Palmitic acid impairs human and mouse placental function by inhibiting trophoblast autophagy through induction of acyl-coenzyme A-binding protein (ACBP) upregulation.

STUDY QUESTION: Can exposure to palmitic acid (PA), a common saturated fatty acid, modulate autophagy in both human and mouse trophoblast cells through the regulation of acyl-coenzyme A-binding protein (ACBP)? SUMMARY ANSWER: PA exposure before and during pregnancy impairs placental development through mechanisms involving placental autophagy and ACBP expression. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: High-fat diets, including PA, have been implicated in adverse effects on human placental and fetal development. Despite this recognition, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying these effects are not fully understood. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cell line HTR-8/SVneo and human trophoblast stem cell (hTSC)-derived EVT (hTSCs-EVT) were exposed to PA or vehicle control for 24 h. Female wild-type C57BL/6 mice were divided into PA and control groups (n = 10 per group) and subjected to a 12-week dietary intervention. Afterward, they were mated with male wild-type C57BL/6 mice and euthanized on Day 14 of gestation. Female ACBPflox/flox mice were also randomly assigned to control and PA-exposed groups (each with 10 mice), undergoing the same dietary intervention and mating with ACBPflox/floxELF5-Cre male mice, followed by euthanasia on Day 14 of gestation. The study assessed the effects of PA on mouse embryonic development and placental autophagy. Additionally, the role of ACBP in the pathogenesis of PA-induced placental toxicity was investigated. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: The findings were validated using real-time PCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, and shRNA knockdown approaches. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Exposure to PA-upregulated ACBP expression in both human HTR-8/SVneo cells and hTSCs-EVT, as well as in mouse placenta. PA exposure also induced autophagic dysfunction in HTR-8/SVneo cells, hTSCs-EVT, and mouse placenta. Through studies on ACBP placental conditional knockout mice and ACBP knockdown human trophoblast cells, it was revealed that reduced ACBP expression led to trophoblast malfunction and affected the expression of autophagy-related proteins LC3B-II and P62, thereby impacting embryonic development. Conversely, ACBP knockdown partially mitigated PA-induced impairment of placental trophoblast autophagy, observed both in vitro in human trophoblast cells and in vivo in mice. LARGE SCALE DATA: N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Primary EVT cells from early pregnancy are fragile, limiting research use. Maintaining their viability is tough, affecting data reliability. The study lacks depth to explore PA diet cessation effects after 12 weeks. Without follow-up, understanding postdiet impacts on pregnancy stages is incomplete. Placental abnormalities linked to elevated PA diet in embryos lack confirmation due to absence of control groups. Clarifying if issues stem solely from PA exposure is difficult without proper controls. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Consuming a high-fat diet before and during pregnancy may result in complications or challenges in successfully carrying the pregnancy to term. It suggests that such dietary habits can have detrimental effects on the health of both the mother and the developing fetus. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This work was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82171664, 82301909) and the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing Municipality of China (CSTB2022NS·CQ-LZX0062, cstc2019jcyj-msxmX0749, and cstc2021jcyj-msxmX0236). The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

HMGB1 regulates autophagy of placental trophoblast through ERK signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) in placental development and fetal growth. METHODS: We employed the Cre-loxP recombination system to establish a placenta-specific HMGB1 knockout mouse model. Breeding HMGB1flox/flox mice with Elf5-Cre mice facilitated the knockout, leveraging Elf5 expression in extra-embryonic ectoderm, ectoplacental cone, and trophoblast giant cells at 12.5 days of embryonic development. The primary goal of this model was to elucidate the molecular mechanism of HMGB1 in placental development, assessing parameters such as placental weight, fetal weight, and bone development. Additionally, we utilized lentiviral interference and overexpression of HMGB1 in human trophoblast cells to further investigate HMGB1's functional role. RESULTS: Our findings indicate that HMGB1flox/floxElf5cre/+ mouse display fetal growth restriction (FGR), characterized by decreased placental and fetal weight and impaired bone development. And the absence of HMGB1 inhibits autophagosome formation, impairs lysosomal degradation, and disrupts autophagic flux. Depletion of HMGB1 in human trophoblast cells also suppresses cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion by inhibiting the ERK signaling pathway. Overexpression of HMGB1 observed the opposite phenotypes. CONCLUSIONS: HMGB1 participates in the regulation of autophagy through the ERK signaling pathway and affects placental development.

Study on the optimal time limit of frozen embryo transfer and the effect of a long-term frozen embryo on pregnancy outcome.

