Serous surface papillary borderline ovarian tumors: correlation of sonographic features with clinic pathological findings

Serous surface papillary borderline ovarian tumor (SSPBOT) is a distinct subtype of serous borderline ovarian tumor characterized by solid tissue deposition confined to the ovarian surface. Because SSPBOT is rare, there are few published reports on the ultrasonographic features of this condition. In this retrospective study, we investigated 12 cases of SSPBOT. Ultrasound imaging of SSPBOT showed grossly normal ovaries that were encased partially or wholly by tumor deposits that were confined to the surface, with clear demarcation between normal ovarian tissue and surrounding tumors. Color Doppler imaging demonstrated the 'fireworks sign' in all cases of SSPBOT, corresponding to an intratumoral vascular bundle originating from the ovarian vessels and supplying hierarchical branching blood flow to the surrounding tumor. No patient with ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma showed these morphological and Doppler features. In our series, the fireworks sign appeared to be a characteristic feature of SSPBOT that could facilitate correct identification of this tumor. © 2023 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Discovery adductomics provides a comprehensive portrait of tissue-, age- and sex-specific DNA modifications in rodents and humans

DNA damage causes genomic instability underlying many diseases, with traditional analytical approaches providing minimal insight into the spectrum of DNA lesions in vivo. Here we used untargeted chromatography-coupled tandem mass spectrometry-based adductomics (LC-MS/MS) to begin to define the landscape of DNA modifications in rat and human tissues. A basis set of 114 putative DNA adducts was identified in heart, liver, brain, and kidney in 1-26-month-old rats and 111 in human heart and brain by 'stepped MRM' LC-MS/MS. Subsequent targeted analysis of these species revealed species-, tissue-, age- and sex-biases. Structural characterization of 10 selected adductomic signals as known DNA modifications validated the method and established confidence in the DNA origins of the signals. Along with strong tissue biases, we observed significant age-dependence for 36 adducts, including N2-CMdG, 5-HMdC and 8-Oxo-dG in rats and 1,N6-ϵdA in human heart, as well as sex biases for 67 adducts in rat tissues. These results demonstrate the potential of adductomics for discovering the true spectrum of disease-driving DNA adducts. Our dataset of 114 putative adducts serves as a resource for characterizing dozens of new forms of DNA damage, defining mechanisms of their formation and repair, and developing them as biomarkers of aging and disease.

DNA damage resulting from human endocrine disrupting chemical exposure: Genotoxicity, detection and dietary phytochemical intervention

In recent years, exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) has posed an increasing threat to human health. EDCs are major risk factors in the occurrence and development of many diseases. Continuous DNA damage triggers severe pathogenic consequences, such as cancer. Beyond their effects on the endocrine system, EDCs genotoxicity is also worthy of attention, owing to the high accessibility and bioavailability of EDCs. This review investigates and summarizes nearly a decade of DNA damage studies on EDC exposure, including DNA damage mechanisms, detection methods, population marker analysis, and the application of dietary phytochemicals. The aims of this review are (1) to systematically summarize the genotoxic effects of environmental EDCs (2) to comprehensively summarize cutting-edge measurement methods, thus providing analytical solutions for studies on EDC exposure; and (3) to highlight critical data on the detoxification and repair effects of dietary phytochemicals. Dietary phytochemicals decrease genotoxicity by playing a major role in the detoxification system, and show potential therapeutic effects on human diseases caused by EDC exposure. This review may support research on environmental toxicology and alternative chemo-prevention for human EDC exposure.

The absence of the queuosine tRNA modification leads to pleiotropic phenotypes revealing perturbations of metal and oxidative stress homeostasis in Escherichia coli K12

Queuosine (Q) is a conserved hypermodification of the wobble base of tRNA containing GUN anticodons but the physiological consequences of Q deficiency are poorly understood in bacteria. This work combines transcriptomic, proteomic and physiological studies to characterize a Q-deficient Escherichia coli K12 MG1655 mutant. The absence of Q led to an increased resistance to nickel and cobalt, and to an increased sensitivity to cadmium, compared to the wild-type (WT) strain. Transcriptomic analysis of the WT and Q-deficient strains, grown in the presence and absence of nickel, revealed that the nickel transporter genes (nikABCDE) are downregulated in the Q- mutant, even when nickel is not added. This mutant is therefore primed to resist to high nickel levels. Downstream analysis of the transcriptomic data suggested that the absence of Q triggers an atypical oxidative stress response, confirmed by the detection of slightly elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in the mutant, increased sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide and paraquat, and a subtle growth phenotype in a strain prone to accumulation of ROS.

