1.Standardization Challenges in Outcome Evaluation Systems of Animal Experiments and Considerations for Core Outcome Set Construction Strategies
Qingyong ZHENG ; Yongjia ZHOU ; Tengfei LI ; Jianguo XU ; Chen TIAN ; Hui LIU ; Min TIAN ; Ziyu ZHOU ; Caihua XU ; Yating CUI ; Junfei WANG ; Jinhui TIAN
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2026;46(1):138-148
Animal experimentation constitutes a critical link between basic research and clinical application, making its research quality and translational efficiency paramount. Although considerable progress has been made in standardizing operational procedures and ethical guidelines, the standardization of outcome evaluation systems has significantly lagged, creating a key bottleneck that constrains the quality of biomedical research and evidence synthesis. This deficiency is manifested by pronounced heterogeneity in outcome selection across similar studies, incomplete methodological reporting, and disparate criteria for result interpretation, which severely impairs the comparability of findings and the evidence integration. To cope with this challenge, this paper systematically introduces a mature methodological tool from clinical research–the core outcome set (COS)–and explores its construction strategies and application potential in the field of animal experimentation. Given the extensive diversity of animal experiments, a pragmatic strategy of "focusing on key areas, implementing phased pilots, and promoting gradual expansion" should be adopted. This approach prioritizes the development of domain-specific COS for disease areas characterized by high research volume, urgent translational needs, and well-established animal models. A multi-source integration pathway for COS development is detailed, comprising systematic literature searches, methodological appraisals, and expert consensus, with the feasibility of leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance efficiency also being examined. The development and promotion of such COS are not intended to restrict scientific exploration; rather, they aim to establish a new, tiered evaluation paradigm consisting of "core outcomes" (mandatory), "recommended outcomes" (encouraged), and "exploratory outcomes" (optional). This framework is expected not only to enhance research quality through standardization and to adhere to the "3R" principles but also to accelerate the accumulation of high-quality evidence. This, in turn, provides a solid foundation for higher-level evidence synthesis, ultimately facilitating the effective translation of basic research findings into clinical practice and providing an essential methodological framework for scientific advancement in relevant disciplines.
2.Schwann cells promote peripheral nerve regeneration:retrospect and prospect
Zhenyi FU ; Junhao LI ; Yating ZHANG ; Yunkai HE ; Junyu LIU ; Yunhao WEI ; Jiaxin LIU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(5):1236-1246
BACKGROUND:Peripheral nerve axon rupture seriously affects patients' physical function and mental health.Microsurgery,nerve autograft,nerve allograft,fibrin glue and catheter technology are the main treatments for peripheral nerve injury,each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages,but the overall treatment effect is not satisfactory.Despite the clinical success of Schwann cells in promoting axonal regeneration,there are still many challenges in the treatment with Schwann cells,such as slow expansion of Schwann cells,immune rejection,and low survival rate of transplanted cells.OBJECTIVE:To summarize the role and mechanism of Schwann cells in promoting the regeneration of peripheral nerve axons,and the difficulties and challenges of Schwann cells in the process of nerve regeneration treatment.METHODS:PubMed,Medline,WanFang,VIP,and CNKI were searched by computer using the search terms of"Schwann cells,synaptic Schwann cell,macrophage,peripheral nerve axon rupture,Wallerian degeneration,Peripheral nerve axon regeneration,Central nervous system repair"in English and Chinese.Literature related to Schwann cell proliferation and differentiation,promotion of peripheral nerve regeneration,and clinical applications was retrieved from database inception to October 2024,and a total of 95 articles were finally included for review.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Schwann cells interact with macrophages,T cells and other cells,to initiate the regeneration process through signaling pathways,including Krox20/C-Jun,NRG-1/ErbB,Notch,MAPK,and PI3K/Akt/mTOR,synthesize and release nerve growth factors,and thus promote regeneration of the peripheral nervous system.Schwann cells have been experimentally demonstrated to have great potential in peripheral nerve repair and are expected to become the key target of therapeutic intervention.However,there are still problems such as difficulties in cell harvest and culture,as well as the occurrence of other diseases during the treatment process.
