Association between p53 polymorphism at codon 72 and recurrent spontaneous abortion / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

p53 gene plays an important role in apoptosis, which is necessary for successful invasion of trophoblast cells. The change from an arginine (Arg) to a proline (Pro) at codon 72 can influence the biological activity of p53, which predisposes to an increased risk of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). In order to investigate the association between p53 polymorphism at codon 72 and RSA, we conducted this meta-analysis. Pubmed, Embase and Web of science were used to identify the eligible studies. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to evaluate the strength of the association. Six studies containing 937 cases of RSA and 830 controls were included, and there was one study deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). There was a significant association between p53 polymorphism at codon 72 and RSA in recessive model (Pro/Pro vs. Pro/Arg+Arg/Arg; OR=1.60, 95% CI: 1.14-2.24) and co-dominant model (Pro/Pro vs. Arg/Arg; OR=1.47, 95% CI: 1.02-2.12) whether the study that was deviated from HWE was eliminated or not. A significant association was observed in allelic model (Pro vs. Arg; OR=1.28, 95% CI: 1.04-1.57) after exclusion of the study that was deviated from HWE. No association was noted in recessive model (Pro/Pro+Pro/Arg vs. Arg/Arg; OR=1.05, 95% CI: 0.86-1.30) and co-dominant model (Pro/Arg vs. Arg/Arg; OR=0.96, 95% CI: 0.77-1.19). Subgroup analysis by ethnicity also indicated a significant association between p53 polymorphism at codon 72 and RSA in Caucasian group. No heterogeneity and publication bias were found. Our meta-analysis implied that p53 polymorphism at codon 72 carries high maternal risk of RSA.

Effectiveness and safety of double-balloon catheter versus intra-amniotic injection of ethacridine lactate for termination of second trimester pregnancy in patients with liver dysfunction / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Severe liver dysfunction in pregnancy (SLDP) is rare but serious complications with high mortality rate. This study compared the effectiveness and safety of double-balloon catheter versus intra-amniotic injection of ethacridine lactate for the termination of second trimester pregnancy in patients with SLD. A total of 55 patients with indications of labor induction were enrolled and analyzed by retrospective control analysis method. Twenty-three cases adopted Cook double balloon dilation as Cook group, and 32 cases received intra-amniotic injection of ethacridine lactate as EL group. The primary outcome was evaluated by successful abortion rate and the difference in the induction-to-abortion interval. Secondary outcomes included liver function recovery and the frequency of adverse events. Both Cook and EL regimens were effective, with successful abortion rate of 87.0% and 93.8%, respectively (P=0.639). The induction-to-delivery interval was similar between Cook group and EL group (38.1±21.5 vs. 41.3±17.4, P=0.543). The liver disease status was more severe in Cook group than in EL group, but it did not show any significant difference after pregnancy termination between the two groups and the improvement rate also did not show any significant difference. Both treatments were safe and there was no significant difference in bleeding and cervical laceration adverse events between the two groups. Our study firstly compared double-balloon catheter and ethacridine lactate for the induction of labor in women with SLD during second trimester pregnancy.

Effectiveness and safety of double-balloon catheter versus intra-amniotic injection of ethacridine lactate for termination of second trimester pregnancy in patients with liver dysfunction / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Severe liver dysfunction in pregnancy (SLDP) is rare but serious complications with high mortality rate. This study compared the effectiveness and safety of double-balloon catheter versus intra-amniotic injection of ethacridine lactate for the termination of second trimester pregnancy in patients with SLD. A total of 55 patients with indications of labor induction were enrolled and analyzed by retrospective control analysis method. Twenty-three cases adopted Cook double balloon dilation as Cook group, and 32 cases received intra-amniotic injection of ethacridine lactate as EL group. The primary outcome was evaluated by successful abortion rate and the difference in the induction-to-abortion interval. Secondary outcomes included liver function recovery and the frequency of adverse events. Both Cook and EL regimens were effective, with successful abortion rate of 87.0% and 93.8%, respectively (P=0.639). The induction-to-delivery interval was similar between Cook group and EL group (38.1 ± 21.5 vs. 41.3 ± 17.4, P=0.543). The liver disease status was more severe in Cook group than in EL group, but it did not show any significant difference after pregnancy termination between the two groups and the improvement rate also did not show any significant difference. Both treatments were safe and there was no significant difference in bleeding and cervical laceration adverse events between the two groups. Our study firstly compared double-balloon catheter and ethacridine lactate for the induction of labor in women with SLD during second trimester pregnancy.

