1.Integrating Transcriptomics and 3D Organoids to Investigate Mechanism of Periplaneta americana Extract Against Lung Adenocarcinoma
Qiong MA ; Chunxia HUANG ; Jiawei HE ; Yuting BAI ; Xingyue LIU ; Yuxuan XIONG ; Yang ZHONG ; Hengzhou LAI ; Yuling JIANG ; Xueke LI ; Qian WANG ; Yifeng REN ; Xi FU ; Funeng GENG ; Taoqing WU ; Ping XIAO ; Fengming YOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(11):124-132
ObjectiveTo evaluate the antitumor activity of Periplaneta americana extract(PAE) against human-derived lung adenocarcinoma organoids(LUAD-PDOs) and to elucidate its potential mechanism based on transcriptomics. MethodsFresh tumor and adjacent normal tissues from patients with LUAD were collected to construct LUAD-PDOs and normal lung organoid(Nor-PDOs) models using 3D organoid culture technology. The effective intervention concentration of PAE was determined using the cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) assay. Experimental groups included the model group(LUAD-PDOs), normal group, model administration group(LUAD-PDOs+PAE), and normal administration group(Nor-PDOs+PAE). Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe the pathological structures of PDOs, immunohistochemistry(IHC) was performed to detect the expressions of the proliferation marker Ki-67 and lung adenocarcinoma differentiation markers cytokeratin-7(CK-7) and Napsin A, TUNEL staining was applied to detect cell apoptosis. RNA sequencing(RNA-Seq) was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes(DEGs), followed by Gene Ontology(GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG), and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis(GSEA), alongside protein-protein interaction(PPI) network analysis to screen core mechanisms. Finally, key targets were validated by integrating external database analysis with immunofluorescence(IF). ResultsNor-PDOs and LUAD-PDOs that highly recapitulated the pathological characteristics of the primary tissues were successfully established. The CCK-8 assay determined that the effective intervention concentration of PAE was 16 g·L-1. Morphological observation showed that Nor-PDOs exhibited lumen-forming structures, whereas LUAD-PDOs displayed dense, solid structures. CCK-8 and TUNEL assays revealed that, compared with the model group, PAE intervention inhibited the proliferation of LUAD-PDOs and promoted apoptosis in LUAD cells, while showing no significant effect on the viability of Nor-PDOs. Transcriptomic analysis identified 719 DEGs that were significantly reversed after PAE intervention(347 up-regulated and 372 down-regulated)(P<0.05). GO enrichment analysis indicated that DEGs in the model administration group were significantly enriched in biological processes related to cell cycle regulation compared to the model group. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that PAE affected pathways related to proliferation and metabolism, including pathways in cancer and the p53 signaling pathway. GSEA further confirmed that PAE significantly enhanced the activity of the p53 signaling pathway(P<0.05). PPI network analysis indicated that breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein(BRCA1) and checkpoint kinase 1(CHEK1) were the core down-regulated targets in the p53 pathway. IF verified the high expression of BRCA1 and CHEK1 in LUAD-PDOs and their significant downregulation after PAE intervention(P<0.05). Furthermore, survival analysis based on The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA) database indicated that low expression of BRCA1 and CHEK1 was significantly associated with prolonged overall survival in patients with LUAD(P<0.05). ConclusionPAE effectively inhibits proliferation of LUAD-PDOs and promotes their apoptosis, its anti-tumor mechanism is potentially associated with the activation of the p53 signaling pathway, with BRCA1 and CHEK1 genes likely serving as key downstream targets for the effects of PAE.
