1.Joint Relation Extraction of Famous Medical Cases with CasRel Model Combining Entity Mapping and Data Augmentation
Yuxin LI ; Xinghua XIANG ; Hang YANG ; Dasheng LIU ; Jiaheng WANG ; Zhiwei ZHAO ; Jiaxu HAN ; Mengjie WU ; Qianzi CHE ; Wei YANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(2):218-225
ObjectiveTo address the challenges of unstructured classical Chinese expressions, nested entity relationships, and limited annotated data in famous traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) case records, this study proposes a joint relation extraction framework that integrates data augmentation and entity mapping, aiming to support the construction of TCM diagnostic knowledge graphs and clinical pattern mining. MethodsWe developed an annotation structure for entities and their relationships in TCM case texts and applied a data augmentation strategy by incorporating multiple ancient texts to expand the relation extraction dataset. A cascade binary tagging framework for relation triple extraction(CasRel) model for TCM semantics was designed, integrating a pre-trained bidirectional encoder representations from transformers(BERT) layer for classical TCM texts to enhance semantic representation, and using a head entity-relation-tail entity mapping mechanism to address entity nesting and relation overlapping issues. ResultsExperimental results showed that the CasRel model, combining data augmentation and entity mapping, outperformed the pipeline-based Bert-Radical-Lexicon(BRL)-bidirectional long short-term memory(BiLSTM)-Attention model. The overall precision, recall, and F1-score across 12 relation types reached 65.73%, 64.03%, and 64.87%, which represent improvements of 14.26%, 7.98%, and 11.21% compared to the BRL-BiLSTM-Attention model, respectively. Notably, the F1-score for tongue syndrome relations increased by 22.68%(69.32%), and the prescription-syndrome relations performed the best with the F1-score of 70.10%. ConclusionThe proposed framework significantly improves the semantic representation and complex dependencies in TCM texts, offering a reusable technical framework for structured mining of TCM case records. The constructed knowledge graph can support clinical syndrome differentiation, prescription optimization, and drug compatibility, providing a methodological reference for TCM artificial intelligence research.
2.Treatment Principles and Paradigm of Diabetic Microvascular Complications Responding Specifically to Traditional Chinese Medicine
Anzhu WANG ; Xing HANG ; Lili ZHANG ; Xiaorong ZHU ; Dantao PENG ; Ying FAN ; Min ZHANG ; Wenliang LYU ; Guoliang ZHANG ; Xiai WU ; Jia MI ; Jiaxing TIAN ; Wei ZHANG ; Han WANG ; Yuan XU ; .LI PINGPING ; Zhenyu WANG ; Ying ZHANG ; Dongmei SUN ; Yi HE ; Mei MO ; Xiaoxiao ZHANG ; Linhua ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(5):272-279
To explore the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and integrative TCM-Western medicine approaches in the treatment of diabetic microvascular complications (DMC), refine key pathophysiological insights and treatment principles, and promote academic innovation and strategic research planning in the prevention and treatment of DMC. The 38th session of the Expert Salon on Diseases Responding Specifically to Traditional Chinese Medicine, hosted by the China Association of Chinese Medicine, was held in Beijing, 2024. Experts in TCM, Western medicine, and interdisciplinary fields convened to conduct a systematic discussion on the pathogenesis, diagnostic and treatment challenges, and mechanism research related to DMC, ultimately forming a consensus on key directions. Four major research recommendations were proposed. The first is addressing clinical bottlenecks in the prevention and control of DMC by optimizing TCM-based evidence evaluation systems. The second is refining TCM core pathogenesis across DMC stages and establishing corresponding "disease-pattern-time" framework. The third is innovating mechanism research strategies to facilitate a shift from holistic regulation to targeted intervention in TCM. The fourth is advancing interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance the role of TCM in new drug development, research prioritization, and guideline formulation. TCM and integrative approaches offer distinct advantages in managing DMC. With a focus on the diseases responding specifically to TCM, strengthening evidence-based support and mechanism interpretation and promoting the integration of clinical care and research innovation will provide strong momentum for the modernization of TCM and the advancement of national health strategies.
