1.Application of machine learning in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis C
Hua HAN ; Zhongping DUAN ; Yang WANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(1):141-144
With the development of artificial intelligence, machine learning has shown great potential in the field of medical health. Machine learning conducts a comprehensive analysis of patient data including clinical features, blood tests, and imaging examinations and establishes corresponding mathematical models to achieve the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and the prediction of disease conditions, thereby guiding disease management. With reference to the latest research findings, this article reviews the application of machine learning in chronic hepatitis C and related research advances.
2.Analysis of detection of repeat blood donors with unqualified alanine aminotransferase
Zijian ZENG ; Fenfang LIAO ; Junmou XIE ; Zhiting WAN ; Rongsong DU ; Zhongping LI ; Haojian LIANG ; Shijie LI ; Yanli JI ; Huaqin LIANG ; Hao WANG
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(4):482-487
[Objective] To retrospectively analyze the detection results of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) unqualified repeat blood donors in Guangzhou, so as to provide evidence for further expanding the repeat blood donor pool, reducing the rate of blood discarding and improving the qualified rate of blood test. [Methods] Blood donors with unqualified ALT in Guangzhou Blood Center from January 2018 to April 2024 were selected as the research objects. The past blood donation and population characteristics were analyzed according to the number of blood donations and ALT unqualified times. [Results] Among repeat blood donors with previous ALT disqualification, 99.5% to 99.7% did not have reactive markers for transfusion-transmitted diseases (TTD), which was higher than the rate among first-time blood donors with unqualified ALT (95.8%) (P<0.05). The rate of single-item ALT disqualification in repeat blood donors was higher in males than in females (P<0.05); it also varied by age (18-25 years > 26-35 years > 36-45 years > over 45 years) (P<0.05); and by quarter (third and fourth quarters > first and second quarters) (P<0.05). The ALT unqualified rate was significantly higher whole blood donors than that of platelet donors and returning blood donors (P<0.05). The overall ALT level (51.0 U/L), individual ALT level (56.0 U/L) and individual ALT unqualified rate (66.7%) of repeat blood donors with multiple ALT disqualifications were higher than those of repeat blood donors with single-item ALT disqualifications (26.0 U/L, 38.5 U/L, and 33.3%, respectively) (P<0.05). Moreover, as the number of ALT disqualifications increased, the overall level of ALT in repeat blood donors also increased (P<0.05), and the average level of individual ALT and individual ALT unqualified ratio tended to increase. Repeat blood donors with frequent ALT disqualifications had higher ALT levels (69.0 U/L). [Conclusion] The ALT unqualified rates of repeat blood donors were mostly non-specific elevation without TTD. Repeat blood donors with multiple ALT disqualifications tend to have continuous high ALT. Moreover, and with the increase of ALT disqualifications times, the overall ALT levels the average individual ALT levels and individual ALT unqualified rates showed an increasing trend.
3.Interpretation of guideline for diagnosis and treatment of acute-on-chronic liver failure (2025 edition)
Manman XU ; Huaibin ZOU ; Zhongping DUAN ; Tao HAN ; Yu CHEN
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(5):844-850
In 2025, Severe Liver Disease and Artificial Liver Group and Nutrition and Regeneration in End-Stage Liver Disease Group of Chinese Society of Hepatology, Chinese Medical Association, convened a panel of national experts to jointly develop China’s first guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Based on the latest research findings and clinical practice in China and globally, this guideline establishes a standardized definition of ACLF and provide recommendations for its diagnosis, treatment, and clinical management. This article gives an interpretation of the key points in the guideline, in order to provide a reference for standardized diagnosis and treatment of ACLF.
