1.A machine learning-based depression recognition model integrating spirit-expression features from traditional Chinese medicine
Minghui YAO ; Rongrong ZHU ; Peng QIAN ; Huilin LIU ; Xirong SUN ; Limin GAO ; Fufeng LI
Digital Chinese Medicine 2026;9(1):68-79
Objective:
To develop a depression recognition model by integrating the spirit-expression diagnostic framework of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with machine learning algorithms. The proposed model seeks to establish a TCM-informed tool for early depression screening, thereby bridging traditional diagnostic principles with modern computational approaches.
Methods:
The study included patients with depression who visited the Shanghai Pudong New Area Mental Health Center from October 1, 2022 to October 1, 2023, as well as students and teachers from Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine during the same period as the healthy control group. Videos of 3 – 10 s were captured using a Xiaomi Pad 5, and the TCM spirit and expressions were determined by TCM experts (at least 3 out of 5 experts agreed to determine the category of TCM spirit and expressions). Basic information, facial images, and interview information were collected through a portable TCM intelligent analysis and diagnosis device, and facial diagnosis features were extracted using the Open CV computer vision library technology. Statistical analysis methods such as parametric and non-parametric tests were used to analyze the baseline data, TCM spirit and expression features, and facial diagnosis feature parameters of the two groups, to compare the differences in TCM spirit and expression and facial features. Five machine learning algorithms, including extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), decision tree (DT), Bernoulli naive Bayes (BernoulliNB), support vector machine (SVM), and k-nearest neighbor (KNN) classification, were used to construct a depression recognition model based on the fusion of TCM spirit and expression features. The performance of the model was evaluated using metrics such as accuracy, precision, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC). The model results were explained using the Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP).
Results:
A total of 93 depression patients and 87 healthy individuals were ultimately included in this study. There was no statistically significant difference in the baseline characteristics between the two groups (P > 0.05). The differences in the characteristics of the spirit and expressions in TCM and facial features between the two groups were shown as follows. (i) Quantispirit facial analysis revealed that depression patients exhibited significantly reduced facial spirit and luminance compared with healthy controls (P < 0.05), with characteristic features such as sad expressions, facial erythema, and changes in the lip color ranging from erythematous to cyanotic. (ii) Depressed patients exhibited significantly lower values in facial complexion L, lip L, and a values, and gloss index, but higher values in facial complexion a and b, lip b, low gloss index, and matte index (all P < 0.05). (iii) The results of multiple models show that the XGBoost-based depression recognition model, integrating the TCM “spirit-expression” diagnostic framework, achieved an accuracy of 98.61% and significantly outperformed four benchmark algorithms—DT, BernoulliNB, SVM, and KNN (P < 0.01). (iv) The SHAP visualization results show that in the recognition model constructed by the XGBoost algorithm, the complexion b value, categories of facial spirit, high gloss index, low gloss index, categories of facial expression and texture features have significant contribution to the model.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates that integrating TCM spirit-expression diagnostic features with machine learning enables the construction of a high-precision depression detection model, offering a novel paradigm for objective depression diagnosis.
2.Changes and Trends in the microbiological-related standards in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2025 Edition
FAN Yiling ; ZHU Ran ; YANG Yan ; JIANG Bo ; SONG Minghui ; WANG Jing ; LI Qiongqiong ; LI Gaomin ; WANG Shujuan ; SHAO Hong ; MA Shihong ; CAO Xiaoyun ; HU Changqin ; MA Shuangcheng, ; YANG Meicheng
Drug Standards of China 2025;26(1):093-098
Objective: To systematically analyze the revisions content and technological development trends of microbiological standards in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (ChP) 2025 Edition, and explore its novel requirements in risk-based pharmaceutical product lifecycle management.
Methods: A comprehensive review was conducted on 26 microbiological-related standards to summarize the revision directions and scientific implications from perspectives including the revision overview, international harmonization of microbiological standards, risk-based quality management system, and novel tools and methods with Chinese characteristics.
Results: The ChP 2025 edition demonstrates three prominent features in microbiological-related standards: enhanced international harmonization, introduced emerging molecular biological technologies, and established a risk-based microbiological quality control system.
Conclusion: The new edition of the Pharmacopoeia has systematically constructed a microbiological standard system, which significantly improves the scientificity, standardization and applicability of the standards, providing a crucial support for advancing the microbiological quality control in pharmaceutical industries of China.
