Risk factor for interstitial pregnancy following ipsilateral salpingectomy? A retrospective matched case control study.

BACKGROUND: Interstitial pregnancy may still happen even after ipsilateral salpingectomy, resulting in massive hemorrhage. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to identify risk factors associated with interstitial pregnancy following ipsilateral salpingectomy and discuss possible prevention. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a single, large, university-affiliated hospital. Data of 29 patients diagnosed with interstitial pregnancy following ipsilateral salpingectomy from January 2011 to November 2020 were assigned into the case group (IP group). Whereas there were 6151 patients with intrauterine pregnancy after unilateral salpingectomy in the same period. A sample size of 87 control patients was calculated to achieve statistical power (99.9%) and an α of 0.05. The age, BMI and previous salpingectomy side between the two group were adjusted with PSM at a ratio of 1:3. After PSM, 87 intrauterine pregnancy patients were successfully matched to 29 IP patients. RESULTS: After PSM, parous women were more common and intrauterine operation was more frequent in the IP group compared with control group (P<0.05). There was only one patient undergoing IVF-ET in the IP group as compared with 29 cases in the control group (3.4% vs. 33.3%, P<0.05). Salpingectomy was performed on 5 patients in the IP group and 4 patients in the control group due to hydrosalpinx (P<0.05). Logistic regression indicated that hydrosalpinx was the high risk factor of interstitial pregnancy following ipsilateral salpingectomy (OR = 8.175). CONCLUSIONS: Hydrosalpinx appears to be an independent factor contributing to interstitial pregnancy following ipsilateral salpingectomy in subsequent pregnancy.

Walnut green husk extract enhances the effect of chlorine dioxide on kernel quality and antioxidant properties of fresh-eating walnuts during their shelf life.

Fresh-eating walnuts are perishable and become mildewed during shelf life, limiting their sales span. The effects of chlorine dioxide (ClO2) alone and its combination with walnut green husk extract (WGHE) on shelf stored fresh walnuts were investigated to develop a pollution-free preservative for the produce. The initial development of mildew incidence was delayed by both treatments under 25 °C, whereas, WGHE + ClO2 acted more effectively than ClO2 under 5 °C. The WGHE + ClO2 treatment presented superior effects on improving moisture, soluble sugar and total phenol content, alleviating loss of oil and unsaturated fatty acid and delaying peroxide value increase of walnut kernels at both temperatures. Both treatments inhibited the activities of three lipolytic enzymes and two oxidases at 25 °C and 5 °C, WGHE + ClO2 acted more effectively at 5 °C. The results guide the combined application of WGHE with ClO2 on shelf preservation of fresh walnut.

Domestication and selection footprints in Persian walnuts (Juglans regia).

Walnut (Juglans) species are economically important hardwood trees cultivated worldwide for both edible nuts and high-quality wood. Broad-scale assessments of species diversity, evolutionary history, and domestication are needed to improve walnut breeding. In this study, we sequenced 309 walnut accessions from around the world, including 55 Juglans relatives, 98 wild Persian walnuts (J. regia), 70 J. regia landraces, and 86 J. regia cultivars. The phylogenetic tree indicated that J. regia samples (section Dioscaryon) were monophyletic within Juglans. The core areas of genetic diversity of J. regia germplasm were southwestern China and southern Asia near the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Himalayas, and the uplift of the Himalayas was speculated to be the main factor leading to the current population dynamics of Persian walnut. The pattern of genomic variation in terms of nucleotide diversity, linkage disequilibrium, single nucleotide polymorphisms, and insertions/deletions revealed the domestication and selection footprints in Persian walnut. Selective sweep analysis, GWAS, and expression analysis further identified two transcription factors, JrbHLH and JrMYB6, that influence the thickness of the nut diaphragm as loci under selection during domestication. Our results elucidate the domestication and selection footprints in Persian walnuts and provide a valuable resource for the genomics-assisted breeding of this important crop.

