Objective:To explore the predictive factors for testicular atrophy in children with testicular torsion following orchiopexy.Methods:The clinical data of 82 patients with testicular torsion and orchiopexy admitted to Beijing Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University between October 2015 and September 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The age was 147（110，162）months. Among these patients，62 presented with scrotal pain as the initial symptom，while 20 exhibited atypical symptoms. Regarding referral history，36 cases had no referrals，39 cases had one referral，and 7 cases had two or more referrals. Preoperative testicular ultrasonography revealed homogeneous echotexture in 24 cases and heterogeneous echotexture in 58 cases. Testicular blood flow was normal in 3 cases，reduced in 17 cases，and absent in 62 cases. Testicular torsion was considered at first diagnosis，testicular exploration was performed，and testicular fixation was performed if the testicle was viable. If bilateral testicular ultrasound examination was performed over 3 months after the operation，and the results showed that the difference in volume（TVL）between the affected testicle and the unaffected testicle was >50% or the blood flow in the affected testicle was absent，it was defined as testicular atrophy. If no ultrasound examination was performed over 3 months after the operation，but the ultrasound examination within 3 months after the operation indicated the absence of blood flow in the affected testicle，it was also defined as testicular atrophy. Univariate analysis was used to compare the clinical data between the two groups according to whether there was testicular atrophy or not. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors associated with postoperative testicular atrophy. The predictive value of each factor was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic（ROC）curve.Results:Of the 82 patients，32（39.0%）had testicular atrophy after surgery.Patients presenting with atypical initial symptoms exhibited a significantly higher incidence of testicular atrophy compared to those with scrotal pain［75.0%（15/20）vs. 27.4%（17/62）， P<0.001］. Additionally，patients who underwent ≥2 referrals demonstrated a markedly elevated rate of testicular atrophy relative to those with 0 or 1 referral［100.0%（7/7）vs. 33.3%（12/36）vs. 33.3%（13/39）， P=0.002］. The incidence of testicular atrophy varied significantly depending on the level of the hospital where the patient was initially diagnosed：primary hospitals（100.0%，5/5），secondary general hospitals（50.0%，6/12），tertiary general hospitals（34.8%，8/23），and tertiary women and children’s hospitals（31.0%，13/42），with statistical significance（ P=0.020）. Furthermore，patients with uneven testicular echogenicity preoperatively were more likely to develop testicular atrophy than those with uniform echogenicity［55.2%（32/58）vs. 0， P<0.001］. Preoperative testicular ultrasonography revealed a significant difference in the rate of testicular atrophy among patients with absent blood flow，reduced blood flow，and normal blood flow［50.0%（31/62）vs. 5.9%（1/17）vs. 0， P=0.001］. Patients experiencing testicular atrophy had a longer preoperative preparation time compared to those without atrophy［median 4.0（3.4，5.1）h vs. 3.5（3.0，4.2）h， P=0.017］. Moreover，the duration of symptoms was significantly longer in patients with testicular atrophy than in those without［25.5（13.0，49.5）h vs. 8.0（6.3，11.8）h， P<0.001］. Finally，contralateral testicular fixation was associated with a higher incidence of testicular atrophy，with a statistically significant difference observed between groups［50.0%（23/46）vs. 25.0%（9/36）， P=0.038］. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that preoperative testicular ultrasound blood flow loss（ OR = 1.22， P = 0.034），uneven testicular ultrasound echo（ OR = 1.33， P = 0.007），and not performing contralateral testicular fixation（ OR = 0.77， P = 0.003）were independent predictors of postoperative testicular atrophy. The area under the curve（AUC）for predicting postoperative testicular atrophy was 0.68，0.74，and 0.63，respectively. Conclusions:Lack of preoperative testicular ultrasound blood flow and uneven preoperative testicular ultrasound echo have good predictive value for testicular atrophy after testicular torsion testicular fixation in children，and the best predictor is uneven preoperative testicular ultrasound echo. The correlation between contralateral testicular fixation and postoperative testicular atrophy needs further study.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between alterations in dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) and spatial navigation abilities in individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) across different Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) constitutions.Methods:Seventy-five participants with SCD, comprising 34 individuals with balanced constitutions and 41 individuals with biased constitutions, were recruited from the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School between August 2022 and January 2025. The participants underwent TCM constitution assessment, spatial navigation ability testing, and neuropsychological scale evaluation. Additionally, each participant was assessed using 3.0 T resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and high-resolution T1-weighted imaging scans. Based on prior research, 20 spatial navigation-related regions of interest (ROIs) were defined. Afterwards, rs-fMRI time series were segmented using a sliding time window approach before calculating the dFC within the spatial navigation brain network.Results:Compared to the balanced constitution group, the biased constitution SCD group showed significantly lower scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) ( z=-3.05, P=0.002) and the Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) measures: immediate recall ( z=-2.12, P=0.035), short-delay recall ( z=-2.22, P=0.026), long-delay recall ( z=-2.88, P=0.004), cued recall ( z=-2.91, P=0.004), and recognition ( z=-2.20, P=0.028). They also exhibited significantly higher average error distances in ego-allocentric navigation ( z=-2.28, P=0.023), egocentric navigation ( z=-2.31, P=0.021), and delayed navigation ( z=-2.02, P=0.043). Participants with SCD who had a biased constitution also demonstrated significantly reduced dFC between the left parahippocampal gyrus (PHG) and left prefrontal cortex (PFC) ( t=2.43), right precuneus and right retrosplenial cortex (RSC) ( t=2.96), and left inferior parietal lobule (IPL) and left hippocampus ( t=2.42) (all P<0.05, Bonferroni-corrected). Conversely, the dFC was significantly increased between the right PHG and left PFC ( t=-2.29, P<0.05, Bonferroni-corrected). Significant correlations were also found in participants with SCD who had biased constitutions: the dFC between the left PHG and left PFC positively correlated with the egocentric navigation average total error ( r=0.34, P=0.030) and negatively correlated with the visuospatial memory cognitive domain ( r=-0.35, P=0.026); the dFC between the left IPL and left hippocampus negatively correlated with the egocentric navigation average total error ( r=-0.32, P=0.043); and the dFC between the right PHG and left PFC positively correlated with the delayed navigation average total error ( r=0.33, P=0.037). The area under the ROC curve for the combined differences in cognitive assessments, spatial navigation behavior, and navigation-related brain network dFC was 0.966 in predicting biased constitution versus balanced constitution in participants with SCD. Conclusions:Individuals with SCD and biased constitutions demonstrated poorer spatial navigation ability, possibly due to altered dFC within the spatial navigation brain network. Furthermore, the integrated model based on spatial navigation behaviors and dFC exhibited a high predictive value in distinguishing between individuals with SCD who had balanced and biased constitutions.

