Evolution dynamics of thin liquid structures investigated using a phase-field model.

Liquid structures of thin-films and torus droplets are omnipresent in daily lives. The morphological evolution of liquid structures suspending in another immiscible fluid and sitting on a solid substrate is investigated by using three-dimensional (3D) phase-field (PF) simulations. Here, we address the evolution dynamics by scrutinizing the interplay of surface energy, kinetic energy, and viscous dissipation, which is characterized by Reynolds number Re and Weber number We. We observe special droplet breakup phenomena by varying Re and We. In addition, we gain the essential physical insights into controlling the droplet formation resulting from the morphological evolution of the liquid structures by characterizing the top and side profiles under different circumstances. We find that the shape evolution of the liquid structures is intimately related to the initial shape, Re, We as well as the intrinsic wettability of the substrate. Furthermore, it is revealed that the evolution dynamics are determined by the competition between the coalescence phenomenology and the hydrodynamic instability of the liquid structures. For the coalescence phenomenology, the liquid structure merges onto itself, while the hydrodynamic instability leads to the breakup of the liquid structure. Last but not least, we investigate the influence of wall relaxation on the breakup outcome of torus droplets on substrates with different contact angles. We shed light on how the key parameters including the initial shape, Re, We, wettability, and wall relaxation influence the droplet dynamics and droplet formation. These findings are anticipated to contribute insights into droplet-based systems, potentially impacting areas like ink-jet printing, drug delivery systems, and microfluidic devices, where the interplay of surface energy, kinetic energy, and viscous dissipation plays a crucial role.

Masking Strategy Constructed Metal Coordination Hydrogels with Improved Mechanical Properties for Flexible Electronic Sensors.

Metal coordination hydrogels (MC-HGs) that introduce dynamically coordinate bonds together with metal ionic conduction have attracted considerable attention in flexible electronics. However, the traditional soaking method alleged to have technical scalability faces the challenge of forming MC-HGs with a "core-shell" structure, which undoubtedly reduces the whole mechanical properties and ionic stimulation responsiveness required for flexible electronics materials. Herein, a novel strategy referred to as "masking" has been proposed based on the theory of the valence bond and coordination chemistry. By regulating the masking agents and their concentrations as well as pairing mode with the metal ions, the whole mechanical properties of the resulting composites (MC-HGsMasking) show nearly double the values of their traditional soaking samples (MC-HGsSoaking). For example, the fracture stress and toughness of Fe-HGsMasking(SA, 5.0 g/L) are 1.55 MPa and 2.14 MJ/m3, almost twice those of Fe-HGsSoaking (0.83 MPa and 0.93 MJ/m3, respectively). Microstructure characterization combined with finite element analysis, molecular dynamics, and first-principles simulations demonstrates that the masking strategy first facilitating interfacial permeation of metal complexes and then effective coordination with functional ligands (carboxylates) of the hydrogels is the mechanism to strengthen the mechanical properties of composites MC-HGsMasking, which has the potential to break through the limitations of current MC-HGs in flexible electronic sensor applications.

Fascinating Pathway to Facilitate the Photoisomerization of Spiropyran-Based Nanocomposites.

Recently, spiropyran-based composites have gained more attention on account of their stimuli-responsive essence, especially of the fascinating and green photo stimulus. However, the great dipole moment change between the ring-opened merocyanine and ring-closed spiropyran requires a large free volume available for isomerization, which significantly restrains the photoisomerization of spiropyran-based nanocomposites. Herein, a fascinating pathway by regulating the states both of spiropyran and the immobilized nanoparticle supports was put forward to facilitate the photoisomerization. The results demonstrated that the spiropyran grafting percentage of 5.18% and immobilized supports with less aggregation, high specific surface area, large pore size, and noncrystalline structure were suitable to fabricate spiropyran-based nanocomposites, which showed a significant improvement for Pb2+ and Cr3+ removal from aqueous solution on account of free photoisomerization of spiropyran on the support's surface. This work will pave the pathway to extend the exploitation of spiropyran-based nanocomposites in various fields such as biotechnology, physiology, and electronics to photonics and environmental-friendly fields.

