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Intrauterine adhesions (IUA), characterized by endometrial fibrosis, is a common cause of uterine infertility. We previously demonstrated that partial epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the loss of epithelial homeostasis play a vital role in the development of endometrial fibrosis. As a pro-survival strategy in maintaining cell and tissue homeostasis, macroautophagy/autophagy, conversely, may participate in this process. However, the role of autophagy in endometrial fibrosis remains unknown. Here, we demonstrated that autophagy is defective in endometria of IUA patients, which aggravates EMT and endometrial fibrosis, and defective autophagy is related to DIO2 (iodothyronine deiodinase 2) downregulation. In endometrial epithelial cells (EECs), pharmacological inhibition of autophagy by chloroquine (CQ) promoted EEC-EMT, whereas enhanced autophagy by rapamycin extenuated this process. Mechanistically, silencing DIO2 in EECs blocked autophagic flux and promoted EMT via the MAPK/ERK-MTOR pathway. Inversely, overexpression of DIO2 or triiodothyronine (T3) treatment could restore autophagy and partly reverse EEC-EMT. Furthermore, in an IUA-like mouse model, the autophagy in endometrium was defective accompanied by EEC-EMT, and CQ could inhibit autophagy and aggravate endometrial fibrosis, whereas rapamycin or T3 treatment could improve the autophagic levels and blunt endometrial fibrosis. Together, we demonstrated that defective autophagy played an important role in EEC-EMT in IUA via the DIO2-MAPK/ERK-MTOR pathway, which provided a potential target for therapeutic implications. Abbreviations: ACTA2/α-SMA: actin alpha 2, smooth muscle; AMPK: adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase; AKT/protein kinase B: AKT serine/threonine kinase; ATG: autophagy related; CDH1/E-cadherin: cadherin 1; CDH2/N-cadherin: cadherin 2; CQ: chloroquine; CTSD: cathepsin D; DIO2: iodothyronine deiodinase 2; DEGs: differentially expressed genes; EECs: endometrial epithelial cells; EMT: epithelial-mesenchymal transition; FN1: fibronectin 1; IUA: intrauterine adhesions; LAMP1: lysosomal associated membrane protein 1; LPS: lipopolysaccharide; MAP1LC3/LC3: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3; MAPK: mitogen-activated protein kinase; MTOR: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase; Rapa: rapamycin; SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1; T3: triiodothyronine; T4: tetraiodothyronine; TFEB: transcription factor EB; PBS: phosphate-buffered saline; TEM: transmission electron microscopy; TGFB/TGFβ: transforming growth factor beta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare conservative management and cesarean hysterectomy in patients with placenta increta or percreta. In this multicenter retrospective study, we recorded data on 2219 patients with placenta increta or percreta from 20 tertiary care centers in China from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2015. Propensity score analysis was used to control for baseline characteristics. We divided patients into conservative management (C) and hysterectomy (H) groups. The primary outcome was operative/postoperative maternal morbidity; secondary outcomes were maternal–neonatal outcomes. In total, 17.9% (398/2219) of patients had placenta increta and percreta; 82.1% (1821/2219) of the patients were in group C. After propensity score matching, 140 pairs of patients from the two groups underwent one-to-one matching. Group C showed less average blood loss within 24 h of surgery (1518 ± 1275 vs. 4309 ± 2550 ml in group H, p<.001). There were more patients with blood loss >1000 ml in group H than in group C (93.6% [131/140] vs. 61.4% [86/140], p<.001). More patients received blood transfusions in group H than in group C (p=.014). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of bladder injury, postoperative anemia, fever, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Neonatal outcomes in the two groups were similar. Either conservative management or hysterectomy should be considered after thorough evaluation and detailed discussion of risks and benefits. A balance between bleeding control and fertility can be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: China has implemented universal hepatitis B vaccination since 2002 and provided charge-free hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) to infants of HBV-infected mothers since July 2011. We aimed to compare mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) in children born before and since July 2011. Methods: In total, 5,149 children of HBV-infected mothers were tested for HBV markers. Group one contained 1,160 children born during August 2002–June 2011 and group two contained 3,989 children born during July 2011–June 2016. Results: In total, 92 (1.8%, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 1.4–2.2) children were infected with HBV. None (0%, 95%CI 0.0–0.1) of 3,716 children of mothers with negative hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) was infected, whereas 92 (6.4%, 95%CI 5.2–7.8) of 1,433 children of HBeAg-positive mothers were infected (p < 0.0001). Among children of HBeAg-positive mothers, MTCT occurred in 10.3% (19/185) (95%CI 6.3–15.6) in group one and 5.8% (73/1,248) (95%CI 4.6–7.3) in group two (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Implementing charge-free active-passive immunoprophylaxis greatly reduces MTCT of HBV in children of HBeAg-positive mothers, highlighting the importance of timely administration of both hepatitis B vaccine and HBIG to prevent MTCT. The still remaining MTCT suggests that reducing maternal virus load before delivery is an additional important measure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study is to identify the maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with placenta increta or placenta percreta in China.