This paper outlines the development of artificial intelligence （AI） and its applications in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） research， and elucidates the roles and advantages of large language models， knowledge graphs， and natural language processing in advancing syndrome identification， prescription generation， and mechanism exploration. Using spleen-stomach diseases as an example， it demonstrates the empowering effects of AI in classical literature mining， precise clinical syndrome differentiation， efficacy and safety prediction， and intelligent education， highlighting an upgraded research paradigm that evolves from data-driven and knowledge-driven approaches to intelligence-driven models. To address challenges related to privacy protection and regulatory compliance in cross-institutional data collaboration， a "trusted federated evidence-based analysis platform for TCM spleen-stomach diseases" is proposed， integrating blockchain-based smart contracts， federated learning， and secure multi-party computation. The deep integration of AI with privacy-preserving computing is reshaping research and clinical practice in TCM spleen-stomach diseases， providing feasible pathways and a technical framework for building a high-quality， trustworthy TCM big-data ecosystem and achieving precision syndrome differentiation.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is increasing gradually. However, it poses therapeutic challenges due to limited effective interventions. Intrathecal Pemetrexed (IP) holds broad application prospects in the therapeutic domain of LM. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and optimal combination strategies of IP in NSCLC-LM patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive status, with the aim of providing real-world data support for exploring more precise personalized treatment strategies for these patients. METHODS: 104 EGFR-mutated NSCLC-LM patients who received IP treatment at Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School from January 2018 to June 2024 were analyzed retrospectively. Clinical parameters, treatment regimens, and survival outcomes were collected. The overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), clinical response rate and adverse events (AEs) were evaluated. RESULTS: The cohort demonstrated a median PFS of 9.6 months and OS of 13.0 months with 6-month and 1-year OS rates of 80.8% and 56.5%, respectively. Clinical response was observed in 77.9% of patients. The common AEs were myelosuppression (58.7%) and elevation of hepatic aminotransferases (25.0%). Nine (8.7%) patients experienced grade 4 myelosuppression and recovered to normal after receiving symptomatic treatment. Subgroup analyses revealed prolonged OS in patients with Karnofsky performance status (KPS) ≥60 versus <60 (14.4 vs 9.0 months, P=0.0022) and those receiving Bevacizumab therapy versus not (19.2 vs 10.5 months, P=0.0011). CONCLUSIONS IP exhibits promising efficacy and manageable toxicity in EGFR-mutated NSCLC-LM patients. When combined with Bevacizumab, it exerts synergistic antitumor effects with the potential to further improve clinical outcomes.
Humans ; Pemetrexed/therapeutic use* ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; ErbB Receptors/genetics* ; Aged ; Mutation ; Adult ; Retrospective Studies ; Injections, Spinal ; Meningeal Neoplasms/genetics* ; Treatment Outcome ; Aged, 80 and over

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the primary fibrogenic cells in the liver, and their activation plays a crucial role in the development and progression of hepatic fibrosis. Here, we report that retinoid X receptor-alpha (RXRα), a unique member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is a key modulator of HSC activation and liver fibrosis. RXRα exerts its effects by modulating calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β (CaMKKβ)-mediated activation of AMP-activated protein kinase-alpha (AMPKα). In addition, we demonstrate that K-80003, which binds RXRα by a unique mechanism, effectively suppresses HSC activation, proliferation, and migration, thereby inhibiting liver fibrosis in the CCl₄ and amylin liver NASH (AMLN) diet animal models. The effect is mediated by AMPKα activation, promoting mitophagy in HSCs. Mechanistically, K-80003 activates AMPKα by inducing RXRα to form condensates with CaMKKβ and AMPKα via a two-phase process. The formation of RXRα condensates is driven by its N-terminal intrinsic disorder region and requires phosphorylation by CaMKKβ. Our results reveal a crucial role of RXRα in liver fibrosis regulation through modulating mitochondrial activities in HSCs. Furthermore, they suggest that K-80003 and related RXRα modulators hold promise as therapeutic agents for fibrosis-related diseases.

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) with increasing global prevalence lacks effective therapeutic targets to halt or reverse its progression. Therapeutic targets supported by causal genetic evidence are more likely to succeed in randomized clinical trials. In this study, we integrated large-scale plasma proteomics, genetic-driven causal inference, and experimental validation to identify prioritized targets for DKD using the UK Biobank (UKB) and FinnGen cohorts. Among 2844 diabetic patients (528 with DKD), we identified 37 targets significantly associated with incident DKD, supported by both observational and causal evidence. Of these, 22% (8/37) of the potential targets are currently under investigation for DKD or other diseases. Our prospective study confirmed that higher levels of three prioritized targets-insulin-like growth factor binding protein 4 (IGFBP4), family with sequence similarity 3 member C (FAM3C), and prostaglandin D2 synthase (PTGDS)-were associated with a 4.35, 3.51, and 3.57-fold increased likelihood of developing DKD, respectively. In addition, population-level protein-altering variants (PAVs) analysis and in vitro experiments cross-validated FAM3C and IGFBP4 as potential new target candidates for DKD, through the classic NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3)-caspase-1-gasdermin D (GSDMD) apoptotic axis. Our results demonstrate that integrating omics data mining with causal inference may be a promising strategy for prioritizing therapeutic targets.

