Prenatal ultrasound diagnosis and quality control of fetal nuchal translucency.

Objectives: In clinical ultrasound examinations, it is challenging to perform quality control on the images of each fetal nuchal translucency (NT) and crown-rump length (CRL). However, small measurement differences can increase the probability of false-positive or false-negative diagnosis. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a quality control system for fetal NT examination.

Functional analysis of two mutation sites in the OCA2 gene.

To analyse the genetic aetiology of a child with oculocutaneous albinism and to explore the effects of two mutation sites on the function of the OCA2 protein at the mRNA and protein levels via the use of recombinant carriers in vitro. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing were used to analyse the pathogenic genes of the child and validate the mutations in the parents. pEGFP and phage vectors carrying wild-type and mutant OCA2 were constructed using the coding DNA sequence (CDS) of the whole gene-synthesized OCA2 as a template and transfected into HEK293T cells, after which expression analysis was performed.

Iron oxides based nanozyme sensor arrays for the detection of active substances in licorice.

With the increasing applications of traditional Chinese medicines worldwide, authenticity identification and quality control are significant for them to go global. Licorice is a kind of medicinal material with various functions and wide applications. In this work, colorimetric sensor arrays based on iron oxide nanozymes were constructed to discriminate active indicators in licorice.

Intrauterine infusion of clinically graded human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of poor healing after uterine injury: a phase I clinical trial.

Background: Intrauterine adhesion and cesarean scar diverticulum are the main complications of poor healing after uterine injury. Human umbilical cord MSCs transplantation has been regarded as the most potential treatment in the clinic, the safety and efficacy of which in the clinic, however, remains unclear.

Methods: In this study, ten patients were enrolled: six with intrauterine adhesion and four with cesarean scar diverticulum.

LncRNA XIST serves as a diagnostic biomarker in gestational diabetes mellitus and its regulatory effect on trophoblast cell via miR-497-5p/FOXO1 axis.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasingly common in pregnancy. This study's purpose was to identify the expression of XIST and manifest the potential mechanism of XIST in GDM.

Methods: Ninety-three patients with GDM and 93 normal pregnant women were included in this investigation.

The diagnostic value of miRNA-141 in prostate cancer: A systematic review and PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis.

Background: miR-141 has gradually demonstrated its value in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. However, the diagnostic parameters in previous studies differ. A systematic review was conducted to explore the diagnostic value of miR-141 in prostate cancer.

Combination of NGAL and Cystatin C for Prediction of Preeclampsia at 10-14 Weeks of Gestation.

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is a severe pregnancy complication and is an important cause for maternal and child death, premature delivery, and limited intrauterine growth and development. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of NGAL and cystatin C, alone and in combination, for early prediction of PE at 10 - 14 weeks of gestation.

Methods: Serum levels of NGAL and cystatin C were assessed in women at 10 - 14 weeks of gestation who subsequently developed PE (n = 128) and normal pregnancy outcome (n = 183).

MicroRNA-652-3p promotes the proliferation and invasion of the trophoblast HTR-8/SVneo cell line by targeting homeobox A9 to modulate the expression of ephrin receptor B4.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as novel modulators in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE). Multiple miRNAs have been shown to regulate the proliferation and invasion of trophoblast cells, which play a critical role in successful pregnancies. miR-652-3p has been identified as a novel disease-associated miRNA that is dysregulated in various pathological processes.

MicroRNA-454 contributes to sustaining the proliferation and invasion of trophoblast cells through inhibiting Nodal/ALK7 signaling in pre-eclampsia.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as important regulators in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia (PE). Recent evidence has reported that miR-454 plays an important role in regulating cell proliferation and invasion. The decreased proliferation and invasion of trophoblast cells contribute to the pathogenesis of PE.

Progesterone maintains the status of granulosa cells and slows follicle development partly through PGRMC1.

Progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) mediates antimitotic and antiapoptotic actions of progesterone in granulosa cells, which indicates that PGRMC1 may play a key role in maintaining the status of granulosa cells. The current study investigated the effects of progesterone on intracellular signaling involved in differentiation, follicle development, inflammatory responses, and antioxidation, and determined the role of PGRMC1 in these processes. Our results demonstrated that progesterone slowed follicle development and inhibited p-ERK1/2, p-p38, caspase-3, p-NF-κB, and p-IκB-α signals involved in differentiation, steroidogenesis, and inflammatory responses in granulosa cells.

Seasonal variations and sources of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and organochlorine compounds in a high-altitude city: Evidence from four-year observations.

Lijiang is a high-altitude city located on the eastern fringe of the Tibetan Plateau, with complex seasonal atmospheric circulations (i.e. westerly wind, Indian Monsoon, and East Asia Monsoon).

