Amniotic Fluid Embolism (AFE) in China: Are maternal mortality and morbidity preventable?

A case of hospital-patient conflict has occurred in China that has lifted billows in the public and highlighted the lethality of amniotic fluid embolism (AFE). AFE is a rare but severe obstetric complication with high maternal mortality and morbidity. Globally, the incidence of AFE is estimated to be approximately 2 to 6 per 100,000 deliveries.

Concomitant depletion of PTEN and p27 and overexpression of cyclin D1 may predict a worse prognosis for patients with post-operative stage II and III colorectal cancer.

Prognostic markers for colorectal cancer (CRC) have not yet been fully investigated. Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), p27 and Cyclin D1 play significant roles in tumorigenesis and cell cycle regulation, and therefore require evaluation for their prognostic value in this disease. The aim of the present study was to assess the prognostic value of the single and combined expression of PTEN, p27 and Cyclin D1 in CRC patients.

Metformin inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition in prostate cancer cells: involvement of the tumor suppressor miR30a and its target gene SOX4.

Tumor metastasis is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity of prostate cancer (PCa) patients. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a critical role in cancer progression and metastasis. Recent evidence suggested that diabetic patients treated with metformin have lower PCa risk and better prognosis.

[Efficacy of liver transplantation for acute hepatic failure caused by reactivation of hepatitis B virus infection after chemotherapy and radiotherapy for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma].

This study was aimed to investigate the morphological, biological ,clinical and therapy features in a special case of primary gastric non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (PG-NHL) through analysis of PG-NHL patient who developed fulminating hepatitis following chemotherapy and radiotherapy and thus received liver transplantation (LT). The morphological changes of cells were analyzed by bone marrow smear, the expression and mutation of abnormal genes were detected by nested multiplex PCR, and HBV-DNA copies were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR). The results showed that at onset of disease, patient was diagnosed as primary gastric non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (PG-NHL) with HBsAg(+) and HBVDNA(-).

4-Hydroxychalcone attenuates hyperaldosteronism, inflammation, and renal injury in cryptochrome-null mice.

In the present study, we aimed to investigate the preventive effects of 4-hydroxychalcone (4HCH) on resistant hypertension. We used cryptochrome-null mice, which characteristically show high plasma aldosterone levels, inflammation, and renal injury. The cryptochrome-null mice received high-salt treatment and were treated orally with 4HCH 10 mg/kg, 4HCH 20 mg/kg, and 4HCH 40 mg/kg, respectively.

Interaction between interleukin-1 beta and angiotensin II receptor 1 in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus contributes to progression of heart failure.

The central mechanisms by which interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and angiotension II receptor 1 (AT1-R) contribute to sympathoexcitation in heart failure (HF) are unclear. In this study, we determined whether an interaction between IL-1β and AT1-R in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) contributes to progression of HF. Rats were implanted with bilateral PVN cannulae and subjected to coronary artery ligation or sham surgery (Sham).

Longitudinal study of diffusion tensor imaging properties of affected cortical spinal tracts in acute and chronic hemorrhagic stroke.

This study investigated the clinical value of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in predicting the motor outcome in patients with basal ganglia hemorrhage. This prospective study included 23 patients assessed with DTI to measure the fractional anisotropy (FA) value in affected cortical spinal tract (CST) at three time points: day 0, day 30 and day 90 after onset. The motor function score (MFS) was applied to evaluate motor function and patients were divided into good and poor outcome groups according to the MFS on day 90.

Correlation of echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness with severity of coronary artery disease in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

The aim of this study was to test the hypotheses that epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) can be a marker of severe coronary artery disease in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Overall, 373 cases who underwent coronary angiography were classified into 2 groups by SYNTAX score: low-score and high-score group. EAT was measured by transthoracic echocardiography.

Association of cystic fibrosis transmembrane-conductance regulator gene mutation with negative outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection pregnancy in cases of congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens.

Objective: To evaluate intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) results with regard to congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens (CBAVD) versus non-CBAVD obstruction, cystic fibrosis transmembrane-conductance regulator (CFTR) mutations versus non-CFTR mutations, and miscarriages or stillbirths versus live births per embryo transferred.

Design: Retrospective study with detailed chart review.

Setting: Center for reproductive medicine.

Mean platelet volume predicts left descending artery occlusion in patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Platelets play an important role in atherothrombosis. As the most common site plaque occurs, left anterior descending artery (LAD) infarct location always associate with poor prognosis. We sought to assess whether mean platelet volume (MPV) could predict LAD infarct location and short-term clinical outcome.

The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) I/D polymorphism in Parkinson's disease.

Objective: The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) may be involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). There have been several studies investigating the association between ACE gene I/D polymorphism and PD risk, but they reported inconsistent findings. We performed a meta-analysis to investigate the association between ACE gene I/D polymorphism and PD risk.

CYP17A1 T-34C polymorphism is not associated with endometrial cancer risk.

The association between CYP17A1 T-34C polymorphism and endometrial cancer risk has been inconsistent and underpowered. To clarify the effect of CYP17A1 T-34C polymorphism on the risk of endometrial cancer, a meta-analysis of all available studies relating CYP17A1 T-34C polymorphism to the risk of endometrial cancer was conducted. The authors searched PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and VisionCite databases updated on March 2013.

CD133 expression in osteosarcoma and derivation of CD133⁺ cells.

Cluster of differentiation 133 (CD133) is recognized as a stem cell marker for normal and cancerous tissues. Using cell culture and real‑time fluorescent polymerase chain reaction, CD133 expression was analyzed in osteosarcoma tissue and Saos‑2 cell lines. In addition, cancer stem cell‑related gene expression in the Saos‑2 cell line was determined to explore the mechanisms underlying tumorigenesis and high drug resistance in osteosarcoma.

The prevalence of hyperuricemia in China: a meta-analysis.

Background: The prevalence of hyperuricemia varied in different populations and it appeared to be increasing in the past decades. Recent studies suggest that hyperuricemia is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, there has not yet been a systematic analysis of the prevalence of hyperuricemia in China.

Assessment of recanalization of chronic total occlusions on left ventricular function in patients with or without previous myocardial infarction by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography.

The changes of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were assessed after successful recanalization of chronic total occlusions (CTO) with or without previous myocardial infarction (MI) by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE). 32 patients with a successfully recanalyzed CTO were included in the present prospective study. The patients were divided into group 1 without previous MI and group 2 with previous MI in the territories of total occlusion vessel that was recanalized.

[Acupuncture combined with auricular point sticking and pressing for smoking cessation of 53 cases in Russia].

Objective: To observe therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with auricular point sticking and pressing for smoking cessation.

Methods: Body acupoints for acupuncture, Jieyan (two horizontal fingers above styloid process of radius), Shenmen (HT 7), Zhongwan (CV 12), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyingjiao (SP 6). Main ear acupoints: Kou (mouth), Fei (lung), Shenmen, and adjuvant ear points: Shenshangxian (adrenal gland), Wei (stomach), Xin (heart), Neifenmi (endocrine), Qiguan (trachea), Gan (liver).