Objective To explore the biological functions of pyroptosis-related genes in pneumonic plague using bioinformatics methods,and to evaluate their potential applicability as diagnostic markers.Methods The pneumonic plague-related dataset GSE220123 was retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database and screened for differentially expressed pyroptosis-related genes(DE-PRGs).The functions of DE-PRGs were studied via Gene Ontology(GO),Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analyses,and immune infiltration analysis.The hub genes were identified via protein-protein interaction(PPI)network analysis,and further screened for key genes with sustained high expression characteristics based on differential expression analysis.The relative expression levels of the key genes were verified using the reverse transcription real-time quantitative PCR(qPCR)method.Results A total of 17 DE-PRGs were screened,and PPI network analysis revealed 7 Hub genes.Among them,Casp4 continued to be up-regulated during the course of pneumonic plague.The results of reverse transcription qPCR were consistent with the those of bioinformatic analyses.Conclusion DE-PRGs play a crucial role in the immune response of pneumonic plague,especially Casp4,which has significant applications as a diagnostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for pneumonic plague.

Objective To develop a Behavioral Decision-making Scale for Glycemic Management in pregnant women with gestational diabetes and to test its reliability and validity.Methods Based on the trans-theoretical model and behavioral decision theory,the test version of the scale was formed through literature review,semi-structured interview,brainstorming,2 rounds of expert consultation and cognitive interview.A total of 560 pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus were recruited from 10 hospitals in Quanzhou,Fujian Province by convenience sampling method from 21 July to November 2023.The data were divided into 2 parts by random number method for exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis.Results The scale included 4 dimensions of"behavioral decision-making motivation""behavioral decision-making influencing factors""behavioral decision-making intention"and"behavioral decision-making effectiveness"with 34 items.The Cronbach's αcoefficient of the total scale was 0.971;the split-half reliability was 0.919;the test-retest reliability was 0.863;the content validity index of the scale was 0.853.The exploratory factor analysis extracted 4 common factors,and the cumulative variance contribution rate was 78.28％.The confirmatory factor analysis showed that the factor structure of the scale was stable.Conclusion The scale has ideal reliability and validity,which can be used to measure the level of glycemic management behavior decision-making of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Brucella. Its typical clinical manifestations include fever, chills, fatigue, bone and muscle pain, etc. Brucellosis can affect multiple organs and tissues, of which spine is the most common affected part, forming Brucella spondylitis. Due to the clinical manifestations and imaging characteristics of infected individuals being similar to other spinal diseases, it is easy to cause misdiagnosis, missed diagnosis, and mistreatment. This article reviews the latest research progress in clinical manifestations, imaging examination, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and treatment of Brucella spondylitis both domestically and internationally, in order to provide reference for the diagnosis and treatment of Brucella spondylitis.

Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of chronic hepatitis B (2022 edition) are updated and revised based on the research advances in chronic hepatitis B virus infection in China and globally and the previous editions of the guidelines. This article introduces the updates in natural history and the noninvasive diagnosis and treatment of fibrosis. In particular, the guidelines further expand the indications for patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection, clearly defines the selection of the population benefiting from interferon therapy, and strictly limits the standard of oral nucleos(t)ide analogues. Meanwhile, the guidelines also recommend more active treatment of patients with low-level viremia and children in the immune-tolerant phase. The new edition of the guidelines will provide an important basis for expanding the screening for hepatitis B virus infection, improving diagnostic rate, optimizing treatment regimens, and standardizing clinical management in China.

