Soil microbial subcommunity assembly mechanisms are highly variable and intimately linked to their ecological and functional traits

Revealing the mechanisms underlying soil microbial community assembly is a fundamental objective in molecular ecology. However, despite increasing body of research on overall microbial community assembly mechanisms, our understanding of subcommunity assembly mechanisms for different prokaryotic and fungal taxa remains limited. Here, soils were collected from more than 100 sites across southwestern China. Based on amplicon high-throughput sequencing and iCAMP analysis, we determined the subcommunity assembly mechanisms for various microbial taxa. The results showed that dispersal limitation and homogenous selection were the primary drivers of soil microbial community assembly in this region. However, the subcommunity assembly mechanisms of different soil microbial taxa were highly variable. For instance, the contribution of homogenous selection to Crenarchaeota subcommunity assembly was 70%, but it was only around 10% for the subcommunity assembly of Actinomycetes, Gemmatimonadetes and Planctomycetes. The assembly of subcommunities including microbial taxa with higher occurrence frequencies, average relative abundance and network degrees, as well as wider niches tended to be more influenced by homogenizing dispersal and drift, but less affected by heterogeneous selection and dispersal limitation. The subcommunity assembly mechanisms also varied substantially among different functional guilds. Notably, the subcommunity assembly of diazotrophs, nitrifiers, saprotrophs and some pathogens were predominantly controlled by homogenous selection, while that of denitrifiers and fungal pathogens were mainly affected by stochastic processes such as drift. These findings provide novel insights into understanding soil microbial diversity maintenance mechanisms, and the analysis pipeline holds significant value for future research.

Toxicity of TPhP on the gills and intestines of zebrafish from the perspectives of histopathology, oxidative stress and immune response

As an organophosphate ester (OPE), triphenyl phosphate (TPhP) has been frequently detected in aquatic environments, and its environmental risk has been widely studied. The gills and intestines are the most important part of the mucosal immune barrier in fish as the first line of defense against the invasion of harmful substances. TPhP is more abundant in the gill and intestine of fish. However, knowledge of the toxic effects and potential mechanisms of TPhP on the intestine and gill is limited. Herein, the adverse effects of TPhP (0.01, 0.1 and 1 mg/L) on the gills and intestines of zebrafish after 75 days of exposure were investigated from the perspectives of histology, oxidative stress and immune level. The histological results of exposed zebrafish showed that TPhP caused significant damage to gills and intestines. TPhP significantly increased the activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT) and glutathione s-transferase (GST), inducing oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA. Meanwhile, the immune function of the gills and intestines was significantly influenced by TPhP, as evidenced by the upregulation of the expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), upregulation of the content of complement 3 (C3) and complement 4 (C4), and downregulation of the activity of lysozyme (LZM) and the content of immunoglobulin M (IgM). Oxidative stress and the immune response were more severe in the gills. These findings indicate that TPhP, a typical OPE, caused tissue damage in aquatic organisms by inducing oxidative stress and immune damage and has strong environmental toxicity.

Analysis of bone metabolic alterations linked with osteoporosis progression in type 2 diabetic db/db mice

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a common chronic disease, characterized by persistent hyperglycemia and insulin resistance. This disorder is associated with decreased bone quality and an elevated risk of bone fractures. However, evidence on the relationship between systemic metabolic change and the development of type 2 diabetic osteoporosis (T2DOP) remains elusive. Herein, we investigate the changes of bone metabolites with bone loss in db/db mice (an animal model of T2DOP exhibited bone loss with age progression), and explore the potential metabolic mechanism underlying type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis. C57BKS male mice were distributed in four groups, consisting six mice in each group: 8w m/m, 24w m/m, 8w db/db and 24w db/db. Bone morphometric and biomechanical parameters of db/db mice were analyzed by micro-CT and materials tester, it was found that 24w db/db mice showed severe bone loss and decreased bone tissue hardness compared with misty/misty littermates. The tibia of misty/misty mice (8 weeks, 24 weeks) and db/db mice (8 weeks, 24 weeks) were screened for differential metabolites by UPLC-Orbitrap MS. Ninety-eight metabolites were identified (35 and 63 metabolites are associated with early staged and late staged, respectively), consisting of amino acids, fatty acyls, and nucleotides. Notably, fatty acyls (such as 18-HEPE, 16(17)-EpDPE, arachidonic acid) and glycerophospholipids (such as phosphocholines (PC) (O-10:1(9E)/0:0), PC (O-16:1(9E)/0:0) [U] and phosphatidylethanolamines (PE) (P-16:0/0:0)) were significantly increased, and metabolites of amino acid pathway (such as l-glutamine, proline, phenylalanine) showed a downregulation trend. Dysregulation of lipid and glutathione pathways is the major contributor to progression of T2DOP in C57BKS mice.

Quantitative biodistribution of nanoparticles in plants with lanthanide complexes

The inefficient distribution of fertilizers, nutrients, and pesticides on crops is a major challenge in modern agriculture that leads to reduced productivity and environmental pollution. Nanoformulation of agrochemicals is an attractive approach to enable the selective delivery of agents into specific plant organs, their release in those tissues, and improve their efficiency. Already commercialized nanofertilizers utilize the physiochemical properties of metal nanoparticles such as size, charge, and the metal core to overcome biological barriers in plants to reach their target sites. Despite their wide application in human diseases, lipid nanoparticles are rarely used in agricultural applications and a systematic screening approach to identifying efficacious formulations has not been reported. Here, we developed a quantitative metal-encoded platform to determine the biodistribution of different lipid nanoparticles in plant tissues. In this platform lanthanide metal complexes were encapsulated into four types of lipid nanoparticles. Our approach was able to successfully quantify payload accumulation for all the lipid formulations across the roots, stem, and leaf of the plant. Lanthanide levels were 20- to 57-fold higher in the leaf and 100- to 10,000-fold higher in the stem for the nanoparticle encapsulated lanthanide complexes compared to the unencapsulated, free lanthanide complex. This system will facilitate the discovery of nanoparticles as delivery carriers for agrochemicals and plant tissue-targeting products.

Gender equity of authorship in pulmonary medicine over the past decade

BACKGROUND

Gender disparity in authorship broadly persists in medical literature, little is known about female authorship within pulmonary medicine.

METHODS

A bibliometric analysis of publications from 2012 to 2021 in 12 journals with the highest impact in pulmonary medicine was conducted. Only original research and review articles were included. Names of the first and last authors were extracted and their genders were identified using the Gender-API web. Female authorship was described by overall distribution and distribution by country/region/continent and journal. We compared the article citations by gender combinations, evaluated the trend in female authorship, and forecasted when parity for first and last authorship would be reached. We also conducted a systematic review of female authorship in clinical medicine.

