1.Development status and ethical challenges of artificial intelligence in traditional Chinese medicine
Jiaqing DAI ; Yuxuan JIANG ; Jingnan HU ; Liu YANG ; Lifang GUO
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(2):173-178
In the context of the rapid development of 5G technology, the development of artificial intelligence (AI) in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) faces new opportunities and challenges. Focusing on how to uphold tradition while innovating in the development of AI in TCM, starting from the current development status of AI in Chinese medicine, including the integration of four diagnostic methods, syndrome differentiation and treatment, auxiliary diagnosis and treatment, research and development of Chinese herbal medicine, prevention and treatment of diseases, knowledge inheritance, and other aspects, this paper discussed the support of policies and technical advancements, as well as development opportunities such as increased demand for health. Regarding machine ethics, data ethics, regulatory review, and other aspects, it also proposed some suggestions that the training algorithm should be improved to assist medical work; data ownership should be clarified to ensure data security; and an AI ethics committee should be set up to improve the review system, aiming to maximize the advantages of smart healthcare and accelerate the modernization of TCM for the benefit of patients and the service of human health.
2.Isolation,culture and differentiation of human urine-derived stem cells into smooth muscle cells
Jiahui CHEN ; Xiaoqi DAI ; Yangang XU ; Yuanchao LI ; Mei HUANG ; Yifei ZHAN ; Yuxuan DU ; Liuqiang LI ; Yaochuan GUO ; Jun BIAN ; Dehui LAI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(19):4076-4082
BACKGROUND:Traditional methods of urinary tract reconstruction are limited by donor scarcity,high complication rates,and suboptimal functional recovery.Tissue engineering strategies offer new directions in this field.Since the urinary tract is mainly composed of muscle tissue,the key is to find suitable seed cells and efficiently induce them to differentiate into smooth muscle cells.Comparative studies on the efficacy of different smooth muscle cell induction regimens are still lacking. OBJECTIVE:To isolate,culture,and identify human urine-derived stem cells,and to compare the effects of two different induction protocols. METHODS:Human urine-derived stem cells were isolated from urine samples of 11 healthy adult volunteers by multiple centrifugations.Surface markers were identified by flow cytometry.The multi-directional differentiation potential of human urine-derived stem cells was verified through osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation.Differentiation was induced by transforming growth factor-β1 or transforming growth factor-β1 combined with platelet derived growth factor for 14 days.Immunofluorescence staining and western blot assay were employed to compare the expression differences of smooth muscle-specific proteins(α-SMA and SM22). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Urine-derived stem cells were successfully isolated from the eight urine samples of healthy people.These cells exhibit a"rice grain"-like morphology and possess a robust proliferative capacity.(2)Urine-derived stem cells exhibited high expression of mesenchymal stem cell surface markers(CD73,CD90,and CD44)and extremely low expression of hematopoietic stem cell surface markers(CD34 and CD45).These cells did not express CD19,CD105,and HLA-DR.(3)After osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation,the formation of calcium nodules and lipid droplets was observed,with positive staining results from Alizarin Red S and Oil Red O staining.(4)After 14 days of smooth muscle induction culture,immunofluorescence staining revealed that the smooth muscle differentiation rate of urine-derived stem cells treated with a combination of transforming growth factor-β1 and platelet derived growth factor was significantly higher compared to those treated with transforming growth factor-β1 alone(P<0.005).(5)After 14 days of smooth muscle induction culture,western blot assay further demonstrated that the expression levels of α-SMA and SM22 in the transforming growth factor-β1/platelet derived growth factor group were significantly elevated compared to those in the transforming growth factor-β1 only group(P<0.005).These findings confirm that urine-derived stem cells can be non-invasively isolated using multiple rounds of centrifugation.Compared with transforming growth factor-β1 alone,the combination of transforming growth factor-β1 and platelet derived growth factor can improve the efficiency of inducing urine-derived stem cells to differentiate into smooth muscle cells.
