Short communication: Upregulation of hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced Shc3 by downregulated miR-455-5p, suppresses trophoblast invasion and is associated with placental inflammation and angiogenesis in preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is characterized by insufficient invasion of extravillous trophoblasts and is a consequence of failed adaption of extravillous trophoblasts to changes in the intrauterine environment developing embryo. Specific miRNAs are implicated in the development of preeclampsia (PE). miR-455-5p is present at low levels in PE but its role is not known.

Long read Nanopore sequencing identifies precise breakpoints of a de novo paracentric inversion that disrupt the MEIS2 gene in a Chinese girl with syndromic developmental delay.

Background: Chromosomal inversions are underappreciated causes of rare diseases given their detection, resolution, and clinical interpretation remain challenging. Heterozygous mutations in the MEIS2 gene cause an autosomal dominant syndrome characterized by intellectual disability, cleft palate, congenital heart defect, and facial dysmorphism at variable severity and penetrance.

Case Presentation: Herein, we report a Chinese girl with intellectual disability, developmental delay, and congenital heart defect, in whom G-banded karyotype analysis identified a de novo paracentric inversion 46,XX, inv(15)(q15q26.

Establishment and evaluation of a method for measuring ornithine transcarbamylase activity in micro blood of neonates.

Background: Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency exhibits a high degree of clinical heterogeneity, making its screening and classification challenging in some instances. In this study, we first established a simple and stable method for testing ornithine transcarbamylase activity using micro blood from newborns, rather than relying on venous blood.

Methods: The activity of ornithine transcarbamylase was assessed by measuring the concentration of citrulline produced in the reaction with carbamoyl phosphate and ornithine, using serum, plasma or micro blood.

Inhibition of GSK3β is synthetic lethal with FHIT loss in lung cancer by blocking homologous recombination repair.

FHIT is a fragile site tumor suppressor that is primarily inactivated upon tobacco smoking. FHIT loss is frequently observed in lung cancer, making it an important biomarker for the development of targeted therapy for lung cancer. Here, we report that inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) and the homologous recombination DNA repair (HRR) pathway are synthetic lethal with FHIT loss in lung cancer.

Core factor of NEXT complex, ZCCHC8, governs the silencing of LINE1 during spermatogenesis.

The overactivation of transposable elements (TEs) is a significant threat to male reproduction, particularly during the delicate process of spermatogenesis. Here, we report that zinc finger protein ZCCHC8-a key component of the nuclear exosome targeting (NEXT) complex that is involved in ribonucleic acid (RNA) surveillance-is required for TE silencing during spermatogenesis. Loss of ZCCHC8 results in delayed meiotic progression and reduced production of round spermatids (RS).

The cardioprotective effects of HTK solution and conventional blood cardioplegia in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing valvular replacement and Cox maze III procedure.

Introduction: The study was to assess the myocardial protection effects of the histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution and the 4:1 blood cardioplegia (BC) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who were subjected to valvular replacement concomitant with the Cox maze III surgery.

Methods: A cohort of 148 individuals afflicted with AF, who received valve replacement surgery in conjunction with the Cox maze III procedure at our clinic within the period extending from 2015 to 2023, were enrolled. Subsequent to adjustment by propensity score matching (PSM), the patients were categorized into two distinct groups: the HTK group and the BC group.

Tumor biomarkers contribute to the diagnosis and clinical management of the O-RADS MRI risk stratification system for epithelial ovarian tumors.

Background: To assess the effectiveness of tumor biomarkers in distinguishing epithelial ovarian tumors (EOTs) and guiding clinical decisions across each Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System (O-RADS) MRI risk category, the aim is to prevent unnecessary surgeries for benign lesions, avoid delays in treating malignancies, and benefit individuals requiring fertility preservation or those intolerant to over-extensive surgery.

Methods: A total of 54 benign, 104 borderline, and 203 malignant EOTs (BeEOTs, BEOTs and MEOTs) were enrolled and retrospectively assigned risk scores. The role of tumor biomarkers in diagnosing and managing EOTs within each risk category was evaluated by combining receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves with clinicopathological characteristics.

A new peptide inhibitor of C1QBP exhibits potent anti-tumour activity against triple negative breast cancer by impairing mitochondrial function and suppressing homologous recombination repair.

C1QBP exhibits heightened expression across a spectrum of tumours, thereby fostering their proliferation and metastasis, rendering it a pivotal therapeutic target. Nevertheless, to date, no pharmacological agents capable of directly targeting and inducing the degradation of C1QBP have been identified. In this study, we have unveiled a new peptide, PDBAG1, derived from the precursor protein GPD1, employing a peptidomics-based drug screening strategy.

The association between non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHHR) and risk of infertility among US adults: A cross-sectional NHANES study.

Background: Infertility affects millions worldwide, with a significant proportion of cases remaining unexplained. Recent evidence suggests a potential link between lipid metabolism and reproductive health, prompting investigations into novel biomarkers like the non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHHR) for assessing infertility risk.

Methods: This study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to conduct a cross-sectional analysis of 5,524 women aged 20-45 in the United States.

LINC00525 promotes cell proliferation and collagen expression through feedforward regulation of TGF-β signaling in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts.

The etiology of hypertrophic scar formation continues to elude researchers, despite advancements in the understanding of skin scarring. Several long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of hypertrophic scars, yet the role and molecular mechanisms of LINC00525 in this process remain unclear. This study demonstrates that LINC00525 enhances cell proliferation and collagen expression through knockdown and overexpression techniques.

ITGB3 is reduced in pregnancies with preeclampsia and its influence on biological behavior of trophoblast cells.

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious pregnancy complication associated with impaired trophoblast function. Integrin β3 (ITGB3) is a cell adhesion molecule that plays a role in cell movement. The objective of this study was to identify the biological function and expression level of ITGB3 in PE.

Maternal neonicotinoid pesticide exposure impairs glucose metabolism by deteriorating brown fat thermogenesis.

Background: Neonicotinoids (NEOs) are well-designed highly selective pesticides that target nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. However, their extensive use, accumulation, and biomagnification pose significant risks to humans. Increasing evidence has suggested that NEOs may affect glucose homeostasis, but little research has linked NEOs exposure to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), which is the most common disease in pregnancy.

Analysis of automatic fetal intracranial volume (ICV) measurement based on the optimized ultrasound Smart ICV method at 16-34 weeks of gestation.

Background: Fetal intracranial volume (ICV) can help evaluate the development of the prenatal central nervous system (CNS) from the three-dimensional (3D) attributes of the cranial structure. Accurate and rapid segmentation and calculation of the ICV are clinically significant. Virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL) is a commonly used method for measuring fetal ICV.

Minimizing DNA trapping while maintaining activity inhibition via selective PARP1 degrader.

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) catalyzes poly (ADP) ribosylation reaction, one of the essential post-translational modifications of proteins in eukaryotic cells. Given that PARP1 inhibition can lead to synthetic lethality in cells with compromised homologous recombination, this enzyme has been identified as a potent target for anti-cancer therapeutics. However, the clinical application of existing PARP1 inhibitors is restrained by side effects associated with DNA trapping and off-target effects, highlighting the need for improved therapeutic strategies.

Antibiotic Exposure and Childhood Overweight/Obesity: Evidence From Epidemiological and Experimental Studies.

Childhood overweight and obesity are nutritional disorders in which children's energy intake exceeds energy consumption for a long period, resulting in the excessive accumulation of body fat and weight that exceeds a certain range. It is one of the most serious public health issues. In recent years, its prevalence has shown a significant upward trend, and 41-80% of childhood obesity can persist into adulthood.

Subgroup analysis of imaging scans, invasive examinations and prognosis in mild-to-moderate isolated foetal cerebral ventriculomegaly: a retrospective study in China.

Objective: This study aimed to analyse the causes of foetal mild-to-moderate isolated ventriculomegaly (IVM) and to evaluate the prognosis of neurological development in surviving children in different subgroups.

Methods: We retrospectively studied mild-to-moderate IVM diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound scans in different subgroups according to the laterality of IVM, the degree of IVM and foetal sex independently. The results of foetal chromosomal microarray analysis, virological tests of umbilical cord blood or amniotic fluid, foetal magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound were collected.

Embryonic exposure to 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol mediates autism spectrum disorder-like behavior by dysfunctional microbe-gut-brain axis in mice.

6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH) is considered an emerging contaminant as a substitute for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heterogeneous childhood neurodevelopmental disorder, the prevalence of which has been significantly increasing globally, possibly due to rising exposure to environmental pollutants. Additionally, the microbe-gut-brain axis plays a crucial role in the development of ASD.

Neuroticism trait and postnatal depression among Chinese women: the mediating role of childbirth experience and the moderating role of perceived social support.

Background: Despite the link between neuroticism trait and postnatal depression has been confirmed, little is known about the factors that influence this association. This study aimed to examine whether childbirth experience mediated the association between neuroticism trait and postnatal depression, and whether this indirect effect was moderated by perceived social support.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1686 women within one year postpartum from 38 hospitals in China.

Primary culture of endometrial mesenchymal stem cells derived from ectopic lesions of patients with adenomyosis.

Purpose: This study aimed to establish a protocol for efficiently isolating and expanding adenomyotic lesion-derived endometrial mesenchymal stem cells (A-eMSCs) in vitro.

Methods: Three different methods-namely, the enzymatic method, the explant method, and the enzymatic explant method-were employed to isolate A-eMSCs. The isolation and expansion efficiencies of these three methods were subsequently compared.

TSPO activation ameliorates maternal immune activation induced PV interneuron deficits via BDNF/TrkB signaling.

Rationale: Prenatal maternal immune activation (MIA) is an etiological risk factor for schizophrenia in offspring. Recently, parvalbumin (PV) positive interneuron deficits has been considered a critical pathology of many psych-cognitive disorders. Nevertheless, whether and how prenatal MIA affected PV interneuron in offspring remains largely unknown.

ELAVL1 governs breast cancer malignancy by regulating cell stemness.

Despite advances in understanding breast cancer (BC) molecular subtypes, the mechanisms underlying its grade of malignancy remain unclear. Our study reveals that low expression of the RNA-binding protein ELAVL1 is linked to higher-grade malignancy and poorer prognosis in malignant BC subtypes. Notably, knockdown of ELAVL1 increased the expression of key stem cell markers (CD44, SOX2, OCT4, KLF4, and NANOG) and enhanced tumorsphere formation.

ACSL4 and polyunsaturated lipids support metastatic extravasation and colonization.

Metastatic dissemination to distant organs demands that cancer cells possess high morphological and metabolic adaptability. However, contributions of the cellular lipidome to metastasis remain elusive. Here, we uncover a correlation between metastasis potential and ferroptosis susceptibility in multiple cancers.

KMT2A facilitates the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and the progression of ovarian cancer.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays critical roles in cancer progression and metastasis. Thus, the exploration of the molecular mechanism regulating EMT would provide potential opportunities for the therapy of metastatic ovarian cancer (OC). Herein, we investigated the putative role of KMT2A in modulating EMT and metastasis in OC.