RESULTS

14,875 articles were included, and the overall percentage of female first authors was higher than last authors (37.0% vs 22.2%, p<0.001). Asia had the lowest percentage of female first (27.6%) and last (15.2%) authors. The percentages of female first and last authors increased slightly over time, except for a rapid increase in the COVID-19 pandemic periods. Parity was predicted in 2046 for the first authors and 2059 for the last authors. Articles with male authors were cited more than articles with female authors. However, male-male collaborations significantly decreased, whereas female-female collaborations significantly increased.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the slow improvement in female authorship over the past decade, there is still a substantial gender disparity in female first and last authorship in high-impact medical journals in pulmonary medicine.

Effect of clinical pharmacists participating in nutritional therapy for patients with acute cerebral infarction complicated with dysphagia

Objective

To explore the effect of clinical pharmacists participating in nutritional therapy for patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI) complicated with dysphagia.

Methods

This is a Clinical comparative study. A total of 82 patients with ACI complicated with dysphagia treated in Baoding No.1 Central Hospital from May 2021 to February 2022 were included as subjects. They were divided into control group (n= 40, without clinical pharmacists) and experimental group (n= 42, with clinical pharmacists) using a random number table. The effect of nutritional therapy and the incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.

Results

In the experimental group, PALB and ALB were both higher than those in the control group on the seven and 14-day after treatment (p< 0.05), while HB was higher than that in the control group only on the 14-day after treatment (p< 0.05). After treatment for 14-day, MAMC and TSF in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group (p< 0.05), while NIHSS score was lower than that in the control group (p< 0.05). The incidence of adverse events in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group (p< 0.05).

Conclusion

Pharmaceutical intervention in nutritional therapy for patients with ACI complicated with dysphagia has positive significance in further improving the nutritional status and nutritional indexes, enhancing the efficacy of drug treatment and reducing the risk of adverse events, and is worthy of promotion.

[Identification of Stigma Specific Expression Fragment in the Promoter of a Soybean Chitinase Class I Gene]

The expression level of heterologous genes in transgenic plants serves as an important indicator of gene efficiency. The small number of currently known effective promoters, limits the possibilities in fine-tuning the expression of transgenes. We cloned and characterized a tissue-specific promoter fragment of the soybean chitinase class I gene (GmChi1). The GmChi1 promoter (GmChi1P) was cloned from Jungery soybean. The promoter sequence contains a number of putative cis-acting elements, including tissue-specific and stress-regulated motifs. By histochemical analysis, the GmChi1P-controlled β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter enzyme activity was shown to be highest in the roots of transgenic Nicotiana tabacum cv. NC89 at the four-leaf sprout formation stage. Interestingly, the high GUS activity in transgenic tobacco roots was effectively suppressed by salicylic acid (SA) treatment. Deletion analysis of GmChi1P revealed that the sequences located between positions -719 and -382 contain key cis-elements responsible for the reporter uidA gene expression (encoding GUS) in leaves, roots, and wounds of Nicotiana tabacum. In addition, fluorometric analysis showed that the activity of the shortened ChiP(-1292) to ChiP(-719) promoters in the roots of transgenic tobacco was significantly suppressed by abscisic acid and completely suppressed by SA. The ChiP(-382) promoter was also found to be expressed exclusively in the stigma of transgenic tobacco flowers. Using the GUS reporter enzyme, no staining was detected in other flower organs in transgenic Nicotiana tabacum, including sepals, petals, anthers, filaments, and ovaries, or in any vegetative tissues. The results indicate that the promoter fragment ChiP(-382) can be used in tissue-specific regulation of gene expression and plant genetic engineering.

A synthetic peptide from Sipunculus nudus promotes bone formation via Estrogen/MAPK signal pathway based on network pharmacology

The tripeptide Leu-Pro-Lys (LPK), derived from the Sipunculus nudus protein, was synthesized and studied to investigate its potential protective effect on bone formation. The effect and mechanism of LPK were analyzed through network pharmacology, bioinformatics, and experimental pharmacology. The study found that LPK at concentrations of 25 μg/mL and 50 μg/mL significantly increased ALP activity and mineralization in C3H10 cells. LPK also increased the expression of COL1A1 and promoted bone formation in zebrafish larvae. Network pharmacology predicted 148 interaction targets between LPK and bone development, and analysis of the protein-protein interaction network identified 13 hub genes, including ESR1, MAPK8, and EGFR, involved in bone development. Through KEGG enrichment pathways analysis, it was determined that LPK promotes bone development by regulating endocrine resistance, the relaxin signaling pathway, and the estrogen signaling pathway. Molecular docking results showed direct interactions between LPK and ESR1, MAPK8, and MAPK14. Additional verification experiments using western blot assay revealed that LPK significantly upregulated the expression of genes related to bone formation, including COL1A1, OPG, RUNX2, ESR1, phosphorylated MAPK14, and phosphorylated MAPK8 in C3H10 cells. These results suggest that LPK promotes bone formation by activating the estrogen/MAPK signaling pathway.

Soil diazotrophic abundance, diversity, and community assembly mechanisms significantly differ between glacier riparian wetlands and their adjacent alpine meadows

Global warming can trigger dramatic glacier area shrinkage and change the flux of glacial runoff, leading to the expansion and subsequent retreat of riparian wetlands. This elicits the interconversion of riparian wetlands and their adjacent ecosystems (e.g., alpine meadows), probably significantly impacting ecosystem nitrogen input by changing soil diazotrophic communities. However, the soil diazotrophic community differences between glacial riparian wetlands and their adjacent ecosystems remain largely unexplored. Here, soils were collected from riparian wetlands and their adjacent alpine meadows at six locations from glacier foreland to lake mouth along a typical Tibetan glacial river in the Namtso watershed. The abundance and diversity of soil diazotrophs were determined by real-time PCR and amplicon sequencing based on nifH gene. The soil diazotrophic community assembly mechanisms were analyzed via iCAMP, a recently developed null model-based method. The results showed that compared with the riparian wetlands, the abundance and diversity of the diazotrophs in the alpine meadow soils significantly decreased. The soil diazotrophic community profiles also significantly differed between the riparian wetlands and alpine meadows. For example, compared with the alpine meadows, the relative abundance of chemoheterotrophic and sulfate-respiration diazotrophs was significantly higher in the riparian wetland soils. In contrast, the diazotrophs related to ureolysis, photoautotrophy, and denitrification were significantly enriched in the alpine meadow soils. The iCAMP analysis showed that the assembly of soil diazotrophic community was mainly controlled by drift and dispersal limitation. Compared with the riparian wetlands, the assembly of the alpine meadow soil diazotrophic community was more affected by dispersal limitation and homogeneous selection. These findings suggest that the conversion of riparian wetlands and alpine meadows can significantly alter soil diazotrophic community and probably the ecosystem nitrogen input mechanisms, highlighting the enormous effects of climate change on alpine ecosystems.

