1.Spatiotemporal Electrical Impedance Tomography for Speech Respiratory Assessment in Cleft Palate: an Interpretable Machine Learning Study
Yang WU ; Xiao-Jing ZHANG ; Hao YU ; Cheng-Hui JIANG ; Bo SUN ; Jia-Feng YAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(2):485-500
ObjectiveCleft palate (CP) is a common congenital deformity often associated with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), which disrupts the physiological coupling between respiration and speech. Conventional clinical assessments, such as nasometry and spirometry, provide limited static data and fail to visualize the dynamic spatiotemporal distribution of lung ventilation during phonation. This study introduces spatiotemporal electrical impedance tomography (ST-EIT) to evaluate speech-respiratory functional features in CP patients compared to normal controls (NC). The aim is to characterize multi-domain respiratory patterns and to validate an interpretable machine learning framework for providing objective, quantitative evidence for clinical assessment. MethodsSeventy-five participants were enrolled in this study, comprising 37 patients with surgically repaired CP and 38 healthy volunteers matched for age, gender, and body mass index (BMI). All subjects performed standardized sustained phonation tasks while undergoing synchronous monitoring with a 16-electrode EIT system and a pneumotachograph. A comprehensive feature engineering pipeline was developed to extract physiological parameters across 3 complementary domains. (1) Temporal domain: including inspiratory/expiratory phase duration (tPhase), time constants (Tau), and inspiratory-to-expiratory time ratios (TI/TE); (2) airflow domain: comprising mean flow, peak flow, and instantaneous flow at 25%, 50%, and 75% of tidal volume; and (3) spatial domain: quantifying global and regional tidal impedance variation (TIV), global inhomogeneity (GI), and center of ventilation (CoV). Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) classifiers were trained using 5 distinct data sources (Spirometry, Nasometry, Inspiratory-EIT, Expiratory-EIT, and fused ST-EIT). Model performance was rigorously evaluated via stratified 5-fold cross-validation, and Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) were employed to quantify global and local feature contributions. ResultsThe CP group exhibited a distinct respiratory phenotype compared to controls. In the temporal domain, CP patients showed significantly shorter inspiratory (1.60 s vs.1.85 s, P<0.001) and expiratory phase durations (2.45 s vs. 3.95 s, P<0.001), indicating a rapid, shallow breathing rhythm. In the airflow domain, while inspiratory flows were comparable, the CP group demonstrated significantly elevated mean and peak flows during the expiratory phase (P<0.001), reflecting compensatory respiratory effort. Spatially, CP patients presented significant ventilation redistribution, characterized by higher regional TIV in the right-anterior (ROI1) and left-posterior (ROI4) quadrants, but lower TIV in the left-anterior (ROI2) quadrant. In terms of diagnostic accuracy, the multi-modal ST-EIT model achieved the highest performance (AUC: 0.915±0.012, Accuracy: 0.843±0.019, F1-score: 0.872±0.017), substantially outperforming models based on spirometry (AUC: 0.721) or nasometry (AUC: 0.625) alone. Interpretability analysis revealed that spatial domain features were the most critical, contributing 53.4% to the model’s decision-making, followed by temporal (25.0%) and airflow (21.6%) features. ConclusionST-EIT successfully captures the temporal, airflow, and spatial deviations in CP speech respiration that are undetectable by conventional methods—specifically, rapid phase transitions, hyperdynamic expiratory airflow, and regional ventilation heterogeneity. This study validates ST-EIT as a robust, non-invasive, and radiation-free tool for characterizing speech-respiratory dysfunction, offering high clinical value for bedside screening, rehabilitation planning, and longitudinal monitoring of patients with cleft palate.
2.Spatiotemporal Electrical Impedance Tomography for Speech Respiratory Assessment in Cleft Palate: an Interpretable Machine Learning Study
Yang WU ; Xiao-Jing ZHANG ; Hao YU ; Cheng-Hui JIANG ; Bo SUN ; Jia-Feng YAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(2):485-500
ObjectiveCleft palate (CP) is a common congenital deformity often associated with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), which disrupts the physiological coupling between respiration and speech. Conventional clinical assessments, such as nasometry and spirometry, provide limited static data and fail to visualize the dynamic spatiotemporal distribution of lung ventilation during phonation. This study introduces spatiotemporal electrical impedance tomography (ST-EIT) to evaluate speech-respiratory functional features in CP patients compared to normal controls (NC). The aim is to characterize multi-domain respiratory patterns and to validate an interpretable machine learning framework for providing objective, quantitative evidence for clinical assessment. MethodsSeventy-five participants were enrolled in this study, comprising 37 patients with surgically repaired CP and 38 healthy volunteers matched for age, gender, and body mass index (BMI). All subjects performed standardized sustained phonation tasks while undergoing synchronous monitoring with a 16-electrode EIT system and a pneumotachograph. A comprehensive feature engineering pipeline was developed to extract physiological parameters across 3 complementary domains. (1) Temporal domain: including inspiratory/expiratory phase duration (tPhase), time constants (Tau), and inspiratory-to-expiratory time ratios (TI/TE); (2) airflow domain: comprising mean flow, peak flow, and instantaneous flow at 25%, 50%, and 75% of tidal volume; and (3) spatial domain: quantifying global and regional tidal impedance variation (TIV), global inhomogeneity (GI), and center of ventilation (CoV). Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) classifiers were trained using 5 distinct data sources (Spirometry, Nasometry, Inspiratory-EIT, Expiratory-EIT, and fused ST-EIT). Model performance was rigorously evaluated via stratified 5-fold cross-validation, and Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) were employed to quantify global and local feature contributions. ResultsThe CP group exhibited a distinct respiratory phenotype compared to controls. In the temporal domain, CP patients showed significantly shorter inspiratory (1.60 s vs.1.85 s, P<0.001) and expiratory phase durations (2.45 s vs. 3.95 s, P<0.001), indicating a rapid, shallow breathing rhythm. In the airflow domain, while inspiratory flows were comparable, the CP group demonstrated significantly elevated mean and peak flows during the expiratory phase (P<0.001), reflecting compensatory respiratory effort. Spatially, CP patients presented significant ventilation redistribution, characterized by higher regional TIV in the right-anterior (ROI1) and left-posterior (ROI4) quadrants, but lower TIV in the left-anterior (ROI2) quadrant. In terms of diagnostic accuracy, the multi-modal ST-EIT model achieved the highest performance (AUC: 0.915±0.012, Accuracy: 0.843±0.019, F1-score: 0.872±0.017), substantially outperforming models based on spirometry (AUC: 0.721) or nasometry (AUC: 0.625) alone. Interpretability analysis revealed that spatial domain features were the most critical, contributing 53.4% to the model’s decision-making, followed by temporal (25.0%) and airflow (21.6%) features. ConclusionST-EIT successfully captures the temporal, airflow, and spatial deviations in CP speech respiration that are undetectable by conventional methods—specifically, rapid phase transitions, hyperdynamic expiratory airflow, and regional ventilation heterogeneity. This study validates ST-EIT as a robust, non-invasive, and radiation-free tool for characterizing speech-respiratory dysfunction, offering high clinical value for bedside screening, rehabilitation planning, and longitudinal monitoring of patients with cleft palate.
3.Recombinase polymerase amplification combined with a lateral flow dipstick for rapid and visual detection of Plasmodium vivax
Shi-hui LI ; Chun-hua GAO ; Fu-rong WEI ; Duo-quan WANG ; Xiao-kai JIA ; Jing ZHANG ; Ying WANG ; Feng SHI
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(4):413-418
To achieve rapid and visual detection of Plasmodium vivax,a detection method based on recombinase polymerase amplification(RPA)technology and lateral flow dipstick(LFD)was established and evaluated.Targeting the conserved sequence of the P.vivax 18S rRNA gene(GenBank:DQ660817.1)as the target sequence,primers and probes were designed with Primer Premier 5,and the P.vivax recombinant plasmid(pUCPv)was constructed as the standard.A sensitive and specific RPA-LFD-based rapid visual detection method for P.vivax nucleic acids was established.The plasmid standard was serially diluted 10-fold to concentrations of 1×103,1×102,1×101,1×10?,and 1×10?1 copies/μL for sensitivity testing.To evaluate specificity,whole blood DNA samples from patients infected with Plasmodium falciparum,Plasmodium malariae,Plasmodium ovale,or Leishmania donovani,as well as healthy participants,were tested by RPA-LFD.Additionally,The assay′s accuracy was evaluated by testing whole blood DNA samples from 24 confirmed P.vivax-infected patients.This study successfully established a sensitive,specific,and rapid visual RPA-LFD method for detecting P.vivax nucleic acids.The assay can complete P.vivax detection within 20 minutes under isothermal conditions at 39 ℃,achieving a sensitivity of 1 copy/μL.There is no significant cross reaction with parasites such as other Plasmodium species and L.donovani,and the specificity is 100%.All 24 DNA samples from confirmed P.vivax patients were detected,showing a 100%detection rate.The developed RPA-LFD assay exhibits excellent sensitivity and specificity,requires only simple heating equipment,and is user-friendly.This rapid visual detection method is particularly suitable for P.vivax screening in low-resource settings.
