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IgG4-related tubulointerstitial nephritis (IgG4-related TIN) is the prevalent clinical manifestation of IgG4-related diseases (IgG4-RD). However, there are limited cases of IgG4-RD occurring with membranous nephropathy (MN) in the absence of phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R). There have been no indications of treatment using Tripterygium wilfordii. This study reported a rare case of IgG4-RD with PLA2R-associated MN without any of the distinct IgG4-related TIN. The patient was treated effectively with T. wilfordii. A 71-year-old patient was admitted to the medical facility after presenting with a 1 month history of edema and 8 months of albuminuria. The renal biopsy tissue examination confirmed the presence of MN (phase II) in the absence of pathological manifestations of IgG4-related TIN. Immunohistochemistry identified PLA2R++ (granular capillaries). The serum PLA2R antibody titer was 1:180 (1:20). The patient met the diagnosis with IgG4-RD. Over 8 years of follow-up, the patient was effectively treated with low-dose hormones and T. wilfordii, without any adverse effects. This MN is considered a unique form of IgG4-RD, regardless of whether PLA2R antibodies are present or not. Research suggests that T. wilfordii could be a promising option for elderly people with IgG4-related MN, as it has been found to have fewer adverse effects.

Background/Objectives: A-kinase-interacting protein 1 (AKIP1) has been discovered to be a pivotal signaling adaptor in the regulation of human labor and associated with preterm birth, but its effect on fetal growth was still unclear. Meanwhile, the regulation role of DNA methylation (DNAm) on placental and fetal development has been demonstrated. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association of AKIP1 DNAm in maternal peripheral blood with placental development and full-term small for gestational age (FT-SGA) neonates, and to explore whether placenta mediate the association between AKIP1 DNAm and FT-SGA; Methods: This study was a case–control study including 84 FT-SGAs and 84 FT-AGAs derived from the Shenzhen Birth Cohort Study. The DNA methylation analysis of CpG in the target region of the AKIP1 gene was measured by the Sequenom MassARRAY EpiTYPER approach. Multiple-variable logistic and linear regression analyses were used to estimate the association between the DNAm of three validated CpG sites in the AKIP1 gene, placental thickness, and FT-SGA. Mediation analysis was used to examine the mediation effect of placental development on the association between the DNAm of AKIP1 and FT-SGA. Results: For every increment in standard deviation in the DNAm of CpG4 (cg00061907) at AKIP1, the risk of FT-SGA elevated by 2.01-fold (aOR = 2.01, 95%CI = 1.39~3.01), and the thickness of the placenta significantly decreased by a 0.19 standard deviation (β = −0.19, 95%CI = −0.32~ −0.06). Placental thickness mediated the 22.96% of the effect of the DNAm of CpG4 at AKIP1 on the risk of FT-SGA with statistical significance. Conclusions: The findings in the present study suggested the mediating effect of placental thickness on the association of the DNAm of AKIP1 in maternal peripheral blood and the risk of FT-SGA, providing new evidence for the mechanism of maternal epigenetics in placental and fetal development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maternal sleep disturbance is a risk factor for adverse outcomes like preterm birth. However, the association of maternal sleep quality and duration with the risk of the infant being small for gestational age (SGA) remains inconclusive, and the specific critical window of vulnerability has yet to be clearly identified. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of maternal sleep quality and duration on the risk of having an SGA infant and to identify the critical window for this association. Methods: One thousand six hundred and seventy-seven participants from the Shenzhen Birth Cohort Study were included. Maternal sleep duration and quality during pregnancy were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in early (<19 weeks), mid- (24–28 weeks), and late (32–38 weeks) pregnancy. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association of an SGA infant with sleep duration and quality, along with their specific effects across the different pregnancy stages. Results: The pregnant women with short sleep duration (≤7 h/day) in the early stage of pregnancy appeared to have a higher risk of having an SGA infant (aOR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.32~2.79). Additionally, poor sleep quality combined with short sleep duration was associated with an even higher risk of having an SGA infant (aOR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.32~3.23). However, this association was observed only during early pregnancy. Conclusions: The women with short sleep duration were associated with SGA risk, and the early stage of pregnancy might be a particularly sensitive period for this relationship. Addressing maternal sleep problems during pregnancy as part of antenatal care is crucial for reducing the likelihood of having an SGA infant and improving the overall birth outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial light‐harvesting systems (LHSs) are of growing interest for their potential in energy capture and conversion, but achieving efficient fluorescence in aqueous environments remains challenging. In this study, a novel tetraphenylethylene (TPE) derivative, TPEN, is synthesized and co‐assembled with poly(sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate) (PSS) to enhance its fluorescence via electrostatic interactions. The resulting PSS⊃TPEN network significantly increased blue emission, which is further harnessed by an energy‐matched dye, 4,7‐di(2‐thienyl)benzo[2,1,3]thiadiazole (DBT), to produce an efficient LHS with yellow emission. Moreover, this system is successfully applied to develop color‐tunable light‐emitting diode (LED) devices. The findings demonstrate a cost‐effective and environmentally friendly approach to designing tunable luminescent materials, with promising potential for future advancements in energy‐efficient lighting technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epilepsy (EP) is a common neurological disorder which is characterized by excessive abnormal synchronization of neuronal discharges in the brain due to chronic recurrent seizures of multiple etiologies. Variety of microRNAs have been associated with the occurrence and development of EP. This study aimed to determine the aberrant expression of miR-378 and miR-575 in EP patients to validate their potential to distinguish EP from healthy patients. Methods: RT-qPCR was used to determine the expressions of miR-378 and miR-575 from serum specimens of 106 EP and 103 control individuals. Clinical indicators between EP patients and controls were assessed. Based on surgical outcome, EP patients were further divided into Engel I-IV EP. The potentials of miR-378 and miR-575 in discriminating EP from healthy participants and predicting surgical prognosis were calculated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: We found the miR-378 and miR-575 were significantly declined (P