Sex differences in the mouse photothrombotic stroke model investigated with X-ray fluorescence microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic imaging

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability around the world. To date, the majority of pre-clinical research has been performed using male lab animals and results are commonly generalized to both sexes. In clinical stoke cases females have a higher incidence of ischemic stroke and poorer outcomes, compared to males. Best practices for improving translatability of findings for stroke, encourage the use of both sexes in studies. Since estrogen and progesterone have recognized neuroprotective effects, it is important to compare the size, severity and biochemical composition of the brain tissue following stroke in female and male animal models. In this study a photothrombotic focal stroke was induced in male and female mice. Vaginal secretions were collected twice daily to track the stage of estrous. Mice were euthanized at 24 h post-stroke. Histological staining, Fourier transform infrared imaging and X-ray fluorescence imaging were performed to better define the size and metabolic markers in the infarct core and surrounding penumbra. Our results show while the female mice had a significantly lower body mass than males, the cross-sectional area of the brain and the size of infarct and penumbra were not significantly different between the groups. In addition to the general expected sex-linked differences of altered NADH levels between males and females, estrus females had significantly elevated glycogen in the penumbra compared with males and total phosphorus levels were noted to be higher in the penumbra of estrus females. Elevated glycogen reserves in the tissue bordering the infarct core in females may present alternatives for improved functional recovery in females in the early post-stroke phase.

POS0869 CYTOKINES IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS RELATED INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE AND IDIOPATHIC PULMONARY FIBROSIS

Background

Immune pathways have been implicated in both systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related interstitial lung disease (ILD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Determination of blood cytokine differences in these two disorders need to be elucidated to better understand potential biological processes and common pathogenic pathways.

Objectives

This study compared 87 circulating cytokine levels amongst healthy controls and both SSc-ILD and IPF. There was also exploration of the association between cytokine levels and disease progression based on the annualized rate of decline of forced vital capacity (FVC) and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO).

Methods

Levels of 87 plasma cytokines were measured using commercial panels for consecutive SSc-ILD, IPF, and healthy individuals recruited at a Canadian tertiary-care center. Pulmonary function tests were performed as clinically indicated every 3-12 months. Cytokine levels are compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test for two samples pairwise. The association between differentially expressed cytokines with both percent predicted annualized FVC and DLCO change was assessed within each disease group using multiple linear models adjusted for age, sex, baseline FVC, and immunosuppressive or anti-fibrotic treatment at sampling. Correction for multiplicity of testing was by Holm’s method.

Results

There were 19 healthy controls, 40 SSc-ILD, and 17 IPF participants with clinical features shown in Table 1. Eotaxin-1 and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were significantly elevated in both SSc-ILD and IPF compared to healthy controls (Figure 1). SSc-ILD had significantly lower soluble epidermal growth factor receptor (sEGFR) and higher levels of both soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor type II (sTNFRII) and soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (sVEGFR1) compared to healthy controls. IPF cases were distinguished from healthy controls by significantly higher monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and monokine induced by gamma interferon (MIG, also known as CXCL9) levels. No significant association was found for any of the cytokines with ILD progression based on annualized rates of either FVC or DLCO change.

Table 1.

Baseline patient characteristics stratified by disease groups

Healthy control(n = 19)SSc-ILD(n = 40)IPF(n = 17)Age, year51 ± 1956 ± 1273 ± 7Male, count (%)6 (32)12 (30)12 (71)Disease duration, yearNA6.41 (7.81)1.76 (2.14)Ever smoker, count (%)2 (11)19 (48)14 (82)•4 (82)oker0.4 [0, 1]11 [4, 29]19 [11, 35]Treatment presence, count (%)NA16 (40)7 (41)Baseline FVC %NA80 ± 2285 ± 21Baseline DLCO %NA51 ± 1749 ± 11Annualized FVC % changeNA-1.7 ± 8.2-6.2 ± 13.6Annualized DLCO % changeNA-0.5 ± 6.2-7.8 ± 18.6

The number (%), mean ± standard deviation, and median [interquartile range] are shown. Disease duration is defined as time of ILD first seen on HRCT in IPF and time from first non-Raynaud’s phenomenon in SSc-ILD. Treatment includes presence of ILD therapies: nintedanib, pirfenidone, mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, rituximab. FVC = forced vital capacity, DLCO = diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide

Figure 1.

Notched box plots of cytokine differences between disease groups. All cytokine levels are shown on a log scale. Overlap of notches indicates lack of a statistically significant difference in medians in a pairwise comparison. P-values are for SSc-ILD or IPF compared to healthy controls using Wilcoxon rank sum two-sample test corrected for multiple testing using Holms method.

Conclusion

Differences in seven circulating cytokines between healthy controls with both SSc-ILD and IPF show evidence of systemic cytokine activation. All seven cytokines have a role in immune cell extravasation and pro-fibrotic signaling, which provides further evidence of immune pathways involved in pulmonary fibrosis. Further studies will be pursued of longitudinal change of these biomarkers for halting or slowing disease progression and improving response to treatment.

Disclosure of Interests

Boyang Zheng: None declared, Kevin Keen Grant/research support from: Merck Canada Inc, Marvin Fritzler Shareholder of: Abbott Laboratories; Roche Holdings; Abcellera; Moderna, Speakers bureau: For diagnostic company: Werfen, Consultant of: For diagnostic company: Werfen; Aesku, Employee of: Medical Director of Mitogen Diagnostics, Christopher Ryerson Speakers bureau: Boehringer Ingelheim, Hoffmann-La Roche, Consultant of: Boehringer Ingelheim, Hoffmann-La Roche, Veracyte, Astra Zeneca, Grant/research support from: Boehringer Ingelheim, Hoffmann-La Roche, Pearce Wilcox Speakers bureau: Vertex, Valeo, Boehringer, Beth Whalen: None declared, Basak Sahin: None declared, Haiyan Hou Employee of: Mitogen Diagnostics, Penny Latham Employee of: Eve technologies, Mei Feng Zhang Employee of: Mitogen diagnostics, Iris Yao: None declared, James Dunne: None declared

Multimodal imaging of hemorrhagic transformation biomarkers in an ischemic stroke model

Hemorrhagic transformation of ischemic stroke has devastating consequences, with high mortality and poor functional outcomes. Animal models of ischemic stroke also demonstrate the potential for hemorrhagic transformation, which complicates biochemical characterization, treatment studies, and hinders poststroke functional outcomes in affected subjects. The incidence of hemorrhagic transformation of ischemic stroke in animal model research is not commonly reported. The postmortem brain of such cases presents a complex milieu of biomarkers due to the presence of healthy cells, regions of varying degrees of ischemia, dead and dying cells, dysregulated metabolites, and blood components (especially reactive Fe species released from lysed erythrocytes). To improve the characterization of hemorrhage biomarkers on an ischemic stroke background, we have employed a combination of histology, X-ray fluorescence imaging (XFI), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic imaging to assess 122 photothrombotic (ischemic) stroke brains. Rapid freezing preserves brain biomarkers in situ and minimizes metabolic artifacts due to postmortem ischemia. Analysis revealed that 25% of the photothrombotic models had clear signs of hemorrhagic transformation. The XFI and FTIR metabolites provided a quantitative method to differentiate key metabolic regions in these models. Across all hemorrhage cases, it was possible to consistently differentiate otherwise healthy tissue from other metabolically distinct regions, including the ischemic infarct, the ischemic penumbra, blood vessels, sites of hemorrhage, and a region surrounding the hemorrhage core that contained elevated lipid oxidation. Chemical speciation of deposited Fe demonstrates the presence of heme-Fe and accumulation of ferritin.

