1.Challenges and future directions of medicine with artificial intelligence
Xiaoqin ZHOU ; Huizhen LIU ; Ting WANG ; Xueting LIU ; Fang LIU ; Deying KANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(02):244-251
This comprehensive review systematically explores the multifaceted applications, inherent challenges, and promising future directions of artificial intelligence (AI) within the medical domain. It meticulously examines AI's specific contributions to basic medical research, disease prevention, intelligent diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, nursing, and health management. Furthermore, the review delves into AI's innovative practices and pivotal roles in clinical trials, hospital administration, medical education, as well as the realms of medical ethics and policy formulation. Notably, the review identifies several key challenges confronting AI in healthcare, encompassing issues such as inadequate algorithm transparency, data privacy concerns, absent regulatory standards, and incomplete risk assessment frameworks. Looking ahead, the future trajectory of AI in healthcare encompasses enhancing algorithm interpretability, propelling generative AI applications, establishing robust data-sharing mechanisms, refining regulatory policies and standards, nurturing interdisciplinary talent, fostering collaboration among industry, academia, and medical institutions, and advancing inclusive, personalized precision medicine. Emphasizing the synergy between AI and emerging technologies like 5G, big data, and cloud computing, this review anticipates a new era of intelligent collaboration and inclusive sharing in healthcare. Through a multidimensional analysis, it presents a holistic overview of AI's medical applications and development prospects, catering to researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in the healthcare sector. Ultimately, this review aims to catalyze the deep integration and innovative deployment of AI technology in healthcare, thereby driving the sustainable advancement of smart healthcare.
2.Reporting quality and influencing factors of patient-reported outcomes in randomized controlled trials of lung cancer: Based on the CONSORT-PRO extension
Guiying ZHANG ; Yueyuan YOU ; Xiaoqin ZHOU ; Jing LI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(03):322-331
Objective To evaluate the reporting quality and influencing factors of patient-reported outcome (PRO) data in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of lung cancer. Methods RCTs of lung cancer with PRO as either primary or secondary endpoints were searched from PubMed, EMbase, Medline, CNKI, Wanfang Data, and VIP databases between January 1, 2010 and April 20, 2024. Reporting quality of included RCTs were assessed based on the CONSORT-PRO extension. Descriptive statistics and bivariate regression analysis were used to describe the reporting quality and analyze the factors influencing the reporting quality. Results A total of 740 articles were retrieved. After screening, 53 eligible RCTs of lung cancer with 22 780 patients were included. The patients were mainly with non-small cell lung cancer (84.91%), with the median sample size of the included studies was 364.0 (160.5, 599.5) patients. The primary PRO tool used was the EORTC QLQ-C30 (60.38%). There were 52 (98.11%) studies whose PRO measured the domain of "symptom management of cough, dyspnea, fatigue, pain, etc.", and 45 (84.91%) studies measured "health-related quality of life". Multicenter studies accounted for 84.91%, and randomized non-blind trials accounted for 62.26%. PRO was used as the primary endpoint in 33.96% of the studies and as secondary endpoints in 66.04%. The reliability and validity of the PRO tools were explicitly mentioned in 11.32% and 7.55% of the studies, respectively. The average completeness of reporting according to the CONSORT-PRO guidelines was 60.00%, ranging from 25.00% to 93.00%. The main factors affecting the completeness of CONSORT-PRO reporting included sample size and publication year. For every increment in sample size, the completeness of reporting increased by 27.5% (SE=0.00, t=2.040, P=0.046). Additionally, studies published after 2018 had a 67.2% higher completeness of reporting compared to those published in or before 2018 (SE=17.8, t=–3.273, P=0.006). Conclusion The study reveals that the overall reporting quality of PRO in lung cancer RCTs is poor. Particularly, the reporting of PRO measures reliability and validity, PRO assumptions, applicability, and handling of missing data need further improvement. Future research should emphasize comprehensive adherence to the CONSORT-PRO guidelines.
3.Herbal Textual Research on Picrorhizae Rhizoma in Famous Classical Formulas
Feng ZHOU ; Yihan WANG ; Yanmeng LIU ; Xiaoqin ZHAO ; Kaizhi WU ; Cheng FENG ; Wenyue LI ; Wei ZHANG ; Wentao FANG ; Zhilai ZHAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(9):228-239
This article systematically analyzes the historical evolution of the name, origin, quality evaluation, harvesting, processing and other aspects of Picrorhizae Rhizoma by referring to the medical books, prescription books, and other documents of the past dynasties, combined with relevant modern research materials, in order to provide a basis for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing this medicinal herb. The research results indicate that Picrorhizae Rhizoma was first recorded in New Revised Materia Medica from the Tang dynasty. Throughout history, Huhuanglian has been used as its official name, and there are also aliases such as Gehu Luze, Jiahuanglian and Hulian. The main source of past dynasties is the the rhizomes of Picrorhiza kurrooa and P. scrophulariiflora. In ancient times, Picrorhizae Rhizoma was mainly imported by foreign traders via Guangzhou and other regions, and also produced in China, mainly in Xizang. In ancient times, it was harvested and dried in early August of the lunar calendar, while in modern times, it is mostly harvested from July to September, with the best quality being those with thick and crispy rhizomes without impurities, and bitter taste. Throughout history, Picrorhizae Rhizoma was collected, washed, sliced, and dried before being used as a raw material for medicine, it has a bitter and cold taste, mainly used to treat bone steaming, hot flashes, infantile chancre fever, and dysentery. There is no significant difference in taste and efficacy between ancient and modern times. Based on the research results, it is recommended that the rhizomes of P. scrophulariiflora in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia, or the rhizomes of P. kurrooa, can be used in famous classical formulas containing this medicinal herb, which can be processed according to the processing requirements marked by the original formula. For those without clear processing requirements, the dried raw products are used as medicine.
4.Application value of gene-modified mesenchymal stem cells in liver diseases
Tingting ZHAO ; Junfeng LI ; Dan ZHOU ; Xiaoqin GAO ; Wei YUE ; Ruqin WANG ; Liting ZHANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(6):1220-1226
The immunomodulatory, repair, and regeneration-promoting functions of mesenchymal stem cells make them one of the potential treatment methods for liver diseases. At present, viral and non-viral delivery methods have been developed to genetically modify mesenchymal stem cells, and gene modification can promote the survival, homing, and cytokine secretion of mesenchymal stem cells, thereby enhancing the ability of mesenchymal stem cells to treat liver diseases. This article mainly summarizes the research advances in gene-modified mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of liver diseases, in order to provide new insights and strategies for the clinical treatment of liver diseases.
5.Interpretation of the CONSORT 2025 statement: Updated guideline for reporting randomized trials
Geliang YANG ; Xiaoqin ZHOU ; Fang LEI ; Min DONG ; Tianxing FENG ; Li ZHENG ; Lunxu LIU ; Yunpeng ZHU ; Xuemei LIU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(06):752-759
The Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement aims to enhance the quality of reporting for randomized controlled trial (RCT) by providing a minimum item checklist. It was first published in 1996, and updated in 2001 and 2010, respectively. The latest version was released in April 2025, continuously reflecting new evidence, methodological advancements, and user feedback. CONSORT 2025 includes 30 essential checklist items and a template for a participant flow diagram. The main changes to the checklist include the addition of 7 items, revision of 3 items, and deletion of 1 item, as well as the integration of multiple key extensions. This article provides a comprehensive interpretation of the statement, aiming to help clinical trial staff, journal editors, and reviewers fully understand the essence of CONSORT 2025, correctly apply it in writing RCT reports and evaluating RCT quality, and provide guidance for conducting high-level RCT research in China.
6.Interpretation of the TRIPOD-LLM reporting guideline for studies using large language models
Xiaoqin ZHOU ; Huizhen LIU ; Ting WANG ; Xuemei LIU ; Deying KANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(07):940-946
As the volume of medical research using large language models (LLM) surges, the need for standardized and transparent reporting standards becomes increasingly critical. In January 2025, Nature Medicine published statement titled by TRIPOD-LLM reporting guideline for studies using large language models. This represents the first comprehensive reporting framework specifically tailored for studies that develop prediction models based on LLM. It comprises a checklist with 19 main items (encompassing 50 sub-items), a flowchart, and an abstract checklist (containing 12 items). This article provides an interpretation of TRIPOD-LLM’s development methods, primary content, scope, and the specific details of its items. The goal is to help researchers, clinicians, editors, and healthcare decision-makers to deeply understand and correctly apply TRIPOD-LLM, thereby improving the quality and transparency of LLM medical research reporting and promoting the standardized and ethical integration of LLM into healthcare.
7.Oxymatrine, a novel TLR2 agonist, promotes megakaryopoiesis and thrombopoiesis through the STING/NF-κB pathway.
Chengyang NI ; Ling ZHOU ; Shuo YANG ; Mei RAN ; Jiesi LUO ; Kui CHENG ; Feihong HUANG ; Xiaoqin TANG ; Xiang XIE ; Dalian QIN ; Qibing MEI ; Long WANG ; Juan XIAO ; Jianming WU
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(1):101054-101054
Radiation-induced thrombocytopenia (RIT) faces a perplexing challenge in the clinical treatment of cancer patients, and current therapeutic approaches are inadequate in the clinical settings. In this research, oxymatrine, a new molecule capable of healing RIT was screened out, and the underlying regulatory mechanism associated with magakaryocyte (MK) differentiation and thrombopoiesis was demonstrated. The capacity of oxymatrine to induce MK differentiation was verified in K-562 and Meg-01 cells in vitro. The ability to induce thrombopoiesis was subsequently demonstrated in Tg (cd41:enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP)) zebrafish and RIT model mice. In addition, we carried out network pharmacological prediction, drug affinity responsive target stability assay (DARTS) and cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) analyses to explore the potential targets of oxymatrine. Moreover, the pathway underlying the effects of oxymatrine was determined by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses, Western blot (WB), and immunofluorescence. Oxymatrine markedly promoted MK differentiation and maturation in vitro. Moreover, oxymatrine induced thrombopoiesis in Tg (cd41:eGFP) zebrafish and accelerated thrombopoiesis and platelet function recovery in RIT model mice. Mechanistically, oxymatrine directly binds to toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and further regulates the downstream pathway stimulator of interferon genes (STING)/nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), which can be blocked by C29 and C-176, which are specific inhibitors of TLR2 and STING, respectively. Taken together, we demonstrated that oxymatrine, a novel TLR2 agonist, plays a critical role in accelerating MK differentiation and thrombopoiesis via the STING/NF-κB axis, suggesting that oxymatrine is a promising candidate for RIT therapy.
8.Recombinant expression of Sphingobium yanoikuyae esterase SyEst870 capable of degrading carbamate pesticides.
Xiaoqian XIE ; Yin FENG ; Yuanyuan ZHOU ; Xin YAN ; Xiaoqin YUAN ; Wuxia QIU ; Xinfang MAO ; Zhongyuan LIU
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(4):1605-1620
Carbamate pesticides, a new type of broad-spectrum pesticides for controlling pests, mites, and weeds, are developed to address the shortcomings of organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides. Their widespread use and slow degradation have led to environmental pollution, causing damage to ecosystems and human health. Managing pesticide residues is a pressing issue in the current environmental protection. This study aims to investigate the expression of SyEst870, a member of the SGNH/GDSL hydrolase family in Sphingobium yanoikuyae, in a prokaryotic system and evaluate the ability of the recombinant protein to degrade carbamate pesticides. The prokaryotic expression vector pET-32a-SyEst870 was constructed and transformed into the Escherichia coli BL21 for heterologous expression. The purified protein was studied in terms of enzyme activity and effects of temperature, pH, and metal ions on the enzyme activity, with p-nitrophenol acetate as the substrate and based on the standard curve of p-nitrophenol. LC-MS (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry) was employed to examine the degradation effects of SyEst870 on carbaryl, metolcarb, and isoprocarb. GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) was employed to detect the degradation products of SyEst870 for the three pesticides. The soluble protein SyEst870 was successfully obtained through the heterologous expression in Escherichia coli, which yielded an enzyme with the activity of 677.5 U after affinity chromatography. SyEst870 exhibited degradation rates of 82.34%, 84.43%, and 92.87% for carbaryl, metolcarb, and isoprocarb, respectively, at an initial concentration of 100 mg/L within 24 h at 30 ℃ and pH 7.0. The primary degradation products of carbaryl were identified as α-naphthol and methyl isocyanate. Metolcarb was mainly degraded into m-cresol and methyl isocyanate, and isoprocarb was mainly degraded into 2-isopropylphenol and methyl isocyanate. Compared with the half-life of carbamate pesticides in the natural environment, which ranges from a few days to several weeks, the recombinant protein SyEst870 can rapidly eliminate the residues of carbamate pesticides. This study lays a foundation for addressing pesticide residues in the environment and in fruits and vegetables.
Escherichia coli/metabolism*
;
Sphingomonadaceae/genetics*
;
Recombinant Proteins/metabolism*
;
Biodegradation, Environmental
;
Esterases/metabolism*
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Pesticides/isolation & purification*
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Carbamates/isolation & purification*
9.Impact of intraoperative platelet and cryoprecipitate transfusion strategies on perioperative transfusion and outcomes in orthotopic heart transplant patients
Rui ZHANG ; Xiaoqin LUO ; Mei ZHOU ; Fengxiu YU ; Baohua QIAN ; Haihui GU
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(10):1313-1319
Objective: To retrospectively compare the impact of different intraoperative transfusion strategies for platelets and cryoprecipitate on perioperative blood usage and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing orthotopic heart transplant (OHT), thereby providing a reference for perioperative patient blood management. Methods: The clinical data of 65 patients who had undergone OHT at our hospital between 2020 and 2025 were retrospective collected. Patient demographics, underlying chronic conditions, and perioperative (preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative) laboratory blood test results were analyzed. The transfusion volumes of intraoperative red blood cells, plasma, platelets, and cryoprecipitate were examined. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were employed to identify factors associated with perioperative outcomes. Results: A total of 65 patients received allogeneic blood transfusion during the perioperative period. The ultilization of intraoperative platelets and cryoprecipitate was as follows: simultaneous transfusion of both platelets and cryoprecipitate (at a 1∶1 ratio) was administered in 42 patients (64.62%), platelets alone in 12 patients (18.46%), and cryoprecipitate alone in 11 patients (16.92%). Patients who received simultaneous transfusion of platelets and cryoprecipitate (1∶1) (n=42) had a shorter ICU length of stay (32.45±10.18 d), while those who received either platelets or cryoprecipitate alone (n=23) had a significantly longer ICU length of stay (68±15.97 d). Patients receiving simultaneous intraoperative transfusion of platelets and cryoprecipitate also required fewer units of allogeneic red blood cells intraoperatively (median=4 units) and had a lower mortality rate (16.7%) than those receiving either product alone (26.1%), with a statistically significant difference (P=0.023). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the volume of cryoprecipitate transfused was an independent protective factor against postoperative allogeneic red blood cell transfusion (OR=0.344, 95% CI [0.177, 0.829], P=0.0159). Multivariate logistic regression also identified cryoprecipitate transfusion volume as an independent protective factor for ICU length of stay (OR=0.877, 95% CI [0.719, 0.986], P=0.0008), which was in line with the multivariate Cox regression results. Conclusion: In patients undergoing OHT, the intraoperative transfusion strategy for platelets and cryoprecipitate influences the volume of perioperative allogeneic red blood cell transfusion and patient mortality. Intraoperative cryoprecipitate transfusion volume is an independent protective factor against both postoperative allogeneic red blood cell transfusion and prolonged ICU length of stay. The establishment of a multidisciplinary collaborative blood management model, combined with the modification of perioperative blood utilization practices and the implementation of a comprehensive patient blood management strategy, can holistically ensure perioperative patient safety.
10.The Multicenter Cross-sectional Study on the Distribution Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Elements in Type 2 Diabetes Macroangiopathy
Yulin LENG ; Hong GAO ; Xiaoxu FU ; Gang XU ; Hongyan XIE ; Xingwei ZHUO ; Xiaoqin ZHOU ; Yi YANG ; Xiaoli YUAN ; Zhibiao WANG ; Chunguang XIE
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(17):1794-1801
ObjectiveTo explore the distribution characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome elements of macroangiopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the key elements of occurrence, development and progression of disease. MethodsA multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted to enroll 445 T2DM patients from five hospitals, and according to the presence or absence of macroangiopathy, the patients were divided into a T2DM group (120 cases) and a diabetic macroangiopathy (DM) group (325 cases). Patients in DM group were divided into grade Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ according to the peripheral vascular color Doppler ultrasound results and the vascular anomalies classification standard. The general data including gender, age, duration of T2DM and body mass index (BMI) were collected, and the data of four examinations were obtained for syndrome differentiation. According to the diagnostic criteria of TCM syndrome elements, the patients can be divided into 9 patterns including qi deficiency, blood deficiency, yin deficiency, yang deficiency, qi stagnation, blood stasis, excess heat, and excess cold. The general data and distribution of TCM syndrome elements were compared between the two groups. The distribution of TCM syndrome elements in different vascular anomalies grades in the DM group was analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influence of various TCM syndrome elements on the occurrence of macroangiopathy in T2DM. ResultsThere was no significant difference in gender and BMI between groups (P>0.05). The age and duration of diabetes in the DM group were older and longer than those in the T2DM group (P<0.01). With the increase of age and prolonged course of disease, the severity of diabetic macroangiopathy increases gradually (P<0.05 or P<0.01). There was no significant difference in BMI and course of disease among the different TCM syndrome elements (P>0.05). The average age of patients with blood stasis syndrome was the oldest (P<0.05). There was significant difference in gender distribution between the excess heat syndrome and yin deficiency syndrome (P<0.05). A total of 240 TCM syndrome elements were extracted from the T2DM group, while 731 TCM syndrome elements extracted from the DM group. The top two high-frequency syndrome elements in the two groups were qi deficiency and yin deficiency, with a frequency of larger than 50%. The distribution of phlegm-damp syndrome and blood-stasis syndrome were significantly higher in the DM group than in the T2DM group (P<0.01). There were significant differences in the distribution of qi deficiency syndrome, yin deficiency syndrome, phlegm-damp syndrome, blood stasis syndrome, and excess heat syndrome among different grades of vascular anomalies (P<0.01); qi deficiency and yin deficiency were both high-frequency TCM syndrome elements in patients at grades 0 to Ⅲ; phlegm-damp syndrome increased in frequency with the progression of the disease from grades 0 to Ⅳ, and the frequency of blood stasis syndrome showed an overall upward trend. The frequency of phlegm-dampness syndrome increased from grades 0 to Ⅳ with the progression of the disease, and the frequency of blood stasis syndrome showed an overall upward trend. Logistic regression analysis showed that phlegm-damp syndrome and blood stasis syndrome were important TCM syndrome elements related to the vascular anomalies degree of macrovascular disease in T2DM (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ConclusionQi deficiency and yin deficiency are the basic TCM syndrome elements throughout the whole process of T2DM and diabetic macrovascular disease. Phlegm-damp and blood stasis are related to the degree of vascular anomalies in diabetic macrovascular disease and are the key TCM syndrome elements in the progression of macroangiopathy in T2DM.

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