ObjectiveTo investigate the anti-Alzheimer's disease （AD） effect of Dipsacus asper（DA） in the Caenorhabditis elegans model， and decipher the underlying mechanism via the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α （PPARα）/transcription factor EB （TFEB） pathway. MethodsFirst， transgenic AD C. elegans individuals were assigned into the blank control， model， positive control （WY14643， 20 µmol·L^-1）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose （100， 200， and 400 mg·L^-1， respectively） DA groups. The amyloid β-42 （Aβ₄₂） formation in the muscle cells， the paralysis time， and the deposition of amyloid β-protein （Aβ） in the head were detected. The lysosomal autophagy in the BV2 cell model was examined by Rluc-LC3wt/G120A. The expression levels of lysosomal autophagy-related proteins LC3Ⅱ， LC3I， LAMP2， and TFEB were detected by Western blot. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was employed to determine the mRNA levels of autophagy-related genes beclin1 and Atg5 and lysosome-related genes LAMP2 and CLN2 downstream of PPARα/TFEB. A reporter gene assay was used to detect the transcriptional activities of PPARα and TFEB. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the fluorescence intensity of PPARα， and the active components of the ethanol extract of DA were identified by UPLC-MS. RCSB PDB， Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform （TCMSP）， and Autodock were used to analyze the binding between the active components and PPARα-ligand-binding domain （LBD）. ResultsCompared with the model group， the positive control group and 200 and 400 mg·L^-1 DA groups showed prolonged paralysis time （P<0.05）， and all the treatment groups showed decreased Aβ deposition in the head （P<0.01）. DA within the concentration range of 50-500 mg·L^-1 did not affect the viability of BV2 cells. In addition， DA enhanced the autophagy flux （P<0.05）， up-regulated the mRNA levels of beclin1， Atg5， LAMP2， and CLN2 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， promoted the nuclear translocation of TFEB （P<0.05）， increased LAMP2 expression and autophagy flux （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and enhanced the transcriptional activities of PPARα and TFEB （P<0.01）. The positive control group and 200 and 400 mg·L^-1 DA groups showed enhanced fluorescence intensity of PPARα in the BV2 nucleus （P<0.01）. UPLC-MS detected nine known compounds of DA， from which 8 active components of DA were screened out. The docking results suggested that a variety of components in DA could bind to PPARα-LBD and form stable hydrogen bonds. ConclusionDA may reduce the pathological changes in AD by regulating the PPARα-TFEB pathway.

ObjectiveBased on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic field orbital trap-linear ion-trap mass spectrometry（UPLC-Orbitrap Fusion Lumos Tribrid-MS）， the plasma concentration of ziyuglycoside Ⅰ was determined at different time points after oral administration， and its pharmacokinetic characteristics in normal rats and rats with acute kidney injury were compared. MethodsRats were randomly divided into normal group and model group， the model group received intraperitoneal cisplatin（10 mg·kg^-1） to establish the acute kidney injury model， the normal group was given the same volume of saline. After successful modeling， rats in the normal and model groups were randomly divided into the normal low， medium and high dose groups（2.5， 5， 7.5 mg·kg^-1） and the model low， medium and high dose groups（2.5， 5， 7.5 mg·kg^-1）， 6 rats in each group， and the plasma was collected at different time points after receiving the corresponding dose of ziyuglycoside Ⅰ. Then， the concentration of ziyuglycoside Ⅰ in rat plasma was determined by UPLC-Orbitrap Fusion Lumos Tribrid-MS， and the drug-time curve was poltted. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by Kinetica 5.1 software， and the differences in pharmacokinetic parameters between different administration groups were compared by independent sample t-test with SPSS 22.0. ResultsThe pharmacokinetic results showed that after receiving the different doses of ziyuglycoside Ⅰ， its concentration increased first and then decreased， and all of them reached the maximum plasma concentration at about 0.5 h. The area under the curve（AUC_0-t） and mean retention time（MRT_0-t） of normal and model rats increased with the increased dose， and the clearance（CL） decreased with the increasing dose. Compared with the normal group， the AUC_0-t was significantly increased（P<0.01）， peak concentration（C_max） and CL decreased in model rats at different doses， indicating that the physiological state of the rats could affect the absorption and elimination of ziyuglycoside Ⅰ in vivo. ConclusionThe pharmacokinetic characteristics of ziyuglycoside Ⅰ are quite different in normal rats and acute kidney injury model rats， which may be due to the change of the body environment in the pathological state， then lead to changes in absorption and metabolic processes.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease（NAFLD） is the most common chronic liver disease in the world. Because of its complex pathogenesis， high clinical prevalence and large population， it poses a great threat and challenge to public health in the world. Therefore， active intervention measures are needed. Currently， western medicine is effective in reducing weight， reducing liver fat content， improving glucose-lipid metabolism and insulin resistance. However， for patients with NAFLD-related fibrosis and cirrhosis， there is still a lack of sufficient histological evidence to support its benefits， and randomized controlled trials are still needed to clarify. Lifestyle intervention is an important cornerstone for the treatment of NAFLD， but there are many problems such as poor implementation and low compliance of patients， and the clinical efficacy is not ideal. Traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） has the significant advantages of multiple pathways and multiple targets. Berberine， the active ingredient of TCM， can interfere with the production of NAFLD from multiple pathways， including increasing energy consumption， weight loss， improving glucose-lipid metabolism， improving insulin resistance， anti-inflammatory， anti-oxidation， regulating intestinal flora， restoring bile acid homeostasis， anti-fibrosis and so on， which can play a positive role in the treatment of NAFLD. At the same time， it was found that the combination of BBR with Chinese and western medicines had significant advantages in promoting drug absorption， improving oral bioavailability， increasing the highest biological distribution in the liver， enhancing the overall therapeutic effect of NAFLD， and reducing adverse drug reactions， which could provide reference for clinical medication.

[Objective] To perform genetic analysis on samples with weak agglutination and mixed agglutination of ABO blood group antigens in neonates, and to investigate the molecular biological characteristics of ABO subtypes in neonates. [Methods] Serological identification of ABO blood group was performed by tube method and microcolumn gel method. The ABO exons 2-7 were amplified by PCR, and the amplified products were sequenced by Sanger sequencing method to determine the genotype. [Results] Among the ABO blood group serological results of 14 neonates, 8 cases showed weakened A antigen, and 6 cases showed weakened B antigen. Seven samples were identified with ABO subtype alleles, with genotypes as A102/B101+c.538C>T, Aw26/B102, A205/O02, A205/B101(2 cases), Aw26/O02, B(A)06/O01, B101/O01(3 cases), A102/O01(2 cases), A102/B101 and B101/O02. Additionally, three other family members were also found to carry B(A)06 allele in a pedigree investigation. [Conclusion] For samples showing weakened antigens in ABO blood type identification of neonates, it is necessary to consider the possibility of ABO subtype in addition to age factors, and genetic testing can be used to prevent missed detection of ABO subtypes in neonates.

OBJECTIVE To study the mechanism of Xinnao shutong capsule alleviating cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury （CIRI） in rats by regulating the ferroptosis pathway. METHODS SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group， model group， Xinnao shutong low-dose， high-dose group （220， 440 mg/kg）， Ginkgo biloba leaves extract group （positive control， 150 mg/kg）. Each group of rats was orally administered with the corresponding medication/normal saline for 7 consecutive days. Transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery was adopted to induce the CIRI model； the samples were taken 24 h after the operation； the cerebral infarction area of rats was detected， and the cerebral infarction rate was calculated. The pathological changes of brain tissues were observed， and the levels of lipid peroxide （LPO）， malondialdehyde （MDA） and glutathione （GSH） in cerebral tissue were detected； mRNA and protein expressions of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Nrf2）， heme oxygenase 1（HO-1） and glutathione peroxidase 4 （GPX4） were all detected in cerebral tissue of rats. RESULTS Compared with model group， the cerebral infarction rate， the content of total iron in cerebral tissue and serum level of LPO （except for Ginkgo biloba leaves extract group and Xinnao shutong low-dose group） were all decreased significantly in G. biloba leaves extract group and Xinnao shutong groups （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； the serum level of GSH， the protein and mRNA expressions of Nrf2， HO-1 and GPX4 were all increased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. The pathological damage to brain tissue was reduced， the number of nerve cells increased， the edema was alleviated， and the nuclear membrane was flattened. CONCLUSIONS Xinnao shutong capsule can inhibit ferroptosis and reduce CIRI， the mechanism of which may be associated with the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1/GPX4 signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect of Rehmanniae Radix iridoid glycosides （RIG） on the kidney tissue of streptozotocin （STZ）-induced diabetic mice and explore the underlying mechanism. MethodsTwelve of 72 male C57BL/6J mice were randomly selected as the normal group， and the remaining 60 mice were fed with a high-fat diet for six weeks combined with injection of 60 mg·kg^-1 STZ for 4 days to model type 2 diabetes mellitus. The successfully modeled mice were randomized into model， metformin （250 mg·kg^-1）， catalpol （100 mg·kg^-1）， low-dose RIG （RIG-L， 200 mg·kg^-1） and high-dose RIG （RIG-H， 400 mg·kg^-1） groups （n=11）. Mice in each group were administrated with corresponding drugs， while those in the normal group and model group were administrated with the same dose of distilled water by gavage once a day. After 8 weeks of intervention， an oral glucose tolerance test （OGTT） was performed， and the area under the curve （AUC） was calculated. After mice were sacrificed， both kidneys were collected. The body weight， kidney weight， and fasting blood glucose （FBG） were measured. Biochemical assays were performed to measure the serum levels of triglycerides （TG）， total cholesterol （TC）， serum creatinine （SCr）， and blood urea nitrogen （BUN）. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was employed to determine the serum level of fasting insulin （FINS）， and the insulin sensitivity index （ISI） and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance （HOMA-IR） were calculated. The pathological changes in kidneys of mice were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson staining. The immunohistochemical method （IHC） was employed to assess the expression of interleukin-1 （IL-1）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， tumor necrosis factor-α（TNF-α）， transforming growth factor-β₁ （TGF-β₁）， and collagen-3 （ColⅢ） in the kidney tissue. The protein levels of TGF-β₁， cell signal transduction molecule 3 （Smad3）， matrix metalloproteinase-9 （MMP-9）， and ColⅢ in kidneys of mice were determined by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showcased decreased body weight and ISI （P<0.01）， increased kidney weight， FBG， AUC， FINS， HOMA-IR， TC， TG， SCr， and BUN （P<0.01）， glomerular hypertrophy， capsular space narrowing， and collagen deposition in the kidney， up-regulated protein levels of IL-1， IL-6， TNF-α， TGF-β₁， ColⅢ， and Smad3 （P<0.01）， and down-regulated protein level of MMP-9 （P<0.01） in the kidney tissue. Compared with the model group， the treatment groups had no significant difference in the body weight and decreased kidney weight （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The FBG level declined in the RIG-H group after treatment for 4-8 weeks and in the metformin， catalpol， and RIG-L groups after treatment for 6-8 weeks （P<0.01）. The AUC in the RIG-L， RIG-H， and metformin groups decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The levels of TC， SCr， and BUN in the serum of mice in each treatment group became lowered （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The level of TG declined in the RIG-L， RIG-H， and metformin groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The serum level of FINS declined in the catalpol， RIG-L， and metformin groups （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the treatment groups showed decreased HOMA-IR （P<0.01）， increased ISI （P<0.01）， alleviated pathological changes in the kidney tissue， and down-regulated expression of IL-1 and TGF-β₁. In addition， the protein levels of IL-6， TNF-α， and ColⅢ in the RIG-H and metformin groups and IL-6 and TNF-α in the RIG-L group were down-regulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the protein levels of IL-6， TNF-α， and ColⅢ in the catalpol group and ColⅢ in the RIG-L group showed a decreasing trend without statistical difference. The protein levels of TGF-β₁， Smad3， and ColⅢ in the RIG-H and metformin groups were down-regulated （P<0.01）. Compared with that in the model group， the protein level of MMP-9 was up-regulated in each treatment group （P<0.01）. ConclusionRIG can improve the renal structure and function of diabetic mice by regulating the TGF-β₁/Smads signaling pathway.

Chronic glomerulonephritis （CGN） is a common clinical chronic glomerular disease caused by autoimmune reaction， the pathogenesis of which is complex and has not been fully elucidated. There is no specific treatment method in modern medicine. The establishment of an animal model of CGN in accordance with its characteristics in western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine will help to reveal the pathogenesis of CGN， rate drugs， and improve the treatment plan. Based on the clinical diagnostic criteria of CGN， the paper establishes the syndrome differentiation criteria of CGN for Chinese and western medicine. Through summarizing the literature on animal models of CGN and making a further analysis， it is found that the CGN models are mainly modeled using rats with the methods of single-factor induction or two-factor induction， and the main manifestation of the disease characteristics is nephritis-related symptoms. The single-factor-induced or two-factor-induced CGN rat models have a high fitting degree with the clinical characteristics in western medicine， but the fitting degree is insufficient with the clinical characteristics in traditional Chinese medicine. In addition， the CGN models with syndromes of traditional Chinese medicine are dominated by Qi deficiency in the spleen and kidney and Qi deficiency in the lung and kidney， while models for Yang deficiency in the spleen and kidney， Yin deficiency in the liver and kidney， and deficiency of both Qi and Yin are slightly insufficient. Therefore， it is important to prepare a new and improved animal model of CGN， so that a preclinical model can be provided for the exploration of the pathogenesis of CGN in western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine and its therapeutic research.

Diabetic kidney disease （DKD）， one of the leading causes of end-stage renal disease， shows increasing prevalence and mortality， seriously affecting the physical and mental health of patients. As a crucial link in the occurrence and development of DKD， pyroptosis can lead to kidney cell injury and inflammation through the abnormal activation of reactive oxygen species （ROS）/thioredoxin-interacting protein （TXNIP）/NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）， Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）/nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）/NLRP3， nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Nrf2）/heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1）， mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK）/NLRP3， and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α （HIF-1α）/NLRP3 signaling pathways， which accelerate the progression of DKD. In recent years， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has demonstrated definite efficacy in the treatment of DKD via multiple targets and pathways. Studies have shown that various TCM active components， including glycosides， flavonoids， polyphenols， terpenoids， and alkaloids， as well as TCM compound prescriptions for clearing heat and detoxifying， tonifying deficiency and consolidating root， and eliminating stasis and descending turbidity， can target relevant signaling pathways to inhibit pyroptosis and intervene in the development of DKD， providing new possibilities for precision treatment of DKD. This article systematically reviews the relevant pathways of pyroptosis and summarizes the research achievements and mechanisms of TCM active components and compound prescriptions in the treatment of DKD via pyroptosis in recent years. This review aims to provide new directions and ideas for the treatment and research of DKD with TCM and promote the modernization and development of TCM.

Polycystic ovary syndrome （PCOS） is one of the most prevalent gynecological diseases， and its incidence is increasing year by year， seriously affecting the physical and mental health of female patients. The pathogenesis of this disease is complex and has not been fully clarified. At present， PCOS is mainly treated by Western medicine， which， however， has poor efficacy and induces various adverse reactions. Therefore， developing safe and effective therapies has become a difficult problem that needs to be solved. Studies have confirmed that traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） can regulate phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B（PI3K/Akt）， mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase （MAPK/ERK）， Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB （TLR4/NF-κB）， transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β）/Smads， secreted glycoprotein/β-catenin （Wnt/β-catenin）， adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK）， and advanced glycation endproduct/receptor for advanced glycation endproducts （AGE/RAGE） signaling pathways to ameliorate insulin resistance， inhibit inflammation and oxidative stress， regulate endocrine hormone disorders， and intervene in apoptosis and autophagy， thus alleviating the symptoms， slowing down the disease progression， and improving the ovarian function. The treatment of PCOS with TCM has demonstrated definite effects and high safety. Therefore， exploring this disease from cellular and molecular perspectives can provide a theoretical basis for its clinical treatment and new drug development. However， there is a lack of systematic reviews on the modulation of relevant signaling pathways by TCM in the treatment of PCOS. This article reviews the research progress in the treatment of PCOS with the active ingredients and compound prescriptions of TCM by regulating relevant signaling pathways in recent years， with the aim of providing evidence to support the promotion of TCM for treating PCOS in the future.

This paper summarized professor ZHANG Lei's experience in the treatment of sjögren syndrome （SS） from the perspective of "same form and disease of dryness and dampness". It is believed that both dryness and dampness are involved as the pathological factors of SS. The important pathogenesis is that dryness and dampness are of the same form and coexist in the disease， that is， dryness and dampness can transform into each other with the same form or be concurrent in the disease. The same form of dryness and dampness includes the dryness syndrome caused by dampness and the dampness syndrome caused by dryness， which can be treated with modified Wuling Powder （五苓散） and modified Ejiao Jizihuang Decoction （阿胶鸡子黄汤）， respectively. The disease of both dryness and dampness includes lung dryness with spleen dampness， stomach dryness with spleen dampness， liver dryness with spleen dampness， and kidney dryness with spleen dampness syndrome， which can be treated with modified Ganlu Beverage and Weijing Decoction（甘露饮合苇茎汤）， self-made Jianpi Yangyin Formula （健脾养阴方） with modifications， self-made Guqing Decoction and Jupi Zhishu Pill （谷青汤合橘皮枳术丸） with modifications， and Shenqi Pill and Linggui Zhugan Decoction （肾气丸合苓桂术甘汤） with modifications， respectively.