1.Ethical reflections on the clinical application of medical artificial intelligence
Fangfang CUI ; Zhonglin LI ; Xianying HE ; Wenchao WANG ; Yuntian CHU ; Xiaobing SHI ; Jie ZHAO
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(2):159-165
Medical artificial intelligence (AI) is a new type of application formed by the combination of machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and other technologies with clinical medical treatment. With the continuous iteration and development of relevant technologies, medical AI has shown great potential in improving the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment, and service quality, but it also increases the possibility of triggering ethical issues. Ethical issues resulting from the clinical application of medical AI were analyzed, including the lack of algorithmic interpretability and transparency of medical AI, leading to information asymmetry and cognitive discrepancies; the concerning status of security and privacy protection of medical data; and the complex and unclear division of responsibilities due to the collaborative participation of multiple subjects in the clinical application of medical AI, resulting in increased difficulty in the identification of medical accidents and clarification of responsibilities. The paper proposed the principles of not harming patients’ interests, physician’s subjectivity, fairness and inclusiveness, and rapid response. It also explored the strategies and implementation paths for responding to the ethical issues of medical AI from multiple perspectives, including standardizing the environment and processes, clarifying responsibility attribution, continuously assessing the impact of data protection, guaranteeing data security, ensuring model transparency and interpretability, carrying out multi-subject collaboration, as well as the principles of being driven by ethical values and adhering to the “human health-centeredness.” It aimed to provide guidance for the healthy development of medical AI, ensuring technological progress while effectively managing and mitigating accompanying ethical risks, thereby promoting the benign development of medical AI technology and better serving the healthcare industry and patients.
2.Research progress on impacts of air pollutants, gut microbiota, and seminal microbiota on semen quality
Wenchao XIA ; Jiahua SUN ; Yuya JIN ; Ruixin LUO ; Ruyan YAN ; Yuming GUI ; Yongbin WANG ; Fengquan ZHANG ; Wei WU ; Weidong WU ; Huijun LI
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(8):1003-1008
In recent years, China has been facing the dual challenges of declining fertility rates and births, with male reproductive health issues, especially the decline in semen quality, identified as a pivotal contributor to this phenomenon. Meanwhile, accumulating evidence indicates that air pollutants, an increasingly severe environmental problem, can damage semen quality not only directly through their biological toxicity but also indirectly by disrupting the composition of microbial communities in the gut and semen, thereby dysregulating immune function, endocrine homeostasis, and oxidative stress responses. The gut microbiota and semen microbiota, as important components of the human microecosystem, play crucial roles in maintaining reproductive health. This article comprehensively reviewed the research progress on the potential effects of air pollutants (particulate matter and gaseous pollutants), gut microbiota, and semen microbiota on semen quality. Specifically, it elucidated the mechanisms of interaction between these factors and explored how they affect male fertility.
3.Superior Characteristics of Gingival Contour Shape with a Modified Anatomic Healing Abutment for Mandibular First Molar Implants: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Wenchao Li ; Batbayar B ; Damdindorj B
Mongolian Journal of Health Sciences 2025;90(6):171-177
Background:
Implant restoration necessitates meticulous attention to the profile, and texture of gingival soft tissue. The
healing abutment plays a critical role as a gingival shaping tool, with its neck design significantly impacting soft tissue
profile and crown aesthetics.
Aim:
This study explores the impact of a modified anatomic healing abutment (MAHA) on morphological changes in
gingival soft tissue and patient satisfaction following mandibular first molar implant restoration.
Materials and Methods:
Thirty patients with a single missing mandibular first molar undergoing implant repair were
randomly assigned to either the control group (n=15) or the experimental group (n=15). The experimental group received
a MAHA post-dental implantation, while the control group received a standard healing abutment. Both groups underwent
crown restoration after 2 months. Peri-implant soft tissue index, Pink Esthetic Score (PES), and patient satisfaction were
assessed at postoperative day (T0), 1 month (T1), 3 months (T2), and 6 months (T3). Independent sample t-tests were
conducted with a significance level of α=0.05, where P < 0.05 indicated statistical significance
Results:
No significant differences in peri-implant soft tissue index were observed between the experimental and control
groups at T0, T1, T2, and T3 (P>0.05). The mean PES value in the experimental group exceeded that of the control group
at T0, T1, and T2 (P < 0.05). VAS scores showed no significant differences between the groups at T0, T1, and T3 (P>0.05),
but at T2, the experimental group exhibited higher satisfaction levels than the control group (P < 0.05)
Conclusion
The modified anatomic healing abutment for a mandibular first molar implant demonstrates superior soft
tissue contouring compared to the standard healing abutment, leading to heightened patient satisfaction during prosthesis
wear. Clinical Significance: The use of a MAHA in mandibular first molar implant restorations can enhance soft tissue
contour and improve early esthetic outcomes without compromising peri-implant health. This approach also contributes
to increased patient satisfaction during the prosthetic phase, supporting its clinical application for optimizing both functional and esthetic results in implant dentistry.
