Objective:To investigate alterations in brain function among elderly patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome(IC/BPS)during the resting state.Methods:We prospectively recruited seven elderly patients with IC/BPS admitted to the Urology Department of Beijing Hospital from December 2023 to May 2024 as the experimental group, and concurrently selected twelve elderly healthy individuals as the control group.After enrollment, all participants underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI)scans.General clinical data, including age and gender, as well as standardized assessment scores from the Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index(ICSI), Interstitial Cystitis Problem Index(ICPI), Visual Analogue Scale(VAS), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS), and Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS), were collected.The data were processed using Matlab.This study employed a paired sample t-test to analyze the differences in gray matter volume between the two groups.The functional activities of the subjects' brains were analyzed using regional homogeneity(ReHo)and low-frequency amplitude(ALFF)algorithms.Based on the identified abnormal brain regions, further functional connectivity(FC)analysis was conducted to explore the connectivity patterns among the functional brain regions.Results:No significant differences were observed in age( t=-0.68, P=0.536)or gender( χ2=0.019, P=0.891)between the experimental group and the control group.The scores of SAS and SDS in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group( P<0.001).No significant difference was observed in cerebral gray matter volume between the two subject groups.In contrast to the control group, the ALFF value of the left superior parietal lobe(MNI: x, y, z=-21, -66, 60; t=12.530 5)was elevated in elderly patients with IC/BPS, and the ReHo value of the left precuneus(MNI: x, y, z=-9, -54, 63; t=9.410 3)was also increased.Through FC analysis, it was revealed that elderly IC/BPS patients exhibited significantly lower FC values between the left superior parietal lobule and the central sulcus(MNI: x, y, z=21, 15, 3; t=-27.835 6), as well as between the left anterior cingulate and the left posterior cingulate gyrus(MNI: x, y, z=-12, 0, 42; t=-8.738 9)in comparison with the control group. Conclusions:In contrast to normal individuals, elderly IC/BPS patients demonstrate functional aberrations in the left superior parietal lobule and the left precuneus.Moreover, a decrease in functional connectivity is observed between the left superior parietal lobule and the central sulcus, as well as between the left precuneus and the left posterior cingulate gyrus.These abnormal functional alterations in the brain may be implicated in the maintenance and development of symptoms in IC/BPS patients.This study conducted research from the perspective of central nervous system regulation, presenting possible directions for further exploration of the pathophysiological mechanisms of IC/BPS.

Objective:To investigate alterations in brain function among elderly patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome(IC/BPS)during the resting state.Methods:We prospectively recruited seven elderly patients with IC/BPS admitted to the Urology Department of Beijing Hospital from December 2023 to May 2024 as the experimental group, and concurrently selected twelve elderly healthy individuals as the control group.After enrollment, all participants underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI)scans.General clinical data, including age and gender, as well as standardized assessment scores from the Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index(ICSI), Interstitial Cystitis Problem Index(ICPI), Visual Analogue Scale(VAS), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS), and Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS), were collected.The data were processed using Matlab.This study employed a paired sample t-test to analyze the differences in gray matter volume between the two groups.The functional activities of the subjects' brains were analyzed using regional homogeneity(ReHo)and low-frequency amplitude(ALFF)algorithms.Based on the identified abnormal brain regions, further functional connectivity(FC)analysis was conducted to explore the connectivity patterns among the functional brain regions.Results:No significant differences were observed in age( t=-0.68, P=0.536)or gender( χ2=0.019, P=0.891)between the experimental group and the control group.The scores of SAS and SDS in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group( P<0.001).No significant difference was observed in cerebral gray matter volume between the two subject groups.In contrast to the control group, the ALFF value of the left superior parietal lobe(MNI: x, y, z=-21, -66, 60; t=12.530 5)was elevated in elderly patients with IC/BPS, and the ReHo value of the left precuneus(MNI: x, y, z=-9, -54, 63; t=9.410 3)was also increased.Through FC analysis, it was revealed that elderly IC/BPS patients exhibited significantly lower FC values between the left superior parietal lobule and the central sulcus(MNI: x, y, z=21, 15, 3; t=-27.835 6), as well as between the left anterior cingulate and the left posterior cingulate gyrus(MNI: x, y, z=-12, 0, 42; t=-8.738 9)in comparison with the control group. Conclusions:In contrast to normal individuals, elderly IC/BPS patients demonstrate functional aberrations in the left superior parietal lobule and the left precuneus.Moreover, a decrease in functional connectivity is observed between the left superior parietal lobule and the central sulcus, as well as between the left precuneus and the left posterior cingulate gyrus.These abnormal functional alterations in the brain may be implicated in the maintenance and development of symptoms in IC/BPS patients.This study conducted research from the perspective of central nervous system regulation, presenting possible directions for further exploration of the pathophysiological mechanisms of IC/BPS.

In the past decades, significant progress has been achived in cartilage regeneration. The traditional techniques for constructing tissue engineering cartilage scaffold mainly include pore agent method (or template method), phase separation method, gas foaming method, freeze-drying method, electrospinning method, etc. Cartilage is heterogeneous, and it is difficult for traditional scaffolds to simulate the high anisotropy of cartilage. Therefore, functional regeneration of cartilage is challenging. With the progress of three-dimensional(3D) printing technology, it is possible to prepare functional bionic scaffolds with fine structure and gradient changes through co-deposition of biomaterials, cells and active biomolecules, so as to achieve functional cartilage regeneration. This article reviewed 3D printing technology of cartilage tissue engineering, and the application of 3D printing technology in cartilage regeneration at different anatomical positions (articular cartilage, auricle cartilage, nasal cartilage). In addition, the importance of preparing bionic constructs with regional structure gradient and regional composition gradient was discussed. 3D bioprinting technology, 4D printing techniques, smart biomaterials brought hope for the construction of bionic tissues and organs.

Objective:To investigate the effects of overexpression of Nkx2.5 gene on the anti apoptotic ability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and cardiac function after myocardial infarction.Methods:A cell ischemia model was established by culturing cells under oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenat (OGD/R) conditions. The experiment was divided into four groups: bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells cultured under normal conditions (BMSC group), BMSC group cultured under glucose and oxygen deprivation (BMSC+OGD/R group), overexpressed empty vector BMSC group cultured under glucose and oxygen deprivation(BMSC NC+OGD/R group), and overexpressed Nkx2.5 BMSC group cultured under glucose and oxygen deprivation (BMSC Nkx2.5+OGD/R group). The apoptosis rate of BMSCs in each group was detected via flow cytometry, and BMSC protein was extracted. The expression of caspase-3 and pro-caspase-3, caspase-8 and pro-caspase-8, caspase-9, and cytochrome C protein and expression of Nkx2.5 in the BMSCs of each group were detected by Western blot to determine the anti-apoptotic pathway in vitro. The model of myocardial infarction in mice was established by ligating the left anterior descending branch of coronary artery. The experiment was divided into five groups: sham surgery group, myocardial infarction untreated group, myocardial infarction tail vein injection of BMSC group, myocardial infarction tail vein injection of BMSC empty body group, myocardial infarction tail vein injection of BMSC overexpression Nkx2.5 group. The changes of cardiac function in mice were evaluated by echocardiography. Normal distribution econometric data were compared between groups using convenient analysis, and pairwise comparisons were conducted using LSD-t test. Results:The apoptosis rate of the BMSC+OGD/R group (12.98±1.24)% was higher than that of the BMSC group (7.82±0.42)%, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001). The apoptosis rate of the BMSC NKx2.5+OGD/R group (11.26±0.22)% was lower than that of the BMSC+OGD/R group (12.98±1.24)% and the BMSC NC+OGD/R group (13.14±0.70)%, with statistically significant differences ( P<0.05). Compared to BMSC group ((0.36±0.08), (1.13±0.04), (0.36±0.06), (1.12±0.13), (1.23±0.08), (0.60±0.05), (0.67±0.14)), BMSC+OGD/R group ((1.05±0.10), (0.62±0.04), (1.07±0.09), (0.57±0.07), (0.55±0.08), (1.25±0.09), (0.71±0.04)) and BMSC NC+OGD/R group ((1.16±0.16), (0.64±0.06), (1.19±0.16), (0.56±0.06), (0.50±0.06), (1.28±0.06), (0.73±0.04)), the expression of Caspase-3 (0.72±0.08) and pro-caspase-3(0.89±0.09), Caspase-8 (0.63±0.08) and pro-caspase-8(0.85±0.12), Caspase-9 (0.87±0.09), cytochrome C (0.91±0.10), and Nkx2.5 (1.54±0.16) in BMSC Nkx2.5+OGD/R group was statistically significant (all P<0.05). In vivo experiments showed that the heart ejection fraction (29.05±7.07)% of mice treated with BMSC Nkx2.5 after myocardial infarction was significantly improved compared to the BMSC group (16.57±2.09)% and BMSC NC group (18.08±3.27)% (all P<0.05). Conclusion:BMSC Nkx2.5 may enhance the anti-apoptosis ability of BMSCs and improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction by inhibiting the death receptor pathway and the mitochondrial signal pathway .

