1.Development status and ethical challenges of artificial intelligence in traditional Chinese medicine
Jiaqing DAI ; Yuxuan JIANG ; Jingnan HU ; Liu YANG ; Lifang GUO
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(2):173-178
In the context of the rapid development of 5G technology, the development of artificial intelligence (AI) in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) faces new opportunities and challenges. Focusing on how to uphold tradition while innovating in the development of AI in TCM, starting from the current development status of AI in Chinese medicine, including the integration of four diagnostic methods, syndrome differentiation and treatment, auxiliary diagnosis and treatment, research and development of Chinese herbal medicine, prevention and treatment of diseases, knowledge inheritance, and other aspects, this paper discussed the support of policies and technical advancements, as well as development opportunities such as increased demand for health. Regarding machine ethics, data ethics, regulatory review, and other aspects, it also proposed some suggestions that the training algorithm should be improved to assist medical work; data ownership should be clarified to ensure data security; and an AI ethics committee should be set up to improve the review system, aiming to maximize the advantages of smart healthcare and accelerate the modernization of TCM for the benefit of patients and the service of human health.
2.Research progress on antimicrobial peptides against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Yuxuan WANG ; Weichang GUO ; Cheng CHEN ; Yao LUO ; Yaxiong XIAO ; Jiangtao LI
China Pharmacy 2025;36(5):636-640
Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive bacterium with strong pathogenicity. With the widespread use of antibiotics, its multi-drug resistance has gradually increased. Among them, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is one of the main pathogens of hospital and community infections. Antimicrobial peptides are short-chain peptides with good antibacterial effects and low drug resistance, which have been widely studied in recent years. This study summarizes the mechanism of action of antimicrobial peptides and related study on antimicrobial peptides against MRSA from different sources. It is found that the mechanisms of action of antimicrobial peptides include targeting bacterial cell membranes, bacterial cells, and bacterial cell walls, etc. Besides isolating antimicrobial peptides with anti-MRSA activity from animals, plants, and microorganisms, antimicrobial peptides can also be obtained through synthetic methods. Among them, GHa-derived peptides from animal sources, Ib-AMP4 from plant sources, Ph-SA from microbial sources, the synthetic peptide LLKLLLKLL-NH2, and so on, due to their effective antibacterial activity, rapid bactericidal speed, and low toxicity, are promising candidates for anti-MRSA drugs.
3.Isolation,culture and differentiation of human urine-derived stem cells into smooth muscle cells
Jiahui CHEN ; Xiaoqi DAI ; Yangang XU ; Yuanchao LI ; Mei HUANG ; Yifei ZHAN ; Yuxuan DU ; Liuqiang LI ; Yaochuan GUO ; Jun BIAN ; Dehui LAI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(19):4076-4082
BACKGROUND:Traditional methods of urinary tract reconstruction are limited by donor scarcity,high complication rates,and suboptimal functional recovery.Tissue engineering strategies offer new directions in this field.Since the urinary tract is mainly composed of muscle tissue,the key is to find suitable seed cells and efficiently induce them to differentiate into smooth muscle cells.Comparative studies on the efficacy of different smooth muscle cell induction regimens are still lacking. OBJECTIVE:To isolate,culture,and identify human urine-derived stem cells,and to compare the effects of two different induction protocols. METHODS:Human urine-derived stem cells were isolated from urine samples of 11 healthy adult volunteers by multiple centrifugations.Surface markers were identified by flow cytometry.The multi-directional differentiation potential of human urine-derived stem cells was verified through osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation.Differentiation was induced by transforming growth factor-β1 or transforming growth factor-β1 combined with platelet derived growth factor for 14 days.Immunofluorescence staining and western blot assay were employed to compare the expression differences of smooth muscle-specific proteins(α-SMA and SM22). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Urine-derived stem cells were successfully isolated from the eight urine samples of healthy people.These cells exhibit a"rice grain"-like morphology and possess a robust proliferative capacity.(2)Urine-derived stem cells exhibited high expression of mesenchymal stem cell surface markers(CD73,CD90,and CD44)and extremely low expression of hematopoietic stem cell surface markers(CD34 and CD45).These cells did not express CD19,CD105,and HLA-DR.(3)After osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation,the formation of calcium nodules and lipid droplets was observed,with positive staining results from Alizarin Red S and Oil Red O staining.(4)After 14 days of smooth muscle induction culture,immunofluorescence staining revealed that the smooth muscle differentiation rate of urine-derived stem cells treated with a combination of transforming growth factor-β1 and platelet derived growth factor was significantly higher compared to those treated with transforming growth factor-β1 alone(P<0.005).(5)After 14 days of smooth muscle induction culture,western blot assay further demonstrated that the expression levels of α-SMA and SM22 in the transforming growth factor-β1/platelet derived growth factor group were significantly elevated compared to those in the transforming growth factor-β1 only group(P<0.005).These findings confirm that urine-derived stem cells can be non-invasively isolated using multiple rounds of centrifugation.Compared with transforming growth factor-β1 alone,the combination of transforming growth factor-β1 and platelet derived growth factor can improve the efficiency of inducing urine-derived stem cells to differentiate into smooth muscle cells.
4.Adolescent anxiety and non-suicidal self-injury behavior: the mediating role of depression and the moderating role of social support
Juexi LI ; Liyuan LI ; Yuxuan GUO ; Xiaoqiang XIAO ; Peiqi TANG ; Ting PU ; Haixi ZUO ; Ting YANG ; Xiaoxia FAN ; Bo ZHOU
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(4):357-363
BackgroundNon-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behavior among adolescents has become a global public health concern. Anxiety and depression are considered key factors influencing NSSI behavior, while social support may play a protective role in alleviating emotional and behavioral issues. However, existing research has primarily focused on the direct impact of individual factors on NSSI behavior, with insufficient exploration of the combined effects of anxiety, depression and social support. ObjectiveTo investigate the direct effect of anxiety on NSSI, the mediating role of depression and the moderating role of social support in relationship between anxiety and NSSI behavior, thus to provide references for the prevention and intervention of NSSI behavior among adolescents. MethodsIn February 2022, a total of 40 820 students in grades 7 to 12 across 10 middle schools in a district of Chengdu were selected as participants, and they were assessed using Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 item (GAD-7), Patient's Health Questionnaire Depression Scale-9 item (PHQ-9), Social Support Scale for Urban Students (SSSUS) and Adolescent Self-Harm Scale (ASHS). Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to examine the correlations between scale scores among adolescents with NSSI behaviors. Mediation and moderation analyses were performed using Process 3.5 in SPSS, and the significance was tested with bootstrapping. The interaction was visualized by using simple slope analysis. ResultsAmong 34 534 (84.60%) valid respondents, 542 adolescents (1.57%) reported engaging in NSSI behavior. Significant differences in gender, GAD-7 scores, PHQ-9 scores, and SSSUS scores were observed between NSSI behavior group and non-NSSI group (χ²/t=62.889, 71.120, 94.365, -41.464, P<0.01).Adolesents with NSSI showed positive correlations between GAD-7 scores and both ASHS and PHQ-9 scores (r=0.158, 0.166, P<0.01). PHQ-9 scores were positively correlated with ASHS scores (r=0.364, P<0.01), but negatively correlated with SSSUS scores (r=-0.290, P<0.01). SSSUS scores were negatively correlated with ASHS scores (r=-0.247, P<0.01). Depression partially mediated the relationship between anxiety and NSSI behavior, with an effect size of 0.544 (95% CI: 0.162~0.944), accounting for 35.79% of the total effect. Social support moderated the relationship between depression and NSSI bahavior, with an effect value of -0.082 (95% CI: -0.135~-0.029). ConclusionAnxiety not only directly influences NSSI bahavior among adolescents, also indirectly exacerbates it through depression, while social support mitigates the impact of depression on NSSI behavior. [Funded by Youth Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China (number, 82401812); Project of Health Commission of Sichuan Province (number, 24LCYJPT18)]
5.Value and validation of a nomogram model based on the Charlson comorbidity index for predicting in-hospital mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by ventricular arrhythmias.
Nan XIE ; Weiwei LIU ; Pengzhu YANG ; Xiang YAO ; Yuxuan GUO ; Cong YUAN
Journal of Central South University(Medical Sciences) 2025;50(5):793-804
OBJECTIVES:
The Charlson comorbidity index reflects overall comorbidity burden and has been applied in cardiovascular medicine. However, its role in predicting in-hospital mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by ventricular arrhythmias (VA) remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the predictive value of the Charlson comorbidity index in this setting and to construct a nomogram model for early risk identification and individualized management to improve outcomes.
METHODS:
Using the open-access critical care database MIMIC-IV (Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV), we identified intensive care unit (ICU) patients diagnosed with AMI complicated by VA. Patients were grouped according to in-hospital survival. The predictive performance of the Charlson comorbidity index and other clinical variables for in-hospital mortality was analyzed. Key predictors were selected using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, followed by multivariable Logistic regression. A nomogram model was constructed based on the regression results. Model performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration plots.
RESULTS:
A total of 1 492 patients with AMI and VA were included, of whom 340 died and 1 152 survived during hospitalization. Significant differences were observed between survivors and non-survivors in sex distribution, vital signs, comorbidity burden, organ function, and laboratory parameters (all P<0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of the Charlson comorbidity index for predicting in-hospital mortality was 0.712 (95% CI 0.681 to 0.742), significantly higher than albumin, international normalized ratio (INR), hemoglobin, body temperature, and platelet count (all P<0.001), but comparable to Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (P>0.05). LASSO regression identified seven key predictors: the Charlson comorbidity index (quartile groups: T1, <6; T2, ≥6-<7; T3, ≥7-<9; T4, ≥9), ventricular fibrillation, age, systolic blood pressure, respiratory rate, body temperature, and SOFA score. Multivariate Logistic regression showed that compared with T1, mortality risk increased significantly in T2 (OR=1.996, 95% CI 1.135 to 3.486, P=0.016), T3 (OR=3.386, 95% CI 2.192 to 5.302, P<0.001), and T4 (OR=5.679, 95% CI 3.711 to 8.842, P<0.001). Age (OR=1.056, P<0.001), respiratory rate (OR=1.069, P<0.001), SOFA score (OR=1.223, P<0.001), and ventricular fibrillation (OR=2.174, P<0.001) were independent risk factors, while systolic blood pressure (OR=0.984, P<0.001) and body temperature (OR=0.648, P<0.001) were protective factors. The nomogram incorporating these predictors achieved an AUC of 0.849 (95% CI 0.826 to 0.871) with high discrimination and good calibration (mean absolute error=0.014).
CONCLUSIONS
The Charlson comorbidity index is an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality in AMI patients complicated by VA, with performance comparable to the SOFA score. The nomogram model based on the Charlson comorbidity index and additional clinical variables effectively estimates mortality risk and provides a valuable reference for clinical decision-making.
Humans
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Nomograms
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Hospital Mortality
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Myocardial Infarction/complications*
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Male
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Female
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Comorbidity
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Middle Aged
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Aged
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Arrhythmias, Cardiac/complications*
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ROC Curve
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Intensive Care Units
6.Relationship between negative parenting styles and adolescent depressive symptoms: a structural equation modeling approach to multiple mediation pathways
Peiqi TANG ; Liyuan LI ; Yuxuan GUO ; Juexi LI ; Ting YANG ; Ting PU ; Haixi ZUO ; Bo ZHOU
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(5):442-449
BackgroundThe distressingly high prevalence of depressive symptoms among adolescents exerts profound impacts on their physical and psychological development, urgently necessitating effective preventive interventions. Existing studies, however, have predominantly focused on isolated risk factors, neglecting to construct an integrated model that systematically disentangles the intricate relationships linking parenting styles, learning burnout, and childhood trauma to adolescent depressive symptoms. Moreover, the potential protective roles of social support and psychological resilience in this context remain insufficiently elucidated. ObjectiveTo construct a structural equation model encompassing multiple pathways to unravel the comprehensive mechanisms through which negative parenting styles, childhood trauma, learning burnout, psychological resilience, and social support collectively influence adolescent depressive symptoms, thereby providing evidence-based intervention strategies. MethodsA stratified sampling technique was utilized to recruit 5 865 students from 12 middle schools in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province from March to May 2022. Participants were assessed using the following validated instruments: the Short-form Egna Minnen av Barndoms Uppfostran (s-EMBU), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), the Adolescent Student Burnout Inventory, the Patients' Health Questionnaire Depression Scale-9 item (PHQ-9), the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS),and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). A partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach was employed to construct a predictive framework examining the complex network of pathways through which negative parenting styles, childhood trauma, learning burnout, psychological resilience,and social support collectively influence depressive symptoms in adolescents. ResultsThe PHQ-9 scores demonstrated significant positive correlations with the scores on s-EMBU overprotection subscale (r=0.272, P<0.01), s-EMBU rejection subscale (r=0.368, P<0.01), CTQ-SF (r=0.288, P<0.01) and Adolescent Student Burnout Inventory (r=0.587, P<0.01). Conversely, significant negative correlations were observed between PHQ-9 scores and both SSRS (r=-0.532, P<0.01) and CD-RISC scores (r=-0.418, P<0.01). Negative parenting styles (β=0.113, 95% CI: 0.087-0.138) and learning burnout (β=0.339, 95% CI: 0.315-0.364) emerged as significant positive predictors of depressive symptoms, with childhood trauma mediating the relationship between negative parenting styles and depressive symptoms (effect size=0.018, 95% CI: 0.013-0.024). Social support servesed as a mediating pathway between negative parenting styles and depressive symptoms (β=0.080, 95% CI: 0.069-0.092), as well as between negative parenting styles and childhood trauma (β=0.041, 95% CI: 0.032-0.050). It also functioned as an intermediary pathway linking learning burnout to depressive symptoms (β=0.092, 95% CI: 0.081-0.104) and connecting learning burnout with childhood trauma (β=0.048, 95% CI: 0.037-0.058). Additionally, psychological resilience serveed as a mediating pathway between negative parenting styles and depressive symptoms (β=0.004, 95% CI: 0.002-0.007), between learning burnout and depressive symptoms (β=0.037, 95% CI: 0.023-0.052), and between childhood trauma and depressive symptoms (β=0.003, 95% CI: 0.001-0.006). ConclusionLearning burnout exerts a direct effect on adolescent depressive symptoms. Negative parenting styles influence depressive symptoms both directly and indirectly through childhood trauma. Furthermore, social support and psychological resilience serve as mediator linking negative parenting styles and learning burnout to depressive symptoms in adolescents. [Funded by Science and Technology Project of the Health Commission of Sichuan Province (number, 24LCYJPT18)]
7.Impact of emotions on cancer risk:a Mendelian randomization study
Qin DU ; Yuxuan ZHU ; Yize GUO ; Nanxin XU ; Di LIU
Journal of Xi'an Jiaotong University(Medical Sciences) 2024;45(3):376-382
Objective To investigate the effects of emotions(subjective well-being,depressed effect,worry,and guilt)on cancer(colorectal cancer,hepatic cancer,thyroid cancer,lung cancer,and breast cancer).Methods Two-sample bi-directional Mendelian randomization(MR)method was adopted.All data were based on summary data from genome-wide association studies(GWAS).Inverse variance weighting(IVW)was used to generate the main results,and weighted median(WM)and MR-Egger methods were employed to calculate supplementary results.The outcome measure was odds ratio(OR),and sensitivity analysis was conducted.Results For depressed effect,a significant association with lung cancer(OR=1.005,95%CI:1.001-1.009,P=0.015)was found.For worry,a significant association with breast cancer(OR=1.199,95%CI:1.011-1.423,P=0.038)was observed.For guilt,a significant association with thyroid cancer(OR=2.083,95%CI:1.080-4.017,P=0.029)was identified.After removing all potentially pleiotropic SNPs detected by MR PRESSO,the association between worry and breast cancer showed no statistical difference(P=0.064),while the association between worry and colorectal cancer remained significant(OR=0.739,95%CI:0.571-0.956,P=0.021).No causal relationship was found between cancer and emotions.Conclusion There is a causal relationship between depression and increased lung cancer incidence,guilt and increased thyroid cancer incidence,as well as anxiety and decreased colorectal cancer incidence.
