Ultrasound blood flow characteristics changes in fetal umbilical artery thrombosis: A retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Umbilical artery thrombosis (UAT) is extremely uncommon and leads to adverse perinatal outcomes. Hypercoagulation of blood in pregnant women is suspected to be an important risk for UAT. Ultrasound is an effective way to detect thrombosis. The mother can monitor her own fetal health using ultrasound, which enables her to take preventative action in case of emergency. AIM: To investigate ultrasonic blood signal after UAT in the umbilical artery, and evaluate the relationship between hypercoagulability and UAT. METHODS: We described a case of a newly formed UAT with markedly altered ultrasonic indices of umbilical artery blood flow, and retrospectively studied it with 18 UAT patients confirmed by histopathology from October 2019 and March 2023 in Xiamen Women and Children's Hospital. Patients' information was collected from medical archives, including maternal clinical data, neonatal outcomes, pathological findings and ultrasonic indices of umbilical artery blood flow, such as systolic-diastolic duration ratio (S/D), resistance index (RI), pulsatility index (PI) and peak systolic velocity (PSV). Ultrasound and coagulation indices were analyzed with matched samples t-test and Wilcoxon rank sum test using the statistical packages in R (version 4.2.1) including car (version 3.1-0) and stats (version 4.2.1), and visualized by ggplot2 package (version 3.3.6). RESULTS: A patient with normal findings in second and third-trimester routine ultrasound scan developed UAT with severe changes in ultrasonic indices of umbilical artery blood flow (within 2.5th of reference ranges) in a short period of time. Statistical analysis of umbilical artery blood flow ultrasound indices for 19 patients with UAT showed that the decrease in S/D, RI, and PI and increase of PSV during the disease process was greater than that of non-UAT. All 18 patients delivered in our hospital showed characteristic manifestations of UAT on histological examination after delivery, most of which (16/18) showed umbilical cord abnormalities, with 15 umbilical cord torsion and 1 pseudoknot. Coagulation parameters were not significantly changed in UAT patients compared with normal pregnancy women. CONCLUSION: Significant changes in ultrasound indicators after UAT were demonstrated. PSV can play important roles in the diagnosis of UAT. Hypercoagulability alone is not sufficient for the occurrence of UAT.

Predictive value of aberrant right subclavian artery for fetal chromosome aneuploidy in women of advanced maternal age.

BACKGROUND: In the entire population, an aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) is closely associated with chromosomal abnormalities. ARSA with additional ultrasonic findings would increase risk of chromosomal abnormalities. The risk of fetal chromosomal abnormalities increased exponentially with the maternal age. These risks in the advanced maternal age (AMA) group are uncertain. This study aimed to determine the incidence of ARSA in Chinese AMA and non-AMA women and the frequency of aneuploidy among AMA and non-AMA women with ARSA. METHODS: This retrospective study included 13,690 singleton pregnancies, were divided into AMA and non-AMA groups. Integrated obstetric ultrasonic screening, biochemical screening, noninvasive prenatal screening, and fetal karyotype analysis were analyzed. RESULTS: The overall incidence of ARSA was 0.69%, with no difference between age groups. The incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in the AMA group (37 / 2860) was much higher than that of the non-AMA group. The risk of chromosomal abnormalities significantly increased with both ARSA detected and additional ultrasound findings. With combined ARSA and AMA, the likelihood of the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities increased. Chimerism (45X / 46XX) was found with isolated ARSA in AMA pregnancies. CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities in fetuses of AMA women. ARSA increases the risk of chromosomal abnormalities in both age groups, especially combined with ARSA. When ARSA occurs in AMA women, it confers a high likelihood of chromosomal abnormalities.

First Detection and Molecular Identification of Entamoeba in Yaks from China.