In the past decades, significant progress has been achived in cartilage regeneration. The traditional techniques for constructing tissue engineering cartilage scaffold mainly include pore agent method (or template method), phase separation method, gas foaming method, freeze-drying method, electrospinning method, etc. Cartilage is heterogeneous, and it is difficult for traditional scaffolds to simulate the high anisotropy of cartilage. Therefore, functional regeneration of cartilage is challenging. With the progress of three-dimensional(3D) printing technology, it is possible to prepare functional bionic scaffolds with fine structure and gradient changes through co-deposition of biomaterials, cells and active biomolecules, so as to achieve functional cartilage regeneration. This article reviewed 3D printing technology of cartilage tissue engineering, and the application of 3D printing technology in cartilage regeneration at different anatomical positions (articular cartilage, auricle cartilage, nasal cartilage). In addition, the importance of preparing bionic constructs with regional structure gradient and regional composition gradient was discussed. 3D bioprinting technology, 4D printing techniques, smart biomaterials brought hope for the construction of bionic tissues and organs.

In the past decades, great progress has been made in cartilage regeneration. The traditional techniques for constructing tissue engineering cartilage scaffold mainly include pore agent method (or template method ) , phase separation method, gas foaming method, freeze-drying method , electrospinning method, etc. Cartilage is heterogeneous, and it is difficult for traditional scaffolds to simulate the high anisotropy of cartilage. Therefore, functional regeneration of cartilage is challenging. With the progress of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology, it is possible to prepare functional bionic scaffolds with fine structure and gradient changes through co deposition of biomaterials, cells and active biomolecules, so as to achieve functional cartilage regeneration. This article reviews 3D printing technology of cartilage tissue engineering, and the application of 3D printing technology in cartilage regeneration at different anatomical positions (articular cartilage, auricle cartilage, nasal cartilage) . In addition, the importance of preparing bionic constructs with regional structure gradient and regional composition gradient was discussed. 3D bioprinting technology, 4 D printing techniques, smart biomaterials brought hope for the construction of bionic tissues and organs.

Sepsis is life-threatening with complex pathogenesis. It is a big problem in the medical field. Clinically, antibiotics, hormones and mechanical ventilation are the main treatments. There is a lack of specific therapeutic drugs. The treatment effect is not good. In recent years, more and more progress has been made in the treatment of sepsis with traditional Chinese medicine. This article reviews the etiology, pathogenesis and treatment strategies of sepsis. It focuses on four therapies, including clearing away heat and detoxification, clearing the interior, activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis, and strengthening the foundation. We further discuss the advantages and disadvantages of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of sepsis, in order to provide reference for the clinical treatment of sepsis.

Immunoparalysis is the main cause of death in patients with intermediate and terminal sepsis. The correction of immunoparalysis is an important direction of sepsis treatment. In the pathological process of sepsis, a variety of factors contribute to the imbalanced secretion of cytokines, weakened function of antigen-presenting cells, apoptosis and depletion of lymphocytes, and ultimately lead to immunoparalysis, secondary infection, and even patient deaths. Cytokines such as GM-CSF, IFN-γ, IL-7, and IL-15, immune checkpoint-related therapies such as PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies, CTLA-4 antibodies, TIM-3 antibodies, and LAG-3 antibodies, and immunoreactive substances such as thymosin α1 and immunoglobulin might be beneficial to correct the immune paralysis of patients. the progress of immunotherapy to correct immune paralysis in sepsis were reviewed in this article.

In the past decades, great progress has been made in cartilage regeneration. The traditional techniques for constructing tissue engineering cartilage scaffold mainly include pore agent method (or template method ) , phase separation method, gas foaming method, freeze-drying method , electrospinning method, etc. Cartilage is heterogeneous, and it is difficult for traditional scaffolds to simulate the high anisotropy of cartilage. Therefore, functional regeneration of cartilage is challenging. With the progress of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology, it is possible to prepare functional bionic scaffolds with fine structure and gradient changes through co deposition of biomaterials, cells and active biomolecules, so as to achieve functional cartilage regeneration. This article reviews 3D printing technology of cartilage tissue engineering, and the application of 3D printing technology in cartilage regeneration at different anatomical positions (articular cartilage, auricle cartilage, nasal cartilage) . In addition, the importance of preparing bionic constructs with regional structure gradient and regional composition gradient was discussed. 3D bioprinting technology, 4 D printing techniques, smart biomaterials brought hope for the construction of bionic tissues and organs.