1.QingNangTCM: a parameter-efficient fine-tuning large language model for traditional Chinese medicine
Xuming TONG ; Liyan LIU ; Yanhong YUAN ; Xiaozheng DING ; Huiru JIA ; Xu YANG ; Sio Kei IM ; Mini Han WANG ; Zhang XIONH ; Yapeng WANG
Digital Chinese Medicine 2026;9(1):1-12
Objective:
To develop QingNangTCM, a specialized large language model (LLM) tailored for expert-level traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) question-answering and clinical reasoning, addressing the scarcity of domain-specific corpora and specialized alignment.
Methods:
We constructed QnTCM_Dataset, a corpus of 100 000 entries, by integrating data from ShenNong_TCM_Dataset and SymMap v2.0, and synthesizing additional samples via retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and persona-driven generation. The dataset comprehensively covers diagnostic inquiries, prescriptions, and herbal knowledge. Utilizing P-Tuning v2, we fine-tuned the GLM-4-9B-Chat backbone to develop QingNangTCM. A multi-dimensional evaluation framework, assessing accuracy, coverage, consistency, safety, professionalism, and fluency, was established using metrics such as bilingual evaluation understudy (BLEU), recall-oriented understudy for gisting evaluation (ROUGE), metric for evaluation of translation with explicit ordering (METEOR), and LLM-as-a-Judge with expert review. Qualitative analysis was conducted across four simulated clinical scenarios: symptom analysis, disease treatment, herb inquiry, and failure cases. Baseline models included GLM-4-9B-Chat, DeepSeek-V2, HuatuoGPT-II (7B), and GLM-4-9B-Chat (freeze-tuning).
Results:
QingNangTCM achieved the highest scores in BLEU-1/2/3/4 (0.425/0.298/0.137/0.064), ROUGE-1/2 (0.368/0.157), and METEOR (0.218), demonstrating a balanced and superior normalized performance profile of 0.900 across the dimensions of accuracy, coverage, and consistency. Although its ROUGE-L score (0.299) was lower than that of HuatuoGPT-II (7B) (0.351), it significantly outperformed domain-specific models in expert-validated win rates for professionalism (86%) and safety (73%). Qualitative analysis confirmed that the model strictly adheres to the “symptom-syndrome-pathogenesis-treatment” reasoning chain, though occasional misclassifications and hallucinations persisted when dealing with rare medicinal materials and uncommon syndromes.
Conclusion
Combining domain-specific corpus construction with parameter-efficient prompt tuning enhances the reasoning behavior and domain adaptation of LLMs for TCM-related tasks. This work provides a technical framework for the digital organization and intelligent utilization of TCM knowledge, with potential value for supporting diagnostic reasoning and medical education.
2.Interpretation of the service standards for medical nursing assistants of older adults in home and community
Ting LIU ; Haiyan SHI ; Huaguo ZHANG ; Yue CHEN ; Hongying PI ; Huiru HOU ; Shaomei SHANG ; Yan JIANG ; Zheng CHEN ; Ka LI ; Xin YANG ; Qilei TU ; Ze YANG ; Chao SUN
Chinese Journal of Geriatrics 2025;44(11):1500-1506
The Occupational Classification Dictionary of the People's Republic of China (2015 Edition) has added a new occupation type, Medical Nursing Assistants, aiming to meet the strong demand for medical care in the context of the aging population in China.In order to standardize the services of medical nursing assistants for the elderly in home and community settings and contribute to healthy aging, the National Health Commission issued the " Service Standards for Medical Nursing Assistants of Older Adults in Home and Community" ( WS/ T 803—2022) on September 28, 2022.The standards regulate the service processes, service items and requirements, as well as service evaluation and improvement for elderly medical nursing assistants.The interpretation of the standard's formulation background, the compilation process, and the standard's content are as follows.
3.Pediatric nuclear medicine:Current status,challenges and future prospect
Jigang YANG ; Xiaoli LAN ; Huiru FENG ; Haiyan LIU ; Fang LIU
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology 2025;41(8):1392-1403
Pediatric nuclear medicine achieve precise functional and metabolic assessments with renal dynamic imaging,bone scintigraphy and 18F-FDG PET/CT,playing irreplaceable role for diagnosis and treatment of pediatric diseases.The emergence of novel molecular imaging probes,such as 68 Ga-DOT AT ATE,18F-DOPA and 18F-MFBG,expand clinical application field of pediatric nuclear medicine,while radionuclide therapy using 131I,131I-MIBG and 177 Lu-DOT AT ATE offer targeted options for pediatric thyroid cancer and neuroendocrine tumors.The current status,challenges and future prospect of pediatric nuclear medicine were reviewed in this article.
