Effects of nanoselenium on the performance, blood indices, and milk metabolites of dairy cows during the peak lactation period.

To compare the impact of nanoselenium and sodium selenite on the performance, blood indices, and milk metabolites of dairy cows during the peak lactation period, two groups of dairy cows under the same conditions were selected as the control group (CON group) and treatment group (NSe group) for a 38-day (10 days for adaptation and 28 days for sampling) experiment. The control group (CON) was provided a basal diet +3.3 g/d of sodium selenite (purity1%), whereas the nanoselenium group (NSe) was offered the same diet +10 mL/d of nanoselenium (selenium concentration 1,500 mg/L). The results showed that NSe significantly increased the milk yield, milk selenium content, and feed efficiency (p < 0.05), but had no significant effect on other milk components (p > 0.05). NSe significantly increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (p < 0.05), but had no significant effects on malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), blood total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), or blood selenium (p > 0.05). In addition, the nontargeted metabolomics of the milk was determined by LC-MS technology, and the differentially abundant metabolites and their enrichment pathways were screened. According to these findings, NSe considerably increased the contents of cetylmannoside, undecylenoic acid, 3-hydroxypentadecanoic acid, 16-hydroxypentadecanoic acid, threonic acid, etc., but decreased the contents of galactaric acid, mesaconic acid, CDP-glucose etc. Furthermore, the enriched metabolic pathways that were screened with an impact value greater than 0.1 included metabolism of niacin and niacinamide, pyruvate, citrate cycle, riboflavin, glycerophospholipid, butanoate and tyrosine. Pearson correlation analysis also revealed a relationship between different milk metabolites and blood selenium, as well as between milk selenium and blood biochemical indices. In conclusion, compared with sodium selenite, nanoselenium improves the milk yield, feed efficiency, and milk selenium content of dairy cows and regulates milk metabolites and related metabolic pathways in Holstein dairy cows during the peak lactation period, which has certain application prospects in dairy production.

Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum (L) and molasses (M) on nutrient composition, aerobic stability, and microflora of alfalfa silage in sandy grasslands.

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum and molasses on the nutrient composition, fermentation quality, bacterial count, aerobic stability, and microflora of alfalfa silage in sandy grasslands. The experimental treatments included control (CK), 106 CFU/g Lactobacillus plantarum (L), 5% molasses (M), and 106 CFU/g Lactobacillus plantarum + 5% molasses (LM). The nutrient composition, fermentation quality, bacterial count, aerobic stability, and microflora were determined after 14 days and 56 days of ensiling, respectively. The results showed that the addition of L, M, and LM reduced dry matter loss (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) content, and increased water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and ether extract (EE) content, compared to the CK group. Meanwhile, more lactic acid (LA) and accelerated fermentation were observed, causing the pH value to drop below 4.5 in the L, M, and LM groups after 56 days of ensiling. The addition of L, M, and LM promoted lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and inhibited yeast. The addition of L significantly increased the content of acetic acid (AA). In terms of microflora, the addition of L, M, and LM made Firmicutes become the dominant bacterial phylum earlier, while Lactobacillus, Weissella, and Pediococcus had a higher abundance. According to the result of Pearson's correlation, there is a very significant negative correlation between pH value and Lactobacillus (P < 0.01) and a very significant positive correlation between pH value and Lactococcus, Enterobacter, Enterococcus, and Leuconostoc (P < 0.01), which may be inhibited by Lactobacillus under the decreased pH value. The results of the prediction of microbial genes indicated that the addition of M could enhance the carbohydrate metabolism and membrane transport metabolism, which may contribute to LA production by LAB metabolism. In general, L, M and LM all improved the fermentation quality and reduced the loss of nutrients to varying degrees, but considering the fermentation quality, the overall effects of M and LM were better than L. M and LM are recommended to be used as silage additives in the process of alfalfa silage in sandy grasslands to improve the quality.

Effects of organic trace minerals chelated with oligosaccharides on growth performance, blood parameters, slaughter performance and meat quality in sheep.

The present study assessed the effects of oligosaccharide-chelated organic trace minerals (OTM) on the growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, blood parameters, slaughter performance, and meat quality indexes of mutton sheep. A total of 60 East Ujumuqin × small-tailed Han crossbred mutton sheep were assigned to two groups (10 duplicates per group) by body weight (26.12 ± 3.22 kg) according to a completely randomized design. Compared to the CON group, the results of the OTM group showed: (1) no significant changes in the initial body weight, final body weight, dry matter intake, average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio (p > 0.05); (2) the activities of trypsin, lipase, and amylase in the jejunum were significantly increased (p < 0.05); (3) serum total protein, albumin, and globulin of the blood were significantly increased (p < 0.05), and the growth factor interleukin IL-10 was significantly higher (p < 0.05), while IL-2, IL-6, and γ-interferon were significantly lower (p < 0.05). Immunoglobulins A, M, and G were significantly higher (p < 0.05); (4) the live weight before slaughter, carcass weights, dressing percentage, eye muscle areas, and GR values did not differ significantly (p > 0.05); (5) shear force of mutton was significantly lower (p < 0.05), while the pH45min, pH24h, drip loss, and cooking loss did not show a significant difference (p > 0.05). The content of crude protein was significantly higher (p < 0.05), while the ether extract content was significantly reduced (p < 0.05), but no significant difference was detected between moisture and ash content; (6) the total amino acids, essential amino acids, semi-essential amino acids, and umami amino acids were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Although umami amino acids were not significant, the total volume increased (p > 0.05). Among these, the essential amino acids, threonine, valine, leucine, lysine in essential amino acids and arginine were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Also, non-essential amino acids, glycine, serine, proline, tyrosine, cysteine, and aspartic acid, were significantly higher (p < 0.05). The content of alanine, aspartate, glutamic acid, phenylalanine, and tyrosine in umami amino acids was significantly higher (p < 0.05).

Effects of high hydrostatic pressure on peelability and quality of crayfish(Procambarus clarkii).

BACKGROUND: Peeling of crayfish is a very important process in production. Crayfish peeling by machine can increase production efficiency and enhance safety in the production process. The tight muscle-shell attachment causes difficulty in peeling freshly caught crayfish. However, few studies have explored the changes in crayfish quality under favorable shell-loosening treatments. RESULTS: In this study, the shell-loosening properties of crayfish and changes in crayfish quality, microstructure and protein fluorescent features were investigated after high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatment. New methods were established to measure the peeling performance of crayfish, which are peelability and meat yield rate (MYR). The normalization of peelability and MYR were verified by different weights of crayfish tails and different treatments. The peeling effect of HHP-treated crayfish was evaluated by a new quantitative measurement method, and MYR was calculated. The results showed that all the HHP treatments reduced crayfish peeling work and increased MYR. The HHP treatment provided better crayfish quality in terms of texture and color and enlarged the shell-loosening gap. Among all HHP treatments, 200 MPa treatment exhibited lower peeling work, higher MYR and an expansion of the shell-loosening gap, reaching up to 573.8 µm. At the same time, 200 MPa treatment could maintain crayfish quality. CONCLUSION: The findings outlined above suggest that high pressure is a promising method for loosening crayfish shells. 200 MPa is an optimal HHP treatment condition for crayfish peeling, exhibiting a promising application in industrial processing. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of ultrasound treatment on muscle structure, volatile compounds, and small molecule metabolites of salted Culter alburnus fish.

This study investigated the effects of ultrasound treatment on the quality of salted Culter alburnus fish. The results showed that with the increasing ultrasound power, the structural degradation of muscle fibers was intensified, and the conformation of myofibrillar protein was significantly changed. The high-power ultrasound treatment group (300 W) had relatively higher thiobarbiturate reactive substance content (0.37 mg malondialdehyde eq/kg) and peroxidation value (0.63 mmol/kg). A total of 66 volatile compounds were identified with obvious differences among groups. The 200 W ultrasound group exhibited fewer fishy substances (Hexanal, 1-Pentene-3-ol, and 1-Octane-3-ol). Compared with control group, ultrasound groups (200, 300 W) contained more umami taste-related amino peptides such as γ-Glu-Met, γ-Glu-Ala, and Asn-pro. In the ultrasound treatment group, L-isoleucine and L-methionine, which may be used as flavor precursors, were significantly down-regulated, while carbohydrates and its metabolites were up-regulated. Amino acid, carbohydrate, and FA (fatty acyls) metabolism products in salted fish were enriched by ultrasound treatment, and those products might ultimately be related to the taste and flavor of salted fish.

