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.Exploration of multiple ethical dilemmas and countermeasures in families of children with kidney disease in the treatment stage: an analysis from the perspective of structured theory
Rongrong SUN ; Juanjuan SHI ; Wenjing YANG
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(10):1240-1245
There are numerous ethical dilemmas in families of children with kidney disease during the treatment stage. From the perspective of Giddens’ structured theory, this paper analyzed the ethical dilemmas, such as individual and family wealth disparity at the micro-level, doctor-patient information asymmetry and the attribution of medical decision-making rights at the meso-level, as well as unequal medical resources and an incomplete medical security system for children at the macro-level. The ethical dilemmas faced by families of children with kidney disease are the result of the structural constraint effect. The coping strategies they adopt in response to these dilemmas are the basis of structural reproduction and the products of the structural effect. As a group with subjective initiative, they are good at self-reflection. Through repeated cognitive evaluation, they can make a series of effective coping strategies to achieve their own goals, such as relying on family support and linking resources to seek social support, establishing online support groups and building an information sharing platform, assessing children’s best-interests judges and safeguarding their reasonable and legitimate rights and interests, planning and allocating high-quality medical resources and promoting the construction of the medical service system, as well as promoting the reform of the basic medical insurance system for children and improve the protection mechanism for major illnesses.
3."Weibing" in traditional Chinese medicine-biological basis and mathematical representation of disease-susceptible state.
Wanyang SUN ; Rong WANG ; Shuhua OUYANG ; Wanli LIANG ; Junwei DUAN ; Wenyong GONG ; Lianting HU ; Xiujuan CHEN ; Yifang LI ; Hiroshi KURIHARA ; Xinsheng YAO ; Hao GAO ; Rongrong HE
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(5):2363-2371
"Weibing" is a fundamental concept in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), representing a transitional state characterized by diminished self-regulatory abilities without overt physiological or social dysfunction. This perspective delves into the biological foundations and quantifiable markers of Weibing, aiming to establish a research framework for early disease intervention. Here, we propose the "Health Quadrant Classification" system, which divides the state of human body into health, sub-health, disease-susceptible state, and disease. We suggest the disease-susceptible stage emerges as a pivotal point for TCM interventions. To understand the intrinsic dynamics of this state, we propose laboratory and clinical studies utilizing time-series experiments and stress-induced disease susceptibility models. At the molecular level, bio-omics technologies and bioinformatics approaches are highlighted for uncovering intricate changes during disease progression. Furthermore, we discuss the application of mathematical models and artificial intelligence in developing early warning systems to anticipate and avert the transition from health to disease. This approach resonates with TCM's preventive philosophy, emphasizing proactive health maintenance and disease prevention. Ultimately, our perspective underscores the significance of integrating modern scientific methodologies with TCM principles to propel Weibing research and early intervention strategies forward.
4.Regulation of iron metabolism in ferroptosis: From mechanism research to clinical translation.
Xin ZHANG ; Yang XIANG ; Qingyan WANG ; Xinyue BAI ; Dinglun MENG ; Juan WU ; Keyao SUN ; Lei ZHANG ; Rongrong QIANG ; Wenhan LIU ; Xiang ZHANG ; Jingling QIANG ; Xiaolong LIU ; Yanling YANG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(10):101304-101304
Iron is an essential trace element in the human body, crucial in maintaining normal physiological functions. Recent studies have identified iron ions as a significant factor in initiating the ferroptosis process, a novel mode of programmed cell death characterized by iron overload and lipid peroxide accumulation. The iron metabolism pathway is one of the primary mechanisms regulating ferroptosis, as it maintains iron homeostasis within the cell. Numerous studies have demonstrated that abnormalities in iron metabolism can trigger the Fenton reaction, exacerbating oxidative stress, and leading to cell membrane rupture, cellular dysfunction, and damage to tissue structures. Therefore, regulation of iron metabolism represents a key strategy for ameliorating ferroptosis and offers new insights for treating diseases associated with iron metabolism imbalances. This review first summarizes the mechanisms that regulate iron metabolic pathways in ferroptosis and discusses the connections between the pathogenesis of various diseases and iron metabolism. Next, we introduce natural and synthetic small molecule compounds, hormones, proteins, and new nanomaterials that can affect iron metabolism. Finally, we provide an overview of the challenges faced by iron regulators in clinical translation and a summary and outlook on iron metabolism in ferroptosis, aiming to pave the way for future exploration and optimization of iron metabolism regulation strategies.