4.Association between amino acids and primary malignant bone tumor: a Mendelian randomization study
LI Xiaoshan ; WANG Manyi ; ZHANG Huiru ; WANG Shuntao ; LIU Xinyue ; ZENG Guqing
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(12):1252-1256
Objective:
To investigate the causal association between amino acids and the primary malignant bone tumor and its underlying mechanism.
Methods:
Genome-wide association study (GWAS) data of glycine, serine, arginine, glutamine, methionine, and leucine was sourced from the IEU OpenGWAS database and the GWAS Catalog. GWAS data of primary malignant bone tumor were obtained from the FinnGen database. Using each of the six amino acids as the exposure and primary malignant bone tumor as the outcome, two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed with the inverse-variance weighted method as the primary approach. Multivariable MR analysis was employed to control for collinearity among amino acids. Sensitivity analyses were conducted using Cochran's Q test, MR-Egger regression and the MR Steiger test. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction network analysis were explored to explore potential mechanisms and identify key genes.
Results:
MR analysis results indicated a statistically significant causal association between glycine and primary malignant bone tumor (OR=1.719, 95%CI: 1.083-2.728). No significant causal associations were found for the other five amino acids (all P>0.05). Multivariable MR analysis revealed that, after adjusting for the other five amino acids, confirmed a positive causal association between glycine and primary malignant bone tumor (OR=1.512, 95%CI: 1.125-2.031). Sensitivity analyses revealed no significant heterogeneity, horizontal pleiotropy, or reverse causality (all P>0.05). Genes associated with both glycine metabolism and primary malignant bone tumor were enriched in the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, with serine hydroxymethyltransferase 2 (SHMT2) identified as a key gene.
Conclusion
Higher glycine levels may increase the risk of primary malignant bone tumor via the SHMT2-JAK-STAT pathway.
5.Construction and gene identification of CSF1R +/-mice
Yuanyuan Zhou ; Chong Liu ; Anqi Wang ; Huiru Zhang ; Jiaqi Qiu ; Mengjuan Zhu ; Jiajie Tu
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(5):884-889
Objective:
To constructCSF1R+/-mice and to analyze their genotypes, so as to provide animal model basis for disease pathological mechanism and drug target.
Methods :
A linearized targeting vector was designed according to Cre/Loxp system. A Loxp site was inserted upstream of the 5th exon of theCSF1Rgene, and a neomycin resistance box with Loxp sites on both sides was inserted downstream of the 5th exon. The linearized targeting vector was electroporated into embryonic stem cells. The correctly targeted embryonic stem cells were injected into the blastocysts of C57BL/6J mice to obtain chimeric mice, which were bred with Zp3-Cre mice. The newborn mice were numbered 9-14 days after birth and their tails were cut. The DNA of the mice was extracted, and the genotype of the mice was identified by polymerase chain reaction and agarose gel electrophoresis. The expression of CSF1R in mouse macrophages was detected by flow cytometry. The expression of CSF1R in mouse tissues was detected by Western blot.
Results:
The results of agarose gel electrophoresis showed that 453 bp bands were amplified in wild type mice, and 453 bp and 650 bp bands were amplified in heterozygous mice. The results of flow cytometry showed that the expression of CSF1R in peritoneal macrophages and bone marrow-derived macrophages of CSF1R heterozygous mice was lower than that of WT group(P<0.05). The results of Western blot showed that the expression of CSF1R in spleen, kidney and brain tissue of CSF1R heterozygous group was lower than that of WT group(P<0.05).
Conclusion
CSF1R+/-mice are successfully constructed, reproduced and identified, which provides an animal model basis for further revealing the potential mechanism of CSF1R in immune regulation.
