The accuracy of NIPT for ChrX and ChrY can be improved substantially by integrating the results of maternal-plasma sequencing with those for maternal-WBC sequencing. The relatively high frequency of maternal mosaicism warrants mandatory WBC testing in both shotgun sequencing- and single-nucleotide polymorphism-based clinical NIPT after the finding of a potential fetal SCA.

Glucocorticoid (GC) induced osteoporosis (GIO) is caused by the long-term use of GC for treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The GC related disruption of bone marrow microcirculation and increased adipogenesis contribute to GIO development. However, neither currently available anti-osteoporosis agent is completely addressed to microcirculation and bone marrow adipogenesis. Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) is a polyphenolic compound from a Chinese herbal medicine, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge . The aim of this study was to determine the effects of Sal B on osteoblast bone formation, angiogenesis and adipogenesis-associated GIO by performing marrow adipogenesis and microcirculation dilation and bone histomorphometry analyses. (1) In vivo study: Bone loss in GC treated rats was confirmed by significantly decreased BMD, bone strength, cancellous bone mass and architecture, osteoblast distribution, bone formation, marrow microvessel density and diameter along with down-regulation of marrow BMPs expression and increased adipogenesis. Daily treatment with Sal B (40 mg/kg/d) for 12 weeks in GC male rats prevented GC-induced cancellous bone loss and increased adipogenesis while increasing cancellous bone formation rate with improved local microcirculation by capillary dilation. Treatment with Sal B at a higher dose (80 mg/kg/d) not only prevented GC-induced osteopenia, but also increased cancellous bone mass and thickness, associated with increase of marrow BMPs expression, inhibited adipogenesis and further increased microvessel diameters. (2) In vitro study: In concentration from 10 −6 mol/L to 10 −7 mol/L, Sal B stimulated bone marrow stromal cell (MSC) differentiation to osteoblast and increased osteoblast activities, decreased GC associated adipogenic differentiation by down-regulation of PPARγ mRNA expression, increased Runx2 mRNA expression without osteoblast inducement, and, furthermore, Sal B decreased Dickkopf-1 and increased β-catenin mRNA expression with or without adipocyte inducement in MSC. We conclude that Sal B prevented bone loss in GC-treated rats through stimulation of osteogenesis, bone marrow angiogenesis and inhibition of adipogenesis.

Fasting and especially intermittent fasting have been shown to be an effective intervention in many diseases, such as obesity and diabetes. The fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) has recently been found to ameliorate metabolic disorders. To investigate the effect of a new type of low-protein low-carbohydrate FMD on diabetes, we tested an FMD in db/db mice, a genetic model of type 2 diabetes. The diet was administered every other week for a total of 8 weeks. The intermittent FMD normalized blood glucose levels in db/db mice, with significant improvements in insulin sensitivity and β cell function. The FMD also reduced hepatic steatosis in the mice. Deterioration of pancreatic islets and the loss of β cells in the diabetic mice were prevented by the FMD. The expression of β cell progenitor marker Ngn3 was increased by the FMD. In addition, the FMD led to the reconstruction of gut microbiota. Intermittent application of the FMD increased the genera of Parabacteroides and Blautia while reducing Prevotellaceae, Alistipes and Ruminococcaceae. The changes in these bacteria were also correlated with the fasting blood glucose levels of the mice. Furthermore, intermittent FMD was able to reduce fasting blood glucose level and increase β cells in STZ-induced type 1 diabetic mouse model. In conclusion, our study provides evidence that the intermittent application of an FMD is able to effectively intervene in the progression of diabetes in mice.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12986-018-0318-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

It has previously been reported that the influence of vitamin D on the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus is associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, cancer and other systemic diseases, and is considered an important indicator of general health. The present study was conducted to determine the effect of various doses of vitamin D supplementation on glucose metabolism, lipid concentrations, inflammation and the levels of oxidative stress of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The present randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 133 pregnant women with GDM during weeks 24-28 of pregnancy. The patients were randomly divided into four groups. The control group (n=20) received a placebo (sucrose; one granule/day), the low dosage group (n=38) received the daily recommended intake of 200 IU vitamin D (calciferol) daily, the medium dosage group (n=38) received 50,000 IU monthly (2,000 IU daily for 25 days) and the high dosage group (n=37) received 50,000 IU every 2 weeks (4,000 IU daily for 12.5 days). The general characteristics and dietary intakes of the patients with GDM were similar between each group. Using ELISA kits, it was determined that insulin, homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance and total cholesterol were significantly reduced by high dosage vitamin D supplementation (P<0.05). Total antioxidant capacity and total glutathione levels were significantly elevated as a result of high dosage vitamin D supplementation (P<0.01). In conclusion, high-dose vitamin D supplementation (50,000 IU every 2 weeks) significantly improved insulin resistance in pregnant women with GDM.

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What's already known about this topic? Confined placental mosaicism (CPM) is a known biological phenomenon that can lead to false positive non-invasive prenatal test results. The small number of false negative non‐invasive prenatal test results reported to date are believed to be because of a low fetal DNA fraction in maternal plasma and/or placental mosaicism What does this study add? The degree and compartmentalization of placental mosaicism can potentially reduce the effective output of fetal DNA into the maternal circulation to steady state levels below the detection limit of non‐invasive prenatal testing, leading to a false negative result

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