Objective:To investigate the effects of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on neonatal metabolites.Methods:This retrospective cohort study recruited 580 singleton newborns who were born to women with GDM from January 2018 to December 2018 in Foshan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital as the GDM group. Another 580 counterparts born to non-GDM singleton mothers with matching age were selected as the non-GDM group with an allocation ratio of 1 to 1. Neonatal genetic metabolic disease screening was performed within 3-7 days after birth. Two independent sample t-test, and multiple linear regression model were used for statistical analysis. Results:There were significant differences in seven amino acids and 10 fatty acids levels between the GDM and non-GDM group. The serum levels of six amino acids and eight fatty acids were increased in the GDM group, while the levels of piperamide [(140.79±32.60) vs (150.26±35.46) μmol/L, t=－4.733, P<0.001], palmitoyl carnitine [(2.59±0.81) vs (2.73±0.82) μmol/L, t=－2.940, P=0.003], and carbamate [(0.066±0.022) vs (0.069±0.022) μmol/L, t=－1.937, P=0.042] were decreased compared with the non-GDM group. After adjusting for maternal gravidity, parity, neonatal birth weight, and gender, multivariate linear regression analysis showed that GDM was positively correlated with three amino acids levels, which were cysteine ( ?=0.012), homocysteine ( ?=0.263) and leucine ( ?=4.225); and was negatively correlated with glycine ( ?=－6.271) and piperamide level ( ?=－9.885). With regard to the fatty acids, GDM was positively correlated with the neonatal propionyl carnitine ( ?=0.214), butyryl carnitine ( ?=0.014), 3-hydroxybutyryl carnitine ( ?=0.006), isovaleryl carnitine ( ?=0.009), 3-hydroxyisovaleryl carnitine ( ?=0.024), hexadecanoyl carnitine ( ?=0.001), decadienoyl carnitine ( ?=0.045), octadecadienyl carnitine level ( ?=0.128), but was negatively correlated with palmitoyl carnitine ( ?=－0.119), and carbamate ( ?=－0.002) (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Correlations between maternal GDM and the levels of amino acids and fatty acids in neonates was noted in this study, suggesting that maternal GDM may affect the metabolism of amino acids and fatty acids in offspring at early stage of life.

Objective:To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and transmission chain of COVID-19 in two families, and to provide scientific evidence for effective prevention and control measures.Methods:Field epidemiological investigation was conducted for the COVID-19 cases occurred in two families and the close contacts in a county of Baotou city in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Descriptive statistical analysis on epidemiological data was conducted.Results:The infection source of the COVID-19 cases in the two families was a man who had living history in Wuhan. After his return, his parents were infected by him. A few days later, the members of a neighbor family were found to be infected, and relatives of this family were also infected after dining together repeatedly. Finally, ten confirmed cases and three suspected cases of COVID-19 were detected in the two families.Conclusions:Human-to-human transmission of COVID-19 can occur not only in a family but also in neighborhoods. The cases in two families had close relationship, indicating the necessity to strengthen the health education about COVID-19 prevention and control and the management of groups at high risk to reduce the incidence of COVID-19 in families and neighborhoods.

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine ( TCM ) fumigation in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis.Methods A total of 120 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were randomly divided into the control group and the observation group. Patients in the control group ( n=60) received methotrexate and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and patients in the observation group ( n=60) received TCM fumigation on the basis of those drugs that used in the control group. The efficacy between two groups was observed and compared after 15 days. Results The effective rate in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (χ2=5.04,P<0.05). Outcome measures (DSA28, Morning stiffness duration, ESR and CRP) between two groups were distinctly improved after treatment (P<0.01), and the improvement in the observation group was better than that in the control group ( P < 0. 05 ) . Conclusions TCM fumigation combined with Western medicine is more effective, safe and worthy of being widely used in treating active rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective Streptococcus pneumoniae can form biofilms .The aim of this study was to investigate the biofilm forma-tion of Streptococcus pneumoniae and the relationship with antibiotic resistance of penicillin etc . Methods A total of 147 clinical iso-lates of Streptococcus pneumoniae were collected from 7 teaching hospitals in Nanjing from 2010 to 2012.Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of penicillin, erythromycin, cefuroxime and ceftriaxone were determined by agar dilution method .Streptococcus pneumoniae with various penicillin MIC was selected randomly as follow:MIC≤0.065μg/mL, 0.5μg/mL, 2μg/mL and≥4μg/mL, which was incuba-ted to form biofilms in 96-well plates and 24-well plates for 24 hours.The A values at 570 nm was measured and the biofilm was observed through confocal laser scanning microscope ( CLSM) . Results The biofilm semi-quantitative detection and CLSM both displayed that all strains formed biofilms.The A value of the group which penicillin MIC was ≤0.065μg/mL (0.228 ±0.063) was higher than the 0.5μg/mL group (0.200 ±0.061) and the≥4μg/mL group (0.186 ±0.050) (P<0.05) , and there was no difference among the groups which penicillin MIC were 0.5μg/mL, 2μg/mL and≥4μg/mL, respectively (P>0.05).The A value of the group which erythromycin MIC was ≤0.5μg/mL (0.211 ±0.068) was higher than the ≥4μg/mL group (0.201 ±0.052) (P>0.05).The A value of the group sensitive to cefuroxime (0.216 ±0.062) was higher than the group resistant to cefuroxime (0.196 ±0.054) (P<0.05). Conclusion Streptococcus pneumoniae can form biofilms .Streptococcus pneumoniae with high antibiotics MIC has a trend of weakened biofilm formation .

