1.QingNangTCM: a parameter-efficient fine-tuning large language model for traditional Chinese medicine
Xuming TONG ; Liyan LIU ; Yanhong YUAN ; Xiaozheng DING ; Huiru JIA ; Xu YANG ; Sio Kei IM ; Mini Han WANG ; Zhang XIONH ; Yapeng WANG
Digital Chinese Medicine 2026;9(1):1-12
Objective:
To develop QingNangTCM, a specialized large language model (LLM) tailored for expert-level traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) question-answering and clinical reasoning, addressing the scarcity of domain-specific corpora and specialized alignment.
Methods:
We constructed QnTCM_Dataset, a corpus of 100 000 entries, by integrating data from ShenNong_TCM_Dataset and SymMap v2.0, and synthesizing additional samples via retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and persona-driven generation. The dataset comprehensively covers diagnostic inquiries, prescriptions, and herbal knowledge. Utilizing P-Tuning v2, we fine-tuned the GLM-4-9B-Chat backbone to develop QingNangTCM. A multi-dimensional evaluation framework, assessing accuracy, coverage, consistency, safety, professionalism, and fluency, was established using metrics such as bilingual evaluation understudy (BLEU), recall-oriented understudy for gisting evaluation (ROUGE), metric for evaluation of translation with explicit ordering (METEOR), and LLM-as-a-Judge with expert review. Qualitative analysis was conducted across four simulated clinical scenarios: symptom analysis, disease treatment, herb inquiry, and failure cases. Baseline models included GLM-4-9B-Chat, DeepSeek-V2, HuatuoGPT-II (7B), and GLM-4-9B-Chat (freeze-tuning).
Results:
QingNangTCM achieved the highest scores in BLEU-1/2/3/4 (0.425/0.298/0.137/0.064), ROUGE-1/2 (0.368/0.157), and METEOR (0.218), demonstrating a balanced and superior normalized performance profile of 0.900 across the dimensions of accuracy, coverage, and consistency. Although its ROUGE-L score (0.299) was lower than that of HuatuoGPT-II (7B) (0.351), it significantly outperformed domain-specific models in expert-validated win rates for professionalism (86%) and safety (73%). Qualitative analysis confirmed that the model strictly adheres to the “symptom-syndrome-pathogenesis-treatment” reasoning chain, though occasional misclassifications and hallucinations persisted when dealing with rare medicinal materials and uncommon syndromes.
Conclusion
Combining domain-specific corpus construction with parameter-efficient prompt tuning enhances the reasoning behavior and domain adaptation of LLMs for TCM-related tasks. This work provides a technical framework for the digital organization and intelligent utilization of TCM knowledge, with potential value for supporting diagnostic reasoning and medical education.
2.Clinical Efficacy of Janus Kinase Inhibitors in Combination with Chinese Herbal Medicine for Rheumatoid Arthritis:A Retrospective Study and A Meta-analysis
Chenguang ZHAN ; Shengqin YANG ; Xin LI ; Yu WEN ; Peng ZHANG ; Xingrui YAN ; Haifang DU ; Maojie WANG ; Xiaodong WU ; Liyan MEI ; Xiumin CHEN ; Yanlin LI ; Runyue HUANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(5):534-543
ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors combined with Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MethodsClinical data from 169 RA patients were retrospectively collected. Among them, 71 cases received JAK inhibitors as the control group, while 98 cases received JAK inhibitors plus CHM as the observation group, both treated for 24 weeks. The rheumatoid factor (RF), cyclic citic peptide antibody (anti-CCP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cell count (WBC) were recorded before and after treatment. Databases including CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed and Web of Science were searched from inception till August 31st, 2025 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the combined use of JAK inhibitors and CHM for RA. The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated using the risk of bias assessment tool. Meta-analyses were performed for RF, anti-CCP, ESR, CRP, 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28), overall clinical effective rate, and incidence of adverse events. Sensitivity analysis were also performed. ResultsThe retrospective study demonstrated that after treatment, ESR, CRP, and anti-CCP levels decreased in the observation group, while ESR and CRP levels decreased in the control group (P<0.05). Moreover, ESR and RF levels in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). A total of 9 RCTs involving 770 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The results indicated that the JAK inhibitors plus CHM group was superior to the JAK inhibitors group in reducing RF (MD=-8.97, 95%CI -15.01 to -2.94, P=0.004), CRP (MD=-3.34, 95%CI -3.82 to -2.86, P<0.001), ESR (MD=-5.33, 95%CI -7.98 to -2.69, P<0.001), and DAS28 score (MD=-0.54, 95%CI -0.74 to -0.34, P<0.001), as well as in improving the overall clinical effective rate (OR=4.53, 95%CI 2.55 to 8.03, P<0.001). No statistically significant differences were observed between groups in anti-CCP levels (SMD=-2.08, 95%CI -4.41 to 0.24, P=0.080) or incidence of adverse events (OR=0.93, 95%CI 0.55 to 1.57, P=0.790). ConclusionThe combination of JAK inhibitors and CHM demonstrates remarkable efficacy in treating RA, contributing to improved disease activity and reduced inflammatory markers with a favorable safety profile.
