1.Application advances, ethical dilemmas, and future directions of large language models in lung cancer diagnosis and treatment
Zhizhen REN ; Yufan XI ; Xu ZHU ; Yijie LUO ; Geting HUANG ; Junqiao SONG ; Xiuyuan XU ; Nan CHEN ; Qiang PU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(03):353-362
Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Coupled with the substantial workload, the clinical management of lung cancer is challenged by the critical need to efficiently and accurately process increasingly complex medical information. In recent years, large language models (LLMs) technology has undergone explosive development, demonstrating unique advantages in handling complex medical data by leveraging its powerful natural language processing capabilities, and its application value in the field of lung cancer diagnosis and treatment is continuously increasing. The paper systematically analyzes that the exceptional potential of LLMs in lung cancer auxiliary diagnosis, tumor feature extraction, automatic staging, progression/outcome analysis, treatment recommendations, medical documentation generation, and patient education. However, they face critical technical and ethical challenges including inconsistent performance in complex integrated decision-making (e.g., TNM staging, personalized treatment suggestions) and "black box" opacity issues, along with dilemmas such as training data biases, model hallucinations, data privacy concerns, and cross-lingual adaptation challenges ("data colonization"). Future directions should prioritize constructing high-quality multimodal corpora specific to lung cancer, developing interpretable and compliant specialized models, and achieving seamless integration with existing clinical workflows. Through dual drivers of technological innovation and ethical standardization, LLMs should be prudently advanced for holistic lung cancer management processes, ultimately promoting efficient, standardized, and personalized diagnosis and treatment practices.
2.Mendelian randomization study on the association between telomere length and 10 common musculoskeletal diseases
Weidong LUO ; Bin PU ; Peng GU ; Feng HUANG ; Xiaohui ZHENG ; Fuhong CHEN
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(3):654-660
BACKGROUND:Multiple observational studies have suggested a potential association between telomere length and musculoskeletal diseases.However,the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the genetic causal relationship between telomere length and musculoskeletal diseases using two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis. METHODS:Genome-wide association study summary data of telomere length were obtained from the UK Biobank.Genome-wide association study summary data of 10 common musculoskeletal diseases(osteonecrosis,osteomyelitis,osteoporosis,rheumatoid arthritis,low back pain,spinal stenosis,gout,scapulohumeral periarthritis,ankylosing spondylitis and deep venous thrombosis of lower limbs)were obtained from the FinnGen consortium.Inverse variance weighting,Mendelian randomization-Egger and weighted median methods were used to evaluate the causal relationship between telomere length and 10 musculoskeletal diseases.Inverse variance weighting was the primary Mendelian randomization analysis method,and sensitivity analysis was performed to explore the robustness of the results. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Inverse variance-weighted results indicated a negative causal relationship between genetically predicted telomere length and rheumatoid arthritis(odds ratio=0.78,95%confidence interval:0.64-0.95,P=0.015)and osteonecrosis(odds ratio=0.56,95%confidence interval:0.36-0.90,P=0.016).No causal relationship was found between telomere length and the other eight musculoskeletal diseases(all P>0.05).(2)Sensitivity analysis affirmed the robustness of these causal relationships,and Mendelian randomization-Egger intercept analysis found no evidence of potential horizontal pleiotropy(all P>0.05).(3)This Mendelian randomized study supports that telomere length has protective effects against rheumatoid arthritis and osteonecrosis.However,more basic and clinical research will be needed to support our findings in the future.
