Objective To study the outcomes of selective reduction of triplet pregnancy by assisted reproductive technology. Methods The clinical data of 31 women who succeeded in conception by vitro fertilization-embryo transfer in the third affiliated hospital of Guangzhou Medical University were retrospectively investigated to analyze and compare the rates of abortion from triplet pregnancy, twin pregnancy and single pregnancy after selective reduction of triplet pregnancy, the incidence of pregnant complications, outcomes of perinatal period. Results There were no significant differences between triplet pregnancy and the twin and single pregnancy after selective reduction of triplet pregnancy in terms of pregnancy and parity time, fetal disease, premature rupture of membrane, severe eclampsism, gestational diabetes and postpartum hemorrhage (P>0.05). There were significant differences in gestational weeks, birth weight, rate of premature birth, rate of neonatal transfer to NICU and neonatal RDS: The gestational time in the triplet group longer than the groups of twin pregnancy and single pregnancy after selective reduction of triplet pregnancy (P<0.05). (37.3 ± 1.9) vs. (35.2 ± 0.9), (32.6 ± 2.3), respectively), the rate of premature birth dropped (100%vs. 100%, 33.3%, respectively), the body weight was increased (1 707 ± 360.4)g vs. (2 066.1 ± 307.5)g, (2 712.5 ± 514.1)g, respectively and the neonatal complication rate was reduced (P<0.05). Conclusion The selective reduction of multiple pregnancy may decrease the risk of premature birth and reduce the rate of lower body weight of neonates, improving the pregnancy outcomes, but the higher rate of abortion at the early or middle course of pregnancy after selective reduction is worth our attention.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Athletic Performance ; psychology ; Back ; physiology ; Electromyography ; Exercise ; physiology ; Humans ; Imagery (Psychotherapy) ; Male ; Young Adult

Background: (Introduction): Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus, causes the outbreaks of Latin America in 2015 - 2016, with the incidence of neurological complications. Sunitinib malate, an orally bioavailable malate salt of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is suggested as a broadspectrum antiviral agent against emerging viruses like severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and SARS-CoV-2. Materials and Methods: This study investigated the antiviral efficacy and antiviral mechanisms of sunitinib malate against ZIKV infection using cytopathic effect reduction, virus yield, and time-of-addition assays. Results: Sunitinib malate concentration-dependently reduced ZIKV-induced cytopathic effect, the expression of viral proteins, and ZIKV yield in supernatant with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) value of 0.015 μM, and the selectivity index of greater than 100 against ZIKV infection, respectively. Sunitinib malate had multiple antiviral actions during entry and post-entry stages of ZIKV replication. Sunitinib malate treatment at entry stage significantly reduced the levels of ZIKV RNA replication with the reduction of (+) RNA to (-) RNA ratio and the production of new intracellular infectious particles in infected cells. The treatment at post-entry stage caused a concentration-dependent increase in the levels of ZIKV (+) RNA and (-) RNA in infected cells, along with enlarging the ratio of (+) RNA to (-) RNA, but caused a pointed increase in the titer of intracellular infectious particles by 0.01 and 0.1 μM, and a substantial decrease in the titer of intracellular infectious particles by 1 μM. Conclusion The study discovered the antiviral actions of sunitinib malate against ZIKV infection, demonstrating a repurposed, host-targeted approach to identify potential antiviral drugs for treating emerging and global viral diseases.

Objective Coronary arterial plaque rupture and secondary thrombosis are the major pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome ( ACS) . Metalloprotease ( MMPs) secreted by monocyte/ macrophage was the main predisposing factor of the plaque rupture and peroxisotne proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) is involved in a variety of inflammatory cytokine gene transcriptional regulations. We explored the possible role of PPAR-γ in the regulation of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 expressed by peripheral monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) from patients with ACS. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from 48 patients with ACS and 28 healthy controls and stimulated by macrophage colony-stimulating factor (0. 1 μg/ml for 24 hours) to form MDMs. MDMs were then incubated under various concentrations of rosiglitazone (0, 1, 10, 20 μmol/L) for 48 hours. The concentrations of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the supernatant were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, and the mRNA expression of PPAR-γ, MMP-9 by RT-PCR and nuclear factor-KB P65 ( NF-kB P65 ) expression by immunohistochemistry. Results PPAR-γ mRNA expression was significantly lower while NF-kB P65 and MMP-9 expression as well as MMP-9 and TIMP-1 concentrations in supernatant were significantly higher in ACS group than those in control group (all P <0. 05). After rosiglitazone intervention, PPAR-γ mRNA expression was significantly upregulated in both ACS and control groups in a dose-dependent manner. Both the MMP-9 concentration in the supernatant and MMP-9 mRNA expression were reduced post intervention with rosiglitazone in both groups. The TIMP-1 mRNA expression and concentration in supernatant were not affected by rosiglitazone in both groups. Rosiglitazone induced significant downregulation of NF-kB P65 expression in both groups. Conclusion Rosiglitazone intervention may downregulate MMP-9 expression by upregulating PPAR-γ expression, and by downregulaiting NF-kB expression in MDMs isolated from patients with ACS.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical characteristics of second primary tumor of tongue after nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) radiotherapy and the prognostic factors of patients.