In this retrospective study conducted at Sichuan Jinxin Xinan Women and Children's Hospital spanning January 2015 to December 2021, our objective was to investigate the impact of embryo cryopreservation duration on outcomes in frozen embryo transfer. Participants, totaling 47,006 cycles, were classified into 3 groups based on cryopreservation duration: ≤1 year (Group 1), 1 to 6 years (Group 2), and ≥6 years (Group 3). Employing various statistical analyses, including 1-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis test, chi-square test, and a generalized estimating equation model, we rigorously adjusted for confounding factors. Primary outcomes encompassed clinical pregnancy rate and Live Birth Rate (LBR), while secondary outcomes included biochemical pregnancy rate, multiple pregnancy rate, ectopic pregnancy rate, early and late miscarriage rates, preterm birth rate, neonatal birth weight, weeks at birth, and newborn sex. Patient distribution across cryopreservation duration groups was as follows: Group 1 (40,461 cycles), Group 2 (6337 cycles), and Group 3 (208 cycles). Postcontrolling for confounding factors, Group 1 exhibited a decreased likelihood of achieving biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and LBR (OR < 1, aOR < 1, P < .05). Furthermore, an elevated incidence of ectopic pregnancy was observed (OR > 1, aOR > 1), notably significant after 6 years of freezing time [aOR = 4.141, 95% confidence intervals (1.013-16.921), P = .05]. Cryopreservation exceeding 1 year was associated with an increased risk of early miscarriage and preterm birth (OR > 1, aOR > 1). No statistically significant differences were observed in birth weight or sex between groups. However, male infant birth rates were consistently higher than those of female infants across all groups. In conclusion, favorable pregnancy outcomes align with embryo cryopreservation durations within 1 year, while freezing for more than 1 year may diminish clinical pregnancy and LBRs, concurrently elevating the risk of ectopic pregnancy and preterm birth.

The association of post-embryo transfer SARS-CoV-2 infection with early pregnancy outcomes in in vitro fertilization: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The influence of SARS-CoV-2 infection after embryo transfer on early pregnancy outcomes in in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer treatment remains inadequately understood. This knowledge gap endures despite an abundance of studies investigating the repercussions of preceding SARS-CoV-2 infection on early pregnancy outcomes in spontaneous pregnancies. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection within 10 weeks after embryo transfer and early pregnancy outcomes in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective cohort study was conducted at a single public in vitro fertilization center in China. Female patients aged 20 to 39 years, with a body mass index ranging from 18 to 30 kg/m2, undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment, were enrolled between September 2022 and December 2022, with follow-up extended until March 2023. The study tracked SARS-CoV-2 infection time (≤14 days, ≤28 days, and ≤10 weeks after embryo transfer), symptoms, vaccination status, the interval between vaccination and embryo transfer, and early pregnancy outcomes, encompassing biochemical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and early miscarriage rate. The study used single-factor analysis and multivariate logistic regression to examine the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection status, along with other relevant factors, and the early pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 857 female patients undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment were analyzed. In the first stage, SARS-CoV-2 infection within 14 days after embryo transfer did not have a significant negative association with the biochemical pregnancy rate (adjusted odds ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.51-1.09). In the second stage, SARS-CoV-2 infection within 28 days after embryo transfer had no significant association with the implantation rate (36.6% in infected vs 44.0% in uninfected group; P=.181). No statistically significant association was found with the clinical pregnancy rate after adjusting for confounding factors (adjusted odds ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.56-1.09). In the third stage, SARS-CoV-2 infection within 10 weeks after embryo transfer had no significant association with the early miscarriage rate (adjusted odds ratio, 0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.35-1.71). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that SARS-CoV-2 infection within 10 weeks after embryo transfer may not be negatively associated with the biochemical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and early miscarriage rate in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment. It is important to note that these findings are specific to the target population of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection patients aged 20 to 39 years, without previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, and with a body mass index of 18 to 30 kg/m2. This information offers valuable insights, addressing current concerns and providing a clearer understanding of the actual risk associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection after embryo transfer.

miR-181d-5p, which is upregulated in fetal growth restriction placentas, inhibits trophoblast fusion via CREBRF.