Effects of guanidinoacetic acid on in vitro rumen fermentation and microflora structure and predicted gene function.

The fermentation substrate was supplemented with 0% guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) (control group, CON), 0.2% GAA (GAA02), 0.4% GAA (GAA04), 0.6% GAA (GAA06) and 0.8% GAA (GAA08) for 48 h of in vitro fermentation. Gas production was recorded at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h of fermentation. The gas was collected, and the proportions (%, v/v) of H2, CH4 and CO2 were determined. The rumen fermentation parameters, including pH, ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), microbial protein (MCP) and volatile fatty acids (VFAs), were also determined. Furthermore, the bacterial community structure was analyzed through 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. The gene functions were predicted using PICRUSt1 according to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). The results showed that with the increase in GAA supplementation levels, the MCP and the concentration of rumen propionate were significantly increased, while the concentration of isovalerate was significantly decreased (p < 0.05). The results of microbial diversity and composition showed that the Shannon index was significantly decreased by supplementation with GAA at different levels (p < 0.05), but the relative abundance of norank_f_F082 and Papillibacter in the GAA06 group was significantly increased (p < 0.05). Especially in group GAA08, the relative abundances of Bacteroidota, Prevotella and Prevotellaceae_UCG-001 were significantly increased (p < 0.05). The results of gene function prediction showed that the relative abundances of the functions of flagellar assembly, bacterial chemotaxis, plant-pathogen interaction, mismatch repair and nucleotide excision repair were significantly decreased (p < 0.05), but the relative abundances of bile secretion and protein digestion and absorption were significantly increased (p < 0.05). In conclusion, supplementation with 0.8% GAA enhanced in vitro rumen fermentation parameters, increased the relative abundance of Prevotella and Prevotellaceae_UCG-001 in the rumen, and increased the metabolic pathways of bile secretion and protein digestion and absorption.

Development and evaluation of a predictive nomogram for survival in heat stroke patients: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to establish an effective nomogram to predict the survival of heat stroke (HS) based on risk factors. METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational multicenter cohort study. We analyzed patients diagnosed with HS, who were treated between May 1 and September 30, 2018 at 15 tertiary hospitals from 11 cities in Northern China. RESULTS: Among the 175 patients, 32 patients (18.29%) died before hospital discharge. After the univariate analysis, mechanical ventilation, initial mean arterial pressure <70 mmHg, maximum heart rate, lab results on day 1 (white blood cell count, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine), and Glasgow admission prediction score were included in multivariate analysis. Multivariate Cox regression showed that invasive ventilation, initial mean arterial pressure <70 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), and Glasgow admission prediction score were independent risk factors for HS. The nomogram was established for predicting 7-d and 14-d survival in the training cohort. The nomogram exhibited a concordance index (C-index) of 0.880 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.831-0.930) by bootstrapping validation (B=1,000). Furthermore, the nomogram performed better when predicting 14-d survival, compared to 7-d survival. The prognostic index cut-off value was set at 2.085, according to the operating characteristic curve for overall survival prediction. The model showed good calibration ability in the internal and external validation datasets. CONCLUSION: A novel nomogram, integrated with prognostic factors, was proposed; it was highly predictive of the survival in HS patients.

Measurement of the Cobb angle by 3D ultrasound: a valuable additional method for the prenatal evaluation of congenital scoliosis.

Background: This study aimed to measure the Cobb angle of the fetal spine using three-dimensional ultrasound (3D-US) and to assess the relationship between the Cobb angle and the prognosis of congenital scoliosis. Methods: From March 2015 to June 2019, 77 pregnant women whose fetuses had suspected spinal skeletal dysplasia consented to undergo 3D-US examinations, and 54 fetuses were selected for the analysis group. The study protocol was approved by the review board of the Institutional Ethics Committee for Fetal Medicine. 3D-US was used to show the structure of the fetal spine in 3 planes, and the Cobb angle was measured on the coronal plane. The diagnostic efficacy of 3D-US was compared to that of X-ray for 33 fetuses. Results: In the diagnosis of congenital scoliosis, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 3D-US were 91.7%, 90.0%, 90.7%, 88.0%, and 93.1%, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve with 3D-US was 0.908. The Spearman correlation coefficient between the Cobb angle measurement on an X-ray image and on the coronal plane image acquired by 3D-US was 0.84, which showed a significant correlation (P<0.05). Conclusions: 3D-US was successful in the diagnosis of congenital scoliosis. It is feasible to measure the Cobb angle on the coronal plane of the fetal spine by using 3D-US. The Cobb angle has the potential to become an auxiliary index for evaluating the prognosis of congenital scoliosis.

Postnatal outcomes of fetuses with isolated gallbladder anomalies: be aware of biliary atresia.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the normal development of fetal gallbladder (GB) and evaluate the postnatal outcomes of fetuses with isolated GB anomalies without other structural abnormalities by ultrasound. METHODS: This was a retrospective study. We collected normal cases during 2016 between 15 and 40 gestational weeks and measured the length and width of GB to establish a normal reference range of GB. Using the 10th and 90th percentiles of the normal reference range, isolated cases of enlarged or small GB without other structural anomalies were selected between January 2017 and December 2019. Simultaneously, cases of echogenic material in the GB were included. Fetuses with non-visualization of the fetal gallbladder (NVFGB) were collected between January 2010 and December 2019. Postnatal outcomes of these cases were followed up and analyzed. RESULTS: There were 670 cases in the normal group and a linear correlation was found between the dimensions of GB and the gestational age, including the length (r = 0.69; p < .05; y = 0.97 + 0.70 × gestational age) and width (r = 0.48; p < .05; y = 1.65 + 0.12 × gestational age). Sixty-two cases with isolated GB anomalies were collected, including nine cases of enlarged GB, four cases of small GB, three cases of echogenic material in the GB, and 46 cases of NVFGB. Sixty fetuses (96.8%, 60/62) had good outcomes, except that two neonates (4%, 2/50) in small GB and NVFGB groups were both born with BA. In the NVFGB group, 97.8% (45/46) were with good outcomes, in which gallbladders were finally visualized in 37 (80.4%, 37/46) cases and GB agenesis was postnatally diagnosed in eight (17.4%, 8/46) patients by ultrasound. CONCLUSION: The postnatal outcomes of most fetuses (96.8%) with isolated GB anomalies such as enlarged GB, echogenic material in the GB were favorable. When it comes to cases of small GB or NVFGB in prenatal ultrasound diagnosis, we should alert biliary atresia in prenatal counseling.

Dimensions of the optic chiasm: quantitative ultrasound comparison between fetuses with anophthalmia/microphthalmia and normal fetuses.

BACKGROUND: The precise pathogenesis of anophthalmia/microphthalmia remains unknown. Prenatal observation of the optic chiasm in fetuses with this malformation would assist in understanding the embryonic development of the condition. The present study aimed to establish the normal fetal size ranges of decussation of the optic chiasm, optic nerves, and optic tracts in the axial plane using two-dimensional transabdominal ultrasound throughout gestation and to compare these ranges to the corresponding values in fetuses with anophthalmia/microphthalmia. METHODS: In total, 310 normal fetuses and 16 fetuses with anophthalmia/microphthalmia were included in this study. The widths of the decussation of the optic chiasm, optic nerves, and optic tracts of normal fetuses at 19-40 weeks' gestation were measured in the axial plane by two-dimensional transabdominal ultrasound. The same widths were retrospectively measured in the axial plane using three-dimensional ultrasound in fetuses with anophthalmia/microphthalmia and compared to the results from the normal fetuses. RESULTS: The decussation, optic nerves, and optic tracts of 310 normal fetuses were measured. The normal widths of the decussation of the optic chiasm, optic nerves, and optic tracts increased linearly with gestational age. The interobserver and intraobserver reproducibility was excellent for the decussation but relatively low for the optic nerves and optic tracts. The optic nerve width of fetuses with anophthalmia/microphthalmia was significantly smaller than that of normal fetuses (P<0.001), but the widths of the decussation (P=0.061) and optic tracts (P=0.053) were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The normal ranges of the decussation of the optic chiasm, optic nerves, and optic tracts established in this study can provide a quantitative basis for prenatal evaluation of the optic pathway. Fetal anophthalmia/microphthalmia may be associated with optic nerve hypoplasia.