BACKGROUND: Yak, a predominant livestock of plateau areas, is known as a host to many parasites. And the genus Entamoeba, the third-common cause of the mortality worldwide from parasitic diseases, was discovered in yaks once. METHODS: We investigated the distribution and species of Entamoeba spp. from yaks in Qinghai province, northwestern China, by collecting 1027 yak fecal samples. All samples were divided according to seven geographical sites, four seasons, and two age groups of yaks. After extracting DNA, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to amplify the 18S rRNA gene, and sequences were analyzed with phylogenetic method. RESULTS: We observed an overall Entamoeba positive rate of 36.32% (373/1027) in yaks from Qinghai province. The common species included Entamoeba bovis (284/373), Entamoeba sp. MG107/BEL (79/373), Entamoeba sp. ribosomal lineage (RL) two (8/373), and Entamoeba sp. RL9 (2/373). According to the result of statistical analysis, Entamoeba infection rate was the highest in summer and significantly differed from that observed during other seasons (P < 0.05). The yaks from Golog had the highest prevalence of Entamoeba among all geographical origins in Qinghai province (P < 0.05). However, no significant difference was observed (P > 0.05) among different age groups, as evident from a positive rate of 39.58% in ≤ 6-month and 36.16% in > 6-month yaks. CONCLUSION: These results indicate the prevalence and predominant species of Entamoeba in yaks. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report E. bovis, Entamoeba sp. RL2, and Entamoeba sp. RL9 in Chinese yaks.

Quercetin is protective against short-term dietary advanced glycation end products intake induced cognitive dysfunction in aged ICR mice.

Dietary advanced glycation end products (dAGEs) might be potential toxins involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Quercetin is a flavonoid possessing neuroprotective effects. We aimed to explore whether a 21 days of dAGEs intake would result in cognitive dysfunction in aged ICR mice, and the protective effects of quercetin, with potential mechanisms explored. Fourteen-month old ICR mice were randomly assigned into four groups, that is, Control, AGEs, quercetin, and AGE diet supplemented with quercetin. Key markers involved in Aß, tau, and neuroinflammation from hippocampus and cortex were measured via western blot. Gut microbiota and short chain fatty acids profiles from intestinal contents were measured via 16S rRNA gene sequencing and gas chromatography (GC), respectively. Quercetin alleviated cognitive impairment induced by dAGEs in aged mice. This might be associated with that quercetin reduced cathepsin B, tau phosphorylation, and neuroinflammation, and elevated α-diversity index (ACE, Chao1, and Shannon index), and reduced phylum Verrucomicrobia of gut microbiota. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been regarded as the commonest cause of progressive dementia for the elderly. This study is the very first to demonstrate that even a short-term dietary advanced glycation end product (dAGEs) intake induced impaired cognitive function in aged ICR mice, and querectin is capable of reversing dAGEs-induced cognitive dysfunction. Reduced tau phosphorylation, neuroinflammation, and altered gut microbiota profiles may be involved in querectin's protective effects against dAGEs-induced cognitive impairment. Our study suggested that quercetin supplementation might be beneficial for improving cognitive function in elderly subjects with high consumption of dAGEs such as grilling, frying, and broiling of food.

Identification and validation of reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR studies in Hedera helix L.

Reference gene evaluation and selection are necessary steps in gene expression analysis, especially in new plant varieties, through reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). Hedera helix L. is an important traditional medicinal plant recorded in European Pharmacopoeia. Research on gene expression in H. helix has not been widely explored, and no RT-qPCR studies have been reported. Thus, it is important and necessary to identify and validate suitable reference genes to for normalizing RT-qPCR results. In our study, 14 candidate protein-coding reference genes were selected. Their expression stability in five tissues (root, stem, leaf, petiole and shoot tip) and under seven abiotic stress conditions (cold, heat, drought, salinity, UV-C irradiation, abscisic acid and methyl jasmonate) were evaluated using geNorm and NormFinder. This study is the first to evaluate the stability of reference genes in H. helix. The results show that different reference genes should be chosen for normalization on the basis of various experimental conditions. F-box was more stable than the other selected genes under all analysis conditions except ABA treatment; 40S was the most stable reference gene under ABA treatment; in contrast, EXP and UBQ were the most unstable reference genes. The expressions of HhSE and Hhß-AS, which are two genes related to the biosynthetic pathway of triterpenoid saponins, were also examined for reference genes in different tissues and under various cold stress conditions. The validation results confirmed the applicability and accuracy of reference genes. Additionally, this study provides a basis for the accurate and widespread use of RT-qPCR in selecting genes from the genome of H. helix.

