1.The Development and Application of Chatbots in Healthcare: From Traditional Methods to Large Language Models
Zixing WANG ; Le QI ; Xiaodan LIAN ; Ziheng ZHOU ; Aiwei MENG ; Xintong WU ; Xiaoyuan GAO ; Yujie YANG ; Yiyang LIU ; Wei ZHAO ; Xiaolin DIAO
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(5):1170-1178
With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technology, chatbots have shown great potential in the healthcare sector. From personalized health advice to chronic disease management and psychological support, chatbots have demonstrated significant advantages in improving the efficiency and quality of healthcare services. As the scope of their applications expands, the relationship between technological complexity and practical application scenarios has become increasingly intertwined, necessitating a more comprehensive evaluation of both aspects. This paper, from the perspective of he althcare applications, systematically reviews the technological pathways and development of chatbots in the medical field, providing an in-depth analysis of their performance across various medical scenarios. It thoroughly examines the advantages and limitations of chatbots, aiming to offer theoretical support for future research and propose feasible recommendations for the broader adoption of chatbot technologies in healthcare.
2.Comparison on Ameliorating Effect of Arisaematis Rhizoma and Arisaematis Rhizoma Preparatum on Allergic Asthma in Rats
Ting ZOU ; Jing WANG ; Xu WU ; Kai YANG ; Surong HE ; Lian ZHONG ; Changli WANG ; Chongbo ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(1):120-129
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effects and difference in the effects of Arisaematis Rhizoma (AR) before and after processing (i.e., Arisaematis Rhizoma Preparatum, ARP) with Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens-Alumen on allergic asthma in rats and to provide a basis for the theory of processing improving the efficacy. MethodA rat model of allergic asthma was established in 70 SD rats by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin (OVA)-aluminum hydroxide. The rats were administrated with the aqueous extracts of AR (1.2, 0.3 g∙kg-1) and ARP (1.2, 0.3 g∙kg-1) aqueous extracts by gavage, and montelukast sodium (0.001 g∙kg-1) was used as the positive drug. The T helper cell type 1/type 2 (Th1/Th2) ratio in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and percentages of inflammatory cells in BALF were determined. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed to determine the mRNA level of mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) in the lung tissue. The pathological changes in the lung tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and PAS staining. Immunohistochemical assay was employed to measure the expression of c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal regulated protein kinase (ERK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) in rat lung tissue. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of ERK, p-ERK, JNK, p-JNK, p38, p-p38 in the lung tissue. The effects of AR and ARP were compared based on overall desirability. ResultCompared with the blank group, the levels of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and γ interferon (IFN-γ) in serum and BALF of rats in the model group were significantly lower (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-5 (IL-5) and interleukin-13 (IL-13) were significantly higher (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the serum and BALF contents of IL-12 and IFN-γ in rats in the montelukast sodium group, high-dose AR group and high-dose ARP group were significantly higher (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the contents of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 were significantly lower (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the serum contents of IFN-γ in rats in the low-dose AR group and low-dose ARP group were in BALF was significantly higher (P<0.05) and IL-4 and IL-13 were significantly lower (P<0.05, P<0.01), the percentages of macrophages, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and eosinophils were reduced in BALF, and the expression of JNK/ERK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway and MUC5AC protein was inhibited in lung tissues. Overall assessment of the normalized analysis revealed that the ARP group was slightly more potent than the AR group after administration of the same dose. ConclusionAR and ARP can effectively treat allergic asthma by inhibiting JNK/ERK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway, and the effect is better after concoction, which can provide data support for its "concoction efficiency". 
