This study aimed to explore the pharmacological mechanism of Yourenji Capsules(YRJ) in improving osteoporosis by combining network pharmacology and proteomics technologies. The SD rats were randomly divided into a blank control group and a 700 mg·kg~(-1) YRJ group. The rats were subjected to gavage administration with the corresponding drugs, and the blank serum, drug-containing serum, and YRJ samples were compared using ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) to analyze the main components absorbed into blood. Network pharmacology analysis was conducted based on the YRJ components absorbed into blood to obtain related targets of the components and target genes involved in osteoporosis, and Venn diagrams were used to identify the intersection of drug action targets and disease targets. The STRING database was used for protein-protein interaction(PPI) network analysis of potential target proteins to construct a PPI network. Gene Ontology(GO) functional enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment were performed using Enrichr to investigate the potential mechanism of action of YRJ. Ovariectomy(OVX) was performed to establish a rat model of osteoporosis, and the rats were divided into a sham group, a model group, and a 700 mg·kg~(-1) YRJ group. The rats were given the corresponding drugs by gavage. The femurs of the rats were subjected to label-free proteomics analysis to detect differentially expressed proteins, and GO functional enrichment and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed on the differentially expressed proteins. With the help of network pharmacology and proteomics results, the mechanism by which YRJ improves osteoporosis was predicted. The analysis of the YRJ components absorbed into blood revealed 23 bioactive components of YRJ, and network pharmacology results indicated that key targets involved include tumor necrosis factor(TNF), tumor protein p53(TP53), protein kinase(AKT1), and matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP9). These targets are mainly involved in osteoclast differentiation, estrogen signaling pathways, and nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB) signaling pathways. Additionally, the proteomics analysis highlighted important pathways such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor(PPAR) signaling pathways, mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) signaling pathways, and β-alanine metabolism. The combined approaches of network pharmacology and proteomics have revealed that the mechanism by which YRJ improves osteoporosis may be closely related to the regulation of inflammation, osteoblast, and osteoclast metabolic pathways. The main pathways involved include the NF-κB signaling pathways, MAPK signaling pathways, and PPAR signaling pathways, among others.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Osteoporosis/metabolism* ; Proteomics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Network Pharmacology ; Female ; Protein Interaction Maps/drug effects* ; Capsules ; Humans ; Signal Transduction/drug effects*

This study aims to reveal the effect and mechanism of Gentianella turkestanorum total extract(GTI) in ameliorating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH). UPLC-Q-TOF-MS was employed to identify the chemical components in GTI. SwissTarget-Prediction, GeneCards, OMIM, and TTD were utilized to screen the targets of GTI components and NASH. The common targets shared by GTI components and NASH were filtered through the STRING database and Cytoscape 3.9.0 to identify core targets, followed by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. AutoDock was used for molecular docking of key components with core targets. A mouse model of NASH was established with a methionine-choline-deficient high-fat diet. A 4-week drug intervention was conducted, during which mouse weight was monitored, and the liver-to-brain ratio was measured at the end. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, Sirius red staining, and oil red O staining were employed to observe the pathological changes in the liver tissue. The levels of various biomarkers, including aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), hydroxyproline(HYP), total cholesterol(TC), triglycerides(TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), malondialdehyde(MDA), superoxide dismutase(SOD), and glutathione(GSH), in the serum and liver tissue were determined. RT-qPCR was conducted to measure the mRNA levels of interleukin 1β(IL-1β), interleukin 6(IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α), collagen type I α1 chain(COL1A1), and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA). Western blotting was conducted to determine the protein levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and potential drug targets identified through network pharmacology. UPLC-Q-TOF/MS identified 581 chemical components of GTI, and 534 targets of GTI and 1 157 targets of NASH were screened out. The topological analysis of the common targets shared by GTI and NASH identified core targets such as IL-1β, IL-6, protein kinase B(AKT), TNF, and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma(PPARG). GO and KEGG analyses indicated that the ameliorating effect of GTI on NASH was related to inflammatory responses and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)/AKT pathway. The staining