The research and development of innovative drug have progressed remarkably, but the long development circle and high failure rate have become the bottleneck. Drug repurposing, discovering new indications of approved drugs, is a strategy to overcome these obstacles. By exploring new indications for approved drugs, rapid progress has been made in basic research and clinical translation in recent years. Rich resources of drugs, proven security, efficient development workflow and reduced cost are core advantages of this strategy, making the strategy a crucial direction of optimizing the pipeline of drug research and development. This review systematically summarizes drug repurposing cases that have received clinical approval over the past five years, and proposes core strategies for drug repurposing, including approaches based on targets, pathways, drug similarity, post-treatment phenotypes, and clinical side effects, aiming to provide some strategic guidance for drug repurposing efforts.

Objective:Ménière's disease（MD） is a common disorder of the inner ear. The fluctuating clinical symptoms and the absence of gold standards for diagnosis have posed serious problems for clinical diagnosis and treatment over the years. With the development of science and technology, artificial intelligence （AI） has been widely used in the field of medicine, and the potential of AI application to MD is demonstrated. The purpose of this review is to outline the use of AI in MD. Initially, specific instances where AI aids in differentiating MD from other causes of vertigo are presented. Furthermore, the role of AI in the evaluation of Endolymphatic Hydrops （EH）, particularly through imaging and biochemical assays, is highlighted due to its correlation with MD. Additionally, the effectiveness of AI in managing MD patients and forecasting disease progression is examined. In conclusion, the prevalent challenges hindering the clinical integration of AI in MD treatment are discussed, alongside potential strategies to surmount these barriers.
Humans ; Meniere Disease/diagnosis* ; Artificial Intelligence ; Endolymphatic Hydrops/diagnosis*

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of autologous ear cartilage biomimetic nasal tip framework construction combined with dermal fat dorsal grafting in rhinoplasty.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of patients who underwent rhinoplasty at the Department of Plastic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from June 2021 to May 2023. Autologous ear cartilage with preserved perichondrium was harvested from patients, and fashioned into a nasal tip framework simulating the natural nasal tip structure. Dermal fat grafts were harvested from the lateral gluteal crease region where the dermis was thicker, and implanted into the nasal dorsum for augmentation rhinoplasty. Postoperative follow-up included observation of incision healing, nasal tip morphology, and complications. Pre- and postoperative photographs were taken to measure nasal length and nasal tip height. Ultrasound was used to measure subcutaneous fat thickness at the nasal root before and after surgery, and absorption rates were calculated. The absorption rate at 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively = (1 -subcutaneous fat thickness at 6 or 12 or 24 months postoperatively/subcutaneous fat thickness at 1 month postoperatively) × 100%. Aesthetic satisfaction was evaluated based on surgeon assessment, patient self-evaluation, and third-party physician evaluation (satisfaction by all three parties was rated as markedly effective, by two parties as effective, by one party as fair, and by none as poor). The aesthetic satisfaction rate = (markedly effective + effective) cases/total cases × 100%. Comparisons of preoperative and postoperative nasal tip height and nasal length were performed using paired t-tests, with P<0.05 considered statistically significant. Comparisons of subcutaneous fat thickness at the nasal root at different time points and absorption rates at different postoperative time points were performed using repeated measures ANOVA, with post-hoc pairwise comparisons using Bonferroni correction. For subcutaneous fat thickness comparisons, P<0.007 was considered statistically significant; for absorption rate comparisons, P<0.017 was considered statistically significant. Results:A total of 38 patients were included, consisting of 5 males and 33 females, with a mean age of 29.42 years (range 20-38 years). All patients were followed up for 24 months postoperatively. All incisions healed well; nasal appearance was aesthetically pleasing; nasal dorsal height was satisfactory; nasal tip mobility was good; the framework was stable; and no complications occurred. At 24 months postoperatively, nasal tip height [(22.87±0.52) mm vs. (19.94±0.53) mm] and nasal length [(47.18±0.61) mm vs. (44.20±0.55) mm] were significantly increased compared to preoperative measurements (both P<0.01). Comparison of subcutaneous fat thickness at the nasal root between preoperative and postoperative time points (1, 6, 12, and 24 months) showed statistically significant differences ( P<0.007). Post-hoc comparisons revealed statistically significant differences between: postoperative 1 month and 6 months vs. preoperative; postoperative 12 months vs. postoperative 1 and 6 months; and postoperative 24 months vs. postoperative 1 and 6 months (all P<0.007). However, the comparison between postoperative 24 months and 12 months showed no statistically significant difference ( P>0.007). Comparison of absorption rates at postoperative time points (6, 12, and 24 months) showed statistically significant differences ( P<0.017). Comparisons between postoperative 12 months vs. 6 months, and postoperative 24 months vs. 6 months showed statistically significant differences (both P<0.017), while the comparison between postoperative 24 months and 12 months showed no statistically significant difference ( P>0.017). In the aesthetic satisfaction survey, 37 cases were markedly effective and 1 case was fair, achieving an aesthetic satisfaction rate of 97%. Conclusion:The use of autologous ear cartilage for constructing a biomimetic nasal tip framework combined with dermal fat dorsal grafting in rhinoplasty results in natural postoperative appearance and high patient satisfaction, demonstrating significant value for extensive clinical use.

Objective:To detect the expression levels of long non-coding RNAs(lncRNA)in elderly patients with pulmonary tuberculosis(PTB)and those with non-tuberculous lung diseases(non-TB), and to assess the performance of these lncRNA in the differential diagnosis of PTB.Methods:A total of 300 elderly patients with suspected PTB were recruited from Beijing Chest Hospital between January 2024 and September 2024, and were further divided into the PTB group and the non-TB lung disease group based on the results of mycobacterium tuberculosis(MTB)pathogenicity testing.Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated using a lymphocyte separation solution, and RNA was extracted using the TRIzol method.Nine lncRNAs, previously identified as differentially expressed in PTB through our group's microarray analysis, were selected and detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction to evaluate the expression levels of these lncRNAs between the PTB and non-TB lung disease groups.The overall patients were randomly divided into training and validation sets in a 7∶3 ratio.Lasso regression was employed to select the characteristic variables, and a random forest algorithm was then used to construct the lncRNA diagnostic portfolio.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were generated to evaluate the diagnostic performance of individual lncRNAs and the combined panel in differentiating elderly patients with PTB from those with other non-TB lung diseases.Results:A total of 201 cases were included, with 105 confirmed elderly patients diagnosed with PTB(52.2%)and 96 elderly patients suffering from non-TB lung disease(47.8%).Compared to the elderly patients with non-TB lung disease, the expression levels of ENST00000417346.1, ENST00000620744.1, lncRNA PWP1, ENST00000583184.1, lncRNA ABHD17B, ENST00000607464.1, ENST00000516057.1, and NR_003000 were significantly downregulated in the PTB patients, whereas the expression level of lncRNA BCL2L10 was significantly upregulated in the PTB patients.ROC analysis revealed that the area under the curve(AUC)for each lncRNA ranged from 0.659 to 0.848.The diagnostic panel, which included NR_003000, ENST00000607464.1, ENST00000583184.1, and ENST00000620744.1 as determined by Lasso analysis, exhibited AUC values of 0.917 and 0.906 in the training and validation sets, respectively.The performance of this panel was superior to that of each individual lncRNA.Conclusions:The random forest model, which incorporates NR_003000, ENST00000607464.1, ENST00000583184.1, and ENST00000620744.1, demonstrates potential in differentiating between PTB and non-TB lung diseases.

Objective:To explore the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on dysphagia in hemispheric stroke patients.Methods:Sixty-two hemispheric stroke patients with dysphagia were randomized into an ipsilateral group, a contralateral group and a bilateral group with 20 in each group. The ipsilateral and contralateral groups received tDCS over their ipsilesional and contralesional hemispheres, respectively, while in the bilateral group it was over both hemispheres. That was followed by conventional swallowing therapy. Before and after 2 weeks of the treatment, swallowing function was assessed using the modified Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MMASA) and a Swallow Severity scale (SSS). Linear regressions were evaluated to highlight the factors most influencing recovery from post-stroke hemispheric dysphagia.Results:After the treatments, the average MMASA and SSS scores had increased significantly in all three groups. There was no significant difference in the average post-treatment MMASA and SSS scores between the ipsilateral and contralateral groups, but the bilateral group showed significantly better average post-treatment MMASA and SSS scores compared to the other two groups. Linear regression analysis confirmed that the tDCS protocol (group allocation) was a significant predictor of recovery.Conclusion:Bilateral tDCS can effectively promote the recovery of swallowing function after a hemispheric stroke. It demonstrates greater therapeutic benefits than unilateral tDCS.

