Development, Validation and Clinical Utility of a Risk Prediction Model for Maternal and Neonatal Adverse Outcomes in Pregnant Women with Hypothyroidism.

Purpose: This study aimed to create, verify and assess the clinical utility of a prediction model for maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes in pregnant women with hypothyroidism. Methods: A prediction model was developed, and its accuracy was tested using data from a retrospective cohort. The study focused exclusively on female patients diagnosed with hypothyroidism who were admitted to a tertiary hospital. The development and validation cohort comprised individuals who gave birth between 1 October 2020 and 31 December 2022. The primary outcome was a combination of crucial maternal and newborn problems (eg premature births, abortions and neonatal asphyxia). The prediction model was developed using logistic regression. Evaluation of the model's performance was conducted based on its ability to discriminate, calibrate and provide clinical value. Results: In total, nine variables were chosen to develop the predictive model for adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes during pregnancy with hypothyroidism. The area under the curve of the model for predicting maternal adverse outcomes was 0.845, and that for predicting neonatal adverse outcomes was 0.685. The calibration plots showed good agreement between the nomogram predictions and the actual observations in both the training and validation cohorts. Furthermore, decision curve analysis suggested that the nomograms were clinically useful and had good discriminative power to identify high-risk mother-infant cases. Conclusion: Two models to predict the risk probability of maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes in pregnant women with hypothyroidism were developed and verified to assist physicians in evaluating maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes throughout pregnancy with hypothyroidism and to facilitate decision-making regarding therapy.

Fine mapping of the grain chalkiness quantitative trait locus qCGP6 reveals the involvement of Wx in grain chalkiness formation.

Grain chalkiness is an important index of rice appearance quality and is negatively associated with rice processing and eating quality. However, the genetic mechanism underlying chalkiness formation is largely unknown. To identify the genetic basis of chalkiness, 410 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from two representative indica rice varieties, Shuhui498 (R498) and Yihui3551 (R3551), were used to discover quantitative trait loci (QTLs). The two parental lines and RILs were grown in three locations in China under three controlled fertilizer application levels. Analyses indicated that chalkiness was significantly affected by genotype, the environment, and the interaction between the two, and that heritability was high. Several QTLs were isolated, including the two stable QTLs qCGP6 and qCGP8. Fine mapping and candidate gene verification of qCGP6 showed that Wx may play a key role in chalkiness formation. Chromosomal segment substitution lines (CSSLs) and near-isogenic lines (NILs) carrying the Wxa or Wxin allele produced more chalky grain than the R498 parent. A similar result was also observed in the 3611 background. Notably, the effect of the Wx genotype on rice chalkiness was shown to be dependent on environmental conditions, and Wx alleles exhibited different sensitivities to shading treatment. Using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated 9 (Cas9), the Wxa promoter region was successfully edited; down-regulating Wx alleviates chalkiness formation in NILR498-Wxa. This study developed a new strategy for synergistic improvement of eating and appearance qualities in rice, and created a novel Wx allele with great potential in breeding applications.

MiRNA-182-5p aggravates experimental ulcerative colitis via sponging Claudin-2.

Tight junction proteins play crucial roles in maintaining the integrity of intestinal mucosal barrier. MiRNA-182-5p is capable of targeting claudin-2 which is one of the vital tight junction proteins and the effect and mechanism of miRNA-182-5p was explored here in the DSS-induced colitis model. The pathological conditions were evaluated via hematoxylin and eosin staining. The gene expression level was assessed via PCR. Quantitative immunohistochemistry analysis was performed for the measurement of claudin-2. microRNA.org online tool was used for target gene prediction. Luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assay were performed to detect the target of miRNA-182-5p. The inflammatory and oxidative stress level were measured using corresponding kits. MiRNA-182-5p was highly expressed in colitis model and miRNA-182-5p inhibitor exerted protective effects on colitis induced by DSS in mice. The protective effects includded improvement of pathological changes, increases in anti-inflammation and anti-oxidative genes, and up-regulation of TGF-ß1. Claudin-2 mRNA was predicted as the target of miRNA-182-5p, which was validated via luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assay. Claudin-2 overexpression was found in miRNA-182-5p inhibitor group. Consistent with the role of miRNA-182-5p, claudin-2 overexpression also exerted protective effects on DSS-induced colitis in mice. Inhibition of miRNA-182-5p exerted protective effects on colitis via targeting and upregulating claudin-2. The findings in study provide a new therapeutic strategy for colitis treatment and lay the foundation for future study.

