Tendon injuries are common musculoskeletal system disorders, but the ability for tendon regeneration is limited. Silk fibroin (SF) film may be suitable for tendon regeneration due to its excellent biocompatibility and physical properties. This study is aimed at evaluating the application value of bionic SF film in tendon regeneration.
 
  Tendon stem/progenitor cells (TSPCs) were isolated from rat Achilles tendon and characterized based on their surface marker expression and multilineage differentiation potential. SF films with smooth or bionic microstructure surfaces (5, 10, 15, 20 
  m) were prepared. The morphology and mechanical properties of natural tendons and SF films were characterized. TSPCs were used as the seed cells, and the cell viability and cell adhesion morphology were analyzed. The tendongenesis-related gene expression of TSPCs was also evaluated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
 
  Compared to the native tendon, only the 10, 15, and 20 
  m SF film groups had comparable maximum loading and ultimate stress, with the exception of the breaking elongation rate. The 10 
  m SF film group had the highest percentage of oriented cells and the most significant changes in cell morphology. The most significant upregulations in the expression of 
  , 
  , 
  and 
  were also observed in the 10 
  m SF film group.
 
  SF film with a bionic microstructure can serve as a tissue engineering scaffold and provide biophysical cues for the use of TSPCs to achieve proper cellular adherence arrangement and morphology as well as promote the tenogenic differentiation of TSPCs, making it a valuable customizable biomaterial for future applications in tendon repair.
 SF film with a bionic microstructure can serve as a tissue engineering scaffold and provide biophysical cues for the use of TSPCs to achieve proper cellular adherence arrangement and morphology as well as promote the tenogenic differentiation of TSPCs, making it a valuable customizable biomaterial for future applications in tendon repair.Hyperemesis gravidarum is a complication of pregnancy associated with severe nausea and vomiting that can lead to fluid-electrolyte imbalances and nutritional deficiencies. Wernicke's encephalopathy is a neurologic manifestation of acute thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency. We describe a case of hyperemesis gravidarum presenting with gait ataxia and nystagmus which led to a diagnosis of Wernicke's encephalopathy.Pregnant women presenting with isolated cranial palsies are uncommon. Isolated sixth nerve (abducens nerve) palsy can occur for a variety of reasons and neuroimaging is often performed to identify an underlying cause. We report a case of a woman in her third pregnancy with preeclampsia who presented with an isolated sixth nerve palsy. The diagnosis of aseptic cavernous sinus thrombosis was made and she subsequently made a full recovery.Paramyotonia congenita is a rare autosomal dominant non-dystrophic myopathy caused by mutations in the SNC4A gene, which encodes for the voltage-gated sodium channel in skeletal muscle. Symptom onset is typically during early childhood and is characterised by myotonia followed by flaccid paralysis or weakness, usually exacerbated by repeated muscle contractions or cold temperatures. Pregnancy has been reported to increase symptoms of myotonia; however, there is limited information in the literature regarding the possible effects of paramyotonia congenita on pregnancy and labour. We present a successful case of a 20-year-old primigravida with confirmed paramyotonia congenita and review the literature regarding paramyotonia congenita during pregnancy.
  Current guidelines recommend viral, autoimmune, coagulation and liver ultrasound testing in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy to exclude alternative diagnoses.
 
  Electronic health records were searched for investigations and diagnoses in women with raised bile acid concentrations (>10 µmol/L) between January 2016 and December 2017 at two UK maternity units.
 
  Five hundred and thirty-one women had a raised bile acid concentration (median (IQR) 18 (13-32 µmol/L)) at a median gestation of 35.1 (IQR 31.8-37.0) weeks. Out of 531 women, 250 (47.1%) had full virology, autoimmune and ultrasound tests, and 348 (65.5%) had coagulation performed. Positive hepatitis B and C results were previously known. No new Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus or hepatitis A diagnoses were made.  https://www.selleckchem.com/  There were 11 positive autoimmune results, but no new diagnoses. No woman had an unexplained prolonged prothrombin time. No ultrasound liver (
   = 38) or gallbladder (
   = 85) abnormalities were of acute clinical significance.
 
  Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy investigations provided no new diagnoses that influenced clinical management during pregnancy.
 Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy investigations provided no new diagnoses that influenced clinical management during pregnancy.Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a syndrome of maternal heart failure with decreased left ventricular ejection fraction affecting maternal and fetal well-being. We analysed clinical profiles and outcomes in women with peripartum cardiomyopathy enrolled retrospectively from a tertiary care centre in southern India (1 January 2008-31 December 2014). The incidence of peripartum cardiomyopathy was one case per 1541 live births. Fifty-four women with a mean age of 25.5 years and mean gestational age of 35.4 weeks were recruited; 35 were primigravidae. Maternal and fetal deaths occurred in 9.3% and 24.1% of subjects, respectively. Mild-to-moderate maternal anaemia (80-110 g/L) was associated with fetal mortality (p = 0.02). Reduced left ventricular ejection fraction ( less then 30%, p = 0.04) and cardiogenic shock (p = 0.01) were significantly associated with adverse maternal outcomes. Forty per cent of women were followed up after 24.2 ± 17.7 months, and in these women a significant increase in left ventricular ejection fraction was seen (mean 16.4%, p  less then  0.01); all were asymptomatic. Peripartum cardiomyopathy with poor left ventricular ejection fraction and shock is associated with adverse maternal outcomes, while non-severe maternal anaemia predisposes to adverse fetal outcomes. Significant left ventricular ejection fraction recovery occurred on follow-up.