3.Systematic review of the relationship between dynamic changes in inflammatory markers and therapeutic efficacy in NSCLC patients during EGFR-TKIs therapy
Liying WU ; Jingyi YANG ; Yating ZENG ; Ling YONG ; Weifeng SHAO ; Wei LIU
China Pharmacy 2026;37(11):1490-1495
OBJECTIVE To systematically evaluate the correlation between dynamic changes in inflammatory markers during treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and therapeutic efficacy, with the aim of providing evidence-based support for clinical prognosis assessment and treatment strategy adjustment. METHODS Databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang Data, and CBM were searched from the inception to July 20, 2025. Following literature screening, data extraction and quality assessment, descriptive analysis was conducted on the outcomes of included studies. RESULTS A total of eight studies were included to analyze the correlation of 6 inflammatory markers before and after treatment with EGFR-TKIs with therapeutic efficacy. The risk of bias assessment identified six high-quality studies and two moderate-quality studies. Among these studies, seven studies demonstrated that lower levels of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (dNLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), higher lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) before treatment, as well as decreased NLR and MLR and increased LMR after treatment were associated with longer median progression-free survival. Five studies indicated that lower levels of NLR, dNLR, PLR, and interleukin-6 (IL-6), higher LMR before treatment as well as decreased NLR and dNLR and increased LMR were associated with longer median overall survival. Three studies indicated that lower levels of IL-6 were associated with a higher objective response rate, while the association of these markers after treatment remained controversial; another study showed that an early decline in NLR, MLR, and PLR after treatment may be associated with objective response benefit. CONCLUSIONS Lower inflammatory levels during EGFR-TKIs therapy correlate with better therapeutic efficacy in NSCLC patients.
4.Schwann cells promote peripheral nerve regeneration:retrospect and prospect
Zhenyi FU ; Junhao LI ; Yating ZHANG ; Yunkai HE ; Junyu LIU ; Yunhao WEI ; Jiaxin LIU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(5):1236-1246
BACKGROUND:Peripheral nerve axon rupture seriously affects patients' physical function and mental health.Microsurgery,nerve autograft,nerve allograft,fibrin glue and catheter technology are the main treatments for peripheral nerve injury,each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages,but the overall treatment effect is not satisfactory.Despite the clinical success of Schwann cells in promoting axonal regeneration,there are still many challenges in the treatment with Schwann cells,such as slow expansion of Schwann cells,immune rejection,and low survival rate of transplanted cells.OBJECTIVE:To summarize the role and mechanism of Schwann cells in promoting the regeneration of peripheral nerve axons,and the difficulties and challenges of Schwann cells in the process of nerve regeneration treatment.METHODS:PubMed,Medline,WanFang,VIP,and CNKI were searched by computer using the search terms of"Schwann cells,synaptic Schwann cell,macrophage,peripheral nerve axon rupture,Wallerian degeneration,Peripheral nerve axon regeneration,Central nervous system repair"in English and Chinese.Literature related to Schwann cell proliferation and differentiation,promotion of peripheral nerve regeneration,and clinical applications was retrieved from database inception to October 2024,and a total of 95 articles were finally included for review.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Schwann cells interact with macrophages,T cells and other cells,to initiate the regeneration process through signaling pathways,including Krox20/C-Jun,NRG-1/ErbB,Notch,MAPK,and PI3K/Akt/mTOR,synthesize and release nerve growth factors,and thus promote regeneration of the peripheral nervous system.Schwann cells have been experimentally demonstrated to have great potential in peripheral nerve repair and are expected to become the key target of therapeutic intervention.However,there are still problems such as difficulties in cell harvest and culture,as well as the occurrence of other diseases during the treatment process.
