The Correlation Between Olfactory Test and Hippocampal Volume in Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment Patients: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Previous studies have reported that olfactory identification deficits may be the earliest clinical features of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the association between odor identification and hippocampal atrophy remains unclear. Objective: This meta-analysis quantified the correlation between odor identification test scores and hippocampal volume in AD. Method: A search of the PUBMED, EMBASE, and WEB OF SCIENCE databases was conducted from January 2003 to June 2020 on studies with reported correlation coefficients between olfactory identification score and hippocampal volume in patients with amnestic AD or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale (NOS). Pooled r-values were combined and computed in R studio. Results: Seven of 627 original studies on AD/MCI using an olfactory identification test (n = 902) were included. A positive correlation was found between hippocampal volume and olfactory test scores (r = 0.3392, 95% CI: 0.2335-0.4370). Moderator analysis showed that AD and MCI patients were more profoundly correlated than normal controls (AD: r = 0.3959, 95% CI: 0.2605-0.5160; MCI: r = 0.3691, 95% CI: 0.1841-0.5288; NC: r = 0.1305, 95% CI: -0.0447-0.2980). Age difference and patient type were the main sources of heterogeneity in this analysis. Conclusion: The correlation appears to be more predominant in the cognitive disorder group (including MCI and AD) than in the non-cognitive disorder group. Age is an independent factor that affects the severity of the correlation during disease progression. The mildness of the correlation suggests that olfactory tests may be more accurate when combined with other non-invasive examinations for early detection. Systematic Review Registration: https://inplasy.com/, identifier INPLASY202140088.

AOPPs (advanced oxidation protein products) promote apoptosis in trophoblastic cells through interference with NADPH oxidase signaling: implications for preeclampsia.

PURPOSE: To investigate the role of placental advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE). METHODS: Expression of AOPPs in human placental tissues collected from women with or without PE was examined by immunohistochemistry. The effect of AOPPs on in vitro trophoblast cell function was also examined. Specifically, we exposed trophoblastic cells to AOPPs and measured the production of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) as well as their invasion capacity using an in vitro Transwell invasion assay. We also investigated the effect of AOPPs on trophoblastic apoptosis and whether this effect could be mediated through interference in NADPH oxidase signaling. RESULTS: AOPPs were expressed in placental tissues, and were significantly increased in placentas from women with PE versus normotensive controls. AOPPs also affected trophoblast cell function in vitro by significantly reducing ß-HCG production and inhibiting trophoblas cell invasive capacity. Exposure to AOPPs significantly increased apoptosis in trophoblastic cells, which was mediated through the NADPH oxidase pathway. CONCLUSIONS: AOPPs expression is increased in PE placentas and exposure to AOPPs adversely affects trophoblast cell function, which may contribute to the shallow trophoblast invasion that characterizes this disorder. Additional studies are needed to investigate further to determine whether AOPPs can be used as a biomarker for PE.

[Prevalence and major risk factors of peripartum thromboembolic disease in different regions of Guangdong province].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and major risk factors of peripartum thromboembolic disease in different regions of Guangdong province. METHODS: Data from 169 218 pregnant women in different regions of Guangdong province from January 2005 to June 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. The prevalence and epidemiological characteristics of thromboembolic disease during pregnancy or puerperium were investigated. RESULTS: Of the studied population, (1) 201 cases (1.3‰) suffered from thromboembolic disease during pregnancy or puerperium including 128 cases of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), 68 cases of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) and 5 pulmonary embolism, the prevalence rates were 0.8‰, 0.4‰, and 0.02‰ respectively. (2) Risk factors in different regions showed that, in the Pearl River Delta area, the major risk factors for DVT would include previous or family history of thrombosis, pregnancy complications, with medically involved diseases, prolonged bed rest and pregnancy weight gain>15 kg etc. While in eastern, western, northern parts of Guangdong, the major risk factors for DVT would include pregnancy weight gain>15 kg, prolonged bed rest, preeclampsia, cesarean section and complications during pregnancy. In Pearl River Delta region, the major risk factors for CVT would include eclampsia, preeclampsia, pregnancy complications, prolonged bed rest>3 days, past history or family history of thrombosis. While eclampsia, preeclampsia, advanced age or younger age, pregnancy weight gain>15 kg, complications during pregnancy were the major risk factors for CVT in the eastern, western or northern parts of Guangdong. CONCLUSION: Prevalence and major risk factors of peripartum thromboembolic disease in different regions of Guangdong were different. It was crucial to take effective measures in pregnant women with different epidemiological characteristics and risk factors to prevent and reduce the incidence of peripartum thromboembolic disease.

[Identification of protein markers for gestational diabetes mellitus complicated by pregnancy-induced hypertensive syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To identify the serum protein markers for the gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) complicated by pregnancy-induced hypertensive (PIH) syndrome to provide a molecular biological basis for the screening, prevention and therapy of the related diseases. METHODS: Serum samples were collected from the patients with GDM, PIH syndrome, and GDM complicated by PIH syndrome. IgG and albumins were removed from the samples before SDS -PAGE. The protein bands showing significant differences among the 3 samples were collected, digested and identified with mass spectrometry, and the function of the identified proteins was analyzed. RESULTS: Three SDS-PAGE were performed in parallel to confirm the differentially expressed proteins. Mass spectrometry indicated that the proteins showing obvious differences among the 3 samples were haptoglobin, protein SMG8 and apoptosis-inducing factor-1. CONCLUSIONS: The protein markers identified in GDM complicated by PIH syndrome may be integrated into the proteomic database of gestational metabolic diseases. Identification of the associated protein markers may provide significant experimental data for the prevention, diagnosis and therapy of the related diseases.