Twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is an unusual and serious condition that occurs in twin pregnancies when identical twins share a placenta but develop discordant amniotic fluid volumes. TTTS is associated with an increased risk of fetal death and birth defects if untreated. This study investigated the soluble levels of biomarkers including growth factors and interleukins in pregnant women with and without TTTS during pregnancy. We quantified plasma levels of VEGF-R1, VEGF-R2, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 in twin pregnant women with (n=53) and without TTTS (n=72) and in women with single pregnancy (n=30) by ELISA and analyzed the association of maternal circulating biomarker levels with TTTS. Our results showed that maternal VEGF-R1 levels were significantly higher in twins compared to single pregnancy (P<0.05) and were decreased in the second trimester compared to the first trimester (P = 0.065, 0.019 and 0.072 for twins with and without TTTS and single pregnancy, respectively). VEGF-R2 levels had a trend to be lower in twins compared to single pregnancy. In addition, soluble VEGF-R1 and VEGF-R2 levels were significantly decreased while IL-6 levels were increased after surgical treatment with laser in twin pregnant women with TTTS (P = 0.016, 0.041 and 0.04, respectively). These results suggest that IL-6, VEGF-R1 and VEGF-R2 are involved in vascular regulation and stabilization in twin pregnancies and may contribute to the pathogenesis of TTTS and thus play a prognostic role in the surgical treatment of TTTS.
This article introduces a virtual private network (VPN) system deployed in a 70m2 operator station and greenhouse at Vietnam National University of Agriculture. The VPN system was not limited by geographical distance and allowed for remote monitoring of environmental parameters, viz. light (10-16000lux), soil moisture (20-100%), temperature (20-60oC), and ambient humidity (30-90%) with tolerances of ± 5% of the set/measured values. The signals from the sensor system were recorded with a sampling time of 6 seconds. The designed interface made it easy for Vietnamese users. The system was initially established, and tested successfully with Gerbera in the greenhouse. The VPN system allowed for remote programming, stable operation, and no loss of data during the signal collecting process, and allowed users to fully and quickly react when the system crashed or when the user needed to upgrade or maintain the greenhouse system.
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has caused considerable chaos around the world. In Vietnam, with a large population and a lack of specialized medical equipment, the disease quickly spread throughout the country. Ho Chi Minh city, where the population density is the highest in the country and is a place of trade and commerce, here the disease outbreak is strongest and has the highest number of deaths in the country. At first, the Ho Chi Minh city government was also confused in the fight against the epidemic because there was no precedent, but in the end, the government thoroughly applied the SIR model and succeeded in extinguishing the disease. This post is intended to provide an overview of the SIR model and the experience that the Ho Chi Minh City government has applied to replicate this model in future epidemic prevention in developing countries like Vietnam.
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