1.A case-control analysis on the effects of combined exposure to heavy metals arsenic, mercury, and cadmium on hearing function in adults
Huanhuan NIE ; Shuyuan ZHANG ; Linsheng YANG ; Xianglong MENG ; Hongli WANG ; Yuan WANG ; Jie YANG ; Dongsheng XU
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(7):1237-1244
ObjectiveTo investigate the association between single and combined exposure to arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) in urine and hearing loss in adults. MethodsA total of 400 adult patients were recruited for the study, comprising 200 participants in the normal hearing group and 200 in the hearing loss group. General demographic information of the study subjects was collected by a self-administered questionnaire, morning urine samples were tested for As, Hg, and Cd concentrations, and hearing status was assessed by Pure Tone Audiometry. A binary Logistic regression model was used to explore the association between the concentrations of the three metals in urine and hearing loss, and a Bayesian kernel-machine regression (BKMR) model was used to further explore the association between the concentrations of the three metal mixtures and hearing loss. ResultsAfter correction for urinary creatinine, As, Hg, and Cd concentrations were higher in the hearing loss group than those in the normal hearing group (P<0.05). Binary Logistic regression indicated that concentrations of As, Hg, and Cd were positively associated with hearing loss, and the risk of hearing loss was significantly higher in the second quartile of Cd concentration compared to the first quartile (OR=2.000, 95%CI: 1.009-3.964). BKMR modeling analysis showed that the combined exposure levels of As, Hg, and Cd significantly increased the risk of hearing loss, with Cd being the most important contributor (posterior inclusion probability=0.412), and that there were potential interactions between As and Cd, and Cd and Hg. ConclusionCombined exposure to As, Hg, and Cd in urine is significantly associated with adult hearing loss, with Cd being the primary contributor in the exposure combination. The interactions between As and Cd, as well as Cd and Hg, may have adverse effects on hearing loss.
2.Current approaches and challenges in addressing class imbalance in medical prediction models
Xianglong MENG ; Yutong WANG ; Xin ZHANG ; Siyan ZHAN ; Shengfeng WANG
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2025;46(9):1632-1639
With the rise of personalized medicine and the rapid development of big data technology, medical prediction models have become increasingly important in disease diagnosis, prognosis assessment, and risk stratification. However, class imbalance is a common problem in medical data, which can result in models being overly trained toward the majority class rather than the minority class, influencing the detection power and clinical application value. This paper systematically summarizes traditional methods in addressing class imbalance, including data pre-processing and algorithm level strategies, and introduces the applications of new technologies such as generative adversarial networks and transfer learning and suggests key considerations and potential research focus for addressing class imbalance to provide reference for researchers to select appropriate strategies.
3.Current approaches and challenges in addressing class imbalance in medical prediction models
Xianglong MENG ; Yutong WANG ; Xin ZHANG ; Siyan ZHAN ; Shengfeng WANG
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2025;46(9):1632-1639
With the rise of personalized medicine and the rapid development of big data technology, medical prediction models have become increasingly important in disease diagnosis, prognosis assessment, and risk stratification. However, class imbalance is a common problem in medical data, which can result in models being overly trained toward the majority class rather than the minority class, influencing the detection power and clinical application value. This paper systematically summarizes traditional methods in addressing class imbalance, including data pre-processing and algorithm level strategies, and introduces the applications of new technologies such as generative adversarial networks and transfer learning and suggests key considerations and potential research focus for addressing class imbalance to provide reference for researchers to select appropriate strategies.
4.Angiographic manifestations and interventional treatment outcomes of inferior vena cava occlusion associated with dangerous collateral vessels in Budd-Chiari syndrome
Xianglong QIU ; Yabo GOU ; Chao WANG ; Bin SHEN ; Jinchang XIAO ; Hongtao LIU ; Hao XU ; Maoheng ZU ; Qingqiao ZHANG
Journal of Practical Radiology 2025;41(10):1720-1722,1744
Objective To investigate the angiographic manifestations and interventional treatment outcomes of inferior vena cava occlusion associated with dangerous collateral vessels in Budd-Chiari syndrome(BCS).Methods The data of 43 BCS patients with inferior vena cava occlusion and dangerous collateral vessels were retrospectively analyzed.All 43 patients underwent digital subtraction angiography(DSA)of the inferior vena cava and recanalization treatment of the occluded segment of the inferior vena cava.Results DSA in 43 patients showed that the inferior vena cava was occluded,and a total of 70 dangerous collateral vessels originated from the occluded end.All patients were successfully treated.DSA showed that the blood flow in the inferior vena cava was unobstructed and the dangerous collateral vessels disappeared.No complications,such as rupture or bleeding of the inferior vena cava,occurred during the interventional treatment.The 43 patients were followed up for 6-75 months after interventional treatment,and re-occlusion occurred in 6 cases.All patients made it through.Conclusion DSA can clearly show the dangerous collateral vessels originating from the occluded end of the inferior vena cava in BCS,and interventional treatment is safe and effective.
5.Ideas of Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment of Pancreatic Endocrine and Exocrine Co-Morbidities from the Attributes of Zang-Fu Organs of Pancreas
Yulin LENG ; Jiacheng YIN ; Xianglong LI ; Jiahong ZHANG ; Yi SU ; Hong GAO ; Chunguang XIE ; Xiaoxu FU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(2):145-149
Based on advancements in modern medical research regarding the intricate connection between the endocrine and exocrine functions of the pancreas, as well as the relationship between pancreatic functions and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) spleen system, this paper discussed the categorization of the pancreas. It is proposed that the pancreas is neither a true zang organ nor a fu organ, but possessed the attributes of an extraordinary fu-organ and can be classified under the spleen. The spleen governs transportation and transformation, ascent of the clear and dispersion of essence, which encompasses the endocrine and exocrine functions, and pancreatic enzymes and glucose-regulating hormones form the material basis for the spleen's function of dispersing essence. Diseases of the pancreas exhibit characteristics of both zang-organ deficiency and fu-organ excess, so treatment should simultaneously supplement zang-organ disease and regulate fu-organ disease when pancreas showing endocrine and exocrine co-morbidities, with focus on restoring the pancreas (spleen)'s dispersing essence function. Therapeutic strategies include supplementing spleen qi, nourishing spleen yin to strengthen spleen earth, unblocking spleen collaterals, raising spleen yang, and removing spleen turbidity to support the spleen's dispersing essence function, so as to replenish the essential qi of zang-fu organs, ensure their distribution throughout the body, and improve the endocrine and exocrine functions of the pancreas.
6.Event-related potential assessment of cognitive function in children with obstructive sleep-disordered breathing
Xiaoxue ZHANG ; Yuhuan ZHANG ; Yu SUN ; Xuemei YUAN ; Qingyuan LI ; Qiang CHEN ; Xianglong YANG ; Dong CHEN ; Guoping YIN
Chinese Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;60(8):882-889
Objective:To assess cognitive impairment in children with obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (OSDB) using event-related potentials (ERPs).Methods:This case-control study analyzed data from 143 OSDB children[94 males, 49 females, aged 9.0(7.0-11.0) years] scheduled for adenotonsillectomy at the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, between June 2023 and September 2024, along with 17 healthy controls [control group: 10 males, 7 females, aged 10.0 (7.5-12.0) years]. Based on polysomnography results, OSDB children were divided into a mild group [obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (OAHI)≤5 events/hour, 49 males, 29 females, aged 9.0 (7.0-10.0) years] and a moderate-to-severe group [OAHI>5 events/hour, 45 males, 20 females, aged 9.0 (8.0-10.0) years]. All children completed a face perception integration task. The occipital P100 and parietal, central and frontal P300 components of incomplete face stimuli (S1) and complete face stimuli (S2) were