Objective To investigate the expression level and clinical significance of circular RNAs(circRNAs)in serum extracellular vesicles(EVs)of patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion(RSA).Methods The serum samples from 3 RSA patients and 3 nor-mal pregnant women(controls)visited our hospital from May 2021 to March 2023 were collected and the gene expression profiling chips were used to screen for differentially expressed circRNAs in serum EVs.Ten RSA patients and 10 normal pregnant women were enrolled in a training set and 80 RSA patients and 64 normal pregnant women were enrolled in a validation set.Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)was used to detect the levels of differentially expressed circRNAs between the two groups.The predictive value of differentially expressed circRNAs for RSA was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results A total of 57 563 circRNAs in serum EVs were detected by the gene expression profiling chips.Compared with the control group,3 516 circRNAs were differentially expressed in RSA patients,including 2 377 up-regulated and 1 139 down-regulated.The de-tection results of qRT-PCR in the training set and validation set showed that the expression levels of hsa＿circ＿0054403 in serum EVs of RSA patients(2.07[1.00,6.68])was significantly higher than that in the control group(1.00[0.42,1.46],U=1 239,P＜0.01),while those of hsa＿circ＿0020897(0.33[0.11,1.40]vs 1.00[0.46,3.66],U=1 712,P＜0.01)and hsa＿circ＿0072745(0.49[0.22,1.60]vs 1.00[0.51,7.93],U=1 714,P＜0.01)were significantly lower than that in the control group.The ROC curve showed that the hsa＿circ＿0054403,hsa＿circ＿0020897,and hsa＿circ＿0072745 in serum EVs had high predictive value for RSA.Their AUCROC were 0.758,0.666,and 0.664,respectively,and the corresponding sensitivity and specificity were 47.5% and 100.0%,50.0% and 81.2%,and 62.5% and 70.3%,respectively.When the three circRNAs were combined,it's AUCROC,sensitivity,and specificity were 0.842,73.7%,and 79.7%,respectively.Conclusion The hsa＿circ＿0054403,hsa＿circ＿0020897,and hsa＿circ＿0072745 in serum EVs of RSA patients are abnormally expressed,which may serve as the potential markers for predicting RSA.

AIM:This study aims to investigate the impact of chronic kidney disease(CKD)on the growth,development,and cognitive function of offspring rats,and to evaluate the effects of esaxerenone(ESAX)intervention.METHODS:Thirty female non-pregnant Wistar rats were randomly assigned to three groups:sham operation+pregnancy(control group),UUO+pregnancy(model group),and UUO+pregnancy+esaxerenone(treatment group),with 10 rats in each group.CKD was induced in the UUO+pregnancy and UUO+pregnancy+esaxerenone groups by performing uni-lateral ureteral obstruction(UUO),while the sham operation+pregnancy group underwent a non-ligated and non-clipped ureter procedure.Rats in the treatment group received esaxerenone at a dosage of 1 mg·kg-1·d-1.Vaginal smears were per-formed weekly from the 8th week post-UUO to monitor the estrous cycle.Female and male rats in pre-estrus or estrus were paired in a 2∶1 ratio,and the day with the first appearance of sperm in vaginal smears was recorded as the first day of preg-nancy.Offspring were delivered 21 to 22 days post-gestation,and 10 offspring from each group were selected for further experimentation:sham-offspring(sham-offspr)group,UUO-offspro group,and esaxerenone treatment offspring(ESAX-offspr)group.At 21 days of age,offspring weight and tail length were measured.Behavioral tests,including the open field test,Y maze test,and Morris water maze test,assessed learning and memory abilities.Serum levels of aldosterone,5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT),and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)were measured using ELISA.Serum creati-nine(SCr)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)levels were assessed using conventional biochemical methods.Renal pathology was examined using Hematoxylin-Eosin(HE)staining.RESULTS:Offspring in the UUO-offspr group had reduced body weight and tail length compared to the sham-offspr group(P＜0.05).Behavioral tests indicated that exploration and memo-ry abilities were significantly impaired in the UUO-offspr group compared to the sham-offspr group(P＜0.05),while the ESAX-offspr group showed improved behavioral development compared to the UUO-offspr group(P＜0.05).ELISA results revealed decreased levels of serum 5-HT,BDNF,and aldosterone in the UUO-offspr group compared to the sham-offspr group(P＜0.01),with increased levels in the ESAX-offspr group(P＜0.05).Renal function tests showed elevated SCr and BUN levels in the UUO-offspr group compared to the sham-offspr group(P＜0.01),while levels in the ESAX-offspr group were reduced(P＜0.01).HE staining demonstrated mild tubular dilation and inflammatory cell infiltration in the UUO-offspr group,whereas the ESAX-offspr group had well-arranged tubules with reduced inflammation.CONCLU-SION:Chronic kidney disease adversely affects the growth,development,and cognitive function of offspring rats by 21 days of age.Esaxerenone intervention can mitigate these detrimental effects on growth,development,and cognitive abili-ties in offspring rats.

