Predictive value of prenatal ultrasound combined with long non-coding RNA CRNDE of women for their postpartum lower extremity deep venous thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common complication in obstetrics that needs early interaction. The study examined the expression change and clinical value of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) colorectal neoplasia differentially expressed (CRNDE) in DVT early diagnosis. METHODS: One hundred patients with DVT after delivery and 100 healthy parturients without DVT were enrolled. Serum samples were collected one day before delivery and received qRT-PCR for mRNA detection. Prenatal coagulation markers including prothrombin time (PT), activated partial prothrombin time (APTT), fibrinogen (FIB) and thrombin time (TT), D-dimer (D-D), thrombomodulin (TM), and peroxidase anti-peroxidase soluble complex (PAP) were tested. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn for the diagnostic value assessment. RESULTS: LncRNA CRNDE levels increased remarkably in the serum of DVT patients compared with the healthy controls, which were negatively correlated with serum concentration of PT, APTT, and TT while positively correlated with FIB, D-D, TM, and PAP. Serum CRNDE (HR = 5.973, 95% CI = 2.990-11.933, p < .001) was independently related to the occurrence of DVT after delivery. Then, ROC curve using serum CRNDE showed a good diagnostic value for DVT with the AUC of 0.899. ROC curve of ultrasonography combined with CRNDE produced an AUC of 0.968, and both sensitivity and specificity were enhanced compared to a single indicator. CONCLUSIONS: The increase of CRNDE level was an independent risk factor for postpartum DVT. Prenatal ultrasonography combined with CRNDE can improve the predictive efficacy for DVT.

Volatile flavor behavior characterization of Hericium erinaceus during postharvest storage using E-nose, HS-GC-IMS, and HS-SPME-GC-MS after treated with electron-beam generated X-ray irradiation.

Flavor alteration is a crucial factor affecting the quality of mushrooms during preservation. The dynamic variations of volatile profiles of fresh Hericium erinaceus with electron-beam generated X-ray irradiation were investigated by combining E-nose, headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS), and headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). E-nose analysis achieved rapid discrimination in all treatments over storage time. 65 and 73 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified by HS-GC-IMS and HS-SPME-GC-MS, respectively. Thereinto, 1-octen-3-ol, 1-octen-3-one, and 2-octanone were screened out as the characteristic VOCs, which contents declined during storage. While the contents of (E)-2-octenal, (E)-2-nonenal, and 1-octanol increased. The flavor profile changes from distinct mushroom and floral odor to an intense alcohol and fatty odor. Notably, one-kGy irradiation remained more volatiles and denser mushroom odor after storage. Multivariate analysis further confirmed that 1.0 kGy irradiation contributed to the overall aroma retention during postharvest storage of H. erinaceus.

Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Properties of Frankincense: Implications for Anticancer Therapy.

The discovery of novel antitumor agents derived from natural plants is a principal objective of anticancer drug research. Frankincense, a widely recognized natural antitumor medicine, has undergone a systematic review encompassing its species, chemical constituents, and diverse pharmacological activities and mechanisms. The different species of frankincense include Boswellia serrata, Somali frankincense, Boswellia frereana, and Boswellia arabica. Various frankincense extracts and compounds exhibit antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties and antioxidation, memory enhancement, and immunological regulation capabilities. They also have comprehensive effects on regulating flora. Frankincense and its principal chemical constituents have demonstrated promising chemoprophylactic and therapeutic abilities against tumors. This review provides a systematic summary of the mechanism of action underlying the antitumor effects of frankincense and its major constituents, thus laying the foundations for developing effective tumor-combating targets.

