tumor.

[Flow cytometric analysis of the garlic oil effect on DNA content of cancer cell cycle].

Flow cytometry (FCM) is a new technique developed in the recent decade. This technique may measure DNA content of 5000 cells per second and trace the dynamic changes in cell proliferation cycle and offer a hint for designing clinical treatment protocol, monitor prognosis and elucidate the mechanisms of antitumor drugs. The authors previous studies showed significant effect of garlic oil on prolongation of life expectancy and inhibition of tumor growth in mice. Using FCM the authors analysed the effect of garlic oil on cell cycle in S180 tumor cells, 2-6 hrs after single administration or multiple administration the cell number in S phase rapidly decreased, in G1 phase increased. This suggests garlic oil may blockade cells to progress from G1 phase to S phase and result in accumulation of cells in G1 phase and directly inhibit the synthesis of DNA and the cell cycle. Theoretical basis for clinical application was offered and some aspects of antitumor mechanism of garlic oil were elucidated.

MicroRNAs as oncogenes or tumour suppressors in oesophageal cancer: potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

MicroRNAs are a class of small, non-coding RNAs that can negatively regulate protein-coding genes, and are associated with almost all known physiological and pathological processes, especially cancer. The number of studies documenting miRNA expression patterns in malignancy continues to expand rapidly, with continuously gained critical information regarding how aberrantly expressed miRNAs may contribute to carcinogenesis. miRNAs can influence cancer pathogenesis, playing a potential role as either oncogenes or tumour suppressors. Recently, several miRNAs have been reported to exert different regulatory functions in oesophageal cancer - the carcinoma typically arising from the epithelial lining of the oesophagus. These miRNAs also have potential clinical applications towards developing biomarkers or targets for possible use in diagnosis or therapy in oesophageal cancer. In this review, we have summarized the two (oncogenic or tumour suppressive) roles of miRNAs here, and their applications as potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets, which may illuminate future treatment for oesophageal cancer.