The dysfunction of qi, blood, and fluid underlies the pathology of diabetes mellitus. The symptoms, signs, and physical and chemical indexes of diabetes mellitus patients reflect the duration, degree, primary and secondary pathological state of the abnormal metabolism of qi, blood, and fluid. It is necessary to construct a three-dimensional syndrome differentiation system of diabetes mellitus based on spatial and temporal dimensions. According to the four stages of depression, heat, deficiency, and damage, the location of the disease can be locked into qi, ying, and blood levels. The process reflects the pathological trend of the abnormal metabolism of qi, blood, and fluid: qi depression (prodromal stage: asymptomatic metabolic disorder/early stage of qi level) → qi heat (initial stage: index stage/late stage of qi level) → deficiency of both qi and yin (middle stage: symptom stage of three more and one less/stage of ying level) → damage of zang-fu viscera and meridians (late stage: complication stage/stage of blood level). According to the time process, the treatment principles are proposed as follows: during the early stage of qi level, treatment should focus on strengthening the spleen to regulate qi flow, to prevent the accumulation of glucose; during the late stage of qi level, treatment should focus on clearing heat and resolving turbidity, to remove the stagnated heat caused by glucose; during the stage of ying level, treatment should focus on benefiting qi and nourishing yin, to improve the symptoms about deficiency of both qi and yin; during the stage of blood level, treatment should focus on promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, to remove the complication. According to the etiology and pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus, the sequential treatment strategy is thus proposed, which is strengthening the spleen to regulate qi flow, clearing heat and resolving turbidity, benefiting qi and nourishing yin, and promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. The compound prescriptions such as Houpo Sanwu Decoction, Baihu Jia Renshen Decoction, Danggui Liuhuang Decoction, and Taohong Siwu Decoction are used with modification in the stage-based treatment.

This paper summarizes the clinical experience in applying jiao （角） medicine to treat diabetes mellitus from the perspective of qi， blood， and fluids. It is believed that impaired spleen transportation and transformation is the key pathomechanism of diabetes， leading to metabolic disturbances in qi， blood， and fluids， and resulting in a sequential pathological progression of "qi → thick fluids → thin fluids → blood". At the qi level， the disease is mainly characterized by spleen qi deficiency and stagnation， and is commonly treated with Hongshen （Panax Ginseng）， Huangqi （Astragalus Mongholicus）， and Baizhu （Atractylodes Macrocephala） to tonify the spleen and regulate qi. At the thick fluids level， the condition manifests as abdominal distension， internal heat， and turbid pathogens， requiring Zexie （Alisma Orientale）， Huanglian （Coptis Chinensis）， and Dahuang （Rheum Palmatum） to clear the spleen and drain turbidity. At the thin fluids level， with qi and yin deficiency and predominant yin damage， Gegen （Pueraria Lobata）， Wuweizi （Schisandra Chinensis）， and Maidong （Ophiopogon Japonicus） are used to nourish yin and generate fluids. At the blood level， where vascular damage is predominant， Shuizhifen （Whitmania Pigra Powder）， Danshen （Salvia Miltiorrhiza）， and Sanqifen （Panax Notoginseng Powder） are applied to activate blood circulation， resolve stasis， and unblock the channels. Clinicians may flexibly select appropriate jiao medicine based on the specific pathological layer affected in each patient.

