BACKGROUND: Endogenous opioid peptide is an important medium and regulator that participate in many physical and pathologic processes of the body. Its relationship with fetal encephalopathy has attracted much attraction.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of endogenous opioid peptides (EOP) in fetal distress.DESIGN: A case-control observatory study based on healthy pregnant women.SETTING: Wards of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Changzheng Hospital Affiliated to Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-three healthy women who were hospitalised in Changzheng Hospital and Changhai Hospital affiliated to the Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA and met the inclusion criteria. Among them, 40 were normal healthy pregnant women(the control group) and 43 were healthy pregnant women with fetal distress(the fetal distress group).METHODS: Radioimmunoassay was used to measure the levels of blood EOP(β-endorphin, dynorphin A1- 13 and leu-enkephalin) of the venous blood of the pregnant women in fetal distress group and the control group and the EOP level in the umbilical blood of the newborns. Also, blood gas analysis of the blood from the umbilical artery was conducted.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The levels of EOP in the venous blood of two groups of pregnant women and the umbilical blood of newborns and the correlation of EOP level with fetal distress.RESULTS: The levels of the umbilical artery blood EOP(β-endorphin,dynorphin A1-13 and leu-enkephalin) in the fetal distress group[(453± 68 ) ng/L, (242 ± 33)ng/L, and(498 ± 68)ng/L respectively] were significantly higher than those in the control group[ (251 ± 39) ng/L, (103± 22 )ng / L and(322 ± 40 )ng / L respectively ( t = 2. 713,2. 762, P＜ 0.01; t = 2. 132, P ＜ 0.05 ) ]. The umbilical artery blood gas analysis;pH was (7.0 ± 0. 1 ) , PO2 was ( 1.7 ± 0.6) kPa, PCO2 was (8.9 ± 0. 7) kPa.The levels of β-endorphin were negatively correlated with pH and PO2 of the umbilical artery blood(r= -0.418 and -0.437, P ＜ 0.01), but they were positively correlated with PCO2( r = 0. 442, P ＜ 0. 05) . The level of dynorphin A1-13 was negatively correlated with pH and PO2( r = -0. 337,-0.383, P ＜ 0.05), but it was positively correlated with PCO2(r= 0. 346, P ＜ 0. 05). There was no significant difference among the three kinds of blood EOP of the two groups( P ＞ 0.05).CONCLUSION: EOP participates in the pathological progress of the fetal distress and was closely correlated with the occurrence and development of the fetal distress. This finding has a reference value for early rehabilitation and intervention after the fetal was born that can be tested quantitatively.

Objective To investigate the effects of compound radix angelicae sinensis injection on oocyte and segmentation sphere injured by subacute exposure to diesel exhaust particles (DEP) in female mice. Methods Two hundred and ten 21-day-old ICR female mice were randomly divided into 5 groups: the control group (group A), DEP group (group B), DEP+low-dose group (group C),DEP±middle-dose group (group D) and DEP+high-dose group (group E). There were 42 mice in each group. The mice were inoculated with 30 μ1 DEP suspension at 12.0 μg/μl (group B-E) or the same volume of vehicle (PBS, group A) on pharynx posterior wall by sample pipettor beginning at day 21 and repeated every 3 days for 4 times. The mice were sacrificed three days after the last exposure.Compound radix angelicae sinensis injection containing 75 (group C), 150 (group D) and 300 (group E)grams of crude drug, respectively, which was intraperitoneally administered for each mouse daily from the day of the first DEP inoculation till the day before sacrifice, consecutively for 12 days. The general conditions were observed, and the body weight and ovary/body weight ratio were tested. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) contents in ovarian tissues were assayed. Rates of survival, germinal vesicle breakdown, extrusion of the first polar body and in-vitro fertilization, and quantity of mitochondrial DNA for oocytes were investigated.Ultrastructural changes of oocytes were observed. Results ( 1 ) No significant difference of the body weight was found among all the groups (P＞0. 05). The ovary weight, ovary/body weight ratio, ovary SOD and GSH content were significantly decreased in groups B [( 1.5 ± 0. 6) mg, ( 7.2 ± 2. 5) × 10-5 ,(192. 10±23.67) nU/mg prot and (262.40 ± 31.60) nmol/mg prot], and C [( 1.7 ± 0. 2) mg,(8.9±0.6)× 10-5, (198.92±24.27) nU/mg prot and (271.66±14.58) nmol/mg prot] and D [(2. 1±0. 2) mg, (9. 8±1. 1)×10-5, (214. 37±27. 19) nU/mg prot and (285. 93±9. 55) nmol/mg prot] as comparing to groupA [(3. 3±1. 5) mg, (15.4±7.3)×10-5, (292. 30 ± 40. 03) nU/mg prot and (367.98±24.59) nmol/mg prot (P＜ 0. 05 or P＜0.01); and significantly increased in group E [(3. 7±1.1) mg, (18. 7±5. 4)× 10-5, (279. 10±12. 63) nU/mg prot ]and (353. 59±10. 61) nmol/mg prot]comparing to group B (P＜0. 01). MDA content was signi-ficantly increased for groups B, C and D [(3. 88±0.35) nmol/mg prot, (3. 62 ± 0. 19) nmol/mg prot and (2. 63 ± 0. 34) nmol/mg prot] comparing to group A [(2. 18±0. 44) nmol/mg prot](P＜0. 05 or ＜0. 01, respectively); and significantly decreased for group D and E (2. 35±0. 37 nmol/mg prot) comparing to group B (P＜0. 01). (2) In all observed time points, oocyte survival rate in group B and C, extrusion rate of the first polar body and in-vitro fertilization rate in group B, C and D were significantly lower than in group A (P ＜ 0. 05 or ＜0. 01), and all those in group E were significantly higher than in group B (P＜0. 05). Rates of germinal vesicle breakdown were 100% in all five groups. (3) Logarithmic values of mitochondrial DNA copy numbers in group C, D and E were significantly lower than in group A; whereas significantly higher in group C and D than in group B (P＜0.01). (4) Normal appearance for oocytes in group A was seen. In groups B and C, a number of cytoplasmic organelles were dramatically degenerated in part of the oocytes and some necrotic oocytes were seen. Large body of mitochondria in the oocytes swelled and vacuolized in group D, while such changes dincished to a lesser extent and scope in group E. Conclusions Compound radix angelicae sinensis injection exerts a favorable curative and protective effect on oocyte and segmentation sphere injured by subacute DEP exposure in female mice.

Objective To investigate the risk factors and anticoagulation parameters in patients of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) combined with deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Methods All of 110 AECOPD patients were divided into two groups according to Doppler examination of lower extremities: DVT group and non-DVT group. The risk factors and anticoagulation parameters were compared. Results Twelve cases (10.9%) were in DVT group,of whom 2 cases (1.8%)had pulmonary embolism. The rate of lying in bed > 3 d, smoke, mechanical ventilation, hospital stays and the levels of PaCO2 were significantly higher in DVT group than those in non-DVT group (P < 0.01 or <0.05 ). In DVT group, the activity of antithrombin Ⅲ and the level of protein S decreased (P < 0.05 ), and the level of D-Dimer increased (P < 0.05). Conclusions Long-term bed, smoke and mechanical ventilation requirement are the main risk factors of DVT in patients with AECOPD. Respiratory failure (type Ⅱ ) is easier to combine with DVT. Abnormality of coagulation and fibrinolytic system exists in AECOPD with DVT.

Objective To investigate the relationship between maternal exposure to airborne inhalable particulate matters (PM10) in the first trimester of pregnancy and the risk of fetal congenital deformity.Methods Relationship between exposure to airborne PM10 during the 1st,2nd,3rd and 1-3 months of gestation and the risk of fetal anomalies in 203 pregnant women with deformed fetuses,which paralleled to normal pregnant women with discrepancy of conception date ＜30 days (control),were retrospectively analyzed by a case-control study from May 14,2007 to April 30,2012 in Fujian Medical University and Fuzhou General Hospital.Multivariate Logistic regression adjusted for potential confounders including maternal age,gravidity and parity was performed for data analysis.Results According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,178 pregnant women with deformed fetuses and 356 controlled cases were enrolled.The average levels of PM10 exposed in pregnant women Withfetal cardiovascular anomalies during 1-3 months of gestation were significantly higher than in the controls [(73.80±11.55) μg/m3 vs (70.49±10.83) μg/m3] (t=2.066,P=0.040),but PM10 exposure in the 1st,2nd and the 3rd month of pregnancy were comparable between the observed and control groups [(74.00±17.34) μg/m3 vs (71.70±15.39) μg/m3,t=0.992,P=0.322;(75.15±16.80) μg/m3 vs (71.38±15.66) μg/m3,t=1.625,P=0.106; (70.28±15.84) μg/m3 vs (69.41± 15.84) μg/m3,t=0.383,P=0.702].There were no significant differences of PM10 exposure levels when compared between facial-cervical anomalies,neurologic anomalies and total anomalies and their corresponding controls (P＞0.05).Each increased quartile of the PM10 exposure levels was associated with an elevated risk of fetal cardiovascular anomalies by 1.218 folds (OR =2.218,95 ％ CI:1.232-3.994,P=0.008).Paired multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed,a positive correlation between PM10 levels at 1-3 months of gestation and fetal cardiovascular anomalies (OR =1.106,95％CI:1.035-1.183,P =0.003).Conclusions Maternal exposure to PM10 in the first trimester of pregnancy possibly exerts negative effects on fetal cardiovascular anomalies.

