A retrospective cohort study of risk factors and pregnancy outcomes in 14,014 Chinese pregnant women.

This study aims to investigate major complications or symptoms of pregnant women, causes of maternal near-miss, and issues that are relevant to severe maternal disease.A retrospective analysis was performed in the "maternal individual investigation form," which included all critical maternity patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from January 1, 2012 to September 31, 2015.A total of 14,014 pregnant patients who delivered at 28 to 42 weeks of gestation were included.

Knowledge of healthcare providers regarding breastfeeding preterm infants in mainland China.

Background: Support from healthcare professionals has been identified as an important variable affecting successful breastfeeding in preterm infants. This study aimed to explore the knowledge of healthcare providers regarding breastfeeding preterm infants in mainland China.

Methods: An online cross-sectional survey of healthcare providers from 9 tertiary level neonatal intensive care units across 4 districts in mainland China was conducted from May-November, 2017.

High Frequency of Extractable Nuclear Autoantibodies in Wheat-Related Disorders.

Background And Aims: There has been broad interest to explore the presence of autoimmunity among wheat-sensitive individuals, but neither the pathogenesis nor the relevance has been established. In this study, we evaluated the frequencies and levels of autoantibodies, which are important biomarkers of autoimmunity, in subjects with wheat-related disorders and controls. Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) and the specific ones against extractable nuclear antigens (ENA) were investigated.

Comparative study of chemical composition and active components against α-glucosidase of various medicinal parts of Morus alba L.

Morus alba L has long been used as fodder and as a traditional medicine. The different parts of M. alba (Cortex Mori, Ramulus Mori, Folium Mori and Fructus Mori) have different bioactivities; however, most current evidence is focused on anti-diabetic properties.

Biocides in the river system of a highly urbanized region: A systematic investigation involving runoff input.

This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of 19 biocides in the aquatic environments (including runoffs) of a highly urbanized region, and then analyze the sources and ecological risks of target biocides in the river system. The investigated results showed that 19 target biocides were universally detected in surface water (17), sediment (19) and rainfall runoff (18). The tributaries of the river system were seriously contaminated by the biocides compared to the main stream.

iRGD-Mediated and Enzyme-Induced Precise Targeting and Retention of Gold Nanoparticles for the Enhanced Imaging and Treatment of Breast Cancer.

Despite the great achievements of nanomedicines made in cancer chemotherapy, precise tumor targeting and deep penetration are still major challenges. Many nanomedicines can only passively accumulate near leaky site of tumor vessels through the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect and cannot reach the deep region of tumor. To improve the tumor targeting, penetration and retention efficiency, an iRGD-mediated and enzyme-induced precise targeting gold nanoparticles system (iRGD/AuNPs-A&C) was developed by simply coadministering a tumor-homing penetration peptide iRGD (CRGDKGPDC) with a legumain responsive aggregable gold nanoparticle (AuNPs-A&C).

Genetic and Chemical Screenings Identify HDAC3 as a Key Regulator in Hepatic Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells.

Hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) offer a promising cell resource for disease modeling and transplantation. However, differentiated HLCs exhibit an immature phenotype and comprise a heterogeneous population. Thus, a better understanding of HLC differentiation will improve the likelihood of future application.

Development of an Electrochemical Paper-Based Analytical Device for Trace Detection of Virus Particles.

Viral pathogens are a serious health threat around the world, particularly in resource limited settings, where current sensing approaches are often insufficient and slow, compounding the spread and burden of these pathogens. Here, we describe a label-free, point-of-care approach toward detection of virus particles, based on a microfluidic paper-based analytical device with integrated microwire Au electrodes. The device is initially characterized through capturing of streptavidin modified nanoparticles by biotin-modified microwires.

Platinum(iv) prodrugs with long lipid chains for drug delivery and overcoming cisplatin resistance.

Platinum(iv) prodrugs of clinically used cisplatin and oxaliplatin with two axial long lipid chains were developed for nanoparticle delivery to combat cisplatin resistance.

Stimuli-responsive nanotherapeutics for precision drug delivery and cancer therapy.

Cancer remains one of the world's leading causes of death. However, most conventional chemotherapeutic drugs only show a narrow therapeutic window in patients because of their inability to discriminate cancer cells from healthy cells. Nanoparticle-based therapeutics (termed nanotherapeutics) have emerged as potential solutions to mitigate many obstacles posed by these free drugs.

Applying foliar stoichiometric traits of plants to determine fertilization for a mixed pine-oak stand in the Qinling Mountains, China.

Background: The Chinese Natural Forest Protection program has been conducted nationwide and has achieved resounding success. However, timber importation has increased; therefore, producing more domestic timber is critical to meet the demand for raw materials. Fertilization is one of the most effective silviculture practices used to improve tree and stand growth.

Enzyme-triggered size shrink and laser-enhanced NO release nanoparticles for deep tumor penetration and combination therapy.

Chemotherapy remains restricted by poor drug delivery efficacy due to the heterogenous nature of tumor. Herein, we presented a novel nanoparticle that could not only response to the tumor microenvironment but also modulate it for deep tumor penetration and combination therapy. The intelligent nanoparticle (IDDHN) was engineered by hyaluronidase (HAase)-triggered size shrinkable hyaluronic acid shells, which were modified with NIR laser sensitive nitric oxide donor (HN), small-sized dendrimeric prodrug (IDD) of doxorubicin (DOX) as chemotherapy agent and indocyanine green (ICG) as photothermal agent into a single nanoparticle.

Predation Enhances Environmental Adaptation of the Carp Pathogenic Strain NJ-35.

Persistence of in aquatic environments is the principle cause of fish hemorrhagic septicemia. Protistan predation has been considered to be a strong driving force for the evolution of bacterial defense strategies. In this study, we investigated the adaptive traits of NJ-35, a carp pathogenic strain, in response to predation.

Adaptive reduction of human myometrium contractile activity in response to prolonged uterine stretch during term and twin pregnancy. Role of TREK-1 channel.

Quiescence of myometrium contractile activity allows uterine expansion to accommodate the growing fetus and prevents preterm labor particularly during excessive uterine stretch in multiple pregnancy. However, the mechanisms regulating uterine response to stretch are unclear. We tested the hypothesis that prolonged uterine stretch is associated with decreased myometrium contractile activity via activation of TWIK-related K channel (TREK-1).

Occurrence, fate and risk assessment of androgens in ten wastewater treatment plants and receiving rivers of South China.

Androgens are one class of steroids that could cause endocrine disrupting effects in aquatic organisms. However, little information is available about androgens in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with different treatment technologies. Here we investigated the occurrence, removal, and fate of fourteen natural and synthetic androgens in ten WWTPs of Guangdong province, south China.

FDG PET/CT Findings of Polymorphic Posttransplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders in a Transplanted Kidney.

A 55-year-old woman underwent simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation because of polycystic liver and kidney. Six months later, FDG PET/CT was acquired to evaluate possible lesions in the renal graft, which demonstrated abnormal F-FDG accumulation in the renal pelvic lesions without other abnormality. The subsequent pathology examination after biopsy demonstrated the polymorphic posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders.

Progesterone inhibits contraction and increases TREK-1 potassium channel expression in late pregnant rat uterus.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect and mechanism by which progesterone regulates uterine contraction in late pregnant rats.

Results: Progesterone caused concentration-dependent relaxation of uterine strips that was enhanced compared with control nontreated uterine strips. Uterine strips incubated with progesterone showed a significant increase in TREK-1 mRNA expression and protein level.

Unique molecular events during reprogramming of human somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) at naïve state.

Derivation of human naïve cells in the ground state of pluripotency provides promising avenues for developmental biology studies and therapeutic manipulations. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in the establishment and maintenance of human naïve pluripotency remain poorly understood. Using the human inducible reprogramming system together with the 5iLAF naïve induction strategy, integrative analysis of transcriptional and epigenetic dynamics across the transition from human fibroblasts to naïve iPSCs revealed ordered waves of gene network activation sharing signatures with those found during embryonic development from late embryogenesis to pre-implantation stages.

Magnesium sulfate attenuates brain edema by lowering AQP4 expression and inhibits glia-mediated neuroinflammation in a rodent model of eclampsia.

Eclampsia is characterized by high morbidity and mortality wordwide. Magnesium sulfate (MgSO) is used frequently as a prophylaxis for eclamptic seizure in clinical settings. However, the underlying mechanism is less studied, we have previously demonstrated that MgSO pretreatment decreases eclampsia-like seizure threshold.

An integrative review: Developing and measuring creativity in nursing.

Objective: To analyze and synthesise the existing evidence on creativity in nursing.

Design: An integrative review.

Data Sources: A systematic search was conducted using seven English databases (PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, Cochrane, EBSCO, Wiley, and Medline) and the top three best Chinese databases (CNKI, Wanfang Data, and VIP).

Laminated and infused Parafilm® - paper for paper-based analytical devices.

Numerous fabrication methods have been reported for microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) using barrier materials ranging from photoresist to wax. While these methods have been used with wide success, consistently producing small, high-resolution features using materials and methods that are compatible with solvents and surfactants remains a challenge. Two new methods are presented here for generating μPADs with well-defined, high-resolution structures compatible with solvents and surfactant-containing solutions by partially or fully fusing paper with Parafilm® followed by cutting with a CO laser cutter.

Calcium hydroxide regulates transcription of the bone sialoprotein gene via a calcium-sensing receptor in osteoblast-like ROS 17/2.8 cells.

Bone sialoprotein (BSP) is a glycoprotein associated with mineralized tissues. In this study, we investigated the regulation of Bsp transcription by calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH) ] in rat osteosarcoma-derived osteoblast-like ROS 17/2.8 cells and stromal bone marrow cells.

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and artificial sweeteners (ASs) in surface and ground waters and their application as indication of wastewater contamination.

We systematically investigated the occurrence and distribution of 93 pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and 5 artificial sweeteners (ASs) in surface water and groundwater of Dongjiang River basin in south China. In surface water, 52 compounds were detected with median concentrations ranging from 0.06ng/L to 504ng/L, while in groundwater, 33 compounds were detected with concentrations up to 4580ng/L for acesulfame.