1.TCMKD: From ancient wisdom to modern insights-A comprehensive platform for traditional Chinese medicine knowledge discovery.
Wenke XIAO ; Mengqing ZHANG ; Danni ZHAO ; Fanbo MENG ; Qiang TANG ; Lianjiang HU ; Hongguo CHEN ; Yixi XU ; Qianqian TIAN ; Mingrui LI ; Guiyang ZHANG ; Liang LENG ; Shilin CHEN ; Chi SONG ; Wei CHEN
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(6):101297-101297
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) serves as a treasure trove of ancient knowledge, holding a crucial position in the medical field. However, the exploration of TCM's extensive information has been hindered by challenges related to data standardization, completeness, and accuracy, primarily due to the decentralized distribution of TCM resources. To address these issues, we developed a platform for TCM knowledge discovery (TCMKD, https://cbcb.cdutcm.edu.cn/TCMKD/). Seven types of data, including syndromes, formulas, Chinese patent drugs (CPDs), Chinese medicinal materials (CMMs), ingredients, targets, and diseases, were manually proofread and consolidated within TCMKD. To strengthen the integration of TCM with modern medicine, TCMKD employs analytical methods such as TCM data mining, enrichment analysis, and network localization and separation. These tools help elucidate the molecular-level commonalities between TCM and contemporary scientific insights. In addition to its analytical capabilities, a quick question and answer (Q&A) system is also embedded within TCMKD to query the database efficiently, thereby improving the interactivity of the platform. The platform also provides a TCM text annotation tool, offering a simple and efficient method for TCM text mining. Overall, TCMKD not only has the potential to become a pivotal repository for TCM, delving into the pharmacological foundations of TCM treatments, but its flexible embedded tools and algorithms can also be applied to the study of other traditional medical systems, extending beyond just TCM.
2.Value of multimodal ultrasound in the diagnosis of diffuse C-TIRADS 4a nodules of thyroid
Hong LIU ; Jing LIU ; Chi XUE ; Junzhi ZHAO
China Medical Equipment 2025;22(1):63-67
Objective:To analyze the value advantages of multimodal ultrasound in the diagnosis of benign and malignant nodules of 4a grade of nodules of Chinese thyroid imaging reporting and data system (C-TIRADS) of diffuse thyroid nodules. Methods:A total of 227 diffuse thyroid nodules (116 malignant nodules and 111 benign nodules) from 219 patients who admitted to Baoji Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Medical University between January 2020 to December 2023 were retrospectively selected. Two-dimensional ultrasound and multimodal ultrasound were used to diagnose diffuse thyroid nodules,and to perform data analysis. There were 49 males and 170 females,ranging in age from 24 to 72 years old,whose average age was 52.31±10.08 years. The result of pathological diagnosis was used as the "gold standard",and the results of pathological diagnosis and the parameters of multimodal ultrasound for diffuse thyroid nodules were compared. The diagnostic efficiency of the results of multimodal ultrasound and two-dimensional ultrasound for diffuse thyroid nodules was compared and analyzed. Results:As the results of pathological diagnosis,the scores of contrast-enhanced ultrasound,micro blood flow imaging,elastography and malignant risk score of multimodal ultrasound technique of malignant diffuse thyroid nodules were significantly higher than those of benign nodules (Z=-4.258,-5.007,-5.631,P<0.05),respectively. The sensitivity (92.24%) and specificity (92.79%) of multimodal ultrasound were significantly higher than those (75.00% and 83.78%) of two-dimensional ultrasound (x2=12.588,4.356,P<0.05),respectively. The positively predictive values (93.04%) and negatively predictive values (91.96%) of multimodal ultrasound were significantly higher than those (82.86% and 76.23%) of two-dimensional ultrasound (x2=5.465,10.629,P<0.05),respectively. Conclusion:For the judgment of benign and malignant nodules of C-TIRADS 4a in the background of diffuse thyroid nodules,the application of multimodal ultrasound technique,especially the combined use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound,elastography and micro blood flow imaging,can greatly improve the accuracy of ultrasonic diagnosis of these diseases.
