1.Study on Compatibility and Efficacy of Blood-activating Herb Pairs Based on Graph Convolution Network
Jingai WANG ; Qikai NIU ; Wenjing ZONG ; Ziling ZENG ; Siwei TIAN ; Siqi ZHANG ; Yuwen ZHAO ; Huamin ZHANG ; Bingjie HUO ; Bing LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(8):228-234
ObjectiveThis study aims to develop a prediction model for the compatibility of Chinese medicinal pairs based on Graph Convolutional Networks (GCN), named HC-GCN. The model integrates the properties of herbs with modern pharmacological mechanisms to predict pairs with specific therapeutic effects. It serves as a demonstration by applying the model to predict and validate the efficacy of blood-activating herb pairs. MethodsThe training dataset for herb pair prediction was constructed by systematically collecting commonly used herb pairs along with their characteristic data, including Qi, flavor, meridian tropism, and target genes. Integrating traditional characteristics of herb with modern bioinformatics, we developed an efficacy-oriented herb pair compatibility prediction model (HC-GCN) using graph convolutional networks (GCN). This model leverages machine learning to capture the complex relationships in herb pair compatibility, weighted by efficacy features. The performance of the HC-GCN model was evaluated using accuracy (ACC), recall, precision, F1 score (F1), and area under the ROC curve (AUC). Its predictive effectiveness was then compared to five other machine learning models: eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), logistic regression (LR), Naive Bayes, K-nearest neighbor (KNN), and support vector machine (SVM). ResultsUsing herb pairs with blood-activating effects as a demonstration, a prediction model was constructed based on a foundational dataset of 46 blood-activating herb pairs, incorporating their Qi, flavor, meridian tropism, and target gene characteristics. The HC-GCN model outperforms other commonly used machine learning models in key performance metrics, including ACC, recall, precision, F1 score, and AUC. Through the predictive analysis of the HC-GCN model, 60 herb pairs with blood-activating effects were successfully identified. Among of these potential herb pairs, 44 include at least one herb with blood-activating effects. ConclusionIn this study, we established an efficacy-oriented compatibility prediction model for herb pairs based on GCN by integrating the unique characteristics of traditional herbs with modern pharmacological mechanisms. This model demonstrated high predictive performance, offering a novel approach for the intelligent screening and optimization of traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions, as well as their clinical applications.
2.The Progress of Research on Data Sharing of Rare Diseases Driven by Digital Intelligence
Yiwu GU ; Qiaorui WEN ; Qikai LIU ; Mengchun GONG ; Shengfeng WANG
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2025;4(1):61-69
In recent years, the rapid development of digital intelligence has provided a new path for rare disease data sharing and injected new power into the progress of research of rare diseases. This research is aimed at summarizing and consolidating relevant literatures on data sharing driven by digital intelligence (DI) in China and abroad, and constructing a local theoretical framework of DI-driven data sharing for rare diseases based on the status of rare diseases in China. Searching PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP database, we obtain a total of 214 representative literatures. Through literature review, we find that DI technologies have played important roles in different aspects of rare disease data sharing. China, the United States, and Europe have formed their own DI-driven data sharing systems for rare disease. From the theory of " Information Commons", we analyze the gap between China′s current situation and the goal of a " Rare Disease Data Commons". Based on the analysis, we put forward the idea of framework of " DI-STARS". China should develop the Data Sharing system making DI as the core of the system. Meanwhile, China should strengthen the data standardization system, create an innovation-encouraging environment, and build a bridge between different platforms. Using the DI-STARS theory, China will be able to build the " Rare Disease Data Commons" so that the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases will be enhanced in China to meet the patients′ needs.
3.Clinical features of hepatitis B virus-related early-onset and late-onset liver cancer: A comparative analysis
Songlian LIU ; Bo LI ; Yaping WANG ; Aiqi LU ; Chujing LI ; Lihua LIN ; Qikai NING ; Ganqiu LIN ; Pei ZHOU ; Yujuan GUAN ; Jianping LI
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(9):1837-1844
ObjectiveTo compare the clinical features of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related early-onset liver cancer and those with late-onset liver cancer, to assess the severity of the disease, and to provide a theoretical basis for the early diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for 695 patients who were diagnosed with HBV-related liver cancer for the first time in Guangzhou Eighth People’s Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, from January 2019 to August 2023, among whom 93 had early-onset liver cancer (defined as an age of50 years for female patients and40 years for male patients) and 602 had late-onset liver cancer (defined as an age of ≥50 years for female patients and ≥40 years for male patients). Related clinical data were collected, including demographic data, clinical symptoms at initial diagnosis, comorbidities, smoking history, drinking history, family history, routine blood test results, biochemical parameters of liver function, serum alpha-fetoprotein(AFP), virological indicators, coagulation function, and imaging findings. The pan-inflammatory indices neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) were calculated, as well as FIB-4 index, aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), S index, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score, albumin-bilirubin (AIBL) grade, and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups, and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups; the chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test were used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. ResultsThere were significant differences between the two groups in the proportion of male patients and the incidence rates of diabetes, hypertension, and fatty liver disease (χ2=6.357, 15.230, 11.467, and 14.204, all P0.05), and compared with the late-onset liver cancer group, the early-onset liver cancer group had a significantly higher proportion of patients progressing to liver cancer without underlying cirrhosis (χ2=24.657, P0.001) and a significantly higher proportion of patients with advanced BCLC stage (χ2=6.172, P=0.046). For the overall population, the most common clinical symptoms included abdominal distension, abdominal pain, poor appetite, weakness, a reduction in body weight, edema of both lower limbs, jaundice, yellow urine, and nausea, and 55 patients (7.9%) had no obvious symptoms at the time of diagnosis and were found to have liver cancer by routine reexamination, physical examination suggesting an increase in AFP, or radiological examination indicating hepatic space-occupying lesion; compared with the late-onset liver cancer group, the patients in the early-onset liver cancer group were more likely to have the symptoms of abdominal distension, abdominal pain, and jaundice (all P0.05). Compared with the late-onset liver cancer group, the early-onset liver cancer group had a significantly larger tumor diameter (Z=2.845, P=0.034), with higher prevalence rates of multiple tumors and intrahepatic, perihepatic, or distant metastasis (χ2=5.889 and 4.079, both P0.05), and there were significant differences between the two groups in tumor location and size (χ2=3.948 and 11.317, both P0.05). Compared with the late-onset liver cancer group, the early-onset liver cancer group had significantly lower FIB-4 index, proportion of patients with HBsAg ≤1 500 IU/mL, and levels of LMR and Cr (all P0.05), as well as significantly higher positive rate of HBeAg and levels of log10 HBV DNA, AFP, WBC, Hb, PLT, NLR, PLR, TBil, ALT, Alb, and TC (all P0.05). ConclusionCompared with late-onset liver cancer, patients with early-onset liver cancer tend to develop liver cancer without liver cirrhosis and have multiple tumors, obvious clinical symptoms, and advanced BCLC stage, which indicates a poor prognosis.
4.Research progress in Fangjiomics: methodologies, applications, and perspectives
LI Bing ; ZHAO Yuwen ; NIU Qikai ; WANG Zhong
Digital Chinese Medicine 2024;7(4):309-319
Abstract
Fangjiomics is a promising paradigm that enhances research on multi-omics-based pharmacological mechanisms of Fangji from holistic and systematic perspective. We reviewed recent advances in Fangjiomics, focusing on database and analysis platform development, methodological innovations, and translational applications. Through the integration of Fangji and multi-omics data, multi-level system analysis approaches were developed, encompassing single-target analysis, signaling pathways, multi-targeted network and modules. Fangjiomics has emerged as a key strategy in various areas of Fangji research. To support the high quality development of Fangjiomics, we propose principles and perspectives from the integrated, macro-level, and practical viewpoints.
5.West Nile virus and its human and animal infections in China field surveys and laboratory investigations
YIN Qikai ; WANG Huanyu ; LIANG Guodong
China Tropical Medicine 2024;24(1):28-
The West Nile virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne arbovirus, is also a zoonotic pathogen first isolated in the 1930s in Africa, followed by the identification of the prevalence of febrile illness caused by West Nile virus infections. In 1999, the West Nile virus was first introduced into New York City of the United States, and caused the outbreak of viral encephalitis in adults. This marked the first reported outbreak of mass adult viral encephalitis caused by West Nile virus. Subsequently, West Nile virus and its infections in humans and animals spread rapidly throughout the United States, causing a worldwide sensation. West Nile virus is currently considered the most widely distributed emerging mosquito-borne arboviruses worldwide. Humans or animals infected by mosquito bites can develop symptoms such as fever, encephalitis (meningitis), and in rare cases, present with severe pancreatitis, hepatitis, myocarditis, miscarriage, or even death, posing a huge global public health burden. This review introduces China's progress in the isolation and identification of West Nile virus, the prevalence of adult viral encephalitis, and the field surveys and laboratory investigations of the coinfection of West Nile virus and typhoid bacteria, aiming to promote the research work and control and prevention of West Nile virus and its infection in China.
6.Serological Investigation into the Infected Genotypes of Patients with Japanese Encephalitis in the Coastal Provinces of China
Zhang WEIJIA ; Zhao JIERONG ; Yin QIKAI ; Liu SHENGHUI ; Wang RUICHEN ; Fu SHIHONG ; Li FAN ; He YING ; Nie KAI ; Liang GUODONG ; Xu SONGTAO ; Yang GUANG ; Wang HUANYU
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2024;37(7):716-725
Objective Genotypes(G)1,3,and 5 of the Japanese encephalitis virus(JEV)have been isolated in China,but the dominant genotype circulating in Chinese coastal areas remains unknown.We searched for G5 JEV-infected cases and attempted to elucidate which JEV genotype was most closely related to human Japanese encephalitis(JE)in the coastal provinces of China. Methods In this study,we collected serum specimens from patients with JE in three coastal provinces of China(Guangdong,Zhejiang,and Shandong)from 2018 to 2020 and conducted JEV cross-neutralization tests against G1,G3,and G5. Results Acute serum specimens from clinically reported JE cases were obtained for laboratory confirmation from hospitals in Shandong(92 patients),Zhejiang(192 patients),and Guangdong(77 patients),China,from 2018 to 2020.Seventy of the 361 serum specimens were laboratory-confirmed to be infected with JEV.Two cases were confirmed to be infected with G1 JEV,32 with G3 JEV,and two with G5 JEV. Conclusion G3 was the primary infection genotype among JE cases with a definite infection genotype,and the infection caused by G5 JEV was confirmed serologically in China.
7.Comparison of growth characteristics of different genotypes of Japanese encephalitis virus in different cell lines
Weijia ZHANG ; Shenghui LIU ; Xiaohui YAO ; Yuke ZHENG ; Jiehui WU ; Ruichen WANG ; Shihong FU ; Qikai YIN ; Fan LI ; Kai NIE ; Qianqian CUI ; Songtao XU ; Huanyu WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental and Clinical Virology 2024;38(1):15-20
Objective:To analyze the growth characteristics of different genotypes of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in different cell lines, and to provide scientific basis for the selection of cell lines in the study of JEV.Methods:BHK-21, Vero, C6/36, PK-15, DF-1, N2a, SH-sy5y and MDCK cell lines were selected. The proliferation ability of genotype 1 (NX1889 strain), genotype 3 (P3 strain) and genotype 5 (XZ0934 strain) JEV in these cell lines was evaluated by plaque assay and RT-qPCR.Results:Significant cytopathogenic effects (CPE) were observed in BHK-21, Vero, C6/36, DF-1, N2a and PK-15 cell lines across all three JEV genotypes. However, no significant differences in CPE characteristics were observed within the same cell line. SH-sy5y and MDCK cell lines did not show significant CPE, but virus proliferation was detected in SH-sy5y cell line, while MDCK cell line were found to be insensitive to JEV. No significant difference was observed in the proliferation curves of G1, G3 and G5 JEV in BHK-21, Vero and SH-sy5y cell lines. In C6/36 and PK-15 cell lines, the titer of G1 JEV was higher than that of G3 and G5. In DF-1 cell line, G5 demonstrated a higher titer than the other two genotypes, whereas in N2a cell line, G5 showed a lower titer than the other two.Conclusions:There are differences in the proliferation of three different genotypes of JEV in different cell lines, which can provide reference for the study of JEV in different directions.
8.Efficacy-driving Mechanism of Danhong Injection for Stable Angina Pectoris Based on Composition-activity Relationship of Target Modules
Siwei TIAN ; Wenjing ZONG ; Jun LIU ; Wei YANG ; Qikai NIU ; Siqi ZHANG ; Jing'ai WANG ; Huamin ZHANG ; Zhong WANG ; Bing LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(23):121-128
ObjectiveTo explore the efficacy-driving mechanism of Danhong injection (DHI) in the treatment of stable angina pectoris (SAP) based on the composition-activity relationship of target modules and clarify the pharmacological effects of DHI. MethodAccording to the angina frequency (AF) in the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) that was obtained in the previous clinical trial, the patients before and after DHI treatment were grouped based on efficacy. The transcriptomic data of the patients before treatment and in the best efficacy group 30 days post-treatment were selected as the data source, and then weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was employed to construct the co-expression network. Relevant modules in the network were identified and associated with clinical features. In addition, the On-modules (Z value below 0) were identified by Zsummary. The topological indicators such as density, centrality, and clustering coefficient were adopted to explore the dynamics of DHI efficacy at the network level and module level, respectively. In addition, the driver genes were screened by the personalized network control (PNC) algorithm. Finally, rat H9C2 cells were used to establish the model of hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R), which was used to confirm the potential therapeutic target of DHI for SAP and provide a scientific basis for revealing the therapeutic mechanism of DHI. ResultWe identified 19 modules in the best efficacy group of DHI for SAP, and the comparison between day 0 and day 30 revealed 12 On-modules. The changes of network topological indicators at the network and module levels confirmed the correlation between the best efficacy of DHI treatment and topological dynamics. Finally, the driver genes, Klotho and fibroblast growth factor 22 (FGF22), in DHI treatment of SAP were verified by the H9C2 cell model of H/R. ConclusionBased on clinical transcriptome data, this study determined the composition-activity relationship of target modules of DHI for SAP, which provided a scientific basis for deciphering the efficacy-driven mechanism of DHI for SAP.
9.Construction of an Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment Ontology for Traditional Chinese Medicine Based on Clinical Practice Guidelines:A Case Study of Coronary Heart Disease
Xiaohui SONG ; Huamin ZHANG ; Zhuang GUO ; Jiyao YIN ; Menghan LIU ; Juan ZHANG ; Qikai NIU ; Junwen WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(24):243-249
ObjectiveTo support intelligent clinical decision-making in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), this study utilized ontology and knowledge graph construction techniques to achieve the IT application of clinical practice guidelines. MethodBased on the principles of findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability (FAIR principles), this study employed ontology techniques to construct an ontology for TCM clinical practice guidelines and built a knowledge graph using coronary heart disease as an example. Based on the Checklist for Reporting Practice Guidelines in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Recommendation Grading in TCM Clinical Guidelines/Consensus (T/CAS 530—2021),the ontology of TCM clinical practice guidelines was constructed using the seven-step ontology construction method. On this basis,the TCM diagnosis and treatment data from the Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Stable Angina Pectoris in Coronary Heart Disease were stored in Neo4j in the form of triples through knowledge extraction,integration,and storage. ResultThe information in the clinical practice guidelines was divided into three categories: onset and prevention information, diagnosis information, and treatment information, and the TCM clinical practice guideline ontology was constructed. A total of 27 concepts related to TCM clinical diagnosis and treatment and 14 data attributes were obtained, and 12 conceptual relationships including hierarchical relationships and object attributes were established. By taking coronary heart disease as an example and the TCM clinical practice guideline ontology as the model layer, the knowledge map of TCM diagnosis and treatment guidelines for stable angina pectoris in coronary heart disease with 276 nodes and 336 relationships was constructed, realizing the visual display and query of the guideline content. ConclusionThe ontology of TCM clinical practice guidelines and the knowledge graph of stable angina pectoris in coronary heart disease constructed by combining the seven-step ontology construction method and Neo4j graph database technology are efficient and flexible,providing an intelligent TCM diagnosis and treatment scheme and promoting the standardization and objectification of TCM diagnosis and treatment.
10.Treatment of Asthenospermia and Infertility with Liver Constraint and Kidney Deficiency in 45 Cases by Shugan Bushen Yulin Decoction (疏肝补肾毓麟汤) and Vitamin E Soft Capsules: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial
Wang WANG ; Jigang CAO ; Min XIAO ; Yangyang ZHU ; Mengjie GAO ; Qikai WANG ; Xiaocui JIANG ; Heng HAO ; Siyi CHEN
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(18):1909-1914
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Shugan Bushen Yulin Decoction (疏肝补肾毓麟汤, SBYD) in the treatment of asthenospermia and infertility with liver constraint and kidney deficiency. MethodsA multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical study was conducted in three hospitals in central China. Totally 95 patients with asthenospermia and infertility were controlled. According to random number table, the patients were divided into treatment group (47 cases) and control group (48 cases). The control group was given vitamin E soft capsules (100 mg per time, twice daily) orally, and the treatment group was given SBYD (one dose daily, 30 min after breakfast and dinner, about 200 ml each time) orally. The course of treatment was 12 weeks in both groups. After the treatment, the sperm concentration, percentage of forward motile sperm (PR), and percentage of total sperm activity, that is PR + percentage of non-progressively motile sperm (NP) were compared between groups, and the clinical efficacy was judged. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score (inlcuding 6 single symptom scores and total symptoms score) and 21-item depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21) scores (including depression, anxiety and stress scores) were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. The patients were followed up for 6 months, and the pregnancy status of spouse between groups was compared. The occurrence of adverse events and vital signs during the trial were recorded for safety assessment. ResultsTwo cases in the treatment group and three cases in the control group dropped out. Finally, 45 cases in each group were included in the statistical analysis. The total effective rate was 86.67% (39/45) in the treatment group, significantly higher than 73.74% (33/45) in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, PR and PR + NP significantly increased in both groups, and were much higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). The scores of lumbar and knee soreness, emotional disturbance, cold sperm, chest and rib-side and lesser abdomen distension and pain, frequent sighing, and the total TCM syndrome score in the treatment group decreased after treatment (P<0.05); and except for cold sperm, the scores of other symptoms mentioned above as well as the total TCM syndrome score in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The scores of depression, anxiety and stress of DASS-21 in the treatment group decreased after treatment, and were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). After 6 months of follow-up, the spouses of 5 patients in the treatment group and 3 patients in the control group got pregnant (P>0.05). No adverse events occurred in both groups during the treatment, and their vital signs were stable. ConclusionSBYD can obviously improve sperm vitality and effectively improve the clinical symptoms, anxiety and depression, and is safe in treating asthenospermia and infertility with liver constraint and kidney deficiency.

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