Highly sensitive and selective detection of butachlor based on the resonance light scattering of doped carbon quantum dots

In this work, a new method of resonance light scattering was developed for the sensitive and selective detection of butachlor. Firstly, buckwheat was used as the main carbon source to prepare a new type of doped carbon quantum dot using the hydrothermal method. A new method for the determination of butachlor was then established by the change in resonance light scattering intensity after the addition of butachlor into the doped carbon quantum dot solution. The detection effect was successfully optimized by investigating the optimum reaction conditions. Under the optimum conditions, the resonance light scattering intensity of doped carbon quantum dots was greatly enhanced at 460 nm after the addition of butachlor, and the intensity changes were linearly correlated with the butachlor concentration in the range of 1-7 μg L^-1. The detection limit was 0.136 μg L^-1, and the recoveries ranged between 98.6% and 101.8%. This method was also used for butachlor detection in environmental water.

Bugs and drugs: a systems biology approach to characterising the effect of moxidectin on the horse's faecal microbiome

Background

Anthelmintic treatment is a risk factor for intestinal disease in the horse, known as colic. However the mechanisms involved in the onset of disease post anthelmintic treatment are unknown. The interaction between anthelmintic drugs and the gut microbiota may be associated with this observed increase in risk of colic. Little is known about the interaction between gut microbiota and anthelmintics and how treatment may alter microbiome function. The objectives of this study were: To characterise (1) faecal microbiota, (2) feed fermentation kinetics in vitro and (3) metabolic profiles following moxidectin administration to horses with very low (0 epg) adult strongyle burdens. Hypothesis: Moxidectin will not alter (1) faecal microbiota, (2) feed fermentation in vitro, or, (3) host metabolome.

Results

Moxidectin increased the relative abundance of Deferribacter spp. and Spirochaetes spp. observed after 160 h in moxidectin treated horses. Reduced in vitro fibre fermentation was observed 16 h following moxidectin administration in vivo (P = 0.001), along with lower pH in the in vitro fermentations from the moxidectin treated group. Metabolic profiles from urine samples did not differ between the treatment groups. However metabolic profiles from in vitro fermentations differed between moxidectin and control groups 16 h after treatment (R² = 0.69, Q²Y = 0.48), and within the moxidectin group between 16 h and 160 h post moxidectin treatment (R² = 0.79, Q²Y = 0.77). Metabolic profiles from in vitro fermentations and fermentation kinetics both indicated altered carbohydrate metabolism following in vivo treatment with moxidectin.

Conclusions

These data suggest that in horses with low parasite burdens moxidectin had a small but measurable effect on both the community structure and the function of the gut microbiome.

Effects of EGCG on proliferation and apoptosis of gastric cancer SGC7901 cells via down-regulation of HIF-1α and VEGF under a hypoxic state

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on proliferation and apoptosis of human gastric cancer SGC7901 cells under a hypoxic state.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Human gastric cancer SGC7901 cells were sub-cultured, and the cobalt chloride (CoCl2) hypoxia model was established. The blank control group (normoxia group), hypoxia control group (hypoxia group) and hypoxia + different concentrations of EGCG subgroups (20, 40, 60, 80, 100 μg/mL EGCG) were set up. Cell viability was detected via methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, apoptosis was detected via flow cytometry, and expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were detected via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting.

RESULTS

Relatively low concentrations of EGCG (20-80 μg/mL) presented no significant inhibiting effect on SGC7901 cell growth within a short time (24 h) (p>0.05). The increasing concentration of EGCG inhibited cell proliferation under a hypoxia state (p<0.05). EGCG induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner under hypoxia (p<0.05). EGCG could significantly impede expressions of HIF-1α and VEGF proteins (p<0.05), and down-regulate the level of VEGF mRNA (p<0.05), but it showed no significant effect on the HIF-1α mRNA expression (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

EGCG inhibited cell proliferation under hypoxia via the downregulation of HIF-1α and its downstream target gene VEGF levels, providing a theoretical basis for the early diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer in clinic.

Higher thyroid-stimulating hormone levels in the first trimester are associated with gestational diabetes in a Chinese population

AIM

To evaluate the relationship between maternal thyroid-stimulating hormone levels during the first trimester and gestational diabetes risk.

METHODS

In Tianjin, China, 7258 women underwent a thyroid-stimulating hormone screening test within 12 gestational weeks and then had a glucose challenge test at 24-28 weeks of gestational age. The women with a glucose challenge test ≥7.8 mmol/l underwent a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Gestational diabetes was diagnosed following International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group criteria. Restricted cubic spline analysis was performed to explore full-range risk associations of thyroid-stimulating hormone levels with gestational diabetes. Logistic regression was performed to obtain odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

In all, 594 women (8.2%) had gestational diabetes. Among women with thyroid-stimulating hormone ≤3.2 mIU/l, a positive association between thyroid-stimulating hormone levels and gestational diabetes risk was found (adjusted OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.00-1.27). There was no relationship between thyroid-stimulating hormone levels and gestational diabetes risk in univariable and multivariable analyses among women with thyroid-stimulating hormone >3.2 mIU/l. In subgroup analyses, among women with thyroid-stimulating hormone ≤3.2 mIU/l and BMI ≥25 kg/m² , the adjusted odds ratio for thyroid-stimulating hormone levels with gestational diabetes was enhanced to 1.25 (95% CI: 1.02-1.53).