Ectopic pregnancy in China during 2011-2020: a single-centre retrospective study of 9499 cases.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that the incidence of ectopic pregnancy (EP) is increasing in China. It is unclear, however, whether the incidence of EP has changed after the implementation of the universal two-child policy in the context of China's aging population and declining fertility rate. METHODS: Data concerning EP from January 2011 to December 2020 were collected from the hospital's electronic medical records, which included the annual number of delivery, caesarean section rate, ectopic pregnancies, treatment of tubal pregnancy, and average costs and length of hospitalization. Trends of the EP incidence were analysed and annual percentage change (APC) was calculated using connected point regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 9499 cases of EP were collected, among which caesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) accounts for the second highest (6.73%). The EP per 100 deliveries revealed a downward trend, from 7.60% in 2011 to 4.28% in 2020 with an APC of -1.87 (P < 0.05). The maternal age was increased, especially after the implementation of the universal two-child policy. The constituent ratio for the advanced maternal age (≥ 35) and the caesarean section rate, but not the CSP, were also increased. Laparoscopic salpingectomy was the main surgical method, whereas the adoption of laparotomy and laparoscopic salpingostomy was decreasing year by year. CONCLUSIONS: Although no obvious effect of the two-child policy on EP has been observed under the conditions of this study, the change in EP especially in advanced-age women after the policy implementation needs further evaluation. A decreased caesarean section rate, in primipara is beneficial to reducing the CSP.

Postoperative reproductive results of infertile patients with intrauterine adhesions: A retrospective analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the reproductive outcomes after hysteroscopic separation of intrauterine adhesions (IUA) in infertile patients due to IUA. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled patients with fertility requirements and infertility due to IUA. Data were collected from the hospital medical records and by follow-up by telephone. The impact on pregnancy and pregnancy outcome of preoperative adhesion, menstrual conditions before and after surgery and postoperative re-adhesion was analysed. RESULTS: A total of 106 patients (median age, 28 years) were enrolled in the study. There was a significant correlation between preoperative menstrual patterns and pregnancy rate. There were 56 pregnancies (pregnancy rate 52.83%) after the operation. Patients with improved menstruation after the operation had a significantly higher pregnancy rate (pregnancy rate 56.25%; 45 of 80 patients) compared with the patients that did not experience any improvement in their postoperative menstrual status (pregnancy rate 21.43%; three of 14 patients). Of the 56 pregnancies, 40 (71.43%) resulted in live births and six (10.71%) patients had miscarriages. A total of 54 of 56 patients (96.43%) became pregnant within 2 years. CONCLUSION: Pregnancy after intrauterine adhesion separation has a high rate of miscarriage and obstetric complications, so close monitoring of the patient is required.

Preoperative Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Level is a Predictor of Postoperative Fertility in Infertile Patients with Ovarian Endometrioma.

To investigate the predictive efficacy of the preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for natural pregnancy outcome after laparoscopic cystectomy in infertile patients with ovarian endometrioma (OMA). Current evidence suggests that endometriosis likely induces local and systemic inflammatory processes. The NLR has been demonstrated to be of great utility in the diagnosis of endometriosis. However, the association between NLR and natural pregnancy outcome after laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis remains unknown. Data on infertile OMA patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery from January 2014 to October 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Cox regression analysis was used to identify predictors of natural pregnancy outcome. A predictive model was then established using the nomogram. Among 217 patients, 115 patients (53.0%) experienced natural pregnancy after surgery. Compared with patients with pregnancy failure, those with pregnancy success had a significantly higher NLR (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that age, least function (LF) score, and NLR were independent predictors of postoperative pregnancy (all P < 0.05). The NLA (NLR, LF score and age) scoring was then established and had a high predictive ability (AUC = 0.725). Patients were divided into three groups (low-, intermediate- and high-risk) based on the scoring, and the 1-year pregnancy rates were 43.5%, 34.4%, and 21.0%, respectively (P < 0.05). The preoperative NLR level was significantly associated with natural pregnancy outcome in infertile OMA patients after surgery. A predictive model combining NLR, LF score, and age could assist in the clinical decision-making process.