PURPOSE: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a common complication characterized by impaired placental function and unfavorable pregnancy outcomes. This study aims to elucidate the expression pattern of miR-181d-5p in FGR placentas and explore its effects on trophoblast fusion. METHODS: The expression pattern of miR-181d-5p in human FGR placentas were evaluated using qRT-PCR. Western blot, qRT-PCR, and Immunofluorescence analysis were performed in a Forskolin (FSK)-induced BeWo cell fusion model following the transfection of miR-181d-5p mimic or inhibitor. Potential target genes for miR-181d-5p were identified by screening miRNA databases. The interaction between miR-181d-5p and Luman/CREB3 Recruitment Factor (CREBRF) was determined through a luciferase assay. Moreover, the effect of CREBRF on BeWo cell fusion was examined under hypoxic conditions. RESULTS: Aberrant up-regulation of miR-181d-5p and altered expression of trophoblast fusion makers, including glial cell missing 1 (GCM1), Syncytin1 (Syn1), and E-cadherin (ECAD), were found in human FGR placentas. A down-regulation of miR-181d-5p expression was observed in the FSK-induced BeWo cell fusion model. Transfection of the miR-181d-5p mimic resulted in the inhibition of BeWo cell fusion, characterized by a down-regulation of GCM1 and Syn1, accompanied by an up-regulation of ECAD. Conversely, the miR-181d-5p inhibitor promoted BeWo cell fusion. Furthermore, miR-181d-5p exhibited negative regulation of CREBRF, which was significantly down-regulated in the hypoxia-induced BeWo cell model. The overexpression of CREBRF was effectively ameliorated the impaired BeWo cell fusion induced by hypoxia. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that miR-181d-5p, which is elevated in FGR placenta, inhibited the BeWo cell fusion through negatively regulating the expression of CREBRF.

Maternal Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Pregnancy Outcomes of Freeze-Thaw Embryo Transfer.

This cohort study assesses the association of maternal hepatitis B virus (HBV) serostatus with pregnancy outcomes in women undergoing freeze-thaw embryo transfer (FET).

Corrigendum: Effects of Yulin Tong Bu formula on modulating gut microbiota and fecal metabolite interactions in mice with polycystic ovary syndrome.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1122709.].

Effects of Yulin Tong Bu formula on modulating gut microbiota and fecal metabolite interactions in mice with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder characterized by hyperandrogenism, ovarian dysfunction and polycystic ovarian morphology. Gut microbiota dysbiosis and metabolite are associated with PCOS clinical parameters. Yulin Tong Bu formula (YLTB), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, has been recently indicated to be capable of ameliorating polycystic ovary symptoms and correcting abnormal glucose metabolism. However, the therapeutic mechanism of YLTB on PCOS has not been fully elucidated. Methods: A pseudo sterile mouse model was established during this four-day acclimatization phase by giving the animals an antibiotic cocktail to remove the gut microbiota. Here, the therapeutic effects of YLTB on PCOS were investigated using dehydroepiandrosterone plus high-fat diet-induced PCOS mice model. Female prepuberal mice were randomly divided into three groups; namely, the control group, PCOS group and YLTB (38.68 g·kg-1·day-1) group. To test whether this effect is associated with the gut microbiota, we performed 16S rRNA sequencing studies to analyze the fecal microbiota of mice. The relationships among metabolites, gut microbiota, and PCOS phenotypes were further explored by using Spearman correlation analysis. Then, the effect of metabolite ferulic acid was then validated in PCOS mice. Results: Our results showed that YLTB treatment ameliorated PCOS features (ovarian dysfunction, delayed glucose clearance, decreased insulin sensitivity, deregulation of glucolipid metabolism and hormones, etc.) and significantly attenuated PCOS gut microbiota dysbiosis. Spearman correlation analysis showed that metabolites such as ferulic acid and folic acid are negatively correlated with PCOS clinical parameters. The effect of ferulic acid was similar to that of YLTB. In addition, the bacterial species such as Bacteroides dorei and Bacteroides fragilis were found to be positively related to PCOS clinical parameters, using the association study analysis. Conclusion: These results suggest that YLTB treatment systematically regulates the interaction between the gut microbiota and the associated metabolites to ameliorate PCOS, providing a solid theoretical basis for further validation of YLTB effect on human PCOS trials.