2.Knowledge map and visualization analysis of pulmonary nodule/early-stage lung cancer prediction models
Yifeng REN ; Qiong MA ; Hua JIANG ; Xi FU ; Xueke LI ; Wei SHI ; Fengming YOU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(01):100-107
Objective To reveal the scientific output and trends in pulmonary nodules/early-stage lung cancer prediction models. Methods Publications on predictive models of pulmonary nodules/early lung cancer between January 1, 2002 and June 3, 2023 were retrieved and extracted from CNKI, Wanfang, VIP and Web of Science database. CiteSpace 6.1.R3 and VOSviewer 1.6.18 were used to analyze the hotspots and theme trends. Results A marked increase in the number of publications related to pulmonary nodules/early-stage lung cancer prediction models was observed. A total of 12581 authors from 2711 institutions in 64 countries/regions published 2139 documents in 566 academic journals in English. A total of 282 articles from 1256 authors were published in 176 journals in Chinese. The Chinese and English journals which published the most pulmonary nodules/early-stage lung cancer prediction model-related papers were Journal of Clinical Radiology and Frontiers in Oncology, respectively. Chest was the most frequently cited journal. China and the United States were the leading countries in the field of pulmonary nodules/early-stage lung cancer prediction models. The institutions represented by Fudan University had significant academic influence in the field. Analysis of keywords revealed that multi-omics, nomogram, machine learning and artificial intelligence were the current focus of research. Conclusion Over the last two decades, research on risk-prediction models for pulmonary nodules/early-stage lung cancer has attracted increasing attention. Prognosis, machine learning, artificial intelligence, nomogram, and multi-omics technologies are both current hotspots and future trends in this field. In the future, in-depth explorations using different omics should increase the sensitivity and accuracy of pulmonary nodules/early-stage lung cancer prediction models. More high-quality future studies should be conducted to validate the efficacy and safety of pulmonary nodules/early-stage lung cancer prediction models further and reduce the global burden of lung cancer.
3.Recognition of breath odor map of benign and malignant pulmonary nodules and Traditional Chinese Medicine syndrome elements based on electronic nose combined with machine learning: An observational study in a single center
Shiyan TAN ; Qiong ZENG ; Hongxia XIANG ; Qian WANG ; Xi FU ; Jiawei HE ; Liting YOU ; Qiong MA ; Fengming YOU ; Yifeng REN
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(02):185-193
Objective To explore the recognition capabilities of electronic nose combined with machine learning in identifying the breath odor map of benign and malignant pulmonary nodules and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome elements. Methods The study design was a single-center observational study. General data and four diagnostic information were collected from 108 patients with pulmonary nodules admitted to the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of Hospital of Chengdu University of TCM from April 2023 to March 2024. The patients' TCM disease location and nature distribution characteristics were analyzed using the syndrome differentiation method. The Cyranose 320 electronic nose was used to collect the odor profiles of oral exhalation, and five machine learning algorithms including random forest (RF), K-nearest neighbor (KNN), logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), and eXtreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) were employed to identify the exhaled breath profiles of benign and malignant pulmonary nodules and different TCM syndromes. Results (1) The common disease locations in pulmonary nodules were ranked in descending order as liver, lung, and kidney; the common disease natures were ranked in descending order as Yin deficiency, phlegm, dampness, Qi stagnation, and blood deficiency. (2) The electronic nose combined with the RF algorithm had the best efficacy in identifying the exhaled breath profiles of benign and malignant pulmonary nodules, with an AUC of 0.91, accuracy of 86.36%, specificity of 75.00%, and sensitivity of 92.85%. (3) The electronic nose combined with RF, LR, or XGBoost algorithms could effectively identify the different TCM disease locations and natures of pulmonary nodules, with classification accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity generally exceeding 80.00%.Conclusion Electronic nose combined with machine learning not only has the potential capabilities to differentiate the benign and malignant pulmonary nodules, but also provides new technologies and methods for the objective diagnosis of TCM syndromes in pulmonary nodules.
4.Discussion on the Treatment of Colon Cancer by"Regulating Mind and Invigorating Qi"Based on"Chronic Stress-Tumor Immune Microenvironment"
Yan'e HU ; Hengzhou LAI ; Qiong MA ; Mao LEI ; Yifang JIANG ; Yifeng REN ; Xi FU ; Fengming YOU
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(2):492-497
Colon cancer is a complex disease characterized by the impairment of body,qi and spirit,as well as the establishment of a tumor immune microenvironment(TIME)induced by chronic stress.Chronic stress is classified as a micro-level mental disorder,while TIME serves as the biological foundation for qi disorders.The observable manifestation of colon cancer is the tangible representation of physical disease.The interconnected mechanism of"chronic stress-TIME-colon cancer"aligns with the traditional Chinese medicine's understanding of disease as involving the interplay between the body,qi and spirit.In treatment,we should cooperate to improve the"regulating mind"of chronic stress and reshape the"invigorating qi"of TIME,and finally achieve the purpose of shape treatment to delay the progression of colon cancer.The paper is to provide new insights into the treatment of colon cancer with traditional Chinese medicine.
