Analysis of clinical effect and influencing factors of history-indicated cerclage or ultrasound-indicated cerclage in singleton pregnancy / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect and the influencing factors of ultrasound-indicated cerclage and history-indicated cerclage in singleton gestation. Methods: The clinical data of 272 singleton pregnant women with cervical incompetence who underwent McDonald cervical cerclage due to medical history indication (history-indicated group) or ultrasound indication (ultrasound-indicated group) in Peking University First Hospital from January 2010 to February 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The general clinical data and maternal and fetal outcomes were compared between the history-indicated group (141 cases) and ultrasound-indicated group (131 cases). According to the gestational age at delivery, 272 pregnant women who underwent cervical cerclage were further divided into ≥34 weeks group (225 cases) and <34 weeks group (47 cases), and the influencing factors of preterm birth before 34 weeks of gestation were analyzed. Results: (1) The median gestational age at cerclage was 16.6 weeks in the history-indicated group and 23.4 weeks in the ultrasound-indicated group, and the median gestational age extension at delivery was 21.4 weeks and 14.7 weeks, respectively, with statistically significant differences between the two groups (all P<0.05). (2) The full-term birth rate was 76.6% (108/141) in the history-indicated group and 71.0% (93/131) in the ultrasound-indicated group, the live birth rate was 97.2% (137/141) and 97.7% (128/131), and the median birth weight of live birth was 3 155 g and 3 055 g, respectively. The differences were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). Among 272 pregnant women with cervical cerclage, 265 neonates survived (97.4%, 265/272). The gestational age of 7 pregnant women who did not have live birth was ≤25 weeks of gestation (range: 19+1-25 weeks), and they were all clinically infected or confirmed chorioamnionitis or pathogenic microorganisms carrying during pregnancy, and their families gave up. The minimum birth weight of the surviving neonate was 850 g (gestational week of delivery was 26+6 weeks). (3) Univariate analysis showed that compared with ≥34 weeks group, the body mass index (BMI) of pregnant women in <34 weeks group was higher at 6-7 weeks of gestation (median: 24.5 vs 25.4 kg/m2), shorter cervical length (CL) at 1-2 weeks after surgery [(31.1±8.4) vs (26.1±11.0) mm], shorter CL at 26-28 weeks of gestation after surgery (median: 26.3 vs 16.0 mm), and higher incidence of elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) before and after surgery and before delivery. The differences were all statistically significant (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that preterm birth before 34 weeks was negatively associated with CL at 26-28 weeks of gestation after cerclage (OR=0.902, 95%CI: 0.858-0.947; P<0.001), and was positively correlated with elevated CRP before delivery (OR=3.492, 95%CI: 1.652-7.381; P=0.001). There were no significant correlations between preterm birth and preoperative or postoperative CRP elevation, CL at 1-2 weeks after surgery, and BMI at 6-7 weeks of gestation (all P>0.05). Conclusions: Cervical cerclage for singleton pregnant women with cervical incompetence indicated by history or ultrasound both have good clinical efficacy, and there is no significant difference in maternal and fetal outcomes between the two groups. CL at 26-28 weeks of gestation and CRP before delivery are risk factors for preterm birth before 34 weeks of gestation after cervical cerclage.

Therapeutic Observation of Warm Needling plus Chinese Medication for External Application in Treating Post-stroke Shoulder Pain / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of warm needling plus Chinese medication for external application in treating post-stroke shoulder pain. Method Two hundred patients with post-stroke shoulder pain were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 100 cases each. The two groups both received rehabilitation training for shoulder joint. In addition, the treatment group was given warm needling plus Chinese medication for external application, while the control group was given warm needling. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, upper-limb Fugl-Mayer Assessment (FMA) and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) were adopted to evaluate the two groups before and after the treatment. The clinical efficacies of the two groups were also compared. Result The total effective rate was 100.0％ in the treatment group versus 87.0％ in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). The VAS, FMA and MBI scores were significantly changed after the treatment in both groups (P<0.01). After the treatment, the VAS, FMA and MBI scores of the treatment group were significantly different from those of the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion Warm needling plus Chinese medication for external application and rehabilitation training can obviously reduce post-stroke shoulder pain, and enhance the upper-limb motor function and activities of daily living.

