Objective: To investigate the association between gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and preterm birth subtypes. Methods: Based on the cohort of pregnant women in Anqing Prefectural Hospital, the pregnant women who received prenatal screening in the first or second trimesters were recruited into baseline cohorts; and followed up for them was conducted until delivery, and the information about their pregnancy status and outcomes were obtained through electronic medical record system and questionnaire surveys. The log-binomial regression model was used to explore the association between GDM and preterm birth [iatrogenic preterm birth, spontaneous preterm birth (preterm premature rupture of membranes and preterm labor)]. For multiple confounding factors, the propensity score correction model was used to compute the adjusted association. Results: Among the 2 031 pregnant women with a singleton delivery, the incidence of GDM and preterm birth were 10.0% (204 cases) and 4.4% (90 cases) respectively. The proportions of iatrogenic preterm birth and spontaneous preterm birth in the GDM group (n=204) were 1.5% and 5.9% respectively, while the proportions in non-GDM group (n=1 827) were 0.9% and 3.2% respectively, and the difference in the proportion of spontaneous preterm birth between the two groups was significant (P=0.048). Subtypes of spontaneous preterm were further analyzed, and the results showed that the proportions of preterm premature rupture of membranes and preterm labor in the GDM group were 4.9% and 1.0% respectively, while the proportions in the non-GDM group were 2.1% and 1.1% respectively. It showed that the risk of preterm premature rupture of membranes in GDM pregnant women was 2.34 times (aRR=2.34, 95%CI: 1.16-4.69) higher than that in non-GDM pregnant women. Conclusions: Our results showed that GDM might increase the risk of preterm premature rupture of membranes. No significant increase in the proportion of preterm labor in pregnant women with GDM was found.
Infant, Newborn ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Humans ; Premature Birth ; Diabetes, Gestational ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Hospitals ; Iatrogenic Disease

Schisandra chinensis, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, is rich in chemical constituents, including lignans, triterpenes, polysaccharides, and volatile oils. Clinically, it is commonly used to treat cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, liver, gastrointestinal, and respiratory diseases. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that S. chinensis extract and monomers have multiple pharmacological activities in lowering liver fat, alleviating insulin resistance, and resisting oxidative stress, and have good application prospects in alleviating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD). Therefore, this study reviewed the research progress on chemical constituents of S. chinensis and its effect on NAFLD in recent years to provide references for the research on S. chinensis in the treatment of NAFLD.
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Schisandra ; Insulin Resistance ; Lignans

IMM0306 is a recombinant human signal regulatory protein α-anti-CD20 mouse chimeric antibody fusion protein, intended to treat refractory or recurrent CD20 positive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) in clinical. In this study, an ELISA method was established to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of IMM0306 in human serum. The experiment was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (No. CTR20192612). Recombinant human CD47 protein was coated with the plate overnight, blocking the plate with 5% skin milk for 2 h. After washing, 100 μL per well standard and unknown samples were added, and incubated for 1.5 h. After washing, the detection antibody Anti-IMM0306-Biotin was added and incubated for 1 h, and then HRP-labeled streptavidin was added for 1 h, and the color was detected. The optimal concentration of coating reagent was 2 μg·mL^-1 by ELISA method, and the optimal dilution of anti-IMM0306-biotin and SA-HRP were 1∶500 and 1∶5 000, respectively. The lower limit of quantitation was 4 ng·mL^-1, and the standard curve range was 4-100 ng·mL^-1. The verification results of the method meets the corresponding acceptance criteria, and can be used in IMM0306 clinical pharmacokinetic studies.

Development of thoracolumbar vertebra (TLV) and rib primordium (RP) is a common evolutionary feature across vertebrates, although whole-organism analysis of the expression dynamics of TLV- and RP-related genes has been lacking. Here, we investigated the single-cell transcriptome landscape of thoracic vertebra (TV), lumbar vertebra (LV), and RP cells from a pig embryo at 27 days post-fertilization (dpf) and identified six cell types with distinct gene expression signatures. In-depth dissection of the gene expression dynamics and RNA velocity revealed a coupled process of osteogenesis and angiogenesis during TLV and RP development. Further analysis of cell type-specific and strand-specific expression uncovered the extremely high level of HOXA10 3'-UTR sequence specific to osteoblasts of LV cells, which may function as anti-HOXA10-antisense by counteracting the HOXA10-antisense effect to determine TLV transition. Thus, this work provides a valuable resource for understanding embryonic osteogenesis and angiogenesis underlying vertebrate TLV and RP development at the cell type-specific resolution, which serves as a comprehensive view on the transcriptional profile of animal embryo development.

