Objective:To conjecture the correlation between fetal hydrothorax(FHT)and pregnancy outcome through the analysis of 95 fetuses with hydrothorax and their mothers.Methods:In this case series study, 95 FHT patients admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2016 to October 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the pregnancy outcome, these patients were divided into the induced labor group (13 patients) and the delivery group (82 patients). General data and genetic examinations of patients in the induced labor group were analyzed to explore their pathogenesis and genetics.According to the neonatal Apgar score, patients in the delivery group were divided into the normal group and the asphyxia group.Fifteen indicators including the maternal age, gestational week at first diagnosis, maternal complications, FHT location, FHT severity, FHT outcome during pregnancy, fetal ascites, hydrops fetalis, other abnormal fetal structures, amniotic fluid volume, intrauterine treatment, gestational week of delivery, mode of delivery, sex of the newborn, and newborn birth weight in the 2 groups were comparatively analyzed by the chi-square test.With the neonatal Apgar score as the dependent variable, variables that had statistical significance during the univariate analysis were included in the regression analysis, and a multivariate binary Logistic regression equation was established to explore the factors affecting the pregnancy outcome.Results:There were significant differences in the FHT outcome during pregnancy (16/22/13 cases vs.2/18/11 cases, χ2=6.994, P=0.030), FHT severity (27/24 cases vs.9/22 cases, χ2=4.475, P=0.034), hydrops fetalis (14/37 cases vs.23/8 cases, χ2=17.012, P=0.001), amniotic fluid volume (21/30 cases vs.24/7 cases, χ2=10.228, P=0.001), intrauterine treatment (19/32 cases vs.2/29 cases, χ2=9.603, P=0.002), gestational week of delivery[(38.15±2.05) weeks vs.(34.83±3.14) weeks, t=5.748, P=0.001], and newborn birth weight[(3 325.00±637.41) g vs.(2 714.58±837.99) g, t=3.727, P=0.001]between the normal and asphyxia groups(all P<0.05). Among them, hydrops fetalis ( OR=7.070, P=0.020) and severe FHT ( OR=6.927, P=0.043) were risk factors for neonatal Apgar scores.Intrauterine treatment ( OR=0.062, P=0.027) and gestational week of delivery( OR=0.577, P=0.022) could be used as a protective factor for neonatal Apgar scores. Conclusions:Diagnosis of FHT during the early gestational weeks and multiple fetal structural abnormalities, especially hydrops fetalis, have higher probabilities of abnormal genetic examinations, and the fetal prognosis was poor.It is recommended to carry out chromosomal karyo type and microarray tests, as well as whole exome sequencing and detection of genetic syndromes(if necessary), to avoid unnecessary fetal treatment and improve the survival rate of perinatal infants after intrauterine treatment.The poor prognosis is related to hydrops fetalis and severe FHT; however, timely intrauterine treatment and prolonging pregnancy can improve the pregnancy outcome and increase the survival rate of perinatal infants.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of high intensity focused ultrasound(HFIU)combined with endometrial ablation in the treatment of adenomyosis(AM)patients with heavy menstrual bleeding(HMB).Method A total of 199 patients with AM combined with HMB who underwent HIFU treatment at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Center of Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of TCM from July 2020 to September 2022 were selected and divided into two groups according to the ablation range.The combined ablation group included 80 cases with lesion and endometrial ablation(endometrial ablation rate≥30%),while the lesion ablation group 119 cases with simple lesion ablation.A 1∶1 propensity score matching was performed on the two groups,resulting in 59 patients in each group.A 6-month follow-up was conducted.The clinical manifestations(menstrual volume,degree of dysmenorrhea,uterine and lesion volume),quality of life(MS-QOL,UFS-QOL),and postoperative adverse reactions between the two groups before and 6 months after surgery was compared.Results Menstrual volume,degree of dysmenorrhea,uterine and lesion volume,MS-QOL score,and UFS-QOL score of the both groups were improved 6 months after surgery,when compared to those before surgery(P<0.05).Significantly reduced menstrual volume,degree of dysmenorrhea,and lower MS-QOL score were observed in the combined ablation group when compared with the lesion ablation group(P<0.05),but there was no statistical significance in uterine and lesion volume and UFS-QOL score(P>0.05).There was no difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(P>0.05),but the combined ablation group had longer vaginal bleeding and fluid flow time(P<0.05).Conclusion The combined HIFU and endometrial ablation can effectively reduce menstrual flow,alleviate dysmenorrhea,and improve quality of life in patients with AM combined with HMB.Although it increases vaginal bleeding and fluid flow time,reasonable symptomatic management can effectively prevent the occurrence of adverse consequences such as infection.

Natural extracellular vesicles (EVs) play important roles in many life processes such as in the intermolecular transfer of substances and genetic information exchanges. Investigating the origins and working mechanisms of natural EVs may provide an understanding of life activities, especially regarding the occurrence and development of diseases. Additionally, due to their vesicular structure, EVs (in small molecules, nucleic acids, proteins, etc.) could act as efficient drug-delivery carriers. Herein, we describe the sources and biological functions of various EVs, summarize the roles of EVs in disease diagnosis and treatment, and review the application of EVs as drug-delivery carriers. We also assess the challenges and perspectives of EVs in biomedical applications.