3.Research progress on antimicrobial peptides against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Yuxuan WANG ; Weichang GUO ; Cheng CHEN ; Yao LUO ; Yaxiong XIAO ; Jiangtao LI
China Pharmacy 2025;36(5):636-640
Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive bacterium with strong pathogenicity. With the widespread use of antibiotics, its multi-drug resistance has gradually increased. Among them, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is one of the main pathogens of hospital and community infections. Antimicrobial peptides are short-chain peptides with good antibacterial effects and low drug resistance, which have been widely studied in recent years. This study summarizes the mechanism of action of antimicrobial peptides and related study on antimicrobial peptides against MRSA from different sources. It is found that the mechanisms of action of antimicrobial peptides include targeting bacterial cell membranes, bacterial cells, and bacterial cell walls, etc. Besides isolating antimicrobial peptides with anti-MRSA activity from animals, plants, and microorganisms, antimicrobial peptides can also be obtained through synthetic methods. Among them, GHa-derived peptides from animal sources, Ib-AMP4 from plant sources, Ph-SA from microbial sources, the synthetic peptide LLKLLLKLL-NH2, and so on, due to their effective antibacterial activity, rapid bactericidal speed, and low toxicity, are promising candidates for anti-MRSA drugs.
4.Adolescent anxiety and non-suicidal self-injury behavior: the mediating role of depression and the moderating role of social support
Juexi LI ; Liyuan LI ; Yuxuan GUO ; Xiaoqiang XIAO ; Peiqi TANG ; Ting PU ; Haixi ZUO ; Ting YANG ; Xiaoxia FAN ; Bo ZHOU
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(4):357-363
BackgroundNon-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behavior among adolescents has become a global public health concern. Anxiety and depression are considered key factors influencing NSSI behavior, while social support may play a protective role in alleviating emotional and behavioral issues. However, existing research has primarily focused on the direct impact of individual factors on NSSI behavior, with insufficient exploration of the combined effects of anxiety, depression and social support. ObjectiveTo investigate the direct effect of anxiety on NSSI, the mediating role of depression and the moderating role of social support in relationship between anxiety and NSSI behavior, thus to provide references for the prevention and intervention of NSSI behavior among adolescents. MethodsIn February 2022, a total of 40 820 students in grades 7 to 12 across 10 middle schools in a district of Chengdu were selected as participants, and they were assessed using Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 item (GAD-7), Patient's Health Questionnaire Depression Scale-9 item (PHQ-9), Social Support Scale for Urban Students (SSSUS) and Adolescent Self-Harm Scale (ASHS). Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to examine the correlations between scale scores among adolescents with NSSI behaviors. Mediation and moderation analyses were performed using Process 3.5 in SPSS, and the significance was tested with bootstrapping. The interaction was visualized by using simple slope analysis. ResultsAmong 34 534 (84.60%) valid respondents, 542 adolescents (1.57%) reported engaging in NSSI behavior. Significant differences in gender, GAD-7 scores, PHQ-9 scores, and SSSUS scores were observed between NSSI behavior group and non-NSSI group (χ²/t=62.889, 71.120, 94.365, -41.464, P<0.01).Adolesents with NSSI showed positive correlations between GAD-7 scores and both ASHS and PHQ-9 scores (r=0.158, 0.166, P<0.01). PHQ-9 scores were positively correlated with ASHS scores (r=0.364, P<0.01), but negatively correlated with SSSUS scores (r=-0.290, P<0.01). SSSUS scores were negatively correlated with ASHS scores (r=-0.247, P<0.01). Depression partially mediated the relationship between anxiety and NSSI behavior, with an effect size of 0.544 (95% CI: 0.162~0.944), accounting for 35.79% of the total effect. Social support moderated the relationship between depression and NSSI bahavior, with an effect value of -0.082 (95% CI: -0.135~-0.029). ConclusionAnxiety not only directly influences NSSI bahavior among adolescents, also indirectly exacerbates it through depression, while social support mitigates the impact of depression on NSSI behavior. [Funded by Youth Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China (number, 82401812); Project of Health Commission of Sichuan Province (number, 24LCYJPT18)]
5.Value and validation of a nomogram model based on the Charlson comorbidity index for predicting in-hospital mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by ventricular arrhythmias.
Nan XIE ; Weiwei LIU ; Pengzhu YANG ; Xiang YAO ; Yuxuan GUO ; Cong YUAN
Journal of Central South University(Medical Sciences) 2025;50(5):793-804
OBJECTIVES:
The Charlson comorbidity index reflects overall comorbidity burden and has been applied in cardiovascular medicine. However, its role in predicting in-hospital mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by ventricular arrhythmias (VA) remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the predictive value of the Charlson comorbidity index in this setting and to construct a nomogram model for early risk identification and individualized management to improve outcomes.