Objective:To evaluate the value of DWI with background suppression (DWIBS) in evaluating the injury of the low limb nerves in patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS).Methods:The clinical and imaging data of 30 patients with GBS and 30 healthy volunteers matched with their age and gender in Zibo Central Hospital from January 2018 to December 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. All patients received lower limb nerve electrophysiological examination and all subjects received lower limb nerve DWIBS examination one week later. The display of tibial nerve and common peroneal nerve after DWIBS image reconstruction in normal volunteers and GBS patients was scored by two senior radiologists. Kappa consistency test was used to analyze the consistency of the two senior radiologists′ scores. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV) and motor nerve conduction amplitudes of tibial nerve and common peroneal nerve in patients with GBS among different DWIBS scores. Spearman correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between DWIBS tibial nerve and common peroneal nerve scores and electrophysiological parameters in patients with GBS.Results:In the DWIBS images of 30 healthy volunteers, 60 tibial nerves and common peroneal nerves showed clear, sharp edges, good signal intensity, uniformity, and the scores were 4. The consistency between the two radiologists was good (Kappa value=1.0). In the 60 tibial nerves and common peroneal nerves of 30 GBS patients, 53 tibial nerves and 52 common peroneal nerves showed abnormal changes in varying degrees, including blurred edges, distortions, difficulty in recognition, and weakened signal strength, etc. The consistency between the two readers was good (Kappa value=0.879,0.863,respectively.).With the decrease of DWIBS score, the MCV and motor nerve conduction amplitude values of tibial nerves and common peroneal nervesin GBS patients decreased, and the differences between the score groups were statistically significant ( P<0.01). The scores of tibial nerves and common peroneal nerves in DWIBS were positively correlated with MCV ( r=0.83, 0.84, respectively, P<0.05) and motor nerve conduction amplitude ( r=0.81, 0.79, respectively, P<0.05). Conclusion:DWIBS could provide a three dimensional visualization of tibial nerves and common peroneal nerves, and evaluate the disorders of peripheral nerves in patients with GBS. There has correlation between the scores of tibial nerves and common peroneal nerves in DWIBS with electrophysiology parameters.

Objective To observe the early changes of related indexes after high dose of 60Co γ-ray irradiation on rhesus monkey hematopoietic system.Methods A total of 33 rhesus monkeys were randomly divided into normal control and different irradiation control group,rhesus monkeys in irradiation control group were given different doses(4,8,12 Gy) irradiation to establish acute radiation sickness(ARS) models.XE-2100 automatic blood cell analyzer detected the peripheral blood before and after the irradiation of 3,6,9,12,24,48,80 h.The rhesus monkeys were sacrificed to have a observation of sternum pathological changes at 6,48 and 80 h after 4,8,12 Gy 60Co γ-ray irradiation.Results The number of white blood cell in peripheral blood of the rhesus monkeys after 4 and 8 Gy 60Co γ-ray irradiation were lower than that before irradiation at 3 h after irradiation,as was significant increased at 6 h after irradiation,the highest values were 136.04%.and 221.38% after 9 h(with before irradiation values was 100.00%,the same below),become obviously drooped from 12 h after irradiation,show clearly temporary peak.But the number of white blood cell after 12 Gy 60Co γ-ray irradiation was significant increased at 6 h after irradiation,at the highest of 9 h,become obviously drooped from 12 h after irradiation.Peripheral blood neutrophile count was significant increased at 6 h after irradiation,at the highest of 9 h,become obviously drooped from 12 h after irradiation.Peripheral blood lymphocyte count fell sharply after irradiation,3 h detection value was only 12.02%-25.04% of before irradiation.Sternal bone marrow nucleated cell number decreased sharply after irradiation,the more irradiation dose,the less residual hematopoietic cells.Conclusion In the early stage of BM-ARS,temporary peaktime node of the white blood cell and neutrophil count could be regarded as the best delivery time of hematopoietic cytokine therapy.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between maternal tea consumption and birth outcomes. Methods: From January 2005 to December 2010, pregnant women were recruited from Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Hospital. The basic information and the situation of tea consumption during pregnancy were investigated using questionnaire and the birth outcomes of newborns were followed up. Finally, 500 pairs of mothers and infants with complete and standard-compliant data were included in the analysis. The differences of birth outcomes between the tea consumption group and the non tea consumption group were compared and the associations between tea consumption and birth outcomes were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Results: Mother's tea consumption rate was 32.8% (164 cases) during pregnancy. The rate of low birth weight in the tea consumption group was (5.5%, 9 cases) and higher than that in the non-tea consumption group (2.1%, 7 cases) (P=0.042). There was no significant difference in the rate of premature birth, small for gestational age, fetal distress, and macrosomia between the two groups After the adjustment of maternal age, education level, family income, weight gain during pregnancy, pre-pregnancy BMI, parity, gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, neonatal gender and gestational age, compared with non-tea consumption group, there was a positive effect on low birth weight, OR(95%CI) was 4.76 (1.06-21.48). The OR (95%CI) value of the low birth weight risk of the tea group was 5.30 (1.04-26.92) compared with the non-tea consumption group after the adjustment of additional factors such as passive smoking, coffee consumption, folic acid supplement, mineral supplement, carbonated beverage consumption. Simultaneously, compared with non-tea consumption group, there was no statistically significant association between tea consumption during pregnancy and premature birth, small for gestational age, fetal distress and macrosomia (P>0.05). Conclusion Tea consumption during pregnancy was a risk factor for low birth weight in offspring.