Objective To investigate the effects of an adeno-associated virus(AAV2)vector expressing secretory transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)type Ⅱ receptor(sTβRⅡ)extracellular domain-IgG2a Fc fusion protein(sTβRⅡ-Fc)on proliferation and migration of triple-negative murine breast cancer 4T1 cells in mice.Methods The pAAV-sTβRⅡ-Fc vector expressing sTβRⅡ-Fc fusion protein constructed by molecular cloning,the capsid protein-expressing vector pAAV2 and the helper vector were co-transfected into HEK 293T cells to prepare the recombinant AAV2-sTβRⅡ virus,which was purified by density gradient centrifugation with iodixanol.Western blotting was used to examine the effects of AAV-sTβRⅡ virus on Smad2/3 phosphorylation in 4T1 cells and on expression levels of E-cadherin,vimentin and p-Smad2/3 in 4T1 cell xenografts in mice.BALB/c mice bearing subcutaneous xenografts of luciferase-expressing 4T1 cells received intravenous injections of AAV-sTβRⅡ virus,AAV-GFP virus or PBS(n=6)through the tail vein,and the proliferation and migration of 4T1 cells were analyzed with in vivo imaging.Ki67 expression in the tumor tissues and sTβRⅡ protein expressions in mouse livers were detected with immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining,and tumor metastases in the vital organs were examined with HE staining.Results The recombinant pAAV-sTβRⅡ-Fc vector successfully expressed sTβRⅡ in HEK 293T cells.Infection with AAV2-sTβRⅡ virus significantly reduced TGF-β1-induced Smad2/3 phosphorylation in 4T1 cells and effectively inhibited proliferation and lung metastasis of 4T1 xenografts in mice(P<0.05).In the tumor-bearing mice,intravenous injection of AAV-sTβRⅡ virus significantly increased E-cadherin expression,reduced vimentin and Ki67 protein expressions and Smad2/3 phosphorylation level in the tumor tissues(P<0.05 or 0.01),and induced liver-specific sTβRⅡ expression without causing body weight loss or heart,liver,spleen or kidney pathologies.Conclusion The recombinant AVV2 vector encoding sTβRⅡ extracellular domain is capable of blocking the TGF-β signaling pathway to inhibit the proliferation and lung metastasis of 4T1 cells in mice.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between the cerebral small vascular disease (CSVD) total burden and the imaging markers and the degree of unilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis.Methods:The study was a cross-sectional study. Clinical and imaging data of patients with chronic unilateral MCA stenosis who underwent multimodal MRI from October 2015 to January 2019 in the First Medical Center of PLA General Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 261 patients were included, 187 males and 74 females. According to the degree of MCA stenosis, the patients were divided into 102 cases in severe stenosis-occlusion group (stenosis degree ≥70%) and 159 cases in mild-moderate stenosis group (stenosis degree <70%). CSVD imaging marker scores (including white matter hyperintensity, perivascular space, cerebral microbleed, and lacune of presumed vascular origin) were assessed according to the ?standards for reporting vascular changes on neuroimaging 1 in the 2 groups, and the CSVD total burden score was calculated. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the indicators between the two groups, and the CSVD total burden score and imaging marker scores were ultimately included in a multifactorial binary logistic regression to assess the association of CSVD imaging markers with severe stenosis-occlusion of the MCA after adjusting for vascular risk factors (age, gender, drinking, smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, atrial fibrillation and coronary heart disease). Results:There were significant differences in the CSVD total burden, centrum semiovale perivascular space and lacune of presumed vascular origin score between the mild-to-moderate stenosis group and the severe stenosis-occlusion group (all P<0.05), and none of the differences in the remaining imaging marker scores were statistically significant (all P>0.05). Multivariate binary logistics regression analysis showed CSVD total burden score ( OR=1.300, 95% CI 1.047-1.613, P=0.017), centrum semiovale perivascular space score ( OR=2.099, 95% CI 1.540-2.860, P<0.001) and lacune of presumed vascular origin score ( OR=2.609, 95% CI 1.294-5.261, P=0.007) were independent associated with severe stenosis-occlusion of MCA. Conclusion:The higher CSVD total burden score, centrum semiovale perivascular space score and lacune of presumed vascular origin score are associated with severe stenosis-occlusion of MCA.

Malignant insulinoma is a kind of rare and challenging neuroendocrine tumor. It is often accompanied by distant metastasis, among which liver metastasis is most common, and the prognosis is often non-promising. In this paper, we report a case of multiple liver metastases from malignant insulinoma. The patient, a 70-year-old male, was admitted to the hospital due to "episodic consciousness disorder for more than four months." Blood glucose monitoring revealed recurrent hypoglycemia in the early morning, after meals, and at night. Pancreatic perfusion CT and dynamic enhanced MRI of the liver revealed a mass in the uncinate process of the pancreatic head and multiple liver metastases. Percutaneous liver biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of insulinoma. After multidisciplinary discussions, hepatic artery embolization and radiofrequency ablation were performed in stages, in combination with everolimus treatment. Thereafter, the enhanced CT demonstrated that some liver metastases shrank. The patient had regular meals, and the blood sugar gradually increased and remained normal thereafter. This article discusses this case's clinical characteristics and multidisciplinary collaborative diagnosis and treatment, aiming to provide experience for the comprehensive clinical diagnosis and treatment of malignant insulinoma patients.

