Development and internal validation of a clinical prediction model for spontaneous abortion risk in early pregnancy

Abstract Objective: This study aimed to develop and internally validate a prediction model for estimating the risk of spontaneous abortion in early pregnancy. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 9,895 pregnant women who received prenatal care at a maternal health facility in China from January 2021 to December 2022. Data on demographics, medical history, lifestyle factors, and mental health were collected. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to develop the prediction model with spontaneous abortion as the outcome. The model was internally validated using bootstrapping techniques, and its discrimination and calibration were assessed. Results: The spontaneous abortion rate was 5.95% (589/9,895) 1. The final prediction model included nine variables: maternal age, history of embryonic arrest, thyroid dysfunction, polycystic ovary syndrome, assisted reproduction, exposure to pollution, recent home renovation, depression score, and stress score 1. The model showed good discrimination with a C-statistic of 0.88 (95% CI 0.87‒0.90) 1, and its calibration was adequate based on the Hosmer-Lemeshow test (p = 0.27). Conclusions: The prediction model demonstrated good performance in estimating spontaneous abortion risk in early pregnancy based on demographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors. Further external validation is recommended before clinical application.

Determination of salsolinol N-methyltransferase activity in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats / 中国比较医学杂志

Objective The aim of this study was to establish a rat model of Parkinson''s disease ( PD) by using 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) and detect the salsolinol N-methyltransferase ( SNMT) activity in peripheral lymphocytes of PD rats for the development of a biomarker for early diagnosis of PD. Methods Rat model of PD was established by unilateral double-pointed injection of 6-OHDA into the striatum and was verified by behavior observation. An analytical method was developed based on multiple reaction monitoring with HPLC-ESI-QQQ to determine the SNMT activity in peripheral lymphocytes. Results Seven of 18 rats injected with 6-OHDA showed steadily apomorphine-induced rotation ( >7 r/min) . The success rate was 38. 9%. A sensitive and stable quantitative method with internal standard added was created, based on multiple reaction monitoring mode to analyze SNMT activity. The limit of detection ( LOD) and limit of quantitation ( LQD) of N-methyl-salsolinol, which is the product of Salsolinol catalyzed by SNMT, were 49 pmol/L and 98 pmol/L, respectively. The precisions of intra-day and inter-day assays both were below 6. 0%. SNMT activity of peripheral lymphocytes in the 6-OHDA-lesioned rats was significantly increased [43. 37 ±9. 49 pmol/(h·mg)NMSal] in comparison with that in the normal group [2. 16 ±5. 82 pmol/(h·mg)NMSal] and the sham-operated group [0. 58 ±2. 32 pmol/(h· mg)NMSal](P< 0. 01, n=5). There was no significant difference between the normal group and sham-operated group (P< 0. 05, n =5). Conclusions Our results indicate that SNMT activity may reflect the changes in the course of Parkison''s disease and may become a potential clinical biomarker in diagnosis of this disease.

Cardiovascular risk and prevalence of metabolic syndrome by differing criteria / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in hypertensive population in Chinese countryside is unknown. Firstly, this study compared the prevalence of MetS according to National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) ATPIII, revised NCEP and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definitions. Secondly, it investigated the association between MetS, coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke in patients with hypertension.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this cross sectional study, the cluster sampling method was used. Three MetS definitions were applied to 1418 normal subjects and 5348 hypertensive patients aged 40-75 years in rural areas in China. The agreement between different MetS definitions was estimated by kappa statistics. Logistic regression analyses determined the association between MetS defined by the three MetS definitions and CHD and stroke.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In subjects without hypertension, the prevalence of Mets was 4.1% by NCEP definition, 8.3% revised NCEP definition and 7.8% IDF definition. In hypertensive individuals, the prevalence was 14.0%, 32.9%, and 27.4% in men; 35.6%, 53.1%, and 50.2% in women by the same definitions, respectively. In hypertensive individuals, the agreement was 94.4% in men and 97.0% in women between revised NCEP and IDF definitions. The IDF defined MetS was more strongly associated with CHD than the NCEP or revised NCEP defined MetS (adjusted odds ratio: 1.92 compared with 1.85 and 1.69 in men; 1.64 compared with 1.48 and 1.60 in women).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In the patients with hypertension, the revised NCEP and IDF definitions identified more individuals than NCEP definition and their agreement is very high. The IDF defined MetS is more strongly associated with CHD than the NCEP or revised NCEP defined MetS, but weakly or not associated with stroke.</p>

Ghrelin receptor gene polymorphisms are associated with female metabolic syndrome in Chinese population / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The ghrelin plays an important role in the regulation of food intake and energy homeostasis. Therefore, the ghrelin receptor gene (GHSR) is an excellent candidate for studying metabolic syndrome. This study aimed to investigate whether polymorphisms in ghrelin receptor gene are associated with metabolic syndrome in Chinese population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Subjects consisted of 698 patients aged 41 to 80 years, diagnosed as metabolic syndrome by International Diabetes Federation (IDF) 2005 criteria, and 762 age- and gender-matched controls. Three variants within the GHSR were selected and genotyped using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Odds ratios were estimated using a case-control study design by controlling confounding factors.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The A/A genotype (rs2922126) in the promoter was associated with metabolic syndrome (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.03-1.94), increased waist circumference (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.26-2.42), and increased fast blood glucose (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.07-2.06) in women. The A/A genotype (rs509030) in the intron was associated with lower plasma high density lipoprotein in women (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.02-1.84).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The polymorphisms within GHSR might be a genetic risk factor for metabolic syndrome in women.</p>

Influence of CD4+ and CD25+ T regulatory cell on mouse bearing gastric tumor in vivo / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influence of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells(Treg cells) on mouse gastric cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Treg cell in mouse spleen bearing gastric tumor was tested in different time points. Magic cell sorting(MACS) method was used to purify mouse Treg cells and the Treg cells were injected into mouse bearing gastric tumor with different dosage. After 3 weeks, the tumor size and tumor cell apoptosis rate were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Treg existed in normal mouse spleen with a rate of (3.86+/-0.07)%. In tumor model this percentage increased gradually and was (4.12+/-0.13)% after 3 weeks, which was significantly higher than that in control. When Treg cell applied in mouse reached 2.0 x 10(5), the tumor size enlarged significantly(P=0.013) and tumor cell apoptosis rate decreased significantly (P=0.012).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Treg cell is associated with gastric cancer progress in mouse tumor model. Treg cell can promote gastric cancer growth and decrease tumor apoptosis. The anti- Treg GITR can improve anti- tumor effects.</p>

A novel LMNA gene mutation E82K associated with familial dilated cardiomyopathy / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the function of the novel mutation E82K in LMNA gene identified in a Chinese family infected by dilated cardiomyopathy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>(1) One Chinese family infected by dilated cardiomyopathy was chosen for the study. Exons 1-12 of the LMNA gene were screened with both PCR method and the cycle sequencing of the PCR products. (2) cDNA of the E82K mutation or wild type of LMNA gene was transfected into HEK293 cells and the apoptosis of the cells was detected after treatment with 0.8 mmol/L H2O2.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) A new mutation E82K in LMNA gene was identified in this dilated cardiomyopathy family. (2) Apoptosis was more in the HEK293 cells transfected with E82K mutation than those with empty vector or wild type LMNA gene.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The missense mutation E82K in LMNA gene changed the polar of the amino acid. It showed a malignant phenotype of severe clinical symptoms, early onset, poor survival prognosis and might be associated with atrioventricular conduction block (II degrees-III degrees), suggesting that the E82K mutation in LMNA gene may be a candidate for nosogenesis of dilated cardiomyopathy.</p>