3.Preparation of polyphenol-mediated copper ion coating on titanium surface and antibacterial and antioxidant properties
Zhenju GUAN ; Yonglin XIE ; Shougang XIANG ; Chengdong ZHANG ; Xiaolong LI ; Xingping LI ; Chao PU ; Bo ZHANG ; Xuwei LUO ; Dongqin XIAO
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(10):1997-2005
BACKGROUND:Titanium implants are widely used in clinical practice because of their high strength and good biocompatibility.However,during implantation,bacterial infection and tissue damage environment produce a large number of reactive oxygen species,which can easily lead to delayed tissue healing and surgical failure.Consequently,the development of titanium implants with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties becomes paramount. OBJECTIVE:Considering the potent antimicrobial attributes of copper ions and the remarkable antioxidant qualities of polyphenols,we proposed the fabrication of polyphenol-mediated copper ion coatings on titanium surfaces.These coatings were subsequently assessed for their in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. METHODS:Nanostructures were generated on the titanium surface using the alkali thermal method.The titanium was immersed in a solution containing tannic acid and copper ions to achieve polyphenol-mediated copper ion coatings.The surface morphology and water contact angle were detected.The loading and release of copper ions were examined using atomic absorption spectroscopy.Staphylococcus aureus was inoculated on the surface of pure titanium sheet(blank group),alkali heat treated titanium sheet(control group),and polyphenol mediated copper ion modified titanium sheet(experimental group)to observe the bacterial survival status.Osteoblast precursor cells MC3T3-E1 were co-cultivated on the surface of three groups of titanium sheets to assess their antioxidant properties and bioactivity. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Scanning electron microscopy showed that the polyphenol-mediated copper ion modified titanium sheet had rod-like nanostructures and no cracks on the surface.The surface hydrophilicity of copper ion modified titanium sheet mediated by polyphenol was close to that of pure titanium sheet.Atomic absorption spectrometry results showed a 51%increase in the loading capacity of copper ions after polyphenol mediation,with a uniform release of copper ions.(2)The antibacterial rates of titanium sheets in the blank group,control group,and experimental group were 0%,21.65%,and 93.75%,respectively.The live/dead staining and CTC staining showed that the live bacteria on the surface of titanium plates in the blank group were the most,and the live bacteria on the surface of titanium plates in the experimental group were the least.(3)The results of live/dead staining and CCK-8 assay showed that the three groups of titanium sheets had good cytocompatibility,and the titanium sheets in the experimental group were more conducive to the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells.Active oxygen fluorescence probe detection exhibited that compared with the other two groups,the fluorescence intensity of active oxygen on the surface of the experimental group was significantly reduced.The results of alkaline phosphatase and alizarin red S staining showed that the osteogenic differentiation and extracellular matrix mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells on the surface of titanium sheets in the experimental group were stronger than those in the other two groups.(4)These results show that the polyphenol-mediated copper ion coating has strong antibacterial and antioxidant properties and promotes osteogenic differentiation.
4.Exploration on Mechanism of Topical Treatment of Allergic Contact Dermatitis in Mice with Portulacae Herba Based on Nrf2/HO-1/NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Xiaoxue WANG ; Guanwei FAN ; Xiang PU ; Zhongzhao ZHANG ; Xia CHEN ; Ying TANG ; Nana WU ; Jiangli LUO ; Xiangyan KONG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(3):115-123
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of topical treatment of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) mice with Portulacae Herba based on the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. MethodsA total of 70 6-week-old specific pathogen free (SPF) female Kunming mice were adaptively fed for 1 week and randomly divided into blank group, model group, compound dexamethasone acetate cream group (2.075×10-2 g·g-1), blank matrix cream group, low-dose Portulacae Herba cream group (0.1 g·g-1), high-dose Portulacae Herba cream group (0.2 g·g-1), and Portulacae Herba + inhibitor group (0.2 g·g-1 + 30 mg·kg-1 ML385), with 10 mice in each group. One day before the experiment, the mice were shaved on the neck and back. Except for the blank group, the mice in the other groups were treated with 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) to establish an ACD model. After respective administration, the skin lesion of the mice was scored, and the histopathological changes of the skin were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum of mice. The expression of Nrf2/HO-1/NF-κB signaling pathway-related proteins in mouse skin tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC), Western blot, and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). ResultsCompared with the blank group, the mice in the model group had an increased skin lesion score (P<0.01), severe pathological damage to skin tissue, increased content of IL-1β, IL-6, ROS, and MDA in their serum (P<0.01), and decreased content of SOD (P<0.01). In addition, the mRNA and protein expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and nuclear factor-κB inhibitor α (IκBα) in skin tissue were up-regulated (P<0.01), while the protein expression levels of phosphorylated (p)-IκBα and p-NF-κB p65 and the mRNA expression of NF-κB p65 were down-regulated (P<0.01). Compared with the model group and the blank matrix cream group, the mice treated with Portulacae Herba had a decreased skin lesion score (P<0.01), reduced pathological damage to skin tissue, decreased content of IL-1β, IL-6, ROS, and MDA in their serum (P<0.01), and increased content of SOD (P<0.01). Additionally, the mRNA and protein expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and IκBα in skin tissue were down-regulated (P<0.05,P<0.01), and the protein expression levels of p-IκBα and p-NF-κB p65 and the mRNA expression of NF-κB p65 were up-regulated (P<0.05,P<0.01). Compared with the Portulacae Herba + inhibitor group, the high-dose Portulacae Herba cream group had a decreased skin lesion score (P<0.01), alleviated pathological damage to skin tissue, decreased content of IL-1β, IL-6, ROS, and MDA in the serum of mice (P<0.05,P<0.01), and increased content of SOD (P<0.01). The protein expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and IκBα and the mRNA expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 in skin tissue were up-regulated (P<0.05,P<0.01), and the protein expression levels of p-IκBα and p-NF-κB p65 and the mRNA expression of NF-κB p65 were down-regulated (P<0.05). ConclusionPortulacae Herba can improve DNCB-induced ACD skin damage in mice by regulating the Nrf2/HO-1/NF-κB signaling pathway.