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
3.Effects of tramadol hydrochloride preemptive analgesia in kyphoplasty of thoracolumbar osteoporotic fractures un-der local anesthesia
Guo-Qing LI ; Hua-Guo ZHAO ; Shao-Hua SUN ; Wei-Hu MA ; Hao-Jie LI ; Yang WANG ; Lian-Song LU ; Chao-Yue RUAN
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2024;37(6):560-564
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Objective To explore preemptive analgesic effect of preoperative intramural tramadol injection in percutaneous kyphoplasty(PKP)of vertebrae following local anesthesia.Methods From August 2019 to June 2021,118 patients with thora-co lumbar osteoporotic fractures were treated and divided into observation group and control group,with 59 patients in each gruop.In observation group,there were 26 males and 33 females,aged from 57 to 80 years old with an average of(67.69±4.75)years old;14 patients on T11,12 patients on T12,18 patients on L1,15 patients on L2;tramadol with 100 mg was injected intramuscularly half an hour before surgery in observation group.In control group,there were 24 males and 35 females,aged from 55 to 77 years old with an average of(68.00±4.43)years old;19 patients on T11,11 patients on T12,17patients on L1,12 patients on L2;the same amount of normal saline was injected intramuscularly in control group.Observation indicators included operation time,intraoperative bleeding,visual analogue scale(VAS)evaluation and recording of preoperative(T0),intraoper-ative puncture(T1),and working cannula placement(T2)between two groups of patients,at the time of balloon dilation(T3),when the bone cement was injected into the vertebral body(T4),2 hours after the operation(T5),and the pain degree at the time of discharge(T6);adverse reactions such as dizziness,nausea and vomiting were observed and recorded;the record the patient's acceptance of repeat PKP surgery.Results All patients were successfully completed PKP via bilateral pedicle ap-proach,and no intravenous sedative and analgesic drugs were used during the operation.There was no significant difference in preoperative general data and VAS(T0)between two groups(P>0.05).There was no significant difference in operation time and intraoperative blood loss between the two groups(P>0.05).VAS of T1,T2,T3,T4 and T5 in observation group were all lower than those in control group(P<0.05),and there was no significant difference in T6 VAS(P>0.05).T6 VAS between two groups were significantly lower than those of T0,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).There was no signifi-cant difference in incidence of total adverse reactions between two groups(P>0.05).There was a statistically significant differ-ence in the acceptance of repeat PKP surgery(P<0.05).Conclusion Half an hour before operation,intramuscular injection of tramadol has a clear preemptive analgesic effect for PKP of single-segment thoracolumbar osteoporotic fracture vertebral body under local anesthesia,which could increase the comfort of patients during operation and 2 hours after operation,and improve patients satisfaction with surgery.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
4.Establishment and Application of a Duplex Real Time Fluorogenic Quantitative PCR Assay System for miR-451a and miR-21-5p
Shu-Xiao HU ; Hui-Xiang CHEN ; Sheng HU ; Yi-Xia ZHAO ; An-Quan JI ; Yang LI ; Jie LIAN ; Qi-Fan SUN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(3):706-715
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			ObjectiveBody fluid stains left at crime scenes are frequently trace amounts, while the identification of body fluids through real time fluorogenic quantitative technique often necessitates the repeated detection within the limited sample, as multiple miRNA markers are the basis for the identification. Based on the goal of both the throughput and efficiency improvement of miRNA analysis in trace samples, a duplex real time fluorogenic quantitative PCR assay system was designed to accurately quantify two miRNAs simultaneously, and the system should be further verified by actual sample for the body fluid identification. MethodsThe duplex real time fluorogenic quantitative PCR system of miR-451a to miR-21-5p was established with specially designed primers and probes, and the concentrations of the primers and probes were both optimized. The specificity, sensitivity and reproducibility of the system were validated, while its capability for body fluid identification was assessed using the miR-451a to miR-21-5p ratio. ResultsThe optimized assay system exhibited excellent specificity and repeatability, with coefficients of variation consistently below 8% for both intra- and inter-batch variability. The amplification efficiency of miR-451a and miR-21-5p reached 71.77% and 74.81%, respectively, with high and relatively consistent results. By utilizing this duplex real time fluorogenic quantitative PCR assay system, a total of 58 body fluid samples were analyzed, exhibiting a discrimination rate of 100% between blood and non-blood samples, as well as between peripheral blood and menstrual blood samples. Moreover, the results, obtained from single real time fluorogenic quantitative PCR assay system and duplex real time fluorogenic quantitative PCR assay system, showed no statistically significant difference with randomly selected blood samples (n=20). Compared to previous single real time fluorogenic quantitative PCR assay system, the sensitivity of duplex real time fluorogenic quantitative PCR assay system exhibited remarkable improvement. A minimum input of only 0.1 ng total RNA was sufficient for accurate detection of peripheral blood and menstrual blood samples, while saliva, semen, and vaginal secretion required only 1 ng total RNA for precise identification purposes. Additionally, the duplex real time fluorogenic quantitative PCR assay system successfully differentiated between different types of body fluids in simulated samples under natural outdoor conditions. ConclusionThe duplex real time fluorogenic quantitative PCR assay system effectively reduced both the time and material costs by half compared to the single system, especially suitable for the examination of body fluid stains left at crime scenes, solving the contradiction between the trace amount and the multiple sample volumes demand of repeated real time fluorogenic quantitative PCR. The duplex real time fluorogenic quantitative PCR assay successfully distinguished blood and other body fluid, as well as peripheral blood and menstrual blood samples, which maintains an equivalent capability for body fluid identification with half sample, time and reagent consumption. This system provides an efficient tool for identifying suspicious body fluids, as well as a foundation for more multiplexed real time fluorogenic quantitative PCR assay system research. 
