A Novel U-Shaped Association Between Serum Magnesium on Admission and 28-Day In-hospital All-Cause Mortality in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Objective: Our purpose is to evaluate whether serum magnesium when entering the ICU is related to 28-day in-hospital all-cause mortality in the pediatric ICU.

Methods: We used the PIC database to conduct a retrospective analysis to investigate the first-time serum magnesium levels of 10,033 critically ill children admitted to the pediatric ICU, and analyzed association between serum magnesium and all-cause mortality. Smoothing spline plots, subgroup analysis and segmented multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted to estimate the relative risk between serum magnesium and all-cause mortality.

Is serum vitamin D deficiency before gestational 20 weeks a risk factor for preeclampsia?

Objective: Our aim was to assess whether serum vitamin D deficiency before gestational 20 weeks was associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia.

Methods: We investigated the serum levels of 25(OH)D before gestational 20 weeks, and analyzed associations between the 25(OH)D and the risk of preeclampsia. 7976 pregnant women were enrolled in this study between January 2017 and July 2019 at the Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University.

Serum markers in quadruple screening associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes: A case-control study in China.

Background: We assessed whether the results of quadruple screening during pregnancy are associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: We measured serum marker concentrations using quadruple screening in the second trimester of pregnancy and analyzed the relationship between adverse perinatal outcomes and serum markers in 12,124 pregnant women. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relative risk of quadruple screening and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Sufficience serum vitamin D before 20 weeks of pregnancy reduces the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus.

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between serum vitamin D levels before 20 weeks of pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus.

Methods: This study is a retrospective study. We analyzed the relationship between serum 25 (OH) D level before 20 weeks of pregnancy (first antenatal examination) and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus.

Development and validation of a nomogram for the early prediction of preeclampsia in pregnant Chinese women.

To make early predictions of preeclampsia before diagnosis, we developed and validated a new nomogram for the early prediction of preeclampsia in pregnant Chinese women. A stepwise regression model was used for feature selection. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to develop the prediction model.

Are serum levels of inhibin A in second trimester predictors of adverse pregnancy outcome?

Objective: During pregnancy, inhibin A is mainly derived from the placenta and regulates the implantation and differentiation of embryos. Our aim was to assess whether second trimester serum inhibin A was associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: We investigated the serum levels of Inhibin A during the second trimester in pregnancy, and analyzed associations between the Inhibin A and the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome.

Threshold value of anti-Mullerian hormone for the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome in Chinese women.

Objective: We intended to establish the threshold for anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) in the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in China.

Methods: A total of 771 women (653 with PCOS and 118 healthy controls) were enrolled. The serum AMH, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), FSH/LH, prolactin, estradiol, testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), 17α-OH progesterone (17α-OHP), fasting insulin (INS), fasting glucose, free androgen index (FAI%) and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index were analyzed, and the diagnostic utility of AMH, LH/FSH, T and INS was established using receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves.

ERG11 couples oxidative stress adaptation, hyphal elongation and virulence in Candida albicans.

Candida albicans is a major fungal opportunistic pathogen for humans. In the treatment of C. albicans, azole drugs target the sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) encoded by ERG11 gene.

Epidemiological analysis of maternal lipid levels during the second trimester in pregnancy and the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome adjusted by pregnancy BMI.

Background: Pregnancy is accompanied by profound changes in lipid metabolism. We aimed to assess whether effects of second trimester body mass index and maternal lipid concentrations are associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: We investigated the serum levels of maternal lipids during the second trimester in pregnancy, and analyzed associations between the lipid levels and the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome.

Clonal spread and azole-resistant mechanisms of non-susceptible Candida albicans isolates from vulvovaginal candidiasis patients in three Shanghai maternity hospitals.

In our multicenter study, 43 fluconazole non-susceptible and 45 fluconazole-susceptible isolates were collected from vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) patients from three Shanghai maternity hospitals to analyze their molecular epidemiological features and fluconazole resistant mechanisms. Cross-resistance to fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole was observed in 53.5% of the nonsusceptible isolates.

A newly identified amino acid substitution T123I in the 14α-demethylase (Erg11p) of Candida albicans confers azole resistance.

The increasing prevalence of azole resistance in Candida albicans poses a growing problem for clinical treatment. Amino acid substitution of the 14α-demethylase (Erg11p) encoded by the ERG11 gene is one of the most common mechanisms involved in azole resistance. Although amino acid substitutions of Erg11p have been observed in many clinical isolates, only a few amino acid substitutions have been confirmed to be related to azole resistance.

