1.Study on the mechanism of Juanxiao decoction in improving bronchial asthma
Bangqing CAO ; Qiangqiang YU ; Meinian LIU ; Zhixi WU ; Lizhen ZENG ; Mengyao TONG ; Yunhua DENG ; Hanrong XUE
China Pharmacy 2026;37(2):155-160
OBJECTIVE To investigate the potential mechanism by which Juanxiao decoction improves bronchial asthma (hereinafter referred to as “asthma”) based on the nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing receptor 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome signaling pathway. METHODS Female SD rats were randomly assigned to normal group, model group and Juanxiao decoction low-, medium- and high-dose groups (0.36, 0.72 and 1.44 g/kg, calculated based on crude drug weight), as well as positive control group (Dexamethasone acetate tablets, 0.2 mg/kg), with 10 rats in each group. Except for the normal group, asthma models were established in the remaining groups via intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin combined with aluminum hydroxide, followed by nebulized inhalation of ovalbumin. On day 14 of the experiment, rats in each group received intragastric administration of the corresponding solution or normal saline, once a day, for 7 consecutive days. Following the final administration, the following parameters were measured in each group: lung function indexes (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 0.3 second, peak expiratory flow), serum levels of inflammatory markers (interleukin-1β, interleukin- 18), and the percentages of inflammatory cells (lymphocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Histopathological changes in lung tissue were observed, and the protein and mRNA expressions of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF- κB), NLRP3 and caspase-1 in lung tissue were detected. RESULTS Compared with the normal group, pathological changes such as alveolar wall thickening and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed in rats in the model group. All pulmonary function indicators were significantly reduced in rats in the model group and the administration groups. The levels of inflammatory markers, the percentages of inflammatory cells, and the protein and mRNA expressions of NF-κB, NLRP3 and caspase-1 were significantly elevated or up-regulated (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, pathological changes in rats in each dosage group of Juanxiao decoction were significantly alleviated, and all quantitative indicators showed dose-dependent improvements (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Juanxiao decoction can reduce airway inflammatory responses in asthmatic rats, alleviate lung function impairment, and improve pathological changes such as inflammatory cell infiltration. Those effects may be related to the inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway.
2.Antibody levels of diphtheria and tetanus in healthy population in Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 2018-2024
Yu BAI ; Dandan YANG ; Wanran CHENG ; Rui ZHANG ; Pengfei DENG ; Caoyi XUE ; Laibao YANG ; Yi FEI
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2026;37(3):52-55
Objective To understand the antibody levels of diphtheria and tetanus among healthy population in Shanghai Pudong New Area, and to provide a scientific basis for improving the vaccine immunization strategy. Methods Random sampling was used to select healthy people of all ages in 16 communities in Shanghai Pudong New Area from 2018 to 2024, and serum samples were collected and tested for serum anti-diphtheria and tetanus toxin IgG antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method to analyze the antibody positivity rate (≥0.1 IU/ml) and the geometric mean concentration (GMC) of antibodies. Results A total of 3 312 serum samples were included, with a male-to-female ratio of 0.76:1, and 53.77% were local residents. The seropositivity rates and geometric mean concentrations (GMC) of both diphtheria and tetanus antibodies generally declined with increasing age, but exhibited a transient rebound in the 7y-. A total of 1 175 individuals (35.48%) were seropositive for diphtheria, with a GMC of 0.054 IU/mL. For tetanus, 988 individuals (29.83%) were seropositive, with a GMC of 0.033 IU/mL. Significant differences in seropositivity rates (χ2diphtheria=950.005,χ2tetanus=1 324.393) and GMC (Hdiphtheria=1027.160,Htetanus=1 142.007) were observed among different age groups (P<0.001). Significant differences in seropositivity rates (χ2diphtheria=950.005,χ2tetanus=1324.393) and GMC (Hdiphtheria=1027.160,Htetanus=1142.007) were also found across different years (P<0.001). Conclusion The prevalence of diphtheria and tetanus antibodies in the healthy population of Pudong New Area is relatively low, particularly among adults over 20 years of age with inadequate immunization. This underscores the need to reinforce the National Immunization Program (NIP) vaccine specifications for children under 6 years of age and implement an immunization strategy for adolescents or adults against diphtheria and tetanus.
3.Clinical Value of A Arterial and Portal CT-Based Deep Learning Model for the Differential Diagnosis of Benign and Malignant Pancreatic Cystic Lesions
Boyu CHEN ; Wenyi DENG ; Fuze CONG ; Huadan XUE
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(4):963-975
To develop a deep learning model based on arteriovenous dual-phase CT imaging features and evaluate its diagnostic value in differentiating benign from malignant pancreatic cystic lesions(PCLs). Preoperative contrast-enhanced CT images of patients with histopathologically confirmed PCLs at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from June 1, 2014 to May 31, 2023 were retrospectively collected. The data were randomly partitioned at the lesion level into training, validation, and test sets in a 3∶1∶1 ratio. CT images were preprocessed and regions of interest were delineated. Using postoperative pathological results as the reference standard, five deep learning models(ResNet50, DenseNet121, ResNeXt50, EfficientNet-b5, and MobileNetV2) were constructed to extract arteriovenous dual-phase CT imaging features for binary classification of PCLs. The optimal model was selected based on the area under the curve(AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. Further comparative analyses were conducted against single-phase CT-based deep learning models, conventional radiomics models, and radiologist interpretations to comprehensively evaluate the performance of the arteriovenous dual-phase CT-based deep learning model in the differential diagnosis of PCLs. A total of 480 patients with 485 lesions(206 malignant and 279 benign) were ultimately enrolled. The training, validation, and test sets comprised 291, 97, and 97 lesions, corresponding to 288, 96, and 96 patients, respectively. In the validation set, the ResNeXt50 model based on arteriovenous dual-phase CT features achieved an AUC of 0.837(95% CI: 0.748-0.915), an accuracy of 77.32%(95% CI: 67.70%-85.21%), a sensitivity of 80.49%(95% CI: 65.13%-91.18%), and a specificity of 75.00%(95% CI: 61.63%-85.61%). In the test set, the corresponding values were 0.822(95% CI: 0.737-0.904), 73.20%(95% CI: 63.24%-81.68%), 82.93%(95% CI: 67.94%-92.85%), and 66.07%(95% CI: 52.19%-78.19%), demonstrating overall superior performance. Calibration curves indicated that the predicted probabilities of the model were generally consistent with observed outcomes, albeit with certain shortcomings in probability calibration. Decision curve analysis demonstrated that, overall, the use of this model for clinical decision-making conferred a net benefit to patients. Compared with single-phase CT-based models and conventional radiomics models, the ResNeXt50 model incorporating arteriovenous dual-phase CT features exhibited superior overall performance, and its diagnostic performance was comparable to that of radiologists, with good consistency. The deep learning model based on arteriovenous dual-phase CT imaging features demonstrates diagnostic value in differentiating benign from malignant PCLs and may serve as an adjunctive reference for preoperative clinical assessment. However, its stability and generalizability warrant further validation in larger cohorts and with external datasets.
4.A New Perspective on Mental Health Assessment in Laboratory Animals: Stress Response Monitoring Based on Hair Characteristics
Hongman LI ; Yutong CHEN ; Yingpei SHI ; Yijing WANG ; Yan PAN ; Tong XU ; Yi ZHOU ; Qiyue DENG ; Xue LIU
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2026;46(4):553-563
The mental health management of laboratory animals is a critical factor in ensuring the reliability of scientific research data. However, due to the subtle nature of mental state alterations and the limitations of current assessment methods, the mental health of laboratory animals is often overlooked by researchers. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore a new, objective, simple, and practical method for evaluating mental health. Stress, as a primary factor inducing alterations in the mental state of animals, can influence experimental results across multiple research fields through the neuroendocrine-immune network. This paper first elucidates the necessity of mental health management in laboratory animals from three perspectives: factors contributing to stress, neural mechanisms of stress, and research areas affected by stress. It highlights that excluding animals with abnormal mental states before experiments can enhance the efficiency and reproducibility of biomedical studies. Second, this paper briefly summarizes existing methods for assessing the health of laboratory animals, pointing out that approaches such as behavioral tests and metabolomics have many limitations in evaluating stress responses. Existing methods struggle to meet the demand for simple, objective, and non-invasive assessment methods in animal management. Therefore, this paper focuses on hair, a biological sample with the advantages of cumulative information and non-invasive collection, and systematically describes the theoretical basis and technological advances in using hair characteristics as indicators of stress responses from three perspectives: hair traits, the levels of substances in hair, and artificial intelligence (AI). It proposes and supports an innovative technical pathway that combines hair traits with AI-based image analysis, with the aim of offering an improved solution for non-invasive and objective stress assessment, while providing theoretical support for improving the health management system of laboratory animals.
