1.Deep learning for subtype recognition of Yang deficiency tongue images in traditional Chinese medicine
Tongbin Zhang ; Haoran Xu ; Ziyi Wang ; Chuanjun Pan ; Zheng Wang ; Lei Wang
Digital Chinese Medicine 2026;9(2):197-210
Objective:
To address the lack of fine-grained clinical recognition for specific Yang deficiency syndrome subtypes and the limitations of conventional object detection models in extracting irregular, low-contrast tongue phenotypes. This study aims to develop an objective subtype recognition framework based on an improved You Only Look Once nano (YOLO11n) architecture, using a standardized visual phenotype matrix to translate macroscopic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) descriptions into quantifiable clinical targets.
Methods:
This cross-sectional diagnostic study consecutively enrolled adult inpatients admitted to the Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical University (Yijishan Hospital), between September 1, 2024 and June 1, 2025, who were suspected of having Yang deficiency constitution based on initial TCM consultation. Clinical tongue image data were collected for analysis. Based on an Expert Visual Phenotype Annotation Matrix, a five-category recognition system was established, including the following TCM syndrome subtypes: spleen-dampness exuberance syndrome, mild kidney Yang deficiency syndrome, upper heat and lower cold syndrome, simultaneous Yin-Yang deficiency syndrome, and Yin deficiency and fluid depletion syndrome (negative control). The proposed Yang deficiency YOLO (YD-YOLO) model, built upon the YOLO11n baseline, integrates the Cross Stage Partial with kernel size 2 (C3k2)-GhostBottleneck-Dynamic Convolution (GBDC) module into the backbone to adaptively extract low-contrast features, and embeds the multipath aggregation coordinate attention (MACA) mechanism into the neck to suppress background interference through multi-scale spatial coordination. Gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) was used to visualize feature attribution and evaluate the biological plausibility of the model’s focus. Model performance was evaluated through ablation and comparative experiments using mean average precision (mAP), precision, recall, F1 score, inference speed (frames per second, FPS), overall accuracy, Cohen’s kappa, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC).
Results:
Based on the final inclusion of 1 186 clinical cases, the YD-YOLO model had an overall accuracy of 91.5%, a Cohen’s kappa of 0.912, and an mAP@50 of 0.731 [higher than the YOLO11n baseline (0.681)], with AUC ranging from 0.91 to 0.97 across all TCM syndrome subtypes. Among the TCM syndrome subtypes, the mild kidney Yang deficiency syndrome had the highest mAP@50 (0.900), and the inference speed reached 89.00 FPS. Grad-CAM analysis showed that the model localized activation to key TCM pathological features, such as marginal tooth marks and focal root coatings, while suppressing non-diagnostic oral background noise.
Conclusion
The YD-YOLO model demonstrates the feasibility of deep learning for the fine-grained classification of TCM Yang deficiency subtypes. By integrating visual phenotype quantification with model interpretability, the proposed framework provides an objective basis for syndrome differentiation, supporting the development of standardized digital diagnostic systems and the provision of clinical decision support in TCM practice.
