1.Bibliometric analysis of research trends and hotspots in gamma-aminobutyric acid and liver-related diseases
Zhihao BAI ; Jiaxin LI ; Zhen YANG ; Ning ZHOU
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2025;34(6):1246-1261
Background and Aims:Gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA),the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system,has been increasingly recognized in recent years as being closely associated with various liver-related diseases,such as hepatic encephalopathy,liver cirrhosis,and hepatocellular carcinoma.Abnormal GABA expression is strongly linked to pathological processes including cognitive impairment and neuroinflammation.Although numerous studies have investigated the mechanistic roles of GABA in neurological complications of liver disease,a systematic overview of the field's research trends,collaborative networks,and emerging hotspots remains lacking.This study employs bibliometric methods to comprehensively map the evolution and frontier topics in GABA and liver-related disease research from 2005 to 2024,aiming to inform future research planning and resource allocation in this area.Methods:English-language publications from 2005 to 2024 related to GABA and liver-related diseases were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection.Eligible articles were analyzed using VOSviewer,CiteSpace,and the R package"bibliometrix"to visualize and evaluate contributions by countries/regions,institutions,authors,and journals.Additional analyses included keyword clustering,co-citation analysis,and thematic evolution of research topics.Results:A total of 237 articles were included,contributed by 1 340 authors across 456 institutions in 47 countries,and published in 168 journals.The United States and China are leading contributors in this field.Although countries such as the United Kingdom and Italy had fewer publications,they demonstrated higher average citation counts,indicating strong research quality.Notably,Spain's Centro Investigación Principe Felipe and the research team led by Felipo Vicente exhibited high academic influence.Neurochemistry International and Hepatology were identified as core journals,with Hepatology having the highest impact factor(12.9).Keyword clustering revealed major research focuses including the regulatory role of GABA in the neural mechanisms of hepatic encephalopathy,the impact of liver-related metabolic disorders on neurotransmitter balance,the development and evaluation of GABA receptor-targeted therapeutics,and the function of the GABAergic system in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma.As research deepens,the frequency of emerging keywords has diversified,with recent emphasis on terms such as"quality of life,""gene expression,"and"fatty liver disease,"reflecting a shift from fundamental mechanisms to clinical translation and interdisciplinary integration.Conclusion:The relationship between GABA and liver diseases has become a focal point of interdisciplinary research.Investigations have expanded from pathological mechanisms to therapeutic applications,with growing interest in GABA's roles in hepatic encephalopathy,metabolic dysregulation,and tumor progression.Future studies should explore the specific functions of GABA receptor subtypes,promote the development of precision-targeted therapies,and investigate novel mechanisms such as the gut microbiota-GABA metabolism-brain-liver axis to broaden the clinical and translational potential of GABA in neurological,metabolic,and oncological contexts.
2.Clinical characteristics and outcomes of 20 non-HIV-infected patients with dis-seminated Talaromycosis marneffei
Xianlan ZHANG ; Ning SU ; Chaoxia LI ; Yun JIN ; Huiyi HUANG ; Zhihao HUANG
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(10):1081-1088
This study analyzed the clinical characteristics,diagnosis,treatment,and outcomes of disseminated Tsalaromycosis marneffei(DTSM)in non-HIV-infected patients.A retrospective analysis was conducted on 20 cases of non-HIV-infected DTSM treated at Guangzhou Chest Hospital between January 2015 and December 2021.Clinical data,including demographic characteris-tics,time to diagnosis,clinical manifestations,comorbidities,treatment details,and outcomes,were collected and analyzed.Among the 20 cases,9 were in males,and 11 were in females;the median age was 46(range:1-70)years.The median time from symptom onset to definitive diagnosis was 12(range:1-24)months,and 16 cases were initially misdiagnosed with mycobacterial disease.More than half the patients exhibited four major clinical features:fever,lymphadenopathy,skin lesions,and bone lesions.Pulmonary imag-ing abnormalities were observed in 19 cases,and an average of(3.6±1.6)lung lobes were involved.The positive detection rate of multi-sample cultures(70%,14/20)was significantly higher than that identified through histopathological examination(25%,5/20)(χ2=8.120,P=0.004).Findings for all five patients with positive next-generation sequencing(NGS)results were further confirmed through pathogen culture or histopathology.After antifungal treatment,14 patients showed clinical improvement and were discharged.In conclusion,non-HIV-infected DTSM is characterized by complex clinical manifestations and extensive pulmonary involvement,thus leading to frequent misdiagnosis and diagnostic delays.Pathogen detection methods,such as multi-sample cultures and NGS,demonstrate superior diagnostic accuracy to histopathological examination.Early identification and standardized antifungal therapy are critical factors in determining patient outcomes.
