Metabolic changes in bile acids with pregnancy progression and their correlation with perinatal complications in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnant patients.

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a rare liver disease occurring during pregnancy that is characterized by disordered bile acid (BA) metabolism. It is related to adverse clinical outcomes in both the mother and fetus. Our aim was to evaluate the BA metabolism profiles in different types of ICP and investigate the association between specific BAs and perinatal complications in ICP patients.

Coagulation and Fibrinolysis Biomarkers as Potential Indicators for the Diagnosis and Classification of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome.

Accurate diagnosis and classification of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is important for its management. We employed a new high-sensitivity chemiluminescence immunoassay to detect the thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), plasmin alpha2-plasmin inhibitor complex (PIC), soluble thrombomodulin (sTM), and tissue plasminogen activator-inhibitor complex (TPAI-C), and evaluated their diagnostic and classification performance for OHSS. A total of 106 women were enrolled, including 51 patients with OHSS (25 mild or moderate OHSS, 26 severe OHSS), and 55 without OHSS (control group).

Diagnostic performance of HE4 and ROMA among Chinese women.

Objective: Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) has been suggested as a new biomarker for the detection of ovarian cancer. Because there are few reports on HE4 in terms of ovarian cancer diagnosis in the Chinese population, we evaluated the diagnostic performances of HE4 and the ROMA in Chinese women with pelvic masses.

Methods: The serum concentrations of CA 125 and HE4 in 318 Chinese women with pelvic masses (39 of which were ovarian cancers) were determined.

Whole-exome sequencing reveals genetic variants in ERC1 and KCNG4 associated with complete hydatidiform mole in Chinese Han women.

Complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) is a rare pregnancy-related disease with invasive potential. The genetics underlying the sporadic form of CHM have not been addressed previously, but maternal genetic variants may be involved in biparental CHM. We performed whole-exome sequencing of 51 patients with CHM and 47 healthy women to identify genetic variants associated with CHM.

Performance of ROMA based on Architect CA 125 II and HE4 values in Chinese women presenting with a pelvic mass: A multicenter prospective study.

Background: We evaluated the performance of human epididymis protein 4 (HE4), cancer antigen 125(CA 125) and Risk of Ovarian Malignancy Algorithm (ROMA) in distinguishing between benign and malignant pelvic masses in Chinese women.

Method: From April to December 2012, women with a pelvic mass scheduled to have surgery were enrolled in a prospective, multi-center study conducted in 5 different regions in China. Preoperative serum concentrations of HE4 and CA 125 were examined and ROMA was calculated.

Telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA) related to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Context: Telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA) participates in the regulation of telomere length, and leucocyte telomere length (LTL) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but little is known about the role of TERRA in PCOS.

Objective: To evaluate the role of TERRA and peripheral blood LTL in PCOS.

Design And Participants: Forty women with PCOS and 35 healthy women without PCOS were recruited.

A multicenter study of fetal chromosomal abnormalities in Chinese women of advanced maternal age.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the rates of different fetal chromosomal abnormalities among women of advanced maternal age in China and to discuss the possible misdiagnosis risks of newer molecular techniques, for selection of appropriate prenatal screening and diagnostic technologies.

Materials And Methods: Second trimester amniocentesis and fetal karyotype results of 46,258 women were retrospectively reviewed. All women were ≥ 35 years old with singleton pregnancies.

Hyper Expression of Mucin 5ac Indicates Poor Cancer Prognoses: A Meta-Analysis.

The aim of the study was to explore the association between mucin 5ac expression and cancer prognosis. A systematically comprehensive search was performed through PubMed, the Web of Science, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). The prognostic value of mucin 5ac expression in cancer patients was evaluated.

Clinicopathological and prognostic significance of MUC4 expression in cancers: evidence from meta-analysis.

Mucin4 (MUC4) is a secreted glycoprotein. Numerous studies had indicated that MUC4 was an attractive prognostic tumor biomarker. However, the results of different studies have been inconsistent.

Role of TERRA in the regulation of telomere length.

Telomere dysfunction is closely associated with human diseases such as cancer and ageing. Inappropriate changes in telomere length and/or structure result in telomere dysfunction. Telomeres have been considered to be transcriptionally silent, but it was recently demonstrated that mammalian telomeres are transcribed into telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA).

Gestational thyroid reference intervals in antibody-negative Chinese women.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to establish gestation-specific reference intervals (GRIs) for thyroid function assays in pregnant Chinese women with ARCHITECT and compare them to other GRI studies.

Design And Method: Thyroid antibody negative pregnant Chinese women were enrolled and followed to establish GRIs for thyroid function by use of the Abbott ARCHITECT i2000SR analyzer (N=1409). Samples from 360 non-pregnant Chinese women served as controls.

Reference intervals of D-dimer during the pregnancy and puerperium period on the STA-R evolution coagulation analyzer.

Background: Pregnant women are at a hyper-coagulable state with a higher risk of deep venous thromboembolism (VTE) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), which could be life threatening. We established gestational age-specific reference intervals for D-dimer, and estimate the role of D-dimer test in ruling out VTE and DIC in pregnant women.

Methods: We followed 1343 healthy pregnant women and 1042 uncomplicated postpartum women to establish gestational age-specific reference intervals of D-dimer during normal pregnancy.

The resistance analysis of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis in female reproductive tract specimens.

The aim of this study was to analyze the drug resistance of Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) and Mycoplasma hominis (Mh) in female reproductive track from 2007 to 2011 in Hangzhou. Antibiotics sensitivity test in Mycoplasma, which was isolated in clinics from 2007 to 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. The detection of Mycoplasma during 2007-2011 was 20,146 (54.

Serum insulin-like, growth factor binding protein-related protein 1 (IGFBP-rP1) and endometrial cancer risk in Chinese women.

Hyperinsulinemia and the metabolic syndrome confer increased risks of endometrial carcinoma. The roles of insulin, and, insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins (IGFBPs) in the etiology of endometrial carcinoma, remain unclear. We recruited 206 patients with endometrial carcinoma and 350 healthy women to a case-control study of fasting insulin and IGFBP-related protein 1 (IGFBP-rP1) in a Chinese tertiary centre.

Premature infants born after preterm premature rupture of membranes with 24-34 weeks of gestation: a study of factors influencing length of neonatal intensive care unit stay.

Objectives: To determine the factors influencing length of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay among premature infants born after preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) with 24-34 weeks of gestation.

Methods: Characteristic parameters of the pregnant women with PPROM and their premature infants were analyzed retrospectively using univariate and multivariate analysis.

Results: The overall rate of PPROM was 1.

ADAM12 is an effective marker in the second trimester of pregnancy for prenatal screening of Down syndrome.

Objective: To estimate the use of maternal serum ADAM12 as a second-trimester Down syndrome serum marker.

Methods: Samples from a total of 46 Down syndrome pregnancies and 184 unaffected singleton pregnancies matched for gestational age and maternal weight were retrieved from storage and measured for ADAM12; 35 false-positive pregnancies were included among the controls to assess reductions in false-positive rates by inclusion of ADAM12 in the risk calculation of an algorithm that used alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) (double screen).

Results: ADAM12 was measured and expressed as multiple of the gestation-specific median (MoM) and corrected for maternal weight.

The association between metabolic abnormality and endometrial cancer: a large case-control study in China.

Objectives: To investigate the association between insulin-resistance-related conditions (comprising the metabolic syndrome) and endometrial cancer risk in Chinese women.

Methods: We conducted a large case-control study including 942 endometrial cancers and 1721 controls on a Chinese population. The relative endometrial cancer risks from various factors were calculated by the x(2) test.

Contingent triple-screening for Down syndrome in the second trimester: a feasibility study in Mainland Chinese population.

Objectives: To explore the efficacy of contingent triple-screening for Down syndrome (DS), that is, performing triple-screening in pregnant women with DS risks between 1/270 and 1/1000 at routine double-screening, in a Mainland Chinese population.

Methods: Maternal serum concentrations of alpha fetoprotein (AFP), free-beta human chorionic gonadotropin (free beta-hCG), and unconjugated estriol (uE3) were measured by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay in 24 double-screening false-negative (DSFN) and 322 double-screening true-negative (DSTN) pregnancies with DS risks between 1/270 and 1/1000 at routine double-screening performed at 15-20 weeks' gestation. DS risk of each pregnancy was calculated by computer software.

Genetic analysis of 15 STR loci in the population of Zhejiang Province (Southeast China).

Fifteen autosomal STR loci were analyzed from a population sample of 598 unrelated individuals residing in Zhejiang Province. We report allele frequencies distribution and statistical parameters for all 15 STR loci, D8S1179, D21S11, D7S820, CSF1PO, D3S1358, THO1, D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, D19S433, VWA, TPOX, D18S51, D5S818 and FGA. Allele frequencies, the observed heterozygosity (Ho), the polymorphic information content (PIC), and the probability of paternity exclusion (PE) were calculated.

Novel real-time PCR assay for rapid prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome: a prospective study of 563 amniocytes.

Objective: To explore the possibilities of a novel real-time PCR assay for rapid prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome in clinical settings.

Design And Methods: This duplex real-time PCR assay is based on relative quantification of DSCR4 gene on chromosome 21 by using RABIF gene on chromosome 1 as a reference. For each sample, the differences in threshold cycles between DSCR4 and RABIF genes (Delta Ct, DeltaCt) were detected, and a calibrated DeltaCt value (DeltaDeltaCt, DeltaCt (sample)-DeltaCt (internal control)) was analyzed.

[Second trimester maternal serum screening for Down's syndrome in mainland China: a multi-center prospective study].

Objective: To evaluate the performance characteristics of the second trimester double-marker test for the detection of fetal Down's syndrome in mainland China.

Methods: This prospective national multi-centered study used alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and free beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin (free beta-hCG) as the serum markers. From May 2004 to September 2006, 11 centers participated in the collection and analysis of maternal serum AFP and free beta-hCG between 14 and 20(+6) weeks of pregnancy.

[Second trimester maternal serum screening for Down's syndrome in women of advanced maternal age: a multi-center prospective study].

Objective: To evaluate the performance characteristics of the second trimester double test for the detection of fetal Down's syndrome (DS) in women of advanced maternal age (AMA).

Methods: We undertook a prospective nation-wide multi-centered study and chose alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and free beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin (free beta-hCG) as the serum markers. Between May 2004 and September 2006, 12 centers participated in the collection and analysis of maternal serum AFP and free beta-hCG.

Second-trimester maternal serum free-beta-human chorionic gonadotropin and alpha-fetoprotein levels in normal twin and singleton pregnancies: a report of local Chinese population.

Objectives: The study evaluated the differences between Chinese normal twin and singleton pregnancies in the levels of maternal serum free-beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (free beta-hCG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) used in second-trimester Down syndrome (DS) screening.

Methods: The concentrations of maternal serum markers of 456 twin pregnancies and 12 067 singleton controls in gestational 15 to 20 weeks were measured by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay, and the levels of markers were compared between the twins and singletons.

Results: Significant differences were found between the levels of free beta-hCG in twins and twice of those in singletons in 16, 17 and 19 gestational weeks (p < 0.