Cellular communication network 1 promotes CASP2 mRNA expression but suppresses its protein translation in esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Induction of apoptosis in tumor cells is one of the best ways to cure cancer. While most apoptosis requires a chain of caspase activation, CASP2 can do this all by itself. The matricellular protein cellular communication network 1 (CCN1) is known for supporting some cancer growth but suppressing others.

Clinical strategy study on prenatal screening and diagnostic model for Down syndrome.

Exploring efficient and easily implementable prenatal screening strategies aims at birth defect prevention and control. However, there have been limited economic evaluations of non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS) strategies in China. Furthermore, these studies were predominantly confined to local or geographically proximate provinces and lacked universality and representativeness.

Identification of copy number variations among fetuses with isolated ultrasound soft markers in pregnant women not of advanced maternal age.

Background: Pathogenic (P) copy number variants (CNVs) may be associated with second-trimester ultrasound soft markers (USMs), and noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) can enable interrogate the entire fetal genome to screening of fetal CNVs. This study evaluated the clinical application of NIPS for detecting CNVs among fetuses with USMs in pregnant women not of advanced maternal age (AMA).

Results: Fetal aneuploidies and CNVs were identified in 6647 pregnant women using the Berry Genomics NIPS algorithm.

Variability in methylmercury exposure across migratory terrestrial bird species: Influencing factors, biomagnification and potential risks.

Despite China's considerable mercury (Hg) emissions, monitoring of methylmercury (MeHg) levels in its terrestrial environments remains limited. This study examined the occurrence and accumulation of MeHg in body feathers of 12 migratory terrestrial bird species originating from Siberia and northeastern China. Considerable variations in foraging habits and MeHg levels were observed among these species.

Maternal, neonatal, pregnancy outcome characteristics of pregnant women with high plasma cell-free DNA concentration in non-invasive prenatal screening: a retrospective analysis.

Objective: Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is a useful biomarker in various clinical contexts. Herein, we aimed to identify maternal characteristics and pregnancy outcomes associated with a failed NIPS test due to high cfDNA concentrations.

Methods: A retrospective study of cases with high plasma cfDNA concentration in pregnant women in which NIPS test was performed (from 174,318 cases).

Maternal and fetal factors influencing fetal fraction: A retrospective analysis of 153,306 pregnant women undergoing noninvasive prenatal screening.

Background: Genetic factors are important causes of birth defects. Noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) is widely used for prenatal screening of trisomy 21, trisomy 18, and trisomy 13, which are the three most common fetal aneuploidies. Fetal fraction refers to the proportion of cell-free fetal DNA in maternal plasma, which can influence the accuracy of NIPS.

Global ocean contamination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances: A review of seabird exposure.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been extensively produced and used as surfactants and repellents for decades. To date, the global contamination pattern of PFAS in marine biota has seldomly been reviewed. Seabirds are ideal biomonitoring tools to study environmental contaminants and their effects.

Large-scale assessment of exposure to legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in China's shorebirds.

Emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become more widely applied, whereas legacy PFAS such as PFOS continue to distribute ubiquitously in the environment. Large-scale assessment of wildlife exposure to both emerging and legacy PFAS plays a key role in effective biomonitoring to better discriminate regional contamination patterns and provide early warnings. Using eggs of two closely-related shorebird species collected across China during the breeding season in 2021, we constructed contrasting PFAS levels and profiles in coastal versus inland populations.

Long-read Oxford nanopore sequencing reveals a de novo case of complex chromosomal rearrangement involving chromosomes 2, 7, and 13.

Background: Complex chromosomal rearrangements (CCRs) are associated with high reproductive risk, infertility, abnormalities in offspring, and recurrent miscarriage in women. It is essential to accurately characterize apparently balanced chromosome rearrangements in unaffected individuals.

Methods: A CCR young couple who suffered two spontaneous abortions and underwent labor induction due to fetal chromosomal abnormalities was studied using long-read sequencing(LRS), single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array, G-banding karyotype analysis (550-band resolution), and Sanger sequencing.

Evaluation of the effects of Ipomoea staphylina on ovarian cancer cell line.

Ovarine cancer is a common woman malignancy in the world. Majority of the ovarian cancers are originated in the epithelial region which are lack of symptomps and this type of cancer is often get localized, when the tumour has spread outside the pelvis. Based on this context, the present study evaluated the effects of both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Ipomoea staphylina leaves on ovarian cancer cell line.

Clinical Selection of Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques Following Positive Noninvasive Prenatal Screening Results in Southwest China.

This study aims to evaluate prenatal diagnosis methods following positive noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) results. According to the positive noninvasive prenatal screening results, 926 pregnant women were divided into three groups: main target disease group (high risk for trisomy 21, trisomy 18, or trisomy 13), sex chromosome aneuploidy (SCA) group, and other chromosomal abnormalities group [abnormal Z-scores for chromosomes other than trisomy (T)21/T18/T13 or SCAs]. The verification methods and results were then retrospectively analysed.

Noninvasive Prenatal Screening Based on Second-Trimester Ultrasonographic Soft Markers in Low-Risk Pregnant Women.

We aimed to assess the clinical application of noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) based on second-trimester ultrasonographic soft markers (USMs) in low-risk pregnant women. Data of pregnant women between April 2015 and December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Pregnant women [age at expected date of confinement (EDC) of <35 years; low risks for trisomy 21 (T21) and trisomy 18 (T18) based on maternal serum screening; presenting second-trimester USMs (7 types)] who successfully underwent NIPS and had available follow-up information were included in our study.

Dysregulation of Circulating miR-24-3p in Children with Obesity and Its Predictive Value for Metabolic Syndrome.

Introduction: Obesity is a major risk factor for metabolic disorders in children. Therefore, it is particularly important to study the abnormal regulation of circulating miR-24-3p in obese children and its predictive value for metabolic syndrome.

Methods: Serum samples were obtained from children with obesity (n = 45), obese children with metabolic syndrome (n = 52), and healthy controls (n = 50).

Follow-up in Patients With Non-invasive Prenatal Screening Failures: A Reflection on the Choice of Further Prenatal Diagnosis.

Background: Our aim was to provide a theoretical basis for clinicians to conduct genetic counseling and choose further prenatal diagnosis methods for pregnant women who failed non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on pregnant women who had failed NIPS tests.

Results: Among the 123,291 samples, 394 pregnant women did not obtain valid results due to test failures.

Performance of noninvasive prenatal screening in twin pregnancies: a retrospective study of 5469 twin pregnancies.

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) for the fetal common aneuploidy screening in twin pregnancies.

Methods: The data of 5469 women with twin pregnancies were collected in this retrospective observational study between January 2017 and December 2018. Patients underwent NIPS as first-line screening or after standard serum screening for fetal aneuploidy.

Regio- and Enantioselective Ni-Catalyzed Formal Hydroalkylation, Hydrobenzylation, and Hydropropargylation of Acrylamides to α-Tertiary Amides.

The development of enantioselective alkyl-alkyl cross-couplings with coinstantaneous formation of a stereogenic center without the use of sensitive organometallic species is attractive yet challenging. Herein, we report the intermolecular regio- and enantioselective formal hydrofunctionalizations of acrylamides, forging a stereogenic center α-position to the newly formed C -C bond for the first time. The use of a newly developed chiral ligand enables the electronically-reversed formal hydrofunctionalizations, including hydroalkylation, hydrobenzylation, and hydropropargylation, offering an efficient way to access diverse enantioenriched amides with a tertiary α-stereogenic carbon center which is facile to racemize.

Rhein alleviates renal interstitial fibrosis by inhibiting tubular cell apoptosis in rats.

Background: Ureteral obstruction causes injury of the renal tissues and can irreversibly progress to renal fibrosis, with atrophy and apoptosis of tubular cells. The goal of the current study was to examine the effects of rhein on the apoptosis o renal tubular cells as well as renal fibrosis using a rodent model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO).

Methods: UUO was induced through ureteral ligation, then animals received treatments with rhein or vehicle.

Clinical application of noninvasive prenatal screening for sex chromosome aneuploidies in 50,301 pregnancies: initial experience in a Chinese hospital.

To evaluate the clinical performance of noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) for fetal sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCAs), pregnant women were recruited in this retrospective observational study. The NIPS test was undertaken using high-throughput gene sequencing. In total,50,301 pregnant women were analysed for demographic characteristics and medical history.

Nudel involvement in the high-glucose-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition of tubular epithelial cells.

Nudel is a newly discovered factor related to cell migration. The tubular epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) includes four steps: the loss of the adhesive properties of epithelial cells, the acquisition of a mesenchymal cell phenotype, the destruction of the tubular basal membrane, and the migration into the renal interstitium. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of Nudel in the high-glucose-induced EMT of tubular epithelial cells.

TLR2 Plays a Critical Role in HMGB1-Induced Glomeruli Cell Proliferation Through the FoxO1 Signaling Pathway in Lupus Nephritis.

The objective of this study was to examine the role and possible mechanisms of toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) in high-mobility group box chromosomal protein 1 (HMGB1)-induced mouse mesangial cell (MMC) proliferation and glomeruli proliferation of MRL/Fas(lpr) mice. First, the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), TLR2 and Forkhead box protein O1 (FoxO1) messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein in the glomeruli of MRL/Fas(lpr) mice was quantified, and the correlation with cell proliferation of glomeruli was analyzed. Then, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), TLR2 neutralization antibody, and small hairpin TLR2 (shTLR2) were used to confirm the role of TLR2 in HMGB1-induced MMC proliferation.

PTEN Inhibits High Glucose-Induced Phenotypic Transition in Podocytes.

Accumulating evidence has suggested that podocytes undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, the underlying mechanisms of EMT in podocyte are not well understood. PI3K/Akt pathway is involved in the progression of DN.

[Analysis of malaria endemic situation in Shanxian County from 2002 to 2011].

Objective: To analyze the endemic situation of malaria in Shanxian County, Shandong Province, China in the last 10 years, so as to understand the epidemiological characteristics of the disease and provide the evidence for the establishment of control strategy to eliminate malaria.

Methods: The data related to the endemic situation of malaria in Shanxian County from 2002 to 2011 were collected and analyzed.

Results: From 2002 to 2011, 125 cases of malaria were reported, and the annual incidences were in the range of 0.

Therapeutic effects of suppressors of cytokine signaling in diabetic nephropathy.

Inflammation is an important pathophysiological mechanism in diabetic nephropathy (DN). Tubular epithelial cell-myofibroblast transdifferentiation (TEMT), which can be induced by many cytokines, is an important event in DN. Oncostatin M (OSM), an inflammatory cytokine, can induce TEMT in vitro.

Phospho-mTOR: a novel target in regulation of renal lipid metabolism abnormality of diabetes.

The activation of Akt has been proved to involve in the lipogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. However, it's still not clear whether mTOR, another main gene in PI3K/Akt pathway, is also involved in the renal lipogenesis of diabetes. In the present study, it was revealed that the phosphorylation of mTOR was up-regulated in the renal tubular cells of diabetic rats, followed by the over-expression of SREBP-1, ADRP and lipogenesis.