5.Tripterygium wilfordii: Historical origins, pharmacological mechanisms, and biosynthesis of triptolide and celastrol
Yuhan JIA ; Xinyi HU ; Ziming ZHU ; Yuan LI ; Xuan LIU ; Jinxuan YU ; Jiadian WANG ; Yating HU
Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;4(3):211-224
Tripterygium wilfordii is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb with a long history of therapeutic use but remains controversial in modern medicine because of its potent toxicity. Among its diverse chemical constituents, the diterpenoid triptolide and the triterpenoid celastrol have emerged as prominent compounds due to their remarkable pharmacological activities, including antitumor, immunosuppressive, anti-obesity, and neuroprotective effects. However, their clinical translation is limited by toxicity concerns and restricted natural availability. This review summarizes the medicinal history and chemical constituents of T. wilfordii, with particular emphasis on the pharmacological mechanisms, structural modification strategies, and recent advances in the biosynthesis of triptolide and celastrol. In addition, we discuss perspectives on toxicity mitigation and lead compound development, aiming to provide theoretical guidance and valuable references for modern drug development and the green manufacturing of T. wilfordii-derived resources.
6.Expression of EZH2 in breast cancer tissue and its prognostic survival analysis
Liying CAI ; Guoxin SUN ; Lei GUO ; Yuan GAO ; Yan LIU ; Xiaochuan SUN ; Xiaohong HUANG ; Jing CHEN ; Yating ZHAO
Clinical Medicine of China 2025;41(2):116-121
Objective:To investigate the expression characteristics of Zeste enhancer of Zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) in breast cancer tissue and its influence on tumor progression and prognosis.Methods:Transcriptome data of breast cancer tissue and normal breast tissue adjacent to cancer as well as clinical data of patients were obtained from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) database, gene expression comprehensive database and European genome phenotype archives database, and the difference of EZH2 expression was analyzed using TIMER 2.0 platform. The survival information of breast cancer patients was obtained from the Kaplan Meier Plotter database, and the overall survival time, relapse free survival time and distant metastasis free survival time of breast cancer patients with low EZH2 expression and high EZH2 expression were compared. Select 14 nude mice were selected and randomly divided into si-EZH2 group and control group, with 7 mice in each group.MCF7 culture suspensions transfected with EZH2 knockdown plasmid and control plasmid were inoculated for corresponding group. The body mass and tumor volume of two groups of nude mice inoculated with MCF7 cells were compared at different times. On the 28th day, the nude mice were euthanized and the tumors were dissected to compare the tumor mass of the two groups of nude mice. The normally distributed quantitative data was represented by xˉ ± s. Two independent sample t-tests were used for comparison between two groups, repeated measures ANOVA was used for comparison of body mass and tumor volume between two groups of nude mice at different times, and Bonferroni test was used for pairwise comparison. The comparison of survival rates was conducted using log rank test. Results:A total of 1085 breast cancer tissues and 291 normal adjacent breast tissues were included in the TCGA database. EZH2 expression in breast cancer tissues was higher than that in normal adjacent breast tissues ( P<0.05). In the Kaplan Meier Plotter database, the total survival time, relapse free survival time, and distant metastasis free survival time of breast cancer patients in the EZH2 overexpression group were shorter than those in the EZH2 low expression group ( P=0.013, <0.001, <0.001). After 7 days of inoculation with MCF7 culture suspension, significant subcutaneous tumors were observed on the left back of both groups of nude mice. On the first day, there were no statistically significant difference in body mass between the two groups of nude mice ( P>0.05); On day 7, 13, 19, 25, and 28, the body mass and tumor volume of both groups of nude mice gradually increased (nude mouse body mass: within group F=29.31, P<0.001, between groups F=234.32, P<0.001, Finteraction=16.83, P<0.001; Tumor volume: within group F=34.00, P<0.001, between groups F=193.17, P<0.001, Finteraction=35.61, P<0.001). And the body mass of the siEZH2 group nude mice was higher than that of control group (all P<0.05). On days 19, 25, and 28, tumor the volume of the siEZH2 group nude mice was smaller than that of control group (all P<0.05). On the 28th day, the mass of tumors dissected in the siEZH2 group of nude mice was lower than that in the control group [(0.30±0.07) g vs. (0.61±0.14) g, t=5.16, P<0.001]。 Conclusions:EZH2 is highly expressed in breast cancer tissues and is significantly associated with poor prognosis. Knockdown of EZH2 can significantly inhibit the proliferation and tumor formation of breast cancer cells.
