ObjectiveTo investigate the change of cervical length (CL) during uncomplicated pregnancy by transvaginal ultrasound and its correlated factors.MethodsData of five hundred and ninety-five normal singleton pregnant women who received vaginal ultrasound examination on CL in their 11-13+6gestational weeks ( Ⅰstage),20-24 gestational weeks ( Ⅱ stage),28-32 gestational weeks (Ⅲ stage) and ≥36 gestational weeks (Ⅳ stage) were collected and retrospectively analyzed.Related factors were recorded at the same time.Repeated measurement data analysis of variance,t-test and Spearman correlation analysis were applied for statistical analysis.Results(1) The mean values of CL at Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ stage were (38.85±3.11) mm,(38.92±4.10) mm,(36.43±4.69) mm and (30.63±6.11) mm,respectively.There were statistical differences between the CL of any two stages (P＜0.01),except for that between Ⅰ and Ⅱ stage.The median values of CL change rates were:Ⅱ-Ⅰ stage0.00％; Ⅲ-Ⅰ stage -5.36％; Ⅳ-Ⅰ stage -20.00％.(2) The CL of pregnant women who were older than 35 was longer than that of those younger than 35 at any stage [ Ⅰ stage:(39.36±3.18) mm　vs (38.77±3.10) mm;Ⅱ stage:(39.89±4.61) mm vs (38.88±4.00) mm;Ⅲ stage:(37.29±4.79) mm vs (36.31 ±4.67) mm;Ⅳ stage:(32.25± 5.95) mm vs (30.38±6.10) mm],while significant difference was found only at Ⅳ stage (t=-2.56,P=0.01).The CL of multiparas was longer than that of primiparas [ Ⅰ stage:(38.95±2.59) mm vs (38.76±3.14) mm;Ⅱ stage:(39.54±3.62) mm vs (38.82±4.11) mm;Ⅲ stage:(37.37±4.21) mm vs (36.34±4.70) mm;Ⅳ stage:(31.77±6.05) mm vs (30.59±6.11) mm],while there was no statistical significance within any stage ( P＞ 0.05). ConclusionsCervix shortens gradually after 28 gestational weeks.Sequential measurement of CL during routine ultrasonic inspection might be helpful in predicting preterm labor.

Objective To summarize the geographical distribution,phenotype and genotype data of 206 thalassemia families underwent prenatal diagnosis to provide information for clinical genetic counseling and avoid the birth of severe thalassemia children.MethodsTotally,206 thalassemia families were collected from Southern Medical University Nanfang Hospital from January 2008 to December 2009.Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood,villus,amniotic fluid or cord blood from the couples or the fetuses.Gap-polymerase chain reaction (gap-PCR) and reverse dot blot (RDB) technology were used to detect the common α and β-thalassemia mutations.DNA sequencing was used to detect the rare mutations.Follow-up visit were done half a year after the fetuses were born. Results The 206 thalassemia families came from 12 provinces and areas across China,including Heilongjiang province.Mutations detected in α-thalassemia families included --SEA/,-α3.7/,-α4.2/,αCS α/ and αQS α/,which were all included in the testing kit. While there were 4 kinds of β-thalassemia mutations,Gγ+ (A γδβ)0,-28(A→C),CD54-58(-TATGGGCAACCCT) and CD37(G→A),could not be identified with routine testing kit. The 57 α-thalassemia families consisted of 11(19.3％) severe thalassemia,induding 8 Bart's hydrops syndrome and 3 Hb H disease,26(45.6％) heterozygote and 20(35.1％) normal infants,and the 149 β-thalassemia majors families consisted of 28 (18.8％) severe thalassemia,82(55.0％) heterozygote and 39 (26.2％) normal infants.Among the β-thalassemia heterozygotes,there was one 13-trisomy.Follow-up visit found that babies with Bart ' s hydrops syndrome (n =8),Hb H disease (n =3),β-thalassemia majors (n =28) and β thalassemia heterozygote combined with 13-trisomy(n=1) were aborted.Conclusions Thalassemia was found in some north area other than south of China,which should be paid more attention by clinicians.Gap-PCR and PCR-RDB technology are effective measures for thalassemia prenatal diagnosis in identifying major thalassemia fetuses before their birth,thus reduce the birth rate of thalassemia baby.But missed diagnosis might exist during the screening,so it is necessary to perform DNA sequencing on those patients with positive symptoms and negative common genetic diagnostic results.At the same time,prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal disorders should not be neglected for high-risk families.

