Associations between Dynamic Vitamin D Level and Thyroid Function during Pregnancy

Optimal Vitamin D (VitD) status and thyroid function are essential for pregnant women. This study aimed to explore associations between dynamic VitD status and thyroid function parameters in each trimester and throughout the pregnancy period. Information on all 8828 eligible participants was extracted from the Peking University Retrospective Birth Cohort in Tongzhou. Dynamic VitD status was represented as a combination of deficiency/sufficiency in the first and second trimesters. Thyroid function was assessed in three trimesters. The associations between VitD and thyroid function were assessed by multiple linear regression and generalized estimating equation models in each trimester and throughout the pregnancy period, respectively. The results indicated that both free thyroxine (fT4; β = 0.004; 95%CI: 0.003, 0.006; p < 0.001) and free triiodothyronine (fT3; β = 0.009; 95%CI: 0.004, 0.015; p = 0.001) had positive associations with VitD status in the first trimester. A VitD status that was sufficient in the first trimester and deficient in the second trimester had a lower TSH (β = −0.370; 95%CI: −0.710, −0.031; p = 0.033) compared with the group with sufficient VitD for both first and second trimesters. In conclusion, the associations between VitD and thyroid parameters existed throughout the pregnancy. Maintaining an adequate concentration of VitD is critical to support optimal thyroid function during pregnancy.     

Association of KCNJ11 and ABCC8 single-nucleotide polymorphisms with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Kinh Vietnamese population

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a genetically influenced disease, but few studies have been performed to investigate the genetic basis of T2DM in Vietnamese subjects. Thus, the potential associations of KCNJ11 and ABCC8 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with T2DM were investigated in a Kinh Vietnamese population. A cross-sectional study consisting of 404 subjects including 202 T2DM cases and 202 non-T2DM controls was designed to examine the potential associations of 4 KCNJ11 and ABCC8 SNPs (rs5219, rs2285676, rs1799859, and rs757110) with T2DM. Genotypes were identified based on restriction fragment length polymorphism and tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction. After statistically adjusting for age, sex, and BMI, rs5219 was found to be associated with an increased risk of T2DM under 2 inheritance models: codominant (OR = 2.15, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 1.09–4.22) and recessive (OR = 2.08, 95%CI = 1.09–3.94). On the other hand, rs2285676, rs1799859, and rs757110 were not associated with an increased risk of T2DM. Haplotype analysis elucidated a strong linkage disequilibrium between the 3 SNPs, rs5219, rs2285676, and rs757110. The haplotype rs5219(A)/rs2285676(T)/rs757110(G) was associated with an increased risk of T2DM (OR = 1.42, 95%CI = 1.01–1.99). The results show that rs5219 is a lead candidate SNP associated with an increased risk of developing T2DM in the Kinh Vietnamese population. Further functional characterization is needed to uncover the mechanism underlying the potential genotype-phenotype associations.     

Development and Visualization Improvement for the Rapid Detection of Decapod Iridescent Virus 1 (DIV1) in Penaeus vannamei Based on an Isothermal Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Assay

Viral diseases have seriously restricted the healthy development of aquaculture, and decapod iridescent virus 1 (DIV1) has led to heavy losses in the global shrimp aquaculture industry. Due to the lack of effective treatment, early detection and regular monitoring are the most effective ways to avoid infection with DIV1. In this study, a novel real-time quantitative recombinase polymerase amplification (qRPA) assay and its instrument-free visualization improvement were described for the rapid detection of DIV1. Optimum primer pairs, suitable reaction temperatures, and probe concentrations of a DIV1-qRPA assay were screened to determine optimal reaction conditions. Then, its ability to detect DIV1 was evaluated and compared with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reactions (qPCRs). The sensitivity tests demonstrated that the limit of detection (LOD) of the DIV1-qRPA assay was 1.0 copies μL⁻¹. Additionally, the presentation of the detection results was improved with SYBR Green I, and the LOD of the DIV1-RPA-SYBR Green I assay was 1.0 × 10³ copies μL⁻¹. Both the DIV1-qRPA and DIV1-RPA-SYBR Green I assays could be performed at 42 °C within 20 min and without cross-reactivity with the following: white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), Vibrio parahaemolyticus associated with acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (V_pAHPND), Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP), and infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV). In conclusion, this approach yields rapid, straightforward, and simple DIV1 diagnoses, making it potentially valuable as a reliable tool for the detection and prevention of DIV1, especially where there is a paucity of laboratory equipment.     

慢性心力衰竭患者血脂、血浆NT-ProBNP、CTnI和hs-CRP水平测定的临床分析

目的 测定慢性心力衰竭（CHF）患者的血脂、血浆N氨基末端脑钠肽前体（NT-ProBNP）、心肌肌钙蛋白I（CTnI）和高敏C反应蛋白（hs-CRP）水平并进行临床分析。 方法 采用生化法、荧光免疫分析法和放射免疫分析法测定165例CHF患者和60名正常对照者的血脂和血浆NT-ProBNP、CTnI和hs-CRP水平,并进行比较性分析。 结果 165例CHF患者血清总胆固醇（TC）、甘油三酯（TG）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）和高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）水平较60名正常对照者明显降低（TC：tⅡ=2.214,P＜0.05;tⅢ=2.873,P＜0.01;tⅣ=3.146;P＜0.01;TG：tⅡ=2.167,P＜0.05;tⅢ=2.863,P＜0.01;tⅣ=3.063,P＜0.01;LDL-C：tⅡ=2.147,P＜0.05;tⅢ=2.056,P＜0.05;tⅣ=2.184,P＜0.05;HDL-C：tⅡ=2.137,P＜0.05;tⅢ=2.256,P＜0.05;tⅣ=3.148,P＜0.01）。在生物标志物的测定中,165例CHF患者的血浆NT-ProBNP、CTnI和hs-CRP水平与正常对照者之间的差异有统计学意义（NT-proBNP：tⅡ=2.096,P＞0.05;tⅢ=2.813,P＜0.01;tⅣ＝4.135,P＜0.001;CTnI：tⅡ=2.736,P＜0.01;tⅢ=2.962,P＜0.01;tⅣ=3.816,P＜0.001;hs-CRP：tⅡ＝2.103,P＜0.05;tⅢ＝2.956,P＜0.01;tⅣ＝4.452,P＜0.001）,而且随左心室射血功能（LVEF）的降低而逐步升高。 结论 CHF患者血脂水平（TC、TG、LDL-C和HDL-C）随LVEF的降低而降低,具有血脂代谢紊乱的现象;血浆生物标志物水平（NT-ProBNP、CTnI和hs-CRP）随LVEF的降低而升高。     

肝移植术后肠道菌群失调的诊疗策略

肝移植术后会发生多种近期以及远期并发症。在术后早期,由于多重耐药菌的产生很容易导致各种感染,其中之一表现为肠道菌群失调。在过去的十年中,一系列研究发现肠道菌群在维持肠道稳态方面具有重要功能。肠道菌群通过多种途径与其他器官相互影响,其中肠肝轴是最关键的体内微环境调节通道之一。肠道菌群在数量和成分上的改变均能导致肠道菌群失调。无论在局部还是全身系统,肠道菌群与免疫系统都存在广泛的交互作用。本文着重探讨肝移植术后肠道菌群失调发生的危险因素、肠道菌群失调对肝移植受者的影响以及相关的治疗方案。     

Neutralizing peripheral circulating IL1β slows the progression of ALS in a lentivirus‐infected OPTNE478G mouse model

BackgroundAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is irreversible and fatal within 3–5 years, with limited options for treatment. It is imperative to develop a symptom‐based treatment that may increase the survival of ALS patients and improve their quality of life. Inflammation status, especially elevated interleukin 1β (IL1β), has been reported to play a critical role in ALS progression. Our study determined that neutralizing circulating IL1β slows down the progression of ALS in an ALS mouse model.MethodsThe ALS mouse model was developed by microinjection of lentivirus‐carrying OPTN^E478G (optineurin, a mutation from ALS patients) into the intra‐motor cortex of mice. Peripheral circulating IL1β was neutralized by injecting anti‐IL1β antibody into the tail vein. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) were carried out to determine the protein and gene expression levels of IL1β. TUNEL assay was used to assess the neural cell death. Immunofluorescent staining of MAP2 and CASP3 was accomplished to evaluate neuronal cell apoptosis. Glial fibrillary acidic protein staining was performed to analyze the number of astrocytes. Rotarod test, grip strength test, balance beam test, and footprint test were conducted to assess the locomotive function after anti‐IL1β treatment.ResultsThe model revealed that neuroinflammation contributes to ALS progression. ALS mice exhibited elevated neuroinflammation and IL1β secretion. After anti‐IL1β treatment, ALS mice revealed decreased neural cell death and astrogliosis and gained improved muscle strength and motor ability.ConclusionsBlocking IL1β is a promising strategy to slow down the progression of ALS.