3.Guidelines for the management of therapeutic drug monitoring
Zhengxiang LI ; Liyan MIAO ; Rong DUAN ; Xiaocong ZUO ; Xianglin ZHANG ; Zhuo WANG ; Miao YAN ; Lingli ZHANG ; Rongsheng ZHAO ; Suodi ZHAI ; Guobiao GAO ; Jinhui TIAN
China Pharmacy 2026;37(11):1381-1392
OBJECTIVE To further standardize the technical operations and management processes throughout therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), clarify the clinical value of TDM implementation, improve the scientific validity and reliability of monitoring results, and provide a solid reference basis for the formulation and optimization of clinical individualized precision dosing regimens. METHODS The Guidelines for the Management of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring were formulated in accordance with the latest definition of guidelines by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies and the standard guideline development methodology of the World Health Organization, and in compliance with the requirements of the appraisal of guidelines for research and evaluation. A modified Delphi method was adopted to establish the research question system; evidence-based medicine research methods were applied to systematically search multiple databases to screen the latest and most comprehensive evidence. Evidence was graded and evaluated based on the evidence grading system of the Chinese Evidence-Based Medicine Center, and the grading criteria for recommendation strength from the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine were used to determine the recommendation strength. The recommendation opinions were formed through multidisciplinary expert consensus. RESULTS The Guidelines for the Management of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring cover four core modules, including TDM application indications, technical procedures, result interpretation and clinical application, and quality control, involving 18 primary research questions, 34 secondary research questions, and yield 82 recommendations. CONCLUSIONS The guidelines systematically standardize the key technical links and management requirements of the whole TDM process, provide scientific and operable standardized tools, help improve the standardization level of TDM work, promote the translation of monitoring results into clinical decision-making, and provide strong support for precision personalized medicine and ensuring the safety and rationality of medication use.
4.Application of network analysis to the associations among depressive symptoms, psychological resilience and mental health literacy in adolescents
Xinyi WANG ; Hongtao XIE ; Liyan SHI ; Li SUN ; Jingyi WANG
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2026;38(8):634-639
ObjectiveTo explore the associations among depressive symptoms, psychological resilience, and mental health literacy in adolescents, so as to provide new insights for interventions targeting adolescent depressive symptoms. MethodsA stratified multistage cluster sampling method was employed to select 2 723 students aged 10‒18 years from primary and secondary schools at different educational stages in Putuo District of Shanghai from December 2024 to January 2025. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9, total score0‒27, with a score ≥10 indicating positive depressive symptoms), the Resilience Scale for Chinese Adolescents (RSCA , total score 27‒135), and a mental health core knowledge awareness questionnaire (total score 0‒10) were utilized to assess depressive symptoms, psychological resilience, and mental health literacy, respectively. A network model was constructed using the nine PHQ-9 items (including anhedonia, depressed mood, sleep problems, fatigue, appetite problems, guilt, trouble concentrating, psychomotor symptoms, and self-harm or suicidal thoughts), five RSCA dimensions (including goal orientation, emotion regulation, positive cognition, family support, and interpersonal assistance), and the total mental health literacy score as nodes to analyze the association structure among these nodes. Standardized node strength, standardized expected influence, and standardized bridge expected influence were calculated. ResultsThe PHQ-9 score was 4.62±5.27, yielding a positive screening rate for depressive symptoms of 15.28%. The scores of the RSCA and mental health literacy were 97.71±20.58 and 9.00 (8.00, 10.00), respectively. Network analyses revealed that emotion regulation and depressed mood were core nodes in the network (standardized strength values were 1.74 and 0.97); they constituted the main connection between depressive symptoms and psychological resilience networks (edge weight was -0.17). Mental health literacy and positive cognition served as the main bridge nodes linking depressive symptoms and psychological resilience (standardized bridge expected influence values were 1.42 and 1.27). ConclusionDepressed mood, emotion regulation, positive cognition, and mental health literacy are closely associated with depressive symptoms, psychological resilience, and mental health literacy in adolescents. Strengthening interventions targeting emotion regulation, positive cognition and mental health literacy may contribute to the prevention and control of depressive symptoms among adolescents.