results demonstrated that GTI ameliorated hepatocyte vacuolation, swelling, ballooning, and lipid accumulation in NASH mice. Compared with the model group, high doses of GTI reduced the AST, ALT, HYP, TC, and TG levels(P<0.01) while increasing the HDL-C, SOD, and GSH levels(P<0.01). RT-qPCR results showed that GTI down-regulated the mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, COL1A1, and α-SMA(P<0.01). Western blot results indicated that GTI down-regulated the protein levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, phosphorylated PI3K(p-PI3K), phosphorylated AKT(p-AKT), phosphorylated inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B alpha(p-IκBα), and nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB)(P<0.01). In summary, GTI ameliorates inflammation, dyslipidemia, and oxidative stress associated with NASH by regulating the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Animals ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/genetics* ; Mice ; Network Pharmacology ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Liver/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Molecular Docking Simulation

PURPOSE: Lateral patellar compression syndrome (LPCS) is characterized by a persistent abnormally high stress exerted on the lateral articular surface of the patella due to lateral patellar tilt without dislocation and lateral retinaculum contracture, leading to anterior knee pain. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and prognosis of lateral retinaculum release (LRR) combined with chondroplasty in the treatment of LPCS. METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated 40 patients who underwent LRR combined with chondroplasty for LPCS between 2020 and 2021. The assessment included improvement in postoperative tenderness and knee joint function. Patients were evaluated using the Lysholm, Tegner, and International Knee Documentation Committee 2000 scoring systems, as well as the visual analog scale, both preoperatively and postoperatively, with the paired comparisons analyzed using a t-test. Additionally, intraoperative observations were made regarding knee joint lesions, including cartilage damage and osteophyte formation, with analysis by the Chi-square test. RESULTS: The visual analog scale score for tenderness showed a significant decrease after surgery (p < 0.001). Evaluation of knee joint function also indicated significant improvements, as demonstrated by increased Lysholm, Tegner, and International Knee Documentation Committee 2000 scores postoperatively (p < 0.001, p = 0.011, p < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, all LPCS patients included in the study presented with cartilage injuries and osteophyte formation. Significant differences were noted in the incidence of cartilage damage and osteophyte formation at different locations within the knee among patients with LPCS. CONCLUSION LRR combined with chondroplasty is an effective surgical approach for treating patients with LPCS, with satisfactory recovery observed at the 1-year follow-up. Additionally, the incidence of cartilage damage and osteophyte formation in LPCS patients varies significantly depending on the specific location within the knee joint.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Patella/surgery* ; Knee Joint/physiopathology* ; Recovery of Function ; Young Adult ; Treatment Outcome ; Cartilage, Articular/surgery* ; Adolescent

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Functional dyspepsia (FD), characterized by persistent or recurrent dyspeptic symptoms without identifiable organic, systemic or metabolic causes, is an increasingly recognized global health issue. The objective of this guideline is to equip clinicians and nursing professionals with evidence-based strategies for the management and treatment of adult patients with FD using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The Guideline Development Group consulted existing TCM consensus documents on FD and convened a panel of 35 clinicians to generate initial clinical queries. To address these queries, a systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Database, China Biology Medicine (SinoMed) Database, Wanfang Database, Traditional Medicine Research Data Expanded (TMRDE), and the Traditional Chinese Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (TCMLARS). The evidence from the literature was critically appraised using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. The strength of the recommendations was ascertained through a consensus-building process involving TCM and allopathic medicine experts, methodologists, pharmacologists, nursing specialists, and health economists, leveraging their collective expertise and empirical knowledge. The guideline comprises a total of 43 evidence-informed recommendations that span a range of clinical aspects, including the pathogenesis according to TCM, diagnostic approaches, therapeutic interventions, efficacy assessments, and prognostic considerations. Please cite this article as: Zhang SS, Zhao LQ, Hou XH, Bian ZX, Zheng JH, Tian HH, Yang GH, Hong WS, He YY, Liu L, Shen H, Li YP, Xie S, Shu J, Zeng BF, Li JX, Liu Z, Xiao ZH, Xiao JD, Zheng PY, Huang SG, Chen SL, Fei GJ. International clinical practice guideline on the use of traditional Chinese medicine for functional dyspepsia (2025). J Integr Med. 2025; 23(5):502-518.