Clinical Analysis of Postpartum Hemorrhage Requiring Massive Transfusions at a Tertiary Center / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The reports on massive transfusions (MTs) in obstetrics have recently been an increasing trend. We aimed to define the clinical features, risk factors, main causes, and outcomes of MTs due to severe postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) and the frequency trends over the past 10 years.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively analyzed the data of 3552 PPH patients who were at ≥28 weeks of gestation in the Obstetric Department of Peking University First Hospital from January 2006 to February 2015. The clinical records of patients receiving MT with ≥5 units (approximately 1000 ml) of red blood cells within 24 h of giving birth were included. The Pearson's Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare the frequency distributions among the categorical variables of the clinical features.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>One-hundred six women were identified with MT over the 10-year period. The MT percentage was stable between the first 5-year group (2006-2010) and the second 5-year group (2011-2015) (2.5‰ vs. 2.7‰, χ2 = 154.85, P = 0.25). Although uterine atony remained the main cause of MT, there was a rising trend for placental abnormalities (especially placenta accreta) in the second 5-year group compared with the first 5-year group (34% vs. 23%, χ2 = 188.26, P = 0.03). Twenty-four (23%) women underwent hysterectomy, and among all the causes of PPH, placenta accreta had the highest hysterectomy rate of 70% (17/24). No maternal death was observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There was a rising trend for placental abnormalities underlying the stable incidence of MT in the PPH cases. Placenta accreta accounted for the highest risk of hysterectomy. It is reasonable to have appropriate blood transfusion backup for high-risk patients, especially those with placenta accreta.</p>

Ability of Mn(2+) to Permeate the Eye and Availability of Manganese-enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Visual Pathway Imaging via Topical Administration / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI) for visual pathway imaging via topical administration requires further research. This study investigated the permeability of the corneal epithelium and corneal toxicity after topical administration of Mn2+ to understand the applicability of MEMRI.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty New Zealand rabbits were divided into 0.05 mol/L, 0.10 mol/L, and 0.20 mol/L groups as well as a control group (n = 10 in each group). Each group was further subdivided into epithelium-removed and epithelium-intact subgroups (n = 5 in each subgroup). Rabbits were given 8 drops of MnCl2in 5 min intervals. The Mn2+ concentrations in the aqueous and vitreous humors were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry at different time points. MEMRI scanning was carried out to image the visual pathway after 24 h. The corneal toxicity of Mn2+ was evaluated with corneal imaging and pathology slices.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Between the aqueous and vitreous humors, there was a 10 h lag for the peak Mn2+ concentration times. The intraocular Mn2+ concentration increased with the concentration gradients of Mn2+ and was higher in the epithelium-removed subgroup than that in the epithelium-intact subgroup. The enhancement of the visual pathway was achieved in the 0.10 mol/L and 0.20 mol/L epithelium-removed subgroups. The corresponding peak concentrations of Mn2+ were 5087 ± 666 ng/ml, 22920 ± 1188 ng/ml in the aqueous humor and 884 ± 78 ng/ml, 2556 ± 492 ng/ml in the vitreous body, respectively. Corneal injury was evident in the epithelium-removed and 0.20 mol/L epithelium-intact subgroups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The corneal epithelium is a barrier to Mn2+, and the iris and lens septum might be another intraocular barrier to the permeation of Mn2+. An elevated Mn2+ concentration contributes to the increased permeation of Mn2+, higher MEMRI signal, and corneal toxicity. The enhancement of the visual pathway requires an effective Mn2+ concentration in the vitreous body.</p>

A type IV osteogenesis imperfecta family and pregnancy: a case report and literature review / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Osteogenesis imperfecta is a group of inherited connective-tissue disorders in which synthesis or structure of type I collagen is defective and causes osseous fragility. Type IV osteogenesis imperfecta is dominant inheritance. Here, we report a case of type IV osteogenesis imperfecta family and their female member's pregnancy. Abnormal sonographic findings (marked bowing and shortening of long bones) and family history made the diagnosis of fetus with osteogenesis imperfecta. The parents decided to give up rescuing the infant and a caesarean section at 27 weeks of gestation was implemented. In conclusion, it is possible to make a prenatal diagnosis of osteogenesis imperfecta by ultrasound. For the pregnant women with osteogenesis imperfecta, management decision should be made on an individual basis.

