1.Research on the application of large language models in the diagnosis and treatment decision support for primary diseases related to pediatric liver transplantation
Yuanhao WANG ; Chengpeng ZHONG ; Yuxuan WU ; Kang HE ; Qiang XIA
Organ Transplantation 2026;17(3):444-451
Objective To explore the application value of three mainstream large language models in the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and treatment decision support of the primary diseases related to pediatric liver transplantation. Methods Seventy-nine cases of pediatric liver transplantation-related diseases diagnosed through pathological or clinical follow-up data were collected from Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine or published high-quality case reports. These cases covered 25 types of primary diseases such as cholestatic liver disease, metabolic diseases, and tumors. Standardized prompts were used to input the case information into the DeepSeek-R1, ChatGPT-4o and Grok-3 models, and the accuracy of their preliminary diagnosis and differential diagnosis based on basic clinical data was evaluated. The final diagnosis accuracy and the response time after supplementary examination were also assessed, as well as the completeness and rationality of their analysis of disease treatment principles. Results In the initial diagnosis and differential diagnosis stage, the comprehensive accuracy of DeepSeek-R1 was the highest [72.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 61.4% - 80.8%], and there was a statistically significant difference in the comprehensive accuracy of the three models for initial diagnosis (P = 0.008). After adding further examination information, the final diagnosis accuracy of the three models increased, with DeepSeek-R1 at 88.6% (95% CI 79.7% - 93.9%), ChatGPT-4o at 87.3% (95% CI 78.2% - 93.0%), and Grok-3 at 78.5% (95% CI 68.2% - 86.1%). There was no statistically significant difference among the three models (P = 0.05). The scores given by experts for the treatment principles showed good consistency (Kappa = 0.769). In addition, the response time of ChatGPT-4o is shorter than that of the other two models [(24 ± 7) s]. Conclusions Large language models demonstrate good efficacy in the diagnosis and treatment decision-making process of various pediatric liver diseases, have a good application prospect for auxiliary diagnosis and decision support, and are expected to help improve the accuracy and efficiency of clinical diagnosis and treatment of pediatric liver transplantation-related primary diseases.
2.Clinical application of minimally invasive mitral valvuloplasty in patients with infective endocarditis complicated with mitral valve insufficiency
Yubin ZHONG ; Yunqing SHI ; Quanlin YANG ; Songyi QIAN ; Limin XIA ; Kai SONG ; Sun PAN
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(05):778-783
Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of minimally invasive mitral valvuloplasty (MVP) in the treatment of infective endocarditis (IE) with mitral regurgitation (MR). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients who underwent MVP for IE with MR at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery in Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University from 2016 to 2020. Patients were divided into two groups based on the surgical incision: those with a right mini-thoracotomy were classified as a minimally invasive surgery (MIS) group, and those with a median sternotomy (MS) were classified as an MS group. All patients had isolated mitral valve involvement. Perioperative data were analyzed, and mid- to long-term outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 86 patients were included, with 40 in the MIS group [22 males and 18 females, with a mean age of (39.78±15.36) years ranging from 14 to 75 years] and 46 in the MS group [27 males and 19 females, with a mean age of (49.94±16.13) years ranging from 14 to 71 years]. The patients in the MIS group were relatively younger (P=0.004) with better preoperative cardiac function (P=0.004). There was no statistical difference in preoperative fever, gender, or comorbidities between the two groups (P>0.05). The MIS group had shorter postoperative ventilation times, less postoperative 24-hour drainage, less blood transfusion, and shorter total hospital stays compared to the MS group (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in cardiopulmonary bypass times or ICU stays between the two groups (P>0.05). The perioperative complication rates and mortality rates were not significantly different between the two groups (P>0.05). Follow-up was conducted for 11-92 months, with a mean duration of (49±19) months and an overall follow-up rate of 91.9%. During the follow-up, 3 patients in each group required reoperation for mitral valve issues, with no statistical difference in incidence (7.5% vs. 6.5%, P=0.691). There were no warfarin-related complications, recurrences, or deaths in either group during follow-up. Multivariate regression analysis identified age, preoperative cardiac function, and surgeon experience as influencing factors for the choice of surgical approach. Conclusion Minimally invasive MVP for IE with MR is relatively safe in the perioperative period and shows significant efficacy, with clear mid- to long-term outcomes. It is recommended for younger patients with better preoperative cardiac function and when performed by surgeons with extensive experience in mitral valvuloplasty.
