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.Clinical Application of NETs in Diagnosis and Monitoring of Acute Ischemic Stroke
Wendi YANG ; Yaxin WANG ; Jing QIAN ; Limin YIN ; Fengting MU ; Xiaoli ZHAO
Journal of Kunming Medical University 2025;46(10):97-105
Objective To explore the value of neutrophil extracellular trapping nets(neutrophil extracellular traps,NETs)in the diagnosis and monitoring of acute ischemic stroke(acute ischemic stroke,AIS).Methods From June 2023 to February 2024,63 patients newly diagnosed with AIS at the Ganmei Hospital Affiliated with Kunming Medical University were selected as the experimental group,and 58 non-AIS individuals matched in gender,age,and other characteristics were selected as the control group.The NETs levels of patients in the experimental group were detected before and 7-10 days after treatment,and general clinical data and related laboratory results were statistically analyzed.Results The experimental group showed significantly higher levels of NEUT,LYMPH,MONO,EO,FDP,D-dimer,and NETs compared to the control group(P<0.05).The NETs levels before treatment were significantly higher than those at 7~10 days after treatment and in the control group(P<0.05).The NETs levels 7~10 days after treatment were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).NEUT,MONO,FDP,D-dimer,and NIHSS scores were positively correlated with the pre-treatment NETs levels(P<0.05).Elevated serum NETs levels were associated with AIS risk factors(P<0.05).The combined diagnostic value of NEUT,D-dimer,and NETs for AIS was superior to other indicators.Conclusion NETs are highly expressed in the serum of patients with acute ischemic stroke,and serum NETs have certain value in the auxiliary diagnosis and monitoring of acute ischemic stroke.
3.Study on the Evolution Principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine syndromes and fNIRS Cerebral Hemodynamic Characteristics in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease
Mengxue ZHANG ; Yanjie QU ; Qian LI ; Chao GU ; Limin ZHANG ; Minrui DING ; Tong ZHANG ; Rongrong ZHEN ; Hongmei AN
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(6):600-608
ObjectiveTo explore the evolution principles of symptoms including deficiency, phlegm and blood stasis, and of the functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) cerebral hemodynamic characteristics at various stages in patients of Alzheimer's disease. MethodsA total of 497 patients with complaint of memory loss were included, and were divided into subjective cognitive decline (SCD) group (198 participants), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) group (228 participants) and dementia (AD) group (71 participants). Neuropsychological evaluation, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome investigation, and fNIRS data collection of prefrontal cortex were performed in each group. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the distribution of TCM syndromes and the difference of TCM syndrome scores in each group; logistic regression was used to analyze the influence of TCM syndromes on the incidence of the patients; association rules were used to analyze the TCM syndromes of the patients; the hemodynamic characteristics of fNIRS in the prefrontal cortex of each group were compared. ResultsKidney essence deficiency syndrome was the dominant syndrome in all stages of AD. There were statistically significant differences in the distribution frequency of kidney essence deficiency, phlegm turbidity obstructing orifices, blood stasis obstructing collaterals, qi and blood deficiency, heat toxin in the interior, and fu-organ stagnation and turbidity retention syndromes among the three groups (P<0.01), and the scores of kidney essence deficiency syndrome among the three groups were statistically significant (P<0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that kidney essence deficiency, and qi and blood deficiency syndromes were the main risk factors for the SCD group (P<0.05), phlegm turbidity obstructing orifices syndrome was the main risk factor for the MCI group (P<0.05), and heat toxin in the interior, and fu-organ stagnation and turbidity retention syndromes were the main risk factors for the AD group (P<0.05). The association rule analysis showed that the combination of kidney essence deficiency plus phlegm turbidity obstructing orifices had the highest support (33.33%) in the SCD group, and the combination of kidney essence deficiency plus blood stasis obstructing collaterals had the highest support (32.90% and 52.13%) in both the MCI and AD group. The prefrontal fNIRS results showed that the mean ∆HbO2 concentration in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (LDLPFC) decreased sequentially among the three groups (P<0.05), and the mean ∆HbO2 concentration in the LDLPFC was negatively correlated with the MoCA score among the three groups (r = -0.142, P<0.05). Further analysis showed that the mean ∆HbO2 concentration in the LDLPFC of patients with kidney essence deficiency syndrome were statistically significant differences among the three groups (P<0.05). ConclusionKidney deficiency is the basis of the pathogenesis of AD, and the key brain area damaged is the LDLPFC. Turbid pathogens such as phlegm and blood stasis are the pathological factors that aggravate the disease, and the syndromes of AD show the evolution law of deficiency and excess as “kidney deficiency→phlegm turbidity→blood stasis→turbid toxin”. The changes in prefrontal hemodynamics based on fNIRS are consistent with the changes in the characteristics of symptoms, which can be used to assess the degree of cognitive impairment in AD patients.
