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Congenital hydrocephalus is frequently caused by mutations in the L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM) gene. The purpose of the present study was to identify possible causes of fetal hydrocephalus in a Chinese family. The samples from the parents and the hydrocephalic fetus were collected. Whole-exome sequencing and in-depth mutation analysis were performed. The identified variant, c.1267C>T.(p.Q423X), is situated on exon 11 of L1CAM gene (chromosome X:153134975). The fetus was confirmed to be hemizygous for the nonsense mutation and the mother was a heterozygous carrier. The mutation turns a glutamine into a premature stop codon at amino acid position 423. In conclusion, in the present study, a nonsense mutation in the L1CAM gene was identified during the prenatal diagnosis of a congenital hydrocephalic fetus from a Chinese family. The diagnosis highlighted the necessity of genetic screening for prenatal diagnosis.

Background: This study was aim to figure out the level of awareness about providing genetic tests and the attitude towards termination of pregnancy (TOP) regarding fetal congenital heart defects (CHD) among clinicians in China.Methods: A total of 501 clinicians were divided into 2 groups: clinicians whose working hospital were available of prenatal genetic service were assigned into group 1, whose working hospital were not available of prenatal genetic service were assigned to group 2. The level of awareness and the attitude were evaluated according to scores of a questionnaire. Results: Among the 501 total clinicians, only 27.94% received a high score and 53.09% received a medium score, indicating a low level of awareness about prenatal genetic tests among clinicians. 31.62% clinicians in group 1, but only 24.19% in group 2 showed good awareness of providing genetic tests (P=0.023). About 44.3% of clinicians in group 1, but only by 29.4% of those in group 2 held optimistic attitudes towards minor CHDs and were less favor of TOP in minor CHDs (P=0.023). Conclusion: Prenatal genetic tests and counseling in hospital are necessary and should be improved in the management of fetal CHD in China.

Humans are exposed to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) via ingestion of food, dust inhalation, and dermal absorption. Exposure to PBDEs via the placenta and breast milk is a special and important pathway in infants. This nested case-control study aimed to investigate the levels of PBDEs in maternal serum and colostrum, and to assess the association between the occurrence of fetal growth restriction (FGR) and prenatal exposure to PBDEs. We recruited 293 mother-newborn pairs, including 98 FGR cases and 195 healthy controls in Wenzhou, China. Maternal serum and colostrum samples were collected during pregnancy and after delivery, respectively, and the levels of PBDEs were measured by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The total levels of PBDEs in maternal serum and colostrum were found to be in equilibrium, but congener profiles of PBDEs in these matrices were different. Increased BDE-207, BDE-209, ∑BDE196-209 and ∑PBDEs levels in maternal serum and BDE-99, ∑BDE17-154 and ∑PBDEs levels in colostrum were correlated with decreased birth weight Z score. Increased concentrations of higher brominated BDEs in maternal serum (odds ratio (OR) = 1.010, 95%CI = 1.003–1.018) and low-to moderately brominated BDEs in colostrum (OR = 1.004, 95%CI = 1.000–1.009) were associated with increased risk of FGR, which showed an exposure–response relationship. In addition, infants with FGR were more exposed to PBDEs in colostrum after birth than healthy infants. Longitudinal birth cohort studies are needed to determine the prolonged effect of PBDEs exposure on the growth of FGR infants in the future.

Aquaporin 1 (AQP1) is a glycoprotein responsible for water passive transport quickly across biological membrane. Here, we reviewed the structural and functional impacts of AQP1 knockout (AQP1-KO) in animal or cell culture models. AQP1 gene deletion can cause a large number of abnormalities including the disturbance in epithelial fluid secretion, polyhydramnios, deficiency of urinary concentrating function, and impairment of pain perception. AQP1-KO mice also displayed aberrations of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary, and kidney functions as well as placenta and embryo development. Moreover, AQP1-KO perturbed tumor angiogenesis and led to reduced brain injury upon trauma. On the cellular level, AQP1-KO caused neuroinflammation, aberrant cell proliferation and migration, and macrophages infiltration. Mechanistic studies confirmed that AQP1 gene products regulate the secretory function and participated in balancing the osmotic water flux across the peritoneal membrane. The available data indicated that AQP1 might serve as a potential target for developing novel therapeutic approaches against diverse human diseases.

