[Periconceptional maternal homocysteine and birth weight outcomes in offspring: a prospective cohort study]

Objective: To quantify the associations between periconceptional maternal homocysteine (HCY) and offspring's birth weight and risk of small for gestational age (SGA) infant. Methods: The 19 984 mother-child pairs in this prospective cohort study were recruited from the Shanghai preconception cohort; the infants were delivered from 1st September 2016 to 11th November 2022. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect the mothers' demographic information, medical history, dietary supplement use, and maternal complications during pregnancy, and their serum samples were collected. Serum HCY, folate, and vitamin B12 were measured using chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay based on serum sample drawn at enrollment. Birth weight data were obtained from medical records. Multiple imputation methods were applied to handle missing data in key variables. Multivariable linear regression and Poisson regression models were used to analyze the relationship between maternal HCY concentration during the periconceptional period and the birth weight and SGA risk of the offspring. Results: A total of 9 452 pairs were enrolled preconceptionally and the remaining 10 532 pairs were enrolled in early pregnancy. The proportion of mothers whose pregnancy age was greater than 35 years was 9.2% (1 832/19 984), the proportion of primiparous women was 76.5% (15 283/19 984), the proportion of pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity was 14.0% (2 804/19 984), the proportion of using folic acid supplements before pregnancy was 21.4% (4 272/19 984), and the proportion of those who supplemented with folic acid during early pregnancy was 85.2% (8 976/10 532); gestational diabetes mellitus was in 6.2% (1 245/19 984), gestational hypertensive syndrome in 3.6% (711/19 984). The birth weight of the offspring was (3 297±468) g, and there were 1 962 SGA children (9.8%). The HCY concentration in the overall population in appropriate for gestational age during the periconceptional period was (7.9±3.2) μmol/L, with (8.3±3.7) μmol/L in the preconception subgroup and (7.3±2.4) μmol/L in the early pregnancy subgroup. After adjustment for the covariates of perinatal demographic information, adverse pregnancy outcomes, serum folate and vitamin B12, increased maternal periconceptional HCY was significantly associated with lower offspring birth weight (β=-2.30, 95%CI -4.43--0.16, P=0.035). Only the early pregnancy subgroup was significantly associated with lower offspring birth weight (β=-7.39, 95%CI-11.50--3.21, P<0.001). No association was found between peripregnancy HCY and offspring SGA risk. However, elevated HCY in early pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of SGA in the offspring (RR=1.05, 95%CI 1.01-1.08, P=0.002). Periconceptional vitamin B12 was a mediator of the association between HCY and offspring birth weight, accounting for 16.5%, 41.2% and 5.4% of its total effect in the overall periconceptional population, the pre-pregnancy subgroup and the early pregnancy subgroup, respectively. Conclusions: Maternal periconceptional HCY level is associated with lower birth weight in offspring, but not with the risk of SGA. Elevated maternal HCY in early pregnancy subgroup may be associated with increased risk of SGA in offspring.

Clinical and pathological characteristics of DKD patients with early-onset type 2 diabetes

AIMS

In diabetic kidney disease (DKD) patients, early-onset T2DM effects on renal disease severity and outcomes remain uncertain. Herein, we aim to investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and renal outcomes in DKD patients with early-onset T2DM.

METHODS

489 patients with T2DM and DKD were retrospectively recruited and classified as having early (age at onset of T2DM < 40 years) and late (age at onset of T2DM ≥ 40 years) T2DM onset, analyzing the clinical and histopathological data. The predictive value of early-onset T2DM to renal outcomes in DKD patients was analyzed by Cox's regression.

RESULTS

Among 489 DKD patients, 142 and 347 were classified as early and late T2DM onset, respectively. Early-onset T2DM patients exhibited worse glycaemic control (7.36 % ± 1.80 % vs. 6.86 % ± 1.57 %, P = 0.007) and more severe proteinuria (3.69 [1.55 to 7.03] vs. 1.81 [0.50 to 4.33] g/24 h, P < 0.001). Those with early-onset T2DM presented more severe glomerular lesions. In univariable Cox regression, early-onset T2DM showed a significant correlation with renal composite endpoint (HR [95%CI]: 0.56 [0.43 to 0.73], P < 0.001). However, after adjusting for potential confounders, early-onset T2DM was not independently correlated with renal composite endpoint (HR [95%CI]: 0.74 [0.46 to 1.21], P = 0.232).