6.Mendelian randomization and GEO database identification analysis based on potential therapeutic targets for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Xianwei JIANG ; Minghang WANG ; Huiru LI ; Xiaosheng DONG ; Yuanyuan LIU
Journal of Jilin University(Medicine Edition) 2025;51(4):1072-1083
Objective:To screen the key genetic,diagnostic and therapeutic targets of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)patients by using microarray datasets and Mendelian randomization(MR)method,and to provide the evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment of COPD.Methods:Four COPD gene expression profile datasets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database.The data were processed and normalized using R software,and differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were screened.MR analysis was performed to explore the causal relationship between COPD and expression quantitative trait loci(eQTL),intersection with DEGs was taken to identify potential key targets.Gene Set Enrichment Analysis(GSEA),Gene Ontology(GO)functional enrichment analysis,and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)signaling pathway enrichment analysis were conducted to investigate the functional roles and pathways of the key targets,external datasets were used to validate their expression.Results:A total of 1 571 DEGs were screened,including 820 upregulated genes and 751 downregulated genes.MR analysis identified 286 COPD-related genes,and intersection with DEGs revealed 3 upregulated genes:diacylglycerol kinase gamma(DGKG),neurofilament heavy polypeptide(NEFH),and Fc receptor like B(FCRLB);and 6 downregulated genes:STEAP4 metalloreductase(STEAP4),pleckstrin homology domain containing family F member 2(PLEKHF2),CD3d molecule(CD3D),transgelin 2(TAGLN2),tripartite motif containing 22(TRIM22),and ribosomal protein L9(RPL9).The biological function analysis results indicated that these genes were mainly involved in pathways such as iron ion transport into the cells,oxidoreductase activity,primary immunodeficiency,and Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation.The MR analysis results confirmed the causal relationship between these targets and COPD.The external validation results showed that compared with healthy controls,the expression level of FCRLB in COPD samples was significantly increased(P<0.01),while the expression levels of CD3D and RPL9 were significantly decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),which was consistent with the MR analysis results,highlighting the reliability of this study.Conclusion:DGKG,NEFH,FCRLB,STEAP4,PLEKHF2,CD3D,TAGLN2,TRIM22,and RPL9 may serve as important regulatory factors and clinical diagnostic/therapeutic targets in the pathogenesis of COPD,providing clues for early screening,diagnosis,and targeted treatment of COPD.
7.Construction, breeding, and gene identification of micro RNA - 22 - 3p knockout mice
Anqi Wang ; Huiru Zhang ; Yuanyuan Zhou ; Chong Liu ; Yizhao Chen ; Jiajie Tu
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(6):1052-1058
Objective:
To construct microRNA(miR)-22 gene knockout(miR-22-/-) mice using CRISPR/Cas 9 technology, to breed miR-22-/- mice and to identify their genotypes.
Methods :
In this experiment, CRISPR/Cas 9 technology was used to construct miR-22-/- genetically engineered mice. After gene identification, the F0 generation miR-22-/- mice were mated with wild-type mice in the same litter to obtain F1 generation miR-22-/- mice. The miR-22 knockout efficiency was analyzed at the RNA level by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR). Western blot was used to detect the interaction between miR-22 and target genes.
Results :
miR-22-/- mice were successfully constructed using CRISPR/Cas 9 technology, gene identification was performed on the bred mice, and three stable genotypes of miR-22+/+,miR-22+/-, and miR-22-/- were identified. The real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR detection results confirmed that miR-22-/- mice showed almost no expression of miR-22 in the heart, liver, lung, kidney, spleen, and thymus tissues compared to wild-type mice in the same litter. Western blot analysis showed that the relative expression level of NLRP3 protein in miR-22-/- mouse tissues was lower than that in wild-type mice.
Conclusion
A miR-22-/- mouse model is successfully constructed, and stable genetic homozygous miR-22-/- mice is obtained. This indicates that miR-22 has an inhibitory effect on the downstream target gene NLRP3.
8.Breeding and genotype identification of CCR2 knockout mice
Huiru Zhang ; Anqi Wang ; Chong Liu ; Yuanyuan Zhou ; Hui Xue ; Jiajie Tu
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(7):1167-1172
Objective:
To explore the breeding and genotyping of CCR2 knockout mice, and to verify the applicability of the polymerase chain reaction(PCR) method for genotype detection of CCR2 knockout mice.
Methods:
The introduced CCR2 pure male mice and wild-type female mice were mated and bred to produce the offspring generation, the obtained F1 generation heterozygous mice were continued to be mated. DNA was extracted by clipping the tail tissues of the mice at the age of 2 weeks, the target gene fragment was amplified by PCR, and the genotypic results were determined by agarose gel electrophoresis. The proportion of purebred progeny carrying the CCR2 knockout gene was increased by genetic crosses, the effect of CCR2 knockout in the progeny mice was verified by using Western blot against major immune cells and key organs, and flow cytometry was used to detect whether the knockout of the CCR2 gene had any effect on the function of the immune system by targeting the major immune cells.
Results:
CCR2 knockout mice were successfully bred and characterized, and three genotypes of F2 generation mice were obtained: CCR2+/+, CCR2+/-, and CCR2-/-. The offspring genotypes were identified by PCR, and Western blot showed extremely low CCR2 protein expression in CCR2 knockout mice. Flow analysis showed that CCR2 knockdown reduced the expression of CD4+T and Th1 cells in mouse spleen-derived T cells, but did not affect macrophage function.
Conclusion
Correct breeding and identification are important ways to get the pure CCR2 knockout mice, and PCR method for identifying mouse genotypes is simple, fast and reliable.
9.The Influencing Factors of Delayed Onset of Intrapartum Fever Related to In-trathecal Labor Analgesia and its Impact on Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes
Fei JIA ; Liang LING ; Bo LIU ; Chunping LI ; Huiru LI ; Xiangli SHEN ; Mengjiao WANG ; Dan ZHANG ; Jian ZHANG
Journal of Practical Obstetrics and Gynecology 2025;41(2):169-173
Objective:To investigate the factors influencing the delayed onset of intrapartum fever following epidural labor analgesia and their impact on maternal and neonatal outcomes.Methods:Select parturients who experienced intrapartum fever following labor analgesia(T≥38.0℃,age≥18 years,singleton pregnancy,ASA classification Ⅱ)between January 1,2021,and December 31,2023.Group them based on the median time of intra-partum fever onset after labor analgesia:those with onset times less than the median were classified as the ear-ly-onset fever group,and those with onset times greater than the median were classified as the late-onset fever group.Using univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis to explore factors influencing the delay in in-trapartum fever onset and the pregnancy outcomes of the mothers and newborns in both groups.Results:A total of 253 parturients were included,and the time range of onset of intrapartum fever following epidural labor analgesi-a was 1.83-28.42 hours,with a median fever onset time of 8.00 hours.There were 126 cases in the early-onset group and 127 in the late-onset group.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that primiparous women,artificial membrane rupture,and neonatal birth weight were independent risk factors for delayed fever onset(OR>1,P<0.05),whereas the administration of oxytocin prior to labor analgesia was found to be a protective factor(OR<1,P<0.05).The late-onset group exhibited higher levels of white blood cells(WBC),C-reactive pro-tein,longer hospital stays,higher hospitalization costs,greater diagnosis rates of chorioamnionitis,higher NICU ad-mission rates,as well as a higher incidence of neonatal pneumonia,for newborns compared to the early-onset group(P<0.05).Conclusions:Primiparous women,artificial membrane rupture,and higher neonatal birth weight may be associated with delayed onset of intrapartum fever,while oxytocin administration prior to labor analgesia may offer some protective benefit.The later the onset of intrapartum fever,the worse the clinical outcomes for both mother and infants.
10.Mechanism underlying ozonated water intra-articular injection in modulating miR-214-3p to alleviate cartilage damage in knee osteoarthritis rats via the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway
Min LIU ; Weiqi LI ; Huiru DOU ; Youlong ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Comparative Medicine 2025;35(6):74-83
Objective To investigate the mechanism underlying the effect of intra-articular injection of ozonated water on cartilage repair in knee osteoarthritis(KOA)rats via the miR-214-3p/nuclear factor(NF)-κB signaling pathway,to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical application of ozonated water.Methods Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into ozonated and experimental groups.Rats in the experimental group were further divided randomly into model,ozonated water,ozonated water+AAV-NC,and adeno-associated virus with ozonated water+AAV-miR-214-3p inhibitor groups.The articular cartilage repair status was evaluated after the respective treatments,using articular cartilage surface gross scoring,hematoxylin/eosin staining,and modified Mankin's score.Expression levels of interleukin(IL)-1β,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α,and matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-13 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Protein expression levels of IκB kinase(IKK)β,p65,and phospho(p)-IκBα were detected in cartilage tissues by Western blot,and gene expression levels of IKKβ,p65,IκBα,and miR-214-3p were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results Rats in all groups showed different degrees of cartilage damage compared with the control group,and the scores were significantly lower in the ozonated water and ozonated water+AAV-NC groups compared with the ozonated water+AAV-miR-214-3p inhibitor group(P<0.05).IL-1β,TNF-α,and MMP-13 levels detected by ELISA were significantly lower in cartilage tissues from rats in the ozonated water and ozonated water+AAV-NC groups compared with the model and ozonated water+AAV-miR-214-3p inhibitor groups(P<0.05).According to RT-PCR,IKKβ and p65 mRNA levels were significantly down-regulated while IκBα mRNA was significantly up-regulated in cartilage tissues from rats in the ozonated water and ozonated water+AAV-NC groups compared with the model and ozonated water+AAV-miR-214-3p inhibitor groups(P<0.05).Similarly,IKKβ,p65,and p-IκBα protein expression levels detected by Western blot were significantly down-regulated while IκBα protein expression levels were up-regulated in cartilage tissues from rats in the ozonated water and ozonated water+AAV-NC groups compared with the model and ozonated water+AAV-miR-214-3p inhibitor groups(P<0.05).Conclusions Ozone hydrotherapy significantly ameliorated cartilage damage in KOA rats,possibly via inhibiting activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway through up-regulation of miR-214-3p expression and promoting cartilage repair in KOA rats.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail