1.QingNangTCM: a parameter-efficient fine-tuning large language model for traditional Chinese medicine
Xuming TONG ; Liyan LIU ; Yanhong YUAN ; Xiaozheng DING ; Huiru JIA ; Xu YANG ; Sio Kei IM ; Mini Han WANG ; Zhang XIONH ; Yapeng WANG
Digital Chinese Medicine 2026;9(1):1-12
Objective:
To develop QingNangTCM, a specialized large language model (LLM) tailored for expert-level traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) question-answering and clinical reasoning, addressing the scarcity of domain-specific corpora and specialized alignment.
Methods:
We constructed QnTCM_Dataset, a corpus of 100 000 entries, by integrating data from ShenNong_TCM_Dataset and SymMap v2.0, and synthesizing additional samples via retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and persona-driven generation. The dataset comprehensively covers diagnostic inquiries, prescriptions, and herbal knowledge. Utilizing P-Tuning v2, we fine-tuned the GLM-4-9B-Chat backbone to develop QingNangTCM. A multi-dimensional evaluation framework, assessing accuracy, coverage, consistency, safety, professionalism, and fluency, was established using metrics such as bilingual evaluation understudy (BLEU), recall-oriented understudy for gisting evaluation (ROUGE), metric for evaluation of translation with explicit ordering (METEOR), and LLM-as-a-Judge with expert review. Qualitative analysis was conducted across four simulated clinical scenarios: symptom analysis, disease treatment, herb inquiry, and failure cases. Baseline models included GLM-4-9B-Chat, DeepSeek-V2, HuatuoGPT-II (7B), and GLM-4-9B-Chat (freeze-tuning).
Results:
QingNangTCM achieved the highest scores in BLEU-1/2/3/4 (0.425/0.298/0.137/0.064), ROUGE-1/2 (0.368/0.157), and METEOR (0.218), demonstrating a balanced and superior normalized performance profile of 0.900 across the dimensions of accuracy, coverage, and consistency. Although its ROUGE-L score (0.299) was lower than that of HuatuoGPT-II (7B) (0.351), it significantly outperformed domain-specific models in expert-validated win rates for professionalism (86%) and safety (73%). Qualitative analysis confirmed that the model strictly adheres to the “symptom-syndrome-pathogenesis-treatment” reasoning chain, though occasional misclassifications and hallucinations persisted when dealing with rare medicinal materials and uncommon syndromes.
Conclusion
Combining domain-specific corpus construction with parameter-efficient prompt tuning enhances the reasoning behavior and domain adaptation of LLMs for TCM-related tasks. This work provides a technical framework for the digital organization and intelligent utilization of TCM knowledge, with potential value for supporting diagnostic reasoning and medical education.
2.Arginine Metabolic Disorder in Heart Failure Rats: Analysis Based on Targeted Metabolomics and Bioinformatics
Zeyu LI ; Xiaoqing WANG ; Zhengyu FANG ; Yurou ZHAO ; He XIAO ; Penghaobang LIU ; Haiming ZHANG ; Chunyan LIU ; Yanhong HU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(10):229-237
ObjectiveThis study systematically analyzed the arginine metabolic dysregulation in the rat model of heart failure (HF), providing a modern scientific basis for elucidating the pathogenesis of HF and offering new insights for the prevention and treatment of HF with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). MethodsA thoracotomy was performed to ligate the left anterior descending coronary artery of rats, which induced acute myocardial ischemia and thus led to the development of post-myocardial infarction heart failure. The rats were divided into a sham surgery group and a model group, with eight rats in each group. Serum targeted metabolomics analysis was performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-TQ-S), and the spatial distribution of metabolites in cardiac tissue was observed using airflow-assisted desorption electrospray ionizationmass spectrometry imaging (AFADESI-MSI). Targets associated with HF and arginine metabolism were screened from databases including GeneCards and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed, and enrichment analysis of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway and Gene Ontology (GO) was performed. Finally, molecular docking was conducted to verify the binding between core metabolic components and key targets, and potential TCMs were predicted based on the core pathways and targets. ResultsCompared with the sham surgery group, the levels of arginine and citrulline in the serum of model rats were significantly decreased (P<0.01), while those of proline, ornithine, creatine, creatinine and glutamate were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). Cardiac mass spectrometry imaging showed a decreased abundance of arginine in the local myocardial tissue. Bioinformatics analysis identified 24 core functional targets, such as the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS1), 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2A (HTR2A), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and enrichment analysis indicated that these targets were significantly involved in the calcium signaling pathway, neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions, and phosphatidylinositol signaling pathway. Molecular docking confirmed strong binding activities between arginine, citrulline and HTR2A, as well as between creatine, creatinine and EGFR. Based on pathway-target prediction, potential TCM interventions, such as ginseng and magnolia, were identified. ConclusionThis study revealed characteristic arginine metabolic disorder in HF, and the core targets of HF were closely associated with the phosphatidylinositol signaling pathway. It provides a modern biological interpretation of the pathogenesis of HF in TCM from the perspectives of metabolites and signaling pathways, and offers valuable insights for targeted therapy of HF and the development of TCM.
3.Arginine Metabolic Disorder in Heart Failure Rats: Analysis Based on Targeted Metabolomics and Bioinformatics
Zeyu LI ; Xiaoqing WANG ; Zhengyu FANG ; Yurou ZHAO ; He XIAO ; Penghaobang LIU ; Haiming ZHANG ; Chunyan LIU ; Yanhong HU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(10):229-237
ObjectiveThis study systematically analyzed the arginine metabolic dysregulation in the rat model of heart failure (HF), providing a modern scientific basis for elucidating the pathogenesis of HF and offering new insights for the prevention and treatment of HF with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). MethodsA thoracotomy was performed to ligate the left anterior descending coronary artery of rats, which induced acute myocardial ischemia and thus led to the development of post-myocardial infarction heart failure. The rats were divided into a sham surgery group and a model group, with eight rats in each group. Serum targeted metabolomics analysis was performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-TQ-S), and the spatial distribution of metabolites in cardiac tissue was observed using airflow-assisted desorption electrospray ionizationmass spectrometry imaging (AFADESI-MSI). Targets associated with HF and arginine metabolism were screened from databases including GeneCards and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed, and enrichment analysis of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway and Gene Ontology (GO) was performed. Finally, molecular docking was conducted to verify the binding between core metabolic components and key targets, and potential TCMs were predicted based on the core pathways and targets. ResultsCompared with the sham surgery group, the levels of arginine and citrulline in the serum of model rats were significantly decreased (P<0.01), while those of proline, ornithine, creatine, creatinine and glutamate were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). Cardiac mass spectrometry imaging showed a decreased abundance of arginine in the local myocardial tissue. Bioinformatics analysis identified 24 core functional targets, such as the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS1), 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2A (HTR2A), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and enrichment analysis indicated that these targets were significantly involved in the calcium signaling pathway, neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions, and phosphatidylinositol signaling pathway. Molecular docking confirmed strong binding activities between arginine, citrulline and HTR2A, as well as between creatine, creatinine and EGFR. Based on pathway-target prediction, potential TCM interventions, such as ginseng and magnolia, were identified. ConclusionThis study revealed characteristic arginine metabolic disorder in HF, and the core targets of HF were closely associated with the phosphatidylinositol signaling pathway. It provides a modern biological interpretation of the pathogenesis of HF in TCM from the perspectives of metabolites and signaling pathways, and offers valuable insights for targeted therapy of HF and the development of TCM.
