1.Analysis of Animal Models of Retinal Vein Occlusion Based on Clinical Manifestations of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine
Xiaoyu LI ; Lina LIANG ; Xiaofeng HAO ; Menglu MIAO ; Mei SUN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):204-209
ObjectiveRetinal vein occlusion (RVO) is the second most common vascular disease leading to vision loss. Since its pathogenesis remains unclear, current Western medical treatments primarily target complications such as macular edema and neovascularization. The main therapeutic approaches include intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents or corticosteroids, laser photocoagulation, and pars plana vitrectomy. However, these treatments cannot fully reverse disease progression or structural damage. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has unique advantages in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of RVO, and integrated Chinese and Western medicine approaches may offer better clinical outcomes. This study, based on the clinical manifestations of RVO, systematically reviews the existing literature and evaluates the alignment of current RVO animal models with clinical manifestations. The aim is to identify the characteristics and limitations of existing models and provide recommendations and prospects for developing RVO animal models featuring the combination of disease and syndrome. MethodsDatabases including CNKI, Wanfang Data, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched with the keywords of "retinal vein occlusion" and "animal model". Model characteristics were assessed based on the diagnostic criteria for diseases and syndromes in both TCM and Western medicine. The alignment of each model with clinical manifestations was analyzed and evaluated. ResultsThe available RVO models were primarily established via methods such as laser photocoagulation, photodynamic therapy, diathermy, intravitreal drug injection, and mechanical modeling. These models demonstrated moderate overall alignment with clinical manifestations, mainly reflecting disease characteristics. However, they generally lack representation of TCM syndrome features. ConclusionExisting RVO models are predominantly based on Western medicine and lack TCM syndrome features. Western medical treatments for RVO have certain limitations, while syndrome differentiation and treatment in TCM offer potential advantages. Future research should focus on developing disease-syndrome integrated animal models that incorporate both pathological features and TCM syndrome characteristics. This approach will enhance the design of RVO models and facilitate both basic and clinical research, which make it a scientifically valuable and necessary endeavor.
2.Analysis of Animal Models of Retinal Vein Occlusion Based on Clinical Manifestations of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine
Xiaoyu LI ; Lina LIANG ; Xiaofeng HAO ; Menglu MIAO ; Mei SUN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):204-209
ObjectiveRetinal vein occlusion (RVO) is the second most common vascular disease leading to vision loss. Since its pathogenesis remains unclear, current Western medical treatments primarily target complications such as macular edema and neovascularization. The main therapeutic approaches include intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents or corticosteroids, laser photocoagulation, and pars plana vitrectomy. However, these treatments cannot fully reverse disease progression or structural damage. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has unique advantages in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of RVO, and integrated Chinese and Western medicine approaches may offer better clinical outcomes. This study, based on the clinical manifestations of RVO, systematically reviews the existing literature and evaluates the alignment of current RVO animal models with clinical manifestations. The aim is to identify the characteristics and limitations of existing models and provide recommendations and prospects for developing RVO animal models featuring the combination of disease and syndrome. MethodsDatabases including CNKI, Wanfang Data, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched with the keywords of "retinal vein occlusion" and "animal model". Model characteristics were assessed based on the diagnostic criteria for diseases and syndromes in both TCM and Western medicine. The alignment of each model with clinical manifestations was analyzed and evaluated. ResultsThe available RVO models were primarily established via methods such as laser photocoagulation, photodynamic therapy, diathermy, intravitreal drug injection, and mechanical modeling. These models demonstrated moderate overall alignment with clinical manifestations, mainly reflecting disease characteristics. However, they generally lack representation of TCM syndrome features. ConclusionExisting RVO models are predominantly based on Western medicine and lack TCM syndrome features. Western medical treatments for RVO have certain limitations, while syndrome differentiation and treatment in TCM offer potential advantages. Future research should focus on developing disease-syndrome integrated animal models that incorporate both pathological features and TCM syndrome characteristics. This approach will enhance the design of RVO models and facilitate both basic and clinical research, which make it a scientifically valuable and necessary endeavor.
