A novel anti-CD47 protein antibody and toll-like receptor agonist complex detects tumor surface CD-47 changes in early stage lung cancer by in vivo imaging.

CD47, a cell surface protein known for inhibiting phagocytosis, plays a critical role in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and is a potential biomarker for cancer. However, directly applying αCD47, a hydrophilic macromolecular antibody that targets CD47, in vivo for cancer detection can have adverse effects on normal cells, cause systemic toxicities, and lead to resistance against anti-cancer therapies. In this study, we developed a novel complex incorporating aluminum-based metal-organic frameworks (Al-MOF) loaded with indocyanine green (ICG), αCD47, and resiquimod (R848), a hydrophobic small molecule Toll-like receptor 7/8 (TLR7/8) agonist. Upon activation with an infrared 808 nm laser, the nanocomposites exhibited photothermal effects that triggered the release of the loaded reagents, induced ROS production, and induced changes in the TME. This led to the polarization of immune-suppressive M2 macrophages towards an immune-stimulatory M1 phenotype, promoted dendritic cell (DC) maturation, and enabled mature DCs to facilitate antigen presentation, T-cell activation, and critical roles in tumor immunity. Furthermore, in vivo imaging successfully detected the specific binding of αCD47 with CD47 on tumor cells. Overall, the complex composed of αCD47 antibody and toll-like receptor agonist showed promising efficacy in both tumor diagnosis and therapy, providing a potential strategy for detecting early lung cancer and modulating the tumor microenvironment for improved treatment outcomes.

A machine learning-based diagnostic model for myocardial infarction patients: Analysis of neutrophil extracellular traps-related genes and eQTL Mendelian randomization.

To identify neutrophil extracellular trap (NET)-associated gene features in the blood of patients with myocardial infarction (MI) using bioinformatics and machine learning, with the aim of exploring potential diagnostic utility in atherosclerosis. The datasets GSE66360 and GSE48060 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) public database. GSE66360 was used as the training set, and GSE48060 was used as an independent validation set. Differential genes related to NETs were screened using R software. Machine learning was performed based on the differential expression of NET-related genes across different samples. The advantages and disadvantages of 4 machine learning algorithms (Random Forest [RF], Extreme Gradient Boosting [XGBoost, XGB], Generalized Linear Models [GLM], and Support Vector Machine-Recursive Feature Elimination [SVM-RFE]) were compared, and the optimal method was used to screen feature genes and construct diagnostic models, which were then validated in the external validation dataset. Correlations between feature genes and immune cells were analyzed, and samples were reclustered based on the expression of feature genes. Differences in downstream molecular mechanisms and immune responses were explored for different clusters. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis was performed on different clusters, and disease-related NET genes were extracted, followed by Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis. Finally, Mendelian randomization was employed to further investigate the causal relationship between the expression of model genes and the occurrence of MI. Forty-seven NET-related differential genes were obtained, and after comparing the 4 machine learning methods, support vector machine was used to screen ATG7, MMP9, interleukin 6 (IL6), DNASE1, and PDE4B as key genes for the construction of diagnostic models. The diagnostic value of the model was validated in an independent external validation dataset. These five genes showed strong correlations with neutrophils. Different sample clusters also demonstrated differential enrichment in pathways such as nitrogen metabolism, complement and coagulation cascades, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, renin-angiotensin system, and steroid biosynthesis. The Mendelian randomization results demonstrate a causal relationship between the expression of ATG7 and the incidence of myocardial infarction. The feature genes ATG7, MMP9, IL6, DNASE1, and PDE4B, identified using bioinformatics, may serve as potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for Myocardial infarction. Specifically, the expression of ATG7 could potentially be a significant factor in the occurrence of MI.

Predictive nomogram models for atrial fibrillation in COPD patients: A comprehensive analysis of risk factors and prognosis.

