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STUDY QUESTION Is topical oestradiol gel effective in promoting endometrial regeneration after a surgical abortion? SUMMARY ANSWER Topical oestradiol gel is effective in promoting endometrial regeneration after a surgical abortion with few side-effects. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Oestrogen is effective in promoting endometrial regeneration. Transdermal oestrogen has been widely used in clinical practice for endometrial regeneration after induced abortion, but high-level evidence is limited. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION We conducted a multicentre, superiority, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Between 9 March 2022 and 21 February 2023, 200 women were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either oestradiol gel (treatment) and or oestradiol gel simulant (control) for 28 days. The participants were scheduled to have their endometrial thickness (mm) measured by ultrasonographic scan at 21–23 days post-abortion. The trial was blinded for participants, investigators, medical staff, and statistical analysts until final unblinding. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Participants were women undergoing induced abortion within 10 weeks of gestation. A total of 200 participants were enrolled, with 100 in each group. Eighty-eight (88%) in the treatment group and 82 (82%) in the control group completed the study as per the protocol and were included in the per-protocol set (PPS). The intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis included all participants randomized to the study groups and used inverse probability weighting to account for loss to follow-up. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE The ITT analysis showed revealed significantly greater endometrial thickness in the treatment group (mean 8.1 ± 2.5 mm) compared to the control group (mean 6.9 ± 2.1 mm) 21–23 days postabortion (mean difference 1.2 mm, 95% CI 0.7 to 1.9; P  < 0.001). The median time to menstrual return was shorter in the treatment group (34 days, inter-quartile range [IQR] 30–38) than in the control group (35 days, IQR 32–42), with a difference of −1 day (95% CI −2.3 to −0.9; P  = 0.036). No differences were observed in the timing or volume of bleeding in the first post-abortion cycle. The PPS analysis mirrored the ITT findings. Adverse events were minimal (6% versus 8%), and the blood profile, liver, kidney and coagulation test results were comparable between groups (all P  > 0.05). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Loss to follow-up was 11% in the treatment group and 15% of controls, with no significant difference (P  > 0.05). Inconsistencies in the timing of the ultrasonographic scans may have affected the accuracy of endometrial thickness measurements. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our findings suggest that topical oestrogen supplementation immediately after abortion within the first 10 weeks of gestation improves endometrial regeneration and growth, thereby potentially increasing the chances of a successful subsequent pregnancy. Clinical application of these findings may improve endometrial health management practices and provide a perspective on fertility treatment and women's reproductive health. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was supported by a grant (FW-HKKT2021111501900) from Jianmin Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd (JMPG), Wuhan, Hubei, China. Both the oestradiol gel and the simulant were provided by JMPG. The funding source had no role in the study. X.Y.L. reports JMPG grant funding paid to their institutions. All other authors declare no competing interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER CHiCTR2100053565. TRIAL REGISTRATION DATE 24 November 2021. DATE OF FIRST PATIENT'S ENROLMENT 9 March 2022 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been found to exert specific functions in the progression of ovarian cancer (OC), except for lncRNA-OIP5-AS1. In this study, we aim at exploring the molecular mechanisms of OIP5-AS1 in OC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression levels of OIP5-AS1, miR-324-3p, and NFIB in OC tissues and OC cell lines were explored by qRT-PCR assay. The OC cell vitality was examined by CCK-8 and transwell assay. The protein expression level of NFIB was measured by Western blot analysis. The correlation between OIP5-AS1, miR-324-3p, and NFIB was appraised by Dual-Luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS: OIP5-AS1 and NFIB were validated to be upregulated in both OC tissues and OC cell lines. Inversely, miR-324-3p downregulation was found in OC tissues and OC cell lines. Functionally, OIP5-AS1 knockdown and miR-324-3p overexpression restrained SKOV3 cell viability, invasion, and migration. Our results verified that OIP5-AS1 inhibited the expression of miR-324-3p in OC. Moreover, miR-324-3p directly targets NFIB. Besides that, NFIB silencing restrained the progression of SKOV3 cells. CONCLUSIONS: The present study clarified that OIP5-AS1 accelerated OC progression by sponging miR-324-3p and upregulating NFIB. OIP5-AS1 can be a possible therapeutic target for the treatment of OC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a meta-analysis on exploring the correlation between I/D polymorphism of ACE and risk of diabetes mellitus-related end-stage renal disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Researches on the correlation between I/D polymorphism of ACE and the risk of diabetes-related end-stage renal disease were searched in the three online databases (PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library). Citations of related researches were manually examined and enrolled. This study systematically searched relative literature for cohort studies or case-control studies published in the English language until December 1, 2018. Researches containing odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) calculated based on the correlation between I/D polymorphism of ACE and the risk of diabetes-related end-stage renal disease were enrolled. The included data were weighted by an inverse variance and then analyzed by a fixed or random effects model. Researches met the inclusion criteria were extracted for relevant data and subjected to a heterogeneity test. The effect size was calculated by STATA 12.0 software for meta- analysis. RESULTS: A total of 15 articles including 1199 cases of diabetes-related end-stage renal disease and 2939 cases of controls were enrolled. I/D polymorphism of ACE remarkably increased the risk of diabetes-related end-stage renal disease. In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, a significant difference in risk of diabetes-related ESRD was only detected in the Asian population with I/D polymorphism of ACE. However, no significant difference in disease risk was found in the Caucasian population. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis suggested that I/D polymorphism of ACE can markedly increase the incidence of diabetes-related end-stage renal disease, especially in Asian populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming has had a great impact on environmental changes since the last decade. Eco-friendly industrial products are of great importance to sustain life on earth, including using natural composites. Natural fibers used as fillers are also environmentally valuable because of their biodegradable nature. However, compatibility issues between the fiber and its respective matrix is a major concern. The present work focused on the study of the flexural, impact, and thermal behaviors of environmentally friendly sugar palm fibers (SPF) incorporated into a composite with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Two techniques (extrusion and compression molding) were used to prepare these composites. The fiber size and dosage were kept constant at 250 µm and 30 wt.% SPF, respectively. The effects of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) treatment on the flexural, impact, and thermal behaviors of the treated SPF with 6% NaOH-reinforced TPU composites were investigated. Three different concentrations of KMnO4 (0.033%, 0.066%, and 0.125%) were studied for this purpose. The characterization of the flexural and impact properties of the new TPU/SPF composites was studied as per American Society for Testing Materials ASTM standards. Thermogravimetric analysis was employed for thermal behavior analysis of the TPU/SPF composites. The best flexural strength, impact strength, and modulus properties (8.118 MPa, 55.185 kJ/m2, and 262.102 MPa, respectively) were obtained with a 0.033% KMnO4-treated sample. However, all flexural strength, impact strength, and modulus properties for the KMnO4-treated samples were lower than the sample treated only with 6% NaOH. The highest thermal stability was also shown by the sample treated with 0.033% KMnO4. Therefore, this method enhanced the thermal properties of the TPU/SPF composites with clear deterioration of the flexural and impact properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of mitochondria-mediated fatty acid metabolism in proximal tubule cells in renal interstitial fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Intraperitoneal injection of folate was performed to induce renal interstitial fibrosis in mice. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the expression of cytochrome coxidase subunit IV (COX4IL) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (PCK1) in samples. Electron microscope was used to detect the activity of mitochondria. Serum creatinine and urea nitrogen were chosen as evaluation criteria for renal function. Western-blotting was used to detect protein expression of cells. Immunohistochemistry was used to test renal structure and deposition of collagen. RESULTS: In renal interstitial fibrosis, mitochondria mediated the dysfunction and the promotion of tubulointerstitial fatty acid metabolism. Besides, it could also reduce renal interstitial fibrosis and alleviate the fatty acid metabolism of tubulointerstitial fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Mitochondrial dysfunction induced fatty acid metabolism is an important factor to promote the progress of renal interstitial fibrosis. Intervention of related targets of fatty acid metabolism is expected to become a new treatment for renal interstitial fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermochromic La1-xSrxMnO3 (x=0.1, 0.175, and 0.3) (LSMO) smart coatings were synthesized on (100) silicon and (0001) sapphire substrates by means of reactive pulsed laser deposition process at relatively low substrate temperature (500 °C) and without postannealing. X-ray diffraction patterns indicated that all deposited LSMO films have polycrystalline structures. The energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy analysis indicated approximately the same La/Sr ratio in the formed LSMO coatings as in their corresponding targets. While, the x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis of the LSMO/sapphire revealed that the strontium segregate at the film surface. The thermochromism of LSMO coatings was investigated by measuring their infrared reflectance as a function of temperature (up to 160 °C). It was observed that the reflectance decreased as the temperature increased. Reflectance switching of about 25% was achieved in La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/Si at a wavelength of 5 μm. The sheet electrical resistivity as a function of temperature (up to 130 °C) of LSMO/sapphire was investigated by means of the standard four-point probe technique. The resistivity decreased with increasing the temperature and no metallic-to-insulator transition was observed. However, it is found that the resistivity is very sensitive to the concentration level of Sr dopant: the resistivity decreased as the concentration of Sr increased. In addition, at room temperature, a higher temperature coefficient of resistance of -2.30%/°C was achieved in La0.9Sr0.1MnO3 thin films. Finally, these LSMO smart coatings are promising materials for optical switching and IR uncooled bolometer devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]