Efficacy of acupuncture in experimental intracerebral hemorrhage: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: There is currently a lack of evidence in evidence-based medicine regarding acupuncture treatment for experimental intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture treatment for experimental ICH based on neurological function scores and brain water content (BWC). Methods: Eight mainstream Chinese and English databases were searched. Outcome measures included neurological function scores and BWC, and subgroup analysis was conducted based on study characteristics. Results: A total of 32 studies were included. Meta-analysis results indicated that compared to the control group, the acupuncture group showed significant reductions in mNSS (MD = -3.16, p < 0.00001), Bederson score (MD = -0.99, p < 0.00001), Longa score (MD = -0.54, p < 0.0001), and brain water content (MD = -5.39, p < 0.00001). Subgroup analysis revealed that for mNSS, the autologous blood model (MD = -3.36) yielded better results than the collagenase model (MD = -0.92, p < 0.00001), and simple fixation (MD = -3.38) or no fixation (MD = -3.39) was superior to sham acupuncture (MD = -0.92, p < 0.00001). For BWC, the autologous blood model (MD = -7.73) outperformed the collagenase model (MD = -2.76, p < 0.00001), and GV20-GB7 (MD = -7.27) was more effective than other acupuncture points (MD = -2.92, p = 0.0006). Conclusion: Acupuncture significantly improves neurological deficits and brain edema in experimental ICH. Acupuncture at GV20 - GB7 is more effective than at other points. These findings support further studies to translate acupuncture into clinical treatment for human ICH. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023435584.

Vitamin D nutritional status in early pregnancy and its relationship with periconceptional multiple micronutrients supplementation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To assess the vitamin D nutritional status (VDN) of pregnant women in early pregnancy and investigate the effects of periconceptional supplementation with multiple micronutrients (MMs) on this status. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Data were taken from the Pregnancy Health Care System and Hospital Information System in 2018 in Beijing. Vitamin D nutritional status in early pregnancy was evaluated among 4,978 pregnant women, and 4,540 women who took folic acid only (FA) or multiple mi-cronutrients supplements (MM) during the periconceptional period, were include to estimate the associations between periconceptional supplementation with MM and prevalence of vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency with logistic regression model. RESULTS: The mean early-pregnancy vitamin D concentration was 18.6 (±7.5) ng/mL, and the rates of deficiency and insufficiency were 31.6% and 60.5%, respectively. Compared to the FA group, the adjusted odds ratio (aOR, 95%confidence interval, CI) for insufficiency or deficiency of the MM group were 0.25(0.18-0.34), and the aOR (95%CI) for deficiency of the MM group were 0.17 (0.12-0.23). Women who took MMs for a longer period of time, at higher frequencies, and with higher compliance scores had lower rates of deficiency and insufficiency. In winter, spring, and autumn, taking MMs could reduce deficiency by about 70%; in summer, there was little effect. CONCLUSIONS: Among women in Beijing, serum concentrations of vitamin D in early pregnancy are relatively low, and the rates of deficiency and insufficiency are high. Taking MMs during the periconceptional period could improve this situation.

Analysis of miRNA expression profiles in exosomes of SMB-S15 cells treated with resveratrol.

Exosomes are double-layered vesicle bodies secreted by cells, in which microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role. In a previous study, we found that treatment of the prion-infected cell line SMB-S15 with resveratrol can effectively inhibit the propagation of PrPSc in vitro and eliminate its infectivity in vivo. In this study, the global expression profiles of miRNAs in extracellular exosomes during resveratrol clearance of PrPSc in SMB-S15 cells were analyzed. Extracted exosomal miRNAs from the prion-infected cell line SMB-S15 (S15) and its normal partner cell line SMB-PS (PS) as well as SMB-S15 cells exposed to resveratrol for 4 days (RES4) and 8 days (RES8) were subjected into deep sequencing. Similarities and differences in the levels of differentially expressed miRNAs as well as the signaling pathways that are potentially involved were comparatively analyzed. The possible influences on the expression of genes affected by changes in exosomal miRNAs in the context of the prion pathway were further analyzed. These alterations in exosomal miRNA levels may help us to understand the functional transmission of intercellular messages and the pathogenesis of prion biology and prion disease.

Associations between Dynamic Vitamin D Level and Thyroid Function during Pregnancy.

