Objective:To investigate the effect of Cyr61 on the proliferation of Fibroblast-like Synoviocytes (FLS) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods:Cyr61 expression in synovial tissues (ST) and FLS was examined using Real-time PCR,Western blot and immunohistochemistry simultaneously.FLS were isolated from synovial tissue of RA patients and cultured in vitro.The proliferation of FLS stimulated with synovial fluid (SF) was determined by 3 H-TdR incorporation.Cyr61 protein level in RA SF was detected by ELISA.Results:Cyr61 was over expressed in ST,FLS of RA patients while hardly examined in normal individuals and osterarthritis (OA) patients.Meanwhile,Cyr61 protein level was elevated in SF,which promoted the proliferation of RA FLS.This proliferation was abrogated by knockdown the Cyr61 gene of FLS or neutralizing monoclonal antibody against human Cyr61.Moreover,inflammatory factor IFN-γ and TNF-α up-regulated the expression of Cyr61.Conclusion:These results indicate that the elevated level of IFN-γ and TNF-α in RA SF can promote the proliferation of the FLS derived from RA patients by increasing expression of Cyr61,suggesting that Cyr61 may play an important role in the development of RA.

Objective: To investigate the clinical significance and prognosis of ultrasound-identified asymmetric ventricles in fetuses, and to provide evidences for clinical consultation and management. Methods: From January 2014 to May 2017, 142 singleton fetuses were enrolled who were diagnosed with asymmetric ventricles through prenatal ultrasound in Peking University First Hospital and successfully followed up after birth. Asymmetric ventricles included simple lateral ventricular asymmetry [lateral ventricular widths were normal (<10 mm) but with a difference of ≥2 mm between the two lateral ventricles and unilateral ventricular widening (only one lateral ventricle was ≥10 mm in width and the other was <10 mm). All 142 fetuses were divided into two groups according to whether they had other abnormalities (including abnormal ultrasound soft markers and structural abnormalities) or not. Clinical and imaging data of them were analyzed retrospectively. They were followed up for at least six months after birth. Neurological development regarding language, behavior and motor was evaluated using Denver Developmental Screening Test. Results: There were 109 cases without other abnormalities and among them, 38 (35%) spontaneously recovered in utero, two (2%) became worse, and 69 (63%) remained unchanged. Thirty-one of the 109 cases received fetal cranial MRI and abnormal brain development was found in only one case. No abnormal findings were reported in karyotyping in 38 cases and viral detection in 31 cases. One hundred and five fetuses were successfully delivered and four were induced including two cases for wider in unilateral lateral ventricle, one of continued widening, and one with abnormal brain development suggested by fetal cranial MRI. Among the 33 cases with other abnormalities, two were spontaneously recovered in utero, one became worse , 15 unchanged and 15 were induced. Of the 20 cases underwent chromosomal examination, one unbalanced chromosome translocation was identified. Twelve fetuses underwent cranial MRI among which two were found abnormal (periventricular cyst and brain asymmetry). Sixteen cases were aborted including 15 with major abnormalities (major deformity or absence of extremities) and one with mild abnormality (abnormal ultrasound soft markers with progression in lateral ventricular width ≥15 mm in in-utero follow-up). Seventeen cases were born including 16 with mild abnormalities and one with severe abnormality (unilateral renal cystic disease without chromosome abnormality). No significant developmental abnormality in language, behavior and motor was reported during follow-up. Conclusions Asymmetric ventricles have no significant impact on fetal growth and postnatal development. The prognosis of asymmetric ventricles mainly depends on the width of lateral ventricles in utero and concomitant abnormalities. Therefore, close attention should be paid on monitoring and follow-up.

Objective:To analyze the characteristics and prognosis of fetal suprasellar arachnoid cysts.Methods:The clinical data of five fetuses with suprasellar arachnoid cysts diagnosed prenatally by ultrasound at Peking University First Hospital from March 2015 to July 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. The prenatal diagnosis, progression, and management strategies of this disease were described together with fetal MRI and follow-up data.Results:Five cases of suprasellar arachnoid cysts were diagnosed prenatally by ultrasound, including one isolated and stable case and four with enlarged lesions complicated by ventriculomegaly during pregnancy. There were four male and one female fetus. One baby was born vaginally, three through cesarean section, and the rest one was terminated in another hospital. Two babies were operated at two and six months after birth, respectively, and both recovered. And the other two babies were still under regular follow-up. Fortunately, all four children grew and developed well at the age between 15-66 months.Conclusions:For some fetuses with suprasellar arachnoid cysts, postnatal surgery may not be required. While those who have undergone surgery have a good prognosis due to early intervention.

Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of mifepristone combined with oral or vaginal misoprostol for termination of pregnancy between 8 and 16 weeks of gestation. Methods This was a randomized, multi-center, open clinical trial. A total of 625 women at 8-16 weeks of gestation were randomized to receive 200 mg oral mifepristone followed by either oral misoprostol 400 μg every 3 hours or vaginal misoprostol 400μg every 6 hours for a maximum of 4 doses 36-48 hours later. There were 417 women in oral group with 198 at 8-9 weeks and 219 at 10-16 weeks, while 208 women in vaginal group with 99 at 8-9 weeks and 109 at 10-16 weeks. The outcome measures were the success abortion rate, induction to abortion interval, the amount of bleeding, reoccurrence of menstruation and adverse events. Results Abortion rate was significantly higher in vaginal group [98.1% (202/206)] than that in oral group [94.0%(390/415), P=0.023]; concerning termination of pregnancy at 8-9 weeks and 10-16 weeks respectively, there were no significant differences between oral and vaginal groups (P=0.156, P=0.073). The induction to abortion interval was no significant difference in oral and vaginal group in different gestational weeks ( P=0.238, P=0.273). The average induction to abortion interval was (4.1 ± 6.6) hours and (6.0 ± 4.5) hours respectively in terminating 8-9 weeks and 10-16 weeks of gestation. Concerning the amount of bleeding within 2 hours of placenta expulsion, there was significant difference between oral group [(63±46) ml] and vaginal group [(55 ± 45) ml] in terminating 8-9 weeks of gestation (P=0.047), while there was no significant difference between groups in terminating 10-16 weeks of gestation [oral group (76 ± 52) ml versus vaginal group (76 ± 61) ml, P=0.507]. The reoccurrence of menstruation was about 37 days in both oral and vaginal groups. Two cases of incomplete abortion were serious adverse events (SAE) relating to treatment. The common adverse events (AE) of nausea and vomiting were significantly higher in oral group [57.2% (239/417), 36.3% (151/417)] than those in vaginal group [45.4% (94/208), 26.1% (54/208); P=0.005, 0.011]. Conclusion Oral or vaginal misoprostol combined with mifepristone, is effective and safe for termination of pregnancy between 8 and 16 weeks of gestation.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the previous cesarean scar thickness, previous cesarean scar defect and the occurrence of uterine rupture for pregnancy women after previous cesarean section and to predict the occurrence of uterine rupture in the third trimester for pregnancy women after previous cesarean section by analyzing the lower uterine segment (LUS) situation or quantitatively measure LUS myometrium thickness. Methods A total of 154 pregnant women who have a prior cesarean from January 2015 to March 2016 were selected, all of them regularly did the prenatal examination in the pregnancy period and finally gave birth in hospital. By the transvaginal sonograph, the LUS myometrium thickness (transverse and longitudinal thickness) and the size of the previous cesarean scar defect were measured in the first trimester, the LUS myometrium thickness (longitudinal thickness) and qualitatively analysis LUS condition were measured in the third trimester. They were divided into two groups according to the pregnancy outcome: uterine rupture group (found in the cesarean operation or during the pregnancy) and without uterine rupture group (including the vaginal delivery women and those without uterine rupture in the cesarean operation period). The sensitivity and specificity of LUS myometrium thickness in the first trimester and the qualitative analysis LUS situation, the quantitative measurement of LUS myometrium thickness in the third trimester were compared in the prediction of occurrence of uterine rupture (dehiscence or complete rupture). Results The group without uterine rupture included 134 women (6 vaginal delivery and 128 cesarean delivery), and the group with uterine rupture included 20 women (all of them cesarean delivery). The LUS myometrium thickness in the third trimester in the group without uterine rupture was (1.6±0.5) mm, and was (1.1±0.7) mm in the uterine rupture group (P=0.004). There were no significant difference between two groups in the mean value of age, height, weight, the interdelivery interval, the LUS myometrium thickness (transverse and longitudinal thickness) in the first trimester. Qualitative analysis of LUS condition had higher specificity (99%), higher positive predictive value (92%), higher negative predictive value (94%) and slightly lower sensitivity (60%) than quantitative measure of LUS myometrium thickness in predicting uterine rupture. Conclusions Measurement of the LUS myometrium thickness in the first trimester is helpful for predicting the occurrence of uterine rupture, so it is not necessary to terminate the pregnancy because of the thin LUS or the little prior cesarean scar defect in the first trimester. However it should be paid close attention to the LUS situation during the whole gestation. Qualitatively analyzing LUS situation is more meaningful than quantitatively measuring LUS myometrium thickness in predicting the uterine rupture in the third trimester.

Objective:To explore the predictive value of transvaginal ultrasound measurement of cervical length (CL) in the first and second trimester on spontaneous preterm birth in singleton pregnant women.Methods:This study retrospectively recruited 2 254 singleton pregnancies without severe comorbidities at Peking University First Hospital from January 2019 to June 2019. CL was measured for all subjects using transvaginal ultrasound in the first (11-13 +6 weeks) and second trimester (21-23 +6 weeks). Differences in CL between women with preterm (preterm group) and full-term delivery (full-term group) as well as the CL during the first and second trimester were compared. The independent risk factors for preterm birth and the predictive value of CL in the first and second trimester for spontaneous preterm birth were also explored. Fisher's exact test, t-test, χ2 test, and logistic regression analysis, etc, were adopted for statistical analysis. Results:(1) For the 2 254 subjects, CL measured in the first trimester and second trimester were (36.1±4.2) mm (22.4-52.6 mm) and (36.9±5.3) mm (2.9-59.7 mm), respectively. The incidence of short cervix in the first trimester and second trimester were 0.31% (7/2 254) and 1.46% (33/2 254), respectively. When CL was ≤25.0 mm ( OR=43.92, 95% CI:6.83-282.49) or >25.0-≤30.3 mm ( OR=6.59, 95% CI:1.97-22.0) in the first trimester, the risk of short cervix increased in the second trimester (both P<0.05). (2) The total incidence of preterm delivery was 3.06% (69/2 254). CL and the incidence of short cervix did not differ significantly in the first trimester between the preterm and full-term group [(35.2±4.5) and (36.1±4.1) mm, t=－1.78, P=0.076; 1.5% (1/69) and 0.3% (6/2 185), χ 2=2.98, P=0.084]. Compared with the full-term group, CL was shorter and the incidence of short cervix was higher in the second trimester in the preterm group [(33.6±6.7) vs (37.0±5.2) mm, t=－5.12;8.7% (6/69) vs 1.2% (27/2 185), χ 2=25.80, P<0.001]. (3) Multivariate regression analysis showed that age ≥35 years ( OR=2.05, 95% CI:1.22-3.46), history of spontaneous preterm birth ( OR=25.25, 95% CI:5.01-127.28), conception assisted by reproductive technology ( OR=10.39, 95% CI:2.39-50.33), and short cervix during the second trimester were independent risk factors for premature delivery. (4) There was no significant difference in the risk of preterm delivery when comparing to those with CL≤25.0 mm, >25.0-≤30.3 mm, >30.3-≤33.0 mm, >33.0-≤35.7 mm, >35.7-≤38.7 mm women with CL>38.7 mm during the first trimester (all P>0.05). The risk of premature delivery was relatively increased for those with CL≤25.0 mm,>25.0-≤29.5 mm, >29.5-≤33.6 mm, >33.6~≤36.8 mm, >36.8~≤40.1 mm during the second trimester compared to those with CL>40.1 mm [ OR (95% CI):17.64 (4.99-62.32), 6.89 (2.11-22.55), 3.58 (1.34-9.59), 4.04 (1.58-10.32), 3.34 (1.28-8.67), respectively , all P<0.05]. (5) When CL≤25.0 mm and ≤29.5 mm in the second trimester were used as the cut-off value, the prediction of preterm delivery was with a sensitivity of 8.70% and 17.39%, specificity of 98.80% and 95.29%, positive predictive value of 18.20% and 10.43%, negative predictive value of 97.16% and 97.34%, and the accuracy rate of 96.01% and 92.90%, respectively. Conclusions:There were no significant differences in CL and the incidence of short cervix during the first trimester among women with preterm or full-term delivery. CL in the first trimester is not an independent risk factor for preterm birth, but the risk of short cervix in the second trimester is increased when CL≤30.3 mm in the first trimester. The shorter the cervix during the second trimester, the greater the risk of preterm birth.