1.Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Chemical Constituents in Gualou Niubangtang by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and HPLC
Yiyi ZHANG ; Jing YANG ; Yuqing CHENG ; Huimin GAO ; Jin QIN ; Li YAO ; Xiyang DU ; Raorao LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(6):179-187
ObjectiveThis paper aims to clarify the material basis of Gualou Niubangtang and establish a quantitative analysis method for its main constituents, providing a reference for the overall quality control of this preparation. MethodsThe constituents in the formula were systematically characterized based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS). Identification was performed by matching with the UNIFI 9.6 software and utilizing database platforms such as PubChem, ChemicalBook, and ChemSpider, combined with relevant literature reports. A quantitative analysis method for the seven main constituents in Gualou Niubangtang was established by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). ResultsUPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis identified 155 constituents, including 69 flavonoids, 36 terpenoids, 23 phenylpropanoids, 8 phenylethanoid glycosides, and 19 other types of constituents. In the established quantitative analysis method, the seven main constituents showed good linearity within their respective linear ranges. The precision, repeatability, stability, and spike recovery all met the required standards. The results showed that the content ranges of geniposide, liquiritin, hesperidin, arctiin, baicalin, oroxylin A-7-O-β-D-glucuronide, and wogonoside in 15 batches of Gualou Niubangtang were 13.67-21.25, 1.20-7.64, 5.45-7.45, 22.97-33.51, 29.95-39.07, 2.58-4.80, and 6.56-9.31 mg·g-1, respectively. ConclusionThis study successfully characterizes and attributes multi-category constituents in Gualou Niubangtang, clarifying that its material basis is primarily composed of flavonoids, terpenoids, phenylethanoid glycosides, and phenylpropanoids. Furthermore, it enables the quantification of seven constituents within the formula. This work lays a foundation for research on the quality control, action mechanism, and clinical application of this formula.
2.Achievements,Challenges and Pathways for Digital and Intelligent Transformation of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Huimin FU ; Guoqing XIANG ; Yujie SHEN ; Yanhui WANG ; Zhengrong YAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(6):265-275
Digital and intelligent technologies serve as the core engine driving the inheritance of the essence and the innovation while upholding the fundamentals of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). Currently, the digital and intelligent transformation of TCM has undergone four developmental stages, exhibiting inherent characteristics such as long-term inevitability, objective standardization, and ecological evolution. By introducing quantitative metrics, digital and intelligent technologies have achieved breakthroughs in TCM knowledge inheritance and innovation, clinical diagnosis and treatment, and herbal medicine supply. The practical applicability of methodological innovations has been empirically validated, though significant disparities exist in technological adaptability and application depth across different fields. Overall, the digital and intelligent transformation of TCM remains in its nascent stage, grappling with multiple structural challenges:weak data foundations, inadequate technological adaptability, incomplete institutional frameworks, shortages of multidisciplinary talent, lagging policies and regulations, and urban-rural digital divide. In order to foster sustainable development and modernization of TCM, this paper establishes a six-dimensional collaborative governance framework of encompassing data, technology, organization, institutions, environment and ethics, which is rooted in data governance and digital governance theories. Future efforts should center on standardization, integration, and ecosystem development to build a data and technology foundation. Focus should be placed on deepening innovation and application of key TCM-specific technologies, while simultaneously strengthening interdisciplinary talent cultivation, improving institutional mechanisms and policy frameworks, and increasing support for rural areas. By adopting a people-centered and technology-empowered approach, we can overcome developmental constraints and unleash the powerful driving force of digital and intelligent technologies for the inheritance of TCM.
3.Re-examination of Atractylodis Rhizoma and Dosage of Whole Formula in Yuejiuwan
Yanping HAN ; Yiyi ZHANG ; Huimin GAO ; Raorao LI ; Li YAO ; Zhaoxiang SUN ; Zhuo MA ; Huamin ZHANG ; Wei ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(13):223-233
Yuejuwan is a classic formula widely used by doctors to relieve liver and depression, with precise clinical efficacy in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The authors used bibliometric methods to collect and collate 495 ancient data related to Yuejuwan, and 105 valid data were screened out, involving 68 ancient Chinese medical books. After systematic verification of the origin of the formula of Yuejuwan, the main treatment symptoms, the principle of the formula, the composition of the drug, the dosage, the preparation method, the decoction method, and other information, the results showed that Yuejuwan originated from the Danxi Xinfa (《丹溪心法》) of the Yuan Dynasty by ZHU Zhenheng, and it is composed of five medicines, namely Atractylodis Rhizoma, Cyperi Rhizom, Chuanxiong Rhizoma, Massa Medicata Fermentata, and Gardeniae Fructus. In terms of drug base, Atractylodis Rhizoma, Cyperi Rhizom, Chuanxiong Rhizoma, and Gardeniae Fructus are in line with the records in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and Massa Medicata Fermentata is used. The preparation method is as follows: Massa Medicata Fermentata and Gardeniae Fructus are fried, and Cyperi Rhizoma is roasted in vinegar. Chuanxiong Rhizoma is used in the raw form, and Atractylodis Rhizoma is prepared with rice swill. The formula can regulate Qi and relieve depression and broaden the middle and remove fullness. It is clinically used for the treatment of six types of depression syndromes, chest and diaphragm plumpness, abdominal distension and leg acid, acid swallowing and vomiting, eating and drinking disharmony, toothache, mouth and tongue sores, and other diseases. The most used dosage of the formula in the ancient records through the ages is converted into the modern dosage, namely 3.05 g Atractylodis Rhizoma, 3.05 g Cyperi Rhizoma, 3.05 g Chuanxiong Rhizoma, 3.05 g Massa Medicata Fermentata, and 3.05 g Gardeniae Fructus, and the daily dosage is 15.25 g. The converted dosage is similar to that recorded in the 2020 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The formula is in pill form, and medicine should be taken with lukewarm boiled water after the meal. Through the excavation of the ancient literature related to Yuejuwan, the key information of the formula is identified, with a view to providing a more accurate reference for the clinical application of Yuejuwan and subsequent in-depth investigation.
4.Re-examination of Atractylodis Rhizoma and Dosage of Whole Formula in Yuejiuwan
Yanping HAN ; Yiyi ZHANG ; Huimin GAO ; Raorao LI ; Li YAO ; Zhaoxiang SUN ; Zhuo MA ; Huamin ZHANG ; Wei ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(13):223-233
Yuejuwan is a classic formula widely used by doctors to relieve liver and depression, with precise clinical efficacy in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The authors used bibliometric methods to collect and collate 495 ancient data related to Yuejuwan, and 105 valid data were screened out, involving 68 ancient Chinese medical books. After systematic verification of the origin of the formula of Yuejuwan, the main treatment symptoms, the principle of the formula, the composition of the drug, the dosage, the preparation method, the decoction method, and other information, the results showed that Yuejuwan originated from the Danxi Xinfa (《丹溪心法》) of the Yuan Dynasty by ZHU Zhenheng, and it is composed of five medicines, namely Atractylodis Rhizoma, Cyperi Rhizom, Chuanxiong Rhizoma, Massa Medicata Fermentata, and Gardeniae Fructus. In terms of drug base, Atractylodis Rhizoma, Cyperi Rhizom, Chuanxiong Rhizoma, and Gardeniae Fructus are in line with the records in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and Massa Medicata Fermentata is used. The preparation method is as follows: Massa Medicata Fermentata and Gardeniae Fructus are fried, and Cyperi Rhizoma is roasted in vinegar. Chuanxiong Rhizoma is used in the raw form, and Atractylodis Rhizoma is prepared with rice swill. The formula can regulate Qi and relieve depression and broaden the middle and remove fullness. It is clinically used for the treatment of six types of depression syndromes, chest and diaphragm plumpness, abdominal distension and leg acid, acid swallowing and vomiting, eating and drinking disharmony, toothache, mouth and tongue sores, and other diseases. The most used dosage of the formula in the ancient records through the ages is converted into the modern dosage, namely 3.05 g Atractylodis Rhizoma, 3.05 g Cyperi Rhizoma, 3.05 g Chuanxiong Rhizoma, 3.05 g Massa Medicata Fermentata, and 3.05 g Gardeniae Fructus, and the daily dosage is 15.25 g. The converted dosage is similar to that recorded in the 2020 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The formula is in pill form, and medicine should be taken with lukewarm boiled water after the meal. Through the excavation of the ancient literature related to Yuejuwan, the key information of the formula is identified, with a view to providing a more accurate reference for the clinical application of Yuejuwan and subsequent in-depth investigation.
