The association between macrosomia and glucose, lipids and hormones levels in maternal and cord serum: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The formation of macrosomia is associated with excessive nutrition and/or unable to regulate effectively. This case-control study aims to explore the relationship between macrosomia and glucose, lipids and hormones levels in maternal and cord serum. METHODS: In the case-control study, 78 pairs of mothers and newborns were recruited who received care at one hospital of Hebei, China between 2016 and 2019. According to the birth weight (BW) of newborns, participants were divided into macrosomia group (BW ≥ 4000 g, n = 39) and control group (BW between 2500 g and 3999 g, n = 39). Maternal vein blood and cord vein blood were collected and assayed. All data were compared between the two groups. Unconditional logistics regression analysis was used to test the relationship between macrosomia and glucose, lipids and hormones in maternal and cord serum. RESULTS: In maternal and cord serum, the levels of leptin, leptin/adiponectin ratio (LAR), glucose and triglyceride (TG) in macrosomia group were higher than those in control group, and the levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were lower. The percentage of maternal glucose and lipids transfer to cord blood did not differ between the two groups. High levels of TG in maternal serum were positively correlated with macrosomia, and high levels of LAR, TG and glucose in cord serum were positively correlated with macrosomia. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the results of the current study, suggest that the nutrients and metabolism-related hormones in maternal and umbilical cord are closely related to macrosomia. During pregnancy, the nutritional status of pregnant women should be paid attention to and to obtain a good birth outcome.

Toward Better Semantic Interoperability of Data Element Repositories in Medicine: Analysis Study.

BACKGROUND: Data element repositories facilitate high-quality medical data sharing by standardizing data and enhancing semantic interoperability. However, the application of repositories is confined to specific projects and institutions. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore potential issues and promote broader application of data element repositories within the medical field by evaluating and analyzing typical repositories. METHODS: Following the inclusion of 5 data element repositories through a literature review, a novel analysis framework consisting of 7 dimensions and 36 secondary indicators was constructed and used for evaluation and analysis. RESULTS: The study's results delineate the unique characteristics of different repositories and uncover specific issues in their construction. These issues include the absence of data reuse protocols and insufficient information regarding the application scenarios and efficacy of data elements. The repositories fully comply with only 45% (9/20) of the subprinciples for Findable and Reusable in the FAIR principle, while achieving a 90% (19/20 subprinciples) compliance rate for Accessible and 67% (10/15 subprinciples) for Interoperable. CONCLUSIONS: The recommendations proposed in this study address the issues to improve the construction and application of repositories, offering valuable insights to data managers, computer experts, and other pertinent stakeholders.

ANAgdb: a multi-omics and taxonomy database for ANA-grade.

BACKGROUND: The ANA-grade, encompassing early-diverging angiosperm lineages, Amborellales, Nymphaeales, and Austrobaileyales, represents a fundamental phase in the evolutionary history of flowering plants. Since the completion of key assembly of the Amborella genome, the continuous influx of omics data from the lineage underscores the need for a specialized database. RESULTS: Here, we introduce the ANA-grade Genome Database (ANAgdb, https://anagenome.cn/ ), which integrates multi-omics data including 11 genomes, 167 transcriptomes, and 10 miRNAomes, as well as extensive taxonomic details specific to the ANA-grade. Designed with an array of user-friendly tools, ANAgdb not only facilitates the effective storage, querying, and analysis of data but also enables the integration and dissemination of crucial genomic and taxonomic information. CONCLUSION: By integrating the comprehensive resources and tools, ANAgdb aims to significantly advance research in phylogenomics and taxonomic studies, providing a robust platform for researchers to explore the genetic and morphological diversities of these ancient plant lineages.

Intelligent diagnosis of Kawasaki disease from real-world data using interpretable machine learning models.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to leverage real-world electronic medical record data to develop interpretable machine learning models for diagnosis of Kawasaki disease while also exploring and prioritizing the significant risk factors. METHODS: A comprehensive study was conducted on 4087 pediatric patients at the Children's Hospital of Chongqing, China. The study collected demographic data, physical examination results, and laboratory findings. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics, Version 26.0. The optimal feature subset was used to develop intelligent diagnostic prediction models based on the Light Gradient Boosting Machine, Explainable Boosting Machine (EBM), Gradient Boosting Classifier (GBC), Fast Interpretable Greedy-Tree Sums, Decision Tree, AdaBoost Classifier, and Logistic Regression. Model performance was evaluated in three dimensions: discriminative ability via receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration accuracy using calibration curves, and interpretability through SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) and LIME (Local Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanations). RESULTS: In this study, Kawasaki disease was diagnosed in 2971 participants. Analysis was conducted on 31 indicators, including red blood cell distribution width and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The EBM model demonstrated superior performance relative to other models, with an area under the curve of 0.97, second only to the GBC model. Furthermore, the EBM model exhibited the highest calibration accuracy and maintained its interpretability without relying on external analytical tools such as SHAP and LIME, thus reducing interpretation biases. Platelet distribution width, total protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were identified by the model as significant predictors for the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease. CONCLUSION: This study used diverse machine learning models for early diagnosis of Kawasaki disease. The findings demonstrated that interpretable models such as EBM outperformed traditional machine learning models in terms of both interpretability and performance. Ensuring consistency between predictive models and clinical evidence is crucial for the successful integration of artificial intelligence into real-world clinical practice.

The jacktree genome and population genomics provides insights for the mechanisms of the germination obstacle and the conservation of endangered ornamental plants.

Sinojackia Hu represents the first woody genus described by Chinese botanists, with all species classified as endangered ornamental plants endemic to China. Their characteristic spindle-shaped fruits confer high ornamental value to the plants, making them favored in gardens and parks. Nevertheless, the fruits likely pose a germination obstacle, contributing to the endangered status of this lineage. Here we report the chromosome-scale genome of S. xylocarpa, and explore the mechanisms underlying its endangered status, as well as its population dynamics throughout evolution. Population genomic analysis has indicated that S. xylocarpa experienced a bottleneck effect following the recent glacial period, leading to a continuous population reduction. Examination of the pericarp composition across six stages of fruit development revealed a consistent increase in the accumulation of lignin and fiber content, responsible for the sturdiness of mature fruits' pericarps. At molecular level, enhanced gene expression in the biosynthesis of lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose was detected in pericarps. Therefore, we conclude that the highly lignified and fibrotic pericarps of S. xylocarpa, which inhibit its seed germination, should be its threatening mechanism, thus proposing corresponding strategies for improved conservation and restoration. This study serves as a seminal contribution to conservation biology, offering valuable insights for the study of other endangered ornamental plants.

A spermine-responsive supramolecular chemotherapy system constructed from a water-soluble pillar[5]arene and a diphenylanthracene-containing amphiphile for precise chemotherapy.

Stimuli-responsive supramolecular chemotherapy, particularly in response to cancer biomarkers, has emerged as a promising strategy to overcome the limitations associated with traditional chemotherapy. Spermine (SPM) is known to be overexpressed in certain cancers. In this study, we introduced a novel supramolecular chemotherapy system triggered by SPM. The system featured pyridine salts of a diphenylanthracene derivative (PyEn) and a complementary water-soluble pillar[5]arene (WP5C5) with long alkyl chains. The diphenylanthracene unit of PyEn is effectively encapsulated within the long alkyl chains of WP5C5, resulting in a substantial reduction in the cytotoxicity of PyEn towards normal cells. The therapeutic effect of PyEn is selectively triggered intracellularly through SPM, leading to the endosomal release of PyEn and concurrent in situ cytotoxicity. This supramolecular chemotherapy system exhibits notable tumor inhibition against SPM-overexpressed cancers with reduced side effects on normal tissues. The supramolecular strategy for intracellular activation provides a novel tool with potential applications in chemotherapeutic interventions, offering enhanced selectivity and reduced cytotoxicity to normal cells.