5.Effects of Portulaca oleracea cream on skin pruritus and barrier function in allergic contact dermatitis mice
Xiaoxue WANG ; Xia CHEN ; Xiang PU ; Guanwei FAN ; Xiangyan KONG ; Ying TANG ; Nana WU ; Jiangli LUO
China Pharmacy 2025;36(11):1352-1357
OBJECTIVE To study the effects and mechanism of Portulaca oleracea cream on skin pruritus and barrier function in allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) mice. METHODS Low-concentration and high-concentration P. oleracea creams were prepared, with the P. oleracea extract solution (1 g/mL, calculated by crude drug) concentrations of 10% and 20%. Sixty BALB/c mice were randomly allocated into blank group, model group, Mometasone furoate cream group (positive control), blank matrix cream group, P. oleracea low-concentration and high-concentration cream groups. Except for blank group, ACD model was induced in each group using 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene solution. The blank group and model groups received normal saline, while the remaining groups were treated with their respective creams, once a day, at a dose of approximately 0.5 g per application, continuously for 14 days. At 24 h post-final administration, skin lesions of mice were observed and scored; pathological changes of skin tissue were observed; serum levels of immunoglobulin E(IgE) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were quantified. mRNA expression of MAS-related G protein-coupled receptors (including MrgprA3, MrgprC11, and MrgprD) in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) was assessed; while protein expressions of skin barrier function-related proteins Claudin-1 and Occludin in skin tissues were determined. RESULTS Compared with blank group, mice in the model group exhibited severe skin damage, characterized by loss of epidermal architecture, hyperkeratosis of the skin tissue, and the infiltration of a large number of inflammatory cells. The skin injury scores, as well as the serum levels of IgE and TNF-α, and the mRNA expression levels of MrgprA3, MrgprC11, and MrgprD in DRG, were all significantly elevated compared to the blank group (P<0.05 or P<0.01); in contrast, the protein expression levels of Claudin-1 and Occludin in the skin tissue were markedly reduced (P<0.05). Compared with model group, mice in P. oleracea low-concentration and high- concentration cream groups demonstrated significant alleviation of skin damage, as evidenced by reduced epidermal hyperplasia, mitigated spongiosis in the dermis, and decreased infiltration of inflammatory cells; these quantitative indicators were almost significantly reversed (P<0.05 or P<0.01). No significant differences were observed in the aforementioned skin injuries, pathological alterations, or quantitative indicators between the blank matrix cream group and the model group. CONCLUSIONS P. oleracea may ameliorate skin lesions and restore skin barrier function of ACD mice, the mechanism of which may be associated with downregulating mRNA expressions of MrgprA3, MrgprC11 and MrgprD in DRG, and up-regulating the protein expressions of Claudin-1 and Occludin in skin tissue.
6.Complications among patients undergoing orthopedic surgery after infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain and a preliminary nomogram for predicting patient outcomes.
Liang ZHANG ; Wen-Long GOU ; Ke-Yu LUO ; Jun ZHU ; Yi-Bo GAN ; Xiang YIN ; Jun-Gang PU ; Huai-Jian JIN ; Xian-Qing ZHANG ; Wan-Fei WU ; Zi-Ming WANG ; Yao-Yao LIU ; Yang LI ; Peng LIU
Chinese Journal of Traumatology 2025;28(6):445-453
PURPOSE:
The rate of complications among patients undergoing surgery has increased due to infection with SARS-CoV-2 and other variants of concern. However, Omicron has shown decreased pathogenicity, raising questions about the risk of postoperative complications among patients who are infected with this variant. This study aimed to investigate complications and related factors among patients with recent Omicron infection prior to undergoing orthopedic surgery.
METHODS:
A historical control study was conducted. Data were collected from all patients who underwent surgery during 2 distinct periods: (1) between Dec 12, 2022 and Jan 31, 2023 (COVID-19 positive group), (2) between Dec 12, 2021 and Jan 31, 2022 (COVID-19 negative control group). The patients were at least 18 years old. Patients who received conservative treatment after admission or had high-risk diseases or special circumstances (use of anticoagulants before surgery) were excluded from the study. The study outcomes were the total complication rate and related factors. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify related factors, and odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to assess the impact of COVID-19 infection on complications.
RESULTS:
In the analysis, a total of 847 patients who underwent surgery were included, with 275 of these patients testing positive for COVID-19 and 572 testing negative. The COVID-19-positive group had a significantly higher rate of total complications (11.27%) than the control group (4.90%, p < 0.001). After adjusting for relevant factors, the OR was 3.08 (95% CI: 1.45-6.53). Patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 at 3-4 weeks (OR = 0.20 (95% CI: 0.06-0.59), p = 0.005), 5-6 weeks (OR = 0.16 (95% CI: 0.04-0.59), p = 0.010), or ≥7 weeks (OR = 0.26 (95% CI: 0.06-1.02), p = 0.069) prior to surgery had a lower risk of complications than those who were diagnosed at 0-2 weeks prior to surgery. Seven factors (age, indications for surgery, time of operation, time of COVID-19 diagnosis prior to surgery, C-reactive protein levels, alanine transaminase levels, and aspartate aminotransferase levels) were found to be associated with complications; thus, these factors were used to create a nomogram.
CONCLUSION
Omicron continues to be a significant factor in the incidence of postoperative complications among patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. By identifying the factors associated with these complications, we can determine the optimal surgical timing, provide more accurate prognostic information, and offer appropriate consultation for orthopedic surgery patients who have been infected with Omicron.
Humans
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COVID-19/complications*
;
Male
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Female
;
Middle Aged
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Postoperative Complications/epidemiology*
;
SARS-CoV-2
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Orthopedic Procedures/adverse effects*
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Aged
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Nomograms
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Adult
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Retrospective Studies
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Risk Factors
7.Research progress on the application of Traditional Chinese Medicine-related technologies in brain protection for aerospace crew members
Xinyi SHENG ; Lianghui MENG ; Yan LUO ; Yuyang PU ; Shirong WANG ; Ziqi FANG ; Rong LIANG ; Jiajia YANG
Space Medicine & Medical Engineering 2025;36(5):479-485
In recent years,with the continuous advancement of deep space exploration missions,astronauts have been increasingly exposed to complex and extreme environmental factors in space,such as microgravity,space radiation,circadian rhythm disruption,and confined isolation.These conditions can easily induce brain dysfunction in astronauts,manifesting as cognitive decline,emotional disturbances,sleep disorders,and neuroinflammatory responses.Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM),characterized by its holistic regulation and syndrome differentiation-based treatment principles,exhibits multi-target regulation and systemic coordination,and has attracted growing attention in the field of brain function protection.This study systematically reviews the protective applications and research progress of TCM and related techniques in both actual spaceflight missions and simulated space environment models against brain functional disorders.The underlying mechanisms and future prospects are discussed,with the aim of providing insights for safeguarding astronauts'brain health and laying a theoretical foundation for the precise intervention and systematic protection strategies of TCM in future deep space missions.
8.GRK2-YAP signaling is implicated in pulmonary arterial hypertension development
Peng YE ; Yunfei DENG ; Yue GU ; Pengfei LIU ; Jie LUO ; Jiangqin PU ; Jingyu CHEN ; Yu HUANG ; Nanping WANG ; Yong JI ; Shaoliang CHEN
Chinese Medical Journal 2024;137(7):846-858
Background::Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by excessive proliferation of small pulmonary arterial vascular smooth muscle cells (PASMCs), endothelial dysfunction, and extracellular matrix remodeling. G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) plays an important role in the maintenance of vascular tone and blood flow. However, the role of GRK2 in the pathogenesis of PAH is unknown.Methods::GRK2 levels were detected in lung tissues from healthy people and PAH patients. C57BL/6 mice, vascular smooth muscle cell-specific Grk2-knockout mice ( Grk2?SM22), and littermate controls ( Grk2flox/flox) were grouped into control and hypoxia mice ( n = 8). Pulmonary hypertension (PH) was induced by exposure to chronic hypoxia (10%) combined with injection of the SU5416 (cHx/SU). The expression levels of GRK2 and Yes-associated protein (YAP) in pulmonary arteries and PASMCs were detected by Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. The mRNA expression levels of Grk2 and Yes-associated protein ( YAP) in PASMCs were quantified with real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Wound-healing assay, 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo (-z-y1)-3,5-di-phenytetrazoliumromide (MTT) assay, and 5-Ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining were performed to evaluate the proliferation and migration of PASMCs. Meanwhile, the interaction among proteins was detected by immunoprecipitation assays. Results::The expression levels of GRK2 were upregulated in the pulmonary arteries of patients with PAH and the lungs of PH mice. Moreover, cHx/SU-induced PH was attenuated in Grk2?SM22 mice compared with littermate controls. The amelioration of PH in Grk2?SM22 mice was accompanied by reduced pulmonary vascular remodeling. In vitro study further confirmed that GRK2 knock-down significantly altered hypoxia-induced PASMCs proliferation and migration, whereas this effect was severely intensified by overexpression of GRK2. We also identified that GRK2 promoted YAP expression and nuclear translocation in PASMCs, resulting in excessive PASMCs proliferation and migration. Furthermore, GRK2 is stabilized by inhibiting phosphorylating GRK2 on Tyr86 and subsequently activating ubiquitylation under hypoxic conditions. Conclusion::Our findings suggest that GRK2 plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of PAH, via regulating YAP expression and nuclear translocation. Therefore, GRK2 serves as a novel therapeutic target for PAH treatment.
9.Predictive value of peripheral blood indicators for the positive expression of IL-5 and Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin-immunoglobulin E in the mucosa of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
Ming ZHENG ; Yutong SIMA ; Xiaoyu PU ; Mengyan ZHUANG ; Xiangdong WANG ; Luo ZHANG
Chinese Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2024;31(7):440-445
OBJECTIVE To predict biomarkers of type 2 inflammation in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps(CRSwNP)by employing peripheral blood indicators.METHODS CRSwNP patients admitted to the Rhinology Department of Beijing Tongren Hospital from June 2020 to May 2022 were enrolled and their basic clinical data were collected.The blood percentage of eosinophils(Eos%),Eos count,periostin and total IgE,as well as mucosal interleukin-5(IL-5)and Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin-immunoglobulin E(SE-IgE)were tested.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of each blood indicator for positive mucosal expression of IL-5/SE-IgE.The logistic regression was employed to screen multiple blood indicators with predictive value for positive mucosal expression of IL-5/SE-IgE in order to construct a nomogram model.RESULTS The proportion of asthma,blood Eos%,periostin and total IgE in CRSwNP patients showed statistical differences between IL-5/SE-IgE positive and negative subgroups.ROC univariate analysis demonstrated that blood Eos%,Eos count,periostin and total IgE could predict mucosal IL-5 positivity with AUC ranging from 0.655 to 0.784,and mucosal SE-IgE positivity with AUC ranging from 0.721-0.802.The logistic regression confirmed that blood Eos%and total IgE,as well as blood periostin and total IgE were independent predictors for mucosal IL-5 and SE-IgE positivity,respectively.The nomogram models were constructed for predicting IL-5/SE-IgE positivity in CRSwNP mucosa,with consistency incides(C-index)of 0.804 and 0.81,indicating good predictive accuracy.CONCLUSION The nomograms constructed based on blood Eos%and total IgE,as well as blood periostin and total IgE,could have good predictive value for the positive mucosal expression of IL-5 and SE-IgE in the CRSwNP,which help to predict the severity of endotype and phenotype of CRSwNP.
10.Identification and expression analysis of flavonoid O -methyltransferase gene family in Polygonum capitatum
Jiang-li LUO ; Chang LIU ; Xian-fa ZENG ; Na-na WU ; Xiao-xue WANG ; Ying TANG ; Xiang PU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(5):1467-1477
italic>Polygonum capitatum is a characteristic Miao medicine in Guizhou, commonly used in clinical practice to treat gastrointestinal and urinary tract infections. Research has found that it has good antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, and its main active ingredient is flavonoids. Lavonoid

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