Intra-couple discordance in preconception syphilis screening for both spouses: a national and population-based survey in China, 2013-2018

OBJECTIVE

The antenatal screening strategy remains inadequate for eliminating congenital syphilis. To further eliminate maternal fetal transmission, preconception syphilis screening is considered an option. In this study, we investigated syphilis seropositivity and intra-couple discordance among married couples planning a pregnancy in China to provide essential baseline evidence for preconception syphilis screening.

DESIGN

Population-based survey.

SETTING

National preconception registered data.

POPULATION

Married Chinese couples planning conception within 6 months between 2013 and 2018.

METHODS

Syphilis was screened using rapid plasma reagin (RPR); infection self-reporting and sociodemographic characteristics were collected through questionnaires and medical records, respectively. r 3.2.2 and arcgis 10.2 were used for statistical analyses and geographic mapping.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

RPR seropositivity.

RESULTS

Among 31 955 041 couples, 29 737 172 (93.06%) had complete RPR results for both spouses; of those, 0.62% (186 100) were seropositive, with dramatic intra-couple discordance, with 0.33% positivity in wives, 0.24% positivity in husbands and 0.05% positivity in both spouses. Across time, both seropositivity and intra-couple discordance remained stable. Seropositivity in different regions varied significantly, with provincial rates ranging geographically from Tibet (0.8%) to Hebei (0.2%) (P < 0.05). Economic level was an independent factor for this regional variation, with seropositivity increasing as gross domestic product income decreased (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Intra-couple discordance in seropositivity for syphilis is notable among couples, with a considerable rate of pre-existing syphilis before pregnancy. Thus, screening both spouses during integrated preconception health care is recommended for further eliminating maternal-fetal transmission.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Intra-couple discordance in seropositivity for syphilis is notable among couples, with a considerable rate of pre-existing syphilis before pregnancy. Screening both spouses during integrated preconception health care is recommended to further eliminate maternal-fetal transmission.

The association between the vaginal microenvironment and fecundability: a register-based cohort study among Chinese women

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between the vaginal microenvironment and fecundability among women.

DESIGN

Register-based nationwide cohort study.

SETTING

Chinese National Free Pre-conception Check-up Project from 2015 to 2018.

POPULATION

Our study included a total of 3 388 554 eligible women who were attempting to become pregnant.

METHOD

We assessed the vaginal microenvironment at baseline by considering four indices: vaginal pH, clue cell examination, whiff test and vaginal cleanliness grading. If any of these indicators was abnormal, the vaginal microenvironment was defined as poor. Propensity score matching was used to control for potential confounders and reduce bias. Logistic models were used to estimate the fecundability odds ratios (FORs) after adjustment for covariates.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Achievement of a pregnancy within 1 year.

RESULTS

Of the total study population, 379 718 women (11.2%) had a poor vaginal microenvironment and their pregnancy rate after 1 year was significantly lower than the group with a normal microenvironment (71.8% versus 76.1%, P < 0.001). After adjusting for potential confounders, the women with a poor vaginal microenvironment were associated with a 9% reduction in fecundability compared with the normal microenvironment group (FOR 0.91, 95% CI 0.90-0.92). The adverse effects of a poor vaginal microenvironment were stronger among multipara (FOR 0.89, 95% CI 0.87-0.90) or women with irregular menstruation (FOR 0.86, 95% CI 0.84-0.89).

CONCLUSION

There was a negative association between a poor vaginal microenvironment and the fecundability of women. These findings highlight the significance of assessing the vaginal microenvironment during pre-pregnancy health examinations.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Women with a poor vaginal microenvironment were associated with a reduction in fecundability.

Pairing Forces Govern Population of Doubly Magic ^{54}Ca from Direct Reactions

Direct proton-knockout reactions of ^{55}Sc at ∼220  MeV/nucleon were studied at the RIKEN Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory. Populated states of ^{54}Ca were investigated through γ-ray and invariant-mass spectroscopy. Level energies were calculated from the nuclear shell model employing a phenomenological internucleon interaction. Theoretical cross sections to states were calculated from distorted-wave impulse approximation estimates multiplied by the shell model spectroscopic factors, which describe the wave function overlap of the ^{55}Sc ground state with states in ^{54}Ca. Despite the calculations showing a significant amplitude of excited neutron configurations in the ground-state of ^{55}Sc, valence proton removals populated predominantly the ground state of ^{54}Ca. This counterintuitive result is attributed to pairing effects leading to a dominance of the ground-state spectroscopic factor. Owing to the ubiquity of the pairing interaction, this argument should be generally applicable to direct knockout reactions from odd-even to even-even nuclei.

Long non-coding RNA AK027294 promotes tumor growth by upregulating PCNA in gastric cancer

OBJECTIVE

Recent researches have proved that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) has an important role in many diseases. In this research, lncRNA AK027294 was explored to identify how it functions in the development of gastric cancer (GC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Real Time-quantitative-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) was utilized to detect AK027294 expression in GC patients. Then, MTT assay, colony formation assay, and EdU incorporation assay were performed to identify its function in GC cells. Furthermore, the potential mechanism was also explored using mechanism assays.

RESULTS

AK027294 expression level was significantly higher in GC tissue samples and cell lines. Results of MTT assay, colony formation assay, and EdU incorporation assay showed that cell proliferation was inhibited through the silence of AK027294 in GC cells, while cell proliferation was promoted through overexpression of AK027294 in GC cells. Furthermore, the expression of PCNA was downregulated via silence of AK027294 in GC cells, while the expression of PCNA was upregulated via overexpression of AK027294 in GC cells. The correlation analysis showed that PCNA expression was positively correlated with AK027294 expression in GC tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that AK027294 could enhance cell proliferation of GC cells by upregulating PCNA and might be applied as a novel target for therapy of GC.

Isolation and characterization of endophytic bacteria for controlling root rot disease of Chinese jujube

AIM

Fusarium oxysporum is the primary pathogen causing root rot disease that severely affects cultivation of jujube fruit in the Xinjiang province of China. The aim of this study was to identify endophytic bacteria in healthy jujube organs that could effectively suppress F. oxysporum growth.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Different plant organs (leaves, twigs and roots) were collected from healthy Chinese jujube cultivated in southern Xinjiang province of China. The endophytic bacterium Brevibacterium halotolerans JZ7 was selected for its strong antagonistic activity and growth-promoting characteristics. Gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry analysis showed that acetoin, 2,3-butanediol and fenretinide were the three dominant volatile organic compounds produced by strain JZ7. Fenretinide strongly suppressed spore germination of F. oxysporum in vitro. Pot experiments showed that strain JZ7 colonized both the roots and rhizosphere soil of Chinese jujube and significantly reduced F. oxysporum level in jujube rhizosphere soil.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated that B. halotolerans JZ7 can be developed into a biological control agent to combat root rot disease of Chinese jujube in the Xinjiang province of China.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The suggested strategy for biological control of jujube root rot disease is fully in accordance with the current principles of sustainability.

MiR-630 inhibits papillary thyroid carcinoma cell growth, metastasis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition by suppressing JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE

Evidence has demonstrated that miR-630 is involved in multiple processes in cancer development and progression. However, the exact functions of miR-630 in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and the underlying mechanisms remain undefined. Therefore, the aims of the present study were to investigate the role and potential mechanism of miR-630 in tumorigenicity of PTC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Microarrays were used to analyze the differentially expressed miRNAs in PTC tissues. Expression of miR-630 in PTC tissues and cell lines were determined by a qRT-PCR assay. CCK-8 assays, clonogenic survival assays, cell apoptosis analysis, wound healing assays and transwell invasion assays were used to examine the tumorigenesis function of miR-630 in vitro. Protein expression of signaling pathways was determined by using Western blot.

RESULTS

We found that miR-630 was significantly downregulated in PTC tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of miR-630 inhibited PTC cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis via suppressing the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-6. In addition, up-regulation of miR-630 suppressed the migration and invasion in PTC cells by suppressing EMT progress. Mechanistic investigations showed forced miR-660 expression decreased proteins expression of phosphorylation levels in JAK2/STAT3 signaling.

CONCLUSIONS

We firstly provided the evidence that miR-630 displayed a tumor-promotive role in PTC progression through modulating JAK2/STAT3 pathway, and that a potential therapeutic strategy through enhancing miR-630 expression might benefit PTC patients.

Integrated molecular diode as 10 MHz half-wave rectifier based on an organic nanostructure heterojunction

Considerable efforts have been made to realize nanoscale diodes based on single molecules or molecular ensembles for implementing the concept of molecular electronics. However, so far, functional molecular diodes have only been demonstrated in the very low alternating current frequency regime, which is partially due to their extremely low conductance and the poor degree of device integration. Here, we report about fully integrated rectifiers with microtubular soft-contacts, which are based on a molecularly thin organic heterojunction and are able to convert alternating current with a frequency of up to 10 MHz. The unidirectional current behavior of our devices originates mainly from the intrinsically different surfaces of the bottom planar and top microtubular Au electrodes while the excellent high frequency response benefits from the charge accumulation in the phthalocyanine molecular heterojunction, which not only improves the charge injection but also increases the carrier density.

The demand for miniaturization of electronics has been motivating a growing interest in high-performance molecular electronics. Li, Bandari et al. report a fully integrated molecular rectifier based on a molecular heterojunction and microtubular electrode enabling high frequency operation at more than 10 MHz.