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 2219 cases from 20 tertiary care centers in China between January 2011 and December 2015. All cases were diagnosed of placenta increta or placenta percreta, based on either intraoperative findings or histopathological findings.Results: The incidence of placenta increta and placenta percreta progressively increased from 0.18% in 2011 to 0.78% in 2015. Compared with the placenta increta, placenta percreta was strongly related to serious adverse outcomes: postpartum hemorrhage (65.9% versus 38.6%, p = .003), blood transfusion (86.2% versus 46.5%, p < .001), hysterectomy (43.3% versus 11.2%, p < .001), preterm birth (65.7% versus 49.9%, p < .001), and the need for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission (54.5% versus 36.7%, p < .001).Conclusion: The incidence of placenta increta and placenta percreta is likely to increase in China. The depth of placenta implantation is associated with the severity of outcomes. Placenta percreta tends to have worse maternal and neonatal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the Th1/Th2 cells in peripheral blood of PCOS patients, and assess the potential correlation between Th1/Th2 imbalance and obesity. Methods: Thirty-nine PCOS patients and 23 age-matched controls were enrolled. The PBMCs were obtained before pharmacological intervention in women with or without PCOS. The profiles of Th1 (IFN-γ) and Th2 (IL-4) cytokines of CD3+CD− T lymphocyte subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry. Plasma sex hormones including E2, T, FSH, LH, and FINS, FPG were measured, together with BMI, WC, LH/FSH, E2/T and HOMA-IR index being calculated. Association between Th1/Th2 imbalance and BMI, WC were evaluated. Results: The proportion of Th1 cells and Th1/Th2 ratio were significantly higher in PCOS patients than those in controls, accompanied by elevated T, LH, LH/FSH, FINS, HOMA-IR index and reduced E2/T. The Th1/Th2 ratio was increased when BMI and WC were enhanced in PCOS. Moreover, the significant difference of Th1/Th2 ratio was observed between WC subgroups of PCOS. Conclusions: It is concluded that Th1 type immunity is predominant in systemic immunization of PCOS patients. Th1/Th2 immune imbalance is connected with obesity, especially abdominal obesity, and may be one of the underlying mechanism for the pathogenesis of PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to assess the effect of subchorionic hematoma (SCH) on pregnancy outcomes in IVF/ICSI patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 1097 pregnancies achieved byin vitrofertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) or frozen-thawed embryo transfers (FETs) between January 2013 and June 2013 at the IVF center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital. The prevalence of SCH was 12.1% in this group (133/1097). We compared the pregnancy outcomes between the SCH group and non-SCH group, while the risk factors for SCH were also evaluated. Results: There was no significant difference between SCH group and non-SCH group with regard to patients’ age, spouse’s age, endometrial thickness, miscarriage rate (5.6% versus 6.2%,p > 0.05), second trimester fetus loss rate (5.6% versus 7.7%,p > 0.05) or live birth rate (89.5% versus 86.1%,p > 0.05). While the birth weight in singleton pregnancy in SCH group was significant lower (3207.8 ± 595.7 g versus 3349.2 ± 59.7 g,p= 0.03). SCH was more common in fresh embryo transfer patients than that in FET patients (16.6% versus 5.1%,p < 0.01), fresh embryo transfer was a high risk for SCH with OR 3.67, 95% CI: 2.28–5.90. Conclusion: We concluded that SCH was associated with lower birth weight in singleton pregnancy, but SCH did not increase pregnancy loss rate in IVF/ICSI patients, and fresh embryo transfer may contribute to SCH onset. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A cobalt complex constructed by the ligand(L): 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde [Co(C8H7O3)2(H2O)2] has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray single crystal diffraction. The cobalt(II) atom is six-coordinate in a distorted octahedral geometry, intermolecular O-H•••O hydrogen bonds lead to the formation of a two-dimensional supramolecular network along ab plane. Its thermal stability was determined by TGA/DSC. Its two-photon absorption (TPA) cross-section σ2value and second hyperpolarizability γ value were determined to be 1.59 × 10−53(m4· s/photon · molecule) and 1.06 × 10−56(C · m4/V3) by Z-scan technique with 20 picosecond (ps) pulses at wavelength 1064 nm. The γ value is about six times larger than the time-dependent density-functional theory (TDDFT) calculation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To clarify whether maternal HBsAg positivity may add risk for adverse neonatal outcomes and even affect child's growth.Methods: The perinatal data and neonatal outcomes in 380 HBsAg-positive and 428 HBsAg-negative women delivered during 2002-2004 were investigated. Furthermore, 271 (71.3%) children of HBsAg-positive and 297 (69.4%) of HBsAg-negative mothers were followed at ages of 5-7 years. Child's growth including weight, height, and health conditions were evaluated.Results: The prevalence of preterm birth was relatively higher in HBsAg-positive group (2.9% versus 1.4%), but it failed to reach statistical significance (p = 0.140). There was no difference in other neonatal outcomes including stillbirth (0.5% versus 0.2%), neonatal death (0.5% versus 0.5%) and congenital malformation (0.8% versus 1.4%). Logistic regression analyses demonstrated maternal HBsAg positivity had no adverse influence on neonatal outcomes. Abnormal health conditions, other than adverse neonatal outcomes, was identified in one child (0.3%) of HBsAg-positive mother and four children (0.9%) of HBsAg-negative mothers at follow-up (p = 0.444). No maternal death occurred in HBsAg-positive or -negative mothers.Conclusions: Maternal HBsAg carrier status does not add risk for adverse neonatal outcomes or child's growth; therefore, heightening surveillance for adverse neonatal complications in HBV-infected pregnant women may be unnecessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) and its nickel(II) (NiTPP) complex have been synthesized, their crystal structures have been determined by means of X-ray single crystal diffraction. The TPP possesses good planarity in the porphyrin core, while in the complex the planarity disappeared. The central nickel(II) ion coordinates with four nitrogen atoms, which constructed a distorted square environment. Their third-order nonlinear optical properties have been studied using Z-scan technique at wavelength 532 nm and 1064 nm in picosecond (ps) domain. At 532 nm nonlinear absorption were observed, TPP shows two-photon absorption (TPA) combined with saturable absorption (SA), while NiTPP shows SA. At 1064 nm nonlinear refraction were observed, the molecular second hyperpolarizability γ of the NiTPP was about 1.4 times larger than that of the TPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Odontobutis potamophila is a Chinese endemic species and an economically important fishery resource in the Yangtze River. The genetic variability of O. potamophila was studied based on the sequence analysis of mitochondrial DNA control region from 150 individuals of five geographical populations including from Dangtu ( n = 30), Sheyang ( n = 30), Yuyao ( n = 30), Tai Lake nearby Dongxishan ( n = 30) and Minjiang ( n = 30). Among five populations, the genetic distance between Minjiang population and other populations (0.1186-0.1223) was larger than that among four populations except for Minjiang (0.0015-0.0198). In addition, 23 haplotypes were obtained and each population had special haplotypes. The samples from five sites had high haplotype diversity (0.80510) and low nucleotide diversity (0.04028). Through Tajima's D and Fu's F neutral testing and mismatch distribution test among all geographical populations, O. potamophila did not undergo recent population expansion. During the population evolution, O. potamophila experienced a balanced selection function and maintained a stable state and population size. Moreover, the haplotype Neighbor-Joining (NJ) tree was separated two haplotype groups. The NJ tree, TCS network and median-joining network could clearly separate the haplotypes of the specimens from different areas. Analysis of molecular variance and pairwise FST revealed an obvious genetic differentiation among different geographical populations, suggesting that O. potamophila in different geographical populations should be managed and conserved separately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the predictive values of lipids and uric acid in mid-second trimester for adverse pregnancy outcome. Methods: Lipids and uric acid concentrations were measured in 1000 healthy nulliparous women at 20 weeks of gestation. Pregnancy outcomes were followed-up. The odds ratios (OR) and 95% CI were estimated with unconditional logistic regression adjusting for maternal age and body mass index (BMI). Results: Women who had elevated triglyceride (TG) in the mid-second trimester experienced a 2.91-fold risk (95% CI 1.58-5.34) for preeclampsia and a 2.03-fold risk (95% CI 1.29-3.19) for gestation diabetes mellitus (GDM). Hyperuricemic women experienced a 1.99-fold risk (95% CI 1.16-3.40) for preeclampsia and a 2.34-fold risk (95% CI 1.44-3.83) for GDM, while women who had decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) experienced a 2.32-fold risk (95% CI 1.18-4.58) for preeclampsia, a 2.11-fold risk (95% CI 1.37-3.25) for GDM, and a 1.63-fold risk (95% CI 1.02-2.60) for delivering macrosomic newborns. These effects were concentration dependent, as risks increased with increasing TG quartiles and with decreasing HDLc quartiles. The result of the ROC analysis revealed that the sensitivity and specificity values for one marker alone was relatively low. But when combined TG, HDLc, uric acid, age and BMI together, the area under ROC curve increased to 0.71-0.77, sensitivity and specificity increased to 80-92% and 50-53%. Conclusion: The combination of these metabolic markers in mid-second trimester can be used to predict adverse pregnancy outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy-specific complication that results in high maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity worldwide. Till date, there is no satisfactory pharmacotherapeutic treatment, except for aspirin and heparin, to stop the preeclampsia progression. Although the mechanism of preeclampsia is poorly understood, it has proved to be associated with coagulation activation. Researches on prophylactic and remedial application of anticoagulants maybe benefit the clinical aspects of preeclampsia individuals.Methods: Sixty-six preeclampsia-like pregnant mice, induced by phosphatidyleserine/phosphatidylcholine (PS/PC) microvesicle administration, were randomly divided into six groups as follows: control group (group C), preeclampsia model group (group PE), group treated with heparin (group H), group treated with aspirin (group A), group treated with low-dose danshensu (group LD), and group treated with high-dose danshensu (group HD). Systolic blood pressure (SBP), proteinuria, mean platelet counts, plasma antithrombin III activity (AT III), D-dimmer levels, thrombin time (TT), fibrin deposition with phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin (PTAH) staining, and thrombomodulin (TM) expression with immunohistochemistry staining in placentas were examined as indices for maternal syndrome. Meanwhile, the number of potentially viable fetuses, weight of fetuses and placentas, weight of fetal brains, nose-breech length, ponderal index (PI), and neurons with hematoxylin-eosin (H/E) and toluidine blue-eosin (Nissl's) staining were all evaluated as indices for fetal syndrome.Results: Heparin presents significant effects on maternal syndrome of preeclampsia such as hypertension and proteinuria, and different dose danshensu also presents the certain effects. High-dose danshensu and aspirin all process better effects than low-dose danshensu on decreasing blood pressure to normal level, whereas high-dose danshensu process better effects than aspirin and low-dose danshensu on decreasing proteinuria to normal level. As to danshensu's effects on hemostatic function, high- and low-dose danshensu's marked effects on increasing the plasma AT III activity are same as that of aspirin and inferior to heparin. High-dose danshensu's better effect on elevating the platelet counts is superior to low-dose danshensu and aspirin. Low-dose danshensu's obvious effect on decreasing D-dimmer levels is close to heparin and superior to high-dose danshensu and aspirin. High- and low-dose danshensu's significant effects on reduced TT level are same to that of heparin. Different anticoagulants all have the improvement roles on placental fibrin depositions, but heparin and high-dose danshensu's roles on lowering thrombomodulin expression in placentas are superior to low-dose danshensu and aspirin. But anticoagulant function of high-dose danshensu is still inferior to heparin. Furthermore, we found the following changes: increasing fetal body weight and length in every group, obvious overall improvement in group H, greater amelioration equaling to that in heparin group on maternal body weight, fetal nose-breech length and fetal brain weight in group HD, better changes on survival fetal number in group LD than in other groups, and more corrected brain development in group HD than in group A. We found long-term use of heparin and aspirin, in spite of low-dose administration, can raise the risk of bleeding such as placental abruption and intestinal hemorrhage. But no side effect was observed in mice treated with different dose of danshensu in our study.Conclusions: Danshensu has proven effective in ameliorating the prognosis of maternal syndrome and fetal syndrome in the PE mouse model. We suggest long-term provision of low-dose danshensu in pregnancy, leading to an improvement of preeclampsia syndrome with considerable maternal safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We, the Editors and Publisher of the Journal of Receptors and Signal Transduction, have retracted the below article: Baicalin suppresses the progression of preeclampsia via regulating miR-155-5p/FOXO3 axis; Bin Caia, Yali Hua, Jihong Peng & Ting Song; Journal of Receptors and Signal Transduction; Since publication, concerns have been raised about the integrity of the data in the article. When approached for an explanation, the authors checked their data and confirmed there are fundamental errors present. Therefore, they have agreed to the retraction of this article. We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retractions. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as 'Retracted'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]