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Studies on the associations of blood pressure (BP) and the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) had been performed neither among pregnant women nor in Chinese population. This study included participants of pregnant women from a retrospective multicenter cohort, between May 2020 and April 2023. Systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) of the participants were measured in the third trimester. The incidences of VTE (including deep venous thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism) at 42 days postpartum were followed. With regards to SBP, pregnant women in the Q1 (≤114 mmHg), Q2 (115–122 mmHg), and Q4 group (≥131 mmHg) had increased risk of VTE than those in Q3 group (123–130 mmHg), with ORs 4.48 [1.69, 11.85], 3.52 [1.30, 9.59], and 3.17 [1.12, 8.99], respectively. Compared with pregnant women with the Q4 of DBP (≥85 mmHg), women of Q1 (≤71 mmHg) were found to have elevated risk of VTE (OR 2.73 [1.25, 5.96]). A one standard deviation decrease of DBP (9 mmHg) was related with 37% elevated risk of VTE (OR 1.37 [1.05, 1.79]). This study demonstrated a U‐shaped association of SBP in the third trimester and VTE postpartum and inverse association of DBP in the third trimester and VTE postpartum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 1-year mortality and health consequences of COVID-19 in cancer patients are relatively underexplored. In this multicenter cohort study, 166 COVID-19 patients with cancer were compared with 498 non-cancer COVID-19 patients and 498 non-COVID cancer patients. The 1-year all-cause mortality and hospital mortality rates in Cancer COVID-19 Cohort (30% and 20%) were significantly higher than those in COVID-19 Cohort (9% and 8%, both P < .001) and Cancer Cohort (16% and 2%, both P < 0.001). The 12-month all-cause post-discharge mortality rate in survival discharged Cancer COVID-19 Cohort (8%) was higher than that in COVID-19 Cohort (0.4%, P < .001) but similar to that in Cancer Cohort (15%, P = .084). The incidence of sequelae in Cancer COVID-19 Cohort (23%, 26/114) is similar to that in COVID-19 Cohort (30%, 130/432, P = .13). The 1-year all-cause mortality was high among patients with hematologic malignancies (59%), followed by those who have nasopharyngeal, brain, and skin tumors (45%), digestive system neoplasm (43%), and lung cancers (32%). The rate was moderate among patients with genitourinary (14%), female genital (13%), breast (11%), and thyroid tumors (0). COVID-19 patients with cancer showed a high rate of in-hospital mortality and 1-year all-cause mortality, but the 12-month all-cause post-discharge mortality rate in survival discharged cancer COVID-19 patients was similar to that in Cancer Cohort. Comparing to COVID-19 Cohort, risk stratification showed that hematologic, nasopharyngeal, brain, digestive system, and lung tumors were high risk (44% vs 9%, P < 0.001), while genitourinary, female genital, breast, and thyroid tumors had moderate risk (10% vs 9%, P = .85) in COVID-19 Cancer Cohort. Different tumor subtypes had different effects on COVID-19. But if cancer patients with COVID-19 manage to survive their COVID-19 infections, then long-term mortality appears to be similar to the cancer patients without COVID-19, and their long-term clinical sequelae were similar to the COVID-19 patients without cancer., (© 2021 The Authors. IUBMB Life published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.)

Backround: Fingertip injuries are common in both adults and children. Many operative and non-operative management techniques have been reported to restore the function and cosmetic shape of fingertips after injuries. Although these methods may be used for different indications in clinical settings, few of them can treat all kinds of fingertip injuries. In addition, there is controversy as to whether the surgical approach or the conservative approach is the optimal management for fingertip injuries., Methods: Thirty-six fingers of 33 patients with fingertip injuries were included in the study. All wounds were treated with surgical debridement and artificial dermis coverage without further surgical treatment. Follow-up duration was 24.5 months on average., Results: All injuries were categorised into four types - Allen's classification of fingertip injury type II, type III, type IV, and transverse amputations proximal to the lunula and close to the level of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint - and 28 of them had bone exposure. The defects of all fingers were restored in one stage within an average of 8 weeks. Although the length and width of the new fingertips were less than those of the contralateral fingertips, almost all patients were satisfied with the functional and cosmetic outcomes of their regenerated fingers., Conclusions: One-stage wound healing of fingertip injuries induced by artificial dermis treatment is an easy and effective approach to restoring defects after injury with excellent functional and cosmetic results. Nearly all kinds of fingertip injuries can be managed with this method without any further surgical treatment. Therefore, this is a good alternative for the management of fingertip injuries., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Purpose: The role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in tumorigenesis has been well established. Genetic variants in the miRNA biogenesis pathway genes may modify cancer development and survival by affecting the miRNA biogenesis. Our aim is to investigate the association of polymorphisms in the miRNA biogenesis pathway genes and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) risk among neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) patients., Methods: A case-control study was performed to analyze 53 SNPs in 11 miRNA biogenesis pathway genes in 356 patients (200 patients with NF1 and 156 patients with both NF1 and MPNST) in China. Association analysis was performed in an additive genetic model by logistics regression., Results: Four SNPs (DDX5 rs1991401, OR=1.79, 95% CI, 1.34-2.38, P=7.90 × 10(-5); DROSHA rs10719, OR=1.64, 95% CI, 1.23-2.20, P=8.76 × 10(-4); AGO2 rs7005286, OR=0.48, 95% CI, 0.32-0.72, P=3.46 × 10(-4); GEMIN4 rs7813, OR=0.50, 95% CI, 0.34-0.72, P=2.65 × 10(-4)) were significantly associated with MPNST risk. A strong gene-dose effect with increased MPNST risk (P for trend<0.001) was observed., Conclusions: Genetic variants in the miRNA biogenesis pathway genes may modify MPNST risk both individually and jointly., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To study the effect of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) plasmid on poly frosted-defrosted allogenic nerve transplantation., Methods: Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups equally. A 2.0 cm sciatic nerve segment, 5 mm away from infrapiriformis muscle space, was removed and the defect was repaired with poly frosted-defrosted allogenic nerve. The TGF-beta1 plasmids were injected into the nerve anastomosis and adjacent muscles in the experimental group, normal saline in the control group. The nerve specimens were sectioned for staining in the 6th and 12th weeks. Axonal count and statistical analyses were done., Results: The grafted and distal nerve segments showed regenerated fibers in both groups. In the experimental group, less edema and more nerve fibers were observed in the 6th week. The grafted nerve segment was filled with regeneration axons, the myelinated nerve fibers arranged regularly, and the axons and the myelin sheaths developed well in the 12th week. There was significant difference in the number of regenerating axons between the experimental group 98.6 +/- 4.8/microm2 and control group 75.8 +/- 5.1/microm2 (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: Multiple frost-defrost of allogenic nerve can reduce its antigenicity and increase its usefulness in repairing nerve defects. Local use of TGF-beta1 plasmid can enhance immunosuppression to reduce immuno rejection.

Protective effect of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) on motor neurons was studied after peripheral nerve injury. Twenty Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups randomly. The right sciatic nerve of each rat was resected. After silicon tubulization of sciatic nerve in rat, 15 microl 1 ng/ml IL-1beta and PBS solution were injected into the silicon capsule respectively. Enzyme histochemistry was performed to show acetyle cholesterase (AchE) and nitric oxide staining (NOS) activity of spinal alpha motor neurons in spinal segments 2 weeks later. Neurons were counted and the diameter and cross sectional (c/s) area of neurons were analyzed by using computer image analysis system. The results showed that as compared with the normal side, both enzyme activities significantly changed in motor neurons in PBS group. The diameter and c/s area of both neurons changed significantly too (P < 0.01). These results suggest that exogenous IL-1beta protects alpha-motor neurons from degeneration and necrosis after peripheral nerve injury.

To study the characteristics of acute rejection after limb allotransplantation, 29 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 groups, with 15 rats in control group and 14 rats in experimental group. Each rat in control group underwent limb replantation. Each rat in experimental group received limb transplantation from Wistar rat. No immunosuppressive drugs were used after operation. The circulation of the transplanted limb, time and signs of rejection, histopathological changes in the tissues of the limb graft when rejected and survival time of limb grafts were evaluated. In the control group, no signs of rejection were observed, the circulation of each replanted limb was normal, it could survive for a longer time. The experimental group showed clinical signs of rejection (sub dermal edema and erythema) after a mean time of 3.36+/-1.15 days, and the mean survival time of the allografts was only 7+/-0.78 days. Histopathological examination showed most violent rejection reaction in skin. It is concluded that with Wistar-to-SD limb transplantation without use of immunosuppression, rejection of the grafts would occur after a mean time of 3.36+/-1.15 days; the earliest signs of rejection were edema and erythema of the skin, skin being the most representative component of limb graft rejection.