1.Development and validation of PhenoRAG: A visualization tool for automated human phenotype ontology term annotation based on large language models and retrieval-augmented generation technology.
Wei ZHONG ; Yousheng YAN ; Kai YANG ; Yan LIU ; Xinyu FU ; Zhengyang YAO ; Chenghong YIN
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2026;43(1):36-43
OBJECTIVE:
To develop a user-friendly visualization application for the automatic annotation of Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) terms based on large language models and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) technology, and to validate its performance in an authoritative case dataset.
METHODS:
By integrating the domestic open-source large language model DeepSeek-V3 with RAG technology, an interactive web application was deployed on the Streamlit cloud platform. Using only the latest official HPO dataset as the data source, the lightweight sentence-embedding model BAAI/bge-small-en-v1.5 was employed to construct a FAISS vector index. During the online phase, a four-step closed-loop process is automatically completed: multilingual translation, phenotype phrase extraction, RAG candidate retrieval, term mapping, and official database validation. 121 English case reports publicly released by BMJ Case Reports and Oxford Medical Case Reports (with a gold-standard HPO set of 1 794 terms) were selected for application validation. Precision, recall, and F1 score were calculated and compared horizontally with traditional dictionary tools, standalone large language models, and the similar application "RAG-HPO". Finally, replace the model with the more advanced ChatGPT-5 and evaluate its performance on the newly extracted dataset.
RESULTS:
An HPO term automatic annotation visualization application named PhenoRAG, based on large language models and RAG technology, was successfully developed. Users can access it directly via a web link. Across the 112 cases, a total of 2 150 HPO terms were generated; 2,064 (96.0%) were fully validated by the official database, with a hallucination rate of 1.3% and an HPO ID-name mismatch rate of 2.7%. After deduplication, 1,906 terms remained for testing. The overall precision was 63.65%, recall was 67.34%, and F1 was 65.44%, significantly outperforming traditional annotation tools (F1: 0.45-0.49, P < 0.001). Although PhenoRAG's F1 was lower than that of RAG-HPO (F1 = 0.78, P < 0.001), which relies on a manually constructed synonym database of 54 000 entries plus the HPO dataset, it requires no additional dictionary maintenance and can be used without any background in computer programming. Moreover, after switching to the GPT-5 model, PhenoRAG exhibited no hallucination rate on the new dataset, and its F1 score significantly increased (P = 0.038).
CONCLUSION
Without constructing a synonym database, the PhenoRAG achieved high-accuracy automatic mapping from clinical text to standard HPO terms. It features a low usage threshold, free access, and a Chinese-language interface, and can directly serve rare disease diagnosis, genetic counseling, and research scenarios in China and worldwide, warranting further clinical promotion and multicenter validation.
Humans
;
Phenotype
;
Biological Ontologies
;
Language
;
Software
;
Large Language Models
2.Screening of miRNA-mRNA regulatory targets based on a plasma-derived exosomal hair regeneration model in Xinji Fine-wool sheep and Small-tailed Han sheep
Wei WANG ; Xinyu ZHANG ; Dazhuo ZHAO ; Wei FAN ; Yilu ZHAI ; Jiaqi FU ; Fuliang SUN
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2025;45(5):1067-1076,1094
To investigate the effects of plasma exosomes from sheep on animal hair growth,exo-somes were extracted from two sheep breeds with significant differences in wool fineness(Xinji Fine-wool sheep and Small-tailed Han sheep)using biphasic precipitation.The exosomes were characterized by transmission electron microscopy(TEM)and nanoparticle tracking analysis(NTA).A murine alopecia areata model was established,followed by subcutaneous injection of ex-osomes for 7 consecutive days.Dorsal skin samples were collected on day 10 post-injection for his-tological analysis via hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.miRNA and mRNA libraries were constructed through qPCR,while TargetScan and g:Profiler were employed for target gene predic-tion and KEGG enrichment analysis,respectively.Protein-protein interaction(PPI)networks were analyzed using STRING to identify key miRNA-mRNA targets,which were preliminarily validated by qPCR.Results demonstrated that on day 5 post-injection,the Small-tailed Han sheep plasma ex-osome group(SPE)exhibited more melanin deposition spots compared to the Xinji Fine-wool sheep plasma exosome group(XPE),with XPE showing greater melanin spots than the control group(NC).Histological analysis revealed that XPE group displayed significantly fewer hair folli-cles compared to SPE and NC groups(P<0.01),while SPE group exhibited significantly larger hair follicle diameters than both XPE and NC groups(P<0.01).Bioinformatics analysis predicted 357,711,477,346,and 3 178 target genes for miR-150,miR-133b,miR-31-5p,miR-433-3p,and miR-218,respectively,with 508 genes being co-regulated by two or more miRNAs.PPI analysis i-dentified 217 genes involved in positive regulation of cellular processes,109 in developmental regu-lation,133 in cellular development,132 in cell differentiation,and 69 in regulation of cell differenti-ation.Target genes were found to regulate hair follicle growth through Wnt signaling via Frizzled receptor binding and downstream pathways involving calmodulin(CaM)and cyclic-AMP response binding protein(CREB).qPCR validation showed significantly higher relative expression levels of miR-218,miR-150,miR-31-5p,miR-133b,and miR-433-3p in SPE and XPE groups compared to NC,with SPE exhibiting greater expression than XPE.Additionally,significant differences in FZD4,WNT4,CREB1,and FZD3 expression were observed between treatment groups and NC.These findings demonstrate that plasma exosomes from Xinji Fine-wool and Small-tailed Han sheep modulate hair growth by altering miRNA-mRNA expression profiles in skin tissues.
3.Evidence summary for risk management of breast and ovarian cancers in carriers of breast cancer susceptibility gene 1/2 mutations
Zhixiang SUN ; Pingpin WEN ; Xiaoli ZHANG ; Chunyan LIU ; Xinyu YANG ; Yu XIAO ; Jing FU
Journal of Clinical Medicine in Practice 2025;29(10):83-88
Objective To systematically search,evaluate,and summarize the evidence for risk management of breast and ovarian cancers in carriers of breast cancer susceptibility gene 1/2(BRCA1/2)mutations.Methods A systematic search was conducted in BMJ Best Practice,UpTo-Date,the National Guideline Clearinghouse(NGC),the National Institute for Health and Care Ex-cellence(NICE),the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network(SIGN),the Guidelines Interna-tional Network(GIN),the New Zealand Guidelines Group(NZGG),the Canadian Medical Associa-tion Infobase(CMA InfoBase),the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario(RNAO),the National Comprehensive Cancer Network(NCCN),Cancer Care Ontario(CCO),the Medlive website,the American Society of Clinical Oncology(ASCO),the European Society for Medical Oncology(ESMO),the American Cancer Society(ACS),the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists(ACOG),the Joanna Briggs Institute(JBI),the Cochrane Library,PubMed,Web of Science,Em-base,CINAHL,ProQuest,ClinicalTrials.gov,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,Wanfang Data,VIP Database,and SinoMed for evidence related to risk management of breast and ovarian canc-ers in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers,including clinical decisions,guidelines,systematic reviews,expert consensus,and evidence summaries.The search period was from the inception of each database to September 20,2024.Results A total of 14 articles were included,comprising 1 clinical decision,8 guidelines,and 5 expert consensus documents.Based on five themes-risk assessment,risk moni-toring,risk-reducing surgery,pharmacologic prevention,and health guidance,a total of 24 pieces of evidence were summarized.Conclusion The evidence summarization process in this study is standardized,and the summarized evidence is relatively comprehensive.Healthcare professionals should comprehensively consider patients' individual characteristics,family history,personal prefer-ences,and the accessibility of healthcare resources to achieve effective prevention and control of he-reditary tumor risks.
4.Research progress in Chaihu Longgu Muli Decoction for the treatment of perimenopausal insomnia
Ying LIU ; Jinying FU ; Yaxin LI ; Xinyu WANG ; Xinkun LI ; Xiang LI
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;47(8):1172-1177
Chaihu Longgu Muli Decoction can be used to treat perimenopausal insomnia (PMI). It can be used either alone with modification or in combination with Western medicine or acupuncture and moxibustion and other external TCM treatment methods, which has achieved good efficacy, and can improve the symptoms of patients with difficulty falling asleep and decreased sleep quality, with good safety. The treatment of Chaihu Longgu Muli Decoction for PMI may exert its effects through multiple pathways, such as inhibiting HPA axis hyperactivity, regulating hormone and neurotransmitter levels, inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. However, existing clinical studies suffer from issues such as small sample sizes, inconsistent research protocols, and inconsistent efficacy evaluation criteria, which require further improvement and deeper exploration of relevant mechanisms.
5.Research progress on kinesiophobia in school-aged children with asthma and nursing enlightenment
Zhixiang SUN ; Jing FU ; Pingpin WEN ; Xiaoli ZHANG ; Xinyu YANG ; Chunyan LIU ; Yu XIAO
Chinese Journal of Nursing 2025;60(19):2419-2425
Kinesiophobia is prevalent among school-aged children with asthma,and severe kinesiophobia can hinder their participation in physical activities and disease control,adversely affecting their physical and mental health.This paper reviews the concept,development,assessment tools,influencing factors,and intervention strategies of kinesiophobia in school-aged children with asthma,analyzes existing challenges,and proposes directions for future research.It aims to provide insights for developing scientific and personalized intervention plans to enhance children's exercise levels and improve their quality of life.
6.Involvement of sympathetic nerve in the regulation of disuse atrophy of skeletal muscles: a preliminary study
Dongliang CHENG ; Mingming ZHANG ; Jiang LIU ; Junmin SHEN ; Zhongqi WANG ; Xinyu SUN ; Duanyang WANG ; Feifan CHANG ; Haobo ZHANG ; Pincong FU ; Ming CHEN ; Yi LI ; Pengbin YIN ; Licheng ZHANG ; Peifu TANG
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma 2025;27(3):242-249
Objective:To investigate the changes in sympathetic nerve activity after lower limb immobilization and the role of sympathetic nerve in regulating disuse atrophy of skeletal muscles.Methods:The experiment was divided into the following 3 parts: ① Twelve 8-week-old male C57 mice were randomly divided into a blank control group and a hind limb fixation group ( n=6). The blank control group received no intervention while the hind limb fixation group received splint fixation of the hind limbs for 2 weeks before the musculoskeletal multi-dimensional characterization was completed at the behavioral, pathological and molecular levels. ② Thirty-six 8-week-old male C57 mice were selected and randomly divided into a control group and 5 hind limb fixation groups (for 1, 3, 5, 7 and 14 days) ( n=6). The control group was fed normally until 14 days without any intervention while the 5 hind limb fixation groups were sampled after fixation for 1, 3, 5, 7 and 14 days, respectively. The level of norepinephrine in the serum and the expression level of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), a marker of sympathetic nerve activity in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVN), were detected to observe the plasticity of sympathetic nerve activity. ③ Eighteen 8-week-old male C57 mice were selected and randomly divided into a blank control group, a hind limb fixation group and a hind limb fixation plus medication group ( n=6). The blank control group received no intervention while the 2 fixation groups were injected with phosphate buffer (PBS) and propranolol hydrochloride solution for 2 consecutive weeks, respectively. The parameters related to the skeletal muscles were compared between the 3 groups. Results:① Compared with the control group, the mass and function of skeletal muscles in the hind limb fixation group were statistically significantly decreased ( P<0.05). ② The levels of serum norepinephrine [(3.27±1.03) ng/mL, (9.21±1.05) ng/mL, (6.36±0.88) ng/mL, (3.84±1.00) ng/mL, and (3.91±0.75) ng/mL] and the PVN TH levels (42.00%±5.38%, 61.67%±5.57%, 55.82%±3.11%, 50.90%±2.53%, and 39.17%±9.07%) in the 5 hind limb fixation groups (for 1, 3, 5, 7 and 14 days) were significantly higher than those in the control group [(1.81±0.72)] ng/mL and 23.33%±5.50%] ( P<0.05). ③ The wet weight of the gastrocnemius muscle [(93.50±4.32) mg] and the cross-section area of the tibial anterior muscle [(1,180.00±95.09) μm 2] in the hind limb fixation plus medication group were increased significantly compared with those in the hind limb fixation group [(80.83±9.99) mg and (907.80±121.00) μm 2] ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system occurs in the mice model of skeletal muscle disuse atrophy after hind limb fixation. Inhibition of sympathetic nerve activity may reduce the severity of skeletal muscle atrophy at the lower limbs.
7.Effects of initial periodontal therapy on the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps in gingival crevicular fluid in patients with severe periodontitis.
Lanqing FU ; Xinyu HAO ; Wenbo QIAN ; Ying SUN
West China Journal of Stomatology 2025;43(1):46-52
OBJECTIVES:
This study aimed to observe the effects of initial periodontal therapy on the level of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients with severe periodontitis and to analyze the factors related to the formation of NETs.
METHODS:
Thirty-one patients with stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ periodontitis were recruited. Clinical periodontal parameters, including plaque index (PLI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), and clinical atta-chment loss (CAL), were recorded before and 6-8 weeks after initial periodontal therapy. Levels of NETs in GCF were detected by immunofluorescence staining. Quantities of total bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A. actionomycetemcomitans) and Prevotella intermedia (P. intermedia)in unattached subgingival plaque were determined by real-time quantitative PCR, and levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in GCF were explored by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, the correlations between the level of NETs and the above indicators were analyzed.
RESULTS:
After initial periodontal therapy, the level of NETs in GCF, PLI, GI, PD, and CAL; quantities of total bacteria, P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans, and P. itermedia; and levels of IL-8 and TNF-α significantly decreased (P<0.05). We observed strong positive correlations between the level of NETs and PLI, GI, PD, CAL, the amount of total bacteria, P. gingivalis, TNF-α, and IL-8 (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Initial periodontal therapy might decrease the level of NETs in GCF from patients with severe periodontitis, which might be positively correlated with the quantities of P. gingivalis andthe levels of TNF-α and IL-8 in GCF.
Humans
;
Gingival Crevicular Fluid
;
Extracellular Traps/metabolism*
;
Porphyromonas gingivalis/isolation & purification*
;
Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans/isolation & purification*
;
Periodontitis/metabolism*
;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/analysis*
;
Prevotella intermedia/isolation & purification*
;
Interleukin-8/analysis*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Middle Aged
;
Periodontal Index
;
Adult
8.Resistance to antibody-drug conjugates: A review.
Sijia LI ; Xinyu ZHAO ; Kai FU ; Shuangli ZHU ; Can PAN ; Chuan YANG ; Fang WANG ; Kenneth K W TO ; Liwu FU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(2):737-756
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are antitumor drugs composed of monoclonal antibodies and cytotoxic payload covalently coupled by a linker. Currently, 15 ADCs have been clinically approved worldwide. More than 100 clinical trials at different phases are underway to investigate the newly developed ADCs. ADCs represent one of the fastest growing classes of targeted antitumor drugs in oncology drug development. It takes advantage of the specific targeting of tumor-specific antigen by antibodies to deliver cytotoxic chemotherapeutic drugs precisely to tumor cells, thereby producing promising antitumor efficacy and favorable adverse effect profiles. However, emergence of drug resistance has severely hindered the clinical efficacy of ADCs. In this review, we introduce the structure and mechanism of ADCs, describe the development of ADCs, summarized the latest research about the mechanisms of ADC resistance, discussed the strategies to overcome ADCs resistance, and predicted biomarkers for treatment response to ADC, aiming to contribute to the development of ADCs in the future.
9.Bacteroi des fragilis-derived succinic acid promotes the degradation of uric acid by inhibiting hepatic AMPD2: Insight into how plant-based berberine ameliorates hyperuricemia.
Libin PAN ; Ru FENG ; Jiachun HU ; Hang YU ; Qian TONG ; Xinyu YANG ; Jianye SONG ; Hui XU ; Mengliang YE ; Zhengwei ZHANG ; Jie FU ; Haojian ZHANG ; Jinyue LU ; Zhao ZHAI ; Jingyue WANG ; Yi ZHAO ; Hengtong ZUO ; Xiang HUI ; Jiandong JIANG ; Yan WANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(10):5244-5260
In recent decades, the prevalence of hyperuricemia and gout has increased dramatically due to lifestyle changes. The drugs currently recommended for hyperuricemia are associated with adverse reactions that limit their clinical use. In this study, we report that berberine (BBR) is an effective drug candidate for the treatment of hyperuricemia, with its mechanism potentially involving the modulation of gut microbiota and its metabolite, succinic acid. BBR has demonstrated good therapeutic effects in both acute and chronic animal models of hyperuricemia. In a clinical trial, oral administration of BBR for 6 months reduced blood uric acid levels in 22 participants by modulating the gut microbiota, which led to an increase in the abundance of Bacteroides and a decrease in Clostridium sensu stricto_1. Furthermore, Bacteroides fragilis was transplanted into ICR mice, and the results showed that Bacteroides fragilis exerted a therapeutic effect on uric acid similar to that of BBR. Notably, succinic acid, a metabolite of Bacteroides, significantly reduced uric acid levels. Subsequent cell and animal experiments revealed that the intestinal metabolite, succinic acid, regulated the upstream uric acid synthesis pathway in the liver by inhibiting adenosine monophosphate deaminase 2 (AMPD2), an enzyme responsible for converting adenosine monophosphate (AMP) to inosine monophosphate (IMP). This inhibition resulted in a decrease in IMP levels and an increase in phosphate levels. The reduction in IMP led to a decreased downstream production of hypoxanthine, xanthine, and uric acid. BBR also demonstrated excellent renoprotective effects, improving nephropathy associated with hyperuricemia. In summary, BBR has the potential to be an effective treatment for hyperuricemia through the gut-liver axis.
10.Large-Scale Sleep Survey and the Impact of Step-Based Exercise.
Xinyu FU ; Wanxin ZHANG ; Xuemei GAO ; Zhi-Li HUANG
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(5):906-910

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