Objective:To analyze the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening status and the resulting residual risk (RR) among blood donors across 17 provincial blood centers in China.Methods:This study used a cross-sectional study. Data on HIV infection markers per 100 000 first-time donors (FD) and repeat donors (RD) from January 2015 to December 2024 were extracted from the National Blood Establishment Performance Comparison Information Management System. Questionnaires were used to collect each center′s HIV screening strategy, algorithm, serological test (ST) kit manufacturers, gray-zone setting for ST, and nucleic acid test (NAT) modality, method, and platform. The incidence-window-period model was used to calculate the residual risk for first-time donors (RR FD), repeat donors (RR RD), and total donors (RR TD) at each center. Horizontal and vertical analysis of RR FD, RR RD, and RR TD across centers and years were performed. Results:All 17 centers applied the same HIV screening strategy which was two rounds of ST followed by one round of NAT. Eight of them operated a single screening algorithm, six employed two algorithms and three used three. Eleven centers used both imported and domestic ST kits, five relied on domestic ST kits only, and one used imported ST kits only, while four centers never set a grey zone for ST throughout the decade. For NAT modalities, eight centers adopted both individual nucleic acid test (ID-NAT) and minipool nucleic acid test (MP-NAT), eight used MP-NAT only and one used ID-NAT only. Seven centers combined transcription mediated amplification (TMA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nine used PCR only and one used TMA only, and fourteen centers ran both imported and domestic NAT systems, two used imported systems only and one used a domestic system only. Over the ten-year period, the mean RR FD across the centers ranged from 2.22 to 12.33 per 10 6 person-years, RR RD from 0.83 to 3.29 per 10 6 person-years and RR TD from 1.59 to 9.29 per 10 6 person-years, with center Z4 consistently showing the lowest values for all three metrics and center U4 recording the highest RR FD and RR TD, while center D2 had the highest RR RD. In 2024 compared with 2015, eleven centers achieved a lower RR FD and ten centers achieved lower RR RD and RR TD. The RR FD and RR TD of centers W2 and U4 displayed pronounced fluctuations and an upward trend in recent years. Conclusions:The 17 provincial blood centers maintain consistent HIV screening strategies, while demonstrating variations in screening algorithm, ST kit manufacturers, NAT modalities, methods, and platform. And the RR FD, RR RD, and RR TD differ across centers. Although most centers show declining trend in RR over the ten-year period, some centers exhibite data fluctuations with a rising trend, suggesting potential for further optimization of HIV screening protocols.