5.Application of f-wave to QRS complex amplitude ratio in PICC tip positioning for patients with atrial fibrillation
Lihua SHI ; Rongrong YANG ; Lihong LIAO ; Jing GUO ; Qiu SUN ; Yuanyuan GONG ; Jiabao YE ; Jianfang ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Nursing 2025;60(13):1553-1557
Objective To evaluate the clinical utility of the f-wave to QRS complex amplitude ratio(f/R ratio)in intracardiac electrogram(IC-ECG)-guided positioning of peripherally inserted central catheter(PICC)tips in patients with atrial fibrillation(AF),providing evidence to enhance clinical practice.Methods This study employed a conve-nience sampling method to enroll eligible AF patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in Suzhou from July 2023 to July 2024.During PICC placement,IC-ECG was utilized to monitor f-wave and QRS complex amplitude variations.Following successful catheterization,the f/R ratio was measured,and chest X-ray was performed to confirm the catheter tip position.The accuracy of PICC tip positioning across different f/R ratio ranges was analyzed,and the incidence of arrhythmias was recorded.A receiver operating characteristic curve was constructed to assess the diag-nostic performance of the f/R ratio in PICC tip localization.Results A total of 68 AF patients were included,with f/R ratios ranging from 20.63%to 91.24%.PICC tip positioning accuracy varied significantly across different f/R ratio ranges(P=0.006).The area under the ROC curve(AUC)for f/R ratio in PICC tip positioning was 0.784(P=0.009),with a maximum Youden index of 0.567,an optimal diagnostic threshold of 40.00%,a sensitivity of 81.7%,a speci-ficity of 75.0%,a positive predictive value of 96.1%,and a negative predictive value of 35.3%.No arrhythmias other than AF occurred during the procedure.Conclusion The f/R ratio provides reliable and safe guidance for PICC tip positioning in AF patients.An f/R ratio ≥40%is associated with higher accuracy in identifying the optimal catheter tip position.
6.Health economic evaluation of minimally invasive surgery in treatment of digestive tract cancers: a Meta-analysis
Xiaoyue YIN ; Ning ZHOU ; Xueli YANG ; Zhuoyu SUN ; Yinghui BAO ; Shengshu WANG ; Ke HAN ; Jing LONG ; Min ZHAO ; Haowei LI ; Rongrong LI ; Shimin CHEN ; Junhan YANG ; Huaihao LI ; Yueting SHI ; Guoning ZHU ; Jianhua WANG ; Shanshan YANG ; Boyan LI ; Wenchang WANG ; Shengyan DU ; Yao HE ; Enqiang LING-HU ; Huikai LI ; Miao LIU ; Juan XIE
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2025;46(1):154-165
Objective:To compare minimally invasive surgery with traditional open surgery, analyze the current application status of health economic evaluations in the treatment of digestive tract cancers, such as esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, and colorectal cancer by minimally invasive surgery and provide evidence for the rational selection of clinical treatment, alleviation of disease-related economic burdens, and rational allocation of healthcare resources.Methods:By using five databases, i.e. China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang data, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, PubMed, and Embase, a database was established to retrieve all the papers about health economic studies of minimally invasive surgery for esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, and colorectal cancer published until December 31, 2023. Literature was analyzed by using software NoteExpress 3.8, and data were processed using Excel 2021. The quality of included papers was evaluated using the CHEERS 2022 checklist, and Meta-analysis was conducted by using software Stata 17.0.Results:A total of 10 919 relevant papers were retrieved, and 59 studies were included. Only 14 studies (23.7%) used standard health economic evaluation methods. Meta-analysis results revealed no significant differences in direct medical expenditure and total expenditure between minimally invasive surgery and open surgery. However, the expenditure for minimally invasive surgery exhibited a significant increase [mean difference ( MD)=5 973.12 yuan, P<0.001], while hospital stay and indirect expenditure significantly decreased ( MD: -4.85 days and -733.79 yuan, P<0.001). In China, for gastric cancer, the direct medical expenditure of endoscopic surgery was lower than that of open surgery ( MD=-33 000.00 yuan) with no significant difference ( P<0.001). In colorectal cancer cases, the direct medical and surgical expenditures for laparoscopic surgery were higher than those for open surgery ( MD: 4 277.94 yuan and 4 267.80 yuan, P<0.001), while the indirect and total medical expenditures decreased ( MD: -768.34 yuan and -159.10 yuan). Hospital stays in patients who had minimally invasive surgery for all three types of cancer were shorter than those who had open surgery ( P<0.001). Conclusions:In the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer, compared with open surgery, minimally invasive surgery shows higher expenditure, but has advantages, such as shorter hospital stay and lower indirect expenditure, and there were no significant differences in direct medical and total expenditures between the two approaches. When conducting health economic evaluation, factors such as postoperative complications, hospital stay, and patient's economic status should be considered for their impact on total medical expenditure. It is necessary to pay attention to the application of health economic evaluations in healthcare decision-making.
7.Low contrast dose and low flow rate one-stop craniocervical CT angiography-cerebral CT perfusion for detecting carotid atherosclerosis
Yuanyuan CUI ; Rongrong FAN ; Qinling JIANG ; Xiaolei SHI ; An SUN ; Chenshi ZHANG ; Weimin YUAN ; Shiyuan LIU ; Yi XIAO
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology 2025;41(7):1144-1149
Objective To explore the value of low contrast dose and low flow rate one-stop craniocervical CT angiography(CT A)-cerebral CT perfusion(CTP)for detecting carotid atherosclerosis(CAS).Methods Totally 117 CAS patients were prospectively enrolled and divided into group A(n=19),B(n=52),C(n=46),and low contrast dose and low flow rate one-stop craniocervical CTA-brain CTP scanning,low contrast dose and low flow rate craniocervical CT A scanning,as well as conventional craniocervical CT A scanning were performed,respectively.Virtual monoenergetic images(VMI)of 40,50 and 60 keV were reconstructed in group A and B.The subjective and objective evaluations of image quality were compared among 3 groups.Results Subjective scores of image quality and diagnostic confidence of 40 and 50 keV VMI,and the diagnostic confidence of 60 keV VMI in group A and B were not significant different compared with those in group C(all P>0.05).Signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)of each segment of craniocervical blood vessels at 40 and 50 keV VMI in group A and B were all higher than those in group C(all P<0.05).CNR of cavernous sinus segment of internal carotid artery(C5 segment),horizontal segment of middle cerebral artery(MCA)(A1 segment),lateral sulcus segment of MCA(M2 segment)and basilar artery(BA)segment in group A at 60 keV VMI were all higher than those in group C(all P<0.05).SNR of C5 segment,A1 segment and BA segment,as well as CNR of BA segment of 60 keV VMI in group B were all higher than those in group C(all P<0.05).Conclusion Low contrast dose and low flow rate one-stop craniocervical was feasible for detecting CAS.
8.Status quo investigation of health management behaviors in elderly patients with T2DM complicating chronic complications under health ecology theory and influencing factors analysis
Lyuping REN ; Xiao SUN ; Tingting CHEN ; Rongrong ZHOU ; Xue WANG ; Wei DENG ; Peipei ZHANG
Chongqing Medicine 2025;54(1):195-201
Objective To investigate the status quo of health management behaviors in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)complicating chronic complications and the influencing factors based on health ecology theory.Methods The convenience sampling method was used to select elderly patients with T2DM complicating chronic complications in the Shanghai City from January to July 2022 as the respondents.Based on the health ecology theory,the five aspects of personality traits,psychological and behavioral traits,family and community interpersonal networks,living and working conditions and policy environment were in-vestigated.The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation of various variables.The hi-erarchical linear regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of health management behaviors in eld-erly patients with T2DM complicating chronic complications.Results A total of 272 questionnaires were dis-tributed and 264 valid questionnaires were recovered,with an effective recovery rate of 97.06%(264/272).There were statistically significant differences in DSMB-Oscores among the patients with different chronic complications number,sleep quality,per capita monthly household income and medical payment methods(P<0.05).The DSMB-Oscore in elderly patients with T2DM complicating chronic complications was positively correlated with HLSCP,DES,PACIC and CIRS scores(P<0.05),and negatively correlated with the PAID-5 score(P<0.05).Conclusion The health management behaviors of elderly patients with T2DM complicating chronic complications is jointly affected and acted by many factors,and it is necessary to identify and manage the related influencing factors from different aspects and different levels.
9.Literature Analysis of Bleeding Adverse Drug Reaction Induced by Apixaban
Rongrong WANG ; Qiaoyun WANG ; Meijuan SUN ; Xiangpeng LI ; Na LI ; Ping LENG
Herald of Medicine 2025;44(6):989-995
Objective To analyze the occurrence and clinical characteristics of bleeding adverse reactions induced by apixaban,and to provide reference for clinical therapy.Methods From the marking of apixaban to May 2024,cases of adverse reactions to hemorrhage caused by apixaban were searched in the database of CNKI,Wanfang,VIP,PubMed and Web of Science.Statistical analysis was performed on the collected data.Results A total of thirty-nine cases of hemorrhagic adverse reactions induced by apixaban were documented.Therewere thirty-three patients(84.62%)over 60 years old.Twenty-two patients had bleeding within 30 days of treatment(56.41%).Intracranial hemorrhage occurred in nine patients(23.08%).Twenty-two patients improved after conventional treatment(56.41%).Twenty-three patients(58.97%)stopped bleeding within 30 days,and two patients(5.13%)died,all of whom died within 1 month after taking apixaban.Conclusions Physician and pharmacists should pay close attention to the adverse reactions of hemorrhage caused by apixaban,and do a good job in drug monitoring and patient education to ensure the safety of clinical medication.
10.Development and Initial Use of a New Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinical Database Integrating Both Eastern and Western Clinical Characteristics
Jingshuang YAN ; Rongrong REN ; Ruqi CHANG ; Wanyue DAN ; Xiaohan ZHANG ; Fei PAN ; Bin YAN ; Hongzhe LEE ; Ni JOSIE ; Gang SUN ; Lihua PENG ; Wu Gary D. ; Yunsheng YANG
Chronic Diseases and Translational Medicine 2025;11(2):130-139
Background::The increasing incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) presents significant medical and societal challenges. A well-designed IBD database is crucial for both epidemiological studies and clinical management. However, inconsistencies between regional databases hinder cross-institutional and international research, especially between Eastern and Western societies.Methods::We developed a new IBD database, the 301 IBD database, integrating the IBD clinical characteristics from the Penn IBD database (USA) and the latest IBD guidelines and consensus and clinical practices of the Chinese PLA General Hospital (PLAGH). We applied this database to analyze clinical data of IBD inpatients at PLAGH from 2008 to 2023.Results::The 301 IBD database contains 490 items in 6 sections including demographic characteristics, personal history, clinical phenotype, disease activity, laboratory tests and examinations, and treatment. Features of the 301 IBD database include inpatient focus, biochemical indicators and opportunistic infection focus, and more about ulcerative colitis (UC)-associated complications. Single-center analysis revealed an increasing hospitalization trend, from 2.35% in 2008 to 3.94% in 2023. We found that the clinical characteristics of our UC inpatients are predominantly male (62.5%), extensive lesions (55.1%), low usage of biologics (4.1%), and a high incidence of UC-CRC (3.0%). The clinical characteristics of CD inpatients included male predominance (68.39%), early onset age (35.43 ± 14.75-year-old), and high rate of surgery (25.81%).Conclusion::The 301 IBD database, integrating Eastern and Western clinical data, provides a valuable tool for IBD clinical research. Future international, multicenter collaborations are expected to further enhance its utility.

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