Objective To investigate the incidence of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) during the third trimester of pregnancy and its effects on pregnancy outcomes and neonatal hypothyroidism.Methods A total of 10 695 women in the third trimester of pregnancy (28-42 weeks of gestation) who labored from January 1,to December 31,2012 in Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University were enrolled.The levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH),free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) of the mothers were quantified by electrochemical immunoassay.The time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay was used to detect neonatal thyroid hormone levels.Using t test or x2test,the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes was compared between SCH group and euthyroid group and between SCH women with positive (n=40) or negative TPOAb (n=176).Results The incidence of SCH was 2.02％ (216/10 695) and the positive rate of TPOAb in SCH women was 18.5％ (40/216).No neonatal thyroid dysfunction was found.According to the age matched,222 cases were randomly selected as controls from 7 757 euthyroid women.Compared with the controls,SCH women had a higher incidence of premature rupture of membranes [28.7％ (62/216) vs 14.9％ (33/222),x2=12.34],anemia [11.6％ (25/216) vs 4.1％ (9/222),x2=8.65],pregnancy-induced hypertension [9.7％ (21/216) vs 4.5％ (10/222),x2=4.53],premature labor [8.8％ (19/216) vs 3.6％ (8/222),x2=5.10] and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy [8.3％(18/216) vs 2.3％ (5/222),x2=8.14] (all P＜0.05).The overall incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes was also higher in SCH group than in the controls [69.4％ (150/216) vs 49.5％ (110/222),x2=17.96,P＜0.01].The incidence of fetal growth restriction and still birth in SCH mothers with positive TPOAb was higher than in those with negative TPOAb [7.5％ (3/40) vs 0.0％ (0/176),x2=13.32,P＜0.01; 2.5％ (1/40) vs 0.0％ (0/176),x2=4.40,P＜0.05],but there was no significant difference in the overall incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes compared with TPOAb-negative mothers [65.0％ (26/40) vs 70.5％ (124/176),x2=0.46,P=0.50].Conclusions SCH diagnosed in the third trimester may lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes.Early screening for thyroid dysfunction is necessary.

Objective To observe the influences of stemona alkaloids on esterase isozymes activities and glycogen content of Oncomelania hupensis in order to explore the molluscicidal mechanism of stemona alkaloids.Methods O.hupensis snails were immersed in the liquid of stemona alkaloids at the concentration of 6.5 mg/L(72 h LC50),the surviving ones were picked out and sampled after being immersed for 12,24,48,72,96 h,then PAGE and anthrone colorimetry methods were used to observe the changes of liver esterase isozymes activities and tissue glycogen content of O.hupensis during the immersion period.A group of snails immersed in de-chlorinous water served as control.Results Esterase isozymes activities firstly increased,and then decreased until almost lost completely during the 96 h immersion period.Meanwhile,glycogen content gradually decreased as the immersion time extended.After being immersed for 96 h,glycogen content decreased by 72.00% compared with the control group.Conclusion Stemona alkaloids could inhibit the viability of O.hupensis by causing decrease of esterase isozymes activities and glycogen content.