3.Value of multimodal ultrasound in the diagnosis of diffuse C-TIRADS 4a nodules of thyroid
Hong LIU ; Jing LIU ; Chi XUE ; Junzhi ZHAO
China Medical Equipment 2025;22(1):63-67
Objective:To analyze the value advantages of multimodal ultrasound in the diagnosis of benign and malignant nodules of 4a grade of nodules of Chinese thyroid imaging reporting and data system (C-TIRADS) of diffuse thyroid nodules. Methods:A total of 227 diffuse thyroid nodules (116 malignant nodules and 111 benign nodules) from 219 patients who admitted to Baoji Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Medical University between January 2020 to December 2023 were retrospectively selected. Two-dimensional ultrasound and multimodal ultrasound were used to diagnose diffuse thyroid nodules,and to perform data analysis. There were 49 males and 170 females,ranging in age from 24 to 72 years old,whose average age was 52.31±10.08 years. The result of pathological diagnosis was used as the "gold standard",and the results of pathological diagnosis and the parameters of multimodal ultrasound for diffuse thyroid nodules were compared. The diagnostic efficiency of the results of multimodal ultrasound and two-dimensional ultrasound for diffuse thyroid nodules was compared and analyzed. Results:As the results of pathological diagnosis,the scores of contrast-enhanced ultrasound,micro blood flow imaging,elastography and malignant risk score of multimodal ultrasound technique of malignant diffuse thyroid nodules were significantly higher than those of benign nodules (Z=-4.258,-5.007,-5.631,P<0.05),respectively. The sensitivity (92.24%) and specificity (92.79%) of multimodal ultrasound were significantly higher than those (75.00% and 83.78%) of two-dimensional ultrasound (x2=12.588,4.356,P<0.05),respectively. The positively predictive values (93.04%) and negatively predictive values (91.96%) of multimodal ultrasound were significantly higher than those (82.86% and 76.23%) of two-dimensional ultrasound (x2=5.465,10.629,P<0.05),respectively. Conclusion:For the judgment of benign and malignant nodules of C-TIRADS 4a in the background of diffuse thyroid nodules,the application of multimodal ultrasound technique,especially the combined use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound,elastography and micro blood flow imaging,can greatly improve the accuracy of ultrasonic diagnosis of these diseases.
4.Combined screening of two primary immunodeficiency diseases and spinal muscular atrophy in neonates by multiplex real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR
Chao ZHANG ; Jianbin YANG ; Shiqiang SHANG ; Chi CHEN ; Huaqing MAO ; Xiaolei HUANG ; Fang HONG ; Haixia MIAO ; Hanyi ZHAO ; Rulai YANG
Chinese Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2025;48(2):249-257
Objective:To explore the feasibility of joint screening of the two primary immunodeficiency diseases [severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and X-linked agammaglobulinemia(XLA)] and spinal muscular atrophy(SMA) in newborns by multiplex real-time quantitative PCR technology, and to provide evidence for early screening, diagnosis and treatment of children.Methods:Cross-sectional study. From July 2021 to January 2023, a total of 103 240 dry blood spots samples of newborns were collected which were delivered to Neonatal Disease Screening Center of Zhejiang by cold chain transportation. The concentrations of the T cell receptor excision ring (TREC), Kappa deletion of the recombinant excision loop (KREC), and exon 7 deletion of Survival Motor Neuron 1 (SMN1) gene in dry blood spots were simultaneously detected by multiplex real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, taken ribonuclease P/MRP 30 000 subunits (RPP30) as an internal reference gene. The positive newborns were further diagnosed by other laboratory tests and gene sequencing was taken as gold standard. Children samples from 1 case of SCID, 3 cases of XLA and 2 cases of SMA were used for positive verification. The correlation between detected concentration of TREC/KREC and basic information in newborns were analyzed. The differences among groups for each factor were analyzed.Results:One case of SCID, 2 cases of XLA, 9 cases of SMA and 7 cases of other genetic diseases (4 cases of DiGeorge syndrome, 1 case of trisomy 21 syndrome, 1 case of Noonan syndrome and 1 case of super male syndrome) were identified by multiplex real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. The positive predictive values of screening neonatal SCID, XLA and SMA were 2.44% (1/41), 2.78% (2/72) and 9/9 respectively. Taking the samples from clinically diagnosed 1 case of SCID, 3 cases of XLA and 2 cases of SMA as positive validation samples, which were all identified. The detected results of TREC/KREC correlated with time of blood collection, sex, weight, gestational age and delivery mode of newborns, whose r values were 0.162/0.187, 0.066/0.032, 0.045/0.042, ?0.015/?0.088 and 0.014/0.068 respectively (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Relying on current neonatal screening platform in Zhejiang, it is feasible to screen jointly two kinds of primary immunodeficiency diseases and spinal muscular atrophy in newborns by multiple real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR technology.