Objective To investigate the correlation between neonatal infectious disease and brain injury.MethodsClinical data of 1266 newborns with infectious diseases were collected from Peking University First Hospital from November 2005 to August 2010.The occurrence of brain injury was summarized.Related factors of brain injury caused by infection and the risk factors for severe brain injury were analyzed by Logistic regression model. Results Among the newborns with neonatal infectious diseases, the incidence of brain injury was 8.6％(108/1266), including 101 (8.0％)mild cases and seven (0.6％) severe cases. The incidence of brain injury for the newborns with severe infectious diseases was higher than those with mild infectious diseases [38.7％(29/75) vs 6.7％(79/1191),x2=92.787,P=0.000].The incidence of brain injury for the newborns withobviousinflammatoryreactionwassignificantlyhigherthanthosewithout [(13.0％(26/200) vs 7.5％ (77/1025),x2=6.544,P=0.011].Severe infection was independent risk factor for severe brain injury by Logistic regression model analysis (OR =15.750,95％ CI:1.756-141.281,P=0.014).ConclusionsIniectious diseases could cause injury on central nervous system,especially when there are severe infections or inflammatory reactions. The severer the infection,the severer the brain injury,especially when complicated by some factors such as asphyxia and hypoglycemia.

Objective To investigate the effect of hyperoxia on growth of type Ⅱ alveolar epithelial cells (AECⅡ).MethodsLungs of fetal rats at 19 days of pregnancy were collected,and AEC Ⅱ was isolated and cultured by differential adherence method.Cells were randomly divided into air group and hyperoxia group.In air group,cells were cultured in 5％ CO2 incubator.And cells in hyperoxia group were cultured in 5％ CO2+95％ O2 incubator.The growth,activity,cell cycle,cell apoptosis of AEC Ⅱ were observed at 2,4,6 and 8 days of culture.The interaction between different time and groups were analyzed by ANOVA of factorial design.Comparison of means was done by two-sample independent t test and one-way analysis of variance.Bonferroni correction was used during the comparisons.Results(1) Cell growth situation:in hyperoxia group,cell number was decreased from2 hto 8 h [(7.29±0.43)×105/ml,(2.68±0.37)×105/ml,(0.23±0.10)×105/ml and (0.00±0.00) × 105/ml],and lower than those in air group [(10.41 ± 0.24) × 105/ml,(27.90±1.91) × 105/ml,(27.12±0.85) ×105/ml and (26.29±1.59) × 105/ml](t=10.992,38.912,94.166and 49.696,P=0.000 respectively). (2) Cell activity:the living cells ratio in hyperoxia group at 2 d[(79.00±0.71) ％],4 d [(52.80±1.14)％] and 6 d [(31.60±1.52)％] was lower than those [(97.00±0.71)％,(97.20±0.84)％ and (95.00±0.71)％] ir air group (t=31.213,70.519 and 84.722,P=0.000 respectively).(3) Cell cycle:the cell ratios of G1 phase and S phase in hyperoxia group at day 4 [(66.82±1.20) ％ and (27.31±1.16) ％] and day 6 [(70.22±1.27) ％ and (30.31±1.40) ％] were significantly higher than that at day 2 and that in air group (P＜0.05 respectively).(4) Cell apoptosis:in hyperoxia group,the cell ratio of Annexin-V+/PI- subgroup at 4 h was the highest [(23.89 ± 0.52)％],followed by those at day 2 and 6 [(21.32 ± 0.43)％ and (1.47 ±0.61)％].While the cell ratio of Annexin-V+/PI+ was the highest at 6 h [(53.92± 1.64)％],followed by those at 4 h and 2 h [(45.03±1.01)％ and (12.17±0.60)％],which were all different with those in air group(P＜0.05 respectively).ConclusionsHyperoxia might inhibit cell activity and cell cycle of AEC Ⅱ and promote apoptosis.

Objective To investigate the effect of persistent hypoglycemia on the cerebral oxidative stress and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity of newborn rats and to explore the potential mechanism of hypoglycemia-induced brain injury of newborn.MethodsSeven-day-old rats were injected insulin subcutaneously to induce persistent hypoglycemia.Cerebral cortex,hippocampus and thalamus were collected after 36 hours' observation and stored in -80 ℃.Glutathione (GSH)and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) were detected by commercial kit and GSSG/GSH was calculated.MMP-2 activity was detected by gelatin zymography. The data were analyzed by t test,one or two-wayanalysis of variance and Pearson correlation analysis.Six rats were set as the normal glucose group. ResultsThirty-six hours after induction of hypoglycemia, the cerebral GSSG and GSSG/GSH of hypoglycemic pups elevated about 1.5 times higher than those of control group [GSSG:(15.89 ± 5.46) vs (6.15 ± 3.42) mg/g protein,t =3.704,P =0.004; GSSG/GSH:(5.58± 1.79) ％ vs (2.79±1.76) ％,t =2.712,P=0.022].The GSSG and GSSG/GSH in thalamus of hypoglycemia were significantly higher than those of control [GSSG:(15.93 ± 5.75) mg/g protein vs (5.03±5.14)mg/g protein,P＜0.05; GSSG/GSH:(6.50±3.25) ％ vs (2.41±3.12) ％,P＜0.05],whereas there were no significant differences in the cortex ard hippocampus.The total MMP-2 activity of hypoglycemic animals (2.22±0.59) was significantly higher than that of control (1.21± 0.17)(t=4.064,P=0.002),and significant differences were found between the two groups in cortex (2.14 ± 0.5 vs 1.17± 0.27),hippocampus (2.31± 0.72 vs 1.22 ± 0.37) and thalamus (2.22±0.68 vs 1.24±0.18) with all P＜0.01].The activity of MMP-2 was positively related to GSSG (r=0.575,P=0.0002) and GSSG/GSH (r=0.484,P=0.0003).ConclusionsOxidative stress might play an important role in the persistent hypoglycemia induced brain injury of 7-day-old rat pups and thalamus might be most vulnerable to hypoglycemia.Hypoglycemia might also elevate MMP-2 activity which is positively related to GSSG level and GSSG/GSH of the brain.

ObjectiveTo investigate the situation of mother to child transmission of HIV after mothers acquired HIV prenatally or before pregnancy and the related factors. Methods Two hundred and seventy-seven mothers who acquired HIV prenatally or before pregnancy and their 322children from Yi-ning city of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and some counties of central China were enrolled in this study from January 2000 to December 2009.Subtypes of HIV were determined by detection of Gag sequence,the rate of HIV transmission from mother to child was calculated and its related factors were analyzed by Chi-square test and Logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe HIV subtype of all mothers who were infected through blood (n=174) was B'.The major subtype of mothers who were infected via sexuality (n =58) was recombined subtype CRF01-BC (n=35) and CRF-AE (n=20),accounting for 60.3％ and 34.5％,respectively,and only 3 mothers with B'subtype (5.2％).Twelve infants died before HIV detection,and 108 infants out of the rest 310infants were found to be HIV positive, giving the HIV mother-to-child transmission rate of 34.8％ (95％ CI:29.5％-40.1％).The infection rate of bottle feeding infants was lower than that of breastfeeding infants [12.5％ (6/48) vs 38.9％ (102/262),x2 =12.484,P=0.000].The infection rate of the infants whose mothers' HIV infection ＜7 years was lower than that of the infants whose mothers' HIV infection ≥7 years [28.8％ (46/160) vs 54.2％ (32/59),x2 =12.211,P=0.000].Multi-factor Logistic analysis showed that the duration of maternal HIV infection (OR =1.342,95％ CI:1.189-1.515,P=0.000) and duration of breastfeeding (OR =1.137,95％ CI:1.053-1.227,P=0.001) were risk factors of HIV vertical transmission.ConclusionsThe HIV subtypes might be associated with transmission route.Formula feeding could decrease the vertical transmission rate of HIV,while long duration of maternal HIV infection and breastfeeding might increase the vertical transmission rate of HIV.

