Bursicon homodimers induce the innate immunity via Relish in Procambarus clarkii.

Bursicon (burs) is a neuropeptide hormone consisting of two cystine-knot proteins (burs α and burs β), and burs α-β is responsible for cuticle tanning in insects. Further studies show that burs homodimers induce prophylactic immunity. Here, we investigated the hypothesis that burs homodimers act in regulating immunity in the red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii.

Health care and risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes among diabetic women: an updated meta-analysis.

Purpose: Diabetic women appear to have adverse pregnancy outcomes. Although there were two meta-analyzes that examined the association between health care and adverse pregnancy outcomes, their results were limited because they only included congenital anomaly and perinatal mortality, and they did not clarify the detailed situations of diabetes and health care. This meta-analysis aims to completely evaluate the effects of health care in improving adverse pregnancy outcomes among diabetic mothers.

Congenital malformations are associated with secondhand smoke among nonsmoking women: A meta-analysis.

Background: The association between active maternal smoking and congenital malformations is well established, but little is known about the association between secondhand smoke and congenital malformations. Moreover, studies regarding the association between congenital malformations and secondhand smoke have not yielded consistent results.

Methods: In July 2018, we searched PubMed, EMBASE, and China Biology Medicine databases for observational studies characterizing the relationship between secondhand smoke and congenital malformations of offspring in nonsmoking women.

H(2)O(2)-assisted photolysis of reactive dye BES golden yellow simulated wastewater.

Reactive dye BES golden yellow simulated wastewater was treated with H(2)O(2)-assisted photolysis method. Influences of factors such as reaction time, initial pH and H(2)O(2) dosage were investigated, and the reaction kinetics of the process were explored. Results showed that, the degradation of 200 mg/L BES golden yellow solution happened only in the presence of both conditions: UV irradiation and H(2)O(2) addition.

[Clinical observation on treatment of albuminuria in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome in puerperium by Xiaobai Decoction].

Objective: To observe the effects of Xiaobai Decoction (XBD) in reducing albuminuria and shortening the duration of albuminuria in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome (PIH) in puerperium.

Methods: Eighty-five patients were given the conventional treatment with magnesium sulfate for relieving convulsion and lowering hypertension, at the same time, the treated group was given XBD additionally with the modification according to the symptoms. The treatment course for both groups was 14 days.

Products of aqueous chlorination of 4-nonylphenol and their estrogenic activity.

Seven reaction products (2-chloro-4-nonylphenol [NP], 2,6-dichloro-4-NP, trichlorophenol, 4-propyl-2'-hydroxyphenol, 4-isobutyl-2'-hydroxyphenol, 4-isoamyl-2'-hydroxyphenol, and 4-isopentyl-2'-hydroxyphenol) were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in order to assess the estrogenic activity originated from 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) in drinking water. The estrogenic activities of the aqueous chlorinated 4-NP solution at 10, 60, and 120 min chlorination time were assessed by a yeast two-hybrid system based on the ligand-dependent interaction of two proteins, a human estrogen receptor (ER), and a coactivator. It was found that all three solutions inhibited transcriptional activation induction by 4-NP.