5.Research of the parameters of multimodal ultrasound elastography in differential diagnosis for thyroid nodules of patients with diffuse thyroid lesions
Jing LIU ; Chi XUE ; Hong LIU ; Junzhi ZHAO
China Medical Equipment 2025;22(4):58-63
Objective:To investigate the application of the parameters of multimodal ultrasound elastography in differential diagnosis for thyroid nodules of patients with diffuse thyroid lesions.Methods:A total of 103 patients with diffuse thyroid lesions who underwent treatment at Affiliated Baoji Hospital of Xi′an Medical University from January 2023 to January 2024 were retrospectively selected,whose thyroid nodules were confirmed by fine needle aspiration biopsy or surgical pathology.They were grouped according to the benign or malignant nodules.56 patients with benign nodules were included in the benign nodule group,while the other 47 patients were included in the malignant nodule group.All patients were examined by conventional ultrasound and multimodal ultrasound elastography,and the relevant parameters were recorded to compare the differences between the two groups.The value of each indicator in diagnosing benign and malignant thyroid nodules was investigated.Results:There were no statistically significant differences between the benign and malignant nodule groups in terms of gender,length diameter of nodule,nodule location,functional abnormalities of thyroid,exposure history of radiation,and the presence of acoustic halos(P>0.05),the age of patients in the malignant nodule group was lower than that of the benign nodule group(t=-3.121,P<0.05),and the percentage of nodules with blood flow(14.89%),the percentage of aspect ratio<1(74.47%),and the percentage of nodules with clear boundary(27.66%)in the malignant nodule group were all lower than those of the benign nodule group,with statistically significant differences(x2=25.634,5.112,12.465,P<0.05).The ratio of lymphatic metastasis(27.66%)and that of calcification(65.96%)in the malignant nodule group were lower than those in the benign nodule group,and the differences were all statistically significant(x2=11.917,9.350,P<0.05).The ratios of centripetal enhancement(76.60%),inhomogeneous enhancement(68.09%),low/equal enhancement(87.23%),early obvious discharge(63.83%),unclear boundary after enhancement(91.49%),and fast discharge(59.57%)in the malignant nodule group were higher than that of the benign nodule group,and the differences were statistically significant(x2=33.409,26.695,9.079,12.853,17.798,12.649,P<0.05),respectively.The intensity and time to peak of the malignant nodule group were respectively lower and long than these of the benign nodule group,and the differences were statistically significant(t=-12.381,4.958,P<0.05).However,the mean passage time of the two groups was not statistically significant(P>0.05).The maximum value,minimum value and mean value of Young's modulus,the maximum value of vertical section,mean value of vertical section,maximum value of cross section,mean value of cross section in the malignant nodule group were all higher than those in the benign nodule group,and the differences were statistically significant(t=13.997,9.100,12.191,7.616,6.310,4.679,5.355,P<0.05).The result of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis indicated that both ultrasonography parameters and shear wave elastography(SWE)parameters had higher diagnostic value for the benign and malignant nature of thyroid nodules in patients.The area under curve(AUC)values of intensity to peak,time to peak,and the maximum value,minimum value and mean value of Young's modulus,and the maximum value of vertical section,mean value of vertical section,maximum value of cross section,mean value of cross section were respectively 0.976,0.759,0.974,0.837,0.989,0.872,0.805,0.732 and 0.749.Conclusion:Multimodal ultrasound elastography parameters has significant application value in differential diagnosis for thyroid nodules in patients with diffuse thyroid lesions.In these parameters,the diagnostic AUC values of intensity to peak,time to peak,and the maximum value and mean value of Young's modulus are higher for malignant thyroid nodules of patients,which have higher diagnostic efficiency.It can effectively help clinical doctor to accurately identify the benign and malignant nodules for patients with diffuse thyroid lesions.
6.Value of SMI in assisting diagnosis for diffuse thyroid disease with thyroid nodules
Hong LIU ; Chi XUE ; Junzhi ZHAO
China Medical Equipment 2025;22(7):50-54
Objective:To explore the application value of Superb microvascular imaging(SMI)technique in diagnosing diffuse thyroid disease with thyroid nodules,and the assessment for treatment efficacy.Methods:A total of 100 patients with diffuse thyroid disease with thyroid nodules(132 nodules),who were treated at the Baoji Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Medical University from March 2020 to November 2024,were selected.The dual examination of SMI and conventional Color Doppler Flow Imaging(CDFI)were conducted on them.The nature of the nodules was confirmed by pathological examination.The diagnostic sensitivity,specificity and predictive value of SMI and CDFI were analyzed by using the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.A series of conventional indicators,including blood flow volume,blood flow velocity,pattern of blood flow distribution,and vascular morphology,between the two imaging techniques were compared and analyzed.Results:In the 132 thyroid nodules that were detected by pathological examination,SMI identified 94 benign lesions(71.21%)and 38 malignant lesions(28.79%).The sensitivity and specificity of SMI were respectively 94.68%and 89.47%in diagnosing diffuse thyroid disease with thyroid nodules,both of them were higher than those(84.05%and 78.95%)of CDFI,and the sensitivity of SMI diagnosis was significantly higher than that of CDFI diagnosis,and the difference was statistically significant(x2=5.595,P<0.05).The nodule size as SMI diagnosis was(14.62±2.36)mm,which was significantly smaller than(16.35±4.45)mm as CDFI diagnosis,and the difference was statistically significant(x2=3.330,P<0.05).Blood flow velocity and blood flow volume of SMI diagnosis were significantly higher than those of CDFI diagnosis,and the differences were statistically significant(t=5.718,6.567,P<0.05).The detection rates of blood flow distribution mode and vascular morphology of SMI mode were significantly higher than those of CDFI mode,and the differences were statistically significant(x2=9.192,4.776,P<0.05).However,there were not statistically significant differences were observed between the two imaging techniques in terms of the shape,echo type and internal calcification of nodules(P>0.05).Conclusion:SMI technique has a significant advantage in diagnosis and assessment for diffuse thyroid disease with thyroid nodules.It can more accurately assess the hemodynamic changes of the nodules,and provide more reliable diagnostic information for clinical treatment.
7.Research of the parameters of multimodal ultrasound elastography in differential diagnosis for thyroid nodules of patients with diffuse thyroid lesions
Jing LIU ; Chi XUE ; Hong LIU ; Junzhi ZHAO
China Medical Equipment 2025;22(4):58-63
Objective:To investigate the application of the parameters of multimodal ultrasound elastography in differential diagnosis for thyroid nodules of patients with diffuse thyroid lesions.Methods:A total of 103 patients with diffuse thyroid lesions who underwent treatment at Affiliated Baoji Hospital of Xi′an Medical University from January 2023 to January 2024 were retrospectively selected,whose thyroid nodules were confirmed by fine needle aspiration biopsy or surgical pathology.They were grouped according to the benign or malignant nodules.56 patients with benign nodules were included in the benign nodule group,while the other 47 patients were included in the malignant nodule group.All patients were examined by conventional ultrasound and multimodal ultrasound elastography,and the relevant parameters were recorded to compare the differences between the two groups.The value of each indicator in diagnosing benign and malignant thyroid nodules was investigated.Results:There were no statistically significant differences between the benign and malignant nodule groups in terms of gender,length diameter of nodule,nodule location,functional abnormalities of thyroid,exposure history of radiation,and the presence of acoustic halos(P>0.05),the age of patients in the malignant nodule group was lower than that of the benign nodule group(t=-3.121,P<0.05),and the percentage of nodules with blood flow(14.89%),the percentage of aspect ratio<1(74.47%),and the percentage of nodules with clear boundary(27.66%)in the malignant nodule group were all lower than those of the benign nodule group,with statistically significant differences(x2=25.634,5.112,12.465,P<0.05).The ratio of lymphatic metastasis(27.66%)and that of calcification(65.96%)in the malignant nodule group were lower than those in the benign nodule group,and the differences were all statistically significant(x2=11.917,9.350,P<0.05).The ratios of centripetal enhancement(76.60%),inhomogeneous enhancement(68.09%),low/equal enhancement(87.23%),early obvious discharge(63.83%),unclear boundary after enhancement(91.49%),and fast discharge(59.57%)in the malignant nodule group were higher than that of the benign nodule group,and the differences were statistically significant(x2=33.409,26.695,9.079,12.853,17.798,12.649,P<0.05),respectively.The intensity and time to peak of the malignant nodule group were respectively lower and long than these of the benign nodule group,and the differences were statistically significant(t=-12.381,4.958,P<0.05).However,the mean passage time of the two groups was not statistically significant(P>0.05).The maximum value,minimum value and mean value of Young's modulus,the maximum value of vertical section,mean value of vertical section,maximum value of cross section,mean value of cross section in the malignant nodule group were all higher than those in the benign nodule group,and the differences were statistically significant(t=13.997,9.100,12.191,7.616,6.310,4.679,5.355,P<0.05).The result of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis indicated that both ultrasonography parameters and shear wave elastography(SWE)parameters had higher diagnostic value for the benign and malignant nature of thyroid nodules in patients.The area under curve(AUC)values of intensity to peak,time to peak,and the maximum value,minimum value and mean value of Young's modulus,and the maximum value of vertical section,mean value of vertical section,maximum value of cross section,mean value of cross section were respectively 0.976,0.759,0.974,0.837,0.989,0.872,0.805,0.732 and 0.749.Conclusion:Multimodal ultrasound elastography parameters has significant application value in differential diagnosis for thyroid nodules in patients with diffuse thyroid lesions.In these parameters,the diagnostic AUC values of intensity to peak,time to peak,and the maximum value and mean value of Young's modulus are higher for malignant thyroid nodules of patients,which have higher diagnostic efficiency.It can effectively help clinical doctor to accurately identify the benign and malignant nodules for patients with diffuse thyroid lesions.
8.Value of SMI in assisting diagnosis for diffuse thyroid disease with thyroid nodules
Hong LIU ; Chi XUE ; Junzhi ZHAO
China Medical Equipment 2025;22(7):50-54
Objective:To explore the application value of Superb microvascular imaging(SMI)technique in diagnosing diffuse thyroid disease with thyroid nodules,and the assessment for treatment efficacy.Methods:A total of 100 patients with diffuse thyroid disease with thyroid nodules(132 nodules),who were treated at the Baoji Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Medical University from March 2020 to November 2024,were selected.The dual examination of SMI and conventional Color Doppler Flow Imaging(CDFI)were conducted on them.The nature of the nodules was confirmed by pathological examination.The diagnostic sensitivity,specificity and predictive value of SMI and CDFI were analyzed by using the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.A series of conventional indicators,including blood flow volume,blood flow velocity,pattern of blood flow distribution,and vascular morphology,between the two imaging techniques were compared and analyzed.Results:In the 132 thyroid nodules that were detected by pathological examination,SMI identified 94 benign lesions(71.21%)and 38 malignant lesions(28.79%).The sensitivity and specificity of SMI were respectively 94.68%and 89.47%in diagnosing diffuse thyroid disease with thyroid nodules,both of them were higher than those(84.05%and 78.95%)of CDFI,and the sensitivity of SMI diagnosis was significantly higher than that of CDFI diagnosis,and the difference was statistically significant(x2=5.595,P<0.05).The nodule size as SMI diagnosis was(14.62±2.36)mm,which was significantly smaller than(16.35±4.45)mm as CDFI diagnosis,and the difference was statistically significant(x2=3.330,P<0.05).Blood flow velocity and blood flow volume of SMI diagnosis were significantly higher than those of CDFI diagnosis,and the differences were statistically significant(t=5.718,6.567,P<0.05).The detection rates of blood flow distribution mode and vascular morphology of SMI mode were significantly higher than those of CDFI mode,and the differences were statistically significant(x2=9.192,4.776,P<0.05).However,there were not statistically significant differences were observed between the two imaging techniques in terms of the shape,echo type and internal calcification of nodules(P>0.05).Conclusion:SMI technique has a significant advantage in diagnosis and assessment for diffuse thyroid disease with thyroid nodules.It can more accurately assess the hemodynamic changes of the nodules,and provide more reliable diagnostic information for clinical treatment.
9.Combined screening of two primary immunodeficiency diseases and spinal muscular atrophy in neonates by multiplex real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR
Chao ZHANG ; Jianbin YANG ; Shiqiang SHANG ; Chi CHEN ; Huaqing MAO ; Xiaolei HUANG ; Fang HONG ; Haixia MIAO ; Hanyi ZHAO ; Rulai YANG
Chinese Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2025;48(2):249-257
Objective:To explore the feasibility of joint screening of the two primary immunodeficiency diseases [severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and X-linked agammaglobulinemia(XLA)] and spinal muscular atrophy(SMA) in newborns by multiplex real-time quantitative PCR technology, and to provide evidence for early screening, diagnosis and treatment of children.Methods:Cross-sectional study. From July 2021 to January 2023, a total of 103 240 dry blood spots samples of newborns were collected which were delivered to Neonatal Disease Screening Center of Zhejiang by cold chain transportation. The concentrations of the T cell receptor excision ring (TREC), Kappa deletion of the recombinant excision loop (KREC), and exon 7 deletion of Survival Motor Neuron 1 (SMN1) gene in dry blood spots were simultaneously detected by multiplex real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, taken ribonuclease P/MRP 30 000 subunits (RPP30) as an internal reference gene. The positive newborns were further diagnosed by other laboratory tests and gene sequencing was taken as gold standard. Children samples from 1 case of SCID, 3 cases of XLA and 2 cases of SMA were used for positive verification. The correlation between detected concentration of TREC/KREC and basic information in newborns were analyzed. The differences among groups for each factor were analyzed.Results:One case of SCID, 2 cases of XLA, 9 cases of SMA and 7 cases of other genetic diseases (4 cases of DiGeorge syndrome, 1 case of trisomy 21 syndrome, 1 case of Noonan syndrome and 1 case of super male syndrome) were identified by multiplex real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. The positive predictive values of screening neonatal SCID, XLA and SMA were 2.44% (1/41), 2.78% (2/72) and 9/9 respectively. Taking the samples from clinically diagnosed 1 case of SCID, 3 cases of XLA and 2 cases of SMA as positive validation samples, which were all identified. The detected results of TREC/KREC correlated with time of blood collection, sex, weight, gestational age and delivery mode of newborns, whose r values were 0.162/0.187, 0.066/0.032, 0.045/0.042, ?0.015/?0.088 and 0.014/0.068 respectively (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Relying on current neonatal screening platform in Zhejiang, it is feasible to screen jointly two kinds of primary immunodeficiency diseases and spinal muscular atrophy in newborns by multiple real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR technology.
10.Clinical significance and research progress of quantitative hepatitis B virus core antibody measurement
Yiqi LIU ; Chi ZHANG ; Hong ZHAO ; Guiqiang WANG
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2024;32(1):83-86
Hepatitis B virus core antibodies are specific antibodies produced after viral infection that appear early and last for a long time, and its levels in serum are measured by the double-antigen sandwich chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay method, which has higher sensitivity and specificity, providing new clinical indicators for hepatitis B patients diagnosis, treatment, and drug withdrawal management. This article reviews the clinical significance and research progress of quantitative hepatitis B core antibody measurement and expounds on its research applications and prospects in clinical practice.

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