recorded. Amplitude and latency differences across groups were analyzed. Intergroup comparisons were performed using ANOVA, while independent samples t-tests were used for pairwise comparisons. Non-normally distributed data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results:(1) P100: Both the mild group [occipital P100 amplitude: O1-S1(12.44±5.96) μV, O2-S1(14.19±6.39) μV, O2-S2(30.34±11.30) μV] and moderate-to-severe group [O1-S1 (12.12±5.58) μV, O2-S1 (14.08±5.48) μV, O2-S2(29.12±10.89) μV] showed significantly higher amplitudes than the control group [O1-S1(8.46±4.74) μV,O2-S1(9.68±3.70) μV,O2-S2(23.09±9.16) μV] ( F=3.501, 4.486, 3.072; all P<0.05). No significant differences were found between the two OSDB subgroups ( P>0.05), suggesting compensatory neuronal hyperactivity maintaining normal perceptual function. The moderate-to-severe group exhibited significantly prolonged P100 latency [O2-S1 (134.52±13.42) ms] compared to controls [O2-S1 (125.18±15.31) ms] ( F=3.156 , P<0.05), while no significant difference was observed between the mild group and either the control or moderate-to-severe groups ( P>0.05), indicating delayed visual processing in severely affected children. (2) P300: The mild group exhibited significantly higher P300 amplitudes in parietal regions [P4-S1(8.22±4.32) μV, P4-S2(17.67±9.42) μV] compared to controls [P4-S1 (4.84±2.89) μV, P4-S2 (13.19±7.23) μV] ( F=7.19, 4.771; both P<0.05), whereas no significant differences were observed between the moderate-to-severe group and either the control or mild groups ( P>0.05), indicating mild group reduced alertness. The latency of P300 in the central region showed an increase in the mild group, although not significantly ( P>0.05), indicating a potential decrease in attentional response speed. However, the moderate-to-severe group demonstrated significantly shorter P300 latencies [CZ-S1(394.18±89.12) ms] compared to the mild group [CZ-S1 (433.33±100.33) ms] ( F=3.145, P<0.05), possibly reflecting compensatory enhancement of attentional engagement in more severe cases. Conclusion:Children with OSDB exhibit impairments in primary visual processing and attentional regulation, as evidenced by altered ERP components such as P100 and P300. These findings suggest that OSDB may affect neural mechanisms underlying sensory integration and executive functioning.
7.Clinical study of levosimendan combined with enalapril in treating acute anterior wall myocardial infarction complicated with cardiac dysfunction after emergency PCI
Jie ZHANG ; Xianglong LIU ; Jing ZHANG
Tianjin Medical Journal 2025;53(1):98-102
Objective To investigate the efficacy of levosimendan combined with enalapril on acute anterior wall myocardial infarction complicated with cardiac dysfunction after emergency percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).Methods Ninety-eight patients with acute anterior wall myocardial infarction who underwent emergency PCI surgery and developed heart failure were prospectively selected,and randomly divided into the single group and the combined group,49 patients in each group.The single group received enalapril at a dose of 5 mg/(times·day).The combined group received levosimendan on the basis of the single group,with an initial dose of 6 μg/kg within 10 minutes after the start of intravenous injection,and the adjusted dose was 0.1 μg/(kg·min)after 10 minutes.The infusion lasted for 24 hours.The effects,improvement in Killip heart function classification,cardiac remodeling indicators[left atrial diameter(LAD),left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),interventricular septal thickness(IVST)and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDD)],serological indicators[creatine kinase isoenzyme(CK-MB),cystatin C(Cys C)and cardiac troponin I(cTnI)],6-minute walk distance and incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.Results The overall effective rate was higher in the combined group than that of the single group(P<0.05).After treatment,the cardiac function was better in the combined group than that of the single group.Data of LAD,IVST,LVEDD,CK-MB,Cys C and cTnI were lower in the combined group than those of the single group,and LVEF was higher in the combined group than those of the single group(P<0.05).The distance of the 6MWT was longer in the combined group than that in the single group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the total incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups.Conclusion Levosimendan in combination with enalapril is effective in treating patients with acute anterior wall myocardial infarction complicated with cardiac insufficiency after emergency PCI,which can effectively reduce myocardial injury,improve cardiac and renal functions,and has high safety.
8.Beverage Interventions in Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease
Jiawen WEI ; Meng XIA ; Yujun CHEN ; Yong YANG ; Ying ZHANG ; Jiangyin ZHANG ; Kuikui CHEN ; Xianglong QIU
Journal of Kunming Medical University 2025;46(10):145-155
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD)has become the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide,and China is facing a severe challenge of rapidly increasing MASLD burden.Beverages,as an important modifiable factor,have become a research focus for primary prevention and lifestyle management of MASLD.This article reviews beverage consumption trends,provides an in-depth analysis of the mechanisms and health effects of sugar-sweetened beverages,alcoholic drinks,coffee,and tea on MASLD,summarizes their potential pathogenic and protective pathways,and explores comprehensive strategies including beverage intervention,lifestyle coordination,functional beverage development,psychological and behavioral mechanism regulation,and targeted population prevention.The aim is to provide theoretical basis and practical guidance for the localized and precise prevention and control of MASLD.
9.Construction and identification of foot-and-mouth disease virus replicon system carrying fluorescent protein UnaG
Xuetong LI ; Yuanyuan HUANG ; Xianglong GUO ; Yun ZHANG ; Shiqi SUN ; Huichen GUO ; Jinen WU
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2025;45(7):1411-1416,1436
To construct a subgenomic replication subsystem of foot-and-mouth disease virus(FM-DV)carrying fluorescent protein(UnaG),the full-length cDNA plasmid of FMDV was employed as the template.A few of structural and non-structural protein genes of FMDV were removed by double-enzyme digestion.By substituting reporter gene sequences expressing the green fluorescent protein UnaG for specific structural protein sequences of FMDV,FMDV-UnaG replicators were successfully created.After PCR and sequencing,linearized FMDV-UnaG replicons were transfected into BSR/T7 cells expressing T7 RNA polymerase,and the fluorescence signal was observed through fluorescence microscopy and laser confocal technique.The results demonstrated that the constructed FMDV-UnaG replicons could effectively express UnaG protein,and the protein colo-calized with FMDV 3A protein.Additionally,Western blot and RT-qPCR also detected that the replicator RNA could express the non-structural proteins of the virus and replicate autonomously in BSR/T7 cells,respectively.In conclusion,the successful construction of FMDV-UnaG sub-genomic replicators offers a favorable tool for further research on the replication and translation mechanism of FMDV and the development of vaccine vectors.
10.Reseavch on the Construction and Evolution of Core Competency Framework for Physician-Scientists Based on International Experiences
Hongyu XIAO ; Ziwen LONG ; Tian ZHAO ; Li LUO ; Xianglong LI ; Gepei ZHANG ; Ping ZHOU
Chinese Hospital Management 2025;45(12):42-47,58
Objective lt focuses on the pivotal role of physician-scientists as a central driving force in the advancement of research-oriented hospitals,with particular emphasis on mapping the cultivation pathways and structural framework of their core competencies,while integrating existing evidence to propose optimization strategies.Methods A systematic review was conducted using PubMed,Web of Science,Embase,CNKl,and Wanfang databases to identify studies published between 2000 and 2024 concerning the core competencies of physician-scientists.Results A total of 29 studies were included.The synthesized core competency framework comprises four domains:clinical research capacity,interdisciplinary integration ability,teamwork ability and leadership,and professional integrity and accountability.Conclusion The core competencies of physician-scientists exhibit a progressive trajectory aligned with career development.Future efforts should further clarify the professional role of physician-scientists and accelerate the research on the core competencies of physician-scientists in line with the requirements of job competence,thereby advancing the high-quality development of research-oriented hospitals.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail