ObjectiveTo explore the academic characteristics of contemporary renowned Chinese medicine masters in treating diabetic kidney disease （DKD） from the perspectives of principles， methods， formulas， and medications. MethodsIn strict accordance with the Systematic Review of Text and Opinion （SrTO） process developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute （JBI）， an Australian evidence-based healthcare center， the databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure （CNKI）， VIP Database， Wanfang Data， and China Biomedical Literature Service System （SinoMed） were searched. Based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria， text information extraction， quality evaluation， and text information synthesis were conducted sequentially. The data were analyzed and presented in the form of text and figures. ResultsA total of 215 articles related to 43 contemporary renowned experts in the fields of Chinese medicine nephrology and endocrinology were included. The study found that the academic thoughts of these masters in the treatment of DKD are extensive， involving multiple levels such as disease understanding， therapeutic strategies， formula application， and medication use. In terms of disease understanding， the primary pathogenesis is characterized by deficiency in the root and excess in the manifestation. It is emphasized that internal factors， such as congenital endowment deficiency， interact with external factors such as improper diet， emotional disturbances， invasion of exogenous pathogens， and delayed or inappropriate treatment， to jointly induce the disease. This further gives rise to various pathogenetic theories， including obstruction of renal collaterals by blood stasis， toxin-induced damage to renal collaterals， latent wind disturbing the kidney， and internal heat leading to mass formation. In terms of therapeutic strategies and medication use， the principal treatment method is to replenish Qi and nourish Yin. Stage-based and syndrome-differentiated treatments are advocated. Flexible use of insect-derived drugs and wind-dispelling drugs is emphasized， along with proficiency in applying classical formulas and drug pairs. Integrated internal and external treatments， as well as the combined application of multiple therapeutic approaches， are commonly employed for comprehensive management. Meanwhile， the concept of "preventive treatment of disease" is upheld， and individualized long-term management of patients is advocated. ConclusionThrough the SrTO process， the academic thoughts of contemporary renowned Chinese medicine masters in the treatment of DKD have been systematically and standardly synthesized， providing a scientific and standardized basis for future theoretical exploration.

ObjectiveTo explore the academic characteristics of contemporary renowned Chinese medicine masters in treating diabetic kidney disease （DKD） from the perspectives of principles， methods， formulas， and medications. MethodsIn strict accordance with the Systematic Review of Text and Opinion （SrTO） process developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute （JBI）， an Australian evidence-based healthcare center， the databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure （CNKI）， VIP Database， Wanfang Data， and China Biomedical Literature Service System （SinoMed） were searched. Based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria， text information extraction， quality evaluation， and text information synthesis were conducted sequentially. The data were analyzed and presented in the form of text and figures. ResultsA total of 215 articles related to 43 contemporary renowned experts in the fields of Chinese medicine nephrology and endocrinology were included. The study found that the academic thoughts of these masters in the treatment of DKD are extensive， involving multiple levels such as disease understanding， therapeutic strategies， formula application， and medication use. In terms of disease understanding， the primary pathogenesis is characterized by deficiency in the root and excess in the manifestation. It is emphasized that internal factors， such as congenital endowment deficiency， interact with external factors such as improper diet， emotional disturbances， invasion of exogenous pathogens， and delayed or inappropriate treatment， to jointly induce the disease. This further gives rise to various pathogenetic theories， including obstruction of renal collaterals by blood stasis， toxin-induced damage to renal collaterals， latent wind disturbing the kidney， and internal heat leading to mass formation. In terms of therapeutic strategies and medication use， the principal treatment method is to replenish Qi and nourish Yin. Stage-based and syndrome-differentiated treatments are advocated. Flexible use of insect-derived drugs and wind-dispelling drugs is emphasized， along with proficiency in applying classical formulas and drug pairs. Integrated internal and external treatments， as well as the combined application of multiple therapeutic approaches， are commonly employed for comprehensive management. Meanwhile， the concept of "preventive treatment of disease" is upheld， and individualized long-term management of patients is advocated. ConclusionThrough the SrTO process， the academic thoughts of contemporary renowned Chinese medicine masters in the treatment of DKD have been systematically and standardly synthesized， providing a scientific and standardized basis for future theoretical exploration.

