AimTo understand the prevalence of functional constipation in pregnant women and to analyze the impact of its risk factors.MethodsWe searched hospital databases for women who were 37–41 weeks pregnant (1698 cases) from July 2012 to January 2014 in four hospitals in Shanghai. We reviewed factors including general data, living and eating habits, psychological history, past history of defecation in the 6 months before pregnancy and defecation after pregnancy. Data were analyzed using SPSS software.ResultsPregnant women who were more than 35 years old, with a pre-pregnancy body mass index >24, who were highly educated and employed in a sedentary occupation, showed a higher prevalence of functional constipation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the prevalence of functional constipation among pregnant women was related to age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, diet, exercise, occupation, psychological factors, threatened abortion in early pregnancy and constipation history.ConclusionThe prevalence rate of functional constipation in pregnant women was significantly higher than in the general population.

circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a role in various types of cancer. The present study suggested that hsa_ circ_0026123 expression was upregulated in ovarian cancer (OVA), which was associated with its role in OVA. However, the role of hsa_circ_0026123 in OVA cell invasion and proliferation remains unclear. In the present study, OVA tissues and cell lines were used to investigate the functions of hsa_circ_0026123. The associations between hsa_circ_0026123, miR-124-3p and enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) were examined using a luciferase reporter assay. RT-qPcR and western blot analysis were used for gene and protein expression analysis, respectively. Tumor growth was detected using nude mouse tumor xenografts derived from SKOV3 cells, with or without hsa_circ_0026123 downregulation. The results confirmed that hsa_circ_0026123 expression was upregulated in OVA tissues and cell lines, while hsa_circ_0026123 silencing suppressed cell proliferation and migration; it also suppressed the expression of cancer stem cell (cSc) differentiation-related markers in either in vivo or in vitro experiments. The data revealed that hsa_circ_0026123 downregulation suppressed EZH2 expression by miR-124-3p 'sponging', which was confirmed by rescue experiments and luciferase reporter assays. The results revealed that hsa_circ_0026123 silencing suppressed ovarian cancer cell progression via the miR-124-3p/EZH2 signaling pathway. Overall, the findings demonstrated that hsa_circ_0026123 knockdown inhibited OVA cell progression by regulating the miR-124-3p/EZH2 axis. This methodology may thus be used for the targeted therapy of OVA, as well as a candidate biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of OVA.

BackgroundThe aim of this study is to investigate the effects of polyphenol extract from Phyllanthus emblica (PEEP) on cervical cancer cells and to explore the underlying mechanism.MethodsMTT assay was used to measure inhibition of proliferation of cervical cancer (HeLa) cells after treatment with PEEP at concentrations of 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg/ml for 48 hours. HeLa cells were treated with PEEP (150 mg/ml) for 48 hours in the following analysis. Karyomorphism was assessed by immunofluorescence using DAPI staining, and cell apoptosis and cell cycle were assessed using flow cytometry. Three apoptotic marker proteins, namely, Fas, FasL, and cleaved caspase-8, were assessed by western blotting.ResultsPEEP inhibited the growth of HeLa cells, and the optimum concentration of PEEP was 150 mg/ml. In addition, the karyomorphism of HeLa cells after treatment with PEEP was abnormal. Furthermore, PEEP induced arrest of the HeLa cell cycle at G2/M phase, and triggered apoptosis. PEEP also induced significant Fas and FasL activation, and cleavage of caspase-8.ConclusionsOur study indicates that PEEP is effective in inhibiting HeLa cell proliferation by inducing cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and inducing apoptosis.