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.Applications and Clinical Significance of Artificial Intelligence in Antimicrobial Resistance
Ruike ZHANG ; Junqi ZHANG ; Rongchen DAI ; Yating NING ; Yingchun XU ; Li ZHANG
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(5):1088-1095
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a major global public health challenge, with traditional prevention and control methods exhibiting significant limitations in detection efficiency, data processing, and clinical decision-making. Leveraging its robust capabilities in data analysis and pattern recognition, artificial intelligence (AI) technology has been widely applied across multiple critical aspects of AMR containment. Current evidence demonstrates that AI technologies can significantly enhance the efficiency of resistancediagnosis, optimize personalized treatment strategies, and improve real-time monitoring of resistant pathogen transmission. Despite persistent challenges such as data heterogeneity, model interpretability, and ethical compliance in practical applications, AI holds immense promise in supporting precision infection management and addressing the growing crisis of antimicrobial resistance.This article systematically reviews the clinical applications of AI in AMR prevention and control, including resistance detection and prediction based on mass spectrometry and genomic data, the use of clinical decision support systems in anti-infective therapy, as well as the role of AI in epidemiological surveillance, pathogen tracking, early warning systems, and novel antimicrobial drug discovery aiming to provide reference for clinical practice.
6.Proteomic analysis of serum proteins in mice with carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infection
Jinfeng BAO ; Yating MA ; Yin XU ; Yanjuan HE ; Yuyue WANG ; Luoluo SHI ; Chengbin WANG
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(6):823-828
OBJECTIVE To observe the changes of serum proteins in the mice with carbapenem-resistant hyperviru-lent Klebsiella pneumoniae(CR-hvKP)bloodstream infection by using liquid chromatogram-mass spectrometer(LC-MS),find out the differentially expressed proteins and carry out corresponding biological function analysis.METHODS The models of ICR mice with CR-hvKP and classical Klebsiella pneumoniae(cKP)bloodstream infec-tions were established,the serum specimens were collected from the mice at 12 hours of establishment of the in-fection models and were detected by using LC-MS.The result of LC-MS was identified by using Maxquant soft-ware.The corresponding bioinformatics analysis was performed for the differentially expressed proteins.RESULTS As compared with the normal control group,there were 24 upregulated proteins and 20 downregulated proteins in CR-hvKP group.As compared with cKP group,there were 107 upregulated proteins in the CR-hvKP group.The 134 differentially expressed proteins were retrieved one by one from Uniprot database,it was found that the pro-teins were involved in biological regulation,immune process,biological interaction,movement,metabolic process,response to stimulation,signal transduction,inflammatory response,oxidative stress and angiogenesis.The signal pathway analysis involved multiple metabolism-related pathways,including complement and coagula-tion cascades,cholesterol metabolism,bacterial infection,heme clearance,and assembly,remodeling and clear-ance of plasma lipoprotein.In terms of the proteins being attached great importance,the expression levels of kal-likrein B1(KLKB1)and serpin family A(Serpina)1b were downregulated as compared with the normal control group and were upregulated as compared with the cKP group;the expression levels of serum amyloid A protein(SAA)1,SAA2,Vanin-3(VNN3)and hemoglobinβpolypeptide chain b2(HBB-b2)were upregulated as com-pared with both the cKP group and the normal control group.CONCLUSIONS The CR-hvKP bloodstream infection involves the activation and action of multiple proteins.The rise of SAA1,SAA2,VNN3 and HBB-b2 or the de-cline of KLKB1 and Serpina1b may indicate the CR-hvKP bloodstream infection.
