Clinical analysis on the influencing factors related to preterm twin pregnancy

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the influencing factors of preterm twin pregnancy. METHODS: In total, 602 twin-pregnant women delivered from February 2016 to February 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. According to whether the pregnant women were preterm or not, they were divided into preterm group (n=363) and term group (n=239). Baseline information, such as maternal age, address, and education level of the pregnant women, were collected. The clinical information of pregnant women, such as chorionic, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, premature rupture of membranes, abnormal fetal position, and fetal weight, were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors. p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: In the preterm group, monochorionic diamniotic comorbidities were significantly higher compared with the control group (p<0.05). Higher risks of preterm group have lower education (p<0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that education, preeclampsia, and premature rupture of membranes were risk factors for preterm twin pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Preterm birth in twin pregnancy is associated with many risk factors, such as education, preeclampsia, and premature rupture of membranes. Pregnancy supervision and prenatal guidance for twin pregnancy should be strengthened. Furthermore, early detection and diagnosis of comorbidities can improve maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Engineering CrtW and CrtZ for improving biosynthesis of astaxanthin in Escherichia coli / 中国天然药物

This study engineered β-carotene ketolase CrtW and β-carotene hydroxylase CrtZ to improve biosynthesis of astaxanthin in Escherichia coli. Firstly, crtW was randomly mutated to increase CrtW activities on conversion from β-carotene to astaxanthin. A crtW* mutant with A6T, T105A and L239M mutations has improved 5.35-fold astaxanthin production compared with the wild-type control. Secondly, the expression levels of crtW* and crtZ on chromosomal were balanced by simultaneous modulation RBS regions of their genes using RBS library. The strain RBS54 selected from RBS library, directed the pathway exclusively towards the desired product astaxanthin as predominant carotenoid (99%). Lastly, the number of chromosomal copies of the balanced crtW-crtZ cassette from RBS54 was increased using a Cre-loxP based technique, and a strain with 30 copies of the crtW*-crtZ cassette was selected. This final strain DL-A008 had a 9.8-fold increase of astaxanthin production compared with the wild-type control. Fed-batch fermentation showed that DL-A008 produced astaxanthin as predominant carotenoid (99%) with a specific titer of 0.88 g·L without addition of inducer. In conclusion, through constructing crtW mutation, balancing the expression levels between crtW* and crtZ, and increasing the copy number of the balanced crtW*-crtZ cassette, the activities of β-carotene ketolase and β-carotene hydroxylase were improved for conversion of β-carotene to astaxanthin with higher efficiency. The series of conventional and novel metabolic engineering strategies were designed and applied to construct the astaxanthin hetero-producer strain of E. coli, possibly offering a general approach for the construction of stable hetero-producer strains for other natural products.

Influence of Puncture Site on Radial Artery Occlusion After Transradial Coronary Intervention / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The risk of radial artery occlusion (RAO) needs particular attention in transradial intervention (TRI). Therefore, reducing vascular occlusion has an important clinical significance. The aim of this study was to determine the appropriate puncture site during TRI through comparing the occurrence of RAO between the different puncture sites to reduce the occurrence of RAO after TRI.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We prospectively assessed the occurrence of RAO in 606 consecutive patients undergoing TRI. Artery occlusion was evaluated with Doppler ultrasound in 2 days and 1 year after the intervention. Risk factors for RAO were evaluated using a multivariate model analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 606 patients, the RAO occurred in 56 patients. Compared with TRI at 2-5 cm away from the radius styloid process, the odds ratio (OR) for occlusion risk at 0 cm and 1 cm were 9.65 (P = 0.033) and 8.90 (P = 0.040), respectively. The RAO occurred in the ratio of the arterial diameter to the sheath diameter ≤1 (OR = 2.45, P = 0.004).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Distal puncture sites (0-1 cm away from the radius styloid process) can lead to a higher rate of RAO.</p><p><b>TRIAL REGISTRATION</b>ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01979627; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01979627?term = NCT01979627 and rank = 1.</p>

Effect of Intravenous Administration of Liposomal Prostaglandin E1 on Microcirculation in Patients with ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Intervention / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Several studies have demonstrated that primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) can result in reperfusion injury. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of liposomal prostaglandin E1 (Lipo-PGE1, Alprostadil, Beijing Tide Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) for enhancing microcirculation in reperfusion injury. In addition, this study determined the optimal administration method for acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing primary PCI.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally, 68 patients with STEMI were randomly assigned to two groups: intravenous administration of Lipo-PGE1 (Group A), and no Lipo-PGE1 administration (Group B). The corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count (cTFC) and myocardial blush grade (MBG) were calculated. Patients were followed up for 6 months. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were also measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no significant difference in the baseline characteristics between the two groups. The cTFC parameter in Group A was significantly lower than Group B (18.06 ± 2.06 vs. 25.31 ± 2.59, P < 0.01). The ratio of final MBG grade-3 was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in Group A (87.9%) relative to Group B (65.7%). There was no significant difference between the two groups in final TIMI-3 flow and no-reflow. Patients were followed up for 6 months, and the occurrence of MACE in Group A was significantly lower than that in Group B (6.1% vs. 25.9% respectively, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Myocardial microcirculation of reperfusion injury in patients with STEMI, after primary PCI, can be improved by administering Lipo-PGE1.</p>

GABAergic neurons in the central nucleus of amygdala modulate sodium appetite in rats / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine whether the GABA-containing neurons in rat central nucleus of amygdala (CeA) can be activated by acute sodium deprivation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Acute sodium depletion was induced by subcutaneous injection of furosemide in rats followed by 24 h of dietary sodium deprivation. The rats underwent 0.3 mol/L NaCl/distilled water two bottle choice test, and the activated neurons were labeled and identified with GABA/Fos-double labeling immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rats with acute sodium depletion exhibited significantly more numerous c-fos-positive neurons and GABA/Fos double-labeled neurons in the CeA than the control group (P<0.01, P<0.05). Consumption of 0.3 mol/L NaCl significantly increased the number of c-fos and GABA/Fos double labeled neurons compared to the distilled water group (P<0.001, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GABAergic neurons in the CeA may play an inhibitory role in the regulation of sodium intake in rats with acute sodium depletion.</p>

The Changes of Glutathione and Ergosterol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Under High Pressure / 中国生物工程杂志

The growth changes of glutathione (GSH) and ergosterol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (CICC1447 and CICC1339) were detected under 0.5Mpa pressure with compressed high-pure air (O-2∶N-2=21∶79). The results showed that logarithmic phases of the two strains were delayed; their biomass and special growth rate were lower than those of control sample (0.1MPa) and the double time were prolonged under 0.5MPa. High-pressure could increase the content of GSH obviously, compared to ambient atmosphere control samples. When the holding time was 3h, the content of GSH and ergosterol in CICC1447 increased 42.6% and 20.1%, respectively. However, the content of GSH in CICC1339 increased 58.7% when the holding time was 6h, while ergosterol content reduced. The results indicated that different yeast strains have different stress-response mechanism to copy with high-pressure shock.