Positive Associations of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances With Hypertension May Be Attenuated by Endogenous Sex Hormones: A Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) has endocrine-disrupting properties and may affect blood pressure. Endogenous hormones also play a crucial role in the progression of hypertension. However, their interaction with hypertension remains to be explored.

Squeezing Mechanical Analysis and Model Establishment of the Viscoelastic Rubber-Strip-Feeding Process of the Cold-Feed Rubber Extruder.

In the process of rubber extrusion, the feed structure directly affects the extrusion quality, extrusion uniformity, screw lateral force, and feed power consumption. Until now, the feed structure was mainly based on empirical designs, and there was no theoretical model for the optimal design of a feed structure. This paper focused on the squeezing mechanical analysis and model establishment of the feeding process in which viscoelastic rubber strips are passed through feed-wedge clearance in cold-feed extruders.

Estimation of homocysteine concentration as an indicator of foetal death in pregnant Chinese women with preeclampsia: A case-control study.

Introduction: This study evaluated whether changes in homocysteine concentrations in pregnant women with preeclampsia (PE) might be useful for predicting foetal death.

Materials And Methods: This study evaluated 1,368 PE women at two Chinese centres. Medical records were reviewed to collect data regarding maternal age, homocysteine concentrations and other clinical parameters.

Development and validation of a nomogram for predicting the probability of new vertebral compression fractures after vertebral augmentation of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

Introduction: New vertebral compression fractures (NVCFs) are adverse events after vertebral augmentation of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). Predicting the risk of vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) accurately after surgery is still a significant challenge for spinal surgeons. The aim of our study was to identify risk factors of NCVFs after vertebral augmentation of OVCFs and develop a nomogram.

Clinical observation of two bone cement distribution modes after percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

Background: Current findings suggest that percutaneous vertebroplasty(PVP) is a suitable therapeutic approach for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). The present retrospective study aimed to investigate the differences in clinical efficacy and related complications between the two bone cement distribution modes.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the patients with single-segment OVCFs who underwent bilateral percutaneous vertebroplasty.

Performance evaluation of optical platelet counting of BC-6000Plus automated hematology analyzer.

Background: The BC-6000Plus (Mindray, Shenzhen, China) is a recently developed hematology analyzer that utilizes fluorescent technology. Based on fluorescent nucleic acid stain and optical detection, the optical platelet counting (PLT-O) on the BC-6000Plus has strong anti-interference potential in platelet (PLT) detection. Its Auto 8×PLT-O Counting Tech can be automatically triggered in low-PLT samples, which enables the PLT-O on the BC-6000Plus to count low PLT more efficiently.

Assessing the lifetime performance index with Lomax distribution based on progressive type I interval censored sample.

In manufacturing industry, the lifetime performance index is applied to evaluate the larger-the-better quality features of products. It can quickly show whether the lifetime performance of products meets the desired level. In this article, first we obtain the maximum likelihood estimator of with two unknown parameters in the Lomax distribution on the basis of progressive type I interval censored sample.

Etiology and Outcome of non-immune Hydrops Fetalis in Southern China: report of 1004 cases.

Non-immune hydrops fetalis (NIHF) is a complex condition with a high mortality and morbidity rate. Here we report the etiology and outcome of 1004 fetuses with NIHF, in a large single Maternal and Children's hospital of Southern China, since the year of 2009 to 2016. Among these 1004 fetuses with NIHF, the etiology was identified prenatally in 722 of them (72%).

[Establishment of QAMS method with dehydroandrographolide as internal reference substance for quality control of Andrographis Herba].

To solve the problems of the poor resolution of chromatographic separation,the weak durability of the relative correction factors,and the low accuracy of content determination results in the quantitative analysis of multi-components by single-marker( QAMS) method with andrographolide as the internal reference substance in the existing research of Andrographis Herba,a new QAMS method using dehydroandrographolide as the internal reference substance was established for the first time in this study. This new method can be used to simultaneously determine four diterpene lactones,including andrographolide( A),neoandrographolide( B),14-deoxyandrographolide( C),and dehydroandrographolide( S) through the optimization of chromatographic conditions and systematic investigation of methodology. At the present HPLC chromatographic conditions,four components could be well separated( R > 1.

The higher serum endocan levels may be a risk factor for the onset of cardiovascular disease: A meta-analysis.

Objective: Endothelial dysfunction was widely regarded as the initial lesion in the multifactorial pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Serum endocan, a novel endothelial dysfunction biochemical marker, is involved in the development of CVD. Here, we fulfilled a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between CVD and serum endocan levels.

Genetic Testing and Pregnancy Outcome Analysis of 362 Fetuses with Congenital Heart Disease Identified by Prenatal Ultrasound.

Background: Congenital heart defects (CHD), as the most common congenital anomaly, have been reported to be associated with chromosomal abnormalities. Currently, patients with CHD are routinely offered karyotyping and chromosomal microarray (CMA) testing, but the genotype-phenotype relationship has not yet been fully established.

Objective: To determine the type and frequency of chromosomal abnormalities in fetuses with CHD and to analyze pregnancy outcomes of fetuses with heart abnormalities caused by different genetic factors.

The Efficacy and Safety of Intermittent Low-Dose Urokinase Thrombolysis for the Treatment of Senile Acute Intermediate-High-Risk Pulmonary Embolism: A Pilot Trial.

Thrombolysis and anticoagulation were the main treatment methods for acute pulmonary embolism. However, the use of thrombolysis drugs may lead to bleeding complications. We compared intermittent low-dose urokinase (UK) and alteplase (recombinant tissue plasminogen activator [rt-PA]) in normotensive patients with intermediate-high-risk pulmonary embolism.

Mutation screening of the GLIS3 gene in a cohort of 592 Chinese patients with congenital hypothyroidism.

Objectives: Defects in the human GLI-similar 3 (GLIS3) gene are reported to be a rare cause of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) and neonatal diabetes. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of GLIS3 mutation among CH patients in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China and to define the relationships between GLIS3 genotypes and clinical phenotypes.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 592 patients with CH in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, and genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes.

The incidence of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in Guangxi, China and the predictors of permanent and transient CH.

Background: The incidence of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) differs significantly among different ethnicities and regions, and early differentiation of transient CH is important to avoid unnecessary prolonged treatment with L-T.

Objective: To investigate the incidence of CH based on the newborn screening program in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, and to analyze the predictors that might allow for an early differentiation between permanent (P) and transient (T) CH.

Design And Methods: Data from newborn screening program over a seven-year period (January 2009 to January 2016) at Guangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital are analyzed.

Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Polymorphism Confers a Genetic Contribution to the Risk of Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion: An Updated Meta-Analysis.

Various studies have investigated the risk of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) with plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 ( PAI-1) 4G/5G polymorphism. However, the results have been somewhat contradictory. Therefore, an updated meta-analysis based on 31 studies (5617 cases and 3952 controls) was undertaken to clarify this relationship.