The aim of the present study was to identify the independent risk factors and prognostic indicators for atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to develop predictive nomogram models. This retrospective study included a total of 286 patients with COPD who were admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical College between January 2020 and May 2022. The average age of the patients was 77.11±8.67 years. Based on the presence or absence of AF, the patients were divided into two groups: The AF group (n=87) and the non-AF group (n=199). Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify variables with significant differences between the two groups. Nomogram models were constructed to predict the occurrence of AF in COPD patients and to assess prognosis. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The follow-up period for the present study extended until April 31, 2023. Survival time was defined as the duration from the date of the interview to the date the participant succumbed or the end of the follow-up period. In the present study, age, uric acid (UA) and left atrial diameter (LAD) were found to be independent risk factors for the development of AF in patients diagnosed with COPD. The stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that age had an odds ratio (OR) of 1.072 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.019-1.128; P=0.007], UA had an OR of 1.004 (95% CI: 1.001-1.008; P=0.010) and LAD had an OR of 1.195 (95% CI: 1.098-1.301; P<0.001). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that LAD and UA were independent prognostic factors for long-term mortality in COPD patients with AF. LAD had a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.104 (95% CI: 1.046-1.165; P<0.001) and UA had an HR of 1.004 (95% CI: 1.000-1.008; P=0.042). Based on these findings, predictive nomogram models were developed for AF in COPD patients, which demonstrated good discrimination ability with an area under the curve of 0.886. The prognostic nomogram for COPD patients with AF also showed good predictive accuracy with a concordance index of 0.886 (95% CI: 0.842-0.930). These models can provide valuable information for risk assessment and prognosis evaluation in clinical practice. Age, UA and LAD are independent risk factors for AF in COPD patients. The developed nomogram models provide a reliable tool for predicting AF in COPD patients and for prognosis assessment.

Preoperative prognostic nutritional index is an independent indicator for perioperative prognosis in coronary artery bypass grafting patients.

OBJECTIVES: The prognostic nutritional index is widely used for surgery prognosis, but the association between preoperative prognostic nutritional index and short-term prognosis for coronary artery bypass grafting surgery and the profiles of perioperative prognostic nutritional index remain unclear. METHODS: This study retrospectively enrolled a total of 879 adult patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery in the Shanghai Chest Hospital from 2006 to 2022. The prognostic nutritional index was calculated based on serum albumin and peripheral lymphocyte count. In-hospital mortality, demographic characteristics, blood biochemistry parameters, cardiovascular medical history, and physical examination results were collected from the hospital information system. The propensity score matching method and multivariate logistic regression were used to detect the association between preoperative prognostic nutritional index and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Patients were divided into a high-prognostic nutritional index group (n = 500) and a low-prognostic nutritional index group (n = 379), using a cutoff value of 48.1 according to receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The propensity score matching-adjusted mean prognostic nutritional index levels decreased from 48.35 before the operation to 34.04 an in ≤24 h after the operation and rebounded to 43.36 before discharge. High preoperative prognostic nutritional index was inversely associated with in-hospital mortality for coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (odds ratio = 0.86; 95% CI, 0.77-0.97) in propensity score matching-adjusted multivariate logistic regression. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative prognostic nutritional index is an independent indicator for in-hospital mortality of for coronary artery bypass grafting surgery, and the variation trend of prognostic nutritional index during perioperation tends to be U-shaped.

Analysis of the influence of pyroptosis-related genes on molecular characteristics in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Pyroptosis is a newly identified mode of programmed cell death, but the potential role in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains unclear. In this study, bioinformatics methods were used to identify differentially expressed genes from peripheral blood transcriptome data between normal subjects and patients with AMI which were downloaded by the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Comparing Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) training algorithms were used to identify pyroptosis-related genes, predicting patients with AMI by nomogram based on informative genes. Moreover, clustering was used to amplify the feature of pyroptosis, in order to facilitate analysis distinct biological differences. Diversity analysis indicated that a majority of pyroptosis-related genes are expressed at higher levels in patients with AMI. The receiver operating characteristic curves show that the RF model is more responsive than the SVM machine learning model to the pyroptosis characteristics of these patients in vivo. We obtained a column line graph diagnostic model which was developed based on 19 genes established by the RF model. After the consensus clustering algorithm of single sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) Enrichment Analysis, the results for them found that pyroptosis-related genes mediate the activation of multiple immune cells and many inflammatory pathways in the body. We used RF and SVM algorithms to determine 19 pyroptosis-related genes and evaluate their immunological effects in patients with AMI. We also constructed a series of by nomogram related to pyroptosis-related genes to predict the risk of developing AMI.