5.Clinicopathological Characteristics of HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Patients with BRCA1/2 Pathogenic Variants and Their Response to Neoadjuvant Targeted Therapy
Xingyu LIAO ; Huimin LIU ; Jie SUN ; Li HU ; Juan ZHANG ; Lu YAO ; Ye XU ; Yuntao XIE
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2025;52(6):491-495
Objective To analyze the proportion and clinicopathological characteristics of HER2-positive breast cancer patients with BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants, and their response to neoadjuvant anti-HER2 targeted therapy. Methods The clinicopathological data of 531 breast cancer patients with germline BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants (201 with BRCA1 variants and 330 with BRCA2 variants) were analyzed. Results Among the 201 BRCA1 and 330 BRCA2 variants, 17 (8.5%) and 42 (12.7%) HER2-positive breast cancer cases were identified, respectively, accounting for 11.1% of all BRCA1/2-mutated breast cancers. Compared with BRCA1/2-mutated HR-positive/HER2-negative patients, HER2-positive patients did not present any significant differences in clinicopathological features; however, compared with triple-negative breast cancer patients, HER2-positive patients had a later onset age and lower tumor grade. Among the 17 patients who received neoadjuvant anti-HER2 targeted therapy, 10 cases achieved pCR (58.8%), whereas 7 cases did not (41.2%). Conclusion HER2-positive breast cancer accounts for more than 10% of BRCA1/2-mutated patients. Approximately 40% of these patients fail to achieve pCR after neoadjuvant targeted therapy. This phenomenon highlights the possibility of combining anti-HER2 targeted agents with poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase inhibitors.
6.AI-integrated IQPD framework of quality prediction and diagnostics in small-sample multi-unit pharmaceutical manufacturing: Advancing from experience-driven to data-driven manufacturing.
Kaiyi WANG ; Xinhai CHEN ; Nan LI ; Huimin FENG ; Xiaoyi LIU ; Yifei WANG ; Yanfei WU ; Yufeng GUO ; Shuoshuo XU ; Lu YAO ; Zhaohua ZHANG ; Jun JIA ; Zhishu TANG ; Zhisheng WU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(8):4193-4209
The pharmaceutical industry faces challenges in quality digitization for complex multi-stage processes, especially in small-sample systems. Here, an intelligent quality prediction and diagnostic (IQPD) framework was developed and applied to Tong Ren Tang's Niuhuang Qingxin Pills, utilizing four years of data collected from four production units, covering the entire process from raw materials to finished products. In this framework, a novel path-enhanced double ensemble quality prediction model (PeDGAT) is proposed, which combines a graph attention network and path information to encode inter-unit long-range and sequential dependencies. Additionally, the double ensemble strategy enhances model stability in small samples. Compared to global traditional models, PeDGAT achieves state-of-the-art results, with an average improvement of 13.18% and 87.67% in prediction accuracy and stability on three indicators. Additionally, a more in-depth diagnostic model leveraging grey correlation analysis and expert knowledge reduces reliance on large samples, offering a panoramic view of attribute relationships across units and improving process transparency. Finally, the IQPD framework integrates into a Human-Cyber-Physical system, enabling faster decision-making and real-time quality adjustments for Tong Ren Tang's Niuhuang Qingxin Pills, a product with annual sales exceeding 100 million CNY. This facilitates the transition from experience-driven to data-driven manufacturing.
7.Diagnosis and treatment of the portal vein complications for children undergoing spilt liver transplantation
Kaining ZENG ; Qing YANG ; Jia YAO ; Hui TANG ; Binsheng FU ; Xiao FENG ; Haijin LYU ; Huimin YI ; Shuhong YI ; Yang YANG
Organ Transplantation 2024;15(1):63-69
Objective To investigate the diagnosis and treatment strategy of the portal vein complications in children undergoing split liver transplantation. Methods The clinical data of 88 pediatric recipients who underwent split liver transplantation were retrospectively analyzed. Intraoperative anastomosis at the bifurcating site of the portal vein or donor iliac vein bypass anastomosis was performed depending on the internal diameter and development of the recipient's portal vein. A normalized portal venous blood stream monitoring was performed during the perioperative stage. After operation, heparin sodium was used to bridge warfarin for anticoagulation therapy. After portal vein stenosis or thrombosis was identified with enhanced CT or portography, managements including embolectomy, systemic anticoagulation, interventional thrombus removal, balloon dilatation and/or stenting were performed. Results Among the 88 recipients, a total of 10 children were diagnosed with portal vein complications, of which 4 cases were diagnosed with portal vein stenosis at 1 d, 2 months, 8 months, and 11 months after surgery, and 6 cases were diagnosed with portal vein thrombosis at intraoperative, 2 d, 3 d (n=2), 6 d, and 11 months after surgery, respectively. One patient with portal vein stenosis and one patient with portal vein thrombosis died perioperatively. The fatality related to portal vein complications was 2% (2/88). Of the remaining 8 patients, 1 underwent systemic anticoagulation, 2 underwent portal venous embolectomy, 1 underwent interventional balloon dilatation, and 4 underwent interventional balloon dilatation plus stenting. No portal venous related symptoms were detected during postoperative long term follow up, and the retested portal venous blood stream parameters were normal. Conclusions The normalized intra- and post-operative portal venous blood stream monitoring is a useful tool for the early detection of portal vein complications, the early utilization of useful managements such as intraoperative portal venous embolectomy, interventional balloon dilatation and stenting may effectively treat the portal vein complications, thus minimizing the portal vein complication related graft loss and recipient death.
8.Impact of inhaled corticosteroid use on elderly chronic pulmonary disease patients with community acquired pneumonia.
Xiudi HAN ; Hong WANG ; Liang CHEN ; Yimin WANG ; Hui LI ; Fei ZHOU ; Xiqian XING ; Chunxiao ZHANG ; Lijun SUO ; Jinxiang WANG ; Guohua YU ; Guangqiang WANG ; Xuexin YAO ; Hongxia YU ; Lei WANG ; Meng LIU ; Chunxue XUE ; Bo LIU ; Xiaoli ZHU ; Yanli LI ; Ying XIAO ; Xiaojing CUI ; Lijuan LI ; Xuedong LIU ; Bin CAO
Chinese Medical Journal 2024;137(2):241-243
9.Evaluation of accessibility and quality of diagnosis and treatment services of Internet hospitals in China
Wenmin LI ; Yangyujuan WU ; Zimu HU ; Zhao TAN ; Weihui ZHANG ; Huimin ZHU ; Zhiwei HUANG ; Yao CHEN ; Tingting LI ; Zilong WANG ; Yunke BU
Chinese Journal of Hospital Administration 2024;40(4):286-291
Objective:To evaluate the healthcare accessibility and quality of diagnosis and treatment services of Internet hospitals in China.Methods:One hundred and eighty Internet hospitals in 60 cities were seleted based on the sampling of development levels in the eastern, central and western regions of China. From April to May 2023, standardized patients methodology was applied to evaluate the accessibility(including the number of Internet hospitals, functional settings, online doctor status, the doctor′s attending rate and consultation fees) and diagnosis and treatment service quality(including the diagnosis and treatment services quality, response speed and patient′s evaluation) of Internet hospitals.Results:The average opening rate of Internet hospitals in China was 52.9% (560/1 058), the average online rate of doctors was 64.2% (1 099/1 713), the average doctor′s attending rate was 33.6% (112/333), the average consultation fee was 4.85 yuan, the average score of consultation was 1.92 out of 9, the average score of diagnosis and treatment was 1.12 out of 4, the average score of the response speed was 1.70 out of 3, and patient satisfaction was 2.73 out of 3.Conclusions:The Internet hospital accessibility in China is unevenly developed, and the overall quality of diagnosis and treatment is low. It is recommended to accurately position and optimize the function of Internet hospital, establish the incentive mechanism for online consultation doctors, construct and improve the regulatory system of Internet hospital diagnosis and treatment, so as to improve the accessibility and quality of diagnosis and treatment of Internet hospitals.
10.Advances in drug development for Alzheimer’s disease
Yao MU ; Huimin ZHAO ; Haochen LIU ; Xiaoquan LIU
Journal of China Pharmaceutical University 2024;55(6):816-825
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder involving multiple pathological processes, clinically characterized by memory loss and cognitive impairment. The pathological processes of AD are complex, and the etiology remains unclear. Currently, there are various hypotheses including β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition, tau protein hyperphosphorylation, neuroinflammation, and synaptic loss, upon which researchers base their drug development efforts. Prior to 2021, drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had targeted neurotransmitter modulation, but their efficacy was limited. In recent years, the approval of two anti-Aβ monoclonal antibody drugs has brought some clinical benefits to patients, yet they have not fully met clinical needs, which had highlighted the urgent necessity for exploration of new mechanisms and targets in AD drug development. Presently, research on novel mechanisms and targets for AD drug development focuses primarily on several directions: anti-Aβ drugs, anti-Tau protein drugs, anti-neuroinflammation immunotherapies, mitochondrial function-improving drugs, neurogenesis-promoting drugs, and synapse-protective drugs. This paper provides an overview of AD drugs entering clinical trials in the past decade in these directions, details some representative drugs, and concludes with prospects, integrating findings from our research group.

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