4.Association of afterschool physical exercise and sleep quality among preschool children in Minhang district of Shanghai
Li-li ZHANG ; Yi-dan JIA ; Xue-qing MIAO ; Xiao-feng YIN ; Hui-jing SHI ; Yan-qi HU
Fudan University Journal of Medical Sciences 2025;52(5):657-663
Objective To observe the association between afterschool physical exercise and sleep quality among preschool children,and to explore the proper afterschool physical exercise model for better sleep quality.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted.From Apr to Jun 2024,a total of 1 430 children from three public kindergartens in Minhang district were enrolled to participate in the survey.Parents were invited to complete the basic sociodemographic information,afterschool physical exercise information and the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire.One-way ANOVA and linear mixed effects models were used to explore the relationship between afterschool exercise and sleep quality.Results A total of 1 430 questionnaires were sent out and 1 384 were recovered with a recovery rate of 96.78%.Among them 1 366 were valid,with an effective rate of 95.52%.The average age of the children was(5.19±0.87)years old with gender ration of 1.07∶1(male:female).The prevalence of poor sleep quality was 80.60%(regarding a CSHQ total score>41 as cutoff).A one-way ANOVA indicated that time on afterschool physical exercise was significantly associated with sleep duration,Night waking,and sleep onset delay(P<0.05).After adjusting for age,gender,the only child or not,main caregiver,and parental education and occupation,linear mixed effects models showed that engaging in afterschool physical activity for at least 180 mins per week has a statistically significant predictive effect on sleep duration scores(β=-0.50,z=-4.52,95%CI:-0.72,-0.28,P<0.001),night waking scores(β=-0.16,z=-2.34,95%CI:-0.29,-0.02,P=0.020),and sleep onset delay scores(β=-0.14,z=-2.35,95%CI:-0.26,-0.02,P=0.019).Conclusion Afterschool exercise was significantly associated with sleep quality among preschool children in Minhang district of Shanghai.The time≥180 min on afterschool exercise per week in preschool children was significantly positively associated with maintaining sleep duration,reducing night wakings and shortening the latency to fall asleep.The habit of afterschool exercise and the time on afterschool exercise should be emphasized by parents and the society to improve sleep quality among preschool children.
5.Effect mechanism of Jaceosidin on immune escape of colorectal cancer cells by regulating cGAS-STING signaling pathway
Yongjie DONG ; Jing DONG ; Feng YUE ; Hui JIA ; Guangchao QIAO
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2025;41(3):634-639
Objective:To investigate the effect of Jaceosidin on immune escape of colorectal cancer(CRC)cells by regulating cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenylate synthase(cGAS)-stimulator of interferon gene(STING)signal pathway.Methods:Human CRC cells HCT116 were cultured in vitro and grouped into control group,Jaceosidin-L group(25 μmol/L),Jaceosidin-M group(50 μmol/L),Jaceosidin-H group(100 μmol/L),activator group[100 μmol/L Jaceosidin+10 μmol/L cGAS activator manganese chloride(MnCl2·4H2O)],and inhibitor group(100 μmol/L Jaceosidin+1 μmol/L cGAS inhibitor RU.521);CCK-8 method was applied to de-tect the proliferation of HCT116 cells;flow cytometry was applied to detect apoptosis of HCT116 cells;HCT116 cells were co-cultured with NK cell to detect NK cell killing activity;ELISA was applied to detect the levels of IFN-γ and Granzyme B in the supernatant of co cultured cells;Western blot and qRT-PCR were applied to detect the expression of cGAS-STING signaling pathway and apoptosis related factors.Results:Compared with the control group,the A450 value and Bcl-2 expression of HCT116 cells in the Jaceosidin-L,Ja-ceosidin-M,and Jaceosidin-H groups were obviously reduced,the apoptosis rate,and the expression of cGAS,STING and Bax were obviously increased,and were dose-dependent(P<0.05);compared with the control co culture group,the levels of IFN-γ and Gran-zyme B,and NK cell killing activity in the supernatant of the Jaceosidin-L,Jaceosidin-M,and Jaceosidin-H co culture groups were significantly increased,in a dose-dependent manner(P<0.05);cGAS activator MnCl2·4H2O enhanced the inhibitory effects of high-dose Jaceosidin on HCT116 cell proliferation,immune escape,and the promoting effect on cell apoptosis,cGAS inhibitor RU.521 weakened the inhibitory effects of high-dose Jaceosidin on HCT116 cell proliferation,immune escape,and the promoting effect on cell apoptosis.Conclusion:Jaceosidin inhibits HCT116 cell proliferation,immune escape,and promotes cell apoptosis by activating cGAS-STING signaling pathway.