In order to identify genes involved in floral transition and development of the orchid species, a full-length APETALA1/FRUITFULL-like (AP1/FUL-like) MADS box cDNA was cloned from Cymbidium faberi (C. faberi) sepals and designated as C. faberi APETALA1-like (CfAP11], JQ031272.1). The deduced amino acid sequence of CfAP11 shared 84% homology with a member of the AP1/FUL-like group of MADS box genes (AY927238.1, Dendrobium thyrsiflorum FUL-like MADS box protein 3 mRNA). Phylogenetic analysis shows that CfAP11 belonged to the AP1/FUL transcription factor subfamily. Bioinformatics analysis shows that the deduced protein had a MADS domain and a relatively conservative K region. The secondary structure of CfAP11 mainly consisted of alpha helices (58.97%), and the three-dimensional structure of the protein was similar to that of homologues in Roza hybrida, Oryza sativa and Narcissus tazetta. Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) results reveal low levels of its mRNA in roots, lower levels in leaves during reproductive period than vegetative period, and higher levels in pedicels at full-blossom stage than at bud stage. These results suggest that CfAP11 is involved in floral induction and floral development. Additionally, we observed higher levels of CfAP11 expression in pedicels and ovaries than in other tissues during full-blossom stage, which suggests that CfAP11 may also be involved in fruit formation in certain mechanism.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Flowers ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; MADS Domain Proteins ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Orchidaceae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Spatio-Temporal Analysis

Objective To investigate the association between hepatitis B virus (HBV)genotype, the mutations in HBV basic core gene promoter(BCP), pre C/C gene region and treatment response to interferon (IFN)α-1b. Methods Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients were treated with IFNα-Ib for 6 months and were followed up for 6 months after the end of treatment. Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) was used for determining HBV genotype. HBV DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and analyzed for BCP and pre C/C gene region by sequencing. Measurement data were compared using t test and analysis of variance. Enumeration data were compared using chi-square test, Fisher exact probability test.Logistic regression analysis was utilized for multi-factor analysis. Results There were 39 patients who completed the treatment and follow up in this study. At the end of treatment, 16(41.0%) patients showed response to the IFNα-lb treatment. At the end of follow-up, four out of 16 patients who achieved on treatment response relapsed. Among 3a patients, 29 (74.4 %) were infected with genotype B and 10 (25. 6%) with genotype C. The treatment response rates were not significant different between the groups with different genotypes. The double mutation pattern (T1762/A1764) was found in eight (20. 5%) patients. The response rates to IFNα-lb treatment were not significant different between the group with and without double mutation pattern. A1896 mutation was detected in eight patients at baseline. Three of them became HBeAg negative at the end of treatment and returned to HBeAg positive during follow-up. The non-lyphocyte epitope mutations, L60V and I97L, were found in 15 patients (38. 5%) and 14 patients (35.9%), respectively. At the end of follow-up, the patients with 60V had a significantly lower HBeAg seroconversion rate and HBV DNA undetectable rate compared to the patients with 60L (Fisher exact probability test; P = 0.0126 and 0.0069,respectively). The HBV DNA undetectable rates in the patients with 97I were significantly lower than those in patients with 97L both at the end of treatment and the end of follow-up (Fisher exact probability test; P= 0.0484 and 0. 0024, respectively). Logistic regression analysis results showed that there was no association between the above viral mutations and the treatment response to IFNαlb. Conclusions There is no association between HBV genotype, BCP double mutation pattern and IFN-α treatment response. The non-lyphocyte epitope mutations, L60V and I97L, may have impact on IFN-α treatment response.

In order to search for bioactive natural products from marine algae, the chemical constituents of red alga Laurencia saitoi was separated by the combination of normal phase silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and recrystallization. Seven compounds: aplysistatin (1), 5-acetoxypalisadin B (2), palisadin B (3), palisadin A (4), pacifigorgiol (5), stigmast4-en-3alpha, 6beta-diol (6), 2, 3, 5, 6-Tetrabromoindole (7), were isolated and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and MS techniques. All compounds were isolated from L. saitoi for the first time. Cytotoxicities of purified compounds were evaluated by MTT method, however, all of them were found inactive (IC50 >10 mg x L(-1).
Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Laurencia ; chemistry ; Organic Chemicals ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology