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Background: Epidural analgesia (EA) increases the risks of maternal fever during labor, which is associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes, while the risk factors for the phenomenon of epidural-associated fever and future strategies for minimizing these effects remain unknown. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 325 pregnant women who attended our institution for a vaginal in-hospital delivery, including 208 voluntarily accepted EA women and 117 pregnant women who did not receive EA. During labor, 208 EA women were subgrouped into the Fever group (n = 42, an axillary temperature ≥ 37.5 °C during labor), and None-fever group (n = 166). The outcome measures include main maternal and neonatal outcomes, labor time, duration of EA, and total EA amount. Results: 42 out of 208 women with EA presented fever during labor, higher than that in women without EA (20.19% vs. 0.85%). Maternal fever had increased risks for conversion to surgery ((Adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 4.05; 95% CI, 1.44 to 11.39)) and neonatal infections (5.13; 1.98 to 13.29) compared to the None-Fever group. While maternal fever didn’t increase the risks for assisted vaginal delivery, fetal distress and admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)，it was predominantly associated with primiparity and less times of gravity. Frequent cervical examinations, duration of first stage and total labor, and duration of EA and total EA amount were positively correlated with the incidence of fever. Furthermore, after stratifying risk factors into subgroups, we found that more frequent cervical examinations (≥ 7 times) and longer duration of first stage (≥ 442.5min), total labor time (≥ 490min), EA (≥ 610.0min) increased the risks of epidural-associated fever after adjustment for potential confounding factors. Conclusions: EA increases the risk of intrapartum epidural-associated fever, which is correlated with adverse perinatal outcomes. Nulliparity, less times of gravidity, more than 7 times of cervical examinations, more amount of EA volume, prolonged duration of EA and total labor time are the risk factors for epidural-associated fever, which provide us insights and strategies to prevent epidural-associated fever in a safer and more effective way.

Objective: In this study，we aimed to identify differentially expressed heat shock proteins (HSPs) profile in the villi and decidua from early missed abortion(EMA) patients. Methods: By using high-throughput and high-precision Parallel Reaction Monitoring (PRM)-based targeted proteomics technique, this study studied the expressions of HSPs in villi and decidua of 10 EMA patients and 10 controls. Meanwhile, the expressions of 3 HSPs in villi of another 22 EMA patients and 22 controls were verified with Western blotting and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results:Compared with the control group, there were potential differences in the expressions of 16 HSPs and 42 polypeptides in human villi and decidua. Among them, HSP90AB1, HSPD1 and HSPA13 were down-regulated in expressions in villi of EMA patients, with a statistically significant difference, which was consistent with the verification results of Western blot and IHC. Conclusion: Using PRM- based targeted proteomics technique, this study for the first time screens and quantitatively analyzes the expression profile of HSPs in villi and decidua of patients with EMA. The significant down-regulated expressions of HSP90AB1, HSPD1 and HSPA13 are discovered to have a potentially intimate association with the occurrence of EMA. Findings in our study may provide novel potential research targets related to HSPs for the pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of EMA.

Fe-doped SrMoO4 (SrMo0.94Fe0.06O4−δ), synthesized by an EDTA–glycine complexing combustion process, can be easily reduced to SrMo0.94Fe0.06O3−δ (SMF) at 850 °C in pure H2 atmosphere. The incorporation of Gd0.2Ce0.8O1.9 (GDC) into SrMo0.94Fe0.06O3−δ is supposed to enhance the ionic conductivity and catalytic activity of SMF. Phase composition and chemical compatibility of SMF-GDC composite in both air and H2 atmosphere are confirmed by X-ray diffraction test. SMF-GDC composites in different mass ratios are systematically investigated in terms of electrical conductivity, electrochemical performance and power output with the fuel cells. With the addition of GDC, the ionic conductivity is able to be improved and the lowest interfacial polarization resistance is observed to be 0.647 Ω cm2 for SMF7-GDC3 composite anode at 850 °C. With SMF7-GDC3 as anode, the single cell is able to generate a maximum power density of 530 mW cm−2 at 850 °C when fed with pure H2 (30 mL min−1) and demonstrates a considerable stability with the anode exposed to H2 and upon redox cycling.

SmBaCo 1.7 Ni 0.3 O 5+δ -xSm 0.2 Ce 0.8 O 1.9 (SBCN-xSDC, x = 0–50 wt.%) composite cathodes were prepared and characterized for potential use in intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs) based on an SDC electrolyte. The electrical conductivity and the thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) decreased with an increase in the SDC content of SBCN-xSDC composite cathodes. TEC values decreased from 15.59 × 10 −6 K −1 for SBCN to 13.17 × 10 −6 K −1 for SBCN-50SDC. Furthermore, the addition of SDC to the SBCN cathode improved its electrochemical performance. Among others, the SBCN-20SDC showed the lowest polarization resistance of 0.0272 Ω cm 2 at 800 °C; an anode-supported single-cell configuration of Ni-SDC/SDC/SBCN-20SDC obtained a maximum power density of 628 mW cm −2 at 800 °C. Even when the content of SDC was raised up to 50 wt.%, the electrochemical performance of SBCN-50SDC still exceeded that of pure SBCN. These results indicated that the SBCN-xSDC composite cathode is a promising material for IT-SOFCs.

Double perovskite oxides SmBaCo 2− x Ni x O 5+ δ (SBCN x ) ( x =0–0.5) are synthesized via an EDTA–glycine process as cathodes for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). In this study, we investigate the effects of Ni substitution for the Co sites in SmBaCo 2 O 5+ δ (SBCO) in terms of structural characteristics, electrical properties, and electrochemical performance of SBCN x . At the given temperature, the electrical conductivities of SBCN x decrease as the Ni content increases, and SBCO exhibits a maximum conductivity of 1091 S cm −1 at 250 °C. The average thermal expansion coefficients (TEC) over the temperature range of 25–800 °C show a decreased trend from 19.96×10 −6 K −1 for SBCO to 16.26×10 −6 K −1 for SBCN0.5, while the average TEC of SBCN0.3 reaches a minimum of 15.59×10 −6 K −1 . Generally, the power density of a single fuel cell at 600–800 °C decreases as the Ni content increases, whereas the polarization resistance ( R P ) of SBCN x on a Sm 0.2 Ce 0.8 O 1.9 (SDC) electrolyte is enhanced. Among all of the samples, SBCN0.3 exhibits a combination of low thermal expansion (15.59×10 −6 K −1 ), a reasonably low R P value (0.0464 Ω cm 2 at 800 °C) and high power density (536 mW cm −2 at 800 °C); thus, it may be a promising candidate for IT-SOFCs.

The cobalt-free layered perovskite oxides Sm1−xLaxBaFe2O5+δ (x = 0–0.5) (SLBFx, for short) have been systematically investigated to evaluate the feasibility of using them as cathodes for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). SLBFx powders with an orthorhombic structure were synthesized by the EDTA–glycine combustion method and were observed to be compatible with LSGM and SDC electrolytes below 1250 °C. The electrical conductivities of the SLBFx samples significantly increased with the substitution of La for Sm, with the highest conductivity of 37.8 S cm−1 obtained for the SLBF0.5 sample at 600 °C. Of the La-doped SmBaFe2O5+δ series samples, SLBF0.2 displayed the lowest thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) and the minimum electrode polarization resistance, with values of 16.51 × 10−6 K−1 in the 50–800 °C range and 0.24 Ω cm2 at 750 °C, respectively. The anode-supported single cell with SLBF0.2 as the cathode was able to generate a maximum power density of 558 mW cm−2 at 800 °C in humidified H2. All things considered, SLBFx materials are good candidates for cobalt-free cathodes in IT-SOFCs.

To study the clinical significance of interstitial cell of Cajal (ICC) in spontaneous neonatal gastric perforation by examining the expression of c-kit and Cx43 in neonates with this disorder.The gastric specimens of 19 cases of neonatal gastric perforation from 2001 to 2010 and 8 cases of accidental death without digestive tract malformations (control) were collected. Immunohistochemical staining was employed to examine the expression of c-kit and Cx43 (immunomarkers of ICCs) in gastric tissues.The muscular layer of the stomach wall became thinner or deficient in the gastric perforation group. C-kit and Cx43 positive cells in gastric tissues decreased significantly in the gastric perforation group compared with those in the control group (P＜0.01).The development of spontaneous neonatal gastric perforation is associated with the decreased quantity of ICCs and damaged gap junction structure of the stomach wall.