METHODSFifty-three cases with second primary tumor of tongue after NPC radiotherapy, presenting to Cancer Centre, Sun Yat-sen University from Jan. 1st 1975 to Dec. 31st 2000 were analyzed retrospectively with regard to mortality and survival rate (Kaplan-Meier method); A multivariate analysis was performed in these patients with Cox proportional hazard model.

RESULTSForty of 53 patients died. Among them,37 died of second primary tumor of tongue, 2 of recurrence of NPC, 1 of perioperative period. The overall 5-year and 10-year survival rate of 51 patients receiving therapy were 41.64% and 35.69% respectively. The subsites of tumor were: tip 0, margin 26 (49.06%), ventral lateral 8 (15.09%) and dorsal aspect 19 (35.85%). Eighteen cases had recurrence of second primary tumor of tongue (33.96%) ; Six (11.32%) cases had clinical lymph node metastasis from second primary tumor of tongue and 3 (5.66%) had pathological lymph node metastasis; The univariate analysis showed the major prognostic factors influencing survival of these patients were tumor size, clinical TNM stage at presentation; Using multivariate analysis, risk factors that independently influence survival were clinical and pathological stage and the interval between two tumors.

CONCLUSIONSThe clinical and pathological stage and the interval between two tumors are the prognostic factors for second primary tumor of tongue after NPC radiotherapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma ; mortality ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Neoplasms, Second Primary ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Tongue Neoplasms

OBJECTIVETo investigate the hypoglycemic characteristics of hospitalized elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODSFrom January, 2014 to December, 2015, the data of 58 565 blood measurements using a standard blood glucose monitoring system (BGMS) were collected from 1187 cases of patients with type 2 diabetes during hospitalization in the Department of Endocrinology, Guangdong General Hospital (Guangzhou, China). Stratified analyses were conducted by dividing the patients into 3 age groups, namely <45 years group (128 cases), 45-64 years group (594 cases), and ≥65 years group (465 cases). The incidence and time distribution of hypoglycemia in these patients were compared among the 3 age groups.

RESULTSThe risk of hypoglycemia increased with age. Compared with those below 45 years of age, the patients beyond or equal to 65 years had a significantly increased hypoglycemic density (0.95% vs 0.40%, P<0.001), a higher proportion of patients with hypoglycemia (28.17% vs 10.94%, P<0.001), and greater patient-days with hypoglycemia (4.48% vs 1.76%, P<0.001). In the elderly patients, hypoglycemia occurred most frequently before dawn, at which time the hypoglycemic density was 2.66% in patients ≥65 years of age, significantly higher than that in patients below 45 years (1.09%, P<0.05) and between 45 and 64 years (1.90%, P<0.05); the proportion of patients with hypoglycemia was also significantly higher in the elderly patients (14.57%) than in those below 45 years (3.77%, P<0.02) and between 45 and 64 years (9.42%, P<0.02). The proportion of patients with recurrent hypoglycemia (≥2 times) was significantly higher in patients ≥65 years (13.33%) than in younger patients (2.34% in <45 years group and 9.43% in 45-64 years group, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe hypoglycemic risk in hospitalized elderly patients with T2DM is significantly higher than that in younger patients, especially before dawn and in terms of recurrent hypoglycemia. Clinicians should develop differential blood glucose monitoring and management strategies for these elderly patients to improve the clinical safety.