3.Altered patterns of interhemispheric functional connectivity in the cerebral cortex connected via the corpus callosum in Alzheimer's disease
Zheyu LI ; Yifan SHEN ; Renren LI ; Chenxi PAN ; Wei ZHANG ; Zhihao XU ; Qiurong YU ; Dazhi YIN ; Mingxia FAN ; Yunxia LI ; Ruipeng NING
Chinese Journal of Medical Physics 2025;42(11):1434-1444
Objective To investigate alterations in interhemispheric functional connectivity(FC)in the cerebral cortices connected via the corpus callosum in patients with Alzheimer's disease(AD),and to explore their relationships with cognitive function and activities of daily living.Methods Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected from 28 patients with Alzheimer's dementia(d-AD),47 patients with mild cognitive impairment(MCI),and 37 healthy controls(HC).Using a trancallosal tract template,32 pairs of homologous cortical brain regions directly connected to 32 subregions of the corpus callosum were selected as regions of interest for interhemispheric FC analysis.Further correlation analyses were performed between FC values in patient groups and their scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic(MoCA-B)Scale and the Activities of Daily Living(ADL)Scale.Results Compared with HC group,both MCI and d-AD groups exhibited hyperconnectivity(significantly increased FC)in interhemispheric non-homologous brain regions.Specifically,hyperconnectivity in the MCI group was scattered across the frontal,parietal,temporal,and occipital lobes,while in the d-AD group,it was concentrated within the precentral and postcentral gyri.Notably,hyperconnectivity involving the prefrontal and occipital lobes in the MCI group showed significant declines in the d-AD group.The interhemispheric homologous FC in the d-AD group reduced more significantly than the MCI group.Additionally,in the d-AD group,2 interhemispheric FC within the prefrontal lobe(between the bilateral orbital parts of the inferior frontal gyrus,and between the left medial frontal gyrus and the right middle frontal gyrus)were correlated with MoCA-B scores,and 2 FC(between the bilateral middle occipital gyri,and between the left inferior parietal lobule and the right middle frontal gyrus)were correlated with ADL scores.Conclusion MCI and d-AD exhibit distinct patterns of interhemispheric FC alterations,and the interhemispheric FC changes in AD patients are non-progressive.The close relationships between interhemispheric homologous/non-homologous FC and MoCA-B/ADL scores in d-AD patients provide an objective basis and reference for clinical neuromodulation.
4.Clinical characteristics and outcomes of 20 non-HIV-infected patients with dis-seminated Talaromycosis marneffei
Xianlan ZHANG ; Ning SU ; Chaoxia LI ; Yun JIN ; Huiyi HUANG ; Zhihao HUANG
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(10):1081-1088
This study analyzed the clinical characteristics,diagnosis,treatment,and outcomes of disseminated Tsalaromycosis marneffei(DTSM)in non-HIV-infected patients.A retrospective analysis was conducted on 20 cases of non-HIV-infected DTSM treated at Guangzhou Chest Hospital between January 2015 and December 2021.Clinical data,including demographic characteris-tics,time to diagnosis,clinical manifestations,comorbidities,treatment details,and outcomes,were collected and analyzed.Among the 20 cases,9 were in males,and 11 were in females;the median age was 46(range:1-70)years.The median time from symptom onset to definitive diagnosis was 12(range:1-24)months,and 16 cases were initially misdiagnosed with mycobacterial disease.More than half the patients exhibited four major clinical features:fever,lymphadenopathy,skin lesions,and bone lesions.Pulmonary imag-ing abnormalities were observed in 19 cases,and an average of(3.6±1.6)lung lobes were involved.The positive detection rate of multi-sample cultures(70%,14/20)was significantly higher than that identified through histopathological examination(25%,5/20)(χ2=8.120,P=0.004).Findings for all five patients with positive next-generation sequencing(NGS)results were further confirmed through pathogen culture or histopathology.After antifungal treatment,14 patients showed clinical improvement and were discharged.In conclusion,non-HIV-infected DTSM is characterized by complex clinical manifestations and extensive pulmonary involvement,thus leading to frequent misdiagnosis and diagnostic delays.Pathogen detection methods,such as multi-sample cultures and NGS,demonstrate superior diagnostic accuracy to histopathological examination.Early identification and standardized antifungal therapy are critical factors in determining patient outcomes.
