Objective To explore the effects of nicotinamide mononucleotide （NMN） on hypertensive rats. Methods Two rat hypertension models including spontaneously hypertensive rats（SHR）and two-kidney two-clip （2K2C） rats were used to be given single, long-term or lifelong administration of NMN respectively. NMN’s effects were assessed comprehensively by monitoring survival time, blood pressure levels, and the extent of organ damage in hypertensive model rats. Results It was revealed that NMN did not exhibit protective effects in terms of lowering blood pressure levels, reducing organ damage or increasing survival time in hypertensive rats. Conclusion This study suggested that NMN did not demonstrate anti-hypertensive effects in rat hypertension models and could provide valuable insights for future clinical observation on NMN.

Objective:This study aimed to evaluate whether intra-articular delivery of conditioned medium(CM)derived from stem cells of human exfoliated deciduous teeth(SHED)could influence the progression of condylar cartilage degeneration in a rat model of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis(TMJ OA).Methods:Sixty 8-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into control group(CON group),intraarticular injection of MIA induced TMJ OA model group(MIA group),and injection of SHED condi-tioned medium 1 week after MIA modeling for treatment group(SHED-CM group),with 20 animals in each group.Histological sec-tions,HE,Safranine O-solid green staining,Col Ⅱ immunohistochemical staining,and TUNEL staining were performed 2 and 4 weeks after the start of treatment.Western blotting and RT-qPCR were used to detect the key molecules of apoptosis,cleaved-CASP3,BAX and BCL2,pro-inflammatory related factors IL-1β,IL-6,TNFα,MMP3,ADAMTS5,and the MAPK pathway-related molecules p-ERK,ERK,p-P38 and P38.Results:Compared with the CON group and SHED-CM group,the condyle chondrocytes in the MIA group had disordered arrange-ment,interrupted layers,significantly thickened fibrous layers(P＜0.001),and significantly increased Mankin's OA histological score(P＜0.001).In the MIA group,both the Safranin O-positive area ratio and the proportion of ColⅡ-positive regions were markedly reduced compared with the CON and SHED-CM groups(P＜0.001).Conversely,the proportion of TUNEL-positive cells was substantially higher than in the other two groups(both P＜0.001).Western blot analysis further demonstrated that apoptotic markers(cleaved-CASP3,BAX/BCL2)and MAPK pathway-related proteins(p-ERK,ERK,p-P38,P38)were expressed at significantly elevated levels in the MIA group relative to CON and SHED-CM groups(BAX/BCL2:P＜0.05;cleaved-CASP3:P＜0.01;p-P38/P38:P＜0.001;p-ERK/ERK:P＜0.01).Similarly,qRT-PCR revealed upregulated expression of inflammatory mediators,including IL-1 β(P＜0.001),IL-6(P＜0.01),TNFα(P＜0.01),MMP3(P＜0.001),and ADAMTS5(P＜0.05),in the MIA group compared with the CON and SHED-CM groups.Conclusion:SHED-CM treatment can ef-fectively reverse MIA-induced condylar cartilage degeneration of TMJ OA in rats.

Middle compartment defects,a common subtype of pelvic floor dysfunction(PFD),are primarily characterized by the prolapse of the uterus or vaginal vault.Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)has emerged as a valuable diagnostic tool for PFD,offering superior soft tissue resolution while eliminating exposure to ionizing radiation.This review comprehensive summarizes current applications of MRI in the diagnosis and treatment of PFD,covering measurement methods,manifestations of three-level structural defects,postoperative efficacy evaluation,vaginal axial assessment,and evaluation of the mesh status.The authors suggest that MRI enables precise preoperative evaluation of three-level defects,thereby facilitating the development of personalized treatment plans.Additionally,MRI provides an accurate postoperative assessment of surgical outcomes and mesh status,offering a new basis for postoperative assessment.MRI demonstrates unique value in the diagnosis and treatment of middle compartment defects.

