Day-level associations of physical activity and sedentary time in mother–child dyads across three years: a multi-wave longitudinal study using accelerometers

Journal of Behavioral Medicine - Understanding associations between mothers’ and children’s physical activity and sedentary behavior on more fine-grained timescales can provide insights...     

HLA-B27-associated uveitis with a chorioretinitis manifestation.

A 29-year-old man who had been treated for acute anterior uveitis in a local medical office and observed for 1 month presented complaining of distorted vision in his left eye for 1 week. On ophthalmic examination, the anterior segment was relatively quiet with few cells. A posterior segment examination revealed cystoid macular edema and multiple splinter retinal hemorrhages. Results of all laboratory and imaging studies were negative, except for a positive HLA-B27 haplotype. Fluorescein angiography revealed massive leakage in the mid and late phase, consistent with chorioretinitis. Periocular corticosteroid injections and oral prednisolone were administered. The patient responded to the treatment well with subsequent resolution of chorioretinitis 2 months later. Although rare, chorioretinitis can occur in the setting of uveitis associated with HLA-B27 and seems to respond well to corticosteroid treatment.     

Serum Concentrations of Antibodies against Outer Membrane Protein P6, Protein D,and T- and B-Cell Combined Antigenic Epitopes of Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae in Children and Adults of Different Ages

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is one of the most common etiologies of acute otitis media, rhinosinusitis, and pneumonia. Outer membrane proteins (OMPs) are the main focus in new vaccine development against NTHi, as the H. influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine does not cover noncapsulated NTHi. The OMPs P6 and protein D are the most promising candidate antigens for an NTHi vaccine, and low antibody levels against them in serum may be correlated with infection caused by NTHi. In the current study, we measured the antibody titers against P6, protein D, and their T- and B-cell combined peptide epitopes in healthy individuals of different ages. We found that children <1 month old had the lowest antibody levels against NTHi P6, protein D, and their T- and B-cell combined antigenic epitopes. Antibody titers increased at ages 1 to 6 months, peaked at 7 months to 3 years, and remained high at 4 to 6 years. The antibody titers started to decrease after 6 years and were the lowest in the 21- to 30-year group. The geometric mean titers (GMTs) of T- and B-cell combined antigenic epitopes in P6 and protein D were positively correlated with those of the protein antigens. Among 12 peptides tested, P6-61, P6-123, and protein D-167 epitopes were better recognized than others in human serum. These findings might contribute to the development of an effective serotype-independent vaccine for H. influenzae.     

Brn3b基因对视神经损伤条件下视网膜神经节细胞的保护作用

目的　探讨Brn3b过表达对视神经损伤条件下视网膜神经节细胞（retinal ganglion cells，RGCs）的保护作用。方法　选取雄性健康成年BALB/c小鼠60只，用微型视神经夹将小鼠右眼球后视神经夹持损伤，按视神经损伤后的天数依次分为第1、3、5、7、14天组，小鼠左侧正常眼作为空白组，明确视神经损伤天数条件。选取雄性健康成年BALB/c小鼠40只，用微量进样器以小鼠右眼玻璃体内注射的方法将腺相关病毒载体转染小鼠视网膜，建立Brn3b过表达模型并分组:Brn3b过表达组［转染Brn3b过表达腺相关病毒载体（Brn3b overexpressed adeno-associated viral vector，AAV-CMV-Brn3b）］和阴性对照组［转染空白腺相关病毒载体（blank adeno-associated viral vector，AAV-CMV-GFP）阴性对照物］，每组20只；之后，取Brn3b过表达组和阴性对照组各10只，用微型视神经夹将小鼠右眼球后视神经夹持损伤，构建模拟小鼠视神经损伤（controlled optic nerve crush，CONC）模型并分组:CONC-Brn3b过表达组和CONC-阴性对照组。利用视网膜铺片和切片免疫荧光标记相关蛋白表达量，检测Brn3b过表达对视神经损伤条件下RGCs、Brn3b和Caspase3蛋白表达的影响，并对其共定位情况做出统计分析。结果　与阴性对照组相比，Brn3b过表达组小鼠视网膜Brn3b的表达水平明显增加。在小鼠CONC模型制作后的第7天RGCs的总凋亡数量达到65%，第14天RGCs的凋亡数量未见进一步改变。免疫荧光标记的蛋白表达量及其共定位分析显示，在视神经损伤条件下，与CONC-阴性对照组相比，CONC-Brn3b过表达组小鼠RGCs的凋亡量以及凋亡因子Caspase3的表达量均明显减少，差异均有统计学意义（均为P＜0.001）。结论　Brn3b基因对视神经损伤条件下RGC具有明确的保护作用，Brn3b基因对凋亡因子Caspase3的表达可能具有一定的抑制作用。     

Effects of extracts from Gynura bicolor (Roxb. & Willd.) DC. on iron bioavailability in rats