3.Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Interact with Schwann Cells for Tumor Perineural Invasion by Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
Xinwen ZHANG ; Yijia HE ; Shixin XIE ; Yuxian SONG ; Xiaofeng HUANG ; Qingang HU ; Yanhong NI ; Yi WANG ; Yong FU ; Liang DING
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(6):1003-1020
Perineural invasion (PNI) by tumor cells is a key phenotype of highly-invasive oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Since Schwann cells (SCs) and fibroblasts maintain the physiological homeostasis of the peripheral nervous system, and we have focused on cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) for decades, it's imperative to elucidate the impact of CAFs on SCs in PNI+ OSCCs. We describe a disease progression-driven shift of PNI- towards PNI+ during the progression of early-stage OSCC (31%, n = 125) to late-stage OSCC (53%, n = 97), characterized by abundant CAFs and nerve demyelination. CAFs inhibited SC proliferation/migration and reduced neurotrophic factors and myelin in vitro, and this involved up-regulated ER stress and decreased MAPK signals. Moreover, CAFs also aggravated the paralysis of the hind limb and PNI in vivo. Unexpectedly, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) was exclusively expressed on CAFs and up-regulated in metastatic OSCC. The LIF inhibitor EC330 restored CAF-induced SC inactivation. Thus, OSCC-derived CAFs inactivate SCs to aggravate nerve injury and PNI development.
Schwann Cells/metabolism*
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Mouth Neoplasms/metabolism*
;
Humans
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Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts/metabolism*
;
Animals
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Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/metabolism*
;
Neoplasm Invasiveness/pathology*
;
Male
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Female
;
Mice
;
Cell Movement/physiology*
;
Cell Proliferation/physiology*
;
Cell Line, Tumor
;
Leukemia Inhibitory Factor/metabolism*
;
Middle Aged
4.Individualized prediction model of tacrolimus dose/weight-adjusted trough concentration based on machine learning approach
Hui Jiang ; Liang Tang ; Xin Wang ; Fan Jiang ; Deguang Wang ; Xiaofeng Lan ; Xiang Xie
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(2):344-350
Objective:
To utilize machine learning(ML) algorithms to develop accurate and effective prediction models for TAC dose/weight-adjusted trough concentration(C0/D).
Methods:
Data were collected on 264 TAC blood concentration monitoring data from 72 patients undergoing kidney transplantation. The effects of population statistical data, clinical features, combined medication, and ultrasound feature parameters on TAC C0/D were analyzed. Features with a significance level less than 0.05 in the univariate analysis of TAC C0/D were selected for inclusion in the random forest(RF) algorithm to identify significant features. These features were interpreted using partial dependency plots. Five ML algorithms, including RF, support vector regression(SVR), extreme gradient boosting(XGBoost), decision trees(DT) and artificial neural networks(ANN), were employed to establish the TAC C0/D prediction model. Hyper-parameter tuning was performed on the RF model that performed the best.
Results :
Ten characteristic variables with importance scores>5 were retained and included in the ML model: transglutaminase, red blood cell count, blood urea nitrogen, weight, serum creatinine, renal segmental arterial resistance index, renal aortic resistance index, hematocrit, renal pelvic Young′s modulus value, and time after transplantation. The partial dependence plots showed that all 10 important variables screened were positively correlated with TAC C0/D. The tuned RF model outperformed the other models with aR2of 0.81, aRMSEof 43.93, and aMAEof 29.97.
Conclusion
The ML models demonstrate good performance in predicting TAC C0/D and provide innovative interpretations using partial dependence plot. The optimized RF model shows optimal performance and offers a novel tool for individualized medication adjustment for TAC in renal transplant patients.
5.Influencing Factors on Degree of Inflammation in Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis Rat Model and Characteristics of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Symptoms
Liang LIU ; Xiaoyu LI ; Xiaofeng HAO ; Hang YUAN ; Yige ZHANG ; Like XIE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(21):104-111
ObjectiveTo explore the effects of different emulsion mixtures and emulsification methods on the inflammation severity in an experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) model in rats, and to analyze the characteristics of the current EAU model. MethodEAU was induced in Lewis rats by subcutaneous injection of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) 1177-1191 emulsified with Freund's complete adjuvant (CFA), with or without intraperitoneal injection of pertussis toxin (PTX). Slit lamp examination, HE staining, and optical coherence tomography were used to evaluate factors affecting EAU modeling, including different doses of the emulsion mixture (IRBP1177-1191, PTX, and inactivated Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and four different emulsification methods. The classification, characteristics, modeling methods, advantages, and disadvantages of EAU animal models were summarized and analyzed based on the clinical diagnostic criteria and syndrome characteristics of chronic uveitis in both traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and western medicine, to evaluate the consistency between TCM and western medical syndromes. ResultIncreasing the dose of inactivated M. tuberculosis and antigen peptide in the emulsion mixture exacerbated the anterior segment inflammation in EAU rats. Increasing the injection of PTX also exacerbated anterior segment inflammation and increased retinal thickness in EAU rats. The severity of the EAU model was closely related to the emulsification method used. All four emulsification methods successfully induced EAU in rats. Comparatively, the ultrasonic cell disruptor and T10 basic disperser achieved successful emulsification in a short time. The degree of emulsification of the mixture also influenced the severity of the EAU model in rats. The existing EAU animal model shows a high degree of consistency with western medical diagnoses and the main ocular syndromes in TCM. ConclusionIRBP1177-1191, PTX, inactivated M. tuberculosis, and emulsification methods can affect the severity of the EAU model through different pathways. The existing EAU animal models can simulate the clinical characteristics of western medicine well but lack the etiology, pathogenesis, and syndrome characteristics of TCM. Therefore, it is necessary to construct an EAU animal model that combines disease and syndrome characteristics.
6.Analysis and prediction of disease burden of cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases due to alcohol use in China from 1990 to 2030
Sui ZHU ; Shentong CHEN ; Yingying JIN ; Shangwen LU ; Fengjuan ZOU ; Wenjun MA ; Fangfang ZENG ; Xiaofeng LIANG
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2024;45(2):185-191
Objective:To comprehensively understand the disease burden of liver cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases caused by alcohol use in China from 1990 to 2019, as well as to predict the trends in disease burden from 2020 to 2030.Methods:The analysis utilized data from the Global Burden of Disease study in 2019 (GBD2019). Key indicators such as incidence rate, mortality rate, disability-adjusted life years (DALY), years of life lost due to premature mortality, and years lived with disability were selected to describe the disease burden of alcohol-related liver cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases in China from 1990 to 2019. The estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was used to depict the temporal trends in disease burden. Furthermore, a Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model was constructed using R software to predict the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) of alcohol-related liver cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases in China from 2020 to 2030.Results:From 1990 to 2019, the incidence of alcohol-related liver cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases in China showed an upward trend, with an EAPC of 0.31% (95% CI: 0.10%-0.52%). However, the DALY declined, with an EAPC of -2.81% (95% CI: -2.92% - -2.70%). The ASMR showed a downward trend, with an EAPC of -2.55% (95% CI: -2.66% - -2.45%). The highest incidence of cirrhosis of liver caused by alcohol and other chronic liver diseases was reported in the age group of 35-49 years, while the ASMR increased gradually with age, with a significant rise after the age of 30. The age-standardized DALY rate peaked between the ages of 55 and 64. The disease burden indicators for males were consistently higher than those for females during the same period. According to the predictions of the BAPC model, from 2020 to 2030, the ASIR for cirrhosis of liver caused by alcohol and other chronic liver diseases in the entire population of China was projected to increase from 3.45/100 000 in 2020 to 3.78/100 000 in 2030, a growth of 9.57%. Conversely, the ASMR was expected to decrease from 1.45/100 000 in 2020 to 1.24/100 000 in 2030, a reduction of 14.48%. Conclusions:The disease burden of cirrhosis of liver caused by alcohol and other chronic liver diseases remained serious in China, especially in men and the middle-aged to elderly population. There is a pressing need to prioritize attention and resources towards these groups. Despite the projected decrease in ASMR, the ASIR continued to rise and is expected to persist in its upward trend until 2030.
7.Disease burden of acute viral hepatitis in Guangdong Province, 1990-2019
Jiamin QIU ; Fangfang ZENG ; Chen CHENG ; Huiyan WEN ; Shiqi HUANG ; Dan LIU ; Jinlei QI ; Peng YIN ; Maigeng ZHOU ; Ying XU ; Zhiping LIU ; Qingsong MEI ; Heng XIAO ; Zheng XIANG ; Xiaofeng LIANG
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2024;45(3):365-372
Objective:To examine the burden and trends of acute viral hepatitis in Guangdong Province from 1990 to 2019, and provide reference evidences for hepatitis prevention and control in the province.Methods:Data on acute viral hepatitis (hepatitis A, B, C, and E) in Guangdong from 1990 to 2019 were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 database. The incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) data were analyzed by age and gender, and the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was calculated to describe the changing trends in disease burden.Results:From 1999 to 2019, the standardized incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALY of acute viral hepatitis in Guangdong were higher than the national averages. In 2019, 51.43% (2 245 087/4 365 221) of acute viral hepatitis cases in Guangdong Province were mainly attributed to hepatitis B, and 77.18% (106/138) of deaths were due to acute hepatitis B. In different age groups, except for acute hepatitis B, which was more common in adults, the incidence rates of other types of viral hepatitis such as hepatitis A, B, and E showed an overall decreasing trend with age. The mortality rates of different types of acute viral hepatitis, except for the <5 age group, increased with age. The overall incidence and mortality rates of acute viral hepatitis were higher in men than in women.Conclusions:The overall burden of acute viral hepatitis in Guangdong declined in 2019, but remained higher than the national level. Further efforts are needed to strengthen hepatitis prevention and screening in different population in Guangdong Province, especially in children and the elderly.