Objective To evaluate the perioperative safety and mid-term outcomes of laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy(LSC)and laparoscopic pectopexy(LP)for pelvic organ prolapse(POP).Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 274 POP patients,including 178 who underwent LSC and 96 who underwent LP,between August 2017 and January 2023.The extent of prolapse and anatomical restoration were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification(POP-Q)system.Quality of life outcomes were evaluated with validated questionnaires,including Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-short form 20(PFDI-20),Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire-short form 7(PFIQ-7),and Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire-12(PISQ-12).Postoperative patient satisfaction was assessed during follow-ups.Postoperative anatomical restoration,perioperative status,and postoperative complications,recurrence,and quality of life were compared between the two groups.Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify postoperative risk factors for recurrence.Results The operative time in the LSC group was significantly shorter than that in the LP group(P<0.05).Intraoperative blood loss was higher in the LSC group compared to that in the LP group(P<0.05).The LSC group also exhibited higher rates of de novo stress urinary incontinence and constipation(P<0.05).The mean follow-up duration was(35.91±16.90)months.The positions of the indicator points(Aa,Ba,C,Ap,and Bp)in the POP-Q classification after the operation were all better than those before the operation.The PFDI-20 score,PFIQ-7 score,and PISQ-12 score all improved compared to those before the operation(P<0.05).Comparison of preoperative and postoperative PFDI-20,PFIQ-7,and PISQ-12 scores showed no intergroup differences.Compared with the LP group,the LSC group had the lower preoperative POP-Q measurements at points Aa and Ba(P<0.05),but superior postoperative measurements for all the indicator points(Aa,Ba,C,Ap,and Bp)(P<0.05).Recurrence occurred in 28 cases in the LP group and 4 cases in the LSC group,with the LP group presenting a significantly higher anatomical recurrence rate than the LSC group did(31.46%[28/89]vs.2.41%[4/166],P<0.05).The subjective cure rate(100%)and objective cure rate(97.59%)in the LSC group were superior to those in the LP group(88.76%and 68.54%,respectively;P<0.05).The results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that,after adjusting for the confounding factors,including age,gravidity,parity,body mass index,and duration of POP,the risk of recurrence after LSC surgery was 0.044 times that after LP(odds ratio[OR],0.044;95%CI,0.015-0.133;P<0.001).Conclusion Mid-term outcomes of LP with partial cervical preservation appear inferior to those of LSC,with LSC demonstrating superior anatomical restoration and lower rates of anatomical recurrence.However,improvements in sexual function and quality of life are comparable between the two procedures.Further evaluation with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up is warranted to better characterize long-term outcomes.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)often leads to disease progression due to"inflammation extravasation"and development to the whole body"weakness".Professor Miao Qing believes that"disorder of qi movement,impairment of the descending function of the lung"is the key pathogenesis of COPD,and proposes the method of"mediating triple energizers and tonifying three qi"to treat COPD,that is,based on upper energizer-pectoral qi-heart and lung qi,middle energizer-middle qi-spleen-stomach qi,lower energizer-primordial qi-kidney qi and kidney essence,respectively,"raising pectoral qi,nourishing upper energizer heart and lung","cultivating and nourishing middle qi,balancing the spleen and stomach of middle energizer","reinforcing the primordial qi,collecting and absorbing the kidney essence of lower energizer",and achieved good efficacy.

Objective:This study aimed to evaluate whether intra-articular delivery of conditioned medium(CM)derived from stem cells of human exfoliated deciduous teeth(SHED)could influence the progression of condylar cartilage degeneration in a rat model of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis(TMJ OA).Methods:Sixty 8-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into control group(CON group),intraarticular injection of MIA induced TMJ OA model group(MIA group),and injection of SHED condi-tioned medium 1 week after MIA modeling for treatment group(SHED-CM group),with 20 animals in each group.Histological sec-tions,HE,Safranine O-solid green staining,Col Ⅱ immunohistochemical staining,and TUNEL staining were performed 2 and 4 weeks after the start of treatment.Western blotting and RT-qPCR were used to detect the key molecules of apoptosis,cleaved-CASP3,BAX and BCL2,pro-inflammatory related factors IL-1β,IL-6,TNFα,MMP3,ADAMTS5,and the MAPK pathway-related molecules p-ERK,ERK,p-P38 and P38.Results:Compared with the CON group and SHED-CM group,the condyle chondrocytes in the MIA group had disordered arrange-ment,interrupted layers,significantly thickened fibrous layers(P＜0.001),and significantly increased Mankin's OA histological score(P＜0.001).In the MIA group,both the Safranin O-positive area ratio and the proportion of ColⅡ-positive regions were markedly reduced compared with the CON and SHED-CM groups(P＜0.001).Conversely,the proportion of TUNEL-positive cells was substantially higher than in the other two groups(both P＜0.001).Western blot analysis further demonstrated that apoptotic markers(cleaved-CASP3,BAX/BCL2)and MAPK pathway-related proteins(p-ERK,ERK,p-P38,P38)were expressed at significantly elevated levels in the MIA group relative to CON and SHED-CM groups(BAX/BCL2:P＜0.05;cleaved-CASP3:P＜0.01;p-P38/P38:P＜0.001;p-ERK/ERK:P＜0.01).Similarly,qRT-PCR revealed upregulated expression of inflammatory mediators,including IL-1 β(P＜0.001),IL-6(P＜0.01),TNFα(P＜0.01),MMP3(P＜0.001),and ADAMTS5(P＜0.05),in the MIA group compared with the CON and SHED-CM groups.Conclusion:SHED-CM treatment can ef-fectively reverse MIA-induced condylar cartilage degeneration of TMJ OA in rats.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)often leads to disease progression due to"inflammation extravasation"and development to the whole body"weakness".Professor Miao Qing believes that"disorder of qi movement,impairment of the descending function of the lung"is the key pathogenesis of COPD,and proposes the method of"mediating triple energizers and tonifying three qi"to treat COPD,that is,based on upper energizer-pectoral qi-heart and lung qi,middle energizer-middle qi-spleen-stomach qi,lower energizer-primordial qi-kidney qi and kidney essence,respectively,"raising pectoral qi,nourishing upper energizer heart and lung","cultivating and nourishing middle qi,balancing the spleen and stomach of middle energizer","reinforcing the primordial qi,collecting and absorbing the kidney essence of lower energizer",and achieved good efficacy.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) signal strength ratio (SIR) in onset time≤4.5 h in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed; 180 acute ischemic stroke patients admitted to Department of Neurology, Nanjing Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from January 2020 to June 2023 were chosen. Hypoperfusion intensity ratio (HIR) was used to evaluate the collateral circulation (poor collateral circulation: HIR≤0.4; good collateral circulation: HIR>0.4); clinical data and imaging indexes between poor collateral circulation and good collateral circulation groups were compared. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regressions were used to analyze the influencing factors for onset time≤4.5 h in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Correlation between SIR and onset time was analyzed in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Role of HIR as agency between SIR and onset time was explored. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the predictive efficacy of SIR and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI)-FLAIR mismatch in onset time≤4.5 h in acute ischemic stroke patients.Results:Of the 180 patients, 100 were into the good collateral circulation group and 80 were into the poor collateral circulation group; compared with the good collateral circulation group, the poor collateral circulation group had significantly higher percentage of patients with hyperlipidemia, larger DWI infarction volume before treatment, larger perfusion weighted imaging (PWI)-DWI mismatch volume and higher SIR ( P<0.05). In these 180 patients, 76 had onset time≤4.5 h and 104 had onset time>4.5 h. Univariate Logistic regression analysis showed that hyperlipidemia, DWI infarct volume before treatment, DWI-FLAIR mismatch, HIR and SIR were influencing factors for onset time≤4.5 h in acute ischemic stroke patients ( P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that hyperlipidemia ( OR=6.654, 95% CI: 5.751-8.824, P<0.001), HIR ( OR=0.724, 95% CI: 0.521-1.321, P=0.041) and SIR ( OR=739.881, 95% CI: 383.296-14 258.065, P<0.001) were independent influencing factors for onset time≤4.5 h in acute ischemic stroke patients. Pearson correlation analysis showed that SIR was positively correlated to onset time in patients with acute ischemic stroke ( r=0.420, P<0.05), and SIR was positively correlated to onset time in patients from poor collateral circulation group ( r=0.781, P<0.05). ROC curve showed that AUC of SIR in predicting onset time≤4.5 h was 0.917 (95% CI: 0.814-1.000, P<0.001) and that of DWI-FLAIR mismatch in predicting onset time≤4.5 h was 0.530 (95% CI: 0.509-0.757, P=0.075) in poor collateral circulation group, enjoying significant difference in predictive efficacy. Conclusion:Acute ischemic stroke patients with low HIR and SIR have higher odds of onset time≤4.5 h; SIR can more accurately predict the onset time in these patients with poor collateral circulation.

