1.What will be the next step of LLMs in TCM? A narrative review
Siyi CHEN ; Ruikang ZHONG ; Wenzheng ZHANG ; Zexing LI ; Yisha SU ; Lei GAO ; Kaiwen HU
Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;4(2):111-118
Large language models (LLMs) offer a modern approach to help inherit traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This article discussed the progress of LLM applications in TCM and proposed future development directions by reviewing the existing research. We have found that LLMs and related technologies have excellent applications and performance in the management of TCM knowledge and data. They are often applied in information extraction, knowledge graph construction, and data standardization processing. However, data quality and security issues need to be given more attention. In clinical diagnosis and treatment, LLMs can imitate the thinking of TCM by disassembling and reconstructing its diagnostic process and can achieve functions such as prescription recommendation and question and answer (Q&A). However, this approach involves LLMs making inferences and predictions based on existing corpora and thus may not flexibly handle complex environments and tasks. Moreover, the current evaluation criteria for TCM LLMs can be summarized into 3 categories: general evaluation metrics, technical framework evaluation, and evaluation criteria for the characteristics of TCM (such as consistency rates of prescriptions and diagnostic suggestions). However, the lack of a unified and standardized evaluation system hinders the clinical application of TCM LLMs. The future progress of TCM LLMs should focus on the 3 aforementioned critical aspects to achieve technological breakthroughs. In addition, we are promoting the research on vertical TCM LLMs and application terminals. We believe this will bring new ideas to the research on TCM LLMs.
2.The relationship between urinary arsenic methylation metabolic patterns and the transformation of skin keratinization and pigmentation abnormalities in population exposed to arsenic through drinking water
Xinye LI ; Zhiwei GUO ; Fan ZHAO ; Yuchen GUO ; Mengxin LI ; Lingling HE ; Zhen DI ; Wei SONG ; Kaiwen LIU ; Yu MA ; Yijun LIU ; Chang KONG ; Binggan WEI ; Zhongbing ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Endemiology 2025;44(6):439-444
Objective:To study the relationship between urinary arsenic methylation metabolism patterns and skin keratinization and pigmentation abnormalities in population exposed to arsenic through drinking water.Methods:Using a cross-sectional study method, a survey on endemic arsenic poisoning was conducted among permanent residents of drinking water endemic arsenic poisoning areas in Bayannur City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2004 (before water improvement). In 2017 (after water improvement), 71 arsenic exposed individuals were followed up as survey subjects. According to the "Diagnosis of Endemic Arsenism" (WS/T 211-2015), the clinical grading of skin injuries (skin keratinization, pigmentation abnormalities) in the survey subjects was evaluated. Urine samples were collected for detection of arsenic methylation metabolite levels by high-performance liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and calibrated with urinary creatinine. The changes and amplitudes of urinary arsenic methylation indicators before and after water improvement were calculated and analyzed according to the outcome of skin keratinization and pigmentation abnormalities which were divided into reduced, unchanged, and added groups.Results:(1) The changes in urinary total arsenic (TAs), inorganic arsenic (iAs), monomethyl arsenic (MMA), and dimethyl arsenic (DMA) levels in different outcome groups of skin keratinization were compared, and the differences were statistically significant ( H = 9.08, 8.77, 9.28, 8.57, P < 0.05). The changes in urinary TAs, iAs, MMA, DMA levels, iAs percentage (iAs%), DMA percentage (DMA%), and primary methylation index (PMI) in different outcome groups of skin pigmentation abnormalities were compared, and the differences were statistically significant ( H = 8.04, 10.67, 8.29, 9.14, 6.30, 9.10, 7.20, P < 0.05). (2) The comparison of amplitudes in urinary TAs, iAs, MMA, and DMA levels in different outcome groups of skin keratinization showed statistically significant differences ( H = 6.92, 7.34, 6.66, 6.16, P < 0.05). The amplitudes in urinary iAs level, iAs%, DMA%, and PMI in different outcome groups of skin pigmentation abnormalities were compared, and the differences were statistically significant ( H = 7.94, 7.61, 9.95, 7.22, P < 0.05). Conclusion:The changes pattern of urinary TAs, iAs, MMA, DMA, iAs%, DMA%, and PMI in population exposed to arsenic through drinking water is related to the transformation of skin keratinization and pigmentation abnormalities.
