1.A machine learning-based depression recognition model integrating spirit-expression features from traditional Chinese medicine
Minghui YAO ; Rongrong ZHU ; Peng QIAN ; Huilin LIU ; Xirong SUN ; Limin GAO ; Fufeng LI
Digital Chinese Medicine 2026;9(1):68-79
Objective:
To develop a depression recognition model by integrating the spirit-expression diagnostic framework of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with machine learning algorithms. The proposed model seeks to establish a TCM-informed tool for early depression screening, thereby bridging traditional diagnostic principles with modern computational approaches.
Methods:
The study included patients with depression who visited the Shanghai Pudong New Area Mental Health Center from October 1, 2022 to October 1, 2023, as well as students and teachers from Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine during the same period as the healthy control group. Videos of 3 – 10 s were captured using a Xiaomi Pad 5, and the TCM spirit and expressions were determined by TCM experts (at least 3 out of 5 experts agreed to determine the category of TCM spirit and expressions). Basic information, facial images, and interview information were collected through a portable TCM intelligent analysis and diagnosis device, and facial diagnosis features were extracted using the Open CV computer vision library technology. Statistical analysis methods such as parametric and non-parametric tests were used to analyze the baseline data, TCM spirit and expression features, and facial diagnosis feature parameters of the two groups, to compare the differences in TCM spirit and expression and facial features. Five machine learning algorithms, including extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), decision tree (DT), Bernoulli naive Bayes (BernoulliNB), support vector machine (SVM), and k-nearest neighbor (KNN) classification, were used to construct a depression recognition model based on the fusion of TCM spirit and expression features. The performance of the model was evaluated using metrics such as accuracy, precision, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC). The model results were explained using the Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP).
Results:
A total of 93 depression patients and 87 healthy individuals were ultimately included in this study. There was no statistically significant difference in the baseline characteristics between the two groups (P > 0.05). The differences in the characteristics of the spirit and expressions in TCM and facial features between the two groups were shown as follows. (i) Quantispirit facial analysis revealed that depression patients exhibited significantly reduced facial spirit and luminance compared with healthy controls (P < 0.05), with characteristic features such as sad expressions, facial erythema, and changes in the lip color ranging from erythematous to cyanotic. (ii) Depressed patients exhibited significantly lower values in facial complexion L, lip L, and a values, and gloss index, but higher values in facial complexion a and b, lip b, low gloss index, and matte index (all P < 0.05). (iii) The results of multiple models show that the XGBoost-based depression recognition model, integrating the TCM “spirit-expression” diagnostic framework, achieved an accuracy of 98.61% and significantly outperformed four benchmark algorithms—DT, BernoulliNB, SVM, and KNN (P < 0.01). (iv) The SHAP visualization results show that in the recognition model constructed by the XGBoost algorithm, the complexion b value, categories of facial spirit, high gloss index, low gloss index, categories of facial expression and texture features have significant contribution to the model.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates that integrating TCM spirit-expression diagnostic features with machine learning enables the construction of a high-precision depression detection model, offering a novel paradigm for objective depression diagnosis.
2.Research progress of HGF/c-Met signaling pathway in oral squamous cell carcinoma
SHI Jiafan ; GONG Lingling ; SUN Mingze ; LIU Lulu ; ZHANG Huilin ; LI Ming
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2025;33(8):709-718
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a malignant tumor that seriously threatens human health. Its typical biological characteristics include strong local invasiveness, high lymph node metastasis rate, and high recurrence rate after treatment. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), cellular-mesenchymal to epithelial transition factor (c-Met), and the HGF/c-Met signaling pathway are involved in the regulation of the occurrence and development of OSCC. HGF and c-Met proteins are overexpressed in OSCC, and multiple studies have suggested that they are significantly associated with the malignant characteristics of tumors and poor prognosis. Furthermore, the abnormal activation of the HGF/c-Met signaling pathway (driven by HGF-dependent autocrine/paracrine or non-dependent mechanisms such as MET gene mutations, amplification, fusion, and protein overexpression) can synergistically promote tumor cell invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis by activating downstream signaling pathways. However, HGF/c-Met can also mediate immune escape by promoting lactate secretion increase, inducing programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression upregulation, activating and expanding myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and promoting the proliferation of regulatory T cells (Tregs). In addition, the crosstalk between the HGF/c-Met signaling pathway and key pathways such as phosphatidylinositide 3-kinases (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT3), and non-coding RNAs can also promote tumor progression. Currently, three types of targeted drugs have been developed targeting the HGF/c-Met pathway: HGF monoclonal antibody, c-Met monoclonal antibody, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Some of these drugs have entered clinical trials. However, the emergence of drug resistance during treatment, especially the bidirectional compensatory activation of alternative signaling pathways such as EGFR, has become a major challenge in clinical practice. This article aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the mechanism of action of the HGF/c-Met pathway in OSCC and its interaction with other pathways, and to review the current research status of existing therapeutic drugs. The aim is to provide an important theoretical basis for developing more effective combined treatment strategies and achieving individualized precise treatment, ultimately improving the clinical prognosis and quality of life of patients.