Objective To investigate the expression level and clinical significance of circular RNAs(circRNAs)in serum extracellular vesicles(EVs)of patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion(RSA).Methods The serum samples from 3 RSA patients and 3 nor-mal pregnant women(controls)visited our hospital from May 2021 to March 2023 were collected and the gene expression profiling chips were used to screen for differentially expressed circRNAs in serum EVs.Ten RSA patients and 10 normal pregnant women were enrolled in a training set and 80 RSA patients and 64 normal pregnant women were enrolled in a validation set.Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)was used to detect the levels of differentially expressed circRNAs between the two groups.The predictive value of differentially expressed circRNAs for RSA was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results A total of 57 563 circRNAs in serum EVs were detected by the gene expression profiling chips.Compared with the control group,3 516 circRNAs were differentially expressed in RSA patients,including 2 377 up-regulated and 1 139 down-regulated.The de-tection results of qRT-PCR in the training set and validation set showed that the expression levels of hsa＿circ＿0054403 in serum EVs of RSA patients(2.07[1.00,6.68])was significantly higher than that in the control group(1.00[0.42,1.46],U=1 239,P＜0.01),while those of hsa＿circ＿0020897(0.33[0.11,1.40]vs 1.00[0.46,3.66],U=1 712,P＜0.01)and hsa＿circ＿0072745(0.49[0.22,1.60]vs 1.00[0.51,7.93],U=1 714,P＜0.01)were significantly lower than that in the control group.The ROC curve showed that the hsa＿circ＿0054403,hsa＿circ＿0020897,and hsa＿circ＿0072745 in serum EVs had high predictive value for RSA.Their AUCROC were 0.758,0.666,and 0.664,respectively,and the corresponding sensitivity and specificity were 47.5% and 100.0%,50.0% and 81.2%,and 62.5% and 70.3%,respectively.When the three circRNAs were combined,it's AUCROC,sensitivity,and specificity were 0.842,73.7%,and 79.7%,respectively.Conclusion The hsa＿circ＿0054403,hsa＿circ＿0020897,and hsa＿circ＿0072745 in serum EVs of RSA patients are abnormally expressed,which may serve as the potential markers for predicting RSA.

AIM:This study aims to investigate the impact of chronic kidney disease(CKD)on the growth,development,and cognitive function of offspring rats,and to evaluate the effects of esaxerenone(ESAX)intervention.METHODS:Thirty female non-pregnant Wistar rats were randomly assigned to three groups:sham operation+pregnancy(control group),UUO+pregnancy(model group),and UUO+pregnancy+esaxerenone(treatment group),with 10 rats in each group.CKD was induced in the UUO+pregnancy and UUO+pregnancy+esaxerenone groups by performing uni-lateral ureteral obstruction(UUO),while the sham operation+pregnancy group underwent a non-ligated and non-clipped ureter procedure.Rats in the treatment group received esaxerenone at a dosage of 1 mg·kg-1·d-1.Vaginal smears were per-formed weekly from the 8th week post-UUO to monitor the estrous cycle.Female and male rats in pre-estrus or estrus were paired in a 2∶1 ratio,and the day with the first appearance of sperm in vaginal smears was recorded as the first day of preg-nancy.Offspring were delivered 21 to 22 days post-gestation,and 10 offspring from each group were selected for further experimentation:sham-offspring(sham-offspr)group,UUO-offspro group,and esaxerenone treatment offspring(ESAX-offspr)group.At 21 days of age,offspring weight and tail length were measured.Behavioral tests,including the open field test,Y maze test,and Morris water maze test,assessed learning and memory abilities.Serum levels of aldosterone,5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT),and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)were measured using ELISA.Serum creati-nine(SCr)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)levels were assessed using conventional biochemical methods.Renal pathology was examined using Hematoxylin-Eosin(HE)staining.RESULTS:Offspring in the UUO-offspr group had reduced body weight and tail length compared to the sham-offspr group(P＜0.05).Behavioral tests indicated that exploration and memo-ry abilities were significantly impaired in the UUO-offspr group compared to the sham-offspr group(P＜0.05),while the ESAX-offspr group showed improved behavioral development compared to the UUO-offspr group(P＜0.05).ELISA results revealed decreased levels of serum 5-HT,BDNF,and aldosterone in the UUO-offspr group compared to the sham-offspr group(P＜0.01),with increased levels in the ESAX-offspr group(P＜0.05).Renal function tests showed elevated SCr and BUN levels in the UUO-offspr group compared to the sham-offspr group(P＜0.01),while levels in the ESAX-offspr group were reduced(P＜0.01).HE staining demonstrated mild tubular dilation and inflammatory cell infiltration in the UUO-offspr group,whereas the ESAX-offspr group had well-arranged tubules with reduced inflammation.CONCLU-SION:Chronic kidney disease adversely affects the growth,development,and cognitive function of offspring rats by 21 days of age.Esaxerenone intervention can mitigate these detrimental effects on growth,development,and cognitive abili-ties in offspring rats.