3.Application of Yttrium-90 microsphere selective internal radiation therapy in downstaging and conversion of hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report
Ziwei LIANG ; Tiantian ZHANG ; Yong LIAO ; Xin HUANG ; Bin LIANG ; Zhongbin HANG ; Yan ZHANG ; Lin ZHANG ; Xiaobin FENG ; Li HUO
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2025;32(1):41-45
This case report describes a 68-year-old male patient diagnosed with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). After receiving Yttrium-90 microsphere selective internal radiation therapy (90Y-SIRT), the tumor significantly reduced in size, and tumor markers alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and abnormal prothrombin (PIVKA-Ⅱ) decreased. Postoperative pathological results showed minimal residual tumor cells, indicating that 90Y-SIRT has good efficacy and safety in downstaging and conversion of HCC, thereby facilitating subsequent surgical resection.
4.Research progress on the role of zinc finger proteins in the development of oral cancer
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2025;33(5):425-432
Oral cancer is one of the most common malignancies in the head and neck regions. few patients benefit from current clinical therapy. Zinc finger proteins (ZNFs) are one of the largest transcription factor family proteins in the human genome. ZNFs bind to DNA, RNA, and proteins through their unique three-dimensional structure created by zinc ions to regulate gene transcription, RNA packaging, and protein folding. In recent years, the number of studies focused on the functional mechanism of ZNFs in regulating the progression of oral cancer has been increasing, with focuses on: ① ZNF677, ZNF460, ZNF154, ZNF132, ZNF281, Kaiso, and ZNF582, which regulate the invasion and metastasis of tumor cells; ② ZNF750 and PEST-containing nuclear protein (PCNP), which regulate the cell cycle; ③ ZNFs, which are involved in forming the tumor immune microenvironment, such as ZNF71 and myeloid zinc finger 1 (MZF1). For example, methylation modification modulates the reduction of ZNF677 in oral cancer and reduces the proliferation, migration, and invasion of oral cancer cells by inhibiting the protein kinase B/forkhead box O3a (AKT/FOXO3a) pathway; and ZNF460 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of oral cancer cells by regulating microRNA-320a/alpha thalassemia/mental retardation, X-linked (ATRX) axis. In addition, ZNF750 inhibits the growth and metastasis of oral cancer by suppressing cell cycle transcription factor activity. Further, ZNF71 promotes the progression of oral cancer by reducing the infiltration of tumor immune cells. In this review, we will summarize the molecular mechanism, regulatory meshwork, and pro-tumor and anti-tumor roles of ZNFs in the pathogenesis of oral cancer. Our study may provide a new strategy for the diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer.
5.Metabolite identification and metabolic pathway analysis of pirtobrutinib in rats
Meijuan ZHANG ; Jie LI ; Hang YIN ; Mengyu HOU ; Jiangshuo LI ; Jingxuan WU ; Ruihua DONG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(9):1076-1081
OBJECTIVE To analyze and identify the metabolites of pirtobrutinib (PTN) in rats, and clarify the possible metabolic pathways of PTN in rats. METHODS Six rats were intragastrically administered with 10 mg/kg PTN suspension. Blood samples were collected from the rats 30 minutes before administration and at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24 hours after administration. Urine and feces samples were collected 12 hours before administration and 24 hours after administration. UHPLC- Orbitrap Exploris 240 system combined with Compound Discoverer 3.0 and Xcalibur 2.0 software were adopted for structural identification and metabolic pathway analysis of PTN metabolites in rat plasma, urine, and feces. RESULTS A total of 29 PTN metabolites were identified, including 17, 19 and 22 metabolites in plasma, urine and feces, respectively. The metabolic pathways of PTN mainly included oxidation, sulfation, glucuronidation, etc., and its metabolites were mostly combination products of two or more different metabolic forms. In detail, a total of 26 metabolites were associated with phase Ⅰ metabolic reactions (14 oxidation metabolites, 9 reduction/dehydrogenation metabolites, 8 demethylation metabolites, and 5 hydrolysis metabolites). Meanwhile, a total of 20 products were involved in phase Ⅱ metabolites (14 sulfation metabolites and 8 glucuronic acid binding metabolites). CONCLUSIONS PTN exhibits a diverse range of metabolites in rat fecal samples, with the primary metabolic pathways being oxidation, sulfation, glucuronidation, and others.
6.The Role of Gut Microbiota in Male Erectile Dysfunction of Rats
Zhunan XU ; Shangren WANG ; Chunxiang LIU ; Jiaqi KANG ; Yang PAN ; Zhexin ZHANG ; Hang ZHOU ; Mingming XU ; Xia LI ; Haoyu WANG ; Shuai NIU ; Li LIU ; Daqing SUN ; Xiaoqiang LIU
The World Journal of Men's Health 2025;43(1):213-227
Purpose:
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common male sexual dysfunction. Gut microbiota plays an important role in various diseases. To investigate the effects and mechanisms of intestinal flora dysregulation induced by high-fat diet (HFD) on erectile function.
Materials and Methods:
Male Sprague–Dawley rats aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into the normal diet (ND) and HFD groups. After 24 weeks, a measurement of erectile function was performed. We performed 16S rRNA sequencing of stool samples. Then, we established fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) rat models by transplanting fecal microbiota from rats of ND group and HFD group to two new groups of rats respectively. After 24 weeks, erectile function of the rats was evaluated and 16S rRNA sequencing was performed, and serum samples were collected for the untargeted metabolomics detection.
Results:
The erectile function of rats and the species diversity of intestinal microbiota in the HFD group was significantly lower, and the characteristics of the intestinal microbiota community structure were also significantly different between the two groups. The erectile function of rats in the HFD-FMT group was significantly lower than that of rats in the ND-FMT group. The characteristics of the intestinal microbiota community structure were significantly different. In the HFD-FMT group, 27 metabolites were significantly different and they were mainly involved in the several inflammation-related pathways.
Conclusions
Intestinal microbiota disorders induced by HFD can damage the intestinal barrier of rats, change the serum metabolic profile, induce low-grade inflammation and apoptosis in the corpus cavernosum of the penis, and lead to ED.
7.Controlled hypotension under rapid ventricular pacing technique in patients with cerebral arteriovenous malformation -a case report-
Zijian ZHAO ; Hang WANG ; Xinxu MIN ; Zheng LI ; Feng FENG
Korean Journal of Anesthesiology 2025;78(1):79-84
Background:
The transvenous approach to the treatment of cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is difficult and requires strict blood pressure and blood flow control; however, the cure rate is very high. Appropriate blood pressure control techniques can greatly benefit these patients.Case: A 55-year-old male patient was found to have an aneurysm complicated with a cerebral AVM (length: 2.0 cm, width: 1.6 cm, height: 1.2 cm). Aneurysm embolization was considered for the first-stage surgery and transvenous AVM embolization for the second-stage surgery. Rapid ventricular pacing (RVP) provided a stable blood flow environment for the surgery, which was completed successfully.
Conclusion
RVP can thus provide an ideal condition for the embolization of cerebral AVM through the transvenous approach and can be a viable surgical option.
8.Integrated molecular characterization of sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma
Rong-Qi SUN ; Yu-Hang YE ; Ye XU ; Bo WANG ; Si-Yuan PAN ; Ning LI ; Long CHEN ; Jing-Yue PAN ; Zhi-Qiang HU ; Jia FAN ; Zheng-Jun ZHOU ; Jian ZHOU ; Cheng-Li SONG ; Shao-Lai ZHOU
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(2):426-444
Background:
s/Aims: Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare histological subtype of HCC characterized by extremely poor prognosis; however, its molecular characterization has not been elucidated.
Methods:
In this study, we conducted an integrated multiomics study of whole-exome sequencing, RNA-seq, spatial transcriptome, and immunohistochemical analyses of 28 paired sarcomatoid tumor components and conventional HCC components from 10 patients with sarcomatoid HCC, in order to identify frequently altered genes, infer the tumor subclonal architectures, track the genomic evolution, and delineate the transcriptional characteristics of sarcomatoid HCCs.
Results:
Our results showed that the sarcomatoid HCCs had poor prognosis. The sarcomatoid tumor components and the conventional HCC components were derived from common ancestors, mostly accessing similar mutational processes. Clonal phylogenies demonstrated branched tumor evolution during sarcomatoid HCC development and progression. TP53 mutation commonly occurred at tumor initiation, whereas ARID2 mutation often occurred later. Transcriptome analyses revealed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and hypoxic phenotype in sarcomatoid tumor components, which were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, we identified ARID2 mutations in 70% (7/10) of patients with sarcomatoid HCC but only 1–5% of patients with non-sarcomatoid HCC. Biofunctional investigations revealed that inactivating mutation of ARID2 contributes to HCC growth and metastasis and induces EMT in a hypoxic microenvironment.
Conclusions
We offer a comprehensive description of the molecular basis for sarcomatoid HCC, and identify genomic alteration (ARID2 mutation) together with the tumor microenvironment (hypoxic microenvironment), that may contribute to the formation of the sarcomatoid tumor component through EMT, leading to sarcomatoid HCC development and progression.


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