Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific syndrome and is one of the major causes of maternal mortality around the world. Cell apoptosis and oxidative stress are involved in development of preeclampsia. Silibinin has been known with anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-tumor roles. In this study, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) administration induced apoptosis in HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells, evidenced by decreased level of Bcl-2 and increased levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3. Western blot and JC-1 staining revealed that H2O2 led to decline of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) and release of cytochrome C from mitochondria to cytoplasm. H2O2 also resulted in reactive oxygen species production and oxidative stress response, evidenced by elevated levels of malondialdehyde, and reduced activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. Silibinin suppressed H2O2-induced apoptosis, decrease of Δψm and oxidative stress response. In addition, immunofluorescent staining and electrophoretic mobility shift assay demonstrated that H2O2 enhanced expression and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-like 2 (Nrf2), and the expression levels of heme oxygenases-1 and quinone oxidoreductase 1 were increased, suggesting the activation of Nrf2 signaling. The activity of Nrf2 signaling was further promoted by silibinin administration. Interestingly, the effect of silibinin on apoptosis and oxidative stress was abolished by interference RNA of Nrf2. In conclusion, we demonstrated that silibinin ameliorated H2O2-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress response by activating Nrf2 signaling in trophoblast cells. These findings may provide novel insights for treatment of preeclampsia. Thorium-226 (half-life 30.6m) is a radionuclide of interest for use in targeted alpha therapy applications. Due to its short half-life, Th must be provided through a radionuclide generator system from its parent U (20.8 d). Furthermore, as the half-life of Th is very short, it should be provided in a form that is directly amenable to use in biomedical applications. A reverse radionuclide generator system was developed employing a DGA extraction chromatography column. A U/ Th parent/daughter solution in equilibrium is added to a DGA column in >6M HCl. The parent U is eluted first in 0.1M HNO followed by elution of Th in 0.1M citrate buffer pH5. Thorium-226 was recovered from the radionuclide generator column with >96% yield. Greater than 99.5% of the U parent was isolated for reuse in the generator. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/bay-876.html Long term evaluation over six weeks demonstrated consistent supply of Th with greater than 99.5% radionuclidic purity. The only contaminant found in the final product was U (<0.5%). The reverse radionuclide generator described herein was shown to be a feasible method for providing Th in high yield, purity and in a chemical form that is amenable for direct use in biomedical applications. The reverse radionuclide generator described herein was shown to be a feasible method for providing 226Th in high yield, purity and in a chemical form that is amenable for direct use in biomedical applications. To analyze the effects of the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin beta (β-hCG) and the VEGF-MEK/ERK signaling pathway on villi angiogenesis in early missed abortion. A total of 12 cases of women with missed abortion and 12 cases of women who had induced abortion voluntarily without any disease were included in the present study. The age, pregnancy time and gestation period in the control group corresponded to the missed abortion group. Wes Simple Western system and qRT-PCR were used to detect the expression of VEGF-MEK/ERK signaling pathway related proteins and genes in villous. Radioimmunoassay and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to detect β-hCG and VEGF levels in serum. The microvascular density (MVD) in villous tissue was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. The levels of β-hCG and VEGF in serum, the expression of VEGF-MEK/ERK signaling pathway and MVD in villous tissue of the missed abortion group were lower than those of the control group. In addition, compared with the control group, the layers of trophoblasts of the villous tissue in the missed abortion group became thinner significantly, the number of cells reduced, the cell structures were disorganized, and parts of the trophoblast cells were absent. Correlational analysis showed that the protein expression of ERK1/2 was positively correlated with MVD in missed abortion group. Our results reveal that decreased production of β-hCG in early pregnant women could down-regulate the expression of VEGF-MEK/ERK signal pathway, then reduce angiogenesis and eventually leading to the abnormal angiogenesis of villous, which may be an important mechanism of missed abortion. Our results reveal that decreased production of β-hCG in early pregnant women could down-regulate the expression of VEGF-MEK/ERK signal pathway, then reduce angiogenesis and eventually leading to the abnormal angiogenesis of villous, which may be an important mechanism of missed abortion. To investigate the correlation between placental superficial anastomoses, placental territory and the umbilical cord attachment site with the time of onset of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), and to explore the influence of placental characteristics on the time of onset of TTTS. A retrospective analysis was performed on 48 cases of TTTS managed conservatively at the Obstetrics Department of Peking University Third Hospital from April 2014 to April 2019. Placental superficial anastomoses, placental territory, the distance between the insertion points of the umbilical cord were measured after placental dye injection. Correlation analysis was conducted between placental characteristics and the time of onset of TTTS. (1) The incidence of AA anastomoses was 33.3% (16/48) with a mean total diameter of 2.3±1.4mm, that of AV anastomoses was 95.8% (46/48) with a mean total diameter of 1.2±0.4mm, and that of VV anastomoses 22.9% (11/48) with a mean total diameter of 2.3±1.1mm (2) The time of onset of TTTS was positively correlated with the umbilical insertion ratio (Spearman correlation coefficient=0.