Objective To investigate the effects of an adeno-associated virus(AAV2)vector expressing secretory transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)type Ⅱ receptor(sTβRⅡ)extracellular domain-IgG2a Fc fusion protein(sTβRⅡ-Fc)on proliferation and migration of triple-negative murine breast cancer 4T1 cells in mice.Methods The pAAV-sTβRⅡ-Fc vector expressing sTβRⅡ-Fc fusion protein constructed by molecular cloning,the capsid protein-expressing vector pAAV2 and the helper vector were co-transfected into HEK 293T cells to prepare the recombinant AAV2-sTβRⅡ virus,which was purified by density gradient centrifugation with iodixanol.Western blotting was used to examine the effects of AAV-sTβRⅡ virus on Smad2/3 phosphorylation in 4T1 cells and on expression levels of E-cadherin,vimentin and p-Smad2/3 in 4T1 cell xenografts in mice.BALB/c mice bearing subcutaneous xenografts of luciferase-expressing 4T1 cells received intravenous injections of AAV-sTβRⅡ virus,AAV-GFP virus or PBS(n=6)through the tail vein,and the proliferation and migration of 4T1 cells were analyzed with in vivo imaging.Ki67 expression in the tumor tissues and sTβRⅡ protein expressions in mouse livers were detected with immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining,and tumor metastases in the vital organs were examined with HE staining.Results The recombinant pAAV-sTβRⅡ-Fc vector successfully expressed sTβRⅡ in HEK 293T cells.Infection with AAV2-sTβRⅡ virus significantly reduced TGF-β1-induced Smad2/3 phosphorylation in 4T1 cells and effectively inhibited proliferation and lung metastasis of 4T1 xenografts in mice(P<0.05).In the tumor-bearing mice,intravenous injection of AAV-sTβRⅡ virus significantly increased E-cadherin expression,reduced vimentin and Ki67 protein expressions and Smad2/3 phosphorylation level in the tumor tissues(P<0.05 or 0.01),and induced liver-specific sTβRⅡ expression without causing body weight loss or heart,liver,spleen or kidney pathologies.Conclusion The recombinant AVV2 vector encoding sTβRⅡ extracellular domain is capable of blocking the TGF-β signaling pathway to inhibit the proliferation and lung metastasis of 4T1 cells in mice.

By analysing the conceptual connotations of phenotype and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） symptoms， the relationship between TCM symptoms， phenotypes and diseases is explained. It is believed that phenotypes and TCM syndromes have certain similarities， both of which elaborate the physiological and pathological mechanisms of the human body through external manifestations， and have the temporal and spatial characteristics of both phases and wholeness， as well as focusing on the connection between the innate and the acquired. Summarising the current status of the application of phenomics technology in the studies of TCM syndromes， it is concluded that the study of the intrinsic biological mechanisms of TCM syndromes with the help of phenomics technology has achieved certain results， but there are still problems such as difficulties in matching between traditional Chinese medicine syndromes and phenotypes， the incompleteness of the existing disease phenotype system， and the inconsistency of the understanding about "syndromes". It is proposed that in the future， large-scale clinical databases could be used to collect a wide range of TCM syndromes and phenotypes that are closely related to specific diseases. The phenomics technology could make preliminary correspondence and identification between a single syndrome and the corresponding phenotype， and then further carry out a more accurate phenotypic detection of the composite syndromes， and finally realise the standardization and intelligence of the diagnosis of TCM syndromes with the help of the artificial intelligence technology. By elaborating the modern scientific connotation of TCM syndromes from the perspective of phenotypes， we can provide scientific basis for the determination of TCM syndromes and the clarification of modern biomarkers of syndromes， as well as ideas for the modernisation research of TCM syndromes.

Polygoni multiflori radix praeparata is a processed product of Polygoni multiflori radix(Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.),and its main components include stilbene glycosides,anthraquinones,flavonoids,alkaloids,phenolic acids,etc.It has antioxidant,antianemic,anti-tumor,hypoglycemic,anti-inflammatory effects,etc,and is widely used in clinical practice.The processing technology is mainly stewinging with black bean juice,steaming,processing for 9 times and braising and simmering.After processing,the color deepens and the content of composition changes.By consulting domestic and foreign literature,the research on Polygoni multiflori radix praeparata is not comprehensive enough compared with Polygoni multiflori radix.Therefore,this paper mainly summarizes the processing technology,chemical composition and pharmacological activity of Polygoni multiflori radix preparata reported in the past 20 years,and provides a reference for further development of Polygoni multiflori radix preparata.