Dyspepsia/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*

Objective To investigate the effect of fixation of posterior malleolar fractures of Haraguchi type Ⅱ on ankle function in trimalleolar fractures.Methods A total of 118 patients with trimalleolar fractures accompanied with posterior malleolar fractures of Haraguchi type Ⅱ who treated by surgery were selected as the study subjects,and divided into the fixation group(57 cases)and the non-fixation group(61 cases)based on whether the posterior malleolus was fixed during the operation.The operation related indicators,American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS)ankle-hindfoot score,and the excellent and good rate of ankle function recovery were compared between the two groups.Results There was no significant difference in the operation time,intraoperative blood loss,hospital stay,fracture healing time,complete weight-bearing time or postoperative joint flatness between the two groups(P<0.05).At the end of the follow-up,the pain score and total score of the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scale in the fixation group were higher than those in the non-fixation group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05);and the excellent and good rate of ankle function recovery in the fixation group was higher than that in the non-fixation group,with statistically significant difference(P<0.05).Conclusion Surgical treatment for the trimalleolar fractures accompanied with posterior malleolar fractures of Haraguchi type Ⅱ can achieve satisfactory clinical outcome,and the fixation of posterior malleolar fractures of Haraguchi type Ⅱ can effectively reduce postoperative joint pain and improve ankle function.

Objective To observe the effects of modified Poge Jiuxin decoction combined with acupuncture in the treatment of septic cardiomyopathy(SIC),and explore its possible mechanism.Methods Totally 72 patients with SIC admitted to Chengdu First People's Hospital from January 2022 to June 2023 were enrolled.The patients were divided into control group and treatment group according to random number table method,with 36 cases in each group.Patients in control group received basic treatment for SIC.On this basis,the treatment group was administrated with modified Poge Jiuxin decoction[includes Prepared Aconite 30 g(earlier decocted),Red Ginseng 30 g(another stew),Cornel Meat 60 g,Dried Ginger 30 g,Raw Keel 30 g(earlier decocted),Raw Oyster 30 g(earlier decocted),Magnet 30 g(earlier decocted),Poria Cocos 90 g,Plantain Seeds 30 g(in bag),Roasted Licorice 60 g,Musk 0.5 g(artificial)],one dose a day,100 mL in 3 meals a day.Acupuncture at bilateral Zusanli,Guangyuan,Neiguan,Sanyinjiao and Qihai points,twice a day.Both groups were treated for 7 days.The changes of C-reactive protein(CRP),procalcitonin(PCT),cardiac tropomin I(cTnI),N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)and lactic acid(Lac)were observed before and after treatment,acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ(APACHEⅡ)and sequential organ failure assessment(SOFA)were calculated,left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),left ventricle fractional shortening(LVFS),and mitral orifice early/late diastolic blood flow velocity ratio(E/A ratio)were measured with echocardiography,the heart rate(HR),mean arterial pressure(MAP),mechanical ventilation time,vasoactive drug use time,in the intensive care unit(ICU)stay time,the incidence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome(MODS)and 28-day mortality were recorded.Results After treatment,the indexes of inflammation(CRP,PCT),myocardial markers(cTnI,NT-proBNP),hemodynamics and perfusion(HR,Lac),illness severity score(APACHEⅡ,SOFA)and the 28-day mortality in the two groups were significantly reduced,while LVEF and MAP were significantly increased compared to before treatment.The improvement of various indexes in the treatment group were better than those in the control group[CRP(mg/L):22.18±9.46 vs.68.45±13.46,PCT(μg/L):1.16±0.59 vs.4.35±1.28,LVEF:0.48±0.06 vs.0.41±0.05,cTnI(μg/L):0.60±0.14 vs.0.98±0.30,NT-proBNP(ng/L):204.35±26.54 vs.240.12±56.12,HR(bmp):88.75±10.05 vs.98.57±10.56,MAP(mmHg,1 mmHg≈0.133 kPa):82.10±5.08 vs.73.46±3.55,Lac(mmol/L):0.75±0.28 vs.1.60±0.36,APACHEⅡscore:10.46±1.80 vs.15.50±2.16,SOFA score:2.60±1.24 vs.6.76±1.60,all P<0.05].After treatment,LVFS and E/A ratio in the two groups increased significantly compared to those before treatment,however,there was no significant difference between the treatment group and the control group after treatment[LVFS:(25.12±3.46)%vs.(22.61±3.88)%,E/A ratio:1.16±0.46 vs.0.96±0.32,both P>0.05].The vasoactive drug use time and ICU stay time were shortened in the treatment group than those in the control group[vasoactive drug use time(days):9.62±3.05 vs.10.48±3.40,ICU stay time(days):12.51±2.04 vs.13.72±1.14,both P<0.05],the incidence of MODS and the 28-day mortality were lower than those of the control group[38.89%(14/36)vs.52.77%(9/36),44.44%(16/36)vs.47.22%(17/36)],but there were no statistical differences(both P>0.05).Conclusion Modified Poge Jiuxin decoction combined with acupuncture can effectively improve the prognosis of patients with SIC,and its mechanism may be related to inhibition of inflammatory reaction and improvement of cardiac function.

Objective To investigate clinical characteristics and the risk factors of sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction(SIMD),and to provide evidence for the diagnosis,treatment and prevention of SIMD.Methods The clinical data of 284 patients with sepsis(≥18 years old)admitted to the department of critical care medicine of Chengdu Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine&Western Medicine Hospital/Chengdu First People's Hospital from January 2020 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.This includes gender,age,chronic underlying diseases,the mean arterial pressure(MAP),heart rate(HR),laboratory test results,disease severity score,the proportion of requiring mechanical ventilation,vasoactive drugs treatment and renal replacement therapy,length of intensive care medicine(ICU)stay and the 28-day mortality.Patients were divided into SIMD group and non-SIMD group according to the occurrence of SIMD,allowing for an analysis of the clinical characteristics of two groups of patients.Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were used to identify the risk factors of SIMD,and receiver operator characteristic curve(ROC curve)were plotted to analyze the predictive value of each risk factor for the occurrence of SIMD.Results A total of 284 septic patients were included,including 136 cases(47.89％)in the SIMD group and 148 cases(52.11％)in the non-SIMD group.Compared with the non-SIMD group,the levels of age,N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP),cardiac tropomin I(cTnI),lactic acid(Lac)at admission to ICU,the proportion of vasoactive drugs treatment,acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHEⅡ)and sequential organ failure assessment(SOFA)in the SIMD group were significantly higher than those in the non-SIMD group[age(years):75.92±2.35 vs.55.02±1.68,NT-proBNP(ng/L):3 037.00±544.50 vs.2 493.92±630.21,cTnI(μg/L):0.12±0.07 vs.0.06±0.03,Lac in ICU(mmol/L):4.46±1.21 vs.2.98±1.02,the proportion of vasoactive drugs treatment:40.44％(55/136)vs.21.62％(32/148),APACHEⅡ score:24.25±1.02 vs.20.95±0.85,SOFA score:7.41±4.69 vs.6.21±2.81,all P<0.05],but the 24-hour Lac clearance rate of the SIMD group was significantly lower than that of the non-SIMD group[(13.80±7.01)％vs.(25.41±8.90)％,P<0.05].Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age≥75 years,24-hour Lac clearance rate and NT-proBNP≥3 000 ng/L were the independent factors of SIMD in patients with sepsis[odds ratio(OR)and 95％confidence interval(95％CI)were 5.990(2.143-16.742),0.348(0.155-0.786)and 2.708(1.093-6.711),P values were 0.001,0.011 and 0.031].ROC curve analysis showed that age,24-hour Lac clearance rate,NT-proBNP had predictive value for the development of SIMD[area under the curve(AUC)were 0.637,0.811,0.743,95％CI were 0.573-0.701,0.761-0.860,0.687-0.800,all P<0.05].Conclusions SIMD occurs more frequently in patients with sepsis.Increased age,elevated NT-proBNP,and reduced 24-hour Lac clearance rate are independent risk factors of SIMD,warranting clinical attention.

Patients with severe trauma require an extremely timely treatment and transfusion plays an irreplaceable role in the emergency treatment of such patients. An increasing number of evidence-based medicinal evidences and clinical practices suggest that patients with severe traumatic bleeding benefit from early transfusion of low-titer group O whole blood or hemostatic resuscitation with red blood cells, plasma and platelet of a balanced ratio. However, the current domestic mode of blood supply cannot fully meet the requirements of timely and effective blood transfusion for emergency treatment of patients with severe trauma in clinical practice. In order to solve the key problems in blood supply and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma, Branch of Clinical Transfusion Medicine of Chinese Medical Association, Group for Trauma Emergency Care and Multiple Injuries of Trauma Branch of Chinese Medical Association, Young Scholar Group of Disaster Medicine Branch of Chinese Medical Association organized domestic experts of blood transfusion medicine and trauma treatment to jointly formulate Chinese expert consensus on blood support mode and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma patients ( version 2024). Based on the evidence-based medical evidence and Delphi method of expert consultation and voting, 10 recommendations were put forward from two aspects of blood support mode and transfusion strategies, aiming to provide a reference for transfusion resuscitation in the emergency treatment of severe trauma and further improve the success rate of treatment of patients with severe trauma.

Objective:To evaluate the calf muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and fat fraction (FF) in amateur marathon runners based on T 2WI-Flex fat-suppression sequence and iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetrical and least-squares estimation quantitation sequence (IDEAL-IQ) technique, and to explore the correlation between them and age, body mass index (BMI), running age, speed exercise, and monthly exercise. Methods:From September to November 2022, 37 amateur marathon group (marathon group) and 12 healthy volunteers (control group) who did not often exercise were recruited in Shijiazhuang. T 2WI-Flex fat-suppression sequence and IDEAL-IQ sequence were performed on all subjects. The anterior group of the right calf (tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus, extensor digital longus), external group of the calf (peroneus longus, peroneus brevis), soleus, medial head and lateral head of the gastrocnemius were delineated along the edge of the muscle contour as regions of interest, and the CSA and FF values of the muscles were obtained. Twelve subjects matched with the clinical data of the control group were selected from the marathon group (marathon matched group), and the differences in CSA and FF were compared by independent sample t test or Mann-Whitney U test. Spearman correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between CSA and FF values of the right calf and running-related indicators including age, BMI, running age, speed exercise, and monthly exercise in 37 amateur marathon runners. Results:The CSA of the right calf soleus muscle in the marathon matched matched group was larger than that in the control group ( t=-2.09, P=0.048). There was no significant difference in CSA of other calf muscles between the two groups ( P>0.05). The FF values of the right calf anterior group, the outer group, the soleus muscle, the medial head and the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle in the marathon matched group were lower than those in the control group ( P<0.05). The BMI of 37 amateur marathon runners was positively correlated with the CSA and FF values of the anterior group, the outer group, the soleus, the medial head and the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle (CSA: r=0.628, 0.468, 0.680, 0.566, 0.615, respectively, all P<0.05; FF value: r=0.395, 0.567, 0.631, 0.482, 0.516, respectively, all P<0.05). The FF values of the anterior group, the outer group, the soleus, the medial head and the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle were negatively correlated with monthly exercise ( r=-0.337, -0.405, -0.437, -0.338, -0.446, respectively, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Long-term running training can reduce the FF value of each calf muscle group, and the FF value of calf muscles is negatively correlated with the amount of running each month. Long-term running training has the greatest effect on the CSA of soleus muscle.