Significance of soil moisture on temperature dependence of Hg emission

Soil moisture is a key factor for mercury (Hg) emission from soil. Despite its significance for Hg emissions, the effect of soil moisture on Hg flux and fractions has not been thoroughly investigated. The objective of this study was to elucidate the influences of soil moisture and temperature on Hg fluxes from soils and Hg fractions. A kinetic study was performed to measure Hg emission fluxes of six soil samples under different temperature (T) (15 °C, 20 °C, 25 °C, 30 °C, and 35 °C) and moisture conditions (0%, 10%, and 20% added water). The results showed that the Hg fluxes increased with increases in T and soil moisture. A linear correlation was found between ln (Hg emission flux) and 1/T for the six soil samples at different moisture contents (R² = 0.73-0.99). The range of activation energy (Ea) values was 25.31-57.86 kJ/mol. The Hg fractions in soils of different moisture content were determined by a sequential extraction method. The results demonstrated that soil moisture affected the Hg fractions in soils. The Ea values had different relationships with soil moisture in different soils. There were correlations between Ea and the elemental and mercuric sulfide fractions for air-dried soils. However, for moist soils, Ea was negatively correlated with the water-soluble and acid-soluble fractions. Collectively, the combination of the Hg emission kinetics and Hg fraction measurement of different moist soils indicated that Hg emission was affected by both total Hg concentration and Hg fractions.

MicroRNA-513c-5p is involved in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia by regulating of low-density lipoprotein receptor-associated protein 6

Background

Preeclampsia (PE) is a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Studies on the role of microRNAs (miRNAs), in the pathogenesis of PE through their effects on trophoblast function have been reported, but roles for some miRNAs including miR-513c-5p, have not been identified. We aimed to evaluate potential miRNA candidates that regulate the LRP6 mRNAand to elucidate the possible mechanism in PE. Potential miRNAs were selected by bioinformatics analysis, PCR of placenta tissues and dual luciferase reporter assay of HTR-8/SVneo cells.

Methods

A bioinformatics analysis (Gene Expression Omnibus, GEO; miRWalk) was performed to screen the possible miRNAs that participate in the pathology of PE. Placentas from patients with PE and women with a normal pregnancy were collected to detect the expression of predicted miRNAs by RT-qPCR. A dual luciferase reporter assay was used to test the binding of the potential miRNAs to LRP6. The effects of miR-513c-5p on the biological functions of HTR-8/SVneo cells were further evaluated by performing EdU staining, flow cytometry, wound healing assays and Transwell assays.

Results

GEO and miRWalk predicted 16 miRNAs that might target LRP6. Hsa-miR-371a-5p, hsa-miR-513c-5p, hsa-miR-126-3p, hsa-miR-145-5p, hsa-miR-193b-5p and hsa-miR-296-5p were 6 miRNAs upregulated in the PE placenta. LRP6 was downregulated in patients with PE compared to normal women. miR-513c-5p mimics inhibited LRP6 expression in HTR-8/SVneo cells, and LRP6 is the target gene of miR-513c-5p. miR-513c-5p mimics also inhibited invasion, migration and proliferation of HTR-8/SVneo cells but promoted their apoptosis.

Conclusions

Our study reveals that overexpression of placenta miR-513c-5p is involved in PE by regulating the biological functions of trophoblasts through the inhibition of LRP6.

Spontaneous emulsification induced by nanoparticle surfactants

Microemulsions, mixtures of oil, water, and surfactant, are thermodynamically stable. Unlike conventional emulsions, microemulsions form spontaneously, have a monodisperse droplet size that can be controlled by adjusting the surfactant concentration, and do not degrade with time. To make microemulsions, a judicious choice of surfactant molecules must be made, which significantly limits their potential use. Nanoparticle surfactants, on the other hand, are a promising alternative because the surface chemistry needed to make them bind to a liquid-liquid interface is both well flexible and understood. Here, we derive a thermodynamic model predicting the conditions in which nanoparticle surfactants drive spontaneous emulsification that agrees quantitatively with experiments using Noria nanoparticles. This new class of microemulsions inherits the mechanical, chemical, and optical properties of the nanoparticles used to form them, leading to novel applications.

Effects of the timing of selective reduction and finishing number of fetuses on the perinatal outcome in triplets: a single-center retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the timing of selective reduction and finishing the number of fetuses on perinatal outcomes in triplets.

METHOD

The study assessed 417 cases of triplets. Perinatal outcomes were compared between selective reduction (SR) performed at 11-14⁺⁶weeks of gestation and SR performed at 15-24⁺⁶weeks of gestation for the same starting and finishing numbers of fetuses. Then, the perinatal outcomes of reduction to singletons and twins were compared for the same range of SR of gestational weeks.

RESULTS

The spontaneous abortion rate was 6.5% and 14.9%, respectively, when SR was performed at 11-14⁺⁶weeks of gestation (214 cases) and at 15-24⁺⁶ weeks of gestation (94 cases) (p = .019). In total, 74 cases of triplets were reduced to singletons and 214 cases were reduced to twins when SR was performed at 11-14⁺⁶weeks of gestation. Preterm labor rates, low birth weight rates, birth weights, and gestational ages at delivery also showed significant differences (p < .001). In total, 35 cases of triplets were reduced to singletons and 94 cases were reduced to twins when SR was performed at 15-24⁺⁶weeks of gestation. The preterm labor rates, low birth weight rates, birth weights and gestational ages at delivery also significantly differed (p < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

When the starting and finishing numbers of fetuses were the same, the timing of SR could affect the spontaneous abortion rates. When the starting number of fetuses was the same, the timing of SR did not affect the neonatal outcome. However, the finishing number of fetuses was the influencing factor.