Physiochemical Responses of the Kernel Quality, Total Phenols and Antioxidant Enzymes of Walnut in Different Forms to the Low-Temperature Storage.

Fresh walnut is obtaining high attention due to its pleasant taste and health benefits. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of storage temperatures (0 °C and -20 °C) on the kernel quality, total phenols, and antioxidant enzyme activities of walnuts in three forms (fresh kernels, walnuts with green husk, and walnuts with shell). For a short storage within 3 months at 0 °C, the results revealed that walnuts with green husk provided a better walnut kernel quality resulting from its lower acid value and peroxide value, together with a higher total phenol content and total antioxidant activity, compared with other forms of walnuts. In comparison, frozen storage at -20 °C for a long duration (up to 10 months), found that walnuts with shell showed advantages in improving the kernel quality (fatty acid content, total phenols, and total antioxidant activity) and antioxidant enzyme (peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase) activities in the kernels, leading to an acceptable range of acid value and peroxide value, compared with other forms of walnuts. Thus, frozen storage at -20 °C showed a potential application in maintaining the walnut kernel quality, especially the walnuts with shell.

Clinical characteristics and pregnancy outcomes of infertile patients with endometriosis and endometrial polyps: A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to discuss the clinical characteristics and the prognosis of surgically diagnosed endometriosis complicated by endometrial polyps and investigate the association between pregnancy outcomes during subsequent pregnancies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2013 to December 2016, 1263 infertile patients were enrolled in the study. We identified 451 patients with endometriosis, and divided them into a polyp group (n = 204) and a non-polyp group (n = 247) based on whether or not they were associated with endometrial polyps. Postoperative clinical pregnant women (n = 82) among the polyp group were then classified into a study group and a control group composed of those undergoing a singleton pregnancy (n = 164) who delivered during the same time period. Clinical statuses and complications during pregnancy and delivery were collected from hospitals and by telephone interviews and surveys through the mail. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of endometriosis infertile group was obviously higher than the non-endometriosis infertile group ([45.23%; 204/451] versus [17.12%; 139/812]). Women suffering from stage 1 to 4 endometriosis had a 42.44% (73/172), 40.69% (59/145), 55.89% (38/68) and 51.52% (34/66) occurrence rate of endometrial polyps, respectively. The frequency of endometrial polyps for stage 3 and 4 patients was obviously higher than that of stage 1 and 2 patients ([53.73%; 72/134] versus [41.64%; 132/317]). Moreover, the occurrence rate of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) was 57.81% (37/64), which was obviously higher than that of ovarian endometriosis (42.42%; 98/231) and peritoneal endometriosis (44.23%; 69/156). Of the 204 women diagnosed with posterior endometrial polyps, 89 became pregnant, 7 pregnancies ended in a spontaneous abortion, and 82 successfully delivered a baby. The clinical pregnancy rate of patients in stages 1 and 2 was wholly higher than that of patients in stages 3 and 4 ([48.70%; 56/115] versus [37.71%; 26/82]). The postsurgical pregnancy status of patients suffering from peritoneal endometriosis was slightly better than those with ovarian or DIE, but differences were not statistically significant (P = 0.626). We also found that the pregnancy rate was statistically elevated in patients whose EFI scores range from 7 to 10. When compared to the control group, women with endometriosis and endometrial polyps had a higher risk of their pregnancy being complicated by placenta previa (13.41%) and cesarean delivery (59.76%). CONCLUSION: Patients with endometriosis have a higher frequency of endometrial polyps. We found that a combined hysteroscopy and laparoscopy surgical procedure is an effective way to increase pregnancy rates. Different endometriosis stages and types in patients were associated with clinical pregnancy and spontaneous abortion rates. Women affected by both endometriosis and endometrial polyps have an independently elevated risk of placenta previa and cesarean delivery during pregnancy.