THBS1 regulates trophoblast fusion through a CD36-dependent inhibition of cAMP, and its upregulation participates in preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication which threatens the survival of mothers and fetuses. It originates from abnormal placentation, especially insufficient fusion of the cytotrophoblast cells to form the syncytiotrophoblast. In this study, we found that THBS1, a matricellular protein that mediates cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix interactions, is downregulated during the fusion of primary cytotrophoblast and BeWo cells, but upregulated in the placenta of pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia. Also, THBS1 was observed to interact with CD36, a membrane signal receptor and activator of the cAMP signaling pathway, to regulate the fusion of cytotrophoblast cells. Overexpression of THBS1 inhibited the cAMP signaling pathway and reduced the BeWo cells fusion ratio, while the effects of THBS1 were abolished by a CD36-blocking antibody. Our results suggest that THBS1 signals through a CD36-mediated cAMP pathway to regulate syncytialization of the cytotrophoblast cells, and that its upregulation impairs placental formation to cause preeclampsia. Thus, THBS1 can serve as a therapeutic target regarding the mitigation of abnormal syncytialization and preeclampsia.

Appropriate expression of P57kip2 drives trophoblast fusion via cell cycle arrest.

The syncytiotrophoblast, derived from cytotrophoblast fusion, is responsible for maternal-fetal exchanges, secretion of pregnancy-related hormones, and fetal defense against pathogens. Inadequate cytotrophoblast fusion can lead to pregnancy disorders, such as preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction. However, little is known about the mechanism of cytotrophoblast fusion in both physiological and pathological pregnancy conditions. In this study, P57kip2 (P57), a cell cycle-dependent kinase inhibitor that negatively regulates the cell cycle, was found to be up-regulated during the process of syncytialization in both primary trophoblast cells and BeWo cells. Co-immunofluorescence with proliferation markers Ki67 and Cyclin-CDK factors further showed that P57 specifically localizes in the post-mitotic cytotrophoblast subtype of the early pregnancy villi. Overexpression of P57 promoted trophoblast syncytialization by arresting the cell cycle at the G1/G0 phase and inhibiting proliferation. Blocking of the cell cycle through a serum starvation culture resulted in an enhancement of cytotrophoblast fusion and the up-regulation of P57. In both spontaneous cytotrophoblast fusion and forskolin-induced BeWo cell fusion models, an initial up-regulation of P57 was observed followed by a subsequent down-regulation. These findings indicate that proper expression of P57 at cytotrophoblast differentiation nodes plays an important role in trophoblast syncytialization.

Nomogram for prediction of fatal outcome in patients with severe COVID-19: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: To develop an effective model of predicting fatal outcomes in the severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. METHODS: Between February 20, 2020 and April 4, 2020, consecutive confirmed 2541 COVID-19 patients from three designated hospitals were enrolled in this study. All patients received chest computed tomography (CT) and serological examinations at admission. Laboratory tests included routine blood tests, liver function, renal function, coagulation profile, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and arterial blood gas. The SaO2 was measured using pulse oxygen saturation in room air at resting status. Independent high-risk factors associated with death were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard model. A prognostic nomogram was constructed to predict the survival of severe COVID-19 patients. RESULTS: There were 124 severe patients in the training cohort, and there were 71 and 76 severe patients in the two independent validation cohorts, respectively. Multivariate Cox analysis indicated that age ≥ 70 years (HR = 1.184, 95% CI 1.061-1.321), panting (breathing rate ≥ 30/min) (HR = 3.300, 95% CI 2.509-6.286), lymphocyte count < 1.0 × 109/L (HR = 2.283, 95% CI 1.779-3.267), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) >  10 pg/ml (HR = 3.029, 95% CI 1.567-7.116) were independent high-risk factors associated with fatal outcome. We developed the nomogram for identifying survival of severe COVID-19 patients in the training cohort (AUC = 0.900, 95% CI 0.841-0.960, sensitivity 95.5%, specificity 77.5%); in validation cohort 1 (AUC = 0.811, 95% CI 0.763-0.961, sensitivity 77.3%, specificity 73.5%); in validation cohort 2 (AUC = 0.862, 95% CI 0.698-0.924, sensitivity 92.9%, specificity 64.5%). The calibration curve for probability of death indicated a good consistence between prediction by the nomogram and the actual observation. The prognosis of severe COVID-19 patients with high levels of IL-6 receiving tocilizumab were better than that of those patients without tocilizumab both in the training and validation cohorts, but without difference (P = 0.105 for training cohort, P = 0.133 for validation cohort 1, and P = 0.210 for validation cohort 2). CONCLUSIONS: This nomogram could help clinicians to identify severe patients who have high risk of death, and to develop more appropriate treatment strategies to reduce the mortality of severe patients. Tocilizumab may improve the prognosis of severe COVID-19 patients with high levels of IL-6.