Prenatal diagnosis and perinatal outcome of congenital dacryocystocele: a large case series.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the incidence, prenatal diagnosis, and perinatal outcome in fetuses with congenital dacryocystocele. METHODS: All cases of congenital dacryocystocele diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound were identified using an established perinatal database. Prenatal ultrasound images were reviewed, and perinatal outcome was abstracted from the medical records. The correlation between the cyst size, gestational age, and prenatal and neonatal outcome was analyzed. RESULTS: The overall incidence of fetal dacryocystocele was 0.016% (75/456,202). Fifty-three cases (70.7%) had unilateral, and 22 (29.3%) had bilateral lesions. Lesions were seen more commonly among female fetuses with a female : male ratio 1.48 : 1. The average diameter of cysts size was 6.9 ± 1.9 mm (3.3-11 mm). There was a direct correlation between cyst size and gestational age. Among the 75 cases, 8 were lost to follow-up, 3 underwent elective termination of pregnancy. 58 resolved spontaneously before birth, and 6 were confirmed at birth. Two developed neonatal infection requiring antibiotic treatment. All 6 cases confirmed at birth resolved without surgical resection. CONCLUSIONS: Congenital dacryocystocele can be diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound. Such lesions typically resolve spontaneously in utero or in the early neonatal period. Thus, it should be considered as a developmental variant rather than a structural birth defect.

[Effects of organic solvents on proliferation of Hela cells line].

OBJECTIVE: To research the effects of organic solvents on proliferation inhibition of Hela cells line. METHODS: The apoptosis of Hela cells induced by ethanol and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) were studied to analyse the error analyse from background organic solvents. The apoptosis of Hela cells induced by ethanol, DMSO and the combination of these two organic solvents with different concentrations were observed by MTT test and Giemsa staining. RESULTS: The Hela cells proliferation were significantly inhibited by ethanol with the concentrations ranged from 30% to 100%, and DMSO with the concentrations ranged from 50% to 100% (P < 0.01). There were no significantly difference between the two combination of ethanol 40% + DMSO 60%, ethanol 30% + DMSO 70% and control group (P > 0. 05) respectively. CONCLUSION: The cells proliferation were inhibited by organic solvents itself and were in a time and dose dependent. The background experimental error can be reduced remarkably by choosing the two organic solvents combination of ethanol and DMSO.

[Impact of different emulated acupuncture-needle manipulations on blood pressure and myocardial angiotensin II content in spontaneous hypertension rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of different emulated acupuncture-needle manipulations on blood pressure and myocardial angiotensin (Ang) II content in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), so as to seek a better acupuncture parameter for clinical treatment of hypertension. METHODS: Thirty-three SHR were randomly divided into mild-stimulation group (n=8), moderate-stimulation group (n=8), heavy-stimulation group (n=8) and model group (n=9). Additionally, other 8 normal rats were made up of control group. Blood pressure (BP) was determined by using a non-invasive BP detection system. Myocardial Ang II content was assayed by radioimmunoassay. The emulated acupuncture-needle twirling angles and frequencies of 144 degrees, 75 r/min; 255 degrees, 111 r/min; and 360 degrees, 140 r/min in mild, moderate and heavy manipulations were applied to bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Taichong" (LR 3) for 3 min, once daily for 3 weeks, with an interval of 2 days between every two weeks. RESULTS: Compared with pre-therapy, BP values of both heavy-stimulation and model groups increased significantly (P<0.01); and compared with model group, BP values of mild-stimulation and moderate-stimulation groups decreased significantly after the therapy (P<0.05), but were still higher than that of control group (P<0.05). In addition, myocardial Ang II contents of mild-stimulation, moderate-stimulation, heavy-stimulation and model groups were significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between mild-stimulation and moderate-stimulation groups, and between heavy-stimulation and model groups after therapy in BP, and among mild-stimulation, moderate-stimulation, heavy-stimulation and model groups in myocardial Ang II contents (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Mild and moderate manipulations of ST36 and LR3 have apparent influence on BP, but no apparent influence on myocardial Ang II content.