Combination therapeutic effects of high intensity focused ultrasound and Metformin for the treatment of adenomyosis.

Adenomyosis is a pathological gynaecological condition characterized by benign invasion of the endometrium into the myometrium. High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is one of the most common therapeutic strategies for the treatment of adenomyosis. However, the efficacy of single HIFU therapy is insufficient for the treatment of patients with adenomyosis. In the present study, the efficacy of HIFU and metformin for the treatment of adenomyosis was analyzed in 274 patients with adenomyosis who were admitted to Jinan Maternity and Child Care Hospital. The results demonstrated that there was a significant reduction in menstrual flow and pain between patients who received HIFU and metformin, and those who received single HIFU treatment (P<0.01). Furthermore, the outcomes demonstrated that inflammatory cytokines levels were significantly lower compared with the baseline values (P<0.01). In conclusion, the outcomes of the current study indicate that combined HIFU and metformin treatment is more efficacious in patients with enlarged adenomyosis compared with single HIFU treatment.

Predictors of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Chinese Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study.

AIMS: This study aims to explore the independent predictors of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed primigravid women with PCOS and classified them as those with and without GDM. Independent risk factors and model performance were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression and the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC), respectively. RESULTS: Maternal body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), fasting glucose, insulin, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) before pregnancy, gestation weight gain before 24 weeks and the incidence of family history of diabetes were different in the 2 groups. Logistic regression analysis showed that pre-pregnancy WHR, SHBG, HOMA-IR and gestation weight gain before 24 weeks were the independent predictors of GDM. ROC curve analysis confirmed that gestation weight gain before 24 weeks (AUC 0.767, 95% CI 0.688-0.841), pre-pregnant WHR (AUC 0.725, 95% CI 0.649-0.802), HOMA-IR (AUC 0.711, 95% CI 0.632-0.790) and SHBG levels (AUC 0.709, 95% CI 0.625-0.793) were the strong risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: In Chinese women with PCOS, factors of gestation weight gain before 24 weeks, pre-pregnant WHR, HOMA-IR and SHBG levels are strongly associated with subsequent development of GDM.

Mussel-inspired one-pot synthesis of a fluorescent and water-soluble polydopamine-polyethyleneimine copolymer.

Inspired by the molecular mechanics of mussel adhesive formation, a novel water-soluble fluorescent macromolecule (polydopamine-polyethyleneimine (PDA-PEI)) is prepared by one-pot copolymerization of dopamine (DA) and PEI. In this method, DA is polymerized to form PDA, which is then coupled with PEI mainly through Michael addition. The fluorescence property of PDA-PEI is mainly attributed to the Michael addition of PEI on the 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI) units of PDA, where PEI can form hydrogen bonds with oxidative products such as DHI and force the DHI units to twist out of plane, resulting in a decrease in the intra- and intermolecular coupling of PDA. In addition, the influence of various metal cations on the fluorescence of the PDA-PEI copolymer is investigated. This work may facilitate the development of new strategies for controlling the emission characteristics of PDA.

Listeria infection in Chinese pregnant women and neonates from Shandong.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the characters of pregnant women and neonates with listeria monocytogenes infections (L. monocytogenes) in Shandong of China. METHOD: Pregnant women with premature delivery or prenatal fever were recruited in 2013. Bacterial culture was performed for the umbilical cord blood and placental swab after delivery. The strains isolated were then analyzed for the virulence factors and classified based on the serotype and MLST typing. RESULTS: Four cases (0.34‰) of the neonates were identified with listeriosis. Prenatal fever was observed in mothers of all infected neonates. The pathological examination of placenta showed non-specific inflammatory manifestations and two serotypes including 1/2b and 4b were detected. Six kinds of virulence factors including hly, inlA, actA, plcB, prfA and iap were all identified in the inflected neonates. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that mother-to-infant was an important transmission mode for listeria. Antibiotic treatment, bacterial culture and placenta pathological examination were highly recommended in the diagnosis and treatment of listeriosis.

An air-supported liquid crystal system for real-time reporting of host-guest inclusion events.

A new method for reporting host-guest inclusion phenomena using an air-supported liquid crystal (LC) system based on cyclodextrins (CDs) was developed. In this work inclusion complexation of ß-CD with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or with methylene blue (MB) using SDS as the probe was visualized using the LC, according to the principle that the orientation of LCs was coupled to the organization of SDS molecules.