Increased Prevalence of Thyroid Nodules Across Nearly 10 Years in Shanghai, China.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine whether the prevalence of thyroid nodules (TNs) increased due to modern lifestyles or other factors, despite the advances in screening and diagnostic tools. METHODS: This study included 3474 pairs of participants, who were matched by gender and age (±3 years) from two cross-sectional sampling surveys: (1) the program on the iodine nutritional status and related health status of residents in Shanghai in 2009; (2) the thyroid disease screening program for adults in Shanghai between 2017 and 2018. The prevalence of TNs and thyroid diseases in 2009 and 2017-2018 were compared, and the potential risk factors of TNs were detected. RESULTS: The prevalence of TNs in 2009 was 28.9%: 22.5% in males and 34.5% in females. In 2017, this increased to 43.8%: 37.9% in males and 49.1% in females. The prevalence of TNs significantly increased from 2009 to 2017 (odds ratio, 1.486; 95% confidence interval, 1.238-1.786). In addition, female gender, thyroid disease history, and age were the main risk factors for TNs after adjusting for confounders in the logistic regression across the time period. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of TNs significantly increased across nearly 10 years in Shanghai.

The Interactive Effects of Severe Vitamin D Deficiency and Iodine Nutrition Status on the Risk of Thyroid Disorder in Pregnant Women.

Thyroid dysfunction is associated with both vitamin D deficiency and iodine; however, it is unclear whether they interact. This study aimed to investigate whether and to what extent the interactions between vitamin D and iodine contribute to the risk of thyroid disorder. Participants (n = 4280) were chosen using multistage, stratified random sampling from Shanghai. Fasting blood was drawn for the 25(OH)D and thyroid parameter tests. Spot urine samples were gathered to test for urine iodine. To evaluate the interactive effects of vitamin D and iodine, crossover analysis was carried out. Pregnant women with a high urinary iodine concentration (UIC) and severe vitamin D deficiency had a significantly higher risk of thyrotropin receptor antibody (TrAb) positivity (odds ratio = 2.62, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.32, 5.22) in the first trimester. Severe vitamin D deficiency and high UIC interacted positively for the risk of TrAb positivity (relative excess risk due to interaction = 1.910, 95%CI: 0.054, 3.766; attributable proportion = 0.700, 95%CI: 0.367, 1.03). Severe vitamin D deficiency combined with excess iodine could increase the risk of TrAb positivity in pregnant women in the first trimester.

A Cluster Sequencing Strategy To Determine the Consensus Affinity Domains in Heparin for Its Binding to Specific Proteins.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) have high negative charge and are biologically and pharmaceutically important because their high charge promotes a strong interaction with many proteins. Due to the inherent heterogeneity of GAGs, multiple oligosaccharides, containing certain common domains, often can interact with clusters of basic amino acid residues on a target protein. The specificity of many GAG-protein interactions remains undiscovered since there is insufficient structural information on the interacting GAGs. Herein, we establish a cluster sequencing strategy to simultaneously deduce all major sequences of the affinity GAG oligosaccharides, leading to a definition of the consensus sequence they share that corresponds to the specific binding domain for the target protein. As a proof of concept, antithrombin III-binding oligosaccharides were examined, resulting in a heptasaccharide domain containing the well-established anticoagulant pentasaccharide sequence. Repeating this approach, a new pentasaccharide domain was discovered corresponding to the heparin motif responsible for binding interferon-γ (IFNγ). Our strategy is fundamentally important for the discovery of saccharide sequences needed in the development of novel GAG-based therapeutics.

Artifact-Assisted multi-level and multi-scale feature fusion attention network for low-dose CT denoising.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Since low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) images typically have higher noise that may affect accuracy of disease diagnosis, the objective of this study is to develop and evaluate a new artifact-assisted feature fusion attention (AAFFA) network to extract and reduce image artifact and noise in LDCT images. METHODS: In AAFFA network, a feature fusion attention block is constructed for local multi-scale artifact feature extraction and progressive fusion from coarse to fine. A multi-level fusion architecture based on skip connection and attention modules is also introduced for artifact feature extraction. Specifically, long-range skip connections are used to enhance and fuse artifact features with different depth levels. Then, the fused shallower features enter channel attention for better extraction of artifact features, and the fused deeper features are sent into pixel attention for focusing on the artifact pixel information. Besides, an artifact channel is designed to provide rich artifact features and guide the extraction of noise and artifact features. The AAPM LDCT Challenge dataset is used to train and test the network. The performance is evaluated by using both visual observation and quantitative metrics including peak signal-noise-ratio (PSNR), structural similarity index (SSIM) and visual information fidelity (VIF). RESULTS: Using AAFFA network improves the averaged PSNR/SSIM/VIF values of AAPM LDCT images from 43.4961, 0.9595, 0.3926 to 48.2513, 0.9859, 0.4589, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed AAFFA network is able to effectively reduce noise and artifacts while preserving object edges. Assessment of visual quality and quantitative index demonstrates the significant improvement compared with other image denoising methods.

Thyroid cancer and Its Associations with Dietary Quality in A 1:1 matched Case-Control Study.

Thyroid cancer (TC) incidence has increased greatly during the past decades with a few established risk factors, while no study is available that has assessed the association of the Chinese Health Dietary Index (CHDI) with TC. We conducted a 1:1 matched case-control study in two hospitals in Shanghai, China. Diet quality scores were calculated according to CHDI using a validated and reliable food-frequency questionnaire. Conditional logistic regression analysis and Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis was used to reveal potential associations between CHDI score and thyroid cancer risk. A total of 414 pairs of historically confirmed TC patients and healthy controls were recruited from November 2012 to December 2015. The total score of cases and controls were 67.5 and 72.8, respectively (p < 0.001). The median score of total vegetables, fruit, diary, dark green and orange vegetables, fish, shellfish and mollusk, soybean, and whole grains, dry bean and tuber in cases was significantly lower than those in controls. Compared to the reference group (≤60 points), the average (60∼80 points) and high (≥80 points) levels of the CHDI score were associated with a reduced risk of TC (OR: 0.40, 95% Cl: 0.26∼0.63 for 60∼80 points; OR: 0.22, 95% Cl: 0.12∼0.38 for ≥80 points). In age-stratified analyses, the favorable association remained significant among participants who younger than 50 years old. Our data suggested that high diet quality as determined by CHDI was associated with lower risk of TC.

A Dual-Encoder-Single-Decoder Based Low-Dose CT Denoising Network.

Generative adversarial networks (GAN) have shown great potential for image quality improvement in low-dose CT (LDCT). In general, the shallow features of generator include more shallow visual information such as edges and texture, while the deep features of generator contain more deep semantic information such as organization structure. To improve the network's ability to categorically deal with different kinds of information, this paper proposes a new type of GAN with dual-encoder- single-decoder structure. In the structure of the generator, firstly, a pyramid non-local attention module in the main encoder channel is designed to improve the feature extraction effectiveness by enhancing the features with self-similarity; Secondly, another encoder with shallow feature processing module and deep feature processing module is proposed to improve the encoding capabilities of the generator; Finally, the final denoised CT image is generated by fusing main encoder's features, shallow visual features, and deep semantic features. The quality of the generated images is improved due to the use of feature complementation in the generator. In order to improve the adversarial training ability of discriminator, a hierarchical-split ResNet structure is proposed, which improves the feature's richness and reduces the feature's redundancy in discriminator. The experimental results show that compared with the traditional single-encoder- single-decoder based GAN, the proposed method performs better in both image quality and medical diagnostic acceptability. Code is available in https://github.com/hanzefang/DESDGAN.

Association of maternal thyroid dysfunction and autoimmunity with adverse birth outcomes.

This study aimed to explore the relationship between thyroid function and autoimmunity and adverse birth outcomes. Serum levels of thyroid function were detected by electrochemiluminescence assay. Urine iodine concentration was detected using the acid digestion method. We used multiple linear regression to assess the correlation between thyroid function indicators and birth weight according to trimester stratification and binary logistic regression to evaluate the correlation between thyroid dysfunction and adverse birth outcomes. Reference ranges for trimester-specific thyroid hormones were established in our 2564 pregnant women cohort with mild iodine deficiency. The higher the maternal thyroid-stimulating hormone in the first trimester (B = 0.09, P = 0.048) and total triiodothyronine (TT3) in the third trimester (B = 0.16, P < 0.001) of TPOAbnegative women, the higher the birth weight Z-score, whereas in the second trimester, free-thyroxine of mothers with TPOAb negative was lower (B = -0.10, P = 0.026) and the birth weight Z-score was higher. Pregnant women with overt and subclinical hyperthyroidism had a higher risk of preterm births than euthyroid women (11.9% vs 4.5%; odds ratio (OR): 2.84; P = 0.009). Women with higher TT3 had a higher risk of preterm (17.0% vs 4.5%; OR: 4.19; P < 0.001) and LGA (34.0% vs 11.1%; OR: 3.70; P < 0.001) births than euthyroid women. In conclusion, thyroid function during pregnancy could affect birth weight and birth outcome.