7.Epidemiological analysis of bloodstream isolates in hematology departments across Guangdong, 2020-2024
Yexin LIN ; Ximing CHEN ; Yan ZHANG ; Jiong WANG ; Wenwen LIANG ; Qinhong XIE ; Hualiang CHEN ; Qiuxue DENG ; Xu YANG ; Ningjing LIU ; Yijing WANG ; Mingxin LI ; Yangjin CHEN ; Yating ZHAO ; Nanhao HE ; Jiakang CHEN ; Shunian XIAO ; Chao ZHUO
Chinese Journal of Hematology 2025;46(6):521-529
Objective:To investigate the pathogen distribution, temporal trends in the rates of antimicrobial resistance, and susceptibility of bloodstream isolates and comparatively explore the epidemiological characteristics of bloodstream infections in hematology departments across 56 healthcare facilities in Guangdong Province from 2020 to 2024.Methods:A multicenter analysis was conducted to evaluate the constituent ratio of different pathogens isolated from clinical isolate data from bloodstream specimens in hematology, respiratory, and intensive care unit (ICU) departments across 56 healthcare facilities in Guangdong Province (2020-2024), and antimicrobial resistance trends in pathogens with high-detection rate over 5 years were assessed. Carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative organisms (CRO) were randomly sampled for carbapenemase gene detection and in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility tests with novel antimicrobial agents.Results:From 2020 to 2024, a total of 8 968, 6 440, and 25 511 bloodstream isolates were identified in the hematology, respiratory, and ICU departments, respectively, across 56 participating facilities in Guangdong Province, with significant differences in the pathogen constituent ratio among departments ( P<0.001). Notably, the hematology department demonstrated a predominance of Escherichia coli (24.1%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (17.5%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (11.7%), coagulase-negative Staphylococci (15.2%), and Staphylococcus aureus (5.1%). In the resistance analysis, the rates of meropenem resistance of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia increased from 6.7% and 5.8% (2020) to 14.0% and 15.8% (2024), respectively. Conversely, Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibited a declining trend in the rate of meropenem resistance (6.2% to 1.9%) and imipenem (10.2% to 6.1%) during the same period. Acinetobacter baumannii demonstrated a biphasic resistance pattern to common antimicrobial agents, characterized by an initial decline, followed by a rebound. In this study, the susceptibility rates to conventional antimicrobial agents were significantly higher in Staphylococcus aureus versus coagulase-negative Staphylococci, with no glycopeptide- or linezolid-resistant strains detected. Notably, the prevalence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium increased from 0 in 2020 to 23.1% in 2024. CRO carbapenemase phenotypes through active surveillance revealed that 80% Escherichia coli isolates were carrying blaNDM, 90% Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were carrying blaKPC, 10% Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were carrying blaVIM, and 100% Acinetobacter baumannii were carrying blaOXA-23. The results of the antimicrobial susceptibility test in CRO revealed that carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (CRECO) demonstrated a 0 resistance rate to tigecycline, polymyxin B, and aztreonam/avibactam, whereas carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae exhibited a 0 resistance rate to aztreonam/avibactam, ceftazidime/avibactam, and imipenem/relebactam. Carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibited a 95.0% susceptibility rate to amikacin and polymyxin B, with a 45.0% resistance rate to ceftazidime/avibactam. In contrast, carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii demonstrated complete susceptibility (100.0%) to sulbactam/durlobactam (MIC90=2 μg/ml), whereas eravacycline showed MIC50 and MIC90 values of 1 and 2 μg/ml, respectively. Conclusion:The pathogen constituent ratio of bloodstream isolates differed significantly among hematology, respiratory, and ICU departments. Notably, although CRO exhibited an escalating prevalence, it sustained high susceptibility to novel antimicrobial agents.
8.Risk factors and prognostic analysis of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis in patients with advanced lung cancer
Yilian QIU ; Ping LIU ; Yating MAO ; Chuanhua XIE ; Shoujun GUO
China Modern Doctor 2025;63(22):5-8
Objective To analyze the risk factors and prognosis of patients with advanced lung cancer complicated with immune checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis(CIP).Methods A total of 220 patients with advanced lung cancer who were treated at Ganzhou Cancer Hospital from January 2022 to October 2024 were selected as the research subjects.The patients were divided into non-CIP group(n=179)and CIP group(n=41)based on whether they had concurrent CIP.Compare the clinical characteristics of two groups of patients and analyze the related influencing factors of patients with advanced lung cancer complicated with CIP.Results There were statistically significant differences in age,gender,underlying pulmonary diseases,smoking history,history of thoracic radiotherapy,treatment plans,serum albumin(Alb),platelet to lymphocyte ratio(PLR),neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio(NLR),and absolute lymphocyte count(ALC)between two groups of patients(P<0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age,underlying pulmonary diseases,treatment plan,Alb,PLR,NLR,and ALC were all influencing factors for patients with advanced lung cancer complicated with CIP(P<0.05).The 90-day cumulative survival rate of patients in CIP group was significantly lower than that in non-CIP group(58.54% vs.77.09%,x2=5.918,P=0.015).With the increase of CIP classification,the 90-day cumulative survival rate of patients showed a downward trend(P<0.05).Conclusion The incidence of CIP in patients with advanced lung cancer is relatively high.Age,underlying pulmonary diseases,treatment plan,and levels of Alb,PLR,NLR,and ALC are all influencing factors.CIP can have adverse effects on the prognosis of patients.
9.The clinical value ofmannan binding lectin associated serine protease 2, galectin-3, and midkine in differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules
Xiao HUANG ; Qian ZHU ; Yating CHEN ; Peng LI ; Yan LIU
Chinese Journal of Postgraduates of Medicine 2025;48(10):953-956
Objective:To analyze the clinical value of mannan binding lectin associated serine protease 2 (MASP-2), galectin-3, and midkine in the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules.Methods:From March 2021 to March 2022, 75 patients (study group) with thyroid nodules admitted to the Nanchong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and 50 volunteers(control group) who underwent health examinations during the same period were retrospectively selected. The levels of MASP-2, galectin-3 and midkine were compared between the two groups, and the levels of MASP-2, galectin-3 and midkine in benign and malignant thyroid nodules in the study group were compared. The predictive value of MASP-2, galectin-3, midkine and combined tests for malignant thyroid nodules diagnosis was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results:The levels of MASP-2, galectin-3, midkine in the study group were higher than those in the control group: (433.92 ± 35.01) mg/L vs. (215.12 ± 22.60) mg/L, (26.73 ± 3.12) μg/L vs. (20.51 ± 2.10) μg/L, (258.96 ± 27.03) ng/L vs. (122.47 ± 15.72) ng/L, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). The levels of MASP-2, galectin-3, midkine in the patients with malignant nodules were higher than those in the patients with benign thyroid nodules: (541.27 ± 57.35) mg/L vs. (400.02 ± 30.17) mg/L, (41.68 ± 5.23) μg/L vs. (22.01 ± 2.89) μg/L, (318.97 ± 40.23) ng/L vs. (240.01 ± 25.01) ng/L, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of MASP-2, galectin-3 and midkine in the diagnosis of malignant thyroid nodules was the highest (0.819), which was higher than that of any single index. Conclusions:The serum levels of MASP-2, galectin-3 and midkine in patients with malignant nodules were higher than those in patients with benign nodules, and the combined value of MASP-2, galectin-3 and midkine is higher in predicting malignant thyroid nodules.
10.Research progress and controversy of traditional and artificial intelligence-assisted ultrasound in diagnosing DDH in children aged 0-6 months
Jiaju WANG ; Qingda LU ; Chenxin LIU ; Huan WANG ; Huan'an BAI ; Yating YANG ; Qiang JIE
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics 2025;45(2):119-125
Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is the most common bone developmental disorder in children, emphasizing the need for effective, standardized, and accurate screening and treatment approaches. This paper reviews traditional ultrasound diagnostic methods for DDH in children aged 0-6 months and examines the latest advancements in artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted ultrasound technology. It compares the diagnostic accuracy, efficiency, and limitations of these approaches while addressing controversies surrounding the adoption of AI. Results indicate that AI-assisted ultrasound significantly outperforms traditional methods in both accuracy and efficiency but also raises concerns about over-diagnosis and over-treatment. Despite these challenges, AI-assisted ultrasound holds immense potential, and with technological advancements, it is expected to gain wider acceptance among clinicians, enhancing its application in clinical practice.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail