1.Ethical review of intelligent elderly care model: risk patterns, generative factors, and regulatory pathways
Chinese Medical Ethics 2026;39(1):105-112
Driven by the internal pressure of the traditional elderly care model and the external impetus of the new technological revolution, the intelligent elderly care model is emerging. However, the rapid technological development has also triggered a series of ethical controversies. Existing ethical rules struggle to interpret, adapt to, or regulate the risks of ethical norms being out of control, alienated ethical behaviors, and unclear ethical responsibility that have emerged in the intelligent elderly care model. Specifically, these risks manifest in three aspects, including infringement of the rights and interests of the elderly, imbalance in social fairness and justice, and difficulties in defining responsibility. The analysis revealed that the generative factors of ethical risks include both internal system factors and external environmental factors. To prevent and control the ethical risks of the intelligent elderly care model, efforts should focus on three levels. At the technical level, it was necessary to promote the development of responsible intelligent elderly care technologies. In terms of regulatory level, it was essential to innovate the rules and methods of responsibility allocation. Regarding cognitive level, it was vital to strengthen users’ awareness and response capacity to ethical risks. These approaches will continuously promote the upward and virtuous development of technology and foster harmonious coexistence between humans and machines.
2.Construction and clinical application exploration of an artificial intelligence-based high-quality lung cancer surgery dataset
Xuhua HUANG ; Yunfeng NIE ; Liang SHEN ; Pengxu KONG ; Xin TAN ; Zihao LI ; Wang LV ; Min ZHOU ; Xudong LV ; Jian HU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(05):717-727
Objective To construct a lung cancer surgery-oriented disease-specific database covering the entire perioperative care pathway, thereby improving the quality and usability of key surgical data elements. Methods Real-world clinical data were extracted from a single-center thoracic surgery department. A standardized data model was established based on the open electronic health record (openEHR) standard. Large language model (LLM), optical character recognition (OCR), and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven techniques were employed to extract, structure, and perform quality control on unstructured clinical narratives, imaging reports, and radiological data, with a focus on capturing surgically relevant perioperative indicator. Results A multimodal database comprising 19 917 patients was established, including 7 930 males and 11 987 females, with ages ranging from 15 to 97 (61.7±9.7) years. The database includes 582 structured data variables, textual report data corresponding to 69 clinical indicators, 13 000 pulmonary function test PDF reports, and chest CT imaging data from 16 884 patients. This database comprehensively covers major information relevant to surgical diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, significantly improving the completeness and granularity of surgical detail data. Large language models (LLMs) and optical character recognition (OCR) technologies enhanced the efficiency of converting unstructured data into structured formats, while a multi-level manual verification process ensured data accuracy and traceability. The database supports real-world research including comparisons of surgical procedures, prediction of postoperative complications, prognosis assessment, and multimodal data association analyses.
3.Prefabricated Nano Carbon-Platinum Composite Matrix for Surface-assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Small Molecular Components in Plant Tissues
Fan YANG ; Yu-Lin SHEN ; Can GONG ; Zhao-Xin LIU ; Qiang-Sheng GUO ; Xu XU
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(2):204-213,中插1-中插2
Compared with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry(MALDI-MS)using organic small molecule matrix,surface-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry(SALDI-MS)based on nanomaterial matrix is more effective in analysis of small molecule compounds.Ion sputtering instruments have obvious advantages for applying inorganic nanomatrix.In this work,the carbon-platinum material was sputtered onto a glass cover slip using an ion sputtering instrument to form a carbon-platinum(C-Pt)composite nanomatrix,and an SALDI-MS analytical method was thus established based on the prefabricated C-Pt composite matrix.The experimental results showed that the C-Pt composite nanomatrix could significantly improve the signal intensity and signal-to-noise ratio of the mass spectrum peaks of the components to be measured.The ratio of carbon to platinum,the duration of ion sputtering,and the laser power in mass spectrometer were investigated to select the optimal C-Pt matrix prefabricated conditions and SALDI-MS experimental conditions.Using the prefabricated C-Pt composite matrix,the melittriose and daidzein sample solution were applied as sample to examine repeatability.The results showed that the intra-point repeatability(RSD)was≤4.8%and the inter-point repeatability(RSD)was≤6.4%.The quercetin and melitriose were applied as model samples,and a linearity between MS peak intensity and respective concentration in the range of 0.05-1.0 mg/mL was found,with linear correlation coefficients(R2)greater than 0.994,showing good potential for quantitative and imaging analysis.Then,the prefabricated C-Pt composite matrix was applied to SALDI-MS analysis of the 50%ethanol extract of soybean,and 15 kinds of compounds including oligosaccharides and triglycerides were identified from the mass spectra.Furthermore,the C-Pt matrix was employed in SALDI-MS imaging for the compositions in corn tissue section,and the results showed that diglycerides and triglycerides were mainly distributed in the corn embryo and around the embryo,and the distribution of oligosaccharides was relatively even.
4.Clinical characteristics of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis and analysis of risk factors for early-onset children
Jing WANG ; Mingqi SHEN ; Rongxiu ZHENG ; Yue XIN ; Yunxia MA ; Ying ZHANG ; Dejing WU ; Dan LIU
International Journal of Pediatrics 2025;52(9):629-633
Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis(NEC)and analyze the risk factors for early-onset NEC.Methods:A total of 220 children with NEC admitted to the Department of Pediatrics,Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from January 1st,2018 to February 29th,2024 were retrospectively selected as the research objects. According to the time of onset,the early-onset group( n=120)and the late-onset group( n=100)were established,and the clinical characteristics of the two groups were compared. Another 150 cases of normal healthy newborns born in this hospital in the same period were selected as the control group,and the clinical data of the control group were collected. The clinical characteristics of the early-onset group and the control group were compared,and the risk factors of early-onset NEC were analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression. Results:Compared with the late-onset group,the early-onset group had fever[50.0%(60/120)vs. 40%(40/100), χ2=7.333, P=0.007],apnea[39.17%(47/120)vs. 28%(28/100), χ2=7.568, P=0.006],no rise in body temperature[56.67%(68/120)vs. 39%(39/100), χ2=6.815, P=0.009],abdominal distension[25%(30/120)vs. 40%(40/100), χ2=13.200, P<0.001],vomiting[30.83%(37/120)vs. 45%(45/100), χ2=12.797, P<0.001]was significantly different(all P<0.05);Multivariate Logistic regression analysis:weight<1 500 g( OR=5.871,95% CI:3.153~9.673, P<0.001),gestational age<30 weeks( OR=4.256,95% CI:2.641~7.896, P=0.007),hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus(hs-PDA)( OR=3.113,95% CI:1.865~5.133, P=0.033),severe anemia( OR=3.057,95% CI:2.165~4.802, P=0.001),feeding intolerance( OR=4.215,95% CI:1.579~10.802, P=0.005),amniotic fluid pollution( OR=2.452,95% CI:1.579~3.111, P<0.001)were the independent risk factors for early-onset NEC(all P<0.05). Conclusion:Weight<1 500 g,gestational age<30 weeks,hs-PDA,severe anemia,feeding intolerance,and amniotic fluid contamination are independent risk factors for early-onset NEC. In clinical practice,more attention should be paid to these factors for disease prevention,early identification,and timely intervention in newborns to reduce the occurrence of NEC.
5.Discriminating Tumor Deposits From Metastatic Lymph Nodes in Rectal Cancer: A Pilot Study Utilizing Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI
Xue-han WU ; Yu-tao QUE ; Xin-yue YANG ; Zi-qiang WEN ; Yu-ru MA ; Zhi-wen ZHANG ; Quan-meng LIU ; Wen-jie FAN ; Li DING ; Yue-jiao LANG ; Yun-zhu WU ; Jian-peng YUAN ; Shen-ping YU ; Yi-yan LIU ; Yan CHEN
Korean Journal of Radiology 2025;26(5):400-410
Objective:
To evaluate the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in differentiating tumor deposits (TDs) from metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs) in rectal cancer.
Materials and Methods:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 70 patients with rectal cancer, including 168 lesions (70 TDs and 98 MLNs confirmed by histopathology), who underwent pretreatment MRI and subsequent surgery between March 2019 and December 2022. The morphological characteristics of TDs and MLNs, along with quantitative parameters derived from DCE-MRI (K trans , kep, and v e) and DWI (ADCmin, ADCmax, and ADCmean), were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Multivariable binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of significant individual quantitative parameters and combined parameters in distinguishing TDs from MLNs.
Results:
All morphological features, including size, shape, border, and signal intensity, as well as all DCE-MRI parameters showed significant differences between TDs and MLNs (all P < 0.05). However, ADC values did not demonstrate significant differences (all P > 0.05). Among the single quantitative parameters, v e had the highest diagnostic accuracy, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.772 for distinguishing TDs from MLNs. A multivariable logistic regression model incorporating short axis, border, v e, and ADC mean improved diagnostic performance, achieving an AUC of 0.833 (P = 0.027).
Conclusion
The combination of morphological features, DCE-MRI parameters, and ADC values can effectively aid in the preoperative differentiation of TDs from MLNs in rectal cancer.
6.Effect of Electroacupuncture at"ShenShu"and"HuiYang"on Urinary Function and TGF-β1/Smad Signaling Pathway in Rats with Stress Urinary Incontinence
Mengwei YUAN ; Shen GAO ; Hongmei CUI ; Xin ZHAO
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;42(7):1726-1732
Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of electroacupuncture for stress urinary incontinence(SUI)in rats.Methods A total of 30 rats were randomly divided into three groups:normal group,model group,and electroacupuncture group[electroacupuncture at Shenshu(BL23)and Huiyang(BL35)acupoints],with 10 rats per group.Except for the normal group,a SUI model was established in the other two groups.After grouping interventions,the following assessments including sneeze test,urodynamic parameter measurements(including intravesical pressure),serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)and creatine kinase(CK)were conducted,urethral histopathological change was detected by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining,and Western Blot was used to detect protein expression of transforming growth factor β1(TGF-β1),Smad2,Smad3,Smad7,typeⅠ collagen(Col Ⅰ),and type Ⅲ collagen(Col Ⅲ)in urethral tissues.Results Compared with the normal group,the model group exhibited significant increases in the number of sneeze test-positive rats,urine volume,residual urine volume,and serum LDH and CK levels,and protein expression of urethral Smad2 and Smad3,moreover,the model group showed significant decreases in urodynamic parameters[maximum bladder capacity(MBC),leak point pressure(LPP),abdominal leak point pressure(ALPP)],voiding efficiency,and protein expression of urethral TGF-β1,Smad7,ColⅠand Col Ⅲ,the differences being statistically significant(P<0.05).In comparison to the model group,the electroacupuncture group demonstrated significant reductions in sneeze test-positive rats,urine volume,residual urine volume,serum LDH and CK levels,and protein expression of urethral Smad2 and Smad3,additionally,the electroacupuncture group displayed significant improvements in urodynamic parameters(MBC,LPP,ALPP)and voiding efficiency,upregulation of protein expression of urethral TGF-β1,Smad7,Col Ⅰ and Col Ⅲ,the differences being statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture may ameliorate SUI by activating the TGF-β1/Smad pathway to promote pelvic collagen synthesis and reduce urethral injury,thus improving urinary function.
7.Influence of mindful attention awareness on sleep quality in soldiers:Mediating effect of occupational stress
Lei SHI ; Shen XIN ; Qin SUN ; Danni LI ; Pengyan SONG ; Ye TIAN ; Yuan WANG
Journal of Navy Medicine 2025;46(5):435-439
Objective To investigate the relationship of mindful attention awareness with sleep quality and occupational stress of soldiers.Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted on 1 100 soldiers by using the mindful attention awareness scale(MAAS),occupational stress scale(OSS),and Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI).Results The PSQI of the soldiers was negatively correlated with mindful attention awareness(r=-0.446,P<0.01),and positively correlated with occupational stress(r=0.569,P<0.01).Mindful attention awareness and occupational stress were effective predictors for sleep quality,accounting for 34.7%of variance.And the mediating effect of occupational stress between mindful attention awareness and sleep quality accounted for 58.86%.Conclusion The mindful attention awareness in soldiers can not only directly affect the sleep quality,but also indirectly affect the sleep quality through their occupational stress.
8.Differentiation and Treatment of Lipid Turbidity Disease Based on Theory of "Spleen Ascending and Stomach Descending"
Yun HUANG ; Wenyu ZHU ; Wei SONG ; Xiaobo ZHANG ; Xin ZHOU ; Lele YANG ; Tao SHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(3):244-252
Lipid turbidity disease is a metabolic disease featuring lipid metabolism disorders caused by many factors such as social environment, diet, and lifestyle, which is closely related to many diseases in modern medicine, such as hyperlipidemia, obesity, fatty liver, atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, with a wide range of influence and far-reaching harm. According to the Huangdi Neijing, lipid turbidity disease reflects the pathological change of the body's physiologic grease. Grease is the thick part of body fluids, which has the function of nourishing, and it is the initial state and source of important substances in the human body such as brain, marrow, essence, and blood. Once the grease of the human body is abnormal, it can lead to lipid turbidity disease. The Huangdi Neijing also points out the physiological relationship between the transportation and transformation of body fluids and the rise and fall of the spleen and stomach, which can deduce the pathological relationship between the occurrence of lipid turbidity disease and the abnormal rise and fall of the spleen and stomach functions. Lipid turbidity disease is caused by overconsumption of fatty and sweet foods or insufficient spleen and stomach endowments, leading to disorders of the function of promoting clear and reducing turbidity in the spleen and stomach. This leads to the transformation of thick grease in body fluids into lipid turbidity, which accumulates in the body's meridians, blood vessels, skin pores, and organs, forming various forms of metabolic diseases. The research team believed that the pathological basis of lipid turbidity disease was the abnormal rise and fall of the spleen and stomach and the obstruction of the transfer of grease. According to the different locations where lipid turbidity stays, it was divided into four common pathogenesis types: ''inability to distinguish between the clear and turbid, turbid stagnation in the Ying blood'', ''spleen not rising clear, turbid accumulation in the vessels'', ''spleen dysfunction, lipid retention in the pores'', ''spleen failure to transportation and transformation, and grease accumulation in the liver''. According to the pathogenesis, it could be divided into four common syndromes, namely, turbid stagnation in the Ying blood, turbid accumulation in the vessels, lipid retention in the pores, and grease accumulation in the liver, and the corresponding prescriptions were given for syndrome differentiation and treatment, so as to guide clinical differentiation and treatment of the lipid turbidity disease.
9.Mechanism of Colquhounia Root Tablets against diabetic kidney disease via RAGE-ROS-PI3K-AKT-NF-κB-NLRP3 signaling axis.
Ming-Zhu XU ; Zhao-Chen MA ; Zi-Qing XIAO ; Shuang-Rong GAO ; Yi-Xin YANG ; Jia-Yun SHEN ; Chu ZHANG ; Feng HUANG ; Jiang-Rui WANG ; Bei-Lei CAI ; Na LIN ; Yan-Qiong ZHANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(7):1830-1840
This study aimed to explore the therapeutic mechanisms of Colquhounia Root Tablets(CRT) in treating diabetic kidney disease(DKD) by integrating biomolecular network mining with animal model verification. By analyzing clinical transcriptomics data, an interaction network was constructed between candidate targets of CRT and DKD-related genes. Based on the topological eigenvalues of network nodes, 101 core network targets of CRT against DKD were identified. These targets were found to be closely related to multiple pathways associated with type 2 diabetes, immune response, and metabolic reprogramming. Given that immune-inflammatory imbalance driven by metabolic reprogramming is one of the key pathogenic mechanisms of DKD, and that many core network targets of CRT are involved in this pathological process, receptor for advanced glycation end products(RAGE)-reactive oxygen species(ROS)-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)-protein kinase B(AKT)-nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)-NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3(NLRP3) signaling axis was selected as a candidate target for in-depth research. Further, a rat model of DKD induced by a high-sugar, high-fat diet and streptozotocin was established to evaluate the pharmacological effects of CRT and verify the expression of related targets. The experimental results showed that CRT could effectively correct metabolic disturbances in DKD, restore immune-inflammatory balance, and improve renal function and its pathological changes by inhibiting the activation of the RAGE-ROS-PI3K-AKT-NF-κB-NLRP3 signaling axis. In conclusion, this study reveals that CRT alleviates the progression of DKD through dual regulation of metabolic reprogramming and immune-inflammatory responses, providing strong experimental evidence for its clinical application in DKD.
Animals
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Diabetic Nephropathies/metabolism*
;
Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products/genetics*
;
NF-kappa B/genetics*
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
;
Rats
;
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics*
;
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
;
Male
;
Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics*
;
Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism*
;
Humans
;
Plant Roots/chemistry*
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Tablets/administration & dosage*
10.Saltwater stir-fried Plantaginis Semen alleviates renal fibrosis by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition in renal tubular cells.
Xin-Lei SHEN ; Qing-Ru ZHU ; Wen-Kai YU ; Li ZHOU ; Qi-Yuan SHAN ; Yi-Hang ZHANG ; Yi-Ni BAO ; Gang CAO
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(5):1195-1208
This study aimed to investigate the effect of saltwater stir-fried Plantaginis Semen(SPS) on renal fibrosis in rats and decipher the underlying mechanism. Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into control, model, losartan potassium, and low-, medium-, and high-dose(15, 30, and 60 g·kg~(-1), respectively) SPS groups. Rats in other groups except the control group were subjected to unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO) to induce renal fibrosis, and the modeling and gavage lasted for 14 days. After 14 consecutive days of treatment, the levels of serum creatinine(Scr) and blood urea nitrogen(BUN) in rats of each group were determined by an automatic biochemical analyzer. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) and Masson staining were used to evaluate pathological changes in the renal tissue. Western blot and immunofluorescence assay were conducted to determine the protein levels of fibronectin(FN), collagen Ⅰ, vimentin, and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA) in the renal tissue. The mRNA levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)-associated transcription factors including twist family bHLH transcription factor 1(TWIST1), snail family transcriptional repressor 1(SNAI1), and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1(ZEB1), as well as inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6(IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), were determined by RT-qPCR. Human renal proximal tubular epithelial(HK2) cells exposed to transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) for the modeling of renal fibrosis were used to investigate the inhibitory effect of SPS on EMT. Network pharmacology and Western blot were employed to explore the molecular mechanism of SPS in alleviating renal fibrosis. The results showed that SPS significantly reduced Scr and BUN levels and alleviated renal injury and collagen deposition in UUO rats. Moreover, SPS notably down-regulated the protein levels of FN, collagen Ⅰ, vimentin, and α-SMA as well as the mRNA levels of SNAI1, ZEB1, TWIST1, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in the kidneys of UUO rats and TGF-β-treated HK-2 cells. In addition, compared with Plantaginis Semen without stir-frying with saltwater, SPS showed increased content of specific compounds, which were mainly enriched in the mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) signaling pathway. SPS significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK) and p38 MAPK in the kidneys of UUO rats and TGF-β-treated HK2 cells. In conclusion, SPS can alleviate renal fibrosis by attenuating EMT through inhibition of the MAPK signaling pathway.
Animals
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Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/drug effects*
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Male
;
Rats
;
Fibrosis/genetics*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Kidney Diseases/pathology*
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Kidney Tubules/pathology*
;
Humans

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