1.Differentiation and Treatment of Urinary Tract Infection based on the Theory of 'Seminal Orifice'
Yuxin HU ; Yexin CHEN ; Ziheng GAO ; Runze WANG ; Yaoxian WANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(10):1009-1012
In the differentiation and treatment of recurrent urinary tract infection (rUTI) from the perspective of the seminal orifice, it is proposed that the urinary tract belongs to the category of "seminal orifice", and the physiological process of urination is closely related to the function of the seminal orifice. From the three dimensions of orifice body, orifice pivot and orifice spirit, the physiological relationship between seminal orifice and the function of five zang-organs (脏) is constructed, that is, lung heat, yin damage and pathogen counter-restriction lead to malnutrition of orifice body; burning heart fire and spirit disorder lead to unfavorable orifice spirit, and kidney deficiency, liver constraint and spleen stagnation lead to unfavorable orifice pivot. In the early stage of rUTI, there is usually unfavo-rable orifice pivot, for which the treatment principle should be treating the root and the branch simultaneously, consi-dering both deficiency and excess, and paying attention to the management of accompanied symptoms. Zishui Qinggan Beverage (滋水清肝饮) and Modified Shenzhuo Decoction (肾着汤加减) are often selected based on syndrome differentiation. In the middle stage, lack of nourishment of the orifice body and unfavorable orifice spirit and pivot coexist, and the treatment should be draining the orifice and unblocking strangury, commonly withmodified Qingxin Lianzi Beverage (清心莲子饮). In the late stage, loss of nourishment of the orifice body is the main pathogenesis, and it is necessary to further nourish the orifice body to prevent recurrence, and modifed Wuzi Yanzong Pills and Erxian Decoction (五子衍宗丸合二仙汤) is often used. Furthermore, the specific medicinals should be selected targeting at the orifice body, orifice pivot, and orifice spirit, so as to nourish orifice body by dispelling external pathogens and rectify healthy qi, to drain orifice pivot by freeing emotions and minds and unblocking qi movement, and to calm orifice spirit by unblocking heart and kidney and nourishing heart spirit.
2.Treatment of Type 4 Cardiorenal Syndrome based on the Theory of "Yang Deficiency with Three Lackings,Controlled by the Spleen"
Yuxin HU ; Yexin CHEN ; Zeyu XUE ; Ziheng GAO ; Gaiwen CUI ; Wenkang ZHANG ; Yaoxian WANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(22):2363-2367
WANG Qishi put forward the theory of "yang deficiency with three lackings, controlled by the spleen" in Lixu Yuanjian (《理虚元鉴》), which regarded that yang deficiency can lead to consumptive diseases with changes of lacking essence, lacking qi, and lacking fire, so the treatment should start from the spleen to restore the middle yang urgently. This article summarised the experience of treating type 4 cardiorenal syndrome based on the theory of "yang deficiency with three lackings, controlled by the spleen", and proposed that lacking essence is the beginning of the onset of type 4 cardiorenal syndrome, lacking qi is the gradual development of the disease, and lacking fire is the changes of the disease, and ultimately resulted in the complex situation of kidney and qi deficiency, and edema due to yang deficiency, combined with syndromes variation. In the clinical evidence, in the stage of lacking fire, therapies should warm the middle and strengthen the spleen in order to rescue the middle yang, prescribed with modified Baoyuan Decoction (保元汤) plus Lizhong Decoction (理中汤); in the stage of lacking qi, prescriptions can add Taoren (Juglans regia), Tubiechong (Eupolyphaga sinensis), Fuling (Smilax glabra), Guizhi (Neolitsea cassia) to activate blood and drain water to transport and restore the center qi; in the stage of lacking essence, prescriptions can add Gouqizi (Lycium barbarum), Tusizi (Cuscuta chinensis), Duzhong (Eucommia ulmoides), Bajitian (Gynochthodes officinalis) to supplement deficiency and resolve masses to consolidate the root and supplement essence.
3.Research Ideas and Challenge of Real World Study and Artificial Intelligence Based On Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Data of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Guozhen ZHAO ; Shiqi GUO ; Huaxin PANG ; Ziheng GAO ; Bo LI ; Zhaolun CAI ; Shiyan YAN ; Dongran HAN ; Yixing LIU ; Jing HU ; Qingquan LIU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2023;64(21):2170-2175
With the continuous progress of research methodology in the real world and the growing maturity of artificial intelligence technology, a method for conducting “quantitative” research to guide clinical practice based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnosis and treatment data was gradually developed. However, there is still a need for further improvements in the overall design of studies and the transformation of findings into clinical practice. Based on this, we put forward a comprehensive overall design concept and application approach for real-world study and artificial intelligence research based on clinical diagnosis and treatment data of TCM. This approach consists of five steps: Constructing a research-based database with a large sample size and high data quality; Mining and classification of core prescriptions; Conducting cohort studies to evaluate the effectiveness of core prescriptions; Utilizing case-control studies to clarify the dominant population; Establishing predictive models to achieve precision medicine. Additionally, it is imperative for researchers to establish a standardized system for collecting TCM variables and processing data, optimize the determination and measurement methods of confounding factors, further improve and promote methodologies, and strengthen the training of interdisciplinary talents. By following this research method, we anticipate that the clinical translation of research findings will be facilitated, leading to advancements in TCM precision medicine. Real-world study and artificial intelligence research share similar research foundations, and clinical applications complement each other. In the future, the two will merge together.
4.Methods and Challenges for Identifying and Controlling Confounding Factors in Traditional Chinese Medicine Observational Studies
Guozhen ZHAO ; Ziheng GAO ; Chen ZHAO ; Huizhen LI ; Ning LIANG ; Bin LIU ; Qianzi CHE ; Haili ZHANG ; Yixiang LI ; Feng ZHOU ; He LI ; Bo LI ; Nannan SHI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(22):120-126
As a supplement to randomized controlled trials, observational studies can provide evidence for the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment measures. They can also study influencing factors of diseases, etiology, and prognosis. However, there is a confounding effect due to the lack of randomization, which seriously affects the causal inference between the study factors and the outcome, resulting in confounding bias. Therefore, identifying and controlling confounding factors are key issues to be addressed in TCM observational studies. According to the causal network and the characteristics of TCM theory, confounding factors can be categorized into measured and unmeasured confounding factors. In addition, attention must be paid to identifying confounding factors and intermediate variables, as well as the interaction between confounding factors and study factors. For methods of controlling confounding factors, measured confounding factors can be controlled by stratification, multifactor analysis, propensity scores, and disease risk scores. Unmeasured and unknown confounding factors can be corrected using instrumental variable methods, difference-in-difference methods, and correction for underlying event rate ratios. Correcting and controlling confounding factors can ensure a balance between groups, and confounding bias can be reduced. In addition, methods such as sensitivity analysis and determination of interactions make the control of confounding factors more comprehensive. Due to the unique characteristics of TCM, observational studies of TCM face unique challenges in identifying and controlling confounding factors, including the ever-changing TCM treatment measures received by patients, the often-overlooked confounding effects in the four diagnostic information of TCM, and the lack of objective criteria for TCM evidence-based diagnosis. Some scholars have already conducted innovative explorations to address these issues, providing a methodological basis for conducting higher-quality TCM observational studies, so as to obtain more rigorous real-world evidence of TCM and gradually develop quality evaluation criteria for OS that are consistent with the characteristics of TCM.
5.Parkin promotes proteasomal degradation of p62: implication of selective vulnerability of neuronal cells in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease.
Pingping SONG ; Shanshan LI ; Hao WU ; Ruize GAO ; Guanhua RAO ; Dongmei WANG ; Ziheng CHEN ; Biao MA ; Hongxia WANG ; Nan SUI ; Haiteng DENG ; Zhuohua ZHANG ; Tieshan TANG ; Zheng TAN ; Zehan HAN ; Tieyuan LU ; Yushan ZHU ; Quan CHEN
Protein & Cell 2016;7(2):114-129
Mutations or inactivation of parkin, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, are associated with familial form or sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD), respectively, which manifested with the selective vulnerability of neuronal cells in substantia nigra (SN) and striatum (STR) regions. However, the underlying molecular mechanism linking parkin with the etiology of PD remains elusive. Here we report that p62, a critical regulator for protein quality control, inclusion body formation, selective autophagy and diverse signaling pathways, is a new substrate of parkin. P62 levels were increased in the SN and STR regions, but not in other brain regions in parkin knockout mice. Parkin directly interacts with and ubiquitinates p62 at the K13 to promote proteasomal degradation of p62 even in the absence of ATG5. Pathogenic mutations, knockdown of parkin or mutation of p62 at K13 prevented the degradation of p62. We further showed that parkin deficiency mice have pronounced loss of tyrosine hydroxylase positive neurons and have worse performance in motor test when treated with 6-hydroxydopamine hydrochloride in aged mice. These results suggest that, in addition to their critical role in regulating autophagy, p62 are subjected to parkin mediated proteasomal degradation and implicate that the dysregulation of parkin/p62 axis may involve in the selective vulnerability of neuronal cells during the onset of PD pathogenesis.
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
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chemistry
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metabolism
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Animals
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HEK293 Cells
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Heat-Shock Proteins
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chemistry
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metabolism
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Humans
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Lysine
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metabolism
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Mice
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Neurons
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metabolism
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pathology
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Oxidopamine
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pharmacology
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Parkinson Disease
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metabolism
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pathology
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Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
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metabolism
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Protein Stability
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Proteolysis
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drug effects
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Sequestosome-1 Protein
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Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
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metabolism
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Ubiquitination
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drug effects