4.Ultrasound-guided needle knife release with different pathways for carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.
Zhaobao LI ; Song HE ; Longyu XIE ; Hehuizi BAI ; Dejun CHENG ; Wenchao ZHANG ; Mingyong HUANG
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 2025;45(1):21-26
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the clinical efficacy of ultrasound-guided needle knife release with different pathways for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
METHODS:
Sixty CTS patients were randomly divided into a transverse group and a longitudinal group, with 30 patients in each group. The transverse group received the needle knife release under ultrasound above and below the median nerve along the short axis, while the longitudinal group received the needle knife release under ultrasound above the median nerve along the long axis. The patients' visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, Levine scores, and median nerve cross-section area (CSA) were assessed before treatment, on the 7th, 14th, and 30th days after treatment. The median nerve conduction indexes (motor conduction: latency [Lat], amplitude[Amp], motor conduction velocity [MCV]; sensory conduction: Lat, Amp, sensory conduction velocity [SCV]) were evaluated before treatment and on the 30th day after treatment.
RESULTS:
Compared before treatment, the VAS scores, Levine scores, and median nerve CSA were reduced in both groups on the 7th, 14th, and 30th days after treatment (P<0.05); the transverse group showed lower VAS and Levine scores and smaller CSA than those in the longitudinal group (P<0.05). On the 30th day after treatment, motor and sensory Lat was reduced (P<0.05), motor and sensory Amp was increased (P<0.05), and MCV and SCV were faster (P<0.05) in both groups. The transverse group had shorter Lat, higher Amp, and faster MCV and SCV than those in the longitudinal group (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
The ultrasound-guided needle knife release with transverse and longitudinal pathways could both effectively alleviate pain and improve median nerve conduction in CTS patients, with the transverse pathway showing superior efficacy to longitudinal pathway.
Humans
;
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/therapy*
;
Female
;
Middle Aged
;
Male
;
Adult
;
Median Nerve/physiopathology*
;
Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation*
;
Treatment Outcome
;
Neural Conduction
;
Aged
;
Ultrasonography
5.Key technologies and challenges in online adaptive radiotherapy for lung cancer.
Baiqiang DONG ; Shuohan ZHENG ; Kelly CHEN ; Xuan ZHU ; Sijuan HUANG ; Xiaobo JIANG ; Wenchao DIAO ; Hua LI ; Lecheng JIA ; Feng CHI ; Xiaoyan HUANG ; Qiwen LI ; Ming CHEN
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(13):1559-1567
Definitive treatment of lung cancer with radiotherapy is challenging, as respiratory motion and anatomical changes can increase the risk of severe off-target effects during radiotherapy. Online adaptive radiotherapy (ART) is an evolving approach that enables timely modification of a treatment plan during the interfraction of radiotherapy, in response to physiologic or anatomic variations, aiming to improve the dose distribution for precise targeting and delivery in lung cancer patients. The effectiveness of online ART depends on the seamless integration of multiple components: sufficient quality of linear accelerator-integrated imaging guidance, deformable image registration, automatic recontouring, and efficient quality assurance and workflow. This review summarizes the present status of online ART for lung cancer, including key technologies, as well as the challenges and areas of active research in this field.
Humans
;
Lung Neoplasms/radiotherapy*
;
Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted/methods*
7.Clinical outcomes and prognostic factors of pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus: A 20-year retrospective study.
Hongda LI ; Wenchao LI ; Zhenzhen WANG ; Shan CAO ; Pengcheng HUAI ; Tongsheng CHU ; Baoqi YANG ; Yonghu SUN ; Peiye XING ; Guizhi ZHOU ; Yongxia LIU ; Shengli CHEN ; Qing YANG ; Mei WU ; Zhongxiang SHI ; Hong LIU ; Furen ZHANG
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(10):1239-1241
8.Effect of heterologous expression of Scenedesmus quadricauda malic enzyme gene SqME on photosynthetic carbon fixation and lipid accumulation in tobacco leaves.
