Atypical pituitary hormone-target tissue axis / 医学前沿

A long-held belief is that pituitary hormones bind to their cognate receptors in classical target glands to actuate their manifold functions. However, a number of studies have shown that multiple types of pituitary hormone receptors are widely expressed in non-classical target organs. Each pituitary gland-derived hormone exhibits a wide range of nonconventional biological effects in these non-classical target organs. Herein, the extra biological functions of pituitary hormones, thyroid-stimulating hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, adrenocorticotrophic hormone, and prolactin when they act on non-classical organs were summarized, defined by the novel concept of an "atypical pituitary hormone-target tissue axis." This novel proposal explains the pathomechanisms of abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism, obesity, hypertension, fatty liver, and atherosclerosis while offering a more comprehensive and systematic insights into the coordinated regulation of environmental factors, genetic factors, and neuroendocrine hormones on human biological functions. The continued exploration of the physiology of the "atypical pituitary hormone-target tissue axis" could enable the identification of novel therapeutic targets for metabolic diseases.

Association between pregnancy-related anxiety of pregnant women and autism-like behavior in their offspring at 18 months of age / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To investigate the relationship of pregnancy-related anxiety of pregnant women in second/third trimesters and autism-like behaviors in their offspring at 18 months of age.Methods Based on a prospective cohort study design,we evaluated the situation of pregnancy-related anxiety of women during second and third trimesters through a Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire.Subjects under study were classified into three groups,1) those with pregnancy-related anxiety during both trimesters,2) those with pregnancy-related anxiety at one trimester and 3) those without pregnancy-related anxiety in either trimester.When their children were 18 months,autism-like behaviors (ALB) were evaluated,using the part A of Checklist for Autism in Toddlers-23,and then classified into three groups as non-ALB group,minor ALB group and major ALB group.Multi-nominal logistic Regression was used to analyze the relationship of pregnancy-related anxiety with autism-like behaviors.Results Compared with non-ALB group,children whose mother with pregnancy-related anxiety during both trimesters presented significant higher risk on ALB than children whose mother without pregnancy-related anxiety in these two periods (relative risk,RR=2.43,95％ CI:1.21-4.86,P=0.012),major factors as pregnant women's IQ and gestational diabetes mellitus,premature delivery and education levels of fosterers on these pregnant women were under control.Our results from the stratified analysis showed:when in the subgroup that mother was the main fosterer of the child,there was an significant increase of risk in children whose mothers with pregnancy-related anxiety during both trimesters (RR=4.22,95％ CI:1.73-10.32,P=0.002).Conclusion The association between pregnancy-related anxiety and autism-like behavior was not strong but influenced by the fosterer of the child.

Association between pregnancy-related anxiety of pregnant women and autism-like behavior in their offspring at 18 months of age / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To investigate the relationship of pregnancy-related anxiety of pregnant women in second/third trimesters and autism-like behaviors in their offspring at 18 months of age.Methods Based on a prospective cohort study design,we evaluated the situation of pregnancy-related anxiety of women during second and third trimesters through a Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire.Subjects under study were classified into three groups,1) those with pregnancy-related anxiety during both trimesters,2) those with pregnancy-related anxiety at one trimester and 3) those without pregnancy-related anxiety in either trimester.When their children were 18 months,autism-like behaviors (ALB) were evaluated,using the part A of Checklist for Autism in Toddlers-23,and then classified into three groups as non-ALB group,minor ALB group and major ALB group.Multi-nominal logistic Regression was used to analyze the relationship of pregnancy-related anxiety with autism-like behaviors.Results Compared with non-ALB group,children whose mother with pregnancy-related anxiety during both trimesters presented significant higher risk on ALB than children whose mother without pregnancy-related anxiety in these two periods (relative risk,RR=2.43,95％ CI:1.21-4.86,P=0.012),major factors as pregnant women's IQ and gestational diabetes mellitus,premature delivery and education levels of fosterers on these pregnant women were under control.Our results from the stratified analysis showed:when in the subgroup that mother was the main fosterer of the child,there was an significant increase of risk in children whose mothers with pregnancy-related anxiety during both trimesters (RR=4.22,95％ CI:1.73-10.32,P=0.002).Conclusion The association between pregnancy-related anxiety and autism-like behavior was not strong but influenced by the fosterer of the child.

Structural development of wheat nutrient transfer tissues and their relationships with filial tissues development.

Nutrients from spikelet phloem are commonly delivered to endosperm via caryopsis nutrient transfer tissues (NTTs). Elucidation of NTTs development is paramount to developing an understanding of the control of assimilate partitioning. Little information was available on the structural development of the entire NTTs and their functions, particularly those involved in the relationship between development of NTTs and growth of filial tissues including endosperm and embryo. In this study, wheat caryopses at different development stages were collected for observation of the NTTs by light microscopy, stereoscopic microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The cytological features of NTTs in the developing wheat caryopsis were clearly elucidated. The results were as follows: NTTs in the wheat caryopsis include maternal transfer tissues that are composed of vascular bundle, chalaza and nucellar projection transfer cells, and endosperm transfer tissues that consist of the aleurone transfer cells, starchy endosperm transfer cells, and endosperm conducting cells. The initiation, development, and apoptosis of these NTTs revealed the pattern of temporal and spatial gradient and were closely coordinated with endosperm and embryo development. These results may give us a further understanding about the functions of NTTs and their relationships with endosperm and embryo development.