The Added Value of Whole-Exome Sequencing for Anomalous Fetuses With Detailed Prenatal Ultrasound and Postnatal Phenotype.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to explore the added value of whole-exome sequencing (WES) in abnormal fetuses with detailed prenatal ultrasound and postnatal phenotype with normal karyotype and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA). METHODS: Parents of fetuses with structural abnormalities by prenatal ultrasound who consented to provide fetal samples were prospectively recruited from January 2017 to December 2019. With aneuploidies or cases with copy number variations (CNVs) excluded, WES was performed for cases with normal karyotype and CMA results. Detailed prenatal ultrasound and postnatal imaging or pathology features were recommended for further interpretation of genetic variants. RESULTS: WES was performed for 94 eligible fetuses, DNA samples of which were extracted from 53 parent-fetus trios and 41 proband-only fetal tissues. A diagnostic genetic variant was identified in 37 (39.4%) of 94 fetuses, and 34 (64.2%) were detected in 53 trios, which was significantly greater than 3 (7.3%) in 41 proband-only cases (p < 0.001). In 34 trios with diagnostic genetic variants, 23 (67.6%) were de novo and 11 (32.4%) were inherited with two homozygous and nine heterozygous variants. Fourteen (14.9%) of 94 fetuses had a variant of uncertain significance (VUS). Among 94 cases, six affected pregnancies continued and 88 terminated, and 57 of 88 terminated cases underwent postmortem examinations. With accurate phenotypes demonstrated by prenatal ultrasound and postnatal autopsies, the clinical phenotypes were correlated in 33 (89.2%) of 37 cases with specific genotypes, with the highest matching ratio in skeletal diseases (20/33, 60.6%). CONCLUSION: WES has added value in the genetic diagnosis of abnormal fetuses with normal karyotypes and CMA, particularly in skeletal diseases. Using WES in various anomalous fetuses can broaden the understanding of prenatal phenotypes and genetic variants.

Prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal aberrations in fetuses with conotruncal heart defects by genome-wide high-resolution SNP array.

Objectives: To explore chromosomal variations, including copy number variations (CNVs), in fetuses with conotruncal heart defect (CTD).Methods: During a 5-year period, a total of 129 fetuses with ascertained CTDs were investigated for chromosomal abnormalities using quantitative fluorescence PCR (QF-PCR) and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA). Fetuses were divided into two subgroups: benign group (with normal QF-PCR results and benign CNVs) and nonbenign group [with aneuploidies, nonbenign CNVs [pathogenic CNVs and CNVs of unknown significance (VOUS)]. Data on fetal structural malformations, chromosomal variations, and pregnancy outcomes were collected and compared.Results: Of the 129 cases, 17 were found to have common aneuploidies. In the remaining 112 cases with normal a QF-PCR result, pathogenic CNVs, CNVs of VOUS, and benign CNVs were identified in 5.3, 5.3, and 4.5%, respectively. Compared with benign group, fetuses in nonbenign group had a significantly higher rate of neurologic defects (13.8 versus 3.0%, p < .05), overall extracardiac anomalies (86.2 versus 45.0%, p < .05), and perinatal death (57.1 versus 18.4%, p < .05), whereas, no significant difference in that of associated cardiovascular anomalies was noted (48.2 versus 46.0%, p = .29). Among the extracardiac anomalies, thymus abnormalities were strongly associated with nonbenign CNVs (33.3 versus 1% of fetuses in benign group, p < .05).Conclusions: Pathogenic CNVs, in addition to chromosomal aneuploidies, contributed to the pathogenesis of CTD. The presence of associated extracardiac anomalies including thymus abnormalities correlated with a higher probability of nonbenign chromosomal variations, which was associated with an unfavorable outcome.

Evaluation of Cervical Elastography for Prediction of Spontaneous Preterm Birth in Low-Risk Women: A Prospective Study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether cervical elastographic parameters in addition to cervical length (CL) during the 3 trimesters of pregnancy would be predictive of spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) among low-risk women. METHODS: This work was a prospective nested case-control study evaluating cervical elastographic parameters and CL in low-risk women during the 3 trimesters of pregnancy. A binary logistic regression analysis was used to calculate significant covariates for prediction of sPTB. The area under the curve of the prediction model was calculated by using a receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: There were 286 women (26 cases and 260 controls) included in the analysis. The parameters of cervical elasticity became softened and heterogeneous during the 3 trimesters of pregnancy in both women with and without sPTB. The differences in the mean strain value at the internal os of the cervix (IOS), ratio (strain ratio of the internal os to the external os) during the second trimester and the IOS during the third trimester between the groups had statistical significance (P < .01; P = .01; P < .01, respectively). The CL had no association with sPTB during the 3 trimesters. The IOS during the second trimester was a better predictor of sPTB, with an area under the curve of 0.730, and sensitivity was 72.73%. CONCLUSIONS: We observed multiple elastographic parameters and demonstrated the physiologic changes in the cervix during the 3 trimesters of pregnancy. Furthermore, we found that the IOS during the second trimester can be helpful in predicting sPTB. However, the CL had no association with sPTB during the 3 trimesters of pregnancy.

Quantitative elastography of cervical stiffness during the three trimesters of pregnancy with a semiautomatic measurement program: A longitudinal prospective pilot study.

AIM: To assess the reproducibility of a semiautomatic quantification tool for cervical stiffness and evaluate the normal changes in cervical elasticity during the three trimesters of pregnancy. METHODS: This longitudinal prospective pilot study evaluated cervical elasticity during the three trimesters of pregnancy (11-14, 20-24 and 28-32 weeks) in women with singleton pregnancies. Women with a history of conization, cerclage, cervical Naboth cysts (diameter > 10 mm), cervical tumors, or uterine malformation were excluded. A semiautomatic tool was used to evaluate the stiffness of the whole cervix and the internal and external cervical os with multiple quantitative elasticity parameters and the cervical length (CL) on the sagittal view via transvaginal elastography. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis were used to assess intra- and interobserver variability. E-Cervix parameters during the three trimesters were compared using the Friedman test. RESULTS: In total, 217 women with 651 strain examinations during the three trimesters were included. The intra- and interobserver ICC for the E-Cervix parameters ranged from 0.947 to 0.991 and 0.855 to 0.989, respectively. There were significant differences in all parameters among the three trimesters. Cervical elasticity showed significant softening and became heterogeneous during the three trimesters. The median CL was significantly shorter in the first trimester than in the second and third trimesters (P = 0.004, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: E-Cervix provides a graphical tool for operators to easily define regions of interest and obtain multiple repeatable measures of elasticity. The normal references for E-Cervix parameters during the three trimesters reflect the physiological cervical changes during pregnancy.

Quantitative cervical elastography: a new approach of cervical insufficiency prediction.