4.Establishment and validation of a risk prediction model for 90-day mortality in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure based on sarcopenia
Huina CHEN ; Ming KONG ; Siqi ZHANG ; Manman XU ; Yu CHEN ; Zhongping DUAN
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(6):1135-1142
ObjectiveTo establish and validate a new prediction model for the risk of death in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) based on sarcopenia and other clinical indicators, and to improve the accuracy of prognostic assessment for ACLF patients. MethodsA total of 380 patients with ACLF who were admitted to Beijing YouAn Hospital, Capital Medical University, from January 2019 to January 2022 were enrolled, and they were divided into training group with 228 patients and testing group with 152 patients in a ratio of 6∶4 using the stratified random sampling method. For the training group, CT images were used to measure the cross-sectional area of the skeletal muscle at the third lumbar vertebra (L3), and L3 skeletal muscle index (L3-SMI) was calculated. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the previously established L3-SMI reference values for healthy adults in northern China. Univariate and multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to establish a sarcopenia-ACLF model which integrated sarcopenia and clinical risk factors, and a nomogram was developed for presentation. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was used to assess the predictive performance of the model, the calibration curve was used to assess the degree of calibration, and a decision curve analysis was used to investigate the clinical application value of the model. The independent-samples t test or the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups, and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival curves, and the Log-rank test was used for comparison between groups. The DeLong test was used for comparison of AUC between different models. ResultsThe multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that sarcopenia (hazard ratio [HR]=1.962, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.185 — 3.250, P=0.009), total bilirubin (HR=1.003, 95%CI: 1.002 — 1.005, P<0.001), international normalized ratio (HR=1.997, 95%CI: 1.674 — 2.382, P<0.001), and lactic acid (HR=1.382, 95%CI: 1.170 — 1.632, P<0.001) were included in the sarcopenia-ACLF model. In the training cohort, the sarcopenia-ACLF model had a larger AUC than MELD-Na score in predicting 90-day mortality in patients with ACLF (0.80 vs 0.73, Z=1.97, P=0.049). In the test cohort, the sarcopenia-ACLF model had a significantly larger AUC than MELD score (0.79 vs 0.69, Z=2.70, P=0.007) and MELD-Na score (0.79 vs 0.68, Z=2.92, P=0.004). The calibration curve showed that the model had good calibration ability, with a relatively good consistency between the predicted risk of mortality and the observed results. The DCA results showed that within a reasonable range of threshold probabilities, the sarcopenia-ACLF model showed a greater net benefit than MELD and MELD-Na scores in both the training cohort and the test cohort. ConclusionThe sarcopenia-ACLF model developed in this study provides a more accurate tool for predicting the risk of 90-day mortality in ACLF patients, which provides support for clinical decision-making and helps to optimize treatment strategies.
5.Analysis of the efficacy of prone position ventilation combined with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the treatment of severe primary graft dysfunction after lung transplantation
Dapeng WANG ; Chenglong LIANG ; Jinsong ZHU ; Tao ZHOU ; Zhongping XU ; Chunxiao HU ; Hongyang XU
Organ Transplantation 2025;16(6):898-906
Objective To explore the application effect of prone position ventilation combined with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) in the treatment of severe primary graft dysfunction (PGD) after lung transplantation. Methods The clinical data of 75 lung transplant recipients who developed severe PGD after lung transplantation and were treated with VV-ECMO from January 2021 to June 2024 at Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University were collected. The patients with severe graft dysfunction after lung transplantation were divided into VV-ECMO group (control group, 45 cases) and prone position ventilation combined with VV-ECMO group (treatment group, 30 cases). The general data of the two groups of patients were compared, including the donors' clinical data (age, gender and oxygenation index, etc) and the recipients' clinical data [gender, age and body mass index (BMI), etc]. Cox regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors of the recipients' 30-day, 90-day and 180-day survival after surgery. The survival curves of the two groups of recipients were drawn using Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Results The intensive care unit (ICU) stay time, ECMO application time and ventilator use time of control group were longer than those of treatment group. The proportion of male recipients and the BMI of control group were lower than those of treatment group. The 30-day, 90-day and 180-day survival of control group was worse than that of treatment group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The univariate Cox regression analysis of the recipients' 30-day survival after surgery showed that the recipients' BMI, history of diabetes, enlargement of the right atrium and right ventricle, intraoperative blood transfusion volume and intraoperative red blood cell transfusion volume were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the history of diabetes and enlargement of the right atrium and right ventricle were risk factors affecting the 30-day survival of lung transplant recipients (all P<0.05). The univariate Cox regression analysis of the recipients' 90-day survival after surgery showed that the recipients' BMI, history of diabetes, enlargement of the right atrium and right ventricle, intraoperative blood transfusion volume, intraoperative red blood cell transfusion volume and group variable were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the history of diabetes, enlargement of the right atrium and right ventricle and group variable were risk factors affecting the 90-day survival of lung transplant recipients (all P<0.05). The univariate Cox regression analysis of the recipients' 180-day survival after surgery showed that the recipients' BMI, history of diabetes, right atrium and right ventricle enlargement, intraoperative blood transfusion volume, intraoperative red blood cell transfusion volume and group variable were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the history of diabetes, enlargement of the right atrium and right ventricle and group variable were risk factors affecting the 180-day survival of lung transplant recipients (all P<0.05). The 30-day, 90-day and 180-day survival rates of control group were lower, and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (all P<0.05), with a median survival time of 100 days in control group. Conclusions In the clinical treatment of severe PGD after lung transplantation, prone position ventilation combined with VV-ECMO may shorten ECMO application time, invasive ventilation time and ICU stay time, and improve the short-term prognosis of lung transplantation.
6.ABO blood group screening results among blood donors in Guangzhou from 2021 to 2022
Xuying LIU ; Boquan HUANG ; Fenfang LIAO ; Zhongping LI ; Haojian LIANG ; Rongsong DU ; Junmou XIE ; Aiqiong HUANG ; Hao WANG
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2024;37(4):439-443
【Objective】 To investigate the distribution of ABO and RhD blood groups among voluntary blood donors in Guangzhou, in order to ensure clinical blood safety and better serve blood donors. 【Methods】 Routine ABO and RhD blood group screening tests were carried out among voluntary blood donors from January 2021 to December 2022. The composition ratio of ABO blood group was statistically analyzed. The samples with discrepancy between forward and reverse blood grouping and negative RhD blood group samples were further verified by serological test to analyze the ABO subtypes and the reasons for missed detection. 【Results】 A total of 749 123 blood samples were screened from January 2021 to December 2022, and 513 291 samples were collected after excluding repeat blood donors, with the ABO blood groups as 208 126(40.55%) of O type, 138 859(27.05%) of A type, 130 987(25.52%) of B type and 35 319(6.88%) of AB type. The screening results showed discrepancy between forward and reverse blood grouping in 506 samples, of which 58 were with weak/non-erythrocyte reaction, 16 with erythrocyte reaction, 215 with weak/non-serum reaction, and 217 with serum reaction. Further serological test indicated that 44 samples were ABO subtypes, among which 13 were subtype A, 26 subtype B, 5 subtype AB and 3 B (A) and 14 Bombay-like blood group. The blood group with the highest missed detection rate in repeat blood donors were A
7.Population characteristics and trends among HIV-positive voluntary blood donors in Guangzhou from 2012 to 2022
Ye TIAN ; Zhongping LI ; Fenfang LIAO ; Junmou XIE ; Suiqun YANG ; Xia RONG ; Hao WANG
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2024;37(2):180-184
【Objective】 To investigate the population data of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections among voluntary blood donors in Guangzhou between 2012 and 2022, and analyze its characteristics and trends, so as to provide valuable data for formulating targeted prevention and ensuring blood safety. 【Methods】 Voluntary blood donors samples from 2012 to 2022 were screened for p24 antigen and anti-HIV by two ELISA diagnostic kits and HIV RNA by nucleic acid test(NAT). The reactive blood samples were sent to the Disease Control and Prevention Center of Guangzhou for anti-HIV confirmatory test by Western blot. The population characteristics of blood donors with confirmed-positive HIV were subsequently analyzed. 【Results】 There were a total of 3 351 596 blood samples from voluntary blood donors in Guangzhou from 2012 to 2022, of which 708 samples were confirmed-positive of anti-HIV, with a total positive rate of 21.12/100 000, showing a decreasing trend (P<0.05). 1) The positive rates of age groups from high to low were 25-34 year old group, 35-44 year old group, 18-24 year old group, and≥45 year old group. The differences among various groups are statistically significant; 2) The anti-HIV positive rate of first-time blood donors (39.23/100 000) was significantly higher than that of repeat blood donors (10.78/100 000) (P<0.05); 3) The anti-HIV positive rate of male blood donors was 30.45/100 000, which was significantly higher than that of female blood donors (3.46/100 000); 4) The anti-HIV positive rate of individual blood donors (32.18/100 000) was higher than that of group blood donors (9.10/100 000) (P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 From 2012 to 2022, the confirmed-positive rate of anti-HIV among voluntary blood donors in Guangzhou showed a downward trend, which was significantly correlated with the implementation of voluntary blood donation and AIDS prevention policies. Young blood donors are of high risk of HIV, and it is necessary to enhance publicity and education on AIDS prevention through multiple channels among young population. Given that the anti-HIV positive rate of first-time blood donors is much higher than that of repeat blood donors, it is recommended to further optimize the health consultation and physical examination process before blood donation, and take multiple measures to screen high-risk behavior groups. Besides, more efforts should be made to promote publicity and education on AIDS prevention among regular blood donors. It is also important to recruit blood donors from low-risk groups and inform the donors about confidential unit exclusion.
8.Identification of a natural PLA2 inhibitor from the marine fungus Aspergillus sp. c1 for MAFLD treatment that suppressed lipotoxicity by inhibiting the IRE-1α/XBP-1s axis and JNK signaling.
Yong RAO ; Rui SU ; Chenyan WU ; Xingxing CHAI ; Jinjian LI ; Guanyu YANG ; Junjie WU ; Tingting FU ; Zhongping JIANG ; Zhikai GUO ; Congjun XU ; Ling HUANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2024;14(1):304-318
Lipotoxicity is a pivotal factor that initiates and exacerbates liver injury and is involved in the development of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). However, there are few reported lipotoxicity inhibitors. Here, we identified a natural anti-lipotoxicity candidate, HN-001, from the marine fungus Aspergillus sp. C1. HN-001 dose- and time- dependently reversed palmitic acid (PA)-induced hepatocyte death. This protection was associated with IRE-1α-mediated XBP-1 splicing inhibition, which resulted in suppression of XBP-1s nuclear translocation and transcriptional regulation. Knockdown of XBP-1s attenuated lipotoxicity, but no additional ameliorative effect of HN-001 on lipotoxicity was observed in XBP-1s knockdown hepatocytes. Notably, the ER stress and lipotoxicity amelioration was associated with PLA2. Both HN-001 and the PLA2 inhibitor MAFP inhibited PLA2 activity, reduced lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) level, subsequently ameliorated lipotoxicity. In contrast, overexpression of PLA2 caused exacerbation of lipotoxicity and weakened the anti-lipotoxic effects of HN-001. Additionally, HN-001 treatment suppressed the downstream pro-apoptotic JNK pathway. In vivo, chronic administration of HN-001 (i.p.) in mice alleviated all manifestations of MAFLD, including hepatic steatosis, liver injury, inflammation, and fibrogenesis. These effects were correlated with PLA2/IRE-1α/XBP-1s axis and JNK signaling suppression. These data indicate that HN-001 has therapeutic potential for MAFLD because it suppresses lipotoxicity, and provide a natural structural basis for developing anti-MAFLD candidates.