Objective To explore the role of aquaporin 1 (AQP1) in regulation of amniotic fluid volume and composition. To investigate the effects of AQP1 gene knockout on expression of other aquaporin water channels (AQP3, AQP8 and AQP9) in placentas and fetal membranes. Methods Mice were sacrificed at 9.5, 13.5 and 16.5 gestational day (GD). Amniotic fluid volume, osmolality and composition, fetal membranes, placental and fetal weights as well as placenta areas were recorded in Aqp1 homozygote conceptus group, heterozygote conceptus group and wild-type group, respectively. The expression of AQP1, AQP3, AQP8 and AQP9 mRNA and protein in placenta and fetal membranes were examined by quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting. Results Aqp1 homozygote conceptus had a greater volume of amniotic fluid, lower osmolality and calcium concentration than their wild-type counterparts at 16.5 GD. There was no significant difference in expression of AQP1, AQP3, AQP8 and AQP9 in placentas among three groups. While expression of AQP8 was increased at 13.5 and 16.5 GD in fetal membranes, the expression of AQP9 was significantly decreased in fetal membranes in Aqp1 homozygote group compared with Aqp1 heterozygote and wild-type groups. Conclusion AQP1 may play an important role in the homeostasis of maternal-fetal fluid at late gestation days. The mechanism of mutual compensation among AQPs gene needs further investigation.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to identify factors predicting histologic chorioamnionitis (HCA) in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively enrolled 371 women diagnosed with PPROM at less than 34 weeks of gestation at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University between January 2008 and December 2012. HCA was diagnosed by placental histopathology in 70% of participants. Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with HCA and neonatal outcomes. RESULTS Patient age, rate of parity, tocolysis, cesarean section, serum C reactive protein (CRP) level at admission, white blood cell count, and latency duration did not significantly differ between the 2 groups. Binary logistic regression revealed that oligohydramnios at admission, gestational age at PPROM, and serum CRP >8 mg/L before delivery were significantly associated with HCA. Gestational age at delivery and birth weight were significantly lower in HCA patients than control patients. The rate of 1-min Apgar score

To study the association between phthalate esters (PAEs) metabolites in maternal urine and 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2 ) enzyme activity, explore the possible mechanism of PAEs effect on fetal development.All of 33 cases of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) newborn were selected by random sampling in 2012. And 33 cases of normal control newborn were enrolled, use high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was used to detect 4 kinds of phthalate esters (PAEs) metabolites in maternal urine: mono-n-butyl phthalate ester (MBP), mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), mono (2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), mono (2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) and three kinds of cortisol corticosterone metabolites, tetrahydrocortisol (THF), allo-tetrahydrocortisol (allo-THF), tetrahydrocortisone (THE), and analyze the association between phthalate esters (PAEs) metabolites in maternal urine and 11β-HSD2 enzyme activity.MBP, MEHP, MEHHP, MEOHP metabolites can be detected in 98% (65 cases) , 89% (59 cases), 91% (60 cases), 91% (60 cases) of all 66 maternal urine samples, respectively. The median concentrations of test material in case group were 31.20 ng/ml for MBP, 24.61 ng/ml for MEHHP, 11.72 ng/ml for MEOHP and 48.67 ng/ml for SumDEHP which were significantly higher than those of the control group (were 17.32, 12.03, 5.68 and 28.64 ng/ml); 11β-HSD2 activity in case group ((THF+allo-THF)/THE = (0.79 ± 0.09) ng/ml) was significantly lower than that of the control group((THF+allo-THF)/THE = (0.58 ± 0.04) ng/ml); PAEs metabolites MBP (β' = 1.12), MEHHP(β' = 1.14), MEOHP(β' = 1.10), SumDEHP(β' = 1.08) in baby boy mother's urine was reversely correlated to 11β-HSD2 activity.PAEs could affect fetal development by inhibit 11β-HSD2 activity.

To investigate the expression of aquaporins-3 (AQP3) in amniotic epithelial cells regulated by cyclic adenosine monophosphate-protein kinase A (cAMP-PKA) signal pathway and to explore the mechanisms of its expression.The amniotic epithelial cells were collected from 30 patients who underwent elective caesarean sections at term with normal amniotic fluid volume and primarily cultured. The cultured cells were treated with (1)forskolin groups: different concentration (0, 2.5, 5, 50 or 100 µmol/L) of forskolin treated cells for 2 hours, and the optimal concentration of forskolin treated cells with different time (0, 1, 2, 10 or 20 hours); (2)SP-cAMP groups: different concentration (0, 2.5, 5, 50 or 100 µmol/L) of SP-cAMP treated cells for 2 hours, and the optimal concentration of SP-cAMP treated cells with different time (0, 1, 2, 10 or 20 hours); (3)H-89 groups: different concentration (0, 5, 10, 50 or 100 µmol/L) of H-89 treated cells for 2 hours, and the optimal concentration of H-89 treated cells with different time (0, 1, 2, 10 or 20 hours ). The level of intracellular cAMP and activity of PKA were detected by using ELISA, and immunohistochemistry was used to detect the localization of AQP3, the protein expression of total cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) and phospho-CREB (p-CREB) and AQP3 were assessed by western blot analysis. Cell proliferation was assessed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay.(1) The brown staining of AQP3 was detected in both cell membrane and cytoplasm in each group. (2) There was no significant change of the cell proliferation rate among groups with different concentration of forskolin, SP-cAMP and H-89 treatment (P0.05). (3) After different concentration of forskolin treated 2 hours, the expression of total CREB had no significant difference among them(P0.05). While the expression of cAMP level, PKA activity, p-CREB and AQP3 protein were significantly changed, which were higher in 2.5 µmol/L, 5 µmol/L, 50 µmol/L forskolin group when compared with 0 µmol/L (P0.05). Their expressions in 5 µmol/L forskolin group were higher than that in 2.5 µmol/L and 50 µmol/L (P0.05). The optimal forskolin concentration was 5 µmol/L. (4) After different concentration of SP-cAMP treated 2 hours, the expression of total CREB and cAMP level had no significant difference among them (P0.05), while the expression of PKA activity, p-CREB and AQP3 protein were significantly changed, which were higher in 5 µmol/L, 50 µmol/L SP-cAMP group when compared with 0 µmol/L (P0.05). Their expressions in 50 µmol/L SP-cAMP group were higher than that in 5 µmol/L (P0.05). The optimal SP-cAMP concentration was 50 µmol/L. (5) After different concentration of H-89 treated 2 hours, the expression of total CREB and cAMP level had no significant difference among them (P0.05), while the expression of PKA activity, p-CREB and AQP3 protein were significantly changed, which were lower in 10 µmol/L, 50 µmol/L and 100 µmol/L H-89 group when compared with 0 µmol/L (P0.05). Their expressions in 10 µmol/L H-89 group were lower than that in 50 µmol/L, 100 µmol/L (P0.05). The optimal H-89 concentration was 10 µmol/L. (6) p-CREB and AQP3 protein expression were significantly lower in 5 µmol/L forskolin combined 10 µmol/L H-89 incubating 2 hours group when compared with 5 µmol/L forskolin, but higher than that in 10 µmol/L H-89 treated group (P0.05). Total CREB was no significant difference among the three groups (P0.05).cAMP-PKA signal transduction pathway may regulate AQP3 protein expression in human amniotic epithelial cells.

Purpose To examine Chinese neonatal infants with both cycloplegic and noncycloplegic retinoscopy and to compare the distribution of refractive errors for the two techniques. Methods Cycloplegic retinoscopy was performed by two experienced pediatric ophthalmologists on 81 neonatal infants randomly selected from a group of 185 neonates who had undergone noncycloplegic retinoscopy. All infants were between 1 day and 6 days of age and were born without incident at full term. Results The mean cycloplegic spherical equivalent (CSE) was highly hyperopic (+3.55 diopters [D] ± 2.39 D). The mean noncycloplegic spherical equivalent (nCSE) was +0.58 D ± 2.32 D. The high reliability of the refractive measurements was demonstrated by high correlations between examiners (CSE: OD, r = 0.96; OS, r = 0.97; nCSE: OD, r = 0.94; OS, r = 0.93 OS) and between eyes (CSE: examiner 1, r = 0.94; examiner 2, r = 0.95; nCSE: examiner 1, r = 0.95; examiner 2, r = 0.97). The correlation between CSE and nCSE was much lower (examiner 1: OD, r = 0.76; OS, r = 0.73; examiner 2: OD, r = 0.72; OS, r = 0.70). Prevalence of astigmatism was very low (1.6% ≥ 1.0 D). Conclusions The level of hyperopia was very high in these infants, and the offsetting tonic accommodation demonstrated by the difference between CSE and nCSE was much higher than in any previous report. Low amounts of infantile hyperopia and high astigmatism are associated with future myopia in the West. The Chinese neonates in this study had high amounts of hyperopia and little astigmatism, yet they are at high risk to become myopic.