Ovarian preservation and prognosis in adnexal torsion surgery - a retrospective analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to analyze the conditions of ovarian preservation during adnexal torsion surgery, and safety of ovarian preservation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 130 patients, who underwent surgery for ovarian benign tumor pedicle torsion in Fujian Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital from June 2013 to June 2018, was conducted. This study analyses the possible risk factors affecting the operation method using multiple logistic regression and analyses the complications and the recovery of ovarian function after the treatment of the ovarian preservation. RESULTS: Among these patients, 58 received ovarian cystectomy, while 72 received ovariectomy. There was no significant difference in terms of age, preoperative blood, operation time and surgical bleeding volume between the two groups (p > 0.05). However, there was a significant difference in preoperative adnexal blood flow, abdominal pain to the surgical interval, and a collection of torsion cycles (p < 0.05). There was an increased risk of ovarian resection in patients whose blood flow of the annex disappeared, whose time of abdominal pain was long, and whose number of twists were significant. For the preservation group, there were no increases in postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: According to clinical indicators, such as preoperative adnexal blood flow, abdominal pain to the interval of surgery and the number of torsion cycles, it was determined whether it was feasible to keep the ovary. Retaining the ovary is safe, effective and feasible in adnexal torsion.

Reproductive outcome of a complete septate uterus after hysteroscopic metroplasty.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the reproductive outcomes of patients who underwent hysteroscopic metroplasty for correction of a complete septate uterus. METHODS: The study population comprised 92 women with complete septate uteri. Hysteroscopic metroplasty and laparoscopy were performed simultaneously in these patients. The postoperative reproductive outcome of each patient was evaluated. RESULTS: In the primary infertility group, there were 32 (40%) pregnancies. In the abortion group, the number of miscarriages decreased from 68 (94.44%) to 5 (10.42%), while the number of live births increased from 1 (1.39%) to 42 (87.50%) after resection compared with before resection. The cumulative probability of pregnancy and that of live-birth pregnancy in the abortion group were significantly higher than those in the primary infertility group after surgery. Furthermore, resection of the cervical septum resulted in a significantly higher cumulative probability of live birth compared with preservation of the cervical septum. CONCLUSION: Hysteroscopic uterine metroplasty may improve the reproductive performance of a septate uterus. Resection of the cervical septum may increase the probability of a live-birth pregnancy for patients with a cervical septum, and this procedure could be recommended for cases of a complete uterine septum.

Effects of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on ovarian function and embryo quality in mice.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has an adverse effect on reproductive function, in particular causing reduced male reproductive function, but relatively few studies have directly targeted its effects on female reproduction. To investigate the effects of PM2.5 exposure on female reproduction, we exposed female mice to PM2.5 by intratracheal instillation for 28 days, and evaluated apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells and oocytes and the quality embryos after insemination. Our results showed increased numbers of apoptotic granulosa cells and oocytes after exposure to elevated concentrations of PM2.5, which had adverse effects on female fertility via compromising embryo development and quality. We conclude that PM2.5 induced apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells and oocytes leading to disrupted embryo development and female fertility in mice.