Objective To investigate the effect of berberine on proliferation of neural stem cells(NSCs)induced by hydrogen peroxide(H2O2). Methods NSCs from Sprague-Dawley rats were isolated and purified by suspension culture. Cells were divided into a control group,H2O2group(NSCs exposed to H2O2injury),berberine group(NSCs were incubated with berberine concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 20 μmol/L and exposed to H2O2), and DAPT(a blocker of the Notch signaling pathway)group. Cell viability was evaluated using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Proliferation of NSCs was evaluated by a neurosphere formation assay and Ki67 protein expression. Expression of key proteins in the Notch signaling pathway(including notch1 and hes1)in response to berberine treatment or DAPT(a Notch inhibitor)was determined by Western blotting. Results Cell viability of NSCs was significantly increased by berberine compared with the H2O2group. The neurosphere growth assay showed that 5 or 10 μmol/L berberine increased NSC proliferation. The ratio of Ki67 +/DAPI cells and notch1 and hes1 protein expression increased significantly compared with the H2O2group. Conclusions Berberine treatment upregulates Notch signaling in NSCs,whereas DAPT attenuates these effects. Berberine is a drug that promotes NSC proliferation and exerts a protective effect on NSCs via the Notch signaling pathway.

Objective To evaluate the influence of hematocrit(HCT),vitamin C(Vc)and galactose on three portable blood glucose meters to provide some reference for clinical selection of appropriate blood glucose me-ter.Methods 20 heparin anticoagulant venous blood samples in the clinical laboratory department of Nanfang Hospital were selected for verifying the accuracy of blood glucose meter.2 healthy volunteers were selected for collecting 5 w hole blood samples in interferent test.Referring to the detection results of Roche automatic bio-chemical analyzer,the Nova StatStrip Xpress glucometer,Bayer Contour Plus glucometer and Roche Accu-chek Performa blood glucose meter were performed the accuracy verification.The influence of HCT,Vc and galac-tose on the detection results of above three portable blood glucose meters were evaluated.Results The detec-tion accuracy of Nova StatStrip Xpress and the Roche Accu-Chek glucometers all conformed to the require-ments of ISO15197:2013 standards.The detection accuracy of Bayer Contour Plus glucometer only conformed to the requirements of ISO15197:2003 standards.Under the interference of different levels of HCT,Vc and galactose,the detection results of Nova StatStrip Xpress glucometer conformed to the requirements of ISO15197:2013 standards;w hen detecting low concentration of blood glucose,the Bayer Contour Plus glucom-eter was interfered by 10 mg/dL Vc,and other detection results conformed to the requirements of ISO15197:2003 standards;the anti-interference performance of Roche Accu-chek Performa glucometer conformed to the

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT ) is known to be involved in airway remodeling and fibrosis of bronchial asthma. However, the molecular mechanisms leading to EMT have yet to be fully clarified. The current study was designed to reveal the potential mechanism of microRNA-21 (miR-21) and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) affecting EMT through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE cells) were transfected with miR-21 mimics/inhibitors and PARP-1 plasmid/small interfering RNA (siRNA). A dual luciferase reporter assay and biotin-labeled RNA pull-down experiments were conducted to verify the targeting relationship between miR-21 mimics and PARP-1. The migration ability of 16HBE cells was evaluated by Transwell assay. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting experiments were applied to determine the expression of Snail, ZEB1, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Vimentin, and PARP-1. The effects of the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 on the migration of 16HBE cells and EMT were investigated. Overexpression of miR-21 mimics induced migration and EMT of 16HBE cells, which was significantly inhibited by overexpression of PARP-1. Our findings showed that PARP-1 was a direct target of miR-21, and that miR-21 targeted PARP-1 to promote migration and EMT of 16HBE cells through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Using LY294002 to block PI3K/AKT signaling pathway resulted in a significant reduction in the migration and EMT of 16HBE cells. These results suggest that miR-21 promotes EMT and migration of HBE cells by targeting PARP-1. Additionally, the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway might be involved in this mechanism, which could indicate its usefulness as a therapeutic target for asthma.