Objective To investigate the role of prenatal single-dose administration of dexamethasone and ambroxol on the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) of fetal and neonatal rats. Methods Fifty-four pregnant rats were randomly divided into three groups with eighteen rats in each group:rats treated with 0.2 mg/kg dexamethasone (group 1),0.2 mg/kg dexamethasone and 100 mg/kg ambroxol (group 2),or saline(controls) on the 17th day of gestation.The lung tissues of the offsprings were harvest independently on the 19th day of gestation,the postnatal 3 days and 7 days.The expressions of TLR4 in fetal/neonatal rat lungs of each pregnant rat were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR),immunohistochemistry stain,and Western blot. ANOVA and two independent samples t-test were applied. Results On the 19th day of pregnancy,TLR4 mRNA expression was up-regulated in lungs of the two treatment groups compared with controls(controls:0.26 ± 0.18,group 1:0.39 ± 0.21,t =5.866,P＜ 0.05 ; control:0.27 ± 0.22,group 2:0.46 ± 0.13,t =9.572,P＜ 0.01 ).TLR4 mRNA expression was up-regulated in group 2 compared with controls on the postnatal 3 days and 7 days(postnatal 3 d:0.59 ± 0.23 and 0.47 ±0.24,t=2.295,P＜0.05;postnatal 7 d:0.52±0.12 and 0.35±0.17,t=4.219,P＜0.05),while no significant difference was found in group 1 compared with the controls(postnatal 3 d:0.45±0.22 and 0.44±0.14,t=0.128,P＞0.05; postnatal 7 d:0.40±0.16 and 0.36 ±0.12,t=1.365,P＞0.05).Results of the immunohistochemistry demonstrated that on the 19th day of pregnancy,the protein expression of TLR4 was significantly increased in the two treatment groups (controls:0.20 ± 0.29,group 1:0.35±0.32,t=7.179,P＜0.05 ;controls:0.20±0.29,group 2:0.39±0.25,t=10.764,P＜0.01).The protein expression of TLR4 was significantly increased in group 2 on the postnatal 3 days and 7 days(postnatal 3 d:0.55±0.32 and 0.37±0.18,t=7.121,P＜0.05;postnatal 7 d:0.41±0.29and 0.25±0.24,t=6.355,P＜0.05),while no notable difference was found between group 1 and the control (postnatal 3 d:0.40±0.21 and 0.37±0.18,t=0.683,P＞0.05 ;postnatal 7 d:0.28±0.31 and 0.25±0.24,t=0.462,P＞0.05).Results of the Western blot demonstrated that on the 19th day of pregnancy,the protein expression of TLR4 was significantly increased in the two treatment groups (controls:0.15 ± 0.12,group 1:0.27± 0.20,t =7.835,P＜0.05; controls:0.16 ± 0.18,group 2:0.34±0.16,t=10.470,P＜0.01).The protein expression of TLR4 was significantly increased in lungs of the combination administration group on the postnatal 3 days and 7 days(postnatal 3 d:group 2:0.37±0.20 and 0.25±0.22,t=6.379,P＜0.05; postnatal 7 d:0.35±0.15 and 0.24±0.13,t=5.152,P＜0.05),while no notable difference could be found between group 1 and the control (postnatal3 d:0.32±0.26 and 0.25±0.16,t=1.167,P＞0.05; postnatal 7 d:0.29±0.19 and 0.24±0.10,t =1.248,P ＞ 0.05 ). Conclusions Prenatal single-dose administration of dexamethasone may up-regulate the expression of TLR4 in the rat fetal lung.The up-regulation of TLR4 might be one of the critical factors for glucocorticoid-induced maturity of fetal lung.Prenatal single-dose administration of dexamethasone and ambroxol may have effects on the regulation of TLR4 not only in fetal rats,but also in neonatal rats.

Objective To investigate the expression of integrin linked kinase (ILK) in endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) of cord blood from patients with preeclampsia and its relation to placenta perfusion. Methods Thirty patients with preeclampsia,including 18 mild preeclampsia and 12 severe preeclampsia cases,and thirty-five normal late pregnant women were enrolled into this study.The expression of ILK mRNA and protein in EPC of cord blood was determined with RT-PCR and Western blot respectively.The angiogenesis ability of EPC was examined by tube formation in vitro.Comparisons of ILK mRNA and protein expression were done by analysis of variance and their relations to vascular tube formation were analyzed by correlation analysis. Results (1) ILK mRNA expression in normal group was higher than that in preeclampsia group (0.64± 0.05 vs 0.45 ± 0.06,q=18.76,P＜0.05) and the ILK protein expression in normal group was also higher (32 ±2 vs 26±1,q=18.47,P＜0.05).While the ILK mRNA and protein expression in mild preeclampsia group were also higher than that of severe preeclampsia group (ILK mRNA:0.47±0.07 vs 0.39±0.08,q=5.13,P＜0.05;ILK protein:25±2 vs 20±2,q=4.72,P＜0.05).(2) The tube formation capacity in preeclampsia group was significantly lower than that in normal group (135± 7 vs 330 ± 8,q=152.70,P＜0.05) ; the capacity was even much lower in severe group than in mild group (116±8vs 148±6,q=5.42,P＜0.05).