Polymorphisms in genes involved in folate metabolism as maternal risk factors for Down syndrome in China / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationship between genetic polymorphisms in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), methionine synthase reductase (MTRR), the central enzymes in folate metabolism that affects DNA methylation and synthesis, and the risk of Down syndrome in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Genomic DNA was isolated from the peripheral lymphocytes of 64 mothers of children with Down syndrome and 70 age matched control subjects. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism were used to examine the polymorphisms of MTHFR 677C-->T, MTRR 66A-->G and the relationship between these genotypes and the risk of Down syndrome was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results show that the MTHFR 677C-->T polymorphism is more prevalent among mothers of children with Down syndrome than among control mothers, with an odds ratio of 3.78 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.78 approximately 8.47). In addition, the homozygous MTRR 66A-->G polymorphism was independently associated with a 5.2-fold increase in estimated risk (95% CI, 1.90 approximately 14.22). The combined presence of both polymorphisms was associated with a greater risk of Down syndrome than the presence of either alone, with an odds ratio of 6.0 (95% CI, 2.058 approximately 17.496). The two polymorphisms appear to act without a multiplicative interaction.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MTHFR and MTRR gene mutation alleles are related to Down syndrome, and CT, TT and GG gene mutation types increase the risk of Down syndrome.</p>

Application of fluorescence in situ hybridization to prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed with specific probes to make the rapid prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>FISH was performed respectively with locus-specific probe (LSI) 21 and centromeric probe (CEP) X/Y on the uncultured amniotic fluid samplesìand the cultured samples were analyzed by traditional cytogenetics to find the concordance rate between FISH and standard cytogenetics.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Amniocentesis was performed in 23 pregnant women. Two samples were discarded because of contamination by maternal blood; one case of culture failed. A typical trisomy 21 found by FISH was in accordance with the result of traditional cytogenetics. A case with abnormal karyotype (X/XY) found by CEPX/Y probe was proved to be normal (46, XY) by cytogenetics. So the concordance rate was 95% (19/20).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>FISH is a rapid and reliable method to detect Down syndrome in uncultured amniotic fluid.</p>

Application of factor analysis in the study of risk factors on human parvovirus B19 infection during pregnancy / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the risk factors of human parvovirus B19 infection in pregnancy and to provide guidelines for its prevention and control strategy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four hundred and eighty-six cases of gravida serum were detected for parvovirus B19 DNA by nested-polymerase chain reaction assay. Factors associated with parvovirus B19 infection in pregnancy were investigated and analyzed, using multiple logistic regression and factor analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Multiple logistic regression analysis suggested that there were 16 agents associated with parvovirus B19 infection during pregnancy, which were dominated by 6 potential factors listed as follows: countryside and bad hygienic habit, mental factor, occupational exposure to hospital and environmental condition, health and illness, bad behavior and health education and blood type.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The prevention strategy of parvovirus B19 infection in pregnancy should include reasonable allocation of public health resources between city and countryside, and to promote health education and occupational health during pregnancy.</p>

Expression of Apelin in placentas of patients with hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective To investigate the expression of Apelin in placenta tissue from women with hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy.Methods Thirty six women with hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy(HDCP)and 15 normal pregnant women were studied.The expression of Apelin-36 was analyzed semi-quantitatively using immunohisto-chemistry and image analysis in placenta tissue and the levels of Apelin mRNA expression were determined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR method.Results The levels of Apelin-36 and Apelin mRNA in placenta from normal pregnant women were 0.27?0.04 and 0.82 ?0.25,respectively.The levels of Apelin-36 and Apelin mRNA in placenta from HDCP women were 0.18 ?0.05 and 0.31?0.21;in gestational hypertensive women,the values were 0.24?0.02 and 0.59?0.16; in mild preeclampsia were 0.16?0.03 and 0.25?0.07,and in severe preeclampsia they were 0.14?0.02 and 0.17?0.09,respectively.The levels of Apelin-36 and Apelin mRNA in HDCP were lower than those in normal pregnant women(P