Prepubertal Vaginal Bleeding: An Inpatient Series from a Single Center in Fujian China.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: This study characterizes the etiology, clinical features and outcomes of prepubescent vaginal bleeding and summarizes our experience. DESIGN: The data of patients who were hospitalized with vaginal discharge or bleeding treated from January 2012 to December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. SETTING: A provincial Grade III Level A Maternity and Children's Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Prepubertal patients with vaginal discharge or bleeding. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient age, bleeding duration, etiology, treatment and prognosis were recorded. Physical examinations and color Doppler ultrasonography were also performed. RESULTS: There were 158 patients aged from 1 month to 10 years (mean age 5.2 years). Bleeding duration ranged from 1 to 98 days, with an average of 13.3 days. Sixty patients were diagnosed with vaginal foreign bodies, 34 with vulvovaginitis, 34 with vulvar trauma, 13 with ovarian granulosa cell tumors, 8 with urethral mucosa prolapse, 5 with vaginal yolk sac tumors and 1 each with pituitary tumor, hypothyroidism, McCune-Albright syndrome, and short-term intake of a large number of strawberries. All the children were treated according to their different disease etiologies. CONCLUSION: Prepubertal vaginal bleeding is caused by a variety of different conditions. In our study, the most common causes were vaginal foreign bodies, vulvovaginitis, trauma, vaginal malignant tumors and urethral mucosa prolapse. Careful medical histories and targeted examinations are needed. Vaginoscopy could be considered. Considering the different causes, different treatments should be administered to achieve a good prognosis.

System-Pharmacology Dissection of Traditional Chinese herbs SINI Decoction for Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases.

Abstract: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are leading causes of death in the world, owing to noticeable incidence and mortality. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) SINI Decoction (SND) is used to prevent and treat CVDs, which has attracted extensive attention for its moderate and little side effects. However, the involved molecular mechanisms are exceedingly complicated and remain unclear. Systems pharmacology, as a novel approach that integrates systems biology and pharmacology plays a significant role in investigating the molecular mechanism of TCM. In systems pharmacology approach, we use to systematically uncover the mechanisms of action in Chinese medicinal formula SND as an effective treatment for CVDs, which mainly includes:1) molecular database building; 2) ADME evaluation; 3) target-fishing 4) network construction and analysis. The results show that 78 underlying valid ingredients and their corresponding 71 direct targets of SND were obtained. And SND take part in cardiomyocyte protection, blood pressure regulation, and lipid regulation module in treatment of CVDs by cooperative way. Systems pharmacology as an emerging field that investigates the molecular mechanisms of TCM through pharmacokinetic evaluation target prediction, and pathway analysis, which will facilitate the development of traditional Chinese herbs in modern medicine.

Laparoscopic combined with hysteroscopic repair or operative hysteroscopy in the treatment of symptomatic cesarean-induced diverticulum.

OBJECTIVE: The postmenstrual bleeding with cesarean-induced diverticulum is a bothersome symptom and can be confused with other abnormal-uterine bleeding disease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic combined with hysteroscopic repair vs operative hysteroscopy in treatment of symptomatic cesarean-induced diverticulum. METHODS: Eighty-two women with cesarean-induced diverticulum who underwent either laparoscopic combined with hysteroscopic repair or operative hysteroscopy between January 2012 and September 2015 were retrospectively included in the study. We evaluated the menstrual duration before and after the surgery, the width, length and depth of the niche, operating time, blood loss, complications, and postoperative pregnancy status. RESULTS: 62.2% (51/82) patients started to have postmenstrual bleeding immediately when they gained regular menstruation after their cesarean section. The laparoscopic group has longer operative time and greater blood loss (p<0.001). Both groups have a significant improvement in their menstruation duration ( p< 0.001). The patients in the laparoscopic repair group had a greater improvement in bringing the uterine bleeding into normal menstruation duration (P=0.046) and the same in pregnancy rate (P=0.505). The interval between operation and pregnancy in laparoscopic combined with hysteroscopic group was much longer than the hysteroscopic group (27 vs 10 months, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: the laparoscopic repair exhibited a better efficiency in bringing the uterine bleeding into normal menstruation duration and in improving the pregnancy rate However, there was not a clear absolute advantage for one of the two type of surgeries. Thus, patients with post-cesarean section diverticulum (PCSD) should choose with caution the type of surgery, considering the residual myometrial thickness (RMT), the age, the desire for further fertility and ovarian reserve capacity.

