Pigeons show flocking and homing behaviors,which require characteristics including long-distance weight-bearing and continuous flight,with excellent navigation and spatial cognitive abilities.Pigeons have been widely used in animal robot research in recent years.Pigeon robots achieve motor behavior control by applying neural information intervention to specific neural targets in the pigeon's brain.This review summarizes research progress in pigeon robots based on the sensory system,motivation and emotional system or cortex and midbrain motor area respectively,according to the distribution of hierarchical multi-level neural regulatory targets in the pigeon's brain,with the aim of providing reference and guidance for further applied research into the use of pigeon robots in space perception,reconnaissance,and anti-terrorism search and rescue.

Background::Growth retardation is a common complication of chronic kidney disease in children, which can be partially relieved after renal transplantation. This study aimed to develop and validate a predictive model for growth patterns of children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) after kidney transplantation using machine learning algorithms based on genomic and clinical variables.Methods::A retrospective cohort of 110 children who received kidney transplants between May 2013 and September 2021 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were recruited for whole-exome sequencing (WES), and another 39 children who underwent transplant from October 2021 to March 2022 were enrolled for external validation. Based on previous studies, we comprehensively collected 729 height-related single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in exon regions. Seven machine learning algorithms and 10-fold cross-validation analysis were employed for model construction.Results::The 110 children were divided into two groups according to change in height-for-age Z-score. After univariate analysis, age and 19 SNPs were incorporated into the model and validated. The random forest model showed the best prediction efficacy with an accuracy of 0.8125 and an area under curve (AUC) of 0.924, and also performed well in the external validation cohort (accuracy, 0.7949; AUC, 0.796). Conclusions::A model with good performance for predicting post-transplant growth patterns in children based on SNPs and clinical variables was constructed and validated using machine learning algorithms. The model is expected to guide clinicians in the management of children after renal transplantation, including the use of growth hormone, glucocorticoid withdrawal, and nutritional supplementation, to alleviate growth retardation in children with ESRD.

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics of pediatric kidney transplant recipients reinfected with SARS-CoV-2.Method:The relevant clinical data were retrospectively reviewed for 191 pediatric kidney transplant recipients at a single center. Based upon whether or not there was a reinfection of SARS-CoV-2, they were assigned into two groups of single infection (group A, 127 cases) and reinfection (group B, 64 cases). Baseline profiles, clinical symptoms, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, markers of disease progression, immune status, respiratory support modalities, comorbidities and transplantation-related data were collected for comparing the inter-group differences during primary infection and between two infections in reinfected group.Result:As compared with group A, group B recipients had a higher proportion of age <12 years (71.9% vs 54.3%) ,unvaccinated (81.2% vs 66.1%) and such symptoms as high fever (34.4% vs 12.6% ), dry cough (43.8% vs 23.6% ) and chest tightness (14.1% vs 3.9 %) during primary infection (all P<0.05). During primary infection, the levels of IL-6 and CRP were higher in group B than in group A and inter-group difference was statistically significant (both P<0.01). The levels of IL-6 ( P<0.01), CRP ( P<0.01) and PCT ( P= 0.023) were lower in group B during reinfection than those during primary infection and the difference was statistically significant. During primary infection, the counts of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, NK and B lymphocyte of group B were lower than those of group A. And inter-group differences were statistically significant (all P<0.01). During reinfection, the levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, NK and B lymphocyte counts of group B spiked as compared with those of group A during primary infection and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.01). The levels of SCr and UA in group B differed insignificantly before and after primary infection with SARS-CoV-2. However, the differences before and after reinfection were statistically significant (both P<0.01) . Conclusion:Symptomatic and immunocompromised pediatric KT recipients during primary infection with SARS-CoV-2 are more prone to reinfection during subsequent epidemics. Though mildly symptomatic, reinfection may exacerbate impairments of graft kidney function in pediatric KT recipients.