Comparability of the effect of storage time and temperature on serum anti-Müllerian hormone measurement between original and modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Objective: To explore the effect of modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on the AMH results is increased or decreased, and to investigate the effect of storage time and temperature on AMH measurements with and without sample premixing assay buffer using the Kangrun ELISA method.

Method: Serum AMH concentration were measured by ELISA, consistency between two kits, and comparability between original and the modified assay under different stored conditions were analyzed by Passing-Bablok regression analysis and Bland-Altman bias evaluation.

Result: There was a strong consistency between AMH concentrations measured in Kangrun ELISA and Ansh Labs ultra-sensitive AMH ELISA.

Elevated Serum Level of IL-35 Associated with the Maintenance of Maternal-Fetal Immune Tolerance in Normal Pregnancy.

Objectives: IL-35 is a novel inhibitory cytokine. In this study, we investigate the serum levels of inhibitory cytokines IL-35, IL-10 and TGF-β in both normal pregnancies and non-pregnant females, and whether IL-35 is associated with the pathogenesis of recurrent spontaneous abortion. We also try to elucidate the relationships of IL-35 with estrogen and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP).

Infective endocarditis with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody: report of 13 cases and literature review.

Objective: Chronic infections tend to induce the production of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA). Infective endocarditis (IE) has been reported to exhibit positive ANCA tests and to mimic ANCA-associated vasculitis, which may lead to a misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. The aim of this study was to clarify whether there is any difference in the clinical features between ANCA-positive IE and ANCA-negative IE.

[A survey of 20 inherited protein C deficiencies in the patients with venous thromboembolism].

Objective: To investigate the incidence of inherited protein C deficiency in the patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Methods: From Apr. of 2010 to Apr.

Study of the correlation of imipenem resistance with efflux pumps AdeABC, AdeIJK, AdeDE and AbeM in clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii.

Background: To investigate the role of efflux pumps AdeABC, AdeIJK, AdeDE and AbeM in reduced susceptibility to imipenem in clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii.

Methods: Susceptibility testing was conducted by the agar dilution method. The presence and expression of pump genes were analyzed by conventional PCR and real-time RT-PCR, respectively.

Preoperative probiotics decrease postoperative infectious complications of colorectal cancer.

Background: The objective is to elucidate the effects of oral bifid triple viable probiotics among patients with colorectal cancer.

Methods: Sixty patients undergoing radical colorectal resection were randomly assigned to 3-day (days -5 to -3) preoperative probiotics (group A, n = 30) or placebo (group B, n = 30) treatment. The alteration of intestinal flora was evaluated by fecal cultures of Escherichia coli, Bifidobacterium longum and intestinal fungi; the gut barrier function by serum endotoxins and D-lactic acids and the immune and stress responses by peripheral blood immunoglobins, interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein.

Efflux pump overexpression in conjunction with alternation of outer membrane protein may induce Acinetobacter baumannii resistant to imipenem.

Background: To investigate the role of outer membrane proteins in Acinetobacter baumannii resistant to imipenem, 2 strains were procured from the same patient.

Methods: The imipenem-resistant strain was obtained following a period of imipenem treatment in vivo. The multilocus sequence typing and repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR results indicated that the imipenem-resistant strain originated from the sensitive one.

[Effect of viable Bifidobacterium supplement on the immune status and inflammatory response in patients undergoing resection for colorectal cancer].

Objective: To investigate the effect of preoperative use of viable Bifidobacterium supplement on the intestinal flora, immune status, inflammatory response and prognosis of patients undergoing colorectal cancer resection.

Methods: Sixty patients with colorectal cancer were randomized into treatment group (n=30) and control group (n=30). Patients in the treatment group received oral viable Bifidobacterium with routine enteral nutrition and patients in the control group received routine enteral nutrition alone.

Comparison of antimicrobial resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates from Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Objective: To compare the antimicrobial resistance patterns of Acinetobacter baumannii isolates from Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Materials And Methods: A total of 212 A. baumannii strains of one isolate per patient were collected from Shanghai and Hong Kong from August 2002 to August 2003 that were tested against 15 commonly used antimicrobial agents by the agar dilution method according to the NCCLS guidelines.