Maternal vitamin D status and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus in twin pregnancies: a longitudinal twin pregnancies birth cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common complication of pregnancy, with significant short-term and long-term implications for both mothers and their offspring. Previous studies have indicated the potential benefits of vitamin D in reducing the risk of GDM, yet little is known about this association in twin pregnancies. This study aimed to investigate maternal vitamin D status in the second trimester and examine its association with the risk of GDM in twin pregnancies. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study based on data from the Chongqing Longitudinal Twin Study (LoTiS). Peripheral blood serum was collected from the mothers in the second trimester to measure 25(OH)D concentrations. GDM was diagnosed at 23-26 weeks of gestation using a 75-g 2-h oral glucose tolerance test. We used multivariable logistic regression analyses to examine the correlations between vitamin D status and the risk of GDM. RESULTS: Of the total participants, 93 (29.9%) women were diagnosed with GDM. The mean serum 25(OH)D concentration in the second trimester was 31.1 ± 11.2 ng/mL, and the rate of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency were 23.5% and 18.7%, respectively. Compared to women with a 25(OH)D concentration < 30 ng/mL, those with a 25(OH)D concentration ≥ 30 ng/mL had a significantly lower risk of GDM (RR 0.61; 95% CI: 0.43, 0.86), especially those who were overweight before pregnancy (RR 0.32; 95% CI: 0.16, 0.64). The restricted cubic splines model showed an inverted J-shaped relationship between vitamin D concentrations and GDM risk. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of GDM was significantly reduced in twin pregnant women with vitamin D concentrations ≥ 30 ng/mL in the second trimester. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR-OOC-16,008,203. Retrospectively registered on 1 April 2016.

[Content and Ecological Risks of Heavy Metals in Soil with Different Land Uses in a Rapidly Urbanizing Area].

Taking the Minhang District of Shanghai as a typical rapidly urbanizing area, and based on 595 soil samples from 36 plots, the content of eight heavy metals in soils from five different land uses were analyzed. The ecological risk was evaluated using the Nemerow composite index and the potential ecological risk index. The results showed that the variation coefficients of the heavy metals Zn and Cd were highest, and were notably affected by human activities. The content of heavy metals in industrial land soil was relatively high compared to residential land and cultivated land soils, and heavy metal content was lowest in public management and service land soil. The Nemerow composite index of Zn and Cd was high, corresponding to severe and moderate levels of pollution, respectively. The other heavy metals were found at warning or light levels of pollution. The potential ecological risks posed by heavy metals in the soils from different land uses, in descending order, were heavy-metal-related industry land > non-heavy-metal-related industry land≈residential land > cultivated land≈public management and service land. Industrial land had a greater risk of heavy metal pollution due to industrial operations, complex historical production, and widely variable levels of management. Heavy metal accumulation also tended to occur in residential land and cultivated land soils. Therefore, the prevention of soil heavy metal pollution in association with different land uses, and the control of associated risks during redevelopment, are key challenges in rapidly urbanizing area.

[Distribution Characteristics and Source Apportionment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Atmospheric Deposition in Areas Adjacent to a Large Petrochemical Enterprise].

In order to explore the influence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) emissions by petrochemical enterprises on the surrounding environment, atmospheric deposition samples of the PAHs were collected in the industrial and residential areas adjacent to a petrochemical enterprise from March 2017 to February 2018. Deposition fluxes and the composition of PAHs were studied. The source of PAHs was analyzed by a positive matrix factor (PMF) model. The results showed that the deposition fluxes of Σ15 PAHs ranged from 549 ng·(m2·d)-1 to 18845 ng·(m2·d)-1, with an average of 2712 ng·(m2·d)-1. The flux of Σ15 PAHs in the industrial area was 1.36 times greater than that in the residential area. The deposition fluxes of PAHs in winter and spring were higher than those in summer and autumn. The deposition flux was highest in January in the industrial area and lowest in October in the residential area. Phe, BbF, and Fla were the dominant monomers. There was noticeable difference of monomers between the industrial area and the residential area in summer and autumn. The monomers, such as BbF, BkF, and BgP, in the residential area were higher than those in industrial area, and the proportion of 5, 6 rings was higher, which indicated that traffic contributed more to the residential area; 3 ring PAHs in industrial area had a higher proportion, which pointed out that their main source was petroleum volatilization. Based on the quantitative source analysis, the PAHs in atmospheric deposition were mainly from traffic emissions, petroleum volatilization, and coal combustion. Three sources of PAHs accounted for 45.7%, 18.4%, 35.9%, and 46.3%, 21.4%, and 32.3%, respectively, in the industrial area and the residential area in winter and spring. In summer and autumn, the contribution of traffic sources to the residential area was as high as 65.2%, and the proportion of the petroleum source to the industrial area increased to 35.5%. Due to high-altitude emissions and favorable diffusion conditions, the coal combustion contribution was significantly reduced.