3.The relationship between multiple elements in urine and arsenic poisoning in populations exposed to drinking water arsenic in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
Yuchen GUO ; Binggan WEI ; Fan ZHAO ; Xinye LI ; Rui WANG ; Shuhui YIN ; Nan WU ; Lingling HE ; Zhen DI ; Kaiwen LIU ; Wei SONG ; Hui WANG ; Zhongbing ZHANG ; Danyu DENG ; Zhiwei GUO
Chinese Journal of Endemiology 2025;44(7):535-542
Objective:To study the relationship between the levels of multiple elements in urine and the risk of arsenic poisoning in populations exposed to drinking water arsenic in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (Inner Mongolia).Methods:From April 2023 to January 2024, a case-control study method was used to select 128 individuals with a residence time of ≥10 years in drinking water arsenic exposed areas in Inner Mongolia as study subjects. Eighty-one individuals diagnosed with arsenic poisoning were selected as the case group, and 47 healthy individuals were selected as the control group for urine sample collection and questionnaire survey. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was employed to determine the levels of 10 elements (chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, molybdenum, cadmium and lead) in urine. The levels of each element in urine were divided into four groups ( Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups) based on quartiles. The associations between the levels of various elements in urine and the risk of arsenic poisoning were studied using binary logistic regression model and restricted cubic spline (RCS). Results:The age of the control group and the case group [ M ( Q1, Q3)] were 61 (53, 69) and 61 (56, 67) years old, respectively. There were 19 and 43 males, and 28 and 38 females, respectively. There was no statistically significant differences in age and and gender composition between the two groups ( Z = - 0.39, P = 0.700; χ 2 = 1.91, P = 0.167). The levels of urinary copper and cadmium of the case group were higher than those of the control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( Z = - 2.66, - 2.16, P < 0.05). The results of univariate logistic regression analysis showed that urinary copper was an influencing factor for arsenic poisoning ( P = 0.017). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that after adjusting for covariates, urinary copper and arsenic were independent influencing factors of arsenic poisoning ( P < 0.05). Taking Q1 group as a reference, urinary copper in Q3 group [ OR (95% CI) = 8.23 (1.81, 37.39), P = 0.006] increased the risk of arsenic poisoning, while urinary arsenic in Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups [ OR (95% CI) = 0.24 (0.06, 0.92), 0.12 (0.03, 0.53), 0.15 (0.04, 0.63), P < 0.05] decreased the risk of arsenic poisoning. After adjusting for covariates, RCS did not show a dose-response relationship between urinary copper, urinary arsenic, and arsenic poisoning ( P > 0.05). Conclusion:Urinary arsenic and copper are associated with the risk of arsenic poisoning in the drinking water arsenic exposed areas of Inner Mongolia, copper exposure may contribute significantly to arsenic poisoning.
4.Research progress on assessment tools for the treatment burden of patients with chronic diseases
Kaiwen ZHAN ; Lei LIU ; Daqiu WANG ; Jiayu WANG ; Yu TIAN ; Manman LI ; Siqi SUN ; Zhifeng ZHANG
Journal of Shenyang Medical College 2025;27(1):74-78
The number of patients with chronic diseases in China has been increasing year by year,followed by the increase of treatment burden.It is particularly important to effectively evaluate the treatment burden of patients with chronic diseases.This paper reviews the main contents,application scope,advantages and disadvantages of the assessment tools for the treatment burden of patients with chronic diseases at home and abroad,so as to provide references and basis for medical staff to reasonably select assessment tools and conduct relevant clinical research.
