Effects of obesity and a history of gestational diabetes on the risk of postpartum diabetes and hyperglycemia in Chinese Women: Obesity, GDM and diabetes risk

Objective: To evaluate the independent or combined effects of gestational diabetes (GDM) and pre-pregnancy and postpartum BMI on the odds of postpartum diabetes and hyperglycemia. Methods: The study samples included 1263 women with prior GDM and 705 women without GDM. Postpartum 1-7 years diabetes was diagnosed by the standard oral glucose tolerance test. Results: The multivariable-adjusted odds ratios among women with prior GDM, compared with those without it, were 7.52 for diabetes and 2.27 for hyperglycemia. The multivariable-adjusted odds ratios at different postpartum BMI levels (= 28 kg/m(2)) were 1.00, 2.80, and 8.08 for diabetes (P-trend = 31.9%) or abdominal obesity (>= 85 cm) had a 2.7-6.9-fold higher odds ratio for diabetes or hyperglycemia. Women with both obesity and prior GDM had the highest risk of diabetes or hyperglycemia compared with non-obese women without GDM. Non-obese women with prior GDM had the same risk of diabetes and hyperglycemia as non-GDM women with obesity. When using Cox regression models, the results were very close to those using logistic regression models. Conclusions: Maternal prior GDM and pre-pregnancy or postpartum obesity contribute equally to postpartum diabetes and hyperglycemia risk. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

High risk of metabolic syndrome after delivery in pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes

Aims: To investigate the risk of postpartum metabolic syndrome in women with GDM compared with those without GDM in a Chinese population. Methods: Tianjin GDM observational study included 1263 women with a history of GDM and 705 women without GDM. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess risks of postpartum metabolic syndrome between women with and without GDM. Postpartum metabolic syndrome was diagnosed by two commonly used criteria. Results: During a mean 3.53 years of follow up, 256 cases of metabolic syndrome were identified by using the NCEPATPIII criteria and 244 cases by using the IDF criteria. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios of metabolic syndrome in women with GDM compared with those without GDM were 3.66 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.02-6.63) for NCEP ATPIII criteria and 3.90 (95% CI 2.13-7.14) for IDF criteria. Women with GDM had higher multivariable-adjusted odds ratios of central obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, and high blood pressure than women without GDM. The multivariable-adjusted odds ratios of low HDL cholesterol and hyperglycemia were not significant between women with and without GDM, however, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratio of hyperglycemia became significant when we used the modified criteria. Conclusions: The present study indicated that women with prior GDM had significantly higher risks for postpartum metabolic syndrome, as well as its individual components. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Gestational diabetes with diabetes and prediabetes risks : a large observational study

Aims: To compare risks of early postpartum diabetes and prediabetes in Chinese women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during pregnancy. Subjects and methods: Tianjin GDM observational study included 1263 women with a history of GDM and 705 women without GDM who participated in the urban GDM universal screening survey by using World Health Organization's criteria. Postpartum diabetes and prediabetes were identified after a standard oral glucose tolerance test. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess risks of postpartum diabetes and prediabetes between women with and without GDM. Results: During a mean follow-up of 3.53 years postpartum, 90 incident cases of diabetes and 599 incident cases of prediabetes were identified. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios among women with prior GDM, compared with those without it, were 76.1 (95% Cl: 23.6-246) for diabetes and 25.4 (95% CI: 18.2-35.3) for prediabetes. When the mean follow-up extended to 4.40 years, 121 diabetes and 616 prediabetes cases were identified. Women with prior GDM had a 13.0-fold multivariable-adjusted risk (95% CI: 5.54-30.6) for diabetes and 2.15-fold risk (95% CI: 1.76-2.62) for prediabetes compared with women without GDM. The positive associations between GDM and the risks of postpartum diabetes and prediabetes were significant and persistent when stratified by younger and older than 30 years at delivery and normal weight and overweight participants. Conclusions: The present study indicated that women with prior GDM had significantly increased risks for postpartum diabetes and prediabetes, with the highest risk at the first 3-4 years after delivery, compared with those without GDM.Peer reviewe

The universal values of science and China’s Nobel Prize pursuit

China does not seem to believe the existence of universally acknowledged values in science and fails to promote the observation of such values that also should be applied to every member of the scientific community and at all times. Or, there is a separation between the practice of science in China and the values represented by modern science. In this context, science, including the pursuit of the Nobel Prize, is more a pragmatic means to achieve the end of the political leadership – the national pride in this case – than an institution laden with values that govern its practices. However, it is the recognition and respect of the latter that could lead to achievement of the former, rather than the other way around

Correlation between DAPK Promoter Methylation and Gefitinib Sensitivity in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Objective: To explore the correlation between DAPK promoter methylation and gefitinib sensitivity in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Different concentrations of gefitinib were respectively used to act on two strains of NSCLC cells with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19-deleted mutation (H1650 and PC9) and two strains with wild-type EGFR (A549 and H520). The cells were detected before and after 5-aza-CdR demethylation. The cell proliferation rate was determined by CCK-8 assay, apoptosis rate by flow cytometry (FCM), DAPK mRNA expression by fluorescent quatititive polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and methylation status in the region of DAPK promoter by methylation-specific PCR. Results: Gefitinib had proliferation inhibition effects on four kinds of cell lines by varying degrees, and with its concentration increase, the proliferation of PC9 and A549 cells was inhibited obviously, whereas both H1650 and H520 cells presented drug-resistance. After 5-aza-CdR methylation, the sensitivity of H1650 cells with EGFR mutation and H520 cells with wild-type EGFR to gefitinib was enhanced compared with the previous. Among the cell lines not dealt with 5-aza-CdR, the gefitinib-sensitive cell lines PC9 and A549 displayed high expression of DAPK, with the gene promoter in a non-methylation status, but in gefitinib-resistant cell lines H1650 and H520, DAPK expression was low, with DAPK promoter in a high methylation status. DAPK gene expression and gefitinib sensitivity in H1650 and H520 cell lines apparently were increased compared to the previous after 5-aza-CdR was applied to remove the methylation of DAPK gene promoter region in gefitinib-non-sensitive cell lines H1650 and H520, with significant difference (P < 0.01). However, there were no significant changes in gefitinib-sensitive cell lines PC9 and A549 (P > 0.05). Conclusion: High methylation in the region of tumor suppressor gene DAPK promoter can reduce the sensitivity of gefitinib to NSCLC by down-regulating DAPK gene expression. Detecting the methylation status of DAPK gene may provide a new method for predicting the efficiency of gefitinib

Evaluation of the effectiveness of amendments derived from vermicompost combined with modified shell powder on Cd immobilization in Cd-contaminated soil by multiscale experiments

The widespread heavy metal contamination of agricultural soils poses an enormous challenge to food safety. To evaluate the Cd immobilization potential of vermicompost combined with modified shell powder (VMSP) on Cd-contaminated soil, batch adsorption tests and field experiments were conducted. First, the Cd2+ removal characteristics and adsorption mechanisms of vermicompost (V), vermicompost combined with shell powder (VSP), and VMSP in an aqueous solution were investigated by batch tests. Then, 3 kg·m2 V, VSP, and VMSP doses were applied to Cd-contaminated farmland soils as soil amendments to plant green garlic (Allium sativum L.) and investigate their Cd immobilization effects in Cd-contaminated soils. Batch adsorption tests showed that VMSP was most effective for Cd2+ removal, with adsorption rates as high as 85.7–99.79% and desorption rates of approximately 1.25–1.34%. Combining further characterization analysis of VMSP, it was demonstrated that the adsorption mechanism of Cd2+ was monolayer chemisorption, mainly involving the complexation reaction of Cd2+ with organic functional groups and the precipitation reaction of Cd2+ with mineral elements. The field experiment showed that adding V, VSP, and VMSP effectively inhibited the enrichment of Cd in green garlic, and the Cd content was reduced by 42.18%, 46.88%, and 68.75%, respectively. However, only the Cd content of green garlic treated with VMSP was lower than the national standard for food safety in China (Cd≤ 0.2 mg·kg-1). V, VSP, and VMSP additions improved soil fertility and reduced Cd bioavailability in the soil by 15.5%, 18.9%, and 36.3%, respectively. In addition, V, VSP, and VMSP addition increased bacterial diversity and improved bacterial communities and functions in the soil by improving basic soil properties and reducing Cd-related toxicity. The results indicated that VMSP is a promising amendment for Cd immobilization in Cd-contaminated farmland soils