3.The characteristics and mechanism of dynamic changes of different components in microenvironment in regulating the progression of liver fibrosis
Huilan ZHAO ; Zongxu LIU ; Shumin LI ; Zhifeng WANG ; Minghui LIU ; Qian SHENG ; Kunbin KE ; Xinan SHI
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(4):755-760
The liver has diverse functions such as metabolism, detoxification, and immune defense, and the maintenance of hepatic microenvironment homeostasis is crucial for overall bodily health. The hepatic microenvironment consists of the components such as parenchymal cells, non-parenchymal cells, and non-cellular components. Chronic inflammatory responses induced by various etiological factors may promote the formation and progression of liver fibrosis. During the dynamic progression of liver fibrosis, from the early to advanced stages, various components within the hepatic microenvironment undergo a series of changes, which can promote the malignant progression of liver fibrosis. An in-depth exploration of the mechanisms underlying such changes in each component of the liver fibrosis microenvironment is of great significance for understanding the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis and discovering potential treatment strategies.
4.Effect of Bushen Huoxue Granules (补肾活血颗粒) on the Nrf2/NLRP3 Inflammasome Axis in the Brain Substantia Nigra of Parkinson's Disease Model Mice
Qi CHEN ; Peng WANG ; Yingfan CHEN ; Shaodan LI ; Minghui YANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(4):390-398
ObjectiveTo explore the possible mechanism of action of Bushen Huoxue Granules (补肾活血颗粒, BHG) in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) through the Nrf2/NLRP3 inflammasome axis. MethodsA total of 84 male C57/BL 6 mice were randomly divided into blank group, model group, Madopar group, dimethyl fumarate group, and low-, medium, and high-dose BHG group, with 12 mice in each group. Except for the blank group, all groups were induced into PD models by intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) at a concentration of 30 mg/ml for 7 consecutive days. The blank group received an equal volume of saline. After model establishment, the low-, medium, and high-dose BHG groups were treated with 1.5, 3, and 6 g/(kg·d) of the BHG by gavage, respectively. The Madopar group was given 0.113 g/(kg·d) of Madopar tablets by gavage, and the dimethyl fumarate group was given 50 mg/(kg·d) of dimethyl fumarate solution. The blank group and the model group were given 10 ml/(kg·d) of distilled water by gavage. Gavage was administered once daily for 14 days. Behavioral changes were evaluated using the open field test (total distance, central area distance, and average speed), rotarod test (time on the rod), and climbing pole test (climbing time). Serum levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-18 (IL-18), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured by ELISA. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression in the brain substantia nigra. Immunofluorescence was used to detect α-synuclein (α-syn) expression. Western Blot was used to detect Nrf2, NLRP3, Caspase-1, and α-syn protein levels in the brain substantia nigra. RT-PCR was used to detect mRNA expression levels of Nrf2, NLRP3, and Caspase-1 in the brain substantia nigra. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group showed decreased total distance, central area distance, and average speed, reduced time on the rotarod, prolonged climbing time, reduced TH expression, increased α-syn expression, decreased Nrf2 protein and mRNA expression, increased NLRP3 and Caspase-1 protein and mRNA expression, and elevated serum IL-1β, IL-18, and MPO levels (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, all drug interventions significantly improved the above indicators (P<0.05). There was no significant differences in all indicators between the high-dose BHG group and the Madopar group (P>0.05). Compared with the dimethyl fumarate group, the medium and high-dose BHG groups showed increased Nrf2 mRNA expression in the brain substantia nigra (P<0.05). Compared with the high-dose BHG group, the low-dose group showed decreased total distance, central area distance, and average speed, reduced serum IL-18 levels, decreased α-syn, Nrf2, NLRP3, and Caspase-1 protein levels, and lower Nrf2 mRNA expression (P<0.05). ConclusionThe mechanism by which BHG treat PD may involve activating the Nrf2/NLRP3 inflammasome axis in the brain substantia nigra, thereby reducing neuroinflammation and α-syn aggregation. The high-dose group showed the best effects.
5.Characteristics of the Five Tones of Parkinson's Disease Patients Based on the Theory of "Five-Viscera Phonology":A Case-Control Study
Wenxue YANG ; Xuelin WANG ; Min LI ; Shaodan LI ; Minghui YANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(2):165-169
ObjectiveTo study the characteristics of the five tones of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients based on the theory of "five-viscera phonology", and provide references for the syndrome differentiation and treatment of PD. MethodsA total of 272 cases of PD patients were collected as the PD group, and 240 individuals, including patient family members and hospital staff, were recruited as the control group. The 25-tone analyzer was used to collect the five-tone characteristics of both PD patients and control group participants. The participants were then stratified into three age groups, 41~55, 56~70, and 71~85 years old, and categorized by gender (male and female) for analysis. The frequency and composition ratio of the five tones were analyzed for both groups across the different age ranges and genders. Additionally, the average voice frequency of each participant was calculated to compare differences between groups, stratified by age range and gender. ResultsIn the 41~55 and 56~70 age groups, male participants in the PD group and the control group exhibited the highest frequency of Yu (羽) tone, with the PD group showing a significantly higher composition ratio of Yu tone compared to the control group (P<0.05); for males in the 56~70 age group, the composition ratios of Shang (商) and Zhi (徵) tone in the PD group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). For males in the 71~85 age group, both the PD group and the control group had the highest frequency of Yu tone, but there was no statistically significant difference in the composition ratios of the five tones between groups (P>0.05). For female participants in the PD group across all age groups, Yu tone was the most frequent, whereas for the control group, Jue (角) tone was the most frequent in all age groups, and the composition ratio of Yu tone in the PD group was significantly higher than that in the control group across all age groups (P<0.05); in the 56~70 age group, the composition ratio of Jue tone was lower in the PD group compared to that in the control group (P<0.05). Regarding voice frequency, males in the PD group aged 41~55 and 56~70 had higher voice frequency than those in the control group of the same age range, and similarly, females in the PD group aged 56~70 and 71~85 had higher voice frequency than their counterparts in the control group (P<0.05). ConclusionPD patients have a voice with a higher frequency and an increased proportion of Yu tone in their five-tone distribution. According to the theory of five-viscera phonology, PD patients may have disease mechanism of kidney essence deficiency.
6.Patient-derived xenograft model: Applications and challenges in liver cancer.
Shuangshuang DOU ; Yunfei HUO ; Minghui GAO ; Quanwei LI ; Buxin KOU ; Mengyin CHAI ; Xiaoni LIU
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(11):1313-1323
Liver cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. Currently, the available treatment methods cannot fully control its recurrence and mortality rate. Establishing appropriate animal models for liver cancer is crucial for developing new treatment technologies and strategies. The patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model preserves the tumor's microenvironment and heterogeneity, which makes it advantageous for biological research, drug evaluation, personalized medicine, and other purposes. This article reviews the development, preparation techniques, application fields, and challenges of PDX models in liver cancer, providing insights for the research and exploration of PDX models in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies of liver cancer.
Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy*
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Animals
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Humans
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Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays/methods*
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Mice
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Disease Models, Animal
7.Correlation between blood pressure trajectory and hearing threshold among workers exposed to occupational noise in a city's rail transit enterprise
Hongting ZHAN ; Qia WANG ; Xinmei CHEN ; Zhiping LIANG ; Cong LI ; Danyan CAO ; Aichu YANG ; Minghui XIAO
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(6):724-731
Background Hypertension is one of the chronic diseases with the highest prevalence in China, and a history of hypertension may potentially exacerbate hearing loss. Investigating the association between long-term blood pressure trends and hearing thresholds could contribute to hearing protection efforts for occupationally noise-exposed populations. Objective By investigating hearing thresholds and blood pressure levels among occupationally noise-exposed workers in an urban rail transit enterprise, and conducting a comprehensive analysis of the association between long-term blood pressure changes and hearing thresholds, to provide data references for health management strategies targeting occupationally noise-exposed workers. Methods Workers exposed to occupational noise at a rail transit enterprise were enrolled as study subjects and underwent pure-tone audiometry. Group-based trajectory modeling was employed to identify blood pressure trajectories. Categorical data were compared using chi-square tests, while normally distributed continuous variables were analyzed via t-tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) were subsequently applied toexamine associations between these trajectory groups and high-frequency hearing thresholds. Results Among 2 002 occupationally noise-exposed workers, the median (P25, P75) age was 32 (28, 35) years, with a median (P25, P75) working tenure of 7 (3, 10) years. In 2019, the positive hypertension rate was 9.04%, with a mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) of (122.97±11.60) mmHg and a mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of (76.37±9.02) mmHg. The hearing loss prevalence was 10.1%, showing bilateral high-frequency average hearing thresholds of (17.18±8.71) dB and speech-frequency average thresholds of (13.79±3.46) dB. Three distinct trajectory groups were identified for both SBP and DBP. Compared with other trajectory groups, the high-stable DBP group exhibited significantly higher hearing loss prevalence (χ2=6.34, P=0.042) and elevated high-frequency hearing thresholds (all Ps<0.05). Specifically, within the 30-39 age subgroup, the moderate-stable DBP group demonstrated 1.96 dB lower high-frequency thresholds than the high-stable group [β(95%CI): −1.96 (−3.61, −0.32), P=0.020]. Conclusion Among occupationally noise-exposed workers in a municipal rail transit enterprise, DBP trajectories demonstrated a positive association with high-frequency hearing thresholds. Notably, in young and middle-aged occupationally noise-exposed populations, DBP may exert a more critical influence than SBP on the progression of hearing loss.