CONCLUSIONS

In pregnant Chinese women, thyroid-stimulating hormone levels even within normal range in the first trimester were positively related to gestational diabetes risk, especially for pre-pregnancy overweight/obese women.

Community health perceptions and human environmental exposure to chromium contamination in a small New Jersey City

Following a 1983 chromic acid (hexavalent chromium [CrVI]) spill from a Garfield, NJ electroplating plant, CrVI-contaminated water was found in a local firehouse basement in 1993. An ATSDR public health advisory was issued for the plant site in 2010, and from 2008-2015, fourteen residential properties have required remediation to address CrVI-contaminated dust in the basements. As part of the Community Outreach and Engagement Core of the NYU NIEHS Center, seventytwo Garfield residents aged 18-65 years, participated in a community survey with the goal of identifying concerns related to environmental and community health. Thirty-two percent responded that they 'didn't know' if they were exposed to chemicals or pollutants where they live. This finding suggests a limited awareness of environmental chemical exposures, chromium contamination and/or potential exposure to CrVI. Furthermore, toenail clippings were collected from forty-seven Garfield residents and analyzed for total chromium levels to assess potential long-term exposure. On average, residents living on/inside the contaminated plume area had higher total chromium levels in their toenail clippings than residents living outside the plume area. However, chromium levels for all participants were within the range of historical normal. This study highlights the value of partnerships between environmentally-impacted community's and academic scientists working together to identify potential contaminant exposures and address public health concerns through research and environmental health education.

Quantification of DNA Lesions Induced by 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol in Mammalian Cells

Quantitative measurement of DNA adducts in carcinogen-exposed cells provides the information about the frequency of formation and the rate of removal of DNA lesions in vivo, which yields insights into the initial events of mutagenesis. Metabolic activation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and its reduction product 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), leads to pyridyloxobutylation and pyridylhydroxybutylation of DNA. In this study, we employed a highly robust nanoflow liquid chromatography-nanoelectrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (nLC-nESI-MS/MS) coupled with the isotope-dilution method for simultaneous quantification of O⁶-[4-(3-pyridyl)-4-hydroxylbut-1-yl]-2'-deoxyguanosine ( O⁶-PHBdG) and O²- and O⁴-[4-(3-pyridyl)-4-hydroxylbut-1-yl]-thymidine ( O²-PHBdT and O⁴-PHBdT). Cultured mammalian cells were exposed to a model pyridylhydroxybutylating agent, 4-(acetoxymethylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNALOAc), followed by DNA extraction, enzymatic digestion, and sample enrichment prior to nLC-nESI-MS/MS quantification. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that O⁴-PHBdT is quantifiable in cellular DNA and naked DNA upon NNALOAc exposure. We also show that nucleotide excision repair (NER) machinery may counteract the formation of O²-PHBdT and O⁴-PHBdT, and O⁶-alkylguanine DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) may be responsible for the repair of O⁶-PHBdG and O⁴-PHBdT in mammalian cells. Together, our study provides new knowledge about the occurrence and repair of NNAL-induced DNA lesions in mammalian cells.

DNA replication studies of N-nitroso compound-induced O 6-alkyl-2'-deoxyguanosine lesions in Escherichia coli

N-Nitroso compounds (NOCs) are common DNA-alkylating agents, are abundantly present in food and tobacco, and can also be generated endogenously. Metabolic activation of some NOCs can give rise to carboxymethylation and pyridyloxobutylation/pyridylhydroxybutylation of DNA, which are known to be carcinogenic and can lead to gastrointestinal and lung cancer, respectively. Herein, using the competitive replication and adduct bypass (CRAB) assay, along with MS- and NMR-based approaches, we assessed the cytotoxic and mutagenic properties of three O ⁶-alkyl-2'-deoxyguanosine (O ⁶-alkyl-dG) adducts, i.e. O ⁶-pyridyloxobutyl-dG (O ⁶-POB-dG) and O ⁶-pyridylhydroxybutyl-dG (O ⁶-PHB-dG), derived from tobacco-specific nitrosamines, and O ⁶-carboxymethyl-dG (O ⁶-CM-dG), induced by endogenous N-nitroso compounds. We also investigated two neutral analogs of O ⁶-CM-dG, i.e. O ⁶-aminocarbonylmethyl-dG (O ⁶-ACM-dG) and O ⁶-hydroxyethyl-dG (O ⁶-HOEt-dG). We found that, in Escherichia coli cells, these lesions mildly (O ⁶-POB-dG), moderately (O ⁶-PHB-dG), or strongly (O ⁶-CM-dG, O ⁶-ACM-dG, and O ⁶-HOEt-dG) impede DNA replication. The strong blockage effects of the last three lesions were attributable to the presence of hydrogen-bonding donor(s) located on the alkyl functionality of these lesions. Except for O ⁶-POB-dG, which also induced a low frequency of G → T transversions, all other lesions exclusively stimulated G → A transitions. SOS-induced DNA polymerases played redundant roles in bypassing all the O ⁶-alkyl-dG lesions investigated. DNA polymerase IV (Pol IV) and Pol V, however, were uniquely required for inducing the G → A transition for O ⁶-CM-dG exposure. Together, our study expands our knowledge about the recognition of important NOC-derived O ⁶-alkyl-dG lesions by the E. coli DNA replication machinery.

Impact of tobacco-specific nitrosamine-derived DNA adducts on the efficiency and fidelity of DNA replication in human cells

The tobacco-derived nitrosamines 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) are known human carcinogens. Following metabolic activation, NNK and NNN can induce a number of DNA lesions, including several 4-(3-pyridyl)-4-oxobut-1-yl (POB) adducts. However, it remains unclear to what extent these lesions affect the efficiency and accuracy of DNA replication and how their replicative bypass is influenced by translesion synthesis (TLS) DNA polymerases. In this study, we investigated the effects of three stable POB DNA adducts (O2-POB-dT, O4-POB-dT, and O6-POB-dG) on the efficiency and fidelity of DNA replication in HEK293T human cells. We found that, when situated in a double-stranded plasmid, O2-POB-dT and O4-POB-dT moderately blocked DNA replication and induced exclusively T→A (∼14.9%) and T→C (∼35.2%) mutations, respectively. On the other hand, O6-POB-dG slightly impeded DNA replication, and this lesion elicited primarily the G→A transition (∼75%) together with a low frequency of the G→T transversion (∼3%). By conducting replication studies in isogenic cells in which specific TLS DNA polymerases (Pols) were deleted by CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, we observed that multiple TLS Pols, especially Pol η and Pol ζ, are involved in bypassing these lesions. Our findings reveal the cytotoxic and mutagenic properties of specific POB DNA adducts and unravel the roles of several TLS polymerases in the replicative bypass of these adducts in human cells. Together, these results provide important new knowledge about the biological consequences of POB adducts.

Development and Validation of a Natural Language Processing Tool to Identify Patients Treated for Pneumonia across VA Emergency Departments

BACKGROUND

Identifying pneumonia using diagnosis codes alone may be insufficient for research on clinical decision making. Natural language processing (NLP) may enable the inclusion of cases missed by diagnosis codes.

OBJECTIVES

This article (1) develops a NLP tool that identifies the clinical assertion of pneumonia from physician emergency department (ED) notes, and (2) compares classification methods using diagnosis codes versus NLP against a gold standard of manual chart review to identify patients initially treated for pneumonia.

METHODS

Among a national population of ED visits occurring between 2006 and 2012 across the Veterans Affairs health system, we extracted 811 physician documents containing search terms for pneumonia for training, and 100 random documents for validation. Two reviewers annotated span- and document-level classifications of the clinical assertion of pneumonia. An NLP tool using a support vector machine was trained on the enriched documents. We extracted diagnosis codes assigned in the ED and upon hospital discharge and calculated performance characteristics for diagnosis codes, NLP, and NLP plus diagnosis codes against manual review in training and validation sets.

RESULTS

Among the training documents, 51% contained clinical assertions of pneumonia; in the validation set, 9% were classified with pneumonia, of which 100% contained pneumonia search terms. After enriching with search terms, the NLP system alone demonstrated a recall/sensitivity of 0.72 (training) and 0.55 (validation), and a precision/positive predictive value (PPV) of 0.89 (training) and 0.71 (validation). ED-assigned diagnostic codes demonstrated lower recall/sensitivity (0.48 and 0.44) but higher precision/PPV (0.95 in training, 1.0 in validation); the NLP system identified more "possible-treated" cases than diagnostic coding. An approach combining NLP and ED-assigned diagnostic coding classification achieved the best performance (sensitivity 0.89 and PPV 0.80).

CONCLUSION

System-wide application of NLP to clinical text can increase capture of initial diagnostic hypotheses, an important inclusion when studying diagnosis and clinical decision-making under uncertainty.