5.Characteristics of weight gain during pregnancy and its relationship with gestational diabetes mellitus in women with weight loss in early pregnancy
Kaiwen MA ; Wei ZHENG ; Xianxian YUAN ; Puyang ZHANG ; Lili XU ; Guanghui LI
Chinese Journal of Perinatal Medicine 2025;28(1):36-42
Objective:To investigate the characteristics of weight gain in the mid and late pregnancy of women with early pregnancy weight loss, and the relationship between weight gain and weight gain rate before the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and GDM.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 2 614 singleton pregnant women who underwent prenatal care and delivered at Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, from January 2014 to December 2021, and whose weight decreased compared to pre-pregnancy weight by 16 weeks of gestation. The rate of weight gain in mid and late pregnancy, also weight gain and weight gain rate at each stage were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the impact of total weight gain and weight gain rate at each stage before the diagnosis of GDM on the risk of GDM.Results:The rates of weight gain in mid and late pregnancy for women with early pregnancy weight loss who were underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese before pregnancy were (0.60±0.15), (0.59±0.18), (0.53±0.20), and (0.42±0.20) kg/week, respectively, all higher than the "Chinese Recommended Standards for Weight Gain During Pregnancy" [which are (0.37-0.56), (0.26-0.48), (0.22-0.37), and (0.15-0.30) kg/week, respectively]. The weight gain rates at each stage of mid and late pregnancy in women with early pregnancy weight loss showed a "bimodal" trend, with the first peak in weight gain rate occurring at 16-20 or 20-24 weeks of gestation [weight gain rates for underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese women before pregnancy were 0.75 kg/week (0.44-1.00 kg/week), 0.74 kg/week (0.50-1.00 kg/week), 0.63 kg/week (0.39-0.86 kg/week), and 0.50 kg/week (0.25-0.74 kg/week), respectively] and the second peak occurring at 28-32 weeks [weight gain rates for underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese women before pregnancy were 0.63 kg/week (0.50-1.00 kg/week), 0.63 kg/week (0.38- 0.88 kg/week), 0.60 kg/week (0.25-0.88 kg/week), and 0.50 kg/week (0.22-0.75 kg/week). As of 28 weeks and 36 weeks of gestation, 53.7% (1 404/2 614) and 77.4% (1 946/2 512) of pregnant women, respectively, reached the lower limit of the recommended weight gain for the corresponding gestational weeks. No association was found between insufficient weight gain ( aOR=0.828, 95% CI: 0.639-1.071, P=0.151) or excessive weight gain ( aOR=0.936, 95% CI: 0.598-1.465, P=0.773) before the diagnosis of GDM and the risk of GDM. However, obese women with a weight loss greater than 5% of their pre-pregnancy weight in early pregnancy and a rapid weight gain rate (> P 75) between 16-20 weeks of gestation had an increased risk of developing GDM ( aOR=32.870, 95% CI: 1.625-664.775, P=0.023). Conclusions:In clinical practice, dynamic monitoring of weight changes at various stages of pregnancy in women who lose weight in early pregnancy is recommended. Targeted weight management during mid-pregnancy for women who are obese before pregnancy and experience significant weight loss in early pregnancy may help prevent excessive gestational weight gain and decrease the risk of GDM.
6.Comprehensive Evaluation of the Quality of Huaihua Powder by Different Hospital Decoction Methods
Guozhe ZHANG ; Lei ZHANG ; Hongxia LIU ; Yiyu QIN ; Kaiwen HU ; Jie GAO ; Yue HAN
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(8):2150-2160
Objective To comprehensively evaluate the quality difference of Huaihua powder obtained by the hospital's electromagnetic furnace decoction method and automatic decoction machine decoction method.Methods Five methods(induction cooker decoction(once decoction,twice decoction),normal pressure decoction(once decoction,twice decoction),and pressure decoction)were used to prepare the decoction.The HPLC method used a Shiseido CAPCELL PAK-C18(250 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm)column,with a UV detection wavelength of 254 nm,mobile phase of acetonitrile 0.1%phosphoric acid water,column temperature of 30℃,flow rate of 1.0 mL/min,and detection of index components including rutin,naringin,quercitrin,neohesperidin,quercetin,and menthone.The extraction rate of the index components was calculated and the cream yield of each decoction was detected.The evaluation of quality differences is based on the comprehensive score of cream yield(40%)and indicator components(60%).Results The HPLC fingerprint similarity of Huaihua powder prepared by 5 decoction methods was greater than 99%.There was no significant difference(P>0.05)in the yield of ointment and the content of indicator components between the induction cooker one decoction and the induction cooker twice decoction methods.The yield of ointment and the extraction rate of indicator components were significantly higher in twice normal pressure decoction using a decoction machine than once normal pressure decoction using a decoction machine(P<0.05).The index component score of machine under pressure decoction once was the highest,but the comprehensive score of twice normal pressure decoction was the highest,with a combined score of 92.13 and 89.58,respectively,far higher than the 36.01,18.79,and 15.60 of the other three decoction methods.Classify the decoction into three categories through cluster analysis.Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis was used to screen for rutin,naringin and neohesperidin as differential biomarkers.Conclusion The quality of Huaihua powder decocted by a decoction machine is significantly better than that by an induction cooker,and the twice decocted at normal pressure by the decoction machine are significantly better than those decocted at normal pressure once.Decoction under pressure once may be a better choice.