8.Changes and Trends in the microbiological-related standards in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2025 Edition
Yiling FAN ; Ran ZHU ; Yan YANG ; Bo JIANG ; Minghui SONG ; Jing WANG ; Qiongqiong LI ; Gaomin LI ; Shujuan WANG ; Hong SHAO ; Shihong MA ; Xiaoyun CAO ; Changqin HU ; Shuangcheng MA ; Meicheng YANG ; Jun ZHANG
Drug Standards of China 2025;26(1):93-98
Objective:To systematically analyze the revisions content and technological development trends of microbiological standards in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(ChP)2025 Edition,and explore its novel requirements in risk-based pharmaceutical product lifecycle management.Methods:A comprehensive review was conducted on 26 microbiological-related standards to summarize the revision directions and scientific implications from perspectives including the revision overview,international harmonization of microbiological standards,risk-based quality man-agement system,and novel tools and methods with Chinese characteristics.Results:The ChP 2025 edition demon-strates three prominent features in microbiological-related standards:enhanced international harmonization,intro-duced emerging molecular biological technologies,and established a risk-based microbiological quality control sys-tem.Conclusion:The new edition of the Pharmacopoeia has systematically constructed a microbiological standard system,which significantly improves the scientificity,standardization and applicability of the standards,providing a crucial support for advancing the microbiological quality control in pharmaceutical industries of China.
9.The analysis of risk factors for death in patients with acute kidney injury undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy after cardiac surgery
Minghui LI ; Wenwen XU ; Min FENG ; Yanna DOU
Chinese Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;41(2):82-90
Objective:This study intends to analyze the differences of indexes between the death group and the survival group of CSA-AKI patients undergoing CRRT before, during, and after heart surgery, and at the beginning and the end of CRRT, and to study the risk factors affecting the death of patients, so as to provide guidance for improving the prognosis.Methods:From January 2020 to October 2022, a total of 101 patients (59 in the mortality group and 42 in the survival group) were admitted to the Department of Cardiac Surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University for cardiac surgery complicated by acute kidney injury necessitating postoperative continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). A retrospective analysis of clinical data was conducted to ascertain the risk factors influencing the 30-day mortality rate.Results:The postoperative complications of the two groups showed that the mortality group had a large proportion of MODS and LCOS ( P<0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that intraoperative mean arterial depression, high SOFA score at the beginning of CRRT, high APACHE Ⅱ score at the beginning of CRRT, and low platelet at the end of CRRT were independent risk factors for death( P<0.05). ROC curve analysis shows that SOFA score and APACHE Ⅱ score at the beginning of CRRT have predictive value for the 30-day death risk of CSA-AKI patients receiving CRRT. Conclusion:Low intraoperative MAP, high SOFA and APACHE Ⅱ scores at the beginning of CRRT, and low platelets at the end of CRRT were independent risk factors for 30-day mortality risk in patients with CSA-AKI undergoing CRRT.
10.Validity and Reliability Analysis of Evaluation Scale of Kidney Deficiency and Blood Stasis Syndrome in Parkinson Disease
Xiuzhong QI ; Min LI ; Shaodan LI ; Minghui YANG
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(9):149-153
Objective To evaluate the reliability,validity and response of evaluation scale of kidney deficiency and blood stasis syndrome in Parkinson disease(PD).Methods A total of 225 patients with PD and 30 healthy people of the same age were evaluated with the PD kidney deficiency and blood stasis syndrome evaluation scale with 18 syndrome items constructed in the previous study.Exploratory factor analysis was used to evaluate the structural validity of the scale;Cronbach's α coefficient was used to evaluate the internal consistency reliability of the scale;correlation coefficient analysis was used to evaluate the retest reliability and content validity of the scale;t test was used to evaluate the response of the scale.Results The cumulative variance contribution rate of five common factors extracted by exploratory factor analysis was 61.162%,and the factor load coefficients of each item were greater than 0.450;the overall Cronbach's α value of the scale was 0.863;the total score of the scale and the correlation coefficient of the scores of each dimension were greater than 0.6(P<0.01);there were significant differences in the scores of each dimension item between PD patients before and after treatment and healthy peers(P<0.01).Conclusion Evaluation scale for PD kidney deficiency and blood stasis syndrome has good reliability,validity and response,which can be applied to the quantitative scoring of kidney deficiency and blood stasis syndrome of PD and the efficacy evaluation of TCM treatment for PD patients.

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