6.Recombinase polymerase amplification combined with a lateral flow dipstick for rapid and visual detection of Plasmodium vivax
Shi-hui LI ; Chun-hua GAO ; Fu-rong WEI ; Duo-quan WANG ; Xiao-kai JIA ; Jing ZHANG ; Ying WANG ; Feng SHI
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(4):413-418
To achieve rapid and visual detection of Plasmodium vivax,a detection method based on recombinase polymerase amplification(RPA)technology and lateral flow dipstick(LFD)was established and evaluated.Targeting the conserved sequence of the P.vivax 18S rRNA gene(GenBank:DQ660817.1)as the target sequence,primers and probes were designed with Primer Premier 5,and the P.vivax recombinant plasmid(pUCPv)was constructed as the standard.A sensitive and specific RPA-LFD-based rapid visual detection method for P.vivax nucleic acids was established.The plasmid standard was serially diluted 10-fold to concentrations of 1×103,1×102,1×101,1×10?,and 1×10?1 copies/μL for sensitivity testing.To evaluate specificity,whole blood DNA samples from patients infected with Plasmodium falciparum,Plasmodium malariae,Plasmodium ovale,or Leishmania donovani,as well as healthy participants,were tested by RPA-LFD.Additionally,The assay′s accuracy was evaluated by testing whole blood DNA samples from 24 confirmed P.vivax-infected patients.This study successfully established a sensitive,specific,and rapid visual RPA-LFD method for detecting P.vivax nucleic acids.The assay can complete P.vivax detection within 20 minutes under isothermal conditions at 39 ℃,achieving a sensitivity of 1 copy/μL.There is no significant cross reaction with parasites such as other Plasmodium species and L.donovani,and the specificity is 100%.All 24 DNA samples from confirmed P.vivax patients were detected,showing a 100%detection rate.The developed RPA-LFD assay exhibits excellent sensitivity and specificity,requires only simple heating equipment,and is user-friendly.This rapid visual detection method is particularly suitable for P.vivax screening in low-resource settings.
7.Effect mechanism of Jaceosidin on immune escape of colorectal cancer cells by regulating cGAS-STING signaling pathway
Yongjie DONG ; Jing DONG ; Feng YUE ; Hui JIA ; Guangchao QIAO
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2025;41(3):634-639
Objective:To investigate the effect of Jaceosidin on immune escape of colorectal cancer(CRC)cells by regulating cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenylate synthase(cGAS)-stimulator of interferon gene(STING)signal pathway.Methods:Human CRC cells HCT116 were cultured in vitro and grouped into control group,Jaceosidin-L group(25 μmol/L),Jaceosidin-M group(50 μmol/L),Jaceosidin-H group(100 μmol/L),activator group[100 μmol/L Jaceosidin+10 μmol/L cGAS activator manganese chloride(MnCl2·4H2O)],and inhibitor group(100 μmol/L Jaceosidin+1 μmol/L cGAS inhibitor RU.521);CCK-8 method was applied to de-tect the proliferation of HCT116 cells;flow cytometry was applied to detect apoptosis of HCT116 cells;HCT116 cells were co-cultured with NK cell to detect NK cell killing activity;ELISA was applied to detect the levels of IFN-γ and Granzyme B in the supernatant of co cultured cells;Western blot and qRT-PCR were applied to detect the expression of cGAS-STING signaling pathway and apoptosis related factors.Results:Compared with the control group,the A450 value and Bcl-2 expression of HCT116 cells in the Jaceosidin-L,Ja-ceosidin-M,and Jaceosidin-H groups were obviously reduced,the apoptosis rate,and the expression of cGAS,STING and Bax were obviously increased,and were dose-dependent(P<0.05);compared with the control co culture group,the levels of IFN-γ and Gran-zyme B,and NK cell killing activity in the supernatant of the Jaceosidin-L,Jaceosidin-M,and Jaceosidin-H co culture groups were significantly increased,in a dose-dependent manner(P<0.05);cGAS activator MnCl2·4H2O enhanced the inhibitory effects of high-dose Jaceosidin on HCT116 cell proliferation,immune escape,and the promoting effect on cell apoptosis,cGAS inhibitor RU.521 weakened the inhibitory effects of high-dose Jaceosidin on HCT116 cell proliferation,immune escape,and the promoting effect on cell apoptosis.Conclusion:Jaceosidin inhibits HCT116 cell proliferation,immune escape,and promotes cell apoptosis by activating cGAS-STING signaling pathway.