2.Application of ultrasound-guided injection of carbon nanoparticle in cervical lymph node dissection for thyroid cancer reoperation
Yue ZHOU ; Gang WANG ; Fang YU ; Hao XU ; Zhenyu CHENG ; Ziyi FAN ; Xianjiao CAO ; Zhonghui LI ; Qingqing HE
Chinese Journal of Endocrine Surgery 2025;19(1):30-34
Objective:To investigate the efficacy of preoperative ultrasound-guided injection of carbon nanoparticle suspension in cervical lymph node dissection for thyroid cancer reoperation.Methods:Ninety-four patients undergoing reoperation for thyroid cancer admitted by the same physician team of the Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery of the Ninety-sixty Hospital of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) from Jan. 2019 to Sep. 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the different scope of the initial surgery, they were divided into the re-specification clearance group, the regional lymph node clearance group, and the metastatic lymph node dissection group, and the groups were subdivided into the carbon nanoparticle group and the control group according to whether they were injected with carbon nanoparticle before the surgery or not. The t-test, χ2-test, and non-parametric test were used to compare the age, gender, surgical method, duration of surgery, total number of lymph nodes detected, and positive lymph node detection rate between the nano-charcoal group and the control group in the three groups. Results:There was no statistically significant difference between the three groups in terms of age, gender, surgical methods, or the total number of lymph nodes detected (all P>0.05) , and the difference between the surgical time of the carbon nanoparticle group in the re-regulation clearance group and the control group was not statistically significant ( P>0.05) ; the surgical time of the carbon nanoparticle group was shorter than that of the control group in both the regional lymph node clearance and the metastatic lymph node dissection groups, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05) ; the positive detection rate of lymph nodes in the carbon nanoparticle group was higher than that in the control group among the three groups, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05) . Conclusion:In the operation of cervical lymph node dissection for papillary thyroid cancer, preoperative ultrasound-guided injection of carbon nanoparticle can accurately localize the lymph nodes, increase the positive detection rate of lymph nodes, reduce the difficulty of surgical operation, and shorten the operation time.
3.Effect of hydrogen sulfide on calcification during macrophage phagocytosis of lipids and its mechanisms
Yanwen LIU ; Qian XU ; Kun ZHOU ; Ziyi LI ; Shuiqing LIU ; Jun ZHANG ; Zhong REN ; Zhisheng JIANG
Chinese Journal of Arteriosclerosis 2025;33(4):317-325
Aim To investigate the effect of hydrogen sulfide on macrophage calcification and its underlying mo-lecular mechanisms.Methods Oil red O staining was used to observe intracellular lipid accumulation,and von Kossa staining and atomic absorption spectroscopy were used for morphological and quantitative analysis of calcium deposition and intracellular calcium content in a mononuclear macrophage calcification model.Western blot and RT-PCR were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of osteopontin(OPN)at different doses and treatment times of hydrogen sulfide.At the same time,Western blot was used to detect the expression changes of early growth response factor 1(EGR1),endo-plasmic reticulum stress-related markers C/EBP homologous protein(CHOP)and glucose-regulated protein 78(GRP78).Reactive oxygen species levels were evaluated by fluorescence probe staining,and the effect of hydrogen sulfide on macro-phage calcification was evaluated by combining von Kossa staining and calcium ion fluorescence probe staining.The mo-lecular mechanisms of hydrogen sulfide affecting macrophage calcification were explored by interfering with EGR1 expression and using endoplasmic reticulum stress inhibitor 4-phenylbutyric acid(4-PBA).Results Compared with oxidized low density lipoprotein(ox-LDL)group,β-glycerophosphate(β-GP)+40 g/L ox-LDL group showed a significant increase in intracellular lipid accumulation,while hydrogen sulfide significantly inhibited macrophage calcification in a con-centration-and time-dependent manner.Compared with the β-GP+ox LDL group,the most significant effect was observed after incubation with 100 μmol/L NaHS for 4 days.The hydrogen sulfide group showed a 66%decrease in intracellular calcium content(P<0.01),a 71%decrease in intercellular calcium deposition(P<0.01),and a 50%and 48%decrease in OPN mRNA and protein expression,respectively(P<0.05).Hydrogen sulfide treatment upregulated the ex-pression of EGR1 by 21%,while downregulating the expression of CHOP and GRP78 by 58%and 59%,respectively(P<0.01).The endoplasmic reticulum stress inhibitor 4-PBA could downregulate OPN expression by 73%(P<0.01),while interfering with EGR1 expression completely counteracts the inhibitory effect of hydrogen sulfide on OPN expression and calcium deposition(P<0.01).Conclusion Hydrogen sulfide significantly inhibits macrophage calcification by upregulating EGR1 expression and suppressing endoplasmic reticulum stress.