7.Upper Limb Function in Post-ischemic Stroke Hemiplegia Patients with Stage Brunnstrom Ⅰ Treated with Auricular Intradermal Acupuncture:A Single-Blinded,Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Ping LIN ; Qingfu TANG ; Yating GAO ; Chao XU ; Cuicui DENG ; Yao LIAO ; Wenjuan CHEN ; Jie LU ; Jinfeng JIANG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(4):962-972
Background Previous studies have demonstrated that the vagus nerve stimulation improves upper limb function in patients with stroke sequelae(six month-two years).This study aimed to investigate whether the auricular intradermal acupuncture(AIA)acted on the auricular branch of the vagus nerve can facilitate the recovery of upper limb motor function and expedite the effects and characteristics of rehabilitation processes in flaccid phase after stroke in Phase Brunnstrom Ⅰ.Methods This study utilized a randomized controlled single-blinded clinical design.Patients with ischemic stroke in Phase Brunnstrom Ⅰ were randomly assigned to the auricular intradermal acupuncture(AIA)group(AIA,standard rehabilitation,conventional acupuncture)or the sham auricular intradermal acupuncture(sham AIA)group(the sham AIA,standard rehabilitation,conventional acupuncture)for 6 days of 1 week(6 times).Primary outcome measures:Brunnstrom(Ueda Assessment),Fugl-Meyer assessment of the upper extremity(FMA-UE)and its subtype score(FMA-UEFS,FMA-UEES),Wolf motor function test scale(WMFT).Secondary outcome measures:Upper limb active range of joint motion(AROM),manual muscle test(MMT)of upper limb muscles,Barthel index(BI).Results Of the 332 patients who were screened,70 patients met the criteria and were recruited.There were 35 patients in the AIA group,1 patient was fall off,34 patients were actually completed;35 patients in the sham AIA group had no falling off case.Primary outcome measures:The upper Ueda assessment of the AIA group were better than those of the sham AIA group after treatment on days 3 and 6(P<0.05,P<0.001,respectively).The FMA-UEFS score on days 6 of the AIA group were significantly better than those of the sham AIA group(P<0.05).FMA-UEES of the AIA group was more associated with FMA-UE than FMA-UEFS with FMA-UE after treatment on day 6(FMA-UEFS:r=0.728,P<0.001;FMA-UEES:r=0.744,P<0.001).After 3 days and 6 days of treatment,the AIA group of the WMFT were significantly improved in the sham AIA group(P<0.05,P<0.001,respectively).Secondary outcome measures:AROM:After 6 days of treatment,the AIA group of shoulder abduction were more improved than in the sham AIA group(P<0.05).MMT:The muscle strength of elbow flexion,and elbow extension muscle improved more in the AIA group than in the sham AIA group(P<0.05).Barthel index(BI):After 6 days of treatment,there was a significant improvement in the group compared with before treatment(P<0.05),but no difference compared with the group(P>0.05).Conclusions AIA combined with conventional rehabilitation and acupuncture,can effectively improve the upper limb motor function of patients with post-ischemic stroke flaccid hemiplegia and accelerates the rehabilitation process of upper limb motor function.Clinical Trial Registration The study protocol is registered withhttp://www.chictr.org.cn(accession number:ChiCTR2200058141).
8.PCSK9 promotes mitochondrial dysfunction to accelerate the process of abdominal aortic aneurysm
Man LI ; Yanyu CHEN ; Mengdie XIA ; Qian XU ; Yating ZHOU ; Huayu ZHANG ; Lushan LIU ; Zhihan TANG ; Juan PENG
Chinese Journal of Arteriosclerosis 2025;33(3):209-218
Aim To explore the impact and mechanism of proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9(PCSK9)on the progression of abdominal aortic aneurysm(AAA).Methods 6~8 week old ApoE-/-mice were selected to estab-lish the AAA model.Angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ)was continuously infused through subcutaneous implantation of a micro-os-motic pump.The mice were fed with high-fat diet and killed after 28 days.The expression of PCSK9 in abdominal aor-tic smooth muscle cells was detected by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence in normal abdominal aortic blood vessels and AAA samples in human and mice.Primary cultured murine vascular smooth muscle cells(mVSMC)of C57BL/6 mice were treated with different concentrations of AngⅡ for 24 h,and the expression of PCSK9 mRNA and pro-tein was detected.PCSK9 overexpression and knockdown cell models were established,and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species(mtROS),mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP),mitochondrial permeability transition pore(MPTP)open-ing,and Z-DNA binding protein 1(ZBP1)protein expression were detected.Bioinformatics was used to analyze the dif-ferential expression of multiple single-cell sequencing datasets to obtain the key differentially expressed genes,and to study their expression and role in AAA.Results Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence results showed that PCSK9 expression in human and mouse AAA increased(P<0.01),and co-localized with smooth muscle.Ang Ⅱ promoted PCSK9 expression in mVSMC in a concentration-dependent manner,the 2.0 μmol/L Ang Ⅱ group showed a 2.9-fold and 1.1-fold increase in the expression of PCSK9 mRNA and protein,respectively(P<0.01),with the most significant effect observed.After successfully constructing PCSK9 overexpression and PCSK9 interference mVSMC models,PCSK9 overex-pression led to an increase in intracellular mtROS,a decrease in MMP,an increase in MPTP opening,and a decrease in cellular activity(P<0.01);PCSK9 knockdown could reduce Ang Ⅱ induced increase in mtROS,decrease in MMP and MPTP opening;compared with the siNC+Ang Ⅱ group,the siPCSK9+Ang Ⅱ group showed a decrease in mtROS and an in-crease in the fluorescence brightness of MMP and MPTP(P<0.05).Bioinformatics analysis revealed that ZBP1 was a core differentially expressed gene in AAA.Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence results showed that ZBP1 ex-pression in human and mouse AAA tissues increased,and co-localized with smooth muscle.Western blot results showed that PCSK9 overexpression or treatment with 2.0 μmol/L Ang Ⅱ could increase ZBP1 protein expression(P<0.01),while PCSK9 knockdown could alleviate the increased ZBP1 expression caused by AngⅡ(P<0.05).Conclusion PCSK9 may induce mitochondrial damage in smooth muscle cells,activate downstream molecule ZBP1 to cause cell damage,and promote the development of AAA.
9.Mediating effect of psychological flexibility between recurrence risk perception and health behavior in stroke patients
Ruili MA ; Mengting QIAO ; Yating ZHOU ; Wenjia SUN ; Yanyan LYU ; Xu ZHOU ; Yi WANG ; Xiaoyu WU ; Ruili YU
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2025;31(34):4725-4729
Objective:To investigate the mediating effect of psychological flexibility between recurrence risk perception and health behavior in stroke patients.Methods:From July to December 2024, 233 stroke patients at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were selected using convenience sampling. Electronic questionnaires were used to collect patients' general information, perception of stroke recurrence risk, health behavior, and psychological flexibility.Results:The scores for recurrence risk perception, psychological flexibility, and health behavior of 233 stroke patients were (39.75±4.39), (47.45±4.19), and (54.04±3.78), respectively. Health behavior were positively correlated with recurrence risk perception ( r=0.495, P<0.01), and negatively correlated with psychological flexibility ( r=-0.367, P<0.01). Psychological flexibility partially mediated the relationship between recurrence risk perception and health behavior, with an effect value of 0.080 and an effect proportion of 17.5% (0.080/0.458) . Conclusions:Recurrence risk perception not only directly predicts health behavior in stroke patients but also indirectly influences their health behavior through psychological flexibility. Healthcare providers should enhance recurrence risk perception among stroke patients and incorporate the improvement of psychological flexibility as part of intervention strategies to improve patients' health behavior.
10.Upper Limb Function in Post-ischemic Stroke Hemiplegia Patients with Stage Brunnstrom Ⅰ Treated with Auricular Intradermal Acupuncture:A Single-Blinded,Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Ping LIN ; Qingfu TANG ; Yating GAO ; Chao XU ; Cuicui DENG ; Yao LIAO ; Wenjuan CHEN ; Jie LU ; Jinfeng JIANG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(4):962-972
Background Previous studies have demonstrated that the vagus nerve stimulation improves upper limb function in patients with stroke sequelae(six month-two years).This study aimed to investigate whether the auricular intradermal acupuncture(AIA)acted on the auricular branch of the vagus nerve can facilitate the recovery of upper limb motor function and expedite the effects and characteristics of rehabilitation processes in flaccid phase after stroke in Phase Brunnstrom Ⅰ.Methods This study utilized a randomized controlled single-blinded clinical design.Patients with ischemic stroke in Phase Brunnstrom Ⅰ were randomly assigned to the auricular intradermal acupuncture(AIA)group(AIA,standard rehabilitation,conventional acupuncture)or the sham auricular intradermal acupuncture(sham AIA)group(the sham AIA,standard rehabilitation,conventional acupuncture)for 6 days of 1 week(6 times).Primary outcome measures:Brunnstrom(Ueda Assessment),Fugl-Meyer assessment of the upper extremity(FMA-UE)and its subtype score(FMA-UEFS,FMA-UEES),Wolf motor function test scale(WMFT).Secondary outcome measures:Upper limb active range of joint motion(AROM),manual muscle test(MMT)of upper limb muscles,Barthel index(BI).Results Of the 332 patients who were screened,70 patients met the criteria and were recruited.There were 35 patients in the AIA group,1 patient was fall off,34 patients were actually completed;35 patients in the sham AIA group had no falling off case.Primary outcome measures:The upper Ueda assessment of the AIA group were better than those of the sham AIA group after treatment on days 3 and 6(P<0.05,P<0.001,respectively).The FMA-UEFS score on days 6 of the AIA group were significantly better than those of the sham AIA group(P<0.05).FMA-UEES of the AIA group was more associated with FMA-UE than FMA-UEFS with FMA-UE after treatment on day 6(FMA-UEFS:r=0.728,P<0.001;FMA-UEES:r=0.744,P<0.001).After 3 days and 6 days of treatment,the AIA group of the WMFT were significantly improved in the sham AIA group(P<0.05,P<0.001,respectively).Secondary outcome measures:AROM:After 6 days of treatment,the AIA group of shoulder abduction were more improved than in the sham AIA group(P<0.05).MMT:The muscle strength of elbow flexion,and elbow extension muscle improved more in the AIA group than in the sham AIA group(P<0.05).Barthel index(BI):After 6 days of treatment,there was a significant improvement in the group compared with before treatment(P<0.05),but no difference compared with the group(P>0.05).Conclusions AIA combined with conventional rehabilitation and acupuncture,can effectively improve the upper limb motor function of patients with post-ischemic stroke flaccid hemiplegia and accelerates the rehabilitation process of upper limb motor function.Clinical Trial Registration The study protocol is registered withhttp://www.chictr.org.cn(accession number:ChiCTR2200058141).

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