Objective To investigate the effects of Yitangkang on browning of white adipose and PINK1/Parkin pathway of mitophagy in adipose tissue of db/db mice.Methods Totally 30 six-week db/db mice were randomly divided into model group,Yitangkang Group(30 g/kg)and liraglutide group(200 μg/kg),and another 10 C57BL/6 mice of the same age were set as normal group.All groups were treated with corresponding drugs or normal saline for 5 weeks.During the period of administration,the body mass and fasting blood glucose(FBG)of mice in each group were detected regularly,the samples of liver,white and brown adipose of mice were weighed,the contents of serum triglyceride cholesterol(TC),triacylglycerol(TG),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)were detected by biochemical analyzer,HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of inguinal white adipose tissue(iWAT),immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of browning marker protein uncoupling protein-1(UCP1)in iWAT,Western blot was used to detect the expressions of browning-related proteins UCP1,PRDM16,PGC-1α and mitophagy-related proteins PINK1,Parkin,Beclin-1,p62 in iWAT.Results Compared with the normal group,the body mass,liver,white adipose and brown adipose mass of the model group significantly increased(P<0.01),the FBG and serum TG,TC and LDL-C contents significantly increased(P<0.01),and the content of HDL-C significantly decreased(P<0.01);large vacuoles in iWAT adipocytes,the diameter of adipocytes increased obviously,some adipocytes were extruded and deformed,and the edge of adipocytes was not clear,the expressions of iWAT UCP1,PRDM16,PGC-1α and p62 proteins decreased(P<0.01),while the expressions of PINK1,Parkin and Beclin-1 proteins increased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the body mass,liver and white adipose mass significantly decreased in Yitangkang group and the liraglutide group(P<0.01),FBG and serum contents of TC,TG and LDL-C were significantly decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01),while HDL-C content significantly increased(P<0.01);the diameter of iWAT adipocytes decreased,the number increased,and the morphology was regular,the expressions of iWAT UCP1,PRDM16,PGC-1α and p62 proteins increased(P<0.01),while the expressions of PINK1,Parkin and Beclin-1 proteins decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Yitangkang can improve glucose and lipid metabolism and promote browning of white adipose in db/db mice,which may be related to mitophagy mediated by PINK1/Parkin pathway.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of selective cerebral mild hypothermia on the expression of histone deacetylase 1-3 (HDAC1-3) during focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats.Methods:Sixty clean-grade healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 240-260 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=15 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (S group), focal cerebral I/R group (I/R group), selective cerebral mild hypothermia group (SCH group), and normothermia group (N group). Only the cervical vessels were isolated in S group. In the other three groups, sutures were inserted into the internal carotid artery to block the middle cerebral artery for 2 h, and then the sutures were pulled out to restore perfusion for 24 h. A focal cerebral I/R model was prepared. Normal saline at 20 ℃ and 37 ℃ was infused into the internal carotid artery at a rate of 0.6 ml/min for 10 min starting from the time point immediately after removal of the sutures in SCH group and N group respectively. Cerebral temperature and rectal temperature were continuously monitored during the operation. The modified neurological severity score (mNSS) was assessed at 24 h of reperfusion. The rats were then sacrificed under deep anesthesia and brains were obtained for determination of cerebral infarct size (by TTC staining). The tissues of the cerebral ischemic penumbra were taken for determination of the apoptosis rate of neurons (by TUNEL method) and lactylation modification and expression of HDAC1-3 (by Western blot) and for observation of the morphology of neurons (by HE staining). Results:Compared with S group, the mNSS, cerebral infarct size and apoptosis rate of neurons were significantly increased, HDAC1-3 expression was down-regulated, and the lactylation modification was increased in the other three groups ( P<0.05). Compared with I/R and N groups, the mNSS, cerebral infarct size and apoptosis rate of neurons were significantly decreased, HDAC1-3 expression was up-regulated, and the lactylation modification was decreased in SCH group ( P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the aforementioned parameters between I/R group and N group ( P>0.05). HE staining showed that the morphology of neurons was intact and well-defined in S group, a large number of cells with edema and irregularly solidified nuclei were found in I/R group and N group, and the nuclear shrinkage and morphological changes of neurons were alleviated in SCH group. Conclusions:The mechanism by which selective cerebral mild hypothermia alleviates cerebral I/R injury may be related to up-regulation of HDAC1-3 expression in rats.