[Ultrasonic Manifestations of Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor with Multiple Metastases: Case Report].

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a rare malignant tumor, which is prone to occur in teenagers DSRCT is a rare malignant tumor that often occurs in adolescents. Early diagnosis is difficult and the prognosis is poor. In this case report, the ultrasonography of DSRCT showed that the huge solid mass was in the abdomen with unclear boundary, irregular shape, insufficient blood supply but without obvious liquefaction and calcification. The masses encircled the vessels, but no evidence of vascular invasion. Intrahepatic metastases with peripheral hypoechoic aureole and abdominal lymph node metastases were observed. The tumor mass compressed adjacent tissues and organs, causing bilateral hydronephrosis and bone erosion. In a word, the ultrasonographic characteristics could be used for diagnosing the DSRCT in the clinic.

[Comparison and Source Apportionment of PAHs Pollution of Runoff from Roads in Suburb and Urban Areas of Shanghai].

Rapid urbanization has driven surface runoff pollution in urban areas to a serious state. In particular, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs)from road surface runoff has attracted wide attention. Two traffic roads in Shanghai (Caobao Road in an urban central area, and Jiajin Expressway in the suburbs) were identified as research objects. Runoff samples from these two traffic roads were collected for 7 rainfall events between 2007 and 2018. Then, the concentration characteristics and composition ratio of PAHs were analyzed. The differences in pollution sources of runoff PAHs from two types of traffic roads were identified based on characteristic ratio method and positive matrix factorization(PMF). The results showed that the geometric mean value (5539.2 ng·L-1) of 16 PAHs of runoff from Jiajin Expressway in the suburbs was 10 times greater than that from Caobao Road (548.1 ng·L-1), which was related to a higher truck traffic and a lower cleaning frequency on Jiajin Expressway. The benzo(a)pyrene(BaP)concentration on both roads exceeded the national emission standard, and the amount in the Jiajin Expressway was up to 21 times higher than the standard. There was no significant difference in the composition of PAHs of runoff between Caobao Road and Jiading Expressway, and 4-6 ring were dominant and responsible for 80% of total PAHs loads in both sites. Based on the analysis of the characteristic ratio method, the PAHs of runoff from Caobao Road mostly came from coal-fired sources and traffic sources, while that from Jiajin Expressway were mostly from fossil fuels, coal, and other traffic sources. Quantitative source analysis through PMF method showed that the primary sources of PAHs were gas and coal, accounting for 48.6%, followed by traffic emission sources (29.8%), and oil sources (21.7%). The contribution ratios of PAHs sources of runoff from Jiajin Expressway, sorted in descending order, are:traffic emission sources (38.5%), coal-fired sources (34.6%), oil sources (14.6%), and coking sources (12.6%). PAHs sources and contribution rates between urban and suburban roads are completely different. Gas and coal were the main sources of PAHs of runoff from Caobao Road, which was related to the high population density and relatively large gas consumption in the Xuhui District. Traffic emission was the main source of PAHs from surface runoff on Jiajin Expressway, which was related to the massive flow of coaches and trucks, and their higher PAHs emission compared to small cars. In addition, there are still coking sources of PAHs of runoff from Jiajin Expressway, which can be related to the massive industrial coal consumption in the Qingpu District.