Objective Using middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model to observe protective effect of effective components of bezoar on brain damage.To discuss the anti-cerebral ischemia mechanism and compare the efficacy of effective components of bezoar from the endoplasmic reticulum stress intervention angle.Methods Rats were stratified randomly divided into sham group,model group,Qingkailing group (positive drug,3 mL/kg),taurine group,ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA,78 mg/kg) group,taurine-conjugated ursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA,100 mg/kg) group.Through establish MCAO model in rats,observed the scores of the neurologic impairment,measured infarct volume by TTC.Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were Used to detect the content of P-PERK,P-EIF2α,and ATF4.Results Compared with sham group,neurologic impairment scores of model group significantly reduced (P ＜ 0.01).Compared with model group,Qingkailing group,UDCA group,and TUDCA group significantly improved neurological function in rats (P ＜ 0.05,0.01).Compared model group,all the treatment groups could significantly reduce the volume of cerebral infarction (P ＜ 0.01).Compared with sham group,expression of P-PERK,P-EIF2α,and ATF4 was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.01).Compared with model group,all the treatment groups reduced the expression of P-PERK,P-EIF2α,and ATF4 in varying degrees,effect of Qingkailing and TUDCA were more obvious.Conclusion The effective components ofbezoar alleviate cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in rats by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress,the effect of TUDCA is better than that of taurine and UDCA.

Background: Inflammation is an essential component of liver diseases. Paeoniflorin (PF), a mono-terpenoid component derived from peony root (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.), has anti-inflammatory, immu-noregulatory, and hepatoprotective activities. However, whether PF affects liver inflammation and its underlying mechanisms is unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of PF on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in LO2 cells and the underlying molecular mechanism.Methods: LPS was used to induce inflammation. After PF pretreatment for 2 h, the cells were treated with PF and LPS. Cell counting kit-8 was used to measure cell viability. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-6 were tested by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Western blot was used to evaluate TNF-α, Ras homolog family member A (RhoA), NOD-, LRR-and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), caspase-1, and IL-1β pro-teins expression. Results: In LPS-induced LO2 cells, PF reduced TNF-α and IL-6 inflammatory cytokine production in a dose-dependent manner. LPS-induced TNF-α expression was also suppressed by PF. In addition, PF significantly inhibited LPS-induced RhoA activation (P = .0014). Finally, PF suppressed LPS-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation by downregulating NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, and IL-1β expression. Conclusion: These findings suggest that PF alleviates inflammation induced by LPS and further suggest the anti-inflammatory effect of PF may follow via reduced RhoA and NLRP3 inflammasome activity.

The theory of "yang transforming qi and yin shaping up body" comes from Huangdi Neijing (Inner Canon of Yellow Emperor),which describes the basic form of human metabolism dominated by "yang transforming qi":the effect of " yang transforming qi" leads the energy metabolism of human body,while the effect of "yin shaping up body" leads the material metabolism. Metabolic syndrome is a clinical syndrome with metabolic disorders of protein,fat and carbohydrate. The theory of "yang transforming qi and yin shaping up body" has a strong guiding value for the pathogenesis analysis and clinical differentiation and treatment of metabolic syndrome. Yin and yang represent the two basic trends of the change and development of things,and the functions of "transforming qi" and "shaping up body" are the main manifestations of them in metabolism. From this perspective,this paper suggests that the key pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome should be "insufficiency of yang transforming qi and impairment of yin shaping up body" based on the mutual assistance of yin and yang. On this basis we take "coordinating yin-yang and promoting the reproduction of them" as the main directions of therapy,which provides a new idea for the treatment of metabolic syndrome.

This article summarized the experience of national TCM master Wang Qingguo in treating liver cirrhosis with triplet herbs.Professor Wang believes that the etiology and pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis are always based on the disorders of liver,spleen and kidney function,the dampness and heat retention is an important factor of the disease.When the disease enters the collaterals,blood stasis runs through the development of the disease,qi,blood and water are both pathological products and pathogenic factors.Therefore,supporting the healthy qi and eliminating pathogens,and treating both manifestation and root cause of disease are important treatment principles for liver cirrhosis.Professor Wang takes the whole as the main principle and selects triplet herbs that are suitable for the pathogenesis at different stages of disease development.He emphasizes the three methods of soothing the liver and promoting dampness,removing blood stasis and diuresis,and supporting the healthy qi and eliminating pathogens.He flexibly applies the treatment,and the clinical efficacy is remarkable.

Objective:The Qinzhi Zhudan formula(QZZD)exhibits a prominent therapeutic effect in the treatment of vascular dementia(VaD).This study combined a network pharmacology approach and experimental validation to identify the underlying biological mechanism of QZZD against VaD.Methods:Male Wistar rats received bilateral common carotid artery occlusion(BCCAO)surgery,and after 4 weeks of intragastric administration of QZZD,the therapeutic effect was assessed using the Morris water maze test and cerebral blood flow(CBF)assessment.Hematoxylin and eosin staining,Nissl staining,and electron microscopy were used to measure the histopathological changes in the neurons of rats.The effect of QZZD treatment on hippocampal neurotransmitters was assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry.Immunofluorescence was used to observe VaD-induced microglia activation.The inflammatory cytokine levels were assessed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Western blot was used to examine the TNFR1-mediated TNF pathway,which was screened out by network pharmacology analysis.Results:QZZD treatment alleviated pathological changes and neuronal damage in VaD rats and atten-uated their cognitive impairment.In addition,QZZD increased CBF and the expression of acetylcholine and 5-hydroxytryptamine in the hippocampal region.Notably,QZZD inhibited microglial activation and the expression of IL-6 and TNF-a.Network pharmacology and western blot indicated that QZZD inhibited the levels of TNFR1,NF-KBp65,p-ERK,TNF-α,and IL-6,which are related to the TNFR1-mediated TNF signaling pathway.Conclusion:QZZD clearly improved learning and memory function,reduced brain pathological damage,elevated CBF and hippocampal neurotransmitter levels,and alleviated neuroinflammation of VaD rats partly by inhibiting the TNFR1-mediated TNF pathway,indicating its potential value in the clinical therapy of VaD.

Objective To explore the medication law of Professor Wang Qingguo for the treatment of insomnia based on data mining technology.Methods Paper-based prescriptions for Professor Wang Qingguo's treatment of insomnia from December 2016 to August 2023 were collected and a database was constructed.The screened prescriptions were subjected to data mining such as frequency statistics,association rule analysis,and clustering analysis.Results Totally 399 effective outpatient prescriptions were screened-out,involving 276 kinds of Chinese materia medica,with a total frequency of 6738 times.There were 38 Chinese materia medica with a frequency of use≥50.The properties were mainly warm,cold and mild,the tastes were mainly sweet,bitter and pungent,and mainly belong to the lung,spleen and heart meridians.Association rule analysis showed that the most commonly used drug combinations were"Fructus Tritici Levis-Scutellariae Radix-Bupleuri Radix","Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae-Scutellariae Radix-Pinelliae Rhizoma",etc.Association rule network analysis obtained a core prescription containing 12 kinds of Chinese materia medica for insomnia.Four new drug combinations were obtained by clustering analysis.Conclusion Professor Wang's treatment of insomnia has the characteristics of following the original meaning of Huang Di Nei Jing and Nan Jing,making good use of the classical prescription,applying combined prescription,flexible use of prescription,combining ancient and modern prescriptions,using specific medicine.It deeply reflects the academic view of"Tongping Zhihe".

" Lijie and yellowish sweating" originates from the chapter on stroke and arthralgia diseases in Synopsis of Golden Chamber. Later generations typically interpret it as yellow fluid oozing from painful joints, a characteristic manifestation of arthralgia. In Western medicine, Lijie corresponds to diseases such as gouty arthritis, with its primary clinical manifestations being redness, swelling, heat, and painful joints, most often without yellow fluid discharge. Therefore, the interpretation of " Lijie and yellowish sweating" contradicts the clinical manifestations often observed in this disease. Thus, this article reinterprets the meaning of " Lijie and yellowish sweating" from the pathogenesis of " sweat exposure to water, as if water harms the heart" , combined with the viewpoints of other medical practitioners. Determining the meaning of " yellowish sweating" is crucial for understanding the pathogenesis of arthralgia and clarifying the relationship between arthralgia and yellowish sweating. ZHANG Zhongjing mentioned arthralgia and " yellowish sweating" together, not to differentiate between the two diseases but to emphasize the common pathogenesis of the two, namely, the cold and dampness injuring the heart, blood, and vessels. This paper proposes a new explanation of " Lijie and yellowish sweating" , which suggests that " yellowish sweating" is not confined to the joints but can be found all over the body. The pathogenesis of " Lijie and yellowish sweating" lies in the insufficiency of the liver and kidney and exogenous water dampness, leading to disharmony between nutrient qi and defensive qi and between yin and yang. Primary treatment should harmonize yingfen and weifen, as well as tonify and replenish the liver and kidney. The clinical selection of medicines can be considered Guizhi Decotion, a type of formula. The pathogenesis of " Lijie and yellowish sweating" is complex, and clinical treatment should be comprehensively considered to achieve the best therapeutic effect.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the decoction and dosing methods of rhubarb root and rhizome in classical prescriptions and to provide a reference basis for the clinical use of rhubarb root and rhizome. By collating the relevant classical prescriptions of rhubarb root and rhizome in Shanghan Lun and Jingui Yaolüe, the relationship between its decoction and dosing methods and the syndrome was analyzed. The decoction of rhubarb root and rhizome in classical prescriptions can be divided into three categories: simultaneous decoction, decoction later, and other methods (impregnation in Mafei decoction, decoction with water from the well spring first taken in the morning, and pills). If it enters the blood level or wants to slow down, rhubarb root and rhizome should be decocted at the same time with other drugs. If it enters the qi level and wants to speed up, rhubarb root and rhizome should be decocted later. If it wants to upwardly move, rhubarb root and rhizome should be immersed in Mafei decoction. If it wants to suppress liver yang, rhubarb root and rhizome should be decocted with water from the well spring first taken in the morning. If the disease is prolonged, rhubarb root and rhizome should be taken in pill form. The dosing methods of rhubarb root and rhizome can be divided into five categories: draught, twice, three times, before meals, and unspecified. For acute and serious illnesses with excess of pathogenic qi and adequate vital qi, we choose draught. For gastrointestinal diseases, we choose to take the medicine twice. For achieving a moderate and long-lasting effect, we choose to take the medicine three times. If the disease is located in the lower part of the heart and abdomen, we choose to take it before meals. The use of rhubarb root and rhizome in clinical practice requires the selection of the appropriate decoction and dosing methods according to the location of the disease, the severity of the disease, the patient′s constitution, and the condition after taking the medicine.