1.From Gene Expression to Transcriptome-wide Association Study: Development and Comparison of Methodology
Kun FANG ; Guozhuang LI ; Linting WANG ; Qing LI ; Kexin XU ; Lina ZHAO ; Zhihong WU ; Jianguo ZHANG ; Nan WU
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(1):223-229
Over the past two decades, genome-wide association study(GWAS) has identified numerous genetic variants and loci associated with heritable diseases. With the gradual maturation and saturation of GWAS methodologies, transcriptome-wide association study(TWAS) offers a novel perspective by linkinggenetic phenotypes to gene expression levels. By integrating TWAS with other multi-omics analyses, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of heritable diseases. This article provides an overview of recent groundbreaking and representative TWAS methods and tools, analyzes their strengths and limitations, and discusses future trends in TWAS development.
2.Construction and in vitro osteogenic activity study of magnesium-strontium co-doped hydroxyapatite mineralized collagen
WANG Meng ; SUN Yifei ; CAO Xiaoqing ; WEI Yiyuan ; CHEN Lei ; ZHANG Zhenglong ; MU Zhao ; ZHU Juanfang ; NIU Lina
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2026;34(1):15-28
Objective:
To investigate the efficacy of magnesium-strontium co-doped hydroxyapatite mineralized collagen (MSHA/Col) in improving the bone repair microenvironment and enhancing bone regeneration capacity, providing a strategy to address the insufficient biomimetic composition and limited bioactivity of traditional hydroxyapatite mineralized collagen (HA/Col) scaffolds.
Methods:
A high-molecular-weight polyacrylic acid-stabilized amorphous calcium magnesium strontium phosphate precursor (HPAA/ACMSP) was prepared. Its morphology and elemental distribution were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. Recombinant collagen sponge blocks were immersed in the HPAA/ACMSP mineralization solution. Magnesium-strontium co-doped hydroxyapatite was induced to deposit within collagen fibers (experimental group: MSHA/Col; control group: HA/Col). The morphological characteristics of MSHA/Col were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Its crystal structure and chemical composition were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, respectively. The mineral phase content was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis. The scaffold's porosity, ion release, and in vitro degradation performance were also determined. For cytological experiments, CCK-8 assay, live/dead cell staining, alkaline phosphatase staining, alizarin red S staining, RT-qPCR, and western blotting were used to evaluate the effects of the MSHA/Col scaffold on the proliferation, viability, early osteogenic differentiation activity, late mineralization capacity, and gene and protein expression levels of key osteogenic markers [runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), collagen type Ⅰ (Col-Ⅰ), osteopontin (Opn), and osteocalcin (Ocn)] in mouse embryonic osteoblast precursor cells (MC3T3-E1).
Results:
HPAA/ACMSP appeared as amorphous spherical nanoparticles under TEM, with energy spectrum analysis showing uniform distribution of carbon, oxygen, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and strontium elements. SEM results of MSHA/Col indicated successful complete intrafibrillar mineralization. Elemental analysis showed the mass fractions of magnesium and strontium were 0.72% (matching the magnesium content in natural bone) and 2.89%, respectively. X-ray diffraction revealed characteristic peaks of hydroxyapatite crystals (25.86°, 31°-34°). Infrared spectroscopy results showed characteristic absorption peaks for both collagen and hydroxyapatite. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated a mineral phase content of 78.29% in the material. The scaffold porosity was 91.6% ± 1.1%, close to the level of natural bone tissue. Ion release curves demonstrated sustained release behavior for both magnesium and strontium ions. The in vitro degradation rate matched the ingrowth rate of new bone tissue. Cytological experiments showed that MSHA/Col significantly promoted MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation (130% increase in activity at 72 h, P < 0.001). MSHA/Col exhibited excellent efficacy in promoting osteogenic differentiation, significantly upregulating the expression of osteogenesis-related genes and proteins (Runx2, Col-Ⅰ, Opn, Ocn) (P < 0.01).