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
5.Developing Syllabus for Rare Breast Diseases Using the Integrated Multimodality of Case-/Problem-/Resource-Based Learning
Ru YAO ; Jiahui ZHANG ; Jie LIAN ; Yang QU ; Xinyue ZHANG ; Xin HUANG ; Lu GAO ; Jun ZHAO ; Li HUANG ; Yingzi JIANG ; Linzhi LUO ; Songjie SHEN ; Feng MAO ; Qiang SUN ; Bo PAN ; Yidong ZHOU
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2024;3(3):391-399
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Objective This study aims at establishing a teaching catalog and content for breast rare dis-eases and developing the syllabus for the breast rare disease using integrated multimodality of case-/problem-/resource-based learning(CBL+PBL+RBL).Methods By conducting bibliometrics co-occurrence analysis,we collected 6291 articles on breast rare disease published from January,1975 to June,2024.Additionally,we re-trieved the Textbook on Rare Diseases,the Catalog of Chinese Rare Disease,and Second Batch of Rare Dis-ease Catalog and then decided the teaching content.Results From 16,387 keywords,1000(6.1%)keywords were identified through co-occurrence analysis,including 50(0.3%)candidate diseases.These were classified into three categories:rare primary breast diseases,rare genetic mutation-related diseases associated with breast cancer,and rare systemic multi-system diseases involving the breast.From the candidate list,20(0.1%)rare primary breast diseases were further selected for their notable clinical teaching significance,and significant multi-systemic diseases affecting the breast,whether related to gene mutations or not.Teaching plans were draf-ted using a diversified parallel teaching approaches,taking into account the characteristics of different diseases and the focus of different teaching methods.Conclusions This study initiated the development of the teaching content for breast rare diseases and developed the teaching syllabus using the CBL+PBL+RBL integrated multi teaching model and targeting each rare breast disease for the critical point for teaching.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
6.Quality evaluation of Yanyangke Mixture
Xiao-Lian LIANG ; Xiong-Bin GUI ; Yong CHEN ; Zheng-Teng YANG ; Jia-Bao MA ; Feng-Xian ZHAO ; Hai-Mei SONG ; Jia-Ru FENG
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2024;46(6):1781-1787
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			AIM To evaluate the quality of Yanyangke Mixture.METHODS The HPLC fingerprints were established,after which cluster analysis,principal component analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis were performed.The contents of liquiritin,rosmarinic acid,sheganoside,irisgenin,honokiol,monoammonium glycyrrhizinate,irisflorentin,isoliquiritin and magnolol were determined,the analysis was performed on a 35 ℃ thermostatic Agilent ZORBAX SB-C18 column(5 μm,250 mmx4.6 mm),with the mobile phase comprising of 0.1%phosphoric acid-acetonitrile flowing at 1 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and multi-wavelength detection was adopted.RESULTS There were ten common peaks in the fingerprints for twelve batches of samples with the similarities of more than 0.9.Various batches of samples were clustered into three types,three principal components displayed the acumulative variance contribution rate of 87.448%,peaks 5、14(honokiol),3(liquiritin),11(monoammonium glycyrrhizinate)and 15(asarinin)were quality markers.Nine constituents showed good linear relationships within their own ranges(r>0.999 0),whose average recoveries were 98.5%-103.6%with the RSDs of 0.92%-1.7%.CONCLUSION This stable and reliable method can provide a basis for the quality control of Yanyangke Mixture.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
7.Screening of quantitative preparation quality markers of Zhibao Sanbian Wan
Tao LI ; Xiao-liang ZHAO ; Wen-ya GAO ; Yue JIAO ; Yang LIU ; Zhi-guo WANG ; Guan-lian WANG ; Mao-bo DU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2023;58(7):1770-1779
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			 On the basis of the qualitative preparation quality markers of Zhibao Sanbian Wan (ZBSBW), we screened out the quantitative markers and evaluated the content consistency of ZBSBW. A method capable of simultaneously determining 34 compounds in ZBSBW was established based on HPLC-MS/MS, and 16 batches of ZBSBW were simultaneously analyzed by this method. Furthermore, we explored a general strategy for analyzing the component migration in preparation, plasma, brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid. The methodological investigation was confirmed by linear range, recovery (85.10%-105.07%), precision (RSD: 1.37%-4.58%), stability, and repeatability (3.00%-12.45%), the established method was suitable for the detection and quantification of the compounds in ZBSBW. The contents of compounds in ZBSBW were all lower than 1 mg·g-1, and the contents and daily dose of nystose were the highest, followed by echinacoside, paeoniflorin, osthole and paeonol. The results of systematic clustering showed that the contents were consistent for ordinary preparations of ZBSBW. The principal component analysis showed that the components of berberine, ginsenoside Re, ginsenoside Rg1, pinoresinol diglucoside and tenuifolin had large variation, which contributed significantly to the grouping. The contents of echinacoside, verbascoside, polygalaxanthone Ⅲ, 
		                        		
		                        	
8.Leukocyte Telomere Length and Lacunar Stroke: A Mendelian Randomization Study.
Mei Juan DANG ; Tao LI ; Li Li ZHAO ; Ye LI ; Xiao Ya WANG ; Yu Lun WU ; Jia Liang LU ; Zi Wei LU ; Yang YANG ; Yu Xuan FENG ; He Ying WANG ; Ya Ting JIAN ; Song Hua FAN ; Yu JIANG ; Gui Lian ZHANG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2023;36(4):367-370
9.Effect of SAM junctional tourniquet on respiration when applied in the axilla: A swine model.
Dong-Chu ZHAO ; Hua-Yu ZHANG ; Yong GUO ; Hao TANG ; Yang LI ; Lian-Yang ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Traumatology 2023;26(3):131-138
		                        		
		                        			PURPOSE:
		                        			SAM junctional tourniquet (SJT) has been applied to control junctional hemorrhage. However, there is limited information about its safety and efficacy when applied in the axilla. This study aims to investigate the effect of SJT on respiration when used in the axilla in a swine model.
		                        		
		                        			METHODS:
		                        			Eighteen male Yorkshire swines, aged 6-month-old and weighing 55 - 72 kg, were randomized into 3 groups, with 6 in each. An axillary hemorrhage model was established by cutting a 2 mm transverse incision in the axillary artery. Hemorrhagic shock was induced by exsanguinating through the left carotid artery to achieve a controlled volume reduction of 30% of total blood volume. Vascular blocking bands were used to temporarily control axillary hemorrhage before SJT was applied. In Group I, the swine spontaneously breathed, while SJT was applied for 2 h with a pressure of 210 mmHg. In Group II, the swine were mechanically ventilated, and SJT was applied for the same duration and pressure as Group I. In Group III, the swine spontaneously breathed, but the axillary hemorrhage was controlled using vascular blocking bands without SJT compression. The amount of free blood loss was calculated in the axillary wound during the 2 h of hemostasis by SJT application or vascular blocking bands. After then, a temporary vascular shunt was performed in the 3 groups to achieve resuscitation. Pathophysiologic state of each swine was monitored for 1 h with an infusion of 400 mL of autologous whole blood and 500 mL of lactated ringer solution. Tb and T0 represent the time points before and immediate after the 30% volume-controlled hemorrhagic shock, respectively. T30, T60, T90 and T120, denote 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after T0 (hemostasis period), while T150, and T180 denote 150 and 180 min after T0 (resuscitation period). The mean arterial pressure and heart rate were monitored through the right carotid artery catheter. Blood samples were collected at each time point for the analysis of blood gas, complete cell count, serum chemistry, standard coagulation tests, etc., and thromboelastography was conducted subsequently. Movement of the left hemidiaphragm was measured by ultrasonography at Tb and T0 to assess respiration. Data were presented as mean ± standard deviation and analyzed using repeated measures of two-way analysis of variance with pairwise comparisons adjusted using the Bonferroni method. All statistical analyses were processed using GraphPad Prism software.
		                        		
		                        			RESULTS:
		                        			Compared to Tb, a statistically significant increase in the left hemidiaphragm movement at T0 was observed in Groups I and II (both p < 0.001). In Group III, the left hemidiaphragm movement remained unchanged (p = 0.660). Compared to Group I, mechanical ventilation in Group II significantly alleviated the effect of SJT application on the left hemidiaphragm movement (p < 0.001). Blood pressure and heart rate rapidly increased at T0 in all three groups. Respiratory arrest suddenly occurred in Group I after T120, which required immediate manual respiratory assistance. PaO2 in Group I decreased significantly at T120, accompanied by an increase in PaCO2 (both p < 0.001 vs. Groups II and III). Other biochemical metabolic changes were similar among groups. However, in all 3 groups, lactate and potassium increased immediately after 1 min of resuscitation concurrent with a drop in pH. The swine in Group I exhibited the most severe hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis. The coagulation function test did not show statistically significant differences among three groups at any time point. However, D-dimer levels showed a more than 16-fold increase from T120 to T180 in all groups.
		                        		
		                        			CONCLUSION
		                        			In the swine model, SJT is effective in controlling axillary hemorrhage during both spontaneous breathing and mechanical ventilation. Mechanical ventilation is found to alleviate the restrictive effect of SJT on thoracic movement without affecting hemostatic efficiency. Therefore, mechanical ventilation could be necessary before SJT removal.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Male
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		                        			Animals
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		                        			Swine
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		                        			Shock, Hemorrhagic/therapy*
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		                        			Tourniquets
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		                        			Axilla
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		                        			Hemorrhage/therapy*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Vascular Diseases
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		                        			Respiration
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
            
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