Due to the high prevalence of periodontitis, the control of periodontal inflammation, as well as the regeneration and repair of periodontal tissues have attracted extensive attentions. To better understand the mechanism of periodontal diseases, in vivo and in vitro models are usually required. With the rapid development of tissue engineering, in vitro models with the advantages of easy observation, high controllability, low cost, and high efficiency has become a unique choice for current research. In vitro models of periodontitis are no longer limited to cellular models, researchers are increasingly inclined to develop simple, effective, and realistic models to simulate the periodontal microenvironment. This article reviews in vitro models of periodontitis that have been successfully established, aiming to provide researchers with new ideas to simulate the human periodontitis microenvironment in vitro, which is helpful to explore the pathogenesis of periodontitis.

Objective:To address the challenges in cultivating young medical researchers, including the lack of initial research funding, insufficient interdisciplinary collaboration, absence of academic exchange platforms, and inadequate talent incentives, this study analyzes the specific practical measures of the new model(Fund-Alliance-Academic activities-Award Model, hereinafter referred to as ″FAAA model″) of A certain medical college in enhancing the innovative capabilities and interdisciplinary research proficiency of young medical talents in initial stage, and evaluates the practical significance of these initiatives.Methods:Through literature review, the inevitability of interdisciplinary integration was examined in the context of China′s developmental needs and medical discipline advancement. Innovative practices under the FAAA model of A certain medical college were retrospectively analyzed, focusing on the construction of a medical youth scientific innovation and development platform.Results:The FAAA model had achieved effective outcomes in improving young researchers′ capabilities, fostering interdisciplinary achievements, expanding academic influence, and advancing talent echelon development, yet required further refinement.Conclusions:The FAAA model effectively addresses critical bottlenecks in the growth of young medical researchers through systematic support mechanisms, significantly enhancing their scientific competitiveness and interdisciplinary innovation capacity. Its practical measures offer referential value for peer institutions. Future efforts should optimize the ″early funding-achievement incubation-national project linkage″ chain, strengthen institutionalized interdisciplinary collaboration, and build a data-driven ecosystem to provide sustainable talent support for medical science and technology innovation.

Objective:To investigate the clinical results of anteriorly displaced orbicularis oculi flap and autologous granular fat injections via sub-brow incision for correction of different degrees of sunken upper eyelid.Methods:From September 2021 to September 2022, a total of 80 patients with upper eyelid skin laxity and sunken upper eyelid were recruited prospectively from the Department of Plastic Surgery, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine. There were 18 males and 62 females, aged 28 to 60 years, with a mean age of (42.7±9.2) years. According to Park's method, 59 patients with grade Ⅰ and grade Ⅱ sunken upper eyelid were treated with eyebrow lifting and orbicularis oculi flap correction, and 21 patients with grade Ⅲ upper eyelid sunken were treated with eyebrow lifting combined with autologous particles fat filling. The patients were followed up for 6 months. The depth of sunken upper eyelid was measured before and after operation. The incidence of adverse reactions and patient satisfaction were recorded.Results:The mean depth of depression measured preoperatively was (6.01±2.25) mm in the grades Ⅰ and Ⅱ sunken upper eyelid, which was improved to (2.00±1.06) mm at the 6-month postoperative follow-up ( P=0.001), and the mean depth of depression was (13.15±1.75) mm in the group of grade Ⅲ, which was improved to (4.15±1.49) mm at the 6-month postoperative follow-up ( P=0.001). After 6-month follow-up, the incidence of complications was 6.3% (5/80) and the satisfaction rate was 90.0% (72/80). Conclusions:Different correction methods should be chosen according to the degree of sunken upper eyelid. Grades Ⅰand Ⅱ sunken upper eyelid are corrected with orbicularis muscle flap through sub-eyebrow incision, and grade Ⅲ is corrected with autologous fat injection. Both the clinical effect and patient satisfaction rate are higher.