5.Secondary aesthetic restoration of tetracycline-stained teeth with incongruous gingival margins by digitally guided precision crown lengthening: a case report and literature review
LING Huiling ; SUN Jiyu ; REN Wei ; YUE Li ; RUAN Yifeng ; QIN Ziqi ; GAN Xueqi
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2025;33(9):784-791
Objective:
To evaluate the clinical efficacy of digitally guided precision crown lengthening in secondary aesthetic rehabilitation cases, and to provide a clinical reference for digitally guided crown lengthening procedures and secondary aesthetic restorations.
Methods:
We present a case of a patient with tetracycline-stained teeth, partial detachment of anterior resin veneers, and gingival margin discrepancies. The patient underwent digitally guided precision crown lengthening followed by secondary aesthetic rehabilitation. Multimodal data, including intraoral, facial, and CBCT scans, were integrated to construct a four-dimensional virtual patient model (incorporating teeth, face, bone, and occlusion) for surgical planning and 3D-printed guide fabrication. Secondary aesthetic restoration was performed after achieving stable post-surgical outcomes. Based on this case, we conducted a detailed analysis and reviewed relevant literature on crown lengthening in secondary aesthetic rehabilitation.
Results:
The gingival contour of the anterior teeth exhibited significant improvement, with enhanced symmetry and stable gingival margin positioning that closely matched the preoperative design. The crown lengthening procedure demonstrated high precision, and the final outcome was aesthetic and functional. Literature review indicated that secondary restorations frequently present challenges such as gingival contour discrepancies and inflammation. Aesthetic crown lengthening in the anterior region should optimize both soft and hard tissue morphology to meet aesthetic standards, with digital technology improving procedural accuracy.
Conclusion
Precision crown lengthening effectively addresses gingival margin discrepancies in secondary aesthetic rehabilitation, ensuring stable gingival positioning and superior aesthetic outcomes. This approach is particularly suitable for cases with high aesthetic demands.
6.Study on the correlation between the distribution of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome elements and salivary microbiota in patients with pulmonary nodules
Hongxia XIANG ; iawei HE ; Shiyan TAN ; Liting YOU ; Xi FU ; Fengming YOU ; Wei SHI ; Qiong MA ; Yifeng REN
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(05):608-618
Objective To analyze the differences in distribution of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome elements and salivary microbiota between the individuals with pulmonary nodules and those without, and to explore the potential correlation between the distribution of TCM syndrome elements and salivary microbiota in patients with pulmonary nodules. Methods We retrospectively recruited 173 patients with pulmonary nodules (PN) and 40 healthy controls (HC). The four diagnostic information was collected from all participants, and syndrome differentiation method was used to analyze the distribution of TCM syndrome elements in both groups. Saliva samples were obtained from the subjects for 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing to obtain differential microbiota and to explore the correlation between TCM syndrome elements and salivary microbiota in the evolution of the pulmonary nodule disease. Results The study found that in the PN group, the primary TCM syndrome elements related to disease location were the lung and liver, and the primary TCM syndrome elements related to disease nature were yin deficiency and phlegm. In the HC group, the primary TCM syndrome elements related to disease location were the lung and spleen, and the primary TCM syndrome elements related to disease nature were dampness and qi deficiency. There were differences between the two groups in the distribution of TCM syndrome elements related to disease location (lung, liver, kidney, exterior, heart) and disease nature (yin deficiency, phlegm, qi stagnation, qi deficiency, dampness, blood deficiency, heat, blood stasis) (P<0.05). The species abundance of the salivary microbiota was higher in the PN group than that in the HC group (P<0.05), and there was significant difference in community composition between the two groups (P<0.05). Correlation analysis using multiple methods, including Mantel test network heatmap analysis and Spearman correlation analysis and so on, the results showed that in the PN group, Prevotella and Porphyromonas were positively correlated with disease location in the lung, and Porphyromonas and Granulicatella were positively correlated with disease nature in yin deficiency (P<0.05). Conclusion The study concludes that there are notable differences in the distribution of TCM syndrome elements and the species abundance and composition of salivary microbiota between the patients with pulmonary nodules and the healthy individuals. The distinct external syndrome manifestations in patients with pulmonary nodules, compared to healthy individuals, may be a cascade event triggered by changes in the salivary microbiota. The dual correlation of Porphyromonas with both disease location and nature suggests that changes in its abundance may serve as an objective indicator for the improvement of symptoms in patients with yin deficiency-type pulmonary nodules.
7.Construction and evaluation of a "disease-syndrome combination" prediction model for pulmonary nodules based on oral microbiomics
Yifeng REN ; Shiyan TAN ; Qiong MA ; Qian WANG ; Liting YOU ; Wei SHI ; Chuan ZHENG ; Jiawei HE ; Fengming YOU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(08):1105-1114
Objective To construct a "disease-syndrome combination" mathematical representation model for pulmonary nodules based on oral microbiome data, utilizing a multimodal data algorithm framework centered on dynamic systems theory. Furthermore, to compare predictive models under various algorithmic frameworks and validate the efficacy of the optimal model in predicting the presence of pulmonary nodules. Methods A total of 213 subjects were prospectively enrolled from July 2022 to March 2023 at the Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan Cancer Hospital, and the Chengdu Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital. This cohort included 173 patients with pulmonary nodules and 40 healthy subjects. A novel multimodal data algorithm framework centered on dynamic systems theory, termed VAEGANTF (Variational Auto Encoder-Generative Adversarial Network-Transformer), was proposed. Subsequently, based on a multi-dimensional integrated dataset of “clinical features-syndrome elements-microorganisms”, all subjects were divided into training (70%) and testing (30%) sets for model construction and efficacy testing, respectively. Using pulmonary nodules as dependent variables, and combining candidate markers such as clinical features, lesion location, disease nature, and microbial genera, the independent variables were screened based on variable importance ranking after identifying and addressing multicollinearity. Missing values were then imputed, and data were standardized. Eight machine learning algorithms were then employed to construct pulmonary nodule risk prediction models: random forest, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, support vector machine, multilayer perceptron, eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), VAE-ViT (Vision Transformer), GAN-ViT, and VAEGANTF. K-fold cross-validation was used for model parameter tuning and optimization. The efficacy of the eight predictive models was evaluated using confusion matrices and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and the optimal model was selected. Finally, goodness-of-fit testing and decision curve analysis (DCA) were performed to evaluate the optimal model. Results There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in demographic characteristics such as age and sex. The 213 subjects were randomly divided into training and testing sets (7 : 3), and prediction models were constructed using the eight machine learning algorithms. After excluding potential problems such as multicollinearity, a total of 301 clinical feature information, syndrome elements, and microbial genera markers were included for model construction. The area under the curve (AUC) values of the random forest, LASSO regression, support vector machine, multilayer perceptron, and VAE-ViT models did not reach 0.85, indicating poor efficacy. The AUC values of the XGBoost, GAN-ViT, and VAEGANTF models all reached above 0.85, with the VAEGANTF model exhibiting the highest AUC value (AUC=0.923). Goodness-of-fit testing indicated good calibration ability of the VAEGANTF model, and decision curve analysis showed a high degree of clinical benefit. The nomogram results showed that age, sex, heart, lung, Qixu, blood stasis, dampness, Porphyromonas genus, Granulicatella genus, Neisseria genus, Haemophilus genus, and Actinobacillus genus could be used as predictors. Conclusion The “disease-syndrome combination” risk prediction model for pulmonary nodules based on the VAEGANTF algorithm framework, which incorporates multi-dimensional data features of “clinical features-syndrome elements-microorganisms”, demonstrates better performance compared to other machine learning algorithms and has certain reference value for early non-invasive diagnosis of pulmonary nodules.
8.Discussion on the Treatment of Colon Cancer by"Regulating Mind and Invigorating Qi"Based on"Chronic Stress-Tumor Immune Microenvironment"
Yan'e HU ; Hengzhou LAI ; Qiong MA ; Mao LEI ; Yifang JIANG ; Yifeng REN ; Xi FU ; Fengming YOU
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(2):492-497
Colon cancer is a complex disease characterized by the impairment of body,qi and spirit,as well as the establishment of a tumor immune microenvironment(TIME)induced by chronic stress.Chronic stress is classified as a micro-level mental disorder,while TIME serves as the biological foundation for qi disorders.The observable manifestation of colon cancer is the tangible representation of physical disease.The interconnected mechanism of"chronic stress-TIME-colon cancer"aligns with the traditional Chinese medicine's understanding of disease as involving the interplay between the body,qi and spirit.In treatment,we should cooperate to improve the"regulating mind"of chronic stress and reshape the"invigorating qi"of TIME,and finally achieve the purpose of shape treatment to delay the progression of colon cancer.The paper is to provide new insights into the treatment of colon cancer with traditional Chinese medicine.
