Increasing insulin resistance predicts adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal insulin resistance (IR) in the late second trimester and pregnancy outcomes, as well as to identify risk factors of IR among women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted among 2647 women diagnosed with GDM. IR was evaluated using the homeostasis model assessment method for IR (HOMA-IR) in the late second trimester (between 24 and 28 weeks), and the lipid profiles were measured at the same time. Patients were divided into groups based on quartiles of HOMA-IR. The information on pregnancy outcomes and risk factors was extracted from the medical records of all participants and entered electronically. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the associations between HOMA-IR and pregnancy outcomes, as well as the associations between risk factors and HOMA-IR. RESULTS: Greater IR was associated with cesarean delivery, preterm delivery, macrosomia, and large for gestational age newborns, but only significantly associated with preterm delivery after adjustment for potential confounders (P < .001). Prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), weight gain before diagnosis of GDM, and triglycerides were significantly related with IR in the late second trimester (P < .001). Besides, the total area under the curve of the diagnostic 75-g oral glucose tolerance test and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c increased from the lowest to the highest HOMA-IR groups. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing IR in the late second trimester predicts adverse pregnancy outcomes especially for preterm delivery in women with GDM. Additionally, prepregnancy BMI and weight gain before diagnosis of GDM are independent risk factors for the development of IR.

[Study on effect of extract from Tibetan medicine Urtica hyperborean on anti-prostatic hyperplasia].

In this study,mouse models of benign prostatic hyperplasia induced by subcutaneous injection of testosterone propionate was used to investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Urtica hyperborean( UW) extracts on prostate hyperplasia in mice. The effects of UW extracts on prostate index,serum epidermal growth factor( EGF) and dihydrotestosterone( DHT) in model mice were observed,and the EGF and anti-apoptotic factor( Bcl-2) mRNA expression levels were detected as well as pathological changes in prostate tissue. The results showed that the ethyl acetate extraction and alcohol soluble fraction of the UW could significantly reduce the prostate index,reduce the serum DHT and EGF levels( P<0. 01),and significantly decrease the EGF and Bcl-2 mRNA expression( P<0. 01),significantly improved the morphological structure of prostate tissue. The above results confirmed that ethyl acetate extract and alcohol-soluble parts of UW have a good preventive effect on mice prostatic hyperplasia model,and its mechanism may be to reduce androgen levels by regulating polypeptide growth factors and/or inhibiting cell hyperproliferation and promoting apoptosis. This study laid the foundation for the further research on UW.

[Rapid identification of constituents of Urtica hyperborea using UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS method].

This paper deals with the application of ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS) method to rapidly determine and analyze the chemical constituents of methanol extract of Urtica hyperborea. We employed UPLC YMC-Triart C18(2. 1 mm×100 mm,1. 9 µm) column to UPLC analysis with acetonitrile-water(containing 0. 4% formic acid) in gradient as mobile phase. The flow rate was 0. 3 m L·min-1 gradient elution and column temperature was 30℃; the injection volume was 4 µL. ESI ion source was used to ensure the data collected in anegative ion mode. The chemical components of U. hyperborea were identified through retention time,exact relative molecular mass,cleavage fragments of MS/MS and reported data.The results indicated that a total of 31 compounds were identified,including 8 flavonoids,14 phenolic compounds,8 phenylpropanoids(4 coumarins and 4 lignans),and 1 steroidal compound,13 of which were confirmed by comparison. The UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS method could rapid identify the chemical components of U. hyperborea. The above compounds were discovered in U. hyperborea for the first time,which could provide theoretical foundation for further research on the basis of the pharmacodynamics of U. hyperborea.

Structural characterization and in vitro hypoglycemic activity of a glucan from Euryale ferox Salisb. seeds.

In this research, a polysaccharide fraction (EFSP-1) was obtained from the seeds of Euryale ferox Salisb. by DEAE sepharose FF and Superdex™ 75 gel chromatography. The average molecular weight (Mw) of EFSP-1 was 8.75 kDa. Monosaccharides composition analysis indicated that EFSP-1 was a glucan. The structure of EFSP-1 was characterized by analysis of FT-IR, GC-MS and NMR, which indicated that the backbone of EFSP-1 was mainly composed of (1→4)-α-D-Glcp with branches substituted at O-6 and terminated with T-α-D-Glcp. Moreover, the hypoglycemic effect of EFSP-1 was investigated by establishing insulin resistance HepG2 and 3T3-L1 cells. The results showed that EFSP-1 could increase glucose consumption by up-regulating the expression of GLUT-4 via activating PI3K/Akt signal pathway in IR cells. Hence, EFSP-1 could be a potential functional food to ameliorate insulin resistance for diabetes therapy.

Relationship between Oral Glucose Tolerance Test Characteristics and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes among Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Hyperglycemia is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, the relationships between them remain ambiguous. This study aimed to analyze the effect of different oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results on adverse perinatal outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included data from 15 hospitals in Beijing from June 20, 2013 to November 30, 2013. Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) were categorized according to the number and distribution of abnormal OGTT values, and the characteristics of adverse pregnancy outcomes were evaluated. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to determine the associations. RESULTS: In total, 14,741 pregnant women were included in the study population, 2927 (19.86%) of whom had GDM. As the number of hyperglycemic values in the OGTT increased, the risk of cesarean delivery, preterm births, large-for-gestational age (LGA), macrosomia, and neonatal complications significantly increased. Fasting hyperglycemia had clear associations with macrosomia (odds ratios [OR s]:1.84, 95% confidence intervals [CI s]: 1.39-2.42,P < 0.001), LGA (OR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.29-2.25,P < 0.001), and cesarean delivery (OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.15-1.55,P < 0.001). The associations were stronger as fasting glucose increased. GDM diagnosed by hyperglycemia at OGTT-2 h was more likely to lead to preterm birth (OR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.11-2.03,P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Various characteristics of OGTTs are associated with different adverse outcomes. A careful reconsideration of GDM with hierarchical and individualized management according to OGTT characteristics is needed.

High Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Beijing: Effect of Maternal Birth Weight and Other Risk Factors.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with both short- and long-term adverse health consequences for both the mother and her offspring. The aim was to study the prevalence and risk factors for GDM in Beijing. METHODS: The study population consisted of 15,194 pregnant women attending prenatal care in 15 hospitals in Beijing, who delivered between June 20, 2013, and November 30, 2013, after 28 weeks of gestation. The participants were selected by cluster sampling from the 15 hospitals identified through random systematic sampling based on the number of deliveries in 2012. A questionnaire was designed to collect information. RESULTS: A total of 2987 (19.7%) women were diagnosed with GDM and 208 (1.4%) had diabetes in pregnancy (DIP). Age (OR: 1.053, 95% CI: 1.033-1.074, P < 0.01), family history of diabetes mellitus (OR: 1.481, 95% CI: 1.254-1.748, P < 0.01), prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) (OR: 1.481, 95% CI: 1.254-1.748, P < 0.01), BMI gain before 24 weeks (OR: 1.126, 95% CI: 1.075-1.800, P < 0.01), maternal birth weight (P < 0.01), and fasting plasma glucose at the first prenatal visit (P < 0.01) were identified as risk factors for GDM. In women with birth weight <3000 g, GDM rate was significantly higher. CONCLUSIONS: One out of every five pregnant women in Beijing either had GDM or DIP and this constitutes a huge health burden for health services. Prepregnancy BMI and weight gain before 24th week are important modifiable risk factors for GDM. Ensuring birth weight above 3000 g may help reduce risk for future GDM among female offsprings.

Metadherin regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor expression is dependent upon the PI3K/Akt pathway in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Our previous study indicated overexpression of metadherin (MTDH) is an adverse prognostic factor in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) and promotes SCCHN cell proliferation and invasion. However, its mechanism remains unclear. Recent studies have indicated that MTDH is a cancer-metastasis-associated molecule that participates in the process of angiogenesis. Therefore, the study is aimed to investigate that whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), as one of the most potent proangiogenic cytokines, is regulated by MTDH and the role of the phosphatidylinositide 3-kinases/Protein Kinase B (PI3K/Akt) pathway in this process of regulation and the clinical significance of both MTDH and VEGF in SCCHN.Immunohistochemistry was used to assay the expression of MTDH and VEGF in a cohort of 189 SCCHN patients with intact follow-up information. The expression of MTDH was then upregulated or inhibited by lentivirus-mediated MTDH Complementary deoxyribonucleic acid or MTDH short hairpin ribonucleic acid (shRNA) to observe the resulting alterations in VEGF expression and the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in SCCHN cell lines. In addition, the PI3K/Akt pathway was modulated to observe the resulting changes in the MTDH-mediated expression of VEGF.The immunohistochemistry data showed that MTDH expression is positively correlated with VEGF expression in SCCHN tissues. Moreover, the overexpression of MTDH in SCCHN Tu686 and 5-8F cells led to increases in the expression of VEGF, and this effect was accompanied by activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway. Conversely, shRNA-mediated knockdown of MTDH led to decreased VEGF expression. In addition, inhibition of the Akt signaling pathway reversed the upregulation of VEGF resulting from MTDH overexpression. Moreover, the survival analysis revealed that VEGF is an independent prognostic factor, and a combined survival analysis based on both MTDH and VEGF showed synergistic effects in the prognosis evaluation of SCCHN patients.The findings of the present study demonstrate that MTDH regulates the expression of VEGF via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, indicating the potential role of the MTDH-mediated activation of VEGF signaling pathway in SCCHN angiogenesis and metastasis.

Maternal and neonatal outcomes in multiple pregnancy: A multicentre study in the Beijing population.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes of multiple pregnancy and singleton pregnancy from multiple medical centers in Beijing. METHODS: Data concerning maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes in multiple and singleton pregnancies were collected from 15 hospitals in Beijing by a systemic cluster sampling survey conducted from 20 June to 30 November 2013. The SPSS software (version 20.0) was used for data analysis. The χ2 test was used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: The rate of caesarean deliveries was much higher in women with multiple pregnancies (85.8%) than that in women with singleton pregnancies (42.6%, χ2 = 190.8, P < 0.001). The incidences of anemia (χ2 = 40.023, P < 0.001), preterm labor (χ2 = 1021.172, P < 0.001), gestational diabetes mellitus (χ2 = 9.311, P < 0.01), hypertensive disorders (χ2 = 122.708, P < 0.001) and post-partum hemorrhage (χ2 = 48.550, P < 0.001) was significantly increased with multiple pregnancy. In addition, multiple pregnancy was associated with a significantly higher rate of small-for-gestational-age infants (χ2 = 92.602, P < 0.001), low birth weight (χ2 = 1141.713, P < 0.001), and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission (χ2 = 340.129, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Multiple pregnancy is a significant risk factor for adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in Beijing. Improving obstetric care for multiple pregnancy, particularly in reducing preterm labor, is required to reduce the risk to mothers and infants.

6ß-Hy-droxy-eremophil-7(11)-en-8ß,12-olide.

The title eremophilenolide, C(15)H(22)O(3), is a natural compound isolated from Senecio laetus Edgew. The two cis-fused six-membered rings have chair confomations and the five-membered ring has a planar envelope conformation [maximum deviation = 0.010 (1) Å]. The ß-hy-droxy group participates in inter-molecular O-H⋯O hydrogen bonding, forming mol-ecular chains along the a axis.

[Comparison of mtDNA extraction from different parts of sarcosaphagous insects].

OBJECTIVE: To explore mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) extraction effects of different parts from sarcosaphagous insects using improved cetyltriethylammnonium bromide (CTAB) method. METHODS: Thirteen Lucilia sericata (Meigen) and 13 Nicrophorus fossor (Erichson) were collected from the corpses of rabbits placed on the outdoor lawn in Huhehot district. Four parts (head, chest muscle, legs and wings) of insect were collected, and the mtDNA of all samples were extracted using CTAB method. The purity and concentration were tested using protein and nucleic acid spectrophotometry. The integrity of the extracted mtDNA and PCR products were checked by agarose gel electrophoresis. The PCR products were sequenced and the obtained sequences were imputed into GenBank for comparison. RESULTS: mtDNA were successfully extracted from 10 head samples, 6 legs samples, 4 wing samples and 13 chest muscle samples of the Lucilia sericata (Meigen). Also, mtDNA were successfully extracted from 5 head samples, 8 legs samples, 3 wing samples and 13 chest muscle samples of the Nicrophorus fossor (Erichson). CONCLUSION: mtDNA can be obtained from chest muscle and other parts of sarcosaphagous insects using the improved CTAB method.