3.Analyzing the influencing factors of preserved ratio impaired spirometry among dust-exposed workers in a wood furniture manufacturing enterprise
Huilin QIN ; Mingyu LI ; Leyi XU ; Jingjing QIU ; Jiabin CHEN
China Occupational Medicine 2025;52(3):293-298
Objective To investigate the situation and influencing factors of preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm) among dust-exposed workers in a wooden furniture manufacturing enterprise. Methods A total of 562 dust-exposed workers from a wooden furniture enterprise in Guangdong Province were selected as the study subjects using the convenience sampling method. The result of health-status questionnaire and occupational medical examinations among the participants were studied, and the influencing factors of PRISm were studied using the binary logistic regression analysis method. Results The detection rate of PRISm was 22.1% (124/562) among the study subjects. Binary logistic regression result showed that male workers had a higher risk of PRISm than female workers (P<0.01). Current smokers had a higher risk of PRISm than non-smokers (P<0.05). Workers with longer duration of exposure to occupational hazards had a higher risk of PRISm (P<0.05), those with higher grade of small-airway dysfunction had a higher risk of PRISm (P<0.01). In terms of body mass index, overweight or obese workers showed a higher detection rate of PRISm than those with normal weight (P<0.01). Greater amount of smoking pack per year had a higher risk of PRISm (P<0.01). Conclusion Dust-exposed workers in the wooden furniture manufacturing industry show a relatively high detection rate of PRISm. Male, current smoker, longer duration of exposure to occupational hazards, small airway dysfunction, overweight or obese, and smoking pack per year are influencing factors of PRISm among the dust-exposed workers in the wooden furniture manufacturing industry.
4.Influencing factors for fasting blood glucose fluctuation trajectories among patients with comorbidity of type 2 diabetes mellitus
YU Dandan ; YANG Jiali ; ZHANG Yaping ; XU Huilin ; HE Dandan ; LI Jun
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(6):562-567,572
Objective:
To investigate the trajectories of fasting blood glucose fluctuations and their influencing factors among patients with comorbidity of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), so as to provide the basis for strengthening blood glucose management in this population.
Methods:
In October 2023, data of patients diagnosed with comorbid T2DM from January to October 2021, including demographic information, lifestyle, health status and fasting blood glucose were collected through the chronic disease health management system of Minhang District, Shanghai Municipality. Fasting blood glucose fluctuation trajectories were analyzed by group-based trajectory model established based on fasting blood glucose values from January 2021 to October 2023. Influencing factors of fasting blood glucose fluctuation trajectories among patients with comorbidity of T2DM were analyzed using a multinomial logistic regression model.
Results:
A total of 907 patients with comorbidity of T2DM were enrolled, including 472 males (52.04%) and 435 females (47.96%). There were 652 cases aged ≥65 years, accounting for 71.89%. The group-based trajectory model analysis identified three trajectory groups: a low-level stable group (492 cases, 54.24%), a medium-level stable group (287 cases, 31.64%), and a high-level decreasing group (128 cases, 14.11%). Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that, compared with the low-level stable group, patients with comorbidity of T2DM who had an education level of junior high school or below (OR=1.420, 95%CI: 1.011-1.995) or college degree or above (OR=2.109, 95%CI: 1.249-3.560), as well as those who engaged in regular exercise (OR=1.387, 95%CI: 1.017-1.893), were more likely to be in the medium-level stable group. Patients with comorbidity of T2DM who were overweight or obese (OR=1.675, 95%CI: 1.116-2.513) or had dyslipidemia (OR=3.195, 95%CI: 1.642-6.216) were more likely to be in the high-level decreasing group.
Conclusions
From January 2021 to October 2023, the fasting blood glucose levels of patients with comorbidity of T2DM exhibited three fluctuating trajectories: low-level stability, medium-level stability, and high-level decline. Compared with the low-level stable group, the medium-level stable group was mainly influenced by educational level and regular exercise. The high-level decline group was primarily affected by overweight/obesity and dyslipidemia.
5.Effect of moxibustion at "Shenque" (CV8) on the expression of BDNF and c-fos in the urinary control brain regions of rats with neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury.
Han YU ; Yuanbo FU ; Huilin LIU ; Yuzhuo ZHANG ; Yutong NI ; Qingdai LI ; Yi XU
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 2025;45(5):638-645
OBJECTIVE:
To observe the effects of moxibustion at "Shenque" (CV8) on urodynamics and the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and immediate early gene (c-fos) in pontine micturition center (PMC), periaqueductal gray (PAG), medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of neurogenic bladder (NB) rats after spinal cord injury.
METHODS:
Twenty-four SPF female SD rats were randomly divided into a sham-operation group (6 rats) and a modeling group (18 rats). In the modeling group, T9 complete spinal cord transection method was used to establish a neurogenic detrusor overactivity model, and the 12 rats with successful modeling were randomized into a model group and a moxibustion group, with 6 rats in each group. The rats in the moxibustion group were treated with ginger/salt-insulated moxibustion at "Shenque" (CV8), and 4 consecutive moxa cones were delivered in one intervention. Moxibustion was operated once daily and for 14 days. After intervention completion, the urodynamic indexes of rats in each group were detected. Fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of BDNF and c-fos in PMC, PAG and mPFC in rats. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of BDNF and c-fos in PMC, PAG and mPFC.
RESULTS:
The rats in the sham-operation group did not show phasic detrusor contraction during bladder filling. Compared with the model group, the frequency and amplitude of the phasic detrusor contraction were reduced 5 min before urine leakage in the rats of the moxibustion group (P<0.05), and the duration of the first phasic detrusor contraction during bladder filling was prolonged (P<0.05). Compared with the sham-operation group, the mRNA and protein expression of BDNF and c-fos in PMC, PAG and mPFC increased in the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the mRNA and protein expression of BDNF and c-fos in PMC, PAG and mPFC decreased in the moxibustion group (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Moxibustion at "Shenque" (CV8) can improve the phasic contraction during bladder filling in NB rats after spinal cord injury, possibly by down-regulating the mRNA and protein expression of BDNF and c-fos in PMC, PAG, and mPFC.
Animals
;
Moxibustion
;
Female
;
Rats
;
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/metabolism*
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Acupuncture Points
;
Spinal Cord Injuries/metabolism*
;
Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic/etiology*
;
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos/metabolism*
;
Humans
;
Urinary Bladder/physiopathology*
;
Brain/metabolism*
;
Urination
6.Preliminary exploration of the symptom fluctuation after acupuncture for idiopathic tinnitus.
Baiqing WANG ; Yuanbo FU ; Baijie LI ; Xueting ZHANG ; Yuhan ZENG ; Yutong NI ; Huilin LIU ; Peng CHEN ; Xiaobai XU ; Bingcong ZHAO
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 2025;45(10):1477-1483
After being treated with acupuncture, some patients with idiopathic tinnitus may experience a short-term aggravation of tinnitus symptoms on the original basis. These symptoms can be gradually relieved and the overall condition fluctuates towards recovery. This phenomenon has brought some difficulties to patients and clinicians. Based on the academic view of TCM, "destroying pathogens and re-building balance", and in association with the existing understanding of acupuncture in modern medicine for tinnitus, this paper briefly discusses the mechanism and influencing factors of symptom fluctuation in patients with idiopathic tinnitus after acupuncture treatment in terms of both TCM and modern medicine, and proposes the future direction in the research of symptom fluctuation, so as to promote the recognition of clinicians and patients on symptom fluctuation and make rational use of its positive effects. Besides, it is hoped that more researchers will pay attention to symptom fluctuation and advance the exploration of it in academic field.
Humans
;
Tinnitus/physiopathology*
;
Acupuncture Therapy
;
Male
;
Female
7.Application of different repair methods for defects after Mohs micrographic surgery for malignant tumors of the external nose.
Huilin LI ; Mei ZHENG ; Xiaolin WANG ; Huan QI ; Zhifei ZHANG
Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;39(9):830-835
Objective:To observe the effects of different repair methods in the defects after Mohs surgical excision of malignant nasal tumors. Methods:Twenty-two cases of external nasal malignant tumor surgery from January 2021 to May 2024 were selected as the research. The tumors were resected using Mohs surgical technique, and the defects were repaired using forehead axial flap, bipedicle flap, nasolabial flap, free full-thickness skin graft from the groin, forehead axial flap, facial kite flap, and composite flap of earlobe cartilage and perichond. The postoperative flap survival, external nasal morphology, and tumor recurrence were observed. Results:Among the 22 cases, there were 1 case of Kaposis sarcoma(KS), 2 cases of squ cell carcinoma, and 19 cases of basal cell carcinoma. Tumors were located at the nasal root in 3 cases, the nasal dorsum in5 cases, the nasal tip in 2 cases, the ala in 8 cases, both the ala and the nasal dorsum in 2 cases, nasal columella, the nasal tip, and the ala in 1 case, the nasal tip, the nasal dorsum, the ala, and paranasal area in 1 case. The size of the defects ranged from 1.2 cm×1.4 cm to 3.7 cm×4.8 cm. Three cases were repaired with forehead axial flaps, four cases with bilobed flaps, thirteen cases with nasolabial groove flaps, one case with free full-thickness skin grafts from the inguinal region, and one case with a combination of forehead axial flaps and facial kite flaps plus a composite of earlobe cartilage and perichondrium. All flaps survived well after surgery. Patients were followed up for 6 months to 3 years after surgery, during which no tumor recurrence was observed, and most patients were satisfied with appearance of their nose. Conclusion:Mohs surgery is used to excise the malignant tumor of the external nose, and satisfactory surgical results can be obtained by using different repair methods based the location and size of the postoperative defect.
Humans
;
Mohs Surgery/methods*
;
Nose Neoplasms/surgery*
;
Surgical Flaps
;
Skin Transplantation
;
Male
;
Carcinoma, Basal Cell/surgery*
;
Skin Neoplasms/surgery*
;
Female
;
Middle Aged
;
Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods*
;
Nose/surgery*
;
Aged
;
Adult
;
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/surgery*
8.High serum cystatin C is an independent risk factor for poor renal prognosis in IgA nephropathy.
Tianwei TANG ; Luan LI ; Yuanhan CHEN ; Li ZHANG ; Lixia XU ; Zhilian LI ; Zhonglin FENG ; Huilin ZHANG ; Ruifang HUA ; Zhiming YE ; Xinling LIANG ; Ruizhao LI
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(2):379-386
OBJECTIVES:
To explore the value of serum cystatin C (CysC) levels in evaluating renal prognosis in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients.
METHODS:
We retrospectively collected the clinical data of IgAN patients diagnosed by renal biopsy at Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from January, 2014 to December, 2018. Based on baseline serum CysC levels, the patients were divided into high serum CysC (>1.03 mg/L) group and normal serum CysC (≤1.03 mg/L) group. The composite endpoint for poor renal prognosis was defined as ≥50% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and/or progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Lasso regression, multivariate Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were used to identify the risk factors and compare renal survival rates between the two groups. Smooth curves fitting and threshold effect analysis were used to explore the relationship between serum CysC levels and the outcomes. A nomogram model was constructed and its predictive performance was evaluated using concordance index, calibration curve, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under curve (AUC).
RESULTS:
A total of 356 IgAN patients were enrolled, who were followed up for 4.65±0.93 years. The composite endpoint occurred in 74 patients. High serum CysC was identified as an independent risk factor for poor renal prognosis in IgAN (HR=2.142, 95% CI 1.222 to 3.755), and the patients with high serum CysC levels had a lower renal survival rate (Log-rank χ2=47.970, P<0.001). In patients with serum CysC below 2.12 mg/L, a higher CysC level was associated with an increased risk of poor renal prognosis (β=3.487, 95% CI: 2.561-4.413, P<0.001), while above this level, the increase of the risk was not significant (β=0.676, 95% CI: -0.642-1.995, P=0.315). The nomogram model based on serum CysC and 3 other independent risk factors demonstrated good internal validity with a concordance index of 0.873 (95% CI: 0.839-0.907) and an AUC of 0.909 (95% CI: 0.873-0.945).
CONCLUSIONS
Serum CysC levels are associated with renal prognosis in IgAN patients, and high serum CysC an independent risk factor for poor renal prognosis.
Humans
;
Glomerulonephritis, IGA/diagnosis*
;
Cystatin C/blood*
;
Prognosis
;
Risk Factors
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Glomerular Filtration Rate
;
Kidney Failure, Chronic
;
Male
;
Female
;
Adult
;
Nomograms
;
Middle Aged
9.New acylphloroglucinol-sesquiterpenoid adducts with antiviral activities from Dryopteris atrata.
Jihui ZHANG ; Jinghao WANG ; Wei TANG ; Xi SHEN ; Jinlin CHEN ; Huilin OU ; Qianyi SITU ; Yaolan LI ; Guocai WANG ; Yubo ZHANG ; Nenghua CHEN
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(3):377-384
Seven novel acylphloroglucinol-sesquiterpenoid adducts, designated as dryatraols J-P (1-7), were isolated from the rhizomes of Dryopteris atrata (Wall. ex Kunze) Ching. The structures, including absolute configurations, were elucidated using comprehensive spectroscopic data, calculated 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance-Diastereotopic Probability Assignment Plus (13C NMR-DP4+) probability analysis, and ECD calculations. These structures represent a rare subclass of carbon skeleton of acylphloroglucinol-sesquiterpenoid adducts with a furan ring connecting the acylphloroglucinol and sesquiterpenoid moieties. Notably, compounds 1-6 are the first reported examples of acylphloroglucinol-sesquiterpenoid adducts with dimeric acylphloroglucinol incorporated into the aristolane- or rulepidanol-type sesquiterpene, while compound 7 features a hydroxylated monomeric acylphloroglucinol motif. A preliminary evaluation of their antiviral activities revealed that compounds 1-6 exhibited more potent activities against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) with IC50 values ranging from 0.75 to 3.12 μmol·L-1 compared to the positive control (ribavirin).
Antiviral Agents/isolation & purification*
;
Phloroglucinol/isolation & purification*
;
Sesquiterpenes/isolation & purification*
;
Molecular Structure
;
Dryopteris/chemistry*
;
Respiratory Syncytial Viruses/drug effects*
;
Humans
;
Rhizome/chemistry*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
10.Application and progress of artificial intelligence in the analysis of retinal vascular parameters
Zhaoyang ZHAO ; Huilin LI ; Yanfeng SHANG ; Sisi MENG ; Shaofeng HAO
International Eye Science 2025;25(5):787-791
This review summarizes the applications and advancements of artificial intelligence(AI)in the analysis of retinal vascular parameters. Retinal vascular parameters, including vessel diameter, fractal dimension, vascular tortuosity, branching angles, and vessel density, are important indicators for assessing changes in the retinal vascular network structure. These parameters are not only related to various ophthalmic diseases but also reflect the conditions of systemic diseases such as diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. This article provides a detailed discussion on the advantages of AI technology in the automated identification and quantification of retinal vascular parameters, particularly in improving measurement efficiency and accuracy, and enabling the early detection and monitoring of various diseases. Additionally, the challenges faced by AI in the analysis of retinal vascular parameters were discussed, such as data standardization and insufficient sample diversity, and proposes directions for future research. By thoroughly analyzing the application of AI in retinal vascular parameter analysis, this article aims to offer new perspectives and methods for clinical diagnosis and early intervention of diseases, holding significant clinical significance and application prospects.


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