8.Correlation of the distribution and morphology of breast calcification with the risk of breast malignant tumors
Yuxuan ZHU ; Qin DU ; Yize GUO ; Nanxin XU ; Di LIU
Journal of Xi'an Jiaotong University(Medical Sciences) 2024;45(6):982-987
[Objective] To analyze the correlation of the distribution and morphological characteristics of breast calcification with the risk of breast malignant tumors, so as to further reveal the important value of the calcification in diagnosis of breast malignant tumors. [Methods] A total of 108 patients who had received concurrent puncture biopsy and surgical treatment of breast calcification at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019 were recruited, and their imaging data and postoperative pathological results were analyzed. We divided the distribution of breast X calcification into two categories based on segmental/linear calcification and regional/diffuse calcification. We classified the morphology of breast X calcification into punctate, small branching, polymorphic, amorphous, and coarse ones. We then explored the distribution, morphology, and BI-RADS classification of tumor calcification under breast X-ray, and its correlation with the occurrence, age, menopausal status, hormone receptors, and molecular typing of breast malignant tumors. [Results] Among the 108 patients enrolled in the study, 21 cases were malignant and 87 cases were benign. The results showed that the distribution of calcification was segmental/linear (χ2=11.2, P=0.003) and the calcification morphology was of small branching calcification (χ2=9.3, P=0.046). The detection rate in malignant tumors was significantly higher than that in benign tumors. The distribution and morphology of calcification were not significantly correlated with ER, PR, HER2, Ki67, pathological type, or molecular typing (P>0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that , calcification distribution was segmental/linear [OR=19.94(3.061-129.9), P=0.002], calcification morphology was small branching [OR=3.906(1.141-13.37), P=0.030], and B-RADS classification was 4 grade and above [OR=39.99(2.703-591.7), P=0.007], which were closely related to the occurrence of malignant tumors. [Conclusion] For patients with breast tumors in which calcification can be detected under mammography, their imaging characteristics are closely related to the occurrence of malignant tumors. The distribution of calcification is segmental/linear, and the morphology of calcification is small branching/amorphous, which is more likely to be a malignant tumor and closely related to the occurrence of breast cancer.
9.Safety and efficacy of radiotherapy and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor + TKI for MSS/pMMR colorectal cancer with liver metastases
Yuxuan DING ; Lining GUO ; Jiayi SHEN ; Lijun WANG
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2024;40(9):1293-1297
Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of radiotherapy combined with programmed death receptor-1(PD-1)inhibitors and tyrosine kinase inhibitors(TKIs)for the treatment of microsatellite-stabilized(MSS)-type or mismatch-matched repair-normal(pMMR)-type colorectal cancer with liver metastases(CCLM).Methods Case data of 25 patients with MSS-type CCLM admitted to Jiangsu Provincial Cancer Hospital from April 2021 to August 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.They were divided into observation group(n = 12)and control group(n = 13).The observation group was given radiotherapy combined with PD-1 inhibitor and TKI treatment,and the control group was given TKI monotherapy.The baseline data,treatment effect,progression-free survival,and treatment-related adverse reactions of patients in the two groups were compared.Results The difference in baseline data between the two groups was not statistically significant(P>0.05),the disease control rate(DCR)of the observation group was higher than that of the control group(P<0.05),the progression-free survival(PFS)of the patients in the observation group was longer than that of the control group,but the difference was not statistically sig-nificant(P>0.05),and the difference in the incidence of treatment-related adverse events(TRAE)between the two groups was not statistically significant(P>0.05).Conclusion The treatment regimen of radiotherapy com-bined with PD-1 inhibitors and TKI drugs improved clinical efficacy and did not increase the incidence of adverse events when compared with TKI alone,which is a treatment regimen worthy of further validation.
10.Progress in the application of decision-making aids for vaginal birth after cesarean
Jingjing JIANG ; Ke ZHANG ; Xiaoxuan BI ; Yuxuan FENG ; Dongmei LIU ; Shujie GUO ; Yanhong WANG
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2024;30(3):399-405
Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) can reduce the cesarean section rate and has many benefits for both mother and infant. Decision-making aids can promote communication between doctors and patients regarding childbirth methods and increase pregnant women's informed consent and decision-making participation in VBAC, thereby supporting pregnant women in making choices and improving the quality of childbirth decisions. This article summarizes the content of VBAC decision-making aids, evaluation of different VBAC decision-making aids, application of VBAC decision-making aids, and obstacles to the application of VBAC decision-making aids in China to provide reference for the development and application of domestic childbirth decision-making aids.

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