5.Collection, storage and utilization of lung transplant tissue samples
Yixing LI ; Xue SHI ; Hongyi WANG ; Runyi TAO ; Ye SUN ; Ailing SU ; Liyan TONG ; Jinteng FENG ; Yanpeng ZHANG ; Shuo LI ; Yawen WANG ; Guangjian ZHANG
Organ Transplantation 2025;16(1):147-155
After continuous development and improvement, lung transplantation has become the preferred means to treat a variety of benign end-stage lung diseases. However, the field of lung transplantation still faces many challenges, including shortage of donor resources, preservation and maintenance of donor lungs, and postoperative complications. Lung tissue samples removed after lung transplantation are excellent clinical resources for the study of benign end-stage lung disease and perioperative complications of lung transplantation. However, at present, the collection, storage and utilization of tissue samples after lung transplantation are limited to a single study, and unified technical specifications have not been formed. Based on the construction plan of the biobank for lung transplantation in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, this study reviewed the practical experience in the collection, storage and utilization of lung transplant tissue samples in the aspects of ethical review, staffing, collection process, storage method, quality control and efficient utilization, in order to provide references for lung transplant related research.
6.Effect of dandelion polysaccharide on inflammatory response and expression of S100 calcium binding protein A8/A9 in lung and intestinal injuries in rats with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome
Han LI ; Wenlong YU ; Zhaofeng YANG ; Yan LIU ; Qian ZHANG ; Jianhui WANG ; Liyan ZHU ; Jiehui ZUO ; Xiuhong YANG
Journal of Chongqing Medical University 2025;50(10):1399-1407
Objective:To investigate the effect of dandelion polysaccharide(DP)on inflammatory response and the protein expression of S100 calcium binding protein A8/A9(S100A8/A9)in lung tissue and small intestinal tissue of rats with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome(MODS).Methods:The two-hit method of hemorrhagic shock and intraperitoneally injected lipopolysaccharide was used to establish a rat model of MODS,and the rats were divided into sham-operation group,model group,low-dose DP group,and high-dose DP group.The organ coefficient and wet/dry weight ratio of the lung and the small intestine were observed for each group of rats;HE staining was used to observe the pathomorphological changes of lung tissue and small intestinal tissue;immunohistochemical staining was used to measure the expression of interleukin-1β(IL-1β),interleukin-6(IL-6),and interleukin-10(IL-10)in lung tissue and small intestinal tissue;Western blot was used to measure the protein expression level of S100A8/A9 in lung tissue and small intestinal tissue.Results:Compared with the sham-operation group,the model group had significant increases in the organ coefficient of the lung(5.849±0.824),the wet/dry weight ratio of the lung(6.556±0.631),the wet/dry weight ratio of the small intestine(6.356±0.535),and the wet weight/length ratio of the small intestine(73.950±5.569).HE staining showed that that the model group had massive in-flammatory cell infiltration in alveolar space and pulmonary interstitium,thickened alveolar wall,and disintegration and fragmentation of the villi of the small intestine,with inflammatory cell infiltration and proliferation of segmental aggregated lymphoid follicles.In the model group,S100A8/A9 was mainly expressed in neutrophils and macrophages,and there were increases in the expression of S100A8/A9,IL-1β,and IL-6 and a reduction in the expression of IL-10 in the lung tissue and small intestinal tissue of rats.After treatment with high-dose DP,there were reductions in the organ coefficient of the lung(4.297±0.462),the wet/dry weight ratio of the lung(5.313±0.495),the wet/dry weight ratio of the small intestine(5.398±0.388),and the wet weight/length ratio of the small intestine(59.417±2.891).The high-dose group also had alleviation of pathological injury in the small intestine,with reductions in the expres-sion of S100A8/A9,IL-1β,and IL-6 and an increase in the expression of IL-10 in lung tissue and small intestinal tissue.Conclusion:DP may alleviate inflammatory response in lung and small intestinal injuries of rats with MODS by inhibiting the expression of S100A8/A9.
