1.Phenomics of traditional Chinese medicine 2.0: the integration with digital medicine
Min Xu ; Xinyi Shao ; Donggeng Guo ; Xiaojing Yan ; Lei Wang ; Tao Yang ; Hao LIANG ; Qinghua PENG ; Lingyu Linda Ye ; Haibo Cheng ; Dayue Darrel Duan
Digital Chinese Medicine 2025;8(3):282-299
Abstract
Modern western medicine typically focuses on treating specific symptoms or diseases, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) emphasizes the interconnections of the body’s various systems under external environment and takes a holistic approach to preventing and treating diseases. Phenomics was initially introduced to the field of TCM in 2008 as a new discipline that studies the laws of integrated and dynamic changes of human clinical phenomes under the scope of the theories and practices of TCM based on phenomics. While TCM Phenomics 1.0 has initially established a clinical phenomic system centered on Zhenghou (a TCM definition of clinical phenome), bottlenecks remain in data standardization, mechanistic interpretation, and precision intervention. Here, we systematically elaborates on the theoretical foundations, technical pathways, and future challenges of integrating digital medicine with TCM phenomics under the framework of “TCM phenomics 2.0”, which is supported by digital medicine technologies such as artificial intelligence, wearable devices, medical digital twins, and multi-omics integration. This framework aims to construct a closed-loop system of “Zhenghou–Phenome–Mechanism–Intervention” and to enable the digitization, standardization, and precision of disease diagnosis and treatment. The integration of digital medicine and TCM phenomics not only promotes the modernization and scientific transformation of TCM theory and practice but also offers new paradigms for precision medicine. In practice, digital tools facilitate multi-source clinical data acquisition and standardization, while AI and big data algorithms help reveal the correlations between clinical Zhenghou phenomes and molecular mechanisms, thereby improving scientific rigor in diagnosis, efficacy evaluation, and personalized intervention. Nevertheless, challenges persist, including data quality and standardization issues, shortage of interdisciplinary talents, and insufficiency of ethical and legal regulations. Future development requires establishing national data-sharing platforms, strengthening international collaboration, fostering interdisciplinary professionals, and improving ethical and legal frameworks. Ultimately, this approach seeks to build a new disease identification and classification system centered on phenomes and to achieve the inheritance, innovation, and modernization of TCM diagnostic and therapeutic patterns.
2.Association between maximal urethral length preservation and postoperative continence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: a meta-analysis and systematic review.
Tian-Yu XIONG ; Zhan-Liang LIU ; Hao-Yu WU ; Yun-Peng FAN ; Yi-Nong NIU
Asian Journal of Andrology 2025;27(2):225-230
Urinary incontinence is a common complication following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Urethral length has been identified as a factor affecting postoperative continence recovery. In this meta-analysis, we examined the association between use of the maximal urethral length preservation (MULP) technique and postoperative urinary continence in patients undergoing RARP. We conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library up to December 31, 2023. The quality of the literature was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to synthesize data and calculate the odds ratio (OR) from eligible studies on continence and MULP. Six studies involving 1869 patients met the eligibility criteria. MULP was positively associated with both early continence (1 month after RARP; Z = 3.62, P = 0.003, OR = 3.10, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.68-5.73) and late continence (12 months after RARP; Z = 2.34, P = 0.019, OR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.13-3.90). Oncological outcomes indicated that MULP did not increase the overall positive surgical margin rate or the positive surgical margin status at the prostate apex (both P > 0.05). In conclusion, the use of the MULP technique in RARP significantly improved both early and late postoperative continence outcomes without compromising oncological outcomes.
Humans
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Prostatectomy/adverse effects*
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Robotic Surgical Procedures/methods*
;
Male
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Urethra/surgery*
;
Urinary Incontinence/prevention & control*
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Postoperative Complications/etiology*
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Prostatic Neoplasms/surgery*
;
Organ Sparing Treatments/methods*
3.Trend in testicular volume change after orchiopexy in 854 children with cryptorchidism.