AIM:To explore the mechanisms behind the inhibition of lymphangiogenesis in pregnant rats with obstructive nephropathy and assess the protective effects on kidney function.METHODS:Forty nulliparous female Wi-star rats were randomly assigned to four groups:sham operation,sham operation+pregnancy,model,and Esaxerenone groups,with 10 rats in each group.Renal injury was induced in the model and Esaxerenone groups via unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO).The other two groups underwent ureteral dissociation without ligation.Nine weeks post-UUO,female rats in the sham operation+pregnancy,model,and Esaxerenone groups were mated with male rats(2:1 ratio)to establish a rat model of obstructive nephropathy during pregnancy.Starting the day after UUO,rats in the Esaxerenone group re-ceived Esaxerenone at 1 mg·kg-1·d-1.On the 18th day of pregnancy,24-hour urine was collected using metabolic cages.The following day,the rats were sacrificed,serum samples collected,and the contralateral kidney removed.Blood urea ni-trogen(BUN)was measured using standard biochemical methods,and endogenous creatinine clearance rate(Ccr)was calculated.Kidney tissue pathology was assessed using HE,Masson,and Sirius red staining.Serum aldosterone levels were determined via ELISA.Immunohistochemistry,real-time PCR,and Western blot were employed to assess mineralo-corticoid receptor(MR)activation,lymphangiogenesis,signaling pathways,and fibrosis-related markers.RESULTS:Renal function tests revealed increased BUN levels and decreased Ccr in the model group(P<0.01).Pathological exami-nation showed dilated renal tubules,significant collagen deposition,and inflammatory cell infiltration in the model group.ELISA results indicated a significant increase in serum aldosterone levels in the model group(P<0.01).Immunohisto-chemistry showed enhanced nuclear translocation of MR in the kidneys of the model group post-activation.Western blot and real-time PCR demonstrated a marked increase in neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin(NGAL)expression in the model group(P<0.01).Additionally,the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C(VEGF-C)and its receptor VEGFR3 was significantly elevated in the renal tubulointerstitium of the model group,as shown by both immunohistochem-istry and real-time PCR(P<0.01).The PI3K/Akt signaling pathway was activated in the model group,with significantly increased phosphorylation levels observed primarily in renal tubular epithelial and interstitial cells(P<0.01).Collagen type III(Col III)expression,primarily in the renal tubulointerstitium,was also significantly upregulated in the model group,consistent with real-time PCR results(P<0.01).Esaxerenone treatment improved renal function,reduced patho-logical damage,inhibited aldosterone secretion,and downregulated the expression of MR,NGAL,VEGF-C,VEGFR3,phosphorylated PI3K,phosphorylated Akt,and Col III(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Esaxerenone mitigates aldosterone-induced MR activation,modulates the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway,reduces lymphangiogenesis in the contralateral kidney of pregnant rats with obstructive nephropathy,decreases collagen deposition,and delays the progression of renal intersti-tial fibrosis.

Objective To investigate the expression level and clinical significance of hsa_circ_0005075 in serum extracellular vesicles(EVs)of patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion(RSA).Methods Fourteen RSA patients and 14 normal pregnant women from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,Qilu Hospital of Shandong University were enrolled in a training set,and 64 RSA pa-tients and 48 normal pregnant women were enrolled in a validation set.The expression levels of hsa_circ_0005075 in serum EVs were detected by the quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR),and their correlation with clinical pathological parameters of RSA patients were analyzed.Serum anti-thyroid globulin antibody(A-TG)and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody(A-TPO)were detected by the elec-trochemiluminescence assay.Serum anticardiolipin(ACA)IgA,IgG,and IgM antibodies and anti-β2 glycoprotein 1(β2GP1)IgA,IgG,and IgM antibodies were determined by the chemiluminescence immunoassay.The correlation of these autoantibodies with the lev-els of hsa_circ_0005075 in serum EVs was analyzed by the Pearson correlation.The clinical application value of hsa_circ_0005075 in the diagnosis of RSA was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results The detection results of the training set showed that the expression levels of hsa_circ_0005075 in serum EVs of RSA patients(7.69[4.74,42.15])were significantly high-er than that in normal pregnant women(1.02[0.51,4.23],U=28,P＜0.01].Similarly,in the validation set,the expression levels of hsa_circ_0005075 in RSA patients(4.96[1.73,8.89])were also significantly higher than that in normal pregnant women(1.00[0.24,2.96],U=693,P＜0.01).The ROC curve showed that hsa_circ_0005075 in serum EVs had good diagnostic value for RSA(AUCROC=0.774),with 70.3%of sensitivity and75.0%of specificity.In addition,the expression level of hsa_circ_0005075 in serum EVs was significantly correlated with A-TPO(r=0.298,P＜0.05).Conclusion The hsa_circ_0005075 in serum EVs is highly ex-pressed in RSA patients,which may have a potential differential diagnostic value for the diagnosis of RSA.

Objective The application of flash glucose monitoring ( FGM) in type 1 diabetes could diminish the frequency of hypoglycaemia, however, how FGM improving the glycaemic control target (e.g. HbA1C) is waited to be investigated. Methods Seventy type 1 diabetic patients were recruited from December 2017 to July 2018 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. Their demographic data, use of FGM and HbA1C level were collected. Results We observed that type 1 diabetic patients wearing the FGM showed lower insulin dose [(0.562± 0.059)U/kg vs (0.772±0.049)U/kg, P=0.008)], shorter diabetic duration[2.0(0.8-6.0) vs 6.0(2.5-10), P=0.013], lower HbA1C value [6.8％(6.2％-7.7％) vs 8.0％(6.9％-9.4％), P=0.001]. Nevertheless, after adjusting the potential confounders, the level of HbA1C in patients wearing FGM was significantly lower than those without FGM. Moreover, it was independent of other factors, such as the dose of insulin and the insulin delivery method. Conclusion Type 1 diabetic patients wearing FGM had lower HbA1C value but it needs further follow-up to confirm the improvement of glycaemic control in type 1 diabetes with the use of FGM.

Objective To assess the preoperative detection of hepatic arterial anomalies in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy using multi-slice computed tomographic angiography (MSCTA).Methods Between January 2014 and December 2017,60 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy were included in this retrospective study.The clinical and imaging data were analyzed.The types of hepatic artery found by preoperative MSCTA based on the Michels classification were compared with the actual hepatic arterial anatomy detected during surgery.Results Hepatic arterial anomalies were detected by MSCTA in 12 of 60 patients (20.0％).Using the Michels classification,there were 3 patients with type Ⅱ (25.0％),6 patients with type Ⅲ (50.0％),1 patient with type Ⅵ (8.3％),and 1 patient with type Ⅸ (8.3％).One patient (8.3％,1/12) had an anomaly which was not included in the Michels typing.All the hepatic arterial anomalies detected by MSCTA corresponded to those found in surgery (12 patients).The rates of accuracy,sensitivity,and specificity of MSCTA were all 100％.Conclusions MSCTA provided a high accuracy in diagnosing hepatic arterial anomalies.MSCTA should be routinely used before pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Carbon nanotubes have become a kind of superior antitumor drug and gene carrier due to their special cylindrical structure with high loading capacity and easy penetration into the cell membrane. With the gradual development of researches on carbon nanotubes, their applications in tumor photothermal therapy and diagnosis have also become current research hotspots. However, chemical inertness and aggregation of carbon nanotubes have limited their clinical application. To overcome their drawbacks, researchers would functionalize the carbon nanotubes before further researches. In this article, applications of functionalized carbon nanotubes in cancer chemotherapy and gene therapy, photothermal therapy and cancer diagnosis are summarized.

Objective To establish reference values for blood pressure in cynomolgus monkeys in different ages.Methods The blood pressures and blood lipids indexes were detected in 521 cynomolgus monkeys using an American BECKMAN-CX4 automatic biochemical analyzer and a wrist electronic blood pressure monitor.Statistical tests were performed to analyze the data.Results Significant differences were found in blood pressure values of cynomolgus monkeys in different ages.Blood pressure values in the elderly group were higher than those of other groups.The morbidity of hypertension in the elderly group was higher than those of the other groups.Body mass index (BMI) in the hypertension group was higher than that of normal group in the same age.The incidence of hypertension in the elderly group with hyperlipemia was higher than that of other groups.Logistic regression analysis showed that age, BMI and hyperlipidemia in the hypertensive group were 1.435, 1.218, and 2.337 times higher than those of the normal group when predicting the risk of hypertension.Conclusions We have initially established reference values of blood pressure in cynomolgus monkeys in different ages.Age, BMI and hyperlipidemia are risk factors of spontaneous hypertension in cynomolgus monkeys, and the measurement of blood pressure may provide a basis for the screening of cynomolgus monkey model of spontaneous hypertensive and related research.