Optimal Vitamin D (VitD) status and thyroid function are essential for pregnant women. This study aimed to explore associations between dynamic VitD status and thyroid function parameters in each trimester and throughout the pregnancy period. Information on all 8828 eligible participants was extracted from the Peking University Retrospective Birth Cohort in Tongzhou. Dynamic VitD status was represented as a combination of deficiency/sufficiency in the first and second trimesters. Thyroid function was assessed in three trimesters. The associations between VitD and thyroid function were assessed by multiple linear regression and generalized estimating equation models in each trimester and throughout the pregnancy period, respectively. The results indicated that both free thyroxine (fT4; ß = 0.004; 95%CI: 0.003, 0.006; p < 0.001) and free triiodothyronine (fT3; ß = 0.009; 95%CI: 0.004, 0.015; p = 0.001) had positive associations with VitD status in the first trimester. A VitD status that was sufficient in the first trimester and deficient in the second trimester had a lower TSH (ß = −0.370; 95%CI: −0.710, −0.031; p = 0.033) compared with the group with sufficient VitD for both first and second trimesters. In conclusion, the associations between VitD and thyroid parameters existed throughout the pregnancy. Maintaining an adequate concentration of VitD is critical to support optimal thyroid function during pregnancy.

The Influence of Maternal Vitamin E Concentrations in Different Trimesters on Gestational Diabetes and Large-for-Gestational-Age: A Retrospective Study in China.

Vitamin E can protect pregnant women from oxidative stress and further affect pregnancy outcomes. This study aimed to investigate maternal vitamin E concentration in each trimester and its associations with gestational diabetes (GDM) and large-for-gestational-age (LGA). The data were derived from Peking University Retrospective Birth Cohort in Tongzhou, collected from 2015 to 2018 (n = 19,647). Maternal serum vitamin E were measured from blood samples collected in each trimester. Logistic regressions were performed to analyze the association between maternal vitamin E levels and outcomes. The median levels of maternal vitamin E increased from the first (10.00 mg/L) to the third (16.00 mg/L) trimester. Among mothers who had inadequate vitamin E levels, most of them had excessive amounts. Excessive vitamin E level in the second trimester was a risk factor for GDM (aOR = 1.640, 95% CI: 1.316-2.044) and LGA (aOR = 1.334, 95% CI: 1.022-1.742). Maternal vitamin E concentrations in the first and second trimesters were positively associated with GDM (first: aOR = 1.056, 95% CI: 1.038-1.073; second: aOR = 1.062, 95% CI: 1.043-1.082) and LGA (first: aOR = 1.030, 95% CI: 1.009-1.051; second: aOR = 1.040, 95% CI: 1.017-1.064). Avoiding an excess of vitamin E during pregnancy might be an effective measure to reduce GDM and LGA. Studies to explore the potential mechanisms are warranted.

Maternal diet quality during pregnancy and its influence on low birth weight and small for gestational age: a birth cohort in Beijing, China.

This study aimed to describe diet quality of pregnant women and explore the association between maternal diet and the prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) and small for gestational age (SGA). A total of 3856 participants from a birth cohort in Beijing, China, were recruited between June 2018 and February 2019. Maternal diet in the first and second trimesters was assessed by the Chinese diet balance index for pregnancy (DBI-P), using data collected by the inconsecutive 2-d 24-h dietary recalls. Logistic regressions were performed to explore the independent effects of DBI-P components on LBW and SGA. The prevalence of LBW and SGA was 3·8% and 6·0%, respectively. Dietary intakes of the participants were imbalanced. The proportions of participants having insufficient intake of vegetables (87·3% and 86·6%), dairy product (95·9% and 96·7%) and aquatic foods (80·5% and 85·3%) were high in both trimesters. The insufficiency of fruit intake was more severe in the second (85·2%) than that in the first trimester (22·5%) (P < 0·05). After adjusting for potential confounders, the intake of fruits and dairy in the second trimester was negatively associated with the risk of LBW (OR = 0·850, 95% CI: 0·723, 0·999) and SGA (OR = 0·885, 95% CI: 0·787, 0.996), respectively. Sufficient consumption of fruits and dairy products in pregnancy may be suggested in order to prevent LBW and SGA.

Listeriosis Cases and Genetic Diversity of Their L. monocytogenes Isolates in China, 2008-2019.

