Placental diseases may affect the outcome of pregnancy and long-term health of the mother and fetus. Fetal fraction is a key indicator for the success of non-invasive prenatal testing, and has been associated with gestational age, body mass index and fetal chromosomal aneuploidies. Many studies have found that fetal fraction is also related to placenta-derived diseases and may become a new predictor for such diseases. This article has summarized the association between the two, with an aim to provide new ideas for the prediction of placental diseases.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of case-based learning (CBL) teaching based on network resources in standardized residency training for nuclear medicine.Methods:Open network resources of CBL curriculum (13 sessions in total) were used to perform the collective teaching of 21 residents who received training in our professional base, with a total of 61 person-times. The residents received the test on objective questions before class, immediately after class, and at 1 week after class (7-10 days) to assess the learning effect of residents at these time points, and an evaluation form of teaching effectiveness was used after each class to assess the teaching effect. SPSS 23.0 was used to perform a one-way analysis of variance.Results:As for the test score of objective questions, there were 61 valid scores before class, 61 valid scores immediately after class, and 51 valid scores at 1 week after class (7-10 days), with a mean score of (49.43±13.37), (84.43±14.44), and (80.88±10.04), respectively (with 100 points as the total score), which showed a significant difference ( F=105.80, P<0.01). As for the evaluation of teaching effectiveness, a total of 61 valid forms were received, and the results of "very satisfied, satisfied, fairly good, and dissatisfied" accounted for 34.4% (21/61), 52.5% (32/61), 9.84% (6/61), and 3.28% (2/61), respectively, with an overall satisfaction rate (very satisfied+satisfied) of 86.9% (53/61). Conclusion:It is feasible and effective to make full use of network resources to carry out CBL teaching in standardized residency training for nuclear medicine, which has achieved a good preliminary effect.

BACKGROUND: Endocrine therapy (ET) and ET-based regimens are the preferred first-line treatment options for hormone receptor (HR)-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative metastatic breast cancer (HR+/HER2- MBC), while chemotherapy (CT) is commonly used in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and clinical outcome of ET and CT as first-line treatment in Chinese patients with HR+/HER2- MBC. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with HR+/HER2-MBC between January 1st, 1996 and September 30th, 2018 were screened from the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology Breast Cancer database. The initial and maintenance first-line treatment, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 1877 included patients, 1215 (64.7%) received CT and 662 (35.3%) received ET as initial first-line treatment. There were no statistically significant differences in PFS and OS between patients receiving ET and CT as initial first-line treatment in the total population (PFS: 12.0 vs. 11.0 months, P = 0.22; OS: 54.0 vs . 49.0 months, P =0.09) and propensity score matched population. For patients without disease progression after at least 3 months of initial therapy, maintenance ET following initial CT (CT-ET cohort, n = 449) and continuous schedule of ET (ET cohort, n = 527) had longer PFS than continuous schedule of CT (CT cohort, n = 406) in the total population (CT-ET cohort vs. CT cohort: 17.0 vs . 8.5 months; P <0.01; ET cohort vs . CT cohort: 14.0 vs . 8.5 months; P <0.01) and propensity score matched population. OS in the three cohorts yielded the same results as PFS. CONCLUSIONS ET was associated with similar clinical outcome to CT as initial first-line treatment. For patients without disease progression after initial CT, switching to maintenance ET showed superiority in clinical outcome over continuous schedule of CT.
Humans ; Female ; Breast Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Receptor, ErbB-2/metabolism* ; Progression-Free Survival ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Disease Progression ; Treatment Outcome

This article reported a survived case of amniotic band syndrome (ABS) following fetal reduction by radiofrequency ablation. The woman conceived monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy spontaneously. Prenatal ultrasound at 24 weeks of gestation indicated twin-twin transfusion syndrome (stage Ⅲ), and radiofrequency ablation for fetal reduction was successfully performed after formal consent. At 28 +6 weeks, ultrasound reexamination revealed significant edema in the left foot of the fetus, with banding around the ankle, as well as the strangulation mark and narrowing rings. Fetal ABS (ⅡB stage) was diagnosed after multidisciplinary consultation. An immediate emergency cesarean section was performed and a live male baby was born. A thin amniotic band could be seen wrapping around the left ankle of the newborn for several rounds, with obvious strangulation marks about 1 cm deep into the skin, and significant edema on the dorsum and sole of the foot, and the submalleolus area. The amniotic band was released at once, and the edema faded gradually after surgery. After a follow-up of 28 days, the lower limbs of the newborn became normal.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the performance of high-throughput sequencing technology in prenatal thalassemia screening in Zhuhai area through comparison with traditional methods. METHODS: A total of 1463 pregnant women were randomly selected. Following DNA extraction, high-throughput sequencing and conventional three-step thalassemia screening were carried out for each sample. Inconsistent results samples were validated by quantitative fluorescence PCR (QF-PCR) or Sanger sequencing. The results by the two methods were compared. RESULTS: Among the 1463 cases, 318 (21.74%) were detected by conventional method, which included 210 (14.35%) with α-thalassemia, 97 (6.63%) with β-thalassemia, 11 (0.75%) with composite α- and β-thalassemia. Meanwhile, 379 cases (25.91%) of thalassemia were detected by high-throughput sequencing, which included 260 (17.77%) with α-thalassemia, 107 (7.31%) with β-thalassemia, 12 (0.82%) with composite α- and β-thalassemia. Six one cases were missed by the conventional method, which yielded a missed diagnosis rate of 16.09%, including 50 cases of α- thalassemia,10 cases of β-thalassemia, and 1 case of α-compound β-thalassemia. No cases of thalassemia were missed by high-throughput sequencing, and 10 rare thalassemia genotypes were detected. CONCLUSION High-throughput sequencing technology can improve the detection rate of thalassemia and reduce the missed diagnosis rate. It has a high application value in prenatal thalassemia screening in Zhuhai area and can more effectively prevent the birth of patients with severe thalassemia.
China ; Female ; Genotype ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Humans ; Mutation ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis/methods* ; Technology ; alpha-Thalassemia/genetics* ; beta-Thalassemia/genetics*

ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect of Danggui Shaoyaosan （DSS）-contained serum on β-amyloid （Aβ）_1-40-injured rat adrenal pheochromocytoma PC12 cells and its mechanism in regulating ubiquitin-proteasome pathway （UPP）. MethodAβ_1-40 was used to intervene PC12 cells to prepare the cell models of Alzheimer's disease （AD）， and the experiment was divided into the blank， model， and DSS-contained serum high， medium， and low-dose groups （10%， 5%， and 2.5%）. Cell viability and apoptosis were detected using cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） method and flow cytometry， respectively. The content of Aβ and p-Tau protein was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The ubiquitin （Ub）， ubiquitin ligase E3 （E3）， 26S proteasome， ubiquitin carboxyl terminal hydrolase1 （UCHL1）， and UCHL3 protein expressions of UPP were displayed using immunofluorescence cytochemistry （ICC）， and the mRNA and protein expression levels of Ub， E3-parkin， 26S， UCHL1， and UCHL3 were determined by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot， respectively. ResultThe data of the CCK8 experiment verified that 5 μmol·L^-1 and 48 hours were the optimal conditions for modeling Aβ_1-40-injured PC12 cells. As compared with the blank group， the cell viability rate in the model group decreased （P<0.05） with an increased apoptosis rate （P<0.05）， the content of Aβ and p-Tau contents was elevated （P<0.05）， the mRNA and protein expression levels of Ub increased， and the mRNA and protein expression levels of 26S， E3， and UCHL1+3 decreased （P<0.05）. As compared with the model group， the cell viability rate in the DSS-contained medium-dose group increased （P<0.05）， whereas the apoptosis rate in each DSS-contained group decreased （P<0.05）. The content of Aβ in each DDS-contained group decreased （P<0.05）， and the content of p-Tau in the DDS-contained high and medium-dose groups decreased （P<0.05）. The mRNA expression level of Ub decreased， and that of 26S increased in each DDS-contained group （P<0.05）. The mRNA expression level of UCHL1 in the DDS-contained medium-dose group increased （P<0.05）， and the mRNA expression levels of E3 and UCHL 3 in the DDS-contained high and medium-dose groups increased （P<0.05）. The protein expression level of Ub in each DDS-contained group decreased， and the protein expression levels of 26S， E3， and UCHL1+3 in the DDS high and medium-dose groups increased. The DSS-contained serum medium-dose group exerted the optimal effect. ConclusionDSS-contained serum can increase cell viability rate， reduce cell apoptosis rate， eliminate Aβ and p-Tau protein deposits， and exert protective effects on Aβ_1-40-injured PC12 cells. Its mechanism may involve UPP via decreasing the expression of Ub and increasing that of 26S， E3， UCHL1， and UCHL3.

Objective:To analyze the significance of HBV DNA below the lower detection limit of HBV RNA levels after long-term nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) antiviral therapy in patients with hepatitis B virus cirrhosis.Methods:97 cases with hepatitis B virus cirrhosis treated with NAs antiviral therapy for at least 3 years between May 2018 to July 2019 were selected. High-sensitivity HBV DNA (<20 IU/ml), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV RNA at least twice every 6 months were detected. According to Child-Pugh classification, HBeAg, HBsAg level, and HBV RNA level intergroup comparison was performed. Rank sum test, χ2 test and linear regression analysis were performed on the data. Results:Compared with the HBV RNA level of child-Pugh class A patients, the HBV RNA level of Child-Pugh class B+C patients were significantly higher [4.1 (0,4.9) log 10 copies/ml and 2.0 (0,3.5) log 10 copies/ml], and the difference was statistically significant ( Z=2.370, P<0.05). According to different HBeAg levels, they were divided into HBeAg positive and negative group, and the quantitative comparison of HBV RNA levels between the two groups were 2.0 (0, 4.5) log 10 copies/ml and 1.0 (1.0, 2.0) log 10 copies/ml, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( Z=3.233, P<0.05). According to different HBsAg levels, they were divided into three groups: HBsAg≤100 IU/ml, 100

Objective:To screen the biomarkers in the exhaled breath of mice exposed to benzene by using exhaled breath online analysis system.Methods:Thirty 8-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into six groups (0, 3, 32, 324, 648, and 1 296 mg/m 3) and treated with benzene vapour for 28 days. At the end of the exposure, the peripheral blood cell counts and blood glutathione (GSH) were detected. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in HL60 cells treated by mice plasma was examined. Exhaled breath data from mice were collected by Secondary electrospray ionization source high resolution mass spectrometry (SESI-HRMS). Targeted analysis underlying benzene metabolites and oxidative stress metabolites was performed to screen the biomarkers in exhaled breath. Results:After benzene exposure, the number of peripheral blood cells was decreased in different degrees, particularly in the white blood cells (WBC) number. The WBC in 32 and 324 mg/m 3 groups was declined by 27.76% and 52.87%, respectively compared to that in control group ( P<0.05). Meanwhile, compared with the control group, the GSH content of peripheral blood cells from 324 mg/m 3 group decreased by 13.16% ( P<0.05). In addition, MDA content was increased by 18.11% in HL60 cells treated with plasma from 324 mg/m 3 group mice ( P<0.05). The phenol, hydroquinone/catechol, benzenetriol and trans, trans-Muconic acid ( t,t-MA) in the exhaled gas of mice could be used as biomarkers for benzene exposure ( R 2>0.8, P<0.001). The peak intensity of five small molecular metabolites related to oxidative stress (ω-carboxylic fatty acid C 5H 10O 3, ω-carboxylic fatty acid C 6H 12O 3, glutamate, cysteine and MDA) increased with the increase of benzene concentration ( P<0.05), which was negatively correlated with WBC decline ( P<0.001), suggesting that these molecules mignt be used as biomarkers of benzene-induced toxicity. Conclusions:Phenol, hydroquinone/catechol, benzenetriol and trans, trans-Muconic acid ( t,t-MA) in exhaled breath of mice could be used as biomarkers for benzene exposure; ω-carboxylic fatty acid C 5H 10O 3, ω-carboxylic fatty acid C 6H 12O 3, glutamate, cysteine and MDA might be used as markers of benzene-induced toxicity.

Objective:To screen the biomarkers in the exhaled breath of mice exposed to benzene by using exhaled breath online analysis system.Methods:Thirty 8-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into six groups (0, 3, 32, 324, 648, and 1 296 mg/m 3) and treated with benzene vapour for 28 days. At the end of the exposure, the peripheral blood cell counts and blood glutathione (GSH) were detected. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in HL60 cells treated by mice plasma was examined. Exhaled breath data from mice were collected by Secondary electrospray ionization source high resolution mass spectrometry (SESI-HRMS). Targeted analysis underlying benzene metabolites and oxidative stress metabolites was performed to screen the biomarkers in exhaled breath. Results:After benzene exposure, the number of peripheral blood cells was decreased in different degrees, particularly in the white blood cells (WBC) number. The WBC in 32 and 324 mg/m 3 groups was declined by 27.76% and 52.87%, respectively compared to that in control group ( P<0.05). Meanwhile, compared with the control group, the GSH content of peripheral blood cells from 324 mg/m 3 group decreased by 13.16% ( P<0.05). In addition, MDA content was increased by 18.11% in HL60 cells treated with plasma from 324 mg/m 3 group mice ( P<0.05). The phenol, hydroquinone/catechol, benzenetriol and trans, trans-Muconic acid ( t,t-MA) in the exhaled gas of mice could be used as biomarkers for benzene exposure ( R 2>0.8, P<0.001). The peak intensity of five small molecular metabolites related to oxidative stress (ω-carboxylic fatty acid C 5H 10O 3, ω-carboxylic fatty acid C 6H 12O 3, glutamate, cysteine and MDA) increased with the increase of benzene concentration ( P<0.05), which was negatively correlated with WBC decline ( P<0.001), suggesting that these molecules mignt be used as biomarkers of benzene-induced toxicity. Conclusions:Phenol, hydroquinone/catechol, benzenetriol and trans, trans-Muconic acid ( t,t-MA) in exhaled breath of mice could be used as biomarkers for benzene exposure; ω-carboxylic fatty acid C 5H 10O 3, ω-carboxylic fatty acid C 6H 12O 3, glutamate, cysteine and MDA might be used as markers of benzene-induced toxicity.

Due to the advantages of being unaffected by fetal gender, ease of detection, and good stability, circulating cell-free fetal RNA (cffRNA) is a potential biomarker in obstetric practice. Current evidence has shown that placenta is the main source of circulating cffRNA. In view of the abnormal expression levels in women with preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction, circulating cffRNA is proposed as a potential tool to predict or diagnose these diseases. A summary of the molecular characteristics and the applications in preeclampsia of circulating cffRNA is reviewed, in order to evaluate the hypothesis for the prediction of preeclampsia by cffRNA.