4.A qualitative study on communication needs of ICU mechanical ventilation patients
Shujie LI ; Limin HOU ; Xuelian SUN ; Xiao LIANG ; Qian XIAO
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2024;30(9):1137-1142
Objective:To gain an in-depth understanding of the communication needs of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) mechanical ventilation patients during the mechanical ventilation process.Methods:This study was a descriptive qualitative study. From January to June 2022, purposive sampling was used to select 15 awake ICU patients with mechanical ventilation at Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University as the research objects, and in-depth interviews were conducted. The content analysis method was used to analyze interview data, summarize and generalize themes.Results:Two themes and ten sub-themes were extracted, namely the multiple needs during mechanical ventilation (physiological needs, communication and physical expression, constraints and activities, longing for family companionship, discomfort to the ICU environment), complex feelings and experiences during mechanical ventilation (pain caused by mechanical ventilation, fear of awakening from sedation, anxiety and concern about the condition, unpleasant communication and nursing experiences, negative emotions) .Conclusions:Medical and nursing staff should promptly identify the communication needs of ICU mechanical ventilation patients, apply intelligent communication tools, provide personalized intervention measures, and meet the communication needs of patients.
5.Prediction of proximal junctional kyphosis after degenerative scoliosis surgery based on MRI or CT
Zhe WANG ; Qian CHEN ; Yong HUANG ; Ruibang WU ; Yize ZHAO ; Limin LIU ; Yueming SONG ; Ganjun FENG
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics 2024;44(11):748-755
Objective:To explore the measurement method and its diagnostic performance based on MRI and CT measurement of vertebral bone density in patients to predict proximal junctional kyphosis after degenerative scoliosis surgery.Methods:Retrospectively included patients who underwent long-segment fixation and fusion surgery at the Department of Orthopedics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2010 to December 2020 and had complete preoperative whole-spine X-rays, CT, MRI and other imaging examination results, and were followed up on schedule. 68 cases of adult degenerative scoliosis, 16 male, 52 women, aged 66.87±6.65 years (range, 54-80 years). The patients were measured based on preoperative lumbar spine MRI T 1WI bone quality score (vertebral bone quality score, VBQ) and CT-based Hounsfield (HU) value, and the patients were divided into postoperative proximal junction kyphosis group or non-proximal junction kyphosis group based on the results of postoperative imaging examinations. The age, gender, BMI, comorbidities, lumbar spine VBQ score, L 1 CT HU value and various imaging parameters before and after surgery were compared between the two groups of patients, including pelvic incident, lumbar lordosis, sagittal vertical axis, pelvic tilt, sacral slope, pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis, T 1 pelvic angle, Upper instrumented vertebrae screw angle, etc. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn to analyze the diagnostic efficacy, sensitivity and specificity of VBQ score, HU value and their combined indicators. Results:Seventeen cases were included in the PJK group and 51 cases in the non-PJK group. The preoperative VBQ and HU values of the PJK group were 3.10±0.43 and 99.76±16.34 respectively, while those of the non-PJK group were 2.62±0.37 and 115.27±13.46 respectively. The differences were statistically significant ( t=3.896, P<0.001; t=4.482, P<0.001). The area under curve (AUC) of VBQ was 0.773 [95% CI(0.633, 0.914)], the sensitivity and specificity are 82.4% and 70.6% respectively, the AUC of HU value was 0.814 [95% CI(0.680, 0.949)], the sensitivity and specificity are 76.5% and 76.5% respectively. The AUC of the two combined indicators was 0.895 [95% CI(0.795, 0.995)], and the sensitivity and specificity were 94.1% and 82.4% respectively. The maximum Youden index and the critical value were respectively, VBQ value 0.530, 2.895, HU value 0.530, 110.0, the combined index 0.765, 0.734. Conclusion:Both VBQ and L 1 HU value can accurately predict proximal junctional kyphosis after degenerative scoliosis surgery. The accuracy of HU value was slightly higher than that of VBQ value. The diagnosis accuracy of the combined index was the highest.