Listeriosis, caused by Listeria monocytogenes, is a severe food-borne infection. The nationwide surveillance in China concerning listeriosis is urgently needed. In the present study, 144 L. monocytogenes isolates were collected from the samples of blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and fetal membrane/placenta in China for 12 years from 2008 to 2019. We summarized these listeriosis patients' demographical and clinical features and outcomes. The susceptibility profile for 12 antibiotics was also determined by the broth microdilution method. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and serogroups of these listeria isolates were analyzed to designate epidemiological types. We enrolled 144 cases from 29 healthcare centers, including 96 maternal-neonatal infections, 33 cases of bacteremia, 13 cases of neurolisteriosis, and two cutaneous listeriosis. There were 31 (59.6%) fetal loss in 52 pregnant women and four (9.8%) neonatal death in 41 newborns. Among the 48 nonmaternal-neonatal cases, 12.5% (6/48) died, 41.7% (20/48) were female, and 64.6% (31/48) occurred in those with significant comorbidities. By MLST, the strains were distinguished into 23 individual sequence types (STs). The most prevalent ST was ST87 (49 isolates, 34.0%), followed by ST1 (18, 12.5%), ST8 (10, 6.9%), ST619 (9, 6.3%), ST7 (7, 4.9%) and ST3 (7, 4.9%). Furthermore, all L. monocytogenes isolates were uniformly susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin, and meropenem. In summary, our study highlights a high genotypic diversity of L. monocytogenes strains causing clinical listeriosis in China. Furthermore, a high prevalence of ST87 and ST1 in the listeriosis should be noted.

The association between maternal fat-soluble vitamin concentrations during pregnancy and infant birth weight in China.

Fat-soluble vitamins during pregnancy are important for fetal growth and development. The present study aimed at exploring the association between vitamin A, E and D status during pregnancy and birth weight. A total of 19 640 women with singleton deliveries from a retrospective study were included. Data were collected by the hospital electronic information system. Maternal serum vitamin A, E and D concentrations were measured during pregnancy. Logistic regression was performed to estimate the association between the vitamin status and low birth weight (LBW) or macrosomia. Women with excessive vitamin E were more likely to have macrosomia (OR 1·30, 95 % CI 1·07, 1·59) compared with adequate concentration. When focusing on Z scores, there was a positive association between vitamin E and macrosomia in the first (OR 1·07, 95 % CI 1·00, 1·14), second (OR 1·27, 95 % CI 1·11, 1·46) and third (OR 1·28, 95 % CI 1·06, 1·54) trimesters; vitamin A was positively associated with LBW in the first (OR 1·14, 95 % CI 1·01, 1·29), second (OR 1·31, 95 % CI 1·05, 1·63) and third (OR 2·00, 95 % CI 1·45, 2·74) trimesters and negatively associated with macrosomia in the second (OR 0·79, 95 % CI 0·70, 0·89) and third (OR 0·77, 95 % CI 0·62, 0·95) trimesters. The study identified that high concentrations of vitamin E are associated with macrosomia. Maintaining a moderate concentration of vitamin A during pregnancy might be beneficial to achieve optimal birth weight. Further studies to explore the mechanism of above associations are warranted.

Association of body mass index and blood lipid profile with cognitive function in Chinese elderly population based on data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey, 2009-2015.

AIM: The associations of body mass index (BMI) and serum lipids with cognitive function are inconsistent and remain unclear, especially in the elderly population. This discrepancy triggered our interest in exploring the impact of BMI and serum lipids on memory status among the elderly Chinese population. METHODS: Data were collected from the China Health and Nutrition Survey database. We used data from the survey's 2015 wave to examine the association between BMI and memory status and from the 2009-2015 surveys to examine the association between serum lipids and cognitive function. We performed multivariable logistic regression analyses and multivariable linear regression analyses to examine these associations. RESULTS: Being underweight, normal weight, and severely obese were associated with an increased risk of bad self-reported memory status, with overweight as the reference. After adjustment for confounding factors, BMI was positively associated with cognitive function score in the low BMI group (≤24.5 kg/m2 ) (ß ± SE: 0.02 ± 0.01, P = 0.013) and negatively associated with cognitive function score in the high BMI group (>24.5 kg/m2 ) (ß ± SE: -0.04 ± 0.01, P = 0.009) in multivariable linear regression analysis. In men, higher levels of serum triglycerides and apolipoprotein B were associated with a decreased risk of cognitive impairment. In women, a higher level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was associated with a decreased risk of cognitive impairment. CONCLUSION: We found inverse U-shaped relationships between BMI and cognitive function and for the gender-specific association of serum lipids with cognitive function. This result indicated that among the elderly population, better nutritional status suggests superior memory status and cognitive function performance.