Yizhen LIU ; Mengyuan LI ; Zhanqian LI ; Yushuang GUO ; Jingfang JI ; Wenchao DENG ; Ze YANG ; Yan SUN ; Chunhui ZHANG ; Jin'ai XUE ; Runzhi LI ; Chunli JI
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(7):2829-2842
Microalgae possess high photosynthetic efficiency, robust adaptability, and substantial biomass, serving as excellent biological resources for large-scale cultivation. Malic enzyme (ME), a ubiquitous metabolic enzyme in living organisms, catalyzes the decarboxylation of malate to produce pyruvate, CO2, and NAD(P)H, playing a role in multiple metabolic pathways including energy metabolism, photosynthesis, respiration, and biosynthesis. In this study, we identified the Scenedesmus quadricauda malic enzyme gene (SqME) and its biological functions, aiming to provide excellent target genes for the genetic improvement of higher plants. Based on the RNA-seq data from S. quadricauda under the biofilm cultivation mode with high CO2 and light energy transfer efficiency and small water use, a highly expressed gene (SqME) functionally annotated as ME was cloned. The physicochemical properties of the SqME-encoded protein were systematically analyzed by bioinformatics tools. The subcellular localization of SqME was determined via transient transformation in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. The biological functions of SqME were identified via genetic transformation in Nicotiana tabacum, and the potential of SqME in the genetic improvement of higher plants was evaluated. The ORF of SqME was 1 770 bp, encoding 590 amino acid residues, and the encoded protein was located in chloroplasts. SqME was a NADP-ME, with the typical structural characteristics of ME. The ME activity in the transgenic N. tabacum plant was 1.8 folds of that in the wild-type control. Heterologous expression of SqME increased the content of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll by 20.9%, 26.9%, and 25.2%, respectively, compared with the control. The transgenic tobacco leaves showed an increase of 54.0% in the fluorescence parameter NPQ and a decrease of 30.1% in Fo compared with the control. Moreover, the biomass, total lipids, and soluble sugars in the transgenic tobacco leaves enhanced by 20.5%, 25.7%, and 9.5%, respectively. On the contrary, the starch and protein content in the transgenic tobacco leaves decreased by 22.4% and 12.2%, respectively. Collectively, the SqME-encoded protein exhibited a strong enzymatic activity. Heterologous expressing of SqME could significantly enhance photosynthetic protection, photosynthesis, and biomass accumulation in the host. Additionally, SqME can facilitate carbon metabolism remodeling in the host, driving more carbon flux towards lipid synthesis. Therefore, SqME can be applied in the genetic improvement of higher plants for enhancing photosynthetic carbon fixation and lipid accumulation. These findings provide scientific references for mining of functional genes from S. quadricauda and application of these genes in the genetic engineering of higher plants.
Nicotiana/genetics*
;
Photosynthesis/physiology*
;
Malate Dehydrogenase/biosynthesis*
;
Plant Leaves/genetics*
;
Scenedesmus/enzymology*
;
Carbon Cycle/genetics*
;
Lipid Metabolism/genetics*
;
Plants, Genetically Modified/metabolism*
9.Long non-coding RNA and diseases
Wenchao LI ; Xiangsheng LI ; Fuguang LI ; Zhiyong ZHANG ; Lei HUI ; Wenke ZHOU
Basic & Clinical Medicine 2024;44(10):1465-1469
Long non-coding RNA(lncRNA)is a class of endogenous non-coding RNA with a length of more than 200 nt.Due to lack of open reading frame(ORF),they lack the ability to directly encode proteins,but they play a crucial role in gene regulation.They are widely involved in epigenetics,transcription,translation,modification and degradation,thereby affecting the life activities of the body,and their expression imbalance is closely related to the occurrence and development of diseases.Therefore,analyzing the inherent characteristics of lncRNA and revealing its intrinsic role can not only deepen our understanding of human physiological and pathological processes,but also provide new ideas and potential solutions for the diagnosis,prevention and treatment of diseases.So as to provide references for the related research of lncRNAs.
10.Correlation of MYB/NFIB gene fusion with the grade and prognosis of head and neck adenoid cystic carcinoma and the concordance of two detection methods
Yuelu ZHU ; Yan LI ; Jiali MU ; Wenchao LIU ; Xin LI ; Haizhen LU
Chinese Journal of Pathology 2024;53(2):149-154
Objective:To explore the correlation between MYB/NFIB gene fusion and clinicopathological features such as tumor grade and prognosis of head and neck adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), and to assess the concordant rate of fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with MYB and NFIB immunohistochemistry.Methods:FISH detection of MYB/NFIB gene fusion was performed on 48 head and neck ACC cases and 15 non-ACC salivary gland tumors at National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China during April 2014 and January 2020. ACC cases were divided into grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ, grade Ⅲ and high-grade transformation, according to pathological grading criteria. Prognosis, FISH results and other clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed. MYB and NFIB immunohistochemistry was performed on the 48 ACC and 15 non-ACC cases. The diagnostic accuracy of FISH and immunohistochemistry was compared.Results:FISH detected MYB/NFIB gene fusion in 41.7% (20/48) of the ACC. Its positive rate was inversely correlated with higher pathological grades ( P=0.036). The higher histological grade was linked to worse progression-free survival ( P=0.024), whereas there was no correlation between the status of gene fusion detected by FISH and progression-free survival ( P=0.536). FISH didnot detect MYB/NFIB gene fusion in 15 non-ACC salivary gland tumors The specificity of diagnosing ACC is 100% for both FISH detection of gene fusion and immunohistochemical detection of MYB expression. However, the sensitivity for both methods was only about 41.7%, respectively. By combining FISH and MYB immunohistochemistry, the sensitivity for diagnosing ACC was increased to 66.7%. Conclusions:MYB/NFIB gene fusion has a lower detection rate in grade Ⅲ ACC and high-grade transformation ACC. Meanwhile gene fusion status is not correlated with prognosis. The sensitivity for diagnosing ACC can be improved by combining FISH and MYB immunohistochemistry.

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