Gynura bicolor (Roxb. & Willd.) DC. is widely distributed in certain areas of Asia and is very popular in vegetarian cuisine in Taiwan. This study investigates the effects of G. bicolor extracts with different polarities of 80 mg/kg body weight (BW) G. bicolor alcohol extract, 80 mg/kg BW G. bicolor water extract, and 80 mg/kg BW G. bicolor ether extract on Fe bioavailability using the hemoglobin repletion efficiency assay. Wistar rats were assigned to five groups: a group receiving an iron-deficient (ID) diet; a group receiving an ID diet supplemented with ferrous sulfate (20 mg Fe/kg BW); and three groups receiving ID diets supplemented with ferrous sulfate and one of G. bicolor alcohol extract, G. bicolor water extract, or G. bicolor water extract. The results indicated that the levels of hemoglobin, serum iron, serum ferritin, liver ferritin, hemoglobin regeneration efficiency, relative biological value, and hepcidin all were significantly higher than those of the ID diet group. Besides, the iron transporter divalent metal transporter-1 was significantly reduced, but iron release protein expression of ferroportin was significantly increased. It was concluded that G. bicolor extracts may promote iron bioavailability and regulate the expressions of divalent metal transporter-1 and ferroportin.     

CXCL10/CXCR3 Signaling in the DRG Exacerbates Neuropathic Pain in Mice

Chemokines and receptors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic pain.Here,we report that spinal nerve ligation(SNL)increased CXCR3 expression in dorsal root ganglion(DRG)neurons,and intra-DRG injection of Cxcr3 shRNA attenuated the SNL-induced mechanical allodynia and heat hyperalgesia.SNL also increased the m RNA levels of CXCL9,CXCL10,and CXCL11,whereas only CXCL10 increased the number of action potentials(APs)in DRG neurons.Furthermore,in Cxcr3^-/-mice,CXCL10 did not increase the number of APs,and the SNL-induced increase of the numbers of APs in DRG neurons was reduced.Finally,CXCL10 induced the activation of p38 and ERK in ND7-23 neuronal cells and DRG neurons.Pretreatment of DRG neurons with the P38 inhibitor SB203580 decreased the number of APs induced by CXCL10.Our data indicate that CXCR3,activated by CXCL10,mediates p38 and ERK activation in DRG neurons and enhances neuronal excitability,which contributes to the maintenance of neuropathic pain.     

Down-Regulated CK8 Expression in Human Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

As an intermediate filament protein, cytokeratin 8 (CK8) exerts multiple cellular functions. Moreover, it has been identified as a marker of notochord cells, which play essential roles in human nucleus pulposus (NP). However, the distribution of CK8 positive cells in human NP and their relationship with intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) have not been clarified until now. Here, we found the percentage of CK8 positive cells in IDD (25.7±4.14%) was significantly lower than that in normal and scoliosis NP (51.9±9.73% and 47.8±5.51%, respectively, p<0.05). Western blotting and qRT-PCR results confirmed the down-regulation of CK8 expression in IDD on both of protein and mRNA levels. Furthermore, approximately 37.4% of cell clusters were CK8 positive in IDD. Taken together, this is the first study to show a down-regulated CK8 expression and the percentage of CK8 positive cell clusters in IDD based upon multiple lines of evidence. Consequently, CK8 positive cells might be considered as a potential option in the development of cellular treatment strategies for NP repair.     

Pregnancy Outcomes of In Vitro Fertilization with or without Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Chinese Patients

Background:

The effect of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) on pregnancy outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients is still ambiguous. This study aimed to analyze pregnancy outcomes of IVF with or without OHSS in Chinese patients.

Methods:

A retrospective cohort study was undertaken to compare pregnancy outcomes between 190 women with OHSS and 197 women without OHSS. We examined the rates of clinical pregnancy, multiple pregnancies, miscarriage, live birth, preterm delivery, preterm birth before 34 weeks’ gestation, cesarean delivery, low birth weight (LBW), and small-for-gestational age (SGA) between the two groups. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of measure of clinical pregnancy were also analyzed.

Results:

The clinical pregnancy rate of OHSS patients was significantly higher than that of non-OHSS patients (91.8% vs. 43.5%, P < 0.001). After controlling for drug protocol and causes of infertility, the adjusted ORs of moderate OHSS and severe/critical OHSS for clinical pregnancy were 4.65 (95% CI, 1.86–11.61) and 5.83 (95% CI, 3.45–9.86), respectively. There were no significant differences in rates of multiple pregnancy (4.0% vs. 3.7%) and miscarriage (16.1% vs. 17.5%) between the two groups. With regard to ongoing clinical pregnancy, we also found no significant differences in the rates of live birth (82.1% vs. 78.8%), preterm delivery (20.9% vs. 17.5%), preterm birth before 34 weeks’ gestation (8.6% vs. 7.9%), cesarean delivery (84.9% vs. 66.3%), LBW (30.2% vs. 23.5%), and SGA (21.9% vs. 17.6%) between the two groups.

Conclusion:

OHSS, which occurs in the luteal phase or early pregnancy in IVF patients and represents abnormal transient hemodynamics, does not exert any obviously adverse effect on the subsequent pregnancy.