8.Current status of parental decision-making of childhood 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine immunization and related factors in China
Yuhong LI ; Wenwen WANG ; Liangpeng WU ; Meicui DU ; Jingyi KOU ; Sihui PENG ; Xiaofeng LIANG
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2024;45(9):1209-1215
Objective:To analyze the relationship between health belief and the stages of parental decision-making on childhood 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) immunization in China.Methods:Cross-sectional multistage survey sampling method was used to select study subjects. The study subjects were parents who were aged 20-45 years and had one and more children ≤5 years old in three cities in China. A self-administered questionnaire designed based on health belief model was used to collect the information. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationships between perceived susceptibility, perceived severity of illness, perceived effect of PCV13 and stages of parental decision-making on childhood PCV13 immunization.Results:A total of 1 716 valid questionnaires were returned (89.33%). The average age of the study subjects was (35.33±4.95) years, and 79.60% of them were women. In the study subjects, 48.31% had in action, 21.79% were in contemplation and 29.90% were in pre-contemplation. The multinominal logistic regression analysis indicated that high perceived susceptibility ( OR=0.14, 95% CI:0.09-0.22; OR=0.54, 95% CI:0.39-0.76), high perceived severity of illness ( OR=0.55, 95% CI:0.42-0.73), and high perceived effect of PCV13 ( OR=0.27, 95% CI:0.18-0.40; OR=0.51, 95% CI:0.32-0.81) were significantly lower in those who were in contemplation or pre-compared with those who had in action. For study subjects with low perceived susceptibility, high perceived effect of PCV13 might decrease the probabilities of contemplation ( OR=0.53, 95% CI:0.32-0.87) and pre-contemplation ( OR=0.27, 95% CI:0.18-0.41). For those with high perceived susceptibility, perceived severity of illness might decrease the probability of contemplation ( OR=0.43, 95% CI:0.23-0.82). Conclusions:Childhood PCV13 vaccination willingness and level is low in China. It is important to pay greater attention to the intervention on health belief in child parents, such as perceived effect of PCV13, perceived severity of illness, and perceived susceptibility, in health policy development and health promotion.
9.Factors affecting hospitalization costs among stroke patients in Nanshan District
ZOU Quan ; ZHAO Xinxing ; CHEN Hong' ; en ; WU Lanlan ; LIANG Xiaofeng ; WU Jing ; WANG Changyi
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2024;36(4):328-332,337
Objective:
To analyze the influencing factors for hospitalization costs among stroke patients with different subtypes, so as to provide the reference for reducing the economic burden of patients.
Methods:
Data of patients with hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke who were discharged from hospitals in Nanshan District, Shenzhen City from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2021 were collected through Hospital Information System. Hospitalization costs were analyzed between hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke patients, and factors affecting hospitalization costs among stroke patients with different subtypes were identified using a structural equation model.
Results:
A total of 10 298 patients with stroke were recruited, including 2 820 patients with hemorrhagic stroke (27.38%) and 7 478 patients with ischemic stroke (72.62%). The patients with hemorrhagic stroke had a median duration of hospital stay of 19.00 (interquartile range, 18.00) d, and a median hospitalization cost of 26 759.48 (interquartile range, 51 000.87) Yuan. The patients with ischemic stroke had a median duration of hospital stay of 12.00 (interquartile range, 10.00) d, and a median hospitalization cost of 12 199.87 (interquartile range, 13 290.20) Yuan. Structural equation model analysis showed that department of hospitalization, discharge status, ways of leaving hospital, surgery and hypertension had direct effects on hospitalization costs and indirect effects on hospitalization costs through duration of hospital stay among hemorrhagic stroke patients, and duration of hospital stay had the highest total effect (0.684), followed by surgery (0.632). Employment status, admission route, department of hospitalization, ways of leaving hospital, payment mode, surgery and dyslipidemia had direct effects on hospitalization costs and indirect effects on hospitalization costs through duration of hospital stay among ischemic stroke patients, and duration of hospital stay (0.746), surgery (0.424) and department of hospitalization (0.151) ranked the top three in total effects.
Conclusion
The hospitalization cost is relatively high among stroke patients in Nanshan District, and duration of hospital stay and surgery have great influence on hospitalization costs among stroke patients with different subtypes.
10.Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on learning-memory and synaptic plasticity in hippocampus of rats with post-stroke sleep deprivation
Xiaofeng LIANG ; Jianbin WANG ; Xiaolin YANG ; Qingtang YANG
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2024;33(3):225-232
Objective:To investigate the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on learning-memory and the expression of synaptic plasticity proteins in hippocampus of rats with post-stroke sleep deprivation.Methods:A total of 28 SPF grade healthy male Wistar rats with 8-week old were randomly divided into four groups (control group, sham operation group, model group and rTMS group) according to random number table method, with 7 rats in each group. The rats in the model group and the rTMS group were treated with middle cerebral artery occlusion and p-chlorophenylalanine intraperitoneal injection to establish the post-stroke sleep deprivation model. The rats in the rTMS group were treated with rTMS intervention for consecutive 14 days after modeling. The rats in the sham operation group were only separated arteries but not ligated and inserted. The rats in control group were fed normally. The open field test (OFT) was used to observe the autonomous behavior of rats.The water maze test(WMT) was used to observe the spatial learning and memory ability of rats.The content of tyrosine kinase receptor type B(TrkB) in hippocampus was detected by Western blot.The expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) and immediate early gene c-fos in hippocampus were detected by immunofluorescence.The morphology and structure of neurons in hippocampus were observed by optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. SPSS 21.0 software was used for statistical analysis, and repeated measurement ANOVA was used for the escape latency data, one-way ANOVA was used for the comparison of other data among multiple groups, and LSD test was used for further pairwise comparison.Results:(1) The OFT results showed that there were statistical differences in the numbers of crossing squares, upright times and total points of rats in the four groups after intervention ( F=27.638, 10.425, 30.690, all P<0.001). The numbers of crossing squares ((72.71±10.10)), upright times ((6.57±0.87)times) and total points ((79.29±10.03) points) of rats in rTMS group were all higher than those in model group after intervention ((43.71±6.96), (3.43±0.65)times, (47.14±6.82)points) (all P<0.05). As for the escape latency of WMT among the four groups of rats, the interaction effect was not significant( F=1.108, P=0.37), and the time main effect( Ftime=27.295, Ptime<0.01) and group main effect ( Fgroup=8.691, Pgroup<0.01) were significant after rTMS intervention.On the 3rd and 4th day, the escape latency of rTMS group rats was lower than that of the model group (both P<0.01). There were statistically significant differences in the numbers of crossing platform, swimming distance and residence time in target quadrant of rats in the four groups after intervention( F=8.569, 3.308, 3.547, all P<0.05). The numbers of crossing platform ((2.00±0.31)times), swimming distance in target quadrant ((196.95±24.57) cm) and residence time ((17.72±1.36)s) of rats in rTMS group were all higher than those in model group after intervention ((1.57±0.30)times, (146.61±4.79) cm, (13.58±0.98)s)(all P<0.05). (2)Optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy showed that the hippocampal cells arranged irregularly, the organelles' integrity was destroyed in the model group compared with the normal control group. In rTMS group the arrangement and structure of nerve cells in the hippocampus were improved after rTMS intervention. (3) The immunofluorescence results showed that c-fos (1.49±0.09) and BDNF (0.84±0.06) in the hippocampus of rats in rTMS group were both higher than those in model group ((1.24±0.12), (0.48±0.08))(both P<0.05). The Western blot results showed that the expression level of TrkB (1.81±0.03) in the hippocampus of rats in rTMS group was higher than that in model group (0.96±0.02) ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The rTMS can improve the learning-memory ability and autonomous capacity of rats with post-stroke sleep deprivation, which may be related to promoting the expression of c-fos, BDNF and TrkB in hippocampus tissue.


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