7.Comprehensive Evaluation of the Quality of Huaihua Powder by Different Hospital Decoction Methods
Guozhe ZHANG ; Lei ZHANG ; Hongxia LIU ; Yiyu QIN ; Kaiwen HU ; Jie GAO ; Yue HAN
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(8):2150-2160
Objective To comprehensively evaluate the quality difference of Huaihua powder obtained by the hospital's electromagnetic furnace decoction method and automatic decoction machine decoction method.Methods Five methods(induction cooker decoction(once decoction,twice decoction),normal pressure decoction(once decoction,twice decoction),and pressure decoction)were used to prepare the decoction.The HPLC method used a Shiseido CAPCELL PAK-C18(250 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm)column,with a UV detection wavelength of 254 nm,mobile phase of acetonitrile 0.1%phosphoric acid water,column temperature of 30℃,flow rate of 1.0 mL/min,and detection of index components including rutin,naringin,quercitrin,neohesperidin,quercetin,and menthone.The extraction rate of the index components was calculated and the cream yield of each decoction was detected.The evaluation of quality differences is based on the comprehensive score of cream yield(40%)and indicator components(60%).Results The HPLC fingerprint similarity of Huaihua powder prepared by 5 decoction methods was greater than 99%.There was no significant difference(P>0.05)in the yield of ointment and the content of indicator components between the induction cooker one decoction and the induction cooker twice decoction methods.The yield of ointment and the extraction rate of indicator components were significantly higher in twice normal pressure decoction using a decoction machine than once normal pressure decoction using a decoction machine(P<0.05).The index component score of machine under pressure decoction once was the highest,but the comprehensive score of twice normal pressure decoction was the highest,with a combined score of 92.13 and 89.58,respectively,far higher than the 36.01,18.79,and 15.60 of the other three decoction methods.Classify the decoction into three categories through cluster analysis.Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis was used to screen for rutin,naringin and neohesperidin as differential biomarkers.Conclusion The quality of Huaihua powder decocted by a decoction machine is significantly better than that by an induction cooker,and the twice decocted at normal pressure by the decoction machine are significantly better than those decocted at normal pressure once.Decoction under pressure once may be a better choice.
8.Changes of cardiac structure and function in patients with thoracic lordosis and clinical significance
Quan LI ; Ying ZHANG ; Kaiwen GU
Chinese Journal of Spine and Spinal Cord 2025;35(6):598-605
Objectives:To retrospectively analyze the preoperative imaging and echocardiographic data of pa-tients with thoracic lordosis,and to investigate the relationship between thoracic lordosis and the cardiac structure and function by comparing with normal people.Methods:The imaging and echocardiographic data of patients with thoracic lordosis and normal people obtained between January 2013 and December 2023 were collected and analyzed.According to thoracic angle,the patients were divided into group A of 27 cases[tho-racic lordosis(TL)group,T5-T12≤0°]and group B of 29 cases[red uced thoracic kyphotic(TK)group,0°<T5-T12≤20°].A control group of 29 normal people was set up as group C(normal group,20°<T5-T 12 ≤ 40°).General clinical data including gender,age,height,weight,body mass index(BMI),body surface area(BSA),imaging parameters on X-ray films such as thoracic sagittal and coronal Cobb angles,imaging findings on CT such as spinal penetration index volume(SPIV)and cardiac volume ratio in apical vertebra region(CVRA)were collected,as well as the echocardiographic parameters including left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVDd),right ventricular end-diastolic diameter(RVDd),left atrial diameter(LAD),right atrial diameter(RAD),right ven-tricular outflow tract(RVOT),aortic diameter(AO),ascending aortic diameter(AAO),main pulmonary artery diam-eter(MPA),end-diastolic interventricular septal thickness(IVST),left ventricular posterior wall thickness(LVPWT),ejection fraction(EF),fraction shortening(FS),stroke volume(SV),cardiac output(CO),cardiac index(CI),systolic pulmonary artery pressure(SPAP).Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 25.0 software for data comparison and correlation analysis between the three groups.Results:SPIV was negatively correlated with sagittal Cobb angle and not correlated with coronal Cobb angle;SPIV was negatively correlated with LVDd,RVDd,LAD,RAD,RVOT,AO,AAO,MPA,IVST,and LVPWT;SPIV wasn't correlated with EF,FS,SV,CO,CI,and SPAP;CVRA was negatively correlated with sagittal Cobb angle and not correlated with coronal Cobb angle;CVRA was negatively correlated with RVDd,IVST,and LVPWT;There was no correla-tion between CVRA and LVDd,LAD,RAD,RVOT,AO,AAO,MPA;CVRA wasn't correlated with EF,FS,SV,CO,CI,and SPAP.Conclusions:SPIV can more effectively reflect the impact of thoracic lordosis on cardiac structure and function than CVRA,and a reduction in thoracic kyphosis angle may exacerbate the workload on cardiac blood vessels.During the orthopedic surgery for patients with thoracic lordosis,significant changes may occur in the structural and functional parameters of the thoracic cavity and cardiac chambers due to factors such as general anesthesia,prone positioning,compression of the sternum and thoracic cage,and muscle relaxant administration,therefore particular attention should be paid to the risks of airway ob-struction and hemodynamic instability.