METHODS:
Using the open-access critical care database MIMIC-IV (Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV), we identified intensive care unit (ICU) patients diagnosed with AMI complicated by VA. Patients were grouped according to in-hospital survival. The predictive performance of the Charlson comorbidity index and other clinical variables for in-hospital mortality was analyzed. Key predictors were selected using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, followed by multivariable Logistic regression. A nomogram model was constructed based on the regression results. Model performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration plots.
RESULTS:
A total of 1 492 patients with AMI and VA were included, of whom 340 died and 1 152 survived during hospitalization. Significant differences were observed between survivors and non-survivors in sex distribution, vital signs, comorbidity burden, organ function, and laboratory parameters (all P<0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of the Charlson comorbidity index for predicting in-hospital mortality was 0.712 (95% CI 0.681 to 0.742), significantly higher than albumin, international normalized ratio (INR), hemoglobin, body temperature, and platelet count (all P<0.001), but comparable to Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (P>0.05). LASSO regression identified seven key predictors: the Charlson comorbidity index (quartile groups: T1, <6; T2, ≥6-<7; T3, ≥7-<9; T4, ≥9), ventricular fibrillation, age, systolic blood pressure, respiratory rate, body temperature, and SOFA score. Multivariate Logistic regression showed that compared with T1, mortality risk increased significantly in T2 (OR=1.996, 95% CI 1.135 to 3.486, P=0.016), T3 (OR=3.386, 95% CI 2.192 to 5.302, P<0.001), and T4 (OR=5.679, 95% CI 3.711 to 8.842, P<0.001). Age (OR=1.056, P<0.001), respiratory rate (OR=1.069, P<0.001), SOFA score (OR=1.223, P<0.001), and ventricular fibrillation (OR=2.174, P<0.001) were independent risk factors, while systolic blood pressure (OR=0.984, P<0.001) and body temperature (OR=0.648, P<0.001) were protective factors. The nomogram incorporating these predictors achieved an AUC of 0.849 (95% CI 0.826 to 0.871) with high discrimination and good calibration (mean absolute error=0.014).
CONCLUSIONS
The Charlson comorbidity index is an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality in AMI patients complicated by VA, with performance comparable to the SOFA score. The nomogram model based on the Charlson comorbidity index and additional clinical variables effectively estimates mortality risk and provides a valuable reference for clinical decision-making.
Humans
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Nomograms
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Hospital Mortality
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Myocardial Infarction/complications*
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Male
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Female
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Comorbidity
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Middle Aged
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Aged
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Arrhythmias, Cardiac/complications*
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ROC Curve
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Intensive Care Units
6.Relationship between negative parenting styles and adolescent depressive symptoms: a structural equation modeling approach to multiple mediation pathways
Peiqi TANG ; Liyuan LI ; Yuxuan GUO ; Juexi LI ; Ting YANG ; Ting PU ; Haixi ZUO ; Bo ZHOU
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(5):442-449
BackgroundThe distressingly high prevalence of depressive symptoms among adolescents exerts profound impacts on their physical and psychological development, urgently necessitating effective preventive interventions. Existing studies, however, have predominantly focused on isolated risk factors, neglecting to construct an integrated model that systematically disentangles the intricate relationships linking parenting styles, learning burnout, and childhood trauma to adolescent depressive symptoms. Moreover, the potential protective roles of social support and psychological resilience in this context remain insufficiently elucidated. ObjectiveTo construct a structural equation model encompassing multiple pathways to unravel the comprehensive mechanisms through which negative parenting styles, childhood trauma, learning burnout, psychological resilience, and social support collectively influence adolescent depressive symptoms, thereby providing evidence-based intervention strategies. MethodsA stratified sampling technique was utilized to recruit 5 865 students from 12 middle schools in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province from March to May 2022. Participants were assessed using the following validated instruments: the Short-form Egna Minnen av Barndoms Uppfostran (s-EMBU), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), the Adolescent Student Burnout Inventory, the Patients' Health Questionnaire Depression Scale-9 item (PHQ-9), the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS),and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). A partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach was employed to construct a predictive framework examining the complex network of pathways through which negative parenting styles, childhood trauma, learning burnout, psychological resilience,and social support collectively influence depressive symptoms in adolescents. ResultsThe PHQ-9 scores demonstrated significant positive correlations with the scores on s-EMBU overprotection subscale (r=0.272, P<0.01), s-EMBU rejection subscale (r=0.368, P<0.01), CTQ-SF (r=0.288, P<0.01) and Adolescent Student Burnout Inventory (r=0.587, P<0.01). Conversely, significant negative correlations were observed between PHQ-9 scores and both SSRS (r=-0.532, P<0.01) and CD-RISC scores (r=-0.418, P<0.01). Negative parenting styles (β=0.113, 95% CI: 0.087-0.138) and learning burnout (β=0.339, 95% CI: 0.315-0.364) emerged as significant positive predictors of depressive symptoms, with childhood trauma mediating the relationship between negative parenting styles and depressive symptoms (effect size=0.018, 95% CI: 0.013-0.024). Social support servesed as a mediating pathway between negative parenting styles and depressive symptoms (β=0.080, 95% CI: 0.069-0.092), as well as between negative parenting styles and childhood trauma (β=0.041, 95% CI: 0.032-0.050). It also functioned as an intermediary pathway linking learning burnout to depressive symptoms (β=0.092, 95% CI: 0.081-0.104) and connecting learning burnout with childhood trauma (β=0.048, 95% CI: 0.037-0.058). Additionally, psychological resilience serveed as a mediating pathway between negative parenting styles and depressive symptoms (β=0.004, 95% CI: 0.002-0.007), between learning burnout and depressive symptoms (β=0.037, 95% CI: 0.023-0.052), and between childhood trauma and depressive symptoms (β=0.003, 95% CI: 0.001-0.006). ConclusionLearning burnout exerts a direct effect on adolescent depressive symptoms. Negative parenting styles influence depressive symptoms both directly and indirectly through childhood trauma. Furthermore, social support and psychological resilience serve as mediator linking negative parenting styles and learning burnout to depressive symptoms in adolescents. [Funded by Science and Technology Project of the Health Commission of Sichuan Province (number, 24LCYJPT18)]
7.Exploration of Therapeutic Effect of Wujiwan on Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Rats Based on PPARγ Signaling Pathway and T-cell Immunoregulation
Shiyun GUO ; Yuxuan GUO ; Yi SUN ; Xiaoxin ZHU ; Yujie LI ; Ying CHEN ; Qing YANG ; Yajie WANG ; Qi LI ; Xiaogang WENG ; Zhihao DENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(23):237-245
ObjectiveThis study explores the efficacy and pharmacological mechanism of Wujiwan in rats with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from the perspectives of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) signaling pathway and T-cell immunity, providing reference for the treatment of IBD with traditional Chinese medicine. MethodThe study involved administering 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) enemas to 35 rats to induce acute IBD. After 24 hours, the animals were divided into the following groups: normal group, model group, Wujiwan treatment group, and positive drug control group. Each group received gastric gavage for 8 consecutive days before the rats were dissected to compare the disease activity index (DAI) of the rat colon tissue, the colon mucosal damage index (CMDI), and the spleen index. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the serum. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was used to determine the mRNA expression levels of T-bet (T-box expressed in T cells) and Gata3 (Gata-binding protein-3) in the colon tissue. Western blot analysis was conducted to detect the protein expression levels of PPARγ, T-bet, and nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65) in the rat colon. ResultThe rat model of IBD was successfully established. Compared with the model group, the Wujiwan treatment group showed reduced DAI, CMDI, and spleen index, decreased content of TNF-α in the serum(P<0.01), significantly increased content of IL-10(P<0.01), and elevated mRNA content of T-bet and Gata3(P<0.05) in the colon tissue. The expression of PPARγ protein was augmented(P<0.05), and the expression of T-bet and NF-κB p65 protein was decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01). ConclusionWujiwan activates or upregulates PPARγ expression in IBD rats to inhibit the generation of pro-inflammatory factors, participates in the inflammatory immune process, and alleviates inflammatory reactions. Its mechanism may involve regulating the NF-κB pathway through PPARγ, enhancing Th2 cell transcription expression, and reducing Th1 cell transcription.
8.A Review of Theoretical Research on Interpretation of Scientific Connotation of Compatibility of Traditional Chinese Medicine Compounds
Shiyun GUO ; Zhihao DENG ; Yan LI ; Yuxuan GUO ; Xiaoxin ZHU ; Yujie LI ; Ying CHEN ; Qing YANG ; Yi SUN ; Yajie WANG ; Qi LI ; Weiyan CAI ; Xiaogang WENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(23):338-344
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history of application in China and has consistently played a vital role in treating diseases and saving lives. TCM prescriptions (compounds) constitute the primary form of clinical TCM treatment and significantly differ from western medicine (chemicals) due to the diverse composition and chemical constituents of TCM (compounds). Nevertheless, the potential multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway action characteristics of TCM prescriptions also demonstrate their possible (complementary) therapeutic advantages when compared with single-component chemical drugs. Therefore, driven by the development of modern science and technology and the demands of the modernization and internationalization of TCM, modern theories regarding the complexity of TCM prescription effects have been continuously proposed: Different from the abstract language of traditional prescription theory, the modern TCM prescription theory is more inclined to illustrate the connotation of prescription compatibility concretely and vividly from an experimental and scientific perspective. In this paper, new theories on the complexity of TCM prescriptions proposed in recent years are summarized to provide research references and ideas for the greater role of TCM prescriptions and a better scientific understanding.
9.The lysine methyltransferase SMYD2 facilitates neointimal hyperplasia by regulating the HDAC3-SRF axis.
Xiaoxuan ZHONG ; Xiang WEI ; Yan XU ; Xuehai ZHU ; Bo HUO ; Xian GUO ; Gaoke FENG ; Zihao ZHANG ; Xin FENG ; Zemin FANG ; Yuxuan LUO ; Xin YI ; Ding-Sheng JIANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2024;14(2):712-728
Coronary restenosis is an important cause of poor long-term prognosis in patients with coronary heart disease. Here, we show that lysine methyltransferase SMYD2 expression in the nucleus is significantly elevated in serum- and PDGF-BB-induced vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), and in tissues of carotid artery injury-induced neointimal hyperplasia. Smyd2 overexpression in VSMCs (Smyd2-vTg) facilitates, but treatment with its specific inhibitor LLY-507 or SMYD2 knockdown significantly inhibits VSMC phenotypic switching and carotid artery injury-induced neointima formation in mice. Transcriptome sequencing revealed that SMYD2 knockdown represses the expression of serum response factor (SRF) target genes and that SRF overexpression largely reverses the inhibitory effect of SMYD2 knockdown on VSMC proliferation. HDAC3 directly interacts with and deacetylates SRF, which enhances SRF transcriptional activity in VSMCs. Moreover, SMYD2 promotes HDAC3 expression via tri-methylation of H3K36 at its promoter. RGFP966, a specific inhibitor of HDAC3, not only counteracts the pro-proliferation effect of SMYD2 overexpression on VSMCs, but also inhibits carotid artery injury-induced neointima formation in mice. HDAC3 partially abolishes the inhibitory effect of SMYD2 knockdown on VSMC proliferation in a deacetylase activity-dependent manner. Our results reveal that the SMYD2-HDAC3-SRF axis constitutes a novel and critical epigenetic mechanism that regulates VSMC phenotypic switching and neointimal hyperplasia.
10.Impact of emotions on cancer risk:a Mendelian randomization study
Qin DU ; Yuxuan ZHU ; Yize GUO ; Nanxin XU ; Di LIU
Journal of Xi'an Jiaotong University(Medical Sciences) 2024;45(3):376-382
Objective To investigate the effects of emotions(subjective well-being,depressed effect,worry,and guilt)on cancer(colorectal cancer,hepatic cancer,thyroid cancer,lung cancer,and breast cancer).Methods Two-sample bi-directional Mendelian randomization(MR)method was adopted.All data were based on summary data from genome-wide association studies(GWAS).Inverse variance weighting(IVW)was used to generate the main results,and weighted median(WM)and MR-Egger methods were employed to calculate supplementary results.The outcome measure was odds ratio(OR),and sensitivity analysis was conducted.Results For depressed effect,a significant association with lung cancer(OR=1.005,95%CI:1.001-1.009,P=0.015)was found.For worry,a significant association with breast cancer(OR=1.199,95%CI:1.011-1.423,P=0.038)was observed.For guilt,a significant association with thyroid cancer(OR=2.083,95%CI:1.080-4.017,P=0.029)was identified.After removing all potentially pleiotropic SNPs detected by MR PRESSO,the association between worry and breast cancer showed no statistical difference(P=0.064),while the association between worry and colorectal cancer remained significant(OR=0.739,95%CI:0.571-0.956,P=0.021).No causal relationship was found between cancer and emotions.Conclusion There is a causal relationship between depression and increased lung cancer incidence,guilt and increased thyroid cancer incidence,as well as anxiety and decreased colorectal cancer incidence.

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