Ecological adaptability and population growth tolerance characteristics of Carex cinerascens in response to water level changes in Poyang Lake, China.

Water level conditions are the key factors that affect the growth and distribution of wetland plants. Using Carex cinerascens (C. cinerascens) as the study species, we employ indoor simulations and field surveys. Our results show that C. cinerascens can adapt to rhythmic changes in the water level through different adaptation strategies. Compared to that of the control group, plant growth was better with a 0-0.4 cm/d water level rate, and plant growth was in the 42-56 cm range to that a 1.0-1.4 cm/d water level rate. Furthermore, it was observed that 0-0.4 cm/d was the most suitable growth rate, with 0.6-1.0 cm/d and 0-32 cm being the ideal plant tolerance ranges, and increasing to 1.0-1.4 cm/d and 32-56 cm exceeds the plant tolerance threshold. In the middle and late period of the experiment (25-45 d), the ecological characteristics of the plants changed significantly. For example, the root-to-shoot ratio of the plant in the stable water level reached 26.1. In our field observations, plant biomass can be influenced by a variety of environmental factors. The frequency of the species was the largest at an elevation of 15 m, and the growth status of the dominant and companion species of C. cinerascens was weakened with an increase in soil moisture content. The suitable water content for C. cinerascens growth was 27.6-57.3%, the distribution elevation was 12.54-16.59 m, and the optimum elevation was 13.56-15.54 m. The study is expected to provide a reference for wetland ecology research and wetland protection and restoration, a theoretical reference for the coordination of water resource development and utilization of Poyang Lake and ecological protection of important lakes and wetlands, and an important scientific basis for wetland hydrologic regulation, ecological restoration and biodiversity conservation.

Use of life cycle assessment and water quality analysis to evaluate the environmental impacts of the bioremediation of polluted water.

The lakes along the Yangtze River are important source of pollutants that ultimately flow from the river into the East China Sea. Bioremediation is a green technology used to treat polluted water in lakes along the Yangtze River. Life cycle assessment and a comprehensive water quality index are used to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of constructed wetlands (CWs), ecological floating beds (EFBs), and combined ecological floating beds (CEFBs). The results showed that the raw material acquisition, construction, and operation of the CWs, EFBs, and CEFBs accounted for 24.1%, 35.3%, and 40.6%, respectively, of the total environmental impact. The acquisition of raw materials to construct the bioremediation system accounted for 51.6% of the total environmental impact. Among the nine impact categories considered, the system's global warming potential was the largest. Among the three stages of the project (raw material acquisition, construction, and operation), construction had the largest impact on eutrophication (the eutrophic potential of the construction stage was the largest). Furthermore, the operation of the project reduced the human eco-toxicity potential. The evaluation of the water quality before and after implementing the project revealed that CEFBs purified the water more effectively than CWs and EFBs did, particularly with respect to the removal of the total phosphorus.

miR-20a regulates sensitivity of colorectal cancer cells to NK cells by targeting MICA.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading cancer-related causes of deaths in the world. Recently, microRNAs have been reported to regulate the tumor growth, invasion and the immunosuppression. In the present study, we found that miR-20a was increased in human CRC specimens compared with the healthy normal tissues. However, miR-20a overexpression and knockdown did not impair the CRC cell growth in vitro Our results indicated that CD107a+ NK cells are increased in CRC group. Furthermore, cytotoxicity assays demonstrated that miR-20a knockdown promoted the CRC cells sensitive to NK cells, whereas miR-20a overexpression showed the opposite results. Our results suggest that the regulation of NK cells by miR-20a depends on NKG2D. Luciferase reporter assays revealed that the NKG2D ligand Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I-related chain genes A (MICA) is the direct target of miR-20a. Flow cytometry showed the MICA protein level is significantly reduced in miR-20a-overexpressing CRC cells and increased in miR-20a knockdown CRC cells. Taken together, our results suggest that miR-20a regulates sensitivity of CRC cells to NK cells by targeting MICA.

Metabolic profile of phillyrin in rats obtained by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS.

Forsythia suspensa Vahl (Oleaceae) is an important original plant in traditional Chinese medicine. The air-dried fruits of Forsythia suspensa have long been used to relieve respiratory symptoms. Phillyrin is one of the main chemical constituent of Forsythia suspensa. A clear understanding of the metabolism of phillyrin is very important in rational clinical use and pharmacological research. In this study, the metabolism of phillyrin in rat was investigated for the first time using an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) method. Bile, urine and feces were collected from rats after single-dose (10 mg/kg) orally administered phillyrin. Liquid-liquid extraction and ultrasonic extraction were used to prepare samples. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis of the phillyrin samples showed that phillyrin was converted to a major metabolite, M26, which underwent deglucosidation, further dehydration and desaturation. A total of 34 metabolites were detected including 30 phase I and four phase II metabolites. The conjugation types and structure skeletons of the metabolites were preliminarily determined. Moreover, 28 new metabolites were reported for the first time. The main biotransformation route of phillyrin was identified as hydrolysis, oxidation and sulfation. These findings enhance our understanding of the metabolism and the real active structures of phillyrin. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Protective effect of qiliqiangxin capsule on energy metabolism and myocardial mitochondria in pressure overload heart failure rats.

Qiliqiangxin capsule (QL) was developed under the guidance of TCM theory of collateral disease and had been shown to be effective and safe for the treatment of heart failure. The present study explored the role of and mechanism by which the herbal compounds QL act on energy metabolism, in vivo, in pressure overload heart failure. SD rats received ascending aorta constriction (TAC) to establish a model of myocardial hypertrophy. The animals were treated orally for a period of six weeks. QL significantly inhibited cardiac hypertrophy due to ascending aortic constriction and improved hemodynamics. This effect was linked to the expression levels of the signaling factors in connection with upregulated energy and the regulation of glucose and lipid substrate metabolism and with a decrease in metabolic intermediate products and the protection of mitochondrial function. It is concluded that QL may regulate the glycolipid substrate metabolism by activating AMPK/PGC-1 α axis and reduce the accumulation of free fatty acids and lactic acid, to protect cardiac myocytes and mitochondrial function.

[Protective effect of Tongxinluo Ultramicro-pulverization on experimental myocardial infarction of rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of Tongxinluo ultramicro-pulverization (TXLU) on experimental myocardial infarction and platelet aggregation of rats, investigate its mechanisms on ischemia heart disease and offer a reference to clinical usage. METHOD: Rats were separated randomly into 7 groups: sham, model, diltiazem (0.15 mg x kg(-1)), TXL(1.2 g x kg(-1)), TXLU (1.2, 0.6, 0.3 g x kg(-1)). The experimental myocardial infarction was induced with ligating the left anterior descending branch of the coronary of rats. The infarction size was determined after myocardium tissue was stained with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC). And the serum of rats was separated to analyze CK, LDH, SOD, MDA. Another 60 rats were separated randomly into 6 groups: control, aspirin (0.15 mg x kg(-1)), TXL (1.2 g x kg(-1)), TXLU (1.2 ,0.6,0.3 g x kg(-1)). The rat platelet aggregation was induced with adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and collagen to observe the inhibitory effects of TXLU. RESULT: TXLU could relieve the myocardial infarction size and weight stained with TTC significantly, the myocardial infarction size of the three groups of TXLU were (2.7 +/- 2.1)%, (3.4 +/- 1.2)%, (2.8 +/- 1.8)%, compared with model group (8.9 +/- 5.9)%, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01. The myocardial infarction weight of the three groups of TXLU were (8.4 +/- 3.5)%, (8.7 +/- 4.1)%, (9.7 +/- 4.1)%, compared with model group (l2.2 +/- 3.6)% P < 0.05 or P < 0. 01. And the content of MDA and the activities of CK and LDH in rats subjected with ligation of coronary artery were inhibited obviously too, compared with model group P < 0.05 or P < 0.01, then the activity of SOD increased. TXLU could inhibit the maximum percentage of rats platelet aggregation induced with ADP and collagen, the maximum percentage of platelet aggregation induced with ADP were (26.9 +/- 9.2)%, (24.4 +/- 13.4)%, (30.6 +/- 12.2)%, compared with control group (44.3 +/- 15. 7)% P < 0.05 or P < 0.01; The maximum percentage of platelet aggregation induced with collagen were (33.8 +/- 6.9)%, (32.1 +/- 8.3)%, (41.5 +/- 7.8)%, compared with control group (49.2 +/- 15.9)%, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01. CONCLUSION: The experiment results indicated that TXLU could protect myocardial tissue of rats from ischemic injury and the mechanism may be related with antioxidation and inhibiting platelet aggregation, and the results also suggested TXLU could lower clinical dosage.

[Herbalogical textual study on "guanzhong"].

Herbalogical textual study indicated "Guanzhong" recorded in Bencaojing at Han Dynasty had pteridophyte characters. In the period of Wei and Jin Dynasties, the name of "Guanzhong" was really belonged to spermatophyte. Since Southern and Northern Dynasties, fern has been the main source of "Guanzhong" in which Woowardia japonica was used longer than others.