Venetoclax in combination with chidamide and dexamethasone in relapsed/refractory primary plasma cell leukemia without t(11;14): A case report.

BACKGROUND: Conventional therapies for primary plasma cell leukemia (pPCL) are usually ineffective, with a short remission time with the use of multiple myeloma medications, showing aggressiveness of pPCL. B-cell lymphoma-2 inhibitor venetoclax is usually used for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) with t(11;14). There are very few studies published on the use of venetoclax in pPCL without t(11;14). Similarly, histone deacetylase inhibitors are considered effective for the treatment of RRMM, but there are no reports on their use in pPCL. CASE SUMMARY: A 57-year-old woman with severe anemia, thrombocytopenia, multiple bone destruction, impaired renal function, and 42.7% of peripheral plasma cells is reported. After multiple chemotherapy regimens and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell treatment, the disease progressed again. The patient had very good partial response and was maintained for a long time on venetoclax in combination with chidamide and dexamethasone therapy. CONCLUSION: The success of venetoclax-chidamide-dexamethasone combination therapy in achieving a very good partial response suggested that it can be used for refractory/relapsed pPCL patients who have been exhausted with the use of various drug combinations and had poor survival outcomes.

SNP rs12794714 of CYP2R1 is associated with serum vitamin D levels and recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA): a case-control study.

PURPOSE: Vitamin D (VD) deficiency seems to be associated with the risk of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). Vitamin D receptor (VDR) and cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily R member 1 (CYP2R1) are two genes which are vital for VD metabolism and actions. However, whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these genes are correlated with the risk of RSA are poorly understood. Therefore, we aimed to characterize the relationships among VDR SNPs, CYP2R1 SNPs and RSA. METHODS: This case-control study enrolled 75 RSA patients and 83 controls. Serum VD and some cytokines were detected with LC-MS/MS and flow cytometry, respectively. Genotyping for three SNPs of CYP2R1 (rs10741657, rs10766197 and rs12794714) and five SNPs of VDR (rs7975232, rs1544410, rs2189480, rs2228570 and rs2239179) was done with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and high-throughput sequencing. All the data were analyzed with appropriate methods and in different models. RESULTS: The results revealed a significant correlation between the AG genotype of CYP2R1 rs12794714 and VD levels (OR 0.686; 95% CI 0.49-0.96; p = 0.028). Besides, the AG and GG genotypes of CYP2R1 rs12794714 were markedly related to the risk of RSA (OR 52.394, 59.497; 95% CI 2.683-1023.265, 3.110-1138.367; p = 0.009, 0.007, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that CYP2R1 rs12794714 might be a risk factor for RSA. Hence, early screening of pregnant women for CYP2R1 rs12794714 is necessary to warrant proactive counseling and treatment against RSA.

The mental health of Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome is related to sleep disorders, not disease status.

BACKGROUND: Mental health disorders are highly prevalent in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) cases. The etiology for anxiety/depression in women with PCOS still remains unclear, due to conflicting results. AIM: To examine whether an association exists between the mental health of Chinese women with PCOS and various indicators such as their disease characteristics, biochemistry results and sleep status. METHODS: During July 2018 and January 2020, our study included a total of 433 women diagnosed with PCOS at Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Sleep-related variables were evaluated by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), anxiety and depression values were quantified by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and biochemistry results were collected from the medical records of the patients. RESULTS: 26.6% patients resulted as positive anxiety and 23.6% as positive depression. We found significant associations between anxiety/depression status and sleep conditions of PCOS patients. More specifically, anxiety significantly associated with sleep quality OR (95%CI) = 1.611 (1.147-2.261), sleep disturbance 2.326 (1.468-3.685) and daytime dysfunction 1.457 (1.122-1.891). Similarly, depression significantly associated with sleep quality 1.467 (1.043-2.063), sleep disturbance 1.624 (1.030-2.561) and daytime dysfunction 1.406 (1.077-1.836). There was no association detected between mental health and disease characteristics, as well as reproductive and metabolic indicators in PCOS. LIMITATION: Cross-sectional nature of the data prevents causal associations, selection bias of a hospital-based population. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep-related disorders might be involved in the etiology and development of the anxiety/depression observed in PCOS cases. We propose that management of sleep disorders should be an integral part of the disease management of women with PCOS.