5.Exploring function-structure covariant patterns in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment based on multimodal magnetic resonance imaging
Yifan SHEN ; Ruipeng NING ; Renren LI ; Chenxi PAN ; Wei ZHANG ; Zheyu LI ; Zhihao XU ; Qiurong YU ; Dazhi YIN ; Yunxia LI ; Mingxia FAN
Chinese Journal of Medical Physics 2025;42(10):1298-1305
Objective To explore function-structure covariant patterns in Alzheimer's disease(AD)and mild cognitive impairment(MCI),and to investigate their associations with cognitive function and activities of daily living.Methods three-way parallel group independent component analysis(three-way pGICA),was used to identify the covariant patterns of resting-state functional MRI temporal data,gray matter density maps,and fractional anisotropy(FA)maps,and the differences between different groups were compared.Furthermore,the associations of covariant patterns with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic(MoCA_B)Scale scores and Activities of Daily Living Scale scores were analyzed.Results The function-structure covariant patterns in AD and MCI were characterized by the enhanced negative functional connectivity between the left posterior salience network and the right default mode network,the decreased gray matter density in the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex,and the reduced FA values in the left superior corona radiata(correlations:P<0.001,FDR corrected).Compared with HC group,AD group showed significant abnormalities in all identified covariant patterns(P<0.01,FDR corrected),but MCI group only exhibited a significant decrease in gray matter density in the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(P<0.05,FDR corrected).Additionally,AD group had significantly lower FA value in the left superior corona radiata than MCI group(P<0.05,FDR corrected).The loadings reflecting the degree of covariation were significantly correlated with the Activities of Daily Living Scale scores(P<0.05,FDR corrected)but not with MoCA_B Scale scores.Conclusion The function-structure covariant patterns in AD and MCI are consistent with the declines in activities of daily living.The multimodal fusion analysis(three-way pGICA)provides a novel approach to understand the brain damage mechanisms underlying the covariant evolution of MCI and AD.
6.Altered patterns of interhemispheric functional connectivity in the cerebral cortex connected via the corpus callosum in Alzheimer's disease
Zheyu LI ; Yifan SHEN ; Renren LI ; Chenxi PAN ; Wei ZHANG ; Zhihao XU ; Qiurong YU ; Dazhi YIN ; Mingxia FAN ; Yunxia LI ; Ruipeng NING
Chinese Journal of Medical Physics 2025;42(11):1434-1444
Objective To investigate alterations in interhemispheric functional connectivity(FC)in the cerebral cortices connected via the corpus callosum in patients with Alzheimer's disease(AD),and to explore their relationships with cognitive function and activities of daily living.Methods Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected from 28 patients with Alzheimer's dementia(d-AD),47 patients with mild cognitive impairment(MCI),and 37 healthy controls(HC).Using a trancallosal tract template,32 pairs of homologous cortical brain regions directly connected to 32 subregions of the corpus callosum were selected as regions of interest for interhemispheric FC analysis.Further correlation analyses were performed between FC values in patient groups and their scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic(MoCA-B)Scale and the Activities of Daily Living(ADL)Scale.Results Compared with HC group,both MCI and d-AD groups exhibited hyperconnectivity(significantly increased FC)in interhemispheric non-homologous brain regions.Specifically,hyperconnectivity in the MCI group was scattered across the frontal,parietal,temporal,and occipital lobes,while in the d-AD group,it was concentrated within the precentral and postcentral gyri.Notably,hyperconnectivity involving the prefrontal and occipital lobes in the MCI group showed significant declines in the d-AD group.The interhemispheric homologous FC in the d-AD group reduced more significantly than the MCI group.Additionally,in the d-AD group,2 interhemispheric FC within the prefrontal lobe(between the bilateral orbital parts of the inferior frontal gyrus,and between the left medial frontal gyrus and the right middle frontal gyrus)were correlated with MoCA-B scores,and 2 FC(between the bilateral middle occipital gyri,and between the left inferior parietal lobule and the right middle frontal gyrus)were correlated with ADL scores.Conclusion MCI and d-AD exhibit distinct patterns of interhemispheric FC alterations,and the interhemispheric FC changes in AD patients are non-progressive.The close relationships between interhemispheric homologous/non-homologous FC and MoCA-B/ADL scores in d-AD patients provide an objective basis and reference for clinical neuromodulation.
7.Exploring function-structure covariant patterns in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment based on multimodal magnetic resonance imaging
Yifan SHEN ; Ruipeng NING ; Renren LI ; Chenxi PAN ; Wei ZHANG ; Zheyu LI ; Zhihao XU ; Qiurong YU ; Dazhi YIN ; Yunxia LI ; Mingxia FAN
Chinese Journal of Medical Physics 2025;42(10):1298-1305
Objective To explore function-structure covariant patterns in Alzheimer's disease(AD)and mild cognitive impairment(MCI),and to investigate their associations with cognitive function and activities of daily living.Methods three-way parallel group independent component analysis(three-way pGICA),was used to identify the covariant patterns of resting-state functional MRI temporal data,gray matter density maps,and fractional anisotropy(FA)maps,and the differences between different groups were compared.Furthermore,the associations of covariant patterns with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic(MoCA_B)Scale scores and Activities of Daily Living Scale scores were analyzed.Results The function-structure covariant patterns in AD and MCI were characterized by the enhanced negative functional connectivity between the left posterior salience network and the right default mode network,the decreased gray matter density in the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex,and the reduced FA values in the left superior corona radiata(correlations:P<0.001,FDR corrected).Compared with HC group,AD group showed significant abnormalities in all identified covariant patterns(P<0.01,FDR corrected),but MCI group only exhibited a significant decrease in gray matter density in the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(P<0.05,FDR corrected).Additionally,AD group had significantly lower FA value in the left superior corona radiata than MCI group(P<0.05,FDR corrected).The loadings reflecting the degree of covariation were significantly correlated with the Activities of Daily Living Scale scores(P<0.05,FDR corrected)but not with MoCA_B Scale scores.Conclusion The function-structure covariant patterns in AD and MCI are consistent with the declines in activities of daily living.The multimodal fusion analysis(three-way pGICA)provides a novel approach to understand the brain damage mechanisms underlying the covariant evolution of MCI and AD.
8.Bibliometric analysis of research trends and hotspots in gamma-aminobutyric acid and liver-related diseases
Zhihao BAI ; Jiaxin LI ; Zhen YANG ; Ning ZHOU
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2025;34(6):1246-1261
Background and Aims:Gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA),the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system,has been increasingly recognized in recent years as being closely associated with various liver-related diseases,such as hepatic encephalopathy,liver cirrhosis,and hepatocellular carcinoma.Abnormal GABA expression is strongly linked to pathological processes including cognitive impairment and neuroinflammation.Although numerous studies have investigated the mechanistic roles of GABA in neurological complications of liver disease,a systematic overview of the field's research trends,collaborative networks,and emerging hotspots remains lacking.This study employs bibliometric methods to comprehensively map the evolution and frontier topics in GABA and liver-related disease research from 2005 to 2024,aiming to inform future research planning and resource allocation in this area.Methods:English-language publications from 2005 to 2024 related to GABA and liver-related diseases were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection.Eligible articles were analyzed using VOSviewer,CiteSpace,and the R package"bibliometrix"to visualize and evaluate contributions by countries/regions,institutions,authors,and journals.Additional analyses included keyword clustering,co-citation analysis,and thematic evolution of research topics.Results:A total of 237 articles were included,contributed by 1 340 authors across 456 institutions in 47 countries,and published in 168 journals.The United States and China are leading contributors in this field.Although countries such as the United Kingdom and Italy had fewer publications,they demonstrated higher average citation counts,indicating strong research quality.Notably,Spain's Centro Investigación Principe Felipe and the research team led by Felipo Vicente exhibited high academic influence.Neurochemistry International and Hepatology were identified as core journals,with Hepatology having the highest impact factor(12.9).Keyword clustering revealed major research focuses including the regulatory role of GABA in the neural mechanisms of hepatic encephalopathy,the impact of liver-related metabolic disorders on neurotransmitter balance,the development and evaluation of GABA receptor-targeted therapeutics,and the function of the GABAergic system in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma.As research deepens,the frequency of emerging keywords has diversified,with recent emphasis on terms such as"quality of life,""gene expression,"and"fatty liver disease,"reflecting a shift from fundamental mechanisms to clinical translation and interdisciplinary integration.Conclusion:The relationship between GABA and liver diseases has become a focal point of interdisciplinary research.Investigations have expanded from pathological mechanisms to therapeutic applications,with growing interest in GABA's roles in hepatic encephalopathy,metabolic dysregulation,and tumor progression.Future studies should explore the specific functions of GABA receptor subtypes,promote the development of precision-targeted therapies,and investigate novel mechanisms such as the gut microbiota-GABA metabolism-brain-liver axis to broaden the clinical and translational potential of GABA in neurological,metabolic,and oncological contexts.
9.Construction of digital intelligent minimally invasive research-oriented hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery discipline
Jian YANG ; Xiwen WU ; Wen ZHU ; Haoyu HU ; Nan XIANG ; Ning ZENG ; Zhihao LIU ; Xuequan FANG ; Chihua FANG
Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery 2024;23(1):91-97
The emergence and evolution of digital intelligent technology has profoundly influenced the development of minimally invasive research-oriented hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery discipline. Over various periods, our team has always adhered to the principle of "being oriented by clinical issues and driven by clinical needs", continuously carried out innovative research across interdisciplinary boundaries, propelling the evolution of digital intelligent technology. Spanning over two decades, this journey includes the progression from digital virtual human, three-dimensional visualization, molecular fluorescence imaging, augmented reality and mixed reality, artificial intelligence, to the realm of human visualization meta-universe. This evolution facilitates the shift from two-dimensional empirical diagnoses of hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgical diseases to deep learning intelligent diagnostics, the transition from morphology-based tumor diagnoses to molecular imaging-based diagnostics, and from conventional empirical surgery to intelligent navigation surgery. The authors provide a comprehensive review of our developmental process and achievements within the realm of digital intelligent diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, with the aims to promote the development and application of digital intelligent medicine.
10.Non-coding RNAs as therapeutic targets in cancer and its clinical application
Leng XUEJIAO ; Zhang MENGYUAN ; Xu YUJING ; Wang JINGJING ; Ding NING ; Yu YANCHENG ; Sun SHANLIANG ; Dai WEICHEN ; Xue XIN ; Li NIANGUANG ; Yang YE ; Shi ZHIHAO
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2024;14(7):983-1010
Cancer genomics has led to the discovery of numerous oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes that play critical roles in cancer development and progression.Oncogenes promote cell growth and proliferation,whereas tumor suppressor genes inhibit cell growth and division.The dysregulation of these genes can lead to the development of cancer.Recent studies have focused on non-coding RNAs(ncRNAs),including circular RNA(circRNA),long non-coding RNA(lncRNA),and microRNA(miRNA),as therapeutic targets for cancer.In this article,we discuss the oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes of ncRNAs associated with different types of cancer and their potential as therapeutic targets.Here,we highlight the mechanisms of action of these genes and their clinical applications in cancer treatment.Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer development and identifying specific therapeutic targets are essential steps towards the development of effective cancer treatments.

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