Objective To evaluate the effect of irregular follow-up during normalized prevention and control of novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) epidemic on BK virus (BKV) reactivation and clinical prognosis of kidney transplant recipients. Methods Clinical data of 363 kidney transplant recipients were retrospectively analyzed, and they were divided into the pre-epidemic follow-up group and during-epidemic follow-up group according to the follow-up time. All patients were followed up for 1 year. The follow-up interval was compared between two groups. The infection of BKV and the correlation between the infection process of BKV and renal graft function were analyzed in two groups. Results A total of 1 790 preson-times were followed up before COVID-19 epidemic and 2 680 during COVID-19 epidemic. Compared with the during-epidemic follow-up group, the follow-up intervals within 3, 3-6 and 7-12 months after kidney transplantation were shorter in the pre-epidemic follow-up group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Within 1 year after kidney transplantation, 35 cases（32%） were diagnosed with BKV viruria, 3 cases（3%） of BKV viremia and 1 case（1%） of BKV-associated nephropathy (BKVAN) in the pre-epidemic follow-up group, and 53（25%）, 3（1%） and 1（1%） in the during-epidemic follow-up group, with no statistical significance (all P>0.05). In the pre-epidemic follow-up group, the time for the initial diagnosis of BKV viruria was longer and the viral load of the first urinary BKV reactivation was smaller than those in the during-epidemic follow-up group, with statistical significance (both P<0.05). The load of the first urinary BKV reactivation was positively correlated with the peak load of urinary BKV, and the differences between the baseline and serum creatinine levels at 1 and 3 months after BKV reactivation (all P<0.05). Conclusions Irregular follow-up after kidney transplantation may lead to early BKV reactivation and higher detection value of the first viral load of urinary BKV, delay diagnosis and interventions, and lead to poor prognosis. It is urgent to establish a remote follow-up system to meet the follow-up requirements of kidney transplant recipients when public health incidents occur.

Objective To investigate the feasibility and clinical experience of kidney transplantation from donors with Marfan syndrome (MFS). Methods Clinical data of 2 recipients undergoing kidney transplantation from the same MFS patient were retrospectively analyzed and literature review of 2 cases was conducted. Characteristics and clinical diagnosis and treatment of kidney transplantation from MFS patients were summarized. Results The Remuzzi scores of the left and right donor kidneys of the MFS patient during time-zero biopsy were 1 and 2. No significant difference was observed in the renal arteriole wall compared with other donors of brain death and cardiac death. Two recipients who received kidney transplantation from the MFS patient suffered from postoperative delayed graft function. After short-term hemodialysis, the graft function of the recipients received the left and right kidney began to gradually recover at postoperative 10 d and 20 d. After discharge, serum creatinine level of the recipient received the left kidney was ranged from 80 to 90 μmol/L, whereas that of the recipient received the right kidney kept declining, and the lowest serum creatinine level was 232 μmol/L before the submission date (at postoperative 43 d). Through literature review, two cases successfully undergoing kidney transplantation from the same MFS donor were reported. Both two recipients experienced delayed graft function, and then renal function was restored to normal. Until the publication date, 1 recipient has survived for 6 years, and the other recipient died of de novo cerebrovascular disease at postoperative 2 years. Conclusions MFS patients may serve as an acceptable source of kidney donors. However, the willingness and general conditions of the recipients should be carefully evaluated before kidney transplantation. Intraoperatively, potential risk of tear of renal arterial media should be properly treated. Extensive attention should be paid to the incidence of postoperative complications.