Antioxidant vitamins supplementation reduce endometriosis related pelvic pain in humans: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to clarify the effect of antioxidant vitamins supplementation on endometriosis-related pain. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNK) databases was conducted to identify relevant studies published in English and Chinese up to 16 March 2023. The search terms used were "endometriosis" OR "endometrioma" OR "endometrium" AND "antioxidant" OR "Vitamin C" OR "Vitamin E" OR "Vitamin D" OR "25-OHD" OR "25(OH)D" OR "25-hydroxyvitamin D". Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed pain scores using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Mean differences or odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the effect of antioxidant vitamins supplementation on endometriosis. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. The study was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 13 RCTs involving 589 patients were included in this meta-analysis. We identified 11 studies that evaluated the effect of antioxidant vitamins supplementation on endometriosis-related pain. The results indicated that the supplementation of antioxidant vitamins can effectively alleviate endometriosis-related pain. Subgroup analysis showed that the supplementation of vitamin E (with or without vitamin C) had a positive effect on improving clinical pelvic pain in patients with chronic pelvic pain. Conversely, supplementation of vitamin D was associated with a reduction in pelvic pain in endometriosis patients, but the difference was not statistically significant compared to the placebo. Additionally, we observed changes in oxidative stress markers following vitamin supplementation. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration decreased in patients with endometriosis after antioxidant vitamin supplementation, and the plasma MDA level was inversely correlated with the time and dose of vitamin E and C supplementation. Furthermore, the inflammatory markers in peritoneal fluid, including RANTES, interleukin-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, significantly decreased after antioxidant therapy. These findings suggest that antioxidant vitamins may alleviate pain in endometriosis patients by reducing inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: The included studies support the potential role of antioxidant vitamins in the management of endometriosis. Supplementation with antioxidant vitamins effectively reduced the severity of dysmenorrhea, improved dyspareunia and pelvic pain, and enhanced quality of life in these patients. Therefore, antioxidant vitamin therapy could be considered as an alternative treatment method, either alone or in combination with other approaches, for endometriosis-related pain. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023415198.

The structure and assembly of rhizobacterial communities are influenced by poplar genotype.

The interaction between plants and microbes dominates plant growth and fitness in specific environments. The study of the relationship between plant genotypes and rhizobacterial community structure would provide a deep insight into the recruitment strategies of plants toward soil bacteria. In this study, three genotypes of 18-year-old mature poplar (H1, H2, and H3) derived from four different parents were selected from a germplasm nursery of Populus deltoides. Rhizosphere soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus properties as well as the 16S rDNA sequences of rhizobacterial communities were analyzed to determine the relationship between poplar genotypes and rhizobacterial communities assembly. The results showed there were significant differences in the diversity (Chao1, ACE index, and Shannon index) of rhizobacterial communities between H1 and H2, as well as between H2 and H3, but no difference between H1 and H3. Principal component analysis also revealed a similar structure of rhizobacterial communities between H1 and H3, whereas the rhizobacterial communities of H2 demonstrated significant differences from H1 and H3. Linear discriminant effect size analysis indicated that there were 11 and 14 different biomarkers in the H1 and H3 genotype, respectively, but 42 in the H2 genotype. Co-occurrence network analysis indicated that the rhizobacterial communities of H2 had a distinct network structure compared to those of the other two genotypes, whereas H1 and H3 had a similar pattern of co-occurrence network. Threshold indicator taxa analysis revealed that 63 genera responded significantly to NO3 --N content and 58 genera to NH4 +-N/NO3 --N ratio. Moreover, the stochastic assembly process was found to be decreased with increasing NO3 --N content and fluctuated with increasing NH4 +-N/NO3 --N ratio. All results indicated that the structure of poplar rhizobacterial communities were influenced by host genotypes, and available nitrogen might play a dominant role in the assembly of rhizobacterial communities. This study would promote the future selection and utilization of rhizobacteria in poplar breeding.

The presence of Prevotella melaninogenica within tissue and preliminary study on its role in the pathogenesis of oral lichen planus.

OBJECTIVE: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs in the oral mucosa with characteristic white striations lesions, recurrent erosions, and pains. The etiology and pathogenesis of OLP are still unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the bacterial community structure of buccal mucosa in patients with OLP and normal controls by high-throughput sequencing. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to detect Prevotella melaninogenica (P. melaninogenica) in 13 OLP samples and 10 controls. The amounts of P. melaninogenica in OLP buccal mucosa and the expression of inflammatory cytokines in co-culture of mouse-derived macrophages with P. melaninogenica were detected by RT-qPCR. RESULTS: The P. melaninogenica was more abundant in OLP than in healthy controls, and the differences were significant at the level of the phylum, family, genus, and species (p < .05). FISH showed that P. melaninogenica can invade the epithelium and even the lamina propria of OLP, while no invasion was found in the normal mucosa. Prevotella melaninogenica can adhere to and invade macrophages and then activate the transcription of IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α in NF-κB signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: Prevotella melaninogenica may be involved in the pathogenic process of OLP, and its specific mechanism deserves further study.