An Insulin-Modified pH-Responsive Nanopipette Based on Ion Current Rectification.

The properties of nanopipettes largely rely on the materials introduced onto their inner walls, which allow for a vast extension of their sensing capabilities. The challenge of simultaneously enhancing the sensitivity and selectivity of nanopipettes for pH sensing remains, hindering their practical applications. Herein, we report insulin-modified nanopipettes with excellent pH response performances, which were prepared by introducing insulin onto their inner walls via a two-step reaction involving silanization and amidation. The pH response intensity based on ion current rectification was significantly enhanced by approximately 4.29 times when utilizing insulin-modified nanopipettes compared with bare ones, demonstrating a linear response within the pH range of 2.50 to 7.80. In addition, insulin-modified nanopipettes featured good reversibility and selectivity. The modification processes were monitored using the I-V curves, and the relevant mechanisms were discussed. The effects of solution pH and insulin concentration on the modification results were investigated to achieve optimal insulin introduction. This study showed that the pH response behavior of nanopipettes can be greatly improved by introducing versatile molecules onto the inner walls, thereby contributing to the development and utilization of pH-responsive nanopipettes.

Impact of seasonal changes in urban green spaces with diverse vegetation structures on college students' physical and mental health.

Based on the perceptions of college student participants in winter and summer, the effects of different vegetation structures within landscapes (single-layer woodland, tree-shrub-grass composite woodlands, tree-grass composite woodland, and single-layer grassland) and concrete squares without plants were investigated, and the skin conductivity level (SCL) and environmental perception recovery score (PRS) associated with landscape types were calculated. The results indicated that seasonal differences in landscape perception significantly affected college student participants' PRS but not their SCL scores, both in winter and summer. Viewing single-layer and tree-shrub-grass composite woodlands in summer, as well as single-layer woodland in winter, enhanced the environmental perception of the college student participants. The restorative effects of the four vegetation types in green spaces were ranked as follows: single-layer woodland, tree-shrub-grass composite woodlands, single-layer grassland, and tree-grass composite woodlands and concrete squares without plants. These findings underscore the importance of considering seasonal variations when choosing plant species for landscaping purposes, with evergreen single-layer woodland being a suitable choice for winter urban landscapes. This provides a scientific basis for assessing landscape perception and preferences in the future.

A novel higher performance nomogram based on explainable machine learning for predicting mortality risk in stroke patients within 30 days based on clinical features on the first day ICU admission.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to develop a higher performance nomogram based on explainable machine learning methods, and to predict the risk of death of stroke patients within 30 days based on clinical characteristics on the first day of intensive care units (ICU) admission. METHODS: Data relating to stroke patients were extracted from the Medical Information Marketplace of the Intensive Care (MIMIC) IV and III database. The LightGBM machine learning approach together with Shapely additive explanations (termed as explain machine learning, EML) was used to select clinical features and define cut-off points for the selected features. These selected features and cut-off points were then evaluated using the Cox proportional hazards regression model and Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Finally, logistic regression-based nomograms for predicting 30-day mortality of stroke patients were constructed using original variables and variables dichotomized by cut-off points, respectively. The performance of two nomograms were evaluated in overall and individual dimension. RESULTS: A total of 2982 stroke patients and 64 clinical features were included, and the 30-day mortality rate was 23.6% in the MIMIC-IV datasets. 10 variables ("sofa (sepsis-related organ failure assessment)", "minimum glucose", "maximum sodium", "age", "mean spo2 (blood oxygen saturation)", "maximum temperature", "maximum heart rate", "minimum bun (blood urea nitrogen)", "minimum wbc (white blood cells)" and "charlson comorbidity index") and respective cut-off points were defined from the EML. In the Cox proportional hazards regression model (Cox regression) and Kaplan-Meier survival curves, after grouping stroke patients according to the cut-off point of each variable, patients belonging to the high-risk subgroup were associated with higher 30-day mortality than those in the low-risk subgroup. The evaluation of nomograms found that the EML-based nomogram not only outperformed the conventional nomogram in NIR (net reclassification index), brier score and clinical net benefits in overall dimension, but also significant improved in individual dimension especially for low "maximum temperature" patients. CONCLUSIONS: The 10 selected first-day ICU admission clinical features require greater attention for stroke patients. And the nomogram based on explainable machine learning will have greater clinical application.