Quantitative proteomics suggest a potential link between early embryonic death and trisomy 16

Activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signalling, alteration of the uterine microenvironment and a reduction in human chorionic gonadotrophin production have been linked with fetal trisomy 16-induced early embryonic death (EED). However, the detailed biological mechanism of EED remains unclear. Using quantitative proteomics we successfully screened differentially expressed proteins in the villous tissues from patients with EED and fetal trisomy 16 (EEDT16), patients with EED but normal fetal chromosomes (EEDNC) and patients undergoing elective abortion with normal fetal chromosomes (EANC) as the reference group. Compared with the reference group, we identified 337 and 220 differentially expressed proteins in EEDT16 patients and EEDNC patients respectively; these were involved in critical biological processes including immune response, superoxide metabolism, inflammatory responses and so on. We found that differential expression of immunological function-related molecules, such as human leukocyte antigen-g (HLA-G), HLA-C, Fc Fragment Of IgG Receptor III (FcγR III), also named CD16, interleukin 18 (IL-18) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), might induce EED in both EEDT16 and EEDNC patients. More severe immunological dysfunction was observed in EEDT16 patients than that in EEDNC patients. Furthermore, differential expression of implantation and invasion-related molecules, such as cytochrome b-245 light chain (CYBA), neutrophil cytosol factor 2 (NCF2), Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 4 (MAP3K4), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), MMP9 and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) might induce EED in both EEDT16 and EEDNC patients, although more severe dysfunction in the implantation and invasion ability of villous tissues was observed in EEDT16 patients.

[Open hepatectomy versus laparoscopic in the treatment of primary left-sided hepatolithiasis: a propensity, long-term follow-up analysis at a single center]

To compare short-term and long-term efficacy after laparoscopic left hepatectomy(LLR) to open left hepatectomy(OLH) for primary left-sided hepatolithiasis. Methods: Clinical data of 187 patients with left-sided hepatolithiasis and underwent laparoscopically or open left-sided hepatectomy from October 2014 to October 2019 at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University were retrospectively analyzed in this propensity score matching (PSM) study and were matched in terms of age, sex, body mass index, liver function, ASA score, comorbidities, history of biliary surgery, and smoking history on the ratio of 1∶1.There were 47 cases in each group and the mean age were (54.7±12.3)years old(range:34 to 75 years old) and (53.2±12.6) years old (range: 34 to 75 years old) in open and laparoscopically group respectively. The data of operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital-stay, complication rate, biliary fistula rate, stone clearance rate, and stone recurrence rate were compared. The quantitative data were compared using t-test or rank-sum test. Count data were analyzed with χ(2) test or Fisher test. Results: No significant difference was observed in the clinical characteristics of included 94 patients in this study(all P>0.05).The length of the postoperative hospital-stay after OLH was significantly higher than that in the LLH group((10.8±3.1) days vs.(8.5±2.2)days, t=4.085, P=0.000). LLR significantly decreased the incidence of postoperative biliary fistula compared with the OLH (6.3% vs.21.2%, χ(2)=4.374, P=0.036) and the rates of postoperative complications in the OLH group was significantly higher than that in the LLH group (48.9% vs.27.6%, χ(2)=4.502, P=0.034). Moreover, the stone recurrence rates in the LLH group was significantly lower than that after OLR (4.2% vs. 17.0%, χ(2)=4.029, P=0.045). OLH (95% CI: 1.55 to 10.75, P=0.004) and postoperative complications (95% CI: 1.29 to 9.52, P=0.013) were independent risk factors for prolonged hospital stay. OLH (95% CI: 1.428 to 44.080, P=0.018) and residual stones (95% CI: 1.580 to 62.379, P=0.014) were independent risk factors for the occurrence of postoperative biliary fistula. Biliary fistula (95% CI: 1.078 to 24.517, P=0.040) was an independent risk factor for the recurrence of stones. Conclusion: Compared with OLH, LLH is safe and effective for the treatment of the primary left-sided hepatolithiasis with the clinical benefits of shorter hospital stay, fewer morbidity and biliary fistula occurrence, and lower stone recurrence rates.

FRI0171 THE CHANGES OF IMMUNE FUNCTION AND CLINICAL INDEXES WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS AFTER IMMUNOREGULATORY COMBINATION THERAPIES

Background:

Recent studies have reported that some drugs such as low-dose interleukin-2, rapamycin, metformin, retinoic acid and coenzyme Q10 could promote the proliferation and functional recovery of regulatory T cells (Treg) in patients with autoimmune diseases. However, the effects on the balance of Treg cells and pro-inflammatory lymphocytes and long-term efficacy have rarely been reported.

Objectives:

To evaluate the changes of peripheral lymphocyte subsets, conventional drugs and remission rate in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) after immunomodulatory combination therapies.

Methods:

A total of 189 patients with SLE from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2016 to October 2019 were enrolled, who were divided into well-controlled group and untargeted control group taking a full consideration of the patient’s symptoms, signs and related laboratory findings. We measured the absolute counts of B, NK, CD8+T and helper T 1 (Th1), helper T 2 (Th2), helper T 17 (Th17) and Treg cells in peripheral blood of patients before immunomodulatory combination therapies and during the 3 months and 6 months of follow-up and 190 sex- and age- matched control individuals using flow cytometry. Moreover, the ratios of various cells to Treg cells were calculated.

Results:

Compared with healthy controls, Treg cells in SLE patients were significantly lower before the treatment with immunomodulator, while the ratios of various pro-inflammatory lymphocytes to Treg cells (such as Th2/Treg, Th17/Treg, CD8+T/Treg, etc.) were higher. After 3 months and 6 months with immunomodulatory therapy, the absolute number of Treg cells in peripheral blood of SLE patients increased obviously reaching to normal level. Accordingly, the ratios of various pro-inflammatory lymphocytes to Treg cells recovered. At the same time, the dose of glucocorticoid and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) decreased distinctly. Additionally, the well-controlled group was able to maintain a high remission rate, and the untargeted control group could achieve a higher response rate after immunomodulatory treatment.

Conclusion:

The imbalance between pro-inflammatory lymphocytes and Treg cells caused by the significant decrease of Treg cells may be the main cause of SLE. And immunomodulatory combination therapies we came up with may reverse the imbalance of proinflammatory lymphocytes and Treg cells, which is an potential and effective treatment for SLE.

References:

[1]Noack M, Miossec P. Th17 and regulatory T cell balance in autoimmune and inflammatory disease[J]. Autoimmun Rev, 2014, 13(6): 668-677.

[2]Yu A, Snowhite I, Vendrame F, et al. Selective IL-2 responsiveness of regulatory T cells through multiple intrinsic mechanisms supports the use of low-dose IL-2 therapy in type 1 diabetes. Diabetes. 2015;64: 2172–2183.

[3]Schuiveling M, Vazirpanah N, Radstake TRDJ, Zimmermann M, Broen JCA. Metformin, A New Era for an Old Drug in the Treatment of Immune Mediated Disease?[J]. Curr Drug Targets, 2017;18:1-15.

Table 1.

The changes of remission rate in the no-remission group during follow-up.

Follow-up periodTotal patientsRemissionNo-remissionRemission rate(%)Baseline9209203 Months72333945.8a6 Months74423256.8a

a: Compared with baseline; b: Compared with 3 months.