Objective:To explore the characteristic pathological manifestations of non-HLA antibodies after kidney transplantation (KT) and examine the differences of MFT values of non-HLA antibodies in different pathological manifestations.Methods:The study was conducted on KT recipients at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from February 2021 to June 2023 with unexplained elevated serum creatinine. Patients undergoing pathological puncture and concurrent HLA antibody testing were included, focusing on those with DSA (MFI>4 000) and non-HLA antibody negativity. According to the detection results of non-HLA and HLA antibodies, they were assigned into two groups of non-HLA antibody positive (45 cases) and HLA-DSA positive (28 cases). Both non-HLA and HLA antibodies were detected by luminex single antigen microbeads, χ2, t or Mann-Whitney U nonparametric tests were utilized for examining the inter-group differences in pathological manifestations. The recipients with positive non-HLA antibodies were grouped according to the differential pathological features[microvascular inflammation group (22 cases) and non-microvascular inflammation group (23 cases), interstitial fibrosis group (39 cases) and non-interstitial fibrosis (9 cases) ]. MFI values of non-HLA antibodies were standardized and heat map was generated with R language ComplexHeatmap package. The differences of response values of non-HLA antibodies with different pathological manifestations were examined by rank-sum test. Results:The positive rates of microvascular inflammation were 48.9% (22/45) and 82.1% (23/28) in HLA-DSA positive and non-HLA antibody positive groups with statistical significance ( χ2=8.073, P=0.006). The positive rates of interstitial fibrosis in two groups were 80.8% (36/45) and 53.6% (15/28) and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=5.726, P=0.021). The relative levels of anti-arachnotoxin receptor 1 (Latrophilin 1, LPHN1), keratin 8 (KRT8), keratin 18 (KRT18) and Sjogren's syndrome antigen B (SSB) were higher in microvascular inflammation group than those in non-microvascular inflammation group. The differences were statistically significant [559.50 (262.00, 801.25) vs 285.00 (183.00, 460.00), P=0.024; 504.50 (369.5, 725.25) vs 317.00 (231.50, 458.00), P=0.014; 672.50 (454.50, 969.50) vs 399.00 (246.50, 772.50), P=0.030; 967.50 (482.00, 2 066.50) vs 399.00 (246.50, 772.50), P=0.033]. The relative levels of anti-cyclic citrullinate peptide (CCP), colony-stimulating factor 2 (CSF2), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1) and collagen Ⅳ antibody were higher in interstitial fibrosis group than those in non-interstitial fibrosis group with statistical significance [100.00 (79.88, 167.50) vs 64.50 (37.00, 89.00), P=0.016; 146.25 (93.38, 244.75) vs 87.00 (66.00, 105.00), P=0.041; 132.50 (106.38, 229.50) vs 95.00 (55.00, 125.00), P=0.037; 432.50 (280.75, 653.75) vs 208.00 (192.00, 301.00), P=0.028]. Conclusions:As compared with HLA-DSA, the characteristic pathological manifestations of non-HLA antibodies post-KT include a lower incidence of microvascular inflammation and a higher incidence of interstitial fibrosis. For non-HLA antibody response values of characteristic pathological manifestations, the expressions of different non-HLA antibodies vary statistically.

Objective:To explore the efficacy and safety of low-dose rabbit anti-human thymocyte globulin (rATG) for induction therapy of kidney transplantation (KT) in children.Methods:From October 2018 to May 2021, clinical data were reviewed retrospectively for 77 pediatric KT recipients on a low-dose rATG induction protocol.Recipient/graft survival rate, renal function recovery, acute rejection (AR) and adverse reactions were observed at 1 year post-operation.The postoperative changes of renal function were examined by Friedman’s test; According to the preoperative baseline data, Pearson’s Chi-square or Fisher's exact test was utilized for examining the influencing factors of postoperative AR.Results:A total of 16(20.78%) recipients had AR within the first 6 months post-operation.The incidence of delayed graft function (DGF) was 14.29%(11/77); The incidence of severe infection post-transplantation 18.18%(14/77), the infection rate of BK virus 25.97%(20/77) and the incidence of neutropenia 32.47%(25/77).The recipient/graft survival rate at 1 year post-operation was 97.40%(75/77) and 94.81%(73/77) respectively.Chi-square test indicated that the incidence of postoperative infection in children with body weight ≤30 kg and height ≤138 cm was 28.95%(11/38) and 27.50%(11/40) respectively, Both were higher than 7.69%(3/39) and 8.11%(3/37) of children with body weight >30 kg and height>138 cm.The difference between groups was statistically significant ( P=0.016 and 0.028). Conclusions:Low-dose rATG is generally excellent in preventing AR in pediatric KT recipients.And the risk of related AR may be lower.The infection rate of recipients with decent preoperative development is low.

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of vascular interventional therapy in children with transplantation renal artery stenosis(TRAS).Methods:From January 2013 to September 2021, retrospective analysis was performed for clinical data of 238 TRAS children.Peak systolic velocity(PSV)of transplant renal artery, interlobular artery PSV, transplant renal artery PSV/ interlobular artery PSV(post PSV ratio)and serum creatinine level before and after vascular interventional therapy and at the last follow-up were compared.Results:Six pediatric kidney transplantation recipients were diagnosed as TRAS.The median operative age was 12(9-17)years, the median postoperative time to diagnosing TRAS 4(1.7-18.0)months and the median follow-up period 6.6(2.5-8.0)years.All of them received vascular interventional therapy of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty(PTA, n=5)and stent angioplasty( n=1). The serum creatinine pre-treatment with vascular interventional therapy was significantly higher than baseline serum creatinine level at discharge(200.8±88.5)vs(75.2±27.9)μmol/L, P=0.025 and decreased to(103.8±44.7)μmol/L at Month 1 post-treatment( P=0.196)and(98.7±30.2)μmol/L at the last follow-up( P=0.115). Comparing with internal diameter of grafted renal artery anastomosis site(2.6±0.6 mm)pre-treatment with vascular interventional therapy, significant changes occurred at 24 h post-treatment(3.8±0.5 mm)and at the last follow-up(4.1±0.8 mm)(all P=0.027). In addition, PSV and post PSV ratio of transplanted renal artery at 24 h post-treatment(163±45.0 cm/s, 6.5±2.2)and at the last follow-up(184.7±80.8 cm/s, 5.4±2.0)were significantly lower than that before vascular interventional therapy(356.5±77.9 cm/s, 18.0±5.8)and interlobular artery PSV was significantly higher than that before vascular interventional therapy( P=0.024, P=0.032, respectively). During follow-ups, no restenosis or thrombosis occurred in transplanted renal arteries. Conclusions:PTA or stent angioplasty for TRAS children is technically feasible with low restenosis rate and relatively satisfactory mid/long-term outcomes.

Objective:To discuss the effect and prognostic factors of immediate facial nerve rehabilitation in malignant parotid gland tumor surgery.Methods:The patients with malignant parotid gland tumor who underwent facial nerve rehabilitation surgery in Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology from January 2004 to July 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Their demographic characteristics, preoperative and postoperative facial nerve function according to the House-Brackmann (HB) facial nerve grading system from HB grade Ⅰ to HB grade Ⅵ, injury sites of facial nerve including the trunks injury and branches injury, surgical timing including immediate rehabilitation and elective rehabilitation and rehabilitation methods such as facial nerve anastomosis, nerve transplantation, nerve transfer and muscle flap suspension were recorded. Patients were divided into two groups: satisfactory outcomes with HB grades Ⅰ-Ⅲ and unsatisfactory outcomes with HB grades Ⅳ-Ⅵ, and the factors that may affect the prognosis of facial nerve function were statistically analyzed. T-test was used to compare measurement data, chi-square test or Fisher’s precision probability test was used to compare count data. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:Eighty-nine patients were included in the study, including 50 males and 39 females, aged 9-82 years, the median age was 49.0 years. Preoperative facial nerve function outcomes were HB Ⅰ ( n=57), HB Ⅱ ( n=5), HB Ⅲ ( n=8), HB Ⅳ ( n=2), HB Ⅴ ( n=15) and HB Ⅵ ( n=2). Fifty-seven patients underwent immediate rehabilitation and 32 patients received elective rehabilitation. In 53 cases, the main trunk and/or the temporal and cervical trunk were injured, and 36 cases were branches injury. Facial nerve anastomosis was performed in 35 cases, 39 cases required nerve transplantation, 12 cases underwent nerve transfer, and 3 cases underwent muscle flap suspension. The follow-up time was 6-72 months. Postoperative facial nerve function outcomes were HB Ⅰ ( n=6), HB Ⅱ ( n=17), HB Ⅲ ( n=26), HB Ⅳ ( n=27), and HB Ⅴ ( n=13). Forty-nine cases were classified as group with postoperative HB grades Ⅰ-Ⅲ, and 40 cases were classified as group with postoperative HB grades Ⅳ-Ⅵ. Statistical analysis showed that there was no significant difference in terms of age and gender between two groups ( P>0.05). Among the patients with postoperative HB grades Ⅰ-Ⅲ, 73.5% (36/49) of the patients had immediate rehabilitation, 36.7% (18/49) of the patients had injury of the nerve trunks, 89.8% (44/49) of the patients had preoperative HB grades Ⅰ-Ⅲ, and 59.2% (29/49) of the patients had nerve anastomosis. Among the patients with postoperative HB grades Ⅳ-Ⅵ, 52.5% (21/40) of the patients had immediate rehabilitation, 87.5% (35/40) of the patients had injury of the nerve trunks, 65.0% (26/40) of the patients had preoperative HB gradesⅠ-Ⅲ, and 15.0% (6/40) of the patients had nerve anastomosis were in the group. There were statistically significant differences between the two groups ( P<0.05 or <0.01). Conclusions:Immediate reconstruction of the facial nerve defect during the operation of malignant parotid gland tumor can obtain better result. Furthermore, injury sites of facial nerve may affect the prognosis of facial nerve function as well.

Objective:To discuss the effect and prognostic factors of immediate facial nerve rehabilitation in malignant parotid gland tumor surgery.Methods:The patients with malignant parotid gland tumor who underwent facial nerve rehabilitation surgery in Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology from January 2004 to July 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Their demographic characteristics, preoperative and postoperative facial nerve function according to the House-Brackmann (HB) facial nerve grading system from HB grade Ⅰ to HB grade Ⅵ, injury sites of facial nerve including the trunks injury and branches injury, surgical timing including immediate rehabilitation and elective rehabilitation and rehabilitation methods such as facial nerve anastomosis, nerve transplantation, nerve transfer and muscle flap suspension were recorded. Patients were divided into two groups: satisfactory outcomes with HB grades Ⅰ-Ⅲ and unsatisfactory outcomes with HB grades Ⅳ-Ⅵ, and the factors that may affect the prognosis of facial nerve function were statistically analyzed. T-test was used to compare measurement data, chi-square test or Fisher’s precision probability test was used to compare count data. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:Eighty-nine patients were included in the study, including 50 males and 39 females, aged 9-82 years, the median age was 49.0 years. Preoperative facial nerve function outcomes were HB Ⅰ ( n=57), HB Ⅱ ( n=5), HB Ⅲ ( n=8), HB Ⅳ ( n=2), HB Ⅴ ( n=15) and HB Ⅵ ( n=2). Fifty-seven patients underwent immediate rehabilitation and 32 patients received elective rehabilitation. In 53 cases, the main trunk and/or the temporal and cervical trunk were injured, and 36 cases were branches injury. Facial nerve anastomosis was performed in 35 cases, 39 cases required nerve transplantation, 12 cases underwent nerve transfer, and 3 cases underwent muscle flap suspension. The follow-up time was 6-72 months. Postoperative facial nerve function outcomes were HB Ⅰ ( n=6), HB Ⅱ ( n=17), HB Ⅲ ( n=26), HB Ⅳ ( n=27), and HB Ⅴ ( n=13). Forty-nine cases were classified as group with postoperative HB grades Ⅰ-Ⅲ, and 40 cases were classified as group with postoperative HB grades Ⅳ-Ⅵ. Statistical analysis showed that there was no significant difference in terms of age and gender between two groups ( P>0.05). Among the patients with postoperative HB grades Ⅰ-Ⅲ, 73.5% (36/49) of the patients had immediate rehabilitation, 36.7% (18/49) of the patients had injury of the nerve trunks, 89.8% (44/49) of the patients had preoperative HB grades Ⅰ-Ⅲ, and 59.2% (29/49) of the patients had nerve anastomosis. Among the patients with postoperative HB grades Ⅳ-Ⅵ, 52.5% (21/40) of the patients had immediate rehabilitation, 87.5% (35/40) of the patients had injury of the nerve trunks, 65.0% (26/40) of the patients had preoperative HB gradesⅠ-Ⅲ, and 15.0% (6/40) of the patients had nerve anastomosis were in the group. There were statistically significant differences between the two groups ( P<0.05 or <0.01). Conclusions:Immediate reconstruction of the facial nerve defect during the operation of malignant parotid gland tumor can obtain better result. Furthermore, injury sites of facial nerve may affect the prognosis of facial nerve function as well.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of unilateral pediatric kidney donation for adult kidney transplantation.Methods:Retrospective analysis was conducted on the cases of children who donated unilateral donor kidney for adult kidney transplantation recipients in our hospital, and those who were followed up for more than three years were included in this study. The body weight of the recipients in group A was ≤50 kg, and the body weight of the recipients in group B was ≤70 kg.The recipients were divided into 0-5 year old donor group (group A) and 6-17 year old donor group (B group). Clinical data, recipient/kidney survival, graft function and growth, and complications of the recipient were analyzed.Results:A total of 45 adult recipients were enrolled, including 12 in group A and 33 in group B. The renal survival rate at 3 years after operation was (100%, 96.9%)/(91.6%, 93.9%). One week after the operation, the early postoperative recovery of renal function in group B was better than that in group A, and the difference of serum creatinine was statistically significant ( P<0.05), while the difference of serum creatinine in other postoperative follow-up time points was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). Within a year, both groups of grafts continued to grow, reaching adult levels in one year. There was no statistical significance in the incidence of complications between the two groups ( P>0.05). The incidence of protein in the two groups was 33.3% and 6.1%, respectively, 1 case in each group still had proteinuria at 1 year after surgery, and only 1 case in the infant donor kidney recipient in group A had proteinuria at 3 years after surgery. Conclusions:Unilateral donor kidney transplantation from children can provide good results for adult patients with uremia by selecting suitable donors according to the weight of the recipient.

Objective:To explore whether hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor (HIF-PHI) preconditioning can relieve inflammation, reduce cell apoptosis and alleviate renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice.Methods:Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups of sham operation (sham), ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) and IRI+ HIF-PHI ( n=6 each). In IRI+ HIF-PHI group, mice received an intragastric dose of roxadustat (20 mg/kg) every other day one week before. After renal IRI modeling, serum creatinine (SCr) level was monitored and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining employed for observing the pathological changes of renal tissue and scoring injury degree. Apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells was assessed by terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was utilized for detecting the mRNA expressions of HIF-1α, TNF-α and IL-1β in renal tissues. Immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry were employed for detecting the expressions of hypoxia-inducing factor 1α (HIF-1α), inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β). Results:As compared with IRI group, SCr level declined markedly in IRI+ HIF-PHI group ( P<0.01), renal tissue injury improved markedly, semi-quantitative score of renal tubule injury dropped ( P<0.01), apoptotic cells decreased ( P<0.01) and the expression levels of TNF-α and IL-1β declined ( P<0.05). Compared with sham group, the mRNA expression of HIF-1α was not significantly elevated in IRI group ( P>0.05). Immunofluorescence showed that the expression of HIF-1α in medulla of renal tissues was up-regulated in IRI group, but not markedly in cortex. While the mRNA expression of HIF-1α was markedly up-regulated after a pretreatment of HIF-PHI ( P<0.05), the expression spiked markedly in renal cortex, but was weaker in medulla than that in IRI group. Conclusions:HIF-PHI can boost the expression level of HIF-1α, reduce the expression of inflammatory factors, relieve the inflammatory response, reduce cell apoptosis, improve renal function and alleviate renal ischemia reperfusion injury.