4.Application of ultrasound-guided injection of carbon nanoparticle in cervical lymph node dissection for thyroid cancer reoperation
Yue ZHOU ; Gang WANG ; Fang YU ; Hao XU ; Zhenyu CHENG ; Ziyi FAN ; Xianjiao CAO ; Zhonghui LI ; Qingqing HE
Chinese Journal of Endocrine Surgery 2025;19(1):30-34
Objective:To investigate the efficacy of preoperative ultrasound-guided injection of carbon nanoparticle suspension in cervical lymph node dissection for thyroid cancer reoperation.Methods:Ninety-four patients undergoing reoperation for thyroid cancer admitted by the same physician team of the Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery of the Ninety-sixty Hospital of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) from Jan. 2019 to Sep. 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the different scope of the initial surgery, they were divided into the re-specification clearance group, the regional lymph node clearance group, and the metastatic lymph node dissection group, and the groups were subdivided into the carbon nanoparticle group and the control group according to whether they were injected with carbon nanoparticle before the surgery or not. The t-test, χ2-test, and non-parametric test were used to compare the age, gender, surgical method, duration of surgery, total number of lymph nodes detected, and positive lymph node detection rate between the nano-charcoal group and the control group in the three groups. Results:There was no statistically significant difference between the three groups in terms of age, gender, surgical methods, or the total number of lymph nodes detected (all P>0.05) , and the difference between the surgical time of the carbon nanoparticle group in the re-regulation clearance group and the control group was not statistically significant ( P>0.05) ; the surgical time of the carbon nanoparticle group was shorter than that of the control group in both the regional lymph node clearance and the metastatic lymph node dissection groups, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05) ; the positive detection rate of lymph nodes in the carbon nanoparticle group was higher than that in the control group among the three groups, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05) . Conclusion:In the operation of cervical lymph node dissection for papillary thyroid cancer, preoperative ultrasound-guided injection of carbon nanoparticle can accurately localize the lymph nodes, increase the positive detection rate of lymph nodes, reduce the difficulty of surgical operation, and shorten the operation time.
5.Isolation,identification,and biological characterization of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli from a South China tiger
Jing-ru XU ; Zhi-hao ZHU ; Yu-qi LI ; Si-si FAN ; Ya-li KANG ; Yu-bin ZHUO ; Ling-shan HUANG ; Shu-qi QIU ; XUE-YUXI ; Xiao-ping WU ; Yu-ting LIAO ; Wei-ye LIN ; Xiao-ziyi XIAO ; Xue-jin LI ; Teng-teng CHEN ; Xi-pan LIN ; Kai-xiong LIN ; Ke-wei FAN
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(6):567-573
This study was aimed at identifying the pathogenic bacteria responsible for the death of a young tiger at the Fujian Meihua Mountain South China Tiger Breeding Research Institute.Tissue samples from the lungs,liver,and intestines of the deceased tiger were collected,and the bacteria were cultured inasterile environment.The bacterial strains were characterized according to their morphological and molecular biological properties,including assessment of virulence genes and antibiotic resistance genes,mouse lethality tests,and antibiotic susceptibility evaluations.A predominant bacterial strain isolated from the liver of the deceased tiger was identified as enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC)strain Tiger22513F.Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene revealed that the Tiger22513F strain exhibited close genetic similarity to the reference strain ETEC(MF919609.1),with 99.9%nucleotide similarity,and resided on the same evolutionary branch.The Tiger22513F strain contained 11 antibiotic resistance genes(tetA,sul1,sul3,cmlA,floR,blaTEM,blaSHV,blaCMY-2,qnrA,qnrS,and qnrD)along with five virulence genes(VT1,fyuA,tsh,iucD,and ST).Mouse lethality tests indicated significant pathogenicity toward mice,affecting primarily the lungs,liver,and intestines.Antibiotic susceptibility testing demonstrated that this strain exhibited resistance to various classes of beta-lactam antibiotics,as well as quinolones and aminoglycosides.This investigation successfully isolated a multi-drug resistant enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strain with pronounced pathogenicity from the liver of a deceased tiger;thus providing valuable scientific insights for clinical diagnosis,as well as prevention and control measures,against ETEC infections in South China tigers.