Objective To analyze the serum levels of angiopoietin-like protein 4(ANGPTL4)and fibro-blast growth factor-21(FGF-21)in patients with acute cerebral infarction complicated with type 2 diabetes,and explore their relationships with disease condition and carotid plaque stability.Methods A total of 224 pa-tients with acute cerebral infarction complicated with type 2 diabetes admitted to this hospital from June 2019 to June 2022 were selected as the study group,and 224 healthy volunteers undergoing physical examinations in the hospital during the same period were selected as the control group.Serum ANGPTL4 and FGF-21 levels were detected by ELISA.The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)was used to evaluate the severity of the disease.Patients were divided into the mild group(n=84,NIHSS score<4 points),the moder-ate group(n=100,NIHSS score 4-15 points),and the severe group(n=40,NIHSS score>15 points).Ca-rotid plaque stability was assessed by color Doppler ultrasound,and patients were divided into the no-plaque group(n=44),the stable plaque group(n=71),and the unstable plaque group(n=109).Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between serum ANGPTL4 level and FGF-21 level.Spearman cor-relation analysis was used to analyze the correlations between serum ANGPTL4/FGF-21 levels and disease se-verity or carotid plaque stability.Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the influencing factors of acute cerebral infarction complicated with type 2 diabetes.Results The serum ANGPTL4 level in the study group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.05),while the FGF-21 level was signifi-cantly higher(P<0.05).Serum ANGPTL4 levels decreased progressively in the mild,moderate,and severe groups(P<0.05),while FGF-21 levels increased progressively(P<0.05).Serum ANGPTL4 levels also de-creased progressively in the no-plaque,stable plaque,and unstable plaque groups(P<0.05),while FGF-21 levels increased progressively(P<0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between serum ANGPTL4 and FGF-21 levels(r=-0.576,P<0.05).Spearman correlation analysis showed that ser-um ANGPTL4 level were negatively correlated with disease severity and carotid plaque stability(r=-0.561,-0.529;P<0.05),while serum FGF-21 levels were positively correlated with disease severity and carotid plaque stability(r=0.592,0.610;P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that low ANGPTL4 expres-sion and high FGF-21 expression were risk factors for acute cerebral infarction complicated with type 2 diabe-tes(P<0.05).Conclusion In patients with acute cerebral infarction complicated with type 2 diabetes,serum ANGPTL4 level is significantly decreased,while FGF-21 is significantly increased compared with healthy indi-viduals.Both factors are closely associated with disease severity and carotid plaque stability.

Intestinal stem cells(ISCs),locating at the base of intestinal crypts and pivotal in orchestrating the homeostasis and damage repair of the intestinal epithelium,are characterized by their self-renewal and multipotential differentiation capabilities.With the continuous discoveries of new ISCs and related markers,the ISC migration and regeneration model has been further improved,greatly promoting the research in related fields.Diet can regulate ISC glycolipid and energy metabolism through influencing the stem cell niche,subsequently modulating overall metabolism.This paper summarizes the biological features of both classical and newly discovered ISCs,and analyzes the effects of common nutrients and different dietary patterns on ISCs,hoping to provide insights for the precise nutrition prevention and treatment of chronic intestinal diseases.

Olfactory disorders are a common symptom in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, and their diagnosis and treatment have garnered extensive attention from both patients and doctors. Currently, there are various evaluation and treatment methods for olfactory dysfunction; however, choosing a simpler and more accurate assessment, as well as an effective treatment, remains a clinical challenge. In this article, we review the assessment and treatment methods commonly used in clinical practice in recent years to provide better support for the diagnosis and treatment of olfactory disorders.
Humans ; Olfaction Disorders/etiology* ; Sinusitis/complications* ; Chronic Disease ; Rhinitis/complications* ; Rhinosinusitis

Liver fibrosis is a vital cause of morbidity in patients with liver diseases and developing novel anti-fibrotic drugs is imperative. Isovalerylspiramycin I (ISP I) as a major component of carrimycin applied to upper respiratory infections, was first found to possess anti-fibrotic potential. The present study aims to evaluate the functions and mechanisms of ISP I in protecting against liver fibrosis. According to our results, ISP I not only reduced the expressions of fibrogenic markers in LX-2 cells but also appeared great protective effects on liver injury and liver fibrosis in bile duct ligation (BDL) rats and carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) mice. We proved that nucleotide-binding protein 2 (NUBP2) was the direct target of ISP I. ISP I through targeting NUBP2, increased the amount of vascular non-inflammatory molecule-1 (VNN1) on the cell membrane, which will inhibit oxidative stress and fibrosis. Simultaneously, the original carrimycin's protective effect on liver damage and fibrosis was verified. Therefore, our study provides potential agents for patients with liver fibrosis-related diseases, and the clear mechanism supports wide application in the clinic.

Liver fibrosis is a vital cause of morbidity in patients with liver diseases and developing novel anti-fibrotic drugs is imperative.Isovalerylspiramycin Ⅰ(ISP Ⅰ)as a major component of carrimycin applied to upper respiratory infections,was first found to possess anti-fibrotic potential.The present study aims to evaluate the functions and mechanisms of ISP Ⅰ in protecting against liver fibrosis.According to our results,ISP Ⅰ not only reduced the expressions of fibrogenic markers in LX-2 cells but also appeared great protective effects on liver injury and liver fibrosis in bile duct ligation(BDL)rats and carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)mice.We proved that nucleotide-binding protein 2(NUBP2)was the direct target of ISP Ⅰ.ISP Ⅰ through targeting NUBP2,increased the amount of vascular non-inflammatory molecule-1(VNN1)on the cell membrane,which will inhibit oxidative stress and fibrosis.Simultaneously,the original carri-mycin's protective effect on liver damage and fibrosis was verified.Therefore,our study provides po-tential agents for patients with liver fibrosis-related diseases,and the clear mechanism supports wide application in the clinic.

An increasing number of studies have shown that there is a close relationship between Alzheimer's disease(AD)and diabetes mellitus(DM).Traditional Chinese medicine holds that"kidney yin deficiency"is the common pathogenesis of these two diseases,while modern medicine believes that their pathogenesis involves abnormal aggregation of amyloid proteins,insulin deficiency and resistance,inflammatory response,oxidative stress,and autophagy,among others.The well-known traditional Chinese medicine formula Liuwei Dihuang Pills plays a significant role in the treatment of these two diseases with the same therapeutic approach.Therefore,this article will explore the connection between Liuwei Dihuang Pills and the treatment of AD and DM from different aspects;analyze the common etiology and pathogenesis of AD and DM,and explain the mechanism of prevention and treatment of Liuwei Dihuang Pills,with the aim of providing new ideas and methods for the integrated traditional and Western medicine prevention and treatment of AD and DM in the future.

Aim To systematically elucidate the molecular regulatory network of thermogenic function in brown adipose tissue(BAT)through multi-omics integrative analysis,to discover novel thermogenic regulatory genes and provide novel therapeutic targets for metabolic disorders.Methods A novel methodology for screening key genes regulating thermogenesis in BAT was constructed:First,differential expression analysis was performed on bulk RNA-seq data from murine BAT.Genes meeting the thresholds of ABS(log2FoldChange)＞1 and Padj＜0.05 were identified as differentially expressed genes.Intersectional analysis was then applied to obtain consensus upregulated and downregulated gene sets.Subsequently,scRNA-seq data of brown adipocytes were partitioned into high-expression group and low-expression group based on the expression levels of candidate genes.Differential analysis and gene set enrichment analysis(GSEA)were conducted between these groups to assess the correlation between candidate genes and thermogenic function.Finally,ex-perimental validation of selected candidate genes was performed using quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot.Results Bioinformatics analysis identified 65 thermogenesis-positive correlated genes and 7 thermogenesis-negative corre-lated genes.Subsequent quantitative PCR validation demonstrated that candidate genes Mfsd2a,Me1,Slc25a34,Pfkp,Ankrd9,Hsd17b12,Aldoa,Ctsz and Pcyt2 exhibited upregulation exceeding 5-fold,while Pid1 and Angpt1 showed down-regulation over 50％.All observed expression changes demonstrated statistical significance(P＜0.01)through rigorous hypothesis testing.These findings highlight the potential involvement of these genes in thermogenic regulation,warranting further functional investigations to elucidate their molecular mechanisms in energy metabolism pathways.Conclusions This study established a novel"computational screening → in silico knockout → experimental validation"paradigm for tar-get discovery,systematically unveiling the molecular network involved in BAT thermogenic regulation.This methodology is equally applicable for identifying key regulatory genes in other physiological or pathological processes.The study identi-fied 11 core genes that may play pivotal regulatory roles during BAT thermogenic activation,which could potentially offer novel pharmacological intervention targets to improve energy metabolism and treat obesity-related complications.