1.Rapid Qualitative Analysis Methods and Their Application in Implementation Science
Xuehan WEI ; Xiaoying CHEN ; Runze WANG ; Yingqian ZHANG ; Xuehan LIU ; Jin SUN ; Guoyan YANG ; Wei XIAO ; Chunli LU
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(2):546-556
Implementation science (IS) aims to systematically analyze and address the real-world gaps from evidence to practice and the influencing factors of the context. It is necessary to carry out qualitative research to gather relevant implementation outcomes. Nevertheless, traditional qualitative analysis has issues such as consuming a great deal of time and energy, and it is unable to promptly provide the crucial data required for implementation science research. The Rapid Qualitative Analysis (RQA) method, through semi-structured interviews and the adoption of techniques such as immediate data condensation and matrix analysis, can effectively shorten the cycle of qualitative data collection and data processing. RQA can promptly identify social determinants of health such as structural barriers, facilitators, and the behavioral characteristics of target groups. It provides a real-time basis for public health decision-making, the interpretation of complex social phenomena, and the process and effectiveness evaluation of research projects. Although RQA is difficult to conduct in-depth theoretical analysis based on grounded theory, its efficiency and flexibility make it the preferred tool for large-scale and time-sensitive research. Thus, it has been widely applied in implementation science research. This paper sorts out the core concepts and commonly used technical methods of RQA, as well as the differences between RQA and traditional qualitative analysis. It also explores the applications of RQA in intervention optimization, process evaluation, and implementation outcome evaluation. By integrating specific cases, this paper clarifies its application value in the field of implementation science. In the future, it is advisable to explore the integration of RQA with technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data, in order to bridge the gap between the transformation of scientific research achievements into practice. Under circumstances of limited resources or tight time constraints, RQA can be used to efficiently conduct implementation science research, providing convenient and scientific methodological and technical support for accelerating evidence-based practice.
2.Challenges and Recommendations for Implementing Key Technologies in Decentralized Clinical Trials of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Runze WANG ; Xuehan WEI ; Xiaoying CHEN ; Yingqian ZHANG ; Jin SUN ; Chunli LU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(9):926-934
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinical trials face challenges such as low participant compliance, insufficient geographical coverage, and cost-effectiveness imbalances. Decentralized clinical trials (DCT), enabled by digital technology for remote data collection and monitoring, offer a new direction for TCM clinical trial research. This article systematically reviews three novel clinical trial design models. Combining the holistic concept and indivi-dualized treatment characteristics of TCM, it analyzes the challenges currently faced in TCM DCT practice, including the digitization and standardization of TCM theory, data security, privacy protection and patient engagement difficu-lties, insufficient ethical review and regulatory system adaptation, inadequate personnel training, and a shortage of interdisciplinary talent. Addressing these challenges, the article proposes methodological recommendations for DCT implementation that align with the principles of TCM diagnosis and treatment. These recommendations include promoting the intelligentization and standardization of TCM practices, constructing a full-chain data security and privacy protection system, improving the ethical framework and clarifying regulatory responsibilities, and cultivating and building interdisciplinary talent and capabilities, which provide theoretical and technical references for establishing standardized DCT practices in TCM.
3.Challenges and Recommendations for Implementing Key Technologies in Decentralized Clinical Trials of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Runze WANG ; Xuehan WEI ; Xiaoying CHEN ; Yingqian ZHANG ; Jin SUN ; Chunli LU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(9):926-934
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinical trials face challenges such as low participant compliance, insufficient geographical coverage, and cost-effectiveness imbalances. Decentralized clinical trials (DCT), enabled by digital technology for remote data collection and monitoring, offer a new direction for TCM clinical trial research. This article systematically reviews three novel clinical trial design models. Combining the holistic concept and indivi-dualized treatment characteristics of TCM, it analyzes the challenges currently faced in TCM DCT practice, including the digitization and standardization of TCM theory, data security, privacy protection and patient engagement difficu-lties, insufficient ethical review and regulatory system adaptation, inadequate personnel training, and a shortage of interdisciplinary talent. Addressing these challenges, the article proposes methodological recommendations for DCT implementation that align with the principles of TCM diagnosis and treatment. These recommendations include promoting the intelligentization and standardization of TCM practices, constructing a full-chain data security and privacy protection system, improving the ethical framework and clarifying regulatory responsibilities, and cultivating and building interdisciplinary talent and capabilities, which provide theoretical and technical references for establishing standardized DCT practices in TCM.
