1.Standardization Challenges in Outcome Evaluation Systems of Animal Experiments and Considerations for Core Outcome Set Construction Strategies
Qingyong ZHENG ; Yongjia ZHOU ; Tengfei LI ; Jianguo XU ; Chen TIAN ; Hui LIU ; Min TIAN ; Ziyu ZHOU ; Caihua XU ; Yating CUI ; Junfei WANG ; Jinhui TIAN
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2026;46(1):138-148
Animal experimentation constitutes a critical link between basic research and clinical application, making its research quality and translational efficiency paramount. Although considerable progress has been made in standardizing operational procedures and ethical guidelines, the standardization of outcome evaluation systems has significantly lagged, creating a key bottleneck that constrains the quality of biomedical research and evidence synthesis. This deficiency is manifested by pronounced heterogeneity in outcome selection across similar studies, incomplete methodological reporting, and disparate criteria for result interpretation, which severely impairs the comparability of findings and the evidence integration. To cope with this challenge, this paper systematically introduces a mature methodological tool from clinical research–the core outcome set (COS)–and explores its construction strategies and application potential in the field of animal experimentation. Given the extensive diversity of animal experiments, a pragmatic strategy of "focusing on key areas, implementing phased pilots, and promoting gradual expansion" should be adopted. This approach prioritizes the development of domain-specific COS for disease areas characterized by high research volume, urgent translational needs, and well-established animal models. A multi-source integration pathway for COS development is detailed, comprising systematic literature searches, methodological appraisals, and expert consensus, with the feasibility of leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance efficiency also being examined. The development and promotion of such COS are not intended to restrict scientific exploration; rather, they aim to establish a new, tiered evaluation paradigm consisting of "core outcomes" (mandatory), "recommended outcomes" (encouraged), and "exploratory outcomes" (optional). This framework is expected not only to enhance research quality through standardization and to adhere to the "3R" principles but also to accelerate the accumulation of high-quality evidence. This, in turn, provides a solid foundation for higher-level evidence synthesis, ultimately facilitating the effective translation of basic research findings into clinical practice and providing an essential methodological framework for scientific advancement in relevant disciplines.
2.Analysis of depressive symptoms and predictive factors in children and adolescents in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
Guiwei CHEN ; Lu TONG ; Ziyu LI ; Xiaojuan GAO ; Ruiqi WANG ; Xiaolu ZHANG ; Le LIU ; Yinxia BAI
Sichuan Mental Health 2026;39(1):83-88
BackgroundIn recent years, the incidence of depression among adolescents has been increasing steadily, posing a serious threat to their physical and mental health and even leading to severe consequences such as self-harm and suicide. At the same time, the detection rate of subclinical depression symptoms among adolescents is even higher. Although these symptoms do not meet the clinical diagnostic criteria, they have significantly affected their quality of life, and their persistence over time may further develop into depression. Therefore, in-depth exploration of adolescent depression symptoms and the predictive factors holds significant practical significance and research value. However, up to now, no large-scale investigation and research on depression symptoms among children and adolescents has been conducted in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. ObjectiveTo understand the prevalence of depressive symptoms among children and adolescents in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, in order to provide references for formulating scientific and effective prevention strategies and intervention measures. MethodsBy using the cluster stratified random sampling method, 6 281 students from the third grade of primary school to the second grade of high school in 12 leagues and cities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were selected in March 2024. A self-designed questionnaire and the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) were used for on-site investigation. ResultsA total of 6 058 (96.45%) children and adolescents completed the valid questionnaire survey, and 2 728 cases (45.03%) were found to have depressive symptoms. There were statistically significant differences in the detection rates of depressive symptoms among children and adolescents of different genders, ages, whether they were only children, different family types, family monthly income, parents' educational levels, and whether the mother was employed (χ2=33.769, 40.618, 48.593, 29.972, 142.648, 195.999, 168.190, 5.445, P<0.05 or 0.01).The results of the Logistic regression analysis showed that for children and adolescents, being female, aged between 12 and 16, over 16 years old, not being an only child, living in a reconstituted family, having a monthly family income of less than 5 000 yuan, and having parents with an education level of primary school or below were predictors of depressive symptoms (OR=1.241, 1.427, 1.273, 1.177, 1.549, 1.278, 1.462, 1.417, 1.514, 1.929, 1.660, 1.528, P<0.05 or 0.01). ConclusionThe detection rate of depressive symptoms among children and adolescents in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is relatively high. Factors that may predict depressive symptoms in children and adolescents include female gender, ages between 12 and 16, ages over 16 years old, non-only children, families with a restructured structure, monthly family income of less than 5 000 yuan, and parents with an education level of primary school or below. [Funded by Science and Technology Planning Project of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (number, 2022YFSH0119)]
3.Development and validation of a blood-based differential diagnosis model for pulmonary tuberculosis and community-acquired pneumonia
Xiaolan SU ; Rui ZHANG ; Zeqing YANG ; Xinrui WANG ; Ziyu BI ; Nian LIU ; Yunyan HAN ; Qi REN
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(6):1143-1150
ObjectiveTo develop and validate a diagnostic prediction model for differentiating pulmonary tuberculosis from community-acquired pneumonia based on routine blood parameters. MethodsA total of 642 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 503 patients with community-acquired pneumonia were retrospectively enrolled from the Seventh Hospital of Tangshan. They were randomly divided into a training set and an internal validation set at a 7∶3 ratio. Additionally, 218 patients from the 981st Hospital were independently included as an external validation set. The Boruta algorithm and recursive feature elimination were employed to select predictors from 82 blood parameters, sex, and age. A multivariate Logistic regression model was established and evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis. ResultsThe final model incorporated eight predictors, namely uric acid, urea nitrogen, alkaline phosphatase, monoamine oxidase, alanine aminotransferase, glutathione, neutrophil percentage, and age. The model achieved areas under the curve (AUCs) of 0.800 (95%CI: 0.769-0.830), 0.787 (95%CI: 0.738-0.836), and 0.736 (95%CI: 0.667-0.835) in the training, internal validation, and external validation sets, respectively. The model demonstrated good calibration, and decision curve analysis showed clinical net benefit within the threshold probability range of 10%-80%. ConclusionThe developed model exhibits good discriminative ability and clinical utility, serving as an effective early screening tool for primary healthcare institutions.
4.Sesquiterpene ZH-13 from Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum Improves Neuroinflammation by Regulating JNK Phosphorylation
Ziyu YIN ; Yun GAO ; Junjiao WANG ; Weigang XUE ; Xueping PANG ; Huiting LIU ; Yunfang ZHAO ; Huixia HUO ; Jun LI ; Jiao ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(1):139-145
ObjectiveTo study the pharmacological substances and mechanisms through which sesquiterpene ZH-13 from Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum improves neuroinflammation. MethodsBV-2 microglial cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce neuroinflammation. The cells were divided into the normal group, the model group, and the ZH-13 low- and high-dose treatment groups (10, 20 μmol·L-1). The model group was treated with 1 μmol·L-1 LPS. Cell viability was assessed using the cell proliferation and activity assay (CCK-8 kit). Nitric oxide (NO) release in the cell supernatant was measured using a nitric oxide kit (Griess method). The mRNA expression levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). The phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway proteins was assessed by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the model group, ZH-13 dose-dependently reduced NO release from BV-2 cells under LPS stimulation (P<0.05, P<0.01). In the 20 μmol·L-1 ZH-13 treatment group, the mRNA expression levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, iNOS, and IL-6 were significantly reduced compared to the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). In both the low- and high-dose ZH-13 groups, the expression of the inflammatory factor TNF-α and the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in the upstream MAPK pathway were significantly reduced (P<0.05). After stimulation with the JNK agonist anisomycin (Ani), both low- and high-dose ZH-13 treatment groups showed reduced phosphorylation of JNK proteins compared to the Ani-treated group (P<0.01). ConclusionThe sesquiterpene compound ZH-13 from Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum significantly ameliorates LPS-induced neuroinflammatory responses in BV-2 cells by inhibiting excessive JNK phosphorylation and reducing TNF-α expression. These findings elucidate the pharmacological substances and mechanisms underlying the sedative and calming effects of Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum.
5.Clinical Manifestations of Early-Onset Capillary Leak Syndrome in Patients With Multiple Organ Failure Due to Severe Acute Pancreatitis
Xueying WU ; Lan LI ; Jiahua SHI ; Jie LI ; Ziyu LI ; Ziqi LIN ; Tingting LIU ; Tao JIN ; Qing XIA
Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences) 2025;56(1):277-283
Objective To investigate the early dynamic changes of biomarkers associated with capillary leak syndrome(CLS)in patients with severe acute pancreatitis(SAP)and their correlation with multiple organ failure(MOF).Methods A total of 171 SAP patients admitted to the West China Centre of Excellence for Pancreatitis,West China Hospital,Sichuan University between September 1,2019 and December 31,2020 were enrolled for this study.The patients were divided into MOF and non-MOF groups based on the occurrence of MOF in the first 5 days of hospitalization,and were further divided into subgroups based on the presence of moderate-to-severe intra-abdominal hypertension(IAH).We performed dynamic monitoring of the blood biomarkers(hematocrit[HCT].blood urea nitrogen[BUN].and creatinine[Cr]),plasma proteins(albumin[Alb].total protein[TP].and non-albumin plasma proteins[NAPP]),and intra-abdominal pressure.Trends in these indicators across groups were analyzed comprehensively.Results No significant differences in baseline data between the two groups were observed.The baseline data of the 2 groups were comparable.The MOF group had significantly higher rates of persistent systemic inflammatory response syndrome(SIRS)lasting 48 hours(91.3%vs.71.8%),ICU admission(70.4%vs.17.6%),and length-of-stay([32±17.7]days vs.[19.0±12.2]days)compared to those of the non-MOF group(P<0.05).The incidences of respiratory,circulatory,and renal failures were higher in the MOF group than those in the non-MOF group,showing significant differences in circulatory failure(69%vs.3.5%)and renal failure(65.5%vs.3.5%)(P<0.05).In the first 5 days of hospitalization,the MOF group showed significantly elevated BUN and Cr levels,while Alb and TP levels dropped rapidly upon admission and then gradually recovered.The NAPP level of the MOF group continued to decrease after admission,and on the third day after admission,the NAPP level was lower than that of the Non-MOF group,showing statistically significant difference(P<0.001).The Alb/NAPP ratio of the MOF group decreased significantly on day 1 and then rapidly increased,showing significant differences between the groups on days 3 and 4(P=0.001).Subgroup analysis of MOF patients with moderate-to-severe IAH revealed similar trends in the dynamic changes and the overall changes in the indicators,and the difference was even more pronounced.The mixed linear model showed that the average levels of HCT,BUN,Alb/NAPP,and Alb/TP were higher and increased over time in the MOF combined with IAP subgroup(P<0.001).Conclusion The CLS model of SAP patients is validated,confirming that CLS is a key factor in the progression from SIRS to MOF.The loss of NAPP is an early and important indicator of CLS persistence and progression to MOF.Additionally,moderate-to-severe IAH accelerates the deterioration of MOF.These findings provide valuable insights into the potential mechanisms of MOF and warrant further validation through large-scale prospective studies.
6.Machine Learning-Assisted Efficacy Evaluation of Resveratrol Therapy in a Mouse Model of Acute Pancreatitis
Ziyu LI ; Yuxing TIAN ; Wenhao CAI ; Yongzi WU ; Shiyu LIU ; Linbo YAO ; Yuying LI ; Xueying WU ; Tingting LIU ; Wei HUANG
Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences) 2025;56(4):1051-1058
Objective To develop a machine learning(ML)-based prediction model for assessing the therapeutic effects of resveratrol(RES)on the pathological damage of acute pancreatitis(AP),and to optimize RES administration strategies for AP through validation using an animal model.Methods AAn ML-based prediction model was constructed using published data.Interpretability analysis was applied to identify high-efficacy zones within the parameter space of administration dose and frequency,which was followed by rigorous screening to select the optimal dosing strategy that balanced therapeutic efficacy and experimental feasibility.A total of 32 C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to 4 groups(n=8 per group),including a control group(Ctrl),an AP model group induced by caerulein(CER)and referred to as CER-AP,a treatment group receiving RES via intraperitoneal injection(RES i.p.),and a treatment group receiving RES via intragastric gavage(RES i.g.).The Ctrl group received intraperitoneal injection of normal saline.The CER-AP and the treatment groups were induced with 10 intraperitoneal injections of CER at 50 μg/kg.RES was administered to the RES i.p.and RES i.g.groups according to the optimal dose and timing predicted by the ML model.Blood and tissue samples were collected 12 hours after the experiment started.Results The gradient boosting decision tree model,optimized via Hyperopt,yielded the best performance,predicting that the optimal dose and administration frequency were 19.992 mg/kg and 3.828 times,respectively.Accordingly,a regimen of 20 mg/kg RES,administered four times,was used in the animal experiments.Compared with the Ctrl group,the CER-AP group exhibited higher pancreatic pathology scores and elevated levels of serum amylase,lipase,pancreatic myeloperoxidase,and trypsin,with all differences reaching statistical significance(all P<0.05).The administration of 20 mg/kg RES via both intraperitoneal injection and intragastric gavage mitigated pancreatic inflammatory cell infiltration and necrosis,improved the overall pathology score,and reduced serum amylase,lipase,and pancreatic myeloperoxidase levels to varying degrees(all P<0.05).Conclusion A regimen of 20 mg/kg RES administered four times effectively alleviates the severity of CER-induced AP.The therapeutic benefits appear to arise from a multi-target regulatory network that simultaneously suppresses inflammatory cascades,mitigates oxidative stress,and reduces apoptosis,thereby reducing pancreatic tissue damage and systemic inflammatory responses.
7.Association between cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic health metrics and long-term cardiovascular risk: Findings from the Chinese Multi-provincial Cohort Study.
Ziyu WANG ; Xuan DENG ; Zhao YANG ; Jiangtao LI ; Pan ZHOU ; Wenlang ZHAO ; Yongchen HAO ; Qiuju DENG ; Na YANG ; Lizhen HAN ; Yue QI ; Jing LIU
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(17):2139-2147
BACKGROUND:
The American Heart Association (AHA) introduced the concept of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) health and stage, reflecting the interaction among metabolism, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and the cardiovascular system. However, the association between CKM stage and the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has not been validated. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term CVD risk associated with CKM health metrics and CKM stage using data from a population-based cohort study.
METHODS:
In total, 5293 CVD-free participants were followed up to around 13 years in the Chinese Multi-provincial Cohort Study (CMCS). Considering the pathophysiologic progression of CKM health metrics abnormalities (comprising obesity, central adiposity, prediabetes, diabetes, hypertriglyceridemia, CKD, and metabolic syndrome), participants were divided into CKM stages 0, 1, and 2. The time-dependent Cox regression models were used to estimate the cardiovascular risk associated with CKM health metrics and stage. Additionally, broader CVD outcomes were examined, with a specific assessment of the impact of stage 3 in 2581 participants from the CMCS-Beijing subcohort.
RESULTS:
Among participants, 91.2% (4825/5293) had at least one abnormal CKM health metric, 8.8% (468/5293), 13.3% (704/5293), and 77.9% (4121/5293) were in CKM stages 0, 1, and 2, respectively; and 710 incident CVD cases occurred during a median follow-up time of 13.3 years (interquartile range: 12.1 to 13.6 years). Participants with each poor CKM health metric exhibited significantly higher CVD risk. Compared with stage 0, the hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) for CVD incidence was 1.31 (0.84-2.04) in stage 1 and 2.27 (1.57-3.28) in stage 2. Significant interactive impacts existed between CKM stage and age or sex, with higher CVD risk related to increased CKM stages in participants aged <60 years or females.
CONCLUSION
These findings highlight the contribution of CKM health metrics and CKM stage to the long-term risk of CVD, suggesting the importance of multi-component recognition and management of poor CKM health in CVD prevention.
Humans
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Female
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Male
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Cardiovascular Diseases/etiology*
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Middle Aged
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Adult
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Cohort Studies
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Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/metabolism*
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Aged
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Risk Factors
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Metabolic Syndrome/metabolism*
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China
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East Asian People
8.Protection effect of a new 360-degree radiation protection device on the pelvic cavity during chest CT examination
Wen LI ; Xinyu LI ; Ziyu ZUO ; Xiaoqin ZHANG ; Qian YANG ; Chuan LIU
Journal of Chongqing Medical University 2025;50(9):1297-1302
Objective:To investigate the protection effect of a new 360-degree radiation protection and position fixation device on the pelvic cavity during chest CT examination.Methods:Three shielding methods were applied to the pelvic cavity of the standard simu-lated human model,i.e.,no shielding(group A),traditional 180-degree front protection with a lead square towel(group B),and 360-degree protection with a new protection device(group C).Philips IQon Spectral CT was used to perform chest CT scan at a tube voltage of 80 kVp,100 kVp,and 120 kVp,respectively,and the cumulative radiation doses from the front,side,and back of the pelvic cavity were measured and analyzed statistically.Results:Compared with groups A and B,group C had significantly lower cumulative radiation doses of the front,side,and back of the pelvic cavity in the simulated human model(all P<0.05);at the tube voltages of 80,100,and 120 kVp,the cumulative dose of the pelvic cavity in group C was reduced by 85%,84%,and 67%,respectively,compared with that in group B,and was reduced by 88%,87%,and 76%,respectively,compared with that in group A.Compared with group A,group B had significant reductions in the radiation doses of the side and back of the pelvic cavity(P<0.05)and a significantly higher radiation dose of the front of the pelvic cavity,which was increased by 19%,23%,and 10%,respectively,at the tube voltages of 80,100,and 120 kVp,and there were significant differences in all tube voltage conditions(P<0.05)except under the tube voltage condition of 120 kVp(P=0.190).In addition,after the application of the device for protection,the reduction rate of pelvic radiation dose under the tube voltages of 80 and 100 kVp was higher than that under the tube voltage of 120 kVp.Conclusion:The new 360-degree radiation protection and position fixation device can significantly reduce the cumulative radiation dose of pelvic organs during chest CT scan,and it holds promise for clinical application due to its characteristics of conve-nient wearing and fixed patient position.
9.Analysis of the logic,challenges and optimization of attention allocation in China’s household expired drug recycling policy
China Pharmacy 2025;36(21):2627-2631
OBJECTIVE To analyze the focal points and allocation characteristics of China’s household expired drug recycling policy texts, providing evidence for overcoming attention bottlenecks and optimizing drug management. METHODS The policy texts of China’s household expired drug recycling policy were obtained from the database. A quantitative analysis of the policy texts was conducted using the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model. Additionally, in conjunction with attention theory, the characteristics of the government’s attention allocation on relevant issues were examined systematically. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS Three themes emerged from 158 policy texts: enhancing public awareness campaigns on household expired drug recycling (Topic 0), improving the quality of household expired drug recycling efforts in relevant units (Topic 1), and standardizing household expired drug recycling procedures (Topic 2). Topic 0 exhibited the highest thematic intensity, while Topic 1 demonstrated the lowest. China’s household expired drug recycling policies suffered from unclear accountability, generalized oversight, and superficial grassroots implementation. These issues undermined public awareness of recycling practices, constrained policy effectiveness, and revealed structural biases in attention allocation and content imbalances during policy formulation. It is recommended that the government improve legislation and recycling mechanisms, innovate publicity models, and establish a routine monitoring system. This will promote the institutionalization, standardization, and efficiency of household expired drug recycling, ensuring public medication safety.
10.Application of single-cell RNA sequencing technology in Parkinson's disease
Ziyu LIU ; Dandan GENG ; Runjiao ZHANG ; Qing LIU ; Yibo LI ; Hongfang WANG ; Wenmeng XIE ; Wenyu WANG ; Jiaxin HAO ; Lei WANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(1):193-201
BACKGROUND:Parkinson's disease has the main pathological changes in the midbrain,especially in the dense substantia nigra,leading to impaired motor and non-motor function in patients.At present,research is limited by cellular heterogeneity,and its pathogenesis still needs to be further elucidated.In recent years,single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)has gradually been applied in neurodegenerative diseases,which is of great significance for understanding intercellular heterogeneity,disease development mechanisms,and treatment strategies. OBJECTIVE:To review the research progress of scRNA-seq technology applied to Parkinson's disease in recent years,providing a theoretical basis for the application of scRNA-seq in the treatment and diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. METHODS:The first author used a computer system to search for relevant literature in the CNKI,WanFang,PubMed,and Web of Science databases,with the Chinese search terms"single-cell RNA sequencing,Parkinson's disease,cell heterogeneity,cell subtypes,dopaminergic neurons,glial cells"and English search terms"single-cell RNA seq,Parkinson disease,heterogenicity,subtypes,dopaminergic neurons,glial cells."71 articles were ultimately included for review and analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)scRNA-seq is a high-throughput experimental technique that utilizes RNA sequencing at the single-cell level to quantify gene expression profiles in specific cell populations,revealing cellular mysteries at the molecular level.Compared with traditional sequencing techniques,scRNA-seq technology is used to reveal the diversity of cell types and changes in specific gene expression in complex tissues under various physiological and pathological conditions through automatic clustering analysis of cell transcriptome.(2)By using scRNA-seq,the development process of dopaminergic neurons and the unique functional characteristics of various cell subtypes are elucidated,in order to better understand potential therapeutic molecular targets.(3)The use of scRNA-seq analysis has improved our understanding of the response of Parkinson's disease glial cells,enabling us to comprehensively map and characterize different cell type populations,identify specific glial cell subpopulations related to neurodegeneration,and draw valuable single cell maps as reference data for future research.(4)The application of scRNA-seq to detect embryonic mice and stem cells will help improve the in vitro differentiation protocol and quality control of cell therapy,as well as evaluate the overall cell quality and developmental stage of dopaminergic neurons derived from stem cells.

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