CONCLUSIONS

In DKD patients with early-onset T2DM, renal clinicopathological manifestations were severe. Age at onset in T2DM was significantly correlated with eGFR slope (r = 0.211, P < 0.001).

[Characteristics and treatment strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma caused by nonalcoholic fatty liver disease]

In recent years, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) incidence has rapidly increased, and it is gradually becoming a major contributor to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer (HCC). The degree of liver fibrosis, diabetes mellitus (DM), obesity, age, and gender are the main risk factors for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) progression to HCC. Patients with NASH-related HCC are predominantly male, and almost all of them have at least one metabolic disorder (obesity, DM, dyslipidemia, hypertension, etc.). Most HCCs manifest as solitary tumor nodules and a significant number of NASH-related HCCs are non- cirrhotic. Case fatality rates are similar across patients with cirrhotic and noncirrhotic HCC, despite the fact that patients with noncirrhotic HCC tend to be older, have a single macronodular tumor, and have lower incidence of type 2 diabetes and liver transplantation. Controlling the risk factors for NASH might thereby minimize the likelihood of developing HCC. The BCLC staging system should be used as a guide to treat patients with NASH-related HCC. The long-term outcomes of NAFLD-related HCC treatment are similar to those for other HCCs of different etiologies. However, patients combined with metabolic syndrome are at high perioperative risk, so apporpriate preoperative preparation, especially cardiac examination, is essential to avoid this risk.

[Progress in research of determinants of healthy life expectancy]

Objective: To analyze the influencing factors of healthy life expectancy (HLE). Methods: Seven Chinese and English databases were used for the retrieval of related literatures published by May 7, 2022 to identify influencing factors of HLE, including diseases and injuries and their risk factors. Based on the ecological model of health determinants, this study classifies the risk factors of diseases and injuries into five levels: personal characteristics, individual behavior and lifestyle, social network, living and working conditions, and macroscopic socio-economic, cultural and environmental conditions. Contents of research area, HLE indicators, research population, influencing factors, data sources and results were extracted. The frequencies of reported documents of different HLE indicators and influencing factors of different dimensions were visualized by using evidence map, and the empirical studies of four authoritative English medical journals and Chinese core medical journals were further compared and described. Results: A total of 90 studies were selected, in which 26 were conducted in China (28.9%). Fifty-three studies are about diseases and injuries in the first dimension, and all of them have studied non-communicable diseases, accounting for the highest proportion (58.9%). There were 77 studies about the analysis on the determinants of health at five levels by an ecological model, all the studies reported multi-level results. Among them, 53 studies reported personal characteristics (58.9%), 47 studies reported individual behavior and lifestyle (52.2%), 10 studies reported social networks (11.1%), 35 studies reported living and working environment (38.9%), 8 studies reported social economy, culture status and environment condition (8.9%). The literatures about HLE published by 4 authoritative English medical journals and 21 Chinese core medical journals in recent three years were selected. Non-communicable diseases and personal characteristics were the top two most commonly studied factors of HLE, and 11 (52.3%) and 12 (57.1%) studies reported these two kinds of factors respectively. The most important factor contributing to the global disability-adjusted life years of non-communicable diseases was individual behavior and lifestyle, which was the most changeable factor. Conclusions: In recent three years, studies involving influencing factors of HLE were mainly non-communicable diseases and personal characteristics. In the future, individual behavior, lifestyle and working environment should be strengthened.

[Association of lipoprotein a in early pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus: a prospective cohort study]

Objective: To investigate the association of lipoprotein a (Lpa) in early pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk. Methods: A total of 445 pregnant women in 12-14 gestational weeks from "Maternal Key Nutritional Factors and Offspring's Atopic Dermatitis" cohort were included in this study. The demographic characteristics of participants were collected by using questionnaires, and the fasting glucose and lipids levels in early pregnancy were measured. The results of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) between 24-28 gestational weeks were recorded. Multivariate logistic regression model was applied to analyze the association of Lpa with GDM by calculating the OR and 95%CI after adjustment for covariates. Results: The incidence number of GDM was 78 (17.5%). The Lpa level in pregnant women with GDM was significantly higher than that in pregnant women without GDM [105.5 (92.0, 122.0) vs. 97.0 (87.0, 109.0) mg/L], P<0.05. Lpa was significantly associated with GDM risk [OR (95%CI) =1.21(1.08-1.36) per 10 mg/L], P<0.05. The association was still significant after adjustment for covariates including age, gestational weeks et al, the adjusted OR was 1.14 (95%CI: 1.01-1.30), P=0.03. Conclusions: The elevation of Lpa in early pregnancy is one of risk factor for GDM. Maintaining normal Lpa level during early pregnancy can benefit early prevention of GDM and offspring health.

Clinical and Pathological Characteristics of Patients With Nonproteinuric Diabetic Nephropathy

INTRODUCTION

As the most common complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), diabetic nephropathy (DN) was initially considered to begin with proteinuria preceding the progression of renal insufficiency. This clinical paradigm has been questioned in the late decades, as many DM patients without proteinuria have progressive renal insufficiency. However, the characteristics of nonproteinuric DN were not fully clear yet.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 390 patients with renal biopsy-proven DN in our center were retrospectively recruited in the current study. Clinical and histopathological data of the patients were analyzed. We used propensity score-matching methods to address the imbalance of age, sex, and diabetes duration for comparative analyses.

RESULTS

Among all the renal biopsy-proven DN patients with renal biopsy proven DN, 18 patients were classified as nonproteinuric DN. Compared with 36 propensity score-matched proteinuric DN patients, diabetic retinopathy (DR) was less frequent in nonproteinuric DN patients (38.9% vs. 66.4%, p<0.05). During the follow-up of 24.0 (12.0-42.0) months, the probability of developing the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) was significantly lower in nonproteinuric DN patients than in proteinuric ones in both the propensity score-matched cohort and overall cohort (log-rank test, p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with proteinuric DN patients, DR was less frequent in nonproteinuric DN patients. Nonproteinuric DN patients had better renal outcomes than proteinuric DN patients.

Genome-wide analysis of the GRAS gene family in physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.)

GRAS proteins play vital roles in plant growth and development. Physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) was found to have a total of 48 GRAS family members (JcGRAS), 15 more than those found in Arabidopsis. The JcGRAS genes were divided into 12 subfamilies or 15 ancient monophyletic lineages based on the phylogenetic analysis of GRAS proteins from both flowering and lower plants. The functions of GRAS genes in 9 subfamilies have been reported previously for several plants, while the genes in the remaining 3 subfamilies were of unknown function; we named the latter families U1 to U3. No member of U3 subfamily is present in Arabidopsis and Poaceae species according to public genome sequence data. In comparison with the number of GRAS genes in Arabidopsis, more were detected in physic nut, resulting from the retention of many ancient GRAS subfamilies and the formation of tandem repeats during evolution. No evidence of recent duplication among JcGRAS genes was observed in physic nut. Based on digital gene expression data, 21 of the 48 genes exhibited differential expression in four tissues analyzed. Two members of subfamily U3 were expressed only in buds and flowers, implying that they may play specific roles. Our results provide valuable resources for future studies on the functions of GRAS proteins in physic nut.

First Report of Carnation vein mottle virus Infecting Dianthus amurensis in China

Dianthus amurensis, commonly known as Amur Pink, is a species of the genus Dianthus in the family Caryophyllaceae. This perennial Dianthus is also a Chinese medicinal herb. In August 2012, mosaic, leaf cupping, leaf distortion, reduction in leaf size, and flower-breaking symptoms were observed on some D. amurensis plants in a Chinese herb nursery in Changchun, Jilin Province, China. Disease incidences ranged from 40 to 50% in different plots. Symptoms on diseased D. amurensis were similar to those on the diseased D. caryophyllus, D. barbatus, and D. japonicus. The symptoms resembled to those caused by Carnation vein mottle virus (CVMoV), a member of genus Potyvirus in the family Potyviridae (3). CVMoV infects carnations (D. caryophyllus) worldwide and causes a serious disease. To investigate the presence of CVMoV, leaf samples were collected from three symptomatic plants and tested by dot-ELISA using universal potyvirus group monoclonal antibody (Agdia, Inc., Elkhart, IN). The antibody reacted with the diseased samples, supporting the presence of a potyvirus. To identify the potyvirus species, total nucleic acids were extracted from the diseased samples by a CTAB method (2) and used as template in RT-PCR with potyvirus universal primers Sprimer and M4T (1). An amplicon of the expected size (~1.7 kb) was obtained from all three diseased samples. The amplicons were cloned into pMD18-T vector (TaKaRa, Dalian, China) and sequenced. Sequences obtained from all three samples were identical and deposited in GenBank (Accession No. KJ605654). BLAST search showed that the nucleotide sequence shared 97 and 98% identity with a Japanese CVMoV isolate infecting D. japonicus (AB017630) (3) and a Korean CVMoV isolate (AY512554), respectively. The results confirmed the association of CVMoV with the disease on D. amurensis. To determine the pathogenicity of CVMoV to D. amurensis plants, purified CVMoV from the diseased plants were used to inoculate to healthy Dianthus spp. plants. Inoculated Dianthus spp. plants also showed the symptoms of mottle, leaf cupping, and leaf distortion, and CVMoV could be detected by RT-PCR from these plants. The result confirms that CVMoV is the causal agent of the disease. To our knowledge, this is the first report of CVMoV infection in D. amurensis. Since D. amurensis is economically important in China, proper virus management strategies for the cultivation of this crop should be adopted. References: (1) J. Chen et al. Arch. Virol. 146:757, 2001. (2) R. Li et al. J. Virol. Methods 154:48, 2008. (3) T. Sasaya et al. J. Gen. Plant Pathol. 66:251, 2000.

First Report of Tomato yellow leaf curl China virus with Betasatellite Infecting Panax notoginseng

Panax notoginseng, an important medicinal herb commonly known as notoginseng, san qi, or tian qi, is in the family Araliaceae. The herb is mainly cultivated in Guangxi and Yunnan provinces of southern China for its root, which is used in Chinese herbal medicine to treat various blood disorders. In December 2012, Panax yellowing was observed in several notoginseng farms with prevalence of 5 to 10% in Wenshan, Yunnan Province. Foliar symptoms included yellowing, shrinking, curling, and blistering. Leaf samples collected from 15 symptomatic plants were initially tested by negative staining electron microscopy, and no distinct virions were observed. Total nucleic acids were extracted from these samples by a CTAB method and used as templates in RT-PCR for presence of criniviruses, tobamoviruses, and tospoviruses, but results were negative. Infestation of whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) has been a problem on these farms in recent years, suggesting a whitefly-transmitted begomovirus as potential causal agent. To explore this possibility, the samples were tested by PCR using degenerate primers BegoAFor1 and BegoARev1 described by Ha et al. (3). Amplicons of ~1.2 kbp were obtained from 12 out of 15 samples, indicating the presence of a putative begomovirus. These amplicons were cloned and sequenced in both directions. BLAST search showed that they had high sequence identities (94 to 95%) to the genome of Tomato yellow leaf curl China virus (TYLCCNV). A pair of virus-specific primers, TYLCCNVFa (5'-TGRTAGGWACYTGAGTAGAGTGG-3') and TYLCCNVRa (5'-TCRTCCATCCATATCTTCCCAA-3'), was then designed and used to amplify the remaining genomic sequence. The full-length genomic sequence of one isolate, YWSh03, was determined to be 2,733 nt (KJ477327). Sequence comparison showed that the genome of YWSh03 shared 96.2% nucleotide sequence identity with that of TYLCCNV-[G102] (AM050555). PCR using primers Beta01 and Beta02 (1) was also tested for the association of betasatellite with this virus. A DNA fragment was obtained from isolate YWSh03, and its sequence was determined to be 1,336 bp (KJ477326). This sequence has 99.9% nucleotide sequence identity to Tomato yellow leaf curl China betasatellite (TYLCCNB) [Y10] (AJ421621). The results show that TYLCCNV, a virus infecting tomato, tobacco, kidney bean, and several weeds (2), is also associated with the yellowing disease in P. notoginseng. To determine whether TYLCCNV and TYLCCNB might cause disease on P. notoginseng, infectious clones of TYLCCNV and TYLCCNB provided by Dr. Xueping Zhou (Zhejiang University, China) were used to inoculate to 44 healthy P. notoginseng plants by an Agrobacterium-mediated method. Thirty-four inoculated plants showed typical symptoms of yellowing, curling, and stunting, confirming TYLCCNV and TYLCCNB are the causal agents of the disease. To further investigate the distribution and incidence of the virus, 258 symptomatic P. notoginseng samples were collected from 18 fields in Wenshan, Honghe, Qujing, and Kunming of Yunnan Province and tested by PCR with TYLCCNV-specific primers of TYLCCNVdF (5'-CCTGTATATGCGACTTTGAAAGT-3') and TYLCCNVdR (5'-CCCAATTCCAGCTATAAAGAGTA-3'). The virus was detected in 149 samples (57.8%), indicating that TYLCCNV infection of P. notoginseng is common. However, the agent causing the disease in the 109 symptomatic plants lacking TYLCCNV remains under investigation. To our knowledge, this is the first report of TYLCCNV with TYLCCNB infecting P. notoginseng and the family Araliaceae. References: (1) R. W. Briddon et al. Mol Biotechnol. 20:315, 2002. (2) J. H. Dong et al. Plant Pathol. 56:342, 2007. (3) C. Ha et al. J. Gen. Virol. 87:997, 2006.

Polar and magnetic layered A-site and rock salt B-site-ordered NaLnFeWO6 (Ln = La, Nd) perovskites

We have expanded the double perovskite family of materials with the unusual combination of layered order in the A sublattice and rock salt order over the B sublattice to compounds NaLaFeWO6 and NaNdFeWO6. The materials have been synthesized and studied by powder X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, electron diffraction, magnetic measurements, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, dielectric measurements, and second harmonic generation. At room temperature, the crystal structures of both compounds can be defined in the noncentrosymmetric monoclinic P2(1) space group resulting from the combination of ordering both in the A and B sublattices, the distortion of the cell due to tilting of the octahedra, and the displacement of certain cations. The magnetic studies show that both compounds are ordered antiferromagnetically below T(N) ≈ 25 K for NaLaFeWO6 and at ∼21 K for NaNdFeWO6. The magnetic structure of NaNdFeWO6 has been solved with a propagation vector k = ((1/2) 0 (1/2)) as an antiferromagnetic arrangement of Fe and Nd moments. Although the samples are potential multiferroics, the dielectric measurements do not show a ferroelectric response.

Flavonol glycosides from Epimedium sagittatum and their neurite outgrowth activity on PC12h cells

The MeOH extract of Epimedium sagittatum was found to show neurite outgrowth activity on cultured PC12h cells. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the MeOH extract yielded six prenylated flavonol glycosides, ikarisoside A (1), icarisid II (2), epimedoside A (3), icariin (4), epimedin B (5), and epimedokoreanoside-I (6) as the active ingredients.

[Study on factors influencing Agrobacterium-mediated cassava transformation]

Factors influencing agrobacterium-mediated cassava transformation were investigated. Among the four Agrobacterium strains tested, LBA 4404 (pTOK 233) and LBA 4404 (pBin9GusInt) gave higher transient expression than C 58 C1 (pIG121Hm) and EHA 105 (pBin9Husint). Pretreatment of explants by bombardment or vaccum had no significant effect on transient expression while preinduction of Agrobacterium with acetosyringone showed better effects, and preculture of explants showed worse effects. All the cultivars tested were susceptible to Agrobacterium infection, while the types of explants and the physiological state of the explants had a strong influence on the transient expression efficiency. The 15-day-old somatic cotyledons and the fully expanded leaves from in vitro plantlets were the most susceptible to Agrobacterium infection. The results also showed that all the four selective reagents (hygromycin, geneticin, PPT, and kanamycin) synchronously suppressed the growth of callus, shoot organogenesis and shoot rooting in a dose dependent manner.

[Comparative effects of calcium channel blockers and L-arginine on chronic intermittent hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in rats]

Experiments were carried on rats to study the preventive effects of calcium channel blockers Nitrendipine, Nifedipine and L-Arginine (L- Arginine is the physiological precursor of nitric oxide in endothelium-dependent relaxation) on chronic intermittent hypoxia induced pulmonary hypertension, on the right ventricular hypertrophy and pulmonary vascular pathologic changes. The results showed (1) Nitrendipine, Nifedipine and L-arginine played significant role in preventing chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and the right ventricular hypertrophy. (2) There was no significant difference between Nitrendipine, Nifedipine and L- arginine in preventing hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (P > 0.05). (3) Nitrendipine was better than Nifedipine in reducing the hypoxic pulmonary hypertension.

[Studies on the control of leaf rot disease (Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn) of Amomum compactum Soland ex Maton]

This paper reports the symptoms of leaf rot disease (Rhizoctonia solani) of Amomum compactum and the relationship between the spread of the disease and the conditions of climate. It has been shown that spraying topsine-M before the disease spreads is an effective way to control.