Acknowledgments:

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all our coworkers and collaborators, Jing Luo, Xiangcong Zhao, Chen Zhang, Qi Wu, Congcong Liang, and Rui Fu for their technical support.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

Using IL-2R/lymphocytes for predicting the clinical progression of patients with COVID-19

Effective laboratory markers for the estimation of disease severity and predicting the clinical progression of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is urgently needed. Laboratory tests, including blood routine, cytokine profiles and infection markers, were collected from 389 confirmed COVID-19 patients. The included patients were classified into mild (n = 168), severe (n = 169) and critical groups (n = 52). The leukocytes, neutrophils, infection biomarkers [such as C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT) and ferritin] and the concentrations of cytokines [interleukin (IL)-2R, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α] were significantly increased, while lymphocytes were significantly decreased with increased severity of illness. The amount of IL-2R was positively correlated with the other cytokines and negatively correlated with lymphocyte number. The ratio of IL-2R to lymphocytes was found to be remarkably increased in severe and critical patients. IL-2R/lymphocytes were superior compared with other markers for the identification of COVID-19 with critical illness, not only from mild but also from severe illness. Moreover, the cytokine profiles and IL-2R/lymphocytes were significantly decreased in recovered patients, but further increased in disease-deteriorated patients, which might be correlated with the outcome of COVID-19. Lymphopenia and increased levels of cytokines were closely associated with disease severity. The IL-2R/lymphocyte was a prominent biomarker for early identification of severe COVID-19 and predicting the clinical progression of the disease.

Fertility and pregnancy outcomes following hysteroscopic metroplasty of different sized uterine septa: A retrospective cohort study protocol

Different sizes of uterine septum between infertile women and patients with abortions may have a clinical relevance in reproductive performance after surgery. This study aimed to assess if the fecundity of women after surgical correction of the uterine septum is associated with septum size.A retrospective, single-center, cohort study was conducted in Peking Union Medical College Hospital using patients aged between 21 and 37 years. Hysteroscopic metroplasty was performed on 121 patients with a uterine septum. The septum size was assessed by ultrasonography and hysteroscopy. The subjects were divided into 3 groups: Group A consisted of 35 women with complete uterine septum (mean ± standard deviation (SD) age 28.29 ± 3.53; group B consisted of 48 women with uterine septum >2.5 cm (mean ± SD age 28.85 ± 3.63); and group C consisted of 48 women with uterine septum ≤2.5 cm (mean ± SD age 28.79 ± 3.74). Age and body mass index (BMI) were not significantly different among the 3 groups.No serious hysteroscopic complications occurred. However, uterine septa were observed in 4 cases after surgery and 6 cases of intrauterine adhesions were observed after long-term follow-up. The abortion rate decreased, and term delivery rate increased significantly in the 3 groups after hysteroscopic metroplasty. The infertility rate was significantly lower in group C after surgery. However, no significant difference was observed in the infertility rate between groups A and B. The recurrent abortion rate was significantly lower in group A than in groups B and C before surgery. After surgery, the infertility rate was significantly higher in group A than in group B (28.57% and 10.53%, respectively; P = .048). After at least 12-months of follow-up, the pregnancy rate in group A was significantly lower than that in group C (71.43% and 89.47%, respectively; P = .048).Uterine septum resection improves obstetrical outcomes. After surgery, the infertility rate was significantly higher in patients with complete uterine septum than in those with a large partial uterine septum, and the pregnancy rate in patients with complete uterine septum was lower than that in the patients with a small partial uterine septum.

Ovarian reserve evaluation in a woman with 45,X/47,XXX mosaicism: A case report and a review of literature

Background

Turner syndrome (TS) is a common chromosomal disorder affecting approximately 1:2,500 live female births. Mosaic 47,XXX karyotype is found in 3%–4% of TS patients. TS phenotype in rare 45,X/47,XXX mosaicism patients is milder than in classic TS, however their ovarian function, especially in the mature age, has not been described in detail.

Methods

A case report and literature review.

Results

A 30‐year‐old woman with menstrual irregularity and primary infertility presented with short stature and multiple nevi on the face without other common TS clinical features. She had spontaneous puberty and menarche but diminished ovarian reserve at the age of 30. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) indicated 45,X/47,XXX mosaicism, which was once misdiagnosed as 45,X monosomy. Literature review revealed the prevalence of short stature in only 64.3% of 45,X/47,XXX mosaicism cases, that is, much less frequently than in pure 45,X monosomy. The risk of premature ovarian insufficiency in 45,X/47,XXX mosaicism patients is higher, and ovarian failure is usually observed at around 30 years of age.

Conclusion

FISH should be recommended to evaluate low proportion mosaicism in similar cases. Due to the risk of ovarian failure, fertility preservation for patients with 45,X/47,XXX mosaicism at a younger age must be considered.

miR-33a expression sensitizes Lgr5+ HCC-CSCs to doxorubicin via ABCA1

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for the unrestrained cell growth and chemo-resistance of malignant tumors. Reports about miR-33a in different type of cancer are limited, and it remains elusive whether there is a link between miR-33a and chemo-resistance of CSCs. Here we report that Lgr5+ hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells from primary tissues and cell lines behave similarly to CSCs and are chemo-resistant to doxorubicin. Significantly, reduced miR-33a expression is associated with the chemo-resistance of Lgr5+ HCC-CSCs, accompanied by an overexpression of ABCA1 which is identified as target of miR-33a by mainly using miRNA luciferase assay and western-blotting. We demonstrate that down-regulation of miR-33a expression directly contributes to chemo-resistance of Lgr5+ HCC-CSCs, and restoring miR-33a expression sensitizes them to doxorubicin via apoptosis by mainly using TUNEL assay, soft agar colony formation assay and xenograft assay. Additionally, reduced miR-33a expression in HCC tissues is associated with chemo-response and poor patient survival, which suggests the therapeutic potential of miR-33a. In conclusion, our work indicates that ectopic miR-33a expression sensitizes Lgr5+ HCC-CSCs to doxorubicin via direct targeting ABCA1, which sheds new light on understanding the mechanism of chemo-resistance in HCC-CSCs and contributes to development of potential therapeutics against HCC.

[Prevalence and etiologic agent of Salmonella in livestock and poultry meats in Huai'an City during 2015-2016]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the prevalence and etiologic agent of Salmonella in livestock and poultry meats, so as to provide data support for controlling contamination and effectively tracing of Salmonella.

METHODS

Livestock and poultry meats from 8 counties in Huaian from 2015 to 2016 were collected and analyzed for the occurrence of Salmonella according national testing standards. Then the serotype distribution, antimicrobial resistance, virulence gene and molecular subtyping traits of isolated strains were characterized.

RESULTS

Of the total 368 samples, 37( 10. 05%) tested positive for Salmonella. And the positive rate of chicken, duck, pork, beef and mutton were 14. 14%( 14/99), 11. 11%( 10/90), 10. 34%( 12/116) and 1. 59%( 1/63), respectively. 37 Salmonella isolates were separated into 8 serotypes and the main serotypes wereSalmonella enteritidis and Salmonella typhimurium. The antimicrobial resistance test indicated Salmonella isolates showed highest resistance to ampicillin and nalidixic acid( 72. 97%), showed lowest resistance to cefoxitin( 8. 11%). And the resistance phenotypes of Salmonella isolates from different samples and serotypes were different. The carriage rate of inv H and sop E were highest in Salmonella enteritidis and the highest rates of inv H, sop E and rhu M in Salmonella typhimurium. PFGE showed that the pattern similarity of all Salmonella enteritidis was more than 81. 56% and the relationship between the strains with the same source was closer. PFGE pattern of Salmonella typhimurium were different.

CONCLUSION

The contamination with Salmonella of livestock and poultry meats in Huaian was serious, and the main serotypes were Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella typhimurium. Salmonella isolates showed high drug resistance and high carriage rate of virulence genes.

Detecting Dynamics of Hot Topics with Alluvial Diagrams: A Timeline Visualization

Purpose

In this paper, we combined the method of co-word analysis and alluvial diagram to detect hot topics and illustrate their dynamics.

Design/methodology/approach

Articles in the field of scientometrics were chosen as research cases in this study. A time-sliced co-word network was generated and then clustered. Afterwards, we generated an alluvial diagram to show dynamic changes of hot topics, including their merges and splits over time.

Findings

After analyzing the dynamic changes in the field of scientometrics from 2011 to 2015, we found that two clusters being merged did not mean that the old topics had disappeared and a totally new one had emerged. The topics were possibly still active the following year, but the newer topics had drawn more attention. The changes of hot topics reflected the shift in researchers’ interests. Research topics in scientometrics were constantly subdivided and re-merged. For example, a cluster involving “industry” was divided into several topics as research progressed.

Research limitations

When examining longer time periods, we encounter the problem of dealing with bigger data sets. Analyzing data year by year would be tedious, but if we combine, e.g. two years into one time slice, important details would be missed.

Practical implications

This method can be applied to any research field to illustrate the dynamics of hot topics. It can indicate the promising directions for researchers and provide guidance to decision makers.

Originality/value

The use of alluvial diagrams is a distinctive and meaningful approach to detecting hot topics and especially to illustrating their dynamics.

Usage Count: A New Indicator to Detect Research Fronts

Purpose

Research fronts build on recent work, but using times cited as a traditional indicator to detect research fronts will inevitably result in a certain time lag. This study attempts to explore the effects of usage count as a new indicator to detect research fronts in shortening the time lag of classic indicators in research fronts detection.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory study was conducted where the new indicator “usage count” was compared to the traditional citation count, “times cited,” in detecting research fronts of the regenerative medicine domain. An initial topic search of the term “regenerative medicine” returned 10,553 records published between 2000 and 2015 in the Web of Science (WoS). We first ranked these records with usage count and times cited, respectively, and selected the top 2,000 records for each. We then performed a co-citation analysis in order to obtain the citing papers of the co-citation clusters as the research fronts. Finally, we compared the average publication year of the citing papers as well as the mean cited year of the co-citation clusters.

Findings

The citing articles detected by usage count tend to be published more recently compared with times cited within the same research front. Moreover, research fronts detected by usage count tend to be within the last two years, which presents a higher immediacy and real-time feature compared to times cited. There is approximately a three-year time span among the mean cited years (known as “intellectual base”) of all clusters generated by usage count and this figure is about four years in the network of times cited. In comparison to times cited, usage count is a dynamic and instant indicator.

Research limitations

We are trying to find the cutting-edge research fronts, but those generated based on co-citations may refer to the hot research fronts. The usage count of older highly cited papers was not taken into consideration, because the usage count indicator released by WoS only reflects usage logs after February 2013.

Practical implications

The article provides a new perspective on using usage count as a new indicator to detect research fronts.

Originality/value

Usage count can greatly shorten the time lag in research fronts detection, which would be a promising complementary indicator in detection of the latest research fronts.

Analysis of outcomes of fertility restoration surgery in women with infertility secondary to tubal pregnancy: a series of 77 cases

PURPOSE

To assess pregnancy outcomes after minimally-invasive fertility restoration surgery in women with infertility secondary to tubal pregnancy treated with salpingectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 77 women diagnosed with infertility after salpingectomy for tubal pregnancy between December 2008 and October 2010 for intraoperative assessment and treatment of tubal and pelvic adhesions. The mean age of the patients was 31.12 ± 3.58 years and their duration of infertility was 3.91 ± 2.80 years. Chi-square test, Student's t-test, rank-sum test, and Kaplan-Meier test was used. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Tubal function was restored in 68.8% of women, 33.77% experienced intrauterine conception, 32.47% had a live birth, 5.19% had an ectopic pregnancy, and 1.30% had a spontaneous abortion within the three-year follow up period.

CONCLUSIONS

Minimally-invasive fertility restoration surgery after tubal pregnancy treated with salpingectomy restored tubal function in the contralateral fallopian tube in the majority of women.

The Nrf2-ARE pathway is associated with Schisandrin b attenuating benzo(a)pyrene-Induced HTR cells damages in vitro

As is ubiquitous in the environmental sources, benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) has been reported to induce reprotoxicity in previous studies. Toxicity to trophoblast cells may be one key factor, but evidences were absent. We speculated that BaP can induce cytotoxicity in human trophoblast HTR-8/SVneo (HTR) cells, and Schisandrin B (Sch B) as a potential protector can inhibit the cytotoxicity. MTS assay identified that BaP induced HTR cells death while Sch B played a cytoprotective role. And after Nrf2 interference, the ability of Sch B-induced cytoprotection was declined. Furthermore, PCR, western blot, ELISA, and SOD assays were found that Sch B significantly increased the mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2, HO1, NQO1, and SOD in the Nrf2-ARE pathway, and the extents of increase were declined after Nrf2 interference. These results demonstrated that the Nrf2-ARE pathway plays an important role in Sch B attenuating BaP-induced HTR cells damages in vitro. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 1439-1449, 2016.

Skeletal Muscle Oxygenation Measured by EPR Oximetry Using a Highly Sensitive Polymer-Encapsulated Paramagnetic Sensor

We have incorporated LiNc-BuO, an oxygen-sensing paramagnetic material, in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which is an oxygen-permeable, biocompatible, and stable polymer. We fabricated implantable and retrievable oxygen-sensing chips (40 % LiNc-BuO in PDMS) using a 20-G Teflon tubing to mold the chips into variable shapes and sizes for in vivo studies in rats. In vitro EPR measurements were used to test the chip's oxygen response. Oxygen induced linear and reproducible line broadening with increasing partial pressure (pO2). The oxygen response was similar to that of bare (unencapsulated) crystals and did not change significantly on sterilization by autoclaving. The chips were implanted in rat femoris muscle and EPR oximetry was performed repeatedly (weekly) for 12 weeks post-implantation. The measurements showed good reliability and reproducibility over the period of testing. These results demonstrated that the new formulation of OxyChip with 40 % LiNc-BuO will enable the applicability of EPR oximetry for long-term measurement of oxygen concentration in tissues and has the potential for clinical applications.

[Clinical analysis of pregnancy outcomes and fetal loss after fetal reduction of triplets to twins or singleton pregnancy]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate and evaluate the pregnancy outcomes and fetal loss after fetal reduction of triplets to twins or singleton pregnancy.

METHODS

282 cases of triplets who received multi-fetal pregnancy reduction (MFPR) at Shandong Provincial Hospital affiliated to Shandong University were recruited from Sep 2001 to Mar 2014. According to the remaining fetal number after MFPR, 231 cases were opted to reduce to twins (twins group) while 51 cases were opted to singleton pregnancy (singleton group). The indication of the former group was fetal abnormalities under ultrasound or on patients' demand; while the indication for the later group included dichorionic triamniotic (DCTA) triplets or patients' aspiration. Potassium chloride was injected into the targeted fetal heart until cardiac standstill was obtained. The pregnancy outcomes, gestational age at delivery, birth weight of newborns of the two groups were recorded. Successful pregnancy was defined as take-home at least one baby.

RESULTS

(1) The overall rate of successful pregnancy was 91.5% (258/282). There were 413 neonates in the twins group, including 4 neonatal deaths and 409 live babies, with the successful rate of 90.5% (209/231). There were 49 neonates in the singleton group, including 2 cases of fetal loss. Thus the successful rate was 96.1% (49/51). There was no difference of successful pregnancy rate between the two groups (P>0.05). (2) The mean gestational age at operation for the twins group and singleton group were (16.5±3.5) weeks and (14.2±2.0) weeks, respectively. Each group was divided into three periods, 11-13(+6) weeks, 14-16(+6) weeks and ≥17 weeks. In the twins group, the cases in each time period were 129 (55.8%, 129/231), 50 (21.6%, 50/231) and 52 (22.5%, 52/231), respectively. While in the singleton group, the cases in each time period were 27 (53%, 27/51), 16 (31%, 16/51) and 8 (16%, 8/51). There was no difference between the two groups at each time period (P>0.05). (3) The fetal loss rate in the twins group were 7% (9/129), 12% (6/50), 10% (5/52) at each time period, respectively. While for the singleton group they were 4% (1/27), 0 (0/16) and 1/8, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups at each time period (P>0.05). (4) The mean birth weight of the twins group was lower than the singleton group [(2,555±447) g vs (3,084±550) g, respectively, P<0.05]. The rates of low birth weight infants (<2,499 g) in the twins group and the singleton group were 45.5% (188/413) and 8% (4/49), respectively (P<0.05). The rate of very low birth weight infants (≤1,499 g) was 3.9% (16/413) in the twins group compared with 0 (0/49) in the singleton group (P>0.05). (5) The gestational age at delivery of the twins group was earlier than the singleton group [(36.2±2.4) weeks vs (38.3±2.2) weeks, respectively, P<0.05]. The labor rate of the two groups was significantly different for both 34-36(+6) weeks and ≥ 37 weeks (P<0.05). The full-term delivery rate in the twins group was 47.6% (110/231), and was 88.2% (45/51) in the singleton group (P < 0.05). The fetal loss rate before 28 weeks did not differ between the two groups [8.7% (20/231) vs 3.9% (2/51), P>0.05].

CONCLUSIONS

Reduction to one fetus led to significantly better outcome than two fetuses, with no significant difference in fetal loss rate. It is better to advise patients with triplets reduce to singleton pregnancy.

Design and implementation of a new autonomous sensor fish to support advanced hydropower development

Acceleration in development of additional conventional hydropower requires tools and methods to perform laboratory and in-field validation of turbine performance and fish passage claims. The new-generation Sensor Fish has been developed with more capabilities to accommodate a wider range of users over a broader range of turbine designs and operating environments. It provides in situ measurements of three-dimensional (3D) linear accelerations, 3D rotational velocities, 3D orientation, pressure, and temperature at a sampling frequency of 2048 Hz. It also has an automatic floatation system and built-in radio-frequency transmitter for recovery. The relative errors of the pressure, acceleration, and rotational velocity were within ±2%, ±5%, and ±5%, respectively. The accuracy of orientation was within ±4° and accuracy of temperature was ±2 °C. The new-generation Sensor Fish is becoming a major technology and being deployed for evaluating the conditions for fish passage of turbines or other hydraulic structures in both the United States and several other countries.

Infertility evaluation via laparoscopy and hysteroscopy after conservative treatment for tubal pregnancy

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the cause of infertility and impairment of tubal reproductive functions in infertility patients, who suffered tubal pregnancy after conservative treatment, using laparoscopy, hysteroscopic tubal catheterization, and hydrotubation.

METHODS

Seventy-five infertility patients treated for tubal pregnancies were divided into two groups based on past treatment methods of their tubal pregnancies, conservative-medical group and conservative-surgical group. The severity of pelvic adhesions, tubal morphology, tubal fimbria, and other infertility factors were observed via laparoscopy. Additionally, hysteroscopic tubal catheterization and hydrotubation was used to diagnose tubal patency and evaluate the intrauterine cavity.

RESULTS

There were one or more factors associated with infertility in the 75 patients, among which abnormal tubal was an absolutely important factor. In conservative-medical group, 92.11% (35/38) of the patients were with bilateral or unilateral oviduct exceptions, such as adhesion around or distorted tubal, closure or adhesion in umbrella end, lumen block. In conservative-surgical group, all of the patients were with bilateral or unilateral fallopian tube lesions. As two fallopian tubes per patient, 80.26% (61/76) of the tubes in conservative-medical group was damaged, 95.95% (71/74) in conservative-surgical group. The differences between the two groups was significant (P < 0.05). However, differences between these two groups in morphology of damaged tubes, anomaly of umbrella end and occlusion of lumen were not significant (P > 0.05). Incidence of pelvic adhesions in conservative-medical group was 76.32% (29/38), which was lower than 100% (37/37) of conservative-surgical group. The difference was significant (P < 0.05), which suggested that conservative-medical treatment was more effective than surgical treatment in preventing pelvic adhesion.

CONCLUSION

Factors associated with tubal infertility affect patients who accepted conservative treatment for tubal pregnancy. In patients with a history of a tubal pregnancy, it may be less likely to compromise future reproductive function for conservative-medical treated patients than that for conservative-surgery treated patients.