Prenatal diagnosis of methylmalonic aciduria by analysis of organic acids and total homocysteine in amniotic fluid / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Methylmalonic aciduria (MMA) is the most frequent disease of organic aciduria in China. Various biochemical strategies are followed for the prenatal diagnosis of MMA. However, since fetuses affected by MMA have decreased excretion of methylmalonic acid, the difficulties of prenatal biochemical diagnosis are obvious. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (ESI/MS/MS) have allowed us to identify the disease in affected fetuses. The aim of this study was to determine the value of analysis of organic acids and total homocysteine in amniotic fluid in prenatal diagnosis of MMA.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical diagnoses and outcomes of nine probands with MMA and the prenatal diagnoses based on biochemical analysis of nine fetuses at risk for MMA were investigated. Amniotic fluid samples from pregnancies at risk for MMA and metabolically normal pregnancies were obtained at 16 - 24 weeks of gestation. Methylmalonic acid and methylcitric acid were measured by GC/MS, propionylcarnitine was analyzed by ESI/MS/MS, and total homocysteine was determined by fluorescence polarization immunoassay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In two pregnancies, high levels of methylmalonic acid, methylcitric acid, propionylcarnitine, and total homocysteine indicated combined MMA and homocysteinemia in the fetuses. One of the mothers continued pregnancy and received cobalamin supplement as prenatal treatment, and the other terminated her pregnancy. In one pregnancy, significantly elevated levels of methylmalonic acid, methylcitric acid, and propionylcarnitine, and normal level of total homocysteine was found indicating isolated MMA in the fetus; abortion was performed on this case. In the other six pregnancies, all the levels of the above mentioned metabolites were normal suggesting that the fetuses were not affected by MMA. The diagnoses were confirmed after delivery by testing urinary organic acids and plasma total homocysteine.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The metabolic abnormalities of MMA occur early in gestation. The level of total homocysteine in amniotic fluid may be an additional indicator of fetal combined MMA and homocysteinemia. Determination of total homocysteine level in amniotic fluid may become a convenient and reliable method for prenatal diagnosis of the disease.</p>

Prenatal diagnosis of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To make prenatal dignosis of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) for the prevention of the disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighteen amniocenteses were performed on 17 suspected carriers of X-ALD during 18-30 gestation weeks. The very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) levels of cultured amniocytes were tested by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The plasma VLCFAs levels were measured in 8 of the 18 prenatal diagnosed children when they were born or after abortion. ABCD1 gene mutation analysis was carried out in 8 cases by PCR and sequencing. ALDP of amniocytes was tested by Western blotting in 2 cases from a family, one female, another male, and the VLCFAs of cultured amniocytes were increased in both of them.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 18 fetuses, 10 were males and 8 were females. The VLCFAs levels of the cultured amniocytes were increased in 3 males and 4 females. The postnatal plasma VLCFAs were normal in 5 cases with normal VLCFAs levels of amniocytes, and increased in 3 cases with high VLCFAs levels of amniocytes. ABCD1 gene mutations were found in 4 cases with high VLCFAs levels of amniocytes, no mutation was found in other 4 cases with normal VLCFAs levels of amniocytes. ALDP of amniocytes could be detected in the female with high VLCFAs levels of amniocytes, and it could not be detected in the male with high VLCFAs levels of amniocytes. Three male fetuses with high VLCFAs levels of amniocytes were aborted. The others who were born were normal clinically so far.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The prenatal diagnosis is very important for the prevention of ALD. Amniocyte VLCFAs level analysis combined with ABCD1 gene mutation analysis and ALDP test could make a proper prenatal diagnosis.</p>

Screening for carrier and prenatal diagnosis of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is the most common peroxisomal disorder characterized by progressive demyelination of the central nervous system, adrenal cortex insufficiency and accumulation of saturated very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) in tissues and body fluids due to the impaired beta-oxidation in peroxisomes. X-ALD shows a wide range of phenotypic variation. Childhood cerebral form (CCER) is the most common phenotype with severe neurological symptoms and often the average interval from onset to total disability or death is 3 years. So far no effective treatment is available for the underlying defect. Screening for carriers of mutated relevant gene and prenatal diagnosis are very important for the prevention of the disease. In this study, the authors explored the method of carrier screening and prenatal diagnosis of X-ALD.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The plasma VLCFAs levels of 83 suspected carriers for ALD were determined by using GC/MS and ABCD1 gene mutational analysis was performed in 31 of them. Amniocentesis was performed in 9 suspected carriers for ALD during 18 - 30 gestational weeks. The VLCFAs level of cultured amniocytes was tested with GC/MS. ABCD1 gene mutational analysis was performed on two cases (one was a male and the other a female) whose VLCFAs levels of amniocytes were found elevated. The plasma VLCFAs levels were measured in five of the nine prenatally diagnosed children when they were 1 day to 3.5 years old.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Fifty-one of 83 suspected carriers had high plasma VLCFAs levels; 29 of 31 suspected carriers showed ABCD1 gene mutation. Among the nine fetuses, four were males and five were females. The VLCFAs levels of the cultured amniocytes were high in two cases, one was female and the other a male. ABCD1 gene mutational analysis of these two cases showed a 871G > A (E291K) mutation and a 726G > A (W242X) mutation, respectively, which confirmed the biochemical result. The VLCFAs levels were normal in the rest of cases and five of them were confirmed by postnatal plasma VLCFAs assay.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The carrier screening and prenatal diagnosis are very important for prevention of the X-ALD. Only the combined use of plasma VLCFAs level analysis and ABCD1 gene mutational analysis could detect X-ALD carriers correctly. ABCD1 gene mutational analysis and postnatal plasma VLCFAs level test verified that amniocytes VLCFAs level analysis is a reliable prenatal diagnostic method for this disease.</p>