4.DHLX studied correlation between regulation of biliary flora and inflammatory factors on gallbladder stone formation
Yirong GAN ; Yuan YU ; Jinmei CHEN ; Chengji LI ; Wen YANG ; Jiaoan PANG ; Chunli LIU ; Lijun XIAO ; Jinhao TENG
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2025;41(3):644-649
Objective:By sequencing and analyzing the biliary flora by 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing technology,to identify the main flora associated with gallbladder stone formation and the main flora regulated by the Dahuang lingxian(DHLX),pre-liminary investigation the effect of DHLX on the biliary flora.Methods:The 50 male guinea pigs were randomly divided into Normal group,Model group,DHLX group.There were 15 guinea pigs in the normal group and 20 guinea pigs in the DHLX group,and 20 guin-ea pigs in the model group:the guinea pig model of gallstone was replicated with high-fat lithogenic diet,which was simultaneously ad-ministrated by gavage.After continuous intervention for 8 weeks,bile and gallbladder tissue samples were collected,and the gallstone formation rate of guinea pigs in each group was calculated,the pathological morphological changes of gallbladder tissue were detected by HE,T-CHO,TBA,LPS,IL-6,TNF-α were detected by ELISA,and the changes of biliary flora were detected by 16S rDNA;the correlation between biliary flora and bile index was detected by Pearson statistical method.Results:The stone formation rate of guinea pigs in the normal group was 8.3%,the rate of model stone composition was 90.8%,and the stone composition rate of DHLX group was 36.4%,and the HE staining results showed that compared with the normal group,the mucous membrane of the guinea pig in the model group was thickened,the columnar epithelial cells were arranged in a large number of inflammatory cells,and the columnar epi-thelial cells of the gallbladder mucosa in the chinese medicine group were arranged neatly compared with the model group,the thick-ness of the mucosa was reduced compared with the model group,and some inflammatory cells were infiltrated;ELISA results showed that compared with the normal group,the expressions of T-CHO,LPS,IL-6 and TNF-α in the bile of guinea pigs in the model group were significantly increased(P<0.01),while the content of TBA was significantly reduced(P<0.01);compared with the model group,the expression of LPS and IL-6 in the bile of the DHLX group were significantly reduced(P<0.01).The results of 16S rDNA showed that compared with the normal group the Ace index and Chao1 index of the model group were significantly reduced(P<0.01),and the Chao1 index of the DHLX group was significantly higher than that of the model group(P<0.05);biliary flora at the genera level was mainly composed of Burkholderia,Sphingomycetes,Breghamus,Delfortella,Pseudomonas;correlation analysis showed that total cholesterol was negatively correlated with the abundance of Methyloversatilis(P<0.05),and total bile acids were positively corre-lated with the abundance of Burkholderia(P<0.05),and Pseudomonas erythrocytes,Rhizobia,the abundance of Phreatobacter was negatively correlated(P<0.01)and LPS was positively correlated with the abundance of Pseudomonas erythrocytes(P<0.01).Conclu-sion:Biliary microflora disorder exists in the formation of biliary stones,and biliary microflora may participate in the formation of stones by regulating cholesterol,bile acids and LPS.DHLX can regulate the changes in the abundance of the microflora,make the structure of the microflora become normal,reduce the inflammation of the gallbladder,and prevent the formation of gallstones.
5.Mechanism of Huazhuo Xingxue Decoction on the Treatment of Ischemic Stroke Based on Network Pharmacology
Meng CHEN ; Yuejin DU ; Chunli GUO ; Nana WANG ; Fei HOU ; Yuchen ZHANG ; Zipeng DIAO ; Juaner ZHENG ; Qiang FU
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(5):1461-1470
Objective The mechanism of Huazhuo xingxue decoction(HZXXD)in the treatment of ischemic stroke was explored through network pharmacology,molecular docking and cell validation.Methods TCMSP,TCMID,BATMAN-TCM database and literature search were used to get the chemical components and related target proteins of Huazhuo Xingxue Decoction,and the targets of dementia,stroke and amnesia were obtained from Genecards database and OMIM database.The traditional Chinese medicine-active components-target-network and protein interaction map were constructed by using Cytoscape,and the target was enriched by KEGG pathway by David database.Western blot was used to investigate the effect of HZXXD on inflammation-related core targets expression using oxygen and glucose deprivation/reoxygenation cell model.Finally,Autodock was used for molecular docking of key active ingredients and important targets to evaluate their binding activity.Results 76 active molecules and 33 common targets of herb-disease were screened out.KEGG bioaccumulation results involve multiple inflammatory signal pathways such as TNF,chemical carcinogenesis-reactive oxygen species and HIF-1.TNF-α was found to be the core target of HZXXD by oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation cell experiments.Five compounds with the strongest binding ability to TNF-α,kaempferol,apigenin,aloe-emodin,baicalein and stigasterol,were screened by traditional Chinese medicine-active ingredient-target network map and molecular docking.Conclusion Huazhuo Xingxue Decoction may down regulate the expression of core target TNF-α,kaempferol,apigenin,aloe emodin,baicalein and stigasterol may be the main active substances for TNF-α binding.
6.Characteristics of pathogen spectrum and clinical significance of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing in malignant tumor patients with pulmonary infections
Xu CHEN ; Chunli JIAN ; Qiao YANG ; Linpeng ZHENG ; Dingqin CAI ; Juan LI ; Jianguo SUN
Journal of Chongqing Medical University 2025;50(6):742-749
Objective:To investigate the characteristics of pathogen spectrum and the clinical significance of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)metagenomic next-generation sequencing(mNGS)in malignant tumor patients with pulmonary infections.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed for the patients with malignant tumor who were admitted to department of oncology,the Second affiliated hospital of army medical university,from January 2021 to December 2024.All patients developed respiratory symptoms dur-ing treatment and were diagnosed with pulmonary inflammation based on lung imaging findings,and BALF mNGS and sputum cul-ture were used for pathogen detection.A descriptive analysis was used to summarize the clinical data of patients and the distribution of pathogens,which was compared between patients with different cancer types and metastatic statuses.BALF mNGS and sputum cul-ture were compared in terms of diagnostic performance.Results:A total of 127 patients were enrolled,among whom 70.9%had non-small cell lung cancer,15.0%had small cell lung cancer,and 14.1%had other malignancies.The patients with distant metastasis ac-counted for 48.0%.A total of 145 BALF mNGS tests were performed,among which 84 tests(57.9%)yielded positive results for patho-gens,and 13 tests detected polymicrobial infections,accounting for 15.5%(13/84).A total of 121 pathogenic strains were identified,with fungi(41.3%)and Gram-negative bacteria(39.7%)as the main pathogens,and common pathogens for infection included Pneumo-cystis jirovecii(16.5%),Candida albicans(11.6%),Haemophilus influenzae(11.6%),Klebsiella pneumoniae(10.7%),Pseudomonas ae-ruginosa(10.7%),and Staphylococcus aureus(8.3%).There was a significant difference in the distribution of pathogens between the pa-tients with different types of cancer and statuses of distant metastasis,but Pneumocystis jirovecii remained the most common pathogen for opportunistic infection across all subgroups.A total of 70 patients underwent both sputum culture and BALF mNGS,and the posi-tive rate of sputum culture was only 16.0%,which was significantly lower than that of BALF mNGS(χ2=35.52,P<0.001).The concor-dance rate between sputum culture and BALF mNGS was 48.1%.Conclusion:BALF mNGS can accurately reveal the complex patho-gen spectrum in malignant tumor patients with pulmonary infections,especially the high-risk opportunistic pathogens such as Pneumo-cystis jirovecii.For patients with negative results of sputum culture,BALF mNGS can significantly improve the detection rates of patho-gens and polymicrobial infections.
7.Research advances in type 2 diabetes mellitus with obstructive sleep apnea
Jiaqi CHEN ; Jinghan XU ; Tianjiao LIU ; Li WANG ; Chunli PIAO
Journal of Chongqing Medical University 2025;50(10):1309-1316
With the increase in the obese population and the aging of the society,the incidence rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)and obstructive sleep apnea(OSA)continue to increase,and more than half of the patients with T2DM also suffer from OSA.T2DM patients with OSA have a higher risk of developing macrovascular and microvascular complications,which severely impairs their quality of life,and early identification of T2DM patients with OSA can improve their prognosis.This article summarizes the latest re-search advances in the pathogenesis,biomarkers,and treatment measures of T2DM with OSA,in order to provide insights for the screening,diagnosis,and treatment of T2DM with OSA.