5.A study of the correlation between urinary iodine and thyroid dysfunction in Kunming of Yunnan
Yajuan XIE ; Ben NIU ; Zhenting DENG ; Jie GAO ; Heng SU ; Yuanming XUE
Chinese Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism 2025;41(3):212-218
Objective:To assess iodine nutritional status and the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in Kunming, Yunnan Province, along with correlation and risk factors between thyroid dysfunction and urinary iodine levels.Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2014 to July 2016 using a multi-stage, stratified cluster sampling method. A total of 2 650 residents of Kunming, Yunnan Province, who met the inclusion criteria were selected. Data on participants′ demographics, physical measurements, and laboratory tests were collected through questionnaire and clinical assessments which led to 1 463 subjects in the final analysis considering missing data. Statistical analysis were performed using SPSS 26.0, while R Studio was used to model the nonlinear relationship between urinary iodine levels and the risk of thyroid dysfunction.Results:(1) Among 2 650 subjects, 755(28.5%) were diagnosed with thyroid dysfunction, with incidence rates of clinical hyperthyroidism(0.83%), subclinical hyperthyroidism(0.38%), clinical hypothyroidism(1.36%), subclinical hypothyroidism(17.66%), and isolated thyroid antibody positive(13.85%). The median urinary iodine concentration was 177.49(123.59, 251.85) μg/L, indicating adequate iodine nutritional. (2)Among the 1 463 subjects analyzed, significant differences in urinary iodine were found between healthy individual group and abnormal TSH group or abnormal TSH group and thyroid antibody positive group( H=-83.437, P=0.003; H=107.489, P=0.003). Logistic regression revealed that rural residents had a lower risk of thyroid dysfunction than urban residents( OR=0.429, 95% CI 0.256-0.717, P=0.001). Risk of thyroid disease increased with age, and TSH, thyroid peroxidase antibody(TPOAb), thyroglobulin antibody(TgAb), and urinary iodine levels were identified as significant risk factors, with a U-shaped relationship between urinary iodine levels and thyroid dysfunction. Conclusions:The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in Kunming is comparable to the national average. The relationship between urinary iodine concentration and thyroid dysfunction follows a U-shaped curve. Factors including region, age, TSH, TPOAb, TgAb, and urinary iodine concentration are associated with thyroid dysfunction.
6.Expert Consensus on the Ethical Requirements for Generative AI-Assisted Academic Writing
You-Quan BU ; Yong-Fu CAO ; Zeng-Yi CHANG ; Hong-Yu CHEN ; Xiao-Wei CHEN ; Yuan-Yuan CHEN ; Zhu-Cheng CHEN ; Rui DENG ; Jie DING ; Zhong-Kai FAN ; Guo-Quan GAO ; Xu GAO ; Lan HU ; Xiao-Qing HU ; Hong-Ti JIA ; Ying KONG ; En-Min LI ; Ling LI ; Yu-Hua LI ; Jun-Rong LIU ; Zhi-Qiang LIU ; Ya-Ping LUO ; Xue-Mei LV ; Yan-Xi PEI ; Xiao-Zhong PENG ; Qi-Qun TANG ; You WAN ; Yong WANG ; Ming-Xu WANG ; Xian WANG ; Guang-Kuan XIE ; Jun XIE ; Xiao-Hua YAN ; Mei YIN ; Zhong-Shan YU ; Chun-Yan ZHOU ; Rui-Fang ZHU
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(6):826-832
With the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence(GAI)technologies,their widespread application in academic research and writing is continuously expanding the boundaries of sci-entific inquiry.However,this trend has also raised a series of ethical and regulatory challenges,inclu-ding issues related to authorship,content authenticity,citation accuracy,and accountability.In light of the growing involvement of AI in generating academic content,establishing an open,controllable,and trustworthy ethical governance framework has become a key task for safeguarding research integrity and maintaining trust within the academic community.This expert consensus outlines ethical requirements across key stages of AI-assisted academic writing-including topic selection,data management,citation practices,and authorship attribution.It aims to clarify the boundaries and ethical obligations surrounding AI use in academic writing,ensuring that technological tools enhance efficiency without compromising in-tegrity.The goal is to provide guidance and institutional support for building a responsible and sustainable research ecosystem.
7.Shared Genetic Structure of Alzheimer's Disease and Cardiovascular Disease based on Genomic Structural Equations
Shuting XUE ; Durong CHEN ; Liufei DENG
Chinese Journal of Health Statistics 2025;42(5):694-698
Objective Genome structural equation modeling(GSEM)was used to study the shared genetic structure between Alzheimer's disease(AD)and eight cardiovascular diseases(CVD).Methods In this study,based on AD and CVD data from large consortia and genome-wide association studies,we used chained unbalanced score regression to assess the genetic correlation between the diseases;GSEM was introduced to cross-validate with exploratory factor analysis at odd chromosomes and validation factor analysis at even chromosomes,and pathway analysis was combined to establish three-factor,cofactor,and bifactorial models,so as to reveal the complex genetic relationships between the diseases.Additionally,a cross-validation was performed by swapping the positions of odd and even chromosomes.Results The nine selected diseases can be explained by a three-factor model consisting of three independent factors;a cofactor model explains the relationship between a cofactor and each disease;and an extended two-factor model(a combination of the three-factor model and the cofactor model)performs best in fitting the study data.Conclusion GSEM can be used to explore the shared genetic structure between AD and CVD to discover their interactions,laying a methodological foundation for understanding the genetic relationship between complex diseases.
8.Study on pricing of initiative hospice and palliative care services by service unit
Tian-shu CHU ; Yi-fan XU ; Li-mei JING ; Xue-ying LI ; Xiao-yu ZHANG ; Jun-mei DENG
Chinese Journal of Health Policy 2025;18(2):47-52
Objective:To conduct a study on pricing by service unit to address the problems of hospice and palliative care pricing and fee system in China.Methods:Combining theoretical research and empirical evidence,this study organized the pricing mechanism of initiative hospice and palliative care services and established a graded and categorized pricing strategy.Empirical research was conducted based on real-world data from 36 pilot institutions in typical areas.Results:This study developed a comprehensive pricing framework for value-based classification price standard of initiative hospice and palliative care services from the perspective of incentive regulation.We proposed a pricing plan based on service units,with inpatient bed fee ranging from 459 to 606 yuan or 459 to 1 102 yuan,and home visit fee ranging from 89 to 264 yuan.Conclusions and suggestions:This study proposes a pricing scheme based on the technique and service value with a gradient fluctuation by service unit,and forms a set of price standards with high economic and technical feasibility,which can provide scientific evidences for solving the pricing problem of hospice care.In addition,there is still a need to establish a multi-level incentive compensation mechanism to motivate all levels and types of organisations and healthcare provider,and to promote the high-quality and sustainable development of hospice and palliative care.
9.The mediating role of activity of daily living between social support and cognitive function of rural elderly
Xunqiong ZHOU ; Qingyue WU ; Meishu DENG ; Jingyuan YANG ; Quanxiang ZHOU ; Weina XUE ; Xi LONG ; Xing YANG
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(7):645-651
Objective:To explore the mediating role of activity of daily living between social support and cognitive function of rural elderly.Methods:A face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted from July to August 2019 among 1 626 rural elderly people selected by multi-stage cluster random method in Guiyang City and Qiannan Prefecture, Guizhou Province.The contents include general situation, social support rate scale (SSRS), activity of daily living scale (ADL) and mini-mental state examination (MMSE). Partial correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyze the relationship among social support, activity of daily living and cognitive function in the elderly by SPSS 23.0 software. AMOS 28.0 software was used to construct structural equation models, and Bootstrap method was used to test the mediating role of activity of daily living.Results:The scores of cognitive function, social support and activity of daily living of the rural elderly were (20.83±5.47), (34.96±6.42) and (16.51±3.29), respectively.There were statistically significant differences in the cognitive function scores among rural elderly with different levels of social support and activity of daily living( F=33.418, t=25.533, P<0.01). The partial correlation analysis showed that the social support score was positively correlated with the cognitive function score ( r=0.161, P<0.01), and the activity of daily living score was negatively correlated with scores of social support and cognitive function ( r=-0.083, -0.453, both P<0.01). Multiple linear stepwise regression analysis showed that social support, objective support dimensions, activity of daily living and instrumental activity of daily living were influencing factors of cognitive function of rural elderly( P<0.001).The results of structural equation model showed that the activity of daily living played a partial mediating role between social support and cognitive function in rural elderly, with the mediating effect of 0.046 (95% CI=0.025-0.075), accounting for 13.18% of total effect (effect value=0.349, 95% CI=0.277-0.415). Conclusion:The activity of daily living of rural elderly plays a partial mediating effect between social support and cognitive functioning.
10.Dilemmas,causes and optimization pathways of pharmacists'practice from the perspective of asymmetric game theory
Chinese Journal of Health Policy 2025;18(11):74-79
Based on asymmetric game theory,this study analyzes the strategic interactions between traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and pharmacists in medication management within Chinese medical institutions,examining the challenges pharmacists face in this context.Research reveals that pharmacist practice faces challenges such as diminished authority,difficulties in implementing professional recommendations,a perfunctory prescription review process,immature incentive mechanisms,and unclear boundaries in risk-sharing arrangements.These issues constrain the effectiveness of the rational drug use governance system.The study proposes the following countermeasures:First,legislate to define pharmacists'professional scope and strengthen their substantive involvement in prescription review.Second,optimize pre-review and information-sharing mechanisms to establish a synchronized decision-making model between physicians and pharmacists.Third,adjust performance incentives and service compensation systems to establish remuneration and promotion frameworks reflecting pharmaceutical value.Fourth,differentiate responsibility allocation to create a framework of equal rights and responsibilities.Fifth,establish prescription dispute resolution mechanisms with professional consultation and standardized procedural rules.


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