Structure, Luminescent Sensing and Proton Conduction of a Boiling-Water-Stable Zn(II) Metal-Organic Framework.

A novel Zn(II) metal-organic framework [Zn4O(C30H12F4O4S8)3]n, namely ZnBPD-4F4TS, has been constructed from a fluoro- and thiophenethio-functionalized ligand 2,2',5,5'-tetrafluoro-3,3',6,6'-tetrakis(2-thiophenethio)-4,4'-biphenyl dicarboxylic acid (H2BPD-4F4TS). ZnBPD-4F4TS shows a broad green emission around 520 nm in solid state luminescence, with a Commission International De L'Eclairage (CIE) coordinate at x = 0.264, y = 0.403. Since d10-configured Zn(II) is electrochemically inert, its photoluminescence is likely ascribed to ligand-based luminescence which originates from the well-conjugated system of phenyl and thiophenethio moieties. Its luminescent intensities diminish to different extents when exposed to various metal ions, indicating its potential as an optical sensor for detecting metal ion species. Furthermore, ZnBPD-4F4TS and its NH4Br-loaded composite, NH4Br@ZnBPD-4F4TS, were used for proton conduction measurements in different relative humidity (RH) levels and temperatures. Original ZnBPD-4F4TS shows a low proton conductivity of 9.47 × 10-10 S cm-1 while NH4Br@ZnBPD-4F4TS shows a more than 25,000-fold enhanced value of 2.38 × 10-5 S cm-1 at 40 °C and 90% RH. Both of the proton transport processes in ZnBPD-4F4TS and NH4Br@ZnBPD-4F4TS belong to the Grotthuss mechanism with Ea = 0.40 and 0.32 eV, respectively.

Prognostic and predictive significance of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes for ductal carcinoma in situ.

This study aims to identify the density of TILs in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in terms of prognostic significance with recurrence and the benefit of whole breast irradiation (WBI). The clinicopathological data of DCIS patients from Jan 2009 to Dec 2016 who received breast-conserving surgery (BCS) were retrospectively reviewed. Cox regression analysis was used to confirm independent prognostic factors of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR). Kaplan-Meier method was utilized to analyze IBTR and values of WBI. Touching-tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were defined by TILs touching or within one lymphocyte cell thickness from the malignant ducts' basement membrane. In total, 129 patients were enrolled in this analysis with 98 patients who received WBI. After a median follow-up of 53.0 months, there were 16 IBTR events with five invasive IBTRs. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that touching-TILs >5 were an independent prognostic factor for higher IBTR (HR = 6.17, 95%CI 1.95-19.56, p < .01). The whole cohort was classified into two subgroups: dense group (>5 touching-TILs per duct) and sparse group (≤5 touching-TILs per duct). Dense touching-TILs were associated with unfavorable biologic characteristics. The 5-y rate of IBTR between dense and sparse group was 29.0% versus 4.5% (p < .01). For the sparse group, WBI significantly reduced the rate of 5-y-IBTR risk from 13.2% to 1.7% (p = .02), but there was no benefit of WBI in the dense group. Touching-TILs density was heterogeneous in patients with DCIS. Sparse touching-TILs were associated with better prognosis and benefit from WBI. Dense touching-TILs not only were associated with a higher risk of IBTR but also lack of benefit from WBI.

Linker Deficiency, Aromatic Ring Fusion, and Electrocatalysis in a Porous Ni8-Pyrazolate Network.

The cruciform linker molecule here features two designer functions: the pyrazole donors for framework construction, and the vicinal alkynyl units for benzannulation to form nanographene units into the Ni8-pyrazolate scaffold. Unlike the full 12 connections of the Ni8(OH)4(H2O)2 clusters in other Ni8-pyrazolate networks, significant linker deficiency was observed here, leaving about half of the Ni(II) sites capped by acetate ligands, which can be potentially removed to open the metal sites for reactivity. The crystalline Ni8-pyrazolate scaffold also retains the crystalline order even after thermal treatments (up to 300 °C) that served to partially graphitize the neighboring alkyne units. The resultant nanographene components enhance the electroactive properties of the porous hosts, achieving hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity that rivals that of topical nickel/palladium-enabled materials.