8.Study on artificial intelligence-based ultrasound diagnosis and auxiliary decision-making for ovarian tumors
Chunli QIU ; Yanlin CHEN ; Yuanji ZHANG ; Haotian LIN ; Xiaoyi PAN ; Siying LIANG ; Xiang CONG ; Xin LIU ; Zhen MA ; Cai ZANG ; Xin YANG ; Dong NI ; Guowei TAO
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2025;34(7):608-615
Objective:To apply artificial intelligence(AI)in classifying ovarian tumors on ultrasound images,and compare the diagnostic results of several sonographers with varying seniority levels.Methods:A total of 645 patients diagnosed with adnexal masses via gynecological ultrasound examination at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University from January 2021 to December 2024 were enrolled. Three deep learning architectures,i.e.,Alexnet,Densenet121,and Resnet50 were developed and used to internally test the classification effectiveness of ovarian tumors,while the optimal model was selected for external testing. Two junior sonographers and two senior sonographers were recruited to independently diagnose ovarian tumors in the external test dataset. Subsequently,the benign and malignant results of the model's predictions were disclosed to each sonographer,and their revised diagnoses on the same external test data in combination with the best AI model were recorded.Results:The optimal model achieved an accuracy of 0.941,sensitivity of 0.936,and specificity of 0.944 on the internal test dataset,and maintained robust performance on the external test dataset with accuracy of 0.891,sensitivity of 0.880,and specificity of 0.907. Compared to junior sonographers,the optimal model demonstrated significantly higher sensitivity in discriminating benign from malignant ovarian tumors(0.880 vs. 0.723,0.602;all P<0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed in diagnostic accuracy between the optimal model and senior sonographer 1( P=0.05). With assistance from the optimal model,junior sonographers achieved significant improvements in both sensitivity and specificity(sensitivity:0.723 vs. 0.843,0.602 vs. 0.819;specificity:0.778 vs. 0.833,0.685 vs. 0.741;all P<0.05). Conclusions:The optimal model achieves comparable performance to that of senior sonographers in ovarian tumor classification. With model assistance,the diagnostic performance of junior sonographers is significantly improved.
9.A comprehensive analysis of clinical characteristics, visual prognosis, and influencing factors in geriatric patients with demyelinating optic neuritis
Lian WANG ; Jing ZHANG ; Yue CHEN ; Ting HE ; Chunli CHEN ; Hongjuan LIU ; Libin JIANG
Chinese Journal of Ocular Fundus Diseases 2025;41(6):435-443
Objective:To observe the clinical characteristics of elderly patients with demyelinating optic neuritis (DON), and preliminarily analyze the related factors affecting their visual prognosis.Methods:A observational clinical case-control study. A total of 107 patients with DON who were diagnosed and hospitalized in Beijing Tongren Hospital and its medical alliance Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Puren Hospital from March 2019 to October 2023 were included in this study. Detailed medical histories were recorded, including time of onset, presence of ocular pain, treatment modalities, and follow-up status. All affected eyes underwent best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) testing, orbital magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and laboratory tests, including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), antinuclear antibodies (ANA), extractable nuclear antigens (ENA), aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibodies, and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibodies in peripheral blood. Based on age, patients were categorized into the elderly DON group (≥50 years) and the young and middle-aged DON group (<50 years), comprising 50 and 57 cases, respectively. Furthermore, the elderly DON group was subdivided by serum-specific antibody status into the AQP4 antibody-positive ON group (AQP4-ON group), the MOG antibody-positive ON group (MOG-ON group), and the double-negative ON group (DN-ON group), with 18, 10, and 22 cases respectively. The median follow-up duration was 36 months. Follow-up assessments were conducted using the same equipment, methods, and relevant examinations as those applied at baseline. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with visual prognosis in elderly DON patients.Results:Compared with the DON group of young and middle-aged people, the incidence of binocular disease, accelerated ESR, MRI imaging score, the incidence of combined cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, tumors, and the proportion of adverse reactions of glucocorticoids in the elderly group were higher, and the proportion of ocular pain was lower. The differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Six months after the treatment, the number of cases with BCVA> 0.3 in the affected eyes in the elderly DON group and the young and middle-aged DON group was 28 (56.0%, 28/50) and 42 (73.7%, 42/57), respectively. The number of patients with BCVA> 0.3 in the elderly DON group was significantly lower than that in the young and middle-aged DON group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P=0.034). Moreover, with the increase of age, the degree of improvement in visual acuity showed a decreasing trend. The proportion of females in the AQP4-ON group, the proportion of optic chiasm and posterior optic pathway involvement in acute MRI, and the positive rate of ANA/ENA were significantly higher than those in the MOG-ON group and the DN-ON group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The rate of optic disc edema in the MOG-ON group was significantly higher than that in the AQP4-ON group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P=0.031). One and six months after treatment, the BCVA in the MOG-ON group was significantly better than that in the AQP4-ON group and the DN-ON group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). The results of binary logistic regression analysis showed that at the onset of the disease, BCVA <0.01 [odds ratio ( OR) =2.60, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.23-5.52, P=0.013] and accelerated ESR ( OR=4.68, 95% CI 1.08-20.18, P=0.039) was an independent risk factor affecting the prognosis of BCVA in elderly patients with DON. Conclusions:There are different clinical characteristics between elderly DON patients and young and middle-aged patients. The risk of combined systemic diseases and side effects of glucocorticoids is higher, and the visual prognosis is worse. There are also differences in clinical characteristics and visual prognosis among subgroups of different serological antibodies in elderly DON. Advanced age, the lowest visual acuity at onset and immune inflammatory indicators are all factors affecting the visual prognosis of DON.
10.Silencing information regulator 1 inhibits oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced endothelial cell apoptosis via deacetylation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α
Jiali SUN ; Hanyu MA ; Ming ZHANG ; Yuhao ZHAO ; Chunli WANG ; Zhen LI ; Lei DU ; Shuyan CHEN ; Fei WANG
Chinese Journal of Geriatrics 2025;44(5):628-634
Objective:To investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of silent information regulator 1(SIRT1)on the dysfunction of umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein(ox-LDL).Methods:The impact of ox-LDL on the viability of HUVEC was assessed using the Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK-8)assay, which also facilitated the determination of the optimal ox-LDL concentration.Subsequent to ox-LDL treatment, several parameters were evaluated, including reactive oxygen species(ROS)production, apoptosis, migration, and angiogenesis, utilizing a ROS detection kit, flow cytometry, a Transwell migration assay, and an angiogenesis assay, respectively.The expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins, namely cleaved caspase-3(c-caspase-3), Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2), SIRT1, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α(PGC-1α), were quantified using Western blot analysis.Adenoviral vectors were employed to either overexpress or silence SIRT1, while the ROS inhibitor N-acetylcysteine(NAC)was applied to assess its effects on cell function.Additionally, PGC-1α acetylation(Ac-Lys)was investigated through co-immunoprecipitation.Results:In the oxidative model of ox-LDL-stimulated HUVECs, compared to controls, we observed a significant increase in ROS-positive cells(35.9±3.1 vs.5.4±0.9), heightened apoptosis(16.3±0.9 vs.7.6±0.7), diminished endothelial cell migration capacity, and reduced angiogenic capacity.Additionally, there was an elevation in the pro-apoptotic protein c-caspase3 and Bax, alongside a decrease in the anti-apoptotic protein bcl-2.Furthermore, SIRT1 expression was increased, as was the expression of PGC-1α.In comparison to the GFP group(28.5±1.9), the reduction in SIRT1 expression resulted in an increase in apoptosis(37.0±1.9).Conversely, overexpression of SIRT1 mitigated ox-LDL-induced apoptosis(25.2±1.6)(all P<0.05).Notably, the expression levels of PGC-1α and SIRT1 exhibited consistent changes: PGC-1α expression increased with SIRT1 overexpression and decreased when SIRT1 expression was reduced(both P<0.05).The administration of NAC to the ox-LDL-treated group led to a reduction in ROS production( t=11.18, P<0.01)and a significant enhancement in cell function.Immunoprecipitation results indicated that SIRT1 overexpression decreased ox-LDL-induced PGC-1α acetylation( t=18.18, P<0.01), whereas silencing of SIRT1 further increased PGC-1α acetylation levels( t=-19.09, P<0.01). Conclusions:SIRT1 is shown to protect against ox-LDL-induced apoptosis and dysfunction in HUVECs by deacetylating and activating PGC-1α, thereby highlighting its therapeutic potential in the context of endothelial cell injury.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail