Causal association between gut microbiota and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy: mendelian randomization study.

Background: Previous observational cohort studies have shown that the composition of the gut microbiota is related to the risk of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), although it is unclear if the association is causative. This study used Mendelian randomization (MR) to systematically examine whether the gut microbiota was causally linked to ICP.

Methods: We obtained the genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics of gut microbiota and ICP from published GWASs.

Trimester-specific associations of maternal dietary patterns with preterm birth: China Medical University birth cohort study.

The trimester-specific associations of maternal dietary patterns with preterm birth (PTB) are unclear. In a prospective prebirth cohort study, we aimed to examine the critical time window of maternal prenatal dietary patterns and the risk of PTB. We assessed prenatal dietary intake among 1500 pregnant women with validated food frequency questionnaires during the 1, 2 and 3 trimester, respectively.

Prevention of Preterm Birth by Cervical Pessary Combined with Vaginal Progesterone: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis with Trial Sequential Analysis.

This study was to assess the effectiveness of cervical pessary combined with vaginal progesterone for the prevention of preterm birth (PTB). Ten studies about singleton [five randomized controlled trials (RCTs), vs vaginal progesterone; four cohorts, vs vaginal progesterone; two cohorts, vs cervical cerclage + vaginal progesterone] and two cohort studies about multiple pregnancies (vs vaginal progesterone) were included after searching electronic databases. For singleton pregnancies, the meta-analysis of three non-RCTs [relative risk (RR) = 0.

Enriched environment for offspring improves learning and memory impairments induced by sevoflurane exposure during the second trimester of pregnancy.

Studies in animals indicate that sevoflurane exposure in the second trimester of pregnancy has harmful effects on the learning and memory of offspring. Whether an enriched environment can reverse the damage of sevoflurane exposure in the second trimester of pregnancy on the learning and memory of rat offspring remains unclear. In this study, rats at 14 days of pregnancy were exposed to 3.

Pregnancy and parenting experiences of women with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome: a qualitative study.

Background: Qualitative research can reflect the actual thoughts and experience of research subjects and can be used to explore the experiences of women presenting with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) to facilitate the provision of targeted psychological support.

Methods: A semi-structured interview method was used to assess the pregnancy and parenting experiences of women with TTTS. Colaizzi method was used for data analysis.

MIUH Inhibits the Hippocampal Neuron Growth in Fetal Rat by Affecting the PTEN Pathway.

Mild intrauterine hypoperfusion (MIUH) can induce placental dysfunction and lead to long-term changes during the process of brain development. A better understanding of the mechanism of MIUH will help in the development of new neuroprotective strategies for the placental chamber. To better understand the mechanism of the effect of MIUH on the neural development of offspring, we constructed a model of MIUH in pregnant rats.

The Role of PDZ Binding Kinase as a Potential Prognostic and Diagnostic Biomarker in Ovarian Cancer.

As one of the three malignant genital tumors, mortality in women with ovarian cancer is consistently high worldwide. It is of great importance to find prognostic markers for diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer. In this study, the authors utilized the bioinformatics analysis to identify the potential key genes to reveal the potential mechanism for ovarian cancer.

[Analysis of prenatal phenotype and pathogenetic variant in a fetus with Papillorenal syndrome].

Objective: To diagnose a fetus with Papillorenal syndrome by prenatal ultrasonography and genetic testing, and to correlate its genotype with phenotype.

Methods: Ultrasound finding of the fetus was reviewed. Muscle sample of the abortus was taken, and genetic variant related to the clinical phenotype was screened by whole exome sequencing (WES).

ALG3-CDG: lethal phenotype and novel variants in Chinese siblings.

Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) are a group of genetic, mostly multisystem disorders, which often involve the central nervous system. ALG3-CDG is one the some 130 known CDG. Here we report two siblings with a severe phenotype and intrauterine death.

Non-invasive dynamic observation of placental vascular anastomoses in monochorionic twins: Assessment using three-dimensional sonography combined with tomographic ultrasound imaging.

Introduction: Three-dimensional (3D) sonography combined with tomographic ultrasound imaging (TUI) to observe placental vascular anastomoses in monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twin pregnancies was evaluated.

Methods: Women with MCDA twin pregnancies at a gestational age of 16-32 weeks were enrolled in this retrospective study. Placental anastomoses were detected using two-dimensional (2D) and 3D sonography.

Effects of mild intrauterine hypoperfusion in the second trimester on memory and learning function in rat offspring.

Mild intrauterine hypoperfusion (MIUH) is a serious pathological event that affects the growth and development of fetuses and offspring. MIUH can lead to growth restriction, low birth weight, neurodevelopmental disorders, and other adverse clinical outcomes. To study the effects of MIUH on learning and memory function in offspring, a model of MIUH was established by placing a coil (length 2.

Rare Variant on the Paternal Allele in a Patient With Silver-Russell Syndrome.

Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS) is a rare, well-recognized disorder characterized by growth restriction, including intrauterine and postnatal growth. Most SRS cases are caused by hypomethylation of the paternal imprinting center 1 (IC1) in chromosome 11p15.5 and maternal uniparental disomy in chromosome 7 (UPD7).

Novel compound heterozygous COG5 mutations in a Chinese male patient with severe clinical symptoms and type IIi congenital disorder of glycosylation: A case report.

In the current study, one case of COG5-CDG involving a Chinese male patient with severe neurological symptoms, who had previously been misdiagnosed with congenital gyrus malformation, is described. A clinical investigation was performed and targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to identify COG5 variants in the patient and his family. PCR and Sanger sequencing were performed for the verification of NGS results.

Whole-exome sequencing identifies a donor splice-site variant in SMPX that causes rare X-linked congenital deafness.

Background: X-linked deafness-4 (DFNX4) caused by functional loss of SMPX is a nonsyndromic form of progressive hearing loss with post-lingual onset. Herein, we describe a male neonate from an ethnic Han Chinese family who presented with congenital deafness.

Methods: The proband and the family members were subjected to comprehensively hearing screen.

A small supernumerary marker chromosome resulting in mosaic partial tetrasomy 4q26-q31.21 in a foetus with multiple congenital malformations.

A parental diagnosis was performed for an unborn foetus of a healthy couple, who was due for ultrasound detection of multiple malformations and abnormal amniotic fluid karyotypes. For an accurate diagnosis, routine G-banding analysis and next generation sequencing (NGS) were carried out. Finally, conventional cytogenetic analysis suggested that the foetus had a karyotype of47,XX,+mar[52]/46,XN, meanwhile NGS also revealed a partial tetrasomy of 27.

Screening of fetal chromosomal aneuploidy diseases using noninvasive prenatal testing in twin pregnancies.

Objectives: This study was aimed to report the clinical characteristics of fetal chromosomal aneuploidy diseases using noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in twin pregnancies and analyze the results in terms of chorionicity, conception, and fetal fraction.

Methods: A total of 1160 women with twin pregnancies were recruited from 1 October 2015, to 1 August 2017. Next-generation sequencing technology was used to detect fetal aneuploidies, such as trisomy 21, trisomy 18, trisomy 13 and trisomy X.

Three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound evaluation of placental blood flow in normal monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies.

Background: Monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twin pregnancies are at higher risk of adverse outcomes and complications, which are attributed to the influence of placental morphology in MCDA twins. Monitoring of placental function is an important index for clinical decisions. The aim of our study was to evaluate the placental blood flow estimated using three-dimensional power Doppler (3D-PD) ultrasound and the vascular indices distribution with gestational age (GA) in normal MCDA twin pregnancies.

High-concentration sevoflurane exposure in mid-gestation induces apoptosis of neural stem cells in rat offspring.

Sevoflurane is the most commonly used volatile anesthetic during pregnancy. The viability of neural stem cells directly affects the development of the brain. However, it is unknown whether the use of sevoflurane during the second trimester affects the survival of fetal neural stem cells.

Mid-gestational sevoflurane exposure inhibits fetal neural stem cell proliferation and impairs postnatal learning and memory function in a dose-dependent manner.

Advancements in fetal intervention procedures have led to increases in the number of pregnant women undergoing general anesthesia during the second trimester-a period characterized by extensive proliferation of fetal neural stem cells (NSCs). However, few studies have investigated the effects of mid-gestational sevoflurane exposure on fetal NSC proliferation or postnatal learning and memory function. In the present study, pregnant rats were randomly assigned to a control group (C group), a low sevoflurane concentration group (2%; L group), a high sevoflurane concentration group (3.

[Prenatal diagnosis and intervention to fetal hydrothorax: five cases analysis].

Objective: To research the important of prenatal diagnosis and effect of intervention to fetal hydrothorax.

Methods: The cases of fetal hydrothorax (n=5) were obtained from the Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University between December 2014 and May 2015. All pregnancies were uncomplicated, excluded congenital organic and chromosomal abnormalities during prenatal diagnosis and with a 37 average gestational weeks.

[Analysis of clinical outcome and impact factors of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome with anterior placenta treated by fetoscopic laser photocoagulation].

Objective: To analyze the clinical outcome and impact factors of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) with anterior placenta treated by fetoscopic selective laser coagulation of placental vessels (SLCPV).

Methods: Ten cases of TTTS with anterior placenta and 8 cases with posterior placenta were treated by SLCPV in Shengjing Hospital from July 2011 to April 2014. Clinical data were analyzed retrospectively.

[Clinical management and perinatal outcome of twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence in different stage].

Objective: To discuss the methods and outcomes of twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence in different stage.

Methods: From August 2012 to December 2013, 11 cases were diagnosed with twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence (TRAP) by 3d color Doppler ultrasound in the Maternal ang Fetal Medicine Center, Affiliated Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, including 3 cases in stage I a, 7 in stage II a and 1 case in stage II b. We performed expected therapy to 3 cases in stage I a and 4 cases in stage II a [1 case (case 9) in stage II a developed to stage II b and was terminated by emergency cesarean section], radio frequency ablation (RFA) selective reduction to 3 cases in stage II a, emergency cesarean section to 1 case in stage II b.