Objective To screening optimized ultrasound (US)condition for MCF-7 cells and MCF-7/Tax cells,and to investigate the effect of dual-ligands nanoparticles (NPs ) combined with US on overcoming multidrug resistance (MDR).Methods To obtain optimized US condition,cell viability and cellular uptake of NPs treated with MCF-7 cells and MCF-7/Tax cells were detected under different ultrasonic parameters including ultrasound intensity,exposure duration and microbubble concentration. MTT assay was performed to observe the effect of NPs combined with US on cells.Results The optimal US conditions for MCF-7 cells was irradiation intensity 0.6 W/cm2 ,irradiation time 80 s,and the MBs concentration with volume ratio of microbubbles to medium was 1∶1 0;and for MCF-7/Tax cells,irradiation intensity 0.6 W/cm2 ,irradiation time 80 s,and the MBs concentration with volume ratio of microbubbles to medium was 1∶20.Compared with individual NPs,NPs assisted by US exhibited greater killing ability for MCF-7 (IC50 1 .43 ng/ml)and MCF-7/Tax cells (IC50<800 ng/ml).Conclusions US effect could enhance drug sensitivity of the dual-functionized NPs for MCF-7/Tax cells,indicating that US irradiation had potential assisted modality to reverse tumor MDR.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on renal fibrosis in a mouse model of renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) and the role of serine-threonine kinase (Akt). Methods: Sixty male C57BL/6 mice, aged 8 weeks, weighing 20-25 g, were divided into 5 groups (n=12 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (S group), renal I/R group (I/R group), renal I/R plus dexmedetomidine group (I/R + D group), renal I/R plus dexmedetomidine plus Akt agonist SC79 group (I/R + D + SC group), and renal I/R plus dexmedetomidine plus normal saline group (I/R+ D+ NS group). Renal I/R injury model was established by clamping the bilateral renal pedicle for 30 min followed by reperfusion.Dexmedetomidine was intraperitoneally injected at 30 min before surgery in I/R+ D, I/R+ D+ SC and I/R+ D+ NS groups.SC79 was intraperitoneally injected as a bolus of 0.04 mg/kg at 1 min of reperfusion, followed by an intraperitoneal injection of the same dose every 24 h until day 7.The serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and Scr concentrations were detected at 24 h of reperfusion.Renal tissues were taken, and the damage to the renal tubules was scored.Renal tissues were removed at 14 days of reperfusion to detect the degree of renal fibrosis and expression of collagen 1 (COL1), fibronectin (FN), and α-smooth actin (α-SMA) (by immunofluorescence and Western blot). The expression of phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) in renal tissues was determined by Western blot at 24 h and 14 day of reperfusion. Results: Compared with group S, the serum BUN and Scr concentrations, renal tubule damage score and degree of renal fibrosis were significantly increased, and the expression of COL1, FN, α-SMA and p-Akt was up-regulated in group I/R (P<0.05). Compared with I/R group, the serum BUN and Scr concentrations, renal tubular damage score and degree of renal fibrosis were significantly decreased, and the expression of COL1, FN, α-SMA and p-Akt was down-regulated in I/R+ D and I/R+ D+ NS groups (P<0.05). Compared with I/R+ D group, the serum BUN and Scr concentrations, renal tubule damage score and degree of renal fibrosis were significantly increased , and the expression of COL1, FN, α-SMA and p-Akt was up-regulated in I/R+ D+ SC group (P<0.05). Conclusion Dexmedetomidine can reduce the degree of renal fibrosis in a mouse model of renal I/R and the mechanism is related to inhibiting activation of Akt.

BACKGROUND: Antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) can significantly improve the outcomes of preterm infants. This study aimed to describe the ACS use rates among preterm infants admitted to Chinese neonatal intensive care units (NICU) and to explore perinatal factors associated with ACS use, using the largest contemporary cohort of very preterm infants in China. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled all infants born at 24 +0 to 31 +6 weeks and admitted to 57 NICUs of the Chinese Neonatal Network from January 1st, 2019 to December 30th, 2019. The ACS administration was defined as at least one dose of dexamethasone and betamethasone given before delivery. Multiple logistic regressions were applied to determine the association between perinatal factors and ACS usage. RESULTS: A total of 7828 infants were enrolled, among which 6103 (78.0%) infants received ACS. ACS use rates increased with increasing gestational age (GA), from 177/259 (68.3%) at 24 to 25 weeks' gestation to 3120/3960 (78.8%) at 30 to 31 weeks' gestation. Among infants exposed to ACS, 2999 of 6103 (49.1%) infants received a single complete course, and 33.4% (2039/6103) infants received a partial course. ACS use rates varied from 30.2% to 100% among different hospitals. Multivariate regression showed that increasing GA, born in hospital (inborn), increasing maternal age, maternal hypertension and premature rupture of membranes were associated with higher likelihood to receive ACS. CONCLUSIONS The use rate of ACS remained low for infants at 24 to 31 weeks' gestation admitted to Chinese NICUs, with fewer infants receiving a complete course. The use rates varied significantly among different hospitals. Efforts are urgently needed to propose improvement measures and thus improve the usage of ACS.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Infant, Premature ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use*