Objective:To investigate the biological characteristics of proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of radiation-induced polyploid cervical cancer HeLa cells, and to analyze the potential facilitation of polyploid HeLa cells in cervical cancer recurrence after radiotherapy.Methods:HeLa cells were irradiated by 6 MV-X ray with 7 Gy and 14 Gy, the cells were cultured until the third day, and then they were recorded as 7 Gy group and 14 Gy group respectively. The unirradiated HeLa cells were recognized as the control group. The cell morphology was checked under optical microscope. Flow cytometry was used to determine cell ploidy. MTT assay was applied to detect cell proliferation. Flow cytometry by AnnexinⅤ-FITC/PI double labeling was used to detect apoptosis. The ability of migration and invasion was detected by Transwell assay. The expression levels of STAT3 signal pathway-related proteins were analyzed by Western blotting.Results:Compared with the control group, the volume of HeLa cells in 7 Gy group and 14 Gy group increased significantly. The percentages of polyploid HeLa cell subsets in the control group, 7 Gy group and 14 Gy group were (6.33±1.26) %, (21.13±0.50) % and (46.07±1.68) % respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( F=780.47, P<0.001) . The absorbance values in the control group, 7 Gy group and 14 Gy group of polyploidy HeLa cells were 0.21±0.01, 0.23±0.02, 0.16±0.01 at 24 h, 0.37±0.03, 0.38±0.06, 0.21±0.00 at 48 h, 0.66±0.02, 0.55±0.01, 0.28±0.01 at 72 h, and there were statistically significant differences ( F=31.62, P=0.001; F=20.10, P=0.002; F=708.52, P<0.001) . Further pairwise comparison showed that the proliferation abilities of polyploidy HeLa cells of the 14 Gy group at 24, 48 and 72 h were significantly lower than those of the control group and the 7 Gy group (all P<0.05) . The proportions of apoptotic cell subset in the control group, 7 Gy group and 14 Gy group were (3.67±1.16) %, (3.07±0.81) %, (3.83±0.91) %, the proportions of early apoptotic subset were (2.33±0.35) %, (2.13±0.61) %, (2.23±0.32) %, and the proportions of late apoptotic subset were (1.33±0.81) %, (0.93±0.31) %, (1.60±0.60) % respectively. There were no statistically significant differences ( F=0.52, P=0.620; F=0.15, P=0.864; F=0.92, P=0.450) . The migrated numbers of cells in the control group, 7 Gy group and 14 Gy group were 297.40±26.53, 121.33±15.16, 18.40±4.79, and the invaded numbers were 195.67±20.26, 63.60±6.91, 9.47±3.23 respectively, with statistically significant differences ( F=647.28, P<0.001; F=213.94, P<0.001) . Compared with the control group, the migration and invasion abilities of polyploid HeLa cells in the 7 Gy and the 14 Gy groups were significantly decreased, and the migration and invasion abilities of polyploid HeLa cells in the 14 Gy group were significantly lower than those in the 7 Gy group (all P<0.001) . The expression levels of P-STAT3 (Tyr 705) and Bcl-2 in radiation-induced polyploidy HeLa cells were higher than those in the control group, and the expression levels were further increased with the increase of radiation dose. Compared with the control group, the expression levels of Survivin and Mcl-1 in polyploid HeLa cells in the 14 Gy group were up-regulated (both P<0.05) . There was no significant difference in Bcl-xL expression among the three groups ( F=0.52, P=0.618) . Conclusion:The proliferation, migration and invasion abilities of polyploid HeLa cells are reduced by radiation, and the proportion of apoptotic subset is not significantly changed, but the activation of STAT3 signaling pathway is accompanied by up-regulation of downstream anti-apoptotic related proteins, which is favorable for the polyploid tumor cells to be the potential risk factor of recurrent cervical cancer after radiotherapy.

Objective:To analyze the diagnostic value of metabolic makers in cerebrospinal fluid in advanced lung adenocarcinoma patients with leptomeningeal metastases (LM) .Methods:A total of 46 cerebrospinal fluid samples (LM group) from lung adenocarcinoma patients with LM admitted to Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University Medical School from December 2019 to December 2021 were collected, and 48 cerebrospinal fluid samples (control group) from patients with benign neurological diseases during the same period were collected. Metabolomics analysis of cerebrospinal fluid was carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Principle component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal to partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used for modeling. Multi-criteria assessment was used to identify the different metabolites between the two groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, pathway enrichment analysis and other methods were used to screen metabolites and pathways related to LM from lung adenocarcinoma.Results:There were no statistically significant differences in the proportions of age ( Z=-0.41, P=0.210) , gender ( χ2=1.19, P=0.275) , history of smoking ( χ2=2.86, P=0.091) , Karnofsky performance status score ( χ2=0.65, P=0.419) and increased intracranial pressure ( χ2=0.65, P=0.419) between the LM group and control group. The models of PCA (R2X was 0.608 and 0.583, Q2 was 0.462 and 0.513 in electrospray ion positive and negative modes, respectively) and OPLS-DA (R2Y was 0.967 and 0.889, Q2 was 0.959 and 0.852 in electrospray ion positive and negative modes, respectively) showed that the overall data quality was good. Meanwhile, the model interpretation rate and prediction rate were effective. The permutation tests duplicated for 200 times and showed no over-fitting of the established model. The metabolic profiles of the two groups were significantly different. A total of 30 endogenously differential metabolites were screened by using multi-criteria assessment. Six potential biomarkers with larger area under the curve (AUC) were identified through ROC curve analysis, including tyrosine (AUC=0.967, 95% CI: 0.906-1.000) , phenylalanine (AUC=0.992, 95% CI: 0.973-1.000) , pyruvate (AUC=0.976, 95% CI: 0.935-1.000) , tryptophan (AUC=0.935, 95% CI: 0.880-0.973) , glucose (AUC=0.932, 95% CI: 0.880-0.975) and adenosine monophosphate (AUC=0.993, 95% CI: 0.987-1.000) . The 30 selected differential metabolites were enriched and analyzed for metabolic pathways, and 20 relevant metabolic pathways were matched. Among them, the four metabolic pathways most likely to cause changes in metabolites were glycolysis and glucose metabolic synthesis, pyruvate metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis. Conclusion:Untargeted metabolomics analysis can effectively screen specific cerebrospinal fluid metabolites in lung adenocarcinoma patients with LM. Six potential metabolites such as tyrosine, phenylalanine, pyruvate, tryptophan, adenosine monophosphate, glucose and their metabolic pathways may be involved in the pathogenesis of LM from lung adenocarcinoma.