Objective: Danshensu, a phenylpropanoid compound, is derived from the dry root and rhizome of Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. Evidence suggests that danshensu protects isolated rat hearts against ischemia/reperfusion injury by activating the protein kinase B (Akt)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway or by inhibiting autophagy and apoptosis through the activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. Furthermore, danshensu promotes the postischemic regeneration of brain cells by upregulating the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the peri-infarct region. However, basic and clinical studies are needed to investigate the antidepressant effects danshensu and determine whether brain mTOR signaling and BDNF activation mediate these effects. The aforementioned need prompted us to conduct the present study. Methods: Using a C57BL/6 mouse model, we investigated the antidepressant-like effects of danshensu and the mechanisms that mediate these effects. To elucidate the mechanisms, we analyzed the roles of Akt/ERK–mTOR signaling and BDNF activation in mediating the antidepressant-like effects of danshensu. Results: Danshensu exerted its antidepressant-like effects by activating the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) of Akt/ERK–mTOR signaling and promoting BDNF release. Treatment with danshensu increased the level of glutamate receptor 1 phosphorylation at the protein kinase A site. Conclusion Our study may be the first to demonstrate that the antidepressant effects of danshensu are dependent on the activation of the AMPAR–mTOR signaling pathway, are correlated with the elevation of BDNF level, and facilitate the insertion of AMPAR into the postsynaptic membrane. This study also pioneers in unveiling the potential of danshensu against depressive disorders.

Objective: Danshensu, a phenylpropanoid compound, is derived from the dry root and rhizome of Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. Evidence suggests that danshensu protects isolated rat hearts against ischemia/reperfusion injury by activating the protein kinase B (Akt)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway or by inhibiting autophagy and apoptosis through the activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. Furthermore, danshensu promotes the postischemic regeneration of brain cells by upregulating the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the peri-infarct region. However, basic and clinical studies are needed to investigate the antidepressant effects danshensu and determine whether brain mTOR signaling and BDNF activation mediate these effects. The aforementioned need prompted us to conduct the present study. Methods: Using a C57BL/6 mouse model, we investigated the antidepressant-like effects of danshensu and the mechanisms that mediate these effects. To elucidate the mechanisms, we analyzed the roles of Akt/ERK–mTOR signaling and BDNF activation in mediating the antidepressant-like effects of danshensu. Results: Danshensu exerted its antidepressant-like effects by activating the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) of Akt/ERK–mTOR signaling and promoting BDNF release. Treatment with danshensu increased the level of glutamate receptor 1 phosphorylation at the protein kinase A site. Conclusion Our study may be the first to demonstrate that the antidepressant effects of danshensu are dependent on the activation of the AMPAR–mTOR signaling pathway, are correlated with the elevation of BDNF level, and facilitate the insertion of AMPAR into the postsynaptic membrane. This study also pioneers in unveiling the potential of danshensu against depressive disorders.

Objective: Danshensu, a phenylpropanoid compound, is derived from the dry root and rhizome of Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. Evidence suggests that danshensu protects isolated rat hearts against ischemia/reperfusion injury by activating the protein kinase B (Akt)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway or by inhibiting autophagy and apoptosis through the activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. Furthermore, danshensu promotes the postischemic regeneration of brain cells by upregulating the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the peri-infarct region. However, basic and clinical studies are needed to investigate the antidepressant effects danshensu and determine whether brain mTOR signaling and BDNF activation mediate these effects. The aforementioned need prompted us to conduct the present study. Methods: Using a C57BL/6 mouse model, we investigated the antidepressant-like effects of danshensu and the mechanisms that mediate these effects. To elucidate the mechanisms, we analyzed the roles of Akt/ERK–mTOR signaling and BDNF activation in mediating the antidepressant-like effects of danshensu. Results: Danshensu exerted its antidepressant-like effects by activating the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) of Akt/ERK–mTOR signaling and promoting BDNF release. Treatment with danshensu increased the level of glutamate receptor 1 phosphorylation at the protein kinase A site. Conclusion Our study may be the first to demonstrate that the antidepressant effects of danshensu are dependent on the activation of the AMPAR–mTOR signaling pathway, are correlated with the elevation of BDNF level, and facilitate the insertion of AMPAR into the postsynaptic membrane. This study also pioneers in unveiling the potential of danshensu against depressive disorders.