6.Isolation,identification,and biological characterization of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli from a South China tiger
Jing-ru XU ; Zhi-hao ZHU ; Yu-qi LI ; Si-si FAN ; Ya-li KANG ; Yu-bin ZHUO ; Ling-shan HUANG ; Shu-qi QIU ; XUE-YUXI ; Xiao-ping WU ; Yu-ting LIAO ; Wei-ye LIN ; Xiao-ziyi XIAO ; Xue-jin LI ; Teng-teng CHEN ; Xi-pan LIN ; Kai-xiong LIN ; Ke-wei FAN
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(6):567-573
This study was aimed at identifying the pathogenic bacteria responsible for the death of a young tiger at the Fujian Meihua Mountain South China Tiger Breeding Research Institute.Tissue samples from the lungs,liver,and intestines of the deceased tiger were collected,and the bacteria were cultured inasterile environment.The bacterial strains were characterized according to their morphological and molecular biological properties,including assessment of virulence genes and antibiotic resistance genes,mouse lethality tests,and antibiotic susceptibility evaluations.A predominant bacterial strain isolated from the liver of the deceased tiger was identified as enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC)strain Tiger22513F.Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene revealed that the Tiger22513F strain exhibited close genetic similarity to the reference strain ETEC(MF919609.1),with 99.9%nucleotide similarity,and resided on the same evolutionary branch.The Tiger22513F strain contained 11 antibiotic resistance genes(tetA,sul1,sul3,cmlA,floR,blaTEM,blaSHV,blaCMY-2,qnrA,qnrS,and qnrD)along with five virulence genes(VT1,fyuA,tsh,iucD,and ST).Mouse lethality tests indicated significant pathogenicity toward mice,affecting primarily the lungs,liver,and intestines.Antibiotic susceptibility testing demonstrated that this strain exhibited resistance to various classes of beta-lactam antibiotics,as well as quinolones and aminoglycosides.This investigation successfully isolated a multi-drug resistant enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strain with pronounced pathogenicity from the liver of a deceased tiger;thus providing valuable scientific insights for clinical diagnosis,as well as prevention and control measures,against ETEC infections in South China tigers.
7.Latent class analysis of post-stroke demoralization in patients with disabilities
Ziyi ZHANG ; Mengli ZHANG ; Jinpeng XU ; Yongxia CHEN ; Ningning ZHU ; Xueqin SUN
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2025;31(1):60-65
Objective:To explore the latent class characteristics of demoralization in severely disabled stroke patients, and analyze the differences and influencing factors of each class by latent class analysis.Methods:Convenience sampling was used to select 335 patients in the Neurointensive Care Unit of three Class Ⅲ Grade A hospitals in Anhui Province from October 2023 to March 2024, and were confirmed to be with post-stroke disability through follow-up as research subjects. General Information Questionnaire and Demoralization Scale-Ⅱ were used for a survey. Latent class analysis was used to identify latent classes of demoralization, and multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of different latent classes.Results:A total of 335 questionnaires were distributed, and 321 valid questionnaires were retrieved. The effective recovery rate of the questionnaires was 95.8%. Demoralization of severe stroke patients with disability was classified into four categories of low demoralization (40.2%, 129/321), moderate demoralization with coping loss (12.1%, 39/321), moderate demoralization with goal loss (21.2%, 68/321), and high disability (26.5%, 85/321). Multiple Logistic regression analysis showed that age, gender, per capita monthly income of the family, whether was the economic pillar of the family, long-term residence, and relationship with cohabitants were the influencing factors of demoralization in severe stroke patients with disability (all P<0.05) . Conclusions:There are four latent classes of demoralization in stroke patients with disability, and age, gender, per capita monthly income of the family, whether they are the economic pillar of the family, long-term residence, and relationship with cohabitants are the influencing factors of demoralization in severe stroke patients with disability.
8.Construction and validation of a prediction model for coronary artery stenosis based on LASSO regression
Yikang XU ; Lei LIU ; Limin LIU ; Jingru MA ; Jiayu WANG ; Jun MA ; Ziyi ZHEN
Journal of China Medical University 2025;54(2):139-143,149
Objective To analyze the risk factors for moderate-to-severe coronary artery stenosis in the population of Tacheng,Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,and to construct and verify a nomogram prediction model for the degree of coronary artery ste-nosis.Methods We retrospectively selected 629 patients who were hospitalized in the Cardiovascular Department of Tacheng Peo-ple's Hospital from January 2021 to June 2023.Using R language software,the sociodemographic data,disease-related data,and va-rious laboratory indicators of the 629 patients were included in the initial screening of risk factors for use in the LASSO regression analysis using a random number table method.The 629 patients were divided into a training group(n=440)and a validation group(n=189)in a 7:3 ratio.Data from the training group were used for model construction,with the degree of coronary artery stenosis as the dependent variable,and the variables selected by LASSO regression as independent variables in the logistic regression model.The validation group was used for model validation.Based on the results of the logistic regression analysis,a visual nomogram for predicting the degree of co-ronary artery stenosis was constructed using R language software.The discriminability,calibration,and clinical utility of the model were evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC),a calibration curve,and decision curve analysis(DCA).Results Age,non-Han ethnicity,hypertension,hyperlipidemia,and a history of cerebrovascular disease were risk factors for mode-rate-to-severe coronary artery stenosis and were included in the risk prediction model.The AUC of the training group and the validation group were 0.905(95%CI:0.790-0.863)and 0.864(95%CI:0.744-0.861),respectively.The predicted values of the calibration curve were consistent with the actual values(Brier scores of the training and validation group:0.03 and 0.14,respectively).The predictive per-formance of the model was good,and the DC A results indicated that the model had net clinical benefits.Conclusion The risk prediction model for coronary artery stenosis in the population of the Tacheng area constructed in this study has good predictive performance and can provide a simple,feasible,economical,and easy-to-promote evaluation tool for medical personnel to screen patients with moderate-to-se-vere coronary artery stenosis.
9.Study on the safety and pharmacological effect on improving dyspepsia of Shuangshu decoction in rats
Xinyuan CHEN ; Changzhou XIONG ; Jiongfen LI ; Kangyi YU ; Huan XU ; Yingxia WANG ; Dan LIAO ; Junyu TAO ; Ziyi YANG ; Caizhi LIN
China Pharmacy 2025;36(9):1059-1064
OBJECTIVE To study the safety of Shuangshu decoction in rats and its efficacy in improving functional dyspepsia (FD) in rats. METHODS In safety test, 40 rats were divided into blank control group, Shuangshu decoction low-dose, medium- dose and high-dose groups [108, 216, 324 g/(kg·d), calculated by raw medicine, the same applies below]; they were given relevant medicine intragastrically, for continuous 14 days. The mortality and toxic reactions of rats were recorded, and the organ indexes of the liver, kidney, spleen, lung and heart of rats were calculated; the pathological morphological changes in the liver, kidney, spleen, lung, heart, stomach, duodenum, and colon were observed to evaluate the acute toxicity of Shuangshu decoction. Another 40 rats were grouped and administered in the same way for 30 consecutive days. The mortality and toxic reactions of the rats were recorded, and the corresponding organ indexes were calculated. The pathological morphological changes in the corresponding organs were observed, and blood routine and serum biochemical indicators were measured, in order to assess the subacute toxicity of Shuangshu decoction. In pharmacodynamic experiments: 50 rats were divided into blank control group, model group, and Shuangshu decoction low-, medium-, and high-dose groups (9.45, 18.9, 37.8 g/kg), with 10 rats in each group. Except for blank control group, rats in all other groups were used to establish the FD rat model by subcutaneous injection of loperamide (3.5 mg/kg). Rats in each group were administered the corresponding drug solution/normal