6.Prevalence and risk factors of diabetic kidney disease in plain-sand areasand loess hilly areas of Gansu province
Jianning YANG ; Doudou HONG ; Jinxing QUAN ; Limin TIAN ; Yunfang WANG ; Jing YU ; Zibing QIAN ; Panpan JIANG ; Changhong DONG ; Qian GUO ; Jing LIU ; Qi ZHANG
Chinese Journal of General Practitioners 2023;22(8):810-817
Objective:To investigate the risk factors of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in plain-sand areas and loess hilly areas of Gansu province.Methods:A total of 1 599 T2DM patients who participated in chronic disease and risk factors monitoring and basic public health service management were selected by multi-stage stratified random sampling method in the sandy plain areas and loess hilly areas of Gansu province. Questionnaire survey, physical measurement and laboratory tests were performed. Multivariate binary logistic model was used to analyze the influencing factors.Results:The prevalence of DKD was 22.1% (174/787) among T2DM patients in the sandy plain areas and 19.1%(155/812) in the loess hilly area, respectively. Hypertension ( OR=3.022), hyperuricemia ( OR=2.114) and HbA1c≥7%( OR=2.231) were the risk factors for DKD in the plain-sand areas, and the risk of DKD increased with age. In the loess hilly areas, female sex ( OR=0.379) was the protective factor for DKD; while duration of disease≥10 years ( OR=2.476), hyperuricemia ( OR=1.907), HbA1c≥7% ( OR=1.927) were the risk factors for DKD; and the risk of DKD increased with the increase of age, and decreased with the increase of per capita monthly income. Conclusions:The prevalence of DKD and its influencing factors are different between sandy plain areas and loess hilly areas in Gansu province. The prevention and treatment of hypertension should be given more attention in sandy plain areas. In addition, the screening of DKD should be conducted among T2DM patients, particularly for those with old age, hyperuricemia and HbA1c≥7% in both areas of the province.