OBJECTIVES: To establish methodological criteria for the clinical application of E-cervix technology in non-pregnant women, evaluate cervical differences between non-pregnant CI patients and normal women, and explore the predictive value of E-cervix for CI in non-pregnant women. METHODS: In all, 46 non-pregnant women with CI and 46 non-pregnant women with full-term pregnancy experience were included. Elastic parameters (HR, IOS, EOS, IOS/EOS, CL) of the cervix were measured by transvaginal examination with a mid-sagittal section as the ROI, followed by examination of the whole cervix. The pressure of the probe on the cervix was divided into three levels. The elastic data of three consecutive images were separately obtained by two doctors for three pressure levels. Image stability and the effects of pressure were evaluated and the repeatability of the measurements was tested. In the case and control groups, cervical elasticity images were selected by standardized operation methods. Differences in the parameters between the two groups were determined and the diagnostic efficiency of each parameter was analyzed. RESULTS: The HR, IOS, and EOS showed significant differences when measured on different sequential images obtained by continuous mapping (p < 0.05). The elastic parameters obtained from the first and last two images were significantly different (p < 0.05) and there were no significant differences between the elastic parameters obtained from the last two images (p > 0.05). The HR, IOS, EOS, and IOS/EOS showed significant differences among the pressure levels (p < 0.05), while the IOS showed a significant difference only between grades 0 and 2 (p < 0.05). E-cervix showed good repeatability within and among operators. The elastic parameters obtained by E-cervix in the CI group and control group were significantly different. ROC curve analysis showed that the HR was the most sensitive index for diagnosing CI. CONCLUSION: In E-cervix data acquisition, the first image should be excluded and the probe should not put pressure on the cervix. E-cervix has good retest and inter-observer reliability. Compared with normal women, CI patients showed a relatively softer and shorter cervix. E-cervix can be used as an important diagnostic tool for assessing cervical strain.

Flapless immediate implant placement into fresh molar extraction socket using platelet-rich fibrin: A case report.

BACKGROUND: There are some challenges concerning immediate implant placement in the molar region. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), an autologous biomaterial, has been used widely for periodontal intra-bony defects, sinus augmentation, socket preservation, and gingival recession. However, the literature remains scarce for reports on immediate implants with PRF, particularly in the case of fresh molar extraction socket. CASE SUMMARY: The patient was a 43-year-old woman with maxillary molar vertical crown-root fracture. She underwent flapless immediate implant placement into the fresh molar socket with PRF. At the follow-up visit 15 d post procedure, the vascularization of soft tissue was visible. There was no swelling or pain after the surgery. Six months postoperatively, the regeneration of bone and soft tissues was visible. Subsequently, the definitive restoration was placed. The patient was satisfied with the aesthetic outcomes. CONCLUSION: The flapless immediate implant placement into the fresh molar socket with PRF is a feasible procedure. This case report demonstrates that PRF promotes bone and soft tissue regeneration apart from having an enhanced anti-inflammatory ability. Furthermore, the procedure involves a minimally invasive technique, thus reducing the surgical complexity.

Compound Heterozygosity for Novel Truncating Variants in the LMOD3 Gene as the Cause of Polyhydramnios in Two Successive Fetuses.

Polyhydramnios is sometimes associated with genetic defects. However, establishing an accurate diagnosis and pinpointing the precise genetic cause of polyhydramnios in any given case represents a major challenge because it is known to occur in association with over 200 different conditions. Whole exome sequencing (WES) is now a routine part of the clinical workup, particularly with diseases characterized by atypical manifestations and significant genetic heterogeneity. Here we describe the identification, by means of WES, of novel compound heterozygous truncating variants in the LMOD3 gene [i.e., c.1412delA (p.Lys471Serfs*18) and c.1283dupC (p.Gly429Trpfs*35)] in a Chinese family with two successive fetuses affected with polyhydramnios, thereby potentiating the prenatal diagnosis of nemaline myopathy (NM) in the proband. LMOD3 encodes leiomodin-3, which is localized to the pointed ends of thin filaments and acts as a catalyst of actin nucleation in skeletal and cardiac muscle. This is the first study to describe the prenatal and postnatal manifestations of LMOD3-related NM in the Chinese population. Of all the currently reported NM-causing LMOD3 nonsense and frameshifting variants, c.1412delA generates the shortest truncation at the C-terminal end of the protein, underscoring the critical role of the WH2 domain in LMOD3 structure and function. Survey of the prenatal phenotypes of all known LMOD3-related severe NM cases served to identify fetal edema as a novel presenting feature that may provide an early clue to facilitate prenatal diagnosis of the disease.