Conclusion
The MSHA/Col scaffold achieves dual biomimicry of natural bone in both composition and structure, and effectively promotes osteogenic differentiation at the genetic and protein levels, breaking through the functional limitations of pure hydroxyapatite mineralized collagen. This provides a new strategy for the development of functional bone repair materials
3.Fabrication and evaluation of an inositol hexaphosphate-zinc hydrogel with dual capabilities of self-mineralization and osteoinduction
LIU Mingyi ; MIAO Xiaoyu ; CAI Yunfan ; WANG Yan ; SUN Xiaotang ; KANG Jingrui ; ZHAO Yao ; NIU Lina
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2026;34(1):29-40
Objective:
To fabricate a hydrogel loaded with inositol hexaphosphate-zinc and preliminarily evaluate its performance in self-mineralization and osteoinduction, thereby providing a theoretical basis for the development of bone regeneration materials.
Methods:
The hydrogel framework (designated DF0) was formed by copolymerizing methacryloyloxyethyltrimethylammonium chloride and four-armed poly(ethylene glycol) acrylate, followed by sequentially loading inositol hexaphosphate anions via electrostatic interaction and zinc ions via chelation. The hydrogel loaded only with inositol hexaphosphate anions was named DF1, while the co-loaded hydrogel was named DF2. The self-mineralization efficacy of the DF0 , DF1 and DF2 hydrogels was characterized using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). The biocompatibility was assessed via live/dead cell staining and a CCK-8 assay. The osteoinductive capacity of the DF0 , DF1 and DF2 hydrogels on MC3T3-E1 cells was assessed via alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and Alizarin Red S (ARS) staining. In the aforementioned cell experiments, cells cultured in standard medium served as the control group
Results:
The DF0, DF1, and DF2 hydrogels were successfully synthesized. Notably, DF1 and DF2 exhibited distinct self-mineralization within 6 days. Results from TEM, EDS, and SAED confirmed that the mineralization products were amorphous calcium phosphate in group DF1, and amorphous calciumzinc phosphate in group DF2. Biocompatibility tests revealed that none of the hydrogels (DF0, DF1, and DF2) adversely affected cell viability or proliferation. In osteogenic induction experiments, both ALP and ARS staining were intensified in the DF1 and DF2 groups, with the most profound staining observed in the DF2 group.
Conclusion
The developed inositol hexaphosphate-zinc hydrogel (DF2) demonstrates the dual capacity to generate calcium-phosphate compounds through self-mineralization while exhibiting excellent osteoinductive properties. This biocompatible, dual-promoting osteogenic hydrogel presents a novel strategy for bone regeneration.
4.Construction and application of an evaluation index system for compact county medical community development
Lina ZHAO ; Yafang LI ; Limeng ZHU ; Xiaoran WANG ; Tangsiwei XIN ; Zongjiu ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Hospital Administration 2025;41(3):172-177
Objective:To construct an evaluation index system for the development of compact county medical communities, so as to provide evaluation tools for promoting the high-quality development of county medical communities in China.Methods:Based on the evaluation criteria and monitoring system related policy documents for the construction of county medical communities released at the national level, an evaluation index system for compact county medical community development was constructed through policy text analysis and expert discussions. The system was applied to evaluate the construction of medical communities in Shaxian County of Fujian Province, A County of Shanxi Province, and B County of Yunnan Province.Results:The evaluation index system included four primary indicators: responsibility community, management community, service community, and interest community, covering 11 secondary indicators and 32 tertiary indicators. The evaluation results showed that the construction level of the compact county medical community in Shaxian County (91.3 points) was slightly higher than that of A County and B County (83.1 and 83.9 points), and its advantages were mainly reflected in management community and interest community. There was still room for improvement in the construction of compact medical communities in all three regions.Conclusions:The evaluation system in this study combined scientific rigor and practical guidance value. It could provide guidance for promoting the construction of compact county medical communities in various regions of China, and provide a basis for relevant policy formulation and optimization.
5.Correlation between the serum levels of aminotransferases and liver inflammation activity in pediatric chronic hepatitis B patients: An analysis of 1 267 cases
Dan ZHAO ; Lina JIANG ; Shuhong LIU ; Haiyan WEI ; Chunmei BAO ; Jingmin ZHAO
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(6):1062-1067
ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation of the serum levels of aminotransferases and their ratios with liver inflammation activity in pediatric chronic hepatitis B (pCHB) patients, and to provide a basis for selecting the dominant population for treatment. MethodsThis study was conducted among 1 267 pCHB patients who were admitted to The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2010 to August 2022 and these patients did not receive antiviral therapy. The patients were analyzed in terms of demographic features, blood routine, blood biochemistry, HBV serological markers, and liver biopsy data. According to liver inflammation activity based on liver biopsy, the patients were divided into no or mild inflammation activity (G0 — G1) group and significant inflammation activity (G2 — G4) group. The serum levels of aminotransferases and their ratios were compared between groups, and their correlation with liver inflammation activity in pCHB patients was analyzed. Additionally, the patients were stratified by the age, and the relationship between serum aminotransferase levels and liver inflammation activity was analyzed in each age group. For comparison of continuous data between two groups, the independent samples t-test was used when the data were normally distributed, while the Mann-Whitney U test was used when the data were not normally distributed; the chi-square test was employed for comparison of categorical data between two groups. A Spearman’s correlation analysis was performed for correlation assessment. ResultsAmong the 1 267 pCHB patients, there were 468 (36.9%) in the G0 — G1 group and 799 (63.1%) in the G2 — G4 group, and there were significant differences between the two groups in the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), AST/ALT ratio, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, HBeAg quantification, low-density lipoprotein, and platelet count (PLT) (all P<0.05). The correlation analysis showed that liver inflammation activity was negatively correlated with PLT and low-density lipoprotein (both P<0.05) and was positively correlated with GGT, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, and HBeAg titer (all P<0.05), while it was not significantly correlated with ALT, AST, and AST/ALT ratio (all P>0.05). In the 0 — 12 years group, the 13 — 18 years male group, and the 13 — 18 years female group, liver inflammation activity aggravated with the increases in the serum levels of ALT and AST, and there were significant differences between groups (all P<0.05). In the 0 — 12 years group, there was a significant difference in significant liver inflammation activity between the AST/ALT ratio >1 group and the AST/ALT ratio ≤1 group (P<0.001). Among the 1 267 patients, 447 (35.28%) had an ALT level of <2×upper limit of normal (ULN), among whom 196 (43.85%) had G≥2 liver inflammation, accounting for 15.47% of all children enrolled. ConclusionLiver inflammation activity is not significantly correlated with ALT, AST, and AST/ALT ratio in pCHB patients, suggesting that the serum levels of aminotransferases cannot truly reflect liver inflammation activity in pCHB patients with an aminotransferase level of <2×ULN. In clinical practice, liver biopsy should be performed for children with an aminotransferase level of <2×ULN to clarify whether antiviral therapy should be performed.
6.Application of large language models in disease diagnosis and treatment.
Xintian YANG ; Tongxin LI ; Qin SU ; Yaling LIU ; Chenxi KANG ; Yong LYU ; Lina ZHAO ; Yongzhan NIE ; Yanglin PAN
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(2):130-142
Large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT, Claude, Llama, and Qwen are emerging as transformative technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. With their exceptional long-context reasoning capabilities, LLMs are proficient in clinically relevant tasks, particularly in medical text analysis and interactive dialogue. They can enhance diagnostic accuracy by processing vast amounts of patient data and medical literature and have demonstrated their utility in diagnosing common diseases and facilitating the identification of rare diseases by recognizing subtle patterns in symptoms and test results. Building on their image-recognition abilities, multimodal LLMs (MLLMs) show promising potential for diagnosis based on radiography, chest computed tomography (CT), electrocardiography (ECG), and common pathological images. These models can also assist in treatment planning by suggesting evidence-based interventions and improving clinical decision support systems through integrated analysis of patient records. Despite these promising developments, significant challenges persist regarding the use of LLMs in medicine, including concerns regarding algorithmic bias, the potential for hallucinations, and the need for rigorous clinical validation. Ethical considerations also underscore the importance of maintaining the function of supervision in clinical practice. This paper highlights the rapid advancements in research on the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of LLMs across different medical disciplines and emphasizes the importance of policymaking, ethical supervision, and multidisciplinary collaboration in promoting more effective and safer clinical applications of LLMs. Future directions include the integration of proprietary clinical knowledge, the investigation of open-source and customized models, and the evaluation of real-time effects in clinical diagnosis and treatment practices.
Humans
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Large Language Models
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Tomography, X-Ray Computed
7.Study on Yishen Qingli Huoxue Formula Inhibiting HIF1-α to Ameliorate Renal Fibrosis
Meng CHENG ; Wenqing ZHANG ; Jinli XIE ; Lina GU ; Jing ZHAO ; Wei SUN ; Jing TAO
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;41(12):1691-1701
OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism of Yishen Qingli Huoxue Formula(YQHF)improving renal fibrosis by inhib-iting HIF1-α using data mining,molecular docking,and in vivo and in vitro experiments.METHODS The expression changes of HIF1-α in renal biopsy tissues of patients with chronic kidney disease(CKD)in the GEO database were analyzed.Molecular docking was used to clarify the interaction mode between YQHF effective monomers and HIF1-α.Thirty SD rats were randomized to sham,model,low-dose YQHF,high-dose YQHF,and losartan potassium groups(n=6 per group).Unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO)was used to induce renal fibrosis.Serum creatinine(Scr)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)were measured,and kidney sections were stained with HE and Masson to assess pathology and fibrosis.Renal HIF1-α protein expression was quantified by Western blot.A renal fibro-sis cell model was established by inducing NRK-52E cells with TGF-β1,and the cells were divided into control,model,YQHF,HIF1-α inhibitor,HIF1-α inhibitor+YQHF,HIF1-α agonist,and HIF1-α agonist+YQHF groups.Western blot analysis was used to detect the protein expression levels of HIF1-α,COL-1,and α-SMA,and to observe the mechanism of YQHF-containing serum in protecting renal tubular epithelial cells.RESULTS Data mining showed HIF1-α expression in the CKD group was significantly higher than in the control group(P<0.01).Molecular docking indicated YQHF core components had good binding affinity to HIF1-α.In vivo,com-pared with the sham group,HE staining revealed tubular atrophy and inflammatory-cell infiltration,and Masson staining showed in-creased collagen deposition in UUO model rats(P<0.01).Serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were also elevated in the model group(P<0.05),together with up-regulated renal expression of COL-1,α-SMA and HIF-1α(P<0.01).After intervention with either high-dose or low-dose YQHF or losartan potassium,these pathological changes were attenuated:collagen deposition decreased(P<0.01),creatinine and BUN fell to varying degrees(P<0.05),and renal COL-1,α-SMA and HIF-1α levels were down-regulated(P<0.01);immunohistochemistry confirmed reduced HIF-1α in UUO kidneys(P<0.01).In NRK-52E cells,TGF-β1 stimulation mark-edly increased COL-1,α-SMA and HIF-1α protein levels(P<0.01).Both YQHF and chloramphenicol alone down-regulated these proteins(P<0.05,P<0.01),and their combination produced stronger inhibition of HIF-1α than YQHF alone(P<0.05).Conversely,the HIF-1α agonist fenbendazole-d3 reversed YQHF's anti-fibrotic effect,re-elevating COL-1,α-SMA and HIF-1α(P<0.01),with no significant difference versus agonist alone.CONCLUSION YQHF may inhibit extracellular matrix deposition and delay renal fi-brosis progression by suppressing HIF1-α accumulation,providing new theoretical evidence for traditional Chinese medicine in treat-ing renal fibrosis.
8.The mediating role of post-traumatic stress disorder between childhood trauma and relapse tendency in drug rehabilitation personnel with compulsory isolation
Shaobo LYU ; Liwei SUN ; Lina LI ; Yang ZHAO ; Suran GUO ; Junjuan GU
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(2):164-168
Objective:To explore the impact of childhood trauma on drug relapse tendency, as well as the mediating role of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Methods:From March to May 2017, a total of 403 compulsory drug rehabilitation personnel were selected for a cross-sectional study and then were investigated by the general demography scale, drug relapse risk scale, childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ), and PTSD checklist for DSM-5(PCL-5).SPSS 27.0 software and PROCESS 4.1 macro program were used for correlation analysis, regression analysis and Bootstrap-based mediation analysis.Results:The scores of negative emotions subscale of drug relapse risk scale, emotional abuse and emotional neglect subscales of CTQ had no significant gender differences(all P>0.05).There were gender differences in relapse tendency, childhood trauma, and PTSD total scores as well as other dimensions ( t/ Z=2.08-4.67, all P<0.05).There were pairwise positive correlations among the total score of the drug relapse risk scale(31.68±9.79), CTQ(39.90±12.13), and PCL-5(11(3, 24)) for compulsory isolation and rehabilitation personnel ( r=0.28, 0.36, 0.37, P<0.05).After controlling for gender, childhood trauma could significantly and positively predict drug relapse tendency( β=0.34, t=7.24, P<0.01), and PTSD played a mediating role between childhood trauma and drug relapse tendency, with the indirect effect of 0.11(95% CI=0.06-0.16). Conclusion:Childhood trauma can affect drug relapse tendency directly, and indirectly through PTSD.
9.The mediating role of fear of missing out between the dark triad and smartphone addiction in college students
Fang CHEN ; Mengmeng ZHAO ; Ruixin WANG ; Zhenyu ZHAO ; Jiale ZHAO ; Xinyue YIN ; Chunjuan NIU ; Lina LI
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(9):835-839
Objective:To explore the relationship between the dark triad, fear of missing out and smartphone addiction, as well as the mediating role of fear of missing out between the dark triad and smartphone addiction.Methods:A total of 408 college students were assessed using dirty dozen, fear of missing out scale, and mobile phone addiction index. SPSS 24.0 software was used for common method bias tests, descriptive statistical analysis, and correlation analysis. Mplus 8.3 software was employed to construct a structural equation model, and the Bootstrap method was used for mediation effect analysis.Results:The dark triad (36.14±9.06) was positively correlated with fear of missing out (22.55±6.60) and smartphone addiction (46.77±13.62) ( r=0.48, 0.45, both P<0.01). Fear of missing out was also positively correlated with smartphone addiction ( r=0.54, P<0.01). Fear of missing out played a partial mediating role in the relationship between the dark triad and smartphone addiction, with a total effect value of 0.495 and a mediating effect value of 0.217. Conclusion:Fear of missing out partially mediates the relationship between the dark triad and smartphone addiction. The dark triad not only directly predicts smartphone addiction but also indirectly influences smartphone addiction through fear of missing out.
10.Effect of health knowledge and social support on health behaviors in patients with ischemic stroke: the dual mediating effects of health belief and depression
Yuying GUO ; Mengyu ZHANG ; Xinxin ZHOU ; Yuying XIE ; Peng ZHAO ; Juanjuan WANG ; Caixia YANG ; Yuanli GUO ; Ao YUAN ; Qinyang LI ; Shuo DU ; Yanjin LIU ; Lina GUO
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(11):1018-1024
Objective:To explore the dual mediating effects of health belief and depression among health knowledge, social support, and health behaviors based on the capacity, opportunity, motivation-behavior (COM-B) model, and analyze the influencing factors of health behaviors in patients with ischemic stroke.Methods:This multi-center cluster sampling research recruited ischemic stroke patients ( n=1 696) who were hospitalized in neurology departments of five tertiary hospitals in Henan Province from October 2023 to October 2024. A cross-sectional investigation was conducted using the general information questionnaire, social support rating scale (SSRS), stroke prevention knowledge questionnaire(SPKQ), short form health belief model scale(SF-HBMS), health promoting lifestyle profile-Ⅱ (HPLP-Ⅱ), and patient health questionnaire-9(PHQ-9) to ultimately reveal the pathways and effect sizes among variables. Partial correlation analysis and multiple linear stepwise regression analysis were conducted to examine the relationships among social support, health knowledge, health belief, health behaviors, and depression in stroke patients by SPSS 26.0 software. Structural equation modeling was constructed using AMOS 28.0 software, and the mediating effect was tested using the Bootstrap method. Results:The scores of social support, health knowledge, health belief, and health behaviors among ischemic stroke patients were (37.46±9.94), (26.56±6.84), (75.62±12.62) and (130.79±26.27), respectively. The score of depression was 5.00 (2.00, 8.00). Health behaviors were positively correlated with health knowledge, social support, and health belief( r=0.333, 0.246, 0.267, all P<0.05), while negatively correlated with depression ( r=-0.146, P<0.05). Multiple linear stepwise regression analysis showed that health knowledge, social support, health belief, and depression were all influencing factors of health behaviors in ischemic stroke patients (all P<0.05). Health belief (effect value=0.068, 95% CI=0.048-0.093) and depression (effect value=0.009, 95% CI=0.003-0.018) both played partial mediating roles between health knowledge and health behaviors, accounting for 17.3%(0.077/0.446) of the total effect. Meanwhile, health belief (effect value=0.045, 95% CI=0.029-0.063) and depression (effect value=0.016, 95% CI=0.008-0.027) both played partial mediating roles between social support and health behaviors, accounting for 26.5%(0.061/0.230) of the total effect. Conclusion:Health knowledge and social support can not only directly influence health behaviors but also indirectly affect them through health belief and depression in patients with ischemic stroke.


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