Objective:To investigate the effect of alendronate sodium (ALN) on osteoporosis in postmenopausal mice and the expression of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15).Methods:C57BL/6J female mice (7 - 8 weeks old, weight 18 - 20 g) were selected for ovarian removal surgery (OVX) to establish a postmenopausal osteoporosis animal model. According to the random number table method, they were divided into three groups: control (sham surgery) group, OVX group, and OVX + ALN (0.5 mg·kg -1·d -1, administered orally one week before surgery) group, with 10 mice in each group. After 8 weeks of surgery, femurs and tibias were collected, and bone mineral density (BMD), bone volume fraction (BV/TV), mineral content (BMC), number of trabeculae (Tb.N), thickness of trabeculae (Tb.Th), and degree of trabecular separation (Tb. Sp) were measured in each group of mice using micro computed tomography(Micro-CT) technology. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) were used to detect changes in serum GDF-15 levels and bone tissue GDF-15 mRNA expression levels in mice, respectively. Results:The Micro-CT examination results showed that the OVX group had a decrease of trabeculae, an increase in spacing, and sparse arrangement compared to the control group. The OVX + ALN group had an increase of bone trabeculae and a decrease in spacing compared to the OVX group. Quantitative analysis showed that the levels of BMD, BV/TV, BMC, Tb.N, and Tb.Th of the femur in the OVX group were lower than those in the control group, while the level of Tb.Sp was higher than that in the control group ( P < 0.05). The BMD, BV/TV, BMC, and Tb.N levels of the femur in the OVX + ALN group were higher than those in the OVX group, while the Tb.SP level was lower than that in the OVX group ( P < 0.05). Compared with the control group (1.86 ± 0.08, 1.02 ± 0.21), the serum GDF-15 levels and bone tissue GDF-15 mRNA expression levels in the OVX group (2.80 ± 0.45, 6.04 ± 0.42) were higher ( P < 0.05). Compared with OVX group, the serum GDF-15 levels and bone tissue GDF-15 mRNA expression levels in the OVX + ALN group (1.99 ± 0.15, 0.99 ± 0.13) were lower ( P < 0.05). Conclusion:ALN can prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal mice, and GDF-15 is involved in its regulatory process.

Immunoglobulin A nephropathy （IgAN） is the primary glomerulonephritis with the highest incidence rate in the world. It is also the main cause of end-stage renal disease （ESRD） in China， which has brought heavy economic burden to the society and patient families. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has certain advantages in treating IgAN. In TCM， IgAN is classified into consumptive disease， hematuria， and edema categories， with the location in the kidney and involving the lung， liver， and spleen. Professor Ren Jixue， a master of TCM， believes that kidney deficiency and spleen deficiency are the root causes of IgAN， and the throat is the source of the disease. He proposed the theory of throat-kidney correlation and used the method of tonifying kidney and invigorating spleen as well as detoxifying and relieving sore-throat to treat IgAN， achieving significant therapeutic effects. Studies have shown that IgAN is closely related to mucosal immune defense. IgAN patients often experience recurrent and gradually worsening symptoms due to mucosal infections， and polymeric Ig receptor （PIgR） is an important component of mucosal defense function. The lack of PIgR leads to the accumulation of IgA molecules in the mucosal lamina propria， and the molecules enter the bloodstream in large quantities and ultimately deposit in the kidneys， causing kidney damage. Complement regulatory protein complement receptor type 1 （CR1） exists on red blood cells and glomeruli and has the function of inhibiting the activation and differentiation of B cells， clearing immune complexes， and inhibiting excessive activation of the complement system. Therefore， regulating the immune defense function through the mucosal-renal axis mediated by PIgR-CR1 will be an important target for preventing and treating IgAN. Based on the theory of throat-kidney correlation， this article explores the effects and molecular mechanisms of tonifying kidney and invigorating spleen as well as detoxifying and relieving sore-throat in preventing and treating IgAN by regulating the mucosal-kidney axis mediated by PIgR-CR1. It provides effective theoretical support and a scientific basis for TCM prevention and treatment of IgAN based on the theory of throat-kidney correlation.

Immunoglobulin A nephropathy （IgAN） is the primary glomerulonephritis with the highest incidence rate in the world. It is also the main cause of end-stage renal disease （ESRD） in China， which has brought heavy economic burden to the society and patient families. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has certain advantages in treating IgAN. In TCM， IgAN is classified into consumptive disease， hematuria， and edema categories， with the location in the kidney and involving the lung， liver， and spleen. Professor Ren Jixue， a master of TCM， believes that kidney deficiency and spleen deficiency are the root causes of IgAN， and the throat is the source of the disease. He proposed the theory of throat-kidney correlation and used the method of tonifying kidney and invigorating spleen as well as detoxifying and relieving sore-throat to treat IgAN， achieving significant therapeutic effects. Studies have shown that IgAN is closely related to mucosal immune defense. IgAN patients often experience recurrent and gradually worsening symptoms due to mucosal infections， and polymeric Ig receptor （PIgR） is an important component of mucosal defense function. The lack of PIgR leads to the accumulation of IgA molecules in the mucosal lamina propria， and the molecules enter the bloodstream in large quantities and ultimately deposit in the kidneys， causing kidney damage. Complement regulatory protein complement receptor type 1 （CR1） exists on red blood cells and glomeruli and has the function of inhibiting the activation and differentiation of B cells， clearing immune complexes， and inhibiting excessive activation of the complement system. Therefore， regulating the immune defense function through the mucosal-renal axis mediated by PIgR-CR1 will be an important target for preventing and treating IgAN. Based on the theory of throat-kidney correlation， this article explores the effects and molecular mechanisms of tonifying kidney and invigorating spleen as well as detoxifying and relieving sore-throat in preventing and treating IgAN by regulating the mucosal-kidney axis mediated by PIgR-CR1. It provides effective theoretical support and a scientific basis for TCM prevention and treatment of IgAN based on the theory of throat-kidney correlation.

Objective:To investigate the effect of alendronate sodium (ALN) on osteoporosis in postmenopausal mice and the expression of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15).Methods:C57BL/6J female mice (7 - 8 weeks old, weight 18 - 20 g) were selected for ovarian removal surgery (OVX) to establish a postmenopausal osteoporosis animal model. According to the random number table method, they were divided into three groups: control (sham surgery) group, OVX group, and OVX + ALN (0.5 mg·kg -1·d -1, administered orally one week before surgery) group, with 10 mice in each group. After 8 weeks of surgery, femurs and tibias were collected, and bone mineral density (BMD), bone volume fraction (BV/TV), mineral content (BMC), number of trabeculae (Tb.N), thickness of trabeculae (Tb.Th), and degree of trabecular separation (Tb. Sp) were measured in each group of mice using micro computed tomography(Micro-CT) technology. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) were used to detect changes in serum GDF-15 levels and bone tissue GDF-15 mRNA expression levels in mice, respectively. Results:The Micro-CT examination results showed that the OVX group had a decrease of trabeculae, an increase in spacing, and sparse arrangement compared to the control group. The OVX + ALN group had an increase of bone trabeculae and a decrease in spacing compared to the OVX group. Quantitative analysis showed that the levels of BMD, BV/TV, BMC, Tb.N, and Tb.Th of the femur in the OVX group were lower than those in the control group, while the level of Tb.Sp was higher than that in the control group ( P < 0.05). The BMD, BV/TV, BMC, and Tb.N levels of the femur in the OVX + ALN group were higher than those in the OVX group, while the Tb.SP level was lower than that in the OVX group ( P < 0.05). Compared with the control group (1.86 ± 0.08, 1.02 ± 0.21), the serum GDF-15 levels and bone tissue GDF-15 mRNA expression levels in the OVX group (2.80 ± 0.45, 6.04 ± 0.42) were higher ( P < 0.05). Compared with OVX group, the serum GDF-15 levels and bone tissue GDF-15 mRNA expression levels in the OVX + ALN group (1.99 ± 0.15, 0.99 ± 0.13) were lower ( P < 0.05). Conclusion:ALN can prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal mice, and GDF-15 is involved in its regulatory process.