No Association Was Found Between Mild Iodine Deficiency During Pregnancy and Pregnancy Outcomes: a Follow-up Study Based on a Birth Registry.

BACKGROUND: Severe iodine deficiency during gestation is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes; however, the impact of mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency, though prevalent in pregnancy, remains unclear. METHODS: We extracted follow-up data for 7435 pregnant women from a national iodine deficiency disorders monitoring program from 2016 to 2018 and a mother-child cohort study in 2017 based on a birth registry in Shanghai. Birth outcomes were collected from the registry. Spot urine and household salt samples were collected for iodine testing. Single-factor analysis and logistic regression were used to evaluate the association between maternal iodine status and pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS: The median urine iodine level in pregnant women was 137.5 µg/L (interquartile range 82.4-211.5), suggesting mild deficiency according to WHO standards. The incidence of pregnancy termination, preterm birth, congenital malformations, low birth weight, and cesarean section was 3.2%, 4.3%, 1.4%, 2.7%, and 45.2% in the mildly iodine-deficient group and 3.4%, 4.5%, 1.4%, 2.7%, and 44.5% in the normal group, respectively. After adjusting for maternal age and education, trimesters, and preterm birth rate in the general population, the odds ratios for any outcome did not differ significantly between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that mild maternal iodine deficiency is not associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Iodine nutrition status and thyroid autoimmunity during pregnancy: a cross-sectional study of 4635 pregnant women.

BACKGROUND: Pregnant women in Shanghai have long been at risk for mild iodine deficiency. Because thyroid autoimmunity in pregnant women can lead to premature birth and miscarriage as well as neurodevelopmental deficits in the fetus, the aim of this study was to explore the association of iodine nutrition status with thyroid antibodies during pregnancy. METHODS: A pregnancy-birth cohort was conducted including 4635 pregnant women in Shanghai, China. The eligible participants underwent a face-to-face interview and completed questionnaire surveys to collect baseline information and diet intake. Spot urine samples were collected to test urine iodine. Thyroid antibodies including thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb), thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) and thyrotrophic antibodies (TRAb) were tested. Single-factor analysis and logistic regression were used to evaluate the association between iodine status and thyroid autoimmunity during pregnancy. RESULTS: The median urinary iodine excretion level in the sample was 138.14 µg/L (interquartile range [IQR] 80.90-219.00 µg/L). Among all the subjects, 25.9% consumed non-iodized salt, 54.5% had iodine deficiency, and 31.0% had thyroid autoimmunity. The proportion of patients with iodine deficiency was significantly higher among those who consumed non-iodized salt (36.9% vs. 33.1%; p = 0.04). After adjusting for age, educational status, former smoker status, former drinker status, first pregnancy, and previous thyroid disease, non-iodized salt (odds ratio [OR] = 1.394 [confidence interval, CI, 1.165-1.562]; p = 0.003), iodine-rich food (OR = 0.681 [CI 0.585-0.793]; p = 0.003), iodized nutritional supplements (OR = 0.427 [CI 0.347-0.526]; p = 0.003), were found to be individually associated with thyroid autoimmunity in all participants. The results of the multivariable restricted cubic spline regression analysis showed a non-linear relationship between the continuous change in iodine intake and thyroid autoimmunity (p = 0.019). Participants with iodine deficiency (urinary iodine concentration, UIC,< 100 µg/L) had an increased risk of testing positive for thyroid antibodies (TPOAb/TgAb/TRAb[+]; OR = 1.324 [CI 1.125-1.559]; p < 0.001). Moreover, this associated existed even after removing participants with previous thyroid disease. CONCLUSION: Inadequate iodine nutrition in pregnant women is an independent risk factor for thyroid autoimmunity in Shanghai. It's important to maintain the adequate iodine status in pregnant women.

Jiangnan dietary pattern actively prevents muscle mass loss: Based on a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The proportion of sarcopenia in the elderly is very high, although muscle mass loss before sarcopenia covers a wider population. The present study aimed to analyse the effects of different dietary patterns on muscle mass. METHODS: In both 2015 and 2018, using multilayer random sampling, the same participants were selected, and the same questionnaires and machines were used. RESULTS: In total, 502 participants were selected. The >65-year-old group showed maximum muscle mass loss in males and females (-1.53 kg ± 4.42 and -1.14 kg ± 2.6 on average, respectively). The cumulative variance of four dietary patterns reached 52.28%. Logistical regression revealed significant differences between 'Jiangnan Dietary' groups: Q2 vs. Q1 [odds ratio (OR) = 0.356, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.202-0.629]; Q3 vs. Q1 (OR = 0.457, 95% CI = 0.262-0.797). Relative influence factors for muscle mass loss were age (>65 vs. <45, OR = 2.027, 95% CI = 1.117-3.680), physical activity (OR = 0.550, 95% CI = 0.315-0.960), income (high vs. low, OR = 0.413, 95% CI = 0.210 -0.810), sex (female vs. male, OR = 0.379, 95% CI = 0.235-0.519). CONCLUSIONS: After 3 years of follow-up, participants' muscle mass declined significantly. The 'Jiangnan Dietary' pattern prevented muscle mass loss and is recommended to the wider population.

Combination of Ephedra sinica stems and Terminalia chebula fruits produces new ephedrine derivatives in vivo that diminish the permeability to BBB while retaining airway dilation and hepatoprotective effects.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The stems of Ephedra sinica and the fruits of Terminalia chebula are combined using in traditional Mongolian medicine formula "Gurigumu-7" for liver diseases. E. sinica stems contains ephedrine with broncho-dilatory activity. However, ephedrine can pass through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and excite the central nervous system (CNS) to cause insomnia and restlessness. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study was to investigate the structures and bioactivities of new compounds formed in vivo after co-administration of E. sinica stems and T. chebula fruits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pharmacokinetic investigation was carried out in rats. A parallel artificial membrane permeability measurement system was used to determine BBB permeability. Ex vivo experiments using tracheal rings of guinea pig was performed to examine the tracheal relaxation effect. In vivo hepatoprotective tests were carried out in Tg (fabp10a: dsRed) liver transgenic zebrafish. The fluorescent probe, 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate, was used to measure reactive oxygen species, and UHPLC-MS was used to determine glutathione concentrations after derivatization with N-ethylmaleimide. RESULTS: New ephedrine derivatives (1 and 2) formed in vivo and reached their maximum serum concentrations at 0.5 h after administration of the two herbal drugs. Compounds 1 and 2 showed lower BBB permeability than ephedrine, suggesting that they have less adverse effects on the CNS. Compounds 1 and 2 relaxed the tracheal rings and had strong hepatoprotective effect on transgenic zebrafish with liver specific expression of RFP. Compounds 1 and 2 significantly reduced the level of reactive oxygen species while increasing that of glutathione in thioacetamide-treated zebrafish, which might be the hepatoprotective mechanism. CONCLUSION: These results provided evidences that the chemical constituents in various herbal drugs in a medicinal formula can interact to generate new compounds with fewer side effects and increased or additive bioactivity.

Effects of animal protein intake during pregnancy on autoimmune thyroiditis in pregnant women with mild iodine deficiency.

BACKGROUND: Iodine and animal protein may affect thyroid function. In the present study, we explored the association between animal protein intake and thyroid antibody status in pregnant women following universal salt iodisation. METHODS: Pregnant women were enrolled using a multistage, stratified random sampling method in Shanghai. In total, 4646 eligible women were interviewed in person. We used a validated food frequency questionnaire and food composition tables to calculate the daily intakes of protein and iodine. We collected urine samples and performed thyroid antibody tests. RESULTS: Positive thyrotropin receptor antibody (TR-Ab) rates were different among animal protein intake groups (p < 0.05). Median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was higher in the thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Ab) positive group than in the negative group (p < 0.05). The median of total protein intake, animal protein intake and UIC was higher in the TR-Ab positive group than in the negative group (p < 0.05). The median of total protein intake and UIC was higher in the TPO-Ab/TG-Ab/TR-Ab positive group than in the negative group (p < 0.05). Multivariable logistic regression results showed that insufficient iodine had a negative correlation with positive TPO-Ab and positive TR-Ab (p < 0.05). The middle third and top third animal protein intakes served as protective factors for TR-Ab (coefficient = 0.559, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.415-0.752, p < 0.001; coefficient = 0.0.406, 95% CI = 0.266-0.621, p < 0.001) and positive TPO-Ab/TR-Ab/TG-Ab (coefficient = 0.817, 95% CI = 0.687-0.971, p = 0.022; coefficient = 0.805, 95% CI = 0.672-0.964, p = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: Adequate animal protein intake protects against elevated anti-thyroid antibody levels in pregnant women with mild iodine deficiency.

A China Healthy Diet Index-Based Evaluation of Dietary Quality among Pregnant Women in Shanghai across Trimesters and Residential Areas.

Good dietary quality among pregnant women is critical for maternal and fetal health. The primary objective of our study was to analyze the dietary quality of pregnant woman and its influencing factors. Pregnant women were enrolled using a multistage, stratified, random-sampling method in Shanghai. We used a personal food frequency questionnaire and a household condiment weighing method for dietary assessments. Participants' scores on the China Healthy Diet Index (CHDI) were analyzed to evaluate diet quality. Significant differences in the median daily intake of almost all food types were found across all trimesters, and all food types were found across all residential areas (urban, suburban and rural). The median of total CHDI score was 71.6 in all subjects, 71.1 in early pregnancy, 71.5 in middle pregnancy and 72.3 in late pregnancy. The results of uni-variate analysis showed that significant differences in CHDI scores were found across trimesters and residential areas. Eighty one point six percent of participants scored below 80 points, indicating general or poor dietary quality. Logistic regression models showed that participants in early and middle pregnancy had lower scores than those in late pregnancy. Women in urban areas had higher scores than those in suburban and rural areas. Most of pregnant women living in Shanghai suffer from a general or poor dietary quality. Education on balance diet should be strengthened to guide pregnant women in making reasonable food choices and intake, especially those living in suburban and rural areas and those in their first and second trimesters.

Dietary Sodium Intake Is Positively Associated with Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption in Chinese Children and Adolescents.

Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption among children and adolescents is steadily increasing in China, while the main taste of Chinese food is salty. The present study aimed to determine the relationships between SSB and total fluid consumption and dietary sodium and salt intake among children and adolescents in China. The data were obtained from a cross-sectional investigation in 2015. A total of 3958 participants were included. A 24-h dietary record for three consecutive days was collected to determine the SSB intake and food consumption across school days and rest days. After adjusting for age, sex, yearly household income, maternal education, intentional physical exercise, and instances of eating out in the last week, the dietary sodium intake was positively associated with the SSB consumption (p < 0.05), but salt was not. After stratifying by sex, grades, and puberty status, the associations between dietary sodium intake and SSB consumption were significant in girls, in grades 1-5 and before puberty (p < 0.05). Dietary sodium intake was positively associated with SSB consumption in Chinese children and adolescents, particularly in young children. A reduction of the sodium intake might help reduce SSB consumption among children and adolescents.

Effects of Dietary Patterns during Pregnancy on Preterm Birth: A Birth Cohort Study in Shanghai.

The objective of this study was to analyse representative dietary patterns during pregnancy in Shanghai and explore the effects of dietary patterns during pregnancy on preterm birth. Data were derived from the 'Iodine Status in Pregnancy and Offspring Health Cohort' (ISPOHC) study. Multistage, stratified random sampling was used to select survey participants from 16 districts in Shanghai, which were divided into five sampling areas; 40-70 pregnant women were selected from each area. A total of 4361 pregnant women and their offspring were involved in the study. The male-to-female ratio of the babies was 1.04:1, and the incidence of single preterm birth was 4.2%. Three dietary patterns were extracted by factor analysis: a 'Vegetarian Pattern', an 'Animal Food Pattern' (AFP), and a 'Dairy and Egg Pattern'. These patterns explained 40.513% of the variance in dietary intake. Binary logistic regression, which was used to analyse the association between birth outcomes and scores measuring maternal dietary patterns, found only the AFP was a significant risk factor for preterm birth. Higher AFP scores were positively associated with preterm birth (Q2 vs. Q1 OR = 1.487, 95% CI: 1.002-2.207; Q3 vs. Q1 OR = 1.885, 95% CI: 1.291-2.754). After adjusting for other potential contributors, a higher AFP score was still a significant risk factor for preterm birth (Q2 vs. Q1 OR = 1.470, 95% CI: 0.990-2.183; Q3 vs. Q1 OR = 1.899, 95% CI: 1.299-2.776). The incidence of preterm birth was 4.2%. A higher score of AFP was significantly associated with a higher risk of preterm birth. The animal food intake of pregnant women should be reasonably consumed during pregnancy.