Characterization of male-biased fatty acid desaturase in the jewel wasp Nasonia vitripennis and its role in pheromone production.

Linoleic acid is the material for biosynthesis of sex attracting and blocking (postmating) pheromones in Nasonia vitripennis, it is synthesized from oleic acid by a male-biased fatty acid desaturase (SCD5a). In this study, we developed a specific antibody and further characterized the expression patterns of SCD5a in males at different mating stages by western blot. SCD5a was mainly expressed in male heads rather than in abdomens.

Assessment efficacy of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and monocyte-lymphocyte ratio in preeclampsia.

Objective: Abnormal changes in immune-mediated inflammation contribute to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE). We aim to investigate the value of systemic immune inflammation indices-neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR)-to identify and evaluate the prognosis of patients with PE.

Methods: This study reviewed clinical records of 367 PE patients (162 with mild PE and 205 with severe PE), in addition to a control group of 172 normal pregnancies.

Vascular endothelial growth factor affects dendritic cell activity in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) activity is involved in the growth and stability of the placenta, and its signaling has been implicated in the development of pregnancy‑induced hypertension (PIH). The present study sought to evaluate VEGF levels and dendritic cell (DC) profiles in patients with PIH, and to investigate the effects of VEGF expression on DC phenotypes. The present study assessed 162 patients, 112 of whom were diagnosed with PIH.

Dendritic cells derived from preeclampsia patients influence Th1/Th17 cell differentiation in vitro.

Immune regulation plays important but as-yet-unclear roles in the development of preeclampsia. This study explored potential contributions to immune regulation by dendritic cells (DCs) derived from peripheral blood of preeclampsia patients on the differentiation of Th1 and Th17 cells. Pregnant women with preeclampsia (n = 73) and healthy pregnant women (n = 80) were included in the study.