4.Generation of Cynomolgus and Rhesus Monkey Models Carrying the BMPR1BFecB Variant
Chunyang LI ; Xingchen LIU ; Yuzhuo LI ; Yong LU ; Yan WANG ; Changshan GAO ; Yanhong NIE ; Xinyan BIAN ; Chao HU ; Jiaqiao ZHU ; Qiang SUN
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2026;46(4):467-475
ObjectiveTo generate cynomolgus and rhesus monkey models carrying the Booroola fecundity (FecB) variant of bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 1B (BMPR1B) gene (designated BMPR1BFecB) using adenine base edit technology and to explore genetic improvement strategies for enhancing the reproductive performance of laboratory macaques. MethodsFour single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) were designed to target the BMPR1B c.746A>G locus in cynomolgus and rhesus monkeys. The sgRNAs were combined with the ABE8e-SpRY base editor, and the resulting editing complexes were microinjected into zygotes of both macaque species. Following in vitro culture of the injected embryos, nested PCR amplification was performed to detect the base-editing efficiency at the target site to screen for highly efficient sgRNAs. Subsequently, normally developing gene-edited embryos were transferred into the oviducts of surrogates. Seven days after birth, ear skin or peripheral blood samples were collected from the newborn monkeys for genotyping and mosaicism analysis, and the growth, development, and health status of the gene-edited monkeys were monitored. ResultsAmong the four candidate sgRNAs, sgRNA4 was identified as achieving 100% editing efficiency at the c.746A>G site. A total of 17 live monkey offspring were obtained via embryo transfer, including 8 cynomolgus monkeys and 9 rhesus monkeys. Genotyping results showed that all 8 newborn cynomolgus monkeys carried the c.746A>G point mutation, with an editing efficiency of 100% (8/8), of which 37.50% (3/8) were mosaics. Among the 9 newborn rhesus monkeys, 8 individuals carried the c.746A>G mutation, with an editing efficiency of 88.89% (8/9), of which 75.00% (6/8) were mosaics. ConclusionThe ABE8e-SpRY base-editing system enables precise editing at the c.746A>G (p.Q249R) locus of the BMPR1B gene in both cynomolgus and rhesus monkey embryos, resulting in the successful establishment of laboratory monkey models carrying the BMPR1BFecB variant. These models provide a valuable foundation for future studies of the regulatory role of the BMPR1BFecB variant in reproductive performance at the non‑human primate level, as well as for exploring genetic improvement strategies to enhance reproductive performance in laboratory monkeys.
5.Analysis of hyperopic reserve status and associated factors among preschool children in Jiading District, Shanghai
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(7):1031-1035
Objective:
To investigate the current status of hyperopic reserve among preschool children and to determine the associations with genetic and behavioral factors, so as to provide evidence for early intervention strategies and the development of working protocols for myopia prevention with a forward shift of the prevention threshold.
Methods:
A total of 924 preschool children (3-6 years of age) from 6 kindergartens in Jiading District of Shanghai were enrolled by stratified random sampling from March to June 2024. Cycloplegic refraction using 1% atropine eye drops was performed to obtain accurate spherical equivalent (SE) values. Questionnaires were used to collect the genetic history and daily behavioral habits of the children. Refractive status was classified into three categories based on the SE:sufficient hyperopic reserve, relatively insufficient hyperopic reserve, and pre myopia.
Results:
The overall detection rate of insufficient hyperopic reserve among preschool children was 82.25%, consisting of 72.29% for relatively insufficient hyperopic reserve and 9.96% for pre myopia. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that parental bilateral myopia was independently and positively associated with relatively insufficient hyperopic reserve ( OR =2.13) and pre myopia ( OR =4.35) compared to children with sufficient hyperopic reserve; electronic screen exposure time ≥2 h/d on school days was an independent and positive risk factor for pre myopia ( OR =2.83); all of the above associations were statistically significant (all P <0.05). No statistically significant association was noted between outdoor activity and hyperopic reserve (all P >0.05).
Conclusions
The insufficient hyperopic reserve detection rate is relatively high among preschool children in Jiading District, Shanghai. Early management of electronic device use with regular screening and monitoring for preschool children with a family history of myopia should be strengthened to shift the prevention threshold earlier and prevent childhood myopia.
6.Association between near work duration under different illuminance levels and screening myopia among third and fourth grade primary school students in Jiading District of Shanghai
CHANG Yuchen, MAIHELIYAKEZI Tuersunniyazi, ZHU Yanhong, LIU Su, LIU Xinxin, SHI Huijing
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(8):1086-1090
Objective:
To analyze near work illuminance patterns on school days and weekends among third and fourth grade primary school students by using objectively monitored data, and to examine the associations of the duration of near work under different illuminance levels and time weighted average near work illuminance with screening myopia.
Methods:
From April to June 2024, students from grades 3 and 4 in two primary schools in Jiading District, Shanghai were selected as study subjects by using stratified random cluster sampling method. Continuous objective monitoring of near work behavior was conducted for 7 days while information from uncorrected visual acuity and refractive assessment was collected, and an online questionnaire survey was administered to their parents. Valid samples comprised 372 students on school days and 292 on weekends. Welch s t test was used to compare differences in the duration of near work under different illuminance levels between the screening myopia and non-myopia groups. Multivariable binary Logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the association between the duration of near work under different illuminance levels and screening myopia. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) model was used to explore the nonlinear association between time weighted average near work illuminance with 60 cm and screening myopia, and the critical thresholds identified by the RCS model were used to categorize illuminance levels for subsequent Logistic regression analyses.
Results:
Objective monitoring of near work behavior showed that the duration of near work in the low illuminance range of [0,125)lx was significantly longer on weekends[(4.12±2.21)h] than on school days [(2.42±1.22)h]. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that only on school days, each additional hour of near work duration in the [0,125)lx ( OR =1.56, 95% CI =1.23-1.98) and ≥1 000 lx range ( OR =5.92, 95% CI =1.48-23.73) were significantly associated with higher odds of screening myopia(both P < 0.05). RCS plot showed that on school days, time weighted average near work illuminance with 60 cm had a non-linear association with screening myopia ( P non-linear <0.05). On weekends, no significant association was found between near work illuminance indicators and screening myopia (all P >0.05).
Conclusions
Primary school students engage in near work for considerable durations in insufficient lighting environments on both school days and weekends. Increased duration of near work in overly dim or bright environments on school days may increase the risk of screening myopia.
7.Global epidemiological analysis of the burden of 375 diseases and injuries and 88 risk factors from 1990 to 2023
Mei LIU ; Shiwen XIONG ; Qing WANG ; Han ZHOU ; Junji HE ; Hang ZHENG ; Hanluo LI ; Yanhong WEI ; Xiaoke SHANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(09):1428-1438
Objective To analyze the global pattern, long-term trends, and regional and population heterogeneity in the burden of 375 diseases and injuries and 88 risk factors from 1990 to 2023 using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 (GBD 2023). Methods Publicly available GBD 2023 estimates were extracted for incidence, deaths, years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and age-standardized rates at the global level and by socio-demographic index (SDI), GBD region, age group, and sex. Descriptive analysis, ranking comparison, stratified analysis, and trend analysis were performed, and 95% uncertainty interval was used to assess the stability of estimates. Results In 2023, non-communicable diseases were the leading contributor to global DALYs, accounting for 64.39% of DALYs across the three major disease and injury groups (communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases, non-communicable diseases, and injuries), and also had the highest age-standardized DALYs rate. From 1990 to 2023, age-standardized DALYs rates declined for three major disease and injury groups, with estimated annual percentage changes of −2.69%, −0.78%, and −1.47%, respectively. Cardiovascular diseases ranked first by both DALYs and deaths in 2023, whereas respiratory infections and tuberculosis ranked first by incidence. Non-communicable diseases were the leading cause of disease burden across all SDI strata. As the SDI level declined, the burden of communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases, as well as injuries, increased markedly. Behavioral and metabolic risks remained the main contributors to attributable deaths and DALYs. Conclusion From 1990 to 2023, the global burden of disease continues to shift toward non-communicable diseases; however, some regions still face a double burden of infectious, maternal and child, injury-related, and chronic diseases. Integrating deaths, DALYs, YLLs, YLDs, and risk-attributable burden helps identify priority areas for prevention and resource allocation across regions and populations.
8.Association between sleep status and overweight/obesity among primary school students in Bao an District of Shenzhen
HUANG Yun, LIU Yanhong, HUANG Li, LI Yanrou, WU Mingze
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(4):465-469
Objective:
To analyze the association between different sleep statuses and overweight/obesity among primary school students, so as to provide a basis for the development of childhood overweight and obesity prevention and control strategies.
Methods:
In November 2023, a total of 3 391 primary school students of grade 1-6 from seven schools in Baoan District, Shenzhen, were surveyed by questionnaires and physical examinations by using multistage cluster sampling. The Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the association between primary school students sleep status and overweight/obesity.
Results:
The detection rate of overweight/obesity in primary school students was 22.59%, the detection rate of overweight/obesity in boys (27.04%) was higher than that in girls (17.44%), the only child (25.81%) had higher rates than nononly child (21.76%), and the differences were statistically significant (χ2=51.48, 5.98, P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that, after controlling for confounders, primary school students weekend nighttime sleep duration (OR=0.83, 95%CI=0.75-0.91), weekly average nighttime sleep duration (OR=0.76,95%CI=0.64-0.89), and weekend compensated sleep duration (OR=0.89,95%CI=0.81-0.97) were negatively associated with the risk of developing overweight/obesity (P<0.05). Compared with to primary school students with school days nap durations <0.5 h, those whose napped for 0.5-<1 h and ≥1 h on school days had a 20% (OR=1.20, 95%CI=1.02-1.42) and 37% (OR=1.37, 95%CI=1.02-1.83) increased risk of overweight/obesity, respectively (P<0.05).
Conclusions
Increasing weekend nighttime sleep duration, average weekly nighttime sleep duration, and weekend compensatory sleep duration can reduce the risk of overweight and obesity in primary school students. School days nap duration is a risk factor for overweight/obesity among primary school students.
9.Causal relationship of liposomes and circulating metabolomes to schizophrenia: a two-step, two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Mengyun LEI ; Yanhong DU ; Yao GAO ; Huaili DENG ; Binhong WANG ; Zhiyong REN ; Sha LIU
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(3):223-228
BackgroundSchizophrenia is a complex, chronic and severe mental disorder, and the pathogenesis of which has not been fully elucidated. The abnormalities in lipid metabolism and circulating metabolomes have already been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. However, available studies have mainly focused on a few liposomes and circulating metabolites, failing to systematically reveal the mediating role of circulating metabolomes in the causal relationship between liposomes and schizophrenia. ObjectiveTo uncover mediating role of circulating metabolomes in the causal relationship between liposomes and schizophrenia, thereby providing biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of schizophrenia. MethodsData from Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) were analyzed, taking data on 179 liposomes as exposure variables, data on 123 circulating metabolites as intermediate variables, and data on schizophrenia as outcome variable. A two-step, two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis was conducted using the inverse-variance weighted (IVW), MR- Egger, Weighted median, and Weighted mode methods to study the causal relationship of liposomes with schizophrenia and the mediating role of circulating metabolomes in the relationship. ResultsIVW model identified 8 lipids associated with schizophrenia without reverse causality. There were 5 circulating metabolomes strongly associated with schizophrenia. Acetate played a significant mediating role in the causal relationship between phosphatidylinositol (18:0_18:2) and schizophrenia (P=0.023, 95% CI: 0.036~0.532), accounting for 28.4% of the causal relationship. ConclusionThis study demonstrates a causal relationship between liposomes and schizophrenia, with phosphatidylinositol being a risk factor in the progression of schizophrenia, and acetate playing a mediating role in this process. [Fund by National Natural Science Foundation of China General Program (number, 82271546); Shanxi Merit Funding for Overseas Students Sci-Tech Activities Project (number, 20240041); Shanxi Province Science and Technology Innovation Leading Talent Team Project (number, 202304051001049); Shanxi Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars (number, 2022-190); "Six Measures for Health Care Prosperity" Specialized Research Program (number, Y2024008)]
10.Association of physical activity and sugar sweetened beverage consumption with psychological sub health among middle school students in Bao an District, Shenzhen
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(1):102-105
Objective:
To explore the association of physical activity and sugar sweetened beverage consumption with psychological sub health among middle school students in Bao an District, Shenzhen, so as to provide a reference for adolescent mental health promotion.
Methods:
A questionnaire survey was conducted in November 2024 by a stratified cluster random sampling method to select 6 926 junior and senior middle school students from 5 middle schools in Shenzhen. The questionnaire from Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System was used to assess the consumption of sugar sweetened beverages, and physical activity Rating Scale was used to assess the level of physical activity, and Brief Instrument on Psychological Health of Youths was used to evaluate the psychological sub health status. The Chi -square test was used to analyze the differences in the detection rates of psychological sub health among different groups of middle school students, and a multivariate Logistic regression model was established to analyze the effects of physical activity and sugar sweetened beverage consumption and their combined effects on the psychological sub health of middle school students.
Results:
The detection rate of psychological sub health among middle school students in Bao an District, Shenzhen was 18.93%. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that, after controlling for confounding factors such as gender, school stage, family residence, family economic status, parental literacy, academic stress and number of friends, lack of physical activity or excessive sugar sweetened beverage consumption were associated with increased risks of psychological sub health among middle school students ( OR =1.36, 1.45); and the highest risk of psychological sub health was found in middle school students who were lack of physical activity and excessive sugar sweetened beverage consumption ( OR =2.59) ( P <0.01). Further analysis by school stages showed that junior high school students with sufficient physical activity and excessive intake of sugary drinks ( ROR =2.10), lack of physical activity and excessive intake of sugary drinks ( ROR =2.31) were at higher risks of psychological sub health than senior high school students( P <0.05).
Conclusions
Insufficient physical activity and excessive sugar sweetened beverage consumption are closely associated with an increased risk of psychological sub health among middle school students. Effective interventions should be targeted to reduce the risk of psychological sub health problems among middle school students.


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