Copy Number Analyses Identified a Novel Gene: Related to Lipid Metabolism in the Pathogenesis of Preeclampsia.

Background: Preeclampsia is a heterogeneous and complex disease with its pathogenesis mechanism not fully elucidated. A certain subset of patients with preeclampsia exhibit disturbances in lipid metabolism before clinical symptoms. Moreover, there is a tendency for preeclampsia to run in families.

Sex Dimorphic Associations of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus With Cord Plasma Fatty Acid Binding Protein 4 and Estradiol.

Fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) has been associated with insulin resistance. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) impairs fetal insulin sensitivity. Female newborns are more insulin resistant than male newborns.

Advances in biomarker development and potential application for preeclampsia based on pathogenesis.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-specific complication that seriously threatens the health and safety of mothers and infants. The etiology of PE has not been fully elucidated, and no effective treatments are currently available. A pregnant woman with PE often has to make a tough choice on either endangering her own health to give a birth or being forced to terminate her pregnancy.

Upregulation of PUM1 Expression in Preeclampsia Impairs Trophoblast Invasion by Negatively Regulating the Expression of the lncRNA HOTAIR.

Pumilio (PUM) proteins are members of a highly conserved RNA-binding protein family that posttranscriptionally regulate gene expression in many organisms. However, their roles in the placenta are unclear. In the present study, we report the requirement for the PUM homolog 1 (PUM1) gene in preeclampsia (PE).

Retinol-binding protein 4, fetal overgrowth and fetal growth factors.

Background: Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP-4) is an adipokine involved in regulating insulin sensitivity which would affect fetal growth. It is unclear whether RBP-4 is associated with fetal overgrowth, and unexplored which fetal growth factor(s) may mediate the association.

Methods: In the Shanghai Birth Cohort, we studied 125 pairs of larger-for-gestational-age (LGA, birth weight >90th percentile, an indicator of fetal overgrowth) and optimal-for-gestational-age (OGA, 25-75th percentiles) control infants matched by sex and gestational age.

Is Cesarean Delivery Preferable in Twin Pregnancies at >=36 Weeks Gestation?

Background: The optimal mode of delivery in twin pregnancies remains controversial. A recent randomized trial did not find any benefit of planned cesarean vs. vaginal delivery at 32-38 weeks gestation, but the trial was not powered to detect a moderate effect.

Clinical study of cerebrospinal fluid neuropeptides in patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia.

Objectives: To investigate the expression levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and β-endorphin in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral blood of patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia (TN).

Patients And Methods: We included 20 patients with primary TN who underwent percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation and collected four types of samples from all of them: sample A: CSF samples; sample B: peripheral blood samples; sample C: peripheral blood samples collected one day before the operation; sample D: peripheral blood samples withdrawn one day after the operation. Another 20 CSF samples of patients with nervous system disease or gynecological disease were collected as a control (sample E).

High-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Reduces Pain in Postherpetic Neuralgia.

Objectives: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is one of the most intractable pain disorders, especially in elderly patients. There is evidence that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) reduces neuropathic pain; however, its effectiveness for PHN is unknown. This study investigated the efficacy of high-frequency rTMS in patients with PHN.

Does uterine gauze packing increase the risk of puerperal morbidity in the management of postpartum hemorrhage during caesarean section: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: To compare the outcomes especially the puerperal morbidity of uterine gauze packing (UGP) with those of uterine balloon tamponade (UBT) in the management of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) during caesarean section (c-section).

Methods: It was considered success as no requirement for either a further therapy or hysterectomy for PPH. The postpartum infection risk was pragmatically measured as puerperal morbidity.

Effect of captopril on serum TNF-α level in acute lung injury rats induced by HCL.

Objective: To observe the effect of captopril on the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) level and arterial blood gases in acute lung injury (ALI) induced by HCL in rats, and to analyze its protective mechanism.

Methods: Fifty Wistar rats were selected and randomly divided into three groups, with 20 rats in Group I and II, respectively and 10 animals in Group III. ALI model was constructed by intratracheal injection of diluted hydrochloric acid (pH=1.

A facile method for the synthesis of partially O-methylated alditol acetate standards for GC-MS analysis of galactofuranose-containing structures.

Mixtures of partially O-methylated alditol acetate standards of galactofuranose were synthesized rapidly. Methyl galactofuranosides were obtained with a yield of 79.9% within 4h under optimized reaction conditions.

Effects of caesarean section on maternal health in low risk nulliparous women: a prospective matched cohort study in Shanghai, China.

Background: Rates of caesarean section are progressively increasing in many parts of the world. As a result of psychosocial factors there has been an increasing tendency for pregnant women without justifiable medical indications for caesarean section to ask for this procedure in China. A critical examination of this issue in relation to maternal outcomes is important.

Continuous epidural block of the cervical vertebrae for cervicogenic headache.

Background: Cervicogenic headache (CEH) is caused by a structural abnormality in the cervical spine. Available treatments for CEH include medical therapy, local botulinum toxin injection, cervical epidural corticosteroid injection, and surgery. The objective of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of a continuous epidural block of the cervical vertebra.

Effect of neurolytic celiac plexus block guided by computerized tomography on pancreatic cancer pain.

The efficacy of neurolytic coeliac plexus block (NCPB) guided by computerized tomography (CT) was compared with pharmacological therapy in the treatment of pain due to pancreatic cancer. The study involved 56 patients who were placed randomly in either a NCPB group and pharmacological therapy group. At day 1, 7, and 14, the visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores of the NCPB group were significantly lower than those of the pharmacological therapy group (P < 0.