Clinical and molecular characterization of four patients with NTCP deficiency from two unrelated families harboring the novel SLC10A1 variant c.595A>C (p.Ser199Arg).

Sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP), a carrier protein encoded by solute carrier family 10 member 1 (SLC10A1), is expressed in the basolateral membrane of hepatocytes, where it is responsible for the uptake of bile acids from plasma into hepatocytes. The first patient with NTCP deficiency was described in 2015. A limited number of such patients have been reported in the literature and their genotypic and phenotypic features require further investigation.

Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy as a Clinical Manifestation of Sodium-Taurocholate Cotransporting Polypeptide Deficiency.

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is the most common pregnancy-related liver disorder. Although the etiology of ICP is not fully understood thus far, some genetic factors might contribute to the development of this condition. Sodium-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP), the protein encoded by the gene Solute Carrier Family 10, Member 1 (SLC10A1), is the primary transporter expressed in the basolateral membrane of the hepatocyte to uptake conjugated bile salts from the plasma.

Evaluation of the effects of Uncaria rhynchophylla alkaloid extract on LPS-induced preeclampsia symptoms and inflammation in a pregnant rat model.

Excessive pro-inflammatory cytokines result in adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preeclampsia-like phenotypes, and fetal growth restriction. Anti-inflammation might be an effective therapy. The aim of this research was to investigate whether Uncaria rhynchophylla alkaloid extract (URE), a highly safe anti-inflammation constituent of the herb, can inhibit inflammation and improve clinical characteristics of preeclampsia in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced preeclampsia rat model.

Medical nutrition treatment of women with gestational diabetes mellitus by a telemedicine system based on smartphones.

Aim: To explore whether WeChat platform-based treatment of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) reduces the risk of perinatal complications and explore factors affecting gestational age at delivery.

Methods: Pregnant women with GDM (n = 107) and normal glucose tolerance (n =50, group C) according to oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results during gestational weeks 24-28 were included. Women with GDM were divided into groups A (n =57) and B (n =50) according to informed consent.

Tracing GFP-labeled WJMSCs in vivo using a chronic salpingitis model: an animal experiment.

Background: The present study was conducted to evaluate the distribution of Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs) and their repairing function on the oviduct.

Methods: WJMSCs were transfected with the LV3-GFP-PURO lentivirus. Female New Zealand rabbits (n = 24) were divided randomly into control A and B groups and experimental C and D groups to establish inflammation models.

Treatment evaluation of Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells using a chronic salpingitis model: an animal experiment.

Background: The present study was conducted to evaluate new methods to repair the reproductive function of the oviduct, thereby allowing gametes to combine and grow in vivo under natural circumstances.

Methods: Sixty pathogen-free female New Zealand rabbits were divided into three groups: a wild-type group, an untreated control group, and a treatment group. Disposable sterile newborn sputum suction tubes were inserted into the urogenital tract to instill an Escherichia coli suspension into the uterine cavity to establish the chronic salpingitis model.

The influence of maternal islet beta-cell autoantibodies in conjunction with gestational hyperglycemia on neonatal outcomes.

Objective: To determine the predictive value of the presence of maternal islet beta-cell autoantibodies with respect to neonatal outcomes.

Methods: A total of 311 pregnant women with abnormal 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results were enrolled in this study. Maternal glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies (GADA), islet cell autoantibodies (ICA) and insulin autoantibodies (IAA) were tested in fasting blood both on the day following the routine OGTT and before delivery.

The impact of umbilical blood flow regulation on fetal development differs in diabetic and non-diabetic pregnancy.

Background/aims: Diabetes is well-known to influence endothelial function. Endothelial function and blood flow regulation might be different in diabetic and non-diabetic pregnancy. However, the impact of umbilical blood flow regulation in gestational diabetes on fetal development is unknown so far.

Individualized management of pregnant women with high hepatitis B virus DNA levels.

Hepatitis B is a major health concern in the Asia-Pacific region, and is endemic in China, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection may cause hepatic cirrhosis and liver cancer. It is estimated that there are more than 350 million chronic HBV carriers worldwide, of whom approximately one quarter will die of chronic hepatitis B-related liver diseases.

Fetal and maternal angiotensin (1-7) are associated with preterm birth.

Background: Recent studies show that preterm birth is associated with hypertension in later life. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) during pregnancy influences fetal growth and development. In the current study, we investigated the impact of fetal as well as maternal angiotensin (1-7) [Ang (1-7)] and angiotensin II (Ang II) plasma concentrations on the risk of preterm birth.

Telbivudine during the second and third trimester of pregnancy interrupts HBV intrauterine transmission: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Unlabelled: BECKGROUND: Evaluate the efficacy and safety of telbivudine during the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy in intrauterine transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Based on the principle of Cochrane systematic reviews, a database was constructed from Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, the US National Science Digital Library (NSDL), the China Biological Medicine Database (CBM-disc), and contact with Chinese experts in the field from November 2006 to February 2013.

Methods: The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) of Oxford, Cochrane Collaboration's tool, and Review Manager Version 5.

Prenatal ultrasonography and Doppler sonography for the clinical investigation of isolated ventricular septal defects in a late second-trimester population.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of prenatal ultrasonography and Doppler sonography in detecting isolated ventricular septal defects (VSDs) in a late-second-trimester population.

Methods: Fetal echocardiography, Doppler ultrasound, and biometry were used to evaluate 2,661 singleton fetuses (1,381 male fetuses and 1,280 female fetuses) between 1 August 2006 and 31 May 2010. The efficacy of each fetal biometry, Doppler ultrasound, and nasal bone length (NBL) measurement was evaluated in all of the fetuses.

Expression of interferon-γ in decidual natural killer cells from women with hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy.

Aim: Hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (HDCP) is one of the most frequent and serious pregnancy-related diseases, which is closely related to disorders of the maternal immune system, especially the local immune microenvironment of the maternal-fetal interface. Uterine decidual natural killer (dNK) cells are the major immune cells in the maternal-fetal interface and they play an important role in establishing and maintaining a normal pregnancy. The aim of this study was to investigate the phenotype and function of dNK cells from women with HDCP.

Association of fetal but not maternal P-glycoprotein C3435T polymorphism with fetal growth and birth weight, a possible risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in later life.

Background: The multidrug transporter P-glycoprotein (PGP) is expressed in the human placenta. In particular the C3435T ABCB1 polymorphism was associated with altered tissue expression of PGP in the human placenta. However, the potential functional impact of this polymorphism on the offspring is unknown so far.

Renin angiotensin aldosterone system and glycemia in pregnancy.

Background: The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes in the general population. The RAAS is activated during pregnancy. However, it is unknown whether the RAAS contributes to glycemia in pregnant women.

Paternal body mass index (BMI) is associated with offspring intrauterine growth in a gender dependent manner.

Background: Environmental alternations leading to fetal programming of cardiovascular diseases in later life have been attributed to maternal factors. However, animal studies showed that paternal obesity may program cardio-metabolic diseases in the offspring. In the current study we tested the hypothesis that paternal BMI may be associated with fetal growth.

Late gestational maternal serum cortisol is inversely associated with fetal brain growth.

To analyze the association between fetal brain growth and late gestational blood serum cortisol in normal pregnancy.Blood total cortisol was quantified at delivery in 432 Chinese mother/child pairs. Key inclusion criteria of the cohort were: no structural anomalies of the newborn, singleton pregnancy, no alcohol abuse, no drug abuse or history of smoking no hypertensive disorders and no impairment of glucose tolerance and no use of steroid medication during pregnancy.

Prenatal diagnosis of citrin deficiency in a Chinese family with a fatal proband.

Citrin deficiency (CD) is an autosomal recessive disorder with SLC25A13 as causative gene that encodes citrin, the liver-type aspartate/glutamate carrier isoform 2 (AGC2). Neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis caused by citrin deficiency (NICCD), the major CD phenotype at pediatric age, has been previously reported as a self-limiting condition with clinical presentations resolving between 6 months and 1 year of life. We report the prenatal diagnosis of CD in a family with a fatal NICCD proband.

Low birth weight and elevated head-to-abdominal circumference ratio are associated with elevated fetal glycated serum protein concentrations.

Objective: To analyze the association between low birth weight, head-to-abdominal circumference ratio, and insulin resistance in early life.

Method And Results: Glycated serum proteins (GSPs) were quantified at delivery in 612 Chinese mother/child pairs serving as a surrogate of maternal and fetal glycemia. Differential ultrasound examination of the fetal's body (head circumference, biparietal diameter, pectoral diameter, abdominal circumference, and femur length) was done in average 1 week prior to delivery.

Prevention of vertical hepatitis B transmission by hepatitis B immunoglobulin in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Objective: To explore the possible efficacy of using hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) during the third trimester of pregnancy to prevent intrauterine transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Methods: Of 469 pregnant women testing positive for hepatitis B surface antigens (HBsAg), 126 had hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and 343 did not.

Results: There were women who declined to be treated with HBIG in these 2 groups.