Association of ANRIL polymorphisms with coronary artery disease: A systemic meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The long noncoding RNAs have gradually been reported to be an important class of RNAs with pivotal roles in the development and progression of myocardial infarction (MI). In this study, we hypothesized that genetic variant of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2B antisense RNA (ANRIL) may affect the prognosis of MI patients. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies including 11,269 cases and 10,707 controls on the association of 5 ANRIL single nucleotide polymorphism and the overall risk of MI or coronary artery disease (CAD) was performed. RESULTS: In the meta-analysis, rs4977574 A > G, rs1333040 C > T, rs1333042 A > G and rs10757274 A > G ANRIL polymorphisms were correlated with overall MI or CAD risk. No significant associations were found between ANRIL rs1333049 G > C polymorphism and CAD risk. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that ANRIL polymorphism (rs4977574, rs1333040, rs1333042, and rs10757274) were more generally associated with CAD or MI risk. Further experimental studies to evaluate the limits of this hypothesis are warranted, and future functional studies are required to clarify the possible mechanisms.

Stomatin-like protein 2 (SLP2) regulates the proliferation and invasion of trophoblast cells by modulating mitochondrial functions.

INTRODUCTION: Stomatin-like protein 2 (SLP2) is highly expressed in human first trimester trophoblast cells, but its functions in placental morpho-physiology remain unknown. This study aimed to determine the role of SLP2 in the proliferation and invasion of human first trimester trophoblast cells. METHODS: Immunofluorescence was used to determine the expression and localization of SLP2 in normal and miscarriage human first trimester placenta. Western blot was used to determine the expression of SLP2, PCNA, Cyclin D3, N-cadherin, Vimentin, PGC1α and PPARα in HTR-8/SVneo cells. SLP2 was knocked down in the HTR-8/SVneo cells by using si-Slp2. Wound healing and migration assays were used to determine the effect of SLP2 knockdown on the migration and invasion in the HTR-8/SVneo cells. Mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species (ROS), ATP production and biogenesis were measured to assess the effects of SLP2 knockdown on mitochondrial functions. RESULT: SLP2 was strongly expressed in the cytotrophoblasts (CTB), syncytiotrophoblast (STB) and extravillous trophoblasts (EVT) of normal pregnancy placenta as compared to miscarriage placenta. SLP2 was highly expressed in the invasive EVT cell lines, HTR-8/SVneo and HPT-8 compared to the CTB cell line JAR. Knockdown of SLP2 significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of HTR-8/SVneo cells and placental villous explants, and repressed mitochondrial biogenesis and functions in HTR-8/SVneo cells. DISCUSSION: Silencing of SLP2 inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of HTR-8/SVneo cells via the impairment of mitochondrial functions. This indicates that the downregulation of SLP2 in miscarriage placenta could be part of the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of the disease.

Multiple risks analysis for aplastic anemia in Zhejiang, China: A case-control study.

To understand the risks associated with aplastic anemia (AA) in 4 cities of Zhejiang Province, China, with special focus on the joint contributions of multiple risks.Based on an Electronic Data Capture (EDC), a case control study was carried out. Data regarding socio-demographic, diseases history, living habits, and exposures to toxic substances, etc., were collected through survey questionnaires. t Test, chi-square test, or non-parametric rank sum test, and univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were conducted to analyze data.The univariate logistic regression analysis results indicated that among all study participants (n = 1802), AA was associated with over 30 risks, in terms of their individual behaviors, daily and environmental exposures, diseases history, and family history. Multivariate logistic regression analysis further confirmed that the independent risks related to AA included presence of chemical factory within 3 km of living residence (odds ratio [OR] = 8.73, 95% CI: 1.42-53.74, P = .019), living in a newly decorated house/apartment (OR = 25.37, 95% CI: 4.44-144.81, P < .001), vegetarian diet (OR = 131.60, 95% CI: 3.45-5020.16, P = .009), preference of sugar (OR = 89.38, 95% CI: 7.22-1106.44, P < .001), preference of oily food (OR = 55.68, 95% CI: 5.12-605.26, P = .001), drinking lake water or pond water (OR = 58.05, 95% CI: 3.21-1049.81, P < .001), habit of staying up late (OR = 11.87, 95% CI: 3.43-41.02, P < .001), infection history (OR = 10.08, 95% CI: 2.75-36.93, P < .001). Result of receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis on the joint contribution of multiple risks indicated that AA was 13.835 times likely to occur when exposed to ≥1 risks than those exposed to 0 risks (95% CI: 9.995-19.149).Our study results demonstrated a comprehensive epidemiological pattern, in which the joint contributions of individual inherited health status, environment exposure, and individual behaviors lead to the occurrence of AA.