1.Application of artificial intelligence-assisted chromosome karyotyping analysis in prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal mosaicism.
Ling ZHAO ; Shiwei SUN ; Qinghua ZHENG ; Qing YU ; Chongyang ZHU ; Ling LIU ; Yueli WU
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2026;43(3):180-187
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the application value of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted chromosomal karyotype analysis in the diagnosis of prenatal chromosomal mosaicism.
METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 172 pregnant women who underwent amniocentesis at the Department of Medical Genetics and Prenatal Diagnosis, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between January 2019 and December 2024. All cases whose fetuses were diagnosed with chromosomal mosaicism via karyotype analysis and stratified into two groups based on the analytical software employed: the conventional analysis group (n = 70), which utilized Leica analysis software for karyotype image recognition and cell counting; and the AI-assisted analysis group (n = 102), which utilized AI-assisted software for the same procedures. The clinical performance of AI-assisted karyotype analysis in diagnosing chromosomal mosaicism was comprehensively evaluated by comparing the types of mosaic karyotypes, distribution of mosaic ratios, and verification outcomes of different detection modalities between the two groups. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Ethics No.: 2024-406-01).
RESULTS:
No statistically significant difference was observed in baseline characteristics (maternal age, gestational week, and indications for prenatal diagnosis) between the two groups. Regarding the detection efficacy for numerical and structural mosaicisms, no significant difference was found in the detection of numerical mosaicism. However, the conventional analysis group exhibited a significantly higher detection rate of autosomal structural mosaicism compared to the AI-assisted group (11.43% vs. 0.98%, P < 0.05). Numerical mosaicism cases were further verified using copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The AI-assisted group demonstrated a significantly lower inconsistency rate (5.56% vs. 20.41%, P < 0.05) compared to the conventional group. For low-proportion (< 10%) chromosomal mosaicism, the AI-assisted group had a significantly lower detection rate (13.25% vs. 29.69%, P < 0.05). Subsequent validation of low-proportion mosaicism by CNV-seq and/or FISH showed a higher consistency rate in the AI-assisted group (81.82% vs. 54.55%), though the difference did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.360).
CONCLUSION
For the karyotyping analysis of prenatal chromosomal mosaicism, AI-assisted karyotype analysis shows high accuracy and consistency in identifying numerical chromosomal mosaicism, particularly in reducing the detection of low-proportion (< 10%) mosaicism while improving verification accuracy. AI-assisted analysis can significantly improve the detection accuracy of numerical mosaicism and mitigate the risk of misclassification for low-proportion (< 10%) mosaicism, thereby providing more precise clinical evidence for the prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal mosaicisms.
Humans
;
Female
;
Mosaicism
;
Pregnancy
;
Karyotyping/methods*
;
Artificial Intelligence
;
Prenatal Diagnosis/methods*
;
Adult
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Chromosome Disorders/genetics*
;
Amniocentesis
2.TCM Syndrome Distribution Patterns and Clinical Characteristics in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Comorbid with Metabolically Associated Fatty Liver Disease
Dingqi LI ; Liang HUANG ; Baixue LI ; Rui ZHAO ; Zhenglong ZHENG ; Yichen PENG ; Yu LIANG ; Caiying HE ; Jingdong CUI ; Zilin XIONG ; Xiyang LIU ; Quansheng FENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(14):259-270
ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate the distribution patterns of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) comorbid with metabolically associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and analyze their correlation with clinical characteristics and the progression of liver fibrosis. MethodsA cross-sectional study method was employed, and 506 patients with CHB comorbid with MAFLD who attended the Hepatology Outpatient Department of Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu from June 2024 to December 2024 were enrolled. General information, traditional Chinese medicine syndromes information, laboratory indicators, and imaging examination results were collected using case report forms (CRF). Tongue images of patients were acquired using a tongue diagnosis instrument, and tongue feature parameters were extracted using computer image processing technology. Frequency analysis, factor analysis, and cluster analysis, and other methods were used to explore syndrome categories and distribution patterns. Non-parametric tests were used to compare the differences in clinical characteristics among different syndromes. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the correlation between traditional Chinese medicine syndromes and the progression of liver fibrosis. ResultsThe main traditional Chinese medicine syndromes in patients with CHB comorbid with MAFLD were mainly dominated by damp-heat accumulation syndrome, liver stagnation and spleen deficiency syndrome, and phlegm-blood stasis syndrome, with damp-heat accumulation syndrome accounting for the highest proportion (41.89%). Compared with those without damp-heat accumulation syndrome, patients with damp-heat accumulation syndrome had significantly lower tongue proper H value, tongue coating H value, and tongue coating a* value (P<0.05), significantly higher tongue coating b* value (P<0.05), significantly increased levels of white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), and glucose (GLU), increased CAP values (P<0.05), a higher proportion of males (P<0.05), and a younger age (P<0.05). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses show that age, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), diabetes, and damp-heat accumulation syndrome are independent risk factors for liver fibrosis (P<0.05), and that damp-heat accumulation syndrome is predominantly distributed in liver fibrosis stage F0-F1. ConclusionDamp-heat accumulation syndrome is a typical syndrome in patients with CHB comorbid with MAFLD, which is significantly associated with enhanced inflammatory response, metabolic disorders, and early liver fibrosis, and is a key link in disease progression. Clinical attention and early intervention are needed.
3.Engineered Bacteriophages for The Treatment of Multidrug-resistant Bacterial Infections
Yu-Ying CHEN ; Chun-Mei HUANG ; Jin-Zhi PAN ; De-Liang LIU ; Yang ZHOU ; Gui-Qin DAI ; Peng-Fei ZHAO ; Hong-Zhou LU ; Ming-Bin ZHENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(6):1581-1596
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections have emerged as a serious challenge of global public health crisis. The overuse and misuse of conventional antibiotics have dramatically accelerated the emergence, evolution and worldwide spread of drug-resistant bacterial strains, necessitating urgent exploration of novel antibacterial strategies. Bacteriophages serve as natural bacterial predators offering distinct advantages including high host specificity, autonomous self-replication capabilities and cost-effective large-scale production. However, wild-type phages present significant clinical limitations due to their narrow host ranges, susceptibility to rapid immune clearance and poor penetration of bacterial biofilms, which severely restrict their therapeutic applications. The convergence of synthetic biology, nanotechnology and advanced gene editing technologies has accelerated the development of engineered bacteriophage platforms, providing programmable, scalable and clinically translatable pathways to overcome these inherent biological constraints. Here, we systematically delineate four fundamental strategies for engineered bacteriophage development. Chemical modification utilizes reactive functional groups such as amino, carboxyl and thiol moieties on capsid proteins through esterification, amidation or click chemistry reactions to achieve precise drug conjugation and surface functionalization. In vivo editing encompasses ultraviolet or chemical mutagenesis for random mutation induction, homologous recombination for targeted genetic alterations, recombineering methodologies including electroporation-mediated bacteriophage recombination engineering, and CRISPR-Cas systems for precise genome editing to enable exact genetic reconstruction and host range reprogramming. In vitro synthesis leverages genome engineering platforms where intact phage genomes are transferred into yeast or host bacteria to facilitate highly efficient homologous recombination, enabling large DNA fragment assembly and cross-gene host range expansion without bacterial toxicity constraints. Directed evolution combines artificial selection through mutation library screening with rational design approaches involving chimeric receptor binding protein construction or site-specific mutagenesis, effectively balancing the discovery of unknown adaptive pathways with targeted host specificity modification. Moreover, we comprehensively discuss therapeutic applications across diverse clinical scenarios. Engineered bacteriophage effectively disrupt bacterial biofilms through sophisticated functionalized delivery platforms including nanozyme-conjugated phages, phage-liposome nanoconjugates and bio-responsive hydrogels, demonstrating significantly enhanced bactericidal efficiency compared to unmodified free phages. These bioengineered vectors attenuate bacterial virulence and resensitize pathogens to antibiotics by delivering CRISPR-Cas systems or base editors to disrupt critical virulence factors such as pili, capsule synthesis machineries and quorum sensing systems, or by inactivating antibiotic resistance determinants including beta-lactamase genes. As an intelligent nanomedicine delivery platform, engineered bacteriophage enable precise pathogen elimination an through photocatalytic reactive oxygen species generation, immunomodulatory interventions, or controlled release of antibacterial drugs. Furthermore, oral administration of engineered bacteriophage facilitates microbiota modulation, which selectively eliminate intestinal pathogens while preserve beneficial commensal microbiota, thereby restoring microbial community balance and preventing complications associated with dysbiosis. Finally, we critically analyze persistent challenges including host strain matching complexity, evolution of bacterial resistance mechanisms, pharmacokinetic optimization requirements, optimal administration route selection, large-scale production quality control standards and clinical dosing determination protocols. Through multidisciplinary integration of synthetic biology, infectious disease medicine and immunology, future translational medicine studies of bacteriophage should establish comprehensive technical platforms encompassing rapid phage screening, intelligent rational design, rigorous in vivo evaluation and standardized clinical validation processes, ultimately advancing engineered bacteriophage from laboratory innovations to clinically approved therapeutics for effectively combating MDR bacterial infections.
4.Research on the application and ethical care of mental health services for the disabled elderly from the perspective of the holistic view of traditional Chinese medicine
Yiqi ZHENG ; Fazheng ZHAO ; Yunan GU ; Xinzhou YU ; Ruoxin WANG ; Xin TONG
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(6):758-764
With the deepening of population aging, the number of disabled and semi-disabled elderly individuals continues to increase, and the ethical care issues of mental health services for the disabled elderly are becoming increasingly prominent. When examining ethical issues, the concept of the “holistic view of traditional Chinese medicine” from ancient Chinese traditional culture was explored. While applying theories from the holistic view of traditional Chinese medicine, such as “the unity of form and spirit” and “the integration of form and spirit,” emphasis should be placed on the organic integration of psychology and physiology. The mental health status of the disabled elderly can be comprehensively improved by addressing both internal and external environmental factors. In response to the current situation of mental health services for the disabled elderly, ethical care should be provided for the mental health services of the disabled elderly, focusing on the value of subjectivity, difference, and continuity in ethical care, thereby improving the mental health status of the disabled elderly.
5.Design and implementation of a TCM record information retrieval system based on generative large language models
Xuanze WANG ; Jiangyu LI ; Xiangwen ZHENG ; Yu XIAO ; Huajian MAO ; Dongsheng ZHAO
Military Medical Sciences 2025;49(3):207-213
Objective To develop a system for retrieving information from clinical records of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)based on generative large language models(LLMs).Methods Applicational needs of the system were analyzed,and entity types to be retrieved were identified.The functions,workflows,and architecture of the system were designed by combining the automatic retrieval capabilities of LLMs with human-in-the-loop(HITL).The software was developed using such frameworks as vLLM and Node.js.Interaction of multiple commercial/open source LLMs was implemented using OpenAI-compatible interfaces.The quality of information retrieved from LLMs was enhanced by prompt engineering.Results This system supported task allocation,automatic retrieval of structured information,and manual review.To evaluate its performance,the moonshot-v1-8k model was used to retrieve clinical records of TCM before manual edition was performed.Combining large language model pre-annotation with meticulous annotator edits improved accuracy by 26.6%compared to the BERT-BiLSTM-CRF model,and enhanced extraction efficiency by 1.6-fold relative to purely manual methods.Conclusion General generative LLMs can retrieve a wide range of entity information from TCM records with high accuracy and scalability.The design and implementation of this system approach may provide a useful reference for developing other biomedical information retrieval systems.
6.Clinical Study on the Expression Levels of LINC02009 and LOC107984895 in Peripheral Lymphocytes of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
Yu WANG ; Rui PENG ; Nini TIAN ; Xiaoli ZHAO ; Songqing ZHENG ; Yongquan JIA ; Wenqing MIAO ; Qiaomei LIU
Journal of Kunming Medical University 2025;46(3):66-71
Objective To investigate the expression levels of LINC02009 and LOC107984895 in peripheral lymphocytes of patients with atrial fibrillation and their clinical significance.Methods A total of 75 hospitalized patients with atrial fibrillation(50 with persistent atrial fibrillation and 25 with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation)from Kunming First People's Hospital between January 2023 and December 2023 were selected as study subjects,along with 50 normal control patients.Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression levels of LINC02009 and LOC107984895 in peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with atrial fibrillation.Logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the relationship between expression levels and risk factors for atrial fibrillation,and ROC curves were used to predict the diagnostic cut-off values for LINC02009 and LOC107984895 in diagnosing atrial fibrillation.Results There were statistically significant differences in baseline diseases such as hypertension and coronary heart disease,biochemical indicators such as Cr and BNP,and myocardial remodeling indicators such as LAd and LVEF between the AF(paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and persistent atrial fibrillation)group and the Normal group(P<0.05).The expression levels of LINC02009 and LOC 107984895 in the plasma of the atrial fibrillation group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05)and were negatively correlated with LVEF(P<0.05).The areas under the curve(AUC)of LINC02009 and LOC 107984895 in predicting atrial fibrillation were 0.967(95%CI:0.938~0.995)and 0.900(95%CI:0.838~0.963),respectively.The optimal cut-off values were 1.985 and 0.915,with sensitivities of 88%and 76%,respectively,and specificities of 94%and 90%,respectively.Conclusion LINC02009 and LOC 107984895 are independent risk factors for atrial fibrillation and have certain predictive value for the occurrence of atrial fibrillation.
7.Analysis of Surgical Treatment Outcomes in 709 Cases of Infective Endocarditis
Chaoji ZHANG ; Zining WU ; Xingrong LIU ; Guotao MA ; Shangdong XU ; Jianzhou LIU ; Sheng YANG ; Yanxue ZHAO ; Xinpei LIU ; Xiaocui WANG ; Xiaojun MA ; Ligang FANG ; Chunhua YU ; Huaiwu HE ; Qi MIAO ; Jun ZHENG
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;17(1):197-203
To review the clinical characteristics, short-term outcomes, and risk factors of patients with infective endocarditis(IE) who underwent surgical treatment at a single center, and to summarize treatment experience. Consecutive patients diagnosed with IE who underwent cardiac surgery at the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital between May 2012 and June 2024 were enrolled. Statistical analyses were performed on their baseline characteristics, comorbidities, IE predisposing factors, surgical indications, pathogen distribution, surgical strategies, short-term outcomes, and associated risk factors. A total of 709 IE patients meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included. IE involved left-sided valves in 85.3% of cases. The median age was 48(35, 58) years, and 68.0% were male. Prosthetic valve endocarditis accounted for 8.7%. Patients with left-sided IE had a higher prevalence of comorbidities. Streptococcus was the causative pathogen in 43.2% of patients, while right-sided IE was more frequently associated with Significant differences in pathogen distribution were observed between patients with left-sided and right-sided IE. Heart failure was identified as an independent risk factor for both perioperative mortality and adverse outcomes in surgically treated patients. Through strict timing of surgical intervention and optimized perioperative management, surgical treatment may effectively reduce mortality and improve prognosis in patients with IE.
8.Clinicopathological Features and HOX Transcript Antisense RNA In Situ Hybridization Detection of Myxopapillary Ependymoma.
Yu-Han ZHANG ; Zheng WANG ; LU JUN-LIANG ; Da-Chun ZHAO ; Zhen HUO
Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae 2025;47(1):35-41
Objective To summarize the clinicopathological features,immunohistochemical characteristics,HOX transcript antisense RNA(HOTAIR)in situ hybridization status,treatment,and prognosis of myxopapillary ependymoma(MPE). Methods A total of 17 patients diagnosed with MPE based on pathological evidence in the Department of Pathology of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from November 2006 to July 2023 were selected,and the clinicopathological data of these patients were collected.Immunohistochemical staining for trimethylation at lysine 27 of histone H3 (H3K27me3),glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP),and epithelial membrane antigen(EMA)and alcian blue-periodic acid Schiff(AB-PAS)staining were performed in all the patients.Sixteen patients with spinal ependymomas were selected as the control group.Tissue microarrays were prepared from 17 MPE patients and the control group.HOTAIR ISH was performed and semi-quantitatively scored,and the scores of the two groups were compared by the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Results The 17 MPE patients aged 14-64 years,with the mean age of(37.48±16.10)years and the male-to-female ratio of 0.7∶1.Their clinical manifestations mainly included lumbosacral and lower limb pains.Microscopically,tumor cells were arranged in a papillary pattern around fibrovascular axis,with abundant myxoid materials,and tumor cells were arranged in a loose meshwork in some patients.The immunohistochemical staining results showed that 17(100%),10(58.82%),and 8(47.06%)patients expressed GFAP,EMA,and D2-40,respectively,and 2(11.76%)patients lacked expression of H3K27me3.AB-PAS staining showed blue myxoid materials in all the 17(100%)patients.HOTAIR was expressed in both MPE and control groups,with higher semi-quantitative score in the MPE group than in the control group(P=0.004).Twelve patients were followed up,with a median follow-up period of 65.50 months,during which three patients showed recurrence.Conclusions MPE exhibits typical pathological features,and the combination with immunohistochemical staining for GFAP and EMA as well as AB-PAS staining facilitates diagnosis of this disease.A small number of patients loss the expression of H3K27me3.HOTAIR is highly expressed in MPE but lacks specificity,which limits its auxiliary diagnostic value.The overall prognosis of MPE is favorable,with a few patients experiencing recurrence.
Humans
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Ependymoma/metabolism*
;
Male
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Adult
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Female
;
Adolescent
;
Middle Aged
;
In Situ Hybridization
;
Young Adult
;
RNA, Antisense/genetics*
;
Immunohistochemistry
;
Prognosis
9.Development and practice of a comprehensive personnel information management system for multi-campus public hospitals
Peini YU ; Pingping HUANG ; Ning WEI ; Chun YANG ; Lian LI ; Jun ZHAO ; Jianmin ZHENG ; Dong YANG
Modern Hospital 2025;25(7):1091-1095
Objective To address personnel management challenges in large comprehensive hospitals by developing a comprehensive personnel information management system for refined multi-campus administration.Methods A centralized data-base was employed to construct a personnel information management system compatible with both"interactive management"and"independent management"modes.The system progressively implemented functions including personnel information manage-ment,meal card and subsidy administration,and shift scheduling.Results The system achieved effective interconnections be-tween subsystems,significantly improving personnel management efficiency,data governance,risk prevention capabilities,and operational decision-making.Personnel data were efficiently utilized across multiple scenarios.Conclusion The multi-campus comprehensive personnel information management system meets the refined requirements of multi-campus personnel administration and provides valuable experience for the development and expansion of subsequent hospital operation management information sys-tems.
10.Surgical techniques and clinical outcomes of upper urinary tract reconstruction for stone-related ureteral strictures
Xiaoteng YU ; Yixuan HUANG ; Xinfei LI ; Changfu CHEN ; Fangzhou ZHAO ; Honggang YING ; Zihao TAO ; Yiming ZHANG ; Liqing XU ; Zhihua LI ; Kunlin YANG ; Liqun ZHOU ; Xuesong LI ; Zheng ZHAO
Journal of Peking University(Health Sciences) 2025;57(4):670-675
Objective:To summarize the surgical strategies and to evaluate the clinical outcomes of up-per urinary tract reconstruction in patients with stone-related ureteral strictures.Methods:This retro-spective study included 71 patients diagnosed with ureteral strictures secondary to urinary stones who un-derwent upper urinary tract reconstructive surgery at Peking University First Hospital between March 2014 and November 2023.Patient data were collected,including demographic characteristics,clinical presen-tation,laboratory results,imaging findings,surgical procedures,and follow-up outcomes.Ureteral stric-tures were classified according to anatomical location into upper,middle,lower,or multiple segments.Surgical procedures were carried out depending on the stricture characteristics.Surgical success was de-fined as resolution or improvement of clinical symptoms,radiographic improvement or stabilization of hy-dronephrosis,and maintenance of normal and stable renal function.Results:Among the 71 patients,36(50.7%)had strictures in the upper ureter,9(12.7%)in the middle ureter,15(21.1%)in the lower ureter,and 11(15.5%)had multifocal ureteral strictures.The median stricture length was 5.0 cm(interquartile range:3.0-15.0 cm).Surgical approach selection was individualized based on the location and extent of the stricture.For upper ureteral strictures,the most frequently employed techniques were oral mucosal graft ureteroplasty(13/36,36.1%)and appendiceal flap ureteroplasty(8/36,22.2%).Other options included ureteroureterostomy and ileal ureter replacement for longer or more complex strictures.In middle ureteral strictures,treatment was stratified by length:balloon dilation(1/9,11.1%)and ureteroureterostomy(1/9,11.1%)were applied in shorter strictures,while oral mucosal graft ureteroplasty(3/9,33.3%)and ileal ureter replacement(4/9,44.4%)were reserved for longer segments.For lower ureteral strictures,ureteral reimplantation into the bladder was the most common approach(10/15,66.7%),often combined with a psoas hitch or Boari flap when necessary.All the patients with multiple segmental strictures underwent ileal ureter replacement due to the extensive nature of the disease.The median follow-up period was 14.2 months(range:6.1-107.1 months).During follow-up,69 of 71 patients(97.2%)achieved surgical success.Conclusion:Stone-related ure-teral strictures present with considerable heterogeneity in terms of anatomical location,length,and com-plexity.Careful preoperative evaluation and individualized surgical planning are critical to successful re-construction.With appropriate selection of surgical methods,favorable long-term clinical outcomes can be achieved in the majority of patients.

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