3.The Neural Circuit Characteristics of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Over The Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex for The Treatment of Migraine
Chen-Xia JIN ; Bo-Lin TAN ; Yang YE ; Ji-Qing HE ; Ling-Yan WANG ; Zhong-Ming GAO ; Yu-Jun WANG ; Hui-Li LIU ; Yong-Xing YAN ; Xian-Wei CHE
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(7):1953-1968
ObjectiveMigraine is a leading neurological disorder and the fourth most common cause of years lived with disability worldwide, affecting nearly 116 million individuals. Although pharmacological treatments are available, their efficacy is often limited by side effects and variable response rates. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) offers a safe, non-invasive alternative for migraine management. However, the neurophysiological mechanisms, particularly how rTMS modulates local cortical excitability and distributed pain-related circuits, remain poorly understood. Elucidating these mechanisms is essential for optimizing treatment protocols and improving clinical outcomes. MethodsThis study employed concurrent transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) to investigate neuroplastic and neurocircuitry mechanisms of DLPFC-rTMS in migraine. Study 1 compared 30 migraineurs and 28 healthy controls to identify abnormalities in TMS-evoked potentials (TEPs) and significant current density (SCD) within sensory-discriminative regions including the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) and posterior insula (pINS), cognitive-affective regions including the anterior insula (aINS) and midcingulate cortex (MCC), and a descending modulatory region, the periaqueductal gray (PAG). Study 2 used a single-blind, crossover, sham-controlled design in 34 healthy participants. Each participant received both active (10 Hz, 80% RMT, 1 500 pulses) and sham DLPFC-rTMS in counterbalanced order. TMS-EEG and cold pain tolerance were assessed before and after each session. ResultsIn Study 1, migraineurs showed a significantly less negative N120 amplitude compared to healthy controls (P=0.027, Cohen’s d=0.60), indicating local intracortical disinhibition. No group differences were observed for N40, P60, or P180 components. At the source level, migraineurs exhibited significantly higher SCD in the S1, pINS, aINS, and MCC (allQ<0.05), but not in the ventroposterior thalamus (vpTHAL), mediodorsal thalamus (mdTHAL), or PAG. In Study 2, active rTMS significantly reduced SCD from pre- to post-stimulation in the S1, aINS, and MCC (all Q<0.05). Sham stimulation also reduced SCD in the S1 (Q<0.05) but not in the aINS or MCC. Although no significant group-level analgesic effect was observed between active and sham conditions (P=0.107), correlation analyses revealed that greater SCD reductions in the S1 and MCC were significantly associated with higher post-rTMS pain tolerance (R=-0.487 and -0.495, both Q<0.01) and larger improvements in pain tolerance(R=-0.487 and -0.451, both Q<0.05). No such correlations were found following sham stimulation, suggesting that the behavioural relevance of neural changes is specific to active rTMS. ConclusionThis study provides novel evidence that migraineurs exhibit both local neuroplastic abnormalities (reduced N120 amplitude) and hyperactivity in key pain-processing regions (S1, pINS, aINS, MCC). A single session of DLPFC-rTMS reduced hyperactivity in the aINS, MCC, and S1. Notably, greater reductions in the S1 and MCC were associated with improved pain tolerance. These findings identify distinct cortical circuitries, particularly within the cognitive-affective pain network, that may serve as potential biomarkers for optimizing rTMS treatment in migraine and other chronic pain conditions. Future studies should validate these results in patient populations experiencing spontaneous migraine attacks and explore multi-session or accelerated rTMS protocols.