8.Establishment of a dual LFD-RPA rapid test for Mycoplasma hyorhinis and My-coplasma hyopneumoniae in swine
Qi JIA ; Li WANG ; Hanzhu WANG ; Jingjing SONG ; Jing SUN ; Hui LI ; Feng LI ; Kai-shun HAN ; Zhixin FENG ; Shuguang LI
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2025;45(11):2380-2386
In order to establish a simple,sensitive and specific diagnostic method for the simultane-ous detection of Mycoplasma hyorhinis(Mhr)and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae(Mhp)in swine,specific primers and probes were designed using the Mhr p37 and Mhp p36 gene sequences as the target genes,and the dual LFD-RPA rapid test was established by screening the primers and probes,optimizing primer ratios and evaluating its effectiveness through the sensitivity,reproduc-ibility and clinical sample testing.The sensitivity,specificity,reproducibility and clinical samples were evaluated.The results showed that the established dual LFD-RPA assay could complete the amplification in 15 min at 39 ℃,and its optimal primer ratio was 1.6∶0.8,and the lowest detection limits were up to 3.63 and 3.60 copies/μL,respectively;the reproducibility was stable;and there was no cross-reactivity with Pasteurella multocida,Bordetella bronchiseptica,Haemophilus pa-rasuis,Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae,Escherichia coli.The test successfully established a dual LFD-RPA assay,which can detect Mhr and Mhp simultaneously,and is simple,sensitive and spe-cific without relying on specialized equipment,and is suitable for carrying out on-site rapid diagno-sis of Mhr and Mhp.
9.Establishment of a dual LFD-RPA rapid test for Mycoplasma hyorhinis and My-coplasma hyopneumoniae in swine
Qi JIA ; Li WANG ; Hanzhu WANG ; Jingjing SONG ; Jing SUN ; Hui LI ; Feng LI ; Kai-shun HAN ; Zhixin FENG ; Shuguang LI
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2025;45(11):2380-2386
In order to establish a simple,sensitive and specific diagnostic method for the simultane-ous detection of Mycoplasma hyorhinis(Mhr)and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae(Mhp)in swine,specific primers and probes were designed using the Mhr p37 and Mhp p36 gene sequences as the target genes,and the dual LFD-RPA rapid test was established by screening the primers and probes,optimizing primer ratios and evaluating its effectiveness through the sensitivity,reproduc-ibility and clinical sample testing.The sensitivity,specificity,reproducibility and clinical samples were evaluated.The results showed that the established dual LFD-RPA assay could complete the amplification in 15 min at 39 ℃,and its optimal primer ratio was 1.6∶0.8,and the lowest detection limits were up to 3.63 and 3.60 copies/μL,respectively;the reproducibility was stable;and there was no cross-reactivity with Pasteurella multocida,Bordetella bronchiseptica,Haemophilus pa-rasuis,Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae,Escherichia coli.The test successfully established a dual LFD-RPA assay,which can detect Mhr and Mhp simultaneously,and is simple,sensitive and spe-cific without relying on specialized equipment,and is suitable for carrying out on-site rapid diagno-sis of Mhr and Mhp.
10.Effects of cortical neuronal and synaptic number changes on cognitive function in rats with type 1 diabetes mellitus-unbiased stereoscopic study
Yuanyu ZHAO ; Min TAN ; Hui ZHAO ; Jing YANG ; Feng ZHAO ; Jiang DU
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2025;41(13):1997-2003
Objective To explore the alterations in the numbers of cortical neurons and synapses in type 1 diabetic rats and their correlation with cognitive dysfunction.Methods A type 1 diabetes model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(STZ).Four-month-old specific pathogen-free(SPF)-grade Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly allocated into a control group and a diabetic group,with five rats in each group.After three months of continuous feeding,optical fractionator stereology was employed to quantitatively analyze the volume of the cerebral cortex,the number of neurons,and the number of synapses.Results In comparison with the control group,the volume of the cerebral cortex in the diabetic group decreased by 6.00%,and the number of neurons decreased by 14.09%.However,these differences were not statistically significant(P>0.05).Never the-less,the density of synapses significantly decreased by 70.14%(P<0.05),and there was a significant difference in the number of Spinophilin/Neurabin-positive synaptic boutons per neuron in the cortex(P<0.05).Conclusion Although early-stage type 1 diabetes does not lead to a significant loss of cortical neurons,the substantial reduction in synaptic numbers might be a crucial pathological basis for cognitive dysfunction.

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