Objective:To assess the prognostic value of pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters in patients with metastatic malignant melanoma treated with anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD1) immunotherapy. Methods:A retrospective analysis of 29 patients (15 males, 14 females, age (59.1±13.0) years) with pathologically diagnosed metastatic malignant melanoma in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between June 2017 and October 2020 was conducted. Anti-PD1 immunotherapy were performed in all patients after 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging. 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters including SUV max, bone marrow-to-liver SUV max ratio (BLR), spleen-to-liver SUV max ratio (SLR) were obtained. Total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) of primary lesions were measured automatically using the thresholds of 40%SUV max. The median value of each PET parameter was regarded as the threshold value and was used to divide patients into 2 groups (≥ and < the median value, respectively). Kaplan-Meier survival curve and Cox proportional risk model were used to analyze the overall survival (OS) differences between groups. Results:The median follow-up time was 15.0 months and 13 patients died. The median OS was 26.0(95% CI: 20.4-31.6) months. The median SUV max, TMTV, TLG, BLR and SLR were 6.2, 8.2 cm 3, 38.6 g, 0.82 and 0.84 respectively. Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test showed that differences of OS between SUV max≥6.2 and <6.2 groups, TLG≥38.6 g and <38.6 g groups, BLR≥0.82 and <0.82 groups, SLR≥0.84 and <0.84 groups were not significant ( χ2 values: 0.01-0.35, P values: 0.061-0.929), while patients with TMTV≥8.2 cm 3 suffered from poorer OS compared with those with TMTV<8.2 cm 3 ( χ2=5.90, P=0.015). Cox multivariate analysis showed that TMTV (hazard risk ( HR)=6.347, 95% CI: 1.039-38.789) was a significant predictor of OS ( P=0.045). Conclusion:18F-FDG PET/CT parameter TMTV is the independent predictive factor of OS in metastatic melanoma treated with anti-PD1 immunotherapy.

The clinical performance and failure issues are significantly influenced by prosthetic malposition in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). Uncertainty exists about the impact of the prosthetic joint line height in UKA on tibial insert wear. In this study, we combined the UKA musculoskeletal multibody dynamics model, finite element model and wear model to investigate the effects of seven joint line height cases of fixed UKA implant on postoperative insert contact mechanics, cumulative sliding distance, linear wear depth and volumetric wear. As the elevation of the joint line height in UKA, the medial contact force and the joint anterior-posterior translation during swing phase were increased, and further the maximum von Mises stress, contact stress, linear wear depth, cumulative sliding distance, and the volumetric wear also were increased. Furthermore, the wear area of the insert gradually shifted from the middle region to the rear. Compared to 0 mm joint line height, the maximum linear wear depth and volumetric wear were decreased by 7.9% and 6.8% at -2 mm joint line height, and by 23.7% and 20.6% at -6 mm joint line height, the maximum linear wear depth and volumetric wear increased by 10.7% and 5.9% at +2 mm joint line height, and by 24.1% and 35.7% at +6 mm joint line height, respectively. UKA prosthetic joint line installation errors can significantly affect the wear life of the polyethylene inserted articular surfaces. Therefore, it is conservatively recommended that clinicians limit intraoperative UKA joint line height errors to -2-+2 mm.
Humans ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Knee Joint ; Knee Prosthesis ; Mechanical Phenomena ; Polyethylene ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/surgery* ; Tibia/surgery* ; Biomechanical Phenomena

Objective:To assess the prognostic value of pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters in patients with primary melanoma. Methods:A retrospective analysis comprised of 35 patients (21 males, 14 females, age: 35-85 years; from January 2014 to August 2019; Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School) who were newly-diagnosed primary melanoma with preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT was conducted. 18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters including SUV max, SUV mean, peak of SUV (SUV peak) were obtained. Metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) of primary focus were measured automatically using the threshold of 40%SUV max. The optimal thresholds of PET parameters were obtained by using ROC curve analysis. The associations between melanoma-specific survival (MSS), progression-free survival (PFS) and PET/CT metabolic parameters were assessed using Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model. Results:The median follow-up was 15.4 months, and 20 patients showed disease progression and 7 died. The cut-off values for SUV max, SUV mean, SUV peak, MTV and TLG were 3.95, 2.45, 2.65, 3.60 cm 3 and 14.85 g, respectively (AUCs: 0.742, 0.790, 0.728, 0.655, 0.693; P values: 0.016, 0.004, 0.022, 0.121, 0.053). Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test showed that SUV max, SUV mean, SUV peak, MTV and TLG were predictors of PFS ( χ2 values: 4.06-8.35, all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that MTV (hazard ratio ( HR)=3.09, 95% CI: 1.08-8.86, P=0.036) and TLG ( HR=3.36, 95% CI: 1.11-10.14, P=0.031) were significant predictors of PFS but not for MSS ( HR=5.14, P=0.080). Conclusions:SUV max, SUV mean and SUV peak of primary focus may help for predicting PFS of patients with primary melanoma. MTV and TLG of primary focus may be the best to predict PFS of primary melanoma.

Objective:To explore the potential value of interim 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT combined with B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)/MYC protein dual expression (DE) status in the prognostic stratification for patients with primary gastrointestinal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PGI-DLBCL). Methods:Forty-six patients (21 males, 25 females; age 20-83 years) with newly diagnosed PGI-DLBCL from June 2012 to May 2019 in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital were enrolled in this retrospective study. Immunohistochemistry for Bcl-2 and MYC protein expression was performed. All patients underwent baseline and interim (after 2-4 cycles of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone, and rituximab (R-CHOP) regimen) 18F-FDG PET/CT scans for assessment. Interim 18F-FDG PET/CT results were determined based on Deauville 5-point scale (DS) and changing rate of maximum standardized uptake value (ΔSUV max%) in 18F-FDG PET/CT images. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, Cox proportional hazards regression model (single factor, multiple factors analysis) were used to analyze the prognosis (3-year progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates). Results:Patients were followed up for 6-84 months, and 14 showed disease progression and 9 died. The PFS rate and OS rate were 69.6% and 80.4%, respectively. DE, DS as well as ΔSUV max% were significant predictors of PFS (hazard ratio ( HR) values: 3.280, 5.120, 9.167, all P<0.05); lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), MYC protein expression, DS and ΔSUV max% were significant predictors of OS ( HR values: 4.091, 9.618, 7.697, 11.151, all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that DS and ΔSUV max% were independent predictors of PFS and OS ( HR values: 4.370-9.244, all P<0.05). In the DS negative (-) group, patients with DE positive (+ ) had lower PFS and OS rates than those with DE- (PFS rate: 50.0% vs 88.9%; OS rate: 66.7% vs 96.3%; χ2 values: 6.050, 4.966, both P<0.05). In ΔSUV max%<90% group, patients with DE+ had lower PFS rate than those with DE- (12.5% vs 68.8%; χ2=6.649, P=0.01). Conclusions:Interim PET/CT analysis using DS and ΔSUV max% is able to predict survival in PGI-DLBCL patients. The combination of DS, ΔSUV max% and DE can risk-stratify PGI-DLBCL patient more effectively.