A Bumper Crop of Boiling-Water-Stable Metal-Organic Frameworks from Controlled Linker Sulfuration.

The series of highly stable porous solids here feature systematic, regiospecific sulfur substitutions on the organic linkers for versatile functions. One major surprise lies in the controllable sequential reactions between sodium thiomethoxide (NaSMe) and octafluorobiphenyl-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid (H2bpdc-8F; this was readily made without precious metal catalysts). Namely, 3, 4, 6, and 8 methylthio-substitutions can be respectively achieved with regiospecificity (i.e., to produce the four molecules H2bpdc-3S5F, H2bpdc-4S4F, H2bpdc-6S2F, H2bpdc-8MS). A second surprise lies in their persistent formation of the UiO-67-type net with Zr(IV) ions, e.g., even in the case of the fully sulfurated H2bpdc-8MS. In addition to the remarkable breadth of functional control, all the Zr(IV)-based crystalline solids here are stable in boiling water (e.g., for 24 h) and in air as solventless, activated porous solids. Moreover, the thioether groups allow for convenient H2O2 oxidation to fine-tune the hydrophilicity and luminescence properties and improve proton conductivity.

An air-stable anionic two-dimensional semiconducting metal-thiolate network and its exfoliation into ultrathin few-layer nanosheets.

The black, small-bandgap semiconducting framework Eu-dfdmat features extensive Eu3+-sulfur bridges from the linear linker 2,5-difluoro-3,6-dimercaptoterephthalate (dfdmt). Each Eu center is chelated to four dfdmt linkers to form an anionic coordination sphere involving four carboxyl O and four mercapto S centers (EuO4S4), wherein the charge buildup can be alleviated by the electron-withdrawing fluoro groups. The extensive metal-linker bonding, together with a trace of Eu2+ species, appears to boost electronic interaction in the 2D net, generating a small band gap of 1.31 eV (946 nm), albeit a modest conductivity (e.g., 10-6 S m-1). The crystals also exhibit persistent EPR signals indicative of organic radicals (g = 2.002). The Eu-dfdmt solid are stable in air and can be exfoliated into ultrathin nanosheets (ca. 5 nm; 6-8 layers).

TGFBI Promotes Tumor Growth and is Associated with Poor Prognosis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose: In a previous study, we found that transforming growth factor beta-induced (TGFBI) is a hub gene strongly associated with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), using gene chip meta-analysis and PPI network analysis. Thus, the present study was established to explore the role of TGFBI in the pathogenesis of OSCC and to define the underlying mechanisms. Methods: The correlations between TGFBI expression and the clinicopathological features and prognosis of OSCC were analyzed. Then, TGFBI-knockout HSC-3 cell lines were constructed using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro were determined by cell counting, CCK-8, colony formation, and Transwell assays. Moreover, a xenograft animal study was implemented to determine the tumorigenicity and metastatic ability associated with TGFBI in vivo. The genes and pathways differentially expressed after TGFBI knockout were determined using transcriptional sequencing and bioinformatics. Results: TGFBI expression was significantly higher in OSCC than in normal tissue. Its high expression was also correlated with high stage and was predictive of poor prognosis, as we expected. Knockout of TGFBI inhibited cell proliferation and clone formation, and enhanced cell migration and invasion in vitro. Besides, the xenograft animal study showed that TGFBI knockout suppressed tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Furthermore, transcriptome sequencing revealed that genes associated with cell proliferation, metastasis, and inflammatory responses exhibited a change of expression upon TGFBI knockout. GO and KEGG analyses indicated that the function of TGFBI is related to responses to bacteria and inflammatory responses. Conclusions: TGFBI overexpression can promote OSCC and is associated with poor prognosis in OSCC patients. TGFBI knockout can inhibit cell proliferation and metastasis in vivo. TGFBI may alter cell responses to bacteria, which causes an imbalance in the immune inflammatory response and promotes the development of OSCC.

Efficiently capturing tobacco specific nitrosamines with Hß zeolite in solution.