(3) There was positive correlation between ILK mRNA and protein expression and tube formation capacity; the correlation index for normal group was 0.69 and 0.73(P＜0.05),0.67 and 0.72 in preeclampsia group (P＜0.05),0.65 and 0.68 in mild preeclampsia group (P＜0.05) and 0.63 and 0.74 in severe preeclampsia group (P＜0.05). Conclusions Decreased ILK level of EPC in cord blood might play an important role in the development of preeclampsia.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of Klebsiella pneumoniae infection in preterm infants. Methods Clinical data of 75 preterm infants infected with Klebsiella pneumoniae treated in BaYi Children's Hospital from February 6,2008 to February 10,2010 were retrospectively analyzed.The difference of auxiliary examination between early-onset and late-onset infection group were compared by two independent samples t test.Spearman correlation analysis and non-conditional Logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the high risk factors and the prognostic factors of Klebsiella pneumoniae infection in preterm infants. Results The incidence of Klebsiella pneumoniae infection was 2.8％ (75/2721) in preterm infants,and the mortality rate was 9.3％ (7/75). There were 71 cases of Klebsiella pneumoniae sepsis and 4 cases of Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia.Among 75 cases,63 cases were early-onset infection (onset age≤72 h) and 12 were late-onset infection (onset age＞72 h).All patients presented with poor response,heart rate during quiet sleep ＞ 160/min and low oxygen saturation.The mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration in early-onset Klebsiella pneunoniae infection cases were higher than those in late-onset neonates [(128.87±24.60) fl vs (113.72±13.54) fl,t=-2.07,P＜0.05and (38.11±2.15) pg vs (36.98±1.05) pg,t=-2.76,P＜0.05].Low birth weight and caesarean section were associated with early-onset Klebsiella pneumoniae sepsis (r=0.250 and -0.240,P＜0.05). The prognosis of Klebsiella pneumoniae infection was associated with hospital stay and duration of premature rupture of membranes (r=0.368 and 0.318,P＜0.05). Conclusions There were no specific clinical manifestations for Klebsiella pneumoniae infection in preterm infants.Preterm infants with low birth weight,long duration of premature rupture of membranes,delivered by caesarean section and received invasive operation are likely to develop Klebsiella pneumoniae infection.

Objective To investigate the changes of serum levels of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG),free testosterone index (FTI) and insulin resistance; and to investigate the relationship among them and prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (HDP) in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) women during pregnancy. Methods Serum samples of 32 PCOS women and 32 non-PCOS women were collected during their gestational age from 12 to16 weeks.Serum levels of total testosterone,SHBG and insulin were detected.Free testosterone index (FTI) and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were calculated.Risk factors of GDM and HDP were analyzed by stepwise logistic regression.Data of two groups were compared with t test or Chi square test. Results Serum fasting insulin [(8.0±1.5) mU/L vs (7.1±1.5) mU/L,t=2.32,P＜0.05],FTI [0.96 (0.52-1.41) vs 0.61 (0.40-0.79),t=3.02,P＜0.05],HOMA-IR levels [1.53±0.32 vs 1.36±0.36,t=2.04,P＜0.05] and total testosterone [2.95 (1.61-4.40) nmol/L vs 2.15 (1.50-2.80) nmol/L,t=2.55,P＜0.05] were higher in PCOS group than in control group; and SHBG level [325 (312-355) nmol/L vs 360 (347-373) nmol/L,t=4.13,P＜0.05] was lower in PCOS group than in control group.Cesarean section rate (84％ vs 50％,x2 =8.58,P＜0.01) and HDP incidence (25％ vs 3％,x2=4.65,P＜0.05) were higher in PCOS group than in control group. SHBG level [(293 ±42) nmol/L] of PCOS women who complicated with GDM (n=6) was significantly lower than that [(333±40) nmol/L] of those who did not (n=26),t=2.22,P＜0.05.Serum total testosterone [(4.34±1.29)vs (2.49±1.44) nmol/L,t=3.23,P＜0.05] and FTI [1.42±0.52 vs 0.81±0.59,t=2.61,P＜0.05] were significantly higher in PCOS women complicated with HDP (n=8) than those of the PCOS women who did not (n=24).Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that SHBG was the risk factor of GDM (OR=0.98,95％CI:0.96～1.00,P＜0.05); FTI was the risk factor of HDP in PCOS women (OR=5.53,95％CI:1.20～25.61,P＜0.05). Conclusions FTI and SHBG levels could be predictors for GDM and HDP in PCOS women during their pregnancies.