DFT modelling of a diphosphane - N-heterocyclic carbene-Rh(i) pincer complex rearrangement: a computational evaluation of the electronic effects in C-P bond activation

DFT calculations confirmed that the rearrangement of a PCP-Rh-H pincer to a CCP-Rh-phosphane pincer occured by C-P oxidative addition (ΔG^‡ = 29.5 kcal mol^-1, rate-determining step), followed by P-H reductive elimination (ΔG^‡ = 4.8 kcal mol^-1). The oxidative addition proceeded via a 3-centered transition state and is accelerated by electron-withdrawing substituents p- to the reacting C-P bond, resulting in a reaction constant (ρ) of 2.12 for ΔG^‡ and 2.76 for ΔH^‡ in a Hammett-type linear free energy relationship. AIM wavefunction analyses indicated a decrease in the negative charge on the carbon bonded to Rh with a concomitant increase in the positive charge on the latter. The electronic density at the Rh-P bond critical point and the atomic charge on Rh correlate well with the Hammett constants (σ) of the p-substituents. The replacement of the Rh-bound hydride with other anions (CH₃, Ph, t-Bu, OH, F, Cl, and CN) results in a decrease in the OA barrier only for CH₃, which is in accordance with the experimental results. The reductive elimination occurs via a 3-centered (Rh, H, P) transition state, which adopts a conformation wherein the steric clash between the i-Pr groups is minimized, followed by recomplexation of Rh and the newly formed (i-Pr)₂PH by a conformational twist around the Rh-P axis.

Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry for the Quantification of Tobacco-Specific Nitrosamine-Induced DNA Adducts in Mammalian Cells

Quantification of DNA lesions constitutes one of the main tasks in toxicology and in assessing health risks accompanied by exposure to carcinogens. Tobacco-specific nitrosamines 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) can undergo metabolic transformation to give a reactive intermediate that pyridyloxobutylates nucleobases and phosphate backbone of DNA. Here, we reported a highly sensitive method, relying on the use of nanoflow liquid chromatography-nanoelectrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (nLC-nESI-MS/MS), for the simultaneous quantifications of O6-[4-(3-pyridyl)-4-oxobut-1-yl]-2'-deoxyguanosine (O6-POBdG) as well as O2- and O4-[4-(3-pyridyl)-4-oxobut-1-yl]-thymidine (O2-POBdT and O4-POBdT). By using this method, we measured the levels of the three DNA adducts with the use of 10 μg of DNA isolated from cultured mammalian cells exposed to a model pyridyloxobutylating agent, 4-(acetoxymethylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNKOAc). Our results demonstrated, for the first time, the formation of O4-POBdT in naked DNA and in genomic DNA of cultured mammalian cells exposed with NNKOAc. We also revealed that the levels of the three lesions increased with the dose of NNKOAc and that O2-POBdT and O4-POBdT could be subjected to repair by the nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway. The method reported here will be useful for investigations about the involvement of other DNA repair pathways in the removal of these lesions and for human toxicological studies in the future.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in women with gestational diabetes mellitus on overweight status of their children

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) as a group of medical complications in pregnancy are believed to be associated with an increased risk of poor fetal growth, but the influence on offspring’s body composition is not clear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between maternal hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and overweight status in the offspring of mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

A cross-sectional study among 1263 GDM mother-child pairs was performed in Tianjin, China. General linear models and logistic regression models were used to assess the associations of maternal hypertension in pregnancy with anthropometry and overweight status in the offspring from birth to 1–5 years old.

Offspring of GDM mothers who were diagnosed with hypertensive disorders during pregnancy had higher mean values of Z scores for birth weight for gestational age and birth weight for length, and higher mean values of Z scores for weight for age, weight for length/height, and body mass index for age at 1–5 years old than those of GDM mothers with normal blood pressure during pregnancy. Maternal hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were associated with increased risks of large for gestational age (OR 1.74, 95%CI 1.08–2.79) and macrosomia (OR 2.02, 95%CI 1.23–3.31) at birth and childhood overweight/obesity at 1–5 years old age (OR 1.88, 95%CI 1.16–3.04).

For offspring of mothers with GDM, maternal hypertension during pregnancy was a risk factor for macrosomia at birth and childhood overweight and obesity, and controlling the maternal hypertension may be more important for preventing large for gestational age babies and childhood obesity.

Sleep duration and quality, and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus in pregnant Chinese women

AIMS

To examine the association between sleep disturbances during pregnancy and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

From 2010 to 2012, 12 506 women in Tianjin, China, were screened using a 50-g 1-h glucose challenge test at 24-28 weeks' gestation. Those with glucose challenge test values of ≥ 7.8 mmol/l were invited to further undergo a 75-g 2-h oral glucose tolerance test. Gestational diabetes was determined according to the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group's definition. Self-reported sleep duration and sleep quality during pregnancy was documented using a modified questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios and 95% CIs.

RESULTS

A total of 919 women (7.3%) had gestational diabetes. Sleep duration was found to have an approximate J-shaped association with gestational diabetes risk after adjusting for covariates. Compared with a sleep duration of 7-9 h/day (43% of 12 506 women), the adjusted odds ratios for sleep duration of ≥ 9 h/day (55%) and < 7 h/day (2%) for gestational diabetes were 1.21 (95% CI 1.03-1.42) and 1.36 (95% CI 0.87-2.14), respectively. Compared with good sleep quality (37.9% of 12 506 women), the adjusted odds ratios of moderate (59.9%) and poor sleep quality (2.2%) for gestational diabetes were 1.19 (95% CI 1.01-1.41) and 1.61 (95% CI 1.04-2.50), respectively.

CONCLUSION

In pregnant Chinese women, poor sleep quality, and shorter and longer duration of sleep during pregnancy were independently associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes.

Lifestyle intervention can reduce the risk of gestational diabetes: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

This study aimed to examine the effect of lifestyle intervention on the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We searched PubMed, Springer and other databases to retrieve articles published in English and Chinese up to 30 September 2015. The inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of lifestyle intervention on risk of GDM. Exclusion criteria were studies with prepregnancy diabetes mellitus or interventions with nutrient supplements. Random-effect and fixed-effect model analyses were used to obtain pooled relative risks and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of diet and physical activity on the risk of GDM. Subgroup analyses were performed to check the consistency of effect sizes across groups where appropriate. We identified 29 randomized controlled trials with 11,487 pregnant women, addressing the effect of lifestyle intervention on the risk of GDM. In the pooled analysis, either diet or physical activity resulted in an 18% (95%CI 5-30%) reduction in the risk of GDM (P = 0.0091). Subgroup analysis showed that such intervention was effective among women with intervention before the 15th gestational week (relative risk: 0.80, 95%CI 0.66-0.97), but not among women receiving the intervention afterwards. We conclude that lifestyle modification during pregnancy, especially before the 15th gestational week, can reduce the risk of GDM. © 2016 World Obesity.

Metabolic syndrome of weight change from pre-pregnancy to 1-5 years post-partum among Chinese women with prior gestational diabetes

AIMS

Few studies have evaluated the effect of weight change from pre-pregnancy to post-partum with the risk of cardiometabolic diseases among women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between weight change from pre-pregnancy to 1-5 years post-partum with metabolic syndrome among Chinese women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study in 1263 women with gestational diabetes mellitus at 1-5 years post-partum. Participants were divided into four groups based on their weight change from pre-pregnancy to 1-5 years post-partum: loss of ≥ 3 kg, ± 3 kg, gain of 3-7 kg and gain of ≥7 kg.

RESULTS

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 12.1%, 16.2%, 26.0% and 44.3% among women with weight loss ≥ 3 kg, stable weight ( ± 3 kg), weight gain 3-7 kg and weight gain ≥ 7 kg from pre-pregnancy to post-partum, respectively. The positive association between weight change and metabolic syndrome was observed among women with pre-pregnancy normal weight (BMI < 24 kg/m(2)), overweight (BMI 24-27.9 kg/m(2)) and obesity (BMI ≥ 28 kg/m(2)). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was almost similar among pre-pregnancy normal weight women with weight gain ≥ 7 kg, pre-pregnancy overweight women with stable weight ( ± 3 kg) and pre-pregnancy obese women with weight loss ≥ 3 kg from pre-pregnancy to post-partum (P = 0.62).

CONCLUSIONS

Women with gestational diabetes mellitus who had large weight gain from pre-pregnancy to post-partum were more likely to develop metabolic syndrome. Women who are pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity and also diagnosed as gestational diabetes mellitus during pregnancy need more weight control after delivery.

Dominant components of the Thoroughbred metabolome characterised by (1) H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy: A metabolite atlas of common biofluids

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY

Metabonomics is emerging as a powerful tool for disease screening and investigating mammalian metabolism. This study aims to create a metabolic framework by producing a preliminary reference guide for the normal equine metabolic milieu.

OBJECTIVES

To metabolically profile plasma, urine and faecal water from healthy racehorses using high resolution (1) H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and to provide a list of dominant metabolites present in each biofluid for the benefit of future research in this area.

STUDY DESIGN

This study was performed using 7 Thoroughbreds in race training at a single time point. Urine and faecal samples were collected noninvasively and plasma was obtained from samples taken for routine clinical chemistry purposes.

METHODS

Biofluids were analysed using (1) H-NMR spectroscopy. Metabolite assignment was achieved via a range of one- and 2-dimensional experiments.

RESULTS

A total of 102 metabolites were assigned across the 3 biological matrices. A core metabonome of 14 metabolites was ubiquitous across all biofluids. All biological matrices provided a unique window on different aspects of systematic metabolism. Urine was the most populated metabolite matrix with 65 identified metabolites, 39 of which were unique to this biological compartment. A number of these were related to gut microbial host cometabolism. Faecal samples were the most metabolically variable between animals; acetate was responsible for the majority (28%) of this variation. Short-chain fatty acids were the predominant features identified within this biofluid by (1) H-NMR spectroscopy.