9.The influence of different detection cycles on the detection results of HBsAg ELISA
Yanqing DENG ; Zhiting WAN ; Boquan HUANG ; Haojian LIANG ; Rongsong DU ; Zhongping LI ; Jianting ZHENG ; Ru XU ; Min WANG ; Hao WANG
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2024;37(11):1301-1306
[Objective] To analyze the influence of the cycle length of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) double reagent positive samples collected from voluntary blood donors in Guangzhou on the detection results. [Methods] A total of 127 044 blood samples from voluntary blood donors at Guangzhou Blood Center from August 10 to December 9, 2023 were selected. Two ELISA reagents were used for HBsAg detection, and samples with HBsAg double reagent positive and S/CO values<10 were tested continuously for 7 days to observe the changes in their S/CO values. [Results] A total of 505 HBsAg double reagent positive samples were detected, of which 52 had S/CO values less than 10. After 7 consecutive days of uninterrupted testing, the S/CO values of Wantai (median 5 decreased to 3) and Xinchuang (median 5 decreased to 3) showed an overall downward trend, and the HBsAg missed detection rate showed an upward trend (from 0 on the first day to 1/10 000 on the seventh day). A total of 13 cases had negative double reagent test results within the 7-day testing cycle. [Conclusion] With the extension of the detection cycle, the S/CO value of HBsAg detection shows a downward trend, and the missed detection rate of HBsAg shows an upward trend. Samples used for HBsAg detection should be tested promptly after sampling to improve the quality of blood testing.
10.Protective effect of salidroside on angiotensin Ⅱ-induced fibrosis in cardiac fibroblasts
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(20):3137-3142
BACKGROUND:Previous studies have shown that salidroside has an ameliorative effect on multi-organ fibrosis.However,the protective effect of salidroside on angiotensin ⅱ-induced fibrosis in cardiac fibroblasts is unclear. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the protective effects of salidroside on angiotensin ⅱ-induced oxidative stress and extracellular matrix deposition in cardiac fibroblasts of Sprague-Dawley rats and its mechanism of action. METHODS:Angiotensin Ⅱ was used to induce fibrosis in cardiac fibroblasts,and there were five experimental groups:normal control group,model group(final concentration of angiotensin Ⅱ in culture medium was 1 μmol/L),salidroside low and high dose groups(treatment with salidroside 50,100 μmol/L for 2 hours,followed by co-incubation with angiotensin Ⅱ for 48 hours),SIRT1 inhibitor group(treatment with SIRT1 inhibitor EX527 10 μmol/L for 2 hours,followed by high dose of salidroside for 2 hours and then co-incubation with angiotensin Ⅱ for 48 hours).The cell viability was detected using the cell counting kit-8 method,the cell migration rate was detected by Transwell,the intracellular reactive oxygen species level was detected by DCFH-DA fluorescent probe,and the intracellular malondialdehyde content,superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were detected by relevant kits.The protein and mRNA expression levels of SIRT1,LOXL2,α-SMA,type I collagen and type Ⅲ collagen were detected by western blot and qRT-PCR,respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The cells were identified as cardiac fibroblasts by Vimentin fluorescence.Compared with the normal control group,cell viability,cell migration rate,reactive oxygen species level,and malondialdehyde content were significantly increased,superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were significantly decreased,LOXL2,α-SMA,type I collagen,type Ⅲ collagen mRNA and protein expression were significantly increased,and SIRT1 protein expression level was significantly decreased in the model group(all P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the above indexes showed opposite changes in the salidroside low and high dose groups(all P<0.05).Moreover,salidroside showed dose-dependent regulation.Compared with salidroside groups,cell migration rate and α-SMA protein expression level were significantly increased in the SIRT1 inhibitor group(both P<0.001).To conclude,salidroside has a protective effect on angiotensin Ⅱ-induced cardiac fibroblasts and can dose-dependently inhibit oxidative stress and extracellular matrix deposition.

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