Background: As a large, prospective, multicenter study-based prognostic score for hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF), the Chinese group on the study of severe hepatitis B-acute-on-chronic liver failure score (COSSH-ACLFs), has been approved by some foreign scholars; however, its predictive value needs to be verified. This study investigated the predictive value of COSSH-ACLFs for short-term prognosis in Chinese patients with HBV-ACLF. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 751 patients with HBV-ACLF admitted to the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital between January 2011 and December 2014. Spearman method was used to assess the correlation of COSSHACLFs with classical scores. Different COX multivariate regression models were used to confirm the relationship between COSSHACLFs and short-term prognosis in patients with HBV-ACLF, and stratified analysis was used to further verify the stability of this relationship. We compared the predictive powers of COSSH-ACLFs and other classical scores using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) and Z-test. Results: A total of 975 patients with HBV-ACLF were screened, and 751 were analyzed (623 male and 128 female). COSSH-ACLFs was the highest in patients with end-stage ACLF, followed by those with middle- and early-stage ACLF (H = 211.8, P < 0.001). In the fully adjusted model, COX multivariate regression analysis revealed that COSSH-ACLFs (as a continuous variable) was independently and positively correlated with mortality risk in patients with HBV-ACLF at 28 days (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.37 [1.22, 1.53], P < 0.001) and 90 days (HR: 1.43 [1.29, 1.58], P < 0.001). The same trend could be observed in the crude model and minimally adjusted model. The AUROCs of COSSH-ACLFs for 28-day and 90-day prognoses in patients with HBV-ACLF were 0.807 and 0.792, respectively, indicating a stronger predictive accuracy than those of classic models. Conclusions COSSH-ACLFs, with a superior predictive accuracy compared with other classical scores, can strongly predict shortterm prognosis in Chinese patients with HBV-ACLF.

PURPOSE: Little is known about combination of the circulating Epstein-Barr viral (EBV) DNA and tumor volume in prognosis of stage II nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients in the intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) era. We conducted this cohort study to evaluate the prognostic values of combining these two factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: By Kaplan-Meier, we compare the differences of survival curves between 385 patients with different EBV DNA or tumor volume levels, or with the combination of two biomarkers mentioned above. RESULTS: Gross tumor volume of cervical lymph nodes (GTVnd, p < 0.001) and total tumor volume (GTVtotal, p < 0.001) were both closely related to pretreatment EBV DNA, while gross tumor volume of nasopharynx (GTVnx, p=0.047) was weakly related to EBV DNA. EBV DNA was significantly correlated with progress-free survival (PFS, p=0.005), locoregional-free survival (LRFS, p=0.039), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS, p=0.017), while GTVtotal, regardless of GTVnx and GTVnd, had a significant correlation with PFS and LRFS. The p-values of GTVtotal for PFS and LRFS were 0.008 and 0.001, respectively. According to GTVtotal and pretreatment EBV DNA level, patients were divided into a low-risk group (EBV DNA 0 copy/mL, GTVtotal < 30 cm³; EBV DNA 0 copy/mL, GTVtotal ≥ 30 cm³; or EBV DNA > 0 copy/mL, GTVtotal < 30 cm³) and a high-risk group (EBV DNA > 0 copy/mL, GTVtotal ≥ 30 cm³). When patients in the low-risk group were compared with those in the high-risk group, 3-year PFS (p=0.003), LRFS (p=0.010), and DMFS (p=0.031) rates were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment plasma EBV DNA and tumor volume were both closely correlated with prognosis of stage II NPC patients in the IMRT era. Combination of EBV DNA and tumor volume can refine prognosis and indicate for clinical therapy.
Biomarkers ; Cohort Studies* ; DNA* ; Herpesvirus 4, Human* ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Nasopharynx ; Plasma ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy* ; Tumor Burden*

For qualitative and quantitative analysis of related substances in clotrimazole cream, HPLC-Q-TOF spectrometer was used to analyze the fragmentation pathways and identify structures of the related substances. Five related substances named by BP (2018) were identified as impurity A ((2-chlorophenyl)-diphenylmethanol), impurity B (para-clotrimazole isomer), impurity E (2-chlorobenzophenone), impurity F (1-tritylimidazole) and impurity 4 (9-(2-chlorophenyl)-fluorene), respectively, by using impurity references matching and comparison with the literature data. Four related substances were detected in clotrimazole cream except impurity E, and 9-(2-chlorophenyl)-fluorene is the first identified impurity in this preparation. To establish an HPLC method for determination of the related substances in Clotrimazole Cream, the Agilent Poroshell Bonuns RP column was used (100 mm×4.6 mm, 2.7 μm) with UV detection at 215 nm. The mobile phase was acetonitrile-10 mmol·L^-1 dipotassium phosphate buffer (adjusted with phosphoric acid to pH of 5.80) with a flow rate of 1.0 mL·min^-1. Gradient elution was used. The column temperature was maintained at 40℃. A good linear behavior was achieved between component's concentrations and peak area for impurity A, B, E, F within the range of 0.20-10.02 μg·mL^-1, 0.20-10.00 μg·mL^-1, 0.20-10.10 μg·mL^-1, 0.10-5.01 μg·mL^-1 with the correlation coefficients were 0.999 7, 1.000 0, 1.000 0, 0.999 9, respectively. The average recoveries were 94.3%, 95.0%, 100.0%, 99.6% with RSDs were 2.8%, 2.2%, 1.1%, 2.7%, respectively (n=9). LOQ were 200.4, 200.0, 202.0, 100.2 ng·mL^-1, respectively. LOD were 57.25, 57.14, 57.71, 28.63 ng·mL^-1, respectively. The developed method was simple, rapid, accurate and effective for testing related substances in clotrimazole cream to control its quality, ensuring the safety of clinical medication.