7.Effect of CTRP13 regulates high glucose-induced autophagy dysfunction of primary rat liver sinusoidal endothelial cells through the AMPK/mTOR pathway
Jing YU ; Qi ZHANG ; Jing LIU ; Zibing QIAN ; Limin TIAN ; Peiyun ZENG ; Ruixia YANG ; Jie YANG ; Rui CUI ; Zhengping CHANG
Chinese Journal of Diabetes 2023;31(12):929-937
Objective To investigate the effect of C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein 13 protein(CTRP13)on the autophagy function of primary rat liver sinusoidal endothelial cells(rLSECs)induced by high glucose through AMP-activated protein kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin complex(AMPK/mTOR)pathway.Methods After isolation,identification and culture,original rat liver sinusoid endothelial cells(rrLSECs)were divided into normal control(NC)group,high glucose(HG)group,HG +LV-CTRP13 group,HG+ lentiviral empty vector(LV-Con)group(HG+LV-Con).CTRP13 lentivirus over expression vector(LV-CTRP13)and lentivirus empty vector(LV-Con)were constructed and transfected into rrLSECs.According to the intervention methods of AMPK inhibitor Compound C,mTOR inhibitor Torin1 and autophagy inhibitor 3MA,the transfected cell were divided into normal control(NC)group,high glucose(HG)group,HG+LV-CTRP13 group,HG+lentiviral empty vector(LV-Con)group(HG+ LV-Con).qRT-PCR and western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of CTRP13,autophagy related protein Beclin1,human microtubule-associated protein light chain 3II(LC3II),human plasma membrane membrane vesicle association proteins(PLVAP)and p-AMPK and p-MTOR in rat rLSECs of each group.Results Compared with NC group,the number of autophagosome was decreased in HG and HG+LV-CTRP13 group(P<0.05).Compared with HG group,the number of autophagosome bodies was increased in HG +LV-CTRP13 group(P<0.05).The CTRP13 mRNA and protein expression was higher in NC and HG + LV-CTRP13 groups than in HG and HG + LV-Con groups(P<0.05).In HG+LC-CTRP13 group,Beclin1,LC3II,p-AMPK,and AMPK mRNA,Beclin1,LC3II/LC3I protein expression were higher than HG and HG + LV-Con group(P<0.05),PLVAP,p-mTOR,mTOR mRNA,and PLVAP protein expression were lower than HG and HG+LV-Con group(P<0.05).Comparison with HG + LV-CTRP13,p-mTOR protein expression in HG+LV-CTRP13+Compound C group increased(P<0.05),while expressions of CTRP13,Beclin1 and LC3II/LC3I protein decreased(P<0.05);the protein expressions of p-AMPK,Beclin1 and LC3II/LC3I were increased in HG+LV+ CTRP13+Torin1 group(P<0.05),while CTRP13 and p-mTOR protein expression was decreased(P<0.05);protein expressions of p-AMPK,p-mTOR and LC3II/LC3I were higher in HG+LV-CTRP13 + 3MA group(P<0.05),while LC3II/LC3I protein expression was lower(P<0.05).Conclusion CTRP13 overexpression activates AMPK/mTOR-autophagy signaling pathway,which may play a protective role in the function of rLSECs anddelay liver sinusoid capillarization.
8.The correlation between symptom clusters and acute stress disorder in patients with brain injury
Qian WANG ; Weiliang WANG ; Hezhu PEI ; Huan LIU ; Qiqun TANG ; Limin ZHANG ; Jie CHENG
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2019;28(3):245-249
Objective To explore the relationship between brain injury related symptom groups and acute stress disorder( ASD). Methods Totally 301 patients with brain injury hospitalized in the Affiliated Hospital of North China University of Technology from March 2017 to March 2018 were recruited. The pa-tients were assessed by Stanford Acute Stress Response Questionnaire ( SASRQ), Brain Trauma Subscale (BIS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results The prevalence of acute stress disorder pa-tients with brain injury was 46. 51% (140/301). The SASRQ score of all patients with brain injury was (70. 78±28. 00). Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in age (χ2= 4. 172,P=0. 041),personality type (χ2= 57. 281,P<0. 001),sleep quality ( χ2= 70. 785,P<0. 001),hospitalization frequency (χ2= 43. 547,P<0. 001),depression,obsessive-compulsive and hostile symptoms between pa-tients with and without ASD ( P<0. 05). The scores of depression and obsessive-compulsive symptoms were significantly correlated with SASRQ scores(P<0. 05). The scores of hostility symptoms were significantly cor-related with SASRQ scores except for patients who lost their temper uncontrollably ( r=0. 176-0. 698,P<0. 05). Personality ( OR=0. 243,95% CI=0. 142-0. 415),sleep disorders( OR=0. 072,95% CI=0. 029-0. 178),hospitalization times(OR=0. 129,95%CI=0. 054-0. 306),depressive symptoms( OR=1. 260,95% CI=1. 061-1. 497),obsessive-compulsive symptoms(OR=1. 419,95%CI=1. 239-1. 625) and hostile symp-toms(OR=1. 253,95%CI=1. 058-1. 482) were the influencing factors of ASD in patients with brain injury (P<0. 05). Conclusion The incidence of ASD is higher in patients with brain injury. Personality type,hos-pitalization,sleep quality,depressive symptoms,obsessive-compulsive symptoms and hostile symptoms are the influencing factors,which should be paid more attention.
9.Expression of PSAT1 in pancreatic cancer tissues and the mechanism underlying PSAT1-mediated cell proliferation and invasion
Zhao NIE ; Lan LI ; Lanqun YANG ; Dejun CUI ; Qian LI ; Limin YE ; Qian YANG ; Delin ZHANG ; Mingliang CHU ; Xianchun ZENG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Oncology 2018;45(23):1187-1193
Objectives: To investigate the expression of phosphoserine aminotransferase 1 (PSAT1) in pancreatic cancer tissues, and its potential role in pancreatic cancer. Methods: The expression of PSAT1 in 98 human pancreatic cancer tissues, which were collected from the People's Hospital of Guizhou, between July 2013 to July 2017, and the corresponding adjacent normal tissues was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Additionally, the relationship between the expression of PSAT1 and the clinicopathological parame-ters, overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS) of patients with pancreatic cancer was evaluated. The human pancreatic can-cer cell lines, BxPC-3 and SW1990, were transfected with PSAT1-siRNA, to investigate the effect of PSAT1 knockdown on cell prolifera-tion, migration, and invasion. Additionally, we performed Western blot to assess the expression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR-related proteins in PSAT1-knockdown cells. Results: The percentages of PSAT1-positive cells in pancreatic cancer and adjacent non-tumor tissues were 69.4% (68/98) and 5.0% (5/98), respectively, indicating a significantly higher expression of PSAT1 in pancreatic cancer tissues com-pared to adjacent non-tumor tissues (P<0.05). The increased expression of PSAT1 in pancreatic cancer tissues correlated with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage. Kaplan-Meier analysis suggested that a high expression of PSAT1 correlated with a poor OS and DFS compared to a low expression of PSAT1 (P<0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that the expression of PSAT1 is an independent prog-nostic marker for OS and DFS in pancreatic cancer patients (P<0.05, all). Transient transfection of BxPC-3 and SW1990 cells with PSAT1-siRNA markedly reduced the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of these cells compared to transfection with NC-siRNA (P<0.05). Knockdown of PSAT1 in pancreatic cancer cells also inhibited the expression of p-Akt and p-mTOR (P<0.05). Conclusions: The expression of PSAT1 increases in human pancreatic cancer tissues and cell lines. Additionally, PSAT1 regulates cell proliferation and in-vasion through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.
10. Multilevel logistic regression analysis on hypercholesterolemia related risk factors among adults in China
Mei ZHANG ; Limin WANG ; Zhihua CHEN ; Zhenping ZHAO ; Yichong LI ; Qian DENG ; Zhengjing HUANG ; Xiao ZHANG ; Chun LI ; Maigeng ZHOU ; Linhong WANG
Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine 2018;52(2):151-157
Objective:
To investigate the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia among Chinese adults in different geographic areas, and to analyze the related factors.
Methods:
China Chronic and Non-Communicable Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance was conducted in 2013, based on 298 counties/districts in 31 provinces of Chinese mainland. The adults aged 18 years old were randomly selected using multi-stage stratified clustering sampling method. Information on chronic disease and risk factors was collected using face-to-face questionnaire interview and physical measurement. Blood samples were collected by local staffs. Serum total cholesterol (TC) was determined using standard method in a central laboratory. After excluding 565 participants missing key variables and 1 558 participants with abnormal TC values, a total of 174 976 participants were included. Weighted prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was calculated. Hypercholesterolemia related individual or geographic determinants were defined using multilevel logistic regression.
Results:
The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia in Chinese adults age 18 years old and above was 6.9% (95

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