The influence of climate change on the accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, black carbon and mercury in a shrinking remote lake of the southern Tibetan Plateau.

A sediment core from a remote lake, Pumoyum Co, located in the southern TP, was analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), black carbon (BC) and mercury. Concentrations ranged from 30 to 229ng/g for PAHs, 0.46 to 1.

Association between Allogeneic or Autologous Blood Transfusion and Survival in Patients after Radical Prostatectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: A number of studies have investigated the effect of perioperative blood transfusion (PBT) for patients after radical prostatectomy (RP), with some reporting conflicting results. A systematic review of the literature and a meta-analysis were conducted to explore the association between PBT (autologous or allogeneic) and biochemical recurrence-free survival (BRFS), overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients undergoing RP.

Methods: The PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases were searched for published controlled clinical studies on perioperative allogeneic or autologous blood transfusion (BT) and patient survival after RP.

Progesterone amplifies oxidative stress signal and promotes NO production via H2O2 in mouse kidney arterial endothelial cells.

The role of progesterone on the cardiovascular system is controversial. Our present research is to specify the effect of progesterone on arterial endothelial cells in response to oxidative stress. Our result showed that H2O2 (150 μM and 300 μM) induced cellular antioxidant response.

miR-99b promotes metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma through inhibition of claudin 11 expression and may serve as a prognostic marker.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, mainly due to its high rates of postoperative recurrence and metastasis. Moreover, there is no widely accepted prognostic marker of recurrence. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine whether such a marker could be provided by a microRNA (miRNA), since recent evidence indicates that miRNAs are important contributors to the metastatic phenotype.

BMP-4 induced proliferation and oriented differentiation of rat hepatic oval cells into hepatocytes.

Objective: To explore the role of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP-4) in hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs).

Methods: The effect of BMP-4 on rat hepatic oval cells was examined by using the WB-F344 rat hepatocytic epithelial stem-cell-like cell line. This hepatocytic cell line could exert various hepatocyte functions including the secretion of albumin and urea.

Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in air, grass and yak butter from Namco in the central Tibetan Plateau.

Limited studies on bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) along terrestrial food chains were conducted. The food chain air-grass-yak (butter) in the pasture region of Namco in the central Tibetan Plateau (TP) was chosen for study. The air, grass and butter POPs in the TP were at the lower end of the concentrations generally found around the globe.

Dexamethasone altered steroidogenesis and changed redox status of granulosa cells.

Glucocorticoids have been widely used in clinical application for anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive function. Previous study reported that glucocorticoids adversely affect the reproductive system and can directly act on ovary. Here, we found that progesterone production induced by dexamethasone requiring activation of caspase-3 which may mediate differentiation and apoptosis of granulosa cells.

BTB/POZ domain-containing protein 7: epithelial-mesenchymal transition promoter and prognostic biomarker of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Unlabelled: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical step in the metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). BTB/POZ domain-containing protein 7 (BTBD7) regulates EMT-associated proteins implicated in HCC progression. However, the role(s) of BTBD7 in HCC have not been identified.

Progesterone production requires activation of caspase-3 in preovulatory granulosa cells in a serum starvation model.

Granulosa cells proliferate, differentiate, and undergo apoptosis throughout follicular development. Previous studies have demonstrated that stimulation of progesterone production is accompanied by caspase-3 activation. Moreover, we previously reported that arsenic enhanced caspase-3 activity coupled with progesterone production.

Arsenic induced progesterone production in a caspase-3-dependent manner and changed redox status in preovulatory granulosa cells.

Arsenic contamination is a principal environmental health threat throughout the world. However, little is known about the effect of arsenic on steroidogenesis in granulosa cells (GCs). We found that the treatment of preovulatory GCs with arsenite stimulated progesterone production.

Follicle-stimulating hormone regulation of microRNA expression on progesterone production in cultured rat granulosa cells.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally by interacting with the 3' untranslated regions of their target mRNAs. Previously, miRNAs have been shown to regulate genes involved in cell growth, apoptosis, and differentiation, but their role in ovarian granulosa cell follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-stimulated steroidogenesis is unclear. Here we show that expression of 31 miRNAs is altered during FSH-mediated progesterone secretion of cultured granulosa cells.

Intracellular redox imbalance and extracellular amino acid metabolic abnormality contribute to arsenic-induced developmental retardation in mouse preimplantation embryos.

Inorganic arsenic, an environmental contaminant, is known to cause cancer, developmental retardation, and many other serious diseases. Previous researches have shown that arsenic exerts its toxicity partially through generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, it is still not well understood how ROS links arsenic exposure to developmental retardation of preimplantation embryo.