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.

Neoadjuvant therapy has become the standard treatment for locally advanced resectable esophageal cancer, significantly improving long-term survival compared to surgery alone. Neoadjuvant therapy has evolved to include various strategies, such as concurrent chemoradiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted combination therapy. This enriches clinical treatment options and provides a more personalized and scientific treatment approach for patients. This article aims to comprehensively summarize current academic research hot topics, review the rationale and evaluation measures of neoadjuvant therapy, discuss challenges in restaging methods after neoadjuvant therapy, and identify the advantages and disadvantages of various neoadjuvant therapeutic strategies.

Objective:To investigate the value of a deep learning radiomics (DLR) nomogram model based on intra-tumoral and peri-tumoral MRI features for differentiating IgG4-related ophthalmic disease (IgG4-ROD) from orbital mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma.Methods:This was a case-control study. The clinical and imaging data of 233 patients pathologically confirmed with either IgG4-ROD or orbital MALT lymphoma were retrospective collected between January 2020 and December 2024 from the Second Hospital of Jilin University (Center 1) and Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University (Center 2). Patients from Center 1 ( n=158) were used as the training cohort, while those from Center 2 ( n=75) served as the validation cohort. Among the cases, 102 were IgG4-ROD (70 in training, 32 in validation) and 131 were orbital MALT lymphoma (88 in training, 43 in validation). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent clinical imaging predictors and build a clinical imaging model. Based on T 1WI, T 2WI, and diffusion weighted images, intra-tumoral regions were manually delineated, a 2 mm peri-tumoral margin was automatically generated, and both regions were combined as a single region of interest for radiomics feature extraction. Deep learning features were extracted using a ResNet-50 backbone, and after feature selection and dimensionality reduction, a DLR model was constructed. The clinical imaging features and DLR features were integrated to build a combined nomogram model. Model performance in differentiating IgG4-ROD from orbital MALT lymphoma was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis. The area under the curve (AUC) were compared using the DeLong test. Results:Bilateral orbital involvement ( OR=1.983, 95% CI 1.166-2.843, P=0.046) and extraocular muscle involvement ( OR=1.246, 95% CI 1.079-1.764, P=0.015) were identified as independent predictors for distinguishing IgG4-ROD from orbital MALT lymphoma and were used to construct the clinical model. Fourteen features (9 radiomics and 5 deep learning features) were selected for the DLR model, and a nomogram was developed. In the training set, the AUCs for the clinical model, DLR model, and nomogram were 0.762 (95% CI 0.712-0.812), 0.865 (95% CI 0.822-0.908), and 0.943 (95% CI 0.909-0.953), respectively. In the validation set, the AUCs were 0.733 (95% CI 0.675-0.791), 0.823 (95% CI 0.762-0.884), and 0.924 (95% CI 0.902-0.958), respectively. The nomogram showed significantly higher AUCs than those of the clinical and DLR models alone (training set: Z=3.92, 2.87, P0.001, P=0.004; validation set: Z=3.25, 2.46, P=0.001, 0.014). Calibration curves indicated good agreement between predicted and actual IgG4-ROD incidence, and decision curve analysis demonstrated the highest net benefit for the nomogram. Conclusion:A nomogram that incorporates both intra-tumoral and peri-tumoral DLR features and clinical imaging characteristics demonstrates excellent performance in distinguishing IgG4-ROD from orbital MALT lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: The primary limitation to kidney transplantation is organ shortage. Recent progress in gene editing and immunosuppressive regimens has made xenotransplantation with porcine organs a possibility. However, evidence in pig-to-human xenotransplantation remains scarce, and antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is a major obstacle to clinical applications of xenotransplantation. METHODS: We conducted a kidney xenotransplantation in a brain-dead human recipient using a porcine kidney with five gene edits (5GE) on March 25, 2024 at Xijing Hospital, China. Clinical-grade immunosuppressive regimens were employed, and the observation period lasted 22 days. We collected and analyzed the xenograft function, ultrasound findings, sequential protocol biopsies, and immune surveillance of the recipient during the observation. RESULTS: The combination of 5GE in the porcine kidney and clinical-grade immunosuppressive regimens prevented hyperacute rejection. The xenograft kidney underwent delayed graft function in the first week, but urine output increased later and the single xenograft kidney maintained electrolyte and pH homeostasis from postoperative day (POD) 12 to 19. We observed AMR at 24 h post-transplantation, due to the presence of pre-existing anti-porcine antibodies and cytotoxicity before transplantation; this AMR persisted throughout the observation period. Plasma exchange and intravenous immunoglobulin treatment mitigated the AMR. We observed activation of latent porcine cytomegalovirus toward the end of the study, which might have contributed to coagulation disorder in the recipient. CONCLUSIONS 5GE and clinical-grade immunosuppressive regimens were sufficient to prevent hyperacute rejection during pig-to-human kidney xenotransplantation. Pre-existing anti-porcine antibodies predisposed the xenograft to AMR. Plasma exchange and intravenous immunoglobulin were safe and effective in the treatment of AMR after kidney xenotransplantation.
Transplantation, Heterologous/methods* ; Kidney Transplantation/methods* ; Heterografts/pathology* ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/administration & dosage* ; Graft Survival/immunology* ; Humans ; Animals ; Sus scrofa ; Graft Rejection/prevention & control* ; Kidney/pathology* ; Gene Editing ; Species Specificity ; Immunosuppression Therapy/methods* ; Plasma Exchange ; Brain Death ; Biopsy ; Male ; Aged

Purpose This study aimed to explore the mucinous phenotype characteristics,key points of differenti-al diagnosis and prognosis of invasive non-mucinous adenocarcinoma(INMA)and invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma(IMA)under the WHO(2021)lung adenocarcinoma classification.Methods We retrospectively collected clinico-pathological data from 522 cases of lung adenocarcinoma,including 425 INMA(66 with mucin secretion,259 without mucin secretion)and 97 IMA.Immunohistochemical(IHC)staining using the EnVision method was performed on the mucin-secreting adenocarcinoma to assess expression of TTF-1,HNF4α,MUC1,MUC4,MUC5AC,MUC5B,and MUC6.Unsupervised clustering analysis was conducted to explore phenotypic subgroups.Results 522 patients with lung adenocarcinoma ranged from 32 to 83 years old(median:61).251 cases(48.1％)were male and 271 cases(51.9％)were female.Clustering analysis divided lung adenocarcinomas into two major groups:one characterized by TTF-1-/HNF4α+and gastric-type mucins MUC5AC+/MUC6+,predominantly IMA;the other,TTF-1+/HNF4α-/MUC4+,largely INMA.A three-marker IHC panel(TTF-1,HNF4α,MUC6)distinguished IMA from mucinous IN-MA with an area under the ROC curve(AUC)of 0.957(95％CI:0.928-0.986)and a Youden's index of 0.860.Further cluster analysis of INMA cases identified four phenotypic subgroups.Prognostic analysis demonstrated that pa-tients with advanced-stage mucin-secreting INMA had significantly shorter overall survival(OS)and progression-free survival(PFS)than those without mucin secretion(5-year OS:57.1％ vs 81.8％,P=0.004;3-year PFS:40.9％ vs 62.4％,P=0.004).No significant survival differences were noted among INMA subgroups stratified by varying mucin proportions.Multivariate analysis identified pathological stage,tumor necrosis,KRAS mutation,and TTF-1 negativity as independent adverse prognostic factors for both OS and PFS in mucinous INMA.Conclusion A three-marker im-munohistochemical panel of TTF-1,HNF4α,and MUC6 is recommended to distinguish IMA from mucinous INMA.Mucus component portends a worse prognosis in advanced INMA,with necrosis,KRAS mutations,and TTF-1 negativi-ty serving as independent adverse prognostic factors in mucinous INMA.