4.Two new glycosides from the Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus
Jing-jing MIAO ; Ge-ge XIA ; Ge-ge ZHAO ; Yu-zhong ZHENG ; Yan-zhi WANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(1):196-200
Six compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of
5.Metabolic profiling analysis of acute renal toxicity in mice exposed to perfluorobutanoic acid
Lin ZHONG ; Yiru QIN ; Zhiming HU ; Zuofei XIE ; Jingjing QIU ; Banghua WU ; LiHua XIA
China Occupational Medicine 2025;52(4):368-375
Objective To explore the nephrotoxic effects of exposure to perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and its mechanism in mice, with a particular focus on analyzing the changes in kidney metabolism and their potential implications. Methods The specific pathogen free C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group, low-dose group, and high-dose group, with 10 mice in each group. Mice in the three groups received intragastric administration of PFBA solution at doses of 0, 35 and 350 mg/kg body weight, once per day for seven consecutive days. The histopathological changes of kidneys of mice in these three groups were evaluated. Metabolomic profiling of mouse kidneys was performed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were identified based on the Human Metabolome Database, and related metabolic pathways were analyzed through MetaboAnalyst 6.0 and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Results Histopathological analysis of kidneys showed that the renal pelvis mucosa of mice in the low-dose group presented focal mild inflammatory changes without marked structural damage, whereas mice in the high-dose group showed severe inflammation and partial destruction of renal structure. The kidney coefficient of mice in both low-dose group and the high-dose group decreased (both P<0.05), and the Paller scores of renal tissues increased (both P<0.05) compared with that in the control group. The Paller score of mouse renal tissue in the high-dose group was higher than that in the low-dose group (P<0.05). Metabolomic profiling identified 46 DAMs (26 upregulated, 20 downregulated) in the low-dose group and 104 DAMs (54 upregulated, 50 downregulated) in the high-dose group, with 26 shared DAMs between the two dose groups. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that DAMs were mainly involved in metabolic pathways such as glycerophospholipid metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism, sphingolipid and steroid hormone synthesis. Conclusion Acute exposure to PFBA can cause kidney injury in mice. Lipid metabolism pathways such as glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid metabolism is involved in the development of acute renal toxicity of PFBA.
6.Logic Gate-based Ortho-Nucleic Acid Fluorescence Sensor for Simultaneous Detection of Thrombin and Myoglobin
Zi-Hui ZHONG ; Bing-Yang HUO ; Ling XIA ; Jin-Can HE ; Gong-Ke LI
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(2):195-203
Based on the target recognition ability of split aptamer and intelligent analytical capability of molecular logic gate,in this work,two split aptamers were integrated into"AND"logic gate to construct a novel ortho-nucleic acid fluorescence sensor for simultaneous detection of thrombin and myoglobin.When there was one target,the response of the signal was only a single fluorescence output signal,which was used as an evaluation standard for early low-risk judgment.When two targets coexisted,the split aptamer bound to the target to form a ternary complex and led to the head and tail ortho-nucleic acid effect respectively,and triggered the G4 chain to enhance the fluorescence signal of thioflavin T and the fluorescence signal quenching of Cyanine 3,which could be used as an evaluation criterion for early high-risk judgement.Under the optimal conditions,the linear range for detection of thrombin was 3-200 nmol/L,with a correlation coefficient of 0.9931 and a detection limit of 0.97 nmol/L,and the linear range for detection of myoglobin was 6-400 nmol/L,with a correlation coefficient of 0.9933,and a detection limit of 2.14 nmol/L.The method was applied to simultaneous determination of thrombin and myoglobin in clinical serum samples,and the recoveries were 85.4%-118.3%and 85.8%-119.9%,respectively,with relative standard deviations of less than 6.5%.Compared with the standard method,the relative error range was from-8.8%to 5.6%.In addition,the logical diagnosis results of 4 serum samples were high-risk of acute myocardial infarction in 2 cases and low-risk in 2 cases.The ″AND″ logic gate ortho-nucleic acid fluorescence sensing method showed many advantages such as high selectivity,rapidity,accuracy and simultaneous detection,which offered important reference for early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction,and also provided a general detection design strategy and platform for simultaneous detection of biomarkers.