Clarifying of the potential mechanism of Sinisan formula for treatment of chronic hepatitis by systems pharmacology method.

Chronic hepatitis is a general designation class of diseases, which results in different degrees of liver necrosis and inflammatory reaction, followed by liver fibrosis, may eventually develop into cirrhosis. However, the molecular pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis is too complex to elucidate. Herbal medicines, featured with multiple targets and compounds, have long displayed therapeutic effect in treating chronic hepatitis, though their molecular mechanisms of contribution remain indistinct. This research utilized the network pharmacology to confirm the molecular pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis through providing a comprehensive analysis of active chemicals, drug targets and pathways' interaction of Sinisan formula for treating chronic hepatitis. The outcomes showed that 80 active ingredients of Sinisan formula interacting with 91 therapeutic proteins were authenticated. Sinisan formula potentially participates in immune modulation, anti-inflammatory and antiviral activities, even has regulating effects on lipid metabolism. These mechanisms directly or indirectly are involved in curing chronic hepatitis by an interaction way. The network pharmacology based analysis demonstrated that Sinisan has multi-scale curative activity in regulating chronic hepatitis related biological processes, which provides a new potential way for modern medicine in the treatment of chronic diseases.

Effects of Prenatal PM10 Exposure on Fetal Cardiovascular Malformations in Fuzhou, China: A Retrospective Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Maternal exposure to ambient air pollution has been associated with an increased risk of congenital heart defects in offspring; however, the results are inconsistent. OBJECTIVES: We investigated whether there is an association between prenatal exposure to particulate matter with diameter ≤10µm (PM10) during early pregnancy and fetal cardiovascular malformations. METHODS: The gravidae from a hospital-based case­control study in Fuzhou, China, during 2007­2013 were assigned 10-d or 1-mo averages of daily PM10 using an air monitor­based inverse distance weighting method during early pregnancy. A total of 662 live-birth or selectively terminated cases and 3,972 live-birth controls were enrolled. The exposure was considered as a categorical variable. A multivariable logistic regression model was constructed to quantify the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) of the exposure to PM10 and the risks of fetal cardiovascular malformations. RESULTS: PM10 levels were positively associated with the risks of atrial septal defect (aORs ranging from 1.29 to 2.17), patent ductus arteriosus [aORs = 1.54, 1.63; 95% confidence intervals (CIs): 1.17, 2.23; 1.06, 3.24], overall fetal cardiovascular malformations (aOR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.61), ventricular septal defect (aOR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.43), and tetralogy of Fallot (aOR = 1.44; 95% CI: 1.01, 2.19) in the various observed periods scaled by 10 d or 1 mo in the first and second gestation months. The strongest associations were observed for exposure to PM10 in the second quartile, whereas the associations were attenuated when higher concentrations of PM10 in the third and fourth quartiles of the exposure were evaluated. No correlations of PM10 levels with these cardiovascular malformations in the other time periods of gestation were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest some positive associations between maternal exposure to ambient PM10 during the first two months of pregnancy and fetal cardiovascular malformations. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP289.

Maternal exposure to ambient PM2.5 exaggerates fetal cardiovascular maldevelopment induced by homocysteine in rats.