Purpose This study aimed to explore the mucinous phenotype characteristics,key points of differenti-al diagnosis and prognosis of invasive non-mucinous adenocarcinoma(INMA)and invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma(IMA)under the WHO(2021)lung adenocarcinoma classification.Methods We retrospectively collected clinico-pathological data from 522 cases of lung adenocarcinoma,including 425 INMA(66 with mucin secretion,259 without mucin secretion)and 97 IMA.Immunohistochemical(IHC)staining using the EnVision method was performed on the mucin-secreting adenocarcinoma to assess expression of TTF-1,HNF4α,MUC1,MUC4,MUC5AC,MUC5B,and MUC6.Unsupervised clustering analysis was conducted to explore phenotypic subgroups.Results 522 patients with lung adenocarcinoma ranged from 32 to 83 years old(median:61).251 cases(48.1％)were male and 271 cases(51.9％)were female.Clustering analysis divided lung adenocarcinomas into two major groups:one characterized by TTF-1-/HNF4α+and gastric-type mucins MUC5AC+/MUC6+,predominantly IMA;the other,TTF-1+/HNF4α-/MUC4+,largely INMA.A three-marker IHC panel(TTF-1,HNF4α,MUC6)distinguished IMA from mucinous IN-MA with an area under the ROC curve(AUC)of 0.957(95％CI:0.928-0.986)and a Youden's index of 0.860.Further cluster analysis of INMA cases identified four phenotypic subgroups.Prognostic analysis demonstrated that pa-tients with advanced-stage mucin-secreting INMA had significantly shorter overall survival(OS)and progression-free survival(PFS)than those without mucin secretion(5-year OS:57.1％ vs 81.8％,P=0.004;3-year PFS:40.9％ vs 62.4％,P=0.004).No significant survival differences were noted among INMA subgroups stratified by varying mucin proportions.Multivariate analysis identified pathological stage,tumor necrosis,KRAS mutation,and TTF-1 negativity as independent adverse prognostic factors for both OS and PFS in mucinous INMA.Conclusion A three-marker im-munohistochemical panel of TTF-1,HNF4α,and MUC6 is recommended to distinguish IMA from mucinous INMA.Mucus component portends a worse prognosis in advanced INMA,with necrosis,KRAS mutations,and TTF-1 negativi-ty serving as independent adverse prognostic factors in mucinous INMA.

Objective:To investigate the value of a deep learning radiomics (DLR) nomogram model based on intra-tumoral and peri-tumoral MRI features for differentiating IgG4-related ophthalmic disease (IgG4-ROD) from orbital mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma.Methods:This was a case-control study. The clinical and imaging data of 233 patients pathologically confirmed with either IgG4-ROD or orbital MALT lymphoma were retrospective collected between January 2020 and December 2024 from the Second Hospital of Jilin University (Center 1) and Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University (Center 2). Patients from Center 1 ( n=158) were used as the training cohort, while those from Center 2 ( n=75) served as the validation cohort. Among the cases, 102 were IgG4-ROD (70 in training, 32 in validation) and 131 were orbital MALT lymphoma (88 in training, 43 in validation). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent clinical imaging predictors and build a clinical imaging model. Based on T 1WI, T 2WI, and diffusion weighted images, intra-tumoral regions were manually delineated, a 2 mm peri-tumoral margin was automatically generated, and both regions were combined as a single region of interest for radiomics feature extraction. Deep learning features were extracted using a ResNet-50 backbone, and after feature selection and dimensionality reduction, a DLR model was constructed. The clinical imaging features and DLR features were integrated to build a combined nomogram model. Model performance in differentiating IgG4-ROD from orbital MALT lymphoma was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis. The area under the curve (AUC) were compared using the DeLong test. Results:Bilateral orbital involvement ( OR=1.983, 95% CI 1.166-2.843, P=0.046) and extraocular muscle involvement ( OR=1.246, 95% CI 1.079-1.764, P=0.015) were identified as independent predictors for distinguishing IgG4-ROD from orbital MALT lymphoma and were used to construct the clinical model. Fourteen features (9 radiomics and 5 deep learning features) were selected for the DLR model, and a nomogram was developed. In the training set, the AUCs for the clinical model, DLR model, and nomogram were 0.762 (95% CI 0.712-0.812), 0.865 (95% CI 0.822-0.908), and 0.943 (95% CI 0.909-0.953), respectively. In the validation set, the AUCs were 0.733 (95% CI 0.675-0.791), 0.823 (95% CI 0.762-0.884), and 0.924 (95% CI 0.902-0.958), respectively. The nomogram showed significantly higher AUCs than those of the clinical and DLR models alone (training set: Z=3.92, 2.87, P0.001, P=0.004; validation set: Z=3.25, 2.46, P=0.001, 0.014). Calibration curves indicated good agreement between predicted and actual IgG4-ROD incidence, and decision curve analysis demonstrated the highest net benefit for the nomogram. Conclusion:A nomogram that incorporates both intra-tumoral and peri-tumoral DLR features and clinical imaging characteristics demonstrates excellent performance in distinguishing IgG4-ROD from orbital MALT lymphoma.

Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture on intestinal flora and serum inflammatory factors in rabbit model with rheumatoid arthritis(RA);To explore the mechanism of its therapeutic effect on RA.Methods RA model rabbits were established by ovalbumin induction combined with Freund's complete adjuvant,and the rabbits after successful modeling were randomly divided into model group,probiotic group and electroacupuncture group,with 6 rabbits in each group.Another 6 rabbits were set as the normal group.The electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture at the bilateral"Zusanli"and"Dubi"for 30 minutes,the probiotic group was given probiotic capsules solution(14.5 mg/kg)by gavage,once a day,for two consecutive weeks.The knee joint circumference and pain threshold of rabbits were measured,histopathological morphological changes of colonic tissue and synovial tissue ws observed by HE staining,16S rDNA sequencing was used to analyze structural changes of intestinal flora,the contents of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 in serum were detected by ELISA.Results Compared with the normal group,the circumference of knee joint of rabbits in the model group increased significantly,the pain threshold was significantly decreased(P<0.01);the colonic mucosal damage was serious,the goblet cells were missing,a large number of inflammatory cells were infiltrate;the joint capsule synovial surface was rough,the synovial cell layer was hyperplasia and thickening,the synovial tissue inflammatory cell infiltration was obvious;the number and evenness of gut microbiota species decreased,while the relative abundance of Proteobacteria,Firmicutes,and Bacteroidetes decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01),the relative abundance of Desulfobacteria increased(P<0.01),while the relative abundance of Campylobacter,Lawsonella,and Pseudomonas increased(P<0.01),while the relative abundance of Heshanomonas and Herbaspirillum decreased(P<0.01);the contents of serum TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 increased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the knee joint circumference of the probiotic group and the electroacupuncture group decreased,the pain threshold increased(P<0.01,P<0.05);the degree of intestinal mucosal damage was reduced,the goblet cells were basically arranged neatly,the inflammatory cell infiltration was reduced;synovial cells proliferation and thickening decreased,with a small amount of inflammatory cell infiltration;the number and evenness of gut microbiota species increased,while the relative abundance of Proteobacteria,Firmicutes,and Bacteroidetes increased(P<0.05,P<0.01),the relative abundance of Desulfobacteria decreased(P<0.01),while the relative abundance of Campylobacter,Lawsonella and Pseudomonas decreased(P<0.01),the relative abundance of Heshanomonas and Herbaspirillum increased(P<0.05,P<0.01);the contents of serum TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 significantly decreased(P<0.01).Conclusion Electroacupuncture can significantly improve the symptoms of RA rabbits and reduce the inflammatory reaction in synovial tissue of joint,and the mechanism may be related to the regulation of intestinal flora structure.

Objective:To examine the treatment strategy of congenital tracheal stenosis associated with non-vascular ring cardiac malformations.Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. Clinic data from 24 children with tracheal stenosis who underwent surgical treatment in the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University from February 2017 to March 2023 were retrospectively collected. There were 16 males and 8 females, aged ( M(IQR)) 6.5 (19.6) months (range: 2.2 to 66.3 months) and weighted 5.95 (4.76) kg (range: 3.2 to 20.0 kg). All patients had obvious respiratory symptoms. Eighteen patients underwent cardiac malformation correction and tracheoplasty at the same time (simultaneous group). Six patients in the staged operation group were treated with cardiac malformation correction in the first stage operation and tracheoplasty in the second stage operation due to missed diagnosis or delayed diagnosis of tracheal stenosis or no condition for tracheoplasty. Slide tracheoplasty was used to correct tracheal stenosis in both groups. The recovery of the children was followed. Wilcoxon sign rank test was used for comparison between the two groups. Results:There was no death during the perioperative period and hospitalization. In the simultaneous group, 1 case with delayed chest closure underwent bedside chest closure after 52 hours, 2 cases were intubated again after operation, and 1 case was implanted with an endotracheal stent. The duration of mechanical ventilation was 40.5 (39.6) hours (range: 19.0 to 438.8 hours). In the staged group, there was 1 case of re-intubation after operation, combined with left vocal cord paralysis and respiratory multidrug-resistant bacterial infection ( Acinetobacter baumanii). One patient underwent 3 times of bronchoscopic balloon dilatation of the right middle bronchus, and heart rate returned to normal range. The duration of mechanical ventilation was 19.0 (21.4) hours (range: 17.1 to 96.7 hours). During follow-up, a patient in the simultaneous group was prone to respiratory infection and had good exercise tolerance, 1 case in the staged group still had sputum stridor in the throat 3 months after the operation, and symptoms improved significantly 6 months after the operation. The other children didn′t have obvious respiratory symptoms. Conclusions:The diagnosis of tracheal stenosis may be delayed or missed when tracheal stenosis is complicated by non-vascular ring cardiac malformations. One-stage correction of tracheal stenosis and cardiac malformation can achieve a good outcome.

Objective:To examine the treatment strategy of congenital tracheal stenosis associated with non-vascular ring cardiac malformations.Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. Clinic data from 24 children with tracheal stenosis who underwent surgical treatment in the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University from February 2017 to March 2023 were retrospectively collected. There were 16 males and 8 females, aged ( M(IQR)) 6.5 (19.6) months (range: 2.2 to 66.3 months) and weighted 5.95 (4.76) kg (range: 3.2 to 20.0 kg). All patients had obvious respiratory symptoms. Eighteen patients underwent cardiac malformation correction and tracheoplasty at the same time (simultaneous group). Six patients in the staged operation group were treated with cardiac malformation correction in the first stage operation and tracheoplasty in the second stage operation due to missed diagnosis or delayed diagnosis of tracheal stenosis or no condition for tracheoplasty. Slide tracheoplasty was used to correct tracheal stenosis in both groups. The recovery of the children was followed. Wilcoxon sign rank test was used for comparison between the two groups. Results:There was no death during the perioperative period and hospitalization. In the simultaneous group, 1 case with delayed chest closure underwent bedside chest closure after 52 hours, 2 cases were intubated again after operation, and 1 case was implanted with an endotracheal stent. The duration of mechanical ventilation was 40.5 (39.6) hours (range: 19.0 to 438.8 hours). In the staged group, there was 1 case of re-intubation after operation, combined with left vocal cord paralysis and respiratory multidrug-resistant bacterial infection ( Acinetobacter baumanii). One patient underwent 3 times of bronchoscopic balloon dilatation of the right middle bronchus, and heart rate returned to normal range. The duration of mechanical ventilation was 19.0 (21.4) hours (range: 17.1 to 96.7 hours). During follow-up, a patient in the simultaneous group was prone to respiratory infection and had good exercise tolerance, 1 case in the staged group still had sputum stridor in the throat 3 months after the operation, and symptoms improved significantly 6 months after the operation. The other children didn′t have obvious respiratory symptoms. Conclusions:The diagnosis of tracheal stenosis may be delayed or missed when tracheal stenosis is complicated by non-vascular ring cardiac malformations. One-stage correction of tracheal stenosis and cardiac malformation can achieve a good outcome.