Associations between OGTT results during pregnancy and offspring TSH levels: a birth cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Limited evidence exists regarding the association between gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and elevated levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in newborns. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the potential risk of elevated TSH levels in infants exposed to maternal GDM, considering the type and number of abnormal values obtained from the 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). METHODS: A population-based, prospective birth cohort study was conducted in Wuhan, China. The study included women who underwent GDM screening using a 75-g OGTT. Neonatal TSH levels were measured via a time-resolved immunofluorescence assay. We estimated and stratified the overall risk (adjusted Risk Ratio [RR]) of elevated TSH levels (defined as TSH > 10 mIU/L or > 20 mIU/L) in offspring based on the type and number of abnormal OGTT values. RESULTS: Out of 15,236 eligible mother-offspring pairs, 11.5% (1,753) of mothers were diagnosed with GDM. Offspring born to women diagnosed with GDM demonstrated a statistically significant elevation in TSH levels when compared to offspring of non-GDM mothers, with a mean difference of 0.20 [95% CI: 0.04-0.36]. The incidence of elevated TSH levels (TSH > 10 mIU/L) in offspring of non-GDM women was 6.3 per 1,000 live births. Newborns exposed to mothers with three abnormal OGTT values displayed an almost five-fold increased risk of elevated TSH levels (adjusted RR 4.77 [95% CI 1.64-13.96]). Maternal fasting blood glucose was independently and positively correlated with neonatal TSH levels and elevated TSH status (TSH > 20 mIU/L). CONCLUSIONS: For newborns of women with GDM, personalized risk assessment for elevated TSH levels can be predicated on the type and number of abnormal OGTT values. Furthermore, fasting blood glucose emerges as a critical predictive marker for elevated neonatal TSH status.

Frustrated Lewis pairs on pentacoordinated Al3+-enriched Al2O3 promote heterolytic hydrogen activation and hydrogenation.

As an emerging class of metal-free catalysts, frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) catalysts have been greatly constructed and applied in many fields. Homogeneous FLPs have witnessed significant development, while limited heterogeneous FLPs catalysts are available. Herein, we report that heterogeneous FLPs on pentacoordinated Al3+-enriched Al2O3 readily promote the heterolytic activation of H2 and thus hydrogenation catalysis. The defect-rich Al2O3 was prepared by simple calcination of a carboxylate-containing Al precursor. Combinatorial studies confirmed the presence of rich FLPs on the surface of the defective Al2O3. In contrast to conventional alumina (γ-Al2O3), the FLP-containing Al2O3 can activate H2 in the absence of any transition metal species. More importantly, H2 was activated by surface FLPs in a heterolytic pathway, leading to the hydrogenation of styrene in a stepwise process. This work paves the way for the exploration of more underlying heterogeneous FLPs catalysts and further understanding of accurate active sites and catalytic mechanisms of heterogeneous FLPs at the molecular level.

Pan-transcriptomic analysis reveals alternative splicing control of cold tolerance in rice.

Plants have evolved complex mechanisms to adapt to harsh environmental conditions. Rice (Oryza sativa) is a staple food crop that is sensitive to low temperatures. However, its cold stress responses remain poorly understood, thus limiting possibilities for crop engineering to achieve greater cold tolerance. In this study, we constructed a rice pan-transcriptome and characterized its transcriptional regulatory landscape in response to cold stress. We performed Iso-Seq and RNA-Seq of 11 rice cultivars subjected to a time-course cold treatment. Our analyses revealed that alternative splicing-regulated gene expression plays a significant role in the cold stress response. Moreover, we identified CATALASE C (OsCATC) and Os03g0701200 as candidate genes for engineering enhanced cold tolerance. Importantly, we uncovered central roles for the 2 serine-arginine-rich proteins OsRS33 and OsRS2Z38 in cold tolerance. Our analysis of cold tolerance and resequencing data from a diverse collection of 165 rice cultivars suggested that OsRS2Z38 may be a key selection gene in japonica domestication for cold adaptation, associated with the adaptive evolution of rice. This study systematically investigated the distribution, dynamic changes, and regulatory mechanisms of alternative splicing in rice under cold stress. Overall, our work generates a rich resource with broad implications for understanding the genetic basis of cold response mechanisms in plants.

Multi-Omics Approach Reveals OsPIL1 as a Regulator Promotes Rice Growth, Grain Development, and Blast Resistance.

Rice (Oryza sativa) is a crucial crop, achieving high yield concurrent pathogen resistance remains a challenge. Transcription factors play roles in growth and abiotic tolerance. However, rice phytochrome-interacting factor-like 1 (OsPIL1) in pathogen resistance and agronomic traits remains unexplored. We generated OsPIL1 overexpressing (OsPIL1 OE) rice lines and evaluated their impact on growth, grain development, and resistance to Magnaporthe oryzae. Multiomics analysis (RNA-seq, metabolomics, and CUT&Tag) and RT-qPCR validated OsPIL1 target genes and key metabolites. In the results, OsPIL1 OE rice lines exhibited robust growth, longer grains, and enhanced resistance to M. oryzae without compromising growth. Integrative multiomics analysis revealed a coordinated regulatory network centered on OsPIL1, explaining these desirable traits. OsPIL1 likely acts as a positive regulator, targeting transcriptional elements or specific genes with direct functions in several biological programs. In particular, a range of key signaling genes (phosphatases, kinases, plant hormone genes, transcription factors), and metabolites (linolenic acid, vitamin E, trigonelline, d-glucose, serotonin, choline, genistein, riboflavin) contributed to enhanced rice growth, grain size, pathogen resistance, or a combination of these traits. These findings highlight OsPIL1's regulatory role in promoting important traits and provide insights into potential strategies for rice breeding.

Modified Bushen Yiqi Formula mitigates pulmonary inflammation and airway remodeling by inhibiting neutrophils chemotaxis and IL17 signaling pathway in rats with COPD.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major global health concern characterized by pulmonary inflammation and airway remodeling. Traditional Chinese medicine, such as Modified Jiawei Bushen Yiqi Formula (MBYF), has been used as a complementary therapy for COPD in China. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the therapeutic potential of MBYF in a rat model of COPD induced by cigarette smoke (CS) exposure and explore the underlying mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The COPD rat model was established through 24 weeks of CS exposure, with MBYF administration starting in the 9th week. Pulmonary function, histological analysis, inflammatory cell count and molecular assays were employed to assess the effects of MBYF on airway remodeling, pulmonary inflammation, neutrophils chemotaxis and the IL17 signaling pathway. RESULTS: MBYF treatment effectively delayed airway remodeling, as evidenced by improved pulmonary function parameters. Histological examination and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid analysis revealed that MBYF mitigated CS-induced pulmonary inflammation by reducing inflammatory cell infiltration. Pharmacological network analysis suggested that MBYF may act through the IL17 signaling pathway to regulate inflammatory responses. RNA-sequencing and molecular assays indicated that MBYF inhibited neutrophils chemotaxis through downregulating the CXCL1/CXCL5/CXCL8-CXCR2 axis, and suppressed IL17A, IL17F and its downstream cytokines, including IL6, TNFα, IL1ß, and COX2. Furthermore, MBYF inhibited the activation of NF-κB and MAPKs in the IL17 signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: MBYF exhibits potential as an adjunct or alternative treatment for COPD, effectively mitigating CS-induced pulmonary inflammation and airway remodeling through the inhibition of neutrophil chemotaxis and IL17 signaling pathway.

ZmEREB92 plays a negative role in seed germination by regulating ethylene signaling and starch mobilization in maize.

Rapid and uniform seed germination is required for modern cropping system. Thus, it is important to optimize germination performance through breeding strategies in maize, in which identification for key regulators is needed. Here, we characterized an AP2/ERF transcription factor, ZmEREB92, as a negative regulator of seed germination in maize. Enhanced germination in ereb92 mutants is contributed by elevated ethylene signaling and starch degradation. Consistently, an ethylene signaling gene ZmEIL7 and an α-amylase gene ZmAMYa2 are identified as direct targets repressed by ZmEREB92. OsERF74, the rice ortholog of ZmEREB92, shows conserved function in negatively regulating seed germination in rice. Importantly, this orthologous gene pair is likely experienced convergently selection during maize and rice domestication. Besides, mutation of ZmEREB92 and OsERF74 both lead to enhanced germination under cold condition, suggesting their regulation on seed germination might be coupled with temperature sensitivity. Collectively, our findings uncovered the ZmEREB92-mediated regulatory mechanism of seed germination in maize and provide breeding targets for maize and rice to optimize seed germination performance towards changing climates.

A Fresh Perspective on the Impact of ZnTiO3 Coupling on the Microstructure and Photocatalytic Properties of TiO2 Fabricated at Varied Temperatures.

ZnTiO3/TiO2 composite photocatalysts were synthesized via the sol-gel technique, and the impact of varying heat treatment temperatures (470, 570, 670 °C) on their crystalline arrangement, surface morphology, elemental composition, chemical state, specific surface area, optical characteristics, and photocatalytic efficacy was systematically investigated. The outcomes revealed that, as the temperature ascends, pure TiO2 undergoes a transition from anatase to rutile, ultimately forming a hybrid crystal structure at 670 °C. The incorporation of ZnTiO3 engenders a reduction in the TiO2 grain dimensions and retards the anatase-to-rutile phase transition. Consequently, the specimens manifest a composite constitution of anatase and ZnTiO3. In contrast, for pure TiO2, the specimen subjected to 670 °C annealing demonstrates superior photocatalytic performance due to its amalgamated crystal arrangement. The degradation efficacy of methylene blue (MB) aqueous solution attains 91% within a 60-min interval, with a calculated first-order reaction rate constant of 0.039 min-1. Interestingly, the ZnTiO3/TiO2 composite photocatalysts exhibit diminished photocatalytic activity in comparison to pristine TiO2 across all three temperature variations. Elucidation of the photocatalytic mechanism underscores that ZnTiO3 coupling augments the generation of photogenerated charge carriers. Nonetheless, concurrently, it undermines the crystalline integrity of the composite, yielding an excess of amorphous constituents that impede the mobility of photoinduced carriers. This dual effect also fosters escalated recombination of photogenerated charges, culminating in diminished quantum efficiency and reduced photocatalytic performance.

Exploring the Mechanisms of Modified Bu-Shen-Yi-Qi Decoction for COPD-Related Osteoporosis Therapy via Transcriptomics and Network Pharmacology Approach.

Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness of modified Bu-Shen-Yi-Qi decoction (MBSYQ) in the treatment of osteoporosis associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its underlying mechanisms of action. Methods: Disease targets, active ingredients and targets were predicted by TTD, CTD, DisGeNET, HERB (BenCaoZuJian as its Chinese name), and multiple-TCM databases; In addition, the screened targets were performed via the online platforms DAVID 6.8 and Metascape for GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis; The relationship between the MBSYQ and core targets were verified by molecular docking technique. Then we established a COPD-associated osteoporosis rat model by passive 24-week cigarette exposure. We assessed the efficacy of MBSYQ by lung histopathology assessment and distal femur/the first lumbar vertebra (L1) microstructural assay. In addition, we performed tibial RNA sequencing, which was validated by RT-PCR and Western blot. Results: Screening revealed that the 350 active compounds of MBSYQ anchored 228 therapeutic targets for COPD-related osteoporosis; KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that the key targets mainly regulated MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. In vivo studies showed that MBSYQ treatment alleviated pathological alterations in lung tissue, and reversed the bone loss and microstructure damage in the femur/L1 of model rats. The RNA seq indicated that MBSYQ could upregulate genes associated with anti-oxidative stress and aerobic respiration. The GSEA analysis displayed that MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways were inhibited by CS exposure and activated by MBSYQ. Conclusion: MBSYQ is effective in the prevention and treatment of COPD-related osteoporosis, partially achieved by improving oxygen metabolism and activating MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways.

Independent and interactive effects of ozone and thermal inversion exposure on the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus in Wuhan, China.

The adverse effects of exposure to thermal inversion (TI) and ozone (O3) on human health have been reported; however, there are few studies have explored the independent and potential interactive effects of them on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). A total of 31,262 pregnant women from the Wuhan Children's Hospital covering the period from 2017 to 2021 were included in this study. The logistic regression adjusted for the covariates was applied to explore the independent effect of exposure to O3 and TI on GDM. The relative excess risk due to the interaction (RERI) analysis was applied to assess the possible interactive effect. Per 10 µg/m3 increased in O3 (OR = 1.069, 95% CI: 1.049, 1.089) during the first trimester and per 10 days increased in TI (OR = 1.041, 95% CI: 1.005, 1.080) in the second trimester were significantly associated with the risk of GDM. The synergistic effect of exposure to TI and O3 was larger than their sum effect (RERI = 0.330, 95% CI: 0.170, 0.476). This study added further support for public health-related policy to improve maternal health by curbing TI and O3.

Benign breast disease with malignant imaging features: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic mastopathy is a rare breast condition that occurs in women with poorly controlled diabetes and is characterized by hardening of the breast tissue. The purpose of this case report is to provide an overview of the clinical characteristics and therapeutic principles of this rare disease to support front-line physicians in their crucial activity of case identification. CASE PRESENTATION: A 64-year-old Asian female patient with a history of type II diabetes mellitus was referred to our clinic for an evaluation of a newly discovered breast mass. The patient had been diagnosed with diabetes more than 20 years prior and was being managed with oral hypoglycemic agents. Her past medical history was otherwise unremarkable. Physical examination of the breast revealed a palpable, mobile, and firm mass measuring 6 × 4 cm in the upper quadrant of the right breast. Ultrasound images showed an uneven hypoechoic nodule, BI-RADS 4B. Mammography showed the compact and flaky nature of the two breasts and the heterogeneity of the substantive density increases. The patient's clinical manifestations and imaging findings suggest the possibility of breast cancer. The patient opted for surgical excision of the mass. Through surgery, the mass was completely excised with negative margins. Pathological examination of the mass revealed a proliferation of fibroblastic cells, with an increased nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, consistent with a diagnosis of diabetic mastopathy. CONCLUSIONS: This case report serves to highlight the importance of recognizing diabetic mastopathy as a possible differential diagnosis of a breast mass in patients with diabetes mellitus. In our patient, early diagnosis and treatment with lumpectomy resulted in a favorable outcome, emphasizing the importance of prompt medical and surgical management. In addition, more research is needed to mine the diagnostic marker of diabetic mastopathy and provide data related to its prognosis.

Astragaloside IV Inhibits NLRP3 Inflammasome-Mediated Pyroptosis via Activation of Nrf-2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway and Protects against Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiac Dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Doxorubicin (DOX) is an effective broad-spectrum antitumor drug, but its clinical application is limited due to the side effects of cardiac damage. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is a significant active component of Astragalus membranaceus that exerts cardioprotective effects through various pathways. However, whether AS-IV exerts protective effects against DOX-induced myocardial injury by regulating the pyroptosis is still unknown and is investigated in this study. METHODS: The myocardial injury model was constructed by intraperitoneal injection of DOX, and AS-IV was administered via oral gavage to explore its specific protective mechanism. Cardiac function and cardiac injury indicators, including lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and histopathology of the cardiomyocytes were assessed 4 weeks post DOX challenge. Serum levels of IL-1ß, IL-18, superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) and the expression of pyroptosis and signaling proteins were also determined. RESULTS: Cardiac dysfunction was observed after the DOX challenge, as evidenced by reduced ejection fraction, increased myocardial fibrosis, and increased BNP, LDH, cTnI, and CK-MB levels (p < 0.05, N = 3-10). AS-IV attenuated DOX-induced myocardial injury. The mitochondrial morphology and structure were also significantly damaged after DOX treatment, and these changes were restored after AS-IV treatment. DOX induced an increase in the serum levels of IL-1ß, IL-18, SOD, MDA and GSH as well as an increase in the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins (p < 0.05, N = 3-6). Besides, AS-IV depressed myocardial inflammatory-related pyroptosis via activation of the expressions of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) (p < 0.05, N = 3). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that AS-IV had a significant protective effect against DOX-induced myocardial injury, which may be associated with the activation of Nrf-2/HO-1 to inhibit pyroptosis.

Protein powder supplementation in early pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: Protein powder has attracted attention due to its possible adverse effects. We aimed to investigate the association of protein powder supplementation in early pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk. Methods: We included 6897 participants with singleton pregnancies from a prospective birth cohort. Protein powder supplementation and GDM relationships were examined by unadjusted and multivariable analysis, 1 : 2 propensity score matching, and inverse probability weighting (IPW). A multinomial logistic regression model was used to further explore the effects of protein powder supplementation on the risk of GDM subtypes. Results: Overall, 14.6% of pregnant women (1010) were diagnosed with GDM. In the crude and multivariable analysis before propensity score matching, participants who had received protein powder supplements were more likely to have GDM than women who did not (OR, 1.39 [95% CI: 1.07-1.79]; OR, 1.32 [95% CI: 1.01-1.72]). Protein powder supplementation was significantly associated with a higher GDM risk on IPW analysis (OR, 1.41 [95% CI, 1.08-1.83]), propensity score matching analysis (OR, 1.40 [95% CI, 1.01-1.93]) and multivariable analysis adjusted for propensity score (OR, 1.53 [95% CI, 1.10-2.12]). In the multinomial logistic regression model, protein powder supplementation was only positively associated with the risk of GDM with isolated fasting hyperglycaemia (IFH) in the crude and multivariable models (OR, 1.87 [95% CI: 1.29-2.73]; OR, 1.82 [95% CI: 1.23-2.68]). Conclusions: Protein powder supplementation in early pregnancy is significantly associated with a greater risk of GDM, especially for GDM-IFH. Additional comparative studies are needed to validate these findings.

Autologous i-PRF promotes healing of radiation-induced skin injury.

Skin, as an exposed tissue, often suffers damage after exposure to radiotherapy and accidental events, which may lead to the formation of chronic refractory wounds. However, effective treatment options are usually limited for severe radiation-induced skin injury (RSI). Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been identified to promote wound healing, but whether a new generation of blood-derived biomaterial, injectable platelet-rich fibrin (i-PRF), is effective in repairing RSI remains unclear. In this study, blood was drawn from humans and Sprague-Dawley rats to prepare PRP and i-PRF, and the regenerative functions of PRP and i-PRF were investigated by exposing the dorsal skin of SD rats to local radiation (45 Gy) and exposing HDF-α cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cells to X-rays (10 Gy). The healing effect of i-PRF on RSI was analysed by tube formation assay, cell migration and apoptosis assays, ROS assay, wound healing assay, histological characterisation and immunostaining. The results showed that exposure to high doses of radiation reduced cell viability, increased ROS levels and induced cell apoptosis, thereby causing dorsal trauma of rats. However, both PRP and i-PRF could resisted RSI, and they were capable of reducing inflammation and promoting angiogenesis and vascular regeneration. i-PRF has a higher concentration of platelets and platelet-derived growth factors, which has a more convenient preparation method and better repair effect and possesses a good application prospect for the repair of RSI.

Synergic effects of PM1 and thermal inversion on the incidence of small for gestational age infants: a weekly-based assessment.

BACKGROUND: The synergic effects of thermal inversion (TI) and particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤1 µm (PM1) exposure and incidence of small for gestational age (SGA) was not clear. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore the independent effects of prenatal TI and PM1 exposure on incidence of SGA and their potential interactive effects. METHODS: A total of 27,990 pregnant women who delivered in Wuhan Children's Hospital from 2017 to 2020 were included. The daily mean concentration of PM1 was obtained from ChinaHighAirPollutants (CHAP) and matched with the residential address of each woman. Data on TI was derived from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The independent effects of PM1 and TI exposures on SGA in each gestational week were estimated by the distributed lag model (DLM) nested in Cox regression model, and the potential interactive effects of PM1 and TI on SGA were investigated by adapting the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) index. RESULTS: Per 10 µg/m3 increase in PM1 was associated with an increase in the risk of SGA at 1-3 and 17-23 gestational weeks, with the strongest effect at the first gestational week (HR = 1.043, 95%CI: 1.008, 1.078). Significant links between one day increase of TI and SGA were found at the 1-4 and 13-23 gestational weeks and the largest effects were observed at the 17th gestational week (HR = 1.018, 95%CI: 1.009, 1.027). Synergistic effects of PM1 and TI on SGA were detected in the 20th gestational week, with RERI of 0.208 (95%CI: 0.033,0.383). IMPACT STATEMENT: Both prebirth PM1 and TI exposure were significantly associated with SGA. Simultaneous exposure to PM1 and TI might have synergistic effect on SGA. The second trimester seems to be a sensitive window of environmental and air pollution exposure.

Quantitative CT Metrics for the Prediction of Therapeutic Effect in Asthma.

Background: Few studies have explored the correlation between asthma medication and features on HRCT images. We aim to analyse the differences and temporal changes of lung function and airway resistance in asthma with diverse HRCT phenotypes in a short period after inhalation of budesonide/formoterol. Method: This observational study recruited 55 adult patients with varying severities of asthma. We performed detailed airway metrics measurements of chest CT scans, such as airway wall thickness (WT), wall area percentage (WA%), wall thickness percentage (T/OR), and airways with an inner perimeter of 10 mm (Pi10). The effect of lung structural features on asthma medication response was explored according to the WA% and T/OR twelve hours post-drug administration. Using multivariable regression models, we then assessed the influence of WA% on lung function. Results: WA% (p < 0.001) and T/OR (p < 0.001) significantly increased in asthma than in healthy control subjects. Compared to mild asthma, airway walls were further thickened (WA%, p = 0.023; T/OR: p = 0.029) and associated with lumen narrowing (Pi10, p = 0.055) in moderate to severe asthma. WA% and T/OR correlated well with lung function (FEV1, FVC, MMEF, and PEF) and airway resistance (R5, R20, Rp, and Fres). Regression analysis showed that MEF25 decreased with increasing age and WA% (R2 = 0.58, p < 0.001). Patients with thickened airway walls experienced a maximal increase in FVC, FEV1, and PEF at 2 h (p < 0.001) and a maximal decrease of R5, Z5, and Rp at 2 h (p < 0.001) in those with a thickened airway pattern. Conclusions: Asthma patients with different bronchial wall thicknesses exhibited variable lung function changes. Specifically, patients with thick airway wall patterns were more sensitive to inhaled budesonide in the short term.

Effectiveness of combination therapy of broadband light and intradermal injection of tranexamic acid in the treatment of chloasma.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of broadband light (BBL) combined with intradermal injection of tranexamic acid for treating melasma. METHODS: 120 women with melasma admitted to our hospital from January 2021 to April 2022 were randomly categorized into the following groups: control group, treated with 250 mg tranexamic acid given orally twice daily, except during menstruation; group I, treated with BBL (Sciton, Inc., USA) monthly; group II, received intradermal injections of tranexamic acid monthly; and group III, treated with BBL with intradermal injection of tranexamic acid monthly. Treatment in each group lasted three months. The MASI (Melasma Area Severity Index) and VISIA (Canfield VISIA Complexion Analysis) were used for evaluation. RESULTS: After treatment course, MASI scores and VISIA brown spot and red zone ranking improved in all four groups (p < 0.05). The decrease in MASI scores and improvement rates of VISIA brown spot and red zone rankings were not significantly different among the control group, group I, and group II; however, the decreased MASI scores and improvement rates of VISIA brown spot and red zone rankings were significantly higher in group III than in the other three groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The effect of BBL combined with the intradermal injection of TA in the treatment of melasma is remarkable. This combination therapy can be an alternative and effective treatment for managing melasma.

Transcriptional data analysis reveals the association between infantile hemangiomas and venous malformations.

Background: Infantile hemangiomas (IH) and venous malformations (VM) are the most common types of vascular abnormalities that seriously affect the health of children. Although there is evidence that these two diseases share some common genetic changes, the underlying mechanisms need to be further studied. Methods: The microarray datasets of IH (GSE127487) and VM (GSE7190) were downloaded from GEO database. Extensive bioinformatics methods were used to investigate the common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of IH and VM, and to estimate their Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. Trough the constructing of protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, gene models and hub genes were obtained by using Cytoscape and STRING. Finally, we analyzed the co-expression and the TF-mRNA-microRNA regulatory network of hub genes. Results: A total of 144 common DEGs were identified between IH and VM. Functional analysis indicated their important role in cell growth, regulation of vasculature development and regulation of angiogenesis. Five hub genes (CTNNB1, IL6, CD34, IGF2, MAPK11) and two microRNA (has-miR-141-3p, has-miR-150-5p) were significantly differentially expressed between IH and normal control (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, our study investigated the common DEGs and molecular mechanism in IH and VM. Identified hub genes and signaling pathways can regulate both diseases simultaneously. This study provides insight into the crosstalk of IH and VM and obtains several biomarkers relevant to the diagnosis and pathophysiology of vascular abnormalities.