To establish a genetic susceptibility assessment model of lung cancer risk potentially associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) inhalation exposure among non-smokers in China, a total of 143 patients with lung adenocarcinoma and 143 cancer-free individuals were recruited. Sixty-eight genetic polymorphisms in 10 pathways related to PAH metabolism and tumorigenesis were selected and examined. It was observed that 3 genetic polymorphisms, along with 10 additional genetic polymorphisms via gene-gene interactions, significantly influenced lung cancer risk potentially associated with PAH inhalation exposure. Most polymorphisms were associated with PAH metabolism. According to the established genetic susceptibility score (GSS), lung cancer risk increased with a rise in the GSS level, thereby indicating a positive dose-response relationship.
Adenocarcinoma ; chemically induced ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Air Pollutants ; toxicity ; China ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Inhalation Exposure ; Lung Neoplasms ; chemically induced ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of rat bone mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) transplantation on retinal neovascularization, and to observe the changes of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) in rats with oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR).

METHODSSeventy-two seven-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal control (CON), model (OIR) and BMSC transplantation. In the BMSC transplantation group, BMSCs were transplanted 5 days after oxygen conditioning. The phosphate buffered saline of the same volume was injected in the CON and OIR groups. The OIR model was prerpared according to the classic hyperoxygen method. At seven days after transplantation, retinal neovascularization was examined by retinal flat-mount staining and hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining. The expression of HIF-1α and VEGF proteins was examined by immunohistochemistry staining and Western blot analysis.

RESULTSThe retinal flat-mount staining results showed that the vessels were well organized in the CON group, but the vessels were irregularly organized, and lots of nonperfusion areas were observed in the OIR group. The large vessels were a bit circuitous, the retinal vessels were relatively organized, and less nonperfusion areas were noted in the BMSC transplantation group. The HE staining results showed that many neovessels and preretinal neovascular (pre-RNC) cells were observed on the internal limiting membrane in the OIR group. There were less pre-RNC cells in the BMSC transplantation group compared with the OIR group (P<0.01). The immunohistochemistry analysis showed that more HIF-1αand VEGFcells were observed in the OIR group compared with the CON group, and less HIF-1αand VEGFcells were observed in the BMSC transplantation group compared with OIR group (P<0.05). The Western blot analysis showed the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF proteins in the OIR group was significantly higher than that in the CON group. The expression of HIF-1α and VEGF proteins in the BMSC transplantation group was lower than that in the OIR group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSBMSC transplantation therapy could alleviate retinal neovascularization in OIR rats, and its mechanisms might be associated with the inhibition of the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF proteins.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Female ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; analysis ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Retina ; chemistry ; Retinal Neovascularization ; prevention & control ; Retinopathy of Prematurity ; metabolism ; therapy ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo provide evidence-based recommendations for clinical application and provoke thoughts for future researchers by conducting a comprehensive summary and evaluation of the current evidence profile for the role of Chinese medicine (CM) in treating myocardial infarction (MI).

METHODSOnline databases including PubMed, EMBase, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Medicine (CBM), VIP Journal Integration Platform, and Wanfang database were systematically searched for literatures on CM in treating MI. After screening, studies were categorized into 5 types, i.e. systematic review (SR), randomized controlled trial (RCT), observational study, case report and basic research. General information was abstracted, and the quality levels of these studies and their conclusions were summarized and assessed.

RESULTSA total of 452 studies including 10 SRs, 123 RCTs, 47 observational studies, 28 case reports, and 244 basic researches were selected. Clinical studies centered primarily on herbal decoction and mostly were not rigorously performed. High-quality studies were predominantly on Chinese patent medicines (CPMs) such as Danshen Injection (), Shenmai Injection (), Shengmai Injection () and Qishen Yiqi Dripping Pills (). The most frequently observed pattern of drug combination was decoction plus injection. Results of SRs and clinical studies showed that CM may reduce mortality, decrease risk of complication, reduce myocardial injury, improve cardiac function and inhibit ventricular remodeling. Findings from basic researches also supported the positive role of CM in reducing infarct size and myocardial injury, promoting angiogenesis, preventing ventricular remodeling and improving cardiac function. According to the current evidence body, CM has proven effects in the prevention and treatment of MI. It is also found that the effects of CPMs vary with indications. For instance, Shenmai Injection has been found to be especially effective for reducing the incidence of acute clinical events, while CPMs with qi-nourishing and bloodcirculating properties have been proven to be effective in inhibiting ventricular remodeling. High quality evidence supports the use of CM injection for acute MI and CPM for secondary prevention. Reports on adverse events and other safety outcomes associated with CM for MI are scarce.

CONCLUSIONSSufficient evidence supported the use of CM as an adjuvant to Western medicine for preventing and treating MI. The choice of drug use varies with disease stage and treatment objective. However, the quality of the evidence body remains to be enhanced.