7.Effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation combined with sertraline on cognitive function in patients with depressive disorder
Dan LI ; Zhong XIA ; Wenli ZHU ; Dandan LIANG ; Wenwen MIAO ; Chuanfu SONG
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(3):204-210
BackgroundCognitive function is closely related to an individual's quality of life and social functioning, with approximately 20%~35% of patients with depressive disorder experiencing some degree of cognitive impairment even after clinical symptom remission. Existing evidence suggests that tACS can improve specific cognitive domains, such as memory function, while its effects on other cognitive dimensions, such as executive functioning, attention, and information processing speed, remain unclear. ObjectiveTo explore the effects of tACS on the multidimensional cognitive functions and emotional problems of patients with depressive disorder, thus to provide references for the treatment of depressive disorder. MethodsForty-nine patients with depressive disorder who were hospitalized in the Fourth People's Hospital of Wuhu from November 2022 to October 2024 and met the diagnostic criteria for depressive disorder outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5), were selected as study participants. Subjects were randomly divided into study group (n=23) and control group (n=26) based on Microsoft Excel. Both groups received sertraline treatment. The initial dose was 50 mg/day, which gradually titrated upward based on individual variability, drug tolerance, and therapeutic response, with a maintenance dose ranging from 100 to 200 mg/day. In addition, the study group underwent tACS therapy for 4 weeks, with 5 sessions per week, each lasting 20 minutes. The control group received sham stimulation, in which the stimulus was interrupted after the first 30 seconds. At baseline, the 4th week, and the 12th week of treatment, patients were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Scale-17 item (HAMD-17), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). ResultsRepeated measures analysis of variance indicated that both the time effect and the time×group interaction effect for HAMD-17 scores were statistically significant between the two groups (F=260.437, 25.309, P<0.01). At week 12 of treatment, the HAMD-17 score in the study group was lower than that in the control group (t=4.236, P<0.01). For HAMA scores, the time effect, group effect, and time×group interaction effect were all statistically significant between the two groups (F=248.082, 4.506, 9.500, P<0.05 or 0.01). At weeks 4 and 12, study group reported lower HAMA scores compared with control group (t=4.580, 2.608, P<0.05 or 0.01). Regarding the MCCB scores for attention/vigilance, verbal learning, and overall composite, the time effect, group effect, and time×group interaction effect were all statistically significant between the two groups (F=70.331, 27.882, 51.679, 5.560, 10.948, 7.860, 8.490, 3.874, 5.025, P<0.05 or 0.01). After intervention, the study group showed significantly higher MCCB scores for attention/vigilance, verbal learning, and overall composite at both week 4 (t=-2.149, -3.530, -2.740, P<0.05) and week 12 (t=-3.534, -3.576, -3.838, P<0.01) when compared to the control group. ConclusionThe combined tACS and sertraline therapy may demonstrate superior efficacy to pharmacotherapy alone in the short term for improving attention/vigilance, verbal learning, overall cognitive function, and anxiety symptoms in patients with depressive disorders. Based on the 12-week outcomes, the combined tACS and sertraline therapy not only sustaine its previously observed advantages in improving cognitive domains and anxiety symptoms, but also demonstrate potentially superior efficacy over monotherapy in alleviating depressive symptoms. [Fund by Clinical Medical Research Transformation Special Project of Anhui Province (number, 202204295107020065)]
8.Analysis of syncopal DRVR in blood donors: multicenter hemovigilance data (2020—2023)
Junhong YANG ; Qing XU ; Wenqin ZHU ; Fei TANG ; Ruru HE ; Zhenping LU ; Zhujiang YE ; Fade ZHONG ; Gang WU ; Guoqiang FENG ; Xiaojie GUO ; Jia ZENG ; Xia HUANG
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(8):1071-1076
Objective: Data on syncopal donation-related vasovagal reaction (DRVR) collected from 74 blood centers between 2020 and 2023 was statistically analyzed to provide a reference for developing preventive strategies against syncopal DRVR. Methods: Data on blood donation adverse reactions and basic information of donors from 2020 to 2023 were collected through the information management system at monitoring sentinel sites. Statistical analysis was performed on the following aspects of syncopal DRVR: characteristics of donors who experienced syncope, reported incidence, triggers, duration, presence and occurrence time of syncope-related trauma, clinical management including outpatient and inpatient treatment, and severity grading. Results: From 2020 to 2023, 45 966 donation-related adverse reactions were recorded. Of these, 1 665 (3.72%) cases were syncopal DRVR. The incidence of syncopal DRVR decreased with age, being the highest in the 18-22 age group. Incidence was significantly higher in female donors than male donors, in first-time donors than repeat donors, and in university and individual donors than group donors (all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference among different blood donation locations (P>0.05). The top three triggers were tension, fatigue, and needle phobia or fear of blood. Among syncopal DRVR cases, 60.36% occurred during blood collection, 87.63% lasted for less than 60 seconds, and 5.05% were accompanied by trauma. Notably, 57.14% of these traumas occurred after donor had left the blood collection site. Syncope severity was graded based on required treatment: grade 1 (fully recovered without treatment, 95.50%); grade 2 (recovered after outpatient treatment, 4.02%); and grade 3 (recovered after inpatient treatment, 0.48%). Conclusion: By analyzing the data of syncopal DRVR cases, it is possible to provide a reference for formulating blood donor safety policies.
9.Correlation between depressive symptom and traditional Chinese medicine constitution among school aged children and adolescents
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(9):1222-1225
Objective:
To explore the correlation between traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitution and depressive symptom among school aged children and adolescents, so as to provide evidences for informing constitution based regulation and prevention of depressive symptom.
Methods:
From June to December 2024, a total of 4 729 students aged 6-14 were recruited by cluster random sampling from 10 primary schools in Baoding (Hebei Province), Heze and Liaocheng (Shandong Province). General information, TCM constitution and depressive symptom were collected. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were used to analyze related factors and threshold effects of depressive symptom. Binary Logistic regression was applied to examine the association between depressive symptom and TCM constitution, with subgroup analyses conducted.
Results:
The detection rate of depressive symptom among the included children and adolescents was 25.82%. RCS analyses indicated non linear associations between depressive symptom and age (inflection point at 10 years old), bedtime (inflection point at 22:00), and wake up time (inflection point at 6:30 ) (all P non linearity <0.01). Linear associations were observed with body mass index (BMI) and sleep duration (all P non linearity > 0.05 ). After adjusting for covariates such as age, BMI and sleep status, binary Logistic regression analyses showed that Yin deficient constitution ( OR =1.26, 95% CI =1.09-1.45) and Phlegm-dampness constitution ( OR =1.42, 95% CI =1.11-1.82) were significantly associated with depressive symptom among children and adolescents (all P <0.05).
Conclusions
Depressive symptom among school aged children and adolescents is primarily associated with Yin deficiency and Phlegm dampness constitutions in TCM constitution. Active attention should be paid to susceptible TCM constitution among children and adolescents. Targeted health guidance and interventions should be implemented to improve TCM constitution health status for preventing the occurrence of depressive symptom.
10.Transzonal Projections and Follicular Development Abnormalities in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Di CHENG ; Yu-Hua CHEN ; Xia-Ping JIANG ; Lan-Yu LI ; Yi TAN ; Ming LI ; Zhong-Cheng MO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(10):2499-2511
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder affecting a substantial proportion of women of reproductive age. It is frequently associated with ovulatory dysfunction, infertility, and an increased risk of chronic metabolic diseases. A hallmark pathological feature of PCOS is the arrest of follicular development, closely linked to impaired intercellular communication between the oocyte and surrounding granulosa cells. Transzonal projections (TZPs) are specialized cytoplasmic extensions derived from granulosa cells that penetrate the zona pellucida to establish direct contact with the oocyte. These structures serve as essential conduits for the transfer of metabolites, signaling molecules (e.g., cAMP, cGMP), and regulatory factors (e.g., microRNAs, growth differentiation factors), thereby maintaining meiotic arrest, facilitating metabolic cooperation, and supporting gene expression regulation in the oocyte. The proper formation and maintenance of TZPs depend on the cytoskeletal integrity of granulosa cells and the regulated expression of key connexins, particularly CX37 and CX43. Recent studies have revealed that in PCOS, TZPs exhibit significant structural and functional abnormalities. Contributing factors—such as hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and dysregulation of critical signaling pathways (including PI3K/Akt, Wnt/β‑catenin, and MAPK/ERK)—collectively impair TZP integrity and reduce their formation. This disruption in granulosa-oocyte communication compromises oocyte quality and contributes to follicular arrest and anovulation. This review provides a comprehensive overview of TZP biology, including their formation mechanisms, molecular composition, and stage-specific dynamics during folliculogenesis. We highlight the pathological alterations in TZPs observed in PCOS and elucidate how endocrine and metabolic disturbances—particularly androgen excess and hyperinsulinemia—downregulate CX43 expression and impair gap junction function, thereby exacerbating ovarian microenvironmental dysfunction. Furthermore, we explore emerging therapeutic strategies aimed at preserving or restoring TZP integrity. Anti-androgen therapies (e.g., spironolactone, flutamide), insulin sensitizers (e.g., metformin), and GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., liraglutide) have shown potential in modulating connexin expression and enhancing granulosa-oocyte communication. In addition, agents such as melatonin, AMPK activators, and GDF9/BMP15 analogs may promote TZP formation and improve oocyte competence. Advanced technologies, including ovarian organoid models and CRISPR-based gene editing, offer promising platforms for studying TZP regulation and developing targeted interventions. In summary, TZPs are indispensable for maintaining follicular homeostasis, and their disruption plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of PCOS-related folliculogenesis failure. Targeting TZP integrity represents a promising therapeutic avenue in PCOS management and warrants further mechanistic and translational investigation.


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