Osmanthus fragrans Flavonoid Extract Inhibits Adipogenesis and Induces Beiging in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes.

Osmanthus fragrans has a long history of cultivation in Asia and is widely used in food production for its unique aroma, which has important cultural and economic values. It is rich in flavonoids with diverse pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, anti-tumor, and anti-lipid activities. However, little is known regarding the effects of Osmanthus fragrans flavonoid extract (OFFE) on adipogenesis and pre-adipocyte transdifferentiation. Herein, this research aimed to investigate the effect of OFFE on the differentiation, adipogenesis, and beiging of 3T3-L1 adipocytes and to elucidate the underlying mechanism. Results showed that OFFE inhibited adipogenesis, reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species levels in mature adipocytes, and promoted mitochondrial biogenesis as well as beiging/browning in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. This effect was accompanied by increased mRNA and protein levels of the brown adipose-specific marker gene Pgc-1a, and the upregulation of the expression of UCP1, Cox7A1, and Cox8B. Moreover, the research observed a dose-dependent reduction in the mRNA expression of adipogenic genes (C/EBPα, GLUT-4, SREBP-1C, and FASN) with increasing concentrations of OFFE. Additionally, OFFE activated the AMPK signaling pathway to inhibit adipogenesis. These findings elucidate that OFFE has an inhibitory effect on adipogenesis and promotes browning in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which lays the foundation for further investigation of the lipid-lowering mechanism of OFFE in vivo in the future.

Trajectory of gestational weight gain is related to birthweight: The TAWS cohort study in China.

Few studies have reported the timing and amount of gestational weight gain (GWG) to prevent large-for-gestational-age (LGA) or small-for-gestational-age (SGA). This study aimed to evaluate the association of GWG velocity in each trimester with LGA or SGA based on data from the Taicang and Wuqiang cohort study (TAWS, n = 2008). We used a linear mixed model to evaluate the association of trimester-specific GWG velocity with birthweight categories and stratified by prepregnancy body mass index category and parity. For normal-weight pregnant women, mothers with LGA births had higher GWG velocities than mothers with appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) births in the first trimester (0.108 vs. 0.031 kg/week, p < 0.01), second trimester (0.755 vs. 0.631 kg/week, p < 0.01) and third trimester (0.664 vs. 0.594 kg/week, p < 0.01); in contrast, mothers with SGA births had lower GWG velocities than mothers with AGA births in the second trimester (0.528 vs. 0.631 kg/week, p < 0.01) and third trimester (0.541 vs. 0.594 kg/week, p < 0.01). For normal-weight pregnant women with AGA births, multiparous women had lower GWG velocities than primiparous women in the second (0.602 vs. 0.643 kg/week, p < 0.01) and third trimesters (0.553 vs. 0.606 kg/week, p < 0.01). Therefore, for normal-weight women, LGA prevention would begin in early pregnancy and continue until delivery and the second and third trimesters may be critical periods for preventing SGA; in addition, among normal-weight pregnant women with AGA births, multiparous women tend to have lower weight gain velocities than primiparous women.

Increasing Ca2+ accumulation in salt glands under salt stress increases stronger selective secretion of Na+ in Plumbago auriculata tetraploids.

