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This study is aimed at identifying the bioactive components in lotus leaf flavonoid extract (LLFE) and analyzing the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of LLFE in vitro and in vivo . The flavonoids in LLFE were determined by UHPLC-MS/MS. The effect of LLFE on damaged 293T cells (H 2 O 2 , 0.3 mmol/L) was determined by MTT assay, and the activity of antioxidant enzymes was measured by kits. We studied the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of LLFE on D-Gal/LPS (30 mg/kg·bw and 3  μ g/kg·bw)-induced aging mice. We also evaluated the main organ index, pathological changes in the liver, lung, and kidney, liver function index, biochemical index, cytokine level, and mRNA expression level in serum and liver. The results showed that LLFE contains baicalein, kaempferol, kaempferid, quercetin, isorhamnetin, hyperoside, lespenephryl, and rutin. LLFE reduced the oxidative damage sustained by 293T cells, increased the levels of SOD, CAT, GSH, and GSH-Px, and decreased the level of MDA. The animal studies revealed that LLFE reduced oxidative damage and inflammation in injured mice, inhibited increases in AST, ALT, MDA, and NO, increased SOD, CAT, GSH, and GSH-Px levels, upregulated anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and IL-12, and downregulated proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1 β , TNF- α , and IFN- γ . Furthermore, the expression of antioxidant- and anti-inflammatory-related mRNA was consistent with the above results., Competing Interests: All authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2021 Chong Li et al.)

Objective: To investigate the blood flow Doppler parameters of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) in foetuses with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS)., Methods: Doppler parameters (peak systolic velocity [PSV], end-diastolic velocity [EDV], time-averaged maximum velocity [TAMXV] and pulsatility index [PI]) and biometric parameters were measured in two anatomical segments of the ACA (S1 and S2) and in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in 35 HLHS foetuses and 73 gestational age-matched normal foetuses. Correlations between the cerebral artery PIs and head circumference (HC) were assessed., Results: Both EDV and TAMXV of the ACA and MCA in the HLHS group were significantly higher than in the normal group (P < .05). The PI of the ACA and MCA in the HLHS group were significantly lower than in the normal group (P < .05). ACAS1PI and ACAS2PI in the HLHS foetuses with retrograde blood flow in the aortic isthmus (AoI) were significantly lower than those of HLHS foetuses without retrograde blood flow in the AoI (P < .05). ACAS2PI was significantly lower than ACAS1PI in the HLHS foetuses with retrograde blood flow in the AoI (P = .047). The abnormal rates of ACAS1 and ACAS2 were significantly higher than that of the MCA (P < .05) in the HLHS group. The HC and biparietal diameter were significantly lower in the HLHS group than in the control group (P < .05). HC was correlated with the PIs of ACAS1, ACAS2 and the MCA in the HLHS group (P < .05)., Conclusion: A redistribution of foetal cerebral blood flow appeared in HLHS, and the measurement of ACA PI might provide early information on brain hypoxia., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Objective: To develop Z scores for the trachea and main bronchi in normal fetuses., Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study in 823 normal singleton fetuses. The tracheal diameter immediately proximal to the bifurcation and the left and right main bronchial diameters were measured from their inner to inner edge in the coronal view. Z scores were created for the trachea and main bronchial diameters using gestational age (GA), femur length (FL), and biparietal diameter (BPD) as independent variables., Results: Between gestational weeks 20 and 40, the inner diameters of the trachea, left principal bronchi (LPB), and right principal bronchi (RPB) increased from 1.8 to 4.7 mm, 0.8 to 2.2 mm, and 0.9 to 2.3 mm, respectively. A simple linear regression equation was fitted to model the mean of each diameter. There was however significant heteroscedasticity of the standard deviation (SD) with increasing GA, FL, or BPD. Eventually, the following formula was used to calculate Z scores for the diameters: [measured value - equation for mean]/equation for SD., Conclusion: We have developed Z scores for the fetal trachea and main bronchi by applying standard statistical methods. These Z scores may be useful to evaluate the early development of the respiratory system., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Objectives: We aimed to describe the prenatal features and clinical outcome of fetal cardiac aneurysms (CA) and cardiac diverticula (CD)., Methods: Retrospective single center study reporting on antenatal findings and interventions and clinical outcome of fetuses with CA or CD are assessed in a ten year's period., Results: Thirteen CA and 16 CD identified, mostly located at the cardiac apex. The average size of the CA was significantly larger than that of the CD (223.2 ± 84.4 vs 80.6 ± 57.9 mm(2) , respectively; p < 0.05). The bulge longitudinal strain, systolic strain rate, and diastolic strain rate in CA were significantly lower compared with CD (respectively, -12.9 ± 3.7 vs -20.0 ± 5.4% for strain and -1.3 ± 0.4 vs -2.0 ± 0.5 s(-1) for the systolic strain rate, 1.2 ± 0.4 vs 1.9 ± 0.4 s(-1) for the diastolic strain rate; all p < 0.05). CA coincided more frequently with arrhythmia and CD more frequently with pericardial effusion (p < 0.05). Adverse outcomes were more likely in children with CA [83.3% (5/6) vs 8.3% (1/12), respectively, p < 0.01]., Conclusion: Fetal cardiac aneurysms and diverticula are two distinct entities with different morphology and outcome. An isolated fetal CA has a less favourable outcome than fetal CD. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., (© 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the prenatal diagnosis of ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy (NCCM) and to report the pathologic features and the characteristic myocardial ultrastructure of fetal NCCM., Method: We examined nine cases of fetal NCCM by prenatal echocardiography from 2004 to 2013. These cases were evaluated with respect to prenatal diagnosis, outcomes, pathology, and characteristics of the myocardial ultrastructure., Results: Trabeculated myocardium and non-compaction/compaction ratio (N/C ratio) ≥2.0 is the echocardiographic feature that allowed diagnosis. Among the nine fetuses with a prenatal diagnosis of NCCM, six were diagnosed with left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC), two with non-compaction of both ventricles (biventricular NCCM), and one with right ventricular non-compaction. Among the nine fetuses, the LVNC diagnosis was confirmed by postnatal echocardiography in 2; the other patients chose to terminate their pregnancies, and those cases were confirmed at autopsy. Muscle biopsies were performed on three of the aborted fetuses, and abnormal mitochondria, sarcomeres, and myocardial fibers were observed., Conclusion: Non-compaction can be identified in the fetus. Fetal non-compaction most often involves the left ventricle, but can involve the right ventricle or both ventricles. The myocardial ultrastructure of fetal ventricular non-compaction has certain unique characteristics regarding the maturation of the mitochondria, sarcomeres, and myocardial fibers. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., (© 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

An amphiphilic polymer RGD-PEG-Chol which can be produced in large scale at a very low cost has been synthesized successfully. The synthesized intermediates and final products were characterized and confirmed by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum (¹H NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FT-IR). The paclitaxel- (PTX-) loaded liposomes based on RGD-PEG-Chol were then prepared by film formation method. The liposomes had a size within 100 nm and significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of paclitaxel to B16F10 cell as demonstrated by MTT test (IC₅₀ = 0.079  μg/mL of RGD-modified PTX-loaded liposomes compared to 9.57  μg/mL of free PTX). Flow cytometry analysis revealed that the cellular uptake of coumarin encapsulated in the RGD-PEG-Chol modified liposome was increased for HUVEC cells. This work provides a reasonable, facile, and economic approach to prepare peptide-modified liposome materials with controllable performances and the obtained linear RGD-modified PTX-loaded liposomes might be attractive as a drug delivery system.