Ying-Ying HE ; Zhi-Cong KE ; Shou-Lin LI ; Hui-Jie GUO ; Pei-Liang ZHANG ; Peng-Yu CHEN ; Wan-Hua XU ; Feng-Hao SUN ; Zhi-Lin YANG
Asian Journal of Andrology 2025;27(6):723-727
The aim of this study was to investigate the trend in testicular volume changes after orchiopexy in children with cryptorchidism. The clinical data of 854 children with cryptorchidism who underwent orchiopexy between January 2013 and December 2016 in Shenzhen Children's Hospital (Shenzhen, China) were retrospectively analyzed. The mean (standard deviation) age of the patients was 2.8 (2.5) years, and the duration of follow-up ranged from 1 year to 5 years. Ultrasonography was conducted preoperatively and postoperatively. The variables analyzed included age at the time of surgery, type of surgical procedure, laterality, preoperative testicular position, preoperative and postoperative testicular volumes, and the testicular volume ratio of them. The average testicular volumes preoperatively and at 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, and 5 years postoperatively were 0.27 ml, 0.38 ml, 0.53 ml, 0.87 ml, and 1.00 ml, respectively ( P < 0.001). The corresponding testicular volume ratios were 0.67, 0.76, 0.80, 0.83, and 0.84 ( P < 0.001). The mean volume of the undescended testes was significantly smaller than the mean normative value ( P < 0.001, lower than the 10 th percentile). The postoperative testicular volumes in children with cryptorchidism were generally lower than those in healthy boys but were still greater than the 10 th percentile and exhibited an increasing trend. The older the child is at the time of surgery, the larger the gap in volume between the affected and normal testes. Although testicular volume tends to gradually increase after orchiopexy for cryptorchidism, it could not normalizes. Earlier surgery results in affected testicular volumes closer to those of healthy boys.
Humans
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Male
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Cryptorchidism/diagnostic imaging*
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Orchiopexy
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Child, Preschool
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Testis/surgery*
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Retrospective Studies
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Organ Size
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Ultrasonography
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Infant
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Child
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Postoperative Period
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Follow-Up Studies
4.Brucea javanica Seed Oil Emulsion and Shengmai Injections Improve Peripheral Microcirculation in Treatment of Gastric Cancer.
Li QUAN ; Wen-Hao NIU ; Fu-Peng YANG ; Yan-da ZHANG ; Ru DING ; Zhi-Qing HE ; Zhan-Hui WANG ; Chang-Zhen REN ; Chun LIANG
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(4):299-310
OBJECTIVE:
To explore and verify the effect and potential mechanism of Brucea javanica Seed Oil Emulsion Injection (YDZI) and Shengmai Injection (SMI) on peripheral microcirculation dysfunction in treatment of gastric cancer (GC).
METHODS:
The potential mechanisms of YDZI and SMI were explored through network pharmacology and verified by cellular and clinical experiments. Human microvascular endothelial cells (HMECs) were cultured for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured for tube formation assay. Twenty healthy volunteers and 97 patients with GC were enrolled. Patients were divided into surgical resection, surgical resection with chemotherapy, and surgical resection with chemotherapy combining YDZI and SMI groups. Forearm skin blood perfusion was measured and recorded by laser speckle contrast imaging coupled with post-occlusive reactive hyperemia. Cutaneous vascular conductance and microvascular reactivity parameters were calculated and compared across the groups.
RESULTS:
After network pharmacology analysis, 4 ingredients, 82 active compounds, and 92 related genes in YDZI and SMI were screened out. β-Sitosterol, an active ingredient and intersection compound of YDZI and SMI, upregulated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2, P<0.01), downregulated the expression of caspase 9 (CASP9) and estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1, P<0.01) in HMECs under oxaliplatin stimulation, and promoted tube formation through VEGFA. Chemotherapy significantly impaired the microvascular reactivity in GC patients, whereas YDZI and SMI ameliorated this injury (P<0.05 or P<0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
YDZI and SMI ameliorated peripheral microvascular reactivity in GC patients. β-Sitosterol may improve peripheral microcirculation by regulating VEGFA, PTGS2, ESR1, and CASP9.
Humans
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Microcirculation/drug effects*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Stomach Neoplasms/physiopathology*
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Emulsions
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Male
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Plant Oils/administration & dosage*
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Brucea/chemistry*
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Middle Aged
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Female
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Drug Combinations
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Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/metabolism*
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Seeds/chemistry*
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Injections
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism*
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Aged
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Network Pharmacology
5.Progress in the Application of Stellate Ganglion Block in Non-Analgesic Fields.
Peng-Cheng YE ; Ying REN ; Wen-Liang SU ; Hao KONG
Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae 2025;47(3):462-469
Stellate ganglion block (SGB) is a specific type of peripheral nerve block in which local anesthetics and/or steroids are injected around the stellate ganglia.In the past,SGB was mainly used to alleviate pain-related syndromes.With the development of ultrasound technology,SGB has been widely used in non-analgesic fields,demonstrating significant therapeutic effects on arrhythmias,hot flashes,psychiatric disorders,cerebrovascular diseases,insomnia,and post coronavirus disease-2019 conditions in recent years.This study reviews the progress in the application of SGB in the non-analgesic fields.
Stellate Ganglion
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Humans
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Autonomic Nerve Block/methods*
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Anesthetics, Local/administration & dosage*
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COVID-19
6.Research status of the pathological mechanisms of immune regulation in tumors and the intervention of traditional Chinese medicine
Xue-Peng WANG ; Hao-Ming GUO ; Liang-Liang SHI ; Shuai-Zhe WANG ; Ya-Ping CHEN ; Ben-Jun WEI
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(20):3051-3055
The occurrence and development of tumors are closely related to the body's immune function.It has been confirmed that immunotherapy plays a role in the treatment of various cancers.Some traditional Chinese medicines can control the growth and metastasis of tumors by enhancing anti-tumor immunity.Even in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment,traditional Chinese medicine can exert anti-tumor effects by upregulating immune responses.Further research on the regulation of the immune mechanisms by traditional Chinese medicine will provide new insights into how traditional Chinese medicine controls tumor growth and metastasis and help improve its effectiveness in the clinical treatment of various cancers.This article aims to provide a theoretical reference for the role of immunoregulation in tumors,summarize its mechanisms in tumors,and traditional Chinese medicine intervention research in tumors for the prevention and treatment of tumors with traditional Chinese medicine.
7.Association between index-ring finger length ratio and polymorphisms of 6 phalange-bone development related genes
Meng-Yi YANG ; Shi-Bo NIU ; Jing ZHANG ; Liang PENG ; Jie DANG ; Zhan-Bing MA ; Hong LU ; Zheng-Hao HUO
Acta Anatomica Sinica 2024;55(2):181-187
Objective To investigate the association of 13 single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)sites in 6 phalange-bone development related genes[fibroblast growth factor receptor 2(FGFR2),indian hedgehog signaling molecule(IHH),Msh homeobox 1(MSX1),Runx family transcription factor 2(RUNX2),SRY-box transcription factor 9(SOX9),Wnt family member 5A(WNT5A)]with human index-ring finger length ratio(2D∶4D).Methods Digital cameras were used to take frontal photographs of the hands of 731 college students(358 males and 373 females)in Ningxia,and image analysis software was used to mark anatomical points and measure finger lengths of index(2th)and ring(4th);genotyping of 13 SNP sites(rs1047057,rs755793,rs41258305,rs3731881,rs3100776,rs12532,rs3821949,rs45585135,rs3749863,rs1042667,rs12601701,rs1829556,rs3732750)for 6 genes by multiplex PCR;One-Way ANOVA or independent sample t-test indirectly assessed the association between 2D∶4D and 13 SNP sites.Results Both left and right hand 2D∶4D were significantly higher in females than males in Ningxia college students(all P<0.01);no statistically significant differences in genotype and allele frequencies of the 13 SNP sites among different sexes(all P>0.05);among different sexes,male left hand 2D∶4D was significantly associated with the genotype of SOX9 gene rs12601701 site(P<0.05)and right hand 2D∶4D was significantly associated with the genotype of WNT5A gene rs1829556 site(P<0.05);the female right hand 2D∶4D was significantly associated with the MSX1 gene rs12532(P<0.01)and rs3821949(P<0.05)sites genotypes.Conclusion SOX9(rs12601701),WNT5A(rs1829556)and MSX1(rs12532 and rs3821949)gene polymorphisms may be associated with the formation of 2D∶4D in Ningxia population.
8.Syndrome Differentiation from Micro to"Near-micro":Origins,Controversies and Prospects
Liqin ZHONG ; Dan SHENG ; Wanghua LIU ; Zhixi HU ; Qinghua PENG ; Weixiong JIAN ; Yingjie WU ; Yanjie WANG ; Shuyue FU ; Hao LIANG
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;31(3):8-12
As an emerging discipline that combines traditional diagnostic methods with modern scientific technology,micro syndrome differentiation has good prospects for development,but there are some controversies in the research process.Based on ancient and modern literature,this article reviewed the origin and flow of research on micro syndrome differentiation,and summarized the problems to be improved in the process of research on micro syndrome differentiation from three aspects:application of disease type,guiding ideology and micro indicators.Based on this,the article further expounded the new thinking on"near-micro"syndrome differentiation from three aspects:connotation,scope of application,and links to traditional identification and micro-identification,and pointed out that the modern medical detection basis should be incorporated into the field of TCM syndrome differentiation,and at the same time,it should be based on the overall thinking mode of TCM,which would provide a new idea for the development of modern TCM diagnosis technology.
9.Comparative study of orthopaedic robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery and open surgery for limb osteoid osteoma.
Junwei FENG ; Weimin LIANG ; Yue WANG ; Zhi TANG ; MuFuSha A ; Baoxiu XU ; Niezhenghao HE ; Peng HAO
Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery 2024;38(1):40-45
OBJECTIVE:
To compare the accuracy and effectiveness of orthopaedic robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery versus open surgery for limb osteoid osteoma.
METHODS:
A clinical data of 36 patients with limb osteoid osteomas admitted between June 2016 and June 2023 was retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 16 patients underwent orthopaedic robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery (robot-assisted surgery group), and 20 patients underwent tumor resection after lotcated by C-arm X-ray fluoroscopy (open surgery group). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the gender, age, lesion site, tumor nidus diameter, and preoperative pain visual analogue scale (VAS) scores ( P>0.05). The operation time, lesion resection time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, lesion resection accuracy, and postoperative analgesic use frequency were recorded and compared between the two groups. The VAS scores for pain severity were compared preoperatively and at 3 days and 3 months postoperatively.
RESULTS:
Compared with the open surgery group, the robot-assisted surgery group had a longer operation time, less intraoperative blood loss, less fluoroscopy frequency, less postoperative analgesic use frequency, and higher lesion resection accuracy ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in lesion resection time ( P>0.05). All patients were followed up after surgery, with a follow-up period of 3-24 months (median, 12 months) in the two groups. No postoperative complication such as wound infection or fracture occurred in either group during follow-up. No tumor recurrence was observed during follow-up. The VAS scores significantly improved in both groups at 3 days and 3 months after surgery when compared with preoperative value ( P<0.05). The VAS score at 3 days after surgery was significantly lower in robot-assisted surgery group than that in open surgery group ( P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in VAS scores at 3 months between the two groups ( P>0.05).
CONCLUSION
Compared with open surgery, robot-assisted resection of limb osteoid osteomas has longer operation time, but the accuracy of lesion resection improve, intraoperative blood loss reduce, and early postoperative pain is lighter. It has the advantages of precision and minimally invasive surgery.
Humans
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Robotics
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Osteoma, Osteoid/surgery*
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Orthopedics
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Blood Loss, Surgical
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Retrospective Studies
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Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
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Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures
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Bone Neoplasms/surgery*
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Analgesics
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Treatment Outcome
10.Study of the correlation between red blood cell distribution width,systemic immune-inflammation index with major depressive disorder
Man JIN ; Hao LIANG ; Shipan ZHANG ; Xueru ZHANG ; Peng JING ; Yue YANG ; Chunyang WANG ; Peiyuan LYU
Chinese Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases 2024;50(7):409-414
Objective To investigate the correlation between red blood cell distribution width(RDW),systemic immune-inflammation index(SII)and major depressive disorder(MDD).Methods The clinical data of 176 MDD patients hospitalized in the clinical psychology department of our hospital from 2020 to 2022 and 209 non-MDD comparators who were routinely examined in Hebei General Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.Blood analysis was conducted to obtain values of RDW,SII,and red blood cell distribution width/platelet ratio(RPR).The data was used to plot the receiver operator characteristic(ROC)curve to determine the optimal threshold and the area under the curve(AUC)for RDW to discriminate between patients and controls.Result Patients in the MDD group had significantly higher RDW[median and quartiles:13.20(12.70,13.98)vs.12.80(12.40,13.35)],and SII levels[median and quartiles 510.87(350.95,878.12)vs.405.33(313.74,539.92)]compared with those in non-MDD group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in RPR between the two groups(P>0.05).Multifactorial logistic regression analysis showed that RDW was positively correlated with MDD after adjusting for confounders(OR=3.086,95% CI:1.926-4.944).ROC curve showed that the optimal threshold for RDW to differentiate the risk of developing MDD was 12.85,with an AUC of 0.647(95% CI:0.592-0.702;P<0.001).Conclusion Present study shows that high RDW is a risk factor for the occurrence of MDD and an important parameter for the risk of developing depression.

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