9.Analysis of clinical and risk factors of positive conjunctival sac culture before intravitreal injection
Lina SUN ; Yongtao LI ; Meiqi XU ; Guanghua HOU ; Yifeng KE ; Yue ZHENG ; Xina XIN ; Pazo Emmanuel ERIC ; Xinjun REN
Chinese Journal of Ocular Fundus Diseases 2024;40(12):919-923
Objective:To observe and analyze the risk factors of positive conjunctival capsule microbial culture in patients with intravitreal injection treatment (IVT) before treatment.Methods:A prospective study. A total of 1 092 patients who received IVT at the Vitreous Injection Center of Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital from February 2021 to February 2024 were included in the study. Among them, 539 were males and 553 were females. The age was (62.29±13.61) years. Hypertension and diabetes were 661 and 576 cases, respectively. There were 742 cases of urban residence and 350 cases of rural residence. Three and one days before IVT, 364 patients received antibiotics and 364 patients did not receive antibiotics. Patients' gender, age, history of hypertension and diabetes, pre-IVT antibiotic eye drops use history, and differences in residence (town/country) were collected in detail. Samples were collected after the conjunctival sac was rinsed, and microbial culture was performed. The differences in conjunctival microbial culture positivity rates was compared between those who did not use antibiotic eye drops before IVT, those who used them 1 day before IVT, and those who used them 3 days before IVT. The positive rate of conjunctival sac microbial culture were compared among individuals of different ages, genders, with/without hypertension, with/without diabetes, with different IVT times, and from different living areas (urban/rural). The clinical baseline of positive conjunctival capsule bacterial culture was compared and observed. χ2 test was used to compare the positive rate of conjunctival capsule microbial culture among different clinical baselines. Logistic binary regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors. Results:Among the 1 092 patients, 54 cases (4.95%, 54/1 092) were positive for microbial culture of conjunctival sac. There was no significant difference ( P>0.05) in the positive rate of conjunctival sac microbial culture among patients of different ages ( χ2=5.599), gender ( χ2=0.549), residence ( χ2=0.153), with or without hypertension and diabetes ( χ2=3.545, 0.044), and with or without diabetic macular edema ( χ2=0.180). There was no significant difference ( P>0.05) in the positive rate of conjunctival sac microbial culture between patients with different numbers of IVT ( χ2=0.961) or between those who received antibiotic eye drops before IVT and those who did not ( χ2=5.600). Logistic binary regression analysis showed that none of the above factors were risk factors for positive conjunctival capsule microbial culture ( P>0.05). No infective endophthalmitis occurred in all patients during the observation period. Conclusion:The use of antibiotics before IVT is not the decisive factor for positive microbial culture in conjunctival sac.
10.Construction of a Three-dimensional Syndrome Differentiation System for Pulmonary Nodules under the Perspective of Qi, Blood and Fluids
Longfei ZHANG ; Hengzhou LAI ; Xi FU ; Fang LI ; Xueke LI ; Chuan ZHENG ; Fengming YOU ; Yifeng REN
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(2):144-148
Based on the theory of qi, blood and fluids, and taking into account of the pathogenesis evolution process from constraint to phlegm, stasis and then mass in pulmonary nodules, an attempt has been made to construct a three-dimensional differentiation system for pulmonary nodules from the dimensions of time and space. The temporal progression of the early, middle, and late stages of pulmonary nodules reflects the pathological changes from constraint to phlegm and then stasis in the metabolism disorders of qi, blood and fluid. The spatial structures such as size, density, and morphology of pulmonary nodules reflect the pathological states of the duration, severity, and primary and secondary conditions of qi, blood and fluid metabolism disorders. Based on the temporal progression, the therapeutic principles have been proposed, which are dispelling pathogenic factors and promoting the use of beneficial factors to interrupt the growth momentum in the early stage, removing turbidity and dispersing phlegm to reduce the degree of nodules in the middle stage, and dispersing nodulation and eliminating abnormalities in the late stage. Based on the spatial structures, the suggested therapeutic methods are using wind herbs, employing multiple approaches to treat phlegm, and promoting blood circulation to resolve stasis, so as to provide theoretical reference for the systematic diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary nodules in traditional Chinese medicine.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail