The association of vitamin D status and supplementation during pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus: a Chinese prospective birth cohort study.

Background: Previous studies have shown conflicting findings regarding the relation of vitamin D status and supplementation during pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Most of these studies hypothesized that 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations were associated with GDM risk and glucose metabolism based on linear association models.

Objectives: We aimed to estimate the associations of 25(OH)D concentrations and vitamin D supplementation with GDM risk and glucose metabolism and determine the threshold concentrations of 25(OH)D that could significantly affect glucose metabolism and GDM risk.

[Chloroquine induces apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro by miR-26b-mediated regulation of Mcl-1].

Objective: To investigate the effect of chloroquine in inducing apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and explore the possible mechanism.

Methods: MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to evaluate chloroquine-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells, respectively. The ATP levels in chloroquine-treated cells were detected using an ATP assay kit.

Maternal depression attenuates newborn vitamin D concentrations in winter-spring: a prospective population-based study.

We aimed to investigate whether the newborns of mothers with maternal depression (MD) had lower vitamin D levels than newborns of non-MD (NMD) mothers and identify the potential mechanism underlying this association. Maternal depressive symptoms in late pregnancy and concentrations of cord blood 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) were measured in 1491 mother-infant pairs. Data on maternal sociodemographic characteristics, health status, lifestyle and birth outcomes were prospectively collected.

Microvesicles derived from hypoxia/reoxygenation-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells impair relaxation of rat thoracic aortic rings.

Objective: To investigate the effects of microvesicles (MVs) derived from hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) on endothelium-dependent relaxation of rat thoracic aortic rings.

Methods: H/R injury model was established to induce HUVECs to release H/R-EMVs. H/R-EMVs from HUVECs were isolated by ultracentrifugation from the conditioned culture medium.

Effects of endothelial microvesicles induced by A23187 on H9c2 cardiomyocytes.

Objective: To investigate the effects of endothelial microvesicles (EMVs) induced by calcium ionophore A23187 on H9c2 cardiomyocytes.

Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with 10 micromol/L A23187 for 30 min. EMVs from HUVECs were isolated by ultracentrifugation from the conditioned culture medium.