9.IThree-dimensional evaluation of tongue position and volume in adult patients with different skeletal malocclusions
CHIOU Wei-Cho ; MEN Xinrui ; ZHANG Kaiwen ; JIANG Xiaoge ; CHEN Song
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2025;33(1):33-40
Objective :
To analyze the relationship between tongue volume, tongue position, dental and skeletal parameters in adult patients with different skeletal malocclusions, providing references for the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of skeletal malocclusions.
Methods:
This study has been reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee, and informed consent has been obtained from patients. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and cephalometric radiographs were collected from 60 adult patients, divided into three groups based on ANB angle values: skeletal Class I (0° < ANB < 4°), II (ANB > 4°), and III (ANB < 0°), with 20 cases in each group. Dental and skeletal parameters were measured using Dolphin software. Mimics software was used for 3D reconstruction of the tongue, oral cavity, and upper airway to measure tongue position, tongue volume, oral cavity volume, and upper airway volume, followed by statistical analysis.
Results:
The skeletal Class III group had significantly larger tongue and oral cavity volumes than the skeletal Class I and Class II groups (P = 0.02). Tongue length in the skeletal Class III group was also greater than in the skeletal Class I and Class II groups (P = 0.016). There was no significant difference in the ratio of tongue volume/oral cavity capacity among the three skeletal malocclusion groups (P > 0.05). Tongue volume was positively correlated with U1-SN and negatively correlated with overbite and overjet (P < 0.05). Additionally, tongue volume showed a significant positive correlation with Go-Gn and Pg-Np (P < 0.01), as well as with maxillary and mandibular dental arch width and basal bone arch width (P < 0.01). Upper airway volume was positively correlated with TT-VRL and TP-VRL (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
Patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion have larger tongue volumes and longer tongues. Patients with larger tongue volumes may also have larger, more forward-positioned mandibles. Patients with more posterior tongue positions may have smaller upper airway volumes. When developing orthodontic or orthognathic treatment plans, it is crucial to consider the relationship between tongue position, tongue volume, the jaws, and the airway to ensure optimal outcomes for both dental and orofacial function.
10.Research progress on assessment tools for health behavior motivation in patients with cardiovascular diseases
Zhifeng ZHANG ; Lei LIU ; Yikang XU ; Daqiu WANG ; Jiayu WANG ; Yu TIAN ; Kaiwen ZHAN ; Siqi SUN ; Manman LI
Journal of Shenyang Medical College 2025;27(2):198-201
Health behavior motivation significantly affects the quality of life of patients with cardiovascular diseases.Assessing the level of health behavior motivation can measure the health behavior of individuals,help to promote the participation rate of cardiac rehabilitation,reduce the readmission rate of patients,and promote patients'healthy lifestyles.This article reviews the content,characteristics and application of assessment tools for health behavior motivation of patients with cardiovascular diseases at home and abroad,with the aim of providing references for the development and application of such tools in China,and offering a basis for scientifically assessing their health behavior motivation level and formulating effective strategies to promote health behavior motivation.


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