7.Diagnostic Value of Serum miR-322 and miR-568 Levels Combined with Electrocardiogram Parameters in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure Complicated with Ventricular Arrhythmias
Lijuan LI ; Xian LI ; Xiangjun JI ; Guili WANG ; Liyan CHANG ; Yanli ZHONG ; Jianfen LIN
Journal of Modern Laboratory Medicine 2025;40(3):118-122,149
Objective To explore the diagnostic value of electrocardiogram parameters combined with serum microRNA(miR)-322 and miR-568 levels in patients with chronic heart failure(CHF)complicated with ventricular arrhythmias(VA).Methods A total of 230 CHF patients admitted to Zhangjiakou First Hospital from April 2020 to April 2023 were selected as the study objects,including 120 VA patients(VA group)and 110 non VA patients(non VA group),and 110 patients who underwent health examinations in Zhangjiakou First Hospital during the same period as the control group.Compared three sets of general information,electrocardiogram parameters,left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),cardiac function grade and serum miR-322 and miR-568 levels.Logistic regression analyzed the influencing factors of VA in CHF patients.Receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)analyzed electrocardiogram parameters combined with serum miR-322 and miR-568 for the diagnostic value of VA in CHF patients.Results The three groups showed statistically obvious differences in classification of nyha heart function(NYHA)and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)(F=6.033,691.853,all P<0.05).The electrocardiogram parameters of CHF patients,including QT interval dispersion(QTD),QRS wave duration and corrected QT systolic time(QTc)were obviously higher than those in the control group(t=16.539,17.709,14.414),and the VA group were obviously higher than the non VA group(q=10.984,7.794,10.174),and the differences were statistically significan(all P<0.05).The serum levels of miR-322 and miR-568 were obviously lower than those in the control group(t=23.719,17.359).and the VA group were obviously lower than the non VA group(q=10.345,9.941),the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that NYHA grading,LVEF,QTD,QRS,wave duration,QTc,serum miR-322 and miR-568 levels were all influencing factors in the complication of VA in patients with CHF(Wald χ2=4.267~9.839,all P<0.05).The combination of electrocardiogram parameters and serum miR-322,miR-568 was better diagnosing CHF patients with concurrent VA that QTD,QRS duration,QTc and serum miR-332,miR-568 were measured separately.Conclusion Serum levels of miR-322 and miR-568 are obviously reduced,and the combination of electrocardiogram parameters with serum miR-322 and miR-568 has high diagnostic value for CHF patients with VA.
8.Progress,Comparison and Enlightenment of Docking Implementation on the Nursing Medical Service Price Item Pro-posal Guide
Daxi ZHENG ; Jing LIU ; Liyan WANG
Chinese Health Economics 2025;44(10):56-62
The release of the medical service price item guide is an important content of deepening the reform of medical service price,and is also a major measure to unify and standardize the medical service price item.Taking the Nursing Medical Service Price Item Proposal Guide(hereinafter referred to as the Nursing item Proposal Guide)as an example,it introduces the preparation ideas,framework structure design and item element changes of the nursing item proposal guide,sorts out the progress of docking and implementation of the Nursing Item Proposal Guide in typical provinces,and makes comparisons to obtain inspiration for accelerating the implementation of the item proposal guide in other regions:ensure the participation of clinical and price experts,mapping old and new items and integrating elements according to item guidelines;comprehensive use of cost pricing,reference pricing and value pricing,check and standardize the integrated item price;to standardize the integration of new item price adjustment and medical insurance payment policy coordination,forming a positive superposition effect;make a list of consumables that can be charged separately,and do a good job in the connection between product registration and price medical insurance policies;strengthen publicity and training,update information systems,monitor service volume,and track the effect of price policy implementation.
9.Real-world efficacy and safety of azvudine in hospitalized older patients with COVID-19 during the omicron wave in China: A retrospective cohort study.
Yuanchao ZHU ; Fei ZHAO ; Yubing ZHU ; Xingang LI ; Deshi DONG ; Bolin ZHU ; Jianchun LI ; Xin HU ; Zinan ZHAO ; Wenfeng XU ; Yang JV ; Dandan WANG ; Yingming ZHENG ; Yiwen DONG ; Lu LI ; Shilei YANG ; Zhiyuan TENG ; Ling LU ; Jingwei ZHU ; Linzhe DU ; Yunxin LIU ; Lechuan JIA ; Qiujv ZHANG ; Hui MA ; Ana ZHAO ; Hongliu JIANG ; Xin XU ; Jinli WANG ; Xuping QIAN ; Wei ZHANG ; Tingting ZHENG ; Chunxia YANG ; Xuguang CHEN ; Kun LIU ; Huanhuan JIANG ; Dongxiang QU ; Jia SONG ; Hua CHENG ; Wenfang SUN ; Hanqiu ZHAN ; Xiao LI ; Yafeng WANG ; Aixia WANG ; Li LIU ; Lihua YANG ; Nan ZHANG ; Shumin CHEN ; Jingjing MA ; Wei LIU ; Xiaoxiang DU ; Meiqin ZHENG ; Liyan WAN ; Guangqing DU ; Hangmei LIU ; Pengfei JIN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(1):123-132
Debates persist regarding the efficacy and safety of azvudine, particularly its real-world outcomes. This study involved patients aged ≥60 years who were admitted to 25 hospitals in mainland China with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between December 1, 2022, and February 28, 2023. Efficacy outcomes were all-cause mortality during hospitalization, the proportion of patients discharged with recovery, time to nucleic acid-negative conversion (T NANC), time to symptom improvement (T SI), and time of hospital stay (T HS). Safety was also assessed. Among the 5884 participants identified, 1999 received azvudine, and 1999 matched controls were included after exclusion and propensity score matching. Azvudine recipients exhibited lower all-cause mortality compared with controls in the overall population (13.3% vs. 17.1%, RR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.67-0.90; P = 0.001) and in the severe subgroup (25.7% vs. 33.7%; RR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.66-0.88; P < 0.001). A higher proportion of patients discharged with recovery, and a shorter T NANC were associated with azvudine recipients, especially in the severe subgroup. The incidence of adverse events in azvudine recipients was comparable to that in the control group (2.3% vs. 1.7%, P = 0.170). In conclusion, azvudine showed efficacy and safety in older patients hospitalized with COVID-19 during the SARS-CoV-2 omicron wave in China.
10.Berberine Modulates Th1/Th2 Cytokine Imbalance to Alleviate Allergic Asthma in Rats
Wenchang NI ; Kui AI ; Liyan WANG
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;42(2):454-460
Objective To observe the anti-asthma mechanism of berberine.Methods Thirty-two SD rats were randomly divided into normal group,model group,berberine group and Montelukast group,eight rats in each group.Except for the normal group,an allergic asthma model was constructed by ovalbumin(OVA)induction method in rats of all other groups.After successful modeling,seven days of drug administration was performed.The inflammatory cells(including lymphocytes,neutrophil,macrophages and eosinophils)were counted in the collected bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)under microscope,and the serum ovalbumin-specific immunoglobulin E(sIgE)and total immunoglobulin E(IgE)levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),and the levels of T helper cell(Th)1-related cytokines[interferon(IFN)-γ,interleukin(IL)-2]and Th2-related cytokines(IL-4,IL-5,IL-10 and IL-13)in BALF were detected by ELISA,and the mRNA expression levels of IFN-γ,IL-2,and IL-4,IL-5,IL-10 and IL-13 in lung tissues were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR),and the histopathologic feature of lung tissues was observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.Results Compared with the normal group,the counts of eosinophils,macrophages,neutrophils,lymphocytes and total cells in the model group were increased,the levels of serum sIgE and total IgE were elevated,and the levels of Th2-related cytokines such as IL-4,IL-5,IL-10 and IL-13 in BALF and their mRNA expressions in lung tissue were significantly increased,and the levels of Th1-related cytokines IFN-γ and IL-2 in BALF and their mRNA expression levels in lung tissue were significantly reduced,the difference being statistically significant(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the HE pathological staining results of lung tissue showed that there was a large number of inflammatory cells infiltration around bronchial and alveolar cells,and the smooth muscle layer and the wall of airways were thickened.Compared with the model group,all of the above statistical indexes were improved in the berberine group and the Montelukast group(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the inflammatory cell infiltration was significantly reduced,and airway wall and smooth muscle layer were attenuated in lung tissue,there being no significant differences between the two treatment groups(P>0.05).Conclusion The mechanism of anti-asthma action of berberine is related to the regulation of Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalance.

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