Analysis of oral glucose tolerance test in pregnant women with abnormal glucose metabolism / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Due to the controversy of the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the world and researches on GDM remain undeveloped in China. American Diabetes Association recently recommended the clinicians to diagnose GDM by OGTT results without the third-hour glucose value. This new criteria has not been used in China. Research on the value and sensitivity of the criteria in detecting GDM is rare. The aim of our study is to analyze the characteristics of OGTT in Chinese women with GDM or gestational impaired glucose tolerance (GIGT) and to evaluate the effect of omission of the third-hour plasma glucose (PG) level in OGTT on the sensitivity of diagnosing GDM and GIGT, and the relationship between PG values of 50 g GCT or OGTT and insulin therapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective analysis was performed on medical records of 647 cases with GDM from January 1, 1989 to December 31, 2002, and 233 with GIGT. Among 647 cases of GDM, 535 cases were diagnosed by 75 g OGTT. All OGTT results including 535 cases of GDM and 233 patients with GIGT were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 112 cases of GDM diagnosed by elevated fasting PG (FPG) without OGTT performed. Of 535 cases of GDM diagnosed by OGTT, 49.2% (263/535) women had FPG value >/= 5.8 mmol/L; 90.1% (482/535) women with 1-hour PG values >/= 10.6 mmol/L; 64.7% (359/535) with 2-hour PG levels >/= 9.2 mmol/L. There were only 114 cases (21.3%) with abnormal 3-hour PG levels among 535 women with OGTT. Among those with abnormal 3-hour PG level, 49.1% (56/114) had abnormal glucose values in the other three points of OGTT, and 34.2% (39/114) with two other abnormal values of OGTT. Our study showed that omission of the 3-hour PG of OGTT only missed 19 cases of GDM and they would be diagnosed as GIGT. Among the 233 women with GIGT, only 4 cases had abnormal 3-hour PG. So, omission of the third-hour glucose value of OGTT only resulted in failure to diagnose 3.6% (19/535) women with GDM diagnosed by OGTT, which means 2.9% (19/647) of all the GDM and 1.7% (4/233) of GIGT in Chinese women. PG levels >/= 11.2 mmol/L following 50 g GCT was highly associated with GDM necessitating insulin therapy (75.4%). An elevated FPG level was also associated with insulin therapy (59.7%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Omission of the third-hour glucose tolerance test value still yield a higher sensitivity in diagnosing GDM and GIGT. In Chinese women, it is practicable to omit third-hour post-glucose ingestion value of the OGTT in Chinese women. PG levels >/= 11.2 mmol/L following 50 g GCT mostly indicates that the requirement of insulin therapy.</p>

Clinical characteristics of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a genetically determined disorder that involves the nervous system white matter, axons, adrenal cortex and testes. The typical clinical manifestations are progressive psychomotor regression, vision and/or auditory impairment and adrenal insufficiency. The clinical manifestation, biochemical change and genetic counseling work of X-linked ALD were analyzed.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical features of 29 cases with ALD were summarized and analyzed, including symptoms and signs, measurement of blood very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA), adrenal function, cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and pedigree investigation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among these 29 cases, the clinical phenotype could be classified into childhood cerebral (22 cases), adolescent cerebral (4 cases), adrenomyeloneuropathic (1 case), Addison's disease (1 case) and asymptomatic or presymptomatic (1 case) types. Nine of them had positive family history. Pedigree investigation was consistent with typical sex-linked recessive inheritance. There were 45 ALD patients in these 29 pedigrees. The neurological manifestations varied among members of the same family. Nine cases died during follow up. The causes of death were central respiratory failure or other complications of ALD and so on. Laboratory tests demonstrated abnormally high plasma levels of VLCFA in ALD patients; MRI demonstrated symmetric butterfly-like low T(1) and high T(2) signals in the parieto-occipital white matter. The impairment in the splenium of corpus callosum made the bilateral lesion region converge into one. It could progress anteriorly and injure the bilateral posterior limb of internal capsule and the temporal lobe, and could injure the brainstem inferiorly. Following intravenous injection of contrast material, thin stripe of lacelike enhancement could be observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The atypical initial symptom of ALD was seizures. The MRI showed abnormal signal in the cerebellar white matter. This disease can influence the normal development of children, this was more pronounced in the childhood cerebral ALD type. It tended to progress rapidly with dementia, vegetative state or death. Since antenatal diagnostic method is available now, emphasis should be made on the antenatal examination in order to make an early diagnosis and abort pregnancy if necessary.</p>