The high-efficiency capture of Tobacco Specific Nitrosamines by Hß zeolite in solution is reported for the first time, along with the adsorption of 4-methylnitrosamino-1-3-pyridyl-1-butanone in aqueous solution. Different from other zeolites such as NaZSM-5, the specific pore size of Hß exerted a crucial function endowing the zeolite a higher removal of TSNA and selectivity of NNK. The adsorption thermodynamics of NNK by Hß in aqueous adsorption was fitted to Temkin adsorption model with a linearly decreasing isosteric heat of adsorption. In addition, the adsorptive capacity of Hß zeolite for NNK reached over 70 mg g-1, offering a powerful sorbent of TSNA to protect environment.

Identification of the disinfection byproducts of bisphenol S and the disrupting effect on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) induced by chlorination.

Bisphenol S (BPS), an alternative product to bisphenol A (BPA), has been the focus of increasing public concern due to its potential endocrine disrupting effect and its adverse effects related to metabolic disorders such as obesity. The detection of its residue in drinking water supply systems suggests that BPS can be chlorinated; however, whether its endocrine disrupting effect can be disrupted by this chlorination remains unclear. In the present study, we identified the byproducts of the reaction of BPS with chlorine and assessed the effect of the main byproducts on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). BPS was chlorinated in a simulation experiment. The chlorination reaction in this study was chlorine and pH dependent, and the pseudo-first-order reaction rate constant was controlled by the chlorine concentration and pH. The reaction rate at pH 8.5 was 7 times faster than that at pH 6.5. Twenty-two byproducts were putatively identified by liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-Q-ToF-MS), and five main byproducts were purified and characterized by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The PPARγ effects of the byproducts were assayed, revealing a2-to4-fold enhancement in their activities in comparison with the parent compound.

Leptin Levels in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Conflicting results regarding leptin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have been reported. We summarize all available evidence from human participant studies to evaluate leptin levels in PCOS. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov , and Web of Science databases were searched with English-language restriction for only human beings from the inception to December 31, 2015. Search terms included PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS) and leptin. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: A total of 238 studies were reviewed, and a total of 19 studies, involving 991 women with PCOS and 898 controls, were eligible for our meta-analysis. Studies were eligible if provided leptin means and standard deviation in women with PCOS and healthy women controls. RESULTS: Parameters, such as body mass index, insulin resistance (IR), and total testosterone, which may influence leptin levels were extracted. Data were collected and analyzed by RevMan 5.3 and Stata/SE14.0. The pooling analysis of all relevant studies revealed that leptin levels were significantly higher in patients with PCOS than in controls, with standardized mean difference of 1.62 (95% confidence interval: 1.01-2.23). However, the heterogeneity across studies was considerable and not eliminated in subgroup analyses. Meta-regression analysis further suggested that the heterogeneity might be relevant to variability in IR and study location. CONCLUSION: Elevated leptin levels are detected in women with PCOS compared with non-PCOS controls. Higher leptin levels may be correlated with IR, metabolic disorder, infertility, and even cardiovascular disease risk in PCOS, which may contribute to the etiology and development of PCOS.

Expression of anti-Müllerian hormone in two rat models of polycystic ovary syndrome.

AIM: Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels are two to three times higher in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but the mechanism of increased AMH levels in PCOS remains unclear. The purpose of our experiment was to investigate a change in AMH levels in two kinds of commonly used rat models and to determine an ideal model for future research of AMH in the pathogenesis of PCOS. METHODS: Thirty female Sprague Dawley rats were treated using two modeling methods: implantation of a levonorgestrel silastic implant or injection with sodium prasterone sulfate plus human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Rats in the control group were implanted with a blank silastic stick. Serum steroid concentrations, ovarian morphology and ovarian expression of AMH and AMH-receptor II (RII) proteins were determined and their correlations were studied. RESULTS: The results from the levonorgestrel and hCG group were closer to those displayed by human PCOS patients than the sodium prasterone sulfate and hCG group. Ovarian local expression of AMH and AMH-RII was increased in these both models compared with the control group; however, an elevation of serum AMH concentration was not observed (12.53 ± 0.99 ng/ml and 13.22 ± 1.09 ng/ml vs 16.30 ± 0.98 ng/ml). CONCLUSION: The levonorgestrel and hCG model is more suitable for the study of PCOS in puberty.

Chlorination of bisphenol F and the estrogenic and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma effects of its disinfection byproducts.

The reaction kinetics and transformation pathways between bisphenol F (BPF) and sodium hypochlorite were investigated at pH values ranging from 6.5 to 8.5 and with different initial concentration ratios. The reaction rate was pH- and free available chlorine (FAC)-dependent: the reaction rate at pH 8.5 was almost 10 times than that at pH 6.5. A total of 40 compounds were tentatively identified as chloro-substituted BPF and polyphenolic compounds by liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry operating in electrospray ionization mode (LC-ESI-Q-ToF), and 4 main byproducts were confirmed by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Toxicity tests indicated that the estrogenic effects of chloro-substituted BPF decrease as the chlorine substitution increase. On the contrary, increasing numbers of chlorines on the phenolic rings of BPF enhanced the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) activity. Tetra-chlorinated BPF had an approximately 6.9-fold higher activity than BPF.

Trends in ectopic pregnancy, hydatidiform mole and miscarriage in the largest obstetrics and gynaecology hospital in China from 2003 to 2013.

BACKGROUND: Ectopic pregnancies, miscarriages and hydatidiform moles are the major types of pathological pregnancies in the early gestations of pregnancy and constitute an important public health problem. The trends and incidences of these pathological pregnancies may vary by ethnicity and geographical regions. This has not been fully investigated in the Chinese population. In this study we retrospectively report the trends of pathological pregnancies in Chinese population. METHODS: Data on 22,511 women with ectopic pregnancy, hydatidiform mole and miscarriage were collected from the largest obstetrics and gynaecology hospital in China from 2003 to 2013. Data included age at diagnosis and the annual number of women with diagnosed ectopic pregnancy, hydatidiform mole and miscarriage. RESULTS: The total number of ectopic pregnancy, hydatidiform mole and miscarriage was increased 3.5folds in 2013 compared to 2003. Ectopic pregnancy is the leading pathological pregnancy and miscarriage is increasing at a greater rate among the pathological pregnancies. The median age of women with hydatidiform mole at diagnosis significantly increased from 25.5 years to 29 years (p = 0.002), however the median age for other pathological pregnancies was not different between 2003 and 2013. The number of women with hydatidiform mole at diagnosis who were over 40 years old has increased. The mean maternal age is increased from 28.1 years old in 2003 to 29.4 years old in 2013 in this hospital. CONCLUSION: We speculate that the increased maternal age may contribute to the increase in these pathological pregnancies between 2003 and 2013 in China.

Visceral adiposity index as a predictor of clinical severity and therapeutic outcome of PCOS.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine-metabolic disease which often accompany with abnormal fat distribution. Visceral adiposity has association with abnormal lipid metabolic, pro-inflammatory activity, insulin resistance (IR) and hyperandrogenism. Increased visceral adiposity raises the risk of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular (CV) events, and aggravates ovulatory dysfunction and hyperandrogenism in PCOS women. Visceral adiposity index (VAI), a simple surrogate maker of visceral adipose dysfunction and visceral adiposity, is a predictor of IR, and link hyperinsulinemia, hyperandrogenism and anovulation. This review aims to discuss the visceral adiposity situation in PCOS women, and suggests that VAI may be a useful predictor of clinical severity and therapeutic outcome of PCOS.

Long-term effects of bisphenol AF (BPAF) on hormonal balance and genes of hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis and liver of zebrafish (Danio rerio), and the impact on offspring.

Bisphenol AF (BPAF) is one of the analogues of bisphenol A (BPA) and is widely used as a raw material in the plastics industry. The potential toxicity to fish from exposure to BPAF in the aquatic environment is largely unknown. In this study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to BPAF at 5, 25 and 125 µg L(-1), from 4 hour-post-fertilization (hpf) to 120 day-post-fertilization (dpf), representing the period from embryo to adult. The levels of plasma hormones were measured and the expression of selected representative genes along the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis and liver were examined. The concentration of 17ß-estradiol (E2) was significantly increased in male and female fish and a significant decrease of testosterone (T) was observed in male fish. The mRNA expression of genes along the HPG axis and in liver tissues in F0 generation fish demonstrated that the steroid hormonal balances of zebrafish were modulated through the alteration of steroidgenesis. The significant decrease of egg fertilization among offspring indicates the possibility of sperm deterioration of parent following exposure to BPAF. The higher occurrence of malformation and lower survival rate in the offspring from the exposure group suggested a possibility of maternal transfer of BPAF, which could be responsible for the increased prevalence of adverse health signs in the offspring. The hatching delay in 5 µg L(-1) BPAF indicated that parental exposure to environmentally relevant concentration of BPAF would result in delayed hatching of the offspring. A potential consequence of adverse effects in the offspring by BPAF deserves further investigation.