Maternal exposure to airborne particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <2.5 µm (PM2.5 ) during pregnancy and lactation periods is associated with filial congenital cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to investigate the toxic effects of maternal exposure to ambient levels of PM2.5 on filial cardiovascular maldevelopment induced by homocysteine. Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, rats were randomized into four groups and were exposed to ambient PM2.5 or filtered air (FA) throughout the pregnancy and lactation periods coupled with the administration of either homocysteine (HCY) or normal saline (NS) daily from gestation days 8-10. Morphological changes in the heart, myocardial apoptosis, expressions of cardiac progenitor transcriptional factors, and levels of cytokines were investigated in the offspring. The apoptosis-like changes in the myocardium were seen in the FA plus HCY-treated group and more obviously in the PM2.5 plus HCY-treated group, which was in accordance with an increased myocardial apoptosis rate in the two groups. PM2.5 exposure resulted in significantly decreased Nkx2-5 protein level and GATA4 and Nkx2-5 mRNA expressions, and significantly increased TNF-α and IL-1ß levels. There were significant interactions between PM2.5 exposure and HCY-treatment that PM2.5 exposure reduced Nkx2-5 protein levels and GATA4 and Nkx2-5 mRNA expressions in the HCY-treated groups. These results suggest that maternal exposure to PM2.5 , even at the ambient levels in urban regions in China, exaggerates filial cardiovascular maldevelopment induced by HCY in a murine model, exacerbating structural abnormalities in the filial cardiac tissue, which is possibly associated with oxidative stress and reduced GATA4 and Nkx2-5 transcription factor expressions. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 877-889, 2017.

The complete chloroplast genome of the Juglans regia (Juglandales: Julandaceae).

The complete nucleotide sequence of Juglans regia chloroplast genome (cpDNA) was carried out using Illumina Hiseq 2500. The genome is 160 537 bp in length, and the overall base composition of H-strand is 31.59% for A, 18.35% for C, 17.76% for G and 32.30% for T. Similar to the other higher plants, cpDNA have a large single copy (LSC) region of 90 059 bp and a small single copy(SSC) of 18 412 bp, is separated by a pair of inverted repeats (IRa and IRb) of 26 033 bp. There are 113 genes in the cpDNA, including 80 protein-coding genes, 4 ribosomal RNA genes (4 rRNA species), 36 transfer RNA genes (19 tRNA species). To further investigate the evolution status of J. regia in the level of chloroplast genome, tree constructed using MEGA 6.0 with NJ and ML methord demonstrated J. regia was clustered in Fagales, which was identical with APG III.

Suppression of placental metallothionein 1 and zinc transporter 1 mRNA expressions contributes to fetal heart malformations caused by maternal zinc deficiency.

Zinc has been implicated to have a protective role against heart malformations during fetal development. Metallothionein 1 (MT-1) and zinc transporter 1 (ZnT-1) are two major metabolic factors that are associated with zinc metabolism. The present work aimed to investigate the association of placental MT-1 and ZnT-1 expressions with fetal heart malformations resulting from maternal zinc deficiency. Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly divided into five groups of extremely low-zinc, low-zinc, moderately low-zinc, marginally low-zinc and normal zinc (n = 9-12), and were fed diets with controlled zinc content at 1.0 ± 0.3, 8.4 ± 1.8, 15.4 ± 2.8, 22.4 ± 4.1 and 29.4 ± 5.3 [mean ± standard deviation (SD)] mg of zinc/kg, respectively, from day 25 of preconception until day 19 of gestation. The female rats were bred, their fetuses were harvested at day 19 of gestation after killing the dams, and fetal hearts were morphologically examined. Zinc concentration and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in maternal venous blood sera were tested, and MT-1 and ZnT-1 mRNA expressions in the placenta were assayed. Zinc concentrations and ALP activities in the blood were low in all zinc-deficient diet groups in a dose-dependent fashion. The incidences of heart malformations were increased, and the levels of placental MT-1 and ZnT-1 mRNA expressions were decreased in the extremely low-zinc, low-zinc and moderately low-zinc groups compared with the normal zinc group. Specifically, mRNA levels of placental MT-1 or ZnT-1 were significantly decreased and were lower than the specific threshold values in the fetuses with heart malformations but not in the fetuses without heart malformations in all the groups. These data indicate that maternal zinc deficiency resulted in an elevated incidence of fetal heart malformations, which was associated with significant decreases in placental MT-1 and ZnT-1 mRNA expressions to the levels below the threshold values that may be a crucial factor to determine the presence of fetal heart malformations.