Minimally invasive endoscopic maxillary sinus lifting and immediate implant placement: A case report.

BACKGROUND: This case report discusses a modified approach for maxillary sinus augmentation, in which platelet-rich fibrin, endoscope, simultaneous implant placement, and sinus floor elevation (PESS) were applied for a maxillary sinus floor lift in a 40-year-old patient. CASE SUMMARY: A 40-year-old woman suffered missing upper right first molar. Implant stability quotient and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) were used to evaluate the diagnosis. CBCT showed insufficient posterior maxillary bone with a mean residual alveolar bone height of only 3.5 mm. The patient underwent a minimally invasive sinus floor elevation endoscopically. The sinus membrane was elevated in two stages, and a 12-mm implant was placed immediately. At 3 mo postoperatively, the final impressions were accomplished, and a full-ceramic crown was fit-placed. A 6-mo follow-up demonstrated satisfactory aesthetic and functional results. CONCLUSION: This is the first report to use an endoscope for maxillary sinus floor lifting in cases with severe and insufficient bone height. This case report demonstrates the advantages of the PESS technique, which include minimal invasiveness with high precision, being applicable in cases with a residual alveolar bone height < 4 mm with a promising result, and a shortened treatment period from 12 to 3 mo.

The ratio of cavum septi pellucidi width to anteroposterior cerebellar diameter: A novel index as a diagnostic adjunct for prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 18.

AIM: To explore the effectiveness of cavum septi pellucidi (CSP) width to anteroposterior cerebellar diameter (APCD) ratio as a diagnostic adjunct for prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 18. METHODS: Images of normal fetal brain within 15 and 35 weeks were stored in our center from 2016 to 2017. Images of aneuploid fetuses were retrospectively collected from 2004 to 2017. The transverse cerebellar diameter, APCD and CSP width were measured. CSP/APCD and APCD/transverse cerebellar diameter ratios were calculated and compared between euploid and aneuploid fetuses. RESULTS: One thousand and forty one fetuses were analyzed, including 817 euploid fetuses and 224 aneuploid fetuses (trisomy 21 117 cases, trisomy 18 82 cases, trisomy 13 9 cases, sex-linked 16 cases). No correlation had been found between both ratios and gestational weeks (P > 0.05). In aneuploid groups, means of ratios were both significantly different just between trisomy 18 group and euploid group (P < 0.05). The best area under the curve was shown by the CSP/APCD ratio. The cutoff value of CSP/APCD was 0.46 (sensitivity 87.0%, specificity 85.0%). CONCLUSION: A wide CSP or cerebellar hypoplasia warrants a more detailed ultrasound screening and genetic counseling. A larger CSP/APCD ratio alerts us to trisomy 18 syndrome, especially in cases with subtle anomalies.

UBE2S mediates tumor progression via SOX6/ß-Catenin signaling in endometrial cancer.

Dysregulation of ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2S (UBE2S) contributes to tumor progression. However, its clinical significance and biological function in endometrial cancer (EMC) remain unclear. Here, we show that UBE2S is upregulated in EMC and exhibits oncogenic activities via activation of SOX6/ß-Catenin signaling. High expression of UBE2S is significantly associated with poor prognosis in two independent cohorts consisting of a total of 773 patients with EMC. in vitro studies demonstrate that ectopic expression of UBE2S promotes cell proliferation and migration, whereas knockdown of UBE2S results in opposite phenotypes. Overexpression of UBE2S in EMC cells enhances the nuclear translocation of ß-Catenin, and subsequently induces the expression of c-Myc and Cyclin D1. Inhibition of ß-Catenin by XAV-939 markedly attenuates UBE2S-promoted cell growth. Mechanistically, UBE2S suppresses the expression of SOX6 to trigger ß-Catenin signaling. Re-expression of SOX6 in UBE2S-expressing EMC cells abolishes the nuclear localization of ß-Catenin. Collectively, these data suggest UBE2S may serve as a promising prognostic factor and function as an oncogene in EMC. The newly identified UBE2S/SOX6/ß-Catenin axis represents a new potential therapeutic target for EMC intervention.