saline intragastrically, once a day, for 14 consecutive days. After the last medication, fecal moisture content, intestinal propulsion rate, gastric emptying rate and serum level of motilin were all detected, and interstitial cell of Cajal (ICC) ultrastructure of rats was observed in colon tissue. RESULTS The safety experiments showed that no death occurred in each dose group, and no significant difference was found in organ coefficient, routine blood and serum biological index, compared to blank control group (P>0.05); no abnormality was found in organ appearance and pathological sections. The results of the pharmacodynamic experiments showed that, compared with the blank control group, the fecal moisture content, gastric emptying rate, intestinal propulsion rate, and serum motilin levels in the model group were significantly decreased (P<0.05); in the colonic tissue, the mitochondria in the ICC exhibited severe swelling with the disappearance of cristae, and the endoplasmic reticulum was dilated. Compared with model group, the rats in Shuangshu decoction high-dose group showed significant increases in the above quantitative indicators (P< 0.05); additionally, there was a large number of mitochondria in the ICC of the colonic tissue, with clear cristae and regular arrangement. CONCLUSIONS Shuangshu decoction is safe and has a beneficial improving effect on FD rats; its mechanism of action may be related to the regulation of gastrointestinal hormone expression to promote gastric emptying and intestinal propulsion, as well as the repair of mitochondrial structure in ICCs to restore gastrointestinal function.
10.Establishment of a nucleic acid detection method for varicella-zoster virus based on RAA-CRISPR/Cas12a
Ziyi LI ; Ruichen WANG ; Haoze LIU ; Tianzi ZHANG ; Tianxin SHI ; Qianqian CUI ; Qikai YIN ; Fan LI ; Kai NIE ; Shihong FU ; Huanyu WANG ; Canlei SONG ; Qiufang XU ; Songtao XU
Chinese Journal of Experimental and Clinical Virology 2025;39(2):242-249
Objective:To establish a method for the rapid detection of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) by recombinase-aid amplification (RAA) combined with Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas12a system.Methods:Clinical samples of suspected herpes zoster in Shandong province and Shanghai from 2023 to 2024 were collected, nucleic acids of positive samples were extracted, RAA-specific primers and crRNA (CRISPR RNA, crRNA) were designed for the conserved region of VZV, and the fluorescence intensity generated by Cas12a non-specific cleavage of single-stranded fluorescent probes was used to screen highly sensitive crRNAs and optimize the concentrations of crRNA, Cas12a and ssDNA probes. The sensitivity and reproducibility of the RAA-CRISPR/Cas12a detection method were evaluated by using synthesized plasmids and clinical samples, and the specificity of the method was evaluated by using other viral nucleic acids. The method was used to detect clinical samples by using the method and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) method, and the detection rate and consistency of the two method were compared.Results:The highly sensitive crRNA-4 was screened from the four crRNAs designed, and a VZV detection method for RAA-CRISPR/CAS12a based on fluorescence intensity measurement was established, which could be detected at 37℃ in 45 min, and the sensitivity of the detection could reach 10 copies/μL, a minimum clinical sample with a Ct value of 38.980 can be detected. It has high specificity and no cross-reactivity with Adenovirus 7, Herpes simplex virus type I, Herpes simplex virus type II, Coxsackieviruses A16, Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, Measles virus, Mumps virus, Enterovirus 71, Japanese encephalitis virus genotype 5. It has good stability, and can be successfully detected in low, medium and high concentrations of viral positive plasmids with good consistency. The detection rate of the clinically positive samples was 100%, which was completely consistent with the qPCR test result.Conclusions:RAA isothermal amplification technology combined with CRISPR-CAS12a technology was used to establish an accurate method for the detection of VZV virus, which was highly sensitive, specific, and had low requirements for experimental conditions, and could be completed within 45 min, which could provide strong technical support for the early detection of VZV.

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