CONCLUSIONS

Metabonomics provides a platform for investigating complex and dynamic interactions between the host and its consortium of gut microbes and has the potential to uncover markers for health and disease in a variety of biofluids. Inherent variation in faecal extracts along with the relative abundance of microbial-mammalian metabolites in urine and invasive nature of plasma sampling, infers that urine is the most appropriate biofluid for the purposes of metabonomic analysis.

Engineering optical properties of a graphene oxide metamaterial assembled in microfluidic channels

The dense packing of two dimensional flakes by van der Waals forces has enabled the creation of new metamaterials with desirable optical properties. Here we assemble graphene oxide sheets into a three dimensional metamaterial using a microfluidic technique and confirm their ordering via measurements of ellipsometric parameters, polarized optical microscopy, polarized transmission spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. We show that the produced metamaterials demonstrate strong in-plane optical anisotropy (Δn≈0.3 at n≈1.5-1.8) combined with low absorption (k<0.1) and compare them with as-synthesized samples of graphene oxide paper. Our results pave the way for engineered birefringent metamaterials on the basis of two dimensional atomic crystals including graphene and its derivatives.

Obesity index and the risk of diabetes among Chinese women with prior gestational diabetes

AIMS

There is some confusion regarding which anthropometric measurement of adiposity should be used to indicate diabetes, especially for Asians. The present study was to evaluate different indicators of adiposity (BMI, waist circumference and body fat) with Type 2 diabetes risk among women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional survey in 1263 women with gestational diabetes at 1-5 years after delivery. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the association of BMI, waist circumference and body fat with Type 2 diabetes risk.

RESULTS

BMI, waist circumference and body fat were all associated with an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes among women with prior gestational diabetes (all P(trend) < 0.001). After adjustment for waist circumference and body fat, the positive association of BMI with Type 2 diabetes risk became non-significant and reversed. There was a significantly positive association of waist circumference with Type 2 diabetes risk after adjustment for BMI, and a significantly positive association of body fat with Type 2 diabetes risk after adjustment for both BMI and waist circumference. When the joint effects were examined, the significantly positive associations of waist circumference or body fat with Type 2 diabetes risk were consistent among women with different levels of BMI, and the positive association of BMI and Type 2 diabetes risk was significant among women with gestational diabetes with a waist circumference of ≥ 50% or body fat ≥ 50%.

CONCLUSIONS

BMI, waist circumference and body fat were all associated with an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, and waist circumference and body fat were better indicators than BMI for Type 2 diabetes risk among Chinese women with prior gestational diabetes.

N-alkylpyridinium quaternization for assisting electrospray ionization of sterols in oil by quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

The illegal cooking oil has become a serious social problem and raised widespread alarm recently. However, an efficient and sensitive technique for identifying the potential illegal cooking oil is still unavailable, especially when mixed with the ordinary ones; there is an urgent need to develop an efficient method for identifying the illegal cooking oil. Sterols in the cooking oil could be used as an indicator to identify the source and quality of oil by detecting the kinds of phytosterols and zoosterols. However, those sterols are difficult to be ionized by electrospray ionization, which resulted in the low sensitivity in electrospray ionization (ESI)-mass spectrometric (MS) analysis.

METHODS

N-alkylpyridinium isotope quaternization was extended to charge label sterols in different cooking oil and attached N-cationic pyridinium tag onto the sterols in the presence of trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride (Tf2 O); the kinds of sterols were identified and quantified by comparing d0 /d5 pairs and product scan from ESI-quadrupole-time of flight (Q-TOF) MS analysis.

RESULTS

The derivatized sterols were attached with permanent charge, resulting in the significant enhancement of ionization in ESI-Q-TOF MS analysis. The detection limits of analytes were improved to 0.02-0.05 ng/mL; different kinds of phytosterol, zoosterol and oxides were identified and quantified by comparing d0 /d5 pairs from full scan and product scan. The method was applied in the detection of zoosterol for identifying the potential recycled cooking oil, even when the illegal oil has been blended into the ordinary one. More zoosterol was detected in the recycled oil compared with other cooking oil.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of N-alkylpyridinium isotope quaternization method provided an alternative method for identifying the potential illegal cooking oil.

Synthesis of size-monodisperse spherical Ag@SiO2 nanoparticles and 3-D assembly assisted by microfluidics

This article reports a one-step approach for the fabrication of highly uniform, spherical Ag particles with tailored dimensions ranging from 10 to 30 nm. Coated with silica shell, the high uniformity of the particles allows their spontaneous assembly into millimeter-long extended 3-D arrays with transverse dimensions of tens of micrometers, using a microfluidic evaporation-based process.

Analysis of the differentially expressed low molecular weight peptides in human serum via an N-terminal isotope labeling technique combining nano-liquid chromatography/matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

Peptidomics analysis of human serum is challenging due to the low abundance of serum peptides and interference from the complex matrix. This study analyzed the differentially expressed (DE) low molecular weight peptides in human serum integrating a DMPITC-based N-terminal isotope labeling technique with nano-liquid chromatography and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (nano-LC/MALDI-MS).

METHODS

The workflow introduced a [d(6)]-4,6-dimethoxypyrimidine-2-isothiocyanate (DMPITC)-labeled mixture of aliquots from test samples as the internal standard. The spiked [d(0)]-DMPITC-labeled samples were separated by nano-LC then spotted on the MALDI target. Both quantitative and qualitative studies for serum peptides were achieved based on the isotope-labeled peaks.

RESULTS

The DMPITC labeling technique combined with nano-LC/MALDI-MS not only minimized the errors in peptide quantitation, but also allowed convenient recognition of the labeled peptides due to the 6 Da mass difference. The data showed that the entire research procedure as well as the subsequent data analysis method were effective, reproducible, and sensitive for the analysis of DE serum peptides.

CONCLUSIONS

This study successfully established a research model for DE serum peptides using DMPITC-based N-terminal isotope labeling and nano-LC/MALDI-MS. Application of the DMPITC-based N-terminal labeling technique is expected to provide a promising tool for the investigation of peptides in vivo, especially for the analysis of DE peptides under different biological conditions.

Integration of high accuracy N-terminus identification in peptide sequencing and comparative protein analysis via isothiocyanate-based isotope labeling reagent with ESI ion-trap TOF MS

A multifunctional isothiocyanate-based isotope labeling reagent, [d (0)]-/[d (6)]-4,6-dimethoxy pyrimidine-2-isothiocyanate (DMPITC), has been developed for accurate N-terminus identification in peptide sequencing and comparative protein analysis by ESI Ion-trap TOF mass spectrometry. In contrast with the conventional labeling reagent phenyl isothiocyanate (PITC), DMPITC showed more desirable properties such as rapid labeling, sensitivity enhancement, and facilitating peptide sequencing. More significantly, DMPITC-based labeling strategy possessed the capacity of higher reliable N-terminus identification owning to the high-yield b(1) ion combined with the isotope validation of 6 Da. Meanwhile, it also showed potential in differentiating isomeric residues of leucine and isoleucine at N-terminus on the basis of the relative abundance ratios between the fragment ions of their respective b(1) ions. The strategy not only allows accurate interpretation for peptide but also ensures rapid and sensitive comparative analysis for protein by direct MS analysis. Using trypsin-digested bovine serum albumin (BSA), both peptide N-terminus identification and quantitative analysis were accomplished with high accuracy, efficiency, and reproducibility. The application of DMPITC-based labeling strategy is expected to serve as a promising tool for proteome research.

Time-resolved microfocused small-angle X-ray scattering investigation of the microfluidic concentration of charged nanoparticles

We describe the concentration process of a dispersion of silica nanoparticles undergoing evaporation in a dedicated microfluidic device. Using microfocused small-angle X-ray scattering, we measure in time and space both the concentration field of the dispersion and its structure factor. We show that the electrostatic interactions affect the concentration rate by strongly enhancing the collective diffusion coefficient of the nanoparticle dispersion. En route towards high concentrations, the nanoparticles eventually undergo a liquid-solid phase transition in which we evidence crystallites of micron size.

Molecular diversity of bacteria in Yunnan yellow cattle (Bos taurs) from Nujiang region, China

The rumen content of four Yunnan Yellow Cattle (Bos taurs) were collected to determine the bacteria diversity by using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. A total of 129 sequences were examined and the sequences were referred as 107 OTU (Operational Taxonomy Unit) according to the similarity level of 97% in gene sequence. Similarity analysis revealed that Yunnan Yellow Cattle had 12 sequences (10 OTU) shared 97% or greater similarity with cultured rumen bacteria Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, Succiniclasticum ruminis, Ruminococcus bromii, Clostridium proteoclasticum, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, Pseudobutyrivibrio ruminis, Jeotgalicoccus psychrophilus, and Prevotella ruminicola, which accounting for 9.3% of the total clones (9.2% of the total OTU). The further 12 sequences (9 OTU) shared 90-97% similarity with cultured bacteria Clostridium aminobutyricum, butyrate-producing bacterium, Schwartzia succinivorans, Prevotella ruminicola, Eubacterium ruminantium, Ruminococcus albus, and Clostridium termitidis, also accounting for 9.3% of the total sequences (8.3% of the total OTU). The remaining 105 sequences (90 OTU) shared less than 90% similarity with cultured bacteria, accounting for 81.4% of the total sequences (82.5% of the total OTU). According to the phylogenetic analysis, all sequences were phylogenetically placed within phyla of low G+C subdivision (accounting for 72.1 and 72.5% of the total clones and OTU, respectively) and CFB subdivision (Cytophaga-Flexibacter-Bacteroides; accounting for 27.9 and 27.5% of the total clones and OTU, respectively). Among the examined clones, rare bacteria Jeotgalicoccus psychrophilus was detected in the rumen of cattle.