Under salt stress, recretohalophyte Plumbago auriculata tetraploids enhance salt tolerance by increasing selective secretion of Na+ compared with that in diploids, although the mechanism is unclear. Using non-invasive micro-test technology, the effect of salt gland Ca2+ content on Na+ and K+ secretion were investigated in diploid and tetraploid P. auriculata under salt stress. Salt gland Ca2+ content and secretion rates of Na+ and K+ were higher in tetraploids than in diploids under salt stress. Addition of exogenous Ca2+ increased the Ca2+ content of the salt gland in diploids and is accompanied by an increase in the rate of Na+ and K+ secretion. With addition of a Ca2+ channel inhibitor, diploid salt glands retained large amounts of Ca2+, leading to higher Ca2+ content and Na+ secretion rate than those of tetraploids. Inhibiting H2O2 generation and H+-ATPase activity altered Na+ and K+ secretion rates in diploids and tetraploids under salt stress, indicating involvement in regulating Na+ and K+ secretion. Our results indicate that the increased Na+ secretion rate of salt gland in tetraploids under salt stress was associated with elevated Ca2+ content in salt gland.

Clinical laboratory characteristics and gene mutation spectrum of Ph-negative MPN patients with atypical variants of JAK2, MPL, or CALR.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence, clinical laboratory characteristics, and gene mutation spectrum of Ph-negative MPN patients with atypical variants of JAK2, MPL, or CALR. METHODS: We collected a total of 359 Ph-negative MPN patients with classical mutations in driver genes JAK2, MPL, or CALR, and divided them into two groups based on whether they had additional atypical variants of driver genes JAK2, MPL, or CALR: 304 patients without atypical variants of driver genes and 55 patients with atypical variants of driver genes. We analyzed the relevant characteristics of these patients. RESULTS: This study included 359 patients with Ph-negative MPNs with JAK2, MPL, or CALR classical mutations and found that 55 (15%) patients had atypical variants of JAK2, MPL, or CALR. Among them, 28 cases (51%) were male, and 27 (49%) were female, with a median age of 64 years (range, 21-83). The age of ET patients with atypical variants was higher than that of ET patients without atypical variants [70 (28-80) vs. 61 (19-82), p = 0.03]. The incidence of classical MPL mutations in ET patients with atypical variants was higher than in ET patients without atypical variants [13.3% (2/15) vs. 0% (0/95), p = 0.02]. The number of gene mutations in patients with atypical variants of driver genes PV, ET, and Overt-PMF is more than in patients without atypical variants of PV, ET, and Overt-PMF [PV: 3 (2-6) vs. 2 (1-7), p < 0.001; ET: 4 (2-8) vs. 2 (1-7), p < 0.05; Overt-PMF: 5 (2-9) vs. 3 (1-8), p < 0.001]. The incidence of SH2B3 and ASXL1 mutations were higher in MPN patients with atypical variants than in those without atypical variants (SH2B3: 16% vs. 6%, p < 0.01; ASXL1: 24% vs. 13%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These data indicate that classical mutations of JAK2, MPL, and CALR may not be completely mutually exclusive with atypical variants of JAK2, MPL, and CALR. In this study, 30 different atypical variants of JAK2, MPL, and CALR were identified, JAK2 G127D being the most common (42%, 23/55). Interestingly, JAK2 G127D only co-occurred with JAK2V617F mutation. The incidence of atypical variants of JAK2 in Ph-negative MPNs was much higher than that of the atypical variants of MPL and CALR. The significance of these atypical variants will be further studied in the future.

[Prevalence of and risk factors for perceived absence of breast milk supply in Chinese lactating women in 2013].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of postpartum perceived absence of breast milk supply among Chinese mothers in 2013. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study based on the data collected from children and mothers under 2 years of age in 2013 as part of the nutrition and health surveillance of Chinese residents. In this study, multistage stratified cluster sampling method was used to select subjects from 55 countires/districts in 30 provinces in China. The perceived absence of breast milk supply was defined as the mother's self-reported absence of breast milk and failure to breastfeed. Breastfeeding knowledge, maternal breastfeeding knowledge and general characteristics were collected through a structured questionnaire. Univariate analysis and Logistic regression were used to analyze the factors associated with perceived absence of breast milk supply. RESULTS: A total of 12091 mothers were included in the study, including 419 in the perceived non-breastfeeding group, the prevalence of perceived absence of breast milk supply was 3.5%. Multivariate Logistic regression showed maternal age(OR=1.04, 95%CI 1.02-1.06), postpartum hemorrhage(OR=2.03, 95%CI 1.30-3.16), and belief that breastfeeding should continue beyond 12 months of age(OR=0.27, 95%CI 0.17-0.45), not knowing how to breastfeed(OR=3.31, 95%CI: 2.31-4.74) were the main influencing factors for perceived absence of breast milk supply after delivery. CONCLUSION: Age, postpartum hemorrhage and knowledge level of breastfeeding are the main risk factors for perceived absence of breast milk supply, and knowledge level of breastfeeding is a modifiable factor.

Proton Sponge Nanocomposites for Synergistic Tumor Elimination via Autophagy Inhibition-Promoted Cell Apoptosis and Macrophage Repolarization-Enhanced Immune Response.

Cytoprotective autophagy and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) are two positive promoters for tumor proliferation and metastasis that severely hinder therapeutic efficacy. Inhibiting autophagy and reconstructing TME toward macrophage activation simultaneously are of great promise for effective tumor elimination, yet are still a huge challenge. Herein, a kind of dendrimer-based proton sponge nanocomposites was designed and constructed for tumor chemo/chemodynamic/immunotherapy through autophagy inhibition-promoted cell apoptosis and macrophage repolarization-enhanced immune response. These obtained nanocomposites contain a proton sponge G5AcP dendrimer, a Fenton-like agent Cu(II), and chemical drug doxorubicin (DOX). When accumulated in tumor regions, G5AcP can act as an immunomodulator to realize deacidification-promoted macrophage repolarization toward antitumoral type, which then secretes inflammatory cytokines to activate T cells. They also regulate intracellular lysosomal pH to inhibit cytoprotective autophagy. The released Cu(II) and DOX can induce aggravated damage through a Fenton-like reaction and chemotherapeutic effect in this autophagy-inhibition condition. Tumor-associated antigens are released from these dying tumor cells to promote the maturity of dendritic cells, further activating T cells. Effective tumor elimination can be achieved by this dendrimer-based therapeutic strategy, providing significant guidance for the design of a promising antitumor nanomedicine.

Reticulate evolution of the tertiary relict Osmanthus.

When interspecific gene flow is common, species relationships are more accurately represented by a phylogenetic network than by a bifurcating tree. This study aimed to uncover the role of introgression in the evolution of Osmanthus, the only genus of the subtribe Oleinae (Oleaceae) with its distribution center in East Asia. We built species trees, detected introgression, and constructed networks using multiple kinds of sequencing data (whole genome resequencing, transcriptome sequencing, and Sanger sequencing of nrDNA) combined with concatenation and coalescence approaches. Then, based on well-understood species relationships, historical biogeographic analyses and diversification rate estimates were employed to reveal the history of Osmanthus. Osmanthus originated in mid-Miocene Europe and dispersed to the eastern Tibetan Plateau in the late Miocene. Thereafter, it continued to spread eastwards. Phylogenetic conflict is common within the 'Core Osmanthus' clade and is seen at both early and late stages of diversification, leading to hypotheses of net-like species relationships. Incomplete lineage sorting proved ineffective in explaining phylogenetic conflicts and thus supported introgression as the main cause of conflicts. This study elucidates the diversification history of a relict genus in the subtropical regions of eastern Asia and reveals that introgression had profound effects on its evolutionary history.

Effects of prepregnancy dietary patterns on infant birth weight: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Maternal nutrition can have a profound effect on fetal growth, development, and subsequent infant birth weight. However, little is known regarding the influence of prepregnancy dietary patterns. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the effects between prepregnancy dietary patterns on birth weight. METHODS: This study included 911 singleton live-born infants from the Taicang and Wuqiang Mother-Child Cohort Study (TAWS). Baseline information and prepregnancy diet data were collected during early pregnancy. Newborn birth information was obtained from the Wuqiang County Hospital. Macrosomia, defined as a birth weight of ≥4000 g, and large for gestational age (LGA), defined as a birth weight higher than the 90th percentile for the same sex and gestational age, were the outcomes of interest. The dietary patterns were extracted using principal component analysis. Logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between prepregnancy dietary patterns (in tertiles) and macrosomia and LGA, and subgroup analysis was further explored by pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: Four dietary patterns were identified based on 15 food groups. These patterns were named as "cereals-vegetables-fruits," "vegetables-poultry-aquatic products," "milk-meat-eggs," and "nuts-aquatic products-snacks." After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, pregnancy complications, and other dietary patterns, greater adherence to the "cereals-vegetables-fruits" pattern before pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of macrosomia (adjusted OR = 2.220, 95% CI: 1.018, 4.843), while greater adherence to the "nuts-aquatic products-snacks" pattern was associated with a lower risk of macrosomia (adjusted OR = 0.357, 95% CI: 0.175, 0.725) compared to the lowest tertile. No significant association was observed between prepregnancy dietary patterns and LGA. However, after subgroup analysis of pre-pregnancy BMI, "cereals-vegetables-fruits" pattern was associated with an increased risk of LGA in overweight and obese mothers (adjusted OR = 2.353, 95% CI: 1.010, 5.480). CONCLUSIONS: An unbalanced pre-pregnancy diet increases the risk of macrosomia and LGA, especially in overweight or obese women before pre-pregnancy.

[Status of infant and young child feeding in China in 2016-2017].

OBJECTIVE: To describe the feeding status and related factors of infant and young child aged 6-23 months in China. METHODS: Data was from the China Nutrition and Health Surveillance among 0-17 Years Old Children and Lactating Women in 2016-2017, and 20 423 children aged 6-23 months were involved in 275 surveillance sites from 31 provinces(autonomous regions and municipalities). The introduction of solid, semi-solid or soft foods, minimum dietary diversity, minimum meal frequency were analyzed with WHO and UNICEF 2021 updated infant and young child feeding indicators. Data analyses were conducted using the complex weight based on national census from National Bureau of Statistics in 2010. Rao-Scott Chi-square was used test for statistical difference. RESULTS: The percentage of infants 6-8 months of age who consumed solid, semi-solid or soft foods was 83.2%(95%CI 80.5%-85.9%) in 2016-2017. No significant difference were observed between boys and girls; there was significant difference in different areas(Rao-Scott χ~2=30.85, P<0.01), it was 90.3% in medium and small cities, and reached 75.0% even in poor rural areas. The proportions of children aged 6-23 months meeting minimum dietary diversity(MDD) was 60.6%(95%CI 58.1%-63.1%). It was 71.1% in medium and small cities, and 50.5% in poor rural areas. Except for breast milk, the percentage of eggs(34.4%) and legumes(19.0%) consumption was low, the percentage of grains, vitamin A-rich fruits or vegetables consumption was 89.7%(95%CI 88.4%-91.1%). The percentage of consuming egg and/or flesh food was 76.4%(95%CI 74.2%-78.7%). The percentage of zero vegetables or fruits consumption was 9.1%(95%CI 7.8%-10.4%). The proportions of children aged 6-23 months meeting minimum meal frequency(MMF) was 72.4%(95%CI 70.1%-74.7%). It was over 70% in large cities, medium and small cities, general rural areas; and 60.2% in poor rural areas. The proportions of children aged 6-23 months meeting minimum acceptable diet was 43.4%(95%CI 40.7%-46.1%), it was over 50% in urban areas, and less than 40% in rural areas, 30.1% in poor rural areas. No consistent differences were observed between boys and girls for all 3 indicators(MDD, MMF and MAD), and there was significant difference in different areas and various months of age(P<0.01). CONCLUSION: There was no gender difference in the feeding status of children aged 6-23 months in China, the complementary feeding was relatively timely, and the minimum dietary diversity and meal frequency of children were relatively ideal, but the minimum acceptable diet of children in poor rural areas was poor.

Transgenic ferret models define pulmonary ionocyte diversity and function.

Speciation leads to adaptive changes in organ cellular physiology and creates challenges for studying rare cell-type functions that diverge between humans and mice. Rare cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-rich pulmonary ionocytes exist throughout the cartilaginous airways of humans1,2, but limited presence and divergent biology in the proximal trachea of mice has prevented the use of traditional transgenic models to elucidate ionocyte functions in the airway. Here we describe the creation and use of conditional genetic ferret models to dissect pulmonary ionocyte biology and function by enabling ionocyte lineage tracing (FOXI1-CreERT2::ROSA-TG), ionocyte ablation (FOXI1-KO) and ionocyte-specific deletion of CFTR (FOXI1-CreERT2::CFTRL/L). By comparing these models with cystic fibrosis ferrets3,4, we demonstrate that ionocytes control airway surface liquid absorption, secretion, pH and mucus viscosity-leading to reduced airway surface liquid volume and impaired mucociliary clearance in cystic fibrosis, FOXI1-KO and FOXI1-CreERT2::CFTRL/L ferrets. These processes are regulated by CFTR-dependent ionocyte transport of Cl- and HCO3-. Single-cell transcriptomics and in vivo lineage tracing revealed three subtypes of pulmonary ionocytes and a FOXI1-lineage common rare cell progenitor for ionocytes, tuft cells and neuroendocrine cells during airway development. Thus, rare pulmonary ionocytes perform critical CFTR-dependent functions in the proximal airway that are hallmark features of cystic fibrosis airway disease. These studies provide a road map for using conditional genetics in the first non-rodent mammal to address gene function, cell biology and disease processes that have greater evolutionary conservation between humans and ferrets.

The Association between Macrosomia and Amino Acids' Levels in Maternal and Cord Sera: A Case-Control Study.

This study aims to explore the relationship between macrosomia and amino acids in maternal and cord sera. METHODS: In the case-control study, 78 pairs of mothers and newborns were recruited from December 2016 to November 2019. Participants were divided into the macrosomia group (BW ≥ 4000 g, n = 39) and the control group (BW between 2500 g and 3999 g, n = 39) according to the birth weight (BW) of newborns. Maternal vein blood samples were collected before delivery and cord vein blood samples were collected after birth. The levels of amino acids in maternal and cord sera were measured by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in the year 2021. The difference in amino acid levels in maternal and cord sera between the two groups was compared, and the contribution of each amino acid to the difference between the two groups was analyzed. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to test the relationship between macrosomia and amino acids. RESULTS: In maternal serum during the antepartum, the levels of asparagine, glutamine, methionine, alanine, and threonine in the macrosomia group were higher but arginine was lower than that in the control group (p < 0.05). In cord serum, the levels of lysine, histidine, phenylalanine, arginine, tryptophan, valine, isoleucine, glutamate, tyrosine, and total essential amino acid (EAA) in the macrosomia group were lower while glutamine was higher than that in the control group (p < 0.05). The ratios of EAA, valine, threonine, methionine, tryptophan, and alanine in maternal serum to those in cord serum were higher, while the ratio of glutamine was lower in the macrosomia group (p < 0.05). Arginine and threonine in maternal serum and glutamate, glutamine, and histidine in cord serum were associated with macrosomia (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Most of the amino acid levels in the maternal sera of the macrosomia group are higher than those in the control group, while most of the amino acids' levels in the cord sera of the macrosomia group are lower than those in the control